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Jared Allen

NFC Rumors: Brown, Williams, Redskins

March 19th, 2014 at 9:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent cornerback Tarell Brown left the 49ers to sign a a one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Raiders in part, he says, because he didn’t get much of an offer from his old team. “[I]t wasn’t what I wanted and it was to me more of a slap in the face,” Brown told Erik Kuselias of Pro Football Talk. “But I understand that it’s a business and I understand that they have to do what is best for them and it’s no hard feelings. But what they offered me definitely wasn’t what I wanted and definitely wasn’t worth my value of what I’ve done in this league and how well I played these past 3-4 years in the league. So it’s understandable and like I said there’s never any hard feelings. They are doing a great job over there and I wish them the best.”

  • Kevin Williams isn’t optimistic about his chances of returning to the Vikings, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “I’m just sitting here waiting, man,” Williams said in a phone interview. “I don’t know (if I’ll be back). I thought there was a good chance early (in free agency). It keeps looking slimmer and slimmer, though. … I don’t know what their view is on it, but to me it’s getting slimmer.“
  • Jared Allen is making a second visit to the Seahawks and could decide whether to join them in the next few days, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.
  • New Redskins linebacker Akeem Jordan‘s one-year deal has just $65K guaranteed, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Appearing in 483 defensive snaps last season, Jordan recorded 67 tackles and forced a pair of fumbles, while ranking as the 11th-best inside linebacker out of 55 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Between the guaranteed money and his base salary, Jordan should see $920K in total.
  • Free agent wide receiver Kevin Cone is set to workout for the Panthers on Friday, agent Mark Clouser tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cone, who was not extended an exclusive-rights tender by the Falcons earlier this offseason, also has interest from the Jaguars.
  • New Cowboys defensive tackle Henry Melton says that he gave the Bears a real opportunity to keep him, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN. “We gave them a chance to make an offer, and they said they would wait to see what the market was and we don’t do business like that,” Melton said. “They dropped out early.”

NFC East Notes: Allen, Cowboys, Schwartz

March 19th, 2014 at 9:44am CST by Luke Adams

We heard yesterday that free agent defensive end Jared Allen was unlikely to sign with the Cowboys after visiting the team, and his asking price may be contributing to that fact. Ed Werder of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that Allen is seeking an annual salary close to $10MM, in the neighborhood of what DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers received. Of course, the guaranteed money on Ware’s and Pepper’s deals varies significantly, but either way, the Cowboys may not have the flexibility to fit Allen into their 2014 cap.

Here’s more on the Cowboys and one of their NFC East rivals:

  • Now that the official numbers are out on Ware’s contract with the Broncos are out, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders why the Cowboys weren’t more aggressive about trying to trade the veteran pass rusher before releasing him. Considering he didn’t end up taking a huge pay cut, Ware could have had some trade value, particularly if he’d been willing to rework his previous contract. However, a league source says the Cowboys didn’t attempt to trade Ware to Denver, and Florio suggests it doesn’t seem like Dallas tried to trade the 31-year-old to any team.
  • Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com wonders if the terms agreed to by the Cowboys and Henry Melton could provide a road map for a deal for Anthony Spencer.
  • In an interesting piece for Bleacher Report, Geoff Schwartz shares a first-person account of his experience in free agency, which fell on the calendar during the same week as his wedding. The veteran offensive guard ultimately signed with the Giants.

Extra Points: Cason, Allen, Mariani, Hester

March 18th, 2014 at 9:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Three candidates have emerged to succeed Domonique Foxworth as NFLPA president, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Saints tight end Ben Watson, free-agent tackle Eric Winston, and free-agent safety Ryan Clark will make their speeches Wednesday before the 32 team representatives vote for a new president. More from around the NFL..

