HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Jets Pick Up Quinton Coples’ 2016 Option

April 23rd, 2015 at 4:34pm CST by Ben Levine

APRIL 23: The Jets have officially announced that they’ve exercised Coples’ option, according to a team release.

APRIL 11: The Jets have exercised their fifth-year option for outside linebacker Quinton Coples, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The option will keep the 24-year-old under contract with the team through the 2016 season.

As part of the NFL’s CBA, teams are allowed to lock up their former first-round picks for an extra year. According to Mehta, the value of the contract is worth $7.8MM, or the average salary of the 25 highest-paid linebackers (excluding the two highest-paid at the position). Following Coples’ up-and-down start to his career, there was speculation that the Jets would allow the linebacker to play out his contract. However, the team decided to secure his services earlier, and as Mehta points out, the contract is only guaranteed for injury, meaning the organization basically took no financial risk.

The former 16th-overall pick tied or set career-highs in 2014 in games played (16), solo tackles (25) and sacks (6.5). However, Coples compiled 708 snaps this past season, a significant decrease from his 2013 total (834). Furthermore, he didn’t receive a positive ranking via Pro Football Focus (subscription required), ranking 40th among 46 3-4 outside linebacker candidates.

West Notes: D. Thomas, Cards, Foote, Floyd

April 23rd, 2015 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Demaryius Thomas, like other franchised players who have yet to sign their one-year tenders, didn’t report to his team’s voluntary spring workout this week. That had been expected, but Broncos GM John Elway still didn’t sound all that thrilled about it when he spoke to reporters today.

“We’d like to get [a long-term contract] done,” Elway said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “But by him being away from here, there is zero value, not only to us, (but) to him. To me it makes no sense. That actually has no effect to anything we’re talking about, trying to get a contract done with him, because that’s ultimately what we’d like to do. But for him not to be here it has zero effect.”

As we wait to see whether Thomas and the Broncos can work out an agreement, here are a few more items from across the NFL’s two West divisions….

  • The Cardinals added Larry Foote to their coaching staff earlier in the offseason, intending to sign him to their roster later in the summer if he decides he wants to continue his playing career. So far, however, he remains undecided. According to Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals (via Twitter), the veteran linebacker said he’s 50/50 between playing and coaching — the draft, his health, and Daryl Washington‘s situation are among the factors Foote is considering.
  • The Cardinals haven’t yet decided whether to pick up the fifth-year option on receiver Michael Floyd, and figure to make that call after the draft, tweets Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910. Like fellow wideout Kendall Wright, whose 2016 option the Titans plan to exercise, Floyd would be in line for a salary of $7.32MM.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Terrance Knighton, who ultimately signed with Washington, admitted he was surprised that the Raiders didn’t make a stronger push to sign him (Twitter link). New Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio had previously coached Pot Roast in both Denver and Jacksonville.
  • Sean McGrath, who is attempting an NFL comeback after retiring last summer, was cut by the Chiefs, but that had nothing to do with the tight end’s football ability, according to head coach Andy Reid. As Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star details, Reid and the Chiefs simply wanted to give McGrath the opportunity to get a fresh start elsewhere, if he so chooses.
  • The one-year deal that center Lemuel Jeanpierre signed with the Seahawks is a minimum salary benefit contract with an $80K signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

NFC South Notes: Saints, Falcons, Panthers

April 23rd, 2015 at 1:54pm CST by Luke Adams

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

  • The Saints are preparing to transition from Drew Brees to a new quarterback at some point in the next three or four years, and could kick-start that process by drafting a QB early this year, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). According to Cole, New Orleans is eyeing Bryce Petty, who recently worked out for the club, and Garrett Grayson, and figures to select a signal-caller in the first three or four rounds next week.
  • Within the same video, Cole adds that the Saints intend to use their two first-round picks to land players whose commitment to football is unquestioned. That means the team may decide to pass on a top prospect who has run into off-field problems, like Randy Gregory or Marcus Peters.
  • Florida running back Matt Jones made a pre-draft visit to New Orleans to meet with the Saints on Wednesday, the final day teams were allowed to host prospects, writes Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune.
  • Indiana running back Tevin Coleman visited the Falcons on Wednesday, and tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he enjoyed the visit quite a bit.
  • Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney has a workout with the Panthers today, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). With just one week left until the draft, teams can no longer host prospects on pre-draft visits, but they can still privately work them out.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Ravens Re-Sign Will Hill

April 23rd, 2015 at 1:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after reporting that Justin Tucker has signed his restricted free agent tender to return to the Ravens, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that another Baltimore RFA has signed his own tender. According to Wilson, safety Will Hill has inked a one-year contract and will be back with the Ravens.

