NFC Notes: Briggs, Panthers, Peterson
The Bears placed veteran linebacker Lance Briggs last week, and while Briggs intends to continue his career next season, he sounds resigned to the fact that it may not happen in Chicago. The former third-round pick, who has been with the club since 2003, may become the latest longtime Bear to find work elsewhere, as he acknowledged on his Comcast SportsNet show yesterday.
“I’ve been through some nasty contract disputes,” Briggs said, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “I got a chance to see a lot of guys come and go. And I got a chance to see how things were handled with players before me. So for me, it just laid the foundation for what’s to come. For me, I prepared myself for the days that are coming. So I don’t hold bitterness. There’s no bitterness. When I think of the whole situation, I think of all the great years and I’m thankful for everything that Chicago has meant to me.”
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- The Panthers‘ willingness to part with veteran players whose mental lapses cost the team is sending a strong message to the rest of the roster, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. After releasing players like Charles Godfrey and Jason Avant earlier this season, Carolina cut cornerback Antoine Cason and linebacker Jason Williams this week after Cason gave up an easy touchdown catch late in the first half and Williams missed an assignment on a blocked punt that resulted in a TD for the Vikings.
- Arbitrator Harold Henderson encouraged the NFL and NFLPA to try to reach a settlement on Adrian Peterson‘s case, but so far no offers have been exchanged between the two sides, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com.
- As our Offseason in Review post on the Giants shows, New York was extremely active in free agency in 2014, but the spending spree hasn’t paid off at all for the club this season, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
- The fact that Jim Harbaugh has a year remaining on his contract with the 49ers wouldn’t be an impediment if he wanted to pursue a college job, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Still, if Harbaugh is coaching a team besides San Francisco in 2015, it’s likely to be an NFL franchise.
Extra Points: Rice, Smith, Manziel, Panthers
No one worked out former Ravens running back Ray Rice today, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). There are a handful of teams with running back needs at the moment, but it would appear that there is little to no interest in the embattled running back. Lions coach Jim Caldwell recently said that the team hasn’t considered Rice while the Cardinals reportedly aren’t interested, despite the hip pointer injury suffered by starter Andre Ellington.
- In an interview on SiriusXM, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said that Arizona called the 49ers to try and acquire quarterback Alex Smith after he was hired in 2013, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The talks of a potential intra-divisional trade went nowhere, however.
- Peter King of TheMMQB.com lays out why the Browns ought to start Johnny Manziel over Brian Hoyer this weekend against the Colts, making the case that it’s about not just this season, but about 2015 and beyond.
- The Panthers did little to improve their roster during the offseason and look nothing like the team that made a tremendous run last season, writes Terrance Harris of The Times-Picayune. Among the changes was overhauling their receiving core and bidding farewell to Steve Smith over the offseason.
- The Broncos, in addition to recently working out punter Chase Tenpenny, brought in several defensive players today for auditions, including FXFL linebacker Quandon Christian and former Monmouth cornerback Tevrin Brandon, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (all Twitter links). Wilson adds (via Twitter) that the team has an eye toward end-of-season reserve/futures contracts.
- Ultimately signing Garrison Smith to their practice squad, the Saints also recently tried out several other defensive tackles, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who tweets that the club took a look at Michael Brooks, Jermelle Cudjo, and Kyle Love.
NFC West Notes: Mathieu, Harbaugh, 49ers
The Seahawks have an empty spot on the roster, but head coach Pete Carroll won’t give any hints as to who might be heading to Seattle, write Gregg Bell of The News Tribune. The Seahawks thought they added a defensive back in Loucheiz Purifoy a few days ago, but a failed physical put a kibosh on that deal. More from the NFC West..
- Second-year Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu suffered a fractured and dislocated thumb, which requires surgery and will likely sideline him for three games while his hand is in a cast, a source tells ESPN’s Ed Werder (Twitter link). There’s no word yet on whether the Cards will make a roster move to add more depth to the secondary.
- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh holds more cards in this looming drama than he’s getting credit for, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If he doesn’t like the idea of joining a new team that will be hamstrung by the loss of one or more draft picks, he can tell the 49ers he’ll continue to remain on the job until he’s released from his contract. If Harbaugh makes it clear he’ll coach SF for 2015, the only way the 49ers will be able to keep that from happening will be to fire him or let him walk away without compensation.
- 49ers fullback Trey Millard and defensive lineman Kaleb Ramsey are now officially done for the year, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. Today was the end of the 21-day practice window without a promotion to the 53-man roster for both players.
NFC West Notes: Harbaugh, Cards, Carter
It’s still early on the west coast, but we’ve already got our first batch of links from out of one of the league’s most competitive divisions to get Tuesday started. Here’s the latest out of the NFC West:
- A Monday report indicated that the price tag in a trade for 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh could be somewhere in the ballpark of what the Buccaneers paid the Raiders for Jon Gruden 12 years ago. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out that the Browns nearly acquired Harbaugh for two third-round picks earlier this year in a deal that was “far closer to happening that anyone will admit on the record.” In Florio’s view, that sort of haul is more likely than a Gruden-esque package in any Harbaugh deal, particularly since the head coach won’t want his new team giving up a ton of draft picks before he even arrives.
- The Cardinals addressed their lack of veteran running back depth last week by bringing in Michael Bush, then saw their starting back – Andre Ellington – leave Sunday’s game with a hip pointer. Nonethless, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears from a source that Arizona has “no interest” in recently-reinstated free agent Ray Rice.
- Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Vikings wideout Cris Carter, has drawn interest from about 15 NFL teams, and the Seahawks, 49ers, and Colts are all “very interested,” says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. With the CFL season now over, Carter can begin visiting with NFL teams, though he can’t sign anywhere until February. According to La Canfora, the 23-year-old may take a little time off to allow his body to heal, then pursue individual visits after that.
NFL Execs: Price For Harbaugh Could Be Steep
The rumors surrounding the potential offseason separation between Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers are growing more persistent as the regular season reaches its conclusion, and are only exacerbated by losses like the one suffered by San Francisco on Thanksgiving night. At this point, it seems inevitable that the two sides will part ways, and recent reports have suggested that both the Raiders and the Jets would be interested in bringing Harbaugh aboard. If the fourth-year head coach is traded, however, the draft pick cost for the acquiring team will be high, three NFL general managers tell Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
Per the executives, a team trading for Harbaugh would likely need to surrender two second-round and two third-round picks (link). As Freeman notes, some clubs could determine that securing a top-flight coach such as Harbaugh is as important as selecting a franchise quarterback. Thus, when compared with the draft pick haul Washington sent to the Rams in order to select Robert Griffin III (three first-round picks and a second-round pick), the suggested price tag for Harbaugh pales in comparison.
However, the GMs who spoke to Freeman allowed that the precedent for such a deal is the trade that sent Jon Gruden from the Raiders to the Buccaneers in 2002. In that transaction, Tampa Bay shipped two first-rounders, two second-rounders, and $8MM to Oakland. Per the executives, the cost for Harbaugh could be close to that (link). Bill Barnwell of Grantland has done work in this area in recent years, suggesting in 2012 that Harbaugh (and other elite head coaches) are severely underpaid. Additionally, as rumors of a Harbaugh-to-Cleveland trade swirled earlier this year, Barnwell argued that the Harbaugh would have been worth both of the Browns’ two 2014 first-round picks, in addition to a $10MM annual salary.
Interestingly, Harbaugh spoke today to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group about his Raiders roots (he was Oakland’s quarterbacks coach from 2002-03), and while he unsurprisingly declined to speak about the possibility of taking over as the Raiders’ head coach, he did wax nostalgic about his time with the Black and Gray, and specifically noted his fondness for the late Al Davis. Former Raiders coach John Madden told Inman that Davis had high hopes for Harbaugh down the road. “Somewhere in Al’s mind, he had it that someday Jim would be the Raiders head coach,” said Madden. “I don’t know if Jim ever had that in his mind.”
Zach Links contributed to this post.
