HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFC South Notes: Saints, Short, Panthers

June 17th, 2016 at 11:23am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints will ultimately have to choose between kickers Kai Forbath and Connor Barth. Unfortunately, as Evan Woodbury of NOLA.com notes, making that decision is easier said than done.

The duo have incredibly similar career numbers, and their performances during OTAs have also been rather even. Therefore, coach Sean Payton can’t solely rely on the raw numbers to make his final decision.

“These two guys are almost identical all the way back through their college years,” Payton said.

The two will have an opportunity to separate themselves during training camp, but so far, the organization is content with what they’ve seen from the pair.

“Both have experience and we feel like we’ve got a real good opportunity to come away from training camp with a good measuring stick,” Payton said. “We feel good about the way both of them are hitting it.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC South…

  • As RosterResource.com shows, the Saints‘ running back depth chart is rather packed right now. Featuring Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller, Tim Hightower, Travaris Cadet, Daniel Lasco and Marcus Murphy, coach Payton could have some disgruntled players if he ultimately keeps all six running backs. “I would be disappointed if somebody wasn’t a little ticked off,” Hightower told the Associated Press. “I’m a competitor. I don’t want to come off the football field.”
  • The Eagles recently signed defensive tackle Fletcher Cox to a six-year, $103MM deal, including $55.5MM in guaranteed money. As Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer writes, this could complicate negotiations with Panthers defensive lineman Kawann Short. The 27-year-old sat out the majority of OTAs in pursuit of a new contract, although he did attend the mandatory minicamp earlier this week. For what it’s worth, Cox and Short finished with similar numbers in 2014, and Short actually rated better in Pro Football Focus’ ranking of interior defenders (subscription required).
  • The Panthers certainly recognize the difficulties of finalizing a Short extension, as coach Ron Rivera indicated the other day. “I heard about that one,” he said. “(Someone) wrote that it’s going to complicate things. And it probably will. So we’ll see how things unfold.”
  • After having seen a breakdown in contract talks with former Panthers (and current Redskins) cornerback Josh Norman, Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports sees similarities in the Short negotiations. While the writer doesn’t necessarily envision the team letting go of another starter, the presence of first-round pick Vernon Butler could make Short expendable.

Pigskin Links: Draft, Bears, Buccaneers

June 17th, 2016 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

Here at Pro Football Rumors, we deliver up-to-the-minute news on NFL transactions and high-quality original analysis. Each week, we also feature some of the best blog articles from around the web in our regular feature, Pigskin Links.

We’re looking for interesting reads on all things football from blogs of all sizes. While PFR is dedicated to player movement, Pigskin Links is open to pieces on all areas of the game. If you would like to suggest your blog post (or someone else’s) for Pigskin Links, send us an email with the link and a brief synopsis at PigskinLinks@gmail.com.

Here’s this week’s look around the football blogosphere:

Got a great football blog post that you want to see featured in next week’s Pigskin Links? Email it to Zach or tweet it to him: @ZachLinks.

Panthers, Michael Oher Agree To Extension

June 17th, 2016 at 8:16am CST by Zachary Links

Panthers tackle Michael Oher signed a three-year contract extension worth $21.6MM in new money, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The deal works out to averages of $7.2MM per year with $9.5MM guaranteed. Michael Oher (vertical)

[RELATED: Panthers Extend Ron Rivera]

Earlier this month, the Panthers locked up center Ryan Kalil and the team didn’t take long to turn their attention to the left tackle position. Oher, for his part, had an excellent campaign in his first year with Carolina, rebounding from a down 2014 with the Titans to grade as a top-30 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. Helping block for one of the best running games in the league (as well as protect league MVP Cam Newton), Oher was a key factor in the Panthers ranking 12th in adjusted line yards, up from 21st in 2014.

Having recently hired Drew Rosenhaus for representation, Oher made it known that he was interested in a new deal:

“It would show that the organization believes in me,” Oher said of what a new deal would mean. “I still have to prove myself. I’m still just trying to prove myself to them and just make sure I’m one of these guys because they do it right.” 

