2015 May - Pro Football Rumors

Michael Bennett Seeking New Contract

May 30th, 2015 at 10:07am CST by Ben Levine

It was only a year ago that defensive end Michael Bennett inked a new four-year, $28.5MM contract (including $16MM guaranteed) with the Seahawks. Now the 29-year-old is seeking a new deal.

Bennett told Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times that he’s asked the Seahawks organization for a new contract, and his absence from OTAs is an attempt to force the matter:

“Trying to get the contract right,’’ Bennett told Condotta. “I’ll be there shortly. I don’t know when I’ll be there. Depends on the team and stuff. See how it works out.

“Somewhere near the top seven at my position, top eight at my position. Not a lot of guys play inside and out (meaning both tackle and end). Not a lot of guys do what I do. So I feel like I should be somewhere near there… I just want to be in the realm of the guys that play like me. There are only so many guys that do what I do, and I would love to be like somewhere in there where they are at.’’

This echoes previous comments from the former undrafted free agent, who said he wouldn’t mind an increase in salary. This would also seemingly contradict a previous report that suggested that Bennett wanted out of Seattle. Bennett reaffirmed that he wants to stay in Seattle.

“I see myself being with the Seahawks. I think we have something special here and the things that we do in the community, the players that we have and the team and the coaches. I think it’s a great organization. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the business part of it, and sometimes people see your value as something else and sometimes you see your value as something different, and it’s just part of the business…We’ll see what happens. The ideal situation would be that I get a raise and that will be something great.’’

As Condotta notes, Bennett’s $7.125MM average annual value ranks him 14th among 4-3 defensive ends. The defensive lineman finished last season with 26 tackles and seven sacks, and he placed second among eligible 4-3 defensive ends in Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the position (subscription required).

Extra Points: Moore, Kerrigan, Chiefs

May 29th, 2015 at 7:56pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard near the start of the offseason that veteran wide receiver Lance Moore asked the Steelers to release him, and the team eventually obliged. Having landed with the Lions, Moore opened up to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press about his desire to move on from Pittsburgh.

“I knew the day after the playoff loss that we had, I knew that I didn’t want to be there anymore,” Moore said. “They made me inactive. And I knew at that point that the writing is on the wall. I could see what their future plans were for me; it was the first time in my career that I was a healthy inactive.

“People always ask me what happened or what didn’t go right, or why did it go so wrong?” Moore continued. “I really don’t know, other than I was hurt early in the year, it never quite clicked for Ben and I, and young guys played well. I guess that’s (it).”

As Moore looks to earn a roster spot in Detroit, let’s round up a few more odds and ends from across the NFL…

Speaking to reporters today, including Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (Twitter link), Washington pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan said there’s no update on his contract negotiations. However, Kerrigan also acknowledged that his agent is handling all those talks, so he may not be up to date on the latest developments.
Discussing the team’s stadium situation, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that the Chargers have an obligation to try everything they can to make it work in San Diego before deciding to move to Los Angeles.
The Chiefs announced five front office promotions today, with the most notable being Chris Ballard‘s elevation from director of player personnel to director of football operations. Ballard spoke to the Bears about their general manager job this past winter, and also drew interest from the Jets and Eagles.
The man who beat out Ballard for the GM job in Chicago, Ryan Pace, discussed his latest additions to the Bears organization, as Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com outlines.
In an effort to identify the most player-friendly contracts among veteran quarterbacks, Mike Sando of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) ranks Joe Flacco‘s deal atop the list, with Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers close behind.

Minor Moves: Friday

May 29th, 2015 at 6:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

The Browns have cut long snapper Christian Yount, the team confirmed today in a press release. Yount has acted as Cleveland’s regular long snapper since 2011, and his release leaves the team with just one LS, inexperienced Charley Hughlett, on its roster. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com first reported (via Twitter) that the Browns were expected to part ways with Yount.
The Colts have waived linebacker Shawn Loiseau, the team announced today in a press release. Loiseau, who has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game, spent the entire 2014 campaign on the injured reserve list due to a torn ACL.
After being waived with an injury designation by the Ravens on Thursday, cornerback Julian Wilson cleared waivers today and was placed on Baltimore’s IR, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Wilson also passes along an update on the Falcons, tweeting that the team waived linebacker Derrick Malone. Malone, who joined the club as an undrafted rookie earlier this month, wasn’t the only Atlanta linebacker to be waived today — the team also cut ties with Prince Shembo.

