Alex Boone - Pro Football Rumors

West Notes: Boone, Charles, Houston

July 23rd, 2014 at 8:20pm CST by Zachary Links

It was revealed earlier today that longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is giving up control over the franchise due to his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The 70-year-old is placing ownership in the Pat Bowlen Trust that is controlled by non-family members, with team president Joe Ellis assuming control of the club. “It’s a really, really sad day,” Ellis said. “It’s sad for his family, his wife and his seven children. It’s sad for everyone in the organization. And it’s sad for all the Bronco fans who know what Pat Bowlen meant to them as an owner. It’s a day nobody wanted to see happen.” More out of the AFC and NFC West..

As expected, 49ers guard Alex Boone did not report to camp and he has been placed on the did not report list, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The Niners can fine him $30K for each day he remains absent.
Terez A. Paylor of The Star (on Twitter) has received zero indications that Jamaal Charles’ new deal with the Chiefs will affect any potential deal with Justin Houston. Houston, 25, has racked up 21 sacks in 27 games for the Chiefs in the last two seasons, earning spots in consecutive Pro Bowls. However, since he was a third-round pick in 2011, he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will earn a base salary of just $1.4MM in 2014.
More from Paylor (on Twitter), who hears that despite some speculation to the contrary, Houston has reported to camp with the Chiefs.

Vernon Davis Reports To 49ers’ Camp

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:47am CST by Luke Adams

11:47am: Despite reporting to camp, Davis is still seeking a new contract and is “definitely” not interested in moving forward without a raise, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The tight end’s decision to attend training camp was a result of a few factors, including the desire to avoid daily $30K fines for his absence.

11:27am: While Davis is present at San Francisco’s training camp, the team doesn’t expect Boone to follow suit, tweets Bill Williamson of ESPN.com, adding that the offensive lineman is “bent on getting a new deal by any means necessary.” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports also both hear that Boone won’t be reporting (Twitter links).

11:01am: Tight end Vernon Davis, who is seeking a new contract from the 49ers, has nonetheless reported to training camp, according to teammate C.J. Spillman, who posted a video of Davis’ arrival on Instagram. After Davis wasn’t in attendance at the club’s spring workouts and minicamp, it wasn’t clear if he would be present when training camp got underway, but it seems he won’t officially hold out.

Davis’ presence at training camp doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s putting his contract situation on the back-burner. It may be that the 30-year-old took notice when the 49ers agreed to an extension with Joe Staley – who was underpaid but not holding out – and decided his attendance at camp could help the two sides negotiate in good faith.

Although Davis may feel as if he’s not being paid what he deserves, he’s still among the league’s highest-paid tight ends by annual average value and has two years remaining on his current deal, so his leverage in contract talks will be limited. The team also has to address a potential new contract for fellow holdout candidate Alex Boone and extensions for Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati, so it will be interesting to see whether the Niners feel compelled to get anything done with Davis.

49ers Notes: Boone, Lipford, Staley

July 21st, 2014 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The extension agreed upon by the 49ers and Joe Staley may have been sending a message to players like Vernon Davis and Alex Boone, with the team rewarding a player who showed up at spring workouts despite being underpaid. However, that doesn’t mean the Staley deal will persuade Boone to attending training camp — Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com “wouldn’t be surprised if Boone is the rare player to skip much if not all of camp.” While the Niners have most of the leverage in this scenario, La Canfora suggests that, given the high expectations for the veteran squad heading into 2014, the club may be wise to reach a compromise with the disgruntled guard.

