HEADLINES

Danny Trevathan

AFC Notes: Luck, Weddle, Jets, Broncos

January 9th, 2016 at 5:56pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Earlier this week, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck said signing a contract extension to stay in Indianapolis “would be great.” It appears he’ll be in luck (no pun intended), as Colts owner Jim Irsay told Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star that an extension for the 25-year-old this summer “is the goal.”

“If we don’t get an agreement, we still have time,” Irsay continued. “And he is going to be signed. There’s a reasonably good chance we can come to that agreement this offseason. He will be here, trust me. Andrew and I have talked – we talked after the end of the season – and he couldn’t be more excited.”

Luck is set to count over $16MM against the Colts’ cap in 2016, the final year of his deal, before he’s scheduled for free agency. The chances of Luck hitting the market are essentially nonexistent, though, as the Colts will either extend the four-year veteran or, worst-case scenario, place the franchise tag on him. An extension could potentially make Luck the NFL’s highest-paid player.

More from the AFC:

  • Standout Chargers safety Eric Weddle, a pending free agent, said this week that he doesn’t expect to stay with the organization that took him in the second round of the 2007 draft. General manager Tom Telesco agrees. “He’s stated he’s ready to move on,” Telesco said, per ESPN’s Eric D. Williams. “And probably for all parties involved, that’s probably the best case.”
  • There’s no shortage of important Jets who are without contracts for 2016, as Kimberly A. Martin of Newsday writes. The best of the bunch is Pro Bowl defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, whom the Jets might slap the franchise tag on and then use as trade bait at the draft, according to Martin. It’s possible the Jets will pay D-lineman Damon Harrison instead, team him with Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams long term, and move Wilkerson for help elsewhere.
  • The Broncos are hoping to retain soon-to-be free agent linebacker Danny Trevathan, but he’s down on their priority list, per Mike Klis of 9News. “We’re going to get paid,” said Trevaithan, who Klis notes should be able to ink a deal worth $3MM to $6MM annually. Fellow linebacker Brandon Marshall‘s contract is also up, though he’ll be a restricted free agent. The Broncos could give him a first-round tender worth $3.5MM.

AFC Notes: Nicks, Holliman, Trevathan

April 12th, 2015 at 10:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Veteran receivers will likely remain on the Dolphins‘ radar until at least the draft and probably after, considering the team lost two veteran wideouts this spring.

Miami is targeting a veteran to supplement what is now the youngest wide receiver corps in the league, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker and Greg Jennings remain in play for the Dolphins. An earlier report circulated that Crabtree and the Dolphins discussed specifics on contract parameters, while a subsequent account disputed numbers were brought up between the parties on Crabtree’s Miami sojourn.

Hakeem Nicks would welcome interest, according to Jackson, but has lined up other visits as the Fins are apparently looking at the aforementioned trio first. Of the four veterans mentioned here, Jennings was the only one to avoid a negative review from Pro Football Focus, grading as the 48th-best receiver last season (subscription required).

In other news from Miami and other AFC squads …

  • Former rugby standout Paul Lasike has warranted multiple calls of interest from the Dolphins, reports Jackson. The BYU running back averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year.
  • Louisville safety Gerod Holliman visited Miami recently, doing so after teammate Charles Gaines went to the Fins’ facilities, reports Jackson.
  • Since they hired a new coach, the Broncos will begin their offseason program Monday — a week earlier than last year. Among the notable news from Denver Post reporter Mike Klis’ preview are Sylvester Williams‘ strong offseason and Danny Trevathan being in leaner shape at 242 pounds. Trevathan, Denver’s leading tackler in 2013 before missing most of ’14 with knee maladies, played at a slightly lighter weight as a 4-3 outside linebacker. He’ll work inside in the 3-4. Williams did not fare well last season but is expected to start at nose in Wade Phillips‘ defense after Terrance Knighton departed.
  • Breshad Perriman would make a good second-round pick for the Ravens, but not in the first, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller notes on Twitter. Earlier today, PFR took a look at a now-depleted Ravens’ receiving corps.

2015 Proven Performance Escalator Raises

January 16th, 2015 at 8:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time in said snaps for the duration of his first three years in the league. If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s restricted free agent qualifying offer — that figure was $1.431MM last year, and will inflate commensurate with the salary cap increase. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their 2015 salary rise due to the PPE, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.

