Evan Mathis

NFC South Notes: Saints, Panthers, Falcons

June 18th, 2015 at 9:15pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A judge on Thursday ruled 87-year-old Saints owner Tom Benson mentally competent and fit to continue running his business empire, but that doesn’t mean he’s in the clear. Benson announced in January that he was cutting his daughter and her children out of Saints ownership and leaving the team to his wife of 10 years, which led to lawsuits in both Louisiana and Texas. Those lawsuits were filed by his daughter, Renee, and her children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, who tried to prove that Benson was incapable of running his businesses. That failed, but his daughter and grandchildren might appeal, writes Andy Grimm of NOLA.com, and it could set off a years-long fight for ownership of both the Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.

Here’s more on the Saints and two of their NFC South rivals:

Even though the Panthers signed quarterback Cam Newton to a mega-deal earlier this month, general manager Dave Gettleman told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer that he doesn’t want the 26-year-old to change his dual-threat playing style to avoid potential injuries. “He’s got to be Cam. You don’t hold back a thoroughbred, you don’t,” said Gettleman. Newton has established himself as an elite running QB during his four-year career, piling up over 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns.
One of Newton’s go-to targets, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, struggled with weight issues at Florida State and has tacked on some pounds this offseason after a stellar rookie year, but Gettleman isn’t concerned. “It really is much ado about nothing. Right now he’s only five pounds off his playing weight. That’s it,” Gettleman told Person.“He’s a few pounds over, that’s all. He’ll be fine.”
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan‘s sack total dropped precipitously last year, going from 12.5 the previous year to 7.5 for a defense that had the third-fewest sacks in the NFC. Defensive line coach Bill Johnson believes Jordan is primed for a return to his 2013 form.“There’s two or three things that we’re going to go after and he’s made improvement on those things. At this time in the year you break down each guy individually and try to give him their needs and I think he accepted them well,” Johnson said, according to Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com. “He’s been consistent on the practice field. It’s a coaching eye. I’ve looked at him going on five years; I know what I’m seeing.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn wouldn’t comment directly Thursday when asked about free agent offensive guard Evan Mathis, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter (via Twitter). The Falcons, like many other teams, are a potential fit for Mathis – a two-time Pro Bowler whom the Eagles released last week.

Extra Points: Cruz, Dez, Mathis, Texans

June 18th, 2015 at 6:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest from around the NFL:

Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph will see his base salary drop from $8.75MM to $7MM as a part of his new extension, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. He’ll then earn base salaries of $6.5MM in 2016 and 2017. Joseph will also receive $500K in 46-man roster bonuses each year (link).
Titans tight end Dorin Dickerson suffered a ruptured Achilles this week, and will have season-ending surgery to repair the damage sometime in the near future, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). Dickerson didn’t appear in a regular-season game in 2014, but has recently spent time with several teams, including the Texans, Patriots, Bills, and Lions.
Newcomer Vince Wilfork is excited to bring his leadership skills to the Texans, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes. “I want to be a guy that’s played the game for a while that they can always turn to and ask questions about anything football-wise or off the field,” said the 33-year-old, who will be playing between J.J. Watt and Jared Crick. “I’ve played with a lot of guys. I’ve played with some Hall of Famers. I’ve been coached by some great guys.”
Lions wide receiver TJ Jones missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Now, he’s not just trying to get back to what he did at Notre Dame – he’s looking to top it, as ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein writes. Detroit selected Jones in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.
David Ausberry‘s one-year deal with the Lions is worth $660K with no guaranteed cash, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Ausberry signed with Detroit earlier this month.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter) wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears add a veteran offensive lineman in advance of training camp.
Tarvaris Jackson‘s one-year deal with the Seahawks will pay him a fully guaranteed $1.5MM, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (on Twitter). The 31-year-old Jackson earned $1.25MM in 2014, which was right around the middle of the pack in terms of backup quarterbacks. Jackson attempted just one pass in 2014 (a completion), but he’s started 34 games during his nine-year career, so he would offer valuable experience in the event of a Russell Wilson injury.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) attributes the delay in Evan Mathis signing to the ongoing veteran minicamps rather than a weak market. Once minicamps are over and teams have fully assessed their offensive lines, Robinson expects the market for the guard to solidify.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters, including Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter), that he expects that wide receiver Victor Cruz won’t have to start training camp on the PUP list. Cruz is signed through 2018 and carries an $8.2MM cap number — the second-highest figure on the team behind Eli Manning. Cruz’s season ended in October when he tore his patella tendon.
Dez Bryant showing up for Cowboys minicamp reinforces why his threat to hold out shouldn’t be taken seriously, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) opines.
G.J. Kinne‘s transition from quarterback to wide receiver is going quite well, Eagles coach Chip Kelly told reporters, including the staff from the team’s website (on Twitter). Kelly says that he didn’t know how well Kinne caught the ball until he tried him out at wide receiver. From this point forward, Kelly says gaining familiarity with the position will be his toughest task.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Community Tailgate: Where Will Evan Mathis Sign?