Here’s more on the Niners:

Within the same piece, La Canfora also touches on recent comments by commissioner Roger Goodell suggesting that perhaps the Raiders could share Levi’s Stadium with the 49ers, but notes that owner Mark Davis is even less interested in that idea than his father was.
While the 49ers are unlikely to sign Boone to a new contract with a large signing bonus, an agreement that includes other forms of roster bonuses and incentives could be doable for the team, writes Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Lynch is less enthusiastic about the idea of Davis getting a new contract.
Linebacker Darius Lipford, who went unselected in the supplemental draft and worked out for the Niners last week, is drawing interest from three other teams, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap has the specifics on Staley’s new contract, which he describes as virtually an all-new deal, rather than simply an extension. The total value on the pact, which includes two option years, is six years, $44.65MM.
Earlier today, I asked which team will win the NFC West in 2014. So far, PFR readers like the Seahawks, who have grabbed about 47% of the vote, over the Niners, who have earned about 39%.

West Notes: Boone, Smith, Williams, Cardinals

July 18th, 2014 at 10:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

49ers guard Alex Boone will not report to training camp unless he is given a new deal, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. It’s not clear how much of a raise Boone wants over his scheduled $2MM and $1.2MM base salaries for 2014 and 2015, respectively, but as Getlin tweets, the crux of this disagreement is “valuation.” While San Francisco believes Boone is worth top-20 guard money, the sixth-year player believes he is in an even higher stratum. Sources also tell Getlin that Joe Staley‘s extension was, in part, a signal to Boone that new contracts can be struck, but only for players who attend workouts. More from the NFL’s two West divisions:

Extension talks continue between Alex Smith and the Chiefs, but there are “significant differences” between the two parties, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
Paylor lists the backup QB competition as the #1 training camp battle on the Chiefs roster; Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray, and Aaron Murray are all fighting for the job.
The 49ers placed defensive lineman Ian Williams on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, tweets Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. The active/PUP list means a player is unable to perform during preseason workouts at the current time; as soon as the player is healthy, he can come off the list. Placement on the active/PUP list makes a player eligible for the more well-known reserve/PUP list, which mandates that a player miss the first weeks of the regular season.
Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com takes a look at the more interesting position battles on the Cardinals, listing the right side of the offensive line and cornerback as two areas where competition and depth are abundant.
Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com projects the Broncos’ 53-man roster, and veteran tight end Joel Dreessen doesn’t make the cut.

NFC Notes: Hardy, Orakpo, Boone, Suh

July 16th, 2014 at 11:58am CST by Ben Levine

After being found guilty on Tuesday of assault on a female and communicating threats, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy is currently being monitored by the NFL, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.

While Hardy was found guilty by a judge, the two-step process in North Carolina allows him to now stand trial before a jury. This is an important note – as Florio writes, the NFL usually doesn’t punish first-time offenders “until there has been a disposition of the proceeding.”

However, as the writer points out, the NFL can still do whatever it wants. Futhermore, the Panthers could decide to suspend Hardy for “conduct detrimental to the team,” allowing them to save more than $770K a week.

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC…

After not signing an extension by yesterday’s deadline, Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo could be facing a make-or-break year, writes Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com. As the writer notes, the team has done a lot to put Orakpo in a position to succeed. The Redskins added free agent pass rusher Jason Hatcher, drafted linebacker Trent Murphy and brought in coach Brian Baker to refine Orakpo’s skills. If the 27-year-old can’t succeed under those circumstances, Tandler says “there isn’t much hope that he ever will.”
There’s no denying that 49ers guard Alex Boone is underpaid, writes Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. After all, the holdout candidate signed his current contract when he was a backup. However, the team could drag out negotiations by arguing that their depth, including Joe Looney and Marcus Martin, could fill in adequately.
The Lions still hope to sign Ndamukong Suh to an extension this offseason, writes MLive.com’s Justin Rogers. The writer takes a look at some of the most lucrative contracts signed by veteran defensive tackles and suggest a contract worth $63MM over five seasons.

West Links: Veldheer, Campbell, Boone

July 12th, 2014 at 10:50am CST by Matt Feminis

Cardinals left tackle Jared Veldheer entered the league with a reputation as a tireless worker in the weight room. The 6-8, 321-pounder put on approximately 70 pounds during his time at Hillsdale College (where the weight room is now named after him), and his passion for strength training continues to this day. In fact, his massive physique has drawn “Hulk” comparisons, writes Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. Veldheer signed a five-year, $35MM deal with Arizona in March.

