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Earl Mitchell

West Notes: Broncos, 49ers, Raiders, Vegas

February 17th, 2017 at 8:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos could express interest in left tackle Branden Albert and defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, each of whom played for the Dolphins in 2016, per Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter links). Mitchell was released on Thursday and could be a fit with Denver thanks to his relationship with Broncos head coach Vance Joseph and defensive line coach Bill Kollar. Albert was also thought to have been released, but Miami is now close to trading the 32-year-old to Jacksonville. It’s unclear if Denver would still be interested in Albert if forced to sacrifice draft compensation.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:

  • In addition to confirming several previously-reported hires, the 49ers announced another wave of coaching staff additions tonight. The list of new coaches includes Jeff Hafley (defensive backs), Johnny Holland (linebackers), Jason Tarver (senior defensive assistant) and Bobby Slowik (defensive quality control). Tarver, a former coordinator at the NFL level, is a holdover but is shifting away from LBs coach in order for San Francisco to add Holland, a former Cleveland coach.
  • The Broncos have granted the 49ers permission to interview John Benton for their vacant offensive line position, as Klis reports in a separate piece. Denver hired Benton as its assistant offensive line coach last month, but obviously he hasn’t actually worked with any Broncos players as of yet. Benton has worked with new San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan in the past, as the pair was employed by Houston from 2006-09.
  • Although previous reports have indicated the Raiders‘ plan to relocate to Las Vegas is “dead,” Oakland executive Mark Badain recently told the NFL the club has financial backing from two banks willing to loan the Raiders money for their move, tweets Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. The Raiders last month lost the support of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who was planning to put $650MM towards a Vegas stadium, but reportedly still had “high hopes” of moving to Nevada.

Dolphins To Release Earl Mitchell

February 16th, 2017 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

We have another notable release in Miami. The Dolphins are cutting defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Mitchell was due $4MM this upcoming season. Instead, his contract will leave just $500K in dead money. Earl Mitchell (vertical)

[RELATED: Dolphins Cut Branden Albert]

Mitchell was said to have “internal support” within the Dolphins front office, but his fan club was not large enough to keep him in South Florida. After missing half the season with a calf injury, Mitchell only ended up playing one-quarter of Miami’s defensive snaps. Apparently, the Dolphins feel that they can acquire defensive line depth elsewhere for cheaper.

Mitchell, 30 in September, left the Texans in free agency to sign with the Dolphins prior to the 2014 season. The defensive tackle received a four-year, $19MM deal with $8MM guaranteed, thanks in large part to his work ethic and leadership skills. In his first year as a Dolphin, Mitchell was a highly-valued sub as he notched 33 total tackles and 2.0 sacks. In the last two seasons, however, his production has noticeably dipped.

AFC Notes: Fins, Bengals, Ravens, Raiders

February 10th, 2017 at 8:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell has “internal support” within the Dolphins front office, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, which means the 29-year-old may not be a simple cap casualty this offseason. Mitchell is scheduled to count $4.5MM on Miami’s 2017 salary cap, but the Dolphins could clear out all but $500K of that total by releasing him in the coming weeks. After missing half the season with a calf injury, Mitchell only ended playing a quarter of Miami’s defensive snaps, but Jackson reports that his “motor and leadership” are respected.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Kevin Zeitler and the Bengals hadn’t initiated contract negotiations as of a month ago, and Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer continues to believe the veteran guard will leave this spring via the free agent market. If the Bengals are faced with a choice between Zeitler and left tackle Andrew Whitworth, the club will likely side with Whitworth, per Dehner, especially given that Zeitler could “break the bank” as the No. 1 interior lineman available. Finding a solution along the offensive line was among the list of Cincinnati’s key offseason needs that I outlined earlier this month.
  • The Ravens could be suitor for free agent safety Tony Jefferson, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who notes Baltimore “wouldn’t mind pairing” Jefferson with Eric Weddle in the back end. Jefferson, 25, could make sense for a number of teams and is expected to be one of the top safeties available. However, no club signed him to a restricted free agent offer sheet last year when the cost for doing so would have been minimal.
  • Speaking on 97.5 The Game, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie sounded interested in re-signing running back Latavius Murray, but admitted Oakland could get priced out of the picture. “He’s one of those kinds that don’t come around too often when you talk about size,” said McKenzie. “I’m always in position to want to re-sign our own players, but the finances of it always will play a part. You never know there’s 31 other teams out there who may be communicating to his representatives.”

