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AFC Notes: Texans, Butler, Chargers, Ravens

By | at February 13, 2014 12:05 pm

Texans receiver Andre Johnson likely won’t have any input on how his team uses its first overall pick, but he says if it were up to him, he’s “probably trade it,” according to David Nuno of ABC13 in Houston (hat tip to Pro Football Talk). Johnson’s comments are a little interesting, since many experts believe the Texans will draft a quarterback with that pick. Of course, the veteran receiver also had high praise for Johnny Manziel, one of the candidates for that No. 1 pick, calling him a “great player” and pointing out that there’s a reason he earned the nickname Johnny Football (link via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle).

Here’s more from across the AFC:

  • Chargers GM Tom Telesco spoke to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com about the team’s approach to free agency, which he says will definitely be a “piece of the puzzle” for the club this offseason. According to Williams, the Chargers and linebacker Donald Butler have resumed discussions on a new deal in the hopes of working out an agreement prior to free agency.
  • Although they’ve filled their holes at wide receiver primarily with late draft picks or small free agent expenditures in recent seasons, the Ravens may make the position a priority this year, and they should have plenty of options, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald expresses plenty of skepticism about the idea that Jonathan Martin could return to the Dolphins for the 2014 season, which was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport last night. In Salguero’s view, the Dolphins may be selling that idea to try to improve Martin’s trade value.
  • With new San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer expected to be sworn in on March 3, the Chargers are eager to resume their push for a new stadium, says Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press.
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AFC West Notes: Raiders, English, Chiefs

By | at February 9, 2014 3:52 pm

The Raiders have an impending salary cap quandary on their hands, according to Christopher Hansen of Bleacher Report. Due to language in the new collective bargaining agreement, teams must spend at least 89% of the salary cap for the 2013-2016 seasons. While the idea that the Raiders have over $60MM in cap space looks good on paper, this hides the fact that team must make up $16.4MM in spending over the next three seasons, while simultaneously meeting the 89% threshold. Compounding the problem is that the Raiders simply lack the type of quality players that the team could look to extend. This dilemma might force general manager Reggie McKenzie to eschew his policy, honed during his time with the Packers, of shunning big-name free agents.

Some other news from the AFC West:

  • Contrary to reports, Chargers linebacker Larry English will not become a free agent, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Team sources indicate English did not attain playing-time incentives required to allow him to void the final year of his contract. Instead, he will be paid $1.54MM. Of course, the Chargers could still release him, as he graded out poorly in Pro Football Focus’ rankings (subscription required).
  • The Chiefs could target receiver Jeremy Maclin, but can’t afford to get into a bidding war for him, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher. Maclin played under Chiefs coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
  • Teicher also thinks the Chiefs will allow offensive tackle Branden Albert to leave via free agency, due to the presence of 2013 first-round pick Eric Fisher.
  • Former Broncos offensive assistant Jim Bob Cooter, hired as the Lions’ quarterbacks coach, will be difficult to replace, writes Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com.
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AFC Notes: Texans, Chargers, Dolphins, Pats

By | at February 5, 2014 5:50 pm

Texans‘ head coach Bill O’Brien has been very quiet since getting the top job in Houston, but has finally announced the 16 assistant coaches he has hired to fill out the coaching staff, according to HoustonTexans.com. The new hires are highlighted by his new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who held that same post with the Patriots during their three Super Bowls from 2001-2004, and new director of football research Jim Bernhardt, who was O’Brien’s special assistant to the head coach and director of player development at Penn State. The hires that were not made may have been just as important, as the team retained special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, and notably O’Brien decided not to hire an offensive coordinator. Here are some other news items from across the AFC:

  • The Chargers have decided not to opt out of their lease with Qualcomm Stadium, reports Ricky Henne of Chargers.com. The team will play its home games there in 2014, while the organization continues to explore stadium solutions in San Diego.
  • It is no secret that the Dolphins plan to move on from the Richie Incognito–Jonathan Martin controversy, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. However, while Incognito is a free agent, Martin will not be as simple to let go. The Dolphins would like to trade him, but they know if they cannot find a deal that they will have to release him for nothing. Unfortunately, the rest of the league knows that as well, and other franchises might be content to wait until Martin is released.
  • The Patriots have exercised the franchise tag eight times since the 2002 offseason, writes Christopher Price of WEEI.com. The two impending free agents that would be most likely to receive the tag are Aqib Talib and Julian Edelman. However, placing the tag on either player would result in a one-year-deal worth over $11MM. The Patriots are more likely to either use it to keep the player from hitting free agency while they negotiate a long-term contract, or possibly not use it at all for the second consecutive year.
1 comment Houston Texans Los Angeles Chargers Miami Dolphins New England Patriots Uncategorized

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Manning, Chargers

By | at February 4, 2014 6:21 pm

Several of the Broncos‘ pending free agents have expressed a desire to stay put in Denver, but we learned earlier today that the club will let Eric Decker, Shaun Phillips, Mike Adams, and others test the open market. More on the Broncos and other AFC West clubs..

