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Month: January 2025

NFC Camp Notes: Seahawks, Lyerla, Eagles

June 22nd, 2014 at 9:54am CST by Rory Parks

Now that OTAs and minicamps are behind us, writers from around the league are looking ahead to training camp, anticipating roster battles, and wondering if anything we saw in the past few weeks of workouts will translate into the regular season. Here are some such notes from the NFC:

  • Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times writes that the Seahawks‘ most heated position battle will be at right tackle, where Michael Bowie and Justin Britt appear to have equal footing heading into training camp.
  • Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel lists 10 Packers storylines to watch before training camp, including JC Tretter‘s hold on the center position and how the team will replace Jermichael Finley. Perhaps undrafted tight end Colt Lyerla, who Dunne also lists as a player to watch this summer, could be part of that solution.
  • Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer, like most writers, notes that reports from OTAs and minicamps are typically full of optimism. But trouble always lurks beneath that hopeful veneer, and for the Eagles, that trouble comes in the form of depth along the offensive line and the wide receiver corps. Then there is the question of whether the team’s projected starters in the defensive backfield are good enough to compete on a weekly basis.
  • On the more optimistic side of the coin, Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com points to five reasons for Redskins fans to feel hopeful heading into training camp, including what promises to be a more productive pass rush.
  • Matt Bowen of The Chicago Tribune liked a lot of what he saw from the Bears‘ defensive unit this spring, including the promise displayed by Brock Vereen and Shea McClellin.

Wagoner On The Rams

June 22nd, 2014 at 8:51am CST by Rory Parks

Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com recently hosted an online chat with fans about the Rams’ offseason, what questions the team must answer as they head into training camp next month, and what to be expected of certain players this year. The entire conversation is worth a read, but here are some of the highlights:

Wagoner generally cautions, and rightfully so, about making any bold proclamations based upon what transpired in OTAs and minicamp. For example, in response to a question as to whether any of the Rams’ receivers flashed the ability to become a true No. 1 receiver, Wagoner writes, “The receiver group had some really nice moments in camp, from guys like (Kenny Britt) and (Chris Givens) on down to someone like Emory Blake. But in the grand scheme, it doesn’t mean a whole lot.” Similarly, Wagoner adds, “Brian Schottenheimer said (Brian Quick) was the most improved player in camp. He definitely had some good moments. But that’s nothing new, either. Quick has always showed great promise in practice. It’s about doing it in games. Let’s see where he’s at when the real stuff begins.”

On what the Rams could reasonably expect to pay if they wanted to extend Sam Bradford:

“I’d think he’d be in the $15 million range on an annual basis depending on how well he plays. Jay Cutler‘s contract would be a likely baseline, I’d think. Again, that’s based on him playing well enough for the Rams to want to do an extension.”

On Kenny Britt‘s potential impact:

“Hard to say but if the season started today, I’d think some combination of Givens, Britt and (Tavon Austin) would get the first crack at the receiver spots. But a long way to go.”

Whats moves to add veteran depth might the Rams make before the season begins?

“As of now, they don’t seem to be in a hurry to do anything else in terms of vets and they will need some cap space to get through the season with injuries and such. If they do, I think (outside linebacker and safety) would make the most sense, especially a veteran linebacker.”

How many quarterbacks might the Rams keep, and who are they?

“If neither (Austin Davis) nor (Garrett Gilbert) shows much, I could see the Rams keeping two and then putting Gilbert on the practice squad. If Gilbert plays well in the preseason, I think they keep all three. But I do think Davis would have to really surprise to make it.”

On if the three big contracts on the team’s books for Bradford, Jake Long, and James Laurinaitis will unduly hinder the Rams:

I don’t think it’s much of an issue because, as we sit here right now, what has it really cost them? Long and Laurinaitis have been good, productive players. And both of them have cap numbers that reduce in the next two years (especially in the case of Laurinaitis). Bradford’s contract is really nobody’s fault, it was the going rate for a No. 1 overall pick at the time. Have the Rams got the return on that investment? No. But as you point out, the Rams have the ability to move on from him soon without paying much dead money soon enough if he doesn’t take the next step or stay healthy in 2014.

On Aaron Donald‘s potential:

“I could see him getting seven or eight sacks as a rookie. I think he’ll work on sub package stuff a lot early on, coming in on passing downs. He should be able to do some damage there right away given his polish.”

