HEADLINES

DeSean Jackson

Redskins Sign Ryan Clark

April 3rd, 2014 at 12:04pm CST by Ben Levine

12:04pm: According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Clark’s deal is actually a minimum salary benefit contract, including a $955K base salary ($80K guaranteed) and a $65K signing bonus. That still works out to $145K in guaranteed money for Clark, but ensures that Washington’s cap hit is only $635K.

THURSDAY, 9:51am: Clark’s one-year contract is worth $1MM, which includes a $145K signing bonus, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. It’s the same deal Brandon Meriweather received from the team last month.

WEDNESDAY, 9:10am: The Redskins have officially announced the signing of Clark, who inked his deal today (Twitter link).

MONDAY, 5:12pm: The Redskins have agreed to terms with safety Ryan Clark, tweets Chris Russell of ESPN Radio 980 in Washington D.C.. Joel Turner, the agent for the 12-year veteran, offered “no comment” in regards to the report, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times.

The team was actively looking for a safety, even after re-signing one of last year’s starters, Brandon Meriweather. Clark met with the Redskins a couple of weeks ago, but the player left Washington without a deal. The Washington Post’s Mike Jones reported that the player was asking for more money than the team was willing to spend.

The 34-year-old was drafted all the way back in 2002 by the Giants, where he spent two seasons. Clark played for the Redskins for the next two years before joining the Steelers in 2006. Over the next eight seasons, Clark became one of Pittsburgh’s most reliable defensive players, appearing in 111 of a possible 128 games.

Clark had a career-high 104 tackles to go along with two interceptions in 2013. In Steelers history, Clark ranks seventh in passes defended and tenth in tackles.

As DeSean Jackson visits the Redskins this evening, John Keim of ESPN.com mentions (via Twitter) that the team would want to bolster the locker room with leadership, which Clark certainly provides.

Redskins Sign DeSean Jackson

April 2nd, 2014 at 1:21pm CST by Rory Parks

1:21pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com provides a breakdown of Jackson’s contract (via Twitter), reporting that it’s actually a four-year, $32MM deal that voids down to three years and $24MM. It includes a $5MM signing bonus and a 2014 cap number of $4.25MM. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds, in a series of tweets, that the base salaries on the deal are actually fairly modest, with a significant portion of the money tied up in per-game roster bonuses in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

12:16pm: According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter), the cap hit on the deal for 2014 is expected to be in the neighborhood of $4MM, despite the fact that Jackson will make $8MM in ’14. We’ll have to wait for the full details, but I’d expect a signing bonus in the ballpark of $6MM. Jones adds that all the guaranteed money on the contract is in the first two seasons.

12:05pm: Less than a week after being released by the Eagles, DeSean Jackson is joining the Redskins. Jackson officially signed a three-year contract with Washington on Wednesday, according to the team (Twitter link). The three-year pact is said to be worth $24MM, with $16MM fully guaranteed, and $8MM owed in the first year.DeSean Jackson

Although those overall figures don’t look huge, the average annual value ($8MM) and overall guarantee ($16MM) are both slightly higher than what Eric Decker received from the Jets on what had been the largest receiver contract of 2014. Additionally, the fact that it’s only a three-year deal means Jackson will hit the open market again at age 30, at the latest.

It has been an interesting road for Jackson since rumors first surfaced early last month that the Eagles may be willing to trade their mercurial receiver. Jackson’s personality and occasional hotheadedness have been well-documented, and it was rumored that those attitudes ran counter to the type of culture that head coach Chip Kelly is trying to create in Philadelphia. That seemed to be just one of the reasons why the Eagles were willing to trade or release Jackson, who is a dynamic player on the field and who enjoyed the best season of his career in 2013, Kelly’s first year on the job. In 2013, the 27-year-old caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns, all career highs.

When Jackson was officially released last week, rumors flew in earnest as to what teams would have the cap space, the culture, and the desire to bring him aboard. At one point, it appeared as though the Redskins, Bills, and Raiders were the most serious suitors, although we heard late Monday night that Jackson was expected to meet with the 49ers if he left Washington without a contract. Indeed, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com tweeted that the Niners made a late run at Jackson but ultimately did not have the money to sign him.

Bringing Jackson to Washington will add an explosive weapon to new head coach Jay Gruden‘s offense and will create a potentially dynamic 1-2 punch at receiver for the Redskins, who already have Pierre Garcon on the roster and signed Andre Roberts last month. Jackson will also remain in the NFC East, meaning his old club in Philadelphia will be tasked with trying to stop him twice in 2014 — and perhaps in future seasons as well, depending on how year one of the new relationship between Jackson and the Redskins goes.