NFC Notes: Newton, Washington, Maclin
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Cam Newton remains the team’s quarterback of the future despite having his worst season statistically, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. “You go back and look at some of the teams that have struggled in the past that had great years [before],” Rivera said on Monday when defending Newton’s performance. “One that pops to mind right away was what happened at Atlanta last year. “A couple of years ago they go to the NFC Championship Game and the next thing you know they’re struggling because they had a lot of things happen.” Despite his struggles, our own Luke Adams recently wrote that it’s probably a matter of when – not if – Newton signs a new long-term deal with the Panthers. More from the NFC..
- Washington will work out cornerback Keith Lewis on Tuesday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Lewis auditioned for the Raiders last week.
- The NFLPA says Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin, who broke things off with agent Ben Dogra when he left CAA, is staying with the agency, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (on Twitter). The pending free agent will now be repped by John Caplin and Tom Condon.
- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh could be out of a job after this season, but he’s not sweating it. “I don’t worry about my future. I haven’t participated in that speculation. I have a recessive gene in worrying about my future,” the coach told reporters, including Chris Mortensen of ESPN (via Twitter). Predictably, he also dodged a question asking whether he wanted to return to SF in 2015, as Matt Maiocco tweets.
- Giants coach Tom Coughlin, rumored to be on the hot seat, refuses to pass the buck. “I accept the full responsibility,and whatever price has to be paid for that responsibility, it starts right here with me,” the coach said, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Practice Squad Updates: Monday
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here..
- The 49ers have re-signed outside linebacker Chase Thomas to the taxi squad, according to CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco (via Twitter). Thomas was released just days ago as a part of a roster shuffle. The 25-year-old was brought up from the practice squad in early November and saw time in three contests for SF.
- Washington announced that linebacker Trevardo Williams has been added to the taxi squad, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter). To make room, tackle Michael Huey has been released.
NFC Notes: Harbaugh, Coughlin, Lions
Multiple reports have popped up suggesting the 49ers will attempt to trade head coach Jim Harbaugh this offseason, but Greg Gabriel of the National Football Post is skeptical of such sumors. In Gabriel’s view, there’d be little incentive for a team to give up a draft pick of any value for a head coach with one year left on his contract who may not even want to come to the team in question. While I’m not as entirely dismissive of the idea as Gabriel is, I think a trade could only happen if Harbaugh was allowed to negotiate with his suitor before the deal was consummated, perhaps working out an extension as part of the deal.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- It’s nearly impossible to find someone in the Giants organization who hopes that the Tom Coughlin era is over, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. However, as Vacchiano concedes in the next breath, with the team sitting at 3-9 and coming off an embarrassing loss against the lowly Jaguars, co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch may have no choice but to part ways with the longtime head coach.
- Who could coach the Giants next, if this is Coughlin’s last season? Gary Myers of the New York Daily News examines some possible candidates.
- Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has received his share of criticism over the years in Detroit, but Kyle Meinke of MLive.com believes the GM deserves praise for putting together a roster that has Detroit in the thick of the playoff race this season, pointing to the Lions’ 2013 draft class as a feather in Mayhew’s cap.
- The new contract extension Patrick Peterson signed this summer has the Cardinals cornerback under increased scrutiny this season, and too often he’s not playing up to that deal, says Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. Fitzgerald also identifies Washington wideout Pierre Garcon as a player whose performance as of late has been hurting his value.
Extra Points: Payton, Ryan, Harbaugh, Panthers
Saints‘ head coach Sean Payton disputed reports that the team was considering signing Ray Rice, reports Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (via Twitter). “I think I would know if I were interested in signing any player,” said Payton.
- While Payton was dismissing rumors, he also shot down any idea that there was a rift between himself and Saints‘ defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, reports Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.
- Jets‘ head coach Rex Ryan may be on his way out as coach of the team, but he will likely have his pick of jobs if he decides to leave coaching in 2015, writes Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated. “He pretty much has everything TV networks would look for. He has personality, he’s not shy about his opinions, and he’s a colorful character,” said ESPN senior coordinating producer Seth Markman, the executive in charge of hiring ESPN’s NFL studio talent. “I think he would be successful whether it is studio or doing games. When I close my eyes and listen to him I hear a little bit of John Madden in him. There is going to be a lot of interest in Rex if that is what he wants to do.”
