NFC Notes: Williams, Lynch, Panthers, Orton
Kevin Williams signed with the Seahawks earlier today but he tells Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press that he turned down similar offers from the Vikings and other clubs.
“I’m not going to say they didn’t really want to, but things weren’t working out in our best interests,” Williams said. “I enjoyed my time there (in Minnesota), so I’m going to try my luck out in Seattle. … At first it was like (the Vikings said), ‘Were not going to have any money.’ But they came back (recently) in the picture.”
In addition to Seattle, Williams also visited with the Giants and Patriots, who also offered him similar deals. In 2013, Williams ranked as the 27th-best defensive tackle in the NFL among 69 qualified players at the position, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). He logged 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and an interception. Here’s more out of the NFC…
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap explains why right now is the best time for Marshawn Lynch to seek a new contract from the Seahawks. Quarterback Russell Wilson figures to see a major pay bump in 2015 and wide receiver Percy Harvin is earning $13MM a year. There probably won’t be room to take care of Lynch next year or, worse, they could release him and go with their younger tailbacks. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald (on Twitter) doesn’t think retirement is a wise threat for Lynch since Seattle can go after $3MM in prorated money for 2014 and ’15.
- Free agent offensive lineman Travelle Wharton appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio today and discussed his current situation, admitting that he’s still on the fence about retirement. The longtime Panthers OL intends to make a decision and let teams know soon, and is staying in shape in the meantime. If he does return, Wharton would like to join a contending club (all Twitter links).
- Cowboys coach Jason Garrett expects to speak with quarterback Kyle Orton soon, writes Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. The 31-year-old has skipped the team’s voluntary offseason program and would have to repay the club $3MM of his $5MM signing bonus if he retires.
Minor Moves: Burton, Ogbuehi, Sims, Giants
Tonight’s minor moves..
- The Colts claimed defensive back Brandon Burton and the Browns claimed tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (via Twitter). Burton, 24, was taken by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2011 draft and has since inked deals with the Bills and Bengals. Ogbuehi was waived by the Dolphins this week to make room for wide receiver Gerald Ford, who is not to be confused with former president Gerald Ford.
- The Buccaneers tweeted that rookie running back Charles Sims has officially signed his contract with the club. The third-round pick spent four years at Houston before playing for West Virginia in 2013 and was named co-Big 12 newcomer of the year by rushing for 1,095 yards and eleven touchdowns.
- The Giants cut Kris Adams with a failed physical designation, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Adams was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011 by the Bears and has also been a member of the Rams, Vikings, and Colts.
- The Vikings waived-injured former FAU wide receiver Lestar Jean, Wilson tweets.
- The Colts cut former Ohio State guard Marcus Hall, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
- The Cowboys placed former NAIA cornerback Jocquel Skinner on injured reserve after he cleared waivers after being waived-injured, Wilson tweets.
NFC Links: Simpson, Lynch, Giants, Davis
Veteran wide receiver Jerome Simpson was surprised that he had to take a pay cut from the Vikings, write Chris Tomasson and Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press. Simpson set a career high last season for receiving yards and was two catches shy of his best season ever in that category, but a DUI hurt his leverage. Ultimately, he saw his salary chopped from $2.1MM in 2013 to $1MM in 2014.
“I can’t lie. I was definitely surprised that I get paid less than what I got last year,” Simpson said. “I had my best numbers. But I guess when you got that negative thing on you, they kind of got you behind the eight-ball.“
Here are several more Thursday links from around the NFC:
- No one knows for sure yet if Marshawn Lynch will or won’t be in attendance when the Seahawks‘ mandatory minicamp gets underway, but if the running back holds out for a new contract, it won’t be a surprise, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Meanwhile, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap explains why Lynch has to do this now if he wants to strengthen his job security going forward. We heard last night that the Seahawks aren’t expecting Lynch to show up for the start of the camp.
- Although they haven’t signed any new players yet, the Giants are believed to have hosted about 10 non-roster players for auditions yesterday, according to Jordan Raanan and Conor Orr of NJ.com.
- Tight end Vernon Davis is seeking a new contract and didn’t show up for the 49ers‘ voluntary workouts, but he recognizes the mandatory nature of the team’s upcoming minicamp, as Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News writes. “It’s mandatory, so I should be there, for sure,” Davis said during an appearance on KNBR 680-AM in San Francisco.
- While the Packers‘ decision to sign troubled tight end Colt Lyerla last month raised some eyebrows, Green Bay takes pride in developing all kinds of young players, according to Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report, who wonders if Lyerla could fill a void at the position for a club that no longer has Jermichael Finley on its roster.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Eagles
It took three years, but the Cowboys managed to turn a makeshift offensive line into one of the strengths of the roster, and should head into the 2014 season with a line that features three first-round picks, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. As Archer outlines, Dallas’ defensive line is beginning to undergo the same retooling process that the O-line did. While they added several low-cost veterans with plenty of upside and question marks, it may take multiple seasons for the Cowboys to count the defensive line among the club’s strengths.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- Former Rutgers linebacker Jamal Merrell was expected to be among the players working out for the Giants today, according to Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger. Merrell was signed by the Titans after going undrafted last month, but only lasted about a week on the roster.
