2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Texans To Sign Ryan Fitzpatrick

March 20th, 2014 at 8:01pm CST by Zachary Links

8:01pm: Fitzpatrick gets $7.5MM across two years with $4MM guaranteed, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).

6:13pm: It’s a two-year deal, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com.

5:34pm: The Texans are set to sign free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Harvard product visited with Houston earlier today and wasted little time in putting pen to paper.

Fitzpatrick, 31, was released by the Titans last week before he could collect on a $500K roster bonus due on the fifth day of the league year. The veteran’s release was widely expected but the signing of Charlie Whitehurst earlier this month all but confirmed that he was out as Jake Locker‘s backup.

Fitzpatrick was slated to be No. 2 on the depth chart in Tennessee last season but injury created opportunity for the Ivy League graduate. Fitzpatrick played in eleven games and started nine, throwing for 2,454 yards and 14 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and a completion percentage of 62%.

Just as Whitehurst’s arrival signaled the end of Fitzpatrick’s time with the Titans, Fitzpatrick’s arrival in Houston could spell the end for Matt Schaub.

Cardinals, Cromartie Agree To One-Year Deal

March 20th, 2014 at 7:28pm CST by Luke Adams

7:28pm: Cromartie’s one-year deal is worth $3.25MM, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter). The cornerback can make another $500K if he plays in every game.

11:45am: The Cardinals have added a free agent cornerback, agreeing to terms on a contract with former Jet Antonio Cromartie, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Schefter, it’ll be a one-year deal.

Cromartie, 29, was released by the Jets earlier in the month due to an exorbitant cap hit on his previous contract. While New York created nearly $10MM in cap savings by releasing the veteran cornerback, there appeared to be mutual interest in bringing him back into the fold at a lower salary. However, with Cromartie headed to Arizona, he becomes the latest in a string of free agent cornerbacks that the Jets have missed out on. Most recently, the club lost Cromartie’s cousin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, to the Giants.

2013 was the fifth straight season in which Cromartie has grabbed at least three interceptions, though he wasn’t as strong in coverage as usual, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). After ranking 16th among cornerbacks in 2012, he placed in the bottom 10 in 2013, with receivers averaging 19.1 YPC on their 49 receptions against him. Still, with a bounceback season he’d provide some stability to a Cardinals secondary that needed to add a corner.

Extra Points: NFLPA, Moreno, Contract Details

March 20th, 2014 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Newly-minted NFLPA president Eric Winston is just hours into his new role, but he sounds like he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“This union has always been about fighting,” Winston told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “It won’t change.”

Winston didn’t mince words when it came to the idea of expanding the NFL season from 16 to 18 games, telling Pelissero that the idea is “dead in the water.” He was less definitive when it came to the idea of playoff expansion, but he made it clear that the union will only be on board under certain conditions. Here’s more from around the NFL:

Knowshon Moreno arguably had the most impressive 2013 campaign of any of this year’s free agent running backs, but his name hasn’t surfaced at all in the last nine days. That changed today, with word breaking that the Dolphins will have Moreno in a for a visit on Friday (Twitter link via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald).
The Panthers continue to pursue free agent receivers, and will have Lestar Jean in for a visit tonight and tomorrow, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
The Buccaneers hosted free agent defensive back Chris Owens today, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Owens also met with the Steelers this week, as we heard earlier this afternoon.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap has the full breakdown of many of the new contracts signed in recent days, including, but not limited to, Andrew Hawkins‘ four-year pact with the Browns, Scott Chandler‘s two-year deal with the Bills, James Starks‘ two-year deal with the Packers, Charlie Johnson‘s two-year contract with the Vikings, and Usama Young‘s two-year deal with the Raiders.
Jerricho Cotchery‘s deal with the Panthers is technically for five years, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun details (via Twitter). I imagine it includes three void years, similar to Roman Harper‘s new contract. Cotchery also received a $2.25MM signing bonus.
Wilson (Twitter links) also provides details on a pair of minimum salary benefit contracts, noting that fullback Jed Collins will get $710K from the Lions between his $65K signing bonus and $645K base salary. Safety Craig Steltz will get $795K from the Bears between his $730K salary and the $65K roster bonus for 2014.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Jared Allen Considering Seahawks, Others

March 20th, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

4:27pm: Harris tells a number of reporters, including and Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links) that after having “good discussions” during his second visit to Seattle, Allen is heading home to mull offers from the Seahawks and other teams. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (via Twitter) that the Seahawks are working hard to finalize a deal, and that Allen brought his wife with him on his second visit to meet with the team.

