Los Angeles Chargers Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Poll: How Will Flowers Fare In San Diego?

June 25th, 2014 at 9:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this month, the Chiefs cut ties with defensive mainstay Brandon Flowers. Even though Flowers was seen as a trade candidate, it was still a surprise to see him outright released. Plenty of teams showed interest in adding the former second-round pick, but he decided that San Diego was the place for him after a multi-day visit with the club. In fact, Flowers never made it out to check in with the other clubs that were showing serious interest.

Flowers is a big name, especially for someone who became available in late June, but it’s hard to say exactly what the Chargers are getting here. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) show that 2013 was a down year for Flowers. Much of that can probably be attributed to a poor fit with new Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s scheme, but he still ranked as just the 87th-best CB in the league among 110 qualified players. On the other hand, PFF rated Flowers as a top-seven corner in both 2011 and 2012, and Flowers is still just 28.

If you want to know what Flowers’ motives are with this deal, look no further than the terms of the contract. It’s a one-year deal that comes with a $1.5MM signing bonus, $1.5MM in base pay, and up to $2MM in incentives. It’s not a major payday, but if Flowers can get back to his old self in SD, he can cash in next offseason. After all, Flowers will be just 29 years old and could be in line for a hefty multi-year pact. Flowers surely wants to win in 2014, but he’ll have a little extra motivation with so much money on the line. Ultimately, do you think the signing will work out for the Chargers? Let us know in the poll and in the comments section.

Will Flowers Get Back To His Old Form With The Chargers?

Yes 70.22% (158 votes)

No 29.78% (67 votes)

Total Votes: 225

AFC Notes: Dolphins, Flowers, Bills, Luck

June 25th, 2014 at 3:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent offensive lineman Andre Gurode, who has plenty of experience at center and guard and played for the Raiders last season, has reached out to the Dolphins to see if they have any interest in signing him in the wake of Mike Pouncey‘s labrum surgery, says Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. However, as of Tuesday evening, the club has yet to return his call. While Miami doesn’t necessarily need to add any veteran free agents for camp, the team has been making “brief preliminary inquiries” on potential options, according to Jackson. Our Dallas Robinson took a closer look at a few of the Dolphins’ possible targets earlier this week.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

In a conversation with Ricky Henne of Chargers.com, Brandon Flowers spoke about signing with the Chargers and the impact he hopes to have on the team and on rookie cornerback Jason Verrett. According to Flowers, his former Virginia Tech teammate Eddie Royal gave him a hard sell on the team, the city, and the fans.
It has been said that the Bills need a new stadium to remain in Western New York, but governor Andrew Cuomo isn’t sure about that, writes Robert J. McCarthy of the Buffalo News. “The state would do its part; the county would do its part, but only if you really need a new stadium, which, frankly, I am not convinced of,” Cuomo said. “It would be more a function of what the new buyer and the NFL say is the condition to keep it here. We have to see how it develops down the road.”
In a conversation at NFL.com, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling, and Kevin Patra debate which NFL player would earn the most money as a free agent on the open market right now, and two of the three scribes opt for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.
Executive vice president Bryan Wiedmeier has signed a contract extension with the Browns, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Chargers Sign Brandon Flowers

June 25th, 2014 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 3:30pm: The Chargers have waived cornerback Brandon Jones in order to clear a spot on the roster for Flowers, the team announced today (Twitter link).

TUESDAY, 6:24pm: Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link) has the exact breakdown of Flowers’ deal. The veteran gets $1.5MM to sign, $1.5MM in base salary, and up to $2MM in incentives. In order to earn that full $2MM in incentives, Flowers needs to play in 92.5% of the Chargers defensive snaps and the team must advance to the AFC Championship (link).

5:53pm: Flowers’ deal can earn him up to $5MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The cornerback will now have the opportunity to prove himself this season and cash in next offseason at the age of 29.

4:01pm: The Chargers have reached an agreement on a contract with free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link), it’ll be a one-year pact for Flowers in San Diego.

