HEADLINES

Eagles Notes: Cornerbacks, Maclin, Graham

March 6th, 2015 at 10:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Eagles’ biggest problem last season was their vulnerability against opposing quarterbacks. Philadelphia’s defense allowed the second-most aerial yardage in the NFL in 2014, finished tied for 21st in interceptions, and ended up 20th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense rankings. The Eagles are expected to have just under $50MM in cap space to spend this offseason, and they’re likely to use at least a decent portion of that to upgrade a secondary that needs two new starting cornerbacks.

The Seahawks’ Byron Maxwell, whom many consider the best corner set to hit the free agent market Tuesday, has been linked to the Eagles recently. The 27-year-old further stoked the flames earlier this week when he said, according to Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com, that he would “definitely” consider signing with the Eagles. With that in mind, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer took a look at Maxwell’s body of work and wondered whether the Eagles would spend the $10MM to $12MM per annum that the four-year veteran is seeking. McLane brought up multiple concerns surrounding Maxwell, including the fact that he has just 17 career starts and was supported in Seattle by three elite defensive backs – Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. However, McLane also made mention of the positives Maxwell brings, notably his coverage skills, size (6-foot-1, 207 pounds), range and versatility.

Regardless of whether the Eagles ultimately sign Maxwell, they’re going to be busy during free agency as they work to improve their secondary and other aspects of their roster. Here’s more on what the coming days could bring for Philly:

  • Zach Berman, also of the Philadelphia Inquirer, examined Maxwell and other possible free agent corner options for the Eagles. Berman highlighted Antonio Cromartie, Davon House, Kareem Jackson, Chris Culliver and Brandon Flowers as potential targets.
  • Geoff Mosher and Reuben Frank continued the defensive back theme in wondering whether the Eagles should pursue Jimmy Wilson, who has spent his first four seasons in the league with the Dolphins. Neither Mosher nor Frank endorsed adding Wilson as anything more than a backup.
  • Two of the Eagles’ top players – star receiver Jeremy Maclin and linebacker Brandon Graham – are both scheduled to hit the market Tuesday, and can start negotiating with other teams Saturday. Unsurprisingly, the Eagles are expected to face “stiff competition” to sign Maclin, per Berman, if he makes it to free agency. Similarly, Graham will be in high demand and, according to Berman, could net a deal north of $40MM in total value and $20MM in guarantees.

Minor Moves: NFC West

March 6th, 2015 at 9:15pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The NFC West brought multiple headline-worthy news items Friday – the Seahawks’ extension of Marshawn Lynch and a possible contract restructuring for the Cardinals‘ Carson Palmer, for instance – but not every transaction includes household names. The Seahawks’ and Cardinals’ division rivals, the 49ers and Rams, proved as much Friday.

  • The 49ers signed long snapper Kyle Nelson to a four-year extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan. Last season was Nelson’s first 16-game campaign. He has been a member of seven different organizations and has had three separate stints with the 49ers since entering the NFL in 2011.
  • San Francisco also agreed to a one-year deal with tight end Garrett Celek, per Caplan. Celek has been a backup to Vernon Davis, having caught just eight passes in three seasons.
  • Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweeted that the Rams tendered offers to two exclusive rights free agents, running back Chase Reynolds and offensive lineman Brandon Washington. As ERFAs with fewer than three years’ experience, the tender means that both players must either stay with the Rams or not play at all. Reynolds has made his hay in St. Louis as a special teamer, while Washington has appeared in just one game since his career began in 2012.

AFC Notes: Revis, Cole, Knighton, Bills

March 6th, 2015 at 8:15pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

As the clock continues ticking toward the start of NFL free agency on March 10, a resolution between the Patriots and star cornerback Darrelle Revis draws nearer. Although Revis is signed through next season, his cap number is an unpalatable $25MM. Both that and Revis’ $20MM salary become guaranteed Tuesday if the Patriots don’t take action by then, which – worst-case scenario – would mean releasing the six-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro.

The two sides are expected to engage in negotiations for a long-term contract before the deadline, but a source informed Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that those discussions haven’t yet begun. Revis and his camp will enter negotiations cognizant of what he’d receive as a free agent on the open market, Florio opined, also speculating that the 29-year-old might take less on a long-term deal to remain with the reigning Super Bowl champions. Per Florio, Revis “wouldn’t like it” if New England were to keep him in 2015 on his current contract, but he’d forgo a holdout, suit up for the Pats and become a free agent in 2016.

