AFC North Notes: Blount, Harrison, Extensions
The Ravens have interest in free agent RB LeGarrette Blount, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson writes that the Ravens do not have a visit scheduled for Blount at this time, but they will continue to monitor his market. Baltimore struggled mightily in most aspects of its offense last season, and short-yardage situations were particularly troublesome. Blount would be a boon in that regard, and he would also provide necessary depth given Ray Rice‘s struggles last season–and his legal troubles this offseason–and Bernard Pierce‘s injury concerns. As our Peter Sowards reported yesterday, Blount is scheduled to meet with the division rival Steelers later this week.
More notes from the AFC North:
- Speaking of the Steelers, Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that a reunion with James Harrison makes a great deal of sense for a team with little defensive depth and limited salary cap space. Starkey could envision a limited role for Harrison as a situational pass-rusher and short-yardage defender. As our Luke Adams noted several days ago, there is mutual interest in Harrison’s potential return to Pittsburgh.
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com and Pat McManamon of ESPN.com offer some opinions on Browns QB Brian Hoyer and WR Greg Little. Grossi believes that Hoyer has demonstrated enough to go into the season as the starting QB, and McManamon believes the Browns may feel the same way. As for Little, despite the frustration of Browns’ fans, Grossi notes that Little’s reasonable contract, his size, and his durability are all reasons why the Browns will probably hang onto him for another season. McManamon makes a similar point, though he does point out that if the Browns were to draft someone like Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, Little could be on his way out.
- Coley Harvey of ESPN.com writes that there is nothing on the horizon yet regarding contract extensions for Bengals standouts A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, and Vontaze Burfict, but that negotiations could become more serious once the current phase of free agency concludes.
- Despite the signing of Marshall Newhouse, Harvey believes the Bengals would “absolutely” consider an offensive tackle in the early rounds of the draft.
Blount’s Visit To Steelers Pushed Back
LeGarrette Blount‘s visit to the Steelers won’t happen until after the league meetings, sources told Aaron Wilson of National Football Post.
Blount was scheduled to visit the Steelers tonight and Monday. The annual meeting in Orlando runs from March 23-26.
The rescheduling will allow the former Patriots running back to meet with coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert, Wilson reports.
Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review opined via Twitter that this indicates the team is more interested in Blount than they were in Maurice Jones-Drew, who visited the Steelers on Wednesday.
FA Rumors: Colts, Blount, Allen, Britt, Finley
While the Colts aren’t necessarily done adding free agents, the team’s major moves have likely already been made, as GM Ryan Grigson told reporters today, including Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.
“You never say you’re done,” Grigson said. “We had a plan and we feel really good about it. We feel real good where we’re at right now. We’re going to look toward the draft. You never say never and we’re always trying to get better. If somebody pops up and they make sense from a roster standpoint and they kind of fit the specs – age and money, big picture – then I’ll look at it.”
As the Colts shift their free agent focus to the bargain bin, let’s check in on a few other afternoon items related to the open market:
- Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link) doesn’t see the Colts pursuing center Alex Mack any further, suggesting it always would have been a long shot to sign him away from the Browns.
- Free agent running back LeGarrette Blount, who continues to draw interest from the Patriots, is scheduled to visit the Steelers on Sunday night, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Pittsburgh also met with veteran running back Maurice Jones-Drew this week.
- As Jared Allen continues to mull his options, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) weighs in with a couple tidbits: The veteran defensive end is considering three teams, with retirement also still an option, and should make a decision this weekend. As for Allen’s second visit with the Seahawks, it happened because key members of the organization weren’t at the first meeting, says Rapoport.
- Wide receiver Kenny Britt has visited the Rams, Patriots, Redskins, and Bills, and has also garnered interest from the Seahawks and Panthers, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, Britt will decide his next move this weekend, whether that means taking more visits or agreeing to sign with a team.
- Jermichael Finley may still be a few more months from being in position to sign with an NFL club, a source tells Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The free agent tight end continues to recover from a spinal injury, and hasn’t yet received medical clearance.
- At this point, the Panthers aren’t expected to sign Kevin Cone, Lestar Jean, or C.J. Akins, the three receivers they worked out today, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Steelers Re-Sign Michael Palmer
The Steelers have added some depth at the tight end position by re-signing Michael Palmer, according to Burt Lauten, the team’s PR man (Twitter link). Palmer inked a one-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh.
Palmer, 26, spent the first three seasons of his career with the Falcons before joining the Steelers for 2013. In Atlanta, he made a handful of catches per season, but he hauled in just one pass for eight yards in Pittsburgh, spending most of his 49 offensive snaps playing as a blocker. The Clemson product also contributed on special teams, making a pair of tackles in coverage.
Terms of the deal weren’t announced, but it’ll certainly be a minimum salary benefit contract for Palmer.
FA Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Ihedigbo, Underwood
When the Titans released Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, there was an expectation that it wouldn’t take long for the veteran quarterback to find work. Fitzpatrick remains on the market, but at least one potential suitor has emerged. According to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link), Tennessee’s division rivals, the Texans, are hosting Fitzpatrick for a visit today.
Let’s round up a few more Thursday odds and ends related to the free agents still available….
- According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter), center Brian De La Puente finished his visit in Washington and is still considering multiple options, including the Redskins and Saints.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that safety James Ihedigbo, repped by a new agent, has at least two other teams in the mix for him besides the Lions, who seemed to be close to signing him earlier this week. The Ravens appear to be one of those two, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter).
- Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood is visiting the Panthers today, says Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). The receiver-thin Panthers already signed Jerricho Cotchery today, and it “looks promising” that they could add Underwood as well.
