HEADLINES

Jamari Lattimore

Jamari Lattimore Signs RFA Tender

April 30th, 2014 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Packers linebacker Jamari Lattimore has officially signed his restricted free agent tender, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (Twitter link via Brian McIntyre). Green Bay had extended the low RFA tender to Lattimore, so he’ll be under contract for a $1.431MM salary in 2014.

Lattimore, 25, saw his first significant action for the Packers in 2013, playing 272 defensive snaps and recording a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. He also chipped in with six tackles on special teams. Assuming he plays out the 2014 season under his current one-year deal, he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency next winter.

As McIntyre tweets, Lattimore’s decision to accept and sign his RFA tender leaves just two restricted free agents on the market — Doug Baldwin of the Seahawks and Byron Bell of the Panthers. The deadline for players to sign offer sheets with rival suitors is this Friday, and I’d be surprised if either Baldwin or Bell inked an offer sheet. Both players received the $2.187MM tender from their respective teams, meaning a rival club would have to part with a second-round pick to sign them away.

Contract Tenders: Dobbs, Lattimore, Bears

March 11th, 2014 at 1:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers are expected to extend the restricted free agent tender to defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs and extend a tender to exclusive rights free agent Michael Wilhoite, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. We’ll keep track of the latest contract tenders here..

Extra Points: Ware, Packers, Graham, Smith

February 26th, 2014 at 10:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said recently on ESPN’s SportsCenter that it’s possible the club will part ways with DeMarcus Ware to avoid a sizable cap hit. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) hears that Dallas has yet to ask Ware to take a pay cut and there has been no communication between the two sides. Here’s tonight’s look around the league..

  • The Packers would like to have restricted free agent linebacker Jamari Lattimore back on the roster next season, but don’t appear ready to offer him the right-of-first-refusal tender, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. With Green Bay likely willing to offer a salary closer to the minimum, Lattimore figures to test the open market.
  • There’s a lot of debate over whether Saints star Jimmy Graham should be designated as a tight end or a wide receiver when it comes to the franchise tag, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com rightfully notes that it’s a decision made by the league office, not the team.
  • The Saints have reached out to running back Pierre Thomas to discuss his future with the club, writes Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune.
  • Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman recently acknowledged that the club could conceivably cut ties with Steve Smith this summer and the wide receiver is less than thrilled about hearing that second hand, writes Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer.
  • The Rams plan to take a wait-and-see approach with their backup quarterback situation, writes ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner.
  • Raiders free agent defensive tackle Vance Walker has signed with A3 NFL agent Tommy Sims, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). He was formerly repped by 5 Star Athlete Management.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.