Elsewhere around the AFC. . .

  • Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reports that free agent pass rusher Trent Cole will visit with a pair of AFC teams in the coming days, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. On the heels of meeting with the Buccaneers on Friday, the 32-year-old will powwow with the Browns on Sunday and the Colts on Monday. The Eagles released Cole on Wednesday after he spent the first 10 years of his career with them. Cole finished 2014 with 6.5 sacks, giving him 85.5 for his career, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him a respectable 19th out of 46 qualifying 3-4 outside linebackers.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes there are “growing indications” that Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton will be in another uniform next season. The free agent-to-be could end up with a deal worth anywhere from $7MM to $10MM annually, per Renck, and that might be out of Denver’s price range. The six-year veteran was an integral part of a Broncos team that had the league’s second-best run defense in 2014, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Knighton 12th among 81 qualifying D-tackles last season.
  • In lesser news, ESPN’s Mike Rodak tweeted Friday that the Bills will not tender an offer to restricted free agent Chris Hairston. The four-year veteran offensive tackle dressed for all 16 Bills games last season and has 15 career starts, though none since 2012.

Seahawks Extend Marshawn Lynch Through 2017

March 6th, 2015 at 7:20pm CST by Luke Adams

6:20pm: Lynch has officially signed his extension, according to Rapoport (via Twitter), for $24MM over two years. Lynch will make $12MM in 2015. After that, there’s a “distinct possibility” Lynch will retire, tweeted Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, even though the deal will run through the 2017 campaign.

5:50pm: Per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Lynch’s new deal is for three years and $31MM. Lynch will receive $12MM in 2015 ($4.5MM in salary and a $7.5MM signing bonus), and base salaries of $9MM in 2016 and $7MM in 2017. He’ll also get a $3MM roster bonus in 2017 if the Seahawks retain him beyond the fifth day of the league year. Should Lynch retire after next season, he’ll owe the team $5MM of the signing bonus, though Florio doesn’t think the Seahawks would pursue the money.

3:35pm: After a few weeks of uncertainty, Marshawn Lynch has decided to continue his NFL career, and has reached an USATSI_8233640_168380616_lowresagreement with the Seahawks on a new deal, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). It appeared last month that the two sides were close to a resolution, though the situation remained fluid until now.

If the terms of Lynch’s new deal are identical the reported Seahawks offer from last month, the running back is expected to earn around $12MM in the first year of the deal and $9MM in year two. However, it’s not yet known if the two sides continued to negotiate over the last couple weeks, and perhaps altered some of the terms of that arrangement.

Regardless of the financial terms of Lynch’s new deal, it appears “Beast Mode” will be back in Seattle for the 2015 season after having contemplated retirement following the team’s Super Bowl loss to New England. Recent reports indicated that chronic back troubles could ultimately prompt Lynch to hang up his cleats, but it seems as though both he and the team are confident in his health going forward.

The Seahawks went through a protracted contract dispute with Lynch prior to last season, but the two sides ultimately inked a new deal that guaranteed the running back $6.5MM. Lynch went on to rush for than 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, catching another 37 passes out of the backfield as Seattle earned its second consecutive Super Bowl berth. Once the Seahawks officially get Lynch to sign on the dotted line, they’ll presumably turn their attention to extending other notable players such as Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Lynch is currently en route to Seattle to meet with team owner Paul Allen, at which point the two sides will presumably finalize the new contract. Until the mercurial running back makes it official, there’s always a chance things could fall apart, but it sounds like he has made up his mind.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: NFLPA, Cutler, Raiders, Rams

March 6th, 2015 at 6:51pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

NFLPA President Eric Winston tweeted Thursday night that the deadline for nominations for Executive Director of the NFLPA had passed. Along with incumbent DeMaurice Smith, Winston listed Jim Acho, Sean Gilbert, Robert Griffith, Rob London, Art McAfee, John Stufflebeam, Andrew Smith and Jason Belser as candidates. The election for the position is scheduled for March 15.

