Eagles Favorites To Sign Mark Sanchez
WEDNESDAY, 9:20pm: Sanchez is in Philadelphia to meet with the Eagles and a deal could be done soon, tweets Brian Costello of the New York Post. The Eagles are putting the quartberack through a physical with an eye on his injured shoulder.
MONDAY, 4:23pm: While the Eagles are in the lead to sign Sanchez, it’s “not a lock,” a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Mehta adds the Browns and Titans to the list of teams that have expressed some interest, and says the Giants probably aren’t a serious candidate for Sanchez, despite having some interest.
4:05pm: As expected, Mortensen clarifies (via Twitter) that the Eagles will at least have to do their own medical evaluation of Sanchez before signing him. As Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets, the Eagles look like the frontrunners for the ex-Jet, but there are still a few hurdles to clear.
3:59pm: Mark Sanchez received a “failed physical” designation when he was officially released by the Jets, but his recovery from shoulder surgery is going well, and it won’t stop him from signing with a new team, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. While it’s not entirely clear if he’s reporting that Sanchez already has an agreement in place, Mortensen at least suggests (via Twitter) that the veteran quarterback figures to land with the Eagles now that he’s a free agent.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicates (via Twitter) that it’s not quite a done deal yet, writing that the Eagles will take a “hard look” at Sanchez and his medicals, and may sign him. In a second tweet, Rapoport adds that the Giants and other teams should join the Eagles in the hunt for Sanchez. Earlier today, we heard that the Rams also have some interest in the 27-year-old.
Sanchez, a former fifth overall pick, spent four seasons as the Jets’ full-time starter before giving way to Geno Smith in 2013. After setting career-highs with a 56.7% completion percentage, 3,474 passing yards, and 26 passing TDs in 2011, Sanchez regressed in 2012, with those numbers dipping to 54.3%, 2,883, and 13, respectively.
If he officially signs in Philadelphia, Sanchez would be replacing the man that replaced him in New York, taking over Michael Vick‘s role as the Eagles’ No. 2 quarterback behind Nick Foles.
AFC Notes: Jets, Broncos, Blount, MJD, Titans
In addition to the Seahawks and Cowboys, the Jets may also have been in on Jared Allen before he agreed to sign with the Bears, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. According to Schefter, head coach Rex Ryan spoke to the veteran defensive end last week, and the Jets wanted to get involved in the bidding, though it’s not clear how serious the interest was from Allen’s end. As New York continues to search for upgrades in free agency, let’s check in on a few more AFC teams….
- Unsurprisingly, the Broncos are expected to exercise their fifth-year option for 2015 on defensive standout Von Miller, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The option, available for 2011 first-round picks, would pay Miller a little less than $10MM in ’15.
- The running back market is coming into focus, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). According to La Canfora, LeGarrette Blount, who is still receiving interest from the Patriots, will visit with the Steelers later this week. Pittsburgh is still considering Maurice Jones-Drew as well, though not at his original $3.5MM-per-year asking price.
- Free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn, who has met with the Redskins and Rams since the start of free agency, is scheduled to visit the Titans tonight and tomorrow, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- The Raiders have added several players over age 30 in free agency, but GM Reggie McKenzie doesn’t view those players as stop-gap solutions. McKenzie told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle that he wanted to bring in immediate contributors to show the team’s young players the Raiders are serious about winning.
- Colts GM Ryan Grigson said today that his team preferred its in-house options at center to the free agents available at the position, as Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star details. That’s not to say that no free agent center would have been an upgrade, but given the potential cost, Grigson didn’t feel a move would be worth it.
- Offensive line and wide receiver will be areas of focus for the Jaguars in the draft, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
- R.J. Stanford‘s new one-year deal with the Bengals includes a $730K base salary, a $50K signing bonus, and a $25K workout bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
AFC Notes: Titans, Browner, Clowney, Chiefs
The Eagles are considered the favorites to land Mark Sanchez, and it’s hard to determine which other teams may be a threat to Philadelphia for the signal-caller. The Seahawks have been ruled out as a destination, and reported interest from the Rams and Giants has been significantly downplayed. Now, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com suggests that another rumored suitor isn’t seriously in the mix, tweeting that the Titans don’t have interest in bringing Sanchez aboard. As we wait to see where the former Jet lands, let’s check out a few more notes from around the AFC….
- Chris Johnson‘s future with the Titans remains in limbo, as Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean writes.
- In a series of four tweets, Tom Pelissero of USA Today explains how Brandon Browner‘s contract with the Patriots works, complete with financial specifics.
- Field Yates of ESPN Boston (Twitter link) has the details on the playing-time incentives in Michael Vick‘s new deal with the Jets. As Yates outlines, Vick can earn bonuses up to $1MM depending on whether he appears in 50% ($100K), 60% ($300K), 70% ($550K), 80% ($900K), or 90% ($1MM) of the Jets’ snaps.
