2014 July - Pro Football Rumors

Taylor Lewan, Titans Agree To Terms

July 24th, 2014 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

The last of this year’s 256 draftees who remained unsigned has agreed to terms with his NFL team, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who reports (via Twitter) that the Titans have reached an agreement with offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. With training camps opening around the NFL this week, 2014’s entire draft class is now under contract.

Lewan, who turned 23 this week, was the 11th overall pick in May’s draft, and the third tackle to come off the board after Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews. As Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com show, Lewan will have an overall four-year value of about $11.485MM on his rookie contract, including a signing bonus worth around $6.673MM. The deal will also include a fifth-year option for 2018.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested a few weeks ago that the delay on Lewan’s signing may have been a result of the Michigan alum looking to replace his fully-guaranteed base salaries with roster bonuses paid out during training camp. Last year’s 11th overall pick (D.J. Fluker) didn’t receive these bonuses in his deal, but Lewan’s teammate, 2013’s No. 10 pick Chance Warmack, did get them. Considering Lewan is viewed as the Titans’ left tackle of the future, making him a more essential piece on the offensive line than Warmack, he had a reasonable case for those roster bonuses, though it’s not clear yet if he received them.

While Lewan may play left tackle down the line for the Titans, his short-term position is less clear, considering the team still has Michael Roos in place on the left side, and signed Michael Oher to man right tackle.

NFC Notes: Garrett, Mathis, Rudolph, Packers

July 24th, 2014 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

After three straight 8-8 finishes, the 2014 season has been dubbed a make-or-break season for Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett by several NFL pundits, but owner Jerry Jones doesn’t think that’s necessarily the case. At least, that’s what he’s saying publicly (link via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com).

“In terms of the record of this team, this is not a make-or-break situation for Jason,” Jones said. “Members of this staff, we’ve got a job to do. We obviously are gonna see what we’re doing this afternoon and what we’re doing the next day and the next day and the next day. … We’ve put a lot of effort in training as a franchise into Jason Garrett, and I want to take advantage of that.”

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

Although Eagles offensive lineman Evan Mathis wants a new contract and was considering a holdout, he ultimately decided to report to camp, determining that was the best course of action, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com (Twitter links).
As Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets, Vikings GM Rick Spielman expressed interest again today in locking up tight end Kyle Rudolph to a contract extension. Rudolph has indicated multiple times that he’d like to remain in Minnesota long term, so there seems to be mutual interest in working something out.
Speaking to reporters today, Packers GM Ted Thompson said his team’s three goals heading into the offseason were to re-sign as many of their own players as possible, selectively add players from other teams, and draft effectively (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com). In Thompson’s view, Green Bay was able to achieve those goals.
Panthers offensive lineman Edmund Kugbila will undergo back surgery and will miss the season, GM Dave Gettleman announced today (Twitter link).

AFC Notes: Blackmon, Chiefs, Ross, Dalton

July 24th, 2014 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

Wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who was already serving an indefinite suspension for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy, was arrested in Oklahoma on Wednesday night for possession of marijuana, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union details. The Jaguars say they haven’t considered cutting Blackmon, but there’s no indication that he’ll be reinstated and return to the field anytime soon.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap passes along the details on Jamaal Charles’ new deal with the Chiefs, which includes a roster bonus and reporting bonus for 2014, but no prorated signing bonus.
Even after signing his extension, Charles also earned the honor of having the best contract on the Chiefs, in Fitzgerald’s view. On the other end of the spectrum, Dwayne Bowe’s deal is the least team-friendly pact on the team’s books, says Fitzgerald.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), that cornerback Aaron Ross tore his Achilles tendon during the team’s conditioning test, and will be out for the season. The injury is an unfortunate one for the veteran defensive back, who was hoping to earn a regular-season roster spot.
Speaking to the media today, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said he’s not worried about his contract situation, adding that the backing of owner Mike Smith makes him confident the two sides will work something out (Twitter links via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com).

Justin Houston Reports To Chiefs’ Camp

July 24th, 2014 at 10:17am CST by Luke Adams

JULY 24: Houston is present at the Chiefs’ training camp, multiple sources tell Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).

JULY 16: While he’s still seeking a new contract and remains upset with the Chiefs, linebacker Justin Houston is expected to report to the team’s training camp when it opens next week, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Houston was absent from Kansas City’s spring workouts and minicamp, but will want to avoid incurring up to $30K in daily fines for missing training camp.

Houston, 25, has racked up 21 sacks in 27 games for the Chiefs in the last two seasons, earning spots in consecutive Pro Bowls. However, since he was a third-round pick in 2011, he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will earn a base salary of just $1.4MM in 2014.

Because he wasn’t a first-rounder, Houston doesn’t have a fifth-year option on his deal, meaning he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency after the ’14 season. His approaching free agency could improve his leverage, but Houston also has to be careful about missing too much of this year’s training camp — failing to report within 30 days of the regular season opener would cost him an accrued season, in which case he’d only be eligible for restricted free agency in 2015.