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, NFLPA executives are concerned about the internal lack of confidence in DeMaurice Smith. Cole reported that those execs are unsure how Smith will be able to lead going forward if he keeps the job, which he has held since 2009.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets that, in the aftermath of the Brandon Marshall trade, “chances are” the Bears will keep Jay Cutler for at least another year. According to Breer, Chicago hasn’t brought up the possibility of a Cutler trade with other teams this offseason. Breer notes that the Bears have a “Cutler-friendly staff” with new offensive coordinator Adam Gase and quarterbacks coach Dowell Logains. Breer’s report runs contrary to one released Thursday by NFL.com colleague Ian Rapoport, who said that “teams certainly know that Cutler is available.”
  • The Raiders’ possible relocation to Carson, Calif., has been a major topic in recent weeks, and team owner Mark Davis said in a radio interview Friday that “other cities are possible relocation places,” Howard Balzer tweeted. Davis went on to state that he “wouldn’t say St. Louis is one of them.” Like the Raiders and Chargers, the Rams have been linked to the Los Angeles area. All three teams can terminate their leases and move after next season. If the Rams relocate, there have been rumblings about another NFL team playing in St. Louis in the future. If you’re to believe Davis, the Raiders won’t be that team.
  • Speaking of the Rams, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday that the team and right tackle Joe Barksdale are “too far apart” on a new deal. Thus, the 26-year-old will hit free agency when the market opens March 10. The four-year veteran has started 29 games over the last two seasons for St. Louis. Out of 84 qualifying tackles, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Barksdale as the 48th best in the league in 2014.

Offseason Outlook: Seattle Seahawks

March 6th, 2015 at 6:05pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Richard Sherman, CB: $12,200,000
  2. Marshawn Lynch, RB: $8,500,000
  3. Michael Bennett, DE: $8,000,000
  4. Cliff Avril, DE: $8,000,000
  5. Earl Thomas, S: $7,400,000
  6. Russell Okung, T: $7,280,000
  7. Brandon Mebane, DT: $5,700,000
  8. Kam Chancellor, S: $5,650,000
  9. Max Unger, C: $5,600,000
  10. K.J. Wright, LB: $4,750,000

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

  • No. 31 overall pick
  • Conditionally acquired fourth-round pick from Jets in deal for Percy Harvin; pick becomes a sixth-rounder if Harvin is cut by March 19.
  • Owe sixth-round pick to Colts in deal for Marcus Burley.

Other:

Overview:

Despite a heartbreaking conclusion, the 2014 season was another enormous success for the Seahawks. After a so-so start, USATSI_8381310_168380616_lowresthe reigning Super Bowl champions closed the regular season with six victories in a row, finished 12-4 and earned a second consecutive NFC West crown. The team went on to pull off a miraculous rally against the Packers in the NFC championship game, overcoming a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit before winning dramatically in overtime and clinching a second straight conference title.

Unfortunately for Seattle, as exhilarating as its triumph over Green Bay was, its Super Bowl XLIX loss to the Patriots was at least as deflating. The Seahawks, just 26 seconds and a single yard from another Lombardi Trophy, looked like shoo-ins to repeat as champs. However, a questionable second-down play call and shoddy execution combined for their undoing when the Pats’ Malcolm Butler intercepted quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line to seal a 28-24 victory for New England.

How well the Seahawks will bounce back from such a shattering defeat won’t be found out until next season, of course. In the meantime, general manager John Schneider will use the offseason to lock up key talent for the foreseeable future and supplement an already formidable roster. Although Schneider’s squad won’t require much help, it does have some areas that could use his attention.

Key Free Agents:

When the free agent market opens March 10, the likelihood is that the Seahawks will lose starting cornerback Byron Maxwell. In fact, a source told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Seattle has “little or no chance” to retain the 27-year-old. Maxwell, a four-year veteran, began garnering extensive playing time in 2013 and has intercepted six passes since. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 45th among 108 qualifying corners last season and an impressive 16th out of 110 the year prior. Now it appears he’ll parlay his success with the Seahawks into a sizable payday from another franchise.

None of Seattle’s other pending defensive free agents make the impact Maxwell does, but the group has some useful role players in linebacker Malcolm Smith, end O’Brien Schofield and tackle Kevin Williams. The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta wrote earlier this week that Smith, the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP, will “probably get better offers elsewhere.” Thanks to injuries and the players in front of him on the depth chart, Smith didn’t leave much of a mark last season. The two linemen, Schofield and Williams, were both valuable depth for Seattle in 2014. Schofield has previously spoken of a desire for more money and could be “tough” to keep, per Condotta, while the Seahawks would be interested in getting the soon-to-be 35-year-old Williams back on a second straight cheap, one-year contract.

