HEADLINES

Derek Cox

Ravens Re-Sign Derek Cox, Cut Josh Bynes

September 2nd, 2014 at 10:56am CST by Luke Adams

10:56am: The Ravens have officially announced the transactions, cutting linebacker Josh Bynes to make room on the roster for Cox.

8:24am: Days after releasing him as part of their cut down to 53 players, the Ravens have agreed to re-sign cornerback Derek Cox, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Cox’s new deal is another one-year, minimum-salary pact, according to Wilson.

Cox, who turns 28 later this month, spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars before signing a four-year, $20MM contract with the Chargers in 2013. However, he was released after just one season, despite receiving $10.25MM in guaranteed money. Cox played in all 16 contests for the Chargers in 2013, but started only 11 games, and signed a modest one-year, $1MM pact with Minnesota in March. A lack of guaranteed money in that deal made it easy for the Vikings to cut ties with him in August as roster cutdowns begin, opening the door for the Ravens to snatch him up last week.

In order to finalize the re-signing of Cox, the Ravens will have to clear a spot on their active roster. That could mean either cutting a player, or perhaps placing someone on injured reserve with a designation to return — as of 3:00pm central time today, teams are allowed to place one player on that list.

AFC North Links: Shipley, Keenum, Cox, Grossman

August 31st, 2014 at 8:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Former Ravens center A.Q. Shipley wasn’t unemployed for very long, as he was claimed off waivers by his former team, the Colts, earlier today. The offensive lineman briefly spoke to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun and reflected on his stint with Baltimore (all via Wilson’s Twitter):

“I was definitely surprised to get cut, being a veteran guy. I understand it’s a business…Definitely a good feeling to go back to a lot of familiar faces and an offense I was learning before I got traded…I totally understand about keeping draft picks. I get it. John Urschel is a good kid. I’m happy for him…I had a lot of fun playing for the Ravens. It was great.”

Let’s check out some more rumblings from the AFC North…

  • Considering Case Keenum‘s connection to Baltimore offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley believes the Ravens could pursue the quarterback.
  • Derek Cox will not be signing with the Ravens this evening, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. However, there’s a good chance he’ll be back with Baltimore soon, possibly on Monday.
  • Browns coach Mike Pettine indicated that recently-released quarterback Rex Grossman might be back sooner than later. “I wouldn’t read too much into it right now,” he said (via a tweet from the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot). “Some guys could come back. It’s fluid.”
  • The Browns worked out former Bears offensive lineman James Brown, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs (via Twitter).

AFC North Notes: Ravens, Bengals, Browns

August 30th, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Some notable names were cut from their respective AFC North teams today, including Danieal Manning (Bengals), Nate Burleson (Browns), Derek Cox (Ravens) and fifth-rounder Shaquille Richardson (Steelers).

One of those players will likely return to their former team as soon as tomorrow. Who is it? Keep reading for the answer, as well as some more notes from the division…

  • A.Q. Shipley couldn’t crack the Ravens roster, but he may have an opportunity elsewhere. The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson tweets that “several” teams have already expressed interest in the center.
  • It shouldn’t be long before Derek Cox is back on the Ravens. Wilson tweets that the release was purely “procedural” and the team is expected to re-sign the cornerback on Sunday.
  • The Ravens have reached an injury settlement with Shaun Chapas, tweets Wilson. The team cut the fullback last week.
  • The Bengals worked out free agent wideout Jacoby Ford, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
  • If Donald Hawkins clears waivers, the Browns will place the offensive lineman on their practice squad, tweets Alex Dunlap.

Ravens Cut Derek Cox, Dominique Franks

August 30th, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Ben Levine

3:56pm: The Ravens have announced their last few moves, which are as follows:

Cut:

Placed on reserve-PUP list:

Placed on reserve-suspended list:

1:15pm: The Ravens have waived two more players:

9:37am: After letting go of offensive lineman Reggie Stephens yesterday, the Ravens have cut two more offensive lineman this morning. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that lineman A.Q. Shipley has been released while NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala tweets that Ryan Jensen has been released. Below is a running list of the team’s moves:

Ravens To Sign Derek Cox

August 27th, 2014 at 9:20am CST by Luke Adams

9:20am: Wide receiver Jace Davis, who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Colorado in May, will be cut to make room on the roster for Cox, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter).

9:06am: Two days after he was released by the Vikings, cornerback Derek Cox has found a new home, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who reports (via Twitter) that the Ravens will sign the veteran free agent. Per Wilson (Twitter links), Cox visited the Ravens yesterday and will officially ink his minimum salary benefit deal today.

Cox, who turns 28 next month, spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars before signing a four-year, $20MM contract with the Chargers in 2013. However, he was released after just one season, despite receiving $10.25MM in guaranteed money. Cox played in all 16 games for the Chargers in 2013, but started only 11 games, and signed a modest one-year, $1MM pact with Minnesota in March. A lack of guaranteed money in that deal made it easy for the Vikings to cut ties with him this week as roster cutdowns begin.

