HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

FA Rumors: De La Puente, Harrison, Murphy

March 19th, 2014 at 2:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Brian De La Puente is arguably the best center still available in free agency, and it sounds as if he’s drawing interest from plenty of potential suitors. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Saints, Giants, Broncos, and Patriots remain possibilities for De La Puente, who is scheduled to visit with the Redskins. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) adds that if there’s no agreement in place when the veteran center leaves Washington, more visits are expected.

Here’s more on some of the free agents still on the market:

DeSean Jackson Updates: Wednesday

March 19th, 2014 at 2:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The DeSean Jackson rumor mill heated up yesterday, with multiple reports suggesting the Eagles weren’t necessarily shopping their star receiver, but were willing to listen when other teams called. We’ll round up Wednesday’s items on the Jackson story right here, with any new updates added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • Bowen now hears (Twitter link) from a Jackson spokesperson that the receiver hasn’t spoken to Kelly, contrary to what Bowen’s other source told him (noted below). According to the spokesperson, Jackson tried to get in touch with the head coach, but Kelly has been tied up with free agency (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • A source close to Jackson told Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News last night that the receiver would be ”
    really hurt if [the Eagles] traded him for no apparent reason,” since he loves playing in Philadelphia.
  • Bowen also confirms a report from 94WIP’s Ike Reese suggesting head coach Chip Kelly has reached out to Jackson to tell him not to worry about the trade rumors. As the Daily News scribe notes, it’s an odd situation, since the Eagles aren’t denying the story publicly despite being aware of the reports, which almost seems to confirm those reports.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at some possible Jackson trade scenarios.

Contract Details: Edelman, Meriweather, Harper

March 19th, 2014 at 2:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are a few more contract details on deals recently signed by free agents:

  • In addition to including a $5MM signing bonus, Julian Edelman‘s four-year deal with the Patriots features yearly base salaries of $1MM, $2.25MM, $2.5MM, and $3MM, with various roster bonuses and workout bonuses making up the rest of the $17MM total. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweeted the details, and Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com presents them in chart form.
  • Fitzgerald notes that Brandon Meriweather‘s one-year pact with the Redskins includes a $145K signing bonus, the only guaranteed money in the deal.
  • Fitzgerald also provides the details on Roman Harper‘s new deal with the Panthers, which is technically a five-year contract. The pact includes three voidable years to help spread out the cap hit.
  • Jamon Meredith‘s two-year contract with the Buccaneers is worth $2.7MM, with $350K in guaranteed money and up to $750K available in playing time incentives, according to Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The contract Sherrick McManis agreed to sign with the Bears will be a minimum salary benefit deal, confirms Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).

Michael Vick Rumors: Wednesday

March 19th, 2014 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of reports shortly after free agency opened last week suggested that Michael Vick intended to be patient with the process, perhaps even waiting until after May’s draft to sign with a team. However, it appears now that the veteran signal-caller will make his decision sooner than that. Here’s the latest on Vick, arguably the top quarterback remaining on the market:

  • Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean doesn’t think Vick is an option for the Titans, as he expresses pretty strongly in a tweet.
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) confirms that Vick’s visit with the Jets will happen on Friday. According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), Vick seems to fit the bill of what the Jets brass is looking for in a No. 2 quarterback: A veteran that can push Geno Smith and is capable of winning games when called upon.

Earlier updates:

  • Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (Twitter link) is getting the impression that Vick may not be exclusively seeking a starting job anymore.
  • Vick plans to visit the Jets this weekend, a source tells Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. It will be his first visit, and if all goes well, it may end up being his last, as Shorr-Parks writes. The Jets may face some pressure to land a free agent after missing out on several other targets, while Vick may not be handed the starting job he seeks in New York, but would probably have a chance to compete with Geno Smith.
  • According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, there are indications that Vick may be moving toward making a decision. The Vikings, Jaguars, and Buccaneers are likely no longer options for Vick, having signed veteran QBs of their own. But the Jets and Bills, as well as teams with potential injury concerns like the Panthers, could be in the mix. Florio also identifies the Titans as a potential dark horse, with Jake Locker still recovering from foot surgery.

