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Werder On Graham, Saints, Josh Gordon

July 7th, 2014 at 10:11am CST by Luke Adams

ESPN NFL insider Ed Werder reported earlier today that the Saints are expected to resume contract negotiations with tight end Jimmy Graham this week, but that wasn’t Werder’s only morning update. He has a few more details on Graham, as well as a note on troubled Browns receiver Josh Gordon, so let’s round up the highlights….

  • Sources tell Werder that Stephen Burbank’s decision to consider Graham a tight end rather than a wide receiver made the Saints star more appealing to other teams around the NFL. Somewhat lost in the dispute over Graham’s position is the fact that he’s still technically a free agent, albeit a restricted one — if another team is willing to give up two future first-round picks, it could sign the 27-year-old to an offer sheet and hope New Orleans decides not to match it.
  • As Werder notes, clubs expecting to draft in the 27-32 range in the first round next year could be top candidates to pursue Graham, since the draft-pick penalty wouldn’t be so harsh. Werder identifies the Patriots, Colts, and Falcons as possible teams to watch. However, he doesn’t believe the Packers would consider such a move since they value their draft picks highly and want to maintain room to re-sign Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.
  • Of course, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets, many teams expecting to pick late in the first round don’t have the cap space to make Graham an offer that the Saints would have trouble matching. Of the teams mentioned by Werder, the Colts – with $13MM+ in room – are best positioned from a cap perspective.
  • As for Gordon, sources tell Werder (Twitter link) that some people close to the Browns wideout have been urging him “to seek professional assistance for substance-abuse issues” since high school. Gordon’s former Cleveland teammate, D’Qwell Jackson, is among those imploring those around him to reach out. “He needs help, he really does,” Jackson said, according to James Walker of ESPN.com. “He needs people to extend themselves and probably have to do more than they wanted to do. But if [the Browns] care anything about the kid, they have to do it.”
  • More Jackson on Gordon: “[He] was a big piece of the Browns‘ future; It’s just unfortunate he didn’t view it that way. He is so valuable. He doesn’t understand how valuable he is to an organization. He has no clue.”

Graham, Saints Expected To Resume Talks Soon

July 7th, 2014 at 8:30am CST by Luke Adams

Talks between the Saints and Jimmy Graham appeared to be essentially nonexistent leading up to Graham’s grievance hearing on his positional designation, but the team’s previous contract offer to the tight end still stands, as we heard last week. And with next Tuesday’s deadline looming, the Saints are expected to resume negotiations with Graham’s camp at some point this week, sources tell Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

While the 27-year-old could end up playing the 2014 season on his one-year franchise tag, it seems to be in both sides’ best interests to work out a longer-term deal that will keep the star pass-catcher in New Orleans for several years. However, the deadline for franchise players to reach multiyear agreements with their respective teams is July 15, so talks between Graham and the Saints will have to accelerate within the next week if the two sides hope to meet that deadline. Graham’s camp also still has the option of appealing arbitrator Stephen Burbank’s ruling to a three-person board, which would further complicate the chances of meeting that deadline.

According to multiple reports, the Saints are willing to make Graham the highest-paid tight end in football, exceeding Rob Gronkowski‘s $9MM annual figure. Although Graham almost certainly won’t attain the $12MM average annual value he was initially seeking, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the two sides ultimately compromised on a per-year figure in the neighborhood of $10MM.

Extra Points: Bills, Cowboys, Minor League

July 6th, 2014 at 10:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are a handful of extra notes to end your weekend…

  • Bills punter Jake Dombrowski will give veteran Brian Moorman some serious competition, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak. The decision will likely come down to whether the team prefers “fresh blood” or the reliable (but inconsistent) Moorman.
  • The Cowboys hiring of passing coordinator Scott Linehan still puzzles the Dallas Morning News’ Gerry Fraley, the writer said on Fox Sports Southwest’s SportsDay OnAir (via DallasNews.com). Fraley questions why the team would want to throw more when they have three first-rounders on the offensive line to protect DeMarco Murray.
  • The NFL is working on a minor league and the owners are aware that investors are “willing to put together developmental leagues for them,” writes ESPN.com’s John Clayton. The writer adds that the league will eventually develop something, but he isn’t sure when.

Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 6th, 2014 at 9:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

  • Acquired a sixth-round pick (No. 181) from the Raiders in exchange for Matt Schaub.
  • Acquired a third-round pick (No. 83) from the Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 101) and a fifth-round pick (No. 141).
  • Acquired Akeem Dent from the Falcons in exchange for T.J. Yates.

Draft picks:

  • Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina (1.1): Signed
  • Xavier Su’a-Filo, G, UCLA (2.33): Signed
  • C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa (3.65): Signed
  • Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame (3.83): Signed
  • Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh (4.135): Signed
  • Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama (6.177): Signed
  • Alfred Blue, RB, LSU (6.181): Signed
  • Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn (6.211): Signed
  • Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt (7.216): Signed
  • Lonnie Ballentine, S, Memphis (7.256): Signed

Other:

The Texans stole many headlines this offseason, but not for the reasons you would think. The team’s key additions weren’t via free agency. Instead, the key additions were a rookie coach and a rookie defensive end. Furthermore, the team watched as a number of key players – particularly on defense – left for greener pastures. However, the average age of those “key” players was 29. The moves (and lack of moves) indicated that the front office’s offseason philosophy was to look more towards the future than 2014.

The team’s first big addition came in early January. Following the firing of Gary Kubiak, the Texans hired Bill O’Brien as their new head coach. The front office is hoping O’Brien will carry over his success from Penn State, where the coach led an embattled program to a 15-9 record over two seasons. Prior to that, O’Brien spent five years with the Patriots, including one as the offensive coordinator.

Jadeveon ClowneyThe Texans’ next big move came during the draft, when the team selected Jadeveon Clowney with the first-overall pick. The Texans decided to not rock the boat and select a quarterback. Rather, the team chose a player who has been declared by league executives as one of the best defensive prospects in more than a decade (according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah). Clowney had a historic career at South Carolina, where he set school records for sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (23.5). 

Clowney will be forced to contribute immediately considering the amount of production the team lost on defense. The Texans’ departures accounted for 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Losing Antonio Smith, Joe Mays and Darryl Sharpton will certainly hurt. Yet, it’s not surprising that a new coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, will be looking to develop their own personnel. Houston did make one notable signing on the defensive side, inking safety Chris Clemons to a two-year deal. The 28-year old may be a steal for the Texans; Pro Football Focus ranks Clemons as the league’s ninth-best coverage safety among 86 qualified candidates.

On offense, the big news was more about what the team didn’t do. To start, the team still hasn’t addressed the Andre Johnson situation. The seven-time Pro Bowler wants out of Houston, but many obstacles stand in the way. The team hasn’t seemed too receptive to a trade, and they would also be hard pressed to find a team that could accommodate Johnson’s $10MM base salary.

The team also failed to definitively address their quarterback situation. Following the trade of Matt Schaub, many expected the Texans to look towards the draft. The team passed on six rookie quarterbacks before finally selecting Tom Savage in the fourth round. They also added veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who seems to be more of a temporary stopgap. The team was previously connected to Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett, but so far it’s been all smoke and little fire.

Otherwise, the Texans didn’t do much to replace running back Ben Tate, tight end Owen Daniels and Pro Bowl offensive lineman Wade Smith. The team previously had Tate as a security blanket for starter Arian Foster; the team will now have to rely heavily on the injury-prone star. They added Andre Brown, but the veteran also battled injuries in 2013. The team re-signed tight end Garrett Graham, who finished last season with career-highs in yards (545) and touchdowns (five). The 27-year-old will likely have a larger role following Daniels’ departure. Meanwhile, rookie guard Xavier Su’a-Filo figures to get his shot at replacing Smith, who still hasn’t found a home this offseason.

Clearly, there are more question marks than answers when it comes to this squad. However, fans should remember that a rebuild is a marathon, not a sprint. With that mindset, it looks like the Texans are off to a very good start.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Seahawks, Cowboys

July 6th, 2014 at 7:57pm CST by Peter Sowards

Even though the San Francisco 49ers are one of the two best teams in the NFL, and even though they’ll be better this year than last, the problem is that the No. 1 team is in their division, and they’re improved, too.