3:09pm: Agent Ken Harris wouldn’t confirm that any agreement is in place between his client and the Seahawks, telling Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that Allen is just visiting the team for now.

2:22pm: One of the top free agents remaining on the board appears to have found a home with the defending Super Bowl champions. According to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Jared Allen is working out the final details of a contract agreement with the Seahawks, and could sign later today.

Allen, 31, remained productive and durable in 2013, recording 11.5 sacks in his last season with the Vikings. It was the sixth straight year in which Allen had started all 16 regular season contests for the team, and the seventh consecutive season he’d notched 11 or more sacks. The former fourth-round pick also played well against the run, according to Pro Football Focus, whose metrics ranked him fifth overall among 4-3 defensive ends in ’13 (subscription required)

In joining the Seahawks, Allen would be fortifying a defensive line that was already expected to be one of the league’s best at rushing the passer, having retained Michael Bennett earlier in March. It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks plan to manage Allen’s playing time in Seattle — the veteran defensive end appeared in 1,044 defensive snaps last season and wants to continue to play full time, but given his age and the team’s depth, he may see his role scaled back a little in 2014.

A report earlier this week indicated that Allen was seeking an annual salary close to $10MM, in the neighborhood of what DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers received. As I noted at the time, the guaranteed money on Ware’s and Pepper’s deals varied significantly, so we’ll have to see what Allen’s new deal with the Seahawks looks like, if and when it gets done. With Bennett and a few other smaller additions in the mix, Seattle didn’t have a ton of cap room this offseason, particularly if the team wanted to stay flexible to extend players like Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas down the road.

Jets Notes: Jackson, Vick, Free Agency

March 20th, 2014 at 4:18pm CST by Luke Adams

With Michael Vick set to visit the Jets tomorrow, it’s worth noting that New York is among the teams that has inquired on Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). While landing Jackson may be a long shot even if the team does sign Vick, Rapoport notes that the two players are close from their time in Philadelphia.

That nugget on Jackson wasn’t the only Jets-related item in the news today, however. GM John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan spoke to the media on a conference call, and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post rounded up several of the highlights, so let’s dive in….

Despite the public perception that the Jets have been too cautious in free agency and have missed out on several targets, Idzik isn’t concerned: “We said all along that we would be judicious and selective in free agency. Nine days into free agency, we feel we’ve been productive.”
Idzik also stressed that the Jets have done well to bring back many of their own free agents, including linebacker Calvin Pace and offensive lineman Willie Colon.
Ryan insists he’s happy with the cornerbacks on the roster, though Idzik said there “may be trade talks” to strengthen the position (Twitter link).
While Idzik didn’t mention Vick by name, he hinted that the team has interest in the veteran signal-caller in part due to his connection to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg: “Whenever you have inside knowledge on a player… that is a tremendous advantage. There is less projection, especially if you’re dealing with a position that entails a lot like quarterback.”

Bears Expected To Cut Eric Weems

March 20th, 2014 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this week, we heard that the Bears had asked wide receiver and special teamer Eric Weems to accept a pay cut. Today, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Weems has declined that request, and will likely be released as a result.

Weems, 28, had a very limited role on offense or as a returner last season, appearing in just 24 offensive snaps and returning five kicks. His primary contributions came in kick and punt coverage, where he logged eight special teams tackles.

Heading into the final year of his contract, Weems is on the books for a $1.6MM cap number. Cutting him will leave the Bears with $500K in dead money on the cap, but will clear Weems’ $1MM base salary and a $100K workout bonus from the team’s books.

The Bears also released wide receiver Earl Bennett earlier this week when he declined a pay cut.

