This offseason, tight end Jordan Cameron took a pay cut in order to remain with the Dolphins. Cameron confessed that it “doesn’t feel good” to take a step back in salary, but he also admits that he didn’t do enough last year (link via ESPN.com’s James Walker).
Cameron, 28 in August, caught 80 passes and scored seven times during his Pro Bowl season in 2013, but he was slowed by injuries in 2014 during his final year in Cleveland, and posted modest numbers in his first season in Miami. Playing and starting all 16 games, Cameron recorded 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns. Now in his contract year, Cameron will look to restore his value before testing the open market.
Here’s more out of the AFC East:
- Even though we’ve seen some of the league’s top tight ends get new deals this offseason, Patriots star Rob Gronkowski has not missed a day of workouts, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (on Twitter). Gronkowski is significantly underpaid when compared with the going market rate for his position, but it’s possible that New England will convert some of his incentives into a signing bonus this summer in order to keep him happy and focused. Gronk stands as the fifth-highest paid tight end on a per-season average with a salary of $9MM/year. In that regard, he is out-earned by Jimmy Graham, Travis Kelce, Jordan Reed, and Julius Thomas. Gronkowski signed a six-year, $54MM extension with the Patriots in June of 2012 that should keep him from reaching the open market until after the 2019 season.
- In March, Richie Incognito signed a three-year, $15.75MM deal to remain with the Bills. When the Bills first brought the lineman in, he was considered damaged goods following the bullying scandal in Miami. Now, head coach Rex Ryan says he couldn’t be happier to have him in the fold. “He was looked at as a bully, and that’s almost as bad a thing as you can be in today’s culture. But I didn’t believe he was that person and now I know he’s not. He got a second chance and the guy’s making the most of it. I wish I had a whole bunch of Richie Incognitos, and I can tell you I’m super happy I have one,” Ryan said (via Don Banks of SI.com).
- After spending the bulk of 2015 on the Bills‘ practice squad, wide receiver Dezmin Lewis is poised to push for a 53-man roster spot, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com writes.
- Earlier today, we learned that the Jets are not inclined to offer Ryan Fitzpatrick a one-year, $12MM deal. We also rounded up some more items on the Jets, including some thoughts on Muhammad Wilkerson‘s contract situation.