2015 February - Pro Football Rumors

AFC South Notes: Titans, Jackson, Hilton

February 17th, 2015 at 11:16am CST by Luke Adams

Three years ago, the Rams struck gold in the draft when they took advantage of Washington’s desire to land Robert Griffin III by turning the second overall pick into a huge haul of future picks. The Titans hold the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, in a class with two consensus top signal-callers well above the rest of the players at the position. However, even with teams like the Browns and Eagles reportedly interested in moving up to select Marcus Mariota, NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock doesn’t foresee any team mortgaging the franchise for either of this year’s top quarterbacks (Mariota and Jameis Winston).

“Washington went and got the guy they thought could help them win a Super Bowl,” Mayock said on Monday’s conference call, per Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. “Because of what’s happened with that kid, both with injuries and the way he’s played, I think a lot of teams are very nervous about the perception of mortgaging your future.”

As the Titans consider their options for what to do with that second overall pick, let’s check in on a few more notes from out of the AFC South….

Earlier this week, Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson said he doesn’t love the idea of receiving the franchise tag, and I pointed out that the team isn’t likely to use it on him anyway. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle agrees with that assessment, suggesting that while the Texans will do their best to keep Jackson, the franchise and transition tags won’t be in play.
T.Y. Hilton, who is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, and it appears a new agent will be handling those negotiations. That new agent? Hilton’s old agent. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Colts wideout has re-hired Drew Rosenhaus, whom he fired back in June. Maverick Carter and Erik Burkhardt represented Hilton in between his stints with Rosenhaus.
With the scouting combine taking place in Indianapolis this week, Stephen Holder of the Indy Star evaluated the drafts of Colts GM Ryan Grigson. The stellar 2012 draft featuring Andrew Luck, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, and Hilton predictably got an A grade. The 2013 draft didn’t pan out the same way, but the 2014 draft featuring three starters – Jack Mewhort, Donte Moncrief, and Jonathan Newsome – got a B grade.

East Notes: Allen, M. Williams, Jets, Jenkins

February 17th, 2015 at 10:04am CST by Luke Adams

According to multiple reports (all four Twitter links), Eagles safety Nate Allen was detained, questioned, and released following an accusation of indecent exposure. Allen is adamant that the accusation was false, and says he has asked police to keep investigating in the hopes of finding video that clears him, tweets Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. Assuming the accusation levied against the defensive back, who is eligible for free agency next month, was indeed false (as it seems to be), it could highlight potential problems with the league’s new personal conduct policy, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

Former Bills wide receiver Mike Williams was released by the team toward the end of the 2014 season, giving him a head start on free agency. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, Williams’ agent is taking advantage of that opportunity, with six meetings set up in Indianapolis this week. The veteran wideout could find a new home soon, according to Rapoport.
If Marcus Mariota is available at No. 6 overall, it would be the “ultimate no-brainer” for the Jets to trade the pick to Eagles and stockpile future selections, says Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. In Mehta’s view, a swap of that sixth overall pick in exchange for the Eagles’ first- and second-rounders in 2015 and 2016, would be fair for both sides.
Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, who accepted a pay cut over the weekend, tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com that he “kind of knew” the Giants would ask to rework his contract, and he never considered the possibility of rejecting the request and forcing the club to cut him.
Earlier today, we rounded up a few Patriots-related links, and passed along word that the Giants may be preparing to franchise Jason Pierre-Paul.

Patriots Links: Revis, McCourty, Gostkowski

February 17th, 2015 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

Only time will tell if Darrelle Revis is forced into a 2015 year with the Patriots and if there are any fireworks along the way, but the cornerback’s last two deals should serve as a cautionary tale about the negative trade-offs that can happen when agreeing to certain contract structures, writes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. In Revis’ agreement with the Bucs, he got the $16MM AAV he was after, but had no guaranteed money. In his Pats deal, Revis’ camp agreed to a second year that would carry a $25MM cap hit, assuming that the team would never keep him on board at that price. However, a $20MM salary for 2015 – and $32MM over two years – isn’t ridiculous when compared to what guys like Patrick Peterson, Joe Haden, and Richard Sherman are making in the first two seasons of their respective contracts.

