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Louis Delmas

AFC East Notes: Marino, Dareus, Patriots

June 2nd, 2014 at 7:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino has joined 14 former players in suing the NFL, reports Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times. In an 18-page complaint, the litigants claim that the league withheld ” information about football-related brain injuries and misled players,” allegations that the NFL has long denied. Marino, who retired in 1999, had been a broadcaster with CBS’ The NFL Today from 2002 until January 2014, leading Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post to wonder (via Twitter) if Marino would have been involved in the lawsuit had his relationship with CBS (and tangentially, the NFL) not been terminated.

More news from the AFC East:

  • Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, already facing felony charges in Alabama stemming from a May incident, was arrested last week and charged on seven counts regarding a car race, according to James Staas of the Buffalo News. Dareus, whose 2015 option was exercised in April, could face an NFL suspension. This latest episode could also dissuade the Bills from offering Dareus an extension; in February, Buffalo general manager Doug Whaley said a new deal was “on the radar,” but perhaps not a priority.
  • The Bills have several options regarding Dareus, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak, which include releasing the Pro Bowler immediately (unlikely), releasing him following the 2014 season (his 2015 option is guaranteed for injury only) or allowing him to play out his contract.
  • ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss and Field Yates offer opinions on several complementary free agents who have been linked to the Patriots, opining that New England should sign linebacker James Anderson and tight end Dustin Keller, while passing on tight end Jermichael Finley (who visited the team last week) and running back Michael Bush.
  • New Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno appears to be out of shape at OTAs, and is playing behind Lamar Miller, writes James Walker of ESPN.com.
  • Walker, in a series of tweets, adds that free agent signee Louis Delmas is happy with the Dolphins’ roster: “I see a group of guys that want to win. We don’t have any 14- or 15-year vets on the team,” said Delmas. “This is a very young group that’s determined to get better each and every day. I plan on being a part of that.”

AFC East Notes: Jets, Pats, Bills, Dolphins

March 31st, 2014 at 4:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at a handful of rumblings from the AFC East…

  • Receiver Jacoby Ford and offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger both visited the Jets today, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirmed the news on Twitter.
  • The Patriots worked out Eastern Washington defensive end Anthony Larry, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. As Pauline points out, Larry’s ability to play linebacker and rush the passer is similar to current Patriot Rob Ninkovich, who recently turned 30-years-old.
  • The Patriots are still in need of a defensive end and a defensive tackle, opines Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Considering the team’s depth, the Patriots can think in the long-term, which Reiss believes is the “ideal scenario.”
  • With rumors swirling regarding DeSean Jackson‘s eventual destination, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com evaluates whether a deal would work out for the Bills. Rodak focuses on positives (like the similarities between Chip Kelly‘s system in Philadelphia and Bills offensive coordinator Nate Hackett‘s system in Buffalo) and the obvious negatives (the potential price tag and behavioral issues).
  • The Dolphins have become a fan of “show me” contracts, and ESPN.com’s James Walker looks at the team’s current batch of players on one-year deals. This includes Louis Delmas, Knowshon Moreno and Cortland Finnegan.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Delmas, Bills

March 14th, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s take a quick tour around the AFC East:

  • The Jets had several discussions with Brandon Pettigrew‘s camp and were one of three finalists for the tight end, but never extended a formal offer, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com provides an interesting look at safety Louis Delmas‘ experience as a free agent, which included a two-hour window to decide on whether or not to accept the Dolphins‘ offer. Delmas ultimately decided to sign with Miami.
  • Despite reports to the contrary, the Bills have not reached a contract agreement with linebacker Brandon Spikes, who is visiting the team today, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Caplan adds in a second tweet that the two sides may eventually work something out, but nothing is particularly close at this point.

Dolphins To Sign Louis Delmas

March 10th, 2014 at 5:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins have agreed to sign Louis Delmas, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The veteran safety, who was released by the Lions last month, can earn up to $3.5MM on his new one-year contract, Florio reports.

Delmas, who turns 27 in April, started all 16 games for the Lions in 2013, recording 64 tackles, three interceptions, and a pair of sacks. He also ranked 26th among NFL safeties using Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Despite his solid performance, he was cut by Detroit because of his oversized cap number and also perhaps due to lingering concerns about his knees. In 2011 and 2012, Delmas missed 13 games due to knee injuries.