The Redskins didn’t have the cap flexibility of other rumored suitors for Jackson, such as the Raiders or Jets. However, as we’ve seen with a number of deals signed over the last few weeks, like Jairus Byrd‘s pact with the Saints or Jared Allen‘s deal with the Bears, there are ways to structure lucrative contracts so that the first-year cap hit isn’t exorbitant.

Dianna Russini of NBC Washington and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter first reported that an agreement was in place between Jackson and the Redskins, while Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter), Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Darren Heitner of Sports Agent Blog (via Twitter), and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter) added details. PFR’s Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

DeSean Jackson Updates: Tuesday

April 1st, 2014 at 9:28pm CST by Luke Adams

It appeared late Monday night as if the Redskins and DeSean Jackson were getting closer to finalizing an agreement, but last we heard, there’s no deal in place yet between the two sides. It could just be a matter of time until that changes, so we’ll keep tabs on Tuesday’s rumors and updates on Jackson right here, with any new items added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • In a positive development for those hoping that Jackson will sign with the Redskins, Diana Russini of NBC Washington tweets that Jackson had a flight out of Washington scheduled for this evening, but he did not get on it. He will stay in the capital tonight.

Earlier updates:

  • Although it was reported earlier that Jackson has left Redskins Park without a contract, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that Jackson is still in the area and negotiations with the Redskins are continuing. As ESPN.com’s John Keim noted, the issue was not whether Jackson left Redskins Park, but whether he left the area altogether. If he does ultimately leave without a contract, there is a real fear among the Redskins’ brass that they might lose him.
  • Citing sources close to Jackson, Diana Russini of NBC Washington tweets that if Jackson leaves town without a contract, he will meet with the 49ers tomorrow.
  • James Walker of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that the Bills have removed themselves from the running for Jackson as other teams push to land the receiver.
  • Agent Joel Segal and members of the Redskins‘ brass are sitting down to begin negotiations for Jackson, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • A league source tells Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Washington (via Twitter) that Jackson has left Redskins Park after about three hours of meeting with the team. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) confirms as much, though he adds that the plan is for Jackson to remain in town in hopes of working out a deal.
  • A.J. Perez of NJ.com, one half of the reporting team who originally published last week’s report about Jackson’s alleged gang ties, hears from a law enforcement source that the Raiders and 49ers have reached out to the LAPD to inquire about Jackson, but the Redskins haven’t.
  • The Redskins and Jackson have yet to discuss specific contract terms, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who tweets that the 49ers‘ interest is “real but guarded.”
  • With Dianna Russini of NBC Washington reporting that the Browns and 49ers are in the mix for Jackson, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com and Albert Breer of the NFL Network caution that the price would have to be right for San Francisco to have legitimate interest in the standout receiver (Twitter links).
  • Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie is wary about going all-in for Jackson, given the ex-Eagle’s reputation as a me-first player, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
  • Echoing what we hearing last night, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports tweets that there’s no agreement in place between Jackson and the Redskins, but that he’s had a “solid visit” in Washington so far. Mike Jones of the Washington Post hears from one source that the two sides may be “getting close,” while John Keim of ESPN.com says (via Twitter) Washington head coach Jay Gruden “really wants” Jackson, adding that both sides are motivated to get something done.
  • Jackson is out to breakfast this morning with Redskins officials, as his visit continues, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
  • According to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News, if Jackson leaves Washington without a deal, he’s expected to visit the Raiders next. Garafolo also mentioned in the tweet linked above that Oakland remains in the mix.

DeSean Jackson Updates: Monday

March 31st, 2014 at 10:51pm CST by Luke Adams

With most of this year’s notable free agents off the board, DeSean Jackson‘s release breathed some new life into the free agent market, and rumors swirled around Jackson and his potential landing spots for much of the weekend. Yesterday, we asked which club would eventually land the standout receiver, and you made the Raiders your pick, with the Redskins not too far behind. Do today’s updates and rumors reflect that result? Let’s dive in and round up the latest….

  • ESPN’s Ed Werder jumps into the fray, saying there is no deal between the Redskins and Jackson, noting that he will continue meeting with the Redskins tomorrow as well as keep talking with other interested teams (Twitter link).
  • A source close to Jackson says it’s a “done deal” between the Redskins and the receiver, tweets Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also chimes in, saying that while the two parties had a good meeting, Jackson has more visits lined up tomorrow, and a number of teams are still competing for the playmaker (via Twitter).

