HEADLINES

Ed Dickson

FA Rumors: Morgan, Cameron, Harvin

March 12th, 2015 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

Having visited the Falcons this week, free agent edge defender Derrick Morgan is on the Buccaneers today, and will meet with the team’s coaches today, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter links). As Getlin observes, the Bucs will have to put a strong offer on the table for Morgan if they want to lock him up, since other teams remain in pursuit. The Cowboys have been mentioned as a possible suitor, and the Titans maintain interest in re-signing their own free agent.

The Bucs already locked up one notable front-seven player today, signing Henry Melton to a one-year deal — if they were also able to add Morgan, it would go a long way toward improving their outside pass rush, with Michael Johnson no longer on the roster.

Here are a few more free agent updates from around the NFL:

  • Jordan Cameron‘s visit with the Dolphins is happening today, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miami is still hoping to retain Charles Clay, but Cameron certainly wouldn’t be a bad Plan B if the Bills sign Clay to an offer sheet that the Dolphins can’t – or don’t want to – match.
  • A source who spoke with free agent Percy Harvin told Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that the wide receiver doesn’t want to be a “gadget guy” anymore and wants to play something closer to a traditional wide receiver role. Throughout his career, he has had coaches “lie” to him and tell him that he would play a typical wide receiver, only to have him involved more in unorthodox plays.
  • The Dolphins aren’t done adding cornerbacks, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets. They’re working on scheduling a visit with Falcons free agent cornerback Robert McClain and that meeting could go down this week. In addition to Miami, McClain has also drawn interest from the Vikings and Saints (link). McClain made six starts for Atlanta in 2014 and also had two interceptions.
  • The interest between the Titans and James Harrison is mutual, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets. Of course, Harrison is not a high priority free agent at this stage of his career, so the Titans can take care of him later and they won’t need to address signing him in week one of free agency.
  • Before signing with the Panthers, tight end Ed Dickson said that he drew interest from the Raiders, Broncos, Cardinals, and Browns, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. But, he says, no other team “came close” to Carolina.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Panthers Re-Sign Ed Dickson

March 12th, 2015 at 9:04am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 9:04am: Dickson’s three-year deal with the Panthers, which is worth $6.8MM, is now official, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

TUESDAY, 2:22pm: Dickson will earn between $6MM and $7MM over the life of the deal, per David Newton of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

2:00pm: It’s a three-year deal for Dickson, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). In that case, the veteran tight end should be in line for more than the minimum salary.

1:57pm: The Panthers have reached an agreement with Ed Dickson that will keep the tight end off the open market and will bring him back to Carolina, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Dickson, 27, joined the Panthers last offseason, and was used sparingly in the team’s passing game, receiving a career-low 17 targets for just 10 overall receptions. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) also graded him as a below-average pass blocker and run blocker, but the Panthers apparently liked his play well enough to retain him for another year.

Financial terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but Dickson is coming off a minimum-salary contract, so it seems very likely he’ll get another minimum deal this time around.

The Browns had been expected to show some interest in Dickson.

Contract Details: Franklin, Kern, Cole, Vereen

March 10th, 2015 at 9:15pm CST by Luke Adams

A few details on some noteworthy new contracts from around the NFL:

  • Orlando Franklin, G (Chargers): Five years, $35.5MM base value. $15.5MM fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Brett Kern, P (Titans): Five years, $15MM base value. $2.5MM signing bonus. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
  • Trent Cole, OLB (Colts): Two years, $14MM base value. $2MM signing bonus. $8MM guaranteed at signing. $1MM annually in playing-time/sack incentives (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
  • Shane Vereen, RB (Giants): Three years, $12.3MM base value. $3.5MM signing bonus. $4.75MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
  • J.T. Thomas, LB (Giants): Three years, $10MM base value. $4.5MM guaranteed. $1MM annual escalators in 2016, 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Virgil Green, TE (Broncos): Three years, $8.4MM base value. $4.2MM guaranteed. Max value of $11.25MM (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Sergio Brown, S (Jaguars): Three years, $7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. Escalators can push total value up to $9MM (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Ed Dickson, TE (Panthers): Three years, $6.8MM base value. $2MM signing bonus ($700K deferred) (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Joe Berger, OL (Vikings): Two years, $2.155MM base value. $130K guaranteed. $800K available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).

