HEADLINES

Gino Gradkowski

Contract Details: Freeman, Sims, Claiborne

March 13th, 2016 at 8:08pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here are the latest contract details for players who have agreed to new deals and/or signed them in recent days. Unless otherwise specified, all links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle…

NFC:

  • Jerrell Freeman, LB (Bears): Three years, $12MM. Deal maxes out at $14.25MM with incentives/escalators. $6MM guaranteed at signing (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Eugene Sims, DE (Rams): Three years, $10MM. $3.75MM in guarantees. $2.25MM salary for 2016 guaranteed. $750K roster bonus due this week. $500K roster bonuses due on the fifth day of the 2017 and 2018 league years. $750K annual incentives for sacks and playoffs (Twitter links).
  • Jon Ryan, P (Seahawks): Four years, $10MM. $3.4MM guaranteed. $2.4MM signing bonus. $1MM salary in 2016 guaranteed. $100K incentives for Pro Bowl and playoffs (Twitter link).
  • James Hanna, TE (Cowboys): Three years, $8.25MM. $2.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
  • Emmanuel Lamur, LB (Vikings): Two years, $5.5MM. $2MM guaranteed. $1MM roster bonus due Monday. $15,625 per-game active roster bonus in both seasons (Twitter link).
  • Gino Gradkowski, OL (Panthers): Three years, $3.15MM. $450K signing bonus. $25K annual workout bonus (Twitter link).
  • Morris Claiborne, CB (Cowboys): One year, $3MM. Deal maxes out at $3.375MM with incentives. $500K signing bonus. $1MM in per-game active bonuses (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Keenan Robinson, LB (Giants): One year, $2.6MM. $1MM roster bonus due on the 10th day of the 2016 league year. $21,500 per-game active bonus. Up to $900K in playing-time incentives (Twitter link).
  • Sean Weatherspoon, LB (Falcons): One year, $1.5MM. $500K in per-game active bonuses. $750K in playing-time incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Travaris Cadet, RB (Saints): One year, $840K. $80K signing bonus (Twitter link)

AFC:

  • Eddie Pleasant, S (Texans): Two years, $2.15MM. $311K roster bonus for 2016. $36K roster bonus for 2017 (link).
  • Matt Cassel, QB (Titans): One year, $2MM. $750K signing bonus. $500K in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Shane Lechler, P (Texans): One year, $1.8MM. $500K signing bonus (link).
  • Nick Novak, K (Texans): One year, 965K. $80K roster bonus due Monday (link).

Panthers Sign Gino Gradkowski

March 10th, 2016 at 12:55pm CST by Zachary Links

12:55pm: The Panthers’ deal with Gradkowski is now official.

11:05am: The Panthers will sign free agent offensive lineman Gino Gradkowski to a three-year deal, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. Gradkowski will back up center Ryan Kalil in Carolina.

A Delaware product, Gradkowski has appeared in 44 games during the course of his four-year career, and was a full-time starter for the Ravens during the 2013 season. He wasn’t very productive that year, grading as the worst center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Last year, Gradkowski appeared in four games (one start) for Atlanta.

The Falcons added one of the league’s top centers in Alex Mack on Wednesday and soon after it was reported that they would not retain Gradkowski.

Free Agent Rumors: Saints, Fleener, Falcons

March 9th, 2016 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

A deal between tight end Ladarius Green and the Steelers remains imminent, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. The Saints were looking at the athletic tight end as well, but they’ll now turn their attention to Coby Fleener. Fleener is available and less likely to be retained by the Colts after they signed Dwayne Allen to a hefty new contract.

Here are the latest free agent rumors on what has been a crazy day:

  • After adding one of the league’s top centers in Alex Mack, Gino Gradkowski is not expected to be retained by the Falcons, according to a source who spoke with Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Jets are exploring the market for offensive lineman, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Mehta reports that New York did its homework on tackle Donald Stephenson before he agreed to terms with the Broncos, and adds that J.R. Sweezy is worth keeping an eye on as a Jets target.
  • Jenna Laine of SportsTalkFlorida confirms (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers are likely moving on from cornerback Sterling Moore, as first reported by JoeBucsFan.com.
  • After receiving a low-end tender from the Broncos, RFA running back C.J. Anderson has generated interest from “multiple” teams, tweets Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. Denver has the right to match any offer sheet Anderson signs, but won’t receive compensation if he leaves.
  • The market for Ravens outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw is “not exactly wild,” tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. Upshaw may ultimately return to Baltimore, though the Colts are worth monitoring — Indianapolis’ new defensive coordinator is Upshaw’s former linebackers coach, Ted Monachino.

Falcons Claim Gino Gradkowski Off Waivers

September 7th, 2015 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to expressing interest in one of the two players cut by the Broncos yesterday, the Falcons have claimed the other player off waivers. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), center Gino Gradkowski has been awarded to Atlanta, via waiver claim.

