2014 January - Pro Football Rumors

Important 2014 NFL Offseason Dates

January 27th, 2014 at 9:39am CST by Luke Adams

The most important date on the NFL’s 2014 calendar is just around the corner, with Super Sunday now less than a week away. But while the 2013/14 season will come to an end after the Seahawks and Broncos play on Sunday night, that doesn’t mean February 2 is the last day worth circling on the calendar until the summer. In the coming weeks and months, there are plenty of dates to keep an eye on, as NFL teams make roster decisions and prepare for next season.

Here’s a breakdown of a few of the NFL’s key offseason dates:

February 17: First day for teams to designate a franchise or transition player.
February 19-25: The NFL scouting combine will be held in Indianapolis.

March 8: First day for teams to contact agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents on March 11. Free agent contracts can’t be signed yet, but informal agreements can be reached.
March 11: The 2014 league year begins, and free agency opens. By 3:00 pm central time, teams must make decisions on player options, submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents, submit minimum tenders to exclusive rights free agents, and be under the 2014 salary cap. Trades can be made after 3:00pm CT.
March 23-26: The NFL owners meetings will be held in Orlando.

May 2: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
May 7: Deadline for previous club to exercise right of first refusal (ie. match offer sheets) on restricted free agents.
May 8-10: The NFL draft will be held in New York.
May 19-21: The NFL spring meeting will be held in Atlanta.

June 2: Deadline for previous club to submit a June 1 tender to its unsigned unrestricted free agents, and to submit a June 1 tender to its unsigned restricted free agents who haven’t signed an offer sheet.
June 16: Deadline for teams to withdraw qualifying offers to their restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights via the June 15 tender.

July 15: Deadline for teams to work out multiyear contracts with free agents designated as franchise players.
July 22: Signing period ends for unrestricted free agents who received a June 1 tender, and for transition players with outstanding tenders. The player’s previous club retains exclusive negotiating rights from this date until Week 10 of the regular season.

ESPN.com and Pride of Detroit were used in the creation of this post.

Ron Rivera, Panthers Discussing Extension

January 26th, 2014 at 7:38pm CST by David Kipke

Contract extensions talks have begun between the Panthers and third-year head coach Ron Rivera, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

After coaching the Panthers to a combined 13-19 record in his first two years in Charlotte, Rivera has led the team to a 12-4 record in the 2013 campaign. Rivera, who became known as “Riverboat Ron” for his aggressive style during the 2013 season, has been a favorite in several Coach of the Year award ballots, including the Pro Football Writers of America. Panthers GM Dave Gettleman indicated recently that he has “ultimate confidence” in his head coach.

Rivera, who signed a four-year contract with the Panthers before the 2011 season, is heading into the final season of his current deal, which was worth a total of $11.2MM. As Person notes, Carolina could choose to tack one year onto Rivera’s contract to avoid having him enter 2014 as a lame duck, but it’s more likely that the two sides work out a longer-term extension.

Poll: What Should Saints Do With Graham?

January 26th, 2014 at 6:54pm CST by David Kipke

Earlier this weekend, we discussed Jimmy Graham’s developing contract situation. After Saints owner Mickey Loomis said that the team was prepared to use its franchise tag on the fourth-year All-Pro tight end, Graham said that he was “not too keen” on the franchise tag.

Because Graham has established himself as the premier tight end in the NFL over the past three seasons, many expect the Saints to prevent the 27-year-old Miami (FL) grad from hitting the free agent market. However, it remains to be seen if the Saints are ready to offer Graham a long-term extension. Two years ago, the Saints found themselves in a similar situation with Drew Brees, in which the team waited until just before the July deadline to sign Brees to a lucrative extension.

What do you think? Is Graham worth the long-term commitment right now? Or should the Saints play it safe and simply employ their franchise tag?

Peyton Manning Wants To Play In 2014

January 26th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

At his Super Bowl press conference on Sunday, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reiterated his desire to continue playing football beyond this season, according to Don Banks of Sports Illustrated (via Twitter). “I certainly want to keep playing,” said Manning.

The 37-year-old noted that he will take the rest of his career on a season-by-season basis, with the status of his neck likely being a deciding factor. Chris Mortensen of ESPN recently reported that Manning will undergo tests on his neck in March, per his contract details. If injury risk has increased, Manning might be forced to retire. Manning dispelled notions that he would follow in the footsteps of John Elway and Ray Lewis, both of whom retired immediately following a late-career Super Bowl victory (Twitter link). “They couldn’t play any more,” he said. “I still enjoy playing football.”

Manning has enjoyed a career revitalization since coming to Denver in 2012. This season, he broke league records by throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns. He also led quarterbacks by a wide margin in DYAR, and helped the Broncos finish first in offensive DVOA.