June 16th, 2015 at 5:10pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Today, we’re launching a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every day, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today’s discussion will center on the NFL’s hottest free agent, guard Evan Mathis. Mathis, of course, was embroiled in an ugly battle with the Eagles over his contract situation. For much of the offseason, it seemed as though Mathis was simply looking to renegotiate the terms of his deal, which called for him to earn $13.5MM between 2015 and 2016. Last week, however, a new wrinkle in the saga emerged: Mathis claimed that former GM Howie Roseman offered to bump up his salary in 2014. When Mathis told the Eagles in 2015 that he was ready to take them up on that pitch, he was informed that the coupon had effectively expired since Roseman was no longer in the GM role. Ultimately, despite talk of trade interest for the last few months, the Eagles decided it was in their best interest to release Mathis outright.

The move was surprising since Mathis is considered one of the league’s best interior linemen. In 2014, despite playing just 608 offensive snaps, the former third-round pick ranked as the league’s best left guard, performing particularly well as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). PFF had previously graded Mathis as the NFL’s No. 1 guard in 2011, 2012, and 2013. While his age and salary ostensibly scared teams off from giving up value for him, he can be expected to find a number of interested suitors now that he won’t require the forfeiture of a draft pick.

The Bills, Vikings, Dolphins, Rams, and Patriots were among the teams said to have varying levels of trade interest in him. The Colts, Giants, and Cardinals apparently won’t make a play for Mathis, but agent Drew Rosenhaus said over the weekend that he heard from at least six teams with interest in his client. The Jets could use some help on the interior of their offensive line and Mathis probably wouldn’t have to relocate if he signs with them.

We want to hear from you, the PFR reader: Where do you think Evan Mathis will sign? Head to the comments section below to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

AFC South Notes: Titans, Colts, Hilton

June 16th, 2015 at 1:54pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Titans had planned to hire a new president/CEO, that search has been put on hold, and interim president Steve Underwood will continue to hold the position through the 2015 season, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.

“We had applications from a number of people that I have known for many years who have been presidents of NFL clubs, who were highly qualified, and they’d be good leaders,” Underwood said. “But we didn’t interview any of them; we never got that far along in the process. I just think our ownership group, as the weeks went by, they got a better and better comfort level in the direction we’re heading and they decided they’d rather put that off if I would decide to stay and get us through the season.“

As the Titans’ ownership group and front office has done repeatedly in recent months and years, Underwood also reiterated today that the franchise is not for sale, according to Wyatt.

“There is no talk of selling. The owners haven’t entertained it,” Underwood said. “The people who suggest a sale are guessing and I don’t have to guess — I know there is not a sale underway. They are not entertaining offers for a sale. There is no ‘for sale’ sign in our yard.“

Here’s more from out of the AFC South:

Shonn Greene wasn’t cut today by the Titans because he was out of shape or injured — according to head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the running back passed a physical before he was released, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
The Colts aren’t pursuing Evan Mathis, and it appears unlikely that the team will reconsider that stance, a source tells Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
Mike Chappell of Indy Sports Central looks at T.Y. Hilton‘s resume in an attempt to assess his value, noting that it’s far from a given that Hilton will get an extension. Colts owner Jim Irsay has rarely signed any player to an extension, including Peyton Manning, who played out his contracts before signing new ones. The Colts also have rookie Phillip Dorsett in the fold, which could give them a fallback option if Hilton is not retained in the long term.
Trent Cole‘s best years are almost certainly behind him, but he told reporters this week, including Mike Wells of ESPN.com, that he feels “rejuvenated” after joining the Colts this offseason.

Mathis Hadn’t Asked For Release Since March

June 16th, 2015 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Addressing the Eagles’ decision to release Evan Mathis, head coach Chip Kelly told reporters today that the team made the move after receiving several requests from the guard and his agent to cut Mathis.

According to Mathis himself, however, he asked the team to let him go back in March if there were no plans to rework his contract, but hasn’t asked to be released since then. And, to his knowledge, agent Drew Rosenhaus hasn’t done so either, writes Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. Mosher cites a separate source who confirms that neither Mathis nor anyone from his camp has asked the Eagles for the lineman’s release since March.

“I would have played under the contract and been fine — like last year,” Mathis said. “I can block stuff out and not let it be a distraction. I missed voluntary stuff, but I was still working hard. It doesn’t mean I was going to be a bad apple. I would never do that.”

