2015 June - Pro Football Rumors

East Notes: Eli, Washington, Dolphins

June 20th, 2015 at 10:32am CST by Sam Robinson

After a year in Ben McAdoo‘s offense, Eli Manning ditched the indecisiveness that plagued him at last June’s minicamp, writes the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz.

The 34-year-old Manning worked with baseball-based mechanics this offseason and has a more confident aura after a 2014 offseason — and some of the regular season — mired by inconsistency.

“It is lively, very lively,’’ Giants coach Tom Coughlin noted to reporters on Manning’s throwing arm. “He has worked hard at that. You know Eli is feeling good about himself when he says ‘I feel like I got good juice on it.'”

Here are some other notes from the Eastern divisions on Saturday morning.

Planning on an extended absence from Will Beatty after the left tackle’s recent pectoral injury, the Giants may be in better shape on their interior. According to Schwartz, Big Blue has prized 2014 acquisition Geoff Schwartz back healthy after an injury-marred season and Weston Richburg at his natural center spot following a rookie slate playing guard alongside the woeful J.D. Walton. The Giants now have former first-round right tackle Justin Pugh at guard despite Beatty’s setback. At tackle, however, the team remains thin. With newly signed Ereck Flowers now on the left side with little room for a learning curve, sub-optimal swing man Marshall Newhouse is slotting at right tackle for the time being.
Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com expects Jeron Johnson to supplant Duke Ihenacho as Washington‘s starting strong safety despite Ihenacho’s frequent work with the first team during minicamp. While anticipating the fifth-year ex-Seahawks reserve to garner his first significant role after signing a two-year, $4MM deal in March, Tandler expects Washington’s incumbent at the position, Ihenacho, to safely make the team after previously envisioning the former undrafted Ssan Jose State cog on the roster bubble.
The Dolphins remain interested in Evan Mathis, but they haven’t made a push for the now-unretired John Moffitt, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. With solid performers at tackle and center but issues at guard, the Fins have yet to make an offer for Mathis. Although they figure to be on the front line in this rare June pursuit of an All-Pro talent.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Cards, Cowboys, Bucs

June 19th, 2015 at 8:43pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Although the 49ers had a hectic offseason highlighted by the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh and surprise retirements of Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Chris Borland and Anthony Davis, newcomer Darnell Dockett is unfazed by the team’s troubles. The longtime Cardinals defensive tackle signed with the 49ers before Willis, Smith, Borland and Davis retired, but he’s confident the club will overcome an adverse offseason and find itself in the thick of what should be a highly competitive NFC West race in 2015.

“I’ve been in the division for so long, everybody’s aiming for the top teams, so I was getting a lot of criticism and people saying, `Oh, man, why’d you go to San Fran?’ and `Why’d you do this, everybody’s jumping ship? You should have went to Seattle,’ Dockett, 34, told the Associated Press.

“I’ve been playing in this league for so long, it don’t matter the players that depart the team. It’s all about the chemistry and things you build in July and August. Everybody’s got to play the game on Sunday.”

Dockett, who missed the 2014 season with a knee injury, expects to be ready for training camp next month. The three-time Pro Bowler is also excited to play for new coach Jim Tomsula.

“I’ve had the utmost respect for Jim throughout my career. After every game we met on the 50-yard line and always talked football,” Dockett said.

In other NFC news. . .

Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington – whom the NFL suspended for four games in 2013 and all of 2014 because of multiple substance-abuse violations – is expected to miss time this year because of domestic-violence issues, but he told Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 that he’s “confident that something will work out.” Washington added that he’ll be ready for training camp in August.
The Cowboys elected early in the offseason to place the franchise tag on star receiver Dez Bryant and let reigning rushing champion DeMarco Murray become a free agent. Those decisions led to acrimony between the team and Bryant, who still hasn’t signed his one-year franchise tender and only has until July 15 to reach a long-term deal with Dallas, and Murray’s departure to NFC East rival Phildelphia. However, if given the chance to reverse course, tag Murray and let Bryant hit free agency, the Cowboys wouldn’t do it, according to Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
The Buccaneers will try to make first overall pick Jameis Winston’s transition from Florida State to the pros as smooth as possible. One method they’re exploring includes using “virtual reality” technology to help the quarterback, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.

