2014 May - Pro Football Rumors

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers Agree To Terms

May 29th, 2014 at 12:23pm CST by Luke Adams

The Packers have reached an agreement with first-round safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on his rookie contract, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). The 21st overall pick in the 2014 draft, Clinton-Dix becomes the 12th first-rounder to either sign or agree to terms with his new NFL club.

Clinton-Dix, 21, was the second safety to come off the board in this month’s draft, after Louisville’s Calvin Pryor. An Alabama product, Clinton-Dix racked up 88 tackles and seven interceptions in his final two years at Alabama before deciding to forgo his senior year and enter the 2014 draft.

By locking up Clinton-Dix, the Packers have now secured seven of their nine draftees, with just second-round receiver Davante Adams and third-round tight end Richard Rodgers still unsigned. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, Clinton-Dix is in line for a signing bonus of about $4.384MM, while his overall four-year total will be approximately $8.338MM. The deal will also include a fifth-year team option for 2018.

Jermichael Finley Receives Medical Clearance

May 29th, 2014 at 11:59am CST by Luke Adams

11:59am: Finley has a visit with a team lined up for Friday, Baratz also told PFT, though he declined to identify the club. Mike Florio speculates that it may be the Patriots, and also notes that even though Finley has been cleared by Dr. Maroon, he’ll still need to receive clearance from the doctors for any team that wants to sign him.

11:45am: Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley has received full medical clearance from Dr. Joseph Maroon, agent Blake Baratz tells Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Maroon was the doctor who performed spinal fusion surgery on Finley following injuries to his back and neck last season.

Finley, 27, met with the Seahawks early in the free agent period, but failed a physical with the team, and was believed to be a few months away from receiving clearance and signing anywhere. Now that he has been cleared, Finley, who was voted by PFR readers as the best free agent still on the market last weekend, should draw renewed interest, particularly if he’s no longer linked to future compensatory draft picks after June 1.

The Packers have talked about wanting to bring back Finley, and the Seahawks, who hosted the veteran tight end for an early visit, may still have interest. Other clubs that could use a pass-catching tight end and have at least a little financial flexibility include the Falcons, Bills, Giants, and Chiefs. It’s also never safe to rule out the Patriots as a potential suitor for any tight end.

Although his 2013 campaign was marred by injuries, Finley was one of Aaron Rodgers‘ top weapons in Green Bay in previous years, averaging 58 receptions, 717 receiving yards, and five touchdowns per season in 2011 and 2012.

Draft Signings: Redskins, Browns, Steelers

May 29th, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Luke Adams

By our count, 182 of this year’s draftees have signed their rookie contracts or at least agreed to terms with their new NFL teams coming into today, leaving just 74 players still to sign. A handful of those remaining 74 have formalized their agreements already today, so let’s round up the latest news….

The Redskins have locked up the last of their eight draftees, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed third-round tackle Morgan Moses to his four-year rookie contract. Moses was considered a potential first-round pick heading into the draft, so Washington did well to land him early in the third — the former Virginia lineman will receive a signing bonus worth about $698K, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.
No Browns draftees have put pen to paper yet, but Cleveland has at least reached an agreement with one of its picks now, confirming today (via Twitter) that Pierre Desir has agreed to terms. A fourth-round cornerback, Desir was the last player selected by the Browns in the draft, so it appears the club will work its way backwards through its signings.
Fifth-round cornerback Shaquille Richardson has signed his contract with the Steelers, the team announced in a press release. According to Fitzgerald’s figures, Richardson’s signing bonus will amount to about $190K, while his overall four-year total will be around $2.41MM.

NFC North Notes: Marshall, Lions, Packers

May 29th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

Although Brandon Marshall‘s new extension with the Bears was originally reported as containing $22.3MM in guaranteed money, not all of that money is fully guaranteed, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Only Marshall’s $7.5MM signing bonus and $7.3MM base salary are fully guaranteed, whereas the other $7.5MM – his 2015 base salary – is guaranteed for injury only at this point. In total then, Marshall’s new deal contains $14.8MM in fully guaranteed money.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