After being cut by the Chiefs earlier in the month, Flowers paid a free agent visit to the Chargers last week, and later met with the 49ers as well, according to Garafolo (Twitter link). By joining the Chargers, Flowers will remain in the AFC West and face his old team twice in the 2014 season, and will also be signing with the team that topped last week’s PFR poll asking where the cornerback would land.

Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) suggest 2013 was a down year for Flowers as he struggled to fit in new Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s scheme, ranking as just the 87th-best CB in the league among 110 qualified players. However, PFF rated Flowers as a top-seven corner in both 2011 and 2012, and the former Chief is still only 28 years old. That makes him an intriguing option for a Chargers team whose corners all had even worse PFF grades than Flowers in ’13.

By signing a one-year contract with San Diego, Flowers will have the opportunity to show that 2013 was an aberration, and will be eligible to hit the open market again at age 29. Considering the kind of deals we saw this year’s group of top cornerbacks sign in free agency, a bounce-back year from the former Virginia Tech standout could result in another nice payday next March. It would also go a long way toward solidifying a Chargers secondary that also added first-round cornerback Jason Verrett.

The Vikings, Ravens, Falcons, and Lions were among the other clubs who reportedly had some level of interest in Flowers, who received inquiries from about 10 teams when he first became available. However, if those teams – and others – are still on the lookout for veteran cornerback help, they’ll have to turn to a group of free agents that looks significantly less appealing without Flowers heading it up. Chris Houston, Terrell Thomas, and Drayton Florence are among the players still available, as our list of FAs shows.

The Chargers filled the 90th and final spot on their roster last week by claiming Chas Alecxih off waivers, so they’ll have to make a corresponding move in order to officially add Flowers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Links: Ravens, Patriots, Raiders

June 21st, 2014 at 8:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Since being cut by the Chargers in early March, fullback Le’Ron McClain has been keeping in shape, eyeing a return to the NFL. The 29-year-old told Andrew Gribble of Al.com that he’s shed 15 pounds and is at a “great weight.” As a result, McClain, who was listed at 260 pounds at the end of 2013, is looking to change up his game.

“I’m trying to evolve my game also and do more than just blocking and everything,” McClain said. “Just trying to evolve my game as in catching, running routes, just trying to be a difference-maker on the field. That’s what I’ve been working on this offseason.

“Whatever team calls me, they’re going to get that different type of player this year.”

McClain’s best season was with the Ravens in 2008, when he ran for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…

Ravens rookie defensive end Brent Urban has been looking good in his recovery from offseason ankle surgery, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The fourth-rounder was supposed to be ready by about training camp, but took plenty of snaps at minicamp.
The Patriots young receivers are going to have to make a jump this season, Boston.com’s Zuri Berry said on Comcast Sportsnet New England’s Sports Tonight (via CSNNE.com). “It’s going to be a lot harder for those guys to make those mistakes and get away with it because [the Patriots] have more receivers now,” Berry said. “They have other guys to go to.”
Raiders owner Mark Davis had previously been talking business about a new stadium in Oakland. Following initial talks with the real estate firm, Davis told reporters that communications have stalled. “All the talks we have with them are positive, but there’s no progress after the talks,” he said (via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com). “Everybody is trying. Whether it can get done, I don’t know.”

AFC West Notes: Chargers, Signings, Mack

June 20th, 2014 at 7:07pm CST by Rob DiRe

Chargers‘ head coach Mike McCoy is excited about his team, and Kevin Acee of the UT San Diego has highlighted a few players who could back up the coach’s expectations. Acee sees Manti Te’o, Andrew Gachkar, and Melvin Ingram coming together to form a deep linebacking group (one that could exclude Larry English). He also likes third-year tight end Ladarius Green, the running game behind a strong offensive line, and a few rookies who could make an impact.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC West:

The Chargers have also claimed defensive tackle Chas Alecxih, according to Michael Gehlken of the UT San Diego (via Twitter). Alecxih, the former Chief, completes the team’s 90-man roster.
The Chiefs announced that they have signed wide receiver Mark Harrison, according to their official team Twitter page. Harrison spent 2013 with the Patriots, placed on the reserve/non-football injury list last summer.
Raiders‘ defensive coordinator Jason Tarver has been trying to find creative ways to use first-round pick Khalil Mack in the team’s defense this season, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “What’s nice about Khalil is he has size and athletic ability, so that he can do some things on the edges of your defense, both in the run game and in the pass game, with his power, his length and his ability to bend and move.” said Tarver. “Those are traits that you want as many players as you can have on your defense, as many of those as we can get, the happier a coordinator is.”
The Broncos have solidified their roster to position themselves for a return to the Super Bowl this year, but the right tackle position is still up in the air, writes Sayre Bedinger of PredominatelyOrange.com. The team has Chris Clark, who filled in admirably for Ryan Clady on the left side last season, as the frontrunner for the role. They also drafted offensive tackle Michael Schofield out of Michigan, and re-signed Winston Justice. Bedinger also notes that 2013 sixth-round pick Vinston Painter is still valued and could be a dark horse for a starting job on the offensive line.

AFC Notes: Jets, Flowers, Chiefs, Ravens

June 19th, 2014 at 8:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets didn’t sign an impact cornerback in free agency to help replace Antonio Cromartie, but defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman is confident that they are set in the secondary with what they have. “The lack of experience shows up at time, but the talent is there,” Thurman said, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. “We know that we have guys that can play. We just make sure we communicate, do the things that we’re supposed to do. If we do that, I think we’ll be fine.” The Jets hope that first-round strong safety Calvin Pryor will be able to hit the ground running and they’ll also keep their fingers crossed on third-round cornerback Dexter McDougle. Here’s more from the AFC..

Brandon Flowers‘ visit with the Chargers appears to have gone well, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter). The Bolts appear to have the inside track on Flowers as San Diego was his first trip after being cut by Kansas City and he has not formally scheduled visits with other clubs yet.
Look for former Patriots wide receiver Mark Harrison to resurface with the Chiefs, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. The Rutgers product has visited Kansas City and a signing is likely.
The Ravens auditioned former Florida State tight end Shayne Broxsie, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 6’2″, 255 pound athlete was working with Baltimore’s running backs and fullbacks, so a position change could be in his future if he winds up with the Ravens.

Chargers Waive Brandon Taylor

June 19th, 2014 at 1:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers have waived former third-round pick Brandon Taylor, the team announced today in a press release. The 73rd overall selection out of LSU in 2012, Taylor couldn’t stay healthy during his two seasons in San Diego, appearing in just four regular-season contests for the club.

“We’d like to thank Brandon for his work and contributions to the Chargers the last three years, and wish him the best as he continues his career,” said GM Tom Telesco in a statement.

Taylor, 24, tore his ACL in December of 2012, and was activated from the Chargers’ PUP list in August, but didn’t play a snap all year, and underwent another procedure on his knee at season’s end. Given his injury problems, Taylor will likely go unclaimed on waivers, but if he’s healthy enough to take the field next month, the safety could draw interest on the open market as teams prepare for training camp.

The Chargers now have an opening on their 90-man roster, so it will likely just be a matter of time before we hear about a corresponding move to fill that spot. While the team won’t necessarily sign anyone immediately, it’s worth noting that free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers was in town for a visit yesterday and is expected to make a decision on his next destination within the next few days.

AFC Links: Goodson, Flowers, Jaguars

June 18th, 2014 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets released running back Mike Goodson earlier today, but the transaction had little to do with his production on the field. Following Goodson’s failure to show up to training camp, the team announced that the player was cut with the “left squad” designation. Furthermore, he’s had zero contact with anyone within the organization, and that’s leaving some of his former teammates and coaches worried.

Offensive guard Willie Colon is one of those players (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini):

“Usually, a guy will send you a text and say, ‘I’m OK.’ Not to hear anything is scary in itself. All you can do is send out prayers to him.”

Goodson has had a bit of a troubled past. The issues began in May 2013, when he was found stopped in the middle lane of a highway by New Jersey Police. The cops say he was incoherent and had vomited, and a semiautomatic weapon and marijuana was allegedly found in his possession. Last season, he was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Wideout David Nelson briefly touched on his former teammate’s issues:

“The concern is what kind of state he might be in, where he might be and things he might be doing. Guys are trying to check in on him, making sure that stuff isn’t reoccurring and taking over.