AFC Notes: Chiefs, Browns, Raiders, Steelers

June 19th, 2015 at 7:19pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Chiefs went through both voluntary and mandatory minicamp sans holdout Justin Houston, but head coach Andy Reid isn’t concerned about the star linebacker’s status going forward.

“There’s a lot of rules and regulations but I don’t get caught up in that — that’s what Dorse (general manager John Dorsey) does. I have trust in both sides, actually, that they’ll get something done,” Reid told Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.

The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Houston after he led the NFL in sacks last year with 22, but he hasn’t signed his one-year, $13.1MM tender and the two sides have until July 15 to strike a long-term deal. Otherwise, the Chiefs’ best hope is that Houston eventually signs his tender and reports in time for the 2015 season. As a nonexclusive franchise player, another team could sign Houston to a deal, which would give the Chiefs the right to match it or let him go in exchange for two first-round picks from the other club.

Here’s the latest on some of the Chiefs’ AFC brethren:

Given his size (6-foot-4, 233 pounds) and speed, Terrelle Pryor‘s conversion from quarterback to wide receiver could pique some teams’ interest. The Browns won’t be one of them, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com tweeted.
Real estate developer Floyd Kephart faces a Monday deadline in his bid to provide proof to the city of Oakland, the Raiders and Oakland-Alameda County that his proposed new stadium plan is making progress, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. Scott McKibben, the executive director of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, is optimistic. “We are hopeful we will see what we need to see,” McKibben sid. “This is an important benchmark deadline.”
The Steelers’ second-ranked passing offense picked apart opposing defenses last year, and it could be more of the same this season – especially if wide receiver Markus Wheaton‘s transition from the outside to the slot goes well. “He is super fast and quick, and that’s what you need because you are facing that third corner or linebacker a lot,” Steelers wideout Antonio Brown told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review. “On third downs, nine times out of 10 that’s where the ball is going to go. It’s just about being on the same page with Ben (Roethlisberger).”

Minor Moves: Friday

June 19th, 2015 at 6:52pm CST by Luke Adams

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

The Browns have claimed receiver Shane Wynn off waivers, cutting another wideout, Paul Browning, to make room on the roster, according to a team release. Wynn, a 5’6″ undrafted free agent out of Indiana, signed with the Falcons in May before being waived yesterday by Atlanta.
The Chiefs have signed a wide receiver, adding McMurry alum Jeret Smith to their roster, the team announced today (via Twitter). Smith caught 54 balls for 1,143 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014, his senior year.
Having been cut yesterday with a failed physical designation, cornerback Bill Bentley is expected to reach an injury settlement with the Lions soon, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
After going unclaimed on waivers, Steelers tackle Micah Hatchie has been placed on Pittsburgh’s injured reserve list, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Raiders Sign Mario Edwards Jr.

June 19th, 2015 at 5:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders have signed second-round defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. to his rookie deal, the team announced today in a press release. Like the Giants and Patriots did earlier today, the Raiders have now finished locking up their 2015 draft class, with all 10 of their draftees now under contract.

According to Over the Cap, Edwards’ four-year pact will be worth a little over $6MM, and will feature a signing bonus of approximately $2.636MM. Edwards’ cap number for the 2015 season will be $1.094MM.

The 35th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Edwards spent three seasons at Florida State, and was named to the All-ACC First Team as a junior in 2014. He also played a role in helping the Seminoles win the 2013 BCS National Championship.

