2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles Release DeSean Jackson

March 28th, 2014 at 11:43am CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles have officially informed DeSean Jackson of his release, according to the team (Twitter link). In announcing the move, the Eagles said they carefully considered the situation before deciding to part ways with the standout receiver.

The announcement comes only about an hour after the publication of a piece by Eliot Shorr-Parks and A.J. Perez of NJ.com, which attempted to ascertain why trade rumors had surrounded Jackson throughout the offseason. According to the NJ.com duo, the receiver’s “bad attitude, an inconsistent work ethic, missed meetings and a lack of chemistry with head coach Chip Kelly” are all reasons why the team wanted to part ways with him. Additionally, the Eagles were concerned about Jackson’s “continued association with reputed Los Angeles street gang members,” according to Shorr-Parks and Perez. The entire NJ.com piece is worth reading, and likely helps explain why the Eagles apparently had no luck finding a team willing to part with even a mid-round pick for the 27-year-old.

Jackson’s release also comes on the heels of his best season on the field. Catching passes from Nick Foles and playing in Kelly’s offense, Jackson hauled in 82 balls for 1,332 yards and nine receiving touchdowns — all three marks represent career highs. The former second-round pick is still in the prime of his career and his upside will tantalize plenty of teams, as will the fact that he’s no longer connected to a $10.5MM base salary. As Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter), the lack of trade partners may have been more a result of that price tag than Jackson’s off-field question marks.

Still, taking into account today’s NJ.com report and the fact that the Eagles were concerned enough to release Jackson outright, teams will likely approach a potential signing with extreme caution. Although the 49ers, Seahawks, Jets, Raiders, Panthers, and Patriots were among the clubs identified as potential fits for the receiver over the past few weeks, many of those possible suitors sounded hesitant about acquiring Jackson even prior to this latest report.

Jackson had three years remaining on his contract, so his remaining bonus money will accelerate onto this year’s cap number for the Eagles, resulting in $6MM in dead money. The club creates $6.75MM in cap savings with the move.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Contract Notes: Staley, Wilfork, Brad Smith

March 28th, 2014 at 11:06am CST by Luke Adams

A source tells Rand Gatlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that the 49ers are mulling the possibility of reworking Joe Staley‘s current contract, which he has outplayed. Staley, who will earn a total of $3.4MM in 2014, has a deal that runs through 2017, so he doesn’t have a whole lot of leverage at this point, but Gatlin’s source suggest the Niners recognize they’d be wise to address the situation to avoid having the offensive lineman become disenchanted (Twitter link).

Here’s more on a few other contracts around the league:

Ben Volin and Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe pass along the details of the first year of Vince Wilfork‘s new contract with the Patriots in a pair of Twitter links. According to the Globe duo, the contract includes $2.5MM in signing bonus and base salary money, a $300K weight bonus, a $200K workout bonus, a $500K bonus for spending one game on the 53-man roster, up to $1.4MM in per-game roster bonuses, and additional incentives of about $3MM. In total, by my calculations, the team should create at least $3MM in 2014 cap savings with the move.
The Eagles recently restructured the contract for wide receiver Brad Smith, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. According to Caplan, the agreement reduced Smith’s cap number by $350K, but assured him $450K in guaranteed money.
E.J. Biggers‘ new one-year contract with the Redskins is a minimum salary benefit deal, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The pact includes a base salary of $730K, a signing bonus of $65K, and a cap hit of $635K.

Texans, Manning Working On New Deal

March 28th, 2014 at 10:24am CST by Luke Adams

10:24am: Ganguli has issued a correction to her initial report, tweeting that Manning hasn’t actually agreed to a pay cut yet. The Texans are working on a new agreement, says Ganguli.

9:46am: Heading into the final year of his contract, Danieal Manning won’t be a cap casualty, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (via Twitter), who says that the Texans defensive back has agreed to restructure his deal. Unless the new agreement tacks extra years onto the contract, Manning figures to take a pay cut to reduce his cap number.

Manning, 31, suffered a fractured fibula in October 2013, forcing him to miss 10 games. As such, the Texans could create some cap relief by reworking his deal to include playing-time incentives. Because the ex-Bear only appeared in six contests, incentives based on appearing in more games this season would be considered “unlikely to be earned,” meaning they wouldn’t initially be included on Houston’s cap. That scenario would give Manning a chance to earn back a chunk of his original salary if he’s healthy.

Prior to agreeing to restructure his deal, Manning was set to earn a $4.5MM base salary. Combined with a $1.5MM hit for a prorated bonus, his cap number had been $6MM.

