FA Rumors: Falcons, Finley, Winston, Neal
Let’s follow up on this morning’s free agent rumors with another round of them for the afternoon….
- The Falcons are engaged in active talks to bring back offensive lineman Mike Johnson, but appear ready to part ways with defensive tackle Peria Jerry, reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution.
- Tight end Jermichael Finley has drawn interest from the Jets, Chiefs, Seahawks, Giants, and Steelers, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The former Packers standout still hasn’t been medically cleared, however.
- The Cardinals have maintained interest in offensive lineman Eric Winston, but with no deal imminent, the veteran tackle could hit the open market, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Packers have had meaningful discussions with outside linebacker Mike Neal, but they haven’t come up with a large enough offer to keep him from testing the open market, tweets Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- Wilson also passes along an update on former Ravens defensive tackle Bryan Hall, who worked out for eight NFL teams at Arkansas State today. Hall was converted to linebacker by Baltimore, but is back to playing on the line now (Twitter links).
- According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link), defensive tackle Antonio Johnson continues to talk to the Titans, as the team tries to re-sign some of its players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents
- Having re-signed Marcus Sherels, the Vikings have one restricted free agent left, in linebacker Larry Dean. A source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) the team is having ongoing discussions on the possibility of bringing Dean back.
- Tight end Dustin Keller, who was doing exceptionally well in camp with the Dolphins last offseason before tearing his ACL, is on track to return for this season, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Keller is an unrestricted free agent.
Keisel Prepared To Move On From Steelers
Larry Foote might not be the only veteran starter the Steelers lose from their defense. Defensive end Brett Keisel could be on his way out too, writes Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The eight-year starter hasn’t been contacted by the Steelers about returning next season and is preparing to play elsewhere, according agent Eric Metz.
While the unrestricted free agent will be 36 in September, Keisel is coming off an effective season in which he ranked out 13th among all NFL 3-4 defensive ends in Pro Football Focus’ pass rush evaluations. Keisel missed four games late last season with a painful plantar fasciitis condition in his left foot that was worsened by a tear, but he returned to have two sacks in the final two games, plus a critical fumble recovery against the Packers. Some players might retire rather than battle through injury after such a long career, but Keisel has no such plans.
“He’s productive, healthy and has every intention to continue to play football,” said Metz.
Keisel finished 2013 with four sacks (giving him 8.5 over the last two seasons), a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 29 tackles. He made $2,825,000 in base salary last season, with a salary cap charge of $4.9MM, but the Steelers — if they have any interest in having him back — probably don’t want to pay much more than the minimum of $955K, plus a small signing bonus, Robinson writes. For what it’s worth, Keisel’s agent says his client wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
Contract Updates: Jets, Bills, Ratliff, Titans
Restricted free agent cornerback Darrin Walls agreed to a new deal with the Jets last night, and agent Jordan Woy tweets that it’s a two-year contract. Ellis Lankster, who also agreed on a new deal with the Jets, will be on a two-year, $1.63MM contract, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Lankster’s pact appears to be worth slightly more than the minimum.
With free agency looming and several players having already signed new contracts or reworked old ones, we have plenty more contract and cap updates to pass along, so let’s dive right in….
- The Bills extended contract tenders to all four of their exclusive rights free agents, and cornerback Brandon Smith has accepted his, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 (Twitter links). With Smith set to return to the team on a one-year, minimum-salary deal, offensive guard Antoine McClain, fullback Frank Summers, and wide receiver Chris Hogan will also be back in Buffalo if and when they sign their tenders.
- Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) has the details on Jeremiah Ratliff‘s new two-year contract with the Bears. It’s worth a total of $4MM, with $600K guaranteed.
- The cap figures on Troy Polamalu‘s new three-year contract with the Steelers are $6.387MM (2014), $8.25MM (2015), and $8MM (2016), with respective base salaries of $1.5MM, $6MM, and $5.75MM, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- The Browns have extended a contract tender to inside linebacker Craig Robertson, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Robertson, who was an exclusive rights free agent, will be in line for a minimum salary of $570K for 2014.
