HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Extra Points: JPP, Kromer, Jets

July 14th, 2015 at 9:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL hasn’t had a developmental league since NFL Europa ended in 2007, but that could all change soon. Former Giants coach Jim Fassel told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter), “Don’t be surprised if there was a very good spring league opening next year in the NFL,” Fassel said. Plenty of “minor league” football organizations have come and gone over the years, but it stands to reason that a domestic NFL developmental league could find a way to support itself. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has been discharged from the South Florida hospital where he had his right index finger amputated, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. There has still been no formal contact between Pierre-Paul and the Giants regarding the next steps in his rehab, but the team hopes to communicate with him as soon as possible about what he and they can expect. JPP has yet to sign his $14.813MM franchise player tender, but the Giants have no plan to rescind it.
  • The AFC East staff writers at ESPN.com all weighed in on who they think is the No. 1 rising star in the division. James Walker cast his vote for Jets rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The USC star was the best player available at No. 6 and even though the Jets didn’t need another stud defensive lineman they pounced anyway. Things are a bit crowded on the line, but Walker believes that new Jets head coach Todd Bowles is a smart enough defensive mind to find ways to get Williams on the field.
  • The Walton County Sheriff’s office says it’s now also pursuing charges against Zachary Kromer, the son of Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Zachary Kromer allegedly put his hands around the throat of one of the friends of the boy who claimed to be assaulted by Aaron Kromer.

Titans Not Budging On Offsets For Mariota

July 14th, 2015 at 8:37pm CST by Zachary Links

For months, the Titans and No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota have been at an impasse over whether there would be offset language in his contract. Mariota remains unsigned, but Titans interim CEO and president Steve Underwood says that the team will not buckle on this issue, as ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky writes.

“We’ve always had offset language in our player contracts. It’s nothing new,” Underwood said. “I think it is important where a high first-round draft pick is concerned, because it’s the precedent. Everything that we do is precedential for the next round of contracts. “So keeping the offset in place is something we want to be able to do going forward. And the minute you back away from the contract principle then you no longer are able to assert it going forward.”

Underwood went on to explain that if he made an exception in Mariota’s case, it would “echo into eternity with player contracts.” Fearful of setting a player-friendly precedent going forward, Underwood says he’s willing to continue this standoff. Underwood also indicated that while missed time at the start of camp isn’t ideal, it also wouldn’t be the end of the world.

The good news for Titans fans is that Underwood says offset language is the last real sticking point in negotiations, so this should be a done deal once that issue is resolved. It’s surprising that the Titans are this adamant about offsets since the odds of it becoming relevant before the end of Mariota’s deal are slim, but the team is apparently more concerned about how it will affect future dealings than how it will affect the No. 2 overall pick.

As explained by Luke Adams of PFR last summer, offset language relates to what happens to a player’s salary if he’s cut during the first four years of his career, while he’s still playing on his rookie contract. For the top 15 to 20 picks in the draft, those four-year salaries will be fully guaranteed, even if a player is waived at some point during those four seasons. For example, if a player has $4MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract and is cut, he’ll still be owed that $4MM.

However, if a team has written offset language into the contract, that club can save some money if and when the player signs with a new team. For example, if that player who had $4MM in guaranteed money left on his contract signs with a new club on a $1MM deal, his old team would only be on the hook for $3MM, with the new team making up the difference. If there’s no offset language on that first deal, the old team would continue to be on the hook for the full $4MM, and the player would simply earn an additional $1MM from his new club.

No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston didn’t force the issue on offsets, choosing instead to agree to a contract with the Bucs the day after he was drafted. Only one player selected in the top 10 – third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. – has a deal without offset language.

Mariota passed for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, leading Oregon to the National Championship Game against Ohio State.

Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Steelers

July 14th, 2015 at 7:28pm CST by Zachary Links

After a fairly uneventful offseason, the Steelers will look to repeat as AFC North champs.

