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Calvin Pace

Calvin Pace Still Wants To Play

August 24th, 2016 at 7:51am CST by Zachary Links

Calvin Pace is still not ready to retire. The 35-year-old wants to continue playing and would love an opportunity to return to the Jets, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Calvin Pace (vertical)

[RELATED: Karlos Williams Visits Jets]

At this time, it’s unclear if the feeling is mutual for the Jets. Back in May, coach Todd Bowles indicated that the door was still open for Pace to return to the team. Months later, however, there hasn’t been any word of the Jets trying to lure Pace back to the team. The Jets are also in the midst of a youth movement at linebacker. However, it should be noted that third-round rookie Jordan Jenkins is dealing with a calf injury and if the injury lingers, Gang Green could theoretically have some interest in a vet like Pace.

Pace, 36 in October, has been with the Jets since 2008 and appeared in every regular season game for them from 2011-2015. Last season, Pace recorded only three sacks and 22 total tackles for the Jets, but he is a savvy player who already knows Bowles’ playbook.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Eagles, Pace, Cromartie, Jags

May 7th, 2016 at 8:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

According to Connor Barwin, Sam Bradford was caught off guard when the Eagles swapped picks with the Browns to trigger their seminal Carson Wentz selection at No. 2 overall.

Not that it’s a surprise Bradford wasn’t expecting this given his recent actions, but the fourth-year Eagles pass-rusher expects things to cool down for the former No. 1 overall pick and that the presumptive Week 1 starter will return to the team, per Zig Fracassi of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter link).

Signed to a two-year, $35MM deal, Bradford probably represents the Eagles’ best chance of competing right away. He was 7-7 as a starter for last season’s dysfunctional team and completed 65% of his passes, by far a career-high mark. But like 2015 Philadelphia teammate Mark Sanchez, it is a matter of time until the first-round pick takes the reins.

Some speculated the 28-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner will retire a la Carson Palmer and wait for a potential solution to develop, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk doesn’t see this drama paying off for Bradford. The former Ram’s prolonged absence will make his learning curve in Doug Pederson‘s offense steeper.

Here’s the latest from around the league as rookie minicamp weekend continues.

  • Antonio Cromartie and Calvin Pace remain free agents, and Todd Bowles said the “door is not closed” on potentially bringing them back to the Jets, Kimberley Martin of Newsday reports. Pace’s two-year, $5MM deal expired after the 2015 season. The pass-rusher had been a staple on the Rex Ryan-era defenses, having started 16 games from 2008-14. Last season, the now-35-year-old Pace started in 13 games. The Jets cut the 32-year-old Cromartie after just one season. Gang Green, though, remains deadlocked with Ryan Fitzpatrick on a deal that looks to pay the quarterback at least $8MM AAV and as of Saturday possesses $3.2MM in cap space.
  • The Jaguars moved Brandon Linder to center, Gus Bradley told media (including Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union). An 18-game starter at right guard the past two years, Linder missed 13 games due to a shoulder injury last season. After Stefen Wisniewski opted to sign with the Eagles, Linder will be the Jaguars’ fourth center in four years.
  • Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s line looks to have two former Cowboys backups, with Mackenzy Bernadeau set to move into the Jags’ starting left guard position, O’Halloran writes. Like Jermey Parnell in 2015, Bernardeau left Dallas and its loaded offensive front and will have a better opportunity to be a first-string presence for a less-accomplished line. The 30-year-old Bernadeau did not sign a high-end deal for his position like Parnell did a year ago, but he brings a similar profile, having played as a key backup with the Cowboys the past two years. Prior to that, the former seventh-round Panthers pick in 2008 started 27 games at guard for the Cowboys in 2012-13. Bernadeau started 19 contests for the pre-Cam Newton Panther teams in 2009-10.

AFC Mailbags: Jets, Patriots, Ravens

January 30th, 2016 at 9:45am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. We’ve compiled some of the more notable answers below…

Jets Decline Option On Chris Johnson

February 14th, 2015 at 1:33pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have declined to pick up Chris Johnson‘s option for 2015, according to Randy Large of NewYorkJets.com. Johnson would have been owed a $500K roster bonus had the team decided to pick up his option, write Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). The running back will now become an unrestricted free agent on March 10, according to the team (via Twitter).

The team has also exercised the options on pass rushing linebackers Calvin Pace and Jason Babin. Each of those options come with a roster bonus of $250K, according to Cimini (via Twitter).

