Zach Brown Deciding Between Raiders, Dolphins?
Several teams have pursued Zach Brown this offseason, but the UFA linebacker may be down to his final two choices. Brown is believed to be deciding between the Dolphins and Raiders, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.
Brown has visited the Dolphins, Raiders and Bills, while the Colts have expressed interest as well. While Oakland and Miami believe they’re in the running for the non-rush linebacker, neither looks set to meet Brown’s asking price of $6MM per year, Salguero notes. The south Florida-based writer reported earlier this week the Dolphins would be more comfortable paying Brown a deal in the $3MM- or $4MM-per-year range.
The Dolphins have been active this month in reshaping their linebacking corps, signing Lawrence Timmons as a UFA, restructuring Koa Misi‘s deal and extending Kiko Alonso. Brown would seemingly take Misi’s place in the lineup, with the 30-year-old middle ‘backer taking a pay cut to stay in south Florida, if he were to sign with the Dolphins.
Either way, Brown would be moving from a 3-4 defense to a base 4-3 look. The Raiders signed former Dolphins outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins to likely play the weakside spot but have a need inside. Bruce Irvin plays as an outside linebacker in the Raiders’ 4-3 base but slides to defensive end in pass-rush situations, leaving an opening in nickel sets. Raiders 2016 middle linebacker Perry Riley remains a free agent. He of 149 tackles in a standout season in Buffalo, Brown ranks as PFR’s No. 1 linebacker remaining in free agency. Riley sits No. 2 on this list but hasn’t generated nearly as much interest.
If Oakland sought to outmuscle Miami for Brown, the team has $32MM-plus in cap space compared to the Fins’ $15MM. But the Raiders have a possible Derek Carr extension coming this year, almost certainly contributing to their free agency plan.
Previously viewed as a plus-coverage ‘backer with the Titans, Brown experienced a tepid market for his services as a first-time UFA last year. A deal in the $3-$4MM-AAV range would put him below lesser names like A.J. Klein ($5MM AAV), or $4MM-per-year players Tahir Whitehead or Damario Davis on the inside linebacker salary spectrum. Fellow UFA Kevin Minter signed a one-year, $4.25MM deal with the Bengals last week.
Oakland's Proposal "Not Moving Chains"
The city of Oakland is attempting a last-ditch effort to keep the Raiders in advance of what promises to be a seminal vote Monday at the owners’ meetings. But this latest $1.3 billion proposal may not be enough to stop the owners from green-lighting a Las Vegas move. Oakland’s updated pitch “did not move the chains forward” with the NFL, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reports (on Twitter). The league is reviewing the proposal, but Bonsignore adds (Twitter link) the core issues at the root of the NFL’s reluctance regarding this project are not resolved. Bonsignore does not estimate the project can move forward (Twitter link) as presently constructed, setting the stage for a possible third Raiders relocation. This belief would stand to continue the league’s pessimism on the Oakland front.
- The Fortress Investment Group’s involvement in this project may not be a plus investment for the Raiders, who would “have to be in desperate straits” to sign up for an arrangement in which the team wouldn’t have much stake in its own stadium, Stanford economics professor Roger Noll said, via J.K. Dineen of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Even if Las Vegas doesn’t work out, the Raiders could get a better deal in San Diego or St. Louis,” Noll said. “There has never been a major league sports team that has had a deal like this where a third party is the main financier of the stadium and the main beneficiary of the revenue it generates.” The project would in large part be financed by a Fortress loan of $600MM, along with another $500MM loan backed by seat licensing fees, Dineen reports.
Latest On Oakland Stadium Plan
In what could be the city’s last-ditch effort to keep the Raiders, Oakland has submitted an updated stadium proposal. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf revealed the revised plan for a $1.3 billion facility for the franchise, Jim Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
Schaaf sent a letter to the NFL regarding specific contributions from the entities who have a financial role in this project, which includes aid from the Fortress Investment Group and the Oakland City Pro Football Group. Instead of having a murkier financial stake in this operation, Fortress will play a part similar to Bank of America’s in Las Vegas’ stadium proposal, Trotter reports.
The NFL is reviewing the letter, Andrew Dalton of the Associated Press reports.
“At the end of the day this is the decision of the Raiders and the NFL,” Schaaf told Trotter by phone. “What I am confident about is, if the Raiders want to stay in Oakland we have a viable plan to build them a stadium with no upfront money from them, in financial terms that I believe are more favorable to them than the terms in Las Vegas — what we know of them.
“And then, of course, we have something that Vegas can never offer, and that’s legacy and loyalty.”
Fortress is now set to contribute $650MM to this stadium, a 55,000-seat venue slated to be built on the current Oakland Coliseum site. The AP pegs Fortress’ stake at $600MM. The Raiders and the NFL are tabbed to contribute $500MM, with the city of Oakland — with assistance from Fortress — putting forth $200MM, Trotter reports. The Oakland Athletics would continue to play in the Oakland Coliseum while the football-only stadium is being built.
Relying to some degree on tradition here, Schaaf is banking on the NFL slowing down on what’s been a reinvigorated Vegas push. The Raiders, though, have not engaged in substantive discussions with their current city in months. They’ve instead devoted all their efforts to Vegas, securing the crucial Bank of America backing after Sheldon Adelson and Goldman Sachs dropped out. The team needs 23 additional votes to move to Nevada.