Notable signings:

Arthur Moats not only decided to stay with the Steelers in March, he decided to give himself the scoop on the story. Moats let Steeler Nation know that he would be staying in Pittsburgh and it was later learned that it was a three-year, $7.5MM deal for the outside linebacker. That may not be big bucks compared to some other free agent deals, but it marked a pay raise for Moats after he played on a minimum salary benefit deal in 2014. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was very high on the 26-year-old’s performance against the run in 2013 and in 2014 he received high marks for his overall performance. PFF had Moats ranked as the 17th best outside linebacker in a 3-4 set with his 7.3 overall grade. Those advanced numbers put him ahead of guys like Clay Matthews, Trent Cole, Aldon Smith, and Brian Orakpo in 2014.

When the Steelers signed DeAngelo Williams on March 13th, he was brought in with the intention of being one of Le’Veon Bell‘s primary backups. Now, with Bell sidelined for the first three games of the season, the former Panthers back will play an even more pivotal role as the primary back to start the year. Williams, a former first-round pick, is coming off the worst season of his career, one marred by injuries. The 31-year-old played only six games for the Panthers, and wasn’t productive when he did play, averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry on 62 total attempts. Carolina had been on track to head into the 2015 league year with three running backs among their top 10 cap numbers — Jonathan Stewart, Williams, and Mike Tolbert counted for about $18MM combined, so it came as no surprise when the club decided to part ways with Williams, a longtime Panther.

In March, James Harrison was split between the Steelers and Titans. While he was tempted to follow Dick LeBeau to Tennessee, he ultimately decided to remain in Pittsburgh on a two-year deal. Harrison played the 2013 season in Cincinnati, but after an underwhelming stint with the Bengals, Harrison decided to call it a career. His retirement lasted for all of 18 days before his old teammates convinced him to rejoin their ranks. The 36-year-old, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and even spent time on Baltimore’s roster in the early stages of his career, collected 5.5 sacks in 11 games for the Steelers last season. Harrison is no longer the feared pass rusher he once was, but he can still be useful in a limited role in clear passing downs.

Darrius Heyward-Bey was active for all 16 games for the Steelers last season, but didn’t see much action, earning just five targets on the year. With a new deal, it’s possible that DHB will take on a role that is more reminiscent of his time with the Raiders. The former No. 7 overall pick has never been a superstar, but he has shown the ability to burn defenders in the open field. It’s also possible that Heyward-Bey will see the bulk of his action on special teams, like he did last season.

In early March the Steelers added a notable name to their quarterback depth chart when they signed former Clemson signal caller Tajh Boyd. Boyd, who was drafted by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, signed on for a one-year, minimum salary deal.

Notable losses:

Longtime Steelers safety Troy Polamalu announced his retirement from the NFL in April. One of the best defenders of his generation, Polamalu was not expected to return to Pittsburgh in 2015, and he explained that the idea of playing for another franchise did not appeal to him. Polamalu, 34, had been a fixture on the Steelers’ defense since entering the league in 2003, appearing in 158 total games for the franchise. However, he wasn’t the same game-changing player in 2014 that he had been earlier in his career. While Pro Football Focus (subscription required) still gave the veteran a positive grade, it was only by a hair — his +0.1 mark placed him 48th out of 87 qualified safeties. It was also the only season of Polamalu’s career besides 2007 in which he failed to record at least one interception or sack.

Polamalu’s retirement wasn’t totally shocking, but Jason Worilds‘ sure was. The 27-year-old played and started all 16 games for the Steelers, turning in perhaps the best season of his career with 62 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Before his announcement, Worilds was ranked 14th on PFR’s list of the top 50 free agents. The linebacker walked away from a likely $7-8MM annual salary with at least $15MM in guaranteed money to pursue a different path after experiencing a “spiritual awakening.”