Bengals: George Iloka, S; Mohamed Sanu, WR

Bills: Nigel Bradham, LB

Broncos: Malik Jackson, DL; Danny Trevathan, LB;

Browns: Billy Winn, DL

Cardinals: Bobby Massie, T

Chargers: Johnnie Troutman, G

Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE; T.Y. Hilton, WR

Dolphins: Lamar Miller, RB; Olivier Vernon, DE

Eagles: Brandon Boykin, CB; Nick Foles; QB

Falcons: Lamar Holmes, T

Jets: Demario Davis, LB; Antonio Allen, DB

Packers: Mike Daniels, DL

Panthers: Josh Norman, CB

Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB

Raiders: Miles Burris, LB

Rams: Chris Givens, WR; Trumaine Johnson, CB

Ravens: Gino Gradkowski, C

Saints: Akiem Hicks, DT; Corey White, CB

Seahawks: J.R. Sweezy, G; Russell Wilson, QB

Steelers: Kelvin Beachum, T

Texans: Brandon Brooks, G; Jared Crick, DL; Ben Jones, G

Titans: Coty Sensabaugh, CB

Vikings: Robert Blanton, S: Rhett Ellison, TE; Josh Robinson, CB; Jarius Wright, WR

Washington: Alfred Morris, RB

Broncos Place Danny Trevathan On IR

December 16th, 2014 at 6:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos officially moved Danny Trevathan to the injured reserve list today, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The team also released tight end Dominique Jones.

Trevathan spent eight weeks on the IR-DTR list before playing his final game on Sunday against the Chargers. The linebacker was Denver’s leading tackler in 2013, but he registered just 11 tackles across three games for the Broncos this season thanks to a left medial tibial impaction fracture. Now he’ll shift his attention to 2015, where he’ll look to have a repeat of his 100+ tackle season. Trevathan is set to earn $660K in 2015, the final year of his current deal.

Jones appeared in his first game with the Broncos on Sunday against the Chargers after competing on the team’s practice squad for 13 weeks. He saw just four snaps in his Denver debut.

Injury Updates: Monday

December 15th, 2014 at 2:51pm CST by Luke Adams

With just two weeks left in the NFL regular season, injuries that may not have been long-term problems earlier in the year could now end a player’s season. We’ll keep tabs right here on the latest updates on the ailments that could prompt roster moves or significantly alter a team’s plans:

  • While several players will be placed on injured reserve lists this week, ending their seasons, one player will come off IR — Bills running back C.J. Spiller is expected to be activated from IR-DTR, though it’s not clear how much of a role he’ll have for Buffalo in Week 16, or if he’ll even play (Twitter link).
  • A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall suffered a mid-foot sprain, and Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that Marshall is expected to miss a week or two with the injury. While Marshall should return this season, fellow Denver linebacker Danny Trevathan won’t, according to Klis, who says Trevathan dislocated his left kneecap and will have to undergo surgery.
  • Lions right tackle LaAdrian Waddle partially tore his ACL yesterday and will miss the rest of the season, says Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • Eagles outside linebacker Trent Cole has a broken hand, and his status for the rest of the season is uncertain, a source tells Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
  • Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said today on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery on a broken bone in his hand (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio). Providing specifics on the injury, Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com notes (via Twitter) that Emmitt Smith once missed a game after undergoing a similar surgery. It sounds as if Murray will be questionable for Week 16, but shouldn’t miss much – if any – time.
  • Key 49ers special teamer Kassim Osgood also broke a bone in his hand and likely won’t play in the club’s final two games, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
  • Chargers linebacker Donald Butler dislocated his left elbow and is a candidate for IR, according to head coach Mike McCoy, who says the club is exploring its options (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune).

Broncos Place Montee Ball, Quinton Carter On IR

December 13th, 2014 at 1:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Montee Ball‘s disappointing season has come to an end, as Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that the Broncos will place their second-year running back on the injured reserve. Ball will join Quinton Carter on the season-ending list, with linebacker Danny Trevathan and tight end Dominique Jones taking the two open roster spots.

Coming off a rookie season where he rushed for 559 yards and four touchdowns, Ball faced various ailments from the start of his second campaign. Despite undergoing an appendectomy during the preseason, he was the team’s featured back through the first month of the season. He suffered a groin injury in the Broncos’ early-October victory over Arizona, forcing him out of the lineup for more than a month. He made a brief return in a November loss to the Rams, but his groin injury lingered.

As Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo notes (via Twitter), the emergence of C.J. Anderson allowed the team to end Ball’s season early. Anderson and the injured Ronnie Hillman have combined for 1,347 all-purpose yards and ten touchdowns this season, while Ball compiled 234 yards and a touchdown in five games. While the former second-rounder hasn’t lived up to expectations since entering the league, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) have not been overly critical of the running back.

Carter showed a lot of promise when he entered the league in 2011, starting 12 games as a rookie. The Oklahoma product spent the next two seasons recovering from knee surgery, and he was used primarily as a backup nickel safety this season. Klis notes in his report that Carter’s career with the Broncos could be finished, as the 26-year-old is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.

Trevathan played two games for the Broncos earlier this season before succumbing to a knee injury. The third-year pro was subsequently placed on the IR-DTR. Trevathan will likely slide back into a backup role with Denver, one season after finishing with more than 100 tackles.

Jones’ promotion is insurance in case Julius Thomas or Jacob Tamme are limited this weekend. The tight end has bounced around a bit since entering the league in 2011, spending time with the Colts, Dolphins, Chiefs and Bills.

