2015 March - Pro Football Rumors

James Harrison To Decide Between Steelers, Titans

March 21st, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Rob DiRe

Former Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison has narrowed his list of potential teams in 2015 to only two, the Steelers and the Titans, writes Scott Brown of ESPN.

Harrison made this announcement through his Instagram account, with a video in which his two sons each take turns pushing for one of the two teams.

Harrison is a five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, achieving all of those accolades during his time in Pittsburgh. His lone season away from the Steel City was a disappointing 2013 campaign with the Bengals, in which he struggled to get on the field and impact games.

However, he was coaxed out of retirement by his former Steeler teammates after a rash of injuries took out a significant portion of the linebacking corps. Although he was reportedly considering retirement again this offseason, he announced he was committed to playing again in 2015.

His preference, of course, was to return to the Steelers. However, the team’s linebackers will start the season healthy once again, and that will mean no room for Harrison or at best a diminished role for the former All-Pro linebacker.

The Titans emerged as an option due to Harrison’s strong connection to Dick LeBeau, who resigned from the Steelers in favor of a job in Tennessee. Harrison has not announced a timetable for his decision.

L.A. Stadium Notes: Carson, Oakland, Coliseum City

March 21st, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Rams, Raiders, and Chargers are still the three teams being thrown around in rumors surrounding a relocation to the Los Angeles market. Last we checked in, Raiders owner Mark Davis mentioned that other cities would be involved as possible relocation destinations, including St. Louis should the Rams move to California.

Here are some recent updates surrounding the cities attempting to find a new team:

A proposal to build a new stadium in Carson that would be home to both the Chargers and Raiders took the next step today as a petition with 14,000 signatures was submitted in support of the initiative, reports Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times. That is more than twice the signatures needed to move forward, but less than the 22,000 a rival stadium proposal in Inglewood was able to gather earlier this year.
The City of Oakland and Alameda County will work together to keep the Raiders in Oakland, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. San Diego-based developer Floyd Kephart is trying to finance a project to redevelop the Coliseum complex, and with cooperation from the city, county, and ultimately the Raiders, the grounds could eventually include a new football stadium.
For more information about Kephart’s plan for “Coliseum City” including his personal credentials and his vision for keeping the Raiders in town, Matthew Arts of InsideBayArea.com profiles the project and the man who has become the driving force behind it.

Percy Harvin Contract Details Released

March 21st, 2015 at 2:39pm CST by Rob DiRe

Percy Harvin and the Bills have agreed to a deal that will bring the electrifying playmaker to Buffalo in 2015.

What was thought to be a one-year contract is actually three years, with the second and third years voidable. His base salaries will be $2.9MM, $9MM, and $9MM over the three years, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN (via Twitter). His cap numbers in those three years will be $4MM, $10MM, and $10MM (via Twitter).

The structure of the contract helps the Bills fit him in the cap in 2015, but it also means he will likely end the season as a free agent once again (via Twitter). The team can move on from Harvin anytime after this season with no deadline to make that decision and no money owed to the receiver.

Rodak adds that the team currently has just shy of $12MM in cap room left this offseason according to the NFLPA, but that number does not yet included the money they will have to pay to Charles Clay (via Twitter).

Draft Notes: Gardner, Funchess, Irving

March 21st, 2015 at 1:56pm CST by Rob DiRe

With teams beginning to set their draft boards in stone, many are meeting with prospects to try to learn as much as they can as they prepare for the 2015 NFL Draft.

Here are a few prospects that have visited with organizations, with new updates added to the top:

LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins will visit with the Ravens prior to the NFL draft, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Collins had already met with the team during both the NFL Combine and the Senior Bowl.
Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner says that between three and four teams are interested in him as a passer, while the rest of the league views him as a wide receiver, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN (via Twitter). Gardner has already worked out with the Falcons and Bengals, and has visits with the Patriots and Chiefs coming up next week (via Twitter). He will also be meeting with the Steelers before the draft as well (via Twitter).
Rothstein also notes thats fellow Wolverine Devin Funchess worked out for the Falcons last week, at both wide receiver and H-back (via Twitter).
Former Iowa State defensive tackle David Irving will work out in San Jacinto, California on Monday morning. Despite being dismissed from the team due to an arrest and missing the 2014 season, at least two NFL teams are expected to attend, writes Gil Brandt of NFL.com (via Twitter).