Only three 2015 draft picks have yet to agree to terms with their respective teams. First-round quarterback Marcus Mariota (Titans) third-round cornerback D’Joun Smith (Colts), and third-round defensive end Henry Anderson (Colts) remain unsigned.

Agent: 10 Teams Interested In Evan Mathis

June 19th, 2015 at 5:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

JUNE 19, 5:04pm: Five days after saying that a half dozen clubs had expressed interest in Mathis, Rosenhaus tells Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the number is up to 10. While Mathis’ agent didn’t identify any specific suitors, a team source tells Kelly that the Dolphins are one of the 10, though they haven’t made an offer and don’t intend to invest significantly in the veteran lineman.

JUNE 14, 3:47pm: At least “half a dozen” clubs have expressed interest in newly-minted free agent guard Evan Mathis, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said during an appearance on WQAM (link via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). Mathis, 33, was released by the Eagles on Thursday.

“It’s wide open and there’s a lot of interest in Evan,” said Rosenhaus. “Between now and the start of training camp, I definitely expect him to have a new home. I think we’ll be methodical. We won’t necessarily rush into signing immediately… As far as ranking Evan’s priorities, I definitely think winning is critical to him…The contract has been an issue, so that’s a factor. Fortunately, he’s going to have some options.”

No team has been directly linked to Mathis, as Rosenhaus notes that “until a player visits with a team, clubs like to keep their interest on the down low.” But a number of teams have been tossed out as potential suitors, with the Bills, Patriots, Seahawks, Vikings, and Dolphins all being mentioned. As Rosenhaus says, Mathis’ contract was a determining factor in his release by Philadelphia, so it seems like his destination will be greatly influenced by monetary offers.

Mathis was scheduled to earn a base salary of $5.5MM under his Eagles deal, and it remains to be seen if he and Rosenhaus can secure that type of commitment from another club. Given his age and that teams mostly have their rosters set, it’s probably unlikely that Mathis will be able to get that level of AAV. Setting up a bidding war among interested parties, however, is surely the best avenue for Rosenhaus to explore.

Miami, specifically, would prefer to roll over some of its $10MM in cap space to 2016, and like most clubs, wants to keep a few million in reserve to aid in the case of in-season injuries, according to Jackson. Given those parameters, it might be tough for the Dolphins to fit Mathis into their plans.

Patriots Release Fred Davis

June 19th, 2015 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

The Patriots continue to make changes at the tight end spot, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve released Fred Davis, just over a month after signing him. Davis is the second notable tight end to be cut by New England in June, as the team also waived Tim Wright last week.

Davis, 29, sat out all of last season after the NFL suspended him indefinitely for substance-abuse violations. The league reinstated him earlier in the offseason. Prior to 2014, the former second-round pick spent six seasons in Washington and caught 162 passes and 13 touchdowns. His best year came in 2011, when he amassed 59 receptions and 796 yards.

Davis’ contract with the Patriots didn’t include any guaranteed salary, and his bonus money consisted of a modest workout bonus and unearned roster bonuses, so the move won’t have an impact on the club’s salary cap.

With Davis and Wright no longer in the mix, Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Michael Hoomanawanui, and sixth-round rookie A.J. Derby figure to handle the majority of the tight end load heading into training camp.

Titans Sign Jeremiah Poutasi

June 19th, 2015 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

The Titans have reached a deal with third-round offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). The agreement means that only four 2015 draft picks have yet to sign with their respective teams.

Poutasi, the 66th overall pick out of Utah, was the third consecutive offensive player selected by the Titans to start this year’s draft, after the club also nabbed quarterback Marcus Mariota and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. While DGB signed his rookie contract a few weeks ago, Mariota is one of those four players who has yet to agree to a deal. Still, that’s not a cause for concern for the Titans or GM Ruston Webster, who addressed the contract situation for the No. 2 overall pick today, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.

