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North Notes: Peterson, Bengals, Tucker

July 22nd, 2015 at 5:36pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Adrian Peterson‘s new deal with the Vikings yesterday, Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports took an in-depth look at Peterson’s offseason. According to Robinson, before the Vikings running back rejoined the team and got his new contract, he thought at length about a trade, retirement, and even the possibility of returning to his sprinting roots and making a run at the 2016 Olympics. That last idea may have been more of a dream than a plausible alternative, but it’s a moot point now, as Peterson ultimately decided to return to the Vikings for at least the 2015 season.

Of course, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman ensured that returning to Minnesota was the most viable solution for Peterson, with sources telling Robinson that Spielman “never wavered” on his stance to hang on to the former MVP. While Spielman’s position may have been a result of a lack of legit trade offers for Peterson, Robinson says that some inside the franchise believe that even a massive offer wouldn’t have made the GM change his mind.

Let’s check in on a few more items from out of the NFL’s two North divisions….

  • Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter) feels that the Bengals failed to address their tight end depth this offseason. While Tyler Kroft could be capable of producing in 2015, it’s hard to count on a rookie to contribute right out of the gate. The lack of depth for the Bengals puts added pressure of Tyler Eifert to give the Bengals a full, healthy season, something he hasn’t been able to do so far, Dehner tweets.
  • Now that Stephen Gostkowski has received a long-term deal from the Patriots, it should just be a matter of time before the Ravens and Justin Tucker work out a similar deal, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll happen soon though, as Hensley observes, noting that the franchise tag is a possibility for the Baltimore kicker in 2016, if he has yet to sign an extension by March.
  • The Packers opened up their own books this week and that info revealed that NFL teams each received $226.4MM from the NFL as part of revenue sharing from the 2014 fiscal year, Darren Rovell of ESPN.com writes. The total surpassed $7.2 billion and comes mostly from the league’s television deals.
  • Earlier today, we continued our Offseason in Review series with an examination of the Bears‘ moves over the last few months.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Community Tailgate: Who Will Win AFC South?

July 22nd, 2015 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re still several weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we 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.

As the 2015 season inches closer, we’re examining each NFL division, asking you which team you expect to finish atop the East, North, South, and West. Having already taken a closer look at the East and North divisions, along with the NFC South, we’re shifting our focus to the AFC South, perhaps the league’s most lopsided division.

According to betting site Bovada.lv, no NFL team is more likely to win its division than the Colts, who are even heavier favorites in the AFC South than the Packers, Seahawks, or Patriots are in their respective divisions. That’s not a surprise. After all, the Colts have won the division by multiple games in each of the last two seasons, averaging 11 wins per year while their division rivals average just 4.5 wins.

There’s not much reason to expect the Colts to fall off in 2015 either, with Andrew Luck continuing to improve, and veterans like Frank Gore and Andre Johnson now at his disposal, along with first-round receiver Phillip Dorsett. There are still some questions on the defensive side of the ball in Indianapolis, but as long as Luck stays healthy, those defensive shortcomings may not be a factor until the postseason.

While the Colts aren’t necessarily one of the league’s most dominant teams, the lack of competition in the AFC South contributes to Indianapolis’ strong odds to win the division. The Titans and Jaguars finished 2-14 and 3-13 respectively a year ago, and while they may not be quite that dismal again this year, it’s hard to imagine either team making a playoff push, even with some encouraging free agent additions in Jacksonville, and new quarterback Marcus Mariota in Tennessee.

That leaves the Texans as the team most likely to challenge the Colts for the AFC South crown, as they did a year ago, finishing 9-7. J.J. Watt has a greater impact on a given game than any other defender in the league, and a healthy Jadeveon Clowney would make that Houston D even more dangerous. But there’s still no clear-cut solution at the quarterback position, where Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett will battle for the No. 1 job. Additionally, with Johnson in Indianapolis, Arian Foster and DeAndre Hopkins will be asked to carry a significant load on offense, and the unit could be in real trouble if either player gets hurt.

What do you think? Will the Texans knock the Colts out of the top spot? Will the Jaguars or Texans make a surprise run for the division? Or will the Colts cruise to another division title? Who do you expect to win the AFC South? Weigh in below in the comment section with your thoughts!