The Dolphins were one of several teams Delmas visited in the last few weeks. The Saints and Steelers were among the clubs who met with the former second-round pick, while the Broncos, Ravens, and Falcons were all believed to have at least a little interest at some point. With Delmas locked up, the Dolphins likely won’t be seriously involved in bidding for top-tier free agent safeties like Jairus Byrd, who was linked to Miami earlier today.

NFC Rumors: Giants, Saints, Vikings, Lions

March 10th, 2014 at 12:59pm CST by Luke Adams

A few Monday afternoon updates on NFC teams:

  • The Giants have some level of interest in Brandon Pettigrew, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). With Jimmy Graham franchised and Dennis Pitta extended, Pettigrew may be the top unrestricted free agent tight end of the offseason.
  • Assuming Charles Tillman doesn’t re-sign with the Bears, the Panthers look like a potential destination for the veteran defensive back, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
  • The Saints brought safety Louis Delmas in for a visit after he was released by the Lions, but New Orleans doesn’t appear likely to sign Delmas, a source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
  • Adding a veteran safety doesn’t look like a top priority for the Vikings, but it could be worth keeping an eye on Ryan Clark as a possible fit, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
  • The Redskins have remained in contact with the reps for safety Mike Mitchell, says John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Keim adds that Kenny Britt and Andrew Hawkins are two potential WR targets to keep an eye on for the Redskins.
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says the Lions will definitely sign a wide receiver and a safety in free agency, but it’s not clear yet which specific players the team will land (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk).
  • As Lions GM Martin Mayhew suggested last month, while he’d like to have a new deal worked out with Ndamukong Suh by the time the 2014 league year begins tomorrow, he won’t consider it a setback if nothing is done, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Suh, who recently hired Jimmy Sexton of CAA to negotiate his next deal, has a cap number of $22MM+ for 2014 that the Lions would like to reduce.

NFC East Rumors: Ware, Redskins, Giants, Eagles

March 10th, 2014 at 11:20am CST by Luke Adams

Free agency officially gets underway at 3:00pm central time tomorrow, and there could be resolution on DeMarcus Ware‘s situation in Dallas by then, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. Archer reports that the Cowboys have had “consistent negotiations” with Ware on a reworked contract that would reduce his 2014 cap hit. If the two sides can reach a compromise, it sounds like the standout pass rusher will continue his career in Dallas. Otherwise, he may be cut by tomorrow afternoon.

Let’s round up a few more Monday rumors from out of the NFC East….

Dolphins Re-Sign Brent Grimes

March 5th, 2014 at 11:19am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 11:19am: Grimes’ contract includes a $6MM signing bonus, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). The cap numbers on the deal are as follows: $4MM (2014), $10MM (2015), $9.525MM (2016), and $8.5MM (2017).

MONDAY, 9:17am: The Dolphins have officially re-signed Brent Grimes to a multiyear deal, the team announced today (Twitter link). Grimes’ new contract is a four-year pact, the Dolphins cornerback tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link), and it’s worth $32MM, with $16MM in guaranteed money, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported that the two sides were closing in on a contract agreement.Brent Grimes

While there are a handful of notable cornerbacks eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, including Aqib Talib, Vontae Davis, Alterraun Verner, and Sam Shields, Grimes is arguably coming off the best season of the bunch. The former Falcon returned from an Achilles injury in 2013 to start all 16 games for the Dolphins, playing in more snaps (1132) than all but two cornerbacks in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Grimes, who earned a spot in the Pro Bowl for the second time, was the league’s second-best full-time corner last season. He finished the season with 60 tackles and four interceptions, including one for a touchdown.

Locking up Grimes prior to free agency will allow the Dolphins to focus on other areas of need, and there are plenty to address. Most notably, Miami will have to revamp its offensive line, which will be decimated by the fallout from last year’s bullying scandal. While the terms of Grimes’ deal aren’t yet known, Rapoport tweets that, last he heard, the two sides were discussing a three-year pact worth in the neighborhood of $21MM. An annual salary in the $7-8MM range would give the club plenty of cap flexibility to be active in free agency and to bolster other positions.

