Eagles, Vinny Curry Agree To Extension
The extensions just keep on comin’. The latest one has been inked by Vinny Curry, who now has a new deal worth $47.25MM with the Eagles, as Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. In total, the deal includes $23MM in guaranteed cash. Curry also gets $10MM immediately upon signing, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The new deal means that Curry will be under contract through 2020.
The defensive end’s overall numbers took a hit in 2015 — after recording nine sacks and four forced fumbles in 2014, he had 3.5 and zero, respectively, this past season. Still, Pro Football Focus graded him 10th among interior defensive linemen as a pass-rusher, so he was putting pressure on quarterbacks even if he wasn’t bringing them down.
Having been selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, Curry’s old rookie contract was set to expire this winter without a fifth-year option. Now, instead of hitting the the open market in March, Curry is slated to remain in Eagles green for a long time. The rival Giants were among the clubs believed to be eyeing him, but they’ll now have to shift their focus elsewhere.
Curry came to the Eagles in a rather notable draft-day trade in 2012 The Eagles selected defensive lineman Jerel Worthy at No. 51 overall for the Packers and, in return, they got Curry (No. 59) and cornerback Brandon Boykin. Former coach Chip Kelly jettisoned Boykin from Philadelphia prior to the 2015 season, but the Eagles refused to let Curry go anywhere else.
Curry’s deal is not unlike the one given to Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen. Griffen, a former third-round pick out of USC, got a five-year deal worth $42.5MM with $20MM guaranteed roughly eleven months ago. After getting this monster deal, Curry is now cemented as a starter and a key fixture in the Eagles’ front seven. Curry is expected to serve as an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz‘s 4-3 scheme which should be a much better fit for him that the club’s previous 3-4 set.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eagles Halt Search For Personnel Chief
After having announced last month that they intended to hire a new front office executive to serve as their head of player personnel, the Eagles have put that search on hold for now, reports Geoff Mosher of EagleScoutingNest.com. According to Mosher, the Eagles aren’t expected to hire a personnel chief until sometime after the 2016 NFL draft.
[RELATED: Eagles sign Lane Johnson through 2021]
Having parted ways with head coach Chip Kelly and top personnel executive Ed Marynowitz several weeks ago, the Eagles are seeking a high-ranking senior executive to lead the scouting department, but the timing of their search may have limited their list of potential candidates. As Mosher explains, most NFL teams are currently “knee deep in the pre-draft process” and would be hesitant about allowing a top personnel executive to leave.
The team did meet with several candidates, including Brandon Hunt, Morocco Brown, Dwayne Joseph, and Mark Dominik, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. And as Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets, it’s possible that the team has already reached an agreement with a candidate who isn’t free until after the draft.
For now though, Philadelphia looks poised to head into free agency and the draft with Howie Roseman making many of the key decisions. Tom Donahoe and new head coach Doug Pederson also figure to be involved in the process, but as McLane writes, Roseman will be the one making the final decision on roster moves.
Even if the team intends to resume its search after the conclusion of this year’s draft, there’s some skepticism around the league that the Eagles will be able to attract top candidates for the position, says Mosher. While Philadelphia doesn’t currently have a general manager, the team’s front office opening isn’t exactly a GM position, and Roseman figures to maintain final say on personnel decisions, so rival executives may not view it as a significant promotion.
As Mosher notes, Kelly was in a similar position last year when tasked with replacing Tom Gamble, and had difficulty attracting an outside personnel exec — he ultimately promoted Marynowitz.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Coaching Notes: Cowher, McDermott, Hirings
With CBS broadcasting this year’s Super Bowl, Bill Cowher is in San Francisco to cover the game for the network. But just because he’s on the media side of things now doesn’t mean he can avoid questions about a potential return to coaching.
Asked on Monday about that possibility, Cowher said that he didn’t have any contact with the Giants about their head coaching job after Tom Coughlin resigned, but the former Steelers head coach didn’t rule out a return to an NFL sideline, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News details.
