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East Notes: Cousins, Carroll, Soliai

By | at February 21, 2016 8:54 am

It is difficult to imagine Kirk Cousins playing anywhere besides Washington next season, either under the franchise tag or under a lucrative, long-term deal. The most recent report regarding contract negotiations between the two parties suggested that the prospect of Cousins and Washington striking a multi-year deal was “not good,” although the application of the franchise tag always seems to invigorate stalled contract talks.

But even if Cousins ultimately plays out the 2016 season under the tag, it may not handicap Washington that much in the short-term. As John Keim of ESPN.com observes, Washington’s 2016 cap number already includes Robert Griffin III‘s $16.15MM option, and the team is almost certainly going to cut Griffin in the near future. As such, putting the franchise tag on Cousins really only adds an extra $4MM or so to the team’s cap commitment, as the tag value for quarterbacks is projected to be around $20MM. Certainly Washington would rather have an extra $4MM to spend, particularly since it does not have a ton of cap room to begin with–plus, signing Cousins to a long-term deal might put his first-year cap hit under $10MM, thus creating even more space–but for 2016, at least, the tag might not be as crippling as it otherwise could be.

Now let’s take a look at some more notes from the league’s east divisions:

  • Mark Eckel of LehighValleyLive.com takes a look at how the Eagles will address their secondary this offseason, a conversation that necessarily begins with cornerback Nolan Carroll, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Carroll is a solid player, but the price to keep him should not be prohibitive, especially since he ended the season on IR after breaking his ankle in the team’s Thanksgiving contest against Detroit. If Carroll is retained, Philadelphia could shift Eric Rowe from cornerback to safety, his more natural position, to replace Walter Thurmond, who is likely to depart in free agency.
  • The Falcons will release Paul Soliai on or after March 9, and the 32-year-old defensive tackle would apparently like to return to the Dolphins, according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald (via Twitter). Soliai spent the first seven seasons of his career with Miami before signing with Atlanta prior to the 2014 campaign, and although his 2015 performance was not up to his usual standards, he could still be a valuable member of either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.
  • The Jets will make a concerted effort to address the tight end position in free agency and/or the draft, per Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. The team needs a tight end who can challenge a defense in the middle of the field, and although this year’s free agent class of tight ends is uninspiring–Antonio Gates will likely stay in San Diego, leaving players like Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen at the top of the market–but Arkansas’ Hunter Harvey, widely regarded as the best TE in the draft, should be available when Gang Green makes its first selection in this year’s draft.
  • Patriots RB Dion Lewis, who was a catalyst of the team’s offense prior to tearing his ACL on November 8, is making good progress in his recovery and should be available for the start of the regular season, as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports.
0 comments Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Washington Commanders

Offseason Outlook: Indianapolis Colts

By | at February 20, 2016 9:50 pm

Pending free agents:

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

  1. Andrew Luck, QB: $16,155,000
  2. T.Y. Hilton, WR: $11,000,000
  3. Anthony Castonzo, T: $9,800,000
  4. Vontae Davis, CB: $8,375,000
  5. Andre Johnson, WR: $7,500,000
  6. Trent Cole, OLB: $7,125,000
  7. Gosder Cherilus, T: $5,800,000 (dead money)
  8. D’Qwell Jackson, ILB: $5,750,000
  9. Arthur Jones, DE: $5,600,000
  10. Robert Mathis, OLB: $5,000,000
  11. Kendall Langford, DE: $4,250,000
  12. Erik Walden, OLB: $4,250,000
  13. Frank Gore, RB: $4,000,000
  14. Joe Reitz, G: $3,250,000
  15. Darius Butler, CB: $3,000,000

Notable coaching/front office moves:

Draft:

  • No. 18 overall pick
  • Owe sixth-round pick to Raiders in deal for LB Sio Moore.

Other:

Overview:

After making it to the AFC Championship at the end of the 2014 season, the Colts entered 2015 as a trendy pick to represent the conference in Super Bowl 50. However, Indianapolis’ veteran free agents, such as Andre Johnson, Trent Cole, and Todd Herremans, failed to have the impact the team had hoped for, and franchise quarterback Andrew Luck battled injuries for nearly the entire season, appearing in only seven games.Chuck Pagano

The AFC South was weak enough that the Colts remained in contention all year, but the club ultimately lost out to the Texans, finishing with an 8-8 record. For a franchise with Super Bowl aspirations, it was a hugely disappointing result, and head coach Chuck Pagano was widely considered a goner, with an outside possibility that GM Ryan Grigson would follow him out the door.

