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Bucs Notes: Williams, Glennon, Clowney

By | at February 2, 2014 9:53 am

Although Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams signed a five-year contract worth just under $40MM last season, his status with the team is far from certain, according to Tom Carpenter of ESPN.com. After tearing his hamstring halfway through the 2013 campaign, Williams accumulated over $200K in fines for being late to team meetings, missing team meetings altogether, and missing his scheduled rehab days, problems exacerbated by the “constant partying” that Williams documented on his Instagram account.

Carpenter writes that Williams’ behavior did not come as much of a surprise to former GM Mark Dominik. Dominik structured Williams’ new deal so that the team would have an “out” in 2014 if it needed one. As Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report observes, Williams’ deal includes a base salary of just $1.2MM in 2014. That way, if the wideout’s maturity became too much of an issue, or if his 2013 performance did not merit the length of the contract or the financial commitment, the team could release him this offseason and suffer just a $1.8MM cap hit in 2014.

However, new head coach Lovie Smith would probably like to have someone with Williams’ potential on board, particularly since his cap hit this year is so low. Since Williams’ contract is no longer guaranteed after 2014, the Bucs can simply go in a different direction if Williams doesn’t live up to that potential.

A couple of other Bucs tidbits:

  • For his part, ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas seems to think Williams will be back with Tampa Bay next year. In response to a reader’s question as to whether the Bucs will draft a receiver in the early rounds of the 2014 draft, Yasinskas said he thinks that the team has greater needs in other areas but that Tampa Bay would do well to target a speed receiver in the middle rounds of the draft or in free agency to complement Williams and fellow wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
  • In what is becoming an increasingly-popular question from fans around the league, another reader asks Yasinskas if the Buccaneers will trade up in the draft to nab South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Yasinskas replied that the Bucs would only make such a move if the team is comfortable with Mike Glennon as their quarterback. If so, and if the Bucs therefore don’t believe they need to take a QB in the first round, Yaskinsas thinks the defensive-minded Smith may push for the elite pass rusher.
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NFC Notes: Bush, Lions, Packers, Falcons

By | at January 31, 2014 3:57 pm

It may not seem like long ago that Reggie Bush was starring at USC, but the running back’s first season in Detroit was his eighth overall in the NFL. Still, as Bush prepares to turn 29 in a few weeks, he tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he hopes to play “at least another five years” before calling it a career. Bush’s current contract with the Lions runs through the 2016 season, so even if he plays out those three years, his ideal scenario would have him signing at least one more deal before retiring.

Here are a few more Friday updates from around the NFC, as the Super Bowl inches closer:

  • The Lions will be facing a decision this offseason on safety Louis Delmas, who started all 16 games for the team, but will have a $6.5MM cap number for 2014. says Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
  • Safety will also be an area of concern for the Packers this spring, according to ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, who writes there’s “probably no higher priority in the draft” for Green Bay.
  • Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that he’s only focusing on a select few positions in free agency, with the offensive and defensive lines among the postitions the club will address.
  • ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas believes that locking up linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to long-term deals should be among the top items on the offseason checklist for new Buccaneers GM Jason Licht.
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NFC Notes: Eagles, Gross, Freeman, Vick

By | at January 30, 2014 7:54 pm

The Eagles could do worse than to follow the Seahawks’ model for building a successful franchise, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider work exceptionally well together, with Carroll getting final say over personnel decisions. It’s a little different in Philly, however, as its not totally clear if it’s coach Chip Kelly or GM Howie Roseman who gets to make the last determination on roster matters.

  • Panthers tackle Jordan Gross says that coach Ron Rivera “wants [him] back for sure” in 2014, writes ESPN.com’s David Newton. Gross plans to retire if he doesn’t return to the only team he’s been with since entering the NFL in 2003.
  • The Players’ Association is close to revealing the results of its investigation into the Buccaneers‘ alleged leaking of Josh Freeman‘s medical records, DeMaurice Smith told reporters, including Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter). The club’s apparent sandbagging of Freeman made for a tumultuous season in Tampa Bay that ended with the firing of former coach Greg Schiano.
  • Even if the Eagles make a contract offer to Michael Vick before March 11, he still plans on hitting the open market. “I want to see what’s out there for me. It’s only right,” Vick said today at radio row, according to McLane. “This is the first time and probably the only time I’ll ever have to do it in my career. So I just want to take advantage of it. I’m excited about it. It’s new and it’s kind of refreshing”. Any way you slice it, a return to the Eagles doesn’t seem likely for Vick.
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Dolphins Hire Dennis Hickey As GM

By | at January 26, 2014 4:43 pm

4:43pm: The Dolphins have issued a statement on the hire on their team website.

4:14pm: The Dolphins will introduce Hickey at a press conference on Tuesday, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).

