This Date In Transactions History: 49ers Release Jerry Rice
The 2001 free agency period featured some key players change teams. Simeon Rice and Priest Holmes relocated and soon became All-Pros, and the Buccaneers landed eventual Super Bowl starter Brad Johnson. But the biggest name available that year was not up for debate.
Jerry Rice became a free agent 20 years ago today, and although he did not last long unattached, the legendary wide receiver hitting the market was certainly notable. The 49ers made Rice a cap casualty on June 4, 2001, taking advantage of the post-June 1 cut designation that allowed for cap relief. Because post-June 1 cuts at this point required the team to make such moves after that date, another free agency wave took place annually.
This ended Rice’s storied 49ers tenure, which lasted 16 years and saw the eventual 20-year veteran set every major career receiving record there is. Rice signed a seven-year, $32MM contract in the summer of 1996; that deal was set to take him through the 2003 season. The 49ers and their all-time great agreed to multiple restructures, including a redo in 2000. Rice said at the time of the last restructure he wanted to finish his career in San Francisco, but that did not end up coming to pass.
The 49ers prepared for this transaction months ahead of it transpiring. Their Week 16 game against the Bears in 2000 doubled as “Jerry Rice Day,” with the then-38-year-old receiver playing his final game as a 49er at Candlestick Park. Terrell Owens, closing out his fifth season with the 49ers, did some reasonable upstaging by catching 20 passes to break the NFL’s then-50-year-old single-game reception record. A 1996 third-round pick who would end up following Rice to Canton, Owens earned the first of his five first-team All-Pro honors that season and had entrenched himself as San Francisco’s No. 1 wideout entering the 2000s. The last of Rice’s NFL-record 10 first-team All-Pro nods came in 1996.
Rice’s exit marked the end of a 49ers era, one that rapidly wound down after Steve Young sustained a career-ending injury in September 1999. Rice was to earn a $4.1MM salary in 2001, and although his first Raiders contract — a four-year, $5.4MM pact — called for him to make just $1.4MM that season, the veteran landed on his feet in Oakland. After playing on a 6-10 Niners team in 2000, Rice ended up helping the Raiders make the playoffs over the next two years.
He agreed to terms with the Raiders a day after his 49ers release, joining the Silver and Black ahead of what would be Jon Gruden‘s final season (of his first Raiders stay, that is). After back-to-back years in which he was held under 900 receiving yards, Rice rebounded with consecutive 1,100-plus-yard seasons in Oakland. The second of those, during the Raiders’ 2002 AFC championship campaign, produced his 14th and final Pro Bowl invite at age 40. The Raiders gave Rice a six-year, $30MM extension in 2003.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/4/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: QB Kenji Bahar
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Michael Warren
- Waived: RB Rakeem Boyd
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: G Parker Ehinger
- Waived: CB Rashaan Gaulden
Richard Sherman May Wait Until Training Camp To Sign
It’s been quiet on the Richard Sherman front, but there might be a reason why. Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv writes that many around the NFL believe the veteran is going to “wait out training camp” to sign with a contender.
This isn’t a shocking move, and we’ve seen plenty of veterans take this route over the years. By waiting a bit for his next contract, Sherman isn’t only getting some extra rest as he enters his age-33 season. Rather, the five-time Pro Bowler can also wait to see if an alluring opportunity appears following injuries and roster cuts. Either way, he’ll get more time to evaluate his potential suitors.
Sherman has been a popular name this offseason. We most recently heard that he was in talks with the 49ers, where he had spent the past three years. Sherman has also had talks with the Seahawks, the team that he spent the first seven seasons of his career with, and he’s generated interest from the Raiders and Saints. The Jets have continually been mentioned as a potential suitor thanks to the presence of head coach Robert Saleh, who spent time with Sherman both in Seattle and San Francisco.
The Stanford product was limited to only five games this past year and recently turned 33, but he was still a second-team All-Pro in 2019. He’ll be an interesting gamble for a team, as he’s past his prime and coming off an injury-plagued year, but also played at a very high level not too long ago. The veteran has indicated that he’d like to play two more years.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived/injured: WR Krishawn Hogan
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Devin Gray
Detroit Lions
- Suspended three games (substance-abuse policy): DT Jashon Cornell
- Waived: FB Nick Bawden
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: OL Erik Magnuson
- Waived: TE Carson Williams
Washington Football Team
- Waived/injured: TE Dylan Cantrell
Raiders Sign S Roderic Teamer
New Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will reunite with another of his former Chargers troops. The Raiders agreed to terms with safety Roderic Teamer on Thursday.
Set to follow ex-Bolts teammate Casey Hayward in Las Vegas, Teamer will join the Raiders after a stint with the Colts. The former UDFA caught on with Indianapolis via reserve/futures contract in January but ended up being waived shortly after the draft. Teamer’s Raiders deal is for one year and $780K, veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets.