The most significant offensive UFA the Seahawks have is left guard James Carpenter, who has started 39 games since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011. The injury-prone Carpenter set a career high with 13 starts last season, but Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t enamored with his play: The site rated him 47th out of 78 qualifying guards, which came on the heels of an even worse ranking the year prior (65th out of 81). Nevertheless, ESPN’s John Clayton told 710 ESPN Seattle radio last month that the team would take Carpenter back on a deal worth $3MM or less annually. Carpenter is seeking yearly value in the $4MM range, however, according to Clayton.

Like Carpenter, wide receiver Jermaine Kearse is also unsigned. However, the 25-year-old is a restricted free agent and received a tender offer from the team today. Given his team-controlled status, Kearse is a safe bet to return to receiver-needy Seattle, for which the three-year veteran finished second in both catches (38) and yards (537) last season.

Positions Of Need:

With Maxwell’s time in a Seahawks uniform expiring, they’re about to find themselves in need of a starting cornerback to pair with Richard Sherman and help maintain their top-ranked pass defense for a third year in a row. The Seahawks are prepared for Maxwell’s departure and have already begun turning their attention toward keeping the position strong. On Thursday, they visited with Cary Williams – whom the Eagles released earlier this week in a cost-cutting move. The 30-year-old hasn’t missed a game since 2010 and has tallied nine interceptions over the last three years. Moreover, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) liked Williams nearly as much as Maxwell last season, ranking the two four spots apart (Williams 49th, Maxwell 45th). Williams has visits with other teams scheduled and there’s no timetable on when he’ll sign.

Seattle also has its eyes on another corner named Williams – the Packers’ Tramon Williams – McGinn wrote Wednesday. As a pending free agent, Williams won’t be allowed to start negotiating with teams until Saturday. The eight-year veteran has spent his entire career in Green Bay, where Schneider worked as a front office assistant when Williams entered the NFL. According to McGinn, Schneider “views him as an ideal fit for coach Pete Carroll’s aggressive Cover 3 coverage scheme.” Multiple NFC personnel executives informed McGinn that Williams should net anywhere from $4MM to $6MM per annum on the open market. The 31-year-old has proven himself a durable playmaker, missing a mere one game out of a possible 128 and totaling a prolific 28 interceptions.

Offensively, the Seahawks’ receiver situation is mediocre at best. With the Percy Harvin experiment having failed, the Seahawks continue to be in need of game-breaking talent at the position. At the very least, they have to find another starting-caliber player to complement Doug Baldwin, who hauled in 66 passes for 825 yards last year.

While the odds of the Seahawks splurging on the Packers’ Randall Cobb, the Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin or the Ravens’ Torrey Smith are low, there are some satisfactory receivers available who are expected to sign more modest contracts. Among several candidates are the 49ers’ Michael Crabtree (if the front office is willing to overlook the differences between him and Sherman) and the Chargers’ Eddie Royal. Though neither is a world-beater – and the same is applicable to fellow free agents like Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks – adding one would give Wilson a third decent receiver to team with Baldwin and Kearse.

Seattle could otherwise turn to the draft, where it has the 31st overall pick. In his latest mock draft, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has the Seahawks taking Dorial Green-Beckham, formerly of Missouri, with their first-round selection. Green-Beckham offers an enticing blend of size (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) and 4.49 speed, but has dealt with numerous off-field issues.

Bettering their offensive line should also be on the Seahawks’ to-do list this offseason, especially with Carpenter’s possible exit. Football Outsiders graded Seattle’s O-line as the fourth best in the league last year at run blocking, though it struggled in pass protection – evidenced by a 24th-ranked adjusted sack rate. Although the Seahawks have two outstanding linemen in left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger, they’ve combined to miss 23 regular-season games during the previous two years. Further, Okung hasn’t played a 16-game season since the Seahawks drafted him in 2010. Right guard J.R. Sweezy and right tackle Justin Britt aren’t nearly as good as Okung or Unger, but they’re cheap and they’ve been able to stay on the field. Therefore, they’re likely to retain their starting jobs.

The one open spot is seemingly at left guard, where the Seahawks are going to have trouble making considerable strides if they aren’t willing to throw money at the 49ers’ Mike Iupati, the Broncos’ Orlando Franklin or the Bengals’ Clint Boling. Like some of the aforementioned receivers, the three top left guards on the market are going to cost a lot – perhaps too much for a team that will soon have crucial contract decisions to make on in-house talent.