Whereas the team tendered Tucker at the second-round level, Hill was given an original-pick tender, meaning he’ll be in line for a 2015 salary of $1.542MM. It also means that if Hill had signed an offer sheet with another team and the Ravens elected not to match it, Baltimore wouldn’t have received any draft compensation, since the Florida product came into the league as an undrafted free agent.

It’s perhaps a little surprising that Hill didn’t generate much interest or sign an offer sheet elsewhere, since he was one of the more talented RFAs available. Still, his off-field history, which includes multiple suspensions for violating league policies, may have scared off potential suitors.

Hill, who turned 25 last month, served a six-game suspension to start the 2014 season, but was his usual effective self when he returned, recording 47 tackles and returning an interception for a touchdown. The Ravens safety also ranked 14th out of 87 qualified players at the position last year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) — his 584 defensive snaps were the fewest of any safety with a top-20 grade.

Pauline’s Latest: Mariota, Saints, Mannion

April 23rd, 2015 at 12:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this week, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested that a three-way trade between the Browns, the Eagles, and a team in the top five could be mutually beneficial, with Cleveland landing Sam Bradford, Philadelphia getting Marcus Mariota, and the third team stockpiling extra draft picks.

The piece sounded like informed speculation, but Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net hears that both the Eagles and Chargers have explored the possibility of moving up for Mariota through the Browns, and have had conversations about the idea. A league source tells Pauline that if the Titans decide to deal that No. 2 overall pick, Cleveland is in the best spot, since the Browns hold two top-20 picks, and could either move up for Mariota themselves or get involved in another team’s deal.

Here’s more from Pauline, with the draft just one week away:

  • According to Pauline, the Saints (the other team with two first-round picks), will consider trading up if they feel like they have a chance to land pass rusher Vic Beasley, whose potential DC Rob Ryan loves.
  • Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion, who recently worked out for the Rams and Cowboys, ranks as the third-best quarterback available on more than a dozen teams’ boards, per Pauline.
  • Pauline hears that the Seahawks would “love to grab” wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham if he’s available at No. 63, but the team expects him to come off the board in the first round, or within the first 15 picks of round two.
  • Michigan State’s Marcus Rush will be drafted earlier than originally predicted, having “blown teams away” during the interview process, says Pauline, adding that the defensive end could be a fifth-round pick.
  • Speaking of Michigan State players, a number of teams view former Spartans outside linebacker Taiwan Jones as a potential “gem,” and grade him as a third-round pick, according to Pauline.
  • The Raiders, Chiefs, and Patriots are expressing interest in Villanova offensive lineman Vince Kowalski, who could be a late-round gamble or an undrafted free agent, tweets Pauline.

Bears Sign Bear Pascoe

April 23rd, 2015 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

Bear is officially a Bear — according to the Chicago Bears (via Twitter), the team has signed free agent tight end Bear Pascoe to a one-year contract.

Pascoe, who turned 29 earlier in the offseason, spent five seasons with the Giants to start his NFL career before playing for the Falcons in 2014. Although he primarily serves as a blocker, Pascoe has totaled 40 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns in his career. He caught just two passes last year in 148 offensive snaps for Atlanta, though one went for a TD.

In Chicago, Pascoe figures to provide some more veteran presence on a tight end depth chart that also features Martellus Bennett, Zach Miller, and Dante Rosario, among others. He’ll likely receive a minimum salary contract, and won’t necessarily be assured a regular season roster spot.

Dolphins Sign Greg Jennings

April 23rd, 2015 at 11:39am CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 11:39am: The Dolphins have officially signed Jennings, the team announced today (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 4:50pm: The Dolphins will sign wide receiver Greg Jennings, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). It’s a two-year, $8MM deal, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

In Jennings, the Dolphins have added a veteran receiver to take the lace of Mike Wallace, who was traded to Minnesota earlier this offseason. The veteran will join fellow receivers Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills in Miami and figures to serve in a mentor/mentee role with them. Miami has moved on from Wallace, Brandon Gibson, and Brian Hartline, so he will be very much needed in Miami, even though he won’t be the No. 1 or No. 2 target.

Jennings was catching passes from a combination of Matt Cassel, Christian Ponder, and even Josh Freeman during his first year with the Vikes, and never appeared to be an ideal fit. Even after Teddy Bridgewater emerged as the starter in 2014, Jennings’ production was unspectacular — he recorded just 59 receptions for 742 yards last season. That’s a far cry from his best work. During the three seasons in which he played all 16 games, from 2008 to 2010, Jennings posted three straight 1,100-yard seasons, averaging about 75 receptions, 1,223 yards, and eight touchdowns per year.

Within the last few weeks, the 31-year-old was also linked to a number of other receiver-needy teams, including the Panthers, Jaguars, and Saints. Recently, PFR’s Luke Adams examined Jennings’ free agent stock and noted that the Dolphins were a logical fit.