Instead, Colts owner Jim Irsay announced at season’s end that he intended to move forward with Pagano and Grigson, extending the contracts of both men. Pagano, whose contract had been set to expire, received a new four-year deal, while Grigson’s pact was extended by three years so that it runs through 2019, like Pagano’s.

Despite maintaining continuity at head coach, the Colts made several changes to Pagano’s staff in recent weeks, bringing in Georgia offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to coach the quarterbacks, former Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin to lead the offensive line, and Ravens linebackers coach Ted Monachino to run the defense. The message was clear: Pagano wouldn’t lose his job as a result of the Colts’ 2015 struggles, but an overhaul of the staff was required, and going forward, similar results won’t be acceptable.

For the Colts to turn things around and return to contention in 2016, it starts with Grigson, who has made some questionable free agent signings and draft choices since taking over as the club’s GM. After last year’s foray into veteran free agency backfired, the club figures to be a little more cautious on the open market this time around, but the real key to success will be a higher success rate on draft picks, since Indianapolis needs to add some talented, young players to its core.

Key Free Agents:

The two top tight ends on the Colts’ depth chart are eligible for free agency this winter, with both Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen just a few weeks away from hitting the market. Of the two, Fleener is clearly in line for the bigger deal — not only is he the more productive pass catcher, but Pro Football Focus graded him as a significantly better blocker than Allen in 2015, even though Allen has historically been solid in that regard.

While the Colts would probably like to lock up Fleener, they won’t want to give him the sort of deal that young tight ends like Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz have signed so far this offseason. Both Kelce and Ertz signed contracts worth at least $8.5MM annually, placing them among the top five highest-paid tight ends in the NFL. But those players are coming off seasons in which they caught 70+ balls for 850+ yards. Fleener has never reached either of those benchmarks, which should make him a little more affordable. A deal in the neighborhood of $7.5MM per year might make sense, and it will be interesting to see if Indianapolis is willing to invest at that price.

Jerrell FreemanWhile Allen may not be as crucial to the Colts’ offensive production as Fleener is, he’s also not a lock to head elsewhere. Allen and free agent linebacker Jerrell Freeman recently turned to Rosenhaus Sports for representation, which could be a good sign for Indianapolis, since Drew Rosenhaus has a history of getting deals done with the club.

Locking up Freeman would be big for the Colts’ defense — the 29-year-old is coming off a season in which he ranked fourth overall among 97 linebackers, including first against the run, according to PFF’s grades. Although that sort of performance as a run defender looks like something of an anomaly for Freeman, he has always been solid in coverage. If he can continue to play well against the run, it’s even more essential that the Colts keep him under contract. Inside linebackers typically aren’t huge earners, but Freeman could be in line for some nice offers if he reaches the open market, so if the Colts want to keep him, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try to get something done before March 9th.

Two of the league’s oldest players will see their contracts with the Colts expire next month, but it sounds as if both veterans want to continue their careers in Indianapolis. There’s mutual interest between the Colts and kicker Adam Vinatieri in a new deal, and it shouldn’t be hard for the two sides to figure something out.

Vinatieri’s previous contract averaged just $2.5MM per year, which is a very team-friendly price for a kicker who has been so reliable for so long. In 2015, Vinatieri made his final 25 field goal attempts, and if he sticks with the Colts for a couple more seasons, he has a chance to make a run at the NFL’s all-time scoring record — he currently sits third, less than 300 points behind Morten Anderson, and less than 200 from Gary Anderson.

Meanwhile, longtime signal-caller Matt Hasselbeck took a beating on the field in relief of Luck in 2015, but it didn’t discourage him from wanting to continue his career into his early 40s. Hasselbeck announced this week that he’d like to play in 2016, and the Colts seem like a good fit for him going forward.

While the team is currently carrying Josh Freeman and Stephen Morris on its roster, it’s not clear if either of those QBs will be ready to step in as the No. 2 behind Luck, so Hasselbeck would provide some veteran stability. He didn’t play badly when forced into action this past season, leading Indianapolis to a 5-3 record in his starts. If Hasselbeck re-signs with the Colts, the team probably doesn’t need to bring back Charlie Whitehurst, who is also a free agent.

Elsewhere in the offensive backfield, Ahmad Bradshaw and Boom Herron (restricted) are free agents, though it would be a bit surprising if the Colts bring both players back. Having struggled to find consistent production at the running back spot during Luck’s time with the team, it might make sense for the team to use a mid-round pick on a back to pair with Frank Gore, re-signing Herron for primarily special teams work. If the club doesn’t want to use a pick on the position this year, perhaps Bradshaw returns for one more season, but the Colts need to start getting younger here at some point.

