HEADLINES

Brian Orakpo

NFC East Notes: Jackson, Orakpo, Kerrigan

April 28th, 2014 at 2:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Head coach Chip Kelly finally discussed the Eagles‘ decision to release DeSean Jackson, and he had an oft-repeated refrain today when asked about the move. Repeatedly asked about Jackson, Kelly stated several times that the move was “purely a football decision” (Twitter link). Here’s more from Kelly, as well as a few notes on a pair of the Eagles’ division rivals:

  • According to Kelly, the Eagles simply decided to go in “a different direction” at the wide receiver position and didn’t find any trade takers (Twitter link). Kelly added that the team came back from the owner meetings without any trade offers for the receiver, and simply decided to release him (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). It may be hard to believe there were no offers on the table for such an explosive playmaker, but Jackson’s previous contract wasn’t exactly cap-friendly.
  • Although Brian Orakpo may play the 2014 season under the franchise tag, he’s still hoping for a long-term deal with the Redskins. However, he indicated today that he won’t let his contract situation affect his participation in offseason workouts and camp: “I’m not going to be in a situation where I’m holding out and all the distractions that come with it,” Orakpo said, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (Twitter link).
  • The Redskins‘ other outside linebacker, Ryan Kerrigan, is hoping the club decides to exercise his fifth-year option, as Boyer tweets. According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, GM Bruce Allen said today that the club will “have an announcement soon” on Kerrigan, which sounds to me like a signal that the team will be picking up that option.
  • Asked about Dallas’ potential interest in Johnny Manziel, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones was noncommittal, telling 105.3 The Fan that the team hasn’t finalized the quarterbacks on its draft board yet (link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).

Redskins Rumors: Orakpo, Jackson, Williams

April 16th, 2014 at 4:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins’ deal with safety Akeem Davis was on and off before being on again this week. Washington agreed to sign the Memphis product on Thursday but the deal was nixed by the league office on Monday. Later in the afternoon, the Redskins and the NFL cleared up whatever the issue was and the contract became official. The latest out of D.C..

  • Brian Orakpo told reporters, including Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter), that he’d be disappointed if the Redskins didn’t sign him to a long-term extension. Washington has a few months before the July 15th deadline for franchised players. The defensive end’s one-year tender for 2014, signed in late March, grants him a $11.455MM salary. Orakpo started 15 games for Washington last season, recording 60 tackles, 10 sacks, and returning an interception for a touchdown.
  • The NFLPA has decided that Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson owes agent Drew Rosenhaus $516K+ in unpaid loans and agent fees, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports. Rosenhaus had been seeking nearly $778K for loans, interest, credit card charges, and insurance premiums from Jackson (link). Part of what the wide receiver owes to Rosenhaus came in the form of a $375K interest-free loan he received from the agent when he signed and of that $375K, the agent said he’d forgive $175K if DeSean allowed him to negotiate his then-upcoming contract with the Eagles (Twitter links).
  • John Keim of ESPN.com stacked up the salaries of the Redskins‘ offense versus the rest of the NFL. For the most part, the Redskins have more bargains offensively in part because they’ve found younger contributors through the draft or they landed players such as Jackson after they’d been cut, thereby lowering their price. The Redskins have only one player who will count among the top five at their position in 2014 – left tackle Trent Williams.

Brian Orakpo Signs Franchise Tender

March 27th, 2014 at 8:19am CST by Luke Adams

Redskins edge defender Brian Orakpo has signed his one-year franchise tender, the Redskins announced today (Twitter link). The two sides could still decide to work out a longer-term agreement at any point, but signing the tender ensures that Orakpo is under contract for the 2014 season on a one-year deal worth $11.455MM.

Orakpo started 15 games for the Redskins last season, recording 60 tackles, 10 sacks, and returning an interception for a touchdown. The 27-year-old ranked fourth among 3-4 outside linebackers according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), recording positive grades not only as a pass rusher, but also against the run and as a coverage man.

While a multiyear extension between the Redskins and Orakpo remains possible, it sounds like the team may prefer to see him play out his one-year deal before deciding whether to lock him up. New head coach Jay Gruden suggested as much to reporters in Orlando yesterday.

