Extra Points: Bush, Dalton, Draft Visits
The Saints recently matched the Falcons‘ offer sheet for Rafael Bush, and as is the case with many offer sheets, the structure of the deal is a little unusual. There are no signing, workout, or roster bonuses on Bush’s two-year contract, which features base salaries of $1.85MM and $1.95MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. $850K of that first-year salary is fully guaranteed and $350K is deferred until March 31, 2015. Wilson adds (via Twitter) that Bush can also earn up to $750K in incentives if he makes the Pro Bowl and grabs a certain number of interceptions in 2015, so the deal can max out at $4.55MM.
Here’s more from across the NFL:
- Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an in-depth look at Andy Dalton’s contract situation and explores whether or not the Bengals should commit to paying him $15MM per year. Ultimately, Corry suggests that the team would be better off suspending negotiating with its quarterback for now.
- The Steelers are hosting three players on pre-draft visits today, according to ESPN.com’s Scott Brown (via Twitter): Washington State safety Deone Bucannon, Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier and UCLA linebacker Jordan Zumwalt.
- Wyoming wide receiver Robert Herron met with the Saints yesterday and today on a pre-draft visit, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Herron reportedly worked out for the Panthers last week.
- The Redskins are hosting Scott Crichton on a pre-draft visit, according to Rapoport, who notes (via Twitter) that the Oregon State defensive end has already worked out for the Patriots, Falcons, and Panthers.
- Connecticut edge defender Jesse Joseph is among the players working out for the Eagles today, tweets Aaron Wilson.
- Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster has several more visits on the docket in addition to the ones we heard about last month. Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets that the Eagles, Jets, and Giants will meet with Webster, while the Chargers will work him out.
- According to Pauline (via Twitter), Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo worked out Colorado State center Weston Richburg, who is likely to be a second-day pick.
NFC Links: Harbaugh, Buccaneers, Eagles
After Pete Carroll signed his recent extension with the Seahawks, it was assumed that the deal would at least have some influence on a new Jim Harbaugh contract. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com thinks a deal is now less likely for the 49ers head coach. Maiocco cites team CEO Jed York‘s opinion that Harbaugh should not be paid like a championship coach until he actually wins a championship. With that thought it mind, Maiocco thinks Harbaugh will pass up a smaller extension and gamble on trying to win a Super Bowl this upcoming season.
More news from around the NFC…
- After having traded Mike Williams, the Buccaneers need to draft a wide receiver in the draft, opines to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. The team lacks any real depth behind Vincent Jackson, and the draft would be the most likely place to find a number-two receiver. Yasinskas suggests Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans.
- The Buccaneers waived linebacker Marvin Booker, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. The 24-year-old spent 2013 on the team’s injured reserve list.
- Receiver Kelvin Benjamin, cornerback Aaron Colvin and linebacker Jordan Tripp visited the Eagles today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The Eagles have the 22nd pick in this year’s first-round.
- Kellen Davis‘ new contract with the Giants is worth $795K, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The deal only counts for $570K against the cap.
NFC Notes: Bell, Wilson, Vaughn
Cardinals safety Yeremiah Bell is likely to retire despite the team offering him a one-year contract, reports Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Phoenix (via Twitter). A Dolphins sixth-round pick in 2004, Bell, 36, spent eight years in Miami before joining the Jets in 2012 and the Cardinals in 2013. He played all 16 games in each of the last six seasons, starting all but one contest. Pro Football Talk provides additional perspective on a remarkable career which began when Bell decided to walk on at Eastern Kentucky.
Bell’s retirement would leave the Cardinals with Tyrann Mathieu at free safety and Tony Jefferson or Rashad Johnson at strong safety. However, the secondary has struggled to handle tight ends in coverage, and it would not be a surprise if the team added a bigger, more athletic, more physical safety in the draft.
In other NFC news and notes…
- David Wilson would be an ideal No. 2 back for the Giants, but he’s coming off career-threatening neck surgery and his availability is unknown, writes Ralph Vacchiano in the New York Daily News.
- Meanwhile, the Giants still have questions at three of five spots on their offensive line, in the opinion of ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
- Losing starting center Brian De La Puente to the Bears didn’t surprise the Saints, as they seemingly chose to go another direction, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett, who details De La Puente’s replacement options.
- The Lions have agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback Cassius Vaughn, reports Aaron Wilson of National Football Post (via Twitter). Vaughn, 26, played all 16 games (four starts) last season for the Colts, recording 30 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
- Oregon running back/receiver/returner De’Anthony Thomas (otherwise known as “Black Mamba”) will visit the Bears tomorrow, per Ross Jones of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Thomas displayed speed, quickness and playmaking ability in Oregon’s prolific spread attack, but concerns about his size, durability and work ethic could push him into the middle rounds. Thomas’ skill set seems to fit with the Bears, who are in need of a speedy compliment to their large receivers, as well as a replacement for Devin Hester.