Finally, the backfield on the other side of the ball is also a cause for concern this winter, with two starters – cornerback Greg Toler and safety Dwight Lowery – facing unrestricted free agency. If the Colts just bring back one of those two players, which I expect, they’ll almost certainly prioritize Lowery, whose first season in Indianapolis (76 tackles, four interceptions) was impressive. Lowery isn’t a star, but penciling him in at free safety and counting on him to be solid allows the club to focus on other areas. Toler, on the other hand, gets beaten by wideouts too frequently to be relied upon — if the Colts keep him around, it should be as a depth piece, not as a starter.

Possible Cap Casualties:

The Colts’ list of potential cap casualties this offseason is practically a who’s-who of the team’s most noteworthy March signings over the last two years. The most obvious candidates on the list are wide receiver Andre Johnson and outside linebacker Trent Cole, who joined the team a year ago.Andre Johnson

Having played with 13 different starting quarterbacks during his 12 years in Houston, Johnson was viewed as an ideal match for Andrew Luck, but the veteran wideout caught only 41 passes for 503 yards in 2015, his worst ever full-season totals. Unless the Colts are banking on a significant bounce-back season from Johnson, it probably makes sense to cut him before his $2.5MM roster bonus is due on March 13th, since the team could trim his cap charge from $7.5MM to just $2.5MM. Because that dead money comes in the form of a partially guaranteed 2016 base salary, Indianapolis wouldn’t make that move until the start of the new league year.

Like Johnson, Cole was expected to be somewhat rejuvenated by joining a Super Bowl contender. Instead, he appeared in fewer than half of the Colts’ defensive snaps, matching a career low with just three sacks. Cole has just one year remaining on his contract, and Indianapolis could create $6.125MM in cap savings by releasing him, so that looks like the logical move.

While 2015’s free agent class perhaps features the most obvious release candidates, there are a handful of 2014 signees in danger of losing their roster spots in Indianapolis as well. Defensive lineman Arthur Jones has been unable to stay healthy since inking a five-year, $33MM pact with the Colts, a deal which no longer includes any guaranteed base salary. Indianapolis would only reduce Jones’ 2016 cap hit from $5.6MM to $3.3MM by cutting him, so if the team is holding out hope that he can make an impact, he may survive one more season.

Inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and outside linebacker Erik Walden, on the other hand, have both stayed healthy, but have less dead money remaining on their deals. Jackson and Walden probably aren’t difference-making defenders going forward, and the Colts could clear more than $9MM in 2016 cap room by cutting both of them, so those are moves that should be considered if the team has potential replacements in mind.

Finally, the cap savings for cutting two more linebackers, Bjoern Werner and Sio Moore, wouldn’t be huge (in the ballpark of $1.5MM apiece), but the Colts could consider parting ways with both players this offseason. Werner has never been the player Indianapolis hoped he would be after selecting him in the first round of the 2013 draft, while Moore reportedly fell out of favor in Oakland partially due to questions about his attitude, and was arrested last month.

Positions Of Need:

As long as Andrew Luck enters the 2016 season healthy, the Colts have no uncertainty at the quarterback position, but the team faces questions at virtually every other offensive position this offseason. Will a 33-year-old Frank Gore be capable of continuing to lead the Colts’ rushing attack? If Andre Johnson isn’t back, will the team need to add another veteran wideout to complement T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, and Phillip Dorsett? Will Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen be re-signed, or will the Colts need to pursue tight end help?

Still, the Colts’ top priority on offense this offseason should be on the offensive line, which will need to do a better job in 2016 of keeping Luck upright and creating holes for Gore and the rest of the club’s ball-carriers. Anthony Castonzo should enter the season as the team’s left tackle, and Jack Mewhort and Joe Reitz showed enough last season that they can probably be counted on to start as well, whether at guard or at right tackle.

That still leaves two openings on the offensive line, and while there are a few in-house options the Colts could turn to, the team should make every effort to upgrade those spots. There will be no shortage of free agent options, including a handful that the team’s coaching staff is familiar with — offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski coached tackle Mitchell Schwartz and center Alex Mack, who is likely to opt out, in Cleveland during his brief stint as the Browns’ head coach, and new OL coach Joe Philbin had guard Richie Incognito on his roster in Miami, though that relationship became rocky.