“You know what? I’ve never shut a door,” Cowher said. “I don’t think you need to shut a door that you don’t need to. I’m very happy at CBS. I love what I’m doing. I’m 58 years old. I feel young. I still feel involved in the game. But this element of the game gives me a life that I was never able to experience before…. I never say never, but I’m very, very satisfied with where I’m at.”
Here are several more coaching-related updates from around the NFL:
- Speaking to the media on Monday night, Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott confirmed that he spoke to Howie Roseman about the Eagles‘ head coaching opening, despite not having a formal interview with the team, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We had some preliminary talks,” McDermott said. “It was clear from the beginning they wanted to go offense.”
- The Cowboys are looking to hire a replacement for defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, who joined the Falcons, and the next coach Dallas is talking to is former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Alex Marvez of FOX Sports has the details on a couple additions to the Browns‘ coaching staff, reporting (via Twitter) that the team has hired Johnny Holland and Eric Sanders. Holland, who had been working in the CFL, resigned from the B.C. Lions last month because he knew he would have a position on Hue Jackson‘s staff, according to Marvez, who adds that Holland will be the Browns’ inside linebackers coach (Twitter links). Sanders, a Stanford defensive assistant, will join the Browns in the same capacity.
- The Chargers have hired former Titans quarterbacks coach John McNulty as their new tight ends coach, according to Marvez (via Twitter). McNulty has a longtime connection to former Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who has now returned to the offensive coordinator role in San Diego.
- The Titans have completed their coaching staff, hiring Keith Willis as the team’s assistant defensive line coach and Brandon Blaney as a defensive assistant, the club announced in a press release.
Extra Points: Manning, Hayne, Raiders, Eagles
The 49ers tried to lean on then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s familiarity with Peyton Manning as a recruitment tool when they, the Titans and Broncos were finalists for the then-free agent’s services, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Fangio, the Bears’ current DC and then the 49ers’ defensive boss, was the Colts’ defensive coordinator under Jim Mora from 1999-01 and recalled the back-and-forths he had with the wunderkind quarterback during their time in Indianapolis. The two would verbally jostle in practices if Manning felt the defense was playing the wrong coverage, and Fangio would counter that the practices weren’t geared only to Manning success.
Fangio thought a 49ers talented defense that had the team on the cusp of Super Bowl XLVI the season prior would be the then-36-year-old quarterback’s ticket to another championship.
“When we were talking to him about coming to the 49ers,” Fangio told Branch, “I told him we’d let him win in practice if he signed.”
Manning will play in the 49ers’ stadium Sunday, doing so in a non-preseason setting for the first time since since joining the Broncos.
Here’s the latest from around the league as the Pro Bowl’s conclusion leaves just one game remaining in the 2015 season.
- Trent Baalke still sees a place for ex-rugby standout Jarryd Hayne on the 49ers even after a regime change, Michael Chammas of the Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald reports. “[Chip Kelly is] excited to get his hands on him, the whole coaching staff is. We’ll find out in short order who fits and who doesn’t fit,” Baalke told Chammas. The Sydney-based reporter notes Hayne’s 2016 season will determine if he returns to the National Rugby League after that, with the 28-year-old being waived by the 49ers last season and re-signed to the team’s practice squad. “I think that there were enough signs that he was still ways away in respect to development, that we felt there was a good chance he would make it through waivers and we’d be able to put him on our practice,” Baalke said of the soon-to-be-28-year-old running back.
- Ryan Clady earlier today said he’d be willing to rework his contract to help the Broncos, which would increase his chances of being on the team for a ninth season. Entering his age-30 campaign off of two season-ending injuries in three seasons, Clady intimated to Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press he’s ready for offseason work after undergoing surgery in June 2015, but said the Broncos may want him to skip OTAs to be ready for training camp. A former first-team All-Pro, Clady tore his ACL during OTAs last season, prompting the Broncos to sign current left tackle Ryan Harris as an emergency replacement.