Ultimately, should Carpenter walk and the big-time free agents price themselves out of the Seahawks’ range, they could simply plug in backup Alvin Bailey as a starter. That would enable them to focus on bolstering their O-line depth with lesser signings and adding potential future starters by way of the draft.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Entering the offseason, many viewed tight end Zach Miller as someone whose roster spot with the Seahawks was in jeopardy. The eight-year veteran missed 13 games last season with an ankle injury and sophomore Luke Wilson showed promise in his place. Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks elected Friday to release Miller, ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted, and save $2.39MM on their 2015 cap.

Moving to the defensive line, Seattle has an expensive tackle, Brandon Mebane, who missed most of last season with a torn hamstring. Releasing him would save the Seahawks $5.5MM. It’s improbable to think the team will part with Mebane because he’s a quality player and, as Condotta wrote earlier this week, a respected figure in the locker room. With that said, Schneider could always decide there’s a more alluring way to spend $5.5MM.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The status of five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch was up in the air as recently as Friday, when he agreed to a new deal with the Seahawks that shouldn’t affect his 2015 cap number. With Lynch’s situation taken care of, at least briefly, the Seahawks can begin to focus on some of their other players with uncertain futures.

During their three-year run as a premier team, one of the major luxuries the Seahawks have had is top-notch quarterback play for a relative pittance. Wilson has played the first three years of his career on his rookie deal – and he was only a third-rounder, remember – while throwing 72 touchdowns against 26 interceptions and helping lead Seattle to a 36-12 regular-season record, two NFC championships and a Super Bowl title. Wilson’s stellar play at a minimal price has allowed Schneider to stack the team around his QB with high-cost players. Those days are nearing an end, however, to at least an extent.

Wilson’s contract runs through next season. Between now and this time next year, the Seahawks are going to have to pay him a substantial amount of money. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported in January that Wilson’s next deal would make him the highest-paid QB in the league, surpassing the five-year, $110MM pact Aaron Rodgers inked with Green Bay in 2013. Schneider said last month that the Seahawks would use an “outside-the-box” approach with Wilson’s contract, according to NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, implying they’ll find a way to generously compensate the 26-year-old without damaging the rest of the roster.

Okung is also a year from free agency. Despite his injury issues (he has missed 21 of 80 regular-season games), Okung will be in for a hefty payday. It’ll be his second one – the ex-Oklahoma State standout signed a $48MM deal with $29MM in guarantees when he entered the league – and CBS Sports’ Joel Corry, a former agent, opined that Okung “probably won’t be interested in a new contract” worth less than his rookie deal. A raise might be out of range for the Seahawks, considering their other upcoming contractual priorities.

The centerpiece players scheduled for free agency in 2016 don’t stop on offense, unfortunately for Seattle. Bobby Wagner, who has been one of the league’s foremost defenders during his first three seasons, is a year from hitting the open market. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has ranked Wagner as the second-, 12th-and fifth-best 3-4 inside linebacker during his first three years. In 2014, he made 100-plus tackles in only 11 games and was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl invitation and First-Team All-Pro status. Wagner will be just 25 if he becomes a free agent next March and, between now and then, could approach or pass the Texans’ Brian Cushing as the league’s richest 3-4 ILB in terms of total value. Cushing signed for $52.5MM in 2013.

The Seahawks will also have to make a decision soon on pass-rushing linebacker Bruce Irvin, who has amassed 16.5 sacks in his three-year career. The team has until May to choose whether to pick up Irvin’s fifth-year option for 2016. That option is the value of the highest-paid 25 players at his position, excluding the top three players. The exact sum isn’t yet known, but it will be appreciably more than the $2.90MM Irvin is set to rake in next season.

Overall Outlook:

Regardless of its Super Bowl gaffe, Seattle is a battle-tested, uber-talented club led by an excellent coaching staff. Most of that talent and the majority of the coaches will return next season. Thus, with a productive offseason, the redemption-driven Seahawks should find themselves back in the championship hunt in 2015. Things will get trickier thereafter, though – as salaries for integral players markedly increase, Schneider’s mission to field an elite team will become more taxing.