 

Extra Points: Cardinals, Lions, Redskins

June 21st, 2014 at 10:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are a handful of extra notes to wrap up this Saturday evening…

Colts Notes: Fullback, Whalen, Nixon

June 21st, 2014 at 9:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Following the Colts minicamp, coach Chuck Pagano realized how much talent he has on his squad. Pagano relayed the message to his team:

“It will be really, really difficult to get to 53 this year,” said Pagano (via Mike Chappell of IndyStar.com). “The final cutdown is going to be difficult.”

Chappell decided to give the coach a hand and give his crack at the roster. Here are some of the more interesting notes, along with two bonus tweets from the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder…

  • At fullback, Chappell chose Mario Harvey over Stanley Havili. Harvey, a former linebacker, is switching to the offensive side of the ball. Havili has 218 career all-purpose yards.
  • The writer took LaVon Brazill and Da’Rick Rogers at wide receiver, but notes that Griff Whalen could beat out the duo.
  • For the final tight end spot, Chappell sided with Jack Doyle over Weslye Saunders, but adds that the team could very well carry four at the position.
  • Chappell envisions a year on the practice squad for seventh-round pick Ulrick John.
  • Jeris Pendleton earned Chappell’s final spot on the defensive line, but the writer warns that the job could be Brandon McKinney‘s if the veteran has regained form following his two knee injuries.
  • Holder tweets that former undrafted offensive tackle Xavier Nixon “is a keeper.” The 23-year-old made his NFL debut last season.
  • Holder also tweets that rookie wideout Donte Moncrief has looked good and is making coaches excited.

AFC Links: Ravens, Patriots, Raiders

June 21st, 2014 at 8:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Since being cut by the Chargers in early March, fullback Le’Ron McClain has been keeping in shape, eyeing a return to the NFL. The 29-year-old told Andrew Gribble of Al.com that he’s shed 15 pounds and is at a “great weight.” As a result, McClain, who was listed at 260 pounds at the end of 2013, is looking to change up his game.

“I’m trying to evolve my game also and do more than just blocking and everything,” McClain said. “Just trying to evolve my game as in catching, running routes, just trying to be a difference-maker on the field. That’s what I’ve been working on this offseason.

“Whatever team calls me, they’re going to get that different type of player this year.”

McClain’s best season was with the Ravens in 2008, when he ran for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…

  • Ravens rookie defensive end Brent Urban has been looking good in his recovery from offseason ankle surgery, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The fourth-rounder was supposed to be ready by about training camp, but took plenty of snaps at minicamp.
  • The Patriots young receivers are going to have to make a jump this season, Boston.com’s Zuri Berry said on Comcast Sportsnet New England’s Sports Tonight (via CSNNE.com). “It’s going to be a lot harder for those guys to make those mistakes and get away with it because [the Patriots] have more receivers now,” Berry said. “They have other guys to go to.”
  • Raiders owner Mark Davis had previously been talking business about a new stadium in Oakland. Following initial talks with the real estate firm, Davis told reporters that communications have stalled. “All the talks we have with them are positive, but there’s no progress after the talks,” he said (via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com). “Everybody is trying. Whether it can get done, I don’t know.”

Panthers Notes: Newton, Webb, Receivers

June 21st, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by Ben Levine

After Panthers minicamp wrapped up on Thursday, the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person compiled his 20 observations from the team’s OTA. Let’s take a look at some of those notes…

  • Cam Newton made an unexpected appearance at camp on Thursday, throwing in three seven-on-seven drills. The quarterback had a rough start, missing on seven of his first ten throws. Person notes how important it is for Newton to be ready for training camp so he can “develop timing” with all of his new receivers.
  • Two of the team’s offseason signings at wideout, Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant, are very similar and the writer can’t see the players playing together in two-receiver sets.
  • Receiver Kealoha Pilares is “almost a lock” to make the roster because of his receiving skills.
  • Quarterback Joe Webb looked good on some runs, but he failed to show the consistency demonstrated by likely number-two quarterback Derek Anderson. Still, Webb’s experience at receiver makes him an “intriguing candidate” for a final roster spot.
  • The team is going to have some difficult decisions to make when choosing the backups for tight end Greg Olsen. Veteran Ed Dickson had some success with the Ravens and Brandon Williams has shown improvement in training camp. The team also has blocking tight ends Mike McNeill and D.C. Jefferson.

