Contracts Void For Suh, Pierre-Paul, Spiller
The contracts for several notable players will void today, formally paving the way for them to hit free agency next month, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com details. Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, and Bills running back C.J. Spiller are among the players who will see the 2015 seasons on their deals void, since the language in their respective contracts called for that to happen on the fifth day after this year’s Super Bowl.
In each case, the fact that the player’s contract is voiding today doesn’t mean he’ll immediately become a free agent. The Lions, for instance, will still be the only team that can negotiate a new agreement with Suh for the next few weeks. If the star defender still hasn’t worked anything out with the team by March 3, Detroit could use its franchise tag on him. If the Lions pass on using a tag, Suh would be able to talk to other teams as of March 7, and could sign elsewhere on March 10.
While these players won’t necessarily be returning to their current clubs, those teams will each carry a cap hit for 2015 due to the contracts. In some cases, that cap number is modest — for JPP and the Giants, it’s just $1.35MM. However, the Lions’ hit for Suh is approximately $9.74MM. In other words, if Detroit has to use the franchise tag – worth $26.895MM – on Suh, the team will be using over $36MM in cap room to a single player.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explained in greater detail why a number of players from 2010’s draft class have a voided year at the end of their rookie contracts, and adds a few more names to the list of players whose deals void today: Jaguars defensive end Tyson Alualu, Eagles edge defender Brandon Graham, Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, and Titans edge defender Derrick Morgan will also be eligible for free agency next month after their 2015 years void.
Coaching Notes: LeBeau, Rams, Dolphins
The Titans announced that new coach Dick LeBeau will be “in charge of the defense” while defensive coordinator Ray Horton will “work with him to implement it,” according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (on Twitter). LeBeau, 77, was originally said to be seeking a defensive coordinator position when he parted ways with the Steelers. He doesn’t exactly have that in Tennessee, but he’ll have plenty of authority with his new club. More coaching news from around the National Football League..
- Meanwhile, the Titans are promoting Mike Mularkey to assistant head coach on offense, where he’ll be in charge of the team’s run game, according to Wyatt (on Twitter). The Bears requested permission to interview Mularkey for their OC vacancy last month but were denied. The Titans also plan to hire Jason Tucker as assistant receivers coach (link). He was formerly with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
- Tight ends coach Rob Boras, who lost out to quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti for the Rams‘ offensive coordinator opening, will be elevated to the assistant head coach of the offensive side, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). The formal announcement on both promotions is expected to come next week.
- Terrell Williams has been named as the Dolphins‘ new defensive line coach, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Williams served as the Raiders’ defensive line coach from 2012 through 2014.
- The Bears announced (on Twitter) that they have hired Stan Drayton as their running backs coach. Drayton spent the last four years at Ohio State and helped them win the national title in 2014.
- The Buccaneers announced (on Twitter) that they have named former Central Michigan offensive line coach Butch Barry as their new assistant offensive line coach.
- Rams assistant line coach Clyde Simmons is interviewing for the head defensive line coach job with the Raiders, according to Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch (on Twitter).
Titans Release Michael Oher
The Titans have waived (injured) veteran offensive tackle Michael Oher, according to the team’s official website. Oher signed with the Titans last offseason after playing his first five seasons with the Ravens. He played in eleven games in 2014 before being placed on injured reserve.
It was not a surprise to see Oher exit the team after just one season. His contract was considered pricey at the time of the signing, and after the team drafted Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan with its first-round pick, the need for Oher was mitigated. With a large cap number, the Titans were able to move on from Oher to create space for incoming free agents. Oher allowed six sacks and 26 quarterback hurries in eleven games in 2014 before landing on IR.
According to OverTheCap.com, the man who inspired the a Hollywood movie has a $5MM cap number in 2015 with an increase to $6MM the following two years. However, Tennessee will save $2MM this offseason and more going forward with this move. By reducing that large cap number, the team was able to move on from Oher to create space for incoming free agents. Had Oher remained on the Titans’ roster on Friday, $3.35MM of his $4MM base salary would have been fully guaranteed.
Rob DiRe contributed to this post.
South Notes: Jones, Blackmon, LeBeau
News out of the AFC and NFC South..