Before this year’s free agents hit the open market on March 11, the Dolphins could also make an effort to re-sign some of its other own free agents, such as defensive linemen Paul Soliai and Randy Starks. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports (via Twitter) that the club is also “very interested” in another defensive back, Louis Delmas, who is eligible to sign with any team right away, since he was released by the Lions last month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

March 4th, 2014 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

No NFC North teams used their franchise or transition tags yesterday, meaning players who looked like candidates, such as Packers cornerback Sam Shields and Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, appear likely to hit the open market next week. While we wait to see if those players work out anything with their respective teams, let’s check out the latest on the Bears, Lions, and Packers….

  • Defensive lineman Corey Wootton is still rehabbing from hip surgery, but he expects to be fully healthy by July, as he tells Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Although Wootton says he’d love to return to the Bears, the 26-year-old expects to “test the market and see what’s out there” in free agency. Assuming teams are confident in his full recovery, Wootton should receive plenty of interest beginning next week.
  • While he thinks the Bears could consider free agent safeties T.J. Ward and Jairus Byrd if the price is right, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times hears from a source that the club has not expressed any interest in Louis Delmas.
  • $370K of Roberto Garza‘s potential $1.5MM salary for 2014 is tied to weekly roster bonuses, so the Bears have a little built-in injury protection on their center, says Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
  • Because first-round picks don’t cost as much as they did under the old CBA, GM Martin Mayhew and the Lions are comfortable taking the best player available at No. 10 rather than feeling pressure to take someone at a key position, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press details.
  • In a separate piece for the Free Press, Birkett looks at a few Detroit free agents, writing that the Lions continue to work on a new deal for Pettigrew, but are comfortable letting him test the market next week if no agreement has been reached.
  • The Texans are talking to tight end Garrett Graham about a new contract, but if the team lets him reach the open market, the Packers will have interest, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who says Green Bay has liked Graham since he came out of Wisconsin in 2010 (Twitter links).

Louis Delmas Visits With Dolphins

February 28th, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Rob DiRe

Louis Delmas met with the Dolphins today, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun writes that the team would still like to re-sign safety Chris Clemons, but if they are unable to do so, Delmas could be a strong second option.

Delmas has already been linked to quite a few teams this offseason, already visiting the Steelers and Saints. The Broncos, Falcons, and Ravens are also thought of as potentially interested in the former Lion.

Wilson does write that the Lions would be interested in re-signing Delmas on a smaller contract.

FA Rumors: Delmas, Jackson, Decker, Pace

February 27th, 2014 at 3:47pm CST by Luke Adams

A handful of potential free agents, including wide receiver Riley Cooper, center Roberto Garza, and defensive lineman Chris Baker, came off the board today, having agreed to new contracts with their current teams. However, there are still plenty of rumblings about other players who will hit free agency on March 11, not to mention those who are already available. Let’s dive in and round up the latest….

  • Free agent safety Louis Delmas, who was cut by the Lions earlier this month, visited the Saints today, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Because he was released, Delmas is eligible to sign before March 11 if he gets an offer he likes.
  • Recently released linebacker D’Qwell Jackson is in the same boat, and has already lined up weekend visits with the Titans and Broncos, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). La Canfora adds (Twitter link) that the Vikings among the clubs looking to schedule a visit for next week, while Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that eight interested teams have already reached out.
  • Following up on a tweet from Vic Lombardi of CBS4 in Denver that indicated there could be mutual interest between wide receiver Eric Decker and the Colts, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star says (via Twitter) that potential interest is unlikely to materialize into anything concrete.
  • The Jets met with linebacker Calvin Pace‘s reps at the combine in Indianapolis and made it clear they’d like to re-sign him, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. However, the club has not yet engaged in contract talks for Pace, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • Costello adds in a tweet that the Jets also have interest in retaining defensive tackle Leger Douzable, who will be an unrestricted free agent.
  • Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com explores the possibility of the Bills using their franchise tag on free agent safety Jairus Byrd, which it sounds like the team is willing to do.
  • Free-agent-to-be Rashad Jennings has signed with VMG Sports and will be represented by Mike Simon, Greg Diulus, and Adam Heller, tweets Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal. The Raiders running back had previously been repped by Kelley Drye.
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