Houston is certainly underpaid, and with just a year remaining on his deal, the Chiefs should be motivated to work out a deal that locks him up for multiple years, but the team doesn’t have a significant amount of cap flexibility. As such, this will be an interesting situation to watch during training camp, whether or not Houston is in attendance.

Chiefs Sign Ryan Harris, Josh Mauga

July 24th, 2014 at 10:09am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 10:09am: The Chiefs confirmed the two signings today, adding that linebacker DeRon Furr has been cut and fullback James Baker has been placed on the reserve/did not report list (Twitter links).

WEDNESDAY, 11:32am: The Chiefs are expected to officially finalize a pair of signings shortly, adding offensive tackle Ryan Harris and linebacker Josh Mauga to the roster. The news of Harris’ signing comes from the tackle himself, who tweets that he’s “beyond happy to be a Chief.” Meanwhile, agent Michael Hoffman of Premier Sports tweets the news of Mauga agreeing to terms with Kansas City.

Harris, 29, has spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Broncos and Texans, starting 39 of his 78 total games. Although he was a reserve last season in Houston, Harris appeared in each of the team’s 16 games and logged 485 offensive snaps, primarily at right tackle.

Mauga, 27, played for the Jets from 2010 to 2013, appearing in 29 games during his first three years but missing last season with a back injury. His best year for the Jets came in 2011, when he made nine tackles on special teams and also played 145 snaps on defense. For the Chiefs, Mauga figures to compete for a role primarly as a special-teamer.

Neither move has been formally announced by the Chiefs yet, so we’ll have to wait for the club to make the signings official and to indicate which players are being cut to make room for the new additions.

Ray Rice Suspended For Two Games

July 24th, 2014 at 9:26am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL will hand down a two-game suspension to running back Ray Rice for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports first reported (via Twitter) that Rice’s suspension was expected to be for two games.

Rice faced assault charges this offseason after a domestic abuse incident in an Atlantic City casino with his then-fiancée, whom he has since married. The two-game ban for the incident is a little lighter than anticipated and may result in some public relations blow-back for the NFL, particularly as players around the league face four-game or year-long suspensions for violations relating to marijuana use.

While serving the two-game suspension, Rice will miss early-season AFC North battles with the Bengals and Steelers before returning for Week 3’s game against the Browns. As Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun observes (via Twitter), the lost pay checks for the two games Rice will sit out will total about $470K.

In Rice’s absence, Bernard Pierce figures to assume the role of Baltimore’s lead running back.

Falcons Extend Roddy White Through 2017

July 24th, 2014 at 8:37am CST by Luke Adams

8:37am: White will get $10MM in guaranteed money on his new deal, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

8:19am: White’s new deal actually only includes three new years, rather than four, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). That means he’ll be locked up through 2017, and his new deal looks much more comparable to Marshall’s three-year, $30MM extension.

8:03am: The Falcons and Roddy White have agreed to terms on a four-year extension that will keep the wide receiver under contract through the 2018 season, the Falcons announced today in a press release. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter first reported (via Twitter) that an agreement was in place, adding (via Twitter) that the four-year deal will pay White up to $30MM, including $18MM in the first two seasons.

We heard back in May from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that a new contract for White was expected to be in place by the time training camp got underway. Talks between White and the Falcons were temporarily put on hold, allowing the wideout to mourn his half-brother Tyron Moore Jr., who was fatally shot on May 17. However, it appears the two sides later returned to the negotiating table to work out a deal that should allow White to retire as a member of the Falcons.

White, who turns 33 in November, had a string of six consecutive seasons with at least 83 receptions and 1,153 yards, but was slowed by injuries in 2013, and totaled just 63 catches, 711 yards, and three touchdowns. The new contract is a signal that the Falcons believe he can bounce back in 2014 and beyond, acting as one of the league’s best number two receivers opposite Julio Jones.

Reggie Wayne‘s three-year, $17.5MM deal and Brandon Marshall‘s three-year, $30MM pact had been cited as points of comparison for White’s new extension. While the longtime Falcon got an extra year, it looks like his contract falls somewhere in the middle of the two overall, though he’ll earn just under $11MM in 2014, per Rapoport (via Twitter). We’ll have to wait on the full details of the agreement to determine how likely White is to earn the entire $30MM available on his new deal.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank expressed optimism earlier in the offseason that White and Jones will spend their entire careers in Atlanta, so the team figures to eventually shift its attention to an extension for the younger wideout. Jones, a former sixth overall pick, is currently under contract through 2015, after the Falcons exercised his fifth-year option for that season. As such, extension talks for the 25-year-old may not heat up until after the 2014 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Josh Gordon Appeal Set For August 1

July 24th, 2014 at 8:27am CST by Dallas Robinson

JULY 24: Gordon’s appeal is now scheduled for August 1, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

JULY 3: Gordon’s appeal hearing has been set for late July, a league source tells Florio. That hearing wouldn’t be necessary if the NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement on a reduced suspension before that point.

