HEADLINES

Chris Johnson (RB)

Extra Points: Carr, Johnson, Bailey, Bills

April 9th, 2014 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Although multiple reports have suggested that free agent signal-caller David Carr would like to end up on the team that drafts his brother Derek Carr, perhaps serving as Derek’s backup, that’s not necessarily the case, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Schefter tweets that the two brothers’ destinations aren’t related, and that David intends to sign with a club prior to draft day.

As the elder Carr continues to search for a new home, let’s round up a handful of updates from around the NFL….

  • Free agent running back Chris Johnson could theoretically try out for teams in private, without those workouts needing to be reported, but he doesn’t intend to do so, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. As Florio notes, it’s possible that Johnson could reach an agreement with a new team without even visiting that club, since the veteran is a known commodity at this point.
  • All NFL 32 teams were in attendance at LSU’s Pro Day today, including several general managers and head coaches, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
  • The details of Champ Bailey‘s two-year contract with the Saints have surfaced, and Joel Corry of CBSSports.com provides the breakdown (Twitter links): The base value is $3.75MM, though it can be worth up to $6.75MM with incentives and escalators. It’s guaranteed for $500K and includes a $250K roster bonus if Bailey is on the team for six games in 2014.
  • The Bills announced today that Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews and Louisville linebacker Preston Brown were in town to meet with the team.
  • Top cornerback prospect Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State will visit the Titans on Friday, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter).
  • Boise State wide receiver Geraldo Boldewijn, who was in New England today for a private workout, will visit the Cardinals on April 15, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The Cards are also hosting Memphis safety Lonnie Ballentine today, tweets James Walker of ESPN.com.
  • The Packers will host Washington State offensive lineman John Fullington for an official pre-draft visit next week, tweets agent Collin Roberts.

AFC Rumors: Broncos, Holmes, Angerer

April 8th, 2014 at 9:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The contract details on Will Montgomery‘s deal indicate that he won’t necessarily be the starter, but he will have a chance to compete with Manuel Ramirez to be the Broncos‘ primary center, writes Mike Klis of The Denver Post. Klis looks at Denver’s new offensive line options and the different combinations that they might use. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL..

  • Receiver Santonio Holmes likely will wait until after the draft to pick his next team, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Holmes spent the last four years with the Jets before being released earlier this offseason.
  • Free agent running back Chris Johnson is in New York tonight but he’s not visiting the Jets on this trip, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • The Patriots are still the frontrunners to sign defensive end Will Smith, who was released by the Saints earlier this offseason, writes Florio. Smith, who is seven months removed from a torn ACL, had 13 sacks in 2009 but hasn’t had more than 6.5 in any given year since then.
  • Colts free agent linebacker Pat Angerer said he had interest from several teams earlier this offseason but wants to be 100% healthy before taking free agent workouts, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1.
  • Browns tight end Jordan Cameron says he’s excited about playing in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan‘s offense since, traditionally, he prominently features tight ends, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal.
  • Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said he’s confident center Alex Mack will return to Cleveland next season despite his recent visit with Jaguars, Ulrich tweets. Meanwhile, owner Jimmy Haslem told reporters, including Ulrich (on Twitter), that he’s optimistic that the team will retain the restricted free agent.

NFC South Notes: Johnson, Falcons, Saints

April 8th, 2014 at 8:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Don’t expect the Falcons to bid for free agent running back Chris Johnson, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1. The secondary was a more pressing concern for Atlanta than tailback, Marvez says. Of course, the Falcons have addressed the cornerback position by signing Josh Wilson earlier today. Here’s tonight’s look at the NFC South..

  • Meanwhile, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) adds that in addition to signing Wilson earlier today, the Falcons also auditioned tailback Greg Jones. Jones would represent a much less costly option at running back than Johnson.
  • USC wide receiver Marqise Lee is visiting the Saints, according to safety Kenny Vaccaro (on Twitter). Lee may not be on the board when New Orleans drafts at No. 27, so landing him might mean trading up.
  • The Cowboys and Saints are set to audition Baylor cornerback Demetri Goodson, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The former Gonzaga point guard will visit Dallas on Friday and New Orleans next week, with at least three other teams showing interest.

Free Agent Notes: Freeman, Jets, Daniels

April 7th, 2014 at 4:46pm CST by Ben Levine

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has a trio of re-signings (via Twitter): running back Matt Asiata (Vikings), wide receiver Jeremy Ross (Lions) and linebacker Craig Robertson (Browns). Each player signed an exclusive rights free agent tender to stay with their respect teams. The trio was solid in 2013; Asiata ran for 166 yards on 44 carries, Ross had six receptions and six kick returns and Robertson compiled 85 tackles.

Let’s take a look at some more free agent rumors…

AFC Notes: Manziel, Patriots, Manuel, Draft

April 6th, 2014 at 1:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Johnny Manziel will be spending the next two days visiting with the Raiders, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The former Texas A&M quarterback, who met privately with the Patriots last week, is expected to be a top-15 pick in next month’s draft. Though the Raiders acquired veteran signal-caller Matt Schaub last month via trade, the team could still look to add youth at the quarterback position with the No. 5 overall selection. Oakland’s QB depth chart also contains Matt McGloin, who is expected to be the primary backup, and Terrelle Pryor, who will likely be traded or released.

Other news items from the AFC:

  • If the Patriots trade up from pick No. 29, it could be to select a receiver like USC’s Marqise Lee or LSU’s Odell Beckham, Jr., writes Doug Kyed of NESN.com.
  • Kyed notes within the same piece that running back Chris Johnson, released last week by the Titans, could interest the Patriots, but not at the price that he will likely command.
  • Middle Tennessee State offensive guard Josh Walker will have a private workout with the Colts’ offensive line coach, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Walker will also meet with the Saints on April 9.
  • The Bills are “all in” on second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel, meaning they will not select one of the “big three” QBs expected to go in the first round of the draft, opines Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com.
  • Trading down in the draft makes sense for the Chiefs, says ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher. The Chiefs do not have a second-round pick this year, having sent it to the 49ers in exchange for quarterback Alex Smith.

