Extra Points: Winston, Liuget, Harris
Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is high on rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, as Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida writes. However, he says the real test of his abilities is yet to come. “He’s a first-overall pick. Of course you see the talent,” McCoy said of Winston. “You’ve got to give it some time, guys. Everything is real basic right now. Until we put on pads and I can actually chase him, then I’ll tell you how good he is.”
- There has been a lot of positive momentum in the Chargers‘ efforts to sign defensive end Corey Liuget to a contract extension, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. The two sides are getting closer, according to a source that spoke with Gehlken.
- Titans cornerback Brandon Harris suffered a torn ACL during today’s practice, according to a source that spoke with Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (on Twitter). Harris, who signed a one-year deal with the Titans during the offseason, now faces a lengthy rehab process. The 25-year-old earned 112 defensive snaps for the Titans in 2014, recording 11 tackles and three passes defended. He was selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2011 draft and although he wasn’t expected to play a starring role this year, he was being counted upon for depth at the cornerback position.
- Falcons coach Dan Quinn supported the team’s quick decision to release linebacker Prince Shembo, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes. Naturally, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who went through the Michael Vick federal dog fighting investigation of 2007, was involved in the decision to release Shembo.
- The Ravens were glad to snag cornerback Tray Walker in the fourth round of this year’s draft, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes. The Ravens knew that the Texas Southern product was drawing widespread interest, so they were over the moon to get him at No. 136. “He’s a guy that we had targeted,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “We really hoped to get him in the draft. He’s a guy that we wanted to get in the mid-rounds. We were looking to try to draft him, and we were able to do it.“
- The Dolphins should be happy that they got Ryan Tannehill‘s deal done before Cam Newton‘s new pact with the Panthers, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. The total money given to Tannehill may not have changed, but the contract security likely would have been different.
- The Chargers and mayor Kevin Faulconer met to discuss the possibility of a new stadium on Tuesday, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com writes. “Today we and our negotiating team met with Chargers chairman Dean Spanos and his adviser Mark Fabiani for more than an hour,” Faulconer’s spokesperson Craig Gustafson said in a prepared statement. “It was a productive discussion on a variety of issues, and both parties agreed to meet again within the next several days.”
West Notes: Weddle, Rucker, Cards, Dawson
Longtime Chargers safety Eric Weddle “seems destined to depart San Diego as a free agent” when his contract expires after the 2015 season, says Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Acee, who reported on Monday that the team has told Weddle and agent David Canter that they won’t negotiate a new contract this year, says the bridge between the two sides may not be irreparable. However, head coach Mike McCoy is believed to be siding with management in Weddle’s contract dispute – reportedly rubbing some veteran players the wrong way in the process – and Canter describes the Chargers’ current stance as “disgusting.”
“It’s blatantly obvious after me asking the team time and again to extend us that Eric isn’t wanted,” Canter said. “So it’s time for Eric to move on [to] where he can win and is wanted.”
Weddle is still expected to play out the 2015 season in San Diego, and anything could happen between now and March, when he’s slated to hit the open market. But at this point, the two-time All-Pro appears to be preparing to play his last 16 games with the Chargers.
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two West divisions:
- Field Yates of ESPN.com has the details on Frostee Rucker‘s new deal with the Cardinals, tweeting that the extension includes $500K guaranteed, a $1MM base salary for 2016, and $2MM in total new money. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post provides a few more specifics on Rucker’s contract, which includes bonuses and incentives as well.
- Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians thinks his team is set at the quarterback position, but Bob McManamon of AZCentral.com makes a case for why the club should consider bringing in another veteran signal-caller.
- $500K of Phil Dawson‘s $3.134MM base salary for 2015 became fully guaranteed this week, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The veteran 49ers kicker is eligible for free agency after the coming season.
- While Floyd Kephart is expected to propose a financing plan for a stadium in Oakland, the executive director of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, Scott McKibben, says his group is prepared to move on to “other options” quickly if a deal with Kephart doesn’t happen, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. “We need to get something done sooner than later,” McKibben said, addressing the possibility of the Raiders remaining in Oakland.
Minor Moves: Monday
Today’s minor moves..
- The Chargers announced that they have signed cornerback Lowell Rose and waived offensive tackle Cameron Clemmons. Rose was in training camp with the Chargers last year, appearing in three preseason games. The Tulsa product later signed with the Dolphins and played in five games.