Cardinals Have Interest In Chris Cooley

July 22nd, 2015 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Having lost tight ends John Carlson and Rob Housler during the offseason, the Cardinals are in the market for a veteran replacement at the position, and the team appears willing to consider a player who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since the 2012 season. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Cards have spoken to Chris Cooley, and have expressed interest in signing him.

As we learned yesterday, Cooley is contemplating making an NFL comeback after nearly three years away from the game. In nine seasons with Washington from 2004 to 2012, Cooley hauled in a total of 429 receptions – the all-time high for any tight end in franchise history – 4,711 receiving yards, and 33 touchdowns. The former third-round pick made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2007, catching 66 balls for 786 yards and eight touchdowns, and followed that up in 2008 with another Pro Bowl appearance thanks to his 83 catches and 849 yards.

When he suggested he may try to catch on with an NFL team this year, Cooley stated that he “could be anybody’s third tight end,” though it sounds like the Cardinals may be looking for a player capable of moving even higher on the depth chart. With Carlson and Housler no longer in the mix, Troy Niklas, Darren Fells, and Ted Bolser are among the players poised to head into training camp vying for playing time for Arizona.

In addition to having expressed interest in Cooley, the Cardinals also recently hosted former Bengal Jermaine Gresham for a visit. Gresham is coming off back surgery, so it’s not clear if Arizona’s interest in Cooley indicates that the Cards weren’t comfortable with Gresham’s physical, or if they’re simply considering all their options at the position.

Cardinals veterans are scheduled to report to camp on July 31, so I’d expect the club to address its tight end spot at some point before then.

Chargers Notes: Freeney, Los Angeles, San Diego

July 22nd, 2015 at 1:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the latest on the Chargers..

  • During an appearance with Polian and Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link), free agent Dwight Freeney said he hopes to be in camp with a team next month. “A lot of it is up in the air,” Freeney said (transcription from Josh Alper of PFT). “I have aspirations to play, but the thing is I have to be in the right situation for me. I can’t get put in a situation where I’m running away from the ball. I want to run toward the guy with the ball more than I’m running away.” Freeney had 3.5 sacks for the Chargers in 16 games last year and was credited with the third-most quarterback hurries by Pro Football Focus among 3-4 outside linebackers.
  • Emily Kaplan of The MMQB surveyed 100 Los Angeles residents to find out how much interest there is in having NFL football once again. Kaplan got a mixed bag of responses but, for the most part, Angelenos seemed excited or at least intrigued by the possibility. Meanwhile, NFL and real estate experts say that for the NFL to prosper in the current L.A. climate, a team would need to build more than just a stadium – they need to build an experience.
  • While there has been a lot of fretting over whether the Chargers might leave San Diego, Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune says the local fans will get by without the Bolts if they head to Los Angeles.

NFC North Notes: Peterson, Vikings, Bears

July 22nd, 2015 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are ready to move forward with running back Adrian Peterson but Raddison is not going to partner up with the team again, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. “Our suspended sponsorship has now expired and was not renewed,” company spokesman Ben Gardeen told Rovell. Radisson cancelled its sponsorship of the Vikings as the Peterson scandal made headlines nationally. Here’s more on the Vikings, AD, and other items out of the NFC North..

  • As it stands, Matt Vensel of the Star-Tribune (on Twitter) believes that it’s likely that Peterson will remain with the Vikings for the 2016 season. However, they do have the ability to get out of that deal if they want. Earlier this week, the Vikings and No. 28 agreed a contract restructuring that gives the tailback some additional security and guaranteed cash.
  • The Bears need Lamarr Houston to be the disruptive edge presence they expected when they signed him to a five-year contract that included $14.9MM guaranteed, Rich Campbell of The Chicago Tribune writes. Houston, of course, got attention for the wrong reasons last year when he tore his ACL while doing a sack dance. The 28-year-old, for his part, is determined to restore his reputation.
  • Beyond Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, the Lions have a lot of uncertainty at the wide receiver position, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Meanwhile, when it comes to the roster battles, Rothstein predicts that Lance Moore – who is on a deal with a modest guarantee – will make the cut while Greg Salas will not.

