2018 February - Pro Football Rumors

Details On Vontae Davis’ Deal With Bills

February 27th, 2018 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

On Monday, the Bills agreed to sign Vontae Davis to a one-year contract. We now know the terms of the deal, and it appears to be a favorable one for the cornerback.

The one-year deal comes with a $5MM base salary and $3.5MM of that sum is guaranteed, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. With incentives, Davis can max out the value of the deal at $8MM.

Details on Davis’ potential bonuses have not surfaced yet, but it’s notable that he’ll have an opportunity to nearly match the average annual value of his previous four-year, $36MM contract with the Colts. Even before considering the incentives, it’s a solid payday for a player who has not performed at a high level over the last two seasons.

The Bills are taking a bit of a gamble with Davis, but they believe that he has more quality football in the tank. The value of the deal may also give some insight into their plans regarding E.J. Gaines. With a base of $5MM, the Bills probably intend to start Davis at cornerback opposite rising sophomore Tre’Davious White. Gaines edges Davis in both talent and youth, but he is in line for a big payday as one of the best free agent CBs on the board. The Bills have only $29.5MM in cap space and much of that will be dedicated to filling other needs as well as signing their rookie class, so they are taking an economical approach over committing to Gaines on a long-term deal.

Last season, Gaines ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 13 ranked cornerback. Davis, meanwhile, ranked near the bottom in 2016 and would have done the same in 2017 if he logged enough snaps to qualify.

Cowboys Rumors: Irving, Gregory, Jones

February 27th, 2018 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest out of Dallas:

Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones confirmed that the Cowboys will tender restricted free agent defensive lineman David Irving (Twitter link via Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram). However, Jones says the team has not decided if it will be first or second round tender. Extending an RFA tender to Irving is a no-brainer, but the call on whether to make it a first- or second-round tender is a tougher decision. This year, the second-round tender will likely be in the $2.85MM-$2.95MM range. Meanwhile, the first round tender will probably be upwards of $4.1MM. The second-round tender should be enough to ward off interested teams, but the Cowboys could play it safe by assigning the first-round tender to Irving.
Jones said the team is taking a “worst case scenario” approach to the potential reinstatement of defensive end Randy Gregory (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer). The former second-round pick has missed all but two games over the last two seasons because of a suspension, so the Cowboys aren’t expecting to have him back, nor do they know what he can offer them at this point. On a positive note, Gregory passed drug tests in the fall.
On Tuesday, Jones indicated that the Cowboys will be moving on from cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Cowboys To Cut Or Trade Orlando Scandrick

February 27th, 2018 at 12:36pm CST by Zachary Links

One way or another, it sounds like Orlando Scandrick‘s time in Dallas is about to come to an end. Team CEO Stephen Jones says the cornerback will likely be cut or traded, as Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram tweets.

The Cowboys dangled Scandrick on the trade block during last year’s draft, but ultimately did not come to terms on a trade with the Saints that would have brought safety Kenny Vaccaro to Dallas. Scandrick stayed on board for his ninth season in Dallas, but he was dogged by injuries and landed on IR in December. Around that time, the 31-year-old acknowledged that he might not return to the only NFL team he’s ever known.

“I’m prepared for whatever,” Scandrick said. “I’m still going to play football. I’m still a good football player when I’m healthy. We’ll see what happens. … I’m not at the point of my career where I’m willing to just be an inactive guy or a guy that’s not a part of what’s going on and can’t help the team win. I just want to play somewhere I can finish things out the right way.”

Scandrick is scheduled to carry a $5.28MM cap hit in the coming year, but the team will probably part ways with him and eat $3.88MM in dead money in order to save $1.4MM against the cap.

In 2017, Scandrick registered just 38 total tackles and graded out as one of the ten worst qualified cornerbacks in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. It’s possible that he could draw some trade interest, but it would be surprising if the Cowboys got a significant return for him.

Salary Cap Rollover For All 32 NFL Teams

February 27th, 2018 at 12:17pm CST by Zachary Links

This week, the NFLPA updated its salary cap report to include the rollover amounts for all 32 teams in the NFL. The Browns, as expected, lead the league in $58.9MM in cap space rolled over from the previous season. Here is the full rundown of each team’s rollover amounts:

After the Browns, the 49ers ($56MM), Titans ($30.3MM), Jaguars ($27.8MM), and Jets ($17.3MM) boast the highest rollover amounts in the league. The Dolphins ($69K), Saints ($287K), Giants ($365K), Eagles ($514K), and the Seahawks ($547K) have the least amount of rollover. In total, teams carried over nearly $340MM from last season, good for an average of $10.6MM per club.

Chris Ivory Visits Browns

February 27th, 2018 at 11:51am CST by Zachary Links

This is shaping up to be a busy week for running back Chris Ivory. The free agent is visiting with the Browns on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

News of Ivory’s trip to Cleveland comes on the heels of word that he met with the Bills on Monday. He plans to take a “few visits,” so it sounds like he’ll explore his options fully before signing anywhere.

The Browns don’t have many noteworthy free agents this year, but running back Isaiah Crowell is among them. After two down years in Jacksonville, Ivory wouldn’t exactly be a great one-for-one replacement for Crowell, but the cash-flush Browns may see the veteran as a solid reserve.

From the sound of it, teams are eager to speak with Ivory even though he is not among this year’s top tailbacks. Dion Lewis, Carlos Hyde, Crowell, and Jerick McKinnon figure to draw some of the highest offers in this year’s free agent RB crop. Other running backs near the top include Rex Burkhead, Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, Jeremy Hill, LeGarrette Blount, and Orleans Darkwa.

Latest On Kirk Cousins

February 27th, 2018 at 11:01am CST by Zachary Links

Kirk Cousins is eager to become the highest-paid player in NFL history, but he won’t rush things. The Redskins quarterback’s current plan is to not agree to terms during the NFL’s two-day “legal tampering” period, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). Instead, he’ll take one or more visits beginning on March 14.

Of course, it’s not a certainty that Cousins will be able to explore the open market freely. The Redskins have privately hinted at the possibility of placing the franchise tag on the quarterback, which would give them the ability to recoup something for Cousins via trade. That plan could easily backfire on Washington, but the team has until March 6 to weigh the pros and cons.

Assuming Cousins is not tagged, he’ll find a booming market for his services with interest from the Jets, Broncos, Browns, and other QB-needy teams. Because he is the top signal caller available, he’ll likely hold up the QB market for many teams and players until he signs. A free agent like Case Keenum likely won’t be able to ink a contract until Cousins has made his call and the Bills probably won’t find a trade partner for Tyrod Taylor until teams know that they are out of the Cousins chase.

The Jets figure to bid aggressively for Cousins, but initial reports of them offering $60MM in the first year have been shot down. In addition to the aforementioned teams, the Cardinals, Vikings, and Bills may also factor into the Cousins chase.

Eagles P Donnie Jones Retires

February 27th, 2018 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

Donnie Jones is calling it a career. On Tuesday morning, the Eagles punter announced his retirement from the NFL.

“After 14 seasons in the NFL, I have decided to retire so that I can spend more time with my family,” said Jones in a statement released by the team. “I am grateful for all those who have supported me throughout the years. Specifically, I would like to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson, and the entire Eagles organization for allowing me to be a part of their family for the past five seasons. I will truly miss my teammates, coaches, friends, and the best fans in the NFL. Although I am retiring, I will always be an Eagle and will forever have a special place in my heart for the City of Philadelphia. It is a great honor to be a part of the first Super Bowl championship team in Eagles history and there is no better way to finish my career.”

Jones first entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Seahawks in 2014. After that, he spent two seasons with the Dolphins, five seasons with the Rams, and one year with the Texans before hooking on with the Eagles in 2013. He leaves the game not only as a world champion, but as a record holder in Philadelphia. He is the Eagles’ all-time leader in gross punting average (45.37 yards) and net average (40.5). He also owns franchise records for most career punts inside the 20 (138), most single-season punts inside the 20 (34, 2014), and best net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015).

Cameron Johnston, who signed a futures deal with the Eagles in January, may be a candidate to take over for Jones.

Bills Meet With RB Chris Ivory

February 27th, 2018 at 9:25am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Chris Ivory spent all of Monday meeting with the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This marks Ivory’s first free agent visit since being released by the Jaguars last week, but it won’t necessarily be his last. Rapoport hears that Ivory is drawing considerable interest and plans to take a few visits.

[RELATED: Bills Sign Vontae Davis]

Ivory spent two seasons with Jacksonville before being handed his pink slip on Friday. The running back’s five-year, $32.5MM deal with $10MM guaranteed was a bust for the Jaguars, but teams are apparently still interested in him as a complementary veteran piece. If signed, the Bills would slot Ivory behind top rusher LeSean McCoy.

Before his big free agent pay day, Ivory ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2015 while averaging 4.3 yards per carry for the Jets. In two years with Jacksonville, Ivory amassed just 821 yards with 3.6 yards per tote.

Ivory will celebrate his 30th birthday on March 22. By then, he figures to be with the fourth team of his NFL career.

Latest On Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings

February 27th, 2018 at 9:12am CST by Zachary Links

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to be a free agent in March, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Vikings are not planning to argue that Bridgewater’s contract tolls and the QB is acting as though he’ll be on the open market.

Meanwhile, the NFLPA’s spokesman says the union has yet to receive word on whether the contract will toll (Twitter link via Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune). The NFL’s spokesman also tells Mike Florio of PFT that no decision has been rendered. With free agency roughly two weeks away, one has to imagine that we’ll receive final word on Bridgewater’s status in the coming days.

The murkiness surrounding Bridgewater’s deal stems from his stay on the PUP list in 2017. If his contract were toll, he would return to the Vikings on his 2017 salary of $1.354MM. From a football perspective, that would be a clear win for the team. The Vikings probably don’t see Bridgewater as a reliable starting option for 2018, but he certainly be worth a roster spot at that bargain rate.

It sounds like the Vikings will do right by Bridgewater and won’t actively stop him from exploring other opportunities. But, the decision is ultimately in the hands of the league office, so both parties will have to wait for a decision to be rendered.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Amendola, Jets

February 26th, 2018 at 7:07pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC East:

Danny Amendola is headed towards unrestricted free agency, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com gets the sense that the Patriots will be the team that he wants to play for if he does decide to play another season. Amendola, 33 in November, has earned multiple Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and millions of dollars over the course of his nine-year career, so it stands to reason that he could consider retirement. He never saw the postseason until he joined up with New England in 2013, so it also stands to reason that he’d want to stay put. Last year, the veteran earned just $3.12MM and he would likely top that number if he explored free agency.
More from Reiss, who opines that tight end Martellus Bennett is unlikely to return to the Patriots at his scheduled $6.2MM cap figure for the coming year. Last week, it was reported that the tight end wants to continue playing. I personally feel that the Patriots will balk at paying his $2MM roster bonus on March 14 in addition to his base salary, so the team may look to retain him at a cheaper rate.
We have some updates on the Jets‘ police blotter, courtesy of NJ.com’s Darryl Slater (Twitter link). Linebacker Dylan Donahue is due in court on March 13 in Weehawken to address his recent DUI charges. Cornerback Rashard Robinson, who was charged with drug possession following a December arrest and missed a January court hearing, had his next court date moved to March 12. Wide receiver Robby Anderson is scheduled to appear in a South Florida court on March 26 to address last year’s incident at a music festival. This is not to be confused with his January arrest, which resulted in nine charges, including three felonies.
On Monday, the Bills agreed to sign cornerback Vontae Davis to a one-year deal.