Gradkowski, along with Montee Ball, was waived by the Broncos when Denver claimed a pair of players off waivers on Sunday. A Delaware product, Gradkowski has appeared in 40 games during the course of his three-year career, and was a full-time starter for the Ravens during the 2013 season. He wasn’t very productive that year, grading as the worst center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Gradkowski is the second veteran interior lineman added by the Falcons this week, as Atlanta also sent a sixth-round pick and a future conditional pick to the Titans to land guard Andy Levitre. The additions suggest that Dan Quinn and the Falcons aren’t satisfied with the offensive line play to date.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West

September 6th, 2015 at 5:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed:
    • OL Jah Reid (link)
  • Claimed off waivers:
  • Cut:
  • Signed to practice squad:

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

  • Signed to practice squad (press release):
    • TE Alex Bayer (Twitter link via Jim Thomas)
    • CB Greg Ducre
    • WR Javontee Herndon
    • G Michael Huey
    • LB Ryan Mueller
    • S Adrian Phillips
    • QB Brad Sorensen (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken)
    • RB Dreamius Smith
    • DT Damion Square

Broncos Cut Gino Gradkowski

September 6th, 2015 at 1:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have waived center Gino Gradkowski, according to Mike Klis of 9 News (Twitter link). Because he’s not a vested veteran, Gradkowski will need to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent.

Denver acquired the 26-year-old Gradkowski in a trade with Baltimore earlier this year — the Broncos sent a fourth-round pick to the Ravens in exchange for Gradkowski and a fifth-rounder. Due in part to his familiarity with new Denver head coach Gary Kubiak‘s scheme, Gradkowski was expected to take compete for the starting center job, but he was overtaken in camp by second-year pro Matt Paradis.

A Delaware product, Gradkowski has appeared in 40 games during the course of his three-year career, and was a full-time starter for the Ravens during the 2013 season. He wasn’t very productive that year, grading as the worst center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Gradkowski was schedule to earn a non-guaranteed $1.542MM in the final year of his rookie deal, meaning the Broncos will save that amount against their cap.

Broncos Acquire Gino Gradkowski

April 2nd, 2015 at 3:05pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 3:05pm: Gradkowski has officially passes his physical with the Broncos, making the deal official, tweets Denver PR man Patrick Smyth.

WEDNESDAY, 3:08pm: According to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Ravens will get the Broncos’ 2016 fourth-round pick in the deal, while Denver gets Baltimore’s 2016 fifth-rounder.

2:39pm: The Ravens and Broncos have both confirmed the trade. The deal involves 2016 draft picks going both ways, but the exact picks aren’t yet known, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.

2:13pm: The Broncos and Ravens are working to finalize a trade that would send veteran center Gino Gradkowski to Denver, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). It doesn’t sound as if a deal is official yet, but Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that it will happen.

Gradkowski, 26, started all 16 regular season contests at center for the Ravens in 2013, but was supplanted on the depth chart by 2014 trade acquisition Jeremy Zuttah, and is now a reserve for the team. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t particularly fond of Gradkowski’s 2013 play, though his -15.6 overall grade was almost entirely a result of a poor pass-blocking performance — he was adequate as a run blocker.

The Broncos, who lost guard Orlando Franklin in free agency, had been in the market for interior line help even after signing veteran guard Shelley Smith. The team could end up playing Manuel Ramirez at center and identifying a replacement at left guard for Franklin, or Ramirez could be shifted to guard with Gradkowski taking over at center. Heading to Denver will reunite Gradkowski with former Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who is now the Broncos’ head coach.

The compensation heading to Baltimore in the deal has yet to be reported, but I wouldn’t expect it to be more than a late-round draft pick. Gradkowski, a beneficiary of 2015’s proven performance escalator raises, had been set to earn a base salary of $1.542MM, so clearing that money from their books and replacing him with a cheaper backup was probably part of the Ravens’ incentive to make the move.

2015 Proven Performance Escalator Raises

January 16th, 2015 at 8:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time in said snaps for the duration of his first three years in the league. If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s restricted free agent qualifying offer — that figure was $1.431MM last year, and will inflate commensurate with the salary cap increase. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their 2015 salary rise due to the PPE, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.