Longtime Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor also decided to end his NFL playing career. The 35-year-old spent his entire playing career in Pittsburgh, having been drafted by the team in the fourth round back in 2003. Over the course of his 12 seasons as a Steeler, Taylor never earned a Pro Bowl nod, but was a steady and mostly reliable presence in the club’s secondary, playing 174 regular season contests (140 starts) and another 14 postseason games.

Pittsburgh showed little to no interest in Brett Keisel for much of the 2014 offseason and only gave him a call in August after Darnell Dockett went down with a season-ending ACL injury. This year, Keisel’s season ended early when he suffered a triceps injury in late November against the Saints. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) ranked him as just the 36th-best 3-4 end out of 45 qualifiers in 2013 and he ranked 30th out of 48 eligible 3-4 bookends in 2014.

Brice McCain, 28, was released by the Texans in 2014 after ranking dead last among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades in 2013 (subscription required). He went on to turn things around with the Steelers, recording 31 tackles and a career-high three interceptions. McCain didn’t grade out as a superstar in 2014, according to PFF, but he did improve, coming in as the 65th best cornerback out of 108 qualified players. McCain signed with the Dolphins shortly after the start of free agency.

Near the start of the offseason that veteran wide receiver Lance Moore asked the Steelers to release him, and the team eventually obliged. Moore landed with the Lions and later explained his motivations.

“I knew the day after the playoff loss that we had, I knew that I didn’t want to be there anymore,” said Moore. “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.”

Ben Tate was viewed as a breakout candidate heading into 2014 after leaving Houston, where he had backed up Arian Foster for the first few years of his NFL career. In Cleveland, Tate struggled and was hampered by injuries early in the season, and fell behind rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West on the team’s depth chart. The Browns opted to release Tate, at which point the Vikings claimed him on waivers, but the 26-year-old didn’t impress in Minnesota either, and the team cut him in December. Weeks later, needing a warm body for the playoffs, the Steelers inked the veteran. Now, Tate continues to look for an NFL home in 2015.

Extensions and restructures:

The Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger were working on a reworked deal for some time and they finally got it done in mid-March. Big Ben was set to enter the final year of his contract, earning a $11.6MM base to go along with a prorated $6.795MM, adding up to a massive $18.395MM cap number. Now, he’s under a new five-year pact worth $99MM that can balloon to $108MM with incentives.

Also of note is a new deal that did not happen this offseason, or at least hasn’t happened yet. Antonio Brown was arguably the league’s best wide receiver in 2014, leading the NFL in both receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698). In April, he made it known that he is looking for a new contract that better reflects that production. Brown, a former sixth-round pick, signed his first big, long-term contract in 2012, agreeing to a five-year, $41.7MM pact. That deal pays him over $8MM per year, but that annual average value is outside the top 10 at his position, and places him behind players like Victor Cruz and Pierre Garcon. It was reported at one point that Brown wouldn’t attend the Steelers’ offseason program, but he showed up just one week later when things got underway. It’s not clear what Brown is looking for, but he would presumably want a bump in salary to at least the $11MM per year range. That’s what this year’s top free agent wideout, Jeremy Maclin, received. Despite the contract issue, Brown has made it clear that he is happy in Pittsburgh.

Draft picks:

  • 1-22: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB (Kentucky): Signed
  • 2-56: Senquez Golson, CB (Mississippi): Signed
  • 3-87: Sammie Coates, WR (Auburn): Signed
  • 4-121: Doran Grant, CB (Ohio State): Signed
  • 5-160: Jesse James, TE (Penn State): Signed
  • 6-199: L.T. Walton, DT (Central Michigan): Signed
  • 6-212: Anthony Chickillo, DE/OLB (Miami): Signed
  • 7-239: Gerod Holliman, S (Louisville): Signed

Bud Dupree was connected to a lot of teams heading into the draft and the Steelers were delighted when he fell to them at No. 22 overall. Dupree’s in-game motivation was a bit inconsistent at Kentucky, but he has also displayed impressive strength and athleticism. Dupree has spoken about his affinity for the Steelers defenses of old and has vowed to help bring that hard-hitting style back to Pittsburgh.

