Haloti Ngata - Pro Football Rumors

Ravens Negotiating To Keep Haloti Ngata

February 24th, 2015 at 11:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

Speaking to reporters last week, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh made it clear the club would like to work out a new deal with Haloti Ngata that allows the veteran defensive lineman to remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future. It sounds as if the two sides haven been talking, as Ed Werder of ESPN reports (Twitter link) today that the Ravens have a “very good” offer out to the 31-year-old Ngata.

Ngata isn’t a free agent, but he is in danger of being released if he doesn’t agree to some sort of extension or restructure that significantly lowers his 2015 cap hit. He’s currently scheduled to count $16MM against Baltimore’s cap next year, the highest such figure on the team.

Ngata is entering the final season of his contract, and Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets that the Ravens want to tack on years to his deal, indicating that the club would rather lower the Oregon alum’s cap figure by extending him instead of requesting that he take a pay cut. Of course, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Werder’s classification of the offer as “very good” could translate as “team-friendly” — if the deal was satisfactory to Ngata, he probably would have already accepted it.

The Ravens currently have roughly $5.7MM in cap space, so even if Ngata agrees to bring down his cap figure, they might need to make a few more moves in order to create some financial wiggle room as free agency approaches.

AFC Notes: Ngata, Bills, Spiller, Chargers

February 19th, 2015 at 10:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Speaking to Luke Jones of WNST.net, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh expressed plenty of confidence that Baltimore will get a new deal worked out with defensive lineman Haloti Ngata. In all likelihood, the two sides will come to an agreement that reduces Ngata’s $16MM cap number for 2015, and extends his contract beyond the coming season. Of course, the two sides were also working on a new deal last offseason but those talks did not prove to be fruitful. More from the AFC..

Appearing today on WGR 550, Bills general manager Doug Whaley said the team has sent a proposal to Jerry Hughes‘ representatives, who countered with a proposal of their own (link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak). There’s an “open line of communication” between the two sides, according to Whaley, who said he’s meeting with Bills VP of football administration Jim Overdof today to determine if the club is close to anything with Hughes.
Whaley will meet with C.J. Spiller‘s representatives in Indianapolis to try and hammer out a new deal with the Bills, Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com writes. The rival Jets have been heavily connected to the tailback.
Whaley indicated that if linebacker Brandon Spikes wants an every-down role, it probably won’t happen with the Bills. “So that one’s going to be more of, ‘Hey, do you want to come back and be a one-, two-down player, or do you want to try to go out there and see if you can [be] an every-down player?” Whaley said of Spikes in an interview with John Murphy of BuffaloBills.com (audio link).
As expected, the Chargers won’t use their franchise tag on anyone this offseason, general manager Tom Telesco said today, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). King Dunlap and Brandon Flowers had been the most viable candidates, but as I wrote last month, a franchise-tag salary would be an overpay for either player.
If Raiders owner Mark Davis has to move the team to the NFC to make the move to Los Angeles happen, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter) doesn’t see that being a deterrent. On Thursday, the Raiders and Chargers announced a plan to build a shared stadium in the Los Angeles area.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Combine Pressers: Washington, Lions, Chargers, Ravens

February 18th, 2015 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Head coaches and general managers continue to speak to the media at press conferences in Indianapolis, and we’ve already rounded up the highlights from several of them so far today. Here are a few more noteworthy comments from some NFL decision-makers, with all links go to the Twitter accounts of various reporters in attendance:

Washington head coach Jay Gruden:

In perhaps the most newsworthy moment of any of today’s pressers so far, Gruden said that Robert Griffin III will open the 2015 campaign as Washington’s starting quarterback. There’s still plenty of time for things to change between today and September, but on a day when Jay Cutler couldn’t get a vote of confidence from the Bears, it’s notable that Washington seems committed to RGIII.
According to Gruden, the Washington front office is in contact with the reps for high-priced players like Pierre Garcon, Barry Cofield, and Stephen Bowen about possible contract restructures. Discussing Garcon specifically, the head coach stressed that the veteran wideout is still very much in the club’s plans.
Echoing the mantra of new GM Scot McCloughan, Gruden said Washington’s philosophy will be to target the best available players in the draft.