Broncos Place Danny Trevathan On IR-DTR

October 14th, 2014 at 4:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos have become the latest NFL team to use their injured reserve slot with the designation to return, placing linebacker Danny Trevathan on IR-DTR today, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The move means Trevathan will be eligible to resume practicing in six weeks, and can return to game action in December, eight weeks from now.

Trevathan, 24, left this weekend’s game against the Jets with a knee injury, and was later diagnosed with a fracture above his left kneecap. While the original timetable for his recovery was about three to six weeks, it makes sense for Denver to play it safe with one of its key run defenders, allowing him plenty of time to get back to 100%.

Nate Irving sees most of the defensive snaps at middle linebacker for the Broncos, so he’ll continue to play that regular role. In Trevathan’s absence, someone like Steven Johnson, Corey Nelson, or Lamin Barrow could slide into that backup job to periodically spell Irving, but we’ll have to wait and see how the Broncos adjust.

Denver had been one of just eight teams that had yet to use its IR-DTR spot. Since the designation sidelines a player for eight games, we’re nearing the point where it will no longer be useful, so if those remaining teams are going to use it, it will likely happen soon. You can keep tabs on how the IR-DTR slots have been deployed so far, via our tracker.

West Notes: Gore, Trevathan, Robinson, Davis

October 13th, 2014 at 7:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

During the offseason, a 49ers front office member approached veteran running back Frank Gore and alerted him that his roster spot was not guaranteed, reports Ian Rapoport on the NFL Network’s Total Access (Twitter link via Rapoport’s colleague, Chris Wesseling). As Rapoport adds (via Twitter), the news isn’t entirely surprising, as Gore, 31, was set to count $6.45MM against the cap while playing a devalued position. For what it’s worth, Niners general manager Trent Baalke claims there is “no truth” to the report, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter). San Francisco is probably glad it kept the 10-year veteran around, though, as Kendall Hunter‘s injury and LaMichael James‘ release made Gore quite valuable. So far in 2014, he’s rushed 77 times for 365 yards, but only managed one touchdown. Let’s look at more from the NFL’s two West divisions as the 49ers prepare to take on the Rams on Monday Night Football:

  • Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan will be out for three-to-six weeks after suffering a fracture near his left kneecap in yesterday’s game against the Jets, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. As Klis notes, Denver has yet to use its injured reserve/designation to return slot, so that could be an option for Trevathan, although that would keep him out of action for a minimum of eight weeks. Trevathan missed the first three games of the season with a similar injury.
  • Greg Robinson, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, will make his first start for the Rams tonight, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Dispatch. Robinson played left tackle at Auburn, but will begin his NFL career at left guard. As such, Rodger Saffold will shift to right guard, and Davin Joseph will act as a reserve.
  • The last time the Rams played a game in primetime, current quarterback Austin Davis was a QB coach at a local high school, tweets Rapoport. It’s been quite a ride for Davis, who has thrown for six touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards in four games this season.

West Notes: Cardinals, Iupati, Seahawks

August 12th, 2014 at 9:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Cardinals GM Steve Keim offered up extremely high praise for rookie wide receiver John Brown in a chat with Grantland’s Robert Mays. “I haven’t seen a rookie come in and do what he’s done — and it’s early still — since Anquan Boldin,” Keim told Mays on Monday. “This guy came through the first day, and being from Pittsburg State, has uncanny instincts, unbelievable understanding of route concepts, leverage, being in the right spot at the right time. On top of great ball skills, he has unusual speed and explosiveness.” Here’s more from the AFC and NFC West..

  • A source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com it’s unlikely the 49ers believe they can exceed the contracts of their tackles with any deal for a guard, even one as talented as Mike Iupati. Joe Staley’s new extension increased his average-per-year salary to $7.44MM. Anthony Davis signed an extension in 2013 that pays him an average of $6.52MM through the 2019 season. There are no indications the 49ers and Iupati are close to a contract extension at this time.
  • Earlier today, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap finished up his best and worst contracts series with a look at the Seahawks. Seattle’s best contract, he writes, is the team’s agreement with center Max Unger. Unger’s contract, which was worth just under $25MM for four seasons, represented a 24% savings in annual value over Ryan Kalil’s contract with the Panthers. Meanwhile, the worst contract on the Seahawks’ books is for Percy Harvin, thanks to his limited track record of success and the lack of injury protection afforded in the deal.
  • Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan has a left medial tibial impaction fracture and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, according to the team’s official Twitter account.

Bears’ Mills Tops Performance-Based Pay List

March 24th, 2014 at 6:59pm CST by Matt Feminis

Bears rookie right tackle Jordan Mills, whose base salary was $495k last season, will receive approximately $318k from the performance-based pay pool, more than any other player in the league. Created in order to reward players who make the least and play the most, the performance-based league pool is $3.46MM per team. Each team’s performance-based pay leader can be found here, courtesy of USA Today.

Mills, a fifth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, started all 16 games for the Bears. However, his starts were more a reflection of the team’s lack of options, as Mills rated as one of the league’s worst starters, ranking last in pass protection (-32.5 rating) and hurries allowed (62). Other notables (dollar figures rounded):