The Raiders’ latest relocation vote is expected to take place at the owners’ meetings Monday in Phoenix. The Las Vegas relocation fee is not expected to be close to what the Rams and Chargers paid to move to Los Angeles, and the Raiders secured a record $750MM in public money for a $1.9 billion stadium in Sin City. Schaaf reached out to Roger Goodell on Wednesday, but as of then no significant progress had been made between the league and Oakland. The city having no viable plan up to this point has it well behind going into the meetings, but the league reviewing this latest proposal reveals Oakland might still have a glimmer of hope.
“I recognize that this could be our final chance, but we have worked so hard these last two years,” Schaaf said, via Trotter. “We’ve put together a viable deal that satisfies many requirements that we believe is the best deal for the Raiders and the NFL. We hope that they give it full consideration on Monday.”
Oakland Still Trying To Keep Raiders
- Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf reached out to commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday night about continuing the discussion to keep the Raiders, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). There has been no significant progress on that front, however. Despite Schaaf’s efforts, it appears the Raiders’ departure from Oakland is inevitable.
Latest On Raiders, Las Vegas
It’s not a done deal just yet, but all (neon) signs are pointing towards the Raiders moving to Las Vegas. The NFL has set a range for the Raiders’ Las Vegas relocation fee that is far less than what the Rams and Chargers each paid to move to Los Angeles, sources tell Albert Breer of The MMQB. The Raiders would pay between $325MM and $375MM for the right to move to Sin City instead of the $650MM paid by the L.A. teams. That’s one hurdle down for owner Mark Davis, who has less cash at his disposal than most owners.
[RELATED: Raiders Still In Running To Land LB Zach Brown]
Now, the proposed move will likely be put to a vote at next week’s annual league meeting, which is probably a sign that the league feels it has the necessary 24 votes for approval. Specifically, the vote is expected to take place on Monday, NFL.com’s Judy Battista tweets. NFL owners aren’t crazy about the idea of leaving the Bay Area, particularly after the 49ers have left the Raiders an opportunity to add fans in the North and East Bay, but there are no viable proposals to keep the team in Oakland, Breer writes.
Even assuming that the vote passes early next week, there are still some issues that the NFL will want clarity on. Namely, the league will want to see the exact terms of the lease given that the city of Las Vegas will be contributing a record amount of public money. NFL owners want to ensure that the Raiders are getting the appropriate amount of revenue out of the building before OKing the proposal, which is why their approval could be conditional, according to Breer.
There’s also the matter of Sheldon Adelson and his business ties in the city of Las Vegas. Now that he is no longer a partner in the deal, there is some concern in NFL circles that he could use his connections to make life difficult for the Raiders. However, word is that Adelson privately told folks during the Super Bowl in Houston that he wouldn’t stand in the way of the team moving forward without him, Breer hears.
In the longer term, Breer gets the sense that another team could eventually wind up in Oakland, given the area’s potential. The Raiders are not leaving Oakland for lack of fan support or dollars in the region, but rather because of the city’s unwillingness to make a deal that it feels would be heavily tilted against taxpayers. However, things can always change and a new regime in the municipality could help pave the way for the NFL to someday return.
Details On EJ Manuel's Deal
Raiders Still In Running To Land Zach Brown
- The Dolphins hosted free agent linebacker Zach Brown yesterday, and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets that the team “wants” the former Bill. However, he also notes that the organization isn’t willing to pay big or engage in a bidding war. Meanwhile, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes that Brown could also be an option for the Raiders. The 27-year-old fired his agent earlier today.
[SOURCE LINK]
Raiders Meet With Joe Mixon
- Controversial running back Joe Mixon met with the Raiders on Monday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Because Mixon is from the Bay Area, his visit with Oakland won’t count against the Raiders’ allotment of 30 predraft meetings. Although video has surfaced of Mixon physically assaulting a female, he’s still expected to be drafted next month and a number of clubs have preceded the Raiders in meeting with the Oklahoma back.
Latest On Marshawn Lynch
As speculation swirls around Marshawn Lynch potentially coming out of retirement to join the Raiders, his agent claims that he has not spoken with his client about a return (via KNBR). At the same time, Doug Hendrickson does not deny that the itch to play football is still there. 
[RELATED: Raiders Or Bust For Marshawn Lynch?]
“Well in all sincerity, Marshawn’s been in Canada,” Hendrickson said. “I’m due to see him this week. So he and I have not spoken about this at all. So it was the media who took the ball and kind ran with it….He’s one of the most unique guys I’ve ever been with in my life. Marshawn, it wouldn’t shock me in three days if he says, ‘Hey, I want to play.’ It wouldn’t shock me if he says, ‘Nah, I don’t know where this came from. I don’t want to play.‘”
Under the terms of his current deal, Lynch is under contract to the Seahawks and would earn $9MM per the terms of that contract. Even if Lynch is asked to rework that salary, he’d still be in for a nice payday in 2017. The money could certainly be a motivating factor, but Hendrickson says that the running back is not hard up for cash.
“He doesn’t spend any of the money he’s made. He’s got a lot of money,” Hendrickson said. “He does miss football, no question. He loves the game of football. He’s 30. But until I meet with him this week, you know, I don’t know what his mindset is. He’s the kind of guy that can shift by the hour.”
A report on Monday indicated that Lynch would only return to the NFL if he were to suit up for the Raiders. Still, we won’t know Lynch’s intentions for certain until he or his agent are willing to speak publicly.
Raiders To Slot Jelani Jenkins At WLB
- Jelani Jenkins figures to be Malcolm Smith‘s replacement as the Raiders‘ weakside linebacker, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com notes. Smith played as the Raiders’ weakside man for two seasons and was the team’s most utilized linebacker during that span, operating as a nickel player and a 3-4 inside man when Oakland shifted into those looks.