Here’s some more NFC and AFC West reading:

Calais Campbell, 27, is in his prime and desires to be respected as an elite player, writes ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. The 6-8, 300-pound five-technique stated his case last year, tallying 58 tackles, nine sacks and six batted passes. Additionally, his 34.1 grade from Pro Football Focus was the best rating by a 3-4 defensive end not named J.J. Watt.
There’s “no way” 49ers guard Alex Boone reports to training camp without a new contract, reports CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco (via Twitter).
The 49ers “redshirt” running back Marcus Lattimore was the subject of a feature story by ESPN’s Bill Williamson, who detailed the remarkable adversity Lattimore has persevered through to reach this point. Now, Lattimore says, “I’m ready to get hit again. . .and then move on.”
Meanwhile, Lattimore’s 49ers and South Carolina teammate Bruce Ellington, a multisport star, was featured in USA Today.
Keeping with the injury recovery/South Carolina theme, Chargers.com managing editor Ricky Henne spotlighted Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, who made an exceptionally quick return from an ACL tear suffered last May.
The Rams were given an “Offseason Report Card” by SI.com’s Chris Burke. The results? B-plus.

Extra Points: Collins, Staley, McKinnon

July 7th, 2014 at 7:59pm CST by Matt Feminis

Let’s round up a few Monday odds and ends from around the NFL….

Patriots second-year linebacker Jamie Collins‘ arrow is pointing up following a terrific rookie season in which he showcased unique athleticism and versatility. In Collins, “Bill Belichick has found a new sort of prototype,” says NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, who profiles Collins as a breakout player deserving of 900 snaps this season. For perspective, Dont’a Hightower‘s 870 snaps led Patriots linebackers in 2013.
Joe Staley has four years remaining on a six-year, $43.2MM contract with the 49ers, but many consider the outstanding left tackle underpaid, says ESPN’s Bill Williamson, who tweets the team could consider giving Staley a new deal. Either way, Staley isn’t expected to hold out. That’s not the case for Alex Boone, however, tweets Williamson.
The Steelers need second-year man Markus Wheaton to step up, says ESPN’s Scott Brown in his preview of the team’s receivers.
In a rundown of AFC South depth chart notes, Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuiness says he doesn’t expect Jaguars free-agent acquisition Toby Gerhart to be any better than average.
Meanwhile, Vikings rookie Jerick McKinnon is vying to replace Gerhart as Adrian Peterson‘s backup. A third-round pick out of Georgia Southern, McKinnon is making a strong first impression on Peterson: “He’s pretty impressive and there’s not too many guys who impress me like that, especially rookies coming in,” Peterson told Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.
Despite a recent ESPN poll (Insider required) of league executives that ranked Jets quarterback Geno Smith the NFL’s worst starter, NewYorkJets.com editor-in-chief Randy Lange tries to make a case Smith’s rookie season was “better than some observers seem to think.”
If the season started today, the Raiders would be the worst team in football, according to Pro Football Talk.

49ers Notes: Davis, Boone, Hunter

June 17th, 2014 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

As anticipated, Vernon Davis and Alex Boone can now officially be classified as holdouts, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Neither player showed up to the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp today, and both men will be subject to fines of nearly $70K if they miss all three days of the camp. Both Davis and Boone are unhappy with their contracts and are looking to negotiate new deals, so it figures to be a busy summer for the Niners, who already locked up Colin Kaepernick and will likely explore extensions for Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati.

