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NFC North Notes: Bears, Ramirez, Vikings

June 10th, 2016 at 9:47am CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this week, offensive lineman Manny Ramirez decided to call it a career after nine NFL seasons rather than go for No. 10 with the Bears. The veteran offensive says his body told him it was time to retire and it was a decision that was a long time coming.

“It is something I have been thinking about the last few weeks and I have been in prayer about it,” Ramirez, 33, told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. “It’s not a decision I made randomly. It’s something I have been dealing with and when it’s time, it’s time. When your body tells you something, you can’t really go against it. This isn’t a game where you can just try to make it. I respect the game too much to try to do something like that and there is too much at risk. When your body doesn’t want to do what is required at this level, I wanted to play it smart. I always told myself the day I feel that way is the day I will walk away. Definitely feel at peace about it. It is time to move on and I feel God has bigger and better things for me.”

Here’s more out of the NFC North:

  • The Vikings and Harrison Smith likely followed the model of the Earl Thomas contract as they negotiated his $50MM+ extension, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap writes. While the overall numbers are impressive, Fitzgerald notes that both players received new full guarantees that were essentially nothing more than the signing bonus and their current year salaries which were either already guaranteed or virtually guaranteed to be earned. Fitzgerald also wonders if Smith’s team should have waited to see if the Chiefs and Eric Berry inked a lucrative new deal between now and the July deadline. At that point, Smith could have used that as a data point in a new negotiation since Berry seems likely to get $10MM+/year on his next deal.
  • This could be the last hurrah for the Packers‘ talent offensive line featuring right guard T.J. Lang, left guard Josh Sitton, and left tackle David Bakhtiari, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. “We’ve got a lot of guys up and if I’m gambling, I’m going to bet that not all of us come back,” Bakhtiari said. “That’s just how the nature of the beast is. But that’s something you don’t want to think about and that shouldn’t be our topic of conversation.” Bakhtiari could command $10MM/year or more next spring if the Packers don’t lock him up before then before then while Sitton could see a big money deal after earning consecutive All-Pro nods. Last year, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Lang as the fifth-best guard in the NFL and Sitton as the sixth-best.
  • Yesterday, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com explained why Giovani Bernard‘s new deal with the Bengals could bode well for Lions running back Theo Riddick.

Pigskin Links: Nkemdiche, Foster, Eagles, Colts

June 10th, 2016 at 8:34am 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.

Extra Points: Browns, Ravens, Redskins

June 9th, 2016 at 8:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

With the Browns’ minicamp in the books, head coach Hue Jackson said Thursday he’s “not even close” to naming a starting quarterback and acknowledged that there will be an open competition in training camp, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Offseason free agent pickup Robert Griffin III seems like a good bet to win the job, but he’ll have to beat out a group headlined by fellow veteran Josh McCown – who was impressive last season.

Elsewhere around the NFL…

  • Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore believes he’s a member of the premier TE corps in the NFL. “I’m not afraid to say it. It’s hands down [the best group],” he said, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. New England undoubtedly has the preeminent one-two punch at the position with Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, but from the top down, Hensley writes that Gillmore has a valid argument. The Ravens also employ Ben Watson, Maxx Williams and Dennis Pitta, though Pitta missed most of the last two seasons because of hip injuries. Gillmore, Watson and Williams, meanwhile, combined for 139 receptions, 11 touchdowns and 1,500-plus yards in 2015.
  • Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker is entering a contract year and would like to sign an extension, but he told JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic that he hasn’t discussed a new deal with the team. “If you go out and you’re producing, they’re gonna keep me,” he said. As Finlay notes, with quarterback Kirk Cousins also going into a contract year and tight end Jordan Reed having signed a mega-deal last month, Baker could end up out of the Redskins’ price range. The 28-year-old is coming off a breakout season in which he amassed career highs in appearances (16, to go with 11 starts), tackles (53), sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three). Thanks to his output in 2015, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Baker a solid 22nd out of 83 qualifying interior defenders.
  • The Ravens worked out two free agents – receiver Jimmie Hunt and running back/linebacker/safety Cabrinni Goncalves – on Thursday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links). Hunt joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri last year, but the team cut him in September and he didn’t latch on elsewhere. Goncalves, formerly of Maine, went undrafted this year.