With the flexibility to move Retiz and/or Mewhort around a little, if needed, the Colts could target centers, guards, or tackles this winter, opening up a ton of options for the team as it tries to determine the best possible fits on its line. Centers Manny Ramirez, Ben Jones, and Stefen Wisniewski, guards Brandon Brooks, Evan Mathis, and Geoff Schwartz, and tackles Jake Long, Andre Smith, and Joe Barksdale are among the other veteran free agents the Colts could kick the tires on. Targeting offensive linemen in the draft is also a viable strategy. In their most recent mock drafts, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have the Colts using their 18th overall pick on Alabama center Ryan Kelly and Ohio State tackle Taylor Decker, respectively.

Using that first-round pick to fortify Indianapolis’ offensive line is a defensible approach, but it might make more sense for Ryan Grigson and the Colts to use that selection – along with a few other draft picks – to address the defense, where their are several holes to be filled.

Along the defensive front, the Colts have some solid pieces in the mix, with Henry Anderson, Kendall Langford, and Zach Kerr expected to be part of the interior defensive line rotation. If Arthur Jones is retained, the Colts may not prioritize the defensive line as one of their top positions of need, but the team could use a more reliable option in the middle. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently suggested targeting Jets free agent Damon Harrison, and while he may be a little too expensive for the Colts’ liking, the team probably shouldn’t rely on David Parry as its primary nose tackle going forward, and a player like Harrison would certainly be a nice fit.

Assuming Jerrell Freeman can be re-signed, the Colts’ real area of concern in the front seven is on the outside, where the team needs to do a much better job of addressing the pass rush. New defensive coordinator Ted Monachino called improving the pass rush “priority No. 1” for the Colts this offseason, expressing the desire for an “attacking” defensive unit that does a better job of getting after the quarterback — Indianapolis ranked 22nd in 2015 with 35 sacks, and nearly half of those came during a hot streak against primarily non-playoff teams in the season’s final four weeks.

Robert Mathis, who tied for the club lead with seven sacks last season, will be back, but he’ll turn 35 next week, and he needs some help. Outside of Von Miller, who won’t reach the open market, the free agent options are limited, unless the Colts want to roll the dice on an off-field risk (Aldon Smith, Junior Galette) or another 30-something veteran (Tamba Hali, Calvin Pace). Adding a younger player to the mix with an eye toward fixing the problem long-term probably makes more sense, which is why the Colts figure to use an early-round pick on a pass rusher. In a recent mock draft, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report suggested Clemson edge defender Shaq Lawson for Indianapolis.

In the secondary, safeties Mike Adams and Dwight Lowery – if he’s re-signed – are a respectable duo, but the Colts will need to address the cornerback position. While Darius Butler figures to enter the season as the slot corner and Vontae Davis is a reliable option on the outside, that leaves an opening across from Davis, where the Colts could consider a veteran.

This year’s free agent market for cornerbacks features a handful of appealing options who could reach the open market, including Sean Smith, Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins, and Prince Amukamara. If the Colts aim a little lower, a couple coaching connections are worth keeping in mind — Monachino saw Ravens free agent Shareece Wright first-hand last year, while defensive backs coach Greg Williams worked with Chargers free agent Patrick Robinson in San Diego.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The long-term extensions for Anthony Castonzo and T.Y. Hilton each features sizable roster bonuses early in the new league year, and both players’ 2016 salaries will become guaranteed at that point as well. If the Colts want to free up a little extra cap room, the team could opt to restructure one or both of those deals, converting the roster bonuses and/or some salary into signing bonuses, prorating that cap hit over several years.

Andrew LuckThat’s a minor contract issue though compared to the big one looming over the Colts this offseason: the Andrew Luck extension. There’s no real drama here when it comes to whether or not it will get done — it will. The only drama will involve the total value of the extension, since it could very well be a record-breaker.

Colts owner Jim Irsay recently suggested Luck’s new deal will be “eye-popping,” adding that it’ll be worth nine figures, and well over $20MM per year. Those numbers aren’t particularly staggering, since we’ve seen deals exceed $120MM in total value, and $22MM in per-year salary. Will Luck be able to blow away those benchmarks, perhaps reaching $150MM in total value or $25MM in annual salary? Maybe, but I’d be more confident in his chances if he were coming off the MVP-type season everyone was expecting in 2015.

Obviously, Luck’s injury-plagued ’15 campaign won’t force him to accept a discount from the Colts, but his résumé to date still doesn’t include the kind of jaw-dropping single season that would clearly put him in line to become the league’s highest-paid quarterback. The Colts and Luck’s camp still recognize his value, and know that he definitely has the potential to become the NFL’s No. 1 QB within the next couple years, but we’ll have to wait to see how much the Colts are willing to pay for that potential.