Dolphins Hire Dennis Hickey As GM

January 26th, 2014 at 4:43pm CST by Rory Parks

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.”

AFC Coaching Notes: Browns, Jets

January 26th, 2014 at 4:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

4:25pm: Cameron will reportedly stay at LSU, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

2:34pm: The Browns are considering LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and former Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains for the same position in Cleveland, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cameron has a decade of coordinating experience in the NFL, with both the Chargers and the Ravens. His last two NFL stops have ended unceremoniously — he led the Dolphins to a 1-15 record in his lone season at the helm, and was fired mid-season in 2012 by the Ravens, who then went on to win the Super Bowl.

Loggains was the Titans play-caller for the past two seasons, during both of which Tennessee finished in the bottom third of the league in yards per game. However, the offense did improve from 29th to 16th in DVOA from 2012 to 2013. Cabot also tweets that Loggains could be the Browns quarterbacks coach, as previously reported by NFL Network’s Albert Breer.

LSU special teams coach Thomas McGaughey is the favorite to become the Jets special teams coach, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. McGaughey has been with LSU for three seasons, after previously serving as an assistant special teams coordinator with the Giants. He would fill the void left by Ben Kotwica, who left to become the special teams coach of the Redskins.

Hensley On Ravens Free Agency, Draft

January 26th, 2014 at 3:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

ESPN.com’s AFC North reporter Jamison Hensley had several interesting Ravens notes in a recent chat:

Hensley believes that linebacker Daryl Smith is likely to be re-signed due to his low price tag. Smith was vital to the Raven’s defense in 2013, admirably replacing Ray Lewis after spending the previous nine seasons with the Jaguars. He led the team in tackles and broke Lewis’ single-season record for pass deflections.
The Ravens would like to see receiver Jacoby Jones return, but cannot afford another $4 million price tag for a third receiver/return specialist.
Offensive tackle Michael Oher‘s fate is intertwined with that of fellow lineman Eugene Monroe. If the Ravens can’t re-sign Monroe, they will approach Oher about a potential return.
Hensley expects the Ravens to target a receiver in the first round of the draft to pair with Torrey Smith.
Safety and center are two areas where the Ravens might look to improve via free agency. Because Baltimore is still aiming to develop Matt Elam and Gino Gradkowski at those positions, veteran free agent options — like centers Jonathan Goodwin or Roberto Garza and safeties such as Louis Delmas or Chris Clemons — might make the most sense. Jeff Siedel of CSN Baltimore agrees that the Ravens must have other options at center behind Gradkowski, who struggled last season.

More On Dolphins’ GM Saga

January 26th, 2014 at 3:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

New Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey will have complete control over roster decisions, a team source tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. This news comes amid reports that several Miami GM candidates opted against taking the position due to lack of clarity regarding personnel management.

Salguero also reports that Titans VP of Football Operations Lake Dawson and Patriots VP of Player Personnel Nick Caserio turned down the job due to potential conflicts with Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. Dawson reportedly would have been agreeable to keeping Philbin on for one season before wanting to clean house and hire a new coach. Caserio, however, wanted to install a new regime immediately upon his arrival. Neither approach was acceptable to Dolphins ownership, as they wanted a GM who would continue to work with Philbin as the head coach.

Hickey presumably agreed to keeping Philbin on staff, and will likely have no say in coaching matters. Hickey will report directly to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. Vice president of football operations Dawn Aponte, rumored to be gaining power behind the scenes, will report to Hickey on all matters, not just the salary cap, tweets Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.

More On Dolphins’ Front Office

January 26th, 2014 at 3:07pm CST by Rory Parks

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.

Coaching Notes: Ravens, Cowboys, Browns

January 26th, 2014 at 1:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens are likely to decide on a new offensive coordinator by Monday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The choice is expected to be either former Redskins offensive Kyle Shanahan or current Ravens receivers coach Jim Hostler. Shanahan, the son of former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan, also has play-calling experience with the Texans, while Hostler spent the 2007 season as offensive coordinator with the 49ers. Either candidate would be replacing Jim Caldwell, who left to become the head coach of the Lions.

Scott Linehan may be offered the title of Cowboys’ passing game coordinator, according to Ed Werder and Chris Mortensen of ESPN. In such an arrangement, Linehan would be installed as the primary play-caller, a responsibility that currently belongs to offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Linehan, the former head coach of the Rams, was most recently the offensive coordinator of the Lions.
If Linehan takes the Cowboys job, the Browns may look at Callahan as an offensive coordinator candidate under new head coach Mike Pettine, notes Albert Breer of NFL Network (via Twitter).
Breer also tweets that former Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains is a possible choice as quarterbacks coach in Cleveland.