Giants Sign Robert Ayers To Two-Year Deal
THURSDAY, 12:00pm: Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com provides the financial breakdown for Ayers’ two-year deal, which has a base value of $3.75MM and is guaranteed for $1.73MM. There’s also up to $1MM available via incentives.
WEDNESDAY, 9:35am: The Giants have reached an agreement to sign free agent defensive end Robert Ayers, a source tells Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). According to Garafolo, Ayers will ink a two-year contract with New York.
Although the Giants have been very active in free agency over the last several weeks, the defensive line was one area the team hadn’t really addressed, even after losing Justin Tuck to Oakland. Ayers, a former first-round pick, certainly won’t replace Tuck’s sack numbers, but the former Bronco, who started 27 games in Denver over five seasons, had excellent run-stopping grades in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Using PFF’s metrics, Ayers ranked 14th overall out of 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends, and also set a career-high with 5.5 sacks.
Prior to the two sides agreeing to terms, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News and Dave Hutchinson of the Star-Ledger both suggested that a deal with possible — Vacchiano cited “strong mutual interest,” while Hutchinson said talks were “heating up” (Twitter links).
NFC Notes: Wharton, Rudolph, Lions, Bowman
Let’s check in on a few afternoon items from around the NFC….
- The Panthers‘ offseason offensive line exodus may not be done yet. Veteran free agent guard Travelle Wharton suggests to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link) that he’s leaning toward retirement, though he hasn’t made a final decision yet. Over the last few weeks, Jordan Gross and Geoff Hangartner have also decided to retire, leaving the Panthers with some holes in their line.
- We heard last month that locking up Kyle Rudolph long-term is a “big priority” for the Vikings, and it sounds like the tight end is fully on board with the idea too. “I want to stay here,” Rudolph told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). “Hopefully, [an extension] is something we can get done this offseason.”
- With less than $2MM in cap space remaining even before today’s deal with Dan Orlovsky, the Lions may have to restructure multiple contracts in order to fill out their roster, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
- According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago (via Twitter), Zackary Bowman‘s new minimum-salary contract with the Giants includes a $65K signing bonus.
Giants Sign Charles Brown
WEDNESDAY, 2:21pm: Brown’s contract with the Giants is a one-year, minimum-salary pact, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
TUESDAY, 3:14pm: The Giants’ active offseason continued today, as the team announced it has officially signed offensive lineman Charles Brown. We had heard nearly two weeks ago that the Giants would be hosting Brown on a free agent visit.
Brown, a former second-round pick, started 14 games for the Saints in 2013. Although he didn’t perform particularly well according to Pro Football Focus’ advance metrics (subscription required), whose grades ranked him 66th among 76 qualified tackles, he was a solid run blocker and protected Drew Brees‘ blind side at left tackle until he was benched late in the season.
Brown turns 27 next week, so there’s still room for him to develop into an above-average pro, though I expect he’ll start out in a reserve role in New York.
FA Visits: Heyward-Bey, Wright, Ayers, Coleman
We heard this afternoon that veteran cornerback Champ Bailey is in New Orleans to meet with the Saints, but Bailey’s trip to Louisiana isn’t the only free agent visit that has been reported today. Let’s round up a few more….
- Former top-10 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey is scheduled to visit the Steelers on Wednesday, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The former Raider grabbed 29 balls last season for the Colts.
- Free agent safety Major Wright will meet with his old head coach Lovie Smith as he visits the Buccaneers today and tomorrow, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Wright himself tweeted that he’s looking forward to seeing “familiar old faces in Tampa,” while Rapoport adds that the Bucs will look to sign the 25-year-old before he leaves town.
- Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange passes along word of a pair of New York free agent visits, tweeting that the Giants hosted defensive end Robert Ayers and safety Kurt Coleman met with the Jets. Ayers was linked to the Giants earlier in the offseason.
Giants Re-Sign Mike Patterson
TUESDAY, 9:54am: Patterson’s contract is worth the minimum salary for one year, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
MONDAY, 1:37pm: In addition to officially announcing their signing of Zackary Bowman, the Giants have also announced a new deal for defensive lineman Mike Patterson (Twitter link). Like Bowman, Patterson had been an unrestricted free agent.