JUNE 23: Browns receiver Josh Gordon has appealed his looming season-long suspension for repeated violations of the league’s drug policy, but a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that a hearing on the matter has yet to be scheduled. Gordon missed two games in 2013 for drug-related offenses, and is facing his current ban as a result of marijuana use.

As Florio details, the Browns (and Gordon) surely want the situation resolved as swiftly as possible. A full-year ban would mean that Gordon cannot be with the team from the moment the suspension begins. If he loses his appeal in, say, August of this year, he would miss out on almost all training and workouts prior to the 2015 season, leaving him ill-prepared for regular season action.

It remains to be seen if a settlement could be in the works, continues Florio. Gordon was originally slapped with a four-game suspension in 2013, but that ban was negotiated down to two games. Reports have indicated that the league may lessen its penalties related to marijuana use, so perhaps a reduced suspension for Gordon would be a first step in that process. The Browns certainly want Gordon to return as soon as possible, as Cleveland’s depth chart at receiver is currently headlined by Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin, and Nate Burleson.

Meanwhile, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets that even if Gordon’s suspension is lessened, he may still be banished from the Browns’ facility. While suspended players are not allowed to practice with their team, they are typically permitted to be present at the team’s headquarters, so this would deviate from the league’s standard procedure.

Extra Points: Giants, Davis, Bucs, Clabo

July 23rd, 2014 at 9:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Giants linebackers coach Jim Herrmann believes the team may have stumbled on a true gem with fifth-round pick Devon Kennard, writes Howie Kussay of the New York Post. “I liked him on film, obviously our college scouting liked him on film,” Herrmann said. “He played at USC and he played under four different coordinators, and played four different positions, so I think he kind of got lost in the college shuffle a little bit there.” More from around the NFL..

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters, including Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter), that a lot of the team’s “dramatic” offseason decisions freed up money that the club can use to hammer out extensions with Tyron Smith and Dez Bryant. It’s likely that Jones is referring to the situation with Kyle Orton that ended with his release earlier this month
According to a report from WUSA 9, former Redskins tight end Fred Davis is wanted by D.C. police for a domestic violence incident. It’s just the latest in a string of troubles for the former NFL notable who was suspended indefinitely for substance abuse and charged with a DUI over the winter.
Bucs GM Jason Licht says he will keep five running backs on the roster if they can help win games, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Licht added that the team is excited about Bobby Rainey. There has been speculation that the 26-year-old, who was picked up off waivers in October of last year, was on the bubble heading into the season.
After Tyson Clabo was signed by the Texans, the best available right tackles in the NFL are David Stewart, Eric Winston, Tony Pashos, Jonathan Scott, Dennis Roland, and Jeremy Trueblood, opines Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Bears GM Phil Emery was highly complimentary of new backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). “That’s as good of a quarterback workout we’ve seen since I’ve been here,” the GM said of the former Notre Dame QB’s June tryout.
The Bears put veteran tight end Travis Beckum and journeyman offensive lineman Thomas Austin through tryouts Wednesday, a source told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Beckum, 27, has been looking to find a home in the league after suffering a torn ACL in the Giants in their Super Bowl XLVI victory following the 2011 season. Austin has played eight games in the NFL with one start, spending time with the Colts last season. Unfortunately for both men, Biggs gets the sense that it’s unlikely either will get contract offers from Chicago.
Scott Brown of ESPN.com (on Twitter) is glad to see center Fernando Velasco catch on with the Panthers after the way he stepped up for the Steelers last season in the absence of Maurkice Pouncey. The 29-year-old was graded as Pittsburgh’s fourth-best lineman by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in 2013.
The deal for new Lions wide receiver Reese Wiggins is a minimum salary deal for three years with nothing guaranteed and no bonuses, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

West Notes: Boone, Charles, Houston

July 23rd, 2014 at 8:20pm CST by Zachary Links

It was revealed earlier today that longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is giving up control over the franchise due to his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The 70-year-old is placing ownership in the Pat Bowlen Trust that is controlled by non-family members, with team president Joe Ellis assuming control of the club. “It’s a really, really sad day,” Ellis said. “It’s sad for his family, his wife and his seven children. It’s sad for everyone in the organization. And it’s sad for all the Bronco fans who know what Pat Bowlen meant to them as an owner. It’s a day nobody wanted to see happen.” More out of the AFC and NFC West..

As expected, 49ers guard Alex Boone did not report to camp and he has been placed on the did not report list, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The Niners can fine him $30K for each day he remains absent.
Terez A. Paylor of The Star (on Twitter) has received zero indications that Jamaal Charles’ new deal with the Chiefs will affect any potential deal with Justin Houston. Houston, 25, has racked up 21 sacks in 27 games for the Chiefs in the last two seasons, earning spots in consecutive Pro Bowls. However, since he was a third-round pick in 2011, he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will earn a base salary of just $1.4MM in 2014.
More from Paylor (on Twitter), who hears that despite some speculation to the contrary, Houston has reported to camp with the Chiefs.