Other:

Dick LeBeau, 77, announced in January that he would resign from his post as DC, but he made it clear that he would not be retiring.

“I’m resigning this position, not retiring,” LeBeau said. “I had a great run in Pittsburgh. I’m grateful for all the things that have happened to me and thankful for all the support I had in Pittsburgh.”

LeBeau joined on with the Titans’ staff while linebackers coach Keith Butler was promoted to take his place. From the sound of it, Butler intends on letting his playmakers in the front seven do their thing.

“Coach Buts said early on, ‘I’m not going to hold you back. I want the linebackers to fend for themselves. I expect you guys to make plays for yourself,” lineman Cameron Heyward said.

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

  1. Ben Roethlisberger, QB: $17,245,000
  2. Lawrence Timmons, LB: $12,566,250
  3. Antonio Brown, WR: $9,787,500
  4. LaMarr Woodley, OLB: $8,580,000 (dead money)
  5. Cortez Allen, CB: $6,981,000
  6. Cameron Heyward, DL: $6,969,000
  7. Heath Miller, TE: $5,666,666
  8. Troy Polamalu, S: $4,500,000 (dead money)
  9. Maurkice Pouncey, C: $4,296,000
  10. Shaun Suisham, K: $3,665,000

The first three games alone won’t dictate any team’s season, but it is fair to wonder how starting the season without Bell will affect the Steelers. Even when Bell returns to the club, the Steelers will have to deal with an absolutely brutal schedule for the remainder of the 2015 season. The Steelers could very well repeat this year, but it certainly won’t be easy.

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

Demaryius Thomas Rumors: Tuesday

July 14th, 2015 at 6:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we rounded up Tuesday’s rumors and updates on Dez Bryant‘s contract talks with the Cowboys. Now, we’ll shift our focus to another Pro Bowl wide receiver and franchise tag recipient, Demaryius Thomas. Here’s the latest on the Broncos’ star:

  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Thomas is willing to miss games. He adds that the wide receiver won’t be at camp on time if a deal isn’t reached.

Earlier updates:

  • Contrary to earlier reports, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that the Broncos and Thomas have not exchanged any proposals nor had any dialogue in over a month.
  • Echoing Monday’s report from Mike Klis, Rand Getlin of the NFL Network reports that there’s still a “significant gap” between the Broncos and Thomas in extension negotiations. Denver is willing to pay the 27-year-old north of $13MM per year, but Thomas is seeking a Calvin Johnson-type deal, and it seems unlikely that the club will go that high.
  • Based on his observations of the Broncos, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) doesn’t expect John Elway and company to budge significantly when it comes to the figures being discussed for Thomas.
  • In the wake of news that the NFLPA plans to move forward with its collusion complaint against the Broncos and Cowboys if either Thomas or Bryant remain unsigned after tomorrow’s deadline, Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweets that the Broncos have “zero concern” about the issue.

Dez Bryant Rumors: Tuesday

July 14th, 2015 at 6:38pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys and Dez Bryant have less than 30 hours to reach a long-term contract agreement before Wednesday’s deadline, and the wideout has threatened to miss training camp and regular season games if the two sides don’t come to terms. Here’s the latest on Bryant’s contract situation, with the clock ticking:

  • The Cowboys’ offer to Bryant is more than the $12.8MM/year tag number, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That marks a significant climb from their original offer of $10MM per year over six years. Bryant, meanwhile, still wants Calvin Johnson money and one source says there’s still a “long way to go” (link). Echoing earlier reports, Rapoport says the Cowboys aren’t buying Bryant’s threat to miss regular season games (link).