South Notes: Bucs, Colts, Luck, Saints

June 9th, 2016 at 7:13pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In a bit of voluntary OTA drama on Thursday, first-year Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter sent Austin Seferian-Jenkins off the field because the tight end “didn’t know what he was doing” (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times). “I did send him off,” Koetter said afterward. “That’s between me and him. … You guys are making more of it than you need to.” Seferian-Jenkins ended up taking to Twitter right after leaving the field and posting some fired-up messages (click for links) while his teammates were still practicing, though it doesn’t appear that anything else will come of the situation.

Here’s more from the NFL’s South divisions:

  • With the salary cap rising each year, players who are in line for long-term deals should request specific percentages of the cap, not specific salaries, opines Mike Florio of Pro Football. One such player is Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who’s headed toward an extension and can maximize his value by focusing on the cap. As Florio points out, if Luck signs for $25MM per year under a $155.3MM cap, he’d take up 16.1 percent of the Colts’ spending ability. If the number rises to $200MM in the coming years, as it realistically could, Luck’s 16.1 percent would set him up to make $32.2MM. Agents are currently trying to make pay based on cap percentage a reality, though teams aren’t thrilled about it, multiple sources have told Florio. It isn’t a brand-new idea, per Florio, who writes that cornerback Darrelle Revis wanted a cap percentage contract from the Jets when he was holding out in 2010.
  • Earlier today, Saints coach Sean Payton seemed to hint that Roman Harper will make the team when he spoke about the newly signed safety, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport notes that the veteran’s contract supports that notion, as he has a signing bonus worth $80K and $150K more in the way of guarantees.
  • The Colts are focused on developing their younger players, but they won’t rule out a veteran signing under certain circumstances, ESPN.com’s Mike Wells writes. “We’re going to look and see if anyone comes on the wire and is someone coach [Chuck Pagano] and I feel can help us, but they have to meet certain parameters,” general manager Ryan Grigson said. “Age, money and things like that. We got Mike Adams. He was still able to participate in mandatory minicamp.” The Colts added Adams in June 2014 and he went on to make Pro Bowls in 2014 and 2015.
  • The status of guard Garrett Gilkey, who hasn’t been with Buccaneers as he recovers from knee surgery, remains murky. “I don’t know,” Koetter said when asked about Gilkey (Twitter link via Auman).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Kaepernick on 49ers’ Offense, Kelly, Baalke, Health

June 9th, 2016 at 6:29pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Despite having requested a trade out of San Francisco in February, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will go forward with the team this year after its front office, led by GM Trent Baalke, wasn’t able to move him. Kaepernick, who is looking to bounce back from a subpar season that ended early thanks to a torn left labrum, will now attempt to beat out fellow veteran Blaine Gabbert for the 49ers’ starting QB job this summer. The 28-year-old spoke to reporters Thursday about several important topics, including whether he and Baalke have talked to each other this offseason (they haven’t). Here, courtesy of the Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman, is a rundown of interesting quotes:

On new head coach Chip Kelly, the team’s offense, and the support Kaepernick has gotten from teammates and fans:

Colin Kaepernick

“I’m excited to be here with Chip (Kelly) and these coaches. The offense has been amazing. My teammates have been great with their support. I’m excited to be back on the field with them. It was a great feeling out there this week (at minicamp). The fan support I’ve gotten through everything, especially seeing people out, it’s amazing and really made me excited to be out here and play.”

On why he asked for a trade:

“Organizations at the end of the season evaluate personnel and opportunities “That was something I sat down with my team (of agents and support staff) and did the same thing. That’s how we handled the business.

“We were looking at different opportunities. I really don’t want to get into specifics about what happened or why things happened. At this point everything is football and I’m a 49er. Again, I’m excited to work with Chip and this coaching staff.”

On the 49ers’ depth chart under center:

“They haven’t said anything about a pecking order or anything like that. All I’ve heard is Chip has told me it’s going to be a competition. That’s going to be my mindset and I’m excited to do that.”

On his health:

“At this point I’m close to being 100 percent healthy, close to where I can start training again and really looking forward to the progress I can make this summer in being ready for training camp.”