AFC FA Rumors: Raiders, Jags, Colts, Jets

March 8th, 2015 at 4:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders may have missed out on two big-name free agent targets — Ndamukong Suh and Randall Cobb — but they may have other players in mind. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Oakland will continue to make a “strong push” for center Rodney Hudson, though the Chiefs haven’t given up on retaining him. Elsewhere, the Raiders have expressed interest in free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who adds that the Browns also have interest.

Let’s dive in to the latest AFC rumors…

  • The Jaguars have an “opportunity” with running back DeMarco Murray, per Robinson (Twitter link). It’s not entirely clear if that means Jacksonville has been talking with the free agent RB, but Robinson says the Jags could outbid the Cowboys.
  • More on the Jaguars: Despite their ample cap space, they were “never in” on Ndamukong Suh, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter).
  • While it’s not a priority, the Colts are expected to talk to edge rusher Brian Orakpo in the coming days, tweets Robinson. Orakpo has also drawn interest from the Falcons. Jaguars, Cardinals, as well as his current team, Washington.
  • The Jets have interest in free agent safety Ron Parker, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). We learned earlier today that Parker and the Bucs have mutual interest.
  • Given the nature of recent CB contracts, Buster Skrine is one cornerback who could be in for a big payday, according to Garfolo (on Twitter).
  • With Jordan Cameron unlikely to return, the Browns are expected to show interest in tight end Ed Dickson, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

NFC Notes: Maclin, Frank Gore, Ed Dickson

January 30th, 2015 at 10:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at some news items from the NFC…

  • We heard earlier today that Jeremy Maclin‘s agent had begun extension talks with the Eagles, and now the veteran receiver has weighed on in the notion that Philadelphia can’t afford both he and running back LeSean McCoy (who has indicated he isn’t open to a pay cut). “I don’t know where everything started, people saying they can’t keep us both,” Maclin told Comcast SportsNet’s John Clark (link via Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com). “I think that’s crazy. As far as what he does with his deal, that’s not my place to comment on that. There’s no reason why you can’t keep us both. That’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard all offseason.”
  • Had the 49ers hired Rob Chudzinski as offensive coordinator, Matt Barrows of the Sacrament Bee would have placed good odds on running back Frank Gore returning to San Francisco next season, as Chud was Gore’s OC at the University of Miami. Now that the club has instead promoted Geep Chryst, Barrows thinks Gore’s future in the Bay Area is less clear.
  • After signing a one-year deal for the veteran minimum to join the Panthers last year, tight end Ed Dickson would like to return to Carolina in 2015, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Dickson would like to sign a multi-year contract, and has spoken to offensive coordinator Mike Shula about augmenting his role in the offense, Person adds.

NFC South Notes: Bucs, McCown, Cooks, Dickson

August 2nd, 2014 at 3:59pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Buccaneers were the subject of Peter King’s in depth training camp review, and the thing that stood out most for King was the potential size among the pass catchers. He notes that in three receiver, one tight end sets they have the opportunity to put four different receiving options that stand 6’5″ tall (Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Tommy Streeter, Austin Sefarian Jenkins). The shrimp of the group is Chris Owusu, and he is 6’2″, but could play out of the slot with Jackson and Evans on either side of him.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC South:

  • King also touched on two new players in Buccaneers camp, singling out Michael Johnson as the best new addition. He picked Johnson as the most important player to have a huge year if the team was going to finish among the best in the NFC. He also made a bold prediction on quarterback Josh McCown, saying he will be a “middle-of-the-pack” starter, which is all the team needs him to be.
  • Saints‘ first-round pick Brandin Cooks was a standout during the team’s Black and Gold scrimmage, amassing over 100 total yards, reports Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com. That includes a number of highlight plays, including one deep pass that was negated by penalty. According to Terrell, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan also put up a big number, using 20+ expletives during the scrimmage, although it is unclear exactly how many were yelled at Cooks.
  • The Panthers are planning to utilize double tight end looks more often this season with the addition of Ed Dickson this offseason, according to USA Today. Dickson will join Greg Olsen as a second tall receiving option, that can also be used as an in-line blocker.