The decision to release Johnson will give the Jets an extra $3.5MM in cap space this offseason, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). He notes that the team was already planning on having between $45MM-$50MM in cap space to work with.

Although the team has exercised the options on both Babin and Pace, that does not guarantee either a spot on the roster in 2015, writes Cimini (via Twitter). Both linebackers are 34, and pass rusher will likely be considered a position of need for the Jets.

East Notes: Revis, Jets, McCoy

February 5th, 2015 at 8:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

It’s long been assumed that the Patriots would not pick up Darrelle Revis‘ 2015 option as it would mean carrying the cornerback’s $25MM cap charge next season. However, the idea of New England exercising the option has been gaining traction, and Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) passes along how the contract’s guarantees would be structured. Per Corry, Revis would be entitled to a $12MM roster bonus on the first day of the 2015 league year. The bonus would be paid in four $3MM installments, with payments coming on March 31, October 31, December 31, and March 31 of 2016.

Here’s more from the league’s east divisions:

  • As PFR’s Zach Links wrote in his evaluation of the Jets’ offseason, Gang Green could look to release Percy Harvin and/or Chris Johnson to create cap space. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com agrees, and adds that linebacker Calvin Pace and defensive lineman Jason Babin could also be on the chopping block.
  • Christopher Price of WEEI.com offers his free agent forecast for the Patriots, noting that both Devin McCourty and Stephen Gostkowski are legitimate candidates for the franchise tag.
  • Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com looks at the state of the Eagles‘ running back corps going into the offseason. It’s a diverse and talented group, but the team will have to decide what, if anything, should be done with LeSean McCoy. Although McCoy was not the electrifying playmaker in 2014 that he was in 2013, he still had a very productive season, with 1,319 rushing yards and a 4.2 YPC average. However, his $11.95MM cap hit has left some wondering if Philadelphia would be better off cutting him. Kapadia, though, believes McCoy is not going anywhere, though the Eagles could approach him with a restructure proposal and may select a running back in the middle rounds of the draft.
  • Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com look at how Washington might approach their safety positions, which seem to be in a constant state of flux, this offseason. Although the team has often tried to bring in cheap veteran free agents without much success in the past, both writers believe Washington has no other choice but to open the checkbook again. Tandler suggests Kendrick Lewis as a possible target for free safety, while advocating for Phillip Thomas to be given the strong safety job. El-Bashir, though, thinks the team must fill both positions in free agency and expresses no confidence in Thomas.
  • Liz Clarke of the Washington Post examines the value of Brian Orakpo, who was Washington‘s highest-paid player in 2014, as he hits free agency.

Zach Links and Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Bills Notes: Harris, Pace, Ryan

January 12th, 2015 at 3:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) tells Bills fans to keep an eye on free agent linebacker David Harris, a favorite of new head coach Rex Ryan. Mehta says Ryan will also want to make a play for outside linebacker Calvin Pace, if the Jets cut him loose. More on the Bills, who are suddenly one of the most intriguing teams to watch for 2015..

  • A league source tells Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee (via Twitter) that the Bills have interest in 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari. He’s been with the 49ers since the 2010 season.
  • Bills quarterback EJ Manuel has left his agents at Dimensional Sports, according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). Manuel is currently without an agent. The FSU product is under contract with the Bills through 2016.
  • There’s a ton of buzz about Ryan going to the Bills and amping up their rivalry with the Jets, but Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com says that’s nothing for Gang Green to fear. Buffalo is already an elite defensive squad and the odds of Ryan turning Manuel into an elite quarterback are slim.

Jets Links: Ryan, Idzik, Decker, Casserly

December 27th, 2014 at 3:18pm CST by Rob DiRe

Jets head coach Rex Ryan has cleaned out his office at One Jets Drive, reports Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. With the team set to finish the season no better than 4-12, most fans and pundits believe that it will be Ryan’s last game with New York.

Team owner Woody Johnson has hired Charlie Casserly to serve as a consultant, likely in an effort to help him to hire replacements for both Ryan and general manager John Idzik.

