HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

NFC Notes: Peterson, Packers, 49ers, Bailey

January 24th, 2014 at 4:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Adrian Peterson mused last month about the possibility of finishing his NFL career in his home state of Texas, but if that comes to fruition, it won’t be anytime soon, according to Vikings GM Rick Spielman. In a conversation with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Spielman shut down any Peterson trade rumors before they began.

“Adrian’s not going anywhere,” Spielman said. “We have him under contract, he is the face of our franchise, he is a blue-chip player, and we have a new coaching staff coming into place, and you know, [we’re] very excited about what’s coming ahead for us.”

Let’s round up a few more Friday notes from around the NFC…

  • Heading into the offseason, the Packers figure to be seeking an outside linebacker to play opposite Clay Matthews in the team’s 3-4 scheme, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  • The 49ers already have 11 picks in hand for May’s draft, and expect to add one more compensatory pick at the end of the third or fourth round, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
  • Adding a veteran safety appears to be a goal for the Falcons this offseason, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com outlines.
  • While the Bears will likely be eyeing defensive tackles in May’s draft, their specific targets will depend on their defensive scheme, says Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, citing a few possible options for the club.
  • Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com has the financial breakdown on Dan Bailey‘s new seven-year deal with the Cowboys, which includes a cap number of $1.7MM for 2014.
  • A number of NFC players saw their 2014 base salaries escalate or de-escalate based on their 2013 playing time, and Brian McIntyre provides the details on a handful of them in a series of several tweets.

David Diehl Announces Retirement

January 24th, 2014 at 2:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Longtime Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has decided to call it a career, officially announcing his retirement today. Diehl played 11 seasons in New York, starting more than 160 total games at both guard and tackle for the club.

After missing only four games in his first nine seasons, Diehl was slowed by knee problems during the last two years, which contributed to his decision to retire at age 33. A fifth-round pick out of Illinois in 2003, Diehl won a pair of Super Bowls with the Giants, and earned a spot in the 2009 Pro Bowl as a left tackle.

“I’ve accomplished everything I could possibly dream of as a football player,” Diehl said. “If in 2003, anyone would have said that Dave Diehl, a fifth-round draft pick out of Illinois, would win two Super Bowls, play in the Pro Bowl and win every single Giant award possible, people would have said you’re crazy. I have a lot to be proud of.”

With Diehl retiring and Kevin Boothe, who started all 16 games in 2013, facing free agency, the Giants may end up having a couple new regulars protecting Eli Manning next season.

Jaguars Open To Trading No. 3 Pick

January 24th, 2014 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jaguars are open to the idea of trading the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, GM David Caldwell said at Senior Bowl practices this week, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Jags would be exploring ways to move down, since Caldwell also left the door open for the possibility of moving up to No. 1 or No. 2.

“I don’t think where we’re standing right now that we’re dead set on going in any one direction, whether it’s trading up, trading back, staying where we are and picking,” Caldwell said while attending Senior Bowl practices. “There’s going to be a lot of options there with the third pick.”

The Jaguars need a quarterback and could strongly consider Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, or Johnny Manziel at No. 3, depending on which QBs are still on the board. However, QB isn’t Jacksonville’s only need, so the team could also go the best player available route with that third overall pick, and opt for someone like defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, as ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper predicted in his first mock draft.

It’s still too early to know which prospects’ stocks will rise or fall, and which other teams might be looking to move up or down in the draft, but it sounds as if Caldwell and the Jags will weigh all their options between now and May 8th.

AFC North Rumors: Browns, Ravens, Jones

January 24th, 2014 at 1:07pm CST by Luke Adams

The Browns finally filled the last head coaching opening in the NFL yesterday, hiring Mike Pettine away from the Bills. Pettine indicated at yesterday’s press conference that if Cleveland’s search had lasted much longer, he would have withdrawn his name, so as not to leave the Bills hanging indefinitely. But now that he’s got the Browns job, Pettine will look to fill out his staff. Here’s the latest on that front, along with a couple other AFC North items:

  • The Browns have interest in former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak for their offensive coordinator position, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets that it’s unlikely Kubiak lands in Cleveland.
  • The Ravens are also in the market for an offensive coordinator, with their search in the final stages. The club interviewed internal candidate Jim Hostler and ex-Redskins coordinator Kyle Shanahan for the second time on Thursday, and will have a second interview with Kirby Wilson of the Steelers today, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Heading for unrestricted free agency, wide receiver Jacoby Jones says he’d love to return to the Ravens, as Ray Frager of CSNBaltimore.com writes.