I think Luck will ultimately exceed Aaron Rodgers‘ $22MM annual salary, but perhaps not by as significant a margin as I might have anticipated a year ago. No matter how the negotiations go, it will be one of the most fascinating storylines to watch this offseason.

Overall Outlook:

Between having Luck to lead their offense and playing in a weak AFC South division, the Colts have managed to mask many of their flaws in recent years, but their performance in 2015 – with and without their franchise quarterback – showed that there’s still plenty of work to be done on this roster. It’s possible that the return of a healthy Luck will allow the Colts to take back the AFC South in 2016. However, the division-champion Texans are a quarterback away from becoming very dangerous, and the Jaguars and Titans could be on the rise now that they’ve found their long-term answers at the QB position, so the Colts can’t take anything for granted going forward.

With new contract extensions in hand, GM Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano will be eager to make up for 2015’s mistakes this year, and they have a daunting to-do list on tap: find a pass rush, fortify the offensive line, solidify the secondary, and make sure Luck has plenty of weapons at his disposal. If the Colts can check off a few of those boxes this offseason, they’ll be well on their way to reclaiming their status as the team to beat in the AFC South.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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West Notes: Chargers, Barksdale, 49ers, Kelly

By | at February 20, 2016 9:32 pm

Let’s take a look at the latest news and notes from the NFL’s two West divisions:

  • Right tackle Joe Barksdale hopes his upcoming foray into free agency goes smoother than it did last season, writes Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Barksdale notably remained unsigned until mid-May of last year before finally latching on with the Chargers, with whom he went on to start all 16 games. After settling for a base salary/signing bonus of just over $1MM in 2015, Barskdale should be able to get a pay bump this season, be it with San Diego or another club looking for offensive line help.
  • Defensive line is a key area of need for the 49ers this offseason, says Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Defensive tackle Ian Williams is a free agent and could command a hefty contract on the open market, and the remaining options on the roster lack depth, as Arik Armstead, Glenn Dorsey, and Quinton Dial headline an uninspiring unit. But even if San Francisco fails to re-sign Williams, the club could use an early draft pick on a defensive lineman, and this year’s collegiate class is especially strong at that position.
  • Speaking of Armstead, the former Oregon Duck and current 49er is confident that new head coach Chip Kelly will help turn things around in the Bay Area. “I think [Kelly] is going to get us on the right path,” Armstead told Bleacher Report’s Uninterrupted (link via CSNBayArea.com). “It’s going to be a lot of hard work this year. But I think it’s going to be beneficial to our team. The sky is the limit for us, really, it can’t really get any worse than last season.”
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Joique Bell Rejected Lions Offer Before Release

By | at February 20, 2016 8:39 pm

Running back Joique Bell was released by the Lions on Tuesday after five seasons with the club, but he was offered a chance to stay in Detroit before he was cut, as Bell himself told reporters, including Justin Rogers of MLive.com.Joique Bell (Vertical)

“The NFL is a crazy business,” said Bell. “You never know. The Lions made me an offer. I thought I did what was best for my career. I ended up declining the offer.”

[RELATED: PFR previews the 2016 Detroit Lions offseason]

The 29-year-old Bell didn’t elaborate as to the details of the Lions proposal, but it likely would have included a paycut. Bell was entering the final year of an extension he signed prior to the 2014 season, and was due to earn a base salary of $2.5MM and count for $3.5MM against the salary cap. Detroit cleared out that $2.5MM from its 2016 books, and is now set to enter the offseason with about $26MM in cap space.

Bell saw time in 13 games last season, rushing for 311 yards off of 90 carries with four touchdowns. He also produced as a pass-catching back, hauling in 22 receptions for 286 yards. Bell has been an important part of the Lions’ backfield rotation since 2013, but the club — pending other additions — will move forward with incumbents Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Chargers Likely To Re-Sign Antonio Gates

By | at February 20, 2016 6:12 pm

Veteran tight end Antonio Gates is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9, but the longtime Charger doesn’t figure to hit actually hit the open market. San Diego is expected to meet with Gates’ agent Tom Condon at the combine next week, and the presumption is that the two sides will hammer out a deal, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, who reports that an “air of formality” surrounds the discussions.

[RELATED: Chargers free agent Eric Weddle hopes to join contending team]Antonio Gates

“We’ll talk to Tom Condon in a little more detail in Indy, and we’ll talk to Ladarius [Green]‘s guy in Indy as well,” general manger Tom Telesco told Gehlken. “It’s February, and we’ve got until September to get the position together the best way we see fit. So, we’ll see. Through our own players, through free agency and through the draft, we’ll see.”