- The Jaguars claimed quarterback Jeff Tuel off waivers from the Bills while releasing quarterback Jake Waters, according to John Oehser of Jaguars.com (via Twitter).
- The Colts announced that they have signed free agent wide receiver Tyler Rutenbeck. Rutenbeck, 6-2, 186 pounds, was originally signed by Washington after going undrafted out of Division-III Dubuque but lasted less than two weeks there. In four years of college he recorded 163 receptions for 2,715 yards and a school-record 42 receiving touchdowns.
- The Seahawks are waiving rookie defensive tackle Tory Slater today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
- Washington has signed nose tackle Jerrell Powe, according to Wilson (on Twitter). Powe wasn’t tendered an offer as a restricted free agent of the Texans.
- The Jets signed UGA wide receiver Jonathon Rumph, according to Wilson (on Twitter). Rumph had 11 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown for Georgia last year but sidelined most of the year due to injury.
- The 49ers cut Chase Thomas from the NFI list, Wilson tweets.
Chargers Not Talking Contract With Weddle
The Chargers have informed Eric Weddle‘s agent David Canter that they won’t be engaging in extension talks this year, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The veteran safety didn’t report to the team’s OTAs, in the hopes of negotiating a new contract, but it doesn’t appear that will happen.
“He’ll be excited about playing this year and then hit free agency,” Canter said of his client, adding: “We’re disappointed and will continue to be disappointed. But Eric will go balls-out this season.”
Weddle is scheduled to make $7.5MM in base salary in the final year of a five-year, $40MM deal, making him the fourth-highest paid safety in terms of total compensation in 2015. In late April, GM Tom Telesco indicated that, while he was focused on the draft at that point, he eventually wanted to discuss Weddle’s contract, so the new stance is a little surprising. It’s possible that the team will revisit negotiations following the season, before the 30-year-old reaches free agency.
Weddle has been the Chargers’ starting safety since 2008 and he has not missed a regular season start since the 2009 season. In 2014, Weddle racked up 114 total tackles to go along with eight pass deflections and an interception. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated the three-time Pro Bowler as the best overall safety in the NFL last season with a +18.9 overall grade.
Here are a couple other notes on Chargers’ extension candidates:
- While they may not be negotiating with Weddle, the Chargers are “quietly working on an extension” for defensive lineman Corey Liuget, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that Liuget is a “priority” for the club. The 25-year-old is currently on track to play the 2015 season on his fifth-year option salary of $5.477MM.
- John Clayton of ESPN.com examines the Philip Rivers contract situation, concluding that it’s “highly unlikely” that the quarterback plays for anyone but the Chargers in 2016. If the franchise moves to Los Angeles, however, it may take a little extra money to convince Rivers to re-up.
Sunday Roundup: NFL In LA, Austin, Martin
Let’s have a look at a few links from around the league, which include a few Twitter mailbags:
- As San Diego tries to keep the Chargers from moving to Los Angeles, it is becoming increasingly clear that the team has all the leverage, writes David Garrick of the San Diego Union-Tribune. As Garrick writes, the city has to make a new stadium deal sweet enough to make the Chargers want to stay, but not too sweet, because then it would be rejected at the polls. It is a tightrope that will be exceedingly difficult to walk.
- Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com takes a look at how the explosive Tavon Austin will fit in the Rams‘ run-heavy offense, and he also notes that Brian Quick should be ready to suit up for Week 1.
- Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com believes the Bears‘ overhaul of their defense is a two-year project, and the team will need another offseason to complement its core of players like Pernell McPhee and Kyle Fuller.
- John Keim of ESPN.com is surprised that Washington did not do more to address its thin tight end position in the offseason, but at this point, the team will simply have to hope Jordan Reed stays healthy or that someone like Chase Dixon or Je’Ron Hamm develops.
- Doug Martin recently moved from California to Tampa Bay even though the Buccaneers opted not to pick up the option on the fifth year of his rookie contract. But now that Tampa Bay is truly home for Martin, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune writes that the injury-plagued back will have every incentive to earn a new deal with the club.
- Mike Wells of ESPN.com believes it is unlikely that the Colts will add another player to compete for the right tackle spot. Jack Mewhort and Joe Reitz are getting the majority of the snaps there at the moment, but newly-acquired Todd Herremans can play right tackle if necessary and Indianapolis remains optimistic that Gosder Cherilus can make a healthy return.