- Tight end Tom Crabtree is among the veteran players auditioning for the Giants recently, but tweeted today that the team didn’t offer him a contract right away. “No luck with NYG (yet),” Crabtree wrote, hinting that perhaps an offer could come later. “Grateful for the opportunity.”
- Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer takes a look at the safety situation for the Eagles, examining which players are expected to see the most snaps, and which ones may be in danger of not making the regular-season roster.
NFC Notes: Graham, Forte, Giants, Peterson
The grievance hearing on Jimmy Graham‘s franchise tag positional designation is scheduled for next week, and a source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com that the NFL Management Council is preparing a “strong counterargument” against the NFLPA’s claim that Graham should be considered a receiver.
“The union’s position is a naked cash grab,” the source said. “It ignores Mr. Graham’s use as a traditional tight end on roughly 60% of the snaps where he lined up within four yards of the tackle. It also ignores the historical use of the tight end position.”
It’s fair to assume that Triplett’s source isn’t exactly an impartial observer, considering his comments sound like ones the NFL will make during the hearing. Taking into account that the Saints star lined up in the slot or split out wide for roughly two-thirds of his snaps in 2013, the decision certainly isn’t cut-and-dried, and the outcome could have significant ramifications not just on Graham’s next deal, but on the tight end position going forward.
Here’s more from out of the NFC:
- “I think I can play 12 years,” Bears running back Matt Forte tells John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. Forte, who has two years left on his current contract, would have to play through the 2019 season to achieve that goal.
- The Giants have multiple free agents lined up for workouts this week, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, who writes in two separate pieces that the club will audition 6’5″ wide receiver Denzell Jones and former South Carolina cornerback Victor Hampton on Wednesday.
- Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals have yet to reach an agreement on a new long-term contract, but that didn’t stop the cornerback from reporting to the club’s mandatory minicamp today, says Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Agent Joel Segal and the Cards continue to discuss an extension for Peterson.
- Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com believes Justin Durant will be the Cowboys‘ starting middle linebacker when the regular season gets underway, but suggests that if Durant doesn’t play well in camp, the 28-year-old is a candidate to be cut or traded.
- Wide receiver Kain Colter received the biggest bonus ($8K) among the Vikings‘ undrafted free agent signings, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
Extra Points: Williams, Sheard, Quessenberry
While the free agent market has thinned out considerably over the last several months, there are still players capable of providing value to NFL teams, and one such free agent is veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Williams suggested talks have been “picking up” for him lately and that he anticipates signing somewhere in time for training camp. As the longtime Viking confirmed, he has visited the Patriots, Giants, and Seahawks, and has also spoken recently to Minnesota.
Let’s check in on a few more items from around the league….
- Browns outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard said today that he and the club have had some preliminary talks about a contract extension and that he hopes something can be worked out, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
- Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry has been placed on the NFL’s non-football illness list after being diagnosed with lymphoma, the club announced today in a press release. In a statement, GM Rick Smith expressed confidence in the care Quessenberry would receive. “We look forward to his full and complete recovery,” Smith said. “We will continue to support him and his family and look forward to his return to the team.” Our thoughts and well-wishes go out to Quessenberry and his family as he battles the disease.
- Asked about Colin Kaepernick‘s new contract extension, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said his biggest takeaway from the agreement was simply the fact that Kaepernick and the 49ers were able to get something done (link via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). Dalton, of course, will be looking for an extension of his own very soon.
- Taking an early look ahead to the 2015 NFL draft, Mel Kiper discusses the top senior and underclassmen defensive ends in an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com. Texas’ Cedric Reed and Nebraska’s Randy Gregory top Kiper’s lists.
- The Dolphins‘ willingness to shift Jason Fox to left tackle behind Branden Albert in OTAs suggests the club has confidence in rookie Ju’Wuan James‘ ability to hang onto the right tackle job, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Jackson, Giants
The Cowboys may currently be listed as having nearly $11MM in cap space, but that doesn’t mean the team has as much breathing room as it may seem, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. As Archer observes, that figure doesn’t include the contracts of Dallas’ top two draft picks, it doesn’t take into account per-game roster bonuses for players like Henry Melton and Anthony Spencer, and it doesn’t include injury settlements for any players who get hurt during camp. Still, the Cowboys should have enough room to extend Tyron Smith and Dez Bryant if they choose to do so this year, since those deals could be structured in a way that doesn’t significantly impact this year’s cap hits.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- A federal court filing reveals that DeSean Jackson names former agent Drew Rosenhaus as the driving force behind an ill-fated 2011 holdout that didn’t result in a new deal, writes Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. According to the legal filing, Jackson hired Rosenhaus in part because the agent assured the receiver he had “close ties to Eagles management” and could renegotiate a new contract before or during the 2010 season. The filing is the latest development in a financial dispute between Jackson and Rosenhaus over $500K+ that the agent paid the wideout to become and remain his client.