NFC East Notes: Davis, Coughlin, Eagles

January 24th, 2014 at 11:27am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we heard that the Redskins would be active in free agency, both in retaining their own players and pursuing other options. However, it sounds like one of Washington’s free agents, tight end Fred Davis, may see his stock dip precipitously. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com hears from a source that Davis, who has a history of failed drug tests, will face a six-game suspension (Twitter link).

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • The oldest coach in the NFL, 67-year-old Tom Coughlin, still feels as if he could coach multiple years beyond 2014, as he tells Ian O’Connor of ESPN Radio (link via ESPNNewYork.com). Giants co-owner John Mara recently told ESPN Radio that he intended to talk to Coughlin about a contract extension soon. “He’s going to be our coach here next year,” Mara said. “And hopefully for longer than that, but we haven’t sat down to even talk about that yet.”
  • In a pair of pieces for PhillyMag.com, Sheil Kapadia takes a look at a number of defensive prospects at the Senior Bowl that could interest the Eagles.
  • Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com wonders if Redskins free-agent-to-be Brian Orakpo might be a fit for the Eagles, eventually concluding that Philadelphia may not want to spend big money on a single player.

Redskins Plan To Be Active In Free Agency

January 24th, 2014 at 10:14am CST by Luke Adams

Only a handful of NFL teams will have more cap space this offseason than the Redskins, and the team intends to take advantage of that flexibility by being active in free agency, according to general manager Bruce Allen. As John Keim of ESPN.com details, Allen told SiriusXM NFL Radio hosts Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan that his club is looking forward to exploring the free agent market.

“We’ll have some room,” Allen said. “We’re gonna have some room to do some things. But we have some players who are free agents, and we’re going to talk to them first, to try to retain them. But we have the ability to maneuver around, and we’ll be active in free agency.”

Among those pending free agents for Washington are several players on defense, including linebacker Brian Orakpo and defensive backs DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson. While the Redskins will likely make an effort to retain Orakpo and perhaps a few others, I’d expect the club to focus in free agency on retooling a unit that allowed 478 points in 2013, tied for the second-worst mark in the league.

Although the Redskins also figure to add some talent through the draft, the team’s first-round pick belongs to the Rams, meaning Washington’s plan to explore the free agent market is somewhat born out of necessity. Without that second overall pick, the Redskins’ best opportunity to add an impact player or two will likely come via free agency.

Execs Not Expecting Extensions For 2011 Class

January 24th, 2014 at 8:38am CST by Luke Adams

The rookie class of 2011 was the first group to be subjected to the rules of the new CBA, which significantly reduced the earning ability for young NFL players. Having completed three seasons, those players drafted in 2011 will be eligible for contract extensions for the first time this offseason, but according to Jason Cole of the National Football Post, executives around the league are skeptical that many players will cash in.

While teams will be able to negotiate new contracts with big-name 2011 draftees like Cam Newton, J.J. Watt, and A.J. Green, clubs will also have the opportunity to simply tender their ’11 first-round picks a fifth-year option, putting off contract talks at least one more year. For players drafted in the top 10, that 2015 option would be worth the average amount of the top 10 highest salaries at that player’s position. For players drafted between 11 and 32, the option salary would be calculated by averaging the third through 25th highest salaries at the player’s position.

For a defensive lineman like Watt, that would mean a fifth-year option worth in the neighborhood of $5-6MM, rather than a big payday this year. The Texans would then have the opportunity to use the franchise tag on him for 2016, meaning it still may be several more years before he and other 2011 draftees sign long-term contracts.

“If I was Houston and had Watt or I was the Jets with [Muhammad] Wilkerson, why do anything right now?” one executive told Cole. “What’s the pressure on the team? Sure, if you get a good deal and you can buy out three or four more years, essentially buy his whole career, maybe.”

Since the players’ fifth-year salaries would be non-guaranteed except in the event of injuries, executives expect virtually every 2011 first-rounder to be kept under contract via the option. Even underachieving ’11 picks like Adrian Clayborn and Gabe Carimi of the Bucs are worth tendering a fifth-year contract, since there’d be plenty of upside in having them locked up for an extra year if they have strong 2014 campaigns.

“You’d probably have to alter the contract a little so that you could buy insurance for the season against an injury,” noted an NFC executive. “But that’s not expensive. If you’re talking about a $13MM or $14MM salary, the insurance is about $150K and you’d get the cap credit back.”

