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Ravens Rumors: Monroe, Mack, Jones

March 11th, 2014 at 10:22am CST by Zachary Links

The latest out of Baltimore..

  • Sources predict that the Ravens and offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will get a deal done before he can hit the open market, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The two sides were far apart last week but they have apparently made some serious progress since then. The offensive tackle market is quickly shrinking, with an number of players expected to quickly sign deals when free agency opens including Branden Albert (Dolphins), Jared Veldheer (Cardinals) and Rodger Saffold (Raiders).
  • Meanwhile, if things don’t work out with Monroe, the Ravens’ backup plan is to make a run at Browns offensive lineman Alex Mack, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.
  • Wilson adds that the Ravens have had productive talks with wide receiver Jacoby Jones.
  • There’s mutual interest in a return for special teams ace Jeromy Miles, Wilson tweets.
  • Ravens aren’t close to a deal with middle linebacker Daryl Smith, sources tell Wilson (on Twitter). Smith, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday this week, saw a career high in sacks (5.0) with 57 solo tackles.

Free Agent Notes: Pierre Thomas, Ravens, Bears, Giants

March 8th, 2014 at 10:41am CST by Matt Feminis

Miscellaneous news and notes, including free agent primers for the Bears and Giants:

  • Malcolm Jenkins‘ tweet indicates Pierre Thomas won’t be back with the Saints, points out NOLA.com’s Larry Holder (via Twitter).
  • The Ravens have made an offer to retain free agent receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, according to team insider Aaron Wilson (per Twitter).
  • Ravens free agent cornerback Corey Graham “should have a healthy market,” according to Wilson (via Twitter). Graham, a 2007 fifth-rounder, broke in with the Bears, made a name for himself as a Pro Bowl special teams player and earned a two-year, $3.95MM deal with the Ravens in 2012. He played a more prominent role in Baltimore, where he started 13 games over two seasons and contributed as a productive sub-package defender, tallying 74 tackles, 12 passes defended and four interceptions. The team wants Graham back, but will be unable to compete if another team is willing to pay him like a starter, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The Bears will target defensive ends in free agency, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, who breaks down four groups of free agents the Bears will sift through: big-ticket targets (such as Michael Bennett or Everson Griffen); “budget buys” (similar to Matt Slauson, who signed an inexpensive one-year deal last year, started all 16 games and earned a four-year extension); cap casualties (veterans with “a little juice left,” as Biggs puts it); and the club’s own (most notably, Henry Melton, Charles Tillman and D.J. Williams).
  • Expect the Giants to act quickly in free agency, says NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, who predicts the team will land a priority free agent, likely an offensive lineman, in a matter of days. Raanan cites recent history as an indicator, reminding the team signed Antrel Rolle on the first day of free agency in 2010, signed David Baas in two days in 2011 and added Martellus Bennett three days into the 2012 signing period.

Extra Points: Saints, Bears, Gore, Eagles

March 7th, 2014 at 10:35pm CST by David Kipke

Earlier tonight, franchise player Jimmy Graham tweeted that he’s “shocked and disappointed” about everything that’s happened in New Orleans this offseason. Graham is likely referencing the Saints’ decisions to cut offensive weapons Lance Moore and Darren Sproles. According to John Breech of CBSSports.com, there’s a chance the team could release running back Pierre Thomas as well. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted that the decision to cut Moore and Sproles likely stemmed from the large cap numbers of Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Marques Colston, and Brodrick Bunkley.

Let’s look at some other news tidbits from this Friday evening…

  • Lance Briggs expressed similar frustrations to Graham with the Bears‘ front office on Friday, saying that if he ran the team, he would “trade all the draft picks and bring my brothers back.” Briggs was presumably referencing players like Charles Tillman, Devin Hester, and Brian Urlacher. While Urlacher retired after last season, the team seems ready to cut ties with Hester and Tillman. It is widely expected that the Bears will also part ways with Julius Peppers due to the eight-time Pro Bowler’s huge cap figure.
  • 49ers GM Trent Baalke has said that, considering Frank Gore “had a A++ season” in 2013, the team doesn’t feel it needs to restructure the five-time Pro Bowl running back’s contract this offseason, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks that the Eagles should pursue safety Malcolm Jenkins in free agency. McLane argues that the new free agent would be a better schematic fit for the Eagles than more prominent free agent safeties such as Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward. He thinks the Eagles could also pursue the Panthers’ Michael Mitchell and the Dolphins’ Chris Clemons, among others.
  • Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune (via Twitter) thinks that because of the departures of Sproles and Moore, the Saints will be looking for a return specialist this offseason. Duncan speculates that the team could address this void by targeting Devin Hester, New Orleans native Jacoby Jones, or perhaps even a prospect like LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham.
  • Desmond Bryant, defensive end for the Browns, says he’s been medically cleared to play after a health scare, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com and Bryant’s personal Twitter account.
  • Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group identifies six free agent offensive lineman that could interest the Browns, including San Diego’s Chad Rinehart and Kansas City’s Geoff Schwartz.
  • Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody, whose contract situation is currently up in the air, has signed with Authentic Athletix NFL agent Peter Schaffer, according to a tweet by Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journalism. Cody had been previously represented by Athletes First.
  • Ben Tate told Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston that he can become an “elite” running back next season. Tate has not been shy about his plans to test free agency and finally step into a starting role on another team.
  • Darnell Dockett called free agent tackle Branden Albert his teammate in a tweet earlier today, according to Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride. While Albert’s response to the tweet, which was quickly deleted, deflected Dockett’s comments, it did not directly dispute the teammate comment.

