HEADLINES

Adam Vinatieri

South Notes: Saints, Colts, Hoyer, Wright

December 27th, 2015 at 9:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Some inside the Saints organization view Drew Brees‘ contract as an albatross that’s hampered their ability to progress, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Conor Orr of NFL.com).

The Saints are over the cap going into the offseason for the second straight year and may have to part with more veterans as a result. Brees will be due a $30MM cap hold in 2016, a number that will likely be renegotiated if the soon-to-be-16th-year quarterback is to return for an 11th season in New Orleans.

The 36-year-old Brees enters the final year of the five-year, $100MM deal he inked in 2012.

Here are some more items from the Southern divisions during Week 16’s penultimate game.

  • NFL executives aren’t ruling out Sean Payton going back on his word on returning to New Orleans for an 11th season, per Rapoport. A path out of the Big Easy for Payton is a potential trip to Los Angeles. Payton’s daughter attends USC, and Rapoport believes a union with Philip Rivers would make sense if the Chargers move north and opt not to bring back Mike McCoy for a fourth year.
  • The Colts‘ pair of middle-aged starters appear to be heading in divergent directions, with Adam Vinatieri looking set to come back for a 21st season and Matt Hasselbeck appearing prepared to retire after his 18th year, Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star writes. Hasselbeck left a game due to injury for the fourth straight week. Both are free agents after the season, but Colts punter Pat McAfee insists the 43-year-old Vinatieri will suit up next season.
  • Hasselbeck does not sound optimistic when referring to his chances at making another start this season, per Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. With the Colts almost certainly out of the playoff picture, Charlie Whitehurst or Stephen Morris could get the call in Week 17.
  • Despite Brandon Weeden‘s surprising work keeping the Texans in front in the division, Bill O’Brien will go back to Brian Hoyer once the veteran is able to return from the concussion he suffered, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
  • Kendall Wright appears likely to be shut down for the Titans‘ Week 17 game against the Colts after the fourth-year wide receiver reinjured his MCL, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports. Wright left Sunday’s game in the first half when doctors determined he could endure a further setback by continuing to play on the injury that cost him three games in November. Wright’s set to enter his fifth-year option season in 2016 and will do so coming off by far his worst year as a pro.

Colts Re-Sign Vinatieri To Two-Year Deal

March 11th, 2014 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

2:00pm: Vinatieri gets $5MM over two years, tweets Mike Chappell of the Indy Star.

9:24am: The Colts have re-signed veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri to a two-year contract, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Having re-signed punter Pat McAfee to a long-term deal last week, Indianpolis now has both of its key right legs locked up through at least the 2015 season.

Vinatieri, the NFL’s active leading scorer, converted 35 of 40 field goals for the Colts last season, including four of six from beyond 50 yards. At season’s end, he indicated that he wasn’t considering retirement, and that he hoped to keep playing for “two or three more years,” so there’s a chance this may not even be his last NFL contract.

FA Rumors: O-Line, Davis, Vinatieri, Campbell

March 9th, 2014 at 7:45pm CST by Ben Levine

The market for offensive linemen is beginning to heat up, and Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun has a couple of predictions from league sources. In one of his tweets, he identifies potential landing spots for Branden Albert (Dolphins), Jared Veldheer (Cardinals), Rodger Saffold (Raiders), Anthony Collins (Buccaneers) and Eugene Monroe (Ravens). In another tweet, he mentions that the Raiders have already talked to Saffold and Monroe, while the Buccaneers have contacted Saffold and Collins.

A couple of more notes on available (and potential) free agents…

  • The Colts are nearing a deal with Vontae Davis, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. The deal is expected to be finished on Monday. However, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star says a deal is not close (via Twitter).
  • The Colts are also talking with Adam Vinatieri, but it appears that the kicker will test the market, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
  • With Jason Campbell set to receive a $250K bonus, the Browns may choose to cut or trade the quarterback, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The bonus is due on the third day of the league year, which would be this Thursday.
  • When asked if the Jaguars would get a deal done with Will Blackmon, John Oehser of Jaguars.com responded “yes” (via Twitter).

AFC Notes: Browns, Raiders, Jackson, Ravens

February 26th, 2014 at 5:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday, NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah said that he’s hearing “from several different places” that the Browns are targeting quarterback Derek Carr with the No. 26 pick rather than drafting a signal-caller at No. 4 (link via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). Of course, there’s plenty of time for that stance to change over the next two and a half months. More out of the AFC..

  • Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle about the need for a franchise quarterback, the team’s boatload of cap space, and whether or not this is a make-or-break year in Oakland.
  • Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk expects the Broncos and Titans to be in the mix for linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who hit the free agent market today when he was cut by the Browns. Seven teams have reached out to Jackson since his release and he’s currently deciding where to visit first, tweets Jason La Canfora of NFL.com.
  • Torrey Smith is very open to the idea of the Ravens adding a receiver in free agency or the draft, as he tells Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. “The more, the merrier,” Smith said. “The more help you can have no matter what position it is, it’s only going to make us stronger as a unit. Whatever we bring in, whether it’s free agency or a rookie, we’ll welcome him in with open arms.”
  • Although Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star suggested yesterday that Adam Vinatieri could be a franchise tag option for the Colts, that’s not the case, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). As Corry notes, even though Vinatieri didn’t play out two seasons as the Patriots‘ franchise player, he was tagged twice by New England, meaning he’d be eligible for the quarterback’s franchise salary if he were tagged a third time.

AFC Notes: Bortles, Ravens, Chiefs, Colts

February 25th, 2014 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

We checked in on the NFC earlier this afternoon, so let’s head over to the AFC now and round up a few of the latest updates….

  • Blake Bortles had formal interviews with eight franchises at the combine in Indianapolis, according to Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel. Of those eight teams, three – the Texans, Jaguars, and Titans – were AFC South squads. The Jets and Raiders also met with the UCF quarterback.
  • With James Ihedigbo expected to leave in free agency, the Ravens would like to add a free safety this offseason, shifting Matt Elam to strong safety, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Still, the team feels good about its secondary overall, and safety won’t be the top priority in May’s draft.
  • The Chiefs had formal interviews in Indianapolis with Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy and Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter links).
  • Cornerback Vontae Davis and safety Antoine Bethea are potential candidates to receive the Colts‘ franchise designation, but the free agent most likely to be tagged might be kicker Adam Vinatieri, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Adam Vinatieri Not Considering Retirement

January 31st, 2014 at 8:20am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s oldest player figures to hold that title again in the 2014 season. 41-year-old Adam Vinatieri isn’t considering retiring this offseason, telling Adam Schefter of ESPN.com that he hopes to continue kicking in the NFL for “two or three more years.”

Vinatieri showed no signs of slowing down in 2013, converting all 34 of his extra-point attempts and 35 of 40 field goal tries, including four of six from beyond 50 yards. The four-time Super Bowl champion passed several players on the NFL’s all-time scoring list this season, and now sits fifth overall with 2,006 points. If he does play for two or three more years, Vinatieri would likely finish his career as the NFL’s third all-time scorer, behind Morten Anderson and Gary Anderson.

Before he starts pursuing NFL records though, Vinatieri will have to find a team. The longtime Patriot and Colt will be a free agent this offseason, and tells Schefter that he’d “love” to re-sign in Indianapolis, where he has played since 2006. However, he adds that he’s also open to playing for the team that wants him the most.