Earlier updates:

  • Werder, who reported earlier (as we note below) that two mystery teams are believed to be deep in negotiations with Jackson, adds the Jets and Panthers to the list of clubs expected to be involved, and says the Patriots, Saints, and Packers are out (Twitter link).
  • Jackson will visit the Redskins today, and the trip is expected to extend through Tuesday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds that the Raiders and Bills are also in the hunt.
  • Peter King of TheMMQB.com thinks Redskins owner Dan Snyder and GM Bruce Allen will “put on the hard sell” to sign the former Eagle. King adds that Allen could include details in the team’s contract offer that would provide Washington some insurance in the event of any off-field incidents.
  • On the other hand, Mark Maske and Mike Jones of the Washington Post write that the Redskins may not be willing to be break the bank for Jackson. The Post duo hears that while the team is “all-in” in its pursuit of the receiver, it has to be at the right price.
  • According to ESPN’s Ed Werder (Twitter link), two teams who have yet to be publicly identified as having interest in Jackson are deep in talks with the receiver.
  • Among the teams not expected to pursue Jackson: The Lions, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, and the Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Pats, Bills, Dolphins

March 31st, 2014 at 4:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at a handful of rumblings from the AFC East…

  • Receiver Jacoby Ford and offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger both visited the Jets today, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirmed the news on Twitter.
  • The Patriots worked out Eastern Washington defensive end Anthony Larry, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. As Pauline points out, Larry’s ability to play linebacker and rush the passer is similar to current Patriot Rob Ninkovich, who recently turned 30-years-old.
  • The Patriots are still in need of a defensive end and a defensive tackle, opines Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Considering the team’s depth, the Patriots can think in the long-term, which Reiss believes is the “ideal scenario.”
  • With rumors swirling regarding DeSean Jackson‘s eventual destination, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com evaluates whether a deal would work out for the Bills. Rodak focuses on positives (like the similarities between Chip Kelly‘s system in Philadelphia and Bills offensive coordinator Nate Hackett‘s system in Buffalo) and the obvious negatives (the potential price tag and behavioral issues).
  • The Dolphins have become a fan of “show me” contracts, and ESPN.com’s James Walker looks at the team’s current batch of players on one-year deals. This includes Louis Delmas, Knowshon Moreno and Cortland Finnegan.

Eagles Notes: Maclin, Sproles, Jackson

March 30th, 2014 at 7:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

The time is now for Jeremy Maclin to thrive in Philadelphia, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. As the team’s No. 1 receiver with the jettisoning of DeSean Jackson, it’s unclear whether Maclin will be at full strength come training camp after an ACL injury last July, according to general manager Howie Roseman: “In terms of the exact timetable, my understanding is with an ACL, when you get to this point this far along, then the process … comes in weekly increments. I think we’ll know more as it goes. Obviously we feel really good about his progress. We signed him. We were aggressive trying to bring him back.” Roseman re-signed Maclin to a one-year, $5.5MM deal at the end of last month, and a big year could turn into a big contract for the sixth-year receiver from Chesterfield, Missouri.

More news and notes from arguably the busiest franchise this offseason…

  • ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins a number questions regarding Jackson’s release, asking why the team didn’t demand more from Jackson or confront him about having supposed gang relations.
  • Chip Kelly doesn’t see Darren Sproles as a replacement player for Jackson. “Totally different positions,” Kelly said, via Ed Kracz of the Burlington County Times. “Darren is a running back. DeSean a wideout, so our whole thing, and I mentioned it when we got Darren, we’re excited about him, but we’ve got a long way to go here before we play a game so let’s get him in here. Let’s go through phase one, OTA, minicamp, and all that, and find out what his strengths are and play to them, but I’m real excited with the addition and what he can give us.” Kelly’s comments came at the NFL owners’ meetings when Jackson was still on the team, but the meaning remains the same.

Poll: DeSean Jackson’s Landing Spot

March 30th, 2014 at 5:52pm CST by Peter Sowards

Former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson was released by the club on Friday, and the rumors have since been streaming in nonstop. In fact, the PFR team had posts rounding up the rumors surrounding the former Cal standout for over a week now, including this article with a link saying the Jets have had internal discussions about adding Jackson.

Now that Jackson is a free agent and is free to choose his landing spot as he so pleases, the football world is waiting with bated breath. Rarely does a player of Jackson’s caliber make it to free agency in his prime, but in the aftermath of the Aaron Hernandez-saga and Jackson’s prohibitive salary, the Eagles simply made a business decision to move on without one of the most talented players in football.