“I have a lot of work ahead of me. I’m in a situation I’m a little bit behind, because I’ve been rehabbing and trying to get back to 100 percent where I can start training. At this point there is a lot of work to be done.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

East Notes: Randle, Jets, Cowboys, Bills

June 9th, 2016 at 6:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Wide receiver Rueben Randle joined the Eagles earlier this offseason on a one-year deal after spending the first four seasons of his career with the division-rival Giants. If Randle had it his way, he’d still be with Big Blue. The 25-year-old told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post he was “a little disappointed” the Giants didn’t show an interest in re-signing him before he headed to Philadelphia. “I just moved on and accepted it for what it was. I would’ve liked to have stayed,” said Randle, who called it “an unfortunate situation.” Randle was a productive and durable member of the Giants during his tenure with them, hauling in 188 passes and 20 touchdowns on 14.1 yards per catch while appearing in 64 straight regular-season games. He racked up 57 receptions and a career-best eight TDs last season.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • With the standoff over a contract between free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets continuing, word is getting around among agents and players that the team is difficult to deal with, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
  • Fitzpatrick continues to talk regularly with Jets players, writes ESPN’s Rich Cimini, who opines that de facto starting QB Geno Smith is currently in an awkward position as he tries to assert himself as a team leader. Head coach Todd Bowles disagrees, saying, “I don’t think it clips his wings or anybody else’s.” Of course, if the Jets do re-sign Fitzpatrick at some point, Smith’s roster spot won’t necessarily be safe with recent draft picks Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty also on their depth chart.
  • Cowboys offensive lineman Ronald Leary – who wants out of Dallas – has switched agencies, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Daily. Leary has transferred from Kelley Drye & Warren to CAA Sports.
  • The Bills will have former Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson in for a workout on Monday, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets. He adds that if all goes well, Johnson will participate in minicamp next week.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Broncos Sign Paxton Lynch

June 9th, 2016 at 5:06pm CST by Zachary Links

5:06pm: Lynch’s deal, which is now official, includes $600K in guarantees for the fourth year. This is the first time anyone picked in Lynch’s slot range (26th overall) has secured guaranteed money for Year 4, reports James Palmer of NFL Network (Twitter link).

10:21am: Broncos first-round pick Paxton Lynch will put pen to paper on his contract today, as Mike Klis of 9NEWS tweets. Lynch was selected with the No. 26 overall pick in April. Paxton Lynch (vertical)

[RELATED: Latest On Von Miller]

Lynch is being counted upon to be the Broncos’ quarterback of the future following Peyton Manning‘s retirement and Brock Osweiler‘s departure via free agency. The question is, will he also be the Broncos’ primary quarterback of the present? Denver traded for Mark Sanchez this offseason with the idea that he could either serve as the team’s starter or No. 2 QB in 2016, depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolded. Given his experience, Sanchez would seem to have the upper hand on the starting job for Week 1, but the two QBs will be in competition this summer. This week, the Broncos had Sanchez working with the first team, second-year QB Trevor Siemian with the second team, and Lynch with the third unit. Of course, that order is not expected to last.

As directed by his slot, Lynch will earn $9.5MM over four years, plus a fifth-year option. He’ll also earn a signing bonus worth roughly $5.1MM.

Of course, the Broncos weren’t the only team looking to take Lynch late in the first round. The Cowboys worked feverishly to move up for the Memphis quarterback and proposed a trade to the Jets that would have given them the No. 20 selection.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/9/2016

June 9th, 2016 at 5:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • Pass rusher Kevin Anderson, whom the Steelers waived/injured on Wednesday, has cleared waivers and reverted to injured reserve, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
  • The Bears signed quarterback Dalyn Williams and released fellow QB Matt Blanchard, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. Williams, a UDFA from Dartmouth, threw for 2,592 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, completing 64% of his passes. The Bears liked Blanchard, but he has no more practice squad eligibility.
  • The Eagles placed linebacker Ty Powell on the reserve/retired list, as Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets.
  • The Browns signed third-round pick Cody Kessler, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal writes. Kessler, a USC product who went 93rd overall, had less hype than other quarterbacks in this year’s class but wound up being taken earlier than some big names at the position.
  • Linebacker Jerrell Harris, waived/injured by the Cowboys on Wednesday, is now on their IR after clearing waivers, tweets Wilson.