Lions GM Martin Mayhew:

While he admitted that a new deal with Ndamukong Suh isn’t done, Mayhew remains confident that the two sides will work something out. According to the GM, the defensive scheme, coaches, and players are all a good match for Suh, and the club will definitely “keep working on it.”
The Lions still haven’t decided whether or not they’ll resort to the franchise tag if the team and Suh don’t reach an agreement by March 2. Detroit also remains undecided about the fifth-year option for offensive tackle Riley Reiff, and hasn’t yet made any final determinations on any free agents except center Dominic Raiola, who won’t be re-signed.
Mayhew can envision a situation where both Suh and Nick Fairley return to Detroit, but he can also imagine a scenario in which neither player is back. The Lions aren’t sure yet how seriously they’ll pursue Fairley, but will meet with his agent, Brian Overstreet, this week.
The general manager also has a combine meeting lined up with the agent for free-agent-to-be Matt Prater.
According to Mayhew, the team is engaged in dialogue with some players about contract restructures to clear some cap room. Although the GM didn’t identify anyone specifically, one of those players could be Reggie Bush — Mayhew said the team hasn’t determined yet what the running back’s future with the team is.

Chargers GM Tom Telesco:

The Chargers plan to meet with the agent for free agent running back Ryan Mathews at the combine this week, according to Telesco. The GM added that the Chargers are “a different team” when Mathews is healthy and on the field.
The team is currently planning for D.J. Fluker to play right tackle in 2015, rather than continuing to try him at guard. San Diego figures to have some holes to fill on its offensive line this offseason, so having a set plan for Fluker should help identify the spots that need to be addressed.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh:

According to Harbaugh, the team’s free agents want to return to Baltimore, and the team wants them back. “That bodes well for us,” Harbaugh said.
It’s not clear if the head coach’s comment applies to every Ravens free-agent-to-be, but when he was asked specifically about Torrey Smith, Haloti Ngata, and Lardarius Webb, Harbaugh said, “They want to be back [and] we want them back, so we should have a good chance.” Smith is eligible for free agency, while Ngata and Webb are candidates for contract restructures or pay cuts.
Harbaugh also expects wide receiver Steve Smith to be back with the Ravens in 2015. The former Panther has two years left on his contract, but will turn 36 in May, so retirement may be a viable option soon.

Ravens Notes: Forsett, Yanda, Ngata, Rice

February 11th, 2015 at 11:17am CST by Luke Adams

Under new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, the Ravens will be staying in the zone-running system that worked so well in 2014, which means running back Justin Forsett could prove most valuable to Baltimore when free agency opens, as Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun writes. There has been some speculation that the tailback could follow Gary Kubiak to the Broncos, but Kubiak has a history of turning bargain backs into stars and he could try to do that all over again in 2015.

Let’s check in on a few other Ravens-related items….

A contract extension for guard Marshal Yanda makes too much sense for the club and the four-time Pro Bowler not to make something happen this offseason, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Yanda is entering the final year of his contract, and as Hensley suggests, by offering him a four-year deal in the range of $30MM, the team could lock him up for the next few seasons and reduce his $8.45MM cap hit for 2015.
In a separate piece for ESPN.com, Hensley examines whether or not punter Sam Koch is in danger of being a cap casualty, ultimately predicting that Baltimore will keep Koch despite his $3MM+ cap hit.
In his look at major salary cap and contract questions facing AFC teams, former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com leads off by exploring whether defensive lineman Haloti Ngata will agree to restructure his contract or accept a pay cut. The Ravens would create $8.5MM in cap savings by releasing Ngata if the two sides don’t reach a compromise.
At one time, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report was nearly positive that Ray Rice wouldn’t play in the NFL again. Now, after speaking to multiple team executives in recent weeks, Freeman is far less certain. One GM tells the Bleacher Report scribe that the former Ravens running back will “100% be on a team” in 2015. However, the Ravens may not see Rice next season — per Freeman, most of the teams thinking hard about signing the veteran are in the NFC.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Links: Manning, Ngata, Hughes, Incognito

February 6th, 2015 at 10:54pm CST by Rob DiRe

Even with a coaching change and big decisions to make on Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas, the Broncos’ offseason will more or less be about whether or not Peyton Manning returns in 2015.

If Tony Dungy is correct, Manning will be back next year, according to the Associated Press on IndyStar.com.