    • NFLPA Could Proceed With Collusion Case Against Cowboys, Broncos

    July 22nd, 2015 at 12:04pm CST by Zachary Links

    Despite previous reports to the contrary, the NFLPA could still pursue their collusion case against the Broncos and Cowboys, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The union is still assessing whether to proceed and has not lifted the notice requiring the teams to preserve any emails, text messages, or other documents that could be relevant to the case.

    Evidence of possible collusion between the Cowboys and Broncos reportedly stemmed from a conversation that took place between Dez Bryant and Cowboys COO Stephen Jones. Jones explained to Bryant that the Calvin Johnson contract, which is the most lucrative deal for a wide receiver in the NFL, had no relevance to other receivers because of the unique circumstances surrounding those negotiations. Then, according to Bryant’s account (per the source), Jones told the receiver that he talked to Broncos GM John Elway about the situation. Because the Broncos also had franchise-tagged receiver in Demaryius Thomas, the admission that Jones and Elway communicated about the situation constitutes evidence of collusion.

    Florio notes that it will be difficult for Thomas or Bryant to prove that they suffered any real financial loss, given that they both signed five-year, $70MM deals. However, there’s value to all players in exposing collusion, since it could prevent other teams from doing it in the future. As far as we know, the only real evidence the NFLPA has to prove collusion would be the testimony of Bryant. However, a discovery process could unearth a smoking gun or two to benefit their side.

    Vikings To Wait On Harrison Smith Extension

    July 22nd, 2015 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

    The Vikings won’t discuss an extension with Harrison Smith until after the season is through, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. The Vikings feel that there’s no rush to get a new pact done with Smith’s fifth-year option in tact.

    The safety, who is under team control for just two more seasons, recently said that he’s not thinking about a contract extension.

    “I’m really just focused on playing the best type of football I can. That stuff will work itself out,” Harrison said, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I’m happy to be here and happy to be a part of the Vikings, but all I’m thinking about right now is playing well in 2015.”

    Whether it’s with the Vikings or someone else, Smith is primed to cash in big if his career stays on its current course. Smith totaled a career-best five interceptions in 2014, giving him 10 in three seasons, and earned a spot on Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro team. Since entering the league as the 29th overall pick in 2012, Smith has evolved into one of the NFL’s most effective free safeties — in 2014, he had his best year yet, compiling 92 tackles, five interceptions, and three sacks for the Vikes.

     

    East Notes: Revis, Kromer, Cofield, Giants

    July 22nd, 2015 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

    Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis told Sports Illustrated that he considered retirement in 2012 after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee (partial transcript via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com).

    “I did think about retiring,” Revis told SI. “I had never been seriously injured before, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”

    Revis’ surgery was previously believed to be reconstructive surgery, but a microfracture procedure is more complicated and requires a longer recovery time. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

    • New Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman had actually pegged Chris Foerster as his first choice to coach the offensive line, a league source told Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News. Instead, the Bills ended up with Aaron Kromer, who could be on his way out after his offseason incident.
    • Defensive tackle Barry Cofield remains unsigned but he told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link) that he’s healthy and just waiting for a call. Cofield, 31, suffered his first major injury in 2014, as he missed about half the season for Washington after an ankle injury forced him onto the injured reserve list with the designation to return. While the veteran lineman returned to action in November, he only started three of eight games for the season, marking the first time since 2007 that he appeared in a game he didn’t start.
    • The Giants‘ offense could put up major points with Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, and free agent addition Shane Vereen, but the club’s former offensive coordinator isn’t sure that enough has been done to address the team’s offensive line woes, as Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes. “The tragedy of that is they’ve made some strides over the last couple years to address that issue,’’ Kevin Gilbride told NFL Network. “The problem is it all went astray when William Beatty got injured in the offseason.’’

    Offseason In Review: Chicago Bears

    July 22nd, 2015 at 8:58am CST by Dallas Robinson

    The Bears were a trendy playoff pick heading into the 2014 season, but a 5-11 finish was followed by the dismissal of both general manager Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman. Now, Chicago might be entering rebuilding mode, though they did use free agency to bring in several interesting players.