Teamer was with the Chargers for just one season, with a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy sidetracking his tenure in Los Angeles. The Tulane product, however, worked as a starter for the Bolts as a rookie. Depleted at safety in 2019, the Chargers used Teamer as a six-game starter. He made 40 tackles, registered a sack and intercepted a pass during that stay. The Chargers cut Teamer in August 2020, following the news of his four-game suspension.
The Raiders have been busy in their secondary this offseason. At safety alone, the team has added second-round pick Trevon Moehrig, fourth-rounder Tyree Gillespie and reunited with 2016 first-round pick Karl Joseph. A special teams role may be the Raiders’ objective with Teamer (no pun intended).
Raiders Re-Sign Sam Young
Sam Young will return to the Raiders (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). On Thursday, the two sides reached agreement on a new one-year deal, giving him a chance to slot into the team’s offensive tackle rotation.
Kolton Miller will start at left tackle with unexpected first-round pick Alex Leatherwood likely to man the right side. Young could operate as one of the first tackles off of the bench behind both players, or an insurance policy for Leatherwood if he’s still a bit green. But, based on the reviews Leatherwood has been getting out of practice, the reserve role seems more likely for Young.
“Yeah, he’s a big body,” veteran guard Richie Incognito said last week (via The Athletic). “He comes from a storied program at Alabama, and he’s done a ton of winning — a couple national championships under his belt. He’s a quiet kid … he’s a hard worker. He’s picking up on what (offensive line) coach (Tom) Cable is laying down, and I expect him to have a big year.”
Young isn’t exactly an elite tackle, but he does offer lots of experience, including eleven games (seven starts) for the Raiders last year. On the whole, he’s got 103 appearances to his credit across eleven pro seasons.
Raiders Sign TE Alex Ellis
Journeyman Alex Ellis is joining his seventh organization. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the veteran tight end is signing with the Raiders.
The 2016 undrafted free agent out of Tennessee has bounced around the NFL over the past four-plus years, spending time with the Titans, Jaguars, Saints, Chiefs, Eagles, and (phew) Patriots. The tight end saw time on a career-high 124 snaps with Jacksonville in 2016, a season in which he started three games.
The 28-year-old’s last appearance in a regular season game was in 2019, when he saw time in three games for Philly. He caught on with the Patriots last August but was let go before the regular season.
Ellis will be joining a crowded depth chart is Las Vegas. Behind starter Darren Waller, the team is also rostering tight ends Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier, Nick Bowers, Matt Bushman, and Carson Williams. While Ellis has more NFL experience than a handful of those players, it’s no guarantee he ends up making the roster.
Damon Arnette A Slot CB Candidate
- The Raiders might be considering shifting 2020 first-round pick Damon Arnette from the outside to the slot, Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes (subscription required). Gus Bradley‘s staff watched Ohio State film in order to best position Arnette, who could shift inside if recent addition Casey Hayward commandeers a starting job outside. Injuries and COVID-19 limited Arnette to nine games as a rookie. Pro Football Focus graded him 116th out of 121 qualified corners last season.
Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson Declined Raiders Pay Cuts
The Raiders made major changes on their offensive line this offseason, jettisoning two Pro Bowlers and their longest-tenured starter. Two or three first-year starters are expected to block for Derek Carr this season.
Prior to the Raiders separating from Rodney Hudson, Trent Brown and Gabe Jackson, the team offered the latter duo pay cuts in order to stay, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). It is not known how substantial the proposed cuts were, but both Brown and Jackson declined the Raiders’ offers.
After reports surfaced Jackson would be cut, the Raiders found an 11th-hour trade partner and sent the seven-year guard starter to the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick. That pick (No. 167) became Illinois cornerback Nate Hobbs. The Raiders dealt Brown to the Patriots for a fifth as well; Las Vegas also sent New England a seventh-rounder in that swap. Both players have since reworked their contracts.
The Raiders gave Jackson a five-year, $56MM extension in June 2017; two non-guaranteed years remained on that deal. The Seahawks and Jackson have since agreed to a three-year, $22.58MM extension, which came with $16MM in total guarantees and $10.75MM fully guaranteed.
Given a then-tackle-record four-year, $66MM deal in March 2019, Brown battled injuries and COVID-19 last season. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019, however. Signing up for a second Brown stint, the Pats have the mammoth tackle under contract at $9MM for the 2021 season. He is due for free agency again in 2022. Brown did end up agreeing to a pay cut in New England, though incentives can take the pact up to $11MM.
Las Vegas has since drafted Alex Leatherwood in Round 1; he will be projected to take over for Brown at right tackle. Richie Incognito, who did agree to return at a reduced rate, and Denzelle Good are back in the fold at guard. John Simpson, a 2020 fourth-round pick, is also set to vie for Jackson’s old right guard spot as well. Andre James, who has since signed an extension himself, may well succeed Hudson at center.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/25/21
We’ll keep tabs on today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Ross Travis
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: Kamaal Seymour
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Willie Henry
- Waived: LB Joe Bachie
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Cam Sutton
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Dee Delaney