- The Cowboys made it clear how much they value probable starter J.J. Wilcox when they decided not to draft a safety until the seventh round, says Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
- In photo gallery form, the Dallas Morning News lists the five worst contracts on the Cowboys‘ cap, with Sean Lee‘s and Brandon Carr‘s deals leading the way.
- Paul Schwartz of the New York Post takes a look at how all the Giants‘ veteran newcomers are fitting in with their new team.
Minor Moves: Silva, Broussard, Waivers
The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson is always a reliable source on NFL transactions. Earlier, he tweeted out some minor moves from around the league. Let’s check them out…
- The Bills have cut safety Mana Silva (Twitter link). The defensive back played ten games for the Bills and Cowboys in 2012.
- Chiefs defensive tackle Risean Broussard has cleared waivers (Twitter). Wilson adds that the player will be placed on injured reserve. The Chiefs had signed Broussard as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 draft, but released him soon after. The team signed him again in late January.
- Wilson also tweeted out a list of players who have cleared waivers: Trevor Gillette (Jaguars), Stephen Goodin (Giants), Jared Green, Joel Grigsby, Daniel Zychlinski (Raiders).
NFC East Notes: Beckham Jr., Bryant, Mathis
After receiving a $5MM cap credit on June 1 for cutting offensive lineman David Baas in March, the Giants have just over $7MM to spend on fine-tuning the roster, writes Jordan Ranaan of NJ.com. 91 players are currently under contract for the G-Men, with a team cap of $124.98MM.
As Ranaan points out, $7MM might sound like a lot of money, but 20 teams have more room to spend. All seven 2014 draftees except for third-round defensive tackle Jay Bromley have signed their rookie deals, and it’s only a matter of time before the former Syracuse Orange joins the fold.
More news and notes from the AFC East below…
- Giants first-round wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is being rested for precautionary reasons while recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him at OTAs, reports National Football Post’s Aaron Wilson. Beckham told reporters he’s also suffering from a tight back.
- Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden waxed poetic about his former college and current pro teammate, Dez Bryant, per The Dallas Morning News’ Jon Machota. “He’s unbelievable at what he does,” Weeden said. “It’s the same stuff he did when he was 18 when he came in. I have said it when we came in the same year, he’s just a freak. The guy is probably the most passionate football player. He loves the game more than anyone I’ve ever been around.” Both players arrived at Oklahoma State in 2007.
- At a function honoring former Arkansas head football coach and athletic director Frank Broyles, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said nothing has made him prouder than to know the Arkansas Razorbacks — Jones’ Alma mater — will play at AT&T Stadium next season, tweets Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News Bureau.
- Eagles guard Evan Mathis said the team is light years ahead of where it was compared to this time last year, reports CSNPhilly.com’s Michael Barkann. “This year, you can just see so much more confidence on the field. Everybody’s executing, it’s much more crisp, and that’s what you get with a year under this system.”
- Michael Bamiro has been working mainly at right guard on the Eagles‘ second-team offensive line, writes CSNPhilly.com’s Geoff Mosher.
- According to a tweet by last year’s No. 4 overall pick Lane Johnson, the Eagles‘ rookie dinner totaled nearly $18k, including a $3,495 bottle of wine.
- Eagles first-round pick Marcus Smith, who will be outside linebacker in Philadelphia’s base 3-4, was tabbed by National Football Post’s Greg Gabriel as one of five players to keep an eye on during the 2014 NFL Season.
- Niles Paul, the Redskins wide receiver and core special teams player, is optimistic about a potential turnout for the ST unit under Ben Kotwica, the first-year coordinator, writes CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir.
- Training camp practices under new Redskins head coach Jay Gruden will likely start earlier, end later and feature a longer break in between sessions, reports CSNWashington.com’s Rich Tandler.
- Learning his fifth offensive system in five years, Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy likes the fit in Washington and is eager to learn behind Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III, writes ESPN.com’s John Keim.
Extra Points: Kaepernick, Chiefs, Adams, Hill
Speaking to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, former NFL agent Joel Corry suggests that he thinks the Chiefs could push for a similar structure to Colin Kaepernick’s deal when they try to extend Alex Smith, though he doubts agent Tom Condon would go for it. “If you ask me to take my agent hat off, I don’t think this deal is going to have any real impact on Alex Smith’s negotiation,” Corry said of Kaepernick’s extension. “It’s two different (situations). The problem is, the Chiefs still aren’t going to want to want to pay him in that Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler range.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (Twitter links) posits that the bottom line on Kaepernick’s deal is that he would have put himself in line for the Joe Flacco extension if he had a big walk year but he instead protected himself against injury.
- Wide receiver Joe Adams, who was drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round in 2012, has been released by the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- There was some speculation that an undated press release from the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers indicated that former Giants safety Will Hill had signed with the AFL club. However, Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger says that’s not the case, suggesting that perhaps Hill was activated off the AFL’s suspension list, creating some confusion.