As Telesco notes, fellow tight end Green is a free agent as well, as are two other Chargers tight ends, John Phillips and David Johnson. The 25-year-old Green played the most snaps of the bunch, while Phillips is a core special teamer, having played on nearly 70% of San Diego’s special teams snaps. With more than $31MM in projected cap space, the Chargers should be able to retain whomever they want from their tight end group (though it’s possible Green will seek an opportunity where he could be the clear cut starter).

For his part, Gates, 35, had previously expressed his desire to play in 2016, noting his displeasure with how the Chargers — who ended up posting a 4-12 record — played in 2015. And just last month, Telesco indicated that he’d love to have Gates back in San Diego, so it’s not surprising that Gehlken reports that contract talks are expected to be a breeze.

Gates’ counting stats were down last year, but that was largely because of his four-game absence due of a PED suspension. On a rate basis, his productivity was in line with recent seasons, as he averaged 57.3 receiving yards per game while scoring five times. Coming off a five-year deal that paid him more than $7MM annually, Gates could ask for the same yearly value, albeit on a shorter contract.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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AFC Rumors: Bolts, Reid, Miller, Jets, Titans

By | at February 20, 2016 4:30 pm

A Chargers-led citizen’s initiative could help solve stadium cost issues at the Mission Valley, Calif., site that hovered at the center of discussions prior to the Bolts’ Carson overtures, David Garrick of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

This process involves the sale of 75 acres of the 166-acre Qualcomm Stadium site, a transaction that could net $225MM that would go toward funding the proposed $1.1 billion Chargers stadium, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer’s task force’s estimates. That would help significantly, considering the new stadium still requires $350MM in taxpayer funds to go along with $300MM from the NFL and additional money generated by personal seat licenses, among other streams of revenue.

“They did it in Carson and another group of lawyers did it in Inglewood, so it certainly could be done in San Diego in pretty much the same way,” city attorney Jerry Goldsmith told Garrick. “It would involve re-zoning; it would involve voter approval of not only a stadium but ancillary development, and it would include bypassing the California Environmental Quality Act if it’s done right.”

Garrick, however, makes it clear the Chargers haven’t committed to pursue this route, as the sides still have a long way to go before anything substantial emerges in this long-running saga.

Let’s take a look at the latest transpiring in the AFC.

  • Andy Reid won’t join the Chiefs‘ contingent at next week’s NFL Scouting Combine due to knee replacement surgery, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports. The 57-year-old coach had this surgery last year and attended the Combine, but he missed this year’s Senior Bowl and won’t trek to Indianapolis as well.
  • The Jets have engaged in contract talks with Chris Ivory‘s camp, but Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News believes the seventh-year running back will test the market. Ivory would join Lamar Miller, Doug Martin and Matt Forte as free agency’s top ball-carriers, should Gang Green fail to keep him off the market.
  • Lamar Miller‘s roots in Miami could induce the Dolphins to give him a low-ball offer in free agency and incite the fifth-year running back to bolt, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Miller attended the University of Miami and was born in the city in which he played his first four NFL seasons. Florio also speculates DeMarco Murray‘s first-year flop with the Eagles will make it harder for this year’s crop of fifth-year runners, Miller and Martin, to receive a Murray-like deal.
  • The Titans will address the wide receiver position in the draft, Jim Wyatt of Titans.com writes in a mailbag. Coming off his worst season, Kendall Wright currently is set to enter his fifth-year option campaign, and Justin Hunter is also entering a contract year. Wyatt notes the team’s investment in the position will not come at No. 1 overall, given that there isn’t a wide receiver that’s projected to possess that kind of value.
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Cardinals, Tyrann Mathieu Discussing Extension

By | at February 20, 2016 3:53 pm

Last month, we heard lining up an extension for Tyrann Mathieu resided as a top offseason priority for the Cardinals. The team’s making good on those intentions and is negotiating a long-term deal for the standout defensive back, Cardinals GM Steve Keim tells James Palmer of NFL.com (Twitter link).

The Cardinals are being proactive with their former third-round gem, with the window for a Mathieu extension just recently opening after the former LSU star finished his third season.Tyrann Mathieu

Mathieu’s agreement will undoubtedly make him one of the highest-paid defensive backs due largely to the fourth-year Cardinal’s versatility. The 23-year-old Mathieu earned first-team All-Pro honors despite tearing his ACL against the Eagles in Week 15.

Pro Football Focus listed Mathieu as its top-rated cornerback, bestowing a 91.6 grade on the Cardinals’ hybrid performer — well clear of its No. 2 outside stopper, Darius Slay. The top individual analytics site lists Mathieu as a corner due to his extensive work in the slot when Arizona shifted to its sub-packages. The Honey Badger’s officially listed as a safety and played there when the Cardinals went into their base defense, but that was only 33% of the time.

So, Mathieu can at the very least expect a contract in line at least in the top bracket of safeties and will probably aim to be paid among the league’s best corners in these negotiations.

Earl Thomas, Devin McCourty and Jairus Byrd are the only safeties to earn $9MM per year on average. Mathieu’s age, elite athleticism and potential ascent could put him clear of each of those performers and place him among the highest-paid defensive backs.

The Cardinals already gave Patrick Peterson a top-market deal that averages $14.01MM per season. That accord ranks behind only Darrelle Revis in terms of AAV. Seven corners average eight-figure earnings, with several members of that group not on Mathieu’s level at present.

Keim also told Palmer (Twitter link) Mathieu’s rehab’s progressing on schedule, with the GM professing Mathieu’s on track to be back at full strength.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

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Extra Points: Manziel, Laurinaitis, Draft

By | at February 20, 2016 2:25 pm

2:25pm: Dallas PD could conclude its Manziel investigation by next week, the Associated Press reports.

12:03pm: The Dallas Police Department issued an update Saturday regarding its investigation of domestic violence claims against Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. The Dallas PD’s statement comes courtesy of Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link):

“On February 5, 2016, Dallas Police Department detectives began investigating a complaint of a domestic violence assault that occurred in Dallas on January 30, 2016, in which Jonathan Manziel was the listed suspect. Up to this point in the investigation, detectives have continued communicating with the complainant, interviewed witnesses, received medical records from the complainant, and obtained video from surveillance cameras. Detectives are continuing with their efforts to fully investigate the facts of this case. As this remains an on-going investigation, no details of the investigation will be released at this time. We would like to finish the investigation as soon as possible, but detectives work around the victim’s and witnesses’ schedules which can sometimes delay the process. As of today, there has been no determination as to what type of charge, if any, will be filed against Mr. Manziel. Updates to this case will be made as information comes available.”

The surveillance video mentioned in the statement is from the Hotel ZaZa, where Collen Crowley claims Manziel’s assault on her began, reports Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. As McManamon writes, Crowley stated in an affidavit that she told a hotel valet that she was scared for her life, and Manziel subsequently threw her in the passenger seat of his car. The Dallas PD has the video of Crowley’s encounter with the valet along with other surveillance, per McManamon.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Linebacker James Laurinaitis, whom the Rams cut Friday after he started 112 straight games for the club, was taken aback by his release. “I didn’t see this one coming,” he told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I thought maybe at worst, a pay cut. I still felt like I was producing.” The 29-year-old is fresh off his seventh consecutive 100-tackle season since entering the league in 2009 and, more impressively, has never missed a game. However, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated his 2015-16 performance an ugly 83rd out of 97 qualifying LBs.
  • Although Terron Beckham – cousin of Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. – didn’t play college football, the 23-year-old is hoping to catch on in the NFL as a running back. The 5-foot-11, 230-pounder will have a chance to impress scouts on Feb. 25 at a “shadow combine” in Indianapolis, reports Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. The event is for draft hopefuls who aren’t invited to next week’s national scouting combine or any regional combines. Terron Beckham, who’s a trainer and fitness model, says he’s “Marshawn Lynch and [Adrian Peterson] transformed into one person.” Despite that glowing self-assessment, he’s “an extreme long shot” to end up in the league, a personnel executive told Hubbuch. Further, it’s unknown if Beckham is even eligible for the draft, per Hubboch, as neither he nor his agent have called the league office to find out.
  • Speaking of the draft, teams are concerned about Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook‘s leadership abilities, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. Cook can, however, allay those fears at the combine, Breer adds. MSU tightly restricts scouts at practice, per Breer (Twitter link), which means they haven’t been able to watch Cook interact with teammates.
  • The stock of Louisiana Tech QB Jeff Driskel is rising, perhaps as high as the second round, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. “I like Driskel,” an AFC scouting director told Wilson. “He can still use more polish, but he’s got a big arm and can move and seems very coachable. I could see him being drafted higher than most people think. He helped himself a lot.”
2 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams

Rams CEO Kevin Demoff On Cuts, CBs, L.A.