Bengals: George Iloka, S; Mohamed Sanu, WR

Bills: Nigel Bradham, LB

Broncos: Malik Jackson, DL; Danny Trevathan, LB;

Browns: Billy Winn, DL

Cardinals: Bobby Massie, T

Chargers: Johnnie Troutman, G

Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE; T.Y. Hilton, WR

Dolphins: Lamar Miller, RB; Olivier Vernon, DE

Eagles: Brandon Boykin, CB; Nick Foles; QB

Falcons: Lamar Holmes, T

Jets: Demario Davis, LB; Antonio Allen, DB

Packers: Mike Daniels, DL

Panthers: Josh Norman, CB

Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB

Raiders: Miles Burris, LB

Rams: Chris Givens, WR; Trumaine Johnson, CB

Ravens: Gino Gradkowski, C

Saints: Akiem Hicks, DT; Corey White, CB

Seahawks: J.R. Sweezy, G; Russell Wilson, QB

Steelers: Kelvin Beachum, T

Texans: Brandon Brooks, G; Jared Crick, DL; Ben Jones, G

Titans: Coty Sensabaugh, CB

Vikings: Robert Blanton, S: Rhett Ellison, TE; Josh Robinson, CB; Jarius Wright, WR

Washington: Alfred Morris, RB

AFC Notes: Ravens, Browns, Patriots, Chiefs

July 6th, 2014 at 6:08pm CST by Peter Sowards

A frustrating year befell the 2013 Baltimore Ravens, unable to match the high expectations set after winning the Super Bowl the prior season. The offense sputtered behind the NFL’s worst rushing offense and inconsistent play from quarterback Joe Flacco, and an average defense couldn’t make up for the offensive deficiencies.

Thankfully, 2014 is a clean slate. According to Ben Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com, safety Darian Stewart, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and offensive lineman Ryan Jensen are three players whose stocks are rising after the team’s offseason, while defensive lineman Terrence Cody, center Gino Gradkowski and offensive lineman Jah Reid are on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Stewart, with 19 starts in his four-year NFL career, looks to be the Week 1 starter opposite Matt Elam, Smolka writes. Juszczyk is a perfect fit in Gary Kubiak‘s offense and Jensen can play every position on the offensive line.

More news and notes from around the NFL…

  • As the fallout from the Josh Gordon saga continues, Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer suggests the Browns offer the wideout an ultimatum: enroll in a full-time rehabilitation program in Cleveland right now, or be released. Pluto points out that Gordon’s problems have continued from his time at Baylor and Utah, and it’s time to truly figure out his interest in football.
  • Patriots first-round defensive tackle Dominique Easley is making progress in his recovery coming off two torn ACLs in college, writes ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss, who provides a status update on each of the team’s nine draft picks. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, drafted in the second round, has taken advantage of an opportunity afforded to him by the limited availability of backup quarterback Ryan Mallett.
  • Chiefs rookie running back De’Anthony Thomas told NFL.com that he’s a player nobody’s ever seen step on the football field, according to Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. Thomas also set a number of goals for the season, including winning Rookie of the Year, leading the team in a number of offensive categories and going to the Super Bowl.

Ravens Notes: Harbaugh, Zuttah, Jensen, Rice

May 31st, 2014 at 10:16am CST by Matt Feminis

The Ravens organization is “exasperated, as it should be, after receiving too many middle-of-the-night phone calls,” says BaltimoreRavens.com Columnist John Eisenberg, who passes along an “ominous warning shot” to his players: “…when the negativity over-balances your ability to help our football team, you’re not going to be here anymore. Or if we can’t trust your character anymore, then you can’t be a part of what we’re doing anymore.”

In other Ravens news and notes…

  • The Ravens have shifted Ryan Jensen, a 2013 sixth-rounder out of Colorado State-Pueblo, from guard-center to right tackle, reports Aaron Wilson in the Baltimore Sun. Jensen started 44 games as a college left tackle, but suffered a broken foot during training camp and did not play in any games last season. He will provide competition/insurance at right tackle, where Ricky Wagner appears to have the inside track on the starting job. The Ravens have a history of successfully converting offensive line prospects, as their starting interior — center Jeremy Zuttah and guards Marshal Yanda and Kelechi Osemele — is comprised of players who were college tackles.
  • Speaking of Zuttah, early reports suggest he’s fitting in very well after signing a five-year, $18MM deal, writes Wilson. Harbaugh praised the 27-year-old for his intelligence and maturity, while former NFL executive Louis Riddick said, “Jeremy’s a perfect fit for them. Based on what Gary Kubiak wants to do… that all plays right to Jeremy’s strengths. He’s very athletic… He can do all the things that won’t allow him to get exposed one-on-one as he did at times in the Tampa scheme.”
  • In terms of depth, A.Q. Shipley‘s roster spot “is probably more in jeopardy” than Gino Gradkowski‘s, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
  • Ray Rice has had a tumultuous offseason, but perhaps lost in the shuffle is his weight change. According to Wilson (via Twitter), the veteran running back has shed 20 pounds.
  • In a minor move, the team signed undrafted outside linebacker D.J. Roberts, who tried out during rookie minicamp. To make room, quarterback Nick Stephens was cut, reports Wilson.
Load More Posts