Dane Sanzenbacher

Minor Moves: Wednesday

Playoff teams and non-playoff teams both continue to make roster moves this week, and we’ll round up today’s minor transactions below. Here’s the latest:

  • The Jaguars signed wide receiver Arrelious Benn to a two-year deal, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Dan Duggan of NJ.com reports (via Twitter) that the team also signed safety Jeremy Deering.
  • Long snapper Brandon Hartson inked a futures contract with the Chiefs, according to agent Brian McLaughlin (via Twitter). Kansas City has been busy locking up players for 2015, announcing 14 reserve deals yesterday.
  • Per Oliver Thomas of PatriotsObserver.com (via Twitter), the Patriots signed three players to reserve/futures contracts today: Defensive tackle Antonio Johnson, linebacker Rufus Johnson, and running back Dion Lewis. Since New England’s season isn’t over, the team can’t yet lock up any players from its practice squad to futures deals.
  • The Saints have added another player on a reserve/futures contract, signing veteran safety Kenny Phillips today, tweets Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune. A former first-round pick, Phillips worked out for New Orleans in November.

Earlier updates:

  • Cornerback Roc Carmichael and guard Antoine McClain inked reserve/futures deals with the Cardinals, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). Carmichael has spent time with the Eagles over the last two seasons, while McClain finished the 2014 campaign on the Bears’ practice squad.
  • The Panthers signed guard Tyronne Green to a futures contract for 2015, the team announced today (Twitter link). Green most recently spent time with the Cowboys, having been cut by the team in July.
  • The Bengals have placed wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher on the injured reserve list due to a concussion, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter). While losing Sanzenbacher, who caught just nine balls this season, isn’t a significant blow for Cincinnati, the team hopes A.J. Green won’t miss this weekend’s game with a similar ailment. With the newly-opened spot on the 53-man roster, the Bengals promoted wideout Cobi Hamilton from the practice squad.
  • Offensive tackle Joe Long, the brother of Rams tackle Jake Long, has been added to the Lions‘ taxi squad, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). Detroit had been carrying just nine players on its unit, so no corresponding move was required to make room for Long.
  • The Buccaneers have signed former Northern Colorado quarterback Seth Lobato to a reserve/futures contract for 2015, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.

Bengals Re-Sign Dane Sanzenbacher

WEDNESDAY, 1:42pm: Sanzenbacher’s one-year deal with the Bengals is actually worth $1.2MM, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). It consists of a $950K base salary, a $200K signing bonus, and a $50K workout bonus.

The figures are interesting, since the Bengals’ original RFA tender to Sanzenbacher was worth $1.431MM. At some point, the club may have rescinded that offer and negotiated a smaller salary with the receiver.

TUESDAY, 1:56pm: The Bengals have re-signed wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, according to the team (Twitter link). Sanzenbacher, a restricted free agent had received a $1.431MM tender from the Bengals last month, so he has likely accepted and signed that offer.

Sanzenbacher, who caught 27 balls during his rookie season with the Bears, has just seven receptions in the two years since then. However, he may earn a more significant role in the Bengals’ offense for 2014, considering the club lost Andrew Hawkins in free agency.

It took a little longer for Sanzenbacher’s contract situation to be resolved than it did for Cincinnati’s other two restricted free agents. Vincent Rey officially re-signed with the Bengals shortly after free agency opened, while Hawkins signed a lucrative offer sheet with the Browns that went unmatched by Cincinnati.

Bengals Tender Hawkins, Rey, Sanzenbacher

The Bengals have tendered contracts to their three restricted free agents, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). According to Pelissero, wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, linebacker Vincent Rey, and wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher all received the lowest of the three possible RFA tenders from the Bengals, meaning their one-year offers are worth $1.431MM.

All three players could now choose to accept their respective contract tenders and play for the Bengals on a one-year, $1.431MM contract in 2014. They could also elect to sign an offer sheet with another suitor in free agency next week, though the Bengals will have the right to match any offer. Because Hawkins, Rey, and Sanzenbacher were all undrafted, Cincinnati wouldn’t be eligible for any compensatory picks if the club’s RFAs sign elsewhere.