Rams Not Interested In Chris Johnson

April 5th, 2014 at 1:42pm CST by Rob DiRe

Since Chris Johnson‘s release from the Titans earlier this week, there has been some speculation that among his potential suitors he may find a home with his former coach Jeff Fisher and the Rams.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch writes that a reunion between Fisher and Jackson is unlikely, as the organization and the coaching staff have expressed little interest in bringing in the former Pro Bowl running back.

The Rams are happy with current running back Zac Stacy, who had an impressive rookie year, tallying 973 yards in 14 games. While Johnson could supplement that production, he was scheduled to make $8MM with the Titans this year. Thomas writes that if Johnson can get even half that in the open market, then the Rams would not be able to afford him as a second back.

Even still, Fisher has a history of bringing in his former Titans, with Cortland Finnegan, Jared Cook, Will Witherspoon, and William Hayes. Most recently, the Rams brought troubled wide receiver Kenny Britt into the fold. If the price tag comes down closer to the veteran’s minimum, it is not impossible for the Rams to jump back into the mix.

Chris Johnson To Sign By Next Week?

April 5th, 2014 at 10:22am CST by Matt Feminis

Free agent running back Chris Johnson, recently cut by the Titans, should settle on his new team by the middle of next week, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who writes the Jets are the “strongest link” at the momentum, but it’s still unclear where Johnson will land.

As for contract terms, Florio says,

“The fact that a land rush apparently hasn’t immediately emerged for Johnson could be a bad sign. And if there aren’t multiple teams with a high level of motivation to get Johnson, it will be hard for agent Joel Segal to get a significant offer.

“Don’t be surprised if Johnson ultimately does a one-year deal that allows him to get back to the open market on the first day of 2015 free agency, and don’t be shocked if the base value is a lot closer to $3.5 million (the current top of the market) than $8 million.”

The Jets are interested in Johnson if the price is right, though the team has yet to reach out to Johnson’s representation, says the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta (via Twitter).

Poll: Chris Johnson’s Future Home

April 4th, 2014 at 9:55pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Titans gave running back Chris Johnson his unconditional release today, giving the three-time Pro Bowler and 2009 NFL rushing leader the freedom to choose his next team. There was speculation that Tennessee would try to trade Johnson, but a prohibitive salary and the decreased value of running backs led to a lack of substantive interest league-wide.

Now comes the streaming of rumors as to who’s in and who’s out on the Chris Johnson market, much like we saw when former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson became a free agent a week ago today. In this rumors roundup post by PFR’s Luke Adams, we see that four teams — the Jets, Bills, Dolphins and Falcons — all discussed a possible trade for Johnson, but nothing came to fruition.

In this writeup by SI.com’s Chris Burke, the writer outlines eight teams as potential landing spots for the one-time 2,000-yard back: Jets, Giants, Cowboys, Bears, Cardinals, Broncos, Rams, and Jaguars.

Will CJ2K end up with one of these eight teams? Or is there a sleeper team Burke failed to mention that could wind up utilizing Johnson’s services for the foreseeable future? Let us know in this PFR poll.

Titans Notes: RBs, Johnson, Wimbley, WRs

April 4th, 2014 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville today, GM Ruston Webster discussed the release of longtime Titan Chris Johnson and his team’s next move(s). Here are a few of the highlights, as tweeted by The Midday 180:

  • The Titans will “definitely” be looking to select a running back in next month’s draft, according to Webster. The GM praised the position’s depth, suggesting that he’s confident the club could find the sort of player it will be seeking in the late rounds, if need be.
  • “There was definitely a trade market for Chris Johnson and at times, I thought we would get it done,” Webster said.
  • Asked about a report indicating the team has asked Kamerion Wimbley to take a pay cut, Webster said the team hasn’t put a deadline on those talks, and is optimistic about bringing the defensive end back for next season.
  • Webster expects the Titans to add another wide receiver to compete with Marc Mariani and Michael Preston.

Chris Johnson Rumors: Friday

April 4th, 2014 at 2:05pm CST by Luke Adams

As we saw with DeSean Jackson last week, when a noteworthy offensive weapon hits the open market, it typically doesn’t take long for him to find a new home. Ex-Titans running back Chris Johnson is the latest big-name skill position player to be released by his previous team, with Tennessee making the move official earlier today. Even taking into account a diminished market for running backs, along with the fact that Johnson is recovering from knee surgery and is now five years removed from his 2,000-yard season, there will be interest in the perennial 1,000-yard rusher.

Here are the first few rumors on the league’s newest free agent, with any other Friday updates being added to the top of the list throughout the afternoon and evening:

  • Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link) hears from Cowboys sources that Dallas doesn’t have interest in signing Johnson.

Earlier updates:

  • Before Johnson was released by the Titans, the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and Falcons all discussed a possible trade for the running back, but elected not to make a move, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. We can probably cross off Miami as a suitor, since the club signed Knowshon Moreno instead.
  • Despite a report last weekend suggesting the Falcons had no interest in Johnson, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean isn’t ruling out that possibility of the 28-year-old ending up in Atlanta — Schefter’s report indicates the Falcons at least had a little interest. Wyatt identifies the Jets, Giants, and Cowboys as other potential suitors.
  • The Jets seem to be leading the charge for Johnson at this point, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, and as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has reported a couple times this week. Three Jets beat writers (all Twitter links) agreed today that the team would have interest in Johnson, but all three stressed it would have to be at the right price.
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