  • At a season-ending press conference on Tuesday, Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway said that the club is operating as if quarterback Peyton Manning will continue to play while preparing for the future. “Well, we’re going to keep building like Peyton’s going to be here, and when Peyton decides to hang ‘em up, we have expectations hopefully to make that transition,” Elway said, according to Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk. “It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to hopefully be ready for that transition, too.”
  • Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com looks at the Chargers‘ running back situation heading into 2014. Of course, Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead combined to give San Diego one of the most productive running back duos in the NFL in 2013, but the rest of the depth chart could see some changes. Ronnie Brown will be an unrestricted free agent and fullback Le’Ron McClain is unlikely to return at a cap figure of $2.5MM.
  • Joe Fortenbaugh of National Football Post asks if Decker is really worth $10MM a year. Earlier today, our own Luke Adams looked at the free agent stock of the Broncos wide receiver.
  • New Chiefs receiver Weston Dressler will be missed in Canada, writes Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Kansas City inked the Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver to a reserve-futures contract earlier today.
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Chargers Finalize Coaching Staff For 2014

By | at February 3, 2014 7:20 pm

The Chargers made several coaching moves today and have finalized their coaching staff for the upcoming season, according to the team’s website. These moves include the promotion of offensive quality control assistant Nick Sirianni to the role of quarterbacks coach; the hiring of Bobby King as assistant linebacking coach; and the hiring of Shane Steichen as quality control-offense.

Sirianni’s promotion comes in the wake of Head Coach Mike McCoy‘s decision to promote previous quarterbacks coach Frank Reich to offensive coordinator for the 2014 season. Prior to joining the Chargers last season, Sirianni served as a quality control coach with the Chiefs, where he was instrumental in helping Matt Cassel receive All-Pro honors in 2010.

King will be fulfilling the same assistant linebackers coach role in San Diego as he did last year for the Texans. King has enjoyed coaching success over the past few years. In 2009, as defensive line coach, he helped West Texas A&M reach its first bowl game since 1967. In the following years, he served on the Cowboys and Texans’ defensive staffs, helping the Houston defensive become one of the most effective in the NFL from 2010-2011.

Steichen worked for the Chargers as a defensive assistant from 2011-2012 and worked with the Browns last season as an offensive quality control coach.

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AFC Links: Bailey, Davis, Harrison, Dolphins

By | at February 3, 2014 1:32 pm

During the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Champ Bailey indicated that he hoped to his continue his playing career and didn’t have any interest in moving from cornerback to safety. However, after the game last night, Bailey appeared willing to compromise on one of those two stances. The longtime corner suggested that he’d “definitely look into” playing safety if it’s something that makes sense for him and the Broncos, according to Matt Walks of the Denver Post. Of course, given his $10MM cap number for 2014, Bailey isn’t a mortal lock to remain in Denver, at least at that price.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • While Vontae Davis is expected to be among a strong crop of free agent cornerbacks this offseason, both he and the Colts seem to have interest in a reunion, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. There’s no guarantee that the team will re-sign Davis, but Holder expects the two sides to “work diligently” on a new contract in the coming weeks.
  • Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who will be eligible for restricted free agency a year from now, has changed agents, joining CAA Sports, tweets Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal.
  • ESPN.com’s James Walker examines a list of potential cap casualties for the Dolphins, led by offensive lineman Jonathan Martin.
  • One of the Dolphins‘ GM candidates who didn’t get the job tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) that he believes the club is one good offseason away from a playoff berth, and two or three years away from bigger things.
  • With backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst facing free agency, the Chargers will have to decide whether to bring him back or to add another signal-caller via the draft, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com.
1 comment Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts Los Angeles Chargers Miami Dolphins New York Jets

AFC Notes: Johnson, McFadden, Butler

By | at February 1, 2014 11:06 am

The Bengals used the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson a year ago, but the 27-year-old repaid the team with just 3.5 sacks in 2013, making a second tag unlikely. Consequently, he’s expected to hit the open market, but the presence of Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry could soften the blow, according to ESPN.com’s Cole Harvey.

Other AFC news and notes:

  • Harvey also mentions Raiders free agent running back Darren McFadden as a realistic acquisition given Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson’s not-so-secret appreciation for the 26-year-old, 2008 first-rounder.
  • Chargers inside linebacker Donald Butler, whose rookie deal is expiring, has missed 23 of 66 career games, but the Bolts value what he brings when healthy, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic. In fact, the team drafted Manti Te’o with the intention of pairing him with Butler inside defensive coordinator John Pagano’s 3-4 front. Butler and the team discussed a contract extension last summer, and all indications suggest both sides are interested in a new deal.
  • The Ravens are expected to be awarded the league-maximum four compensatory picks, according to ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley.
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Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

By | at January 21, 2014 11:45 am

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Chargers Sign Nine To Futures Contracts

By | at January 6, 2014 6:12 pm

JANUARY 6TH: The Chargers announced that they have signed quarterback Brad Sorensen to a reserve/futures deal, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter). Sorensen, 26, was drafted 221st overall in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Chargers. San Diego cut him in August, but signed him to the taxi squad in December.

DECEMBER 30TH, 5:40pm: The Chargers have also added guard Craig Watts to the list, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (via Twitter).

DECEMBER 29TH, 6:42pm: The Chargers announced that they have signed eight players to reserve/futures contracts today. Here’s the full list, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Eric Williams (on Twitter):

All eight players were signed off of the Bolts’ taxi squad. Quarterback Brad Sorensen was the only player signed to the practice squad at season’s end that was not inked to a futures deal.

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