- The NFL doesn’t see Oakland coming up with a viable stadium plan in the near future, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News tweets. The Raiders are scouring the Pacific Time Zone for other avenues and haven’t discussed a new stadium since the owners’ meetings Jan. 12.
- Sam Bradford faces a complex decision on whether to return to the Eagles, and the Texans will be their primary competition, should the seventh-year former No. 1 overall pick reach free agency, the Philadelphia Daily News writes. Paul Domowitch writes the Kelly trade target will depart due to the Texans having a superior defense and Doug Pederson‘s arrival negating the familiarity edge for the Eagles, while John Smallwood notes the Broncos could be in play, should they decide Brock Osweiler won’t be enough to keep them in the Super Bowl conversation. Overall, 11 of the 19 Daily News staffers polled, however, indicated Bradford would be back on the Eagles in ’16.
NFC East Rumors: Gettleman, Pederson, Cousins
When Ernie Accorsi retired as the Giants‘ GM after the 2006 season, he pushed hardest for Jerry Reese to become his successor despite Dave Gettleman‘s success within the organization, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes.
Reese, who coordinated the draft for Big Blue at the time, and salary cap expert Kevin Abrams joined Gettleman as the top in-house candidates to succeed Accorsi. Reese is now entering his 10th season as the Giants’ GM.
“And I felt sorry for Dave on the thing, I don’t think it was an easy decision for John Mara or the Tischs,’’ Accorsi told media, including Schwartz. “When Jerry got it, I could tell Dave was down. I said to him ‘Look, I have no idea if I’m ever going to be able to deliver on this, but if I possibly can take care of you, I will.”
Accorsi helped the now-64-year-old Gettleman ascend to the Panthers’ GM position as a consultant. Gettleman, per Schwartz, helped the Giants in free agency when they signed Super Bowl XLII bastions Plaxico Burress, Antonio Pierce and others. Gettleman laid the groundwork for Pierce, an outside linebacker mostly in Washington, to move to the middle full-time in New York.
The Browns passed over Gettleman twice, in 2009 and 2010, when they hired George Kokinis and Mike Holmgren, respectively, over Accorsi’s recommendation, while the Chiefs hired Scott Pioli over Gettleman in 2009 as well.
Following these shortcomings, Gettleman, then the Giants’ director of pro player personnel, informed Mara he sought to retreat into a part-time role before getting the Panthers’ job in 2013.
Here is the latest coming out of NFC East cities.
- Alex Spiro, the attorney for Jay Bromley, doesn’t expect the Giants defensive tackle to be charged (Twitter links via Jordan Raanan of NJ.com) after a woman said he attempted to rape her. The 23-year-old Bromley has not been arrested in connection with Saturday morning’s alleged incident.
- Doug Pederson‘s proactive approach regarding keeping the Eagles‘ talented young players comes in contrast to Chip Kelly‘s more volatile method on display last season, Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com writes. Frank notes Pederson’s straight-forward style has helped stabilize the organization thus far after Kelly’s final days put staffers on edge, given the seismic moves he’d made. The new 49ers coach’s reluctance to compromise and employing an overmatched staff helped key his dismissal from Philadelphia, Frank writes.
- The 49ers offered Pederson an assistant-coaching position in 2005, but the current Eagles coach turned it down to continue being a high school head coach in Louisiana, Zach Berman of Philly.com writes. Pederson continued to coach at a Shreveport, La., high school for four seasons and told the school’s athletic director he’d only leave if Andy Reid offered him a job in Philadelphia. He extended an offer to Pederson for an offensive quality control job before the 2009 season, leading to seven years of the pair working in tandem in Philadelphia and Kansas City.
- Kirk Cousins‘ likely extension with Washington should be a four-year pact, John Keim of ESPN.com writes. He cites the majority of quarterback contracts agreed to in the past two offseasons being four-year deals — like those given to Eli Manning, Russell Wilson, or Philip Rivers — along with Cousins proving to be an effective, but not yet a game-changing quarterback, as the reasoning behind the estimation. Keim writes that Robert Griffin III can still be traded if he agrees to redo his fifth-year option ($16.15MM for 2016) but expects him to be released to help make room for Cousins’ deal.
- Alfred Morris coming back to Washington after the running back put together his career-worst year in 2015 wouldn’t make sense, Keim writes. He also expects the team to bring in a back to compete with the thus-far-inconsistent Matt Jones for No. 1 runner responsibilities.
Sunday Roundup: Hunt, Revis, Lions, Chargers
Eagles senior director of player personnel Tom Donahoe is expected to meet with Steelers pro personnel coordinator Brandon Hunt again today to discuss Philadelphia’s director of player personnel position, according to Geoff Mosher of 975TheFanatic (via Twitter). Mosher adds that Hunt is not high enough on the scouting chain to hold a vice president position like the one Tom Cable held before he was fired at the end of 2014, and the Eagles are still looking for someone with more experience than the 35-year-old Hunt. Per Mosher, the Eagles would prefer someone like Steelers director of football administration Omar Khan, but Mosher does not expect Pittsburgh to allow Khan to interview (all links to Twitter).
Now let’s take a look at some more links from around the league:
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com observes that the Jets could buy themselves some much-needed salary cap relief in 2016 if they were to rework Darrelle Revis‘ contract–and Revis would be open to it–but such a move could really handicap the team in the latter years of Revis’ deal. The Jets can create cap room in other ways–they could release Antonio Cromartie and ask D’Brickashaw Ferguson to take a pay cut, for instance–and they should pursue those options before approaching Revis about a restructure.
- The Patriots have legitimate interest in Kansas State’s Glenn Gronkowski, Rob Gronkowski‘s younger brother, according to Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). “Little Gronkowski” practiced at tight end, fullback and H-back this week in preparation for yesterday’s Senior Bowl, and he could be a fit as the Patriots’ second tight end.
- Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com looks at the to-do list for new Lions GM Bob Quinn, which will include important decisions on extensions for certain members of the team’s impressive 2013 draft class. That class included Ziggy Ansah, Darius Slay, Sam Martin, and Theo Riddick.
- Now that the Chargers know where they will be playing their home games in 2016, the conversations regarding the team can return, at least to some degree, to football, writes Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Gehlken takes a brief look at what the future will hold for the team’s 23 free agents and potential cap casualties.
- Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney will not need foot surgery this offseason, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Clowney finished the 2015 season with 4.5 sacks and 40 tackles with one forced fumble, but he was limited to 13 games and nine starts due to injuries. He missed the team’s playoff contest this year with a sprained foot.
East Notes: L. Johnson, Patriots, Bills, Cowboys
Although perennial Pro Bowler Jason Peters currently mans left tackle in Philadelphia, the Eagles‘ extension of Lane Johnson indicates that the club clearly views him at its left tackle of the future. Johnson’s new deal, which locks him up through 2021, makes him the highest-paid right tackle in the league, and would put on him par with the most well-compensated left tackles, as well. For his part, Johnson agrees that his time on the blindside will come eventually.
“I think that’s what they drafted me for,” Johnson tells Zach Berman of Philly.com. “Obviously, Jason Peters is probably the best tackle of all time. One of them. Him and Walter Jones, in my opinion. Having him here, he’s taught me so much. I’m going to continue to [play right tackle] until that time comes.”
Here’s more from the NFL’s East divisions:
- The Patriots‘ offensive struggles were on full display during the AFC Championship Game, and the club will have some work to do to improve the unit in 2016. But one lineman who is unlikely to be retained is swing tackle Marcus Cannon, whom Matt Dolloff of CBS Boston believes will be a salary cap casualty. Releasing Cannon would save New England about $3.69MM (the Patriots currently project to have only ~$4MM in 2016 cap space).
- If the Patriots opt to make outside additions to its offensive line, someone like Browns right tackle Mitchell Schwartz will probably be outside of their comfort level financially. But Chiefs free agent Jeff Allen would be more affordable, and as Dolloff notes, Allen’s ability to play both guard and tackle could be intriguing to Bill Belichick.
- Free agent linebacker Nigel Bradham clearly won’t be a priority for the Bills as they seek to re-sign Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, who predicts that Bradham won’t return to Buffalo if he asks for $4-5MM annually. One potential replacement could be Jets linebacker Demario Davis, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, who says Buffalo could circle back to Davis after the first wave of free agency.
- While reports have indicated that Johnny Manziel — who is in the news again for an off-field incident — would like to play for the Cowboys, Todd Archer of ESPN.com doesn’t think it would be a good move. Returning to the state where he is the biggest celebrity would not be a positive for the 23-year-old, opines Archer.
Eagles Sign Lane Johnson Through 2021
6:16pm: The base value of the five new years added to Johnson’s contract is $56.26MM, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who says that figure could increase to $60.01MM via Pro Bowl escalators. Corry adds that the deal includes a $10MM signing bonus, increasing Johnson’s 2016 cap number by $2MM and giving him just under $21MM fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter links).
While Johnson’s cap number for next season is going up, the Eagles will save some space in 2017. Johnson’s fifth-year option would’ve cost the Eagles anywhere from $11.5MM to $12MM, but the extension takes it down to $10MM, Corry tweets.
10:21am: The Eagles’ streak of contract extensions continues today, with the team announcing in a press release that offensive tackle Lane Johnson has been locked up through the 2021 season. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer first reported (via Twitter) that the team was putting the “finishing touches” on a new deal for Johnson, while Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) reported that the two sides had agreed to terms on a five-year extension.
[RELATED: Eagles extend Zach Ertz through 2021]
Johnson’s new deal will be worth up to $63MM, with $35.5MM in guarantees, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The former first-round pick is the third Philadelphia player to sign a contract extension this week. Tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek extended their deals with the team on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
It’s unlikely that that $35.5MM is all fully guaranteed, and the base value of the new deal may be lower than $63MM, but it still looks like Johnson will become one of the highest-paid tackles in the NFL. Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer suggests (via Twitter) that Johnson is technically getting a new contract, rather than an extension, so the $63MM figure may apply to the next six years instead of the five years beginning in 2017.
If that’s the case, it would work out to an average of $10.5MM annually, which would tie him for fifth among offensive tackle in terms of per-year salary, according to Over the Cap’s data. If Johnson can earn up to $63MM in new money, in addition to what he would have made for 2016, it could make him the league’s second-highest paid offensive lineman by annual salary, behind Trent Williams.
Johnson, the fourth overall pick in 2013, has been a starter for the Eagles since the team drafted him out of Oklahoma, playing primarily at right tackle before spending some time at left tackle in 2015. In his three years with the Eagles, he has only missed four games, when he was suspended for performance-enhancing drugs during the 2014 campaign. This past season, Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson 24th among offensive tackles, out of 81 qualified players at the position.
New head coach Doug Pederson has suggested that he thinks left tackle Jason Peters has a few more good years left in him, so the Eagles may not move on from Peters this offseason — but the veteran tackle is now 34 years old, and his cap number is on the rise, so at some point sooner or later Philadelphia will likely turn to Johnson to replace Peters permanently on the left side.
[RELATED: Eagles extend Brent Celek through 2018]
Assuming the plan is to eventually have him Johnson replace Peters, it makes some sense for the team to lock up the 25-year-old sooner rather than later. Left tackles are the highest-paid players among offensive linemen, but given Johnson’s relative lack of NFL experience playing on the left side, the Eagles may have had to pay even more in a year or two if he plays more left tackle and looks good there.