- New one-year deals for running backs Jackie Battle (Titans) and Bobby Rainey (Bucs) are both worth the minimum, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean and Tom Pelissero of USA Today, respectively (Twitter links). Battle’s minimum salary ($855K) is a little more substantial than Rainey’s ($570K) due to his extra years of service time.
- Wyatt also shares (via Twitter) a few more specifics on Bernard Pollard‘s two-year deal with the Titans, which has base salaries of $1.65MM in 2014 and $3.1MM in 2015.
Steelers Release Levi Brown, Larry Foote
The Steelers cap-related moves keep coming, as the team is releasing offensive lineman Levi Brown and linebacker Larry Foote, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The team has confirmed the cuts (via Twitter), and also announced the release of cornerback Curtis Brown, which we discussed earlier.
Brown, who the Steelers acquired in a trade with the Cardinals last October, didn’t play a single snap for Pittsburgh after tearing his triceps. His release will be a major boon for the Steelers, wiping a $6.25MM from the club’s books for 2014. As for Foote, the team may miss his on-field contributions a little more. Drafted by the Steelers in 2002, Foote has remained in Pittsburgh since then, appearing in 172 games for the franchise. His 2013 season was also wiped out by an injury (torn biceps), and his release will create about $1.167MM in cap savings for the Steelers.
Taking into account their three cuts and two extensions for Heath Miller and Troy Polamalu, the Steelers have created more than $14MM in cap savings today, which should go a long way toward getting the team under the 2014 cap. At least one or two more moves will likely be required, with Ike Taylor and LaMarr Woodley representing strong candidates to be released or restructured.
Steelers Cut Curtis Brown
The Steelers have released defensive back Curtis Brown, according to agent Chad Speck of Allegiant Athletic Agency (Twitter link). Brown, a third-round pick in 2011, had one year remaining on his rookie contract.
Although Brown saw a good deal of playing time on defense in 2012 as the nickel corner, he was relegated primarily to special teams duty in 2013. An ACL injury ended his season prematurely, but Speck indicates in his tweet that Brown will be ready for the 2014 season.
The Steelers’ cap savings in the move are minimal, since Brown’s cap number is only reduced by $645K. Still, every little bit should help Pittsburgh as the team looks to sneak under the cap before the new league year begins on Tuesday.
Steelers Extend Troy Polamalu’s Contract
1:20pm: Polamalu’s three-year extension is worth $20MM overall, and will save the Steelers $4.5MM in 2014 cap space, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
12:26pm: The Steelers have extended Troy Polamalu‘s contract for an additional two years beyond next season, keeping him under team control through 2016, the club announced today. Like Heath Miller‘s new deal, which was also confirmed by the Steelers, Polamalu’s extension is expected to reduce his 2014 cap number.
Polamalu, who has been with the Steelers since the team drafted him in the first round in 2003, had been on the books for a cap number of about $10.888MM for 2014. His new deal should reduce that number, along with his ’14 base salary ($8.25MM), pushing some prorated bonus money into the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Although he’ll turn 33 next month, Polamalu continues to give the Steelers excellent production at the strong safety position, starting all 16 games for the club in 2013. The USC alum earned his eighth Pro Bowl berth and ranked fifth overall among 86 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).
For the Steelers, the Polamalu and Miller extensions will create some much-needed cap flexibility, as the team looks to get under the cap in time for the start of the new league year next Tuesday. Still, depending on how much money is sliced off Polamalu’s cap number for 2014, more moves will likely be required. Pittsburgh may also have to deal with the contracts of LaMarr Woodley and Ike Taylor in the coming days.
Steelers Restructure Heath Miller’s Deal
WEDNESDAY, 11:23am: The restructure has added two new years to Miller’s contract, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). The new deal includes base salaries of $4MM in 2015 and 2016, while 2014’s cap number has been reduced to about $6.133MM, a reduction of $3.33MM.
MONDAY, 10:47am: The Steelers have restructured Heath Miller‘s contract in order to create 2014 cap space, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Miller had been a strong candidate to be restructured or released due to his $9.47MM cap number. That cap hit will be reduced, though the specific details aren’t yet available.