Sunday Roundup: Nelson, Robinson, Browns

July 27th, 2014 at 12:56pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s look at some links from around the league as training camp rolls along and ruminations over hot-button issues like the color of Johnny Manziel‘s cleats consume far too much of everyone’s time:

  • Jets‘ rookie safety Calvin Pryor does have a concussion, tweets Brian Costello of The New York Post. We learned earlier this morning that Pryor, who suffered the injury Saturday, was absent from practice today.
  • Jordy Nelson‘s new deal might be a bargain for the Packers, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
  • Saints‘ cornerback Patrick Robinson, who missed most of 2013 with an injury and who has seen Champ Bailey take most of the reps as the team’s No. 2 corner thus far, is flashing the ability that made him a first-round pick in 2010, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
  • Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com does not expect the Jaguars to make a play for a veteran receiver, adding that the team’s focus is in developing rookies Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee.
  • Newly-signed TE Ed Dickson has shown flashes of his impressive athletic ability in Panthers camp, writes Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer. Dickson, who struggled with drops during his tenure with the Ravens, is looking for a fresh start in Carolina.
  • Safety Dashon Goldson, who underwent ankle surgery following the 2013 season, is being brought along slowly by the Buccaneers, writes Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com.
  • The Texans worked out former Raiders’ outside linebacker Eric Harper at the same time they auditioned Quentin Groves and Lawrence Sidbury, writes Aaron Wilson of The National Football Post. Houston ultimately signed Sidbury and Groves.
  • Texans‘ guard Cody White suffered a torn Achilles tendon during yesterday’s practice, tweets John McClain of The Houston Chronicle.
  • Although it seems unlikely that Johnny Manziel will beat out Brian Hoyer as the Browns‘ starting quarterback to open the season, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe believes that Cleveland’s schedule “sets up well” for Manziel to assume the starting role early in the season. The Browns have a bye in Week 4 and then a series of “easy” games against teams like the Titans, Jaguars, and Raiders.
  • Speaking of the Browns‘ quarterback dilemma, Lindsay Jones of USA Today Sports tweets that Hoyer will continue to take reps with the first-team offense through Tuesday’s practice, and then Cleveland’s coaching staff will reevaluate the team’s situation under center. Wednesday’s practice, then, may be a telling one.

Panthers Notes: Newton, Webb, Receivers

June 21st, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by Ben Levine

After Panthers minicamp wrapped up on Thursday, the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person compiled his 20 observations from the team’s OTA. Let’s take a look at some of those notes…

  • Cam Newton made an unexpected appearance at camp on Thursday, throwing in three seven-on-seven drills. The quarterback had a rough start, missing on seven of his first ten throws. Person notes how important it is for Newton to be ready for training camp so he can “develop timing” with all of his new receivers.
  • Two of the team’s offseason signings at wideout, Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant, are very similar and the writer can’t see the players playing together in two-receiver sets.
  • Receiver Kealoha Pilares is “almost a lock” to make the roster because of his receiving skills.
  • Quarterback Joe Webb looked good on some runs, but he failed to show the consistency demonstrated by likely number-two quarterback Derek Anderson. Still, Webb’s experience at receiver makes him an “intriguing candidate” for a final roster spot.
  • The team is going to have some difficult decisions to make when choosing the backups for tight end Greg Olsen. Veteran Ed Dickson had some success with the Ravens and Brandon Williams has shown improvement in training camp. The team also has blocking tight ends Mike McNeill and D.C. Jefferson.

OTA Previews: Panthers, Bears, Seahawks

May 26th, 2014 at 8:51pm CST by Rory Parks

It’s the calm before the storm tonight, as most teams are set to begin OTAs either tomorrow or Wednesday. Given that, let’s take a quick look at some of the main storylines to follow as we inch ever closer to training camp:

Panthers Sign Ed Dickson

April 10th, 2014 at 1:30pm CST by Luke Adams

1:30pm: It’s a minimum-salary contract for Dickson, with a $65K signing bonus, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. The Panthers have now officially announced the signing in a press release.

THURSDAY, 1:24pm: The Panthers and Dickson are in agreement on a one-year deal, according to Wilson (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 1:09pm: Free agent tight end Ed Dickson is visiting the Panthers today and is expected to sign with the team, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. According to Wilson, Dickson also drew interest from the Jaguars, Bills, Jets, Giants, and Ravens in free agency.

Although Dickson had a nice pass-catching season in 2011, hauling in 54 balls, including five for touchdowns, he has assumed more of a blocking role in recent years. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), that hasn’t particularly been his strong suit — a poor run-blocking grade last season left the 26-year-old ranked dead last among 64 qualified tight ends.

Still, perhaps in Carolina, where virtually all of the team’s top 2013 receivers are now on other rosters, Dickson will see more balls thrown his way. If and when he signs, Dickson figures to fall behind Greg Olsen on the Panthers’ depth chart. However, considering the receiving corps is led by players like Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant, and Tiquan Underwood, the club could use plenty of multiple tight end sets.

The Ravens were reportedly considering bringing Dickson back, but the team ultimately re-signed Dennis Pitta and added Owen Daniels instead.

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