According to Ganguli (via Twitter), armed with the extra cap room afforded by Manning’s pay cut, the Texans may pursue free agent safety Chris Clemons, who was drafted by Houston director of pro personnel Brian Gaine in Miami.

Eagles Sign Mark Sanchez

March 28th, 2014 at 8:04am CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 8:04am: The Eagles have officially signed Sanchez to a one-year deal, according to the team. As Mike Garafolo first reported (via Twitter), the contract will be worth up to a max of $4MM, with a base value of about half that amount. Rich Cimini tweets that the base value is $2.25MM.

THURSDAY, 6:50pm: The deal is done, league sources tell Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets that the quarterback passed his physical. It should only be a matter of time until we learn the contract details.

12:13pm: The Eagles and Sanchez have now agreed to terms, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), so it should just be a matter of time before the deal is official.

11:21am: After several reports earlier this week indicated the Eagles were strong frontrunners to land Mark Sanchez, the ex-Jet will indeed sign with Philadelphia today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports confirms (via Twitter) that “everything has checked out” for Sanchez, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. While Garafolo clarifies that the deal isn’t finalized yet, he says it’s just a matter of time (Twitter link).

Sanchez, a former fifth overall pick, spent four seasons as the Jets’ full-time starter before giving way to Geno Smith in 2013. While he set career-highs with a 56.7% completion percentage, 3,474 passing yards, and 26 passing TDs in 2011, Sanchez regressed in 2012, with those numbers dipping to 54.3%, 2,883, and 13, respectively. After missing the 2013 season with a shoulder injury, the 27-year-old was released by the Jets before receiving an offseason roster bonus.

Once news broke that the Jets would be cutting Sanchez, reports linked a handful of teams to the veteran signal-caller, with the Giants, Rams, Browns, and Titans among the clubs said to have some interest. However, subsequent reports downplayed the interest from many of those teams, leaving Philadelphia as the only clear-cut suitor for the former USC Trojan.

By signing with the Eagles, Sanchez will be replacing the man that replaced him in New York, taking over Michael Vick‘s role as Philadelphia’s No. 2 quarterback behind Nick Foles. Fellow USC product Matt Barkley will also be in the QB mix for the Eagles.

With Sanchez off the market, the list of quarterbacks still on the market looks fairly sparse. Josh Freeman is the most notable name in a group that also includes Matt Flynn, Rex Grossman, David Carr, and Dan Orlovsky.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: Titans, Dolphins, Ravens, Steelers

March 27th, 2014 at 10:18pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some rumblings from around the AFC to wrap up this Thursday night…

The Titans hope to keep linebacker Kamerion Wimbley but are apprehensive about his high salary, tweets Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
The current quandary between the Titans and Chris Johnson is similar to what the team went through with Steve McNair in 2006, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That offseason, the team attempted to trade their quarterback but couldn’t find any suitors. McNair “forced” the issue by showing up for offseason workouts, which the Titans prevented him from attending. McNair filed a grievance, which he eventually won.
Since the Dolphins don’t have to pay a franchise quarterback, the team is currently in “the golden years” with their cap, tweets James Walker of ESPN. As Walker points out, they’ll eventually have to pay someone at the position (whether it’s Ryan Tannehill or somebody else). As a result, this is the time to take advantage of the flexibility (via Twitter).
If the Ravens were to address two more positions in free agency, it would likely be tight end and a backup defensive lineman, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Hensley suggests that the tight end could be Ed Dickson on a cheap deal.
Wide receiver is one of the Steelers‘ biggest needs, opines Scott Brown of ESPN.com, and the team will likely add to their depth via the draft. Brown adds that the team could consider reuniting with Plaxico Burress, but also adds that he can’t see the team adding another veteran wideout after inking Lance Moore to a deal.

NFC Links: Marshall, 49ers, Winston

March 27th, 2014 at 9:18pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of notes from around the NFC…

Brandon Marshall is not worried about this future with the Bears, and he said as much on “The Waddle and Silvy Show” on ESPN Chicago 1000 (via ESPNChicago.com). “One way or another, they’re going to get the deal done,” Marshall said.
The 49ers have been seeking a veteran inside linebacker and Brandon Spikes was one of the players on their list, says ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson (via Twitter). The player ultimately proved to be too expensive and signed with the Bills.
In a separate article, Williamson gives a list of potential veteran linebackers that the 49ers could be interested in. Among them are Desmond Bishop, Dan Connor and Jonathan Vilma.
Offensive tackle Eric Winston still hopes to return to the Cardinals, according to a tweet from SiriusXM NFL Radio. The tweet quotes Winston: “I’ve maintained I hope I’m going back to (the Cardinals). I still think there’s a possibility for that, but have to keep looking.”
Prior to signing with the Saints, Ramon Humber considered signing with the Vikings and the Patriots, according to Ramon Antonio Vargas of the New Orleans Advocate.