FA Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Ihedigbo, Underwood

March 20th, 2014 at 3:27pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Titans released Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, there was an expectation that it wouldn’t take long for the veteran quarterback to find work. Fitzpatrick remains on the market, but at least one potential suitor has emerged. According to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link), Tennessee’s division rivals, the Texans, are hosting Fitzpatrick for a visit today.

Let’s round up a few more Thursday odds and ends related to the free agents still available….

According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter), center Brian De La Puente finished his visit in Washington and is still considering multiple options, including the Redskins and Saints.
Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that safety James Ihedigbo, repped by a new agent, has at least two other teams in the mix for him besides the Lions, who seemed to be close to signing him earlier this week. The Ravens appear to be one of those two, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter).
Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood is visiting the Panthers today, says Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). The receiver-thin Panthers already signed Jerricho Cotchery today, and it “looks promising” that they could add Underwood as well.
Richie Incognito, who is aiming to return to the NFL in 2014, believes the Raiders make “a lot of sense” as a possible destination, writes Michael Silver of NFL.com.
Free agent defensive back Chris Owens had a visit this week with the Steelers, tweets Aaron Wilson.
Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that the Broncos tried out free agent safety Jordan Pugh.
The Bengals have confirmed (via Twitter) that Louis Murphy visited the club today, which means the wide receiver left the meeting without a deal in place.

49ers To Extend Bruce Miller

March 20th, 2014 at 3:17pm CST by Luke Adams

The 49ers and Bruce Miller have agreed to a three-year contract extension for the fullback, reports Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Williamson (via Twitter), Miller’s new deal will make him one of the highest paid fullbacks in the NFL.

Miller, who suffered a broken scapula in Week 15, would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency following the 2014 season. The former seventh-round pick rated as a top-five fullback in the league last season according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), contributing primarily as a blocker but also catching 25 passes out of the backfield.

Williamson reported earlier in the week that the two sides were engaged in extension talks and suggested that the Niners were excited for Miller to assume a bigger role in 2014. With Anthony Dixon no longer on the roster, the 26-year-old Miller could see more short-yardage opportunities.

Bucs To Sign Mike Jenkins

March 20th, 2014 at 2:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers have reached an agreement on a contract with Mike Jenkins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the free agent defensive back will sign a one-year deal. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter) that the agreement, which has now been confirmed by the Bucs, will be worth $1.5MM, with another $500K available via incentives.

Most of the reported interest Jenkins received this week came from the Cardinals and Buccaneers, so it makes sense that he’d land in Tampa after the Cards agreed to terms with Antonio Cromartie. Jenkins, a longtime Cowboy, spent last season in Oakland, starting 15 games for the Raiders and piling up 65 tackles to go with a pair of interceptions.

Jenkins ranked in the middle of the pack among cornerbacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, due to a subpar grade in pass coverage, but the Bucs may view him as a good fit for their defensive scheme under new head coach Lovie Smith. The team has also added cornerback Alterraun Verner since free agency opened, parting ways with Darrelle Revis.

Panthers Expected To Sign Antoine Cason

March 20th, 2014 at 1:57pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 1:57pm: Cason’s visit with the Panthers is now scheduled for tonight, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 3:49pm: According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Cason was scheduled to visit with the Panthers today, but the meeting was canceled amid Cason’s decision to switch to agent Drew Rosenhaus. It’s unclear whether the switch to Rosenhaus affects the seemingly impending deal between Cason and the Panthers, but both sides appear to have interest in rescheduling the visit, tweets Person.

1:10pm: Free agent defensive back Antoine Cason will sign with the Panthers soon, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) confirms that the two sides are finalizing a contract that will be signed within the next few days.

Cason, a former first-round pick, saw just 169 defensive snaps for Arizona last season after playing as a full-time starter for the Chargers from 2010 to 2012. Even in limited action for the Cardinals though, the 27-year-old made a number of big plays, recovering three fumbles and grabbing a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Cason has been on the Panthers’ radar “for weeks” and is a good fit for their defensive scheme.

The Panthers have been seeking help at cornerback, having already lost a 2013 starter (Captain Munnerlyn) to Minnesota, and with another of 2013’s key contributors (Drayton Florence) no longer under contract. A report from Garafolo last night indicated that the team was eyeing Cason and Terrell Thomas, and could ultimately sign one or both.