Here’s more out of San Francisco:

Kaepernick expressed his support for Davis and Boone, suggesting that he won’t harbor any ill will toward either player for missing the team’s practices this week. “I would love to see all of our players there, but at the same time, they have to do what’s best for them and make their own decisions,” Kaepernick said, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee views Boone’s case for a new contract as stronger than Davis’, but suggests that both players could be hard-pressed to reach agreements this year, given the Niners’ current cap situation. San Francisco probably can’t afford to pay ever player who deserves a raise, so the team will have to identify its top priorities.
While his teammates eye new deals, running back Kendall Hunter is trying to avoid thinking about his situation as he enters a contract year, writes Inman. “You can’t think about that,” Hunter said of his impending free agency. “I just want to play football and help the team.”

NFC Notes: Graham, Lynch, 49ers, Vikings

June 16th, 2014 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Both Jimmy Graham and the Saints have plenty to lose depending on what an arbitrator rules this week on Graham’s franchise tag positional designation. Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes it’d be in the best interest of both sides to reach a long-term agreement before that ruling is made. In Triplett’s view, a multiyear deal with a value of $10-11MM seems about right.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett told NFL AM today (link via NFL.com) that he hopes the standoff between Marshawn Lynch and the club is short-lived, though he threw some support behind his teammate: “Obviously he’s one of the best running backs in the game, and he feels like he should be paid like one of the best backs in the game. And, of course, I agree with him.” Of course, even without a new contract, Lynch already ranks among the league’s top five RBs when it comes to average annual salary.
In addition to discussing his contract situation, Vernon Davis also shed some light on his long-term plans at TheMMQB.com today, writing that in 10 years his goal is to “host my own show, start acting, and continue to build a business empire.”
Although it’s not 100% clear whether or not Davis will show up at the Niners‘ minicamp this week, offensive lineman Alex Boone will only be in attendance if he has a new deal in place, which appears unlikely, tweets Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.
While the Vikings expect a big season from Kyle Rudolph, the team also needs a second tight end to step up and fill the void left by John Carlson’s departure, writes Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
Rather than choosing a team in free agency that lacked talent on the defensive line so he’d have a better chance at playing time, Alex Carrington elected to sign with the Rams this offseason in order to surround himself with talent, as he explains to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
The Packers have a decent chunk of cap space still available, but will need to decide how to use it, writes Wes Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com, adding that extensions for Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb or a new deal for Jermichael Finley are all possibilities.

Extra Points: Thomas, Jaguars, Sanders

June 15th, 2014 at 10:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Cornerback Terrell Thomas played 16 games for the Giants in 2013, proving that his torn ACL was long behind him. However, the 29-year-old has yet to find a team for next season and he’s blaming it in on his past injury.

Thomas took to SiriusXM NFL Radio and told hosts Alex Marvez and Zig Fracassi his thoughts on front offices’ hesitation to sign him (hat tip to ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio):

“I understand that,” Thomas said, “but I played in 18 games last year, and I’ve still got tread left on these tires.

“This NFL game is not loyal. It’s a part of business. I understand it and I respect it. As a veteran, I’m a plug-in starter. I don’t need to go through OTAs, through minicamps to get reps… I can go in and play right now. So I’ll be ready whenever my number’s called, whenever the right team picks me. All I need is one team to love me. All I need is one team to give me an opportunity. My play speaks for itself.”

Following the Lions release of Chris Houston on Friday, Florio guesses that Thomas’ next destination will be Detroit.

Let’s see what else is going on around the NFL…

The Jaguars do have some aging veterans on the roster, but ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco doesn’t envision any of them being on the roster bubble. Nonetheless, he mentions that defensive ends Jason Babin and Tyson Alualu and defensive backs Mike Harris and Chris Prosinski will be pushed by young players.
DiRocco would also be “very surprised” if wide receiver Ace Sanders didn’t make the Jaguars roster. Coming off a 50-catch season, Sanders would only stand to lose his roster spot if he continues to be “average” as a punt returner.
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe takes a quick look at some holdout candidates, mentioning Texans wideout Andre Johnson, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, and 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and guard Alex Boone.