“I was with him last week and he didn’t give me any indication one way or another, but he certainly didn’t say anything to me that led me to believe he wouldn’t be playing,” said Dungy. “My gut feeling is that he’ll be back unless he really has a health-related problem. He enjoys the team. He enjoys his teammates. I think he really wants to come back and play well and not let that be the last game of his career.”

Here are some more links from around the AFC:

The Ravens have asked star defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to restructure his contract in the past, but for the first time they have leverage to make such a request this offseason, writes Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun. Ngata is owed $8.5MM in base salary and will count for $16MM against the cap. Considering the Ravens need to free up money for free agency, the declining Ngata could have to look for a new team if he refuses to restructure his deal, and coming off a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, the team holds all the cards.
The top priority for the Bills this winter should be figuring out a way to bring back Jerry Hughes, who has developed into one of the league’s most productive pass rushers, writes Jason Fitzgerald in his preview of Buffalo’s offseason at OverTheCap.com.
The Bills will host Richie Incognito for an official visit and physical on Saturday, reports James Walker of ESPN (via Twitter). Incognito has not played since being suspended as part of the bulling investigation with the Dolphins. The team needs help at guard, with Erik Pears and Kraig Urbik unlikely to return to the team, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN (via Twitter). The meeting may be merely a formality, as the team is expected to sign Incognito should he pass his physical, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter).
Cornerback Curtis Brown, a former Steelers third-round pick, will have a workout with the Jets on Tuesday, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).
Malcolm Butler may be a Super Bowl hero, but the undrafted Patriots cornerback isn’t going to get hung up on one play. He is already concerned with continuing to improve and become a fixture in the NFL, writes Tom Curran of CSNNE.com. “I’m going to probably enjoy this moment, I’ll never forget it,” said Butler. “Probably for a couple more days or whatever, however it dies down. Have a little time to relax and then get back to work and just try to prove my point that this one play doesn’t [define] me. I don’t want to be known as a great player for one play, so I’ve got more to prove. So, I’ll have a little relax time and get back to work.”

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Ravens Activate Haloti Ngata, Put Brown On IR

January 2nd, 2015 at 1:17pm CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens have activated standout defensive lineman Haloti Ngata from the reserve/suspended list in preparation for tomorrow night’s game against the Steelers, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson adds that linebacker Arthur Brown has been placed on the injured reserve list to accommodate the move.

Ngata, who had been named to five consecutive Pro Bowls coming into this season, was his usual effective self on defense in his first 12 games, playing well against both the run and the pass. The longtime Raven has even grabbed a couple interceptions this season, as well as defending a career-high seven passes. However, he missed the club’s last four games after being suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. According to Ngata, his failed test came as a result of taking Adderall.

The Ravens had a roster exemption for Ngata that lasted until Monday, but in order for him to play in Pittsburgh on Saturday, a player needed to be removed from the 53-man unit. That player is Brown, who had a disappointing sophomore season in which he failed to play a defensive snap all year. A second-round pick in 2013, Brown doesn’t seem to be in Baltimore’s plans following C.J. Mosley‘s breakout rookie campaign, and figures to be a trade candidate this offseason.

Extra Points: Colts, Ngata, Royal, Jets

December 20th, 2014 at 10:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some assorted notes from around the league as we wrap up this Saturday evening…

While linebacker Jonathan Newsome has established himself this season with 4.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits, Mike Wells of ESPN.com says the Colts should still focus on selecting a pass-rusher in this year’s draft.
Ravens rookie Timmy Jernigan has played well recently, and Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes that the defensive end’s play over the final two weeks may determine whether the team keeps Haloti Ngata. Baltimore can clear $8.5MM by releasing the former Pro Bowler.
Chargers wideout Eddie Royal caught his 50th pass of the season during the first quarter of tonight’s matchup against the 49ers, activating a $500K bonus (via Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego on Twitter).
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News believes the Jets need a “culture change,” and the writer suggest owner Woody Johnson steals two members of a rival organization: Patriots player personnel director Nick Caserio and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
As Black Monday approaches, Bob McManaman of AZCentral.com compiles a list of coaches who shouldn’t be comfortable with their job security: Jim Harbaugh (49ers), Marc Trestman (Bears), Tony Sparano (Raiders), Rex Ryan (Jets), Joe Philbin (Dolphins), Jay Gruden (Washington), Tom Coughlin (Giants), Mike Smith (Falcons), Ron Rivera (Panthers), Gus Bradley (Jaguars) and Ken Whisenhunt (Titans).