NFL Cheerleaders May Attempt To Unionize

June 21st, 2014 at 5:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Amid allegations of wage violations and poor working conditions, the NFL’s cheerleading teams may be seeking to unionize. A former Buffalo Jill (the Bills cheerleading squad) spoke about the matter to Andrea Kremer for a future episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com):

“We’re looking into possibly developing some type of union for girls going forward,” the cheerleader, Maria, said. “So we’re not doing this to benefit ourselves. We’re, you know, done with cheering. This is for the future of the team, the future of these girls.”

Florio writes that the effectiveness of a union is debatable, but the threat could be enough to change how team’s treat their cheerleaders. Since February, at least five teams have seen lawsuits come their way:

  • A former Bengals cheerleader sued the team in February. The lawsuit claimed that the cheerleader received an average of $2.85 an hour (via USA Today Sport’s Sheila McLaughlin).
  • Five former Jills filed a lawsuit against the Bills in April. The suit alleges that the cheerleaders were payed below minimum wage for their “extensive work on game day and at various community events” (via USA Today Sports).
  • A former Buccaneers cheerleader filed a lawsuit against the team in May, claiming she received less than $2.00 an hour (via SI.com’s Josh Sanchez).
  • A former Jets cheerleader sued the team in May, saying she made about $1.50 an hour following out-of-pocket expenses (via Dareh Gregorian of the New York Daily News).
  • Two former Raiders cheerleaders sued the team earlier this month. They claimed that they were “subjected to poor working conditions” in addition to being paid below minimum wage (via ESPN.com). This came a few months after the U.S. Labor Department announced that a previous wage investigation was closed. The findings said that the Raiders were “a ‘seasonal’ operation exempt from federal minimum-wage laws” (via SFGate.com’s Bob Egelko).

As Florio points out, teams have continually capitalized on the competitive nature of the job. For the opportunity to be a cheerleader, the team’s presume the performers would accept less than adequate pay.

“[D]oes it make it right?” a former Raiderette, Lacy, said to Kremer. “Tons of people would love to be a reporter. Does that mean you don’t deserve to be paid for your talent, for your time, for your hard work?”

The NFL has not spoken publicly on the matter.

Extension Candidate: Dez Bryant

June 21st, 2014 at 4:51pm CST by Rob DiRe

Dez BryantNFL: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys entered the NFL amidst an air of controversy. As a sophomore at Oklahoma State, Bryant caught 87 passes and 19 touchdowns, piling up close to 1,500 yards in the process. He was set to return for his junior year as not only the top receiver in the nation, but as a dark horse Heisman candidate. However, his season was cut short when he was ruled ineligible for failure to disclose his relationship with Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders.

After sitting out, Bryant entered the 2010 NFL Draft, where he was expected to be the first receiver selected. During the pre-draft process, controversy arose again, surrounding an inappropriate question he was asked by then Dolphins’ general manager Jeff Ireland. Bryant ended up dropping in the draft, before being selected 24th overall by the Cowboys. He was the second receiver taken, after Demaryius Thomas, who is also a part of our Extension Candidate Series this offseason.

Bryant struggled at times on and off the field during his first two NFL campaigns, but showed flashes and managed to catch 15 touchdown passes through his second year, despite missing five games. He also added two punt return touchdowns as a rookie.

Although Bryant found more trouble his first few seasons in the NFL, he has truly come into his own as an elite receiver the past two seasons. Bryant caught 92 passes in 2012, eclipsing 1,300 yards and hauling in 12 touchdowns. Last season, he grabbed 93 footballs for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Bryant is about to enter the final year of his rookie deal, and is scheduled to earn $1.78MM in 2014. He remains positive that a deal will get taken care of, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

“That’s going to take care of itself. I’m very confident in the work I put in. Whatever happens, happens,” said Bryant. “All I know is I’m going to continue to keep doing my job. That alone shows my dedication and love I have for the game. I’m going to let it work out.’’

The Cowboys are not in a great place in terms of the salary cap, especially after the monster extension that they gave Tony Romo, but upcoming extensions are expected for both Bryant and left tackle Tyron Smith. However, the amount of money Bryant will demand is still up in the air. Brandon Marshall‘s three year, $30MM extension could be seen as the floor for Bryant in terms of annual salary. At the same time, expecting him to reach a number north of $15MM per year is also unlikely, even if he produces on par with Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald did in their contract years. Especially with the Fitzgerald contract, teams could be unwilling to devote that much money to one receiver.