As I noted earlier today, Kelly’s explanation of Mathis’ release raises a few questions. For instance, the Eagles apparently wanted to wait until after free agency and the draft before making a decision on Mathis, presumably to assess their offensive line depth at that time. But Mathis remained on the roster for several weeks following the draft until he was finally cut. Had he been released in March, he could’ve sought a new NFL home when teams still had plenty of cap space and were still figuring out their rosters.

Additionally, by simply saying the team granted Mathis’ release because he and his agent asked for it, Kelly glosses over the fact that the Eagles held most of the leverage, and could’ve easily held onto Mathis if they wanted to. I compared it to the Adrian Peterson situation in Minnesota, where Peterson has returned to the Vikings even though the club didn’t grant his reported requests to trade him or rework his contract. Like Peterson, Mathis would’ve eventually had to report to his team if he hoped to play this season.

In any case, Mathis is no longer an Eagle, and he tells Mosher that he had been hoping to restructure his contract to include more incentives. In other words, he didn’t simply want more money — he wanted the opportunity to earn more money if he was one of the league’s best guards.

“Why not have a couple of years where I could at least have the opportunity to achieve it?” Mathis said. “That’s what I was proposing … that I had to be absolutely elite to earn it. One hundred percent that’s all we were trying to do the last few months.”

Incentive-laden deals aren’t as common for offensive linemen, whose performance can’t be judged quite as easily as that of an offensive skill-position player. Still, we’ll see if Mathis’ next deal includes some of those incentives he wanted, perhaps for playing time.

East Notes: Mathis, Flynn, Bills, McClain

June 16th, 2015 at 10:42am CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters today, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly addressed the team’s release of Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis for the first time, explaining that Mathis’ agent asked multiple times for his client’s release. According to Kelly (all Twitter links), the club didn’t intend to alter Mathis’ contract, so after discussing all the possibilities, Philadelphia decided to let him go if he didn’t want to be there. The Eagles waited as long as they could to explore trade possibilities and to see how the draft and free agency played out before cutting the offensive lineman last week.

Kelly’s explanation doesn’t come as a real surprise, though I’m still somewhat skeptical that the Eagles couldn’t secure even a late-round pick for Mathis. It’s also worth noting that, in a similar situation, the Vikings didn’t give in to Adrian Peterson‘s agent demands, and now Peterson is saying all the right things as he prepares to play for Minnesota in 2015 without a reworked contract. The Eagles could’ve held their ground with Mathis, but it’s clear that Kelly prefers not to keep a player on the roster if he doesn’t view that player as a culture fit for his club.

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

The NFLPA saw no wrongdoing on the Eagles‘ part regarding Mathis’ release, which was viewed as a contractual decision, so the team has been cleared, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has the details on Matt Flynn‘s one-year contract with the Patriots, tweeting that the quarterback gets a $20K signing bonus and a $60K roster bonus on his minimum salary benefit deal.
Former Seahawks offensive lineman Nate Isles is trying out for the Bills today, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Isles, who signed a futures contract with Seattle at season’s end, was cut by the team last month.
Offensive linemen Seantrel Henderson and Chris Williams aren’t in attendance for the Bills‘ first day of mandatory minicamp, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter links).
Linebacker Rolando McClain was one of the Cowboys‘ best bargains last season, and he could be again in 2015, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. As Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets, McClain has reported to Dallas’ minicamp after being absent from earlier offseason activities.

NFC East Notes: Mathis, JPP, Cowboys

June 15th, 2015 at 7:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Giants running back David Wilson significantly improved his performance in the triple jump but still fell short of the qualifying standard for the U.S. championships, as The Associated Press writes. The former first-round draft pick had to retire from the NFL after two seasons due to a neck injury but is now trying to reinvent himself as a track and field athlete. While he has fallen short of nationals on this go ’round, he could still have future opportunities as he’s only 24 years of age. Here’s a glance at the NFC East..

Jordan Raanan of The Star-Ledger spoke with a league executive, an agent, and a cap guru to try and ascertain Evan Mathis‘ value on the open market. The exec guessed that the former Eagles lineman could fetch a one-year deal worth $3-$3.5MM with incentives to reach $5MM. The cap expert said he could get $14-17MM over three years with $6-8MM guaranteed. The agent, meanwhile, said a one-year deal worth $3-4MM with incentives to reach $5.5MM would make sense. If those estimates are right, then the guard likely miscalculated his market by pushing his way out of Philadelphia.

Jason Pierre-Paul is right to stay away from the Giants‘ minicamp, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. Until JPP reaches truly unrestricted free agency, the only leverage he has is the threat of not playing. Not only could JPP conceivably scare the Giants into giving him the long-term deal he seeks, but he’s also avoiding injury that could weaken his value. Earlier today, we learned that JPP, Dez Bryant, and Justin Houston are abstaining from their respective minicamps.