Haloti Ngata Suspension Notes

December 6th, 2014 at 2:05pm CST by Rob DiRe

Ravens’ star defensive lineman Haloti Ngata was suspended for the final four games of the regular season earlier this week for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. This is a significant blow to the team’s immediate playoff hopes, as the team’s defensive strength was in the front seven.

Here are some notes from the fallout following Ngata’s suspension:

The Ravens replaced Ngata on the active roster with tight end Phillip Supernaw, as we reported yesterday her on Pro Football Rumors.
Ravens’ second-round pick Timmy Jernigan will receive a large uptick in snap count in Ngata’s absence, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Jernigan was one of the best players on the national championship winning defense at Florida State last year.
Wilson also looks at a silver lining of the suspension, that the Ravens now have $6.249MM in salary cap space this season. The team is unlikely to spend that this year, but could carry that extra money over and apply it to next year’s salary cap.
While the team is still much in the playoff hunt, John Eisenberg of BaltimoreRavens.com believes the Ngata suspension could be the difference between the team reaching the postseason or not.
The suspension has complicated Ngata’s status with the Ravens going forward, writes Sarah Ellison of BaltimoreRavens.com. He is owed a heft $16MM in 2015, but was hoping the team would renegotiate that figure into a long term extension. Ellison also believes that the team will re-evaluate Ngata’s impressive season in light of the PED suspension.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Ravens may be better off without Ngata. The team has surrendered an impressive 3.8 yards per rush with Ngata, but an excellent 3.1 yards per rush without him (via Twitter). Opposing quarterbacks have also been better with Ngata, posting a QBR of 71 against him, while that figure drops to a 47 QBR without him (via Twitter).

AFC North Notes: Ngata, Jernigan, Browns

December 5th, 2014 at 7:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at the latest from the AFC North, where each of the four teams has a winning record heading into this weekend’s action…

The Ravens had been interested in signing Haloti Ngata to an extension after the season, and though the veteran defensive tackle was recently suspended for four games for failing a drug test, it’s possible that the club will still attempt to start negotiations this offseason, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Ngata, 30, is due a $8.5MM base salary in 2015, and will count $16MM against Baltimore’s cap — his cap figure is the highest among all defensive tackles. The team would likely want to tack on a few years to Ngata’s deal in the interests of prorating his bonus over more seasons, thus lowering his cap number.
In Ngata’s absence, the Ravens are expected to use a rotation of players to fill the middle of their defensive line, but rookie lineman Timmy Jernigan will see his role increase the most, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Jernigan, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, has yet to exceed 29 defensive snaps in a game this year.
Browns left tackle Joe Thomas was among those who believed Brian Hoyer should remain the club’s starting quarterback in lieu of Johnny Manziel, and the team considered his opinion when making its decision, according to Mary Cay Kabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Thomas thought that turning to a rookie in Manziel would imply that the Browns weren’t all-in on 2014. “Certainly, when you start throwing guys out there and seeing what they can do, the message is, ‘We’re already playing for next year. We don’t think necessarily that we can get to the playoffs this year anymore,'” said Thomas, who noted that most Browns players felt the same way.
As the Browns prepare to play the Colts on Sunday, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com looks back at ex-team president Mike Holmgren’s claim that he offered Cleveland’s entire slew of 2012 draft picks in order to acquire the No. 1 overall selection and draft Andrew Luck. Needless to say, the non-trade has worked out well for Indianapolis.

Minor Moves: Friday

December 5th, 2014 at 2:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL, including practice squad signings and cuts. We’ll add the rest of the day’s minor transactions to the top of this list as they’re reported or announced:

The Raiders are promoting rookie tight end Scott Simonson from the practice squad to their active roster, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Since Oakland has a full 53-man squad, a corresponding move will be necessary to accommodate the official signing of Simonson, who signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Assumption College in May.

Earlier updates:

Just two days after re-adding tight end Phillip Supernaw back to their practice squad, the Ravens have promoted him to the active roster, the team announced today in a press release. Supernaw takes the roster spot vacated by Haloti Ngata, who was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and placed on the reserve/suspended list. If the Ravens hope to activate cornerback Asa Jackson to the 53-man squad from IR-DTR in time for this weekend’s contest against the Dolphins, another roster move will be required.