Let’s round up a few more items out of New England….

Of the potential free agents on the Patriots’ roster, the two who seem most likely to be hit with the franchise tag – if the team uses it – are safety Devin McCourty and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. However, McCourty is the more probable candidate, WEEI’s Ryan Hannable writes, though Hannable speculates that the Pats could give the safety the tag a few days in advance of the deadline in hopes of working out a long-term deal.
In a video segment, a CSNNE panel debates whether retaining Revis is worth potentially losing other free agent starters like McCourty, Gostkowski, and Dan Connolly, with Andy Hart suggesting that New England needs to keep its star cornerback “at all costs.”
In a separate CSNNE video segment, Ron Borges suggests that both Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork will be asked to take pay cuts and “may not be happy about it.” That applies especially to Wilfork, who accepted a pay cut last year and had a strong season.
After capturing another Super Bowl ring, the Pats have proven they don’t need to spend a ton of money on an elite receiving weapon, says Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com (video link).
The 2011 collective bargaining agreement calls for teams to spend at least 89% of the salary cap in cash over two four-year periods (2013-16 and 2017-20), and the Patriots are one of 10 teams that must increase spending over the next couple years to meet that threshold, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Considering all the free-agents-to-be that the club is working to retain, using most or all of its cap room shouldn’t be a problem for New England in 2015.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Fairley, Tamme, Broncos

February 16th, 2015 at 10:26pm CST by Zachary Links

A company that is gunning to build an NFL stadium in Los Angeles has given $118K in campaign contributions to officials in the city, according to The Associated Press. San Francisco-based Hollywood Park Land Co., the company developing the proposed 80,000-seat stadium, has claimed Rams owner Stan Kroenke as a partner in the company since last year. Here’s more from around the NFL..

A source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Lions defensive tackle and potential free agent Nick Fairley “just wants to be in the most comfortable situation possible.” The status of Ndamukong Suh could go a long way toward determining whether or not that situation is in Detroit.
Broncos tight end Jacob Tamme told Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that he expects to hit the free agent market. Still, he says he’d “love the chance to be back in Denver.” Tamme went on to say that his skill set would work well in Denver’s new offense (link).
Whether Peyton Manning returns or not, the Broncos can say goodbye to any chance of returning to their second Super Bowl in three seasons without a reconfigured offensive line, Troy Renck of The Denver Post writes. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the Baltimore Ravens, for whom Kubiak served as offensive coordinator last season, posted a 41.4 run-blocking score. The Broncos checked in at minus 4.1.
In a chat with Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter), Buccaneers center Evan Dietrich-Smith compared the Buccaneers 2014 offense to trying to assemble something without directions because of the coaching issues. The Bucs hope that they have fixed their offensive issues with new coordinator Dirk Koetter.
The idea of Ndamukong Suh joining the Raiders has been a well-documented scenario for weeks, but there are plenty more fish in the sea, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com writes. More affordable options on the open market include Terrance Knighton, Henry Melton, Nick Fairley, and Jared Odrick. Knighton, he argues, would make the most sense of anyone in the group. Pot Roast played for new coach Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville and Denver and has expressed his desire for a reunion.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

East Notes: Bryant, Revis, CJ2K

February 16th, 2015 at 9:28pm CST by Zachary Links

According to John Keim of ESPN.com, it’s hard to imagine both Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins returning to Washington for the 2015 season. As such, this week’s combine could provide a good opportunity for the team to initiate some trade discussions involving one or both of the signal-callers, says Keim. More from the AFC and NFC East..