Oher was originally scheduled to count for $4.5MM on Carolina’s cap in 2016. Now that he and Kalil have secured pay raises, it’s clear that the Panthers are reallocating the money saved when the team pulled the $13.952MM franchise tag from cornerback Josh Norman. More extensions for team vets are likely on the way.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC North Notes: Ravens, Bengals, Pouncey

June 16th, 2016 at 8:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens‘ decision to cut Eugene Monroe had nothing to do with his position on medical marijuana and was simply a football determination, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com (Twitter link). Clearly, that statement has generated a few doubting looks around the NFL, especially because Baltimore made mention of Monroe’s pro-marijuana stance in their press release announcing the move. However, reports did indicate that the Ravens wanted to wait until Monroe was cleared from a health standpoint before releasing him, and that clearance was apparently received this week. Baltimore’s offensive line will feature two new starters in 2016, with rookie Ronnie Stanley taking over at left tackle while John Urschel mans left guard.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

  • Running back Trent Richardson will require arthroscopic knee surgery to repair an existing condition and will miss “some time,” according to Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), who adds that although the injury isn’t considered severe, it certainly won’t help Richardson’s case as he aims to earn a spot on the Ravens‘ roster. Richardson, who is still only 25 years old, agreed to a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum earlier this offseason, joining a Baltimore running back corps that already includes Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrance West, and rookie Kenneth Dixon. Depending on how long he is sidelined, it’s entirely possible that Richardson won’t ever get a real shot at making the club, and he’s a candidate to be released with an injury settlement.
  • The Bengals have been quite proactive this offseason in terms of extensions, locking up both safety Shawn Williams and running back Giovani Bernard to long-term deals. This isn’t a new phenomenon for the club, leading Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer to examine which Bengal might be the next to land a multi-year pact. Veterans like Andrew Whitworth and Dre Kirkpatrick are unlikely to sign deals — at least before season starts — simply because Cincinnati has so much leverage, having invested draft picks at tackle and cornerback over the past several seasons, leading H-back Ryan Hewitt as perhaps the most plausible candidate to ink an extension. Tight end Tyler Eifert, notably, was left off the list, though he is dealing with an injury, and is controlled through the 2017 season via the fifth-year option.
  • Maurkice Pouncey didn’t play a single snap for the Steelers after breaking his fibula during the club’s third preseason game, but the injury was much more severe than many originally thought. Pouncey underwent six surgical procedures and a skin graft during the course of the 2015 campaign, the veteran center tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, explaining how he went from injured reserve/designated to return to missing the entire season. “It was scary,” Pouncey said. “I don’t want that on my worst enemy.” Pouncey is expected to be fully ready for the season, though Fowler notes that the Pittsburgh staff is pressuring him to take days off out of an abundance of caution.

AFC East Notes: Pats, Sankey, Jets, Dolphins

June 16th, 2016 at 7:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots seem likely to look for another running back in the coming months, writes Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, who wonders if New England could show interest in Titans back Bishop Sankey. Sankey isn’t expected to make Tennessee’s final roster, so he could likely be had for minimal compensation — or the Pats could simply wait until Sankey is waived and try to pluck him then. If and when he is cut loose by the Titans, Sankey shouldn’t be on the street for long, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com reports (Twitter link) that multiple clubs have already expressed interest in the former second-round pick.