Dolphins Activate DT Earl Mitchell From IR

November 10th, 2016 at 2:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins are officially activating Earl Mitchell. The defensive tackle has been on injured reserve for the last two months. Earl Mitchell (vertical)

Mitchell suffered a calf injury early on in September, leading Miami to put him on the shelf. Now that his mandatory eight weeks are up, Mitchell is free to return to the team and suit up on Sunday against the Chargers.

Mitchell, 29, left the Texans in free agency to sign with the Dolphins prior to the 2014 season. The defensive tackle received a four-year, $19MM deal with $8MM guaranteed. In his first year as a Dolphin, Mitchell was a highly-valued sub as he notched 33 total tackles and 2.0 sacks. Last year, he had 22 total tackles and no sacks in 12 games (all starts).

This year, Mitchell was being counted on to start on the interior line alongside Ndamukong Suh. Miami has had to get by without him for the last couple of months, but they’ll be happy to have the veteran on the field this weekend.

Dolphins DT Earl Mitchell On Pace To Return

October 12th, 2016 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Help could be on the way for the Dolphins’ woeful pass rush. Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who was placed on IR earlier this year, says that he is on track to return after his eight-week shelving period ends (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald). Earl Mitchell (vertical)

So far, the D-Line led by high-priced tackle Ndamukong Suh has underperformed. The return of Mitchell could give the Dolphins a boost, though he won’t be eligible to return until Week 9 at the earliest.

Mitchell left the Texans in free agency to sign with the Dolphins prior to the 2014 season. The defensive tackle received a four-year, $19MM deal with $8MM guaranteed. In his first year as a Dolphin, Mitchell was a highly-valued sub as he notched 33 total tackles and 2.0 sacks. Last year, he had 22 total tackles and no sacks in 12 games (all starts).

Earlier today, Miami promoted Leon Orr from the practice squad to aid their DT group.

Dolphins To Place DT Earl Mitchell On IR

September 13th, 2016 at 3:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins are putting starting defensive tackle Earl Mitchell on IR with a calf injury today, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter). The injury won’t necessarily rule Mitchell out for the year and he could be brought back later on this season. "<strong

Mitchell, 29 later this month, left the Texans in free agency to sign with the Dolphins prior to the 2014 season. The defensive tackle received a four-year, $19MM deal with $8MM guaranteed.

With just two sacks to his credit in Miami and no sacks in 2015, Mitchell has underperformed by traditional metrics. Even though he hasn’t played like a superstar, Mitchell was being counted on to start on the interior line alongside Ndamukong Suh. Now, the Dolphins will perhaps turn to 2015 second-round pick Jordan Phillips or defensive end/tackle Julius Warmsley.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Lions, Dolphins, Broncos

February 13th, 2016 at 12:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL on this Saturday afternoon…

Dolphins Sign Earl Mitchell To Four-Year Deal

March 12th, 2014 at 11:34am CST by Zachary Links

11:34am: The Dolphins have officially announced the signing of Mitchell (Twitter link).

WEDNESDAY, 7:28am: The Mitchell deal still appears on track to be completed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports the same terms mentioned by Schefter yesterday (Twitter link).

TUESDAY, 5:46pm: Mitchell said he has an offer from Miami but he hasn’t agreed to a deal just yet, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter).

3:21pm: Earl Mitchell is expected to land a four-year, $16MM deal from the Dolphins, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. The former Texans defensive end gets $9MM guaranteed in the pact.

The 26-year-old got a lot of attention for his versatility, athletic ability, and his high motor. The Chargers were among his suitors this offseason but the Dolphins have been high on him for weeks.

