HEADLINES

James Jones

FA Rumors: Montgomery, Cotchery, Jones

March 16th, 2014 at 1:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A few free agent notes from around the league:

AFC Rumors: Jones, LaFell, Mack

March 12th, 2014 at 2:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have expressed real interest in Packers free agent wide receiver James Jones, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. There’s no visit scheduled yet, however. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) adds that the Jets want to sign two wide receivers this offseason.

  • The Jets have interest in Panthers free agent wide receiver Brandon LaFell, tweets Brian Costello of the New York Post. However, there’s no visit scheduled just yet (link). The Patriots are known to have interest and the Broncos are also in the mix.
  • Four teams have been in contact with Browns free agent center Alex Mack on various levels, Rapoport tweets. Mack is currently waiting for the frenzy to die down. The Colts and Ravens are among the teams with interest (link).
  • Defensive tackle Jason Hatcher will be visiting the Raiders today after his visit with the Seahawks, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter).
  • The Ravens would like to re-sign linebacker Daryl Smith but not at his current asking price, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Brandon Spikes and Wesley Woodyard are among other free agent options. Zrebiec also suggests that they could target Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley in the draft.
  • The Broncos were interested in defensive playmakers all day yesterday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Before they landed Aqib Talib on a multi-year deal, they tried to get in on Jairus Byrd. Byrd, of course, went to the Saints.

WR Rumors: Britt, Hawkins, Edelman, Jones

March 10th, 2014 at 10:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

With about 17 hours left to go until the official start of free agency, here’s a look at some of the rumors regarding receivers:

  • The Redskins have interest in both Kenny Britt and Andrew Hawkins, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Britt is an unrestricted free agent who has had his share of struggles both on and off the field, but he can still be a playmaker. Hawkins is a restricted free agent who was tendered at the original-pick level; because he was an undrafted free agent, the Redskins would not have to sacrifice a draft pick to sign him. Hawkins played under Redskins head coach Jay Gruden the past three seasons with the Bengals.
  • The Patriots are heavily engaged in contract talks with Julian Edelman, reports Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Edelman was on the free agent market for over a month last offseason before re-upping with the Pats, but that would assuredly not happen were he to reach free agency tomorrow.
  • James Jones is receiving interest from both the Lions and the Jets, but a return to the Packers is not out of the question, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
  • The 49ers could be interested in Dexter McCluster, says ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson (via Twitter).

FA Rumors: Saffold, Houston, Foote, Finnegan

March 10th, 2014 at 12:48pm CST by Luke Adams

We dedicated an early-morning post to passing along a few miscellaneous free agent updates, but the rumor mill been busy enough that it’s time to round up a few more. Here’s the latest:

  • Jared Allen, Jared Veldheer, Rodger Saffold, Arthur Jones, and James Jones are among the free agents expected to change teams this week, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • The Raiders are offering Saffold $8MM per year, with the potential to increase that offer, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link via John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game).
  • Middlekauff (Twitter link) also spoke to multiple NFL executives about prospective free agent Lamarr Houston, and none thought the defensive end would be a very good fit for a 3-4 team.
  • After having been released by the Steelers last week, Larry Foote has no plans to retire and would like to sign with a contender, as he tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link).
  • Recently released defensive back Cortland Finnegan will be representing himself in free agency, according to Anderson (TwitLonger link). Typically, free agent players without agents wouldn’t be able to talk to teams until Tuesday, but Finnegan can seek out a new team now since he was cut.
  • One general manager suggests to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link) that NFL teams treat their equipment people better than they treat running backs. While that may be an exaggeration, it signals that this year’s group of free agent running backs probably isn’t drawing much interest yet.
  • Former first-round pick Rolando McClain is telling people that he plans to return to the NFL in 2014, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. However, a source tells Aaron Wilson (Twitter link) that there’s nothing imminent, and that talk of a McClain comeback is probably “premature.”

NFC Notes: Graham, Jones, Tate, Guion

March 5th, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Luke Adams

The franchise tag is viewed as a way to essentially take an unrestricted free agent off the market, but that’s not technically what the tag does. It simply makes it more costly for another team to sign that free agent away from his current club, since the signing team would have to give up two first-round picks as compensation.