The opportunity teams have to use that fifth-year option doesn’t mean we won’t hear rumors this offseason about players like Newton and Watt negotiating extensions, and some players may even work out long-term deals. But given the presence of that strong fallback option for NFL clubs, 2011 first-rounders won’t have a ton of leverage in contract discussions.

Extra Points: Bailey, Titans, Saints, Cards

January 23rd, 2014 at 10:14pm CST by Zachary Links

They say that kickers don’t get any respect, but the Cowboys know how important a reliable leg can be. Kicker Dan Bailey got a six-year deal from Dallas earlier this week and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter) has the goods. The deal, starting in 2015, can be worth $22.5MM in total including a $4MM signing bonus and $7.5MM in guaranteed money. More from around the NFL..

  • The Titans are likely to target the tackle position in the 2014 draft, writes John Glennon of The Tennessean. The Titans could part ways with veteran right tackle David Stewart, a nine-year veteran who has missed a combined eight games over the past two years and is due a $6.4MM salary. Even if they keep him, they could still fortify the position.
  • Saints GM Mickey Loomis has some tough decisions to make in the offseason, writes Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune. For starters, he’ll have to decide the fates of longtime Saints such as safety Roman Harper ($5.9MM cap hit in 2014) and linebackers Will Smith ($13.9MM) and Jonathan Vilma (free agent in 2014).
  • The Cardinals announced that they have promoted Terry McDonough to vice president of player personnel. He replaces Jason Licht, the new Buccaneers GM.
  • Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com (video link) analyzed Terrell Suggs‘ contract situation with the Ravens.

Ndamukong Suh Fires Agent, Could Consider Jay-Z?

January 23rd, 2014 at 9:08pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have made it known that they want to keep Ndamukong Suh in Detroit beyond his final contract year in 2014 and the defensive lineman apparently wants to stay put. Today, Jason Phil Cole of National Football Post learned from two agents at the Pro Bowl that he fired agent Eugene Parker in advance of these talks and is interviewing candidates to represent him.

Meanwhile, Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter) says he would not be surprised in the least if Suh winds up signing with Jay-Z. In fact, he says, any other outcome would be a surprise. Of course, the rapper entered the world of sports representation in 2013 and became the agent for Jets quarterback Geno Smith, Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant.

Suh, 27, will earn a base salary of $12.5MM this season. With a new deal, the Lions will hope to lock Suh up for the long-term while creating financial flexibility for this offseason by reducing his cap number. The Nebraska product racked up 49 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and roughly $217K in fines.

Browns Notes: Pettine, Hoyer, Mack, Ward

January 23rd, 2014 at 6:01pm CST by Zachary Links

It took quite a while for the Browns to make their hire, but they finally got their man in Mike Pettine earlier today. Meanwhile, Pettine told Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 (Twitter links) after his introductory presser that it almost didn’t happen. As the hiring process lingered on, the former Bills defensive coordinator worried that it wasn’t fair to keep Buffalo waiting. “That was starting to wear on me these last couple of days. I talked to [Bills head coach Doug Marrone] and it was getting to the point where I’d say, ‘Hey, if this goes on much longer I need to pull out because it’s just not fair to the Bills.‘” Here’s a look at the highlights from Pettine’s first press conference and more from Cleveland..

  • Pettine says that the perception matches the reality: the club is behind the eight-ball because he was hired so late, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal. The new head coach is already getting to work on assembling his staff.
  • The new man in charge offered a strong endorsement of quarterback Brian Hoyer, Ulrich tweets, calling him a “winner” and describing his intangibles as “off the charts.” However, he did concede that even though the offense has talent, there are “some holes” to address (link).
  • The Browns submitted a request to Buffalo to interview linebacker coach Jim O’Neil for their defensive coordinator opening, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. O’Neil and Pettine also worked together with Jets. It was reported earlier today that Pettine would seek to bring O’Neil along with him to the Browns.
  • Pettine said potential free agents center Alex Mack and safety T.J. Ward are special players he’d love to have back, Ulrich tweets.
  • Browns CEO Joe Banner said team will do everything it can to support troubled wide receiver Davone Bess but wouldn’t comment further, according to Ulrich (via Twitter).
  • Banner and owner Jimmy Haslam revealed that Pettine was on their list of defensive coordinator candidates last year, Ulrich tweets.
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