NFC East Notes: Redskins, Jackson, McCoy
Last week, we learned that the Giants have shown interest in recent free agent Chris Johnson. You voted that the Giants are the third-most likely destination for the former Titan Pro Bowler. Let’s look at a few other stories from around the NFC East this weekend:
- Rich Tandler of Real Redskins thinks that there is no reason to worry about the Redskins‘ remaining cap space being just $2.5MM. Tandler explains that the NFL’s Summer roster contract policies will allow the Redskins to sign 19 more players to meet the 90-man roster limit while counting only $500K total against their cap.
- LeSean McCoy ‘loves’ the Darren Sproles signing, according to Jason Butt of the National Football Post. McCoy thinks that the Eagles will use Sproles more that his previous backup, Bryce Brown, was used in McCoy’s franchise record-breaking 2013 rushing campaign. The University of Pittsburgh product thinks that a more balanced workload in 2014 will help him conserve more energy for later in games.
- John Clayton of ESPN writes that the flurry of recent signings in the NFC East could signify that the division is ready to reclaim its spotlight as the NFL’s prime time division. The Redskins and Giants have both spent almost $80MM, and Clayton believes that DeSean Jackson will be the most impactful NFC East signing from this past offseason.
Extra Points: Johnson, Mack, Carroll, Clowney
This probably wasn’t what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had when he built AT&T Stadium. Jones was in attendance for tonight’s first Final Four game between UConn and Florida and was showered with boos in his own house when he was put on the 72×160 feet big screen, writes Chris Chase of USA Today. For Jones to get cheers in North Texas once again, the Cowboys will have to do better than 8-8 in 2014. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL..
- Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk ran down the potential suitors for free agent running back Chris Johnson. Wilkening rightfully notes that the Jets are in need of a playmaker on offense while the Colts know the former Titans tailback well and are willing to spend for veteran talent. The Giants could also be in the mix since they got little out of their tailbacks last season.
- What direction will the Titans go in after moving on from the face of their franchise? Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean looks at life after CJ2K in Tennessee.
- The feeling one year ago was that Browns center Alex Mack wanted a short-term contract so that he could go through free agency for a second time in his prime, tweets Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.
- Pete Carroll‘s new deal with the Seahawks ensures that he’ll continue to lead in Seattle with his unusual tactics, writes Larry Stone of the Seattle Times. Carroll agreed to a new three-year extension with the defending champs earlier this week.
- Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle wonders if Jadeveon Clowney is the next Lawrence Taylor, the next Mario Williams, or a monumental bust waiting to happen.
- The staff at CSNChicago.com profiled Stanford tailback Tyler Gaffney and looked at how he could possibly fit with the Bears. Gaffney figures to be a fourth or fifth round selection.
NFC Notes: Jackson, Hawkins, Coleman, Giants, Panthers
Former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson claims the team never specified why he was cut. “I was sitting there waiting for the reason why, but that’s basically all I can (recall) from the conversation,” Jackson told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “. … I got off the phone. I was like, ‘Are you sure? That’s it?’ We hung up. That was it.”
While the Eagles haven’t addressed the issue directly, more details of Jackson’s behavior have emerged thanks to Joseph Santoliquito of CBS Philly.
In other news and notes from around the NFC. . .
- Receiver Lavelle Hawkins worked out for the Buccanneers, according to Aaron Wilson of National Football Post. Hawkins, who was cut by the Patriots last year, played for Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at Cal.
- Wilson also reports that former Eagles safety Kurt Coleman worked out for the Colts.
- The Bears are not actively seeking to replace second-year right tackle Jordan Mills, writes ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright in a mailbag piece. Says Wright: “…the Bears are fairly happy with Mills, and expect him to improve in his second year. Mills to me has a very bright future in the NFL, and has the right attitude in terms of doing what it takes day in and day out to be a pro.”
- The Packers’ biggest defensive weakness is a lack of speed at inside linebacker, writes ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, who suggests Alabama’s C.J. Mosley for the 21st pick.
- The Panthers could very well draft two receivers and two offensive tackles, speculates ESPN.com’s David Newton, who also says the “Double Trouble” running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should remain intact for two more seasons.
- The Giants earned a B-minus grade in free agency in the eyes of NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, who recaps and reviews the team’s signings.
Poll: Chris Johnson’s Future Home
The Titans gave running back Chris Johnson his unconditional release today, giving the three-time Pro Bowler and 2009 NFL rushing leader the freedom to choose his next team. There was speculation that Tennessee would try to trade Johnson, but a prohibitive salary and the decreased value of running backs led to a lack of substantive interest league-wide.
Now comes the streaming of rumors as to who’s in and who’s out on the Chris Johnson market, much like we saw when former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson became a free agent a week ago today. In this rumors roundup post by PFR’s Luke Adams, we see that four teams — the Jets, Bills, Dolphins and Falcons — all discussed a possible trade for Johnson, but nothing came to fruition.