Von Miller Rumors: Thursday

June 9th, 2016 at 4:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Star pass rusher Von Miller was prepared to accept the Broncos’ six-year, $114.5MM offer on Monday night, but the deal fell apart over guaranteed money, reports Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. While the linebacker softened on his desire to land $22MM annually by showing he’d take $19MM per season, Denver was only willing to include $38.5MM in guarantees and the team would’ve been able to easily escape the contract after Year 2. Miller could’ve netted another $1.3MM in non-guaranteed money during each of the first two seasons, but that obviously wasn’t an enticing enough add-on for him to accept the offer. As noted by Robinson, at $38.5MM in guarantees, the Broncos’ offer falls well short of the $60MM the Dolphins gave Ndamukong Suh last year and the $52.5MM the Giants awarded Olivier Vernon earlier this offseason. Miller is a four-time All-Pro and the reigning Super Bowl MVP, whereas Vernon has never so much as made a Pro Bowl.

The reason the Broncos are playing hardball with Miller, according to Robinson, is because they still have control over him via the franchise tag. As an exclusive tag recipient, the 27-year-old Miller doesn’t even have the ability to negotiate a deal with another team. With that in mind, the Broncos have shut down negotiations with Miller, which Robinson notes is an unusual tactic for the club. In recent years, the Broncos showed a willingness to hammer out new contracts with receiver Demaryius Thomas and left tackle Ryan Clady, respectively, into the middle of July. As of now, that isn’t the case with Miller, which has led to an ugly situation that could see the two sides head for a divorce over the next year.

Here’s more of the latest on Miller:

  • Either forgoing this year’s franchise sum of $14.1MM or the $38.5MM in guarantees the Broncos have offered Miller would carry notable risk for the defender, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If Miller sits the season out, he’d be leaving significant money on the table with no hope of getting it back. Further, it’s not a sure thing that Miller would receive a better offer from Denver or anyone else in 2017. As reported earlier today, though, the Broncos won’t be able to use the exclusive tag again on Miller if he sits out this season. They could place the non-exclusive version on him next year, but a team that signs Miller to an offer sheet not matched by Denver would only have to surrender a first- and third-round pick (not the traditional two first-rounders) for his services.
  • Despite the negative turn negotiations have taken, head coach Gary Kubiak is “still optimistic” that a long-term deal with Miller will get done this summer (Twitter link via Lindsay Jones of USA Today). “Both sides are working hard,” Kubiak said.
  • Ed Werder of ESPN has further details on Denver’s offer, reporting (on Twitter) that the $4.5MM extra the team is willing to give Miller would come via an annual workout bonus. Miller would have to partake in 95 percent of workouts in order to collect that money.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Rams Sign Entire Draft Class

June 9th, 2016 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams announced that they have signed their entire 2016 draft class. It was long expected that the Rams would all sign their rookies on the same day in June, as the team has done in recent years. Rams Helmet (Featured)

This morning, word leaked out that the Rams and No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff had agreed to terms on his contract. Of course, thanks to the rookie slotting in the latest CBA, contract negotiations are, by and large, pretty painless. The only exception to that is in the third round where there is a little more wiggle room between players and teams, but the Rams did not have any third-round picks in this year’s draft thanks to the massive haul of picks they sent to the Titans in order to select Goff.

After Goff, the Rams’ next highest draft pick was Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Higbee made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was charged with second-degree assault. One scout expressed concern about Higbee shortly after he was selected by L.A.:

“He is a major partier,” said the anonymous scout. “That was his big problem, despite the arrests. He has a lot of maturing to do, and I’m not sure he can mature fast enough.”

The 23-year-old was considered a potential third-round talent, but the charges predictably impacted his stock. Higbee caught 48 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns last season but missed five games due to a knee injury. When asked about the injury at his pro day, the WKU product told reporters he was 75-80% recovered.

Here is the complete rundown of the Rams’ entire 2016 draft class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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