NFC Rumors: Idonije, Clark, Penn, Spencer
Defensive lineman Israel Idonije spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Bears before joining the Lions as a free agent a year ago. Now back on the market, Idonije appears to be considering a reunion with his old team. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the veteran will be visiting with the Bears tomorrow, while ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright adds (via Twitter) that Idonije will be taking a physical in Chicago, and the club hopes to lock him up. While we wait for further developments on that front, let’s check in on a few other items from around the NFC:
- Free agent safety Ryan Clark tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today that his agent continues to negotiate with the Redskins and that he has also received interest from the Ravens and Jets.
- As of earlier this afternoon, free agent tackle Donald Penn was still in Washington, with the Redskins still working to sign him, says Ross Jones of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- Free agent defensive lineman Anthony Spencer left his meeting with the Giants today without reaching a deal with the team, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
- The Lions hosted safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix for a pre-draft visit today, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Considered one of the top two safeties in this year’s draft class, Clinton-Dix could be a candidate for Detroit at No. 10.
- The NFLPA will elect a new president to replace Domonique Foxworth on Wednesday, and Ben Watson of the Saints is a name to watch, tweets Albert Breer.
Giants Sign Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
4:55pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears that $14MM of DRC’s deal will be guaranteed, including a $10MM signing bonus (Twitter link). The signing is now official, adds Vacchiano (via Twitter).
4:20pm: Schefter (via Twitter) pegs the value of the deal at $39MM, with $15MM in guaranteed money. Unless Vacchiano’s figure is off, perhaps $39MM is the max value of the contract after incentives.
3:56pm: The Giants have agreed to sign Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a five-year contract, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), the deal is worth $35MM.
Rodgers-Cromartie, who turns 28 next month, represents the latest addition to a secondary that has been significantly retooled in the last week, with the Giants also adding cornerback Walter Thurmond and safety Quintin Demps. After signing a one-year deal with the Broncos last year, DRC enjoyed a very good season in Denver, grabbing three interceptions and breaking up 19 passes while ranking fifth overall among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
While Rodgers-Cromartie seemed to be flirting with the idea of retirement based on comments he made prior to the Super Bowl, he was always a lock to draw significant interest in free agency. The Broncos reportedly made DRC a six-year, $54MM offer before landing Aqib Talib, though that offer didn’t include a significant amount of guaranteed money. The Jets also pursued the veteran cornerback, with Rodgers-Cromartie’s decision essentially coming down to the two New York franchises, though the Browns were also believed to be in the hunt.
With the exception of Alex Mack, who was designated as the Browns’ transition player and therefore isn’t unrestricted, Rodgers-Cromartie was the last of my top 25 free agents to come off the board. Comparing his new annual salary to other corners on that list, DRC was closer to Alterraun Verner territory than to the big deals signed by Talib, Vontae Davis, and Sam Shields. However, the guarantee is more important than the per-year amount, so we’ll have to wait to see exactly how DRC’s five-year breaks down financially.
With Rodgers-Cromartie off the board, the free agent class of cornerbacks has thinned out considerably. Recently released players like Antonio Cromartie, Carlos Rogers, Champ Bailey, and Dimitri Patterson are among the more notable names still on the market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Re-Sign Spencer Paysinger
Linebacker Spencer Paysinger has accepted his restricted free agent tender from the Giants and is now under contract with the team for 2014, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The Giants tendered Paysinger for the lowest RFA amount, meaning he’ll be on a one-year, $1.431MM deal.
Paysinger, 25, saw an increased role for the Giants in 2013, starting 11 games for the team and playing both middle linebacker and outside linebacker. The Oregon product graded better playing on the weak side than in the middle, according to Pro Football Focus, whose grades had Paysinger ranked 16th out of 35 4-3 outside linebackers (subscription required).
The Giants have now re-signed 2013 starters Paysinger and Jon Beason, and have added a third free agent linebacker in Jameel McClain.
Contract Details: Peppers, Cook, McClain
While Julius Peppers‘ three-year deal with the Packers was reported as being worth $30MM over three years, the base value is actually just $26MM, though that could increase if the veteran hits certain escalators, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). With a $7.5MM signing bonus and a $1MM base salary in 2014, the cap hit in the first year will be just $3.5MM. The deal also includes base salaries of $8.5MM in 2015 and $7MM in 2016, with $1MM in workout and roster bonuses in each of those seasons.
Let’s round up a few more contract details from around the league….
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com provides the financial details on the contracts signed by cornerback Chris Cook and kicker Phil Dawson with the 49ers. Cook’s pact is a minimum salary benefit deal with no guaranteed money, according to Maiocco.
- Jameel McClain‘s two-year deal with the Giants has a base value of $4.5M, with escalators that can push up to $6M, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson says the contract includes a $600K signing bonus, base salaries of $1.375M (2014) and $1.75M (2015), and a $400K roster bonus in ’15.
- The Rams‘ new deal with Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a two-year, $2.05MM contract, but could be voided after year one in certain scenarios, as Wilson explains in a pair of tweets.
- The new five-year contract Zach Strief and the Saints agreed to today includes a first-year base salary of just $900K, meaning Strief’s 2014 cap hit is $2MM, tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
- Frank Zombo‘s new contract with the Chiefs is a two-year deal, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
- The three-year deal between the Giants and Jon Beason has a base value of $16.8MM, with a $4.4MM signing bonus and $6MM in overall guaranteed money, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
East Notes: Jackson, Browner, Giants, Dolphins
Earlier this month, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer shot down rumors suggesting the Eagles could trade or release DeSean Jackson this offseason, but that didn’t stop the wide receiver from reading those earlier reports himself. According to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, Jackson is “troubled” by what has been written about him and is unsure about his standing on the team, while the Eagles have yet to contact him to offer him assurance. While it may not be a significant issue at this point, it has become “a bit of a distraction,” one of Jackson’s confidantes tells McManus.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Brandon Browner‘s three-year deal with the Patriots has a base value of $12.35MM, but can be worth up to $16.8MM. Field Yates and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com break down exactly what the cornerback’s contract looks like, and how he can reach those incentives.