Jennings indicated on March 31st that he was close to wrapping up the free agency process and on April Fools Day he teased that he would announce his decision. Things may have taken longer than expected to materialize, but Jennings has found a home in South Florida.

No Rivers Talks Between Chargers, Titans?

April 23rd, 2015 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

Outside of perhaps Adrian Peterson, no veteran Pro Bowler has been mentioned more as a potential trade candidate within the last few weeks as Philip Rivers. However, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune that the Chargers have yet to discuss a Rivers trade with the team most frequently linked to the veteran signal-caller. According to Gehlken, there has been no contact between the Chargers and Titans, and no discussion of a Rivers deal between the two sides “at all.”

As Gehklen cautions, deals can materialize quickly in the NFL — Rex Ryan told reporters last month that the Bills’ acquisition of LeSean McCoy came together in about a half hour. So even if the source is right, and the Chargers and Titans haven’t engaged in any trade discussions yet, it doesn’t mean they won’t within the next week, or even on draft night.

Still, a trade involving the second overall pick and a franchise quarterback is the sort of move that would likely require plenty of discussion, especially since the Titans would probably want a chance to talk to Rivers about a potential contract extension before agreeing to any sort of deal. So if there have been no negotiations at this point, it lends credence to the theory that all the whispers and rumors are just part of a “mating dance” between the Rivers and the Chargers as they work toward a new contract.

General manager Tom Telesco and the Chargers have insisted all along that they want Rivers to remain with the franchise, and eventually retire with the club. Still, the quarterback’s contract expires after the 2015 season, and a recent report indicated that he plans to play out the season before talking about a new deal. The possibility of relocation for the Chargers could also play a significant role in those contract discussions, since Rivers reportedly doesn’t love the idea of making the move to Los Angeles.

Ravens Re-Sign Justin Tucker

April 23rd, 2015 at 11:06am CST by Luke Adams

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has re-signed with the team, inking his restricted free agent tender, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Tucker had been assigned a second-round tender, meaning he’ll be in line for a $2.356MM salary for the 2015 season.

Per Wilson, there were teams besides the Ravens with interest in Tucker, who had until Friday to sign an offer sheet with another club. However, any suitor hoping to land the 25-year-old would have had to surrender a second-round pick to do so, which is too high a price to pay for a kicker, even one who has been as effective as Tucker.

During his three seasons with the Ravens, Tucker has made 97 of 108 field goal attempts, for an overall conversion percentage of just below 90%. He has also converted 14 of 20 attempts from 50+ yards, for a 70% career success rate. The Texas product struggled a little in 2014 with those longer kicks, making just four of nine from 50+ yards, but those were his only misses of the season.

Tucker will be eligible for unrestricted free agency a year from now, so the Ravens will likely work on getting him locked up before he hits the open market next March.

Latest On Los Angeles Stadium Talks

April 23rd, 2015 at 10:10am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this week, the Carson City Council unanimously approved a proposal to move forward with a privately funded NFL stadium in the city. While that decision doesn’t represent a major development, it’s another step forward in the process, as the Rams, Chargers, and Raiders vie for a potential spot in the Los Angeles area. Here are the latest updates on the saga:

  • Representatives of NFL stadium plans for Inglewood, Carson, and St. Louis met with the Committe on Los Angeles Opportunities in New York on Wednesday, and made presentations to the committe, writes Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. Those in attendance included commissioner Roger Goodell, Steelers owner Art Rooney II, and the five other owners who make up the Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities.
  • As Farmer outlines, the St. Louis group went first, giving a half-hour presentation. Rams owner Stan Kroenke then made an hour-long presentation on the Inglewood proposal, and Chargers owner Dean Spanos and Raiders owner Mark Davis followed that by presenting for an hour about the Carson plan.
  • The Raiders and Chargers issued a joint statement following their presentation, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. The statement read, in part: “The goal of the presentation was to update the owners on the LA stadium site in Carson, which was fully entitled on Tuesday night. In addition, we presented a new stadium design for LA that is the result of two months of close collaboration between the teams. Goldman Sachs representatives were at the meeting to answer questions about the financing plan. And, finally, both teams updated the owners on the situation in our home markets.”
  • According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), Goldman Sachs reps reiterated during the Carson presentation that the proposed stadium could be done with one team — it doesn’t necessarily hinge on both the Chargers and Raiders relocating.
  • Rams COO Kevin Demoff was also at the meeting, with the St. Louis Stadium Task Force, sources tell Andy Banker of FOX2 St. Louis. Banker adds that the St. Louis presentation was described as very detailed and very impressive.
  • The various stadium proposal groups are expected to give similar presentations to a larger group of owners during the NFL meetings in San Francisco next month, according to Farmer and Bair.
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