- Richie Incognito, who is aiming to return to the NFL in 2014, believes the Raiders make “a lot of sense” as a possible destination, writes Michael Silver of NFL.com.
- Free agent defensive back Chris Owens had a visit this week with the Steelers, tweets Aaron Wilson.
- Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that the Broncos tried out free agent safety Jordan Pugh.
- The Bengals have confirmed (via Twitter) that Louis Murphy visited the club today, which means the wide receiver left the meeting without a deal in place.
Panthers Sign Jerricho Cotchery
1:56pm: Cotchery’s two-year contract will be worth $5MM, tweets David Newton of ESPN.com.
1:43pm: The Panthers have officially announced their two-year deal with Cotchery in a press release.
12:01pm: Cotchery has agreed to terms with the Panthers, according to Everett Levy of Goal Line Football, Cotchery’s agency (Twitter link).
11:34am: After a week and a half of losing wide receivers in free agency, the Panthers finally appear poised to add one of their own. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the team is nearing a contract agreement with free agent receiver Jerricho Cotchery.
Cotchery, 31, has spent the last three seasons with the Steelers, and had his best season for the team in 2013, recording 46 receptions and 602 receiving yards. He also blew away his previous career high with a surprising 10 touchdown grabs. A return to Pittsburgh was a possibility for the veteran receiver, who was said to be deciding between the Steelers and Panthers earlier this week.
Assuming the Panthers and Cotchery finalize a deal, the ex-Steeler may become Carolina’s No. 1 wide receiver by default. So far this offseason, the club has released Steve Smith and seen Ted Ginn Jr., Brandon LaFell, and Domenik Hixon sign with other teams, leaving Marvin McNutt and Tavarres King atop the depth chart.
Steelers Won’t Lose Pick For Tomlin Incident
The book has been closed on an incident from 2013’s Thanksgiving night game between the Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Steelers announced today. According to a press release from the club, the NFL has informed the Steelers that they won’t lose a draft pick for the incident.
During a kickoff return by Jacoby Jones of the Ravens, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin strayed onto the sideline and field before jumping out of Jones’ way. The league fined Tomlin $100K at the time and warned that further penalties could be forthcoming, but has decided that the fine will suffice.
Draft Rumors: Ebron, Bortles, Desir
North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron figures to be a popular man in the coming weeks and he told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he’s got at least four visits lined up for himself. Ebron, a Newark, New Jersey native, will check in with the Bills, Lions, Ravens, and Panthers in April. Here’s today’s latest draft rumors..
- ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio said on air that the Texans, Jaguars, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings have met with Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles, according to Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal (on Twitter). The signal caller participated in UCF’s pro day this afternoon.
- The Rams, Chiefs, Jaguars, Packers, Lions, and Bears attended cornerback Pierre Desir‘s pro day at Lindenwood University (Missouri), tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Desir recorded 25 interceptions over the course of his career at the Division II school.
- The Browns worked out Clemson offensive lineman Brandon Thomas individually today, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.com. Pauline says Thomas is looking more like a top 45 pick at this juncture.
- Lache Seastrunk says he has visits set up with Steelers and Bills, tweets Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. The Baylor running back posted the best vertical jump (41.5-inches) and broad jump (134 inches) of anyone at the draft combine in February.
- San Jose State quarterback David Fales will meet with the Vikings this weekend, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).
- Middle Tennessee State guard Josh Walker will visit the Colts, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The standout lineman also has a visit with the Saints lined up.
FA Rumors: De La Puente, Harrison, Murphy
Brian De La Puente is arguably the best center still available in free agency, and it sounds as if he’s drawing interest from plenty of potential suitors. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Saints, Giants, Broncos, and Patriots remain possibilities for De La Puente, who is scheduled to visit with the Redskins. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) adds that if there’s no agreement in place when the veteran center leaves Washington, more visits are expected.
Here’s more on some of the free agents still on the market:
- We already heard this week that veteran free agent James Harrison is interested in returning to the Steelers, and according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that interest is mutual.
- Having visited for two days with the Buccaneers, wide receiver Louis Murphy is scheduled to meet with the Bengals tomorrow, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- The Giants will host free agent offensive lineman Charles Brown, tweets Adam Caplan.
- After leaving his visit with the Rams without an agreement in place, free agent quarterback Shaun Hill appears to be considering both the Rams and Lions, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
- The Bengals confirmed (via Twitter) that free agent defensive end Robert Ayers visited with them today, which means he left that meeting without an agreement in place.
- Ravens safety Brynden Trawick is no longer an exclusive rights free agent, having signed his $495K tender from the team, tweets Aaron Wilson.
Maurice Jones-Drew Visiting Steelers
Maurice Jones-Drew is arguably the most accomplished running back among this year’s free agent class, only three years removed from leading the league in rushing in 2011. However, he hasn’t drawn a whole lot of interest so far, with a report linking him to the Jets representing the only activity on his PFR rumors page since free agency got underway.
Jones-Drew has a visit lined up to today, however, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the longtime Jaguar will meet with the Steelers. Schefter adds that Pittsburgh isn’t the only club with interest in the veteran running back, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also suggests (via Twitter) that MJD is talking to several suitors, being patient and trying to find the right fit.
Following his excellent 2011 season, in which he averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game, Jones-Drew was slowed by injuries in 2012. He appeared in 15 games in 2013, but underachieved for a subpar Jacksonville team, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, a significant drop-off from his previous career low of 4.2.
If he’s healthy and behind a solid line, Jones-Drew, who turns 29 this Sunday, should still have something left in the tank next season. But he’s accumulated a lot of mileage, and the running back market hasn’t exactly been booming this offseason, so the offers for MJD may be modest.