- Texans head coach Bill O’Brien plans to attend Jadeveon Clowney‘s Pro Day next week, and is looking forward to continuing the “good talk” he had with Clowney at the combine, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com.
- Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that he spoke to free agent receiver Jason Avant, but suggested there’s nothing there when it comes to the team’s interest in the former Eagle. Reid instead hinted that he and Avant may work together down the road, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links).
- Chris Owens‘ one-year contract with the Chiefs is worth $800K, which includes a $730K base salary and a $70K workout bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. $80K of Owens’ base salary is guaranteed.
- Fullback Jamize Olawale has signed his exclusive rights tender to remain with the Raiders, the team announced today (Twitter link).
Rams Favorites To Sign Kenny Britt?
Free agent wide receiver Kenny Britt appears to be narrowing down his options, and Rams GM Les Snead believes Britt will ultimately decide on St. Louis. In an interview with Pro Football Talk, Snead pegged his team’s chances of signing Britt at “better than 50%.”
Although a number of Titans players have been linked to St. Louis, where former Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher is now working, the Rams aren’t the only team in the mix for Britt. The wide receiver has also visited the Redskins, Bills, and Patriots, and has drawn interest from the Seahawks and Panthers, as we heard earlier this week.
Pats owner Robert Kraft said New England won’t be signing Britt, and Titans GM Ruston Webster confirmed to PFT’s Mike Florio that the 25-year-old won’t be back in Tennessee. However, that still leaves the Redskins and Bills as potential threats to the Rams. It’s not clear whether there’s serious mutual interest between Britt and the Seahawks or Panthers.
Britt, a former first-round pick, has seen his first few NFL seasons frequently derailed by injuries and off-field issues, but still has plenty of upside. In 2010, arguably his best season, he racked up 775 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in just 12 contests.
AFC Notes: Jets, Steelers, Dalton, Dolphins
New York head coach Rex Ryan indicated today that the Jets aren’t done adding players at wide receiver. However, as Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweets, that doesn’t necessarily mean the club will add another impact player.
“[It] might be a sixth-round pick and not the move you want, but we’re not done,” Ryan said.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- The Steelers, who have been linked to Maurice Jones-Drew and LeGarrette Blount, will likely have a deal with an experienced running back by the end of the week, tweets Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Head coach Mike Tomlin said this morning in Orlando that the team expected to add running back depth in the not-so-distant future.
- Asked multiple times this morning about Andy Dalton, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was unequivocal in his support of the quarterback, suggesting he’d like to see Dalton locked up sooner rather than later, writes Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com. In Lewis’ view, leaving the situation hanging over Dalton when camp opens could create an unnecessary distraction.
- Speaking to reporters, including James Walker of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey said today that Miami has spoken to the agent for free agent tight end Dustin Keller.
- The Broncos haven’t closed the door on the possibility of bringing back running back Knowshon Moreno or defensive end Shaun Phillips, according to GM John Elway (link via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com).
- Jaguars owner Shad Khan supported his club’s decision to spread out its free agent spending among multiple positions and players this offseason rather than focusing on a couple significant expenditures. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the details and quotes from Khan.
- Linebacker remains an area of focus for the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who says (via Twitter) the team is conducting a private workout with Louisville’s Preston Brown today. Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson is also scheduled to have a pre-draft visit with the Titans, tweets Wyatt.
AFC South Notes: Texans, Titans, Colts
By trading Matt Schaub to the Raiders, the Texans have even more incentive to take a quarterback with the top pick in the draft, writes Marc Sessler of NFL.com. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not expected to be the answer at quarterback for the team, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Bryan Fischer of NFL.com writes that NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft has the Texans taking Blake Bortles out of UCF with the first-overall pick.
Here are some more notes from around the AFC South:
- The Titans still have two areas of need on their roster, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. The team needs to find a pass rusher and a running back, assuming Chris Johnson is traded or released.
- Even with the release of Rob Bironas, Kuharsky does not expect the Titans to target a kicker in the draft. It is more likely the team brings in an undrafted free agent or a veteran to compete with Maikon Bonani for the job.
- The Colts will most likely target the best player available in the draft, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. However, general manager Ryan Grigson does tend to prefer certain positions. “You want to continue to infuse the team with draft picks and young players that can grow together and be great together,” Grigson said. “With that being said, yes, you can never have enough corners, you can never have enough pass-rushers and you can never have enough linemen.
Extra Points: Hali, Penn, Prospect Visits
Chiefs‘ pass rusher Tamba Hali received a $2MM roster bonus on Thursday, assuring his place on the team in 2014, reports Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). He credits Joel Corry of the National Football Post with first noticing. Hali was one half of the terrorizing pair of quarterback killers that helped get the Chiefs’ defense off to such a hot start (the other half being Justin Houston). He would have been tough to replace, and it would have been somewhat of a surprise had he been released for cap space.