Now that Orakpo has signed his tender, three of the four players who received the franchise tag before this month’s deadline have officially come off the free agent market. Like Orako, Greg Hardy signed his franchise tender from the Panthers, while Nick Folk worked out a long-term contract with the Jets. Of 2014’s franchise players, only the Saints’ Jimmy Graham remains unsigned.

NFC East Notes: Garrett, Redskins, Giants

March 26th, 2014 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said last month that he’s not thinking about his contract situation, despite entering the last year of his deal. Following those comments, owner Jerry Jones stressed that 2014 is not necessarily a make-or-break season for Garrett, and he expressed that sentiment in stronger terms yesterday. Asked if the head coach must lead the Cowboys to the postseason this year in order to keep his job, Jones said he doesn’t look at it that way “at all,” according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • According to head coach Jay Gruden, no teams have contacted the Redskins about acquiring Kirk Cousins. Gruden indicated today he’s excited to have Cousins backing up Robert Griffin III , tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • Discussing Brian Orakpo, Gruden said he wouldn’t mind the linebacker playing out the 2014 season on his one-year franchise tag to see what he can do before the Redskins lock him up to a long-term deal (Twitter link via Jones).
  • The Giants added Rashad Jennings and re-signed Peyton Hillis in free agency, but with Andre Brown likely to sign elsewhere and David Wilson still recovering from neck surgery, head coach Tom Coughlin suggested today that the team will likely need to add another running back to be safe (Twitter link via Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post).
  • Coughlin, the NFL’s oldest current head coach, also said today that he feels great health-wise and feels like he can keep coaching beyond this season, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.

Extra Points: Manning, Vikings, Browns, FAs

March 3rd, 2014 at 3:50pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been another busy day for the NFL hot stove, with the franchise tag deadline having passed by earlier this afternoon. You can check out our recap of 2014’s franchise and transition tags right here, but for now, let’s round up a few items that may have otherwise fallen through the cracks….

  • While the Broncos haven’t approached Peyton Manning about restructuring his contract yet, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the team has “a few million reasons” to do so at some point this offseason.
  • Free agent linebacker D’Qwell Jackson won’t visit with the Vikings, so he’s unlikely to sign with the team, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. However, Wolfson also adds in a separate tweet that free agent defensive end Everson Griffen “badly” wants to return to Minnesota, and talks are ongoing between the Vikings and his reps.
  • Even if they’re able to bring back center Alex Mack and safety T.J. Ward, the Browns will still have plenty positions of need when free agency begins, as Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com details. After using their transition tag on Mack, the Browns appear likely to keep the standout center, but perhaps not their safety.
  • Brian Orakpo, who was franchised today by the Redskins, tells Mike Jones of the Washington Post that while he still hopes to get a long-term deal done, he’s happy to take a step forward rather than remaining in a stalemate with the team.
  • Michael Vick, Eric Decker, and Aqib Talib are among this offseason’s most notable “buyer beware” free agents, opines K.C. Joyner of ESPN.com (Insider link).

Redskins Use Franchise Tag On Brian Orakpo

March 3rd, 2014 at 1:10pm CST by Luke Adams

1:10pm: Orakpo has no plans to sign the one-year franchise tender anytime soon, so it could be a while before his contract status for 2014 is set, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Zac Boyer of the Washington Times adds (via Twitter) that the Redskins used the non-exclusive tag, so Orakpo could sign an offer sheet with another suitor after March 11. It’s unlikely that any team will want to give up the required two first-round picks though.

12:35pm: The Redskins have officially used their 2014 franchise tag on free-agent-to-be Brian Orakpo, the team announced today (Twitter link). ESPN’s Ed Werder first reported this morning that the team was prepared to designate Orakpo as its franchise player.

Orakpo started 15 games for the Redskins last season, recording 60 tackles, 10 sacks, and returning an interception for a touchdown. The 27-year-old ranked fourth among 3-4 outside linebackers according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, recording positive grades not only as a pass rusher, but also against the run and as a coverage man.

Orakpo and the Redskins were said to be working on a long-term deal, but remained far enough apart that an agreement today was unlikely. The franchise tag effectively takes Orakpo off the market, though he and the Redskins still have plenty of time to continue negotiating a multiyear contract. If Orakpo plays on a one-year franchise salary, he’ll likely be in line to earn about $11.46MM. If he and his reps push for a designation as a defensive end, the former 13th overall pick could be eligible for a $13.12MM salary, but I expect the more modest linebacker amount will apply to him.

