2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Washington Re-Signs Josh LeRibeus

March 16th, 2016 at 1:29pm CST by Luke Adams

Washington has re-signed offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus to a new contract, the team announced today in press release. It’s a one-year deal worth about $1.5MM, a source tells Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link).

LeRibeus, 26, was selected by Washington in the third round (71st overall) in the 2012 draft. The SMU product played in just 12 games, including one start, during his first three years in the NFL, but was thrust into action last season when starting center Kory Lichtensteiger missed a good chunk of the year due to a neck injury.

With Lichtensteiger expected to be healthy for the 2016 season, LeRibeus may return to a reserve role on Washington’s offensive line, as his relatively modest new contract suggests. But after playing more than 700 offensive snaps for the club last season, LeRibeus has some experience under the belt, and could compete for more playing time in camp.

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Extra Points: Cowboys, Brooks, J. Reed, Suggs

March 16th, 2016 at 12:52pm CST by Luke Adams

After parting ways with the Falcons in January, Lionel Vital – Atlanta’s former director of player personnel – is joining the Cowboys‘ front office. As first reported by Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Dallas is hiring Vital as a senior personnel executive. He’ll report to Cowboys assistant director of player personnel Will McClay, a source tells David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:

All indications are that Ahmad Brooks‘ spot on the 49ers‘ roster remains safe for at least another season, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The Niners don’t have an in-house replacement lined up at Brooks’ position, and his $8MM cap hit isn’t exorbitant now that San Francisco is carrying a league-high $58MM+ in cap room, per OverTheCap.com.
Washington tight end Jordan Reed has completed his agent change, signing with Joel Segal for representation, per Mike Jones and Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Reed is extension-eligible, and based on the deals recently signed by Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz, he appears to be in good position to cash in.
Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was charged with two misdemeanors related to a car accident earlier this month, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). TMZ first reported the news. Depending on how the case plays out, Suggs could eventually face NFL discipline.
The NFL formally announced the performance-based pay bonuses for 2015 this week, and Broncos center Matt Paradis received the most additional pay (nearly $392K). The PBP bonuses are primarily distributed to players whose playing time was significant and whose salaries were not. The figures don’t affect teams’ salary caps.

Titans, Sean Spence Agree To Deal

March 16th, 2016 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

The Titans have agreed to terms on a new contract for free agent linebacker Sean Spence, the team announced today (via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). It’ll be a one-year deal for Spence, says Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Pro Football Talk reports (via Twitter) that the pact is worth $2.5MM.

Spence, 27, was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2012 draft, but the former Miami Hurricane saw his first two NFL seasons wiped out by knee problems. While those health issues contributed to Spence never developing into the sort of impact player the Steelers may have initially hoped he’d become, Spence did appear in 31 games over the last two seasons, starting 13. In 2015, he recorded 35 tackles and a sack as a part-time player in Pittsburgh.

Prior to agreeing to sign with the Titans, Spence also visited the Jaguars and Dolphins. In Tennessee, he’ll join newcomers like DeMarco Murray, Rishard Matthews, Ben Jones, and Brice McCain, all of whom have been signed or traded for by the Titans this month.

Landing with the Titans also reunites Spence with Dick LeBeau, who was the defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh up until the 2014 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Ravens Sign Eric Weddle

March 16th, 2016 at 11:54am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 11:54am: The Ravens have officially signed Weddle, according to the team’s Twitter account. Full details on the safety’s deal with the team can be found right here.

MONDAY, 12:32pm: Free agent safety Eric Weddle has made his decision, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, who reports that Weddle will be signing with the Ravens. The veteran defensive back had reportedly received offers from four teams.

“I couldn’t be more excited and pumped to be apart of a championship organization who wanted me from day one,” Weddle told Acee via text message.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Weddle’s new deal with Baltimore is worth $26MM over four years. Acee adds (via Twitter) that the deal includes $13MM in guarantees, and $9MM in year one. He also pegs the total value at $29MM, though that figure may include incentives.

Weddle, 31, spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Chargers, who selected him in the second round of the 2007 draft. The ex-Utah standout appeared in 137 of a possible 144 regular-season games in San Diego, making 122 starts, piling up three Pro Bowl nods, five All-Pro bids, and 19 interceptions.

Weddle’s tenure with the Chargers was capped off by what was perhaps his most unusual year since entering the league. After being told by the team that his contract wouldn’t be extended prior to the season, the three-time Pro Bowler reported to camp and played well during the season, logging 76 tackles and six passes defended in 13 games.