    Notable signings:

    There’s no doubting that Eddie Royal is a solid football player — he was excellent out of the slot for the Chargers last season, catching 72 passes for 778 yards and seven touchdowns. And while his $5MM annual salary isn’t all that exorbitant (although it’s higher than Julian Edelman, for example, and equal to that of Emmanuel Sanders), it’s pretty surprising that the Bears handed Royal $10MM in guarantees. That’s more than Torrey Smith, who is widely regarded as a superior pass-catcher, garnered, and it ranks 16th among all receivers (not counting rookie deals). It might seem like Royal has been around forever, but he just turned 29, so perhaps his relative youth helped him score this contract, but I have a hard time believing many other clubs would have agreed to this deal. Chicago must be certain that the Royal/Jay Cutler relationship is strong enough to post positive results over the next three years.

    Making the Royal deal all the more surprising is the fact that he got more guaranteed money than the Bears’ true free agent prize, pass-rusher Pernell McPhee. It’s hard to even label McPhee with a position, as we’ve seen him get after the quarterback from all along the defensive line and several linebacker positions, and it will be interesting to see where new Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio asks 26-year-old line up. It’s a little hard to believe that while his total contract is valued at nearly $40MM, McPhee was only able to secure $8.75MM in guarantees. That could have something to do with his relative lack of experience, as 2014 was the first season that he topped 600 snaps on defense. We’ve seen other defensive players leave Baltimore via free agency and tank before, but the Bears certainly have high hopes for McPhee, who ranked as the second-best 3-4 outside linebacker in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

    Elsewhere on the defensive side of the ball, the Bears added veteran safety Antrel Rolle, inking the former Giant to a three-year deal. Chicago ranked 29th in DVOA against the pass last season, running out the likes of Chris Conte for extended stretches of time. At age 32, Rolle probably isn’t the same player that he was during his early career in Arizona or his first few seasons in New York, but he should add a level of stability to Chicago’s back end that it hasn’t had in recent years. He’ll also act as a complement, and perhaps mentor, to second-year pro Brock Vereen, the projected starter at free safety.

    Rolle wasn’t the only experienced defensive back signed by the Bears this offseason, as they also brought in cornerback Alan Ball, who spent the last two years in Jacksonville. He isn’t a star (PFF rated him as the No. 40 CB in ’14), but like Rolle, he’ll bring a level of competency a Chicago defense that sorely needs it. During the offseason, some around the league had said that the Bears’ defense was so poor last year that they might need 10 new starters (with Kyle Fuller being safe). Given the presence of Fuller and Tim Jennings, Ball won’t be on those new starters, but he will be an insurance option if something happens to the top two corners.

    Outside of those four signings, the Bears didn’t do all that much in free agency. However, I was particularly impressed by new general manager Ryan Pace‘s use of the minimum salary benefit to bring in players who could contribute at a low cost. Sam Acho, for instance, could turn out to be a valuable addition, as the 26-year-old former Cardinal is capable of playing either inside or outside linebacker. Mason Foster, also only 26 years old, has four years experience as a starting middle linebacker. Will Montgomery ranked as the league’s 15th-best center per PFF last year despite playing less than 600 snaps. Those were my three favorite MSB additions, but it’s not impossible that players such as Jacquizz Rodgers, Tracy Porter, or Daniel Thomas could contribute something in 2015, as well. Pace was able to bring in a bevy of high-quality role players who won’t embarrass themselves if thrust into increased playing time, and did so while handing out less than $600K in guarantees.

    Notable losses:

    The Bears didn’t seem to make much of an effort to re-sign Stephen Paea, as the defensive lineman told reporters when he signed with Washington that he chose the nation’s capital over Dallas, Detroit, and Tampa, with no mention of Chicago. The 26-year-old graded as the No. 11 DT in the league according to PFF, and given that he’s earning just slightly more annually than Eddie Royal, I wonder if the Bears would have been wiser to spend that ~$5MM per year on Paea. Although he’s only played defensive tackle thus far in his career, the 6’1″, 300-pounder has the size to play 3-4 end (and it’s the role he’ll play in Washington).

    Sentimentally, Chicago lost two of its most beloved defenders, linebacker Lance Briggs (who remains unsigned) and cornerback Charles Tillman (who joined the Panthers). Briggs, 34, played in only eight games last season but was the Bears’ third-best defender per PFF, while Tillman appeared in just two games before injuring his triceps. It makes sense that neither was retained given that the club is going younger on defense, but I wonder if Briggs might be an option later in training if Vic Fangio is unhappy with his crop of inside linebackers.