West Notes: Bowman, Chiefs, Bolts, Broncos
The latest from the NFL’s two West divisions:
- Three-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman isn’t completely back from the torn ACL and MCL that caused him to miss the 2014 season, but the 49ers’ linebacker is making strides. Bowman practiced with the 49ers three times this week and took a high number of reps, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. He was, however, limited by a knee brace. “I don’t like it,” said Bowman. “It’s not allowing me to run as fast as I’d like to, but it’s keeping my knee safe, and that’s the most important thing.”
- The Chiefs made a big splash in free agency when they signed star receiver Jeremy Maclin, but their Alex Smith-led offense is still lacking aerial weaponry, writes Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. The Chiefs don’t any proven pass-catching threats outside of Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce.
- Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is excited about the development of second-year center Chris Watt, reports Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Seeing a guy, even from his rookie year to his second-year offseason like this stage we’re in right now, he’s just got a different presence about him,” Rivers said of Watt, who appeared in 12 games as a rookie and whom ProFootballFocus (subscription required) ranked 20th out of 41 qualifying centers.
- The Broncos haven’t finished better than 18th in the NFL in yards per punt return over the last three years, so special teams coach Joe DeCamillis is heavily emphasizing competition for punt-return duties, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “We’ve got to find what our guys do best. And we’ll do that as we go forward, but I think in this stadium I know you have to be a really good punt-return team,” said DeCamillis, who has given return reps to Jordan Norwood, Isaiah Burse, Kyle Williams, Solomon Patton, Omar Bolden, and Emmanuel Sanders during OTAs.
- The 49ers lost starting cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox in free agency, but Tramaine Brock and Shareece Wright are expected to fill their void capably. What’s more, head coach Jim Tomsula liked what he saw from some of San Francisco’s other corners during OTAs. “We are talking about all this evaluating and we don’t have any pads on,” Tomsula said, per Cam Inman of the Mercury News. “But everything that is being asked of them, the way they are moving around, the running, all that stuff, good.”
Extra Points: Moore, Kerrigan, Chiefs
We heard near the start of the offseason that veteran wide receiver Lance Moore asked the Steelers to release him, and the team eventually obliged. Having landed with the Lions, Moore opened up to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press about his desire to move on from Pittsburgh.
“I knew the day after the playoff loss that we had, I knew that I didn’t want to be there anymore,” Moore said. “They made me inactive. And I knew at that point that the writing is on the wall. I could see what their future plans were for me; it was the first time in my career that I was a healthy inactive.
“People always ask me what happened or what didn’t go right, or why did it go so wrong?” Moore continued. “I really don’t know, other than I was hurt early in the year, it never quite clicked for Ben and I, and young guys played well. I guess that’s (it).”
As Moore looks to earn a roster spot in Detroit, let’s round up a few more odds and ends from across the NFL…
- Speaking to reporters today, including Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (Twitter link), Washington pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan said there’s no update on his contract negotiations. However, Kerrigan also acknowledged that his agent is handling all those talks, so he may not be up to date on the latest developments.
- Discussing the team’s stadium situation, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that the Chargers have an obligation to try everything they can to make it work in San Diego before deciding to move to Los Angeles.
- The Chiefs announced five front office promotions today, with the most notable being Chris Ballard‘s elevation from director of player personnel to director of football operations. Ballard spoke to the Bears about their general manager job this past winter, and also drew interest from the Jets and Eagles.
- The man who beat out Ballard for the GM job in Chicago, Ryan Pace, discussed his latest additions to the Bears organization, as Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com outlines.
- In an effort to identify the most player-friendly contracts among veteran quarterbacks, Mike Sando of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) ranks Joe Flacco‘s deal atop the list, with Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers close behind.
QB Notes: Tebow, Winston, McCown, Rivers
After being away from the game for the past two years, Eagles quarterback Tim Tebow is thrilled about his new opportunity. The former Heisman winner is behind Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley on the team’s depth chart, but the competition is far from Tebow’s mind.
“I think sometimes when things are taken away, then you don’t realize how much fun it is to come out here and play this game,” Tebow told Nate Davis of USA Today. “You can’t play it forever, so I’m going to enjoy it.”
Coach Chip Kelly had been thrilled with the 27-year-old’s performance in OTAs.
“I think he’s improved,” Kelly said. “He’s had a lot of time the last two years working at his game. (We) wanted to have a fourth quarterback here.”