Earlier updates:

  • If Bryant and the Cowboys can compromise on a total dollar value that both sides find acceptable, the language regarding the voiding of future guarantees figures to become a major factor, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, though Bryant has avoided off-field trouble for several years, the Cowboys will likely push for language that would allow the team to void guarantees if the star receiver is suspended, or if he even just misses a practice or meeting. Bryant’s camp, of course, will attempt to restrict that sort of language.
  • While not many people are taking Bryant seriously when he talks about missing regular season action, Florio suggests in a separate PFT piece that it could make sense for the Cowboys wideout to threaten to sit out 10 weeks, rather than just one or two. That would still allow Bryant to earn more than $5MM in the season’s final few weeks, which is more than he has ever made in a season before.
  • Of course, Florio’s argument hinges on the fact that he believes Bryant would still be in line for a 20% raise if he sits out most or all of the season and gets the franchise tag again in 2016, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. That’s not how I read the CBA — it looks to me like the 20% raise only applies if Bryant earns his full $12.823MM salary in 2015. As Florio observes though, the language in convoluted enough that it could result in a grievance, if necessary.
  • Having already informed the Cowboys and Broncos that they need to preserve emails, phone records, and other records of communication, the NFLPA intends to move forward with collusion charges against the two teams if Bryant and Demaryius Thomas don’t sign long-term contracts this week, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Based on Graziano’s report, it sounds like the NFLPA plans to go ahead with its complaint even if one of the two receivers lands a new deal this week.

2015 Release Candidates: AFC South

July 14th, 2015 at 6:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Most clubs have fairly set rosters at this point, as OTA, minicamp, and preseason performances won’t do much to alter roster composition. The majority of key releases came in March, but there are still several scenarios where certain contributors could lose their roster spot in the coming months. For the most part, we’ll focus on situations where the cap savings would be in excess of $1MM.

Because free agency has already passed, financial ramifications won’t play a huge role in these decisions; there aren’t a ton of high-profile free agents on which to spend that saved money, so these calls will mostly be made based on performance. However, any cap space saved through these potential releases could be rolled over into 2016, so that’s something clubs have to consider.

We’ve already looked at the AFC East, NFC East, AFC North, and NFC North, so let’s dive into the AFC South…

Houston Texans:

  • Garrett Graham, TE: After posting a solid a 49/545/5 line during the 2014 campaign (and subsequently signing a three-year, $11.25MM deal), Graham regressed last season, catching just 18 balls for 197 yards and one score, missing the final four weeks of the season after suffering a high ankle sprain. Graham’s numbers can somewhat be forgiven due to the quality of quarterback play in Houston last season, but he wasn’t effective as a blocker, either. He’s due $3MM in base salary in each of the next two seasons, and while the Texans could save a decent amount (about $3.1MM) by releasing him now, he’s set to be the club’s starting tight end. Perhaps if Ryan Griffin or second-year pro C.J. Fiedorowicz — neither of who was overly productive last season — shows something during the preseason, there might be an infinitesimal chance that Graham is cut. But given head coach Bill O’Brien‘s affinity for tight end usage, it’s unlikely he’d cut ties with Graham. Prediction: not released.

Indianapolis Colts:

  • Gosder Cherilus/Lance Louis/Donald Thomas, OL: While three-fifths of the Colts’ offensive line is relatively set — LT Anthony Castonzo, C Khaled Holmes, RG Todd Herremans — the left guard and right tackle positions are in a state of flux. 2014 second-rounder Jack Mewhort is versatile enough to play at both spots, and he’ll likely fill one of those roles; whether Indianapolis slots him in at guard or tackle could determine the roster fate of one or more of Cherilus, Louis, or Thomas. Recovery from injuries could also play a factor here, as Cherilus is coming back from knee surgery (and just had a scope in January), while Thomas has missed the better part of the last two seasons dealing with a torn quadriceps. Overall it’s a difficult scenario — Louis has the worst track record but would save the Colts the least money if released, while Cherilus and Thomas each have a better history of production but would save Indy $4MM each if cut. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like Thomas’ recovery is going very well, so for now I’ll guess that he’ll be out. Meanwhile, if Mewhort takes over right tackle, and the club can rely on some combination of Louis, Joe Reitz, and CFL signee Ben Heenan to man left guard, I could see Cherilus being released as well. But given that the Colts would incur $2.9MM in dead money (as opposed to that $4MM in savings), I think he’ll stick for one more season. Prediction: Thomas released.
  • Robert Mathis, LB: Like Thomas, Mathis missed last season after suffering a major injury — in Mathis’ case, a torn Achilles — and also like Thomas, his rehab process isn’t going as well as he’d hoped. The 34-year-old reportedly suffered a setback in February, and two months later he told SiriuxXM Radio that his recovery was lagging. The Colts actually extended Mathis last fall as part of an interesting contractual compromise. Indy wasn’t obligated to compensate Mathis during the 2014 season because he was on the non-football injury list, as a result of his Achilles tear occurring during a private workout, but the club paid him anyway. In exchange, Mathis converted his $3MM roster bonus that was set to be paid in March 2015 into per-game roster bonuses, meaning he’ll only get that money if he’s on the field. The Colts also tacked an extra year (2016) onto his deal, but that year contains no guaranteed money. In short, if the team feels that Mathis isn’t healthy enough to contribute during the upcoming season, they can now release him with far less financial penalty. Whether he will be healthy enough is hard to say until training camp gets underway, but it’s hard to bet on a player in his mid-30s coming off a significant injury who plays a position that relies on explosion. Prediction: released.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

  • Chris Clemons, DE: Signed to a four-year deal just last offseason that reunited him with Jaguars head coach(and former Seahawks DC) Gus Bradley, Clemons disappointed in his first season with the club, grading as the league’s second-worst 4-3 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), a far cry from his tenure in Seattle when he ranked as a top-12 each year from 2010-12. Turning 34 years old in October, it doesn’t appear that Clemons has much left in the tank. Had third overall selection Dante Fowler Jr. not torn his ACL earlier this year, I would have thought it nearly 100% certain that Clemons is released. Jacksonville still has a bevy of defensive line talent available, however, so I’d still put the odds at around 85%. Clemons had no guaranteed money included in his contract beyond 2014, so the Jags won’t be strapped with any dead money. Prediction: released.
  • Toby Gerhart, RB: Gerhart didn’t transition well in his shift from Adrian Peterson‘s backup to Jacksonville’s starter; he finished the year with just 101 carries, averaging only 3.2 yards per carry. With the Jaguars having used a second-round pick on running back T.J. Yeldon (who will presumably pair with 2014 pleasant surprise Denard Robinson), and with Gerhart not being due any guarantees for the remainder of his deal, it seemed likely that he’d be cut. But reports have indicated that the Jags are likely to keep Gerhart around, using him in something of a fullback/H-back hybrid role. The SB Nation blog Big Cat Country, in fact, posted an excellent piece earlier this week examining how new Jaguars OC Greg Olson could utilize Gerhart in a manner similar to Marcel Reece (whom Olson coached in Oakland). Prediction: not released.
  • Ziggy Hood, DL: Like Clemons and Gerhart, Hood was another 2014 offseason addition who wasn’t all that productive during his first season in northeast Florida. A former first-round pick of the Steelers, Hood is certainly a capable rotational defensive lineman. But the Jags have been collecting a stable of DLs over the past year or so, and with Jared Odrick, a recovering Sen’Derrick Marks and Roy Miller, Ryan Davis, Andre Branch, and rookie Michael Bennett, I thought there might be a chance Hood is let go. But given that Marks will still be coming back from his torn ACL, Hood is probably safe. Prediction: not released.