    Another long-time Bear — center Roberto Garza — was released in April despite having signed a one-year extension in December. The pact was inked by the club’s regime, so it’s clear that Ryan Pace & Co. didn’t value Garza at the same level. Garza, 36, had been with the Bears since the 2005 season, playing 154 regular season contests (145 starts) during that stretch, primarily at center and right guard. Chicago also declined to bring back fellow center Brian De La Puente, who had a very successful season in ’14 during which he saw 501 snaps, mostly while filling in at center for Garza during the early portion of the year. De La Puente is only 30 years old and had to surprisingly accept a one-year deal for the minimum salary benefit last offseason, and he remains unsigned as of this writing.

    Safety Chris Conte offered youth (he’s entering his age-26 season) and experience (more than 600 snaps in each of his first three seasons), but he’s dealt with shoulder injuries throughout his career and has produced at merely an average level. In 2014, Conte graded as the No. 63 safety among 87 qualifiers per PFF. He’d been better than that in the two seasons prior, but he’s always been in the middle of the pack relative to his peers. The Bears moved on, adding the veteran Antrel Rolle as a replacement, while Conte followed ex-Bears HC Lovie Smith to Tampa Bay.

    Josh Morgan actually played a decent number of snaps while acting as Chicago’s third receiver last season, but the team added Kevin White in the draft and will hope that Marquess Wilson will take the next step and supplant Morgan, who signed with the Saints. The only notable departure who saw more than 400 snaps was inside linebacker D.J. Williams, who, at age 33 and having dealt with multiple injuries in recent years, might be nearing the end of his NFL run.

     Trades:

    The Bears didn’t move around at all during the draft, but they did swing a trade near the beginning of the league year, shipping veteran receiver Brandon Marshall to the Jets. Marshall was among the NFL’s best receivers as recently as 2013, but last season saw him catch just 61 passes for 721 yards, and he missed the final three games with broken ribs. The 31-year-old was due a 2015 base salary of $7.5MM and scheduled to count $9.575MM against the cap.

    Marshall’s 2015 salary was set to become guaranteed on the third day of the 2015 league year, so Chicago was forced to quickly make a deal to clear his that total. The club will carry $5.625MM in dead money this year as a result of the trade.

    Draft picks:

    • 1-7: Kevin White, WR (West Virginia): Signed
    • 2-39: Eddie Goldman, DT (Florida State): Signed
    • 3-71: Hroniss Grasu, OL (Oregon): Signed
    • 4-106: Jeremy Langford, RB (Michigan State): Signed
    • 5-142: Adrian Amos, S (Penn State): Signed
    • 6-183: Tayo Fabuluje, T (TCU): Signed

    Kevin White and Eddie Goldman, Chicago’s top two selections, will be counted on to start almost immediately, with White replacing the production of Brandon Marshall, and Goldman pushing Will Sutton for snaps at nose tackle. It remains to be seen how White will acclimate to the NFL; there’s no doubting his speed and/or raw ability, but some wonder if he’ll need some time to refine his game.

    Hroniss Grassu, like Goldman, will have to compete for snaps with Will Montgomery, and the veteran probably has the edge here, though Grassu could also act as insurance at guard in case Matt Slauson suffers another injury. Jeremy Langford will join Ka’Deem Carey, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Daniel Thomas in the race to back up Matt Forte, and most think Langford has the most long-term value of that group.

    Other:

    Phil Emery‘s run as the Bears’ general manager — highlighted by the ill-advised seven-year extension handed to Jay Cutler — officially came to end in December, and the team fired head coach Marc Trestman on the same day. Though the duo had fielded a largely successful club in 2013, 2014 saw number of issues — discord among players, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer throwing Cutler under the bus, failed signings such as Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston — come to the forefront, leading the pair to be ousted after only two years on the job.