Contract Details: Verner, Griffen, Mitchell

March 12th, 2014 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

As part of the 4-year, $26.5MM contract Alterraun Verner will sign with the Buccaneers, $1MM of the total value comes as a Pro Bowl incentive, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Here are the latest contract details from around the NFL..

  • Everson Griffen‘s $19.8MM of guaranteed money in his new deal with the Vikings comes from a $6MM signing bonus and fully guaranteed $6.9MM base salaries in 2014 and 2015, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Griffen has a $8.2MM cap number in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 and his cap number rises to $9.7MM in 2018, Corry tweets.If the Vikings cut Griffen after the 2015 season, they owe him nothing and take just a $3.6M cap hit, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
  • Michael Mitchell‘s five-year, $25MM deal with the Steelers calls for him to earn $6MM in the first year followed by a $2MM roster bonus due on the fifth day of 2015 league year, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
  • Toby Gerhart gets a $3MM roster bonus and $1MM base in the first year of his three-year, $10.5MM deal with the Jaguars, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. He also has a $500K roster bonus guaranteed for skill/injury in ’15.
  • Tyson Jackson gets $9.5MM in first year of his five-year, $25MM pact from the Falcons, Pelissero tweets. He has another $1.5MM in 2015 guaranteed for injury only until next year. Jackson has $11MM guaranteed in total with an $8MM signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Wilson (on Twitter) has the goods on Darrell Stuckey‘s deal with the Chargers. It’s a four year, $7.6MM deal with $1.735MM guaranteed and salaries of $730K, $1MM, $1.235MM, and $2.9MM.
  • Earl Mitchell‘s deal with the Dolphins is as follows, according to Wilson (Twitter link): It’s a four-year, $19MM with $8MM guaranteed and a $2MM bonus. The salaries are $3MM, $4MM, $2.975MM, and $3.975MM .
  • In the Chiefs‘ two-year deal for Husain Abdullah, he’ll get $2.27MM in total with a $750K signing bonus, Wilson tweets. His salaries are $725K in 2014 and $745K in 2015.
  • Andre Roberts‘ four-year contract with the Redskins includes a $4MM signing bonus, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. He’ll count $2.25MM against the cap in 2014.

AFC Rumors: Raiders, Chargers, Haden, Edelman

March 11th, 2014 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

It appears the Raiders, the team with the most cap room in the NFL, will let both of their marquee free agents walk, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio hears from a source that Oakland believes Jared Veldheer is better suited to right tackle than left tackle, and that the team can’t justify paying $7MM annually to a defensive end (Lamarr Houston) who is more a run-stopper than a pass-rusher.

With free agency looming at the top of the hour, here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Raiders defensive tackle Vance Walker will test the market at 3:00pm CT, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Oakland made Walker an offer, and he likes playing for the Raiders, but he wants to take advantage of the rare opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent, says Tafur.
  • The Chargers are “very much in the mix” for free agent defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
  • The Colts remain in talks to bring Ahmad Bradshaw back, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. The former Giants running back was an impact player last year before his injury.
  • The Browns‘ talks with Joe Haden on a long-term deal are ongoing, tweets Breer, adding that it would be interesting to see how a deal for Darrelle Revis would affect those talks.
  • Sources tell Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that the Chiefs have interest in wide receivers Jason Avant and Devin Hester.
  • Assuming the Patriots can’t re-sign Julian Edelman, Andrew Hawkins is a target to keep in mind for the team, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Hawkins received an RFA tender from the Bengals, so Cincinnati would have a chance to match any offer for the receiver.
  • Speaking of Edelman, the Ravens have interest in him, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson also hears from a source that the Ravens will evaluate tight end Owen Daniels, who was released by the Texans (Twitter link).
  • After voiding his deal and becoming a free agent yesterday, defensive lineman Jason Babin told SiriusXM NFL Radio today that he’d like to return to the Jaguars if it’s possible. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the details and quotes.
  • Bills GM Doug Whaley told WGR 550 that “offers are on the table” for tight end Scott Chandler and kicker Dan Carpenter, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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