Vikings Re-Sign Charlie Johnson

March 19th, 2014 at 12:34pm CST by Rob DiRe

WEDNESDAY, 12:34pm: The Vikings have confirmed Johnson’s new deal, and have also confirmed the signing of Fred Evans (Twitter links).

SATURDAY, 5:36pm: Johnson confirmed in a text message to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he and the Vikings have reached an agreement (via Twitter).

3:34pm: Guard Charlie Johnson is expected to re-sign with the Vikings, reports Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (via Twitter). In a separate tweet, Wolfson writes that the deal is a two-year contract worth $2.5MM per year.

Johnson has started 47 games for the Vikings over the last three seasons. He will rejoin an offensive line that will be together as a unit for the third straight year.

Titans Release Rob Bironas

March 19th, 2014 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

12:28pm: The Titans have confirmed Bironas’ release (via Twitter).

12:18pm: The Titans will be releasing veteran kicker Rob Bironas today, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). According to Wyatt (via Twitter), the club wants to get younger at the position and create competition. Maikon Bonani, who signed a futures contract with the team at the end of the regular season, is among the candidates in the mix for the 2014 job.

Bironas, 36, converted 25 of 29 field goals for the Titans in 2013, along with all 41 of his extra-point tries. However, Wyatt suggests (via Twitter) that the team was concerned with his declining performance on kickoffs. Bironas’ $3.875MM cap number probably played a significant part in the decision as well, as Tennessee can reduce to that figure to just 750K in dead money by cutting him.

The longtime Titan, who racked up 1,032 points during his nine seasons with the franchise, will join an underwhelming group of free agent kickers that also includes David Akers, Rian Lindell, and Lawrence Tynes.

Jets Re-Sign Willie Colon

March 19th, 2014 at 12:14pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets have re-signed offensive lineman Willie Colon, the team announced today in a press release. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), it’s a one-year, $2MM agreement.

Colon, who turns 31 next month, had been an unrestricted free agent, with a Monday report indicating that New York was trying to lock him up to a new deal. The former Steelers has consistently graded as an above-average pass blocker, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but has struggled with penalties, being called for 12 in each of the last two seasons.

Colon will likely re-assume his spot as the Jets’ starting right guard for the 2014 season.

NFC North Notes: Suh, Hester, Packers, Vikes

March 19th, 2014 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

On the heels of suggesting earlier this week that there was no rush to extend defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, Lions president Tom Lewand said today on WJR in Detroit that the team expects to meet with Suh’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, next week in Orlando at the NFL owners meetings (Twitter link via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com). While a Suh extension may not be urgent, it definitely should be on the Lions’ offseason checklist, and it looks like the two sides will take the first steps toward a new deal within the next several days.

Let’s round up a few more links from around the NFC North….

Eric Winston Named NFLPA President

March 19th, 2014 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent tackle Eric Winston has been elected as the new president of the NFL Players Association, as Melissa Mahler writes at ProPlayerInsiders.com. Winston, who will take over the job from Domonique Foxworth, had been running against Ryan Clark and Ben Watson, who both tweeted congratulations to the veteran offensive lineman.

Winston, who played for the Cardinals in 2013, will be tasked with leading the NFLPA’s executive committee as the players continue to work on issues relating to health and safety, and look ahead to the next labor agreement.

Lions To Sign Jed Collins

March 19th, 2014 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

10:58am: The Lions have agreed to terms with Collins on a one-year contract, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein adds (via Twitter) that it’s a minimum salary benefit deal.

8:48am: Fullback Jed Collins is visiting with the Lions today, and if all goes according to plan, the team expects to sign him to a contract, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. It was Birkett who first reported yesterday that the Lions were hosting Collins for a visit.

Only three other players in the NFL received more snaps at fullback last season than Collins, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). While he was used primarily as a blocker, the 28-year-old also got a few touches, compiling 15 rushing attempts and 14 receptions.

Lions GM Martin Mayhew suggested last month that he’d like to add a fullback to the roster, and his team and Collins look like a good match. A former Saints, Collins saw his old team sign Erik Lorig to a four-year deal yesterday, meaning there’s likely no longer room in New Orleans for him. As for the Lions, they brought in free agent fullback Henry Hynoski for a visit last week, but Hynoski ultimately ended up re-signing with the Giants.

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