Let’s take a look at the latest out of the AFC East…

  • Though most rookie contracts are now a breeze, clubs and agents can begin to negotiate a bit starting in the third round, a topic that Reiss has examined in the past. Writing in a separate column today, Reiss notes that the Patriots‘ Jacoby Brissett (who officially inked his rookie deal earlier today) is one of just two third-round picks who received 100% of their maximum allowable slotted compensation — the other, unsurprisingly, is also a quarterback, Cody Kessler of the Browns. The value of the QB position is such that even third-round picks can exert a little bit of leverage as they hammer out deals.
  • Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said earlier today that the Jets “don’t want” him, but that sentiment isn’t quite right, argues Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. New York does want Wilkerson, per Florio, but it simply wants to keep him for a single year at a cost of around $15MM, rather than sign to a long-term extension. With fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams in tow, the Jets can continue to play hardball, hoping that their draft-and-develop strategy will allow them to find the next Wilkerson instead of paying for the current iteration.
  • Running back Kenyan Drake suffered an injury scare on Wednesday, but he’ll be ready for the start of training camp, Dolphins coach Adam Gase tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. On Wednesday evening, Drake formally signed his rookie contract. He’s expected to be Miami’s No. 2 back behind Jay Ajayi.
  • In other Dolphins news, veteran Dallas Thomas is starting ahead of first-round pick Laremy Tunsil at guard, at least thus far in practice, writes Jackson in a separate column. “You’ve got to earn your spot,” said Gase, who, it should be noted, did downplay the importance of who is starting at this point in the year. “I don’t think you’ve seen anyone get plugged in and anointed anything. Everybody’s battling. That’s what we want.”

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/16/16

June 16th, 2016 at 6:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings waived linebacker Travis Lewis and defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, the club announced. Lewis was with Detroit from 2012 through 2015 before signing with Minnesota this offseason. He actually started four games last season, but for the most part he’s been a backup, appearing in 42 contests during his four-year career. Lewis was a key member of Detroit’s special teams unit, playing on more than 70% of Detroit’s ST snaps, and that’s the role he was expected to play in Minnesota. Instead, the Vikings will carry $50K in dead money on their 2016 salary cap as a result of having given Lewis a signing bonus.

The latest minor moves on this palindromic day:

  • Former fourth-round quarterback Logan Thomas has been waived by his second organization, as the Dolphins cut him loose earlier today, along with defensive tackle Charles Tuaau, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets. Thomas spent the 2014 season with the Cardinals before they too deemed Thomas too raw for the NFL.
  • The Jaguars signed punter Ryan Quigley and wide receiver Shane Wynn while waiving safety Craig Loston, cornerback Rashaad Reynolds, and defensive end Quanterus Smith, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Quigley was on the Eagles’ offseason roster for a little over a month earlier this offseason.
  • The Bears are expected to sign defensive lineman Marquis Jackson, the twin brother of Malik Jackson, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Chicago has also waived defensive lineman Kenton Adeyemi and linebacker Don Cherry, Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com tweets.
  • After a tryout yesterday, the Chiefs have signed wide receiver Seantavius Jones, per Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (Twitter link), adding that Kansas City also inked defensive Akeem Davis.
  • Defensive lineman James DeLoach has been cut by the Lions, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
  • The Bengals have waived undrafted linebacker Gionni Paul, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets.

49ers, Seahawks Have Interest In Eugene Monroe

June 16th, 2016 at 5:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers have expressed “preliminary interest” in free agent Eugene Monroe, while the Seahawks have had internal discussions about the veteran offensive tackle, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Seattle had been mentioned as a club that could pursue Monroe, but this is the first time San Francisco has been officially linked to him.Eugene Monroe (vertical)

[San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart]

Neither club is a complete surprise contender for Monroe, as a listed both the Niners and Seahawks as two of eight possible contenders for him shortly before he was released by the Ravens yesterday. As noted in that piece, San Francisco has a gaping hole at right tackle, as it currently projects to rely on the likes of Erik Pears and Trenton Brown opposite Joe Staley. Shifting to the right side isn’t Monroe’s preference, tweets Anderson, but there’s no indication that it would be a deal-breaker.

The Seahawks’ offensive line, meanwhile, gave up the sixth-most sacks in the league in 2015, and like the division-rival Niners, ranked in the bottom three in pass protection according to Football Outsiders’ metrics. Seattle added a few pieces to its front five over the offseason, drafting Germain Ifedi in the first round while signing low-cost options like Bradley Sowell and J’Marcus Webb. Offensive line coach Tom Cable is regarded as something of a wizard who loves projects, but even he wouldn’t turn down a veteran option like Monroe.

[Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart]

San Francisco and Seattle will have competition in their pursuit of Monroe, as the Giants were reportedly discussing a trade for the left tackle before Baltimore cut him loose. New York is still pursuing him in free agency, but Monroe is evidently not in a hurry to find a new home, preferring to assess his options fully before reaching a decision.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Panthers Extend Ron Rivera

June 16th, 2016 at 5:28pm CST by Zachary Links

5:28pm: Rivera has actually signed a completely new three-year deal worth $19.5MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds that the Panthers head coach can earn an extra $3MM via incentives. Additionally, Carolina bumped up the pay of the rest of the football staff (Twitter links).

3:13pm: The Panthers have given Ron Rivera a one-year contract extension that will pay him more than $6MM a year, a league source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Rivera is now under contract through the 2018 season and is now among the league’s highest-paid coaches. The team has since confirmed the extension via press release. Ron Rivera

Rivera’s extension was actually completed earlier this offseason but the team did not announce it, Person hears. Rivera, who succeeded John Fox as the Panthers’ head coach in 2011, has posted a sub-.500 record in three of his five seasons with the team. However, his overall regular-season mark in Carolina is 47-32-1, and the team has won the NFC South three times in a row, earning the division title in 2014 despite a 7-8-1 record.

“It was an easy decision,” GM Dave Gettleman said in a statement. “Ron has worked extremely hard and we are thrilled with our current direction. Mr. Richardson has established a great culture here and Ron is a big part of that.”

Following a 2013 campaign that saw the Panthers finish 12-4 and earned Rivera AP Coach of the Year honors, Carolina locked up the coach to a three-year extension believed to be worth north of $4MM per season. The deal keeps Rivera under contract through 2017, but after this year’s NFC championship, the Panthers have extended the relationship beyond that with a pay bump.

Rivera’s contract puts him in the top 10 of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll ($8MM+), Saints coach Sean Payton ($8MM), and Patriots coach Bill Belichick ($7.5MM) are the league’s highest earners. Rivera’s new salary puts him in the same ~$6MM/year group as Packers coach Mike McCarthy, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, and Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Monroe

June 16th, 2016 at 4:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Is Cowboys owner Jerry Jones undermining coach Jason Garrett? There’s a pattern of Jones making Garrett look bad and the latest example is the team’s handling of linebacker Rolando McClain, ESPN.com’s Jean-Jacques Taylor opines. Jerry Jones/Jason Garrett (featured)

When asked about McClain’s absence from practice, Garrett seemed annoyed as he explained that McClain was dealing with a family matter for the third consecutive week. Jones, meanwhile, gave some the impression that McClain is getting preferential treatment from ownership:

“It’s fair to everybody to understand that Rolando’s boys — his family lives in Alabama and he doesn’t live with them. His former significant other is where they are. His offseason is spent with those boys, and that’s an understanding we have when he came through the door,” Jones said recently. “He has to be there to spend time with them, and we expect him to compensate for that. If you look at how his impact when he’s there with us on the field, what he can do for our team. If you look at his background in the NFL, how he’s evolved, I’m glad he’s a Cowboy.”

While you mull that over, here’s more from the NFC East:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants Sign B.J. Goodson, Wrap Draft Class

June 16th, 2016 at 4:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have signed fourth-round pick B.J. Goodson, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets. Now that the linebacker has inked his contract, the Giants’ entire 2016 draft class is now formally in the fold. B.J. Goodson (vertical)

Goodson, a Clemson product, was selected with the No. 109 overall pick. Goodson reportedly met with 15 teams in total prior to the draft and he apparently made a strong impression on Giants brass. In his senior season, Goodson lead his team with 108 tackles to go along with 14 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. At the combine, Goodson boosted his stock even further when he recorded a combine high 30 bench press reps at 225 pounds per clip.

Heading into the draft, the Giants were heavily connected to Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin and Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd. Unfortunately for the G-Men, those players came off the board at No. 8 and 9, respectively, but one of the draft’s top corners was still available for them at No. 10. Eli Apple boasts some serious upside and the early reports on him out of Giants camp are positive.

Here is the full rundown of the Giants’ draft:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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