- The Giants had, and may still have, some interest in free agent defensive end Robert Ayers, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Ayers is visiting the Bengals tomorrow.
- The Dolphins haven’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, who is willing to move over to right tackle for his next team, as he said on WQAM (link via Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel). The veteran lineman also suggested he may wait until after May’s draft to sign.
- Cortland Finnegan‘s two-year contract with the Dolphins includes a $2MM signing bonus, a $3.5MM guaranteed base salary in 2014, and a $5.45MM non-guaranteed base in 2015, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
FA Rumors: Jets, Boothe, Melton, Wharton
The two New York teams appear to be the top contenders for free agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but Rich Cimini of ESPN New York gets the sense that the Jets may be losing hope on the DRC front (Twitter link). That’s not to say the Giants should start printing Rodgers-Cromartie jerseys quite yet, since the Browns are rumored to be lurking as well, but it looks like the G-Men might have the upper hand on their AFC rivals.
Here’s more on a few free agents still on the market:
- The Jets continue to talk to offensive lineman Willie Colon in the hopes of working out a deal to bring him back to New York, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. The club has also shown interest in free agent receiver Jacoby Ford, says Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter).
- The free agent swap meet between the Raiders and Giants continues, as offensive lineman Kevin Boothe is in Oakland to visit the Raiders today, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- Defensive end Robert Ayers will visit the Bengals tomorrow, tweets Garafolo.
- The Vikings remain in contact with free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. Melton is visiting the Cowboys today.
- While the Dolphins have made preliminary inquiries on free agent offensive lineman Ryan Harris, the team has yet to set up a visit with the ex-Texan, tweets Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.
- Free agent guard Travelle Wharton has no plans to retire at this point, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wharton has spent nearly his entire NFL career with the Panthers, who have seen Jordan Gross and Geoff Hangartner retire so far this offseason.
- Free agent cornerback Mike Jenkins is visiting the Buccaneers today, a source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Choosing Between Giants, Jets
It keeps looking like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will join one of the New York teams, but it’s still a mystery which team he’ll choose. Rodgers-Cromartie is spending the night in New York so he can take his physical with the Giants on Monday, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). However, Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, citing his colleague Ian Rapoport, claims that Rodgers-Cromartie already took a physical with the Jets. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News adds that Jets coach Rex Ryan wants to sign the player “badly” (via Twitter). Earlier this evening, Rapoport insinuated that the cornerback was narrowing his list to the two teams (via Twitter).
Rodgers-Cromartie is generally regarded as the best cornerback still available in free agency. The 27-year-old appeared in 15 games for the Broncos last season, compiling 31 total tackles and three interceptions. The former first-round pick also played for the Cardinals and Eagles.
The Browns are also trying to get Rodgers-Cromartie in for a visit, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Extra Points: Welker, Burleson, Cromartie
A few assorted notes from around the league:
- Broncos receiver Wes Welker‘s $3MM roster bonus and $3MM base salary became fully guaranteed on Wednesday, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
- Receiver Nate Burleson tweets that he is not retiring, noting that he was hampered last season by his broken arm.
- The Jets remain interested in cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. The tweet also notes that fellow cornerback (and Rodgers-Cromartie’s cousin) Antonio Cromartie, recently released by the Jets, is interested in returning to the team.
- Quarterback Shaun Hill will visit the Rams on Monday, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
- With reports that Anthony Spencer is set to visit the Giants, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano writes that signing the pass-rusher only makes sense if he comes on the cheap.
- The best recruiting tool for the Buccaneers, who have signed several free agents such as Michael Johnson, Anthony Collins, and Josh McCown, is new head coach Lovie Smith, opines Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
Visit Updates: Manningham, Britt, Bridgewater
Several notes on player visits:
- Receiver Mario Manningham will meet the Giants on Monday, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. Manningham played for the Giants from 2008-2011 before signing with the 49ers.
- Receiver Kenny Britt will meet with the Redskins after he visits the Patriots, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. We noted earlier today that Washington was attempting to schedule a visit with the free agent.
- Linebacker Will Herring visited the Cowboys on Saturday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. A previous deal between the two parties fell through.
- The Chiefs met with offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link).
- Caplan also tweets that fullback Erik Lorig met the Saints, who do not have a fullback on the roster after non-tendering Jed Collins.
- Linebacker Rob Jackson will meet with the Raiders, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter).
- Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater met with the Vikings staff, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Giants Sign Quintin Demps
1:08pm: The team has officially announced the transaction.
8:20am: The Giants have agreed to sign free safety and return specialist Quintin Demps. Demps tweeted the news himself late Saturday night, and the signing has since been confirmed by multiple sources. Demps provides New York with the quality return skills they were seeking from Jacoby Jones and Ted Ginn, Jr. before those players signed elsewhere.
Demps returned 33 kickoffs for 992 yards last season, and he also performed well in the defensive backfield. He saw the field a great deal in the Chiefs’ subpackages, and he tallied a career-high four interceptions. His presence will add quality depth to the Giants’ secondary, who have concerns about Will Hill and Stevie Brown.
As for the Chiefs, the team will now have to replace their top kick returner and their top punt returner following the departures of Demps and Dexter McCluster. Husain Abdullah and 2013 fifth-round pick Sanders Commings will get the first crack to take Demps’ place at safety, though Kansas City could of course address the position via free agency–where the number of safeties available has rapidly diminished–or the draft.