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

Titans Likely To Be Aggressive In Free Agency

March 6th, 2015 at 5:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Armed with nearly $50MM in cap room as Tuesday nears, the Titans are planning to be “extraordinarily aggressive” in free agency this month, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). According to Cole, the team may be involved in the bidding on some high-end free agents, including Ndamukong Suh, Greg Hardy, and Darrelle Revis, if the cornerback makes it to the open market.

While I wouldn’t expect the Titans to be the favorites to land players like Suh or Revis, who will probably receive competitive offers from teams closer to Super Bowl contention, Hardy is an interesting name. Given his off-field issues, and the fact that the league has yet to announce whether or not he’ll be suspended, some teams may shy away from Hardy, which could open the door for a team like Tennessee.

Hardy played in a 4-3 system in Carolina, so there may be some adjustment necessary if he were to join a team like the Titans, whose scheme leans more toward a 3-4, but the 26-year-old’s ability to get to the quarterback makes him a potential asset for any NFL team.

Speaking to reporters last month at the combine in Indianapolis, GM Ruston Webster cautioned that the most effective way to build a strong roster is through the draft, but did admit that he expects the club to try to fill some holes through free agency. According to Cole, the edict to spend may come down from above — the Bleacher Report insider says owner Tommy Smith has made it clear to his management team that he wants to be active in free agency.

Seahawks Release Zach Miller

March 6th, 2015 at 5:06pm CST by Zachary Links

5:06pm: In addition to releasing Miller, the Seahawks announced (via Twitter) that they waived offensive tackle Garrett Scott and defensive tackle Jesse Williams, and signed defensive end Greg Scruggs.

4:54pm: The Seahawks have released tight end Zach Miller, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s been a busy day for the Seahawks, who also reached agreement with star running back Marshawn Lynch on a new deal earlier today.

Miller signed a $34MM contract with the Seahawks in August of 2011 and he renegotiated his deal roughly one year ago to remain on the team. He agreed to a $3MM pay cut in 2014 and a $2MM pay cut in 2015, but that apparently wasn’t enough to keep his spot in Seattle. Miller would have been a $4MM cap hit in 2015 and, as Terry Blount of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes, dropping him helps offset the difference in Lynch’s bump from $7MM to $11MM next season.

Miller, a former Pro Bowler, was with the Seahawks since 2011, catching 102 balls over that span and serving as the club’s top tight end. His 2014 campaign officially ended in November when he was placed on injured reserve, but he was out of action ever since undergoing an ankle procedure following the team’s Week 3 game.

It’s possible that the release of Miller could be the start of something bigger in Seattle. On Friday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk mentioned the Seahawks as a dark horse candidate for free agent Broncos tight end Julius Thomas.

Stephen Gostkowski Signs Franchise Tender

March 6th, 2015 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski has signed his one-year franchise contract tender from the club, ensuring that he’s locked into a 2015 salary of nearly $4.6MM, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Gostkowski and the Pats could still work out a longer-term deal that reduces that figure, but the team won’t be able to rescind the one-year offer at any point now Gostkowski has signed it.

Gostkowski, 31, has led the NFL in field goals in each of the last two seasons, making 73 of his 78 total attempts during that stretch, for a 93.6% mark. Gostkowski has also made all 95 of his extra point tries over the last two years. That success prompted the Pats to designate him as their franchise player, rather than using the tag on safety Devin McCourty, who now appears set to reach the open market.

The move makes Gostkowski the first of six players who were hit with the franchise or transition tag to sign the one-year tender. Dez Bryant, Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Demaryius Thomas have yet to sign their franchise offers, while Charles Clay hasn’t signed his transition offer.

Raiders Release Nick Roach

March 6th, 2015 at 4:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders announced (on Twitter) that they have released linebacker Nick Roach and safety Usama Young with failed physical designations.

Roach suffered a concussion during the preseason and didn’t see the field in 2014. Last month, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he was still having headaches and wasn’t expected to return in 2015. The 29-year-old (30 in June) played every defensive snap for Oakland in 2013 but it sounds like it will be a while, if ever, before we see him back on the gridiron. Roach briefly returned to practice in September of 2014 but never made it back into live action after the unfortunate incident against the Packers in preseason.

Young signed a two-year contract with the Raiders in the offseason but his season ended in late October when he tore both his ACL and MCL and was placed on IR. A frequent contributor on special teams, Young had taken on a more significant role on defense in 2014, starting three of the club’s first six contests. Young was a starter for the Browns before joining up with Oakland in 2013.

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