For some players though, that price tag may be worth paying, and there’s a sense around the league that a team may be willing to do so for Jimmy Graham, writes Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. It’s not clear yet which club might make a run at Graham, but teams with late first-round picks like the Seahawks and Patriots have been mentioned as possible candidates, and Freeman says not to rule out the Ravens either. For what it’s worth, a Packers source tells Freeman that Green Bay making a run at Graham “won’t happen.” Still, it sounds as if the Saints may need to fight to keep their star pass-catcher.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • James Jones isn’t expected to be back in Green Bay next season, but the free agent receiver still thinks there’s a chance he could re-sign with the Packers, as he told Around the League on the NFL Network yesterday (link via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com). If he doesn’t continue with the Packers, Jones thinks the Colts and Chargers might be good fits for him.
  • With just a few days until he can hit the open market, Golden Tate tells SiriusXM NFL Radio that he hasn’t heard much from the Seahawks, as Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk details. “I’ve kind of just trusted in my agent and him being good at his work,” Tate said. “Todd [France] has had some great deals in the past and so I’m letting him handle it. Just trying to stay stress free and really enjoying being a Super Bowl champ.”
  • Veteran defensive tackle Letroy Guion, who only played in about a third of the Vikings‘ defensive snaps in 2013, may be asked to take a pay cut, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Guion has a 2014 base salary worth $3.95MM and a total cap number of $4.3MM.
  • If the Buccaneers are going to trade Darrelle Revis this offseason, it will likely happen sooner rather than later. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why.

James Jones Likely Done In Green Bay

February 23rd, 2014 at 9:26am CST by Rory Parks

The Packers have not offered wide receiver James Jones a contract, and they most likely will let him walk when free agency opens on March 11, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal. Citing an unnamed source, McGinn writes that the Packers do not plan to even offer Jones a contract.

Jones’ agent, Frank Bauer, said, “I don’t think [Packer’s GM] Ted Thompson wants him.” Bauer added that he had appointments with a “handful” of teams to discuss Jones. Although Jones has had a solid career for Green Bay, including a league-high 14 TD catches in 2012, his free agent stock will be hurt by his age (he will be 30 in March) and by the fact that the 2014 draft class is very deep at the wide receiver position. Furthermore, the Packers may try to enter into extension talks with top wideouts Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb sooner rather than later, as both players are eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2014 season.

Another factor in the Packers’ decision to let Jones walk is the emergence of Jarrett Boykin. Last year, in his second season in the league, Boykin caught 49 passes for 681 yards and 3 TDs. McGinn notes that, just as Jones’ presence made it easier for Green Bay to let Greg Jennings walk last spring, Boykin’s presence will make it easier for the team to let Jones depart this offseason.

Packers Notes: Flynn, Jones, Finley, Cap

February 21st, 2014 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson have already addressed the media this morning in Indianapolis, so let’s round up some of the highlights from their respective sessions….

  • McCarthy indicated that a report suggesting Green Bay wants to get lighter on the defensive line isn’t necessarily accurate. McCarthy conceded that the defensive front may look a little different next season, but said he never wants his line to get smaller (Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).
  • Asked about a few pending free agents, McCarthy expressed interest in bringing back quarterback Matt Flynn, as well as pass-catchers James Jones and Jermichael Finley (Twitter links via Demovsky and Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
  • Thompson deflected questions about his team’s biggest draft need and whether the Packers would use the franchise tag on cornerback Sam Shields (Twitter links via Dunne).
  • While some execs and experts have been lavish in their praise of this year’s draft class, Thompson was more restrained, telling reporters, including Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Twitter link), that it’s hard to evaluate draft classes in the moment. In Thompson’s view, it won’t be possible to know how strong or deep this year’s group is until several years down the road.
  • Much has been made of the Packers’ cap flexibility, but Thompson says the team tries not to approach the offseason focusing too heavily on cap space: “We don’t talk much about the cap. We try not to make decisions based on the cap. We try to make football decisions” (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin).
  • Thompson added that there are always “surprises” during free agency, but that Green Bay is approaching the free agent period intent on keeping their own players (Twitter links via Dougherty).