Now that they’ve finalized a new deal with Johnson, the Eagles will avoid having to make a decision on his fifth-year option for 2017. The team has now taken care of several of its top extension candidates early in the offseason — a report last Friday indicated that Philadelphia was exploring deals for Johnson, Ertz, and Vinny Curry, so locking up Curry before he reaches the open market may be the next item on Howie Roseman‘s to-do list.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
East Rumors: A. Williams, Eagles, Cox, Jordan
Bills safety Aaron Williams is coming off a neck injury that sidelined him for most of the 2015 season, and he won’t know for sure if he’ll be able to continue playing in the NFL going forward until he gets back on the field in training camp, as he explains to John Murphy at BuffaloBills.com.
“After that first hit, if you feel like you can sustain those hits week in and week out, then continue to keep playing,” Williams said, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “But if it’s one of those where I hit it and it’s just like, ‘Man, this doesn’t look good,’ then I’ll have to reconsider.”
Here’s more from around the NFL’s East divisions:
- Former Browns executive Morocco Brown, mentioned on Thursday as a candidate for the Eagles‘ top personnel job, has indeed interviewed with Philadelphia, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Brown was let by Cleveland along with Ray Farmer and Bill Kuharich at season’s end.
- It appears there’s mutual interest between Fletcher Cox and the Eagles in getting an extension done, with Cox telling Around the NFL on Thursday that he wants to be in Philadelphia “for the long haul,” adding that he believes “everyone wants me there from the owner all the way down” (link via Conor Orr of NFL.com). At the rate the Eagles are getting their players locked up, it would almost be a surprise if Cox doesn’t sign a new contract soon — Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, and Lane Johnson have all been extended by Philadelphia this week.
- The Dolphins aren’t counting on him to be a 2016 contributor, but the team is open to giving defensive end Dion Jordan another shot if and when he’s reinstated from his suspension, as long as “he’s clean and has a good attitude,” writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- The Bills are focusing on Ralph Wilson Stadium for the time being, rather than working on a new stadium, team president Russ Brandon said on Thursday. Mike Rodak of ESPN.com has the details and the quotes.
East Rumors: Wentz, Eagles, Giants
The Bills were the team North Dakota State quarterbacks coach Randy Hedberg recalled being the most enamored with Carson Wentz, staging several visits to the Fargo, N.D.-based Division I-FCS school to gauge the first-round prospect, Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports.
Bills representatives attended several Bison practices and were a constant in North Dakota State’s football facility, Hedberg told Dunne, to look at the rare non-FBS first-round quarterback prospect. Dunne notes, however, that at this rate the fast-rising Wentz won’t be available when the Bills select at No. 19, as the 6’5″ signal-caller has impressed this week in Senior Bowl workouts.
Buffalo still has Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel under contract for 2016.
Here is the latest on the most unlikely top-tier quarterback prospect in a while and other news from around the Eastern divisions.
- Even though the Jets are set to negotiate an extension with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes they are pondering first-round quarterbacks, with Wentz being the most intriguing. “Every NFL team probably goes into the draft — with maybe a few exceptions of people who have really well-established quarterbacks — looking at that position as a position of interest,” Jets GM Mike Maccagnan said. “We’ll be no different than them.” The Jets pick at No. 20.
- The Eagles will meet with Steelers executive Brandon Hunt for a second interview Friday for their director of player personnel position, Philly.com’s Jeff McLane tweets. Steelers owner Art Rooney II gave the 35-year-old Hunt permission to interview with the eastern-Pennsylvania franchise. He’s already met with Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman.
- Although Hunt is their only confirmed candidate, McLane reports former Browns VP of player personnel Morocco Brown is on the Eagles’ radar for this job. Eagles director of pro scouting Dwayne Joseph looms as an internal candidate, per McLane.
- The Giants are planning to add Patriots linebackers coach Patrick Graham as their defensive line coach, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The 37-year-old Graham’s been with the Patriots since 2009 and prior to taking over the Pats’ linebackers in 2014, he supervised their defensive linemen in 2012-13.