HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Saints Re-Sign Joe Morgan

March 18th, 2014 at 5:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints announced that they have re-signed Joe Morgan, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The wide receiver gets a brand new one-year deal.

New Orleans non-tendered Morgan as a restricted free agent earlier this offseason. While financial terms of the deal are not known, the new pact is presumably for less than the one-year tender would have been. Morgan, who turns 26 towards the end of March, didn’t see the gridiron in 2013. However, in the year prior, Morgan had ten receptions for an eye-popping 379 yards and three touchdowns.

Colts Sign Carson Wiggs, Cut Zach Allen

March 18th, 2014 at 5:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Colts have signed free agent kicker Carson Wiggs and waived guard Zach Allen, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Wiggs, a Purdue alum, went undrafted in 2012 and signed with the Seahawks in 2013. However, he was cut by the team in August and has yet to see action in an NFL regular season game. I’d be surprised if that changes in 2014, considering the Colts have Adam Vinatieri kicking field goals and Pat McAfee handling kickoffs.

As for Allen, he was signed to the Colts’ practice squad last season and then inked a futures/reserve deal with the club in January. Like Wiggs, he has yet to appear in an NFL game.

FA Notes: Moore, Jordan, Carrington, Ford

March 18th, 2014 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard earlier in the week that wide receiver Lance Moore would visit the Steelers today, but it sounds like that meeting will happen tomorrow instead, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). Here’s more on a few free agents looking for jobs:

  • Free agent linebacker Akeem Jordan visited with the Redskins today, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Jordan reportedly met with the Titans last week.
  • The Rams remain interested in defensive lineman Alex Carrington but have yet to set up a visit, says Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
  • Speaking to Josina Anderson of ESPN (TwitLonger link), wide receiver Jacoby Ford confirmed that the Jets have expressed interest in him. “I would say they’re the team showing the most interest in me,” Ford said. “Right now we’re still in the exploration phase, weighing things out.”
  • In their search for receivers, the Jets called Emmanuel Sanders‘ camp on Saturday to try to reschedule a visit for the free agent, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The Jets had originally scheduled a meeting for last week but had to back out due to a scheduling conflict, and by the time the team attempted to set up another one, it was too late.
  • As the Cardinals consider cornerbacks like Mike Jenkins and Antonio Cromartie, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link) gets the sense that the club is waiting to see if anyone’s price tag drops.
  • The Vikings have inquired on free agent defensive end Robert Ayers, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.

Cotchery Deciding Between Steelers, Panthers

March 18th, 2014 at 4:11pm CST by Luke Adams

So far this month, the only two rumors we’ve heard relating to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery suggested that the Steelers want to bring him back and that he was visiting the Panthers. So it’s appropriate that, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Cotchery’s decision on where to sign is between Pittsburgh and Carolina.

Cotchery, 31, has spent the last three seasons with the Steelers, and had his best season for the team in 2013, recording 46 receptions and 602 receiving yards. He also blew away his previous career high with a surprising 10 touchdown grabs. With Emmanuel Sanders headed to Denver, there’d likely be at least as many balls thrown Cotchery’s way in 2014 if he returned.

On the other hand, if Cotchery opted for the Panthers, he may become the team’s No. 1 receiver by default. So far this offseason, the club has released Steve Smith and seen Ted Ginn Jr., Brandon LaFell, and Domenik Hixon sign with other teams.

Cotchery, coming off a two-year, $3MM contract, left his visit with the Panthers today without a deal, which could be a sign that he’s leaning toward returning to Pittsburgh, but we’ll have to wait and see what he decides.

Falcons To Sign Javier Arenas

March 18th, 2014 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons have agreed to terms on a contract with Javier Arenas, agent Hadley Engelhard tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The defensive back and return man will ink a one-year deal with the team, according to Ledbetter.

Arenas, 26, has spent the first four seasons playing for the Chiefs and Cardinals since being selected in the second round of the 2010 draft. Although he started nine games on defense for Kansas City in 2012, he has primarily played a reserve role in the secondary, contributing more on special teams.

We know that the Falcons have been in the market for a returner, having hosted Devin Hester for a visit today. It’s not clear if the team views Arenas as the answer for that role — despite his experience as a return man, the Alabama product hasn’t scored a touchdown in 180 career kick and punt returns, and has fairly modest averages (9.7 yards per punt, 21.2 per kick).

Browns Sign Andrew Hawkins

March 18th, 2014 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

3:57pm: The deal is officially in the books, with the Browns announcing the signing (via Twitter).

2:15pm: According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Bengals have officially decided not to match Hawkins’ offer sheet, meaning the wide receiver will join the Browns on a four-year, $13.6MM deal.