Following the team’s OTAs on Wednesday, the Lions hosted free agent defensive back Terrell Thomas for a visit, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News. Thomas, who also visited recently with the Patriots, posted solid numbers for the Giants in 588 defensive snaps last year, ranking 52nd out of 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). He also accumulated 67 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble.
A contract extension for Ndamukong Suh would seem to be a win-win scenario for the defensive tackle and the Lions, since it would mean a payday for Suh and increased cap room for the team, which would allow Detroit to sign its top draft picks. The fact that a new deal hasn’t been struck yet has Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press questioning Suh’s “supposedly full-throated commitment to the Lions and doing whatever necessary to help them win.”
While the Packers may be rolling the dice by signing troubled tight end Colt Lyerla, the club did its due diligence before making the move, says Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report. According to Pompei, three Green Bay front office executives interviewed Lyerla in person, and GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy both spent time with the tight end at the team’s rookie minicamp.
Insider linebacker is the Packers‘ biggest remaining need, as Rob Demovsky writes at ESPN.com, citing Rivers McCown’s Insider-only piece.

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks Moving Toward Deal

May 29th, 2014 at 9:08am CST by Luke Adams

9:08am: Baldwin and the Seahawks are “very close” to reaching an agreement, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who says to expect a shorter term — perhaps three years.

8:22am: One restricted free agent remains unsigned, but it may just be a matter of time until wide receiver Doug Baldwin and the Seahawks come to an agreement on a multiyear contract. According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter links), the two sides have been moving toward a deal, and one could be struck “very soon.”

Baldwin, 25, indicated yesterday on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that while he’d like a longer-term contract, he’s prepared to go out and play the 2014 season on his RFA tender, which is worth $2.187MM. He and the Seahawks still have a little time to work out an agreement — if RFAs have yet to sign new contracts or accept their one-year tenders by June 15, their leverage diminishes significantly, since clubs can withdraw those tenders and still regain exclusive negotiating rights.

By the sounds of Garafolo’s report, Seattle and Baldwin should have in agreement in place by that point, and if so, it’ll be interesting to see what it looks like. The Stanford alum has modest career numbers, including 50 receptions for 778 yards in ’13, but he’s still young and could be in line for a bigger role in the team’s offense now that Golden Tate is no longer in the picture. Tate received more than $6MM annually to sign a long-term contract with the Lions this offseason, and while Baldwin may not match that figure, his per-year salary on a multiyear deal would presumably exceed his $2.187MM tender.

If the two sides don’t work something out, Baldwin figures to play out the season on his one-year tender, then become eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2015.

Extra Points: Cowboys, Lee, Gase, Hester

May 28th, 2014 at 10:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are considering all options to replace linebacker Sean Lee. Well, not all options. You can count out veteran London Fletcher, who says he’s retired, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Besides, as Werder notes, his fans in Washington D.C. wouldn’t be too pleased with him if he went to Dallas. More from around the league..

The union has been looking into the injury suffered by Lee, but there likely won’t be much said about the team’s role in it, writes FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo. In theory, the union could charge the team with neglect if there were a clear, objective violation like the OTAs running longer than the allotted 90 minutes.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com runs down his list of top coordinators on the rise and the Broncos‘ Adam Gase is at the top. The OC has been the NFL’s “it” guy for some time and even though it’ll be hard for his offense to replicate last season’s performance, he still figures to have tons of options in 2015.
Newcomer Devin Hester is expected to give the Falcons‘ special teams a big boost, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think that one thing that I really enjoy at this point in time is the way he’s approaching it,” special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “He’s approaching it like a pro. He’s not approaching it like, ‘hey, I’ve been there before.’ He knows and understands that this is a different team, and he’s working his tail off.”

Extension Candidate: Alex Smith

May 28th, 2014 at 8:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Raise your hand if two years ago you thought Alex Smith would be in position to ask for a contract with an average annual value of about $18MM. Okay, now stop lying and put your hand down.

After a revitalizing season with the Chiefs last year that brought about his first Pro Bowl invitation, Smith is entering the final year of his contract and the Chiefs would like to keep him off the open market. That could be easier said that done. Earlier today, Ed Werder of ESPN.com reported that there has been “very little dialogue” between the two sides on a fresh contract. Head coach Andy Reid seems to think that they could get something done, but Kansas City is understandably reluctant to give Smith a deal similar to the one Jay Cutler got from the Bears. Cutler’s new seven-year deal gave him an AAV of $18.1MM, and that could be too rich for KC’s blood when it comes to the former No. 1 overall pick.

Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap looked at Smith’s case and weighed him against Cutler and Tony Romo. There are few areas – outside of win percentage – that favor Smith in a matchup with Romo when considering the Dallas QB’s completion percentage, touchdown/interception ratio, and other vitals. However, Smith and Cutler do appear to be a much stronger match. Neither guy is a slam-dunk franchise QB but both men have found success (even when it’s not pretty) and in a league with few quality options, they have to be considered premium talents. Ultimately, Fitzgerald concludes that an $18MM per year asking price is not outlandish based on what he done the last few seasons and I’m inclined to agree.

Do you think Smith is deserving of that type of deal? Cast your vote below and let us know in the comments section.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Johnson, Bills

May 28th, 2014 at 7:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Eric Decker will be going from playing with one of the all time great quarterbacks in NFL history to hauling in passes from Michael Vick and/or Geno Smith. While some might see a dropoff there, the Jets’ prized free agent pickup says that he sees “a lot of talent” at the QB position with Gang Green, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. Here’s more out of the AFC East..

Jets running back Chris Johnson took to Twitter last night to let everyone know that he’d like to see Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson join him in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Today, he explained that some more to reporters, including Newsday’s Kimberley Martin. “His situation, I don’t think the Texans will let him go, but me playing in the AFC South, facing him twice and every year, he’s a very good player and he’s also a friend,” Chris Johnson said, as he addressed the media in a cramped press room on Day 2 of OTAs. “So any time you’ve got a friend in the league, you always want to play with them.”
Former Sabres owner Tom Golisano has met with Bills officials and public leaders, and informed them of his interest in purchasing the franchise, people involved with the negotiations told John Wawrow of the Associated Press. One person added that Golisano has also had talks with developer Scott Congel to be his partner in the potential ownership group.
Marty Mornhinweg‘s challenge will be to integrate the Jets‘ new pieces into his offensive system, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

Bears Release Derrick Martin

May 28th, 2014 at 5:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have cut former Ravens safety Derrick Martin with a non-football injury designation, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). The move will create room on the roster for former CFL tackle Michael Ola, who was picked up earlier today off waivers from the Dolphins.

The well-traveled veteran has played for five NFL teams over the course of his career and could be on his way to No. 6. Martin appeared in seven games last season for the Bears, recording a tackle on defense and six on special teams, and was re-signed to a one-year deal earlier this year. The 29-year-old has two Super Bowl rings in his collection – one with the Packers and one with the Giants in the following season.

Minor Moves: Steelers, Dolphins, Seahawks

May 28th, 2014 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are a few of the latest transactions from around the league, including several draft pick signings, waiver claims, and cuts, plus a new contract for a player who was cut by his old team earlier this month:

Three teams parted ways with recently-signed undrafted free agents or players on reserve contracts, as the Steelers cut offensive lineman Kaycee Ike, the Dolphins dropped running back Cameron Marshall, and the Texans waived guard Kevin Forsch (all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun). The Packers also waived linebacker Victor Aiyewa, per Wilson (via Twitter).
Three players cut this week have been claimed off waivers, according to Wilson, who reports (in a series of three tweets) that tackle Michael Ola is headed to the Bears, defensive back Deion Belue was awarded to the Steelers, and receiver Kofi Hughes was claimed by the Texans.
A couple more updates from Wilson: Luke Marquardt is now on the 49ers‘ injured reserve list (Twitter link), while Garrett Scott has been placed on the Seahawks‘ non-football injury list (Twitter link).
Having been recently cut by the Seahawks, defensive back Jimmy Legree has signed with the Cardinals, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

Earlier updates:

The Seahawks became the NFL’s fourth team to finishing locking up its 2014 draft class, announcing last night that fourth-round wide receiver Kevin Norwood and fourth-round linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis have signed their rookie contracts. The Saints, Chiefs, and Bears were the first three clubs to sign all their draftees.
Sixth-round cornerback Brandon Dixon has inked his four-year rookie deal with the Jets, the team confirmed today in a press release. The 195th overall selection, Dixon is in line for a signing bonus worth about $103K an an overall four-year base value of around $2.324MM, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. The former Northwest Missouri State speedster is the 10th of 12 Jets draft picks to sign his contract.
The Dolphins have signed former Buccaneers cornerback Anthony Gaitor, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The appropriately named Gaitor, a seventh-round pick in 2011, remains in the state where he also played his college ball, at Florida International.