“We have had good conversations. We’ll continue to have good conversations,” Webster said. “Looking forward to getting that done and him being in here for camp. I personally don’t see there being a major issue. … I don’t concern myself too much with it if a guy misses a few days. We’ve had good talks. We’re motivated. Marcus is motivated. So I would expect that we would be able to get something done.”

As for Poutasi, his four-year contract with the Titans will be worth just over $3MM, including a signing bonus of about $802K. He’ll count for about $636K against Tennessee’s cap this season.

Community Tailgate: 6/19/15

June 19th, 2015 at 3:16pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This week, we’ve launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at Buffalo, where a starting quarterback has yet to be formally named. new head coach Rex Ryan admitted earlier this month that his team doesn’t have a LeBron James-type player at QB, which might be the understatement of the year. But if the Bills can get even average production of the position, the team should contend for a playoff spot, given the talent elsewhere on the roster.

The quarterbacks currently on the Bills’ roster are former first-round pick E.J. Manuel, offseason trade acquisition Matt Cassel, free agent signee Tyrod Taylor, and former Jet Matt Simms. Of the four, Cassel easily has the most starting experience, but Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes that the former Viking was unimpressive in this week’s minicamp, and may be on the roster bubble heading into training camp.

Rodak’s report on Cassel is somewhat similar to what we heard last month about Manuel — the two signal-callers appeared to be the frontrunners to start for Buffalo coming out of the draft, but reports since then have suggested that neither player is a lock to make the team’s roster if he doesn’t win that starting job.

With neither Manuel nor Cassel stepping up to claim the starting job, Taylor is lurking as a dark horse. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Bills coaches have given the former Raven every opportunity to prove his worth so far this offseason, giving him equal reps to Manuel and Cassel. Albert Breer of NFL Network also writes that Taylor shouldn’t be ruled out of the conversation, noting that Ryan tried to acquire him when he was coaching in New York.

We want to hear from you: Who do you think will – or should – win the Bills’ quarterback competition? If you’re a fan of a rival team, do any of these quarterbacks scare you at all? Or will the Bills struggle to score points no matter who’s under center? Jump into the comment section below to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Extra Points: Moffitt, Irvin, Wilson, Bills

June 19th, 2015 at 1:54pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Free agent offensive guard John Moffitt could have suitors in the Eagles, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Jets and Texans, tweets Ross Jones of FoxSports.com. Moffitt announced earlier this week that he was coming out of a two-year retirement. The Broncos subsequently cut the 28-year-old and he cleared waivers on Thursday, per Jones (Twitter link ), making him available to sign anywhere.

Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFL….

Talking to the media on Thursday, Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin insisted that he wants to remain in Seattle and that his comments about wanting to go to Atlanta were “misinterpreted,” tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. According to Condotta (Twitter links), Irvin added that he’ll be extra motivated in 2015 after the team chose not to exercise his 2016 option, and that his contract situation will take care of itself.
Speaking of Seahawks players entering contract years, the team’s most notable extension candidate, Russell Wilson, was fairly noncommittal when addressing his situation on Thursday, indicating that he remains optimistic about getting something done. Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune has the details and the quotes.
The Bills formally announced a number of changes within their player personnel department, most notably promoting Rob Hanrahan to director of pro peronnel and Kevin Meganck to director of football operations.
Browns rookie Cameron Erving will likely begin his career at right guard and compete with John Greco for the starting job, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo told Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Erving, the 19th pick in this year’s draft, played offensive tackle and center during his career at Florida State. He’s expected to be a long-term option at center for Cleveland, which could lose starter Alex Mack to free agency next offseason.
Second-year Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson is looking to build on a rookie campaign that saw him total an impressive 48 receptions in 10 games. So far, so good, says Jags quarterback Blake Bortles. “He’s been unbelievable,” Bortles said of Robinson’s showing at minicamp, according to Mark Long of the Associated Press. “He’s definitely a threat now in the red zone. … He’s physical. He can run and do everything out in the open field, so he’s been fun to throw to.“

Luke Adams contributed to this post.