Tennessee Titans:

  • Michael Griffin, S: The 30-year-old Griffin’s roller coaster-like production over the past four seasons is very strange: PFF graded him as a top-15 safety in both 2011 and 2013, but as a bottom-five safety in both 2012 and 2014. Griffin is due to count $8.1MM against the cap in 2015, he’s coming off both shoulder and knee surgeries, and he was the subject of trade rumors last fall, so calling him a candidate for release is not a stretch. But the Titans don’t have much safety depth behind Griffin and free agent addition Da’Norris Searcy, so Griffin will likely stick on the 53-man roster. Prediction: not released.
  • Andy Levitre, G: Levitre has never been the same player he was in Buffalo since joining Tennessee on a six-year, $48.6MM contract before the 2013 season, but he hasn’t been bad by any stretch of the imagination. He actually ranked as a top-15 guard in 2013 before falling to No. 45 last season (per PFF), but even that 2014 ranking meant he was simply a middle of the pack lineman. Of course, “serviceable” isn’t what the Titans were looking for when they guaranteed Levitre $13MM, but now that it sounds like he’s completely healthy, it doesn’t make sense for the Titans to give up now. Prediction: not released.
  • Ropati Pitoitua, DL: Despite placing within the Titans’ top 10 cap charges, Pitoitua was demoted to the second team during summer practices in favor of last year’s fourth-round pick, DaQuan Jones. Now 30 years old, Pitoitua isn’t a great pass rusher, but he can hold up against the run. The question becomes whether a reserve run-stuffing defensive end is worth a $3.5MM+ cap hit, especially when the club could save nearly $3MM by releasing him. The answer is probably no, but given that Pitoitua could act as insurance if Jones flops, and the fact that the Titans don’t have any cap space issues, I think he’s safe. Prediction: not released.
  • Charlie Whitehurst, QB: With Marcus Mariota in town (yet still unsigned), and 2014 draft pick Zach Mettenberger on the roster, I can’t see any way that the Titans choose to keep Whitehurst (and his $2.5MM cap figure) on the roster. Unless the club does decide to trade Mettenberger — a scenario that likely would have already played out — the Titans will probably cut Whitehurst, saving $2MM in the process. Prediction: released.

Community Tailgate: 7/14/15

July 14th, 2015 at 4:24pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still almost two months 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.

Today, we’ll be discussing the impasse between Demaryius Thomas and the Broncos. The Broncos and Thomas‘ agent, Todd France, have recently exchanged proposals, which signifies some level of progress as the Wednesday deadline looms. However, there’s a significant divide between the two sides that needs to be crossed in less than 24 hours. Denver is offering “substantially more” than the contract of Minnesota’s Mike Wallace, who is currently the league’s second-highest paid receiver with a deal that averages $12MM a year. However, Thomas wants a deal that would exceed Calvin Johnson‘s mammoth contract.

Megatron, for the uninitiated, is in the midst of a $113MM+ deal with the Lions that is paying him upwards of $16MM per season with nearly $49MM guaranteed. GM John Elway doesn’t feel that Thomas should get quite that much. Johnson’s contract, the Broncos argue, is an outlier when it comes to wide receiver salaries. In fact, Elway (allegedly) told Cowboys COO Stephen Jones as much when the two (allegedly) discussed their respective contract talks with Thomas and Dez Bryant. At the time, Johnson was being paid under the old rookie scale and the Lions were forced to give him that hefty long-term deal in order to avoid their cap being hampered in the short-term.

Thomas’ stats over the last three years compare favorably to Megatron’s. The Broncos standout has hauled in 297 catches for 4,483 yards and 35 touchdowns while Johnson has 277 catches for 4,533 yards and 25 touchdowns. Thomas is also coming off a career year in which he racked up 111 catches and averaged more than 100 yards per game. Thomas’ camp was also quick to point out that Megatron’s deal was actually signed when the salary cap was $120.6MM rather than $143.3MM.

Earlier today, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report noted that he doesn’t expect Elway to budge significantly when it comes to the figures being discussed for Thomas. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Thomas’ camp bend with a compromise that looks more like Wallace’s deal than Johnson’s.

What’s your gut feeling at this time? Will the Broncos and Thomas work out a long-term deal before the Wednesday deadline? If so, how much will Thomas get from Denver? Let us know in the comment section below!