MARCH 18, 12:18pm: The NFL has informed the Browns that the Bengals have until midnight eastern tonight to decide whether or not to match Hawkins’ offer sheet, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

12:22pm: As I speculated below, the Bengals are now leaning toward not matching the Browns’ offer sheet for Hawkins due to its structure, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.

MARCH 13, 11:54am: Hawkins has officially signed his offer sheet with the Browns, giving the Bengals five days to match it, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, the terms of the sheet are slightly different than reported below, with $10.8MM of the $13.6MM total owed to Hawkins in the first two years of the four-year deal. That could make it a little trickier for Cincinnati to match, so we’ll have to wait and see if that changes the Bengals’ plans at all.

MARCH 12, 8:29am: The Bengals intend to match the offer sheet restricted free agent Andrew Hawkins signed with the Browns, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The deal, which Cincinnati initially appeared unlikely to match, is a four-year contract worth $12.2MM, with a potential max value of nearly $15MM. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun and National Football Post provided additional details on the offer last night.

The Bengals originally retained their right of first refusal with Hawkins by placing the $1.431MM RFA tender on him. The wide receiver was an undrafted free agent, so the contract tender didn’t assure Cincinnati of any draft compensation if he signed elsewhere, but it gave the club the opportunity to match any offer he signed.

Hawkins, who turned 28 this week, had his best year in 2012, racking up 51 catches for 533 yards and four touchdowns. He began 2013 on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and only caught 12 balls in the season’s second half. Given his spot on the Bengals’ depth chart in ’13, it’s a little surprising that the club would be willing to invest in him on this sort of multiyear contract, but perhaps he’ll be in line for an increased role going forward.

As for the Browns, it appears they’ll have to shift their attention to other free agent slot receivers. The team was also in on Andre Roberts before he signed with the Redskins, and has been linked to Emmanuel Sanders.

Texans Sign Jerrell Powe

March 18th, 2014 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The Texans have signed defensive tackle Jerrell Powe, according to James Palmer of CSNHouston.com (via Twitter). Powe finished the season with the Chiefs, but didn’t receive a contract tender from the team, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Powe, 27, saw all but one of his 2013 defensive snaps during Week 17, when the Chiefs were resting many of their starters against the Chargers. He did play well in his brief NFL audition, recording four quarterback pressures during the game, according to Pro Football Focus.

For the Texans, who have been very quiet so far in free agency, it’s their first outside signing of the last week. The club also reached a deal to bring back free agent tight end Garrett Graham.

Bears Release Earl Bennett

March 18th, 2014 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

3:40pm: The Bears have officially cut Bennett, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

2:20pm: The Bears have shopped Bennett in trade talks, his contract and the inevitably of his release make a deal unlikely, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

12:50pm: Earlier this month, we heard that the Bears hadn’t asked wide receiver Earl Bennett to take a pay cut, but that has changed within the last couple weeks. According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago (via Twitter), Bennett declined the Bears’ request to reduce his pay, and the team appears likely to release the veteran receiver.

With two years remaining on his contract, Bennett is no longer owed any guaranteed money, so the Bears could clear his entire $2.45MM cap number for 2014 from their books by cutting him. Bennett, who has been with Chicago since being drafted by the team in the third round in 2008, finished last season as the No. 3 receiver on the depth chart behind Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. 2013 draft pick Marquess Wilson has now emerged as the early favorite to fill that role, according to Dickerson (via Twitter).

Dickerson also reported that the Bears were in a similar situation with receiver and return man Eric Weems, who will likely be cut if he doesn’t accept a pay cut. It’s not clear if he has made a decision one way or the other yet though.

Saints, Erik Lorig Agree To Four-Year Deal

March 18th, 2014 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

3:37pm: Lorig’s four-year contract is worth a total of $4.8MM, including a $1MM signing bonus and annual $40K workout bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who also tweets the annual base salaries.

11:20am: The Saints have agreed to terms with fullback Erik Lorig on a new contract, the team announced today (Twitter link via senior VP of communications Greg Bensel). Lorig will sign a four-year deal to play in New Orleans.

Lorig has spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Tampa Bay, appearing in 432 offensive snaps in 2012 and 391 in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 27-year-old occasionally catches balls out of the backfield, having hauled in 23 receptions over the last two seasons, but is used primarily as a blocker. According to PFF, he has graded slightly above average as a pass blocker and slightly below average as a run blocker.

New Orleans’ own fullback, Jed Collins, was eligible for restricted free agency, but didn’t receive a contract tender from the club. While a report last week suggested the Saints still had interest in re-signing Collins, it appears Lorig will replace him on the roster. Meanwhile, the Lions are hosting Collins for a free agent visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

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