National Football Post’s Greg Gabriel previews the 2014 49ers and says that the team’s top priority is, obviously, getting past the Seahawks, who are riding high after a 43-8 throttling of the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. At quarterback, San Francisco is set with Colin Kaepernick, but Gabriel notes that there isn’t much behind him in the way of depth, even with the team’s recent acquisition of Blaine Gabbert.

Overall, Gabriel loves the talent on each side of the ball as well as head coach Jim Harbaugh, though the statuses of Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman will be key.

More links from the NFC below:

  • At first glance, the running game of last year’s Seahawks appears quite formidable, as the team ranked fourth in total yards gained on the ground with 2,188. But, as The Seattle Times Bob Condotta notes, FootballPerspective.com ranked the Seahawks No. 13 in adjusted yards per carry, a statistic that takes into account rushing touchdowns and rushing first downs as well as bulk yardage.
  • The Cowboys bounced back from a franchise low in rushing yardage in 2012 — 1,265 yards — to a respectable 1,504 yards in 2013 on 4.5 yards per carry, and lead back DeMarco Murray will be leaned on more than ever in 2014, writes Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News. Despite play-caller Scott Linehan notoriously leaning on the arm of his quarterback more often than not, he’s promised to run with Murray, as the Cowboys are 11-0 when the former Sooner gets 20 or more carries.
  • The Saints need to pay up on a long-term deal for Jimmy Graham, USA TODAY’s Lorenzo Reyes argues. Reyes thinks talks between Graham and the team will intensify as the July 15 deadline to sign a multi-year deal approaches.
  • The opinion by arbitrator Stephen Burbank that a tight end is defined by whether he lines up within four yards of an offensive tackle is not sitting well with the Saints, a source tells Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Per Florio, the team contends that a tight end is a tight end based on the player’s size, his position group and how team’s defend him, and that his relationship to the offensive tackle has no bearing.

AFC Notes: Ravens, Browns, Patriots, Chiefs

July 6th, 2014 at 6:08pm CST by Peter Sowards

A frustrating year befell the 2013 Baltimore Ravens, unable to match the high expectations set after winning the Super Bowl the prior season. The offense sputtered behind the NFL’s worst rushing offense and inconsistent play from quarterback Joe Flacco, and an average defense couldn’t make up for the offensive deficiencies.

Thankfully, 2014 is a clean slate. According to Ben Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com, safety Darian Stewart, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and offensive lineman Ryan Jensen are three players whose stocks are rising after the team’s offseason, while defensive lineman Terrence Cody, center Gino Gradkowski and offensive lineman Jah Reid are on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Stewart, with 19 starts in his four-year NFL career, looks to be the Week 1 starter opposite Matt Elam, Smolka writes. Juszczyk is a perfect fit in Gary Kubiak‘s offense and Jensen can play every position on the offensive line.

More news and notes from around the NFL…

  • As the fallout from the Josh Gordon saga continues, Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer suggests the Browns offer the wideout an ultimatum: enroll in a full-time rehabilitation program in Cleveland right now, or be released. Pluto points out that Gordon’s problems have continued from his time at Baylor and Utah, and it’s time to truly figure out his interest in football.
  • Patriots first-round defensive tackle Dominique Easley is making progress in his recovery coming off two torn ACLs in college, writes ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss, who provides a status update on each of the team’s nine draft picks. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, drafted in the second round, has taken advantage of an opportunity afforded to him by the limited availability of backup quarterback Ryan Mallett.
  • Chiefs rookie running back De’Anthony Thomas told NFL.com that he’s a player nobody’s ever seen step on the football field, according to Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. Thomas also set a number of goals for the season, including winning Rookie of the Year, leading the team in a number of offensive categories and going to the Super Bowl.