While the Cowboys still have their share of high-priced talent, they have shown a great deal of fiscal constraint the last two seasons, Jason Fitzgerald of the Sporting News writes. Finally, Dallas has climbed out of its salary cap hole and their days of overpaying superstar talent seem to be drawing to a close. Years ago, they abandoned all reason when they splurged on the likes of Roy Williams and Miles Austin. Now, they’re taking a much more reasonable approach with Bryant.

Eagles Sign Jared Wheeler

June 15th, 2015 at 3:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

MONDAY, 3:13pm: As Tessler initially suggested they would, the Eagles signed Wheeler today to a one-year contract, following his workout with the team (Twitter link).

SATURDAY, 6:26pm: As Mosher previously reported, Wheeler hasn’t signed with the Eagles and will work out for the team Monday, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

4:22pm: While Tessler believes the Eagles are planning to sign Wheeler, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com isn’t so sure (via Twitter). He writes that Wheeler is coming in for a workout on Monday, and there isn’t a deal in place for him when he gets there.

3:52pm: The Eagles are looking to add to their offensive line depth in the wake of Evan Mathis‘ release, and they are planning to sign former University of Miami offensive lineman Jared Wheeler on Monday, according to NFL agent Brett Tessler (via Twitter).

Wheeler had tried out with the 49ers earlier this offseason, and was most recently seen on the Seahawks roster. He also spent time with the Bills and Panthers, previously.

Wheeler has experience at both center and guard, and could provide versatility and depth to the team’s depth chart. It is probably not likely that Wheeler comes in as the starter after being a journeyman so far in his career, especially with the various options the team has on the roster and in free agency, but stranger things have happened.

AFC Links: Browns, Broncos, Wilkerson, Pagano

June 14th, 2015 at 7:44pm CST by Ben Levine

While the loss of Josh Gordon will be a huge hit to the Browns‘ receiving corps, rookie Vince Mayle acknowledged to Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal that the team’s wideouts aren’t focused on the loss of their leader.

“It’s just going to be a team effort,” Mayle said. “We’re not really worried about replacing Josh Gordon. We’re focusing on the guys in the room. We’d love to have him, but right now we’re working with what we’ve got. There’s a great group of guys. They all have really good strengths, and they’re all really good to learn from. I’m really happy to be in a room with these guys because they’re all really helpful.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes out of the AFC…

No team is wasting less money than the Broncos, argues Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. The team has only $1.2MM in dead money (the second-lowest total in the league), and they have only $6.9MM in cap space (the fourth-lowest total in the league). According to Klis, only the Jets approach the Broncos in their “dollar-per-active player allocation,” as New York has $5.28MM in cap room and $3.4MM in dead money.
ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini examines the many outcomes of the Jets/Muhammad Wilkerson situation. The writer ultimately predicts that the defensive lineman with report to training camp, play the 2015 season under his current contract, and be slapped with the franchise tag following the season. Based on the comments made by Wilkerson’s agent (which indicated the his player is “willing to put the team ahead of his own contractual status”), Cimini surmises that the 25-year-old won’t be holding out.
Cimini writes that right guard is a major concern for the Jets, and he believes the organization should be on the phone with representatives for Evan Mathis. The writer suggests a two-year, $6MM deal.
Despite Jim Irsay and the Colts‘ one-year contract offer to head coach Chuck Pagano, ESPN.com’s Mike Wells doesn’t believe the situation will turn into a distraction. If the Colts perform up to expectations, Wells believes Pagano can expect to be paid a “nice lucrative deal” by either the Colts or another franchise.

NFC East Notes: Mathis, Pot Roast, Cowboys

June 14th, 2015 at 4:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Evan Mathis is likely to interest several clubs in the coming weeks/days, but don’t expect the Giants to be among them, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. It’s not that New York couldn’t use help at guard, according to Raanan, but that Big Blue won’t fork over the kind of financial commitment that Mathis will likely be looking for. After signing their two remaining unsigned draft picks, the Giants will have less than $5MM in cap space to use, meaning Mathis is probably out of their price range.

Here’s more from the NFC:

Calling himself the biggest steal in free agency, Washington defensive tackle Terrance Knighton plans to score big on the open market after his current one-year deal expires. “…I’ve always bet on myself,” Knighton told Don Banks of Sports Illustrated. “I consider myself a premier player in this league, and I’ve got a lot of football left. This will be my seventh season, so when I hit the table again, there won’t be any excuses next time.”
More Mathis: Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer examines the veteran guard’s release, arguing that the move was just the latest transaction proving that Chip Kelly is remaking the Eagles as he sees fit.
In his latest mailbag at ESPN.com, Todd Archer answers several Cowboys-related queries, including whether Dallas will aim to improve the interior of its defensive line, the potential impact of Terrance Williams, and the club’s depth chart at receiver.

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