Although the Ravens have been on the lookout for cornerback help for a good portion of the offseason, it remains to be seen whether Cox will be the answer for the club. The fact that he’s been cut twice in the last six months suggests that at least two clubs didn’t believe he’d contribute positively in 2014, and that appears to be a fair assessment based on Pro Football Focus’ grades of his 2013 performance (subscription required) — Cox ranked 106th out of 110 qualified corners.

The Ravens will have to make a corresponding roster move to clear space for Cox once the signing becomes official.

Vikings Trim Roster, Cut Derek Cox, 13 Others

August 25th, 2014 at 10:58am CST by Dallas Robinson

10:58am: The Vikings have announced the release of several more players via press release. Minnesota’s roster sits at 76, so they need to make one more cut.

10:04am: The Vikings have made several roster moves this morning, releasing the following players, per Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 (Twitter links):

Cox is the headliner here — a former third-round pick who spent four seasons with the Jaguars, Cox played in San Diego last year before signing a one-year deal with Minnesota in March. Per Wolfson, Raymond was released with an injury settlement.

NFC Contract Details: Hatcher, Jennings, Cards

March 14th, 2014 at 7:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Jason Hatcher told reporters today that the Redskins blew away the competition with their pitch and offer to him, and Tom Pelissero of USA Today brings us the specifics of Hatcher’s deal (via Twitter). The four-year, $27.5MM deal includes $10.5MM in guaranteed money, made up of a $9MM signing bonus and a $1.5MM guaranteed base salary in 2014.

Here are more details on contracts signed for players by NFC teams this week:

  • While Rashad Jennings‘ four-year deal with the Giants can apparently max out around $14MM, it only has a base value of $10MM, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
  • Matt Shaughnessy‘s two-year contract with the Cardinals includes a $1.4MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Pelissero tweets that there’s a “trigger” of sorts including in the deal, in the form of a $500K roster bonus due next March.
  • Jonathan Dwyer‘s one-year deal with the Cardinals is a minimum salary benefit contract. Wilson tweets that the base salary of $730K is non-guaranteed, while Dwyer also got a $65K signing bonus.
  • Meanwhile, another Cardinals signee, Ted Larsen, gets two years and $2.6MM, with a $470K, tweets Pelissero. The deal also features per-game roster bonuses and additional escalators, as Pelissero explains.
  • The Vikings‘ one-year pact with Derek Cox doesn’t include any guarantees, according to Pelissero (via Twitter). It features a $730K base salary, a $50K workout bonus, and $220K in potential playing time incentives, meaning it can max out at $1MM.
  • Domenik Hixon‘s one-year contract with the Bears is worth the minimum salary ($730K), but the receiver can earn up to $100K in roster bonus money, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Dickerson adds (via Twitter) that M.D. Jennings has a similar deal, though the safety’s minimum salary is $645K.
  • Ramon Humber received a minimum salary benefit deal from the Saints, with a $65K signing bonus and $300K in overall guaranteed money, tweets Wilson.

Derek Cox Signs With Vikings

March 13th, 2014 at 7:22pm CST by Rob DiRe

Derek Cox and the Vikings have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). The former Charger will join newly signed Captain Munnerlyn and 2013 first-round draft pick Xavier Rhodes to create a deep rotation at the cornerback position.

Cox spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars before signing a four-year $20MM contract with the Chargers one year ago today. He was released after just one season despite receiving $10.25MM in guaranteed money. He played in all 16 games for the Chargers in 2013, but started only 11 games.

 

Chargers Release Derek Cox

March 4th, 2014 at 3:08pm CST by Luke Adams

3:08pm: Cox has officially been released, the Chargers announced today (Twitter link via Ricky Henne of Chargers.com).

1:46pm: The Chargers have informed cornerback Derek Cox they plan to release him, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). It’s the second cap-clearing move of the day for the Chargers, who are also parting ways with fullback Le’Ron McClain.

Cox, who signed a lucrative multiyear contract a year ago with the Chargers, will hit the market again just one year into the four-year deal. Cox’s $4.25MM base salary for 2014 was set to become guaranteed later this month, so San Diego avoids having to pay that figure. However, with three years’ worth of prorated bonus money accelerating onto this year’s cap, the move will leave $3.9MM in dead money on the Chargers’ books for 2014, creating just $1.65MM in cap savings.

After a solid contract year with the Jaguars in 2012, Cox didn’t play well in San Diego this past season, ranking 104th among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades. The 27-year-old lost his starting job during the season’s second half, and will be looking to be bounce back on a new team in 2014. As an NFL veteran, Cox won’t have to clear waivers, so he’ll immediately be eligible to sign elsewhere.