Bills Place Aaron Kromer On Paid Leave

July 14th, 2015 at 2:14pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bills have placed offensive line coach Aaron Kromer on indefinite paid leave following his arrest in Florida, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) passes along a statement from team president Russ Brandon explaining the decision.

“Over the last few days our organization has continued to gather information in regards to the alleged incident involving offensive line coach Aaron Kromer,” Brandon said in the statement. “We have been in regular discussions with the league office and have decided to place Aaron on indefinite paid administrative leave in accordance with the league’s Personal Conduct Policy while we continue to work our way through the investigative process with the league.”

Kromer, who joined the Bills this offseason after having served as the Bears’ offensive coordinator, was arrested late Saturday night on a misdemeanor battery charge. According to the Walton County Sherrif’s Office, Kromer allegedly confronted a group of three boys – who had been fishing – over the use of beach chairs. The victims told Walton County deputies that Kromer grabbed their fishing pole and threw it in the water, then pushed one of the boys to the ground and punched him in the face. The victim, a juvenile, also said Kromer threatened to kill his family if he reported the incident to the police.

The decision to place Kromer on paid leave is based on the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which last season applied to players like Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy — those players were placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while their legal situations played out. In Kromer’s case, I imagine the process will be similar, with the Bills possibly deciding to let him go and/or the league opting to suspend him if he’s determined to be guilty.

With Kromer on leave from the club, assistant offensive line coach Kurt Anderson figures to be the top candidate to take over his role, at least in the interim.

Danieal Manning To Retire

July 14th, 2015 at 1:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Texans safety Danieal Manning has decided to end his playing career, according to a report from CBS Houston. Manning announced his decision to retire from the NFL today during an appearance on SportsRadio 610 in Houston.

Manning, who will turn 33 next month, was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Bears, spending the next five seasons with the team. In 2011, he joined the Texans, where he played out the final four years of his NFL career.

While Manning never developed into an elite defender in Chicago or Houston, he was a solid complementary piece for both teams, appearing in a total of 128 regular season games (96 starts) over the course of his nine-year career. During that span, the Abilene Christian product recorded 549 tackles, grabbed 11 interceptions, and forced 10 fumbles. Manning also contributed as a kick returner during his last few years in Chicago, averaging a league-best 29.7 yards per return in 2008.

After signing him to a one-year contract just before 2014 season got underway, the Texans seemed to be moving on from Manning this offseason, as the team overhauled its group of safeties. Last year’s top three contributors at the position – Manning, Kendrick Lewis, and D.J. Swearinger – have all moved on, with Rahim Moore and Stevie Brown among the new additions.

NFC West Notes: Washington, Rams, Seahawks

July 14th, 2015 at 12:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s four unsigned franchise-tag players are dominating headlines this week, but it’s fairly quiet elsewhere in the league, such as in the NFC West, where no teams or players are involved in that franchise-player drama. Still, there are a handful of updates trickling out of the West, so let’s round up the latest from the division….

  • According to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Arizona (Twitter link), Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington applied for reinstatement from his indefinite suspension way back on May 8. The NFL’s substance abuse policy dictates that the league must issue a decision on an application for reinstatement within 60 days, so it’s not clear what the holdup is in Washington’s case. Yesterday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Jurecki (Twitter link) that “there is no change” in Washington’s status.
  • In response to a report indicating that Rams games don’t create enough tax revenue for the city of St. Louis to cover the city’s annual debt and upkeep payment, regional leaders have suggested that various conventions booked at the Edward Jones Dome help cover those debt payments. David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the details on the tax issue, which could be a point of emphasis in talks involving a new St. Louis stadium.
  • Gregg Bell of The News Tribune examines the Seahawks‘ crowded race for wide receiver jobs on the 53-man roster, noting that Jimmy Graham‘s ability to line up on the outside could be a factor as the team makes its decisions.
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