With today’s franchise deadline looming, Orakpo becomes the fourth player this offseason to officially receive the tag, joining Greg Hardy (Panthers), Jimmy Graham (Saints), and Nick Folk (Jets). Orakpo is also the latest key defensive free agent retained by the Redskins, who had already locked up DeAngelo Hall and Chris Baker to multiyear deals. The team is also expected to try to re-sign linebacker Perry Riley.

Redskins Prepared To Franchise Brian Orakpo?

March 3rd, 2014 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

10:59am: It’s “highly doubtful” that the Redskins and Orakpo will agree on a long-term deal today, a source tells Maske (Twitter link).

9:50am: The Redskins are still trying to hammer out a long-term contract with Brian Orakpo, but if no agreement can be reached today, the team is prepared to use its franchise tag on the free-agent-to-be, reports ESPN’s Ed Werder (via Twitter). The deadline for clubs to designate franchise players is 3:00pm CT today.

There have been varying reports on the Redskins’ plans for Orakpo within the last several days. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wrote on Saturday that the team was unlikely to franchise its standout pass rusher, and La Canfora’s report came on the heels of one from the Washington Post that suggested the Redskins had yet to extend a formal offer to Orakpo.

Still, Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported today that the team was in final deliberations of what they describe as “a really close call” on Orakpo. According to Jones and Maske, the Redskins like Orakpo and want to keep him, but there may be some disagreement within the organization about the merits of using the franchise tag on the veteran linebacker, or locking him up to a pricey long-term deal. One of the Post’s sources said he suspects Washington will franchise Orakpo, while another said he wouldn’t be surprised if the club allows him to depart via free agency.

Based on Werder’s report, it sounds as if the scales in Washington are tipping toward retaining Orakpo, but we’ll have to wait and see what the team decides.

AFC Notes: Broncos, Browns, Raiders, Jaguars

March 2nd, 2014 at 6:06pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of notes from around the AFC on this Sunday evening…

Brian Orakpo Unlikely To Be Franchised

March 1st, 2014 at 5:20pm CST by Rob DiRe

5:20pm: Final deliberations are taking place at Redskins Park this weekend over whether to make a significant financial investment in Orakpo, report Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

2:39pm: Our own Luke Adams passed along the story that Brian Orakpo had not received a formal contract offer from the Redskins yet, but noted that Orakpo would likely be franchised if a long term deal was not reached.

However, NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports disagrees with the notion that the Redskins would franchise their star pass rusher. In a series of Tweets, La Canfora says that he would be surprised of Orakpo did not hit the open market. He notes that Redskins’ general manager Bruce Allen is unlikely to devote that much cap space to one position, and does not believe the teams are close to agreeing on a long-term contract.

Earlier today, John Keim of ESPN.com looked at where Orakpo was ranked as a free agent, in order to gauge the interest he could draw on the open market. With consesnus top free agents Jimmy Graham and Greg Hardy already receiving the franchise tag, Keim notes that Orakpo would be the best free agent left according to NFL.com, and the number one linebacker available on Yahoo.com. CBS and Rotoworld both rank him among the top two or three free agents set to hit the market, and MMQB has a lower opinion of him, while still thinking he is one of the top ten free agents available if he hits the free agency.

Redskins Haven’t Made Offer To Orakpo

February 28th, 2014 at 5:05pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ve heard multiple times this week alone that the Redskins are engaged in contract discussions for linebacker Brian Orakpo. However, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, the team has yet to actually extend a formal contract offer to Orakpo and his reps.

It seems likely that the Redskins will offer Orakpo a contract within the next couple days, since Monday is the deadline for teams to designate franchise players. Orakpo would be a strong candidate to receive the franchise tag if no long-term agreement is in place by that point, as I noted yesterday. Still, two people with knowledge of the situation tell Jones that it’s still not clear whether the club plans to franchise its prospective free agent linebacker, or whether he’ll hit the open market.

It’s also possible that the Redskins had been waiting to see exactly how much cap room they’ll have in 2014. Now that the NFL has informed teams the cap will be set at $133MM, the club could move forward with an official offer for Orakpo. That’s just my speculation though.

According to Jones, Washington has also yet to make a formal contract offer to its other key free agent linebacker, Perry Riley.

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