- 49ers‘ head coach Jim Harbaugh may also be looking for a new job in 2015, but the general thought is that he would like to continue coaching, either in the NFL or in a high-level college job. One NFL team that could consider him a savior would be the crosstown rival Raiders, writes Marcus Thompson II of InsideBayArea.com.
- Coming off a disappointing 31-13 loss to the Vikings, the Panthers are sitting at 3-8-1 and only a game and a half out of first place in the depressing NFC South. Still, the team should be looking toward the future, not toward the playoffs, writes Joseph Person of Charlotte Observer. The team is weak in key spots, including the secondary and offensive line, with few bright spots elsewhere in the lineup. The roster needs to be fixed before this team can make a true playoff run.
Sunday Roundup: Brees, Bucs, Revis
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that he expects the Saints to draft a quarterback in the early rounds of the 2015 draft as they begin to prepare for life after Drew Brees. On top of Brees’ struggles this season, Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that the Saints have watched the 35-year-old’s arm strength wane and therefore must be “prepared for the end.” Former agent Joel Corry, perhaps wondering if New Orleans would go so far as to release Brees after this season, tweets that the All-Pro carries a $26.4MM cap number for 2015 and the Saints have a league-high $161MM in 2015 cap commitments.
However, Rapoport notes (via Twitter) that releasing Brees after 2014 would create $15MM of dead money, a figure that becomes much more palatable if he were to be released following the 2015 season. As such, Rapoport believes it would be better for the Saints to simply draft Brees’ heir apparent and allow him to learn from Brees for at least one season.
Others, though, are more skeptical of Brees’ demise and of the Saints’ ability to draft a suitable replacement in short order. In a pair of tweets, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes that the Saints may well draft a quarterback this season, but the team does not feel as though Brees is in a steep decline, that a rookie would have to wait at least two years to be ready to lead the New Orleans offense, and that Brees has never relied on a big arm to be successful, so reports of diminished arm strength are not especially relevant. Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah, meanwhile, tweets that the Saints will be hard-pressed to find their future quarterback in this year’s draft.
Now for a few more links from around the league:
- Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune says it is not too soon to accept that the Buccaneers made a mistake with their offseason signings of Anthony Collins and Michael Johnson, whose futures in Tampa Bay are now very much in doubt. Although the Bucs have a little more flexibility with Collins than with Johnson, who would be owed a $4MM roster bonus on March 1 in addition to a $5MM base salary in 2015 (of which $3MM is guaranteed), Tampa Bay could realistically cut both players outright. Regardless of what the Bucs do, they will likely seek upgrades at offensive tackle and defensive end via the draft rather than dive once more into the free agency pool.
- Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald believes the Patriots should retain star cornerback Darrelle Revis, who has been a central figure of the team’s successful 2014 campaign, at all costs.
- Tony Boselli, the former Jaguars great who was drafted by current Giants head coach Tom Coughlin when Coughlin was with Jacksonville, says that the Jaguars’ firing of Coughlin was a “huge mistake,” writes Conor Orr of NFL.com. Boselli believes the Giants would be similarly misguided if they were to fire Coughlin without allowing him to coach through the end of his contract, which expires after the 2015 season.
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Washington has not spoken with Robert Griffin III regarding his fifth-year option. Although a decision does not have to be made on that option until May, it does not appear as though the team will exercise it at this point.
- Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports tweets that 49ers DB Perrish Cox, who is in a contract year, has signed with agent David Mulugheta.
- Though we heard earlier today from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Jets and Raiders were interested in pursuing 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh via trade after the season, Schefter does note that some in the organization believe the team could still work out an extension with Harbaugh.
- Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the Rams have improved under Jeff Fisher and appear to be on the cusp of being a competitive club, but the histories of Fisher and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer suggest that St. Louis, which has primarily utilized a conservative ball control offense, will not take the next step unless it somehow lands an elite quarterback.