Here are Pro Football Rumors’ most recent Jackson-related rumors roundup posts:

Now, based on the information we have presented in prior rumors posts, we want to know where you think Jackson will be spending next season (and potentially beyond). Does he stay in the NFC East with the Redskins? Does Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie bring Jackson back to the Bay Area?

You decide.

NFC Notes: Johnson, Eagles, Sanchez, Jackson

March 30th, 2014 at 3:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have no interest in Titans running back Chris Johnson, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. On Friday, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean tweeted that Atlanta would be a prime destination for Johnson, but a source tells Florio that this union will not come to fruition. It seemed dubious that the Falcons would want to invest in another aging running back to pair with veteran Steven Jackson, and the draft seems like a more viable way for Atlanta to infuse talent into their backfield. For his part, Johnson is widely expected to be released within the coming weeks.

More notes from the NFC:

  • Following the release of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles are thin at wide receiver, writes Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Besides Riley Cooper, Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn are both coming off torn ACLs, and Damaris Johnson is unproven. Newly-acquired Darren Sproles, with his acumen in the passing game, could play a key role in the Eagles offense this season.
  • The Eagles signing of Mark Sanchez doesn’t figure to start any type of quarterback controversy, but that doesn’t mean Sanchez has lost his competitive edge, notes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. “I’m always going to want to start,” said the quarterback. “It doesn’t matter where you are, you want to play. There’s nothing wrong with having that drive. I’ll keep that fire going and try to help this team the best I can.” A nice preseason, followed by competency in the case of a Nick Foles injury would the best way for Sanchez to rehabilitate his value.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com mentioned the 49ers as a team that could be in play for Jackson (podcast link). We noted earlier this week that the 49ers may not be able to fit him on their roster financially, but Fitzgerald argues that Anquan Boldin will likely be cut after this season, and that Jackson could be signed to contract with a low first-year base salary.

DeSean Jackson Rumors: Sunday

March 30th, 2014 at 2:19pm CST by Rory Parks

More speculation regarding the DeSean Jackson saga:

  • The Chiefs “would’ve loved” to sign Jackson, but they simply don’t have the cap space available to compete with other suitors, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
  • We noted earlier that the Redskins are very interested in Jackson, but Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets that cap room might be a problem in Washington, as well. The Redskins have roughly $7MM in space, while other potential bidders such as the Bills and Raiders have about $14MM available. If Washington is serious about making a legitimate offer to Jackson, a backloaded deal with a low first-year salary might make the most sense.
  • In a couplet of tweets, Albert Breer of NFL.com writes that Jackson, unsurprisingly, is expected to “follow the money,” but also notes that the receiver market has been relatively modest, noting the lower-than-expected salaries of Eric Decker, Golden Tate, and others. Breer also opines that a strong receiver draft class works against Jackson’s demands.

Earlier Updates:

  • Citing multiple reports, Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com writes that the Redskins intend to make a serious bid to sign Jackson during his visit tomorrow, and Jackson is excited about the prospect of playing for the ‘Skins.
  • NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweets that the number of serious suitors for Jackson could be relatively small. With the Jets seemingly out and the Chiefs out, the Redskins, Raiders, and Bills would seem to comprise the current class of “serious suitors.”
  • Breer also tweets that the Raiders are “still doing background work” on Jackson and realize there is a risk in bringing him to Oakland.
  • Although the Redskins get the first shot at Jackson and the Raiders have plenty of cap space, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the Bills should not be ruled out, and he implies that they are serious in their interest. Rapoport also tweeted that Buffalo is quietly researching and recruiting Jackson.
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer offers his take as to why Jackson was let go.
  • Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a similar opinion on Jackson’s release.
  • Sheil Kapadia of Philadelphia Magazine offers a useful roundup of national media rumblings on the Jackson story.

AFC Notes: Clowney, Broncos, Jets

March 30th, 2014 at 8:39am CST by Rory Parks

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley is not done beefing up his team’s floundering pass rush, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida-Times Union. The Jags have already re-signed Jason Babin and have added Chris Clemons and Red Bryant to the fold, but Bradley wants four “Leo-types” on his roster. In other words, if Jadeveon Clowney is still on the board when Jacksonville makes the third overall selection, expect him to be standing next to Roger Goodell with a Jaguars jersey in his hands.

By the same token, if the Rams–or, much more likely, the Texans–take Clowney with one of the top two picks, expect the Jaguars to try and trade down. Jacksonville will also have a chance to manipulate the draft in the later rounds. The team holds 11 picks, including two in the fourth round, three in the fifth, and two more in the sixth. Expect the team to move around in the draft as it looks to become relevant again in the AFC South.

More notes from the AFC:

Load More Posts