Here are some other notes from around Jets camp:

  • While Ryan has already cleaned out his office, many of his players are still giving their full support and effort to their head coach, reports Kimberly Martin of Newsday. One of his newest additions, Percy Harvin, was adamant about how much he likes playing for Ryan. “I love him. I loved him before I got here and I’m that much more in love with him now that I’m here,’‘ said Harvin. “I don’t think anybody in this locker room has anything negative to say about Coach. That’s why you see guys still playing hard these last few games, still giving their all for Coach. He’s a players’ coach and definitely a guy you want to play for.”
  • Idzik could very well be joining Ryan in packing up his stuff, and if he does get fired, he will have his 8-8 2013 to blame, writes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. Fitzgerald surmises that the surprise 8-8 season is more damaging than a three-win 2014 campaign because it elevated and highlighted Ryan’s gifts at a coach to take a bad roster to the brink of playoff contention, and it blurred the line between whether Ryan or Idzik was more to blame for the lack of success, and cost Idzik a chance at a high draft pick and a new coach this past offseason.
  • If Casserly has been contacting potential coach and general manager candidates, he may have committed tampering, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. He notes that the league has made no comment about the situation or the conflict of interest, as Casserly sits on the Career Development Advisory Panel. Florio’s source tells him that Casserly is calling about candidates, not contacting them directly. The influence Casserly has from sitting on that panel could be invaluable, and is considered a rare genius move by Florio.
  • This Sunday’s game against the Dolphins could be the last in green for a few of the Jets’ veteran player, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Some players who may not be back include Michael Vick, Willie Colon, Dawan Landry, Bilal Powell, and David Harris. Cimini also writes that Harvin, Chris Johnson, and Calvin Pace could be cap casualties this offseason.
  • Although Eric Decker will be missing the playoffs for only the second time in his NFL career after signing with the Jets this past offseason, he has no regrets about the decision, according to Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. “I don’t have any regrets. When I made my decision to come to New York I wholeheartedly felt it was the best decision,’’ Decker said. “Even though the record is not the same and the stats aren’t the same [as they were in Denver], I still believe that my purpose is to be here. I believe there is a greater plan for me. I realize that is probably hard to see that in the moment.’’

East Notes: Hanie, Cowboys, Eagles, Pace

July 4th, 2014 at 4:31pm CST by Luke Adams

As Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes, Brandon Weeden may have been the biggest beneficiary of Kyle Orton‘s absence from the Cowboys’ spring workouts, but it’s worked out for Caleb Hanie as well. The quarterback, who drew interest from Dallas in 2008 before he signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent, is competing for a roster spot and isn’t going to let Orton’s presence – or lack thereof – at training camp affect his approach.

“If he’s here, I’ll notice,” Hanie said. “If he’s not, I don’t worry about that. I just worry about what I can do and control and see how it goes from here.”

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

Contract Details: Fitzpatrick, Wootton, Melton

March 21st, 2014 at 6:21pm CST by Rob DiRe

Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s contract details with the Texans have been reported by Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Fitzpatrick’s deal is worth $7.2MM with $4MM guaranteed, and included $2.25MM in bonus money. Next year’s 3.25MM base salary is not guaranteed.

Here are some other contract details from around the NFL:

  • Corey Wootton‘s deal with the Vikings carries $1MM in salary, with $500,000 in bonus money and an additional $500,000 in potential incentives, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
  • Henry Melton will have the opportunity to make up to $5MM in the first year of his deal with the Cowboys, writes Todd Archer of ESPN.com. This includes $1.25MM in base salary and up to $2.25MM in potential bonus money. Melton will have the ability to earn an additional $1.5MM in incentives, based on playing time and how many times he can take down the quarterback.
  • Calvin Pace re-signed with the Jets on a two-year deal worth $5MM earlier this week. The deal includes base salaries of $1.375MM in 2014 and $2.375MM in 2015, reports Manish Mehta (via Twitter).
  • Kendrick Lewis‘ one year deal with the Texans will be worth $795,000 with $100,000 guaranteed (via Twitter).
  • Antoine Cason‘s one-year deal with the Panthers is for the veteran minimum, reports Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). The $730,000 deal includes a $65,000 signing bonus.
  • New Giant offensive lineman John Jerry‘s one-year deal is worth $770,000 with $25,000 in guaranteed money, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).

Jets Re-Sign Calvin Pace

March 18th, 2014 at 6:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

TUESDAY, 6:01pm: The Jets officially announced the signing via Twitter.

SUNDAY, 2:57pm: The Jets have re-signed veteran linebacker Calvin Pace, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The deal is for $5MM over two years.

Pace, 33, originally signed withe Jets in 2008, after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Cardinals. He was released in February 2013, but subsequently re-signed in April to a one-year contract. He had something of a comeback season in 2013, starting all 16 games and accruing 10 sacks and 37 tackles. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, he struggled in pass rushing, but excelled in coverage.

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