OL Rumors: Dolphins, Oher, Titans, Giants
As rumors continue to trickle in on the fourth day of free agency, let’s check in on a few offensive lineman who remain on the market:
- The Dolphins have extended a contract offer to offensive lineman Shelley Smith, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). However, Beasley cautions that Smith has other offers on the table, adding that the situation remains fluid. According to Beasley (via Twitter), Smith and cornerback Cortland Finnegan are at the Dolphins’ headquarters this morning.
- Free agent tackle Michael Oher is visiting with the Titans today, reports Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds (via Twitter) that Oher will meet with the Raiders tomorrow. With Eugene Monroe back in the fold in Baltimore, the subject of The Blind Side appears likely to land with a new team this offseason.
- As of late yesterday, the Giants still had interest in re-signing veteran offensive lineman Kevin Boothe and pairing him with J.D. Walton at center, tweets Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
FA Rumors: Campbell, Melton, Browner, Mack
Offensive lineman Bruce Campbell, who was originally thought to have a deal with the Redskins, will visit the Giants today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Last we heard on Campbell, there were some issues with his physical, but Washington remained on the table as a destination. According to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (via Twitter), the Redskins’ offer stands, though perhaps it’s not the same offer that Campbell initially agreed to, given the health concerns.
Here are the latest updates on a few more free agents on the board, plus one that recently came off it:
- After sticking around Minnesota overnight, defensive tackle Henry Melton is on his way to Seattle to visit with the Seahawks, says Josina Anderson of ESPN (via Twitter).
- While his agent negotiates with the Patriots and Raiders, free agent cornerback Brandon Browner will first visit with the Redskins today and then head to New Orleans to meet with the Saints, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
- Center Alex Mack is in no hurry to sign his transition tender from the Browns, agent Tim Younger tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. According to Mack’s agent, his client intends to make some visits to teams at some point, but there are none on the docket quite yet.
- The Cowboys showed no signs of wanting to re-sign Jason Hatcher before he landed with the Redskins, the defensive lineman himself told KRLD-FM yesterday, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I know the [Cowboys’] fans are upset. They should be,” Hatcher said. “They have all the right in the world to be. But I made the right decision for me. If we could’ve made it work out we would’ve, but I’m in a great place with the Redskins, a great organization. I’m looking forward to getting back to football.”
Giants Re-Sign Henry Hynoski
The Giants have re-signed fullback Henry Hynoski, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s a one-year, $1MM deal. New York elected not to extend an RFA tender worth $1.431MM to Hynoski this week, and after the three-year veteran visited with the Lions, he opted to return to New York.
Hynoski, 25, figures to battle with tough blocker John Conner for the full-time fullback job. A shoulder injury in Week 3 ended Hynoski’s 2013 season prematurely, and Conner performed well in his absence. A
Raiders Sign Justin Tuck To Two-Year Deal
2:18pm: The Raiders have signed Tuck, the team officially announced (Twitter link).
2:05pm: After giving the Giants a chance to improve their offer, Justin Tuck will part ways with the team and is headed west to Oakland, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Schefter reports that Tuck has accepted a two-year, $11MM deal with the Raiders.
Tuck has spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Giants, and it sounds as if he was interested in continuing his tenure in New York. However, with New York unwilling to match the Raiders’ offer, Tuck will join an Oakland team that is also attempting to sign LaMarr Woodley and Jason Hatcher, among others.
While we heard yesterday that there were more teams in play for Tuck besides the Giants and Raiders, no other specific suitors were identified. A report earlier in the week suggested Tuck’s best offer was $3MM per season, so it seems his market improved a little over the last couple days — perhaps as a result of DeMarcus Ware‘s unexpectedly large three-year deal with the Broncos.
Although he’ll turn 31 this month, Tuck has continued to produce in recent seasons, racking up 11 sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles in 2013. He also received an impressive grade as a run-stopper, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him seventh among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends last season. Tuck will help fill the defensive end void created in Oakland when Lamarr Houston agreed to sign with the Bears.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Cousins, Hood, Graham, Saffold
A Kirk Cousins trade remains unlikely for the Redskins, write Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post. There was talk that Washington would be open to moving the quarterback since he would like to start and he is stuck behind Robert Griffin III on the depth chart. For his part, Cousins has said that he will be professional and won’t demand a trade.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, defensive lineman Ziggy Hood received interest from the Redskins, Raiders, and Chiefs, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Meanwhile, Chris Clemons said the Raiders and Falcons reached out to him before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, according to O’Halloran (via Twitter).
- Cornerback Corey Graham, who signed with the Bills, told reporters today that he was preparing to go to dinner with the Redskins when he got the call from his agent about Buffalo’s offer (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550).
- Wide receiver Jacoby Jones had a similar story to Graham, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun details in a pair of tweets. Jones says he was in New York, about to have dinner with the Giants, when he realized he wanted to stay with the Ravens and headed for the airport instead.
- Safety Mike Mitchell is extremely happy to be with the Steelers and tells reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter) that he wanted to come to Pittsburgh more than the club wanted him to be there.
- As expected, the Cardinals have paid Daryl Washington his option bonus, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. There was some talk that they wouldn’t pay out his bonus due to legal issues.
- Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle provides a look at the Raiders‘ perspective on why their deal with Rodger Saffold fell apart yesterday.
- Wide receiver prospect Marqise Lee is drawing significant interest from the Jets and had a private meeting with the team, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Georgia tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, a projected second- or third-round pick tells Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (Twitter links) that six teams have shown strong interest in him. Those clubs are the Ravens, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, Chargers, and Steelers.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
FA Rumors: DRC, Ginn, Whitehurst, Burleson
As one of the few notable cornerbacks remaining on the market, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is still searching for a deal. According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), the Jets are one team that has been in touch with DRC’s camp about the free agent, as New York remains in the market for cornerback help. Here are a few more Thursday free agent updates:
- After missing out on receiver and return specialist Jacoby Jones, the Giants are eyeing Ted Ginn Jr., a player capable of filling a similar role, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
- Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean thinks there’s a reasonable chance the Titans and quarterback Charlie Whitehurst will work something out (Twitter link). Wyatt reported earlier today that Whitehurst was visiting with the club.
- The Titans are also exhibiting interest in wide receiver Nate Burleson, who was released by the Lions before the start of the free agent period, tweets Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
- The Steelers are “really interested” in defensive end Alex Carrington, and will host him for a visit tonight, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Pittsburgh has already lost Ziggy Hood in free agency and may part ways with Brett Keisel as well.
- Linebacker Darryl Tapp is among the players visiting the Lions today, reports Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- Free agent center Phil Costa is visiting the Colts today and Bengals tomorrow, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
FA Rumors: Steve Smith, Andre Brown, Hatcher
The Ravens will be in hot pursuit of Steve Smith when he’s officially released by the Panthers, and a deal could end up materializing quickly, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Here’s more:
- It sounds like there’s a decent chance free agent running back Andre Brown could end up signing with the Raiders, continuing the offseason’s apparent free agent swap between Oakland and the Giants, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
- Assuming Jason Hatcher doesn’t sign with the Raiders, the defensive lineman will visit the Redskins, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- Cornerback Brandon Browner will visit with the Redskins tonight, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
- The Panthers have interest in bringing back free agent receiver Brandon LaFell, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Although fullback Henry Hynoski is visiting the Lions today, he has remained in contact with the Giants, tweets Rapoport.
- ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter links) has the details on the Titans‘ upcoming free agent visits: LaMarr Woodley intends to visit Friday if he doesn’t sign with the Raiders, while Pat Sims and Antonio Smith will visit today.
- The Vikings have made a call inquiring on free agent guard Daryn Colledge, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Colledge, who will visit the Rams today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), was recently cut loose by the Cardinals for cap savings.
East Rumors: Giants, Jets, Pats, Eagles
A couple of rumblings from the teams in the Eastern divisions…
- Jacoby Jones turned down more money from the Giants to re-sign with the Ravens, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
- Linval Joseph, who was signed by the Vikings, said today that the final offer he got from the Giants was nowhere close to what he got from Minnesota, tweets Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
- The Jets have expressed interest in recently reinstated cornerback Brandon Browner, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. However, at this time, it appears unlikely that he’ll end up with Gang Green.
- Jason Avant, who hit the market early after being released by the Eagles, will visit with the Patriots, tweets Field Yates of ESPN Boston.
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) surmises that if another team really wanted Patriots free agent receiver Julian Edelman, he’d be signed by now. The wide receiver market isn’t terribly hot at the moment.
- Malcolm Jenkins said the Raiders and Rams showed interest before he decided to sign with the Eagles, says Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly (via Twitter). As Mosher points out, Rams’ defensive coordinator Greg Williams was Jenkins’ coach with the Saints.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
No Deal Between Schofield, Giants
WEDNESDAY, 3:29pm: The Giants’ deal with Schofield is considered dead, writes the Star-Ledger’s Jordan Raanan.
1:51pm: The Giants’ deal with Schofield hasn’t necessarily been scrapped, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. However, the team may no longer be willing to pay him $8MM for two years, which could prompt the linebacker to look elsewhere (Twitter links).
1:35pm: The Giants’ deal with Schofield is now on hold, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports that the club has concerns about the linebacker’s physical, due to potential knee problems (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 5:04pm: The Giants agreed to terms on a two-year deal with linebacker O’Brien Schofield, reports Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The contract is worth $8MM. Schofield spent his four seasons in the NFC West, as a backup linebacker with the Cardinals and last year with the Seahawks.
Giants Sign Rashad Jennings
WEDNESDAY, 3:05pm: Jennings has officially signed his new contract with the Giants, according to Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link). A source tells Smith it’s a four-year pact worth $14MM, with about $3MM in guaranteed money. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports clarifies (via Twitter) that $14MM is the max value of the deal.
TUESDAY, 4:26pm: Rashad Jennings took to Twitter to announce that he is about to sign with Big Blue: “Flying to the Big Apple tonight! Looking forward to signing the dotted lines with @Giants.”
Jennings, who has previously served as the understudy to both Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew, also had interest from the incumbent Raiders. The 6’1″ tailback rushed for 733 yards last season, a career high, off of 163 attempts.