- Some have concluded that since Julio Jones has one year left on his contract and is on the verge of getting a lucrative extension that new Falcons coach Dan Quinn would prefer to trade him for extra draft picks. However, his comments during a Tuesday news conference indicate that Jones is a part of Quinn’s gameplan going forward. “Absolutely — I can’t wait (to meet him). Just a chance to go through the process with him. … We love great players. We’re trying to celebrate all the good guys. We’re trying to collect more great players, not the other way around,” Quinn said, according to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- The odds are against guys like Josh Gordon and Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon making it back to the NFL, opines Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Both have lots of work ahead of them in the league substance abuse program and have spent a good deal of time away from the team structure.
- Dick LeBeau might have several former players who could be available to join him with the Titans, as Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. Safety Troy Polamalu, defensive end Brett Keisel, linebacker James Harrison, and cornerback Ike Taylor could all be available and interested in a reunion with the 77-year-old coach. Polamalu currently has two years left on his deal with Pittsburgh but it’s conceivable that they could part ways. Taylor was considering retirement but recently decided that he would return to football.
- Panthers coach Ron Rivera reassigned special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers, sources told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Carolina’s special teams finished at or near the bottom in a number of major special teams categories this past season. Rivera will promote Rodgers’ assistant Bruce DeHaven to fill that role.
Titans To Hire Dick LeBeau As Assistant
Former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is expected to be named the assistant head coach of the Titans, sources tell Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (on Twitter). LeBeau, 77, parted ways with Pittsburgh after a ten year stint with the team.
LeBeau was honored by the city of Pittsburgh earlier today and played coy when asked about what was next for him, as Bob Bauder of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. LeBeau said he “talked to some people” about coaching again, but would not offer specifics after he was given the key to the city. The Hall of Famer helped guide the Steelers to two Super Bowl trophies during his time there.
After leaving the Steelers, LeBeau had multiple suitors calling him, including the Cardinals. Arizona was set to make him a linebackers coach, but things fell apart for undisclosed reasons. At one point it was said that LeBeau would only seek defensive coordinator openings, but he had a change of heart as he has taken a different staff job with the Titans for 2015.
AFC Notes: Cody, Manziel, Hightower, Bills
The Ravens made their release of defensive tackle Terrence Cody official today, cutting ties with him just weeks before he was scheduled to hit free agency. The timing of the move can be explained by Cody’s off-field legal troubles — according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), the Baltimore County Police Dept. announced today that Cody has been indicted for animal cruelty by a grand jury, and was processed and released on a $10K bail. In a series of tweets, Zrebiec details the charges against Cody, which include multiple counts of animal abuse or neglect involving a dog, illegal possession of an alligator, and marijuana possession. A former second-round pick, Cody figured to draw some interest in free agency, but the charges against him figure to diminish his value significantly.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- The fact that Johnny Manziel has entered rehab does not mean he must be placed in the NFL’s substance abuse program, but the league would have the power to do so. League spokesman Greg Aiello has declined to confirm one way or the other whether the Browns quarterback will enter into the program, according to Mike Wilkering of Pro Football Talk.
- Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower will undergo labrum surgery now that the team’s season is over, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Hightower should be ready to go for the 2015 season.
- Mike Rodak of ESPN.com takes a look at potential release candidates on the Bills, predicting that the team will at least think about cutting linebacker Keith Rivers, guard Kraig Urbik, and cornerback Leodis McKelvin.
- Prior to hiring Joker Phillips as their new wide receivers coach, the Browns interviewed former Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow for the position, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap previews the Chargers‘ offseason, suggesting that the team should do what it can to re-sign free agents like King Dunlap and Brandon Flowers.