While the contract situation was one point of contention between the two sides, the year ended on an even more acrimonious note, with the Chargers reportedly informing Weddle late in the season that he was being fined $10K for remaining on the field during halftime of a game to watch his daughter perform in a dance ceremony. Weddle and agent David Canter initially declined to go public about the fine, but the agent opened up after the Chargers placed the safety on IR in Week 17, a move that was made against his wishes. Per Canter, the team also informed Weddle that there would be no room for him to travel on the team plane to the regular season finale in Denver.

With Weddle and the Chargers set to part ways, the Raiders, Steelers, and Cowboys had been among the other teams to express interest in the safety. But he’ll take his talents to Baltimore, where he figures to start alongside Will Hill at safety.

It’s not yet clear what this means for Lardarius Webb — the veteran cornerback had been prepared to make a full-time change to safety this year, but there may not be a starting spot available for him. Webb could return to cornerback, or act as a depth piece at safety, but his $9.5MM cap hit would make him an expensive backup. The futures of players like Kendrick Lewis and Matt Elam are also somewhat uncertain, with Weddle now in the mix.

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Falcons’ Paul Worrilow Signs RFA Tender

March 16th, 2016 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran linebacker Paul Worrilow has signed his restricted free agent tender from the Falcons, officially removing him from the free agent market, the team announced today (via Twitter). Worrilow received a second-round tender, worth $2.553MM.

Manning the middle of the Falcons’ defense, Worrilow has been the team’s leading tackler in his first three seasons in the NFL. The former undrafted free agent, who turns 26 in May, has averaged 122 tackles from 2013 to 2015, and grabbed the first two interceptions of his career in 2015.

Still, Pro Football Focus ranked Worrilow 80th out of 97 qualified linebackers, based on the site’s 2015 grades. PFF was particularly hard on Worrilow’s performance as a run defender, grading him a bit higher for his coverage and pass-rush skills. The Falcons recently brought in veteran free agent James Laurinaitis for a visit, so it seems the team is mulling other options at the middle linebacker spot, even after retaining the incumbent MLB.

Worrilow’s $2.5MM+ base salary for 2016 is non-guaranteed, but assuming he plays out the season on the deal, he’ll become eligible for unrestricted free agency next winter.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Broncos To Host Russell Okung For Visit

March 16th, 2016 at 11:06am CST by Luke Adams

A new team has entered the Russell Okung sweepstakes, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who tweets that the free agent left tackle is traveling today to visit the Broncos. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports first reported (via Twitter) that Okung was expected to head to Denver to meet with the Super Bowl champs.

Okung, the highest-ranked player still available from our list of this year’s top free agents, has also received interest from the Giants and Lions, and is still mulling a return to the Seahawks. The former first-round pick had drawn interest from the Steelers as well, but Pittsburgh removed itself from the running for Okung by agreeing to sign free agent tackle Ryan Harris.

Of course, Harris was Denver’s left tackle a year ago, which is one reason the Broncos are potentially in the market for help at the position. The team has been attempting to negotiate a pay cut with veteran tackle Ryan Clady, who missed the entire 2015 campaign due to injury. Okung’s visit could provide the Broncos with additional leverage in talks with Clady, and may give the club a Plan B if a deal can’t be reached with Clady.

Okung has two interesting wrinkles to his free agency situation. The 28-year-old underwent surgery on his injured shoulder in January, and is also representing himself, which is rather rare in the NFL. Okung’s decision to act as his own agent meant that he was barred from talking to every team except for the Seahawks during the legal tampering period, which is likely one reason why he has been on the market longer than anticipated.

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Browns Sign Demario Davis

March 16th, 2016 at 10:57am CST by Luke Adams

10:57am: The Browns have officially confirmed their deal with Davis.

8:46am: The Browns and Davis have agreed to terms, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal confirms (via Twitter).

8:26am: The Browns are expected to sign linebacker Demario Davis, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). We had heard on Tuesday that Davis was in Cleveland paying a visit to the team.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirms (via Twitter) that the two sides are working on finalizing an agreement. According to Mehta (via Twitter), Davis is expected to sign a two-year deal worth $8MM. Newsday’s Kimberley Martin adds (via Twitter) that it will include $4MM guaranteed.

Davis, 27, saw part-time action in his rookie season after being selected in the third round of the 2012 draft by the Jets, but started every game for the team since that year. In 2015, he totaled 89 tackles to go along with a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery.

Although Davis has been leaned on heavily by the Jets in recent years, Pro Football Focus suggested last month that it might not make sense for New York to re-sign him this offseason, pointing out that he had “struggled in all phases of the game, especially tackling the ball carrier.” The Jets will still have a hole to fill at inside linebacker beside David Harris though, with Erin Henderson also no longer under contract.

As for the Browns, with Karlos Dansby penciled in at one inside linebacker spot in Cleveland, Davis looks to be the favorite to take over the other one, assuming he gets a deal finalized, then beats out Christian Kirksey and others this summer.