Dez Bryant is considered a very viable candidate for the franchise tag this year, but this may not be the last time he gets tagged. Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com suggests that, if the Cowboys franchise their star wideout this year, it could pave the way for the team to do so again in 2016.
If the Patriots want to keep Darrelle Revis for $20MM in 2015, the cornerback will be upset about it, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. From his perspective, the second year was aimed at allowing the Patriots to divide the signing bonus over two years, for cap purposes. Of course, what Revis envisioned a year ago doesn’t mean the Patriots will proceed in that fashion. Most people won’t be crying for Revis if he gets paid $20MM from New England in 2015, but he’s seeking a multi-year deal that could pay him $40MM or more. When considering that it could be Revis’ last chance at a big payday, his position becomes a little more understandable.
Chris Johnson says the Jets were not honest about what his role would be when he signed with the team last April, as Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. “I think I went into a situation where I was told one thing, and it was another,” Johnson said on “The Rich Eisen Show.” Johnson said he does not blame former coach Rex Ryan. Instead, he believes GM John Idzik dictated the playing time. “Throughout the whole thing, I think last year, with that organization, I think a lot of the stuff was out of Rex’s hands,” Johnson said. “A lot of the things that we were doing, I think it was out of Rex’s hands. Don’t nobody know but it was a [bad] situation.”

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Charles Tillman Not Planning Retirement

February 16th, 2015 at 8:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Even after consecutive seasons cut short by injuries as he enters free agency, Bears cornerback Charles Tillman has no interest in walking away now, Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports writes. Tillman, who turns 34 next week, says that’s he’s not going to “stop [playing] ’til I’m dead.”

Tillman tore the triceps tendon in his right arm midway through the 2013 season and again in the second game of 2014. Re-signed to a one-year, $3.25MM contract last year, Tillman says he’s had only a “hi and bye” interaction with new Bears GM Ryan Pace and coach John Fox. Considering his limited talks with Chicago, it’s not immediately clear if the interest in a reunion is mutual.

“That’s the business,” Tillman said. “I’m trying to feed my kids. So, whatever team’s going to help me pay my bills and help me feed my family – let’s go.”

One NFL executive, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons, said Tillman can still play in the right scheme but will have to sign an incentive-laden, “prove it” type of deal because of his age and recent medical history. Tillman, for his part, seemed to indicate that he’d be alright with that sort of deal.

Tillman, who is hungry to win a ring, says that he’ll be looking to join a winner this offseason. When asked recently, Tillman wouldn’t rule out the possibility of jumping ship to the rival Lions.

Draft Notes: Mariota, Coleman, Winston

February 16th, 2015 at 8:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota told reporters that he is still undecided about throwing at the combine, according to Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). Mariota says that he’ll decide in the next day or two as he evaluates his sore shoulder. Meanwhile, he has kept his pre-draft routine and training regiment fairly close to the vest, so it’s unknown how much throwing he has even done to date. Here’s more draft news..

Indiana running back Tevin Coleman won’t work out at the combine, Gil Brandt of NFL.com tweets. Coleman’s foot is still in a boot from offseason surgery and he won’t be ready to go in time, but he will work out at Indiana’s pro day on April 15th.
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock expects the Buccaneers to pick Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston over Mariota because of how the former Seminole fits into the Bucs’ offense, Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times writes. He doesn’t expect an easy decision for coach Lovie Smith and GM Jason Licht, however, and he expressed concern over Winston’s predilection for interceptions.
On his conference call with NFL reporters, Mayock said that he believes this year’s class is deepest at running back and wide receiver, and thinnest at quarterback and safety (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). Mayock also said he believes there are eight top-tier defensive tackles in the 2015 draft class, with a drop off after that (Twitter link via Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer).
Just 15 quarterbacks were invited to this year’s combine, the fewest in 13 years, according to Colleen Wolfe of NFL.com (on Twitter). Of course, things aren’t much better for quarterback-hungry teams on the open market.
Off-field issues will be a major topic of conversation this year in Indy, Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports writes. More so than the on-field workouts and athletic testing, the medical evaluation and the team interviews — the stuff that isn’t shown on TV — can be the most revealing information for NFL teams.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Latest On Chargers Stadium Situation

February 16th, 2015 at 6:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani issued remarks for San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Stadium Task Force and the text has been republished on the Chargers’ site. On its face, the statements don’t seem encouraging for the Chargers’ odds of staying in San Diego, but Dan McSwain of U-T San Diego sees it more as a sign that the team wants to keep things honest and transparent.