  • In addition to cornerback Terrell Thomas, who was in for a visit today, the Panthers are also looking at corner Antoine Cason, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Garafolo figures that Carolina could sign one or both cornerbacks to boost their secondary.
  • Defensive end Jared Allen is unlikely to sign with the Cowboys after visiting today, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Dallas became less likely for the veteran when the Cowboys agreed to sign fellow defensive lineman Henry Melton earlier this evening.
  • The Chargers worked out former Titans wide receiver/kick returner/punter Marc Mariani, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Mariani has struggled to stay healthy in the past. The 26-year-old missed the entire 2012 season after snapping the tibula and fibula in his left leg and spent the entire 2013 season on Tennessee’s injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in training camp.
  • Top draft prospect Teddy Bridgewater met with the Texans, Jaguars, and Raiders after his pro-day workout at Louisville, tweets Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
  • In a conference call with reporters, Chiefs GM John Dorsey said contract extension talks with Alex Smith are ongoing, tweets Herbie Teope of the Associated Press. Dorsey did not offer a timetable for a resolution with his starting quarterback. On the call, Dorsey went on to discuss the club’s near deal with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders who wound up signing with the Broncos, writes Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star.
  • Rex Ryan and Jets GM John Idzik were at Florida State Pro Day to check out 6’5″, 240-pound wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin today, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • Safety Craig Steltz‘s one-year deal with the Bears is for the veteran’s minimum of $730K, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (on Twitter). Steltz can also earn another $65K in roster bonuses.
  • A source close to free agent return man Devin Hester tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN (on Twitter) that the former Bears standout is still in Atlanta and very much in the picture for the Falcons.

FA Rumors: Cromartie, Murphy, Allen, Britt

March 18th, 2014 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s follow up this morning’s summary of the latest free agent rumors with another round for the early afternoon:

  • A league source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link) not to expect the Jets to re-sign Antonio Cromartie. “They’re not being very aggressive,” the source said, repeating what is becoming a common refrain in discussions on the Jets’ approach to free agency.
  • Still in the market for receiving help, the Buccaneers are hosting free agent Louis Murphy today, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Once he completes his visit with the Cowboys, Jared Allen intends to head home and weigh his options, according to Rapoport, who tweets that the veteran defensive end is unlikely to make a decision today. Allen could also decide to make more visits to teams after Dallas, Rapoport notes (via Twitter).
  • We heard on the weekend that wide receiver Kenny Britt would be meeting with the Redskins at some point this week, and that visit happened today, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter).
  • After visiting the Bucs yesterday, cornerback Mike Jenkins is meeting with the Cardinals today, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
  • The Bears continue to have interest in re-signing cornerback and key special teams player Sherrick McManis, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Biggs suggested last week that the Ravens, Eagles, and Falcons could be in the mix for McManis, but the Bears remain in talks to bring him back.

Brandon Weeden, Jared Allen Visiting Cowboys

March 17th, 2014 at 7:56am CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys will host multiple notable free agents early this week, with quarterback Brandon Weeden and defensive end Jared Allen set to visit the team. Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com reports Weeden’s meeting, along with Henry Melton‘s visit, will happen Monday, while Adam Schefter of ESPN.com says Allen’s visit will happen on Tuesday.

The Cowboys have been fairly quiet since free agency opened, signing just a pair of defensive lineman, Jeremy Mincey and Terrell McClain. With limited cap flexibility even after cutting DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin, the club doesn’t have the ability to spend big on free agents this year, but Allen and Melton are arguably among the top players who don’t have contracts at this point. Concerns about Allen’s age or Melton’s health could open the door for Dallas to make a bargain buy or two, but we’ll have to wait to see how their visits go.

As for Weeden, we heard on Friday that the Cowboys would have interest in the former Browns signal-caller, who was released last week. So far, Dallas has been the only team linked to the 30-year-old.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, 49ers, Cardinals

March 16th, 2014 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of notes from around the National Football Conference to end your weekend…

FA Links: Sanders, Allen, Hester

March 16th, 2014 at 7:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Before he signed with the Broncos, there were rumblings that receiver Emmanuel Sanders might end up with the Chiefs. There was so much to those rumors that even the team thought they were going to land the free agent, but it all ended up being a clever strategy by the former Steelers’ agent, Steve Weinberg. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, many executives around the league aren’t happy with how the Sanders talks were handled, with one team official saying the Weinberg broke “every rule in negotiations”. In his press conference today, Sanders said there was “no handshake” and “no kind of agreement” with the Chiefs.