Falcons Waive Prince Shembo

May 29th, 2015 at 4:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons have parted ways with linebacker Prince Shembo, just hours after he was charged with a felony (aggravated cruelty to animals), the team announced today in a press release. The club’s statement on the situation was short and to the point:

“We are aware of the charges that have been filed against Prince Shembo. We are extremely disappointed that one of our players is involved in something like this. Accordingly, we have decided to waive Prince Shembo.”

As Tony Thomas of WSB-TV reported earlier today (via Instagram), Shembo is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s dog. According to Denica Williams, Shembo’s former girlfriend, she left Shembo and her Yorkie unattended at the linebacker’s home, and the dog was unresponsive when she returned (link via Alexis Stevens of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Per a necropsy, the cause of death was blunt force trauma, and the animal also had a fractured rib, a fractured liver, and several other injuries.

It’s not the first time that Shembo has run into off-field trouble. The former Notre Dame linebacker was investigated for allegedly sexually assaulting a Saint Mary’s College freshman in 2010, though he was never charged in that case. Lizzy Seeberg, Shembo’s accuser, killed herself 10 days after the alleged incident.

On the field, Shembo had a solid rookie season for the Falcons, recording 50 tackles in 347 defensive snaps. However, it would be a surprise if another team took a flier on the 23-year-old anytime soon, as least until his legal case plays out.

Tom Brady’s Appeal Set For June 23

May 29th, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Those hoping for closure on the DeflateGate saga will have to wait at least a few more weeks. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Tom Brady‘s appeal hearing won’t be held until Tuesday, June 23, and may continue on Thursday, June 25, if more than one day is required.

The appeal, which is still expected to be arbitrated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, will give Brady and the NFL Players Association a chance to argue that the quarterback’s four-game suspension should be eliminated, or at least reduced.

Goodell has indicated that he’d be open to hearing “new information” on the case from Brady, hinting that he still wants the Patriots quarterback to hand over the emails and text messages that he didn’t surrender to Ted Wells during the DeflateGate investigation.

If Goodell decides not to reduce Brady’s suspension – and perhaps even if he does – the NFLPA is likely to file a lawsuit to take the case to court. With previous recent suspensions, such as Ray Rice‘s and Adrian Peterson‘s, a judge has overruled the NFL’s ruling.

Pats owner Robert Kraft has stated that he won’t fight the Patriots’ DeflateGate penalties, including a $1MM fine and two lost draft picks, including a first-rounder. There has been plenty of chatter suggesting that Kraft’s decision might help result in a better outcome for Brady, but reports so far have indicated that no handshake deal is in place regarding the quarterback’s appeal.

Bills Claim Matt Simms Off Waivers

May 29th, 2015 at 4:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bills have been awarded quarterback Matt Simms after placing a waiver claim on the former Jet, per Howard Balzer of TheSportsXchange (Twitter link). According to Balzer, Buffalo cut signal-caller Jeff Tuel to create room on the roster for Simms.

Simms, 26, spent the last two seasons with the Jets, appearing in four games and completing 19 of 39 passes during his limited playing time, with a touchdown and an interception. However, New York’s roster this spring featured a more crowded quarterback depth chart, which included Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, and Bryce Petty. Simms reportedly asked the Jets for his release, and the team obliged yesterday.

By joining the Bills, Simms reunites with former head coach Rex Ryan, though he joins another deep group of quarterbacks. While Buffalo certainly doesn’t have a star QB, or even a clear-cut starter, Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor, and E.J. Manuel are all considered likely to make the club’s regular season roster.

Trey Watts Suspended Four Games

May 29th, 2015 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Rams running back Trey Watts has been suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season, the NFL announced today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Watts’ ban stems from a violation of the league’s policy on substances of abuse.

Watts, who joined the Rams just over a year ago as an undrafted free agent out of Tulsa, earned a spot on the club’s regular season roster for 2014. He didn’t see the field much, but the 24-year-old received a handful of offensive snaps, rushing seven times for 30 yards and catching three passes for 18 yards. Watts also contributed on special teams, recording seven tackles in kick and punt coverage.