FA Rumors: QBs, Saffold, Vikings, Ravens

March 7th, 2014 at 11:31am CST by Luke Adams

This year’s class of free agent quarterbacks doesn’t feature any stars, but there are a handful of players who should make very solid backups, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. In his latest piece, La Canfora takes a shot at forecasting where a few of the more notable names on the market will land. Among his predictions: Michael Vick to the Jets, Josh McCown to the Vikings, Matt Cassel to the Texans, and Josh Freeman to the Raiders.

With just over 24 hours left for teams to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents, let’s check out a few more FA rumors and news items:

Extra Points: Bills, Knighton, Eagles, Ravens

February 12th, 2014 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

After we heard yesterday that New York State had appointed several members to a committee tasked with exploring the possibility of a new stadium for the Bills, team president and CEO Russ Brandon released a statement indicating that the franchise’s primary focus is on upgrading Ralph Wilson Stadium (link via The Buffalo News). Mike Rodak of ESPN.com also passes along several comments made by Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz on WGR 550, explaining why a new stadium might not be viable in the short term.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Ravens Interested In Re-Signing Jacoby Jones If Price Is Right

January 31st, 2014 at 5:40pm CST by Matt Feminis

Ravens receiver/kick returner Jacoby Jones is a pending unrestricted free agent the team would like to have back, though limited cap space means a raise is not in order, according to the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson.

Jones, 29, ranked in the upper third of the league’s kickoff (28.8-yard average, one touchdown) and punt returners (12.5), while finishing fourth on the Ravens with 37 receptions for 455 yards (12.3) and two scores in 12 games. However, given the emergence of rookie Marlon Brown and the recyclable nature of return men, Jones will be considered an “unaffordable luxury” at his 2013 salary ($3MM base salary plus $1MM roster bonus). Wilson believes the Ravens would welcome Jones back at a discounted number, but there have been no talks to date.

If Jones does re-sign with the team, new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak will likely have something to do with it. Kubiak was Jones’ head coach in Houston and said the two have a great relationship. “I don’t want to say I was like a father figure to him,” said Kubiak, “but he was like one of my children.”

Should Jones depart, the Ravens are expected to seek younger, cheaper alternatives at the receiver and kick returner positions.

Hensley On Ravens Free Agency, Draft

January 26th, 2014 at 3:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

ESPN.com’s AFC North reporter Jamison Hensley had several interesting Ravens notes in a recent chat:

  • Hensley believes that linebacker Daryl Smith is likely to be re-signed due to his low price tag. Smith was vital to the Raven’s defense in 2013, admirably replacing Ray Lewis after spending the previous nine seasons with the Jaguars. He led the team in tackles and broke Lewis’ single-season record for pass deflections.
  • The Ravens would like to see receiver Jacoby Jones return, but cannot afford another $4 million price tag for a third receiver/return specialist.
  • Offensive tackle Michael Oher‘s fate is intertwined with that of fellow lineman Eugene Monroe. If the Ravens can’t re-sign Monroe, they will approach Oher about a potential return.
  • Hensley expects the Ravens to target a receiver in the first round of the draft to pair with Torrey Smith.
  • Safety and center are two areas where the Ravens might look to improve via free agency. Because Baltimore is still aiming to develop Matt Elam and Gino Gradkowski at those positions, veteran free agent options — like centers Jonathan Goodwin or Roberto Garza and safeties such as Louis Delmas or Chris Clemons — might make the most sense. Jeff Siedel of CSN Baltimore agrees that the Ravens must have other options at center behind Gradkowski, who struggled last season.

AFC North Rumors: Browns, Ravens, Jones

January 24th, 2014 at 1:07pm CST by Luke Adams

The Browns finally filled the last head coaching opening in the NFL yesterday, hiring Mike Pettine away from the Bills. Pettine indicated at yesterday’s press conference that if Cleveland’s search had lasted much longer, he would have withdrawn his name, so as not to leave the Bills hanging indefinitely. But now that he’s got the Browns job, Pettine will look to fill out his staff. Here’s the latest on that front, along with a couple other AFC North items:

  • The Browns have interest in former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak for their offensive coordinator position, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets that it’s unlikely Kubiak lands in Cleveland.
  • The Ravens are also in the market for an offensive coordinator, with their search in the final stages. The club interviewed internal candidate Jim Hostler and ex-Redskins coordinator Kyle Shanahan for the second time on Thursday, and will have a second interview with Kirby Wilson of the Steelers today, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Heading for unrestricted free agency, wide receiver Jacoby Jones says he’d love to return to the Ravens, as Ray Frager of CSNBaltimore.com writes.