    To replace Emery, the Bears settled on former Saints executive Ryan Pace as their new GM after a search that saw Chicago meet with Chris Ballard of the Chiefs, Brian Gaine of the Dolphins, and Lake Dawson of the Titans. At 37, Pace becomes the youngest general manager in the league. It was fair to wonder if Pace would employ the same sort of contract structures in Chicago that often led the Saints to having little or no cap space, but given that Pace’s title was player personnel director, he probably doesn’t deserve blame for New Orleans’ cap woes.

    Aside from the Broncos, the Bears interviewed the fewest candidates of any club searching for a new head coach. Chicago was one of only two teams who were replacing its general manager in addition to its HC, so it’s possible they wanted to have Pace in place before getting too deep into its coaching hunt. But it’s also conceivable the Bears simply got lucky, as just four days after Denver parted ways with John Fox, Chicago scooped him up, signing the 60-year-old to a four-year contract. Fox, entering his 14th season as an NFL head coach, will bring Adam Gase with him from Denver to head up the offense, while adding former 49ers DC Vic Fangio to lead the defense (and shift to a 3-4 scheme).

    The one true black mark of Chicago’s offseason was the signing of defensive end Ray McDonald, who had already been in legal trouble twice (domestic violence and sexual assault) before joining the Bears. Financially, it was a no-risk signing for the club, but the optics could not have been worse. The public relations backlash only increased when McDonald was arrested again just two months after inking his contract, this time on charges of domestic violence and child endangerment. Chicago released McDonald almost immediately, but the reaction following the incident was clear — Pace had made the first big mistake of his tenure.

    Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

    1. Jay Cutler, QB: $16,500,000
    2. Jared Allen, DE/OLB: $12,500,000
    3. Matt Forte, RB: $9,200,000
    4. Jermon Bushrod, LT: $8,050,000
    5. Lamarr Houston, DE/OLB: $6,990,000
    6. Pernell McPhee, OLB: $6,675,000
    7. Martellus Bennett, TE: $6,125,000
    8. Brandon Marshall, WR: $5,625,000 (dead money)
    9. Eddie Royal, WR: $5,500,000
    10. Tim Jennings, CB: $5,250,000

    2014 will probably be something of a rebuilding year for the Bears. Turnarounds can happen quickly in the NFL, and given that Chicago hired a veteran coach in John Fox, it’s probably aiming to be in contention again in the very near future. But with three other solid teams in the division, it’s quite possible that the Bears are cellar-dwellers once again, barring vast improvement on the part of either Jay Cutler or the defense as a whole.

    Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

    NFC West Notes: Okung, Seahawks, Gresham

    July 21st, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

    With less than 10 days to go until the start of training camp, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times wonders if Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner will be signed to a contract extension. Seattle, he posits, may wait to see what develops with Russell Wilson over the next week or so before moving on to Wagner. If nothing gets done, the urgency could increase to get a deal signed with Wagner. Former agent Joel Corry says that Luke Kuechly should command a higher salary than Wagner, but if the Panthers standout were to sign a significant deal before Wagner, it could compel Seattle to pay more.

    Here’s more from the NFC West..

    • Self-representation will prevent Seahawks tackle Russell Okung from participating in the three-day negotiating period before free agency unless the rules change, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. Meanwhile, Okung took to Twitter to thank his union for its support. “Thanks to the @NFLPA for immediate assistance in providing the resources I’ll need to move forward. Players, the tools are there for you too,” Okung tweeted. We learned yesterday that Okung, eligible for free agency after the season, will be representing himself in talks. In 2014, the 27-year-old dealt with a labrum tear and a bruised lung after having undergone foot surgery in the offseason.
    • Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports got the skinny on the support the NFLPA is giving to Okung. Union prez Eric Winston says Okung has been provided with the top 10 offensive tackle contracts and he’ll be offered further analysis and legal advice on contract language as needed. Meanwhile, the NFLPA’s committee on re-examining agent fees has convened three times now and one has to wonder if Okung’s decision could become a trend. Giants running back and player rep Rashad Jennings, who signed a four-year deal worth $10MM in March 2014, says that he will negotiate his next deal without an agent.
    • Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham visited the Cardinals as planned on Tuesday but no deal is in place between the two sides yet, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. The former Oklahoma product never lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the 2010 draft, but he has a history of consistent production, averaging about 56 catches, 544 yards, and five touchdowns per year.
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