Let’s check out some more notes regarding some of the league’s signal callers…
- First-overall pick Jameis Winston is impressing the Buccaneers coaching staff during OTAs. “We have to kind of tell him when to leave,” head coach Lovie Smith told ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas. “For him, there’s been a lot of individual work, but having a chance this week to go against our best defense and things like that [has been good]. We have a long ways to go. But we like where he is right now.”
- Browns quarterback Josh McCown has been “virtually anointed” the starting gig without a “hint” of competition, opines Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. While teammates and coaches have supported sophomore Johnny Manziel, Grossi says the former first-rounder is struggling after a rough offseason.
- Meanwhile, McCown says he wouldn’t have even considered visiting other teams (including the Bills and the Bears) if he had been aware of the talent on the Browns offensive line. “After being with them, 5-6 weeks, it’s like, had I known it was this good I wouldn’t even needed to take a visit (to Buffalo and Chicago),” McCown told Grossi.
- Considering Ben Roethlisberger‘s recent extension, Jason Fitzgerald (writing for the Sporting News) believes Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers‘ next contract could surpass the total of Aaron Rodgers‘ extension. Rivers has previously been paid more than Roethlisberger, who came close to topping Rodgers’ contract’s average annual value.
Extra Points: Winston, Bills, Rams
While there’s a lot of whispering about whether first overall pick Jameis Winston will live up to the hype, Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins feels like he’s up to the challenge, Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida writes. “He’s just himself,” Jenkins said of Winston. “Great quarterback and he wants to be great. He’s himself, he doesn’t need to pretend or anything like that. But I didn’t really get to see him personally out there. We were just running. I think it’s a better question to ask the coaches, they spent more one-on-one time with him.” Here’s more from
- Bills head coach Rex Ryan says he’s trying Corey Graham at safety to make sure that he has the “best eleven on the field” after losing Da’Norris Searcy in free agency, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News writes. For his part, Graham says he’s excited about the move and is eager to follow in the footsteps of Charles Woodson, who also made the transition from corner to safety. “Obviously, I’ve been watching him my whole career, so with the move to safety, now I have the opportunity to do some of the things he’s done,” Graham said. “I was in Chicago when he was in Green Bay, so I watched him a lot. He played nickel, I played nickel. I focused on him, studied his game, so it means a lot to me, seeing what he was able to accomplish.”
- St. Louis residents will not vote this summer on the use of their tax dollars to build a new riverfront football stadium for the Rams, David Hunn of the Post Dispatch writes. At this point, it is unclear whether city voters will get the opportunity to weigh in on the use of city tax dollars to help finance a proposed $985MM downtown stadium.
- According to team sources, the Chargers and San Diego city officials will sit down on Tuesday, June 2nd to talk about the stadium proposal, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News tweets.
- West Georgia defensive end/outside linebacker Darrius Caldwell is applying to the Supplemental Draft this year, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Illinois transfer registered 69 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, and 12 sacks in 2014.
AFC West Notes: Houston, Rivers, Berry
The Raiders have a solid backup plan at quarterback thanks to the presence of Christian Ponder, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. “This offense is a little different than what I ran in Minnesota, but some of the things carry over,” Ponder said. “It is nice to be out there getting reps. I didn’t get many last year (in Minnesota) with Matt Cassel and Teddy (Bridgewater). When you’re in a new situation, the added playing time certainly helps you get your feet wet.” So far, Bair says that Ponder’s transition has been a smooth one. More from the AFC West..
- As expected, Justin Houston missed the Chiefs’ first OTA workout, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes. In a poll on Monday, 41% of PFR readers said that Houston will probably wind up signing his one-year franchise tender.
- Despite his contract issues with the team, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is going about his business just as he does every offseason, Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego writes. Rivers said he was “certain” to play out the final year on his deal if something was not done before training camp began. There hasn’t been a whole lot of talk between the Bolts and Rivers’ agent in recent weeks.
- Chiefs coach Andy Reid gave reporters an update on standout defensive back Eric Berry, who is currently battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “He’s been through all the treatments,” Reid explained, according to the team’s website. “Now the doctor’s going to sit down with him and go over exactly what the results of that are. We don’t have that. Eric doesn’t have it quite yet. Everything up to this point has been very positive from the doctor and from Eric, so I think we’re headed in the right direction.”