AFC East Links: McCoy, Patriots, Dolphins

March 21st, 2015 at 12:19pm CST by Ben Levine

One of the more surprising offseason moves has been the LeSean McCoy trade. The running back was traded to the Bills earlier in the month, and the two sides soon came to an agreement on an extension. Meanwhile, the Eagles replaced McCoy with a pair of big names, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.

McCoy did not mince words when he was asked about the Eagles‘ offseason strategy. In fact, while appearing on the The Rich Eisen Show, the 26-year-old touched on Chip Kelly‘s willingness to pay new running backs, but not one of their stars (via Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com):

“I thought about that a little bit,” he said. “I didn’t understand it. I should say that. And Chip I think is a really good coach. I think this is something different for him kind of managing both, from being a coach to now kind of managing the team as far as the players that they get and they pay.

“I saw that they originally were trying to get Frank Gore, and he backed out. So then when they got DeMarco and they got Ryan Mathews, I thought it was like a panic move. With that media in Philadelphia, they can get tough on you. So I guess that was just the way to make it right. I don’t know. I can’t really answer it. They took two backs to replace one. I think DeMarco’s a hell of a back. I think he’ll do a good job there. I’m not sure how that went.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the AFC East…

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard has plenty of reasons to be excited. Not only did he sign a two-year, $11MM contract with the Patriots, but he also went from a non-playoff team to a Super Bowl contender. “Coming from a not-so-good program to a great program that has been winning and doing well, I’ve just been excited,” Sheard told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “I want to win in the league, and I want to be part of a great organization. That was a big part of me signing.”
Another new member of the Patriots, tight end Scott Chandler, is thrilled about the opportunity to compete for a championship. “I’ve been playing for a while, and I wanted to be a part of an organization that has a pretty good chance to win,” said Chandler (via Howe). “Mr. (Robert) Kraft and coach Belichick have done an amazing job of not only creating that but sustaining it for a long period of time. I’m looking forward to going into this year and doing whatever I can to be a part of that.”
Dolphins safety Louis Delmas re-signed with the organization yesterday, and the 27-year-old revealed that he’s quickly recovering from his season-ending ACL tear. “The knee is great,” Delmas said (via ESPN.com’s James Walker). “My doctors and my training staff have been doing a great job of managing me and making sure I’m doing everything protocol-wise to be able to play the first game of the season…I definitely know that I will be ready for the first game of the season.”

AFC Mailbags: Jets, Ravens, Bengals, Jags

March 21st, 2015 at 11:20am CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now switch our focus over to the AFC…

When asked about the opportunity for the Jets to add a veteran quarterback, Rich Cimini said he’d eagerly swap the sixth pick for Chargers‘ star Philip Rivers.
Meanwhile, Cimini believes there’s a good chance the Jets will select a running back in the draft. With Bilal Powell, Chris Ivory and Daryl Richardson under contract, the writer says the team could use a versatile, pass-catching back.
Jamison Hensley predicts the Ravens will either select a wide receiver, tight end, cornerback or pass rusher with their first-round pick.
Hensley says the Ravens could look to bring in a veteran tight end. When asked about former Seahawks weapon Zach Miller, the writer says the organization should be wary of the injury risk. For an “under-the-radar” pick, Hensley points to Cardinals tight end Rob Housler.
Quarterback Jason Campbell and running back Cedric Peerman are “the most likely” of the Bengals free agents to return, according to Coley Harvey.
If the Jaguars don’t select a pass rusher with their first-round pick, Michael DiRocco could envision the team selecting a wide receiver. Looking towards veteran help at the position, DiRocco suggests Greg Jennings as an option.

Seahawks To Sign Ahtyba Rubin

March 21st, 2015 at 10:30am CST by Sam Robinson

SATURDAY, 10:30am: The deal is now official, according to Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com.

FRIDAY, 10:33am: Rubin’s one-year deal with Seattle includes a $1MM signing bonus and can be worth up to $3.1MM, a league source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

THURSDAY, 5:31pm: Longtime Browns defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin will has agreed to terms with the Seahawks, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot noted on Twitter.