“For somebody who has just gone MIA – nobody can get a hold of him and nobody knows where he is – that takes it to a different level and it goes beyond football. Guys aren’t reaching out to him because of football. They’re reaching out to him because they care about him. They want to know if he’s OK.

“That’s the element everybody is talking about. At this point, nobody is talking about, ‘Why isn’t he here practicing?’ I think the fear is that we haven’t heard from him. That’s not a good sign, honestly.”

Head coach Rex Ryan also addressed the matter:

“There’s no question, it concerns me. I’ve tried to reach out to him but haven’t been able to make contact with him.”

The only time we’ve heard from Goodson’s agent, Kennard McGuire, was following the player’s initial absence from camp on Tuesday:

“Mike must be accountable and responsible for his own actions and comprehend not only effective communication but simple communication.”

With that, let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…

Free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers isn’t negotiating with teams yet, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. The former Chiefs notable will spend the next two days with the Chargers. The Ravens, Steelers, and Vikings are among the clubs keeping a close eye on him. According to La Canfora (via Twitter), Flowers has no other visits scheduled yet and will re-evaluate the situation and whether to take more visits after he’s done spending time in San Diego (link).
Count wide receiver Eddie Royal amongst the folks who want to see Flowers sign with the Chargers, writes Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego. The two were teammates at Virginia Tech.
New Jaguars running back Toby Gerhart wants to be the Jacksonville’s version of Marshawn Lynch, writes Jim Corbett of USA Today Sports. The Jags gave Gerhart a three-year, $10.5MM deal in March.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Free Agent Rumors: Flowers, Vilma, Muir

June 18th, 2014 at 3:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we heard that cornerback Brandon Flowers, the most noteworthy name on the free agent market, will likely make a decision on where to sign within the next three to five days. The afternoon has brought a couple of updates on Flowers, along with several items on other free agents. Let’s dive in and check out the latest….

The Chargers are hosting Flowers for a free agent visit today, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As I pointed out this morning, the most serious suitors for the veteran corner may be teams we haven’t heard many rumblings about yet, and San Diego fits that bill.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Flowers has also received significant interest from the Falcons and Vikings. Sources from both of those clubs have downplayed their interest to local reporters, so it’s hard to get a read on whether their interest is being overstated by sources close to Flowers or understated by team sources. Besides those clubs, the Patriots and Ravens also have some interest, tweets Wilson.
As they continue to weigh options to replace Sean Weatherspoon, the Falcons are working out veteran linebacker Jonathan Vilma today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). A source confirms to ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter link) that the workout went well, though the team didn’t sign Vilma right away.
Defensive tackle Daniel Muir, who spent last season with the Raiders after also playing for the Packers, Colts, and Jets, auditioned for the Ravens today, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
Guards Steve Greene and John Sullen and defensive tackles Gilbert Pena and Everett Dawkins tried out for the Giants at the team’s minicamp today, tweets Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

Minor Moves: Texans, Chargers, Pats, Titans, Falcons

June 16th, 2014 at 6:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with any new moves added to the top of the page throughout the evening:

The Texans have signed offensive tackle Will Yeatman to a two-year deal, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link). Yeatman is a converted tight end who has spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins; he’ll compete for a backup position in Houston.
The Chargers added a little camp depth to their secondary today by signing former Texas safety Adrian Phillips to a contract, the team announced in a press release. Running back D.J. Adams was waived by San Diego to create an opening on the team’s roster.
The Patriots have cut tight end Kyle Auffray, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter). The New Hampshire alum, who also has experience at quarterback and punter, only lasted a week on New England’s roster after signing with the club last Monday.
Linebacker James Gayle, who was cut by the Titans on Friday, has been added to the team’s injured reserve list after clearing waivers, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Gayle is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Another more notable name also hit injured reserve today: The Falcons placed linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on their IR list, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors