A.J. Green

West Notes: Thomas, Green, Wilson

July 17th, 2015 at 7:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Demaryius Thomas was holding out for a contract that would exceed the value of Calvin Johnson‘s historic deal, the Broncos‘ newly extended wideout now acknowledges it was a negotiating tactic and that no receiver will hit that threshold. At least not for a while.

But the sixth-year target did want to make sure he inked a deal that assured him of greater financial earnings than contemporaries Mike Wallace and Percy Harvin, according to Mike Klis of 9News.

“It wasn’t about asking for more than Calvin because I knew I wasn’t going to get that,” Thomas told media Friday. “It was trying to make a new slot for guys because the second receiver was Mike Wallace and Percy Harvin. I think I’ve outplayed them, so I tried to set a new mark. But nobody is going to get Calvin money.”

The former first-round pick out of Georgia Tech also told Klis turning down the Broncos’ seven-year, $100MM offer was difficult, but with the uncertainty that could arise in the final two non-guaranteed years of that proposed deal, Thomas figured it was best to accept a five-year contract that could still enable him to sign a lucrative third accord by the time his second expires after his age-31 season.

Here is some more news from the Thomas fallout and from the Broncos’ Western brethren.

Training in Atlanta while slapped with the franchise tag, Thomas intends to play this season with a slimmer frame, dropping down to 222 pounds from his usual 228, per Klis.
Regardless of what weight Thomas plays at this season, A.J. Green was sure to thank his Pro Bowl wideout compatriot via text message shortly after word leaked of Thomas’ deal, according to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. The Bengals‘ contract-year receiver said he will play this season under his fifth-year option of $10.76MM and wait until the offseason for a potential new deal. But with two receivers on his tier attached to values, Green now has a benchmark at which to aim. Although the Bengals’ four-time Pro Bowler doesn’t quite have Thomas or Bryant’s stats, the soon-to-be 27-year-old is just as valuable to his team’s offense, and those numbers come with an inferior quarterback than the ones throwing to Thomas and Bryant.
Mark Rodgers and top client Russell Wilson speak each day, with those conversations often including discussions about the fourth-year Seahawks quarterback’s contract negotiation, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports. In a profile of the baseball-first agent’s relationship with Wilson, Condotta notes Wilson sought Rodgers due to his experience with two-sport athletes.

A.J. Green To Play 2015 Without New Deal

July 14th, 2015 at 8:46am CST by Luke Adams

While long-term contract talks for star receivers like Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant go down to the wire, with possible holdouts looming, another Pro Bowl wideout is content to play the 2015 season without a new deal in place. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Conor Orr of NFL.com), A.J. Green doesn’t intend to sign an extension prior to the season, opting instead to play out the final year of his current contract.

It isn’t a real surprise that Green and the Bengals would decide to shelve extension discussions until after the season, considering there isn’t as much urgency to get something done as there is for the Broncos and Cowboys with their own star receivers. Since Green is currently playing on the fifth-year option that came attached to his rookie deal, the Bengals will have the option of using the franchise tag on him for the first time in 2016.

Additionally, Green, who turns 27 later this month, didn’t seem anxious to finalize a long-term pact with the team when he addressed the issue last week, indicting that he didn’t plan to hold out and wasn’t preoccupied with thoughts about his contract.

“I don’t get into all the ‘I need a contract’ stuff,'” Green told Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. “I’m not here for money. I’m not broke. So I’m fine. I can wait until the end of the year to get a contract, but I know that time is coming.”

By playing out the final year of his contract, Green will earn a base salary of $10.176MM before potentially returning to the negotiating table in 2016. Waiting on a new deal would also allow Green and the Bengals to see if other top wideouts – like Thomas, Bryant, and Atlanta’s Julio Jones – ink new contracts of their own in the meantime, perhaps giving the two sides a clearer idea of what the market looks like.

Bengals Notes: Sawyer, Green, Postseason

July 9th, 2015 at 12:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bengals are mourning the passing of John Sawyer, who died at the age of 90, writes Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. Sawyer, a former team president and part owner of the Bengals, was considered one of the franchise’s pioneers, as owner Mike Brown said today.

“The team wouldn’t have come into existence were it not for his efforts,” Brown said of Sawyer. “He was our original president and our primary owner for many years. … We’ve not only lost a business partner. We’ve lost a very dear friend.”

As the Bengals mourn the passing of Sawyer, let’s check in on a few items out of Cincinnati….

As contract rumors heat up for wide receivers like Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, Bengals wideout A.J. Green isn’t expecting to sign an extension this offseason, writes Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. “I don’t get into all the ‘I need a contract’ stuff,'” Green said. “I’m not here for money. I’m not broke. So I’m fine. I can wait until the end of the year to get a contract, but I know that time is coming.” As Harvey notes, even if Green and the Bengals don’t reach a long-term contract agreement after the season, the team could use its franchise tag on the star receiver, who is playing the 2015 season on his fifth-year option.
Green added that while he’s keeping an eye on Bryant and Thomas, their situations won’t necessarily have a significant impact on his own: “It doesn’t say anything about me. They’re three different teams. Three different people. You don’t know what their situation is. All I can do is control what I can do, and that’s play football. Everything after that takes care of itself.”
In a separate piece for ESPN.com, Harvey makes a case for why the Bengals could snap their postseason losing streak this season.
In yesterday’s Community Tailgate discussion, we asked whether the Bengals or one of their division rivals would win the AFC North in 2015.

Community Tailgate: 6/18/15

June 18th, 2015 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This week, we’ve launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every day, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today, we’ll be discussing the crop of top wide receivers who are eligible for contract extensions. Dez Bryant has received most of the headlines this week, but Demaryius Thomas is currently in the same situation as the Cowboys wideout, having received a franchise-tag tender that he has yet to sign. Meanwhile, both A.J. Green and Julio Jones are entering their fifth-year option season, making them eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.

All four players could ultimately play out the coming season on one-year contracts and be franchised in 2016, but there’s a belief that once one of the four reaches a long-term agreement with his team, it will provide a template for the other three to negotiate their own deals. It’s just not clear yet what those extensions might look like.

While Calvin Johnson, Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., and others would have something to say about it, you could make a reasonable case that these four extension candidates are among the top five wide receivers in the NFL. Consider the following résumés:

Dez Bryant: Has averaged approximately 91 receptions, 1,312 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns over the last three seasons, earning an All-Pro spot in 2014.
Demaryius Thomas: His three-year averages (99 catches, 1,494 receiving yards, 12 TDs) match up favorably with Bryant’s, and he’s coming off a career year in which he racked up 111 catches and averaged more than 100 yards per game.
A.J. Green: Has been a Pro Bowler in each of his four NFL seasons, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of those seasons as well, despite being slowed by injuries last year. In 2013, his last fully healthy campaign, he totaled 98 catches, 1,426 yards, and 11 TDs.
Julio Jones: Established new career highs with 104 receptions and 1,593 yards in 2014, earning his second Pro Bowl berth.

All four appear headed for huge paydays, but there’s plenty to debate and discuss. For instance: Will any of these player challenge Calvin Johnson’s seven-year, $113MM+ contract? Which of the four will sign first, and which will receive the largest deal? Which of the four would you want on your favorite team? Would you be reluctant to invest significant money in any of them? We want to hear from you, so head to the comments section to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Corry On Market For Bryant, Green, Jones

May 20th, 2015 at 6:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Wide receivers Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Demaryius Thomas all have uncertain contract situations going forward. With Green and Jones in contract years and Bryant and Thomas having been franchise tagged, former agent Joel Corry (of CBSSports.com) looked at the market for all four players. The entire piece is worth a read, but here’s a glance at the highlights..

Jones could be the first to get a new deal since signing him to an extension is a top priority for the Falcons now that the draft is over. Jones is a virtual lock to receive the franchise tag in 2016 (~$14MM) and a second one in 2017 would cost nearly $17MM. The average of those two years, Corry writes, could be used as justification for a long-term deal in the $15MM per year range with over $40MM in guarantees.
Ryan Clady‘s negotiations could shed some light on Thomas’ situation with the Broncos. Clady secured salary escalators in his deal, and a similar approach could give Thomas the ability to earn more than $15MM per year.
Jones or Thomas getting deals in advance of the July 15 franchise player deadline for long-term deals could benefit Bryant because of the way the Cowboys have been lowballing him. Bryant became the first player in Dallas history to have three straight seasons with at least 85 receptions, 1,200 receiving yards, and 12 touchdown receptions, so he should have a good amount of leverage. However, from a negotiation standpoint, Corry feels that Bryant has done himself a disservice by showing up frequently at the team’s facilities this offseason.
Signing Green long-term may be easier said than done because of the Bengals‘ preferred structure with lucrative veteran contracts. Historically, the team’s contracts are light on guaranteed money due to the absence of base salary guarantees. Andy Dalton‘s recent deal, which Russell Wilson apparently wants to avoid for himself, is a prime example.

North Notes: Peterson, Ihedigbo, Gipson

April 20th, 2015 at 12:17pm CST by Luke Adams

Of all the players who didn’t report to their respective teams’ initial offseason workouts today, perhaps the least surprising name on the list is Adrian Peterson. After being reinstated last week, Peterson is said to be seeking a trade, a new contract, or both. Ben Goessling of ESPN.com confirms (via Twitter) that, as expected, the star running back didn’t attend the first day of the Vikings‘ voluntary spring workouts.

While we wait to see who blinks first in the standoff between Peterson and his longtime team, let’s check in on a few more items from around the NFL’s two North divisions, including updates on a couple other players who didn’t report today….

Every Lions player except for safety James Ihedigbo was in attendance for the first day of the club’s voluntary training program, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Ihedigbo’s absence doesn’t come as a shock, since we heard a couple weeks ago that he was looking for a new contract from the Lions.
Browns safety Tashaun Gipson is another player that didn’t report to his team’s voluntary program today, as Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group details. Gipson’s situation is a little different — he received a second-round RFA tender from Cleveland last month, and wasn’t overly thrilled about that. He can still negotiate with other teams that might be interested in signing him to an offer sheet, but he’s running out of time, and any potential suitor would have to part with a second-round pick to land him.
A.J. Green tells Coley Harvey of ESPN.com (all Twitter links) that his reps and the Bengals talked at the combine about a possible contract extension. However, he’s in no hurry to get something done, and its content to play out his fifth-year option year if necessary. Harvey adds that Marvin Jones, George Iloka, and others whose contracts expire after 2015 also seem fine with playing out the season on those deals.

AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Browns

March 24th, 2015 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we rounded up some key quotes from AFC East coaches at this morning’s coaches’ breakfast in Phoenix. Now, we’ll shift our focus to the AFC North, where every head coach except perhaps Mike Tomlin of the Steelers offered up a handful of interesting nuggets to reporters. Here are some highlights:

Marvin Lewis, Bengals (Twitter links via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com):

The Bengals’ top priority this offseason was securing a pass rusher, or at least an impact player on the defensive line. Defensive end Michael Johnson isn’t exactly an elite pass rusher, but he’s a good fit for Cincinnati, in Lewis’ view.
Lewis views 2015 as a crucial year for the franchise since a number of key young players are heading into contract years. The head coach hopes to see some of those players, including wideout A.J. Green, locked up to extensions this offseason.
With the No. 21 overall pick in the draft, the Bengals will prioritize players who can have a long-term impact over players who could step in and contribute immediately. Of course, I’m sure the ideal draftee would fit both criteria.
Jermaine Gresham, who underwent back surgery last week, remains an option for the Bengals — Lewis just talked to the free agent tight end yesterday.

John Harbaugh, Ravens (Twitter links via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun):

It doesn’t sound like the Ravens are done adding free agents. Harbaugh indicated it would be very helpful to make a few more moves before the draft, since it takes some pressure off when the team doesn’t necessarily have to draft for need.
The Ravens are particularly eyeing the free agent market on the offensive side of the ball. Harbaugh believes Keith Wenning has a bright future, but would like to upgrade at the backup quarterback spot. He also wants to add another running back and wide receiver, if the fit is right, and didn’t rule out free agency at either spot.
Wide receiver is also an option in the draft, and Harbaugh believes the Ravens will have good options at the position in rounds one through seven.
There are no new updates on Dennis Pitta‘s status. Harbaugh expects news to come in the summer, and reiterated today that it will be Pitta’s decision. The veteran tight end is recovering from a season-ending – and career-threatening – hip injury.
Referring to recently-signed safety Kendrick Lewis, Harbaugh said “his best football is ahead of him.”

Mike Pettine, Browns (Twitter links via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal and ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon):

Pettine has received good feedback about Johnny Manziel‘s progress in rehab, and while no date has been finalized for his discharge, the Browns expect him to be at next month’s workouts.
Pettine downplayed the idea that the Browns’ quarterback situation is “uncertain,” pointing to Josh McCown as a solid veteran and suggesting that the club could also address the spot on the draft. Asked about the possibility of trading up for Marcus Mariota, Pettine acknowledged that quarterback is one position worth trading up for, and pointed out that having two first-round picks creates flexibility. However, he added that talk of trading up for Mariota makes him rolls his eyes.
The Browns still need an edge rusher, and while Pettine likes Barkevious Mingo and Scott Solomon, he also noted that there’s good depth at that spot in the draft.
Finding a developmental center is on the team’s radar, since Alex Mack‘s contract includes a potential out after the 2015 season.
The Browns may draft a kicker this year, according to Pettine. The club currently has Garrett Hartley, Travis Coons, and Carey Spear on its roster after cutting Billy Cundiff toward the end of the 2014 season.

Bengals’ Brown Talks Green, Lewis, Contracts

March 22nd, 2015 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals and A.J. Green could be heading toward a franchise tag arrangement next March, according to Paul Dehner Jr., of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“Our problem is what you just said, the money is so big,” Bengals owner Mike Brown told Dehner Jr. “We are going to have a finite cap room with a handful of players who are going to be eligible for free agency. We are going to have to see what we can get done with that. We don’t know yet where we are going to end up but we have tried to prepare ourselves for it some by holding back on cap expenditures this year which can be rolled over into next year.”

A four-time Pro Bowler who has offered four-digit receiving-yardage totals in each of his four seasons, Green may not have a clear market as of now, with top-five wideout peers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas being tagged this month.

Brown expressed obvious desire to strike a long-term accord with the Bengals’ top 2016 free agent priority, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, but Green’s deal will affect the team’s ability to pay other ’16 free agents. Starters Andrew Whitworth, Leon Hall, Andre Smith and Reggie Nelson are among the lineup bastions with expiring contracts this season, and Andy Dalton‘s cap number vaults from $9M+ this season to more than $13MM in 2016. Excluding Smith, however, each of those will-be free agents are over 30.

Green will make $10.17MM this season on his fifth-year option and will almost certainly play in Cincinnati in 2016 on either a long-term deal or tag.

Brown hasn’t shown any urgency to give Marvin Lewis another one-year extension which would keep the coach out of lame-duck status this season, with Lewis joining the aforementioned contingent with expiring contracts. Lewis, who signed a one-year extension last March to avoid this expiring-deal scenario, is the second-longest-tenured coach in the league behind Bill Belichick.

“We have a good relationship. I hope that relationship goes forward into the future. But we aren’t at the future yet,” Brown told Dehrer Jr. “We don’t have to make this decision until after this year. He doesn’t have to make this decision until next year. Right now he’s under contract, and he’s fulfilling it as we would expect and he knows he should.”

The Bengals’ much-publicized playoff win drought extended to four straight years under Lewis, which may explain the owner’s reluctance to commit to giving him a potential 14th season (via Dehner Jr., on Twitter).

Other iteams from Brown, via Hobson: they haven’t made a decision on offering fifth-year options to 2012 first-rounders Dre Kirkpatrick and Kevin Zeitler; A.J. McCarron will get the chance to become Dalton’s understudy with the third quarterback likely coming through the draft, and Brown won’t vote for replay expansion (Twitter link) this week at the owners’ meetings.

Injury Updates: Sunday

October 26th, 2014 at 3:46pm CST by Rory Parks

We will keep you informed of any major injuries that arise throughout the course of today’s games.

In addition to suffering an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Patriots, the Bears may have lost one key contributor on each side of the all. Guard Matt Slauson left the game with a pectoral injury (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune), and as we saw with Brian Orakpo, a torn pectoral will likely force a player to miss the remainder of the season. Campbell’s Tribune colleague, Brad Biggs, tweets that defensive lineman Lamarr Houston had to be carted off the field after suffering an injury while celebrating a sack of Tom Brady.
Rams receiver Brian Quick suffered an arm injury in today’s game against the Chiefs, and had to be carted off the field, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Dispatch (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that Ravens CB Jimmy Smith has been carted off the field with a left leg injury.
Lions DT Nick Fairley suffered a right knee injury and has already been declared out for the rest of today’s game in London, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Texans rookie Jadeveon Clowney is expected to suit up for the first time since Week 1, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Clowney is expected to contribute primarily in obvious passing situations.
Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that Bengals WR A.J. Green, who was listed as doubtful for today’s divisional tilt against Baltimore, will not play. He hopes to return next week, but how he feels on Wednesday will be a major part of that decision.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra confirms that Lions star wideout Calvin Johnson will not play in today’s game against the Falcons in London.

Injury Updates: Sunday

October 19th, 2014 at 9:42pm CST by Rory Parks

Several big names who have been contending with injuries are expected to suit up for their Week 7 matchups today. Be sure to check back here when the games begin to keep an eye on any significant injuries that may arise over the course of today’s action:

Falcons‘ offensive lineman Peter Konz will have an MRI tomorrow, but a source has said that the injury is considered to be severe and will cost him the trip to London if not more, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN (via Twitter).
Bills‘ running back Fred Jackson‘s injury is thought to keep him out of the lineup for a maximum of four weeks, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). He notes that four weeks is the worst-case scenario.

Earlier Updates:

Fred Jackson suffered a groin injury during today’s game, and he will miss at least two weeks, per La Canfora (on Twitter). The Bills have a bye during Week 9, so it’s possible the veteran running back could return for Week 10.
Bears first-round cornerback Kyle Fuller has suffered a broken hand in addition to a hip pointer, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). There’s no word on how long the rookie will be sidelined, but as La Canfora notes, “it’s hard to play corner [with one] hand.”
In an unfortunate turn of events, Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman broke his foot during warmups, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Terry Blount of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict had already been dealing with concussion issues during recent weeks, and now head coach Marvin Lewis tells reporters, including Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link), that Burfict has a “cervical neck strain.”
Having recovered from a minor groin injury, Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers was forced from today’s game against the Chiefs with a concussion, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
Ravens long-snapper Morgan Cox tore his ACL, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Harbaugh confirms the team will immediately begin looking for a new LS.
Saints center Jonathan Goodwin had to be helped off the field during Sunday’s loss to the Lions, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com. Tim Lelito is Goodwin’s direct backup.
Also per Sessler, Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo suffered a pectoral injury today, and will undergo an MRI tomorrow. A significant injury to Orakpo could mean more playing time for rookie Trent Murphy.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Bengals WR A.J. Green will not play against the Colts.
Saints TE Jimmy Graham is expected to take the field against the Lions today, but he wants to test his shoulder prior to the game before officially declaring himself ready, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter adds (via Twitter) that even if Graham does play, he is not expected to start, and NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweets that he expects the Saints to use Graham in red-zone packages as they have done when he has been banged up in the past.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin, who has been dealing with a concussion, has been cleared to play against the Packers this afternoon.

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