“Simply put, it would not be fair to the Chargers – a team that has worked for 14 years to find a stadium solution in San Diego County – to allow other teams that themselves abandoned the LA market to now return and gut the Chargers’ local revenue stream,” Fabiani told the Task Force in Monday’s address. In short, the Chargers are saying that if anyone is going to move to Los Angeles, it should be the Chargers and not the Rams or Raiders who have squandered their opportunities in the nation’s second-largest media market before.

The Chargers also made it known that they want concrete evidence that a new stadium is coming and not just empty promises. That stadium, they say, can not be built on the cheap. “Looking around the country, new stadium costs are coming in at $1.2 (billion) to $1.5 billion. … We have heard commentators say that the stadium could be built for $700MM, or even less,” the statements read.

The Chargers also want a significant slice of the new revenue that comes from the stadium. Furthermore, the Bolts will be extremely reliant on public funding and Fabiani clearly stated that personal seat licenses are not a viable option for the team. While Jerry Jones was able to raise $470MM off of PSLs in Dallas, the Chargers cited feasibility studies which demonstrate that they cannot raise anything close to that.

AFC North Notes: Manziel, Forsett, Steelers

February 16th, 2015 at 5:51pm CST by Zachary Links

According to the 2014 NFL rankings in offense, defense, and special teams, the Bengals begin their season by playing half of the league’s top ten teams, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com writes. The Bengals could get a break playing four new coaching staffs on the road in the Bills, Broncos, Raiders, and 49ers, but it figures to be a tough path any way you slice it. All in all, the Bengals are estimated to have the second-toughest strength of schedule in the NFL. More from the AFC North..

A Browns player admits to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that he openly wondered to a teammate what sort of shape the club would be in if Cleveland had selected Teddy Bridgewater last May instead of Johnny Manziel. Cleveland had been set to pick 26th overall before trading up to No. 22 to nab Manziel — Bridgewater eventually went 32nd overall to Minnesota.
While Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun isn’t buying chatter about Ravens running back Justin Forsett following Gary Kubiak to the Broncos, he definitely wouldn’t be surprised if tight end Owen Daniels lands in Denver this offseason.
The agent for Steelers linebacker James Harrison tells Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link) that his client will make an announcement about his future before the new league year begins on March 10. Harrison doesn’t have a contract for 2015, and could decide to call it a career — the veteran will turn 37 this May.
In his examination of the Steelers‘ offseason, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap says that the team will have to be “very careful” with Jason Worilds, since he can be very inconsistent and isn’t an elite pass rusher. In Fitzgerald’s view, the Steelers would be overpaying Worilds if they use the transition tag on him again.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Wes Welker Plans To Play In 2015

February 16th, 2015 at 4:42pm CST by Luke Adams

A report last week indicated that Wes Welker was mulling the possibility of retiring this offseason, but it looks as if the veteran wideout will continue his NFL career for at least one more season. Welker tells Mike Klis of the Denver Post that he fully intends to return to the field for 2015.

“Just getting ready for 2015,” Welker said in a text message to Klis. Asked about last week’s report about the possibility of retirement, the receiver added: “Never ever came out of my mouth.”

Mike Garafolo’s report last Tuesday suggested that, although Welker had told friends, family, and associates that he was giving some thought to the idea of retirement, he had not yet made his decision. Now, it appears he has. Of course, even if the 33-year-old plans to return to action next season, his future is still a little uncertain. He’s not under contract with the Broncos for 2015, and Denver has a handful of key free agents to retain, including Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, and Terrance Knighton. Welker could be the odd man out, depending on how the team’s offseason develops.

After averaging about 106 receptions in his previous seven seasons, Welker caught just 49 passes in 2014. The dip in production coincided with increasing concerns about the veteran’s health — he suffered at least three concussions during his stint with the Broncos, prompting multiple former teammates to express some concern about his injury history.

Welker’s expiring contract with Denver was a two-year, $12MM pact. Assuming he does indeed continue his playing career, he’ll almost certainly take a paycut for the 2015 season.