Miller’s contract called for a $6.02MM base salary in 2014, to go along with a prorated bonus amount of about $3.45MM. That bonus amount can’t be adjusted down any further, but the base salary could be reduced all the way to the minimum. 2014 was slated to be the last season of Miller’s deal, so it’s not clear yet whether the new agreement will add any extra years to the contract, or if Miller agreed to take a pay cut. If there are new years on the deal, it’s also possible they’re voidable, which would still allow the tight end to become a free agent next year.
The Steelers are among the teams with the most money committed to the 2014 cap, meaning Miller’s deal likely won’t be the last one the club restructures. Even with a higher than expected $133MM cap for ’14, the Steelers may have limited flexibility to bring back their own free agents and add new players.
Steelers Re-Sign Will Allen
The Steelers have re-signed defensive back Will Allen, according to agent Blake Baratz (Twitter link). Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, but I imagine it will be a one-year, minimum-salary contract, perhaps including a little bonus money.
After being released by the Cowboys last season, Allen caught back on in Pittsburgh, where he had spent the previous three seasons. Allen appeared in 10 games for the team and saw plenty of action in the secondary and on special teams down the stretch. The 31-year-old recorded 35 tackles and an interception for the Steelers, and received slightly above-average grades for his play from Pro Football Focus.
Having also locked up linebacker Jason Worilds as their transition player, the Steelers will need to clear salary in other spots in order to get under the cap before next Tuesday. One potential move for the team would involve restructuring Troy Polamalu‘s contract. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that Pittsburgh won’t release the veteran safety, but the club figures to try to rework Polamalu’s deal, perhaps asking him to take a pay cut.
Jason Worilds Accepts Transition Tender
Less than 24 hours after receiving the transition tag from the Steelers, linebacker Jason Worilds has accepted the one-year transition tender, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). La Canfora reports that Worilds and the Steelers have made progress on a long-term deal, and figure to continue working toward that goal.
If the two sides don’t reach a multiyear agreement, Worilds will be on a one-year contract worth $9.754MM for 2014. Signing the tender offer means Worilds can’t field offers from rival suitors in free agency, though the Steelers could still choose to explore the trade market for the young linebacker, if they so choose. That’s unlikely though, and if I had to guess, I’d predict that Worilds will eventually ink a long-term deal with the Steelers that reduces his 2014 cap hit.
With Worilds currently locked in at a cap number near $10MM, the Steelers will have to cut costs elsewhere to create some breathing room. That may involve doing something with LaMarr Woodley‘s contract, since Woodley is on the books for a $13.59MM cap number in 2014. It also could mean the end of Ike Taylor‘s tenure in Pittsburgh, as the veteran cornerback’s cap number jumps to an untenable $11.94MM in 2014. Taylor acknowledged earlier today that he knows his future with the Steelers is uncertain, as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review details.
AFC North Links: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers
Andy Dalton is entering the final year of his contract and Coley Harvey of ESPN.com discusses whether the Bengals should re-sign their quarterback prior to him reaching free agency. At this moment, Harvey thinks the team should pay its third-year player this offseason. It would certainly be a gamble by the Bengals either way, as an unsigned Dalton could lead his team deep in the playoffs and demand a huge payday next offseason. Reversely, Dalton could sign and continue to fail in leading the club through the postseason.
Other rumblings from the AFC North…
- The Ravens have not started contract talks with Michael Oher and are not expected to, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson says the team is instead focusing on re-signing Eugene Monroe.
- The Ravens made the right choice in not using the franchise tag on Monroe, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. While the team needs a left tackle (and while Monroe certainly played well in that role last season), Hensley believes that it wouldn’t have been worth it for the team to dedicate such a large portion of their cap to the position. The writer says it makes more sense to sign Monroe to a long-term deal.
- The Steelers used their transition tag on Jason Worilds earlier today, but there’s no guarantee that he returns, Scott Brown of ESPN.com says. All it would take for Worilds to leave is one team slightly overpaying, and Brown doesn’t sound too optimistic that the Steelers would match a huge offer.