A longtime Eagle, Patterson joined the Giants for the 2013 season and assumed a part-time role for the team. In 413 defensive snaps, the former first-round pick logged 23 tackles and six quarterback pressures, grading especially well against the run, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Giants Sign Zack Bowman
TUESDAY, 9:53am: It’s a minimum salary contract for Bowman, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
MONDAY, 12:05pm: Bowman’s deal with the Giants is indeed for one year, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
12:00pm: After reportedly being close to signing with the Giants 10 days ago, Zackary Bowman appears to have finally reached an agreement with the team, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Dickerson reports (via Twitter) that the free agent cornerback will sign with the Giants. While terms of the deal aren’t known, Dickerson’s original story from a week and a half ago indicated it would be a one-year contract.
Bowman, 29, was an unrestricted free agent this offseason after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the Bears. After starting 12 of 16 games for the team in 2009, Bowman has mostly played a part-time role since then, though he did see seven more starts in 2013. The former fifth-round pick recorded 48 tackles and three interceptions in 2013, and received a slightly negative grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), in large part due to a poor showing against the run. Bowman’s -3.6 grade as a run stopper ranked in the bottom 10 among qualified cornerbacks.
For the Giants, Bowman will almost certainly return to a reserve role, assuming he makes the team. The club has already re-signed Trumaine McBride and added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond in free agency this month.
NFC Mailbag Roundup: Cowboys, Packers
Thanks to ESPN dedicating a seasoned reporter to each NFL team, there’s never a shortage for content. Today is mailbag day, where the reporters answer Twitter questions from fans in posts on the ESPN NFL Nation site. We’ve perused the mailbags and are bringing you the most relevant information from the NFC:
- Todd Archer thinks $11MM a year for Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant might be a little high, in part because of the money tied up in quarterback Tony Romo. However, if the contract is structured in such a way to encourage Bryant to prove it every year — with yearly roster bonuses, for example — it would make more sense.
- Rob Demovsky takes on the Packers center situation, saying the team can’t pay everyone big money on the offensive line. Guards T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton are each on their second contracts, while tackles Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod earn first-round pick salaries. Demovsky pegs center candidate J.C. Tretter as “smart, athletic, extremely versatile and a tough guy,” and says Don Barclay and possibly a draft pick with challenge Tretter for the job.
- In an interesting bit of news, Demovsky reports that the Packers will gain $350K in salary-cap space for this season and every season through 2017 thanks to an insurance policy that kicked in when quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed seven games with a fractured left clavicle.
- Cornerback Charles Godfrey currently carries a $7.1MM salary cap figure, and David Newton says the Panthers want Godfrey on the roster, but not at that number. Godfrey suffered an Achilles injury in Week 2 that prematurely ended his 2013 season, and his recovery from the injury will go a long way to figuring out his status on the team.
- Mike Triplett says there’s probably a “good chance” the Saints will add another veteran receiver.
- Michael Rothstein does not agree with the Lions‘ choice to not exercise the defensive tackle’s $5.5MM option for 2015.
- Dan Graziano says North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron “remains a strong possibility” for the Giants with the No. 12 overall pick.
- Ryan Clark remains an option at free safety for the Redskins, John Keim writes, adding that he thinks the team will draft someone at the position.
- Ben Goessling doesn’t think the Vikings were willing to spend what the Giants ended up spending for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Eagles Favorites To Sign Mark Sanchez
WEDNESDAY, 9:20pm: Sanchez is in Philadelphia to meet with the Eagles and a deal could be done soon, tweets Brian Costello of the New York Post. The Eagles are putting the quartberack through a physical with an eye on his injured shoulder.
MONDAY, 4:23pm: While the Eagles are in the lead to sign Sanchez, it’s “not a lock,” a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Mehta adds the Browns and Titans to the list of teams that have expressed some interest, and says the Giants probably aren’t a serious candidate for Sanchez, despite having some interest.
4:05pm: As expected, Mortensen clarifies (via Twitter) that the Eagles will at least have to do their own medical evaluation of Sanchez before signing him. As Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets, the Eagles look like the frontrunners for the ex-Jet, but there are still a few hurdles to clear.