Patriots Notes: Wilfork, Solder, Britt

March 27th, 2014 at 7:58pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots made news today when they agreed to a new contract with defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. There were rumors that the former Pro Bowler may have been facilitating his exit from New England, but it appears that the 325-pound veteran will be sticking around for at least another season.

A few more notes from New England…

Wilfork could have made more money on the open market but did not want to relocate his family, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Pats have until May 3 to make a decision on tackle Nate Solder and his fifth-year option, and Field Yates of ESPN.com estimates that the option would be worth an estimated $8.6MM. Yates acknowledges that this is a high number, but states that the 25-year-old’s production at such a value position would make the option worth it.
After bringing in receiver Kenny Britt for a visit – and then after owner Robert Kraft‘s subsequent statement that the team would not be signing the player – Steve Buckley of CSNNE.com wonders if there’s a disconnect in the organization. The Patriot’s philosophy of finding value may clash with their desire to add “character guys,” an attribute that has certainly been emphasized after the embarrassment of Alfonzo Dennard and Aaron Hernandez.
After adding Darrelle Revis and holding onto Wilfork, the Pats biggest weakness on their defense is “pass rush, pass rush, pass rush,” says Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).

Phillip Adams Signs With Seahawks

March 27th, 2014 at 6:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Cornerback Phillip Adams has signed with the Seahawks, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 25-year-old will add some depth to a Seattle secondary that has lost Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond this off-season.

Adams had spent the last two season with the Raiders, appearing in all 16 games in 2013. The five-year veteran was the team’s primary punt returner in 2012, when he returned 25 punts for 139 yards. Adams finished this past season with 30 total tackles and eight punt returns.

Adams was drafted out of South Carolina State University in 2010, selected by the 49ers with the 224th overall pick. He bounced around to the Patriots and (briefly) with the Seahawks before sticking in Oakland.

Adams will likely compete with Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell for the number two cornerback spot on the team’s depth chart.

Draft Notes: Manziel, Barr, Bucannon, Webster

March 27th, 2014 at 5:50pm CST by Ben Levine

As mentioned earlier today, the Browns were one of only two teams that weren’t in attendance for Texas A&M’s (or, realistically, Johnny Manziel‘s) Pro Day. This is interesting, considering the team has the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft and has been seeking a franchise quarterback for a very long time. Among those that believe the team will snag a quarterback in the first round is Brown’s wide receiver Josh Gordon. The All-Pro talent said that he was “pretty sure” that his team would select a quarterback, but Gordon did not initially mention Johnny Football. According to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com, the receiver instead brought up former UCF quarterback Blake Bortles or Louisville junior Teddy Bridgewater. Of course, Gordon eventually added Manziel to his list, saying the former Heisman winner would “seem to be the top guy on (his) list right now.”

A couple of other notes regarding some NFL prospects…

Former UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr will meet with the Cowboys, Falcons, Titans and Vikings, according to Ross Jones of FoxSports.com. The meeting with the Falcons is scheduled for this Saturday.
All-American safety Deone Bucannon will visit the Ravens today and tomorrow, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The former Washington State Cougar would fit in nicely with a secondary that just lost veteran James Ihedigbo to the Lions.
Bloomsburg defender Larry Webster has a busy week ahead of him, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Webster has a visit and workout scheduled with the Lions, a workout scheduled with the Panthers, and visits set up with the Cardinals and Buccaneers.

Titans, Shaun Phillips Agree To Two-Year Deal

March 27th, 2014 at 4:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran free agent Shaun Phillips has reached an agreement with the Titans on a two-year deal worth up to $6MM, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The contract includes $2.5MM in guaranteed money, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com had reported earlier today that Phillips was visiting the team.

Phillips, who turns 33 in May, played nine seasons for the Chargers before joining the Broncos last season. Although he had a solid season in Denver, recording 10 sacks and ranking 18th among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), his departure appeared likely after the team brought DeMarcus Ware aboard earlier this month.

After playing outside linebacker in the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme, Phillips transitioned to a defensive end role in the Broncos’ 4-3 defense last season. As such, he has the flexibility to shift around a little – if needed – in the Titans’ system, led by new defensive coordinator Ray Horton.