Of course, with the salary cap climbing this year, and expected to continue to increase in the near future, a contract in the area of what Johnson and Fitzgerald may not an impossible benchmark. For Thomas, the receiver that was drafted just ahead of him, our own Luke Adams projected the Broncos would offer something in the area of five years and $65MM, with over $20MM in guaranteed. Bryant should be in line for something similar.

These two players’ negotiations will be linked very closely this offseason. If Luke is correct in his assessment that Thomas will sign his extension before the season, I figure Bryant will be on a similar timetable, and would not be surprised if after one signs, the other ends up with a slightly larger extension shortly after. Of course, with Bryant’s history of injury and off the field trouble, the Cowboys could play hardball and wait to see how he makes it through one more season. If that’s the case, Bryant could be anywhere in 2015, from preparing for a Megatron-type extension to being the second coming of Hakeem Nicks, depending on how he handles the season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Gabbert, Cromartie, Peterson

June 21st, 2014 at 4:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 49ers acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars earlier this offseason, with the hopes that he could become the backup to Colin Kaepernick. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman had good early impressions of Gabbert, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “(I’m) excited about Blaine,” said Roman. “He asks all the right questions.”

Gabbert appears humbled in his time with Jacksonville, and is ready to make a new start. “I just came in here and tried to put my best foot forward every day and really enjoy the process and get better on a consistent basis,” Gabbert said. “That’s what you look for in the spring — just consistent improvement and getting comfortable in the offense and with the new surroundings and the new guys you’re working with.”

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • While Cardinals‘ superstar Patrick Peterson has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, but his new teammate Antonio Cromartie is not sold on his skills, writes Nate Davis of USAToday.com. “You got three young guys that are up and coming, but right now it’s either me or (Revis) when we’re healthy. … We have zero help at all; we tell the safety to roll up to the other side. So we know what we can do,” said Cromartie. “I want these guys (Sherman, Peterson and Haden) to be on an island by themselves and play zero coverage (no safety help) – they (haven’t done) it yet. They haven’t done anything that me and Revis have done in a Rex Ryan defense.”
  • As new offensive coordinator Norv Turner implements his offense on the Vikings, one key aspect he would like is increasing Adrian Peterson‘s role in the passing game, writes Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com. “A big part of that is finding ways for Adrian to not have to run in such crowded areas all the time. He’s going to have to do that, that’s part of his job, he’s the best in the league at it.,” said Turner. “But if we can get him more space we can take advantage of his great abilities.”
  • The Packers have an open starting job at tight end with Jermichael Finley not re-signed, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Andrew Quarless filled in well for Finley last season, but has not reported for OTAs this season as he looks for a new contract. In his absence, rookie Richard Rogers has emerged as a possible frontrunner for the starting job.
  • T.J. Yates, who was traded from the Texans to the Falcons on Wednesday night, tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he couldn’t be happier with his change of scenery.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Different Types Of Contract Structures

June 21st, 2014 at 2:38pm CST by Rob DiRe

Yesterday afternoon, Joel Corry of CBS Sports explained the differences between deal structures, in terms of how the money is paid out and guaranteed to players.

In his article, he describes four types of structures that occur commonly in NFL contracts:

  1. Signing Bonus
  2. Signing Bonus and Salary Guarantees
  3. Signing Bonus and Option Guarantees
  4. Pay as you go

The differences between these four basic concepts are small, but they each have their advantages in terms of how cap space is utilized.

Corry explains that in the first type, which relies on the signing bonus, the player’s base salary is kept low early in the deal but the cost of cutting the player is high due to the guaranteed bonus. However in the pay as you go method, the guaranteed money is all at the beginning, so if the player is released a limited amount of dead money will remain on the books.

The other structures fall somewhere in between, and while this is his attempt to simplify it, contracts are complex and can sometimes overlap.

This could come into play while NFL teams begin negotiating their next batch of contract extensions.

Corry also lists team by team which salary structure they prefer for their largest contracts. He explains the details of the contracts, and how he expects the team to act going forward. To see Corry’s explanation of your favorite team’s strategy, check out his article.

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