AFC South Notes: Brazill, Titans, Jags, Texans

July 6th, 2014 at 4:28pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Our Offseason in Review series has hit the AFC South, and so far we’ve completed reports on three of the four teams in the division: the Colts, the Titans, and the Jaguars. An analysis of 2014’s last-place team, the Texans, will be up soon, but until then, let’s look at some notes from around the South:

  • The Colts were put in a tough position following LaVon Brazill‘s suspension for drug usasge, writes Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay’s struggles with drugs and alcohol also came to light this offseason, and the team offered him its full support. Therefore, the Colts must act delicately with regards to Brazill in order to avoid double standard accusations.
  • In his latest mailbag, Mike Wells of ESPN.com opines that while Trent Richardson will get the first crack at the Colts’ starting running back job, Ahmad Bradshaw could be in line for ample playing time if Richardson falters.
  • The Titans have something of a logjam at running back, writes David Climer of the Tennessean, with holdover Shonn Greene, second-rounder Bishop Sankey, and free agent addition Dexter McCluster among the ball-carrying options. Undrafted free agent Antonio Andrews has also been impressive, and he knows that even if success doesn’t come in Tennessee, it could occur elsewhere. “Every day’s a job interview,” said the Western Kentucky product. “You’re not just interviewing with one team. You’re interviewing for the NFL. You never know when a coach on another team is going to say, ‘Remember that guy with the Titans and how hard he worked? We want him.’ ” ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky recently noted that Andrews has a “nice skill set.”
  • Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union wonders how well second-round receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson will fare for the Jaguars, and takes a look at the recent history of pass-catchers taken in the second round.
  • The Texans are shaping up as one of the more interesting teams heading into next season, and Jordan Goodwin of USA Today offers a position-by-position preview of Houston’s squad.

NFC East Links: Jackson, McClain, Polk, Giants

July 6th, 2014 at 3:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Redskins safety Tanard Jackson, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2011 due to multiple suspensions, is fighting for a roster spot in Washington, but he’s just happy for the opportunity to compete again, writes Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. “You can imagine somebody getting taken away from something that they love to do and having to humble themselves after doing something wrong,” said Jackson. “That was me. I had to take responsibility for it and face the consequences.’’ The Redskins have several options at safety, including the free agent signee Ryan Clark, so Jackson isn’t guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster, but it sounds as though the 28-year-old has undergone an attitude adjustment. “Going from playing football to working in a warehouse at a nine-to-five job is a humbling experience,’’ he said. “It’s taught me to never take anything in this business for granted.’’

More from the NFC East:

PFR Originals: 6/29/14 – 7/6/14

July 6th, 2014 at 2:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

  • Our Offseason in Review series chugged along, touching on three AFC divisions: the North, the West, and the South. I scrutinized the Ravens and the Titans, David Kipke examined the Chiefs, Rory Parks looked at the Broncos and the Jaguars, Rob DiRe evaluated the Raiders, and Zach Links analyzed the Colts.
  • In our polls this week, David asked about Demaryius Thomas‘ contract situation (a majority believes he will re-sign with the Broncos sometime during the next year); Luke Adams wondered who will win the AFC West (the Broncos are the heavy favorites) and the AFC South (most think the Colts will repeat as division champs); and Zach asked if the Eagles will regret releasing DeSean Jackson (about 55% of respondents say “Yes”). Thanks for voting!
  • Luke introduced a new tracker listing each 2014 NFL trade.
  • Luke offered an update on the remaining four unsigned draft picks.
  • As part of our Extension Candidate Series, Luke profiled Broncos tight end Julius Thomas.
  • Luke ranked NFL head coaches and general managers by the length of their tenure with their current team.
  • Summer is the time for minor cap work, and in that vein, Luke looked at the largest 2014 cap hits by team.

Week In Review: 6/29/14 – 7/6/14

July 6th, 2014 at 1:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Major Move:

  • An arbitrator ruled that Saints pass-catcher Jimmy Graham is a tight end, not a receiver; he will be assigned the TE franchise tag value of $7.035MM rather than the WR value of $12.312MM. New Orleans’ long-term contract offer to Graham still stands.

Traded:

Signed:

Suspended:

  • Eagles OT Lane Johnson: four games, violation of league policy on performance-enhancing substances (link)
  • Dolphins DE Dion Jordan: four games, violation of league policy on performance-enhancing substances (link)
  • Chiefs G Rokevious Watkins: four games, violation of league policy on substances of abuse (link)
  • Colts WR LaVon Brazill: minimum of one year, violation of league policy on substances of abuse (link)

Injured:

Other:

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