- Titans fans could surely be frustrated by the production of former player (and current Patriots linebacker) Akeem Ayers, but ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky believes the organization missed out on another defender who played last night. Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett gave the Patriots fits during the Super Bowl, and Kuharsky wonders what could have been had Tennessee pursued him in free agency in 2013.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
AFC Notes: Peyton, Dolphins, Chargers, Titans
Ever since the Broncos’ divisional round loss to the Colts, Peyton Manning‘s NFL future has been a hot-button topic, but the future Hall of Fame quarterback doesn’t plan to make everyone wait for his decision on retirement. “I’m not interested in making this a lingering thing,” said Manning, via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “I’d like to make a decision soon. At the same time, both coach [Gary Kubiak] and [team president] Joe [Ellis] and [general manager] John [Elway] have instructed me to take some time, so I’m kind of following their orders.” Manning is required to take a physical between February 23 and March 5, but unlike last season, this examination isn’t tied to money, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. As Klis writes, however, Manning’s 2015 base salary of $19MM becomes fully guaranteed on March 9, so a decision — from either Manning or the team — needs to be solidified by then.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- Entering his first offseason as the Dolphins’ executive vice president of football operations, Mike Tannenbaum has several challenges ahead, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Primarily, the former Jets GM must decide how to approach contract talks with quarterback Ryan Tannehill — if an extension isn’t worked out by May, Beasley projects Miami will exercise its fifth-year option on Tannehill. Beasley’s colleague Armando Salguero spoke with Tannenbaum today, and in turn believes (via Twitter) the club will work out a long-term deal with offensive lineman Mike Pouncey, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
- The city of San Diego announced it has formed a nine-person committee to not only find a new venue for the Chargers, but figure out how to pay for it, according to David Garrick of U-T San Diego. In a somewhat snarky response, the Chargers reminded the city of nine previous proposals put forth by the team, as well as the failure of a similar committee, but still pledged cooperation.
- Firing executive Lake Dawson was probably the right move for the Titans, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Labeling Dawson a “middle man,” Kuharsky argues that Tennessee’s front office is now more streamlined, with the heads of the college scouting and pro scouting departments reporting directly to GM Ruston Webster.
Bernard Pollard Requests Release From Titans
Veteran NFL safety Bernard Pollard has asked to be released from his contract with the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who adds that Pollard made his request to general manager Ruston Webster at the end of the 2014 season. Per Wyatt, the 30-year-old Pollard has not yet been informed of the team’s decision.
2014 was Pollard’s second season in Tennessee — after playing under a one-year deal in 2013 that netted him $2MM, Pollard re-signed with the Titans last March, inking a two-year extension. His base salary is set to increase from $1.65MM last year to $3.1MM in 2015, but that money isn’t guaranteed. If the Titans do honor Pollard’s request for release, they’d only be on the hook for a prorated portion of his signing bonus, meaning they’d be left with just $425K in dead money.
The Titans are Pollard’s fourth NFL team, as he’s also spent time with the Chiefs, Texans, and Ravens — he won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2013. He played in just five games last season before landing on injured reserve with an Achilles injury, but he was a solid player as recently as 2013, when he racked up 77 tackles while starting all 16 games, and rated as the league’s No. 21 safety among 86 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In total, Pollard has amassed almost 550 tackles during his nine-year career, while adding 12 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles.
Given the Titans recent lack of success, it’s likely that Pollard’s frustration with the organization as a whole serves as motive. As Wyatt writes, Pollard seemed to indicate as recently as last month that Tennessee wasn’t where he wanted to be. “I am not getting any younger, so I want to win, I really do, I want to win,” Pollard said. “Looking at how things took place this year, looking at where (the Titans) need to be for next year, that is a tough, tough question, and I don’t even know if they can give me the answer.” Additionally, Bernard took to Twitter following the Titans’ firing of executive Lake Dawson earlier today, arguing that the “wrong guy” had been let go.
2015 Franchise Tag Candidates: AFC South
The deadline for assigning a franchise or transition tag on a 2015 free-agent-to-be is less than five weeks away, and we’re in the process of taking a look at players who are candidates to be tagged this year. On Tuesday, we examined the AFC East, and yesterday, we turned our attention to the AFC North, where the Ravens and the Steelers look like the teams most likely to make use of a tag. Today, we’ll shift our focus south, breaking down the franchise and transition tag candidates for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans….
Houston Texans:
- Candidates: Kareem Jackson
- Odds of being used: Unlikely
- Jackson, who has been a starter at cornerback in Houston since being selected in the first round of the 2010 draft, is an underrated asset for the team. Still, a year ago, corners like Vontae Davis, Sam Shields, and Aqib Talib went untagged, so it’s hard to imagine the Texans franchising Jackson. Linebacker Brooks Reed and right tackle Derek Newton are among the other solid contributors Houston should look into re-signing, but like Jackson, neither player is worth an eight-digit salary for 2015.