Watts’ suspension may ultimately lead to his release, since his hold on a roster spot for 2015 already appeared to be precarious. In addition to first-round pick Todd Gurley, the Rams are also carrying Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham, Isaiah Pead, and multiple undrafted rookies.

Chris Chester Visiting Falcons, Eagles

May 29th, 2015 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Having been released by Washington earlier this week, veteran guard Chris Chester is drawing interest from multiple teams already, and has visits lined up with the Falcons and Eagles, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

As I noted when he was cut on Wednesday, while Chester wasn’t consistently above-average at the right guard spot in Washington, he wasn’t a major liability either. In 2014, the 32-year-old played the eighth-most offensive snaps among guards (1,091), and ranked 33rd among 78 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required).

The Falcons currently have Harland Gunn, who has made one career start, penciled in as a potential starter at one of their guard spots following the departure of Justin Blalock, so it makes sense that they’d at least kick the tires on Chester. Atlanta’s offensive line wasn’t one of the team’s strong spots last year, and the club didn’t address the position in the draft until the seventh round.

As for the Eagles, their line is more impressive on paper, but Evan Mathis‘ status remains up in the air. As Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes, there’s no guarantee that the two-time Pro Bowler even starts the regular season on Philadelphia’s roster, given the discord between Mathis and the team. Former Eagles right guard Todd Herremans also must be replaced this season.

AFC East Notes: Buchanan, Bills, Dolphins

May 29th, 2015 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Here’s a look at a few Friday items from out of the AFC East:

The Bills are hosting free agent outside linebacker Michael Buchanan on a free agent visit today, the team confirmed in a press release. Buchanan hasn’t played much since being drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round in 2013, but he made the most of his limited playing time in his rookie year, picking up a pair of sacks and recovering a fumble. The 24-year-od was waived by the Pats earlier this month.
With the Bills preparing to move forward on contract talks with All-Pro defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com examines different ways the team could clear 2016 cap space in order to better accommodate an extension for Dareus.
After Chris Chester was released by Washington earlier this week, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald explains why he thinks the Dolphins should be seriously considering the idea of signing the veteran guard. Salguero also suggests monitoring the statuses of Evan Mathis and Zane Beadles, who could become trade or release candidates, if they aren’t already.

Poll: Will JPP Sign Long-Term Extension?

May 29th, 2015 at 11:44am CST by Luke Adams

A year ago, the only franchise-tagged player who remained unsigned at this point in the offseason was Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who was in the midst of arguing that he should get a wide receiver’s salary rather than a tight end’s. Graham lost that battle and ultimately signed a long-term contract with the Saints just before the annual July 15 deadline.

This time around, four franchised players are still unsigned, and earlier this week, when I asked whether Justin Houston and Dez Bryant would sign multiyear deals with their respective teams by July 15, the majority of you voted that it won’t happen.

Today, we’ll shift our attention to a third franchised player, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Out of the four players who have yet to sign their tender, I would have expected JPP to be the most likely to have done so by now. After all, his one-year salary ($14.813MM) would be the highest of the bunch, and he’s arguably coming off the least productive season of the group.

That’s not to say Pierre-Paul didn’t have a strong 2014 campaign — he finished with 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, and was the league’s seventh-best 4-3 defensive end according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). Still, nine of those sacks came in the season’s last five games, and JPP wasn’t quite the destructive defensive force that a player like Houston was.

In my view, JPP’s high franchise salary, along with his modest career production, makes him the franchise-tagged player most likely to reach an accord with his team and avoid playing the season on a one-year deal. There’s been no sense of animosity between the two sides, and I doubt Pierre-Paul’s contract demands will be quite as significant as what some of the other franchised players may request. Conversely, the Giants may be more open to working out a multiyear contract than some other teams would be, since they’re already budgeting nearly $15MM for JPP in 2015.

What do you think? Do you agree that Pierre-Paul is more likely to sign a long-term deal by July 15, or do you think he – or the team – will drive a hard bargain, ultimately leading to JPP playing out his one-year tender?