3:59pm: Mark Sanchez received a “failed physical” designation when he was officially released by the Jets, but his recovery from shoulder surgery is going well, and it won’t stop him from signing with a new team, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. While it’s not entirely clear if he’s reporting that Sanchez already has an agreement in place, Mortensen at least suggests (via Twitter) that the veteran quarterback figures to land with the Eagles now that he’s a free agent.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicates (via Twitter) that it’s not quite a done deal yet, writing that the Eagles will take a “hard look” at Sanchez and his medicals, and may sign him. In a second tweet, Rapoport adds that the Giants and other teams should join the Eagles in the hunt for Sanchez. Earlier today, we heard that the Rams also have some interest in the 27-year-old.
Sanchez, a former fifth overall pick, spent four seasons as the Jets’ full-time starter before giving way to Geno Smith in 2013. After setting career-highs with a 56.7% completion percentage, 3,474 passing yards, and 26 passing TDs in 2011, Sanchez regressed in 2012, with those numbers dipping to 54.3%, 2,883, and 13, respectively.
If he officially signs in Philadelphia, Sanchez would be replacing the man that replaced him in New York, taking over Michael Vick‘s role as the Eagles’ No. 2 quarterback behind Nick Foles.
NFC East Notes: Garrett, Redskins, Giants
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said last month that he’s not thinking about his contract situation, despite entering the last year of his deal. Following those comments, owner Jerry Jones stressed that 2014 is not necessarily a make-or-break season for Garrett, and he expressed that sentiment in stronger terms yesterday. Asked if the head coach must lead the Cowboys to the postseason this year in order to keep his job, Jones said he doesn’t look at it that way “at all,” according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- According to head coach Jay Gruden, no teams have contacted the Redskins about acquiring Kirk Cousins. Gruden indicated today he’s excited to have Cousins backing up Robert Griffin III , tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
- Discussing Brian Orakpo, Gruden said he wouldn’t mind the linebacker playing out the 2014 season on his one-year franchise tag to see what he can do before the Redskins lock him up to a long-term deal (Twitter link via Jones).
- The Giants added Rashad Jennings and re-signed Peyton Hillis in free agency, but with Andre Brown likely to sign elsewhere and David Wilson still recovering from neck surgery, head coach Tom Coughlin suggested today that the team will likely need to add another running back to be safe (Twitter link via Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post).
- Coughlin, the NFL’s oldest current head coach, also said today that he feels great health-wise and feels like he can keep coaching beyond this season, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
Contract Details: Vick, Campbell, Jenkins
The one-year deal Michael Vick inked with the Jets is worth a guaranteed $4MM, including a $2MM signing bonus and $2MM guaranteed base salary, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The contract was originally reported as a $5MM pact, so perhaps there are incentives related to playing time or performance.
Here are several more contract details from around the NFL:
- Jason Campbell‘s one-year, $1.5MM contract with the Bengals features a $400K signing bonus, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. Mike Jenkins also received $1.5MM on a one-year contract from the Buccaneers, but Jenkins’ salary is fully guaranteed, as Fitzgerald details.
- Darian Stewart signed a one-year, $1.3MM contract with the Ravens, with a $300K signing bonus, tweets Pelissero.
- Pelissero and Fitzgerald have also provided details on a number of other contracts, including Devin Hester‘s three-year, $9MM contract with the Falcons (Twitter/OTC chart), Tiquan Underwood‘s two-year, $2.1MM contract with the Panthers (Twitter/OTC chart), and Charles Woodson‘s one-year, $3.5MM pact with the Raiders (Twitter/OTC chart).
- Bruce Miller’s three-year contract extension with the 49ers created $300K+ in 2014 cap savings for the club, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Maiocco also has the details on Miller’s contract, which is worth $6.831MM over the next four years.
- Lance Moore‘s two-year deal with the Steelers includes non-guaranteed base salaries of $855K (2014) and $1.5MM (2015), tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- John Jerry‘s contract with the Giants is a minimum salary benefit deal, according to OverTheCap.com.