The Seahawks brought the 28-year-old unrestricted free agent in for a visit Tuesday and will add the veteran on a one-year deal. Rubin played seven seasons with the Browns, making 75 starts.

An unrestricted free agent who started inside and outside on the Browns’ front from 2010-14, Rubin previously said he wanted to stay in Cleveland for life. Rubin battled an ankle injury last season and missed three games. Pro Football Focus gave the former Browns sixth-round pick in 2008 his worst grade in four seasons, slotting him as the 74th-best defensive tackle last season (subscription required).

Rubin, who made more than $6MM in base salary in each of the past three seasons after re-signing in Cleveland, graded as a plus run defender in 2012 and 2013 and will compete for a spot inside in the Seahawks’ 4-3 defense.

No Deal Yet For Panthers, Alan Ball

March 21st, 2015 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 10:00am: According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Ball left Charlotte on Friday without signing a contract.

THURSDAY, 11:21am: According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter), the Panthers and Ball haven’t yet reached a deal, though the cornerback is visiting the team today. A league source tells Wilson (Twitter link) that Carolina has offered a contract worth the terms reported below, and Ball is weighing that offer and others.

10:03am: The Panthers have signed cornerback Alan Ball to a one-year, $2MM contract, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. According to Wilson, Carolina gave Ball a $1MM signing bonus and a $50K workout bonus to go along with a $950K base salary. The deal also features up to $500K in playing-time incentives.

Ball, who turns 30 next month, spent the last two seasons in Jacksonville, and was quietly one of the best parts of the Jaguars’ secondary. In 2013, Ball recorded a +7.5 Pro Football Focus grade in over 1,000 snaps, ranking 22nd among 110 qualified cornerbacks (subscription required). His 2014 season was cut short by a biceps injury, which landed him on injured reserve after seven games, but he still held his own in the first half of the season, recording 22 tackles and an interception.

With the Jags moving in a younger direction at cornerback, led by 2013 draftees Dwayne Gratz and Demetrius McCray, the team was willing to part ways with veterans like Ball and Will Blackmon this offseason, opening the door for the Panthers to land Ball.

In Carolina, Ball figures to challenge incumbent corners Bene Benwikere, Josh Norman, and Melvin White for playing time.

NFC Mailbags: Packers, Lions, Panthers, Washington

March 21st, 2015 at 9:53am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. With an eye towards the NFL draft, let’s start off with some notes from the NFC…

Rob Demovsky believes the Packers could select a quarterback late in this year’s draft. With the expected departure of Matt Flynn, the rookie could compete with Scott Tolzien for the backup gig.
Meanwhile, Demovsky says there’s little chance the Packers move up in the first round. The writer notes that general manager Ted Thompson has only traded up in the first round once, when he swapped a second-round and two third-round picks for a late first-rounder (used to select Clay Matthews).
Considering the fourth and fifth-round picks the Lions sent to the Ravens for Haloti Ngata, Michael Rothstein says it could be in the team’s best interest to trade down in the draft. With multiple roster holes, the team could benefit from having some extra picks.
Based on the Panthers early moves in free agency, David Newton believes the organization is targeting four positions in the first round: wide receiver, offensive tackle, running back and defensive lineman.
Washington‘s signing of Colt McCoy would not prevent the organization from selecting Marcus Mariota, says John Keim. In fact, if the Oregon quarterback falls to Washington, Keim says McCoy would be a good mentor for the rookie.

Falcons Re-Sign Kroy Biermann

March 21st, 2015 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 8:55am: Biermann’s deal is for one year and $1.925MM, with a $500K signing bonus, according to ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 3:27pm: Having already brought in a pair of new defensive ends by signing Adrian Clayborn and O’Brien Schofield, the Falcons locked up one of their own today. According to a team release, Atlanta has re-signed veteran edge defender Kroy Biermann.

Biermann, 29, started a career-high 15 games for the Falcons last season, racking up 77 tackles and 4.5 sacks to go along with a forced fumble. In 867 defensive snaps, he recorded a -5.7 grade on Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but that was largely due to a poor rating in pass coverage — he was an above-average run defender and held his own as a pass rusher.

Financial terms of Biermann’s new deal aren’t yet known.