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Brandon LaFell To Visit Bengals

March 16th, 2016 at 10:35am CST by Luke Adams

The Bengals will be hosting wide receiver Brandon LaFell on a free agent visit, reports Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link). It’s the first update we’ve heard on LaFell since he was cut by the Patriots two weeks ago.

LaFell, 29, spent the first six weeks of the 2015 season on the PUP list due to a foot injury, and although he played in the rest of the Patriots’ games, he never looked quite right. For the season, he caught 37 balls for 515 yards, and failed to reach an end zone.

LaFell’s performance in 2015 represented a significant step down from his 2014 showing. He was a key part of New England’s Super Bowl team in that season, setting career highs with 74 receptions, 953 yards, and seven touchdowns. He added another two TDs in the postseason, including one in the Super Bowl.

If LaFell could even split the difference between his 2014 and 2015 campaigns, he’d represent a nice addition for the Bengals, who lost the second and third wideouts on their depth chart this month. The team still has A.J. Green, who is locked up through 2019, but Marvin Jones is now a Lion, while Mohamed Sanu landed with the Falcons. As such, Cincinnati is in the market for additional pass-catchers to complement Green and tight end Tyler Eifert.

No Bengals wide receiver besides Green, Jones, and Sanu caught more than two passes in 2015.

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FA Rumors: Dunbar, Bears, Givens, Bills

March 16th, 2016 at 9:48am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent running back Lance Dunbar is continuing his NFC tour today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that Dunbar is visiting the Bears. The veteran back, who has spent his first four seasons in Dallas, has also paid visits to the Seahawks and 49ers since free agency began.

Dunbar, 26, was on the verge of becoming a legit weapon out of the backfield for the Cowboys last season, racking up 21 receptions in just three full games, including 10 catches for 100 yards in Week 3 against the Falcons. However, in his fourth game, Dunbar suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. While his upside will appeal to teams seeking a receiving option at running back, Dunbar will have to convince those clubs that he’ll be back to full health for the 2016 season.

Here’s more on free agency from around the NFL:

After visiting the Jets on Tuesday, wide receiver Chris Givens is meeting with the Eagles today, according to Schefter (via Twitter). Givens, who was traded from the Rams to the Ravens last October, was targeted 53 times in Baltimore, but only hauled in 19 of them for 346 yards and a touchdown.
In addition to confirming a pair of previously-reported visits, the Bills also announced today (via Twitter) that they’re hosting tight end Jim Dray for a Wednesday visit, and brought in wide receiver Deonte Thompson on Tuesday.
The Seahawks hosted free agent guard Amini Silatolu for a visit on Tuesday, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.The former-second pick, who also met with the Cardinals, hasn’t been a full-time starter since his rookie season in 2012, but he’s only 26 years old and could appeal to a Seattle team that doesn’t seem interested in spending a ton on its offensive line.
Free agent linebacker Sean Spence, having already visited the Dolphins and Jaguars, is meeting with the Titans on Wednesday, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). A third-round pick in 2012, Spence was limited to just 31 games during his four years with the Steelers due to injuries.
The Jets and Texans are both making an effort to sign free agent safety Antonio Allen, tweets Newsday’s Kimberley Martin. Allen, who visited Houston this week, missed the entire 2015 campaign with an Achilles injury.

Bengals Re-Sign Pat Sims

March 16th, 2016 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

9:27am: Sims will get a two-year contract from the Bengals, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, who observes (via Twitter) that it’s the defensive lineman’s first multiyear deal since his rookie contract.

8:44am: The Bengals have re-signed defensive tackle Pat Sims, the team announced today (via Twitter). Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but Sims is coming off a one-year deal with Cincinnati, so another short-term pact seems likely.

Having started his NFL career with the Bengals in 2008 after the team drafted him in the third round, Sims spent his first five seasons in Cincinnati before joining the Raiders in 2013. After two seasons in Oakland, the 30-year-old returned to the Bengals for the 2015 campaign.

In 2015, Sims appeared in just 179 defensive snaps, playing a rotational role up front and recording 16 tackles in his eight games. Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Sims’ role expand a little this season — the Bengals still have Geno Atkins and Domata Peko at defensive tackle, but Wallace Gilberry and Brandon Thompson are free agents.

The Bengals have made an effort to re-sign their own defensive free agents this month, bringing back defensive backs Adam Jones and George Iloka, as well as linebacker Vincent Rey, on new deals. Gilberry, Thompson, safety Reggie Nelson, cornerback Leon Hall, and linebacker Emmanuel Lamur are among the team’s defensive free agents who remain unsigned or have left for new teams.

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