2016 June - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Dolphins Notes: Rolle, Tunsil, Tannehill, Gase

June 24th, 2016 at 9:10am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins continue to have free agents Antrel Rolle and Louis Delmas on a list of safety options should they have an injury at the position or if Reshad Jones should reverse course and holdout during the season, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes. Rolle, 33, is listed as PFR’s eighth-best defensive free agent still on the market. Delmas, meanwhile, has familiarity on his side as he has been with Miami for each of the past two seasons.

If Jones surprises everyone and has a change of heart after reporting to minicamp earlier this month, he still might not have much in the way of leverage. Even a person close to Jones conceded to Jackson that Miami doesn’t have any incentive to re-do the current deal, which pays Jones $7.2MM and $7.1MM over the next two seasons.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Rookie Laremy Tunsil is not guaranteed a starting spot on the Dolphins’ offensive line, as Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post writes. However, it would be a stunner if Dallas Thomas, Pro Football Focus’ worst-rated NFL guard last year, manages to beat him out. Meanwhile, Tunsil says that the adjustment from guard to tackle hasn’t been a difficult one. Coach Adam Gase agrees, noting that the transition isn’t a tough one since he is staying on the same side of the line. “When you put a guy on the left side, he’s playing the two positions that really they’re making the calls together whether it be in the run game or the pass game,” Gase said. “So it’s not like he’s learning something completely different.”
Can the offensive-minded Gase succeed in the defense-heavy AFC East? The new Dolphins coach will have to get Ryan Tannehill to elevate his play by a good margin in order to succeed, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes. Since his rookie year in 2012, Tannehill has gone 8-16 against AFC East foes with 30 touchdown passes against 25 interceptions and 75 sacks, all adding up to a dismal 35.5 Total QBR.
Defensive end Dion Jordan says that he’s drug-free as he seeks reinstatement, but Albert Breer of The MMQB hears that they should be worried about more than Jordan’s off-field issues.

Latest On Las Vegas

June 23rd, 2016 at 9:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The plan that would make a 65,000-seat domed stadium would include a record stadium bill for the public, Bloomberg.com’s James Nash and Darrell Preston report. The proposal put forth by the Las Vegas Sands calls for $550MM from the public and $200MM from developers on top of the Raiders’ estimated $500MM contribution and additional funding from private investors, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News. However, no site has been determined, and at least 24 NFL owners would need to OK a Raiders-to-Vegas move by January if the team is to begin play in Nevada by 2020.

“We are going to find a way to make this work,” said Andy Abboud, a top executive at Las Vegas Sands, of the plan for an estimated $1.45 billion stadium, via the Associated Press.

Under this plan, a hotel tax would be the primary source of funding for this stadium, but the $750MM in taxpayer money would be a record, surpassing the $620MM for the Colts’ relocation into Lucas Oil Stadium in 2007. The cost overruns would be the collective responsibility of the Raiders, the NFL, the Sands Casino, among other non-governmental properties, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes.

The tax, which would come to about $1.08 per night for a room, hasn’t drawn much opposition to this point since it would mostly be tourists footing the collective expense. But Steve Hill, the top assistant to Nevada governor Brian Sandoval, suggested at Thursday’s Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee meeting that public funds should be dropped to $500MM, with the private-sector cost being raised to $900MM, per Nash and Preston.

The governor-backed rival plan to Adelson’s could come up for a vote on July 11. Any additional tax would require the Republican governor’s approval, Bloomberg reports. The SNTIC will turn over its recommendations next month to Sandoval.

Although Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf was said to be meeting with a Ronnie Lott-led developmental group on the subject of financing a Raiders stadium in the Bay Area, it’s not clear if there has been any progress on that front. As it stands now, Oakland hasn’t given in on using public funds for a new Raiders stadium, which has led to Mark Davis seeking other options.

In related news, Wednesday’s announcement of Las Vegas being awarded an expansion NHL team could help open the door for an NFL venture.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

49ers Sign Third-Round Pick Will Redmond

June 23rd, 2016 at 7:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The list of unsigned 2016 draft picks shortened to 10 on Thursday night after the 49ers reached an agreement to sign Will Redmond, CSNBayArea.com reports.

Redmond entered Thursday as one of five third-rounders yet to sign, but San Francisco moved a step closer to wrapping up its draft class by coming to terms with the cornerback out of Mississippi State. For the 49ers, only first-round lineman Joshua Garnett remains unsigned.

The 22-year-old corner saw action in three seasons for the Bulldogs, playing in 27 games and making seven starts — all of which coming during the 2015 season. He made 25 tackles and two interceptions for Mississippi State last season, and despite the lack of experience as a starter decided to leave school early.

His accord leaves Max Tuerk (Chargers), Carl Nassib (Browns), Kevin Byard (Titans) and Maliek Collins (Cowboys) as the lone remaining third-round picks yet to sign with their respective teams. The CBA being murky on the compensation coming for third-round picks has led to these selections’ longer negotiation processes.

As for the 49ers, they remain somewhat thin at cornerback, prompting Redmond’s selection. As Roster Resource details, Tramaine Brock and former first-round safety Jimmie Ward are in line to start for the NFC’s Bay Area franchise, with Kenneth Acker being the only component with much experience behind the projected first-teamers.

However, the 49ers already came to terms with fourth-round pick Rashard Robinson, so he figures to battle Redmond for playing time behind San Francisco’s starters come training camp.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC West Notes: Von, Vegas, Gordon

June 23rd, 2016 at 5:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thanks to the Broncos being the first team in four years to deploy the exclusive franchise tag, they don’t technically have to worry about outside suitors driving up Von Miller‘s price. But Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has been hearing “buzz” that other teams may have made their interest in Miller known via roundabout methods, even if he wouldn’t be available to play for another team until 2017. Miller sitting out this season would create a scenario where the compensation price for the outside linebacker would drop to a first- and third-round pick, if he is once again tagged.

Teams could be floating prospective offers out there and become figurative competition in order to keep Miller unsigned past July 15 and possibly land a knockout blow to the Broncos’ No. 1-ranked defense, Florio posits. However, this time next year, Miller would be one year older and coming off of a lost season. Therefore, any dollar figures out there right now aren’t rooted in the reality 2017 could potentially present.

Here’s more on Miller, along with the latest from the AFC West.

The above scenario meaning Miller sacrifices $14.26MM now in order to earn a few million extra in guaranteed money next year doesn’t make sense for the Super Bowl MVP, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap tweets. While it’s certainly possible Miller could recoup more than $14MM in guaranteed money from another team next spring, that team would have to give the Broncos a first- and third-rounder, assuming they use the franchise tag again. And barring some unforeseen development, Miller will likely be on the Broncos for at least three more seasons if he agreed to the aforementioned deal and receive the money he’s seeking as the contract plays out.
A prospective Miller-less 2016 also strikes TheMMQB.com’s Andrew Brandt as implausible. He remains confident the Broncos and Miller will come to an agreement on July 14 or 15. The Broncos raising the guarantee or increasing the cash flow in the first three years represent ways to bridge the gap, Brandt writes, with both sides having essentially agreed on the total value of the deal.
Less than two months after the Broncos cut Richard Gordon, the journeyman tight end looks to have made a potential route back to the NFL difficult. Gordon was arrested on charges of battery and battery on a law enforcement officer, Brian Hamacher of NBCMiami.com reports. A police report indicates a passerby observed a man punching a woman and push her out of an SUV. The woman, who told police she lives with the 29-year-old Gordon, said he punched her arm several times and slapped her in the face. The Broncos cut Gordon three times since last October but re-signed the blocking tight end in February. Gordon’s seen game action for four teams, previously spending time with the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs.
Although the Raiders didn’t receive the concrete answer they wanted at today’s Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee meeting on a potential stadium, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reports (on Twitter) belief remains Las Vegas will find common ground on a stadium deal. Raiders president Mark Badain told media (including Bonsignore, via Twitter) the franchise is disappointed by what it heard today, the SNTIC believes (Twitter link) common ground will be reached. Today’s meeting set the public contribution amount to $550MM after developers hoped that number would reach $750MM (Twitter links, via Bonsignore). Regardless, the Raiders’ cost in this equation remains $500MM, no matter how the rest of the money arrives.
The cost the owners could bill the Raiders for the right to move to Las Vegas is expected to be between $250MM and the $550MM the league charged the Rams, Andy Dolich of CSNBayArea.com reports.

Reggie Bush Says Two Teams Have Interest

June 23rd, 2016 at 2:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Reggie Bush says that he has received calls from two interested NFL teams this offseason (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio), though he did not specify which teams have inquired on him. Bush added that he is taking his time in the process and wants to do things “the right way,” which likely means that no deal is imminent for the 31-year-old.

Bush announced in February that he is intent on playing in 2016, though it was unclear at the time whether that feeling was being reciprocated back from any of the league’s 32 teams. Now, if Bush is to be believed, there are at least a pair of clubs that would be interested in having him aboard.

The Lions cut Bush prior to the 2015 season to save money after he missed much of the previous campaign with ankle injuries. Bush went on to sign the 49ers, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. Bush later sued the St. Louis Regional Convention and Stadium Authority over his injury, which capped his season’s statline at a grand total of 28 yards. Now, Bush says he has recovered from his ACL tear.

“I feel healthy and can make an impact on the field,” Bush told SiriusXM (Twitter link). “I think I’ve benefited from playing in different offenses.”

Despite getting heavy run as the lead back in Miami and Detroit between 2011 and 2013, he probably would only carry value as a third-down specialty back if he returns for the 2016 season. Any deal he signs will likely be light on guarantees.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Kirk Cousins, Redskins

June 23rd, 2016 at 11:50am CST by Zachary Links

With roughly three weeks until the extension deadline, the assumption is that Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will play out the 2016 season on his $19.95MM franchise tender, sources from both sides tell Albert Breer of The MMQB. While talks are “amicable” between both sides, Breer hears that they are basically going nowhere.

Cousins’ reps are negotiating on the premise that Cousins can earn roughly $44MM over the next two years if he is tagged for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The Redskins, meanwhile, are reluctant to meet those numbers in the first two years of a contract (and, presumably, reflect those salaries beyond 2017) since they want to see Cousins prove himself all over again. As Breer notes, the Redskins may be playing a dangerous game with their QB. If, as expected, Andrew Luck signs a record-breaking extension and Cousins turns in another strong year, then their quarterback’s asking price will skyrocket.

Another factor to consider is the impact of the Josh Norman signing on the Redskins’ salary cap. The cornerback’s massive deal will carry a $20MM cap hit in 2017. Therefore, if Washington were to exercise the franchise tag on Cousins next season at $24MM, more than 25% of its cap space would be dedicated to two players, and that’s a pie chart that no NFL team wants to be facing.

Cousins, 27, became Washington’s full-time starting quarterback for the first time last season, earning 16 of his 25 career starts in 2015. The four-year veteran finished the regular season on a tear, completing 74% of his passes for nearly 1,200 yards, 12 touchdowns, and a 134.0 quarterback rating over the final four weeks of the year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Curtis Lofton Hopes To Continue Playing

June 23rd, 2016 at 11:18am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent linebacker Curtis Lofton is without a team as we head into July, but he hopes that will change by August. In an interview on 92.9 The Game, Lofton explained he underwent offseason ankle and knee surgeries, but intends to continue playing in 2016 (Twitter link via Alex Marvez of FOX Sports).

[RELATED: 2016 NFL Free Agents]

Lofton, 30, was released in a cap-saving move by the Raiders in March. The Oklahoma product joined the Raiders for the 2015 season after spending his previous seven NFL seasons in Atlanta and New Orleans. Unfortunately, inking a three-year, $18MM deal with Oakland, Lofton failed to make a real impact for the team, starting just nine games and struggling to produce. Pro Football Focus ranked him 94th out of 97 qualified linebackers.

Lofton’s contract stipulated that $3.5MM of his $5.35MM base salary for 2016 would become guaranteed in February, less than a week after the Super Bowl. Reportedly, the Raiders couldn’t cut the linebacker prior to that date because he was unable to pass a physical due to an arm injury and they ultimately wound up waiving him with a failed physical designation.

Now that Lofton has copped to having serious ankle and knee issues in addition to his arm surgery, it seems unlikely that he’ll net a deal with much in the way of guarantees. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team bring him in on a low-risk, one-year deal while there are expanded rosters. After all, Lofton can provide valuable experience for someone’s linebacking corps after playing in a starting role across his eight-year career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC South Notes: Newton, Panthers, Short

June 23rd, 2016 at 11:03am CST by Zachary Links

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is a household name and widely considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today. But how do his divisional foes regard him? Jenna Laine of ESPN.com spoke with a few Buccaneers players who say that they respect him overall with one player admitting that tackling him is a “chore.” As for his touchdown celebrations, Tampa players don’t seem to be nearly as irked by his dancing as some of the country’s talking heads are.

Here’s more out of the NFC South:

Was firing Lovie Smith and hiring Dirk Koetter the right move for the Buccaneers? Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com doesn’t think that Smith was given enough time to fix what was broken in Tampa for a long time. Although Smith was criticized for pushing the Tampa 2 scheme to hard in his two years with the Bucs, McClure hears that Gerald McCoy‘s work ethic was suspect, and that may have been the culprit of some D-Line issues. Meanwhile, Koetter got a lot of credit for turning around the Bucs’ offense, but McClure notes that the team also emphasized offense with 12 of 13 draft picks coming on offense during the 2014 and 2015 drafts, which surely helped. Smith may have been behind the 8-ball from the start as one source told McClure that he inherited a team “in disarray” in Tampa with “a lot of guys who didn’t love football.”
Bill Voth of Black And Blue Review wondered whether Panthers GM Dave Gettleman was thinking about Kawann Short‘s contract situation when he drafted Vernon Butler with the No. 30 overall pick. When asked about his overall philosophy on that, Gettleman didn’t specifically say whether he consider contracts of current players when prepping his boards. However, he did make it clear that he sees a difference-maker in Butler and was willing to take him even though he didn’t fill a need position-wise. “Looking at the roster, did we need another defensive tackle?” Gettleman asked rhetorically. “People can argue ‘no.’ But you know how much I believe in the front. You know how much I believe it’s a big man’s game and [coach] Ron [Rivera] is right there with me.”
There are a lot of people in the NFL who are breathing a sigh of relief now that the Saints ownership battle appears to be settled, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

ProHockeyRumors.com Launches

June 23rd, 2016 at 10:15am CST by Zachary Links

NHL rumors will never be the same! We’re proud to announce the launch of Pro Hockey Rumors, extending our coverage into a fourth sport. Our team has been writing for ten days, so there is plenty to read. We’ve launched the site just in time for the NHL’s free agency period, and we hope you’ll enjoy our coverage of all the latest news and rumors. Bookmark Pro Hockey Rumors today!

You can also follow us on Twitter:

Follow @hockeyrumorspro

Offset Language

June 23rd, 2016 at 9:04am CST by Zachary Links

Since the NFL’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement has made rookie contracts fairly regimented, negotiations between teams and draft picks have become smoother than ever, with few – if any – players expected to be unsigned by the time training camp gets underway. Still, eleven players have yet to ink their rookie deals, including four first-rounders: Joey Bosa (Chargers, No. 3), Darron Lee (Jets, No. 20), Will Fuller (Texans, No. 21), and Joshua Garnett (49ers, No. 28).

Although we don’t know for sure what the holdup is with those four players, one factor that continues to play a role in contracts for first-round picks relates to offset language. Over the last several years, only a handful of players in each year have managed to avoid having offsets language written into their deals. Last year, Marcus Mariota‘s camp haggled with the Titans until the two sides finally reached an accord with partial offset language, a compromise that was not consummated until late July. In most cases, a lack of offsets for a player simply relies on which team drafted him — clubs like the Rams and Jaguars traditionally haven’t pushed to include offsets in contracts for their top picks, even in an era where most other teams around the league do.

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.

Although the negotiation of offset language might potentially delay a rookie’s signing, the offsets rarely come into play, since few top picks flame out badly enough that they’re released during their first four seasons. And even in those rare instances, if a player has performed poorly enough to be cut in his first few years, he likely won’t sign a lucrative deal elsewhere, so offset language wouldn’t help his old club recover more than perhaps the league minimum.

Note: This is a PFR Glossary entry, modified from an earlier post by PFR editor emeritus Luke Adams. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to free agency, trades, or other aspects of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Information from OverTheCap.com was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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