Indianapolis Colts:
- Candidates: None
- Odds of being used: Zero
- The Colts, like the Texans, have useful players eligible for unrestricted free agency — safety Mike Adams, defensive lineman Cory Redding, and longtime Indianapolis wideout Reggie Wayne will need to sign new contracts if they intend to continue their careers. But none of the team’s top impact players are free-agents-to-be, which is great news for a club with $30MM+ in projected cap room.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Candidates: None
- Odds of being used: Very unlikely
- No team projects to have more cap space this offseason than the Jaguars, who could have upwards of $63MM in spending room. That’s one reason we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of a franchise tag — the team could easily afford it. However, for the tag to make sense, there needs to be a viable candidate, and it’s hard to find one on Jacksonville’s list of pending free agents. Linebacker Geno Hayes and defensive back Alan Ball are probably the Jags’ best UFA-eligible performers, but both players only appeared in about half the club’s defensive snaps, so it’s hard to make a case for them as franchise tag candidates. And it’s even harder to make a case for players like wideout Cecil Shorts and defensive end Tyson Alualu.
Tennessee Titans:
- Candidates: Derrick Morgan, Brett Kern
- Odds of being used: Possible, but unlikely
- The Titans have a number of starters eligible for free agency, including Morgan, Kern, Michael Roos, and Ryan Succop. And like the Jaguars, they project to be among the top five teams this offseason in terms of cap space, giving them the flexibility to use the franchise tag if needed. Roos may be headed for retirement, and tagging either of the two special-teamers – punter Kern and kicker Succop – would likely be a last resort. That’s especially true of Succop, who had a down year in 2014. Morgan is the club’s strongest candidate. He has thrived in recent years as an edge rusher in 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, and despite modest sack totals, he recorded 49 total quarterback pressures last year and ranked among the league’s top 10 3-4 outside linebackers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Those perennially average sack numbers, along with a perception that he hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing, should keep Morgan’s price down enough that the Titans won’t have to tag him, but he and Kern (a top-10 punter, per PFF) are the most viable options in Tennessee.
Coach Notes: Broncos, Phillips, Schwartz, Jets
As our offensive/defensive coordinator search tracker shows, hirings of OCs and DCs have slowed down a little in the last few days — the teams that headed into this past weekend with job openings on either side of the ball have yet to name their new coordinators, and in some cases those clubs may wait until after the Super Bowl to announce any official decisions.
Still, that doesn’t mean there’s no forward movement on any coordinator searches. An update out of Denver headlines our latest round-up of coaching-related items, so let’s dive right in….
- Former head coach Wade Phillips is in Denver today to interview for the Broncos‘ defensive coordinator position, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who notes that Phillips coached the team way back when John Elway and Gary Kubiak were players.
- While Phillips is a viable candidate for the DC job in Denver, the Broncos‘ top choice still appears to be Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph. Alex Marvez of Fox Sports tweets that one potential scenario would see Phillips getting the job for 2015, then transitioning to a senior assistant role in 2016 when Joseph is freed from his contract in Cincinnati.
- Former Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz confirmed that he’s being selective about the next job he takes, as Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun writes. “I saw the opening up in Buffalo as a good opportunity, so I took it,” Schwartz said. “But no, right now, I can’t see myself doing anything else. Coaching is something I love, something I have a passion about. Another opportunity will present itself. I’m not too concerned.” Schwartz reportedly had two years remaining on his contract in Buffalo when the team let him go, which is perhaps contributing to his patient approach to finding another job.
- Titans assistant receivers coach Kevin Patullo will be the new quarterbacks coach for the Jets, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Patullo previously worked with new Jets OC Chan Gailey in Buffalo.
- Former Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is currently considering multiple options, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The 49ers reportedly have an offer out to Fewell, and the Bengals could be in the mix as well, though Raanan writes that Washington may have the edge.
- The Jaguars have fired running backs coach Terry Richardson and are interviewing former Raiders running backs coach Kelly Skipper for the newly-opened job, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Skipper worked with new Jags OC Greg Olson in Oakland.
- Speaking of the Jaguars, their current defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker is drawing interest from other teams, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
- Earlier today, we learned that Rob Chudzinski, an offensive coordinator target for both the Rams and 49ers, would stick with the Colts and receive a new title.