More from around the NFL…

  • Jared Allen met with the Seahawks today, tweets Rapoport. In a subsequent tweet, Rapoport mentions that Allen will likely visit another team this week and that retiring is still an option for the 31-year-old.
  • Adding to reports that the Dolphins have interest in Devin Hester, the wide receiver has said that he would “love” to play for the team, writes Chris Perkins of the Chicago Tribune.
  • The Buccaneers will now listen to offers for offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah after having signed Evan Dietrich-Smith, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora adds (via Twitter) that the team is looking to revamp their offensive line but acknowledged that the team does value Zuttah’s versatility. La Confora suggests the Ravens, Colts and Giants as potential fits (from Twitter).

Poll: Best Remaining Free Agent

March 15th, 2014 at 10:52pm CST by Peter Sowards

It’s been an exciting and busy few days since the 2014 NFL league year officially opened Tuesday, and many of the top free agents have already relocated or re-signed with their respective teams. Also, marquee names released by clubs — like DeMarcus Ware and Darrelle Revis — have landed with top contenders priming for Super Bowl runs.

That being said, we’re interested in seeing who you think is the best remaining free agent. We’ll start with the players remaining from Luke Adams’ top 25 NFL free agents, then add players like Antonio Cromartie who were released by their teams and have yet to be signed.

Feel free to defend your vote in the comments section below.

FA Rumors: Vikings, 49ers, DRC, Cowboys

March 14th, 2014 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Vikings GM Rick Spielman spoke to reporters on a conference call today, and indicated that his team is “not by any means finished” in free agency, and will continue to be aggressive in exploring potential upgrades (Twitter links via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). According to Spielman, the Vikings still have interest in free agents Charlie Johnson and Kevin Williams, and have spoken to Williams’ agent recently (Twitter links via Tomasson).

Here are plenty more afternoon free agent rumors from around the NFL:

  • After meeting with the Chiefs today, Emmanuel Sanders‘ next visit will be with the 49ers, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The free agent wide receiver, who has also visited the Jaguars and Buccaneers this week, will be staying in Kansas City overnight, so the Chiefs still have a chance to lock him up before he reaches San Francisco, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com gets the sense that Julian Edelman‘s visit with the 49ers is more a feeling out process for both sides than an indication anything is imminent (Twitter link).
  • Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is heading to New York tonight to meet with the Jets, reports Schefter (via Twitter).
  • The Seahawks have expressed interest in bringing back wide receiver Sidney Rice, who was released by the club earlier in the offseason, writes Jayson Jenks of the Seattle Times.
  • In addition to having some interest in Julius Peppers, as we heard earlier, the Cowboys are keeping an eye on Jared Allen and would be interested if his price falls, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • Free agent tight ends Jermichael Finley and Ed Dickson don’t appear to be in the Giants‘ plans for now, says Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (via Twitter).
  • Free agent guard Daryn Colledge met with the Rams today, and is now off to meet with the Raiders, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • The Bengals have confirmed that two offensive linemen, Vlad Ducasse and Uche Nwaneri, both visited the team today, tweets Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Jared Allen Rumors: Wednesday

March 12th, 2014 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Jared Allen almost seemed destined to sign with the Broncos, but their interest in DeMarcus Ware has thrown a wrench into those plans. Instead, the Pro Bowler is looking at some alternatives. Last night we heard that he’s talking with the Seahawks and Bears, but Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com reported this morning that Chicago doesn’t seem too likely for the defensive end. The latest on Allen..

  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter links) that the Broncos would have made Allen a three-year offer similar to the one DeMarcus Ware received, if Ware turned it down.
  • Contrary to previous reports, the Seahawks haven’t yet spoken to Allen’s camp, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That doesn’t mean Seattle won’t eventually discuss a deal with Allen, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Earlier updates:

  • Allen’s agent, Ken Harris, issued a statement today saying that his client hasn’t yet agreed to visit and teams, and isn’t discussing any suitors that have been in contact, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Harris suggests that there’s a lot of misinformation out there and that “none of the rumors are coming from our camp.”
  • Allen wants fair value after a career in which he has averaged nearly 13 sacks per season and if he doesn’t get what he wants, he’s at peace with living his life without football, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
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