By | at February 20, 2016 2:13 pm

The Rams made some of the most notable cuts since this offseason Friday by releasing James Laurinaitis, Chris Long and Jared Cook. Team CEO Kevin Demoff told Vincent Bonsignore of InsideSoCal.com the veterans, especially long-tenured Rams Long and Laurinaitis, deserved an advanced opportunity to catch on with other teams.

“We weren’t entirely positive moving forward on the best fits for these guys, and when you head into the combine, and with everything going on with the change in our offseason, we didn’t want people to move their families, come out here and maybe go into camp on uncertain footing. Especially guys like (James) and Chris, who have been the longest-tenured players on our team. They deserved the clarity; they deserved the chance to go into free agency and be free agents and not have it dangled.”

Demoff did not rule out any of the three returning but knows that’s the less likely route.Trumaine Johnson (Vertical)

“When (head coach) Jeff (Fisher) and (general manager) Les (Snead) and I talked to them today, we all wished them well and we would never close the door on that as a potential option. But when you make these kinds of moves it’s always with the understanding it’s likely the players won’t come back by their choice or by our choice. Could we bring them back? Sure. But rather than talk to them about a pay cut, it’s better for them to see the market and understand the market, and then if they want to come back we can revisit those discussions at a later time.”

Los Angeles also has decisions to make on whether to retain Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, who are two of the top cornerbacks on this year’s free agent market, should they get there. Last night, we heard Johnson could be a transition tag candidate. Demoff told Bonsignore negotiations between the Rams and the corners have been ongoing.

“We’ve been talking to Janoris and Trumaine for over a year and we’ve been close to deals at times and we’ve been far apart on deals at times. It’s a process. I think the great part is, they both love playing for coach Fisher, they’re excited about the move to Los Angeles, they want to be part of this.”

Since relocating in January, the Rams are still in search of a training camp home as well as a place to conduct OTAs. Demoff said finding a permanent practice facility for the team won’t come until much later in 2016, but he expects the bulk of these location-based decisions to be made by March 1.

“We are looking mainly at Oxnard for the offseason workouts. It’s a turn-key facility with what the Cowboys have done up there. From there – the Cowboys will be coming back in July – we need to find a new training camp home and we’ve talked to a number of different universities about that opportunity. We’re looking for what I call permanent/temporary space all around Los Angeles, with a focus on the (San Fernando) Valley area.”

Demoff stressed the pressure to win isn’t necessarily greater than it was in St. Louis but views 2016 as a seminal year in terms of attracting Southern California-stationed fans and turning them into Rams supporters. The Rams haven’t made the playoffs since 2004. Their final five years in Los Angeles, 1990-94, also didn’t feature a playoff berth after the franchise appeared in 14 playoff brackets — in four- and five-team fields, respectively — between 1973 and 1989.

“We’ve been at the cusp. But we need to make sure we develop a winner. That’s true every year. But I think you’d be naive to think it doesn’t play a bigger role this year than it has past years. Not that your try more or you care any more, but I do think the microscope and the spotlight are on our organization in a way it has not been the last few years.”

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

1 comment Los Angeles Rams Newsstand

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Boone, Okung, Vikes

By | at February 20, 2016 10:50 am

The Cowboys were in need of pass-rushing help even before the NFL handed a four-game suspension to edge rusher Randy Gregory on Friday. Now, with Gregory out for the first quarter of next season and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence having undergone back surgery earlier this year, the Cowboys might be more inclined to re-sign Greg Hardy, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Hardy had a respectable six sacks in 12 games last season, but he was a headache off the field, and sources close to the 27-year-old told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report in January that Dallas was unlikely to bring him back. The Cowboys’ present circumstances could change that, however.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • The 49ers will discuss a new contract with Alex Boone‘s agents at next week’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, but chances are they won’t get a deal done before free agency opens March 9, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Boone has played his entire career with the 49ers since they signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2009, netting 59 starts – all of which came during the previous four years.
  • There was a late-January report stating Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung, a pending free agent, would undergo surgery on his dislocated left shoulder. Okung confirmed to 710 ESPN Seattle on Thursday that the surgery is complete and he’ll face a four-month recovery period, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. “It was something that I didn’t have to do, but decided to do just to mitigate any risks going forward,” the 28-year-old said.
  • Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said earlier this week that next season would be pivotal in showing whether Cordarrelle Patterson is capable of being a viable NFL receiver going forward. Patterson agrees, telling Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, “If it don’t show this year it ain’t going to show at all. That’s all I can say about that.” The 2013 first-round pick pulled in a combined 78 receptions in his first two years, but he was barely involved in the Vikings’ offense last season and added just two catches.
3 comments Dallas Cowboys Minnesota Vikings San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks
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