In this writeup by SI.com’s Chris Burke, the writer outlines eight teams as potential landing spots for the one-time 2,000-yard back: Jets, Giants, Cowboys, Bears, Cardinals, Broncos, Rams, and Jaguars.
Will CJ2K end up with one of these eight teams? Or is there a sleeper team Burke failed to mention that could wind up utilizing Johnson’s services for the foreseeable future? Let us know in this PFR poll.
Which Team Signs Chris Johnson?
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New York Jets 32% (422)
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Denver Broncos 15% (200)
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New York Giants 11% (144)
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Dallas Cowboys 10% (127)
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Other 9% (113)
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Chicago Bears 7% (90)
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Arizona Cardinals 6% (81)
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St. Louis Rams 6% (75)
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Jacksonville Jaguars 4% (54)
Total votes: 1,306
Pre-Draft Visits: Garopollo, Cooks, Lee
The Browns brought Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in for a private visit earlier today, writes Jeff Schudel of the Morning Journal (he writes March 4, but he most likely means April 4). Schudel examines the idea of the Browns selecting a position other than quarterback at the top of the first round, and looking to grab the rookie signal caller with the 26th pick in the first round, or the third pick in round two.
Schudel writes that Browns star receiver Josh Gordon believes the team will take a quarterback with the fourth pick, and that Teddy Bridgewater would be his choice.
Here are some notes from some other pre-draft visits:
- Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks is visiting the Jets, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Cooks also has received interest from the Patriots and the Panthers.
- In addition to Cooks, the Patriots have expressed interest in receivers Marqise Lee of USC, Mike Evans of Texas A&M, Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU, and Kelvin Benjamin of Florida State, according to Doug Kyed of NESN (via Twitter).
- The Saints have scheduled a visit with Lee, but have not yet set a date to meet with Cooks, reports Larry Holder of NOLA.com (via Twitter).
- The Giants worked out quarterback Rusty Smith, reports Howard Balzer of LockerDome.com (via Twitter). Smith appeared in three games for the Titans between 2010 and 2012, throwing no touchdowns and four interceptions.
- Balzer also notes that Kurt Coleman visited the Colts, and while he is not an ideal candidate to replace the departed Antoine Bethea, he could add depth to the safety position
Chris Johnson Rumors: Friday
As we saw with DeSean Jackson last week, when a noteworthy offensive weapon hits the open market, it typically doesn’t take long for him to find a new home. Ex-Titans running back Chris Johnson is the latest big-name skill position player to be released by his previous team, with Tennessee making the move official earlier today. Even taking into account a diminished market for running backs, along with the fact that Johnson is recovering from knee surgery and is now five years removed from his 2,000-yard season, there will be interest in the perennial 1,000-yard rusher.
Here are the first few rumors on the league’s newest free agent, with any other Friday updates being added to the top of the list throughout the afternoon and evening:
- Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link) hears from Cowboys sources that Dallas doesn’t have interest in signing Johnson.
Earlier updates:
- Before Johnson was released by the Titans, the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and Falcons all discussed a possible trade for the running back, but elected not to make a move, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. We can probably cross off Miami as a suitor, since the club signed Knowshon Moreno instead.
- Despite a report last weekend suggesting the Falcons had no interest in Johnson, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean isn’t ruling out that possibility of the 28-year-old ending up in Atlanta — Schefter’s report indicates the Falcons at least had a little interest. Wyatt identifies the Jets, Giants, and Cowboys as other potential suitors.
- The Jets seem to be leading the charge for Johnson at this point, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, and as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has reported a couple times this week. Three Jets beat writers (all Twitter links) agreed today that the team would have interest in Johnson, but all three stressed it would have to be at the right price.
Giants Sign Kellen Davis, Travis Harvey
1:26pm: The Giants have officially announced the signing of Davis, as well as a deal with former Florida A&M receiver Travis Harvey, according to a team release. Harvey signed with the Titans last spring and was cut during training camp.
11:49am: The Giants have signed a tight end, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who reports (via Twitter) that the team agreed to terms on a one-year contract with unrestricted free agent Kellen Davis. New York has been extremely active in free agency this offseason, but Davis is the first addition at tight end for a club that lost Brandon Myers to the Bucs.
Davis, 28, played for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks last season, acting primarily as a blocker rather than a pass-catcher. After recording a career-high 19 receptions during his final season with the Bears in 2012, Davis hauled in just three passes in Seattle in 2013.
A former fifth-round pick, Davis likely isn’t being brought in to be the Giants’ answer at tight end. The club could address the position in the draft, and may still be keeping an eye on Jermichael Finley, who was linked to New York earlier in the offseason and is recovering from a spinal injury. The Giants also reportedly had interest last month in Brandon Pettigrew and Andrew Quarless, though those players and others have since come off the market.