Here are a few other notes from around the NFL:
- New Raider Donald Penn went on SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss his tumultuous offseason, writes Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “The way Tampa did me kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I kind of wish they were on the schedule, but they’re not,” said Penn. “I built a great relationship there. But the way they did it at the end, it wasn’t right in my book. I’m a grown man and they could have treated me like a grown man.”
- Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans is taking an official visit with the Jets, reports Tony Pauline of Draftinsider.net (via Twitter). Evans is considered the second best receiver in the draft, and a potential top-ten pick.
- The Jets will also work out offensive tackle Kadeem Williams out of Albany, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Williams will also work out for the Giants.
- Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews went on SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss teams interested in the wide receiving talent, reports Alex Marvez of Fox Sports 1. Matthews announced he will have pre-draft visits with both the Titans and Panthers.
Draft Rumors: Bishop, Webster, Archer, Carr
Northern Illinois defensive tackle Ken Bishop is set to work out for the Dolphins, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Bishop, an All-Mid-American conference selection projected as a later-round draft pick, had 59 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception last season. Here’s the latest draft news..
- The Lions are hosting defensive end Larry Webster for a pre-draft visit today, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Webster, who stands at 6’6″, 252 pounds, had 12.5 sacks for Bloomsburg University in 2013 and boasts a 4.58 second 40-yard-dash time.
- Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal (on Twitter) spoke with Kent State running back Dri Archer, who says that he has workouts scheduled with the Dolphins, Patriots, Cardinals, and Colts.
- Fresno State standout quarterback Derek Carr has met with Raiders, Titans, Vikings, and Browns since last night, tweets Marek Warszawski of the Fresno Bee (on Twitter).
- Stanford safety Ed Reynolds has meetings scheduled with the Lions and Falcons, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Reynolds has a 38-inch vertical jump and ran a 4.41 second 40-yard-dash earlier today at his pro day.
- The Giants will work out Maine outside linebacker/defensive end Michael Cole on April 10th, a league source tells Aaron Wilson. Cole had eight sacks last season and finished his career with 29 sacks, making him the all-time sack leader for the Black Bears.
- One scouting director gave Albert Breer of NFL Network (Twitter link) a rundown of what he was looking for from Michael Sam today at the linebacker’s Pro Day. “He needs to show good movement in linebacker drills — Bend quickness and good feet and quickness in pass rush drills. Hopefully he is staying in good shape and not letting that go.”
AFC Notes: Jets, Contract Details, Titans
We heard on Tuesday, shortly after the Giants had officially signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, that the Jets had increased their offer at the 11th hour in an effort to land the free agent cornerback. In his latest piece for TheMMQB.com, former NFL exec Andrew Brandt offers some additional insight on that story, suggesting that the Jets’ initial offer had a one-year, $6MM structure, with options beyond that for future seasons. When it became clear that the Giants were closing in on a deal, GM John Idzik, attending Teddy Bridgewater‘s Pro Day, scrambled to change the structure of the Jets’ offer, but it was too late by that point.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Paul Kuharsky of ESPN (Twitter links) has the goods on Charlie Whitehurst‘s two-year deal with the Titans. The quarterback gets a $1MM signing bonus, a $1MM guaranteed base, a $250K roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2015 league year, and a $2.25MM base in ’15. In short, the Titans can get out of the deal after 2014 without much penalty.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter) reports that nose tackle Jerrell Powe gets a $645K split salary from the Texans on his one-year deal.
- The Titans, who cut kicker Rob Bironas yesterday, called Old Dominion kicker Jarod Brown, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The 49ers and Colts also worked Brown out at his Pro Day.
- Offensive tackle Donald Penn says reuniting with former Bucs assistant Greg Olson was a big factor in his decision to signing with the Raiders, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Although Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reported yesterday that the Jets had reworked Mike Goodson‘s contract to clear his 2014 roster bonus from the team’s cap, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News says (via Twitter) says that actually happened at the start of the 2013 season.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Titans To Re-Sign Mookie Johnson
WEDNESDAY, 4:57pm: Johnson’s two-year deal is worth $2.35MM, with a modest $175K signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who adds a couple more contract details via Twitter.
TUESDAY, 6:16pm: The Titans have agreed to re-sign defensive tackle Antonio “Mookie” Johnson to a two-year deal, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. It was a priority for Tennessee to lock Johnson down for 2014 and beyond and it sounds like they’ve accomplished that tonight.
Johnson, 29, was originally drafted by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2007 draft but things didn’t work out due to injuries. Last spring, Johnson signed with the Titans, reuniting him with the organization. In 16 games (six starts) last season, Johnson recorded 15 tackles and a career-high three sacks.