10:24am: The Dolphins have finally settled on a new general manager, hiring former Tampa Bay director of player personnel Dennis Hickey, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. The Dolphins’ search for a GM has been widely-discussed among national and local writers, particularly after Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio turned down the job earlier this week. James Walker, who covers the Dolphins for ESPN.com, tweeted yesterday that Miami completely botched the GM search, and he tweeted today that Hickey was probably not even the Dolphins’ fifth or sixth choice when this process began.

Walker may well be correct in his assessment. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that, not long before they hired Hickey, the Dolphins offered the job to Titans Vice President of Football Operations Lake Dawson. Dawson turned down the job as well, and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that Dawson released a statement saying that Miami was not an “ideal fit” and that “details of the offer didn’t align with my vision.” Adding to the curiosity of the situation is that the Buccaneers, who recently hired Jason Licht as their GM, did not even interview Hickey for that role.

Hickey worked for the Buccaneers for 18 years, and served as the director of player personnel for the last three seasons. He was an important part of Tampa Bay’s major splashes over the past couple of years, as the team signed Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson and traded for All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis before the 2013 season and signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson prior to the 2012 season. The 2012 draft may have been the highlight of Hickey’s career with the Bucs. That year’s class included highly-regarded players like safety Mark Barron, running back Doug Martin, and linebacker Lavonte David.

Hickey takes over for Jeff Ireland, who had been the Dolphins’ GM since 2008. Ireland and the Dolphins “mutually agreed” to part ways several weeks ago, setting off Miami’s unusual search for a replacement that culminated with Hickey’s acceptance earlier today. Hickey does not inherit a bare cupboard by any means, as the Dolphins narrowly missed the playoffs this season and have solid talent on both sides of the ball. Nonetheless, the fact that at least two candidates turned down such a high-profile position does lead to speculation regarding the stability of the front office. Attempting to read between the lines of Dawson’s rejection, Volin tweeted simply, “that place is a mess.”

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More On Dolphins’ Front Office

By | at January 26, 2014 3:07 pm

3:07pm: Several Dolphins players have expressed an interest in leaving the team, tweets Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. The unidentified Dolphins are likely frustrated by the public dysfunction exhibited by ownership regarding the GM search and control over roster decisions.

1:55pm: Hickey was likely going to be fired by the Buccaneers after the draft, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Additionally, many candidates for the Miami GM job may have turned down the position due to a lack of personnel control, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. It appears as though head coach Joe Philbin has gained more sway during the Dolphins power struggle, as Salugero also tweets that Philbin will have “some say” over personnel.

12:56pm: Dolphins assistant general manager Brian Gaine is not likely to stay with the team long-term, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Gaine was one of the candidates brought in for a second interview for the Dolphin’s general manager job, which was given to Dennis Hickey earlier today. Although the Dolphins would like to keep Gaine on board, Salguero further tweeted that Gaine understands he has no real chance of advancement with Miami.

Miami’s search for a GM would have certainly left Gaine with that impression, as the job was offered to several candidates who turned it down before Hickey accepted. As Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com tweets, Gaine did not have a chance to be Miami’s GM unless everyone declined it. A source told Marvez that Gaine is too connected with recently-departed GM Jeff Ireland.

CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora believes that whoever accepted the Dolphins GM job may not have that position for very long anyway. La Canfora tweets that, if the Dolphins stumble in 2014, it is believed that owner Stephen Ross will likely renew his pursuit of a big-name head coach. If he is able to land such a coach, the entire front office will probably be purged.

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Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

By | at January 21, 2014 11:45 am

If you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NFL team, Pro Football Rumors has you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 32 teams.

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NFC Rumors: 49ers, Bucs, Burleson, Falcons

By | at January 20, 2014 3:37 pm

A day after being eliminated from the postseason by the Seahawks, the 49ers are already looking ahead to the offseason. Kicker Phil Dawson and center Jonathan Goodwin both expressed interest in re-signing with San Francisco, according to Steve Corkran of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter links). The team is also in talks with McLeod Bethel-Thompson about a return for the backup QB, and has signed defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye and wide receiver Devon Wylie to futures deals, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links).

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • All indications right now suggest that the Buccaneers are deciding between Jason Licht of the Cardinals and Marc Ross of the Giants as their next general manager, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1 (via Twitter). Falcons vice president of player personnel Lionel Vital, who had been in the running for the Bucs job, told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today that he’ll remain in Atlanta.
  • Nate Burleson acknowledges he’ll likely have to restructure his contract in order to return to the Lions next season, but he hopes to play out his deal and eventually retire in Detroit, as Eric Lacy of MLive.com details.
  • The Falcons have interest in bringing back offensive lineman Mike Johnson, but only at the right price, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
  • The Seahawks and 49ers are among the early favorites to come out of the NFC a year from now, but both teams will have multiple players in line for raises before then. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk takes a look at a few offseason issues for the NFC’s top two teams.
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