HEADLINES

Jared Allen

NFC North Notes: Packers, Lions, Allen, Verner

March 8th, 2014 at 4:55pm CST by Rob DiRe

While Packers‘ free agents Sam Shields and B.J. Raji have been getting all of the attention early on this offseason, Bill Polian of ESPN writes that neither player is the top free agent the Packers must try to re-sign. According to Polian, Evan Dietrich-Smith is the free agent with the highest grade. He wrote that while Shields is a good cover corner, he is not a great tackler, and that Raji would only fit in a defense that would not require movement from its nose tackle.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:

  • The Lions have a need at safety, but they will not have the resources to go after a big name in free agency, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. He sees James Ihedigbo, Ryan Clark, and Donte Whitner as affordable options. Other interesting and cheap options could include Steve Gregory and Chris Clemons. If the team would like to attract a bigger name, they could look at converting either Champ Bailey or Rashean Mathis to safety from corner.
  • While Jared Allen and his agent have not talked to the Vikings about returning yet, the free agent defensive end has not ruled them out as a potential landing spot, reports Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter).
  • The Vikings called to gauge interest in Alterraun Verner, reports Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Vikings defensive back coach Jerry Gray was previously Verner’s defensive coordinator with the Titans. The team has also expressed interest in defensive tackle Paul Soliai, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (via Twitter).

NFC North Links: Pettigrew, Allen, Melton

March 7th, 2014 at 9:39am CST by Luke Adams

Here’s a roundup of a few Friday morning items on NFC North clubs:

  • While Brandon Pettigrew may not be quite as crucial to the Lions’ offense as Dennis Pitta is to the Ravens’ passing attack, the Detroit tight end is a better run blocker and figures to receive a contract in the same ballpark as Pitta, says Justin Rogers of MLive.com. In Rogers’ view, a five-year deal worth about $30MM isn’t out of the question this offseason for Pettigrew.
  • Examining Jared Allen’s recent comments about his free agency, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press is skeptical about the Vikings’ chances of re-signing the free agent defensive end.
  • Defensive tackle Henry Melton made the Pro Bowl in 2012, but he’s coming off ACL surgery and is eligible for free agency this offseason. Bears GM Phil Emery must decide if an investment in Melton is worth the risk, writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.

FA Rumors: Talib, Allen, Carroll, McClain

March 5th, 2014 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

While one prospective free agent cornerback, Brent Grimes, re-upped with his team earlier this week, we probably shouldn’t expect Aqib Talib and the Patriots to reach an agreement before Talib hits the open market, says Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Howe hears from a source that Talib “wants to be paid as a top-of-the-market corner” in free agency, meaning he’s unlikely to accept any offer from the Pats before he sees what else is out there. New England has made the veteran cornerback a priority since the team’s season ended, but it looks like the Pats will have to compete with other suitors if they want to bring Talib back for 2014.

Here’s more on this year’s free agent class:

  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Jared Allen said that when he hits free agency, he’ll be looking for a good organization with a chance to win – as well as a fair contract – and expects to be very involved in the process. The longtime Viking didn’t sound bullish on the idea of joining the Raiders, suggesting that Oakland has a lot of things to “correct” and may not be looking for a veteran defensive end (all Twitter links).
  • The Vikings are “expected to take a strong look” at cornerback Nolan Carroll if and when he becomes available, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. We heard last week that the Dolphins have interest in bringing back Carroll, who anticipates testing the open market.
  • Jack Bechta, the agent for linebacker Pat Angerer, tells Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star that the Colts will let his client hit the open market next week without attempting to re-sign him. Angerer’s looming departure helps explain the club’s interest in signing free agent linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.
  • After visiting with the Bills today, free agent linebacker Jameel McClain will move on to meet with the Giants, tweets Joe Buscaglia of WGR550. According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), the Bills and Giants are two of the five teams interested in McClain.
  • The Redskins continue talking to linebacker Perry Riley but aren’t particularly close to reaching an agreement, reports Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
  • Seth Walder of the New York Daily News expects the Jets to add a quarterback in free agency, and identifies Josh McCown, Michael Vick, and Tarvaris Jackson as a few potential targets for the club.
  • According to head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens have “aggressive” offers out to all the pending free agents they want to keep (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun).
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press takes a look at some free agent options for the Lions as the team hunts for a slot receiver to replace Nate Burleson.

Jared Allen To Test Open Market

March 4th, 2014 at 3:41pm CST by Luke Adams

He’s a 10-year veteran and a five-time Pro Bowler, but Jared Allen has never fully experienced free agency as an unrestricted FA, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes. That streak will come to an end this next week. According to agent Ken Harris, Allen will hit the open market “to see what 32 teams have to offer” (Twitter links via Rapoport).

Allen, 31, won’t see the kind of payday this year that he would have in his prime, but the star pass rusher remains productive and durable, recording 11.5 sacks last season for the Vikings. It was the sixth straight year in which he’d started all 16 regular season contests for the team, and the seventh consecutive season he’d notched 11 or more sacks.

Of course, just because Allen will test that market, it doesn’t mean that his days in Minnesota are over. Harris said last month that he had a “productive” meeting with the Vikings at the combine, and tells Rapoport that the club remains in the mix. As for other potential suitors, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com recently suggested the Raiders, with plenty of cap space and a need for an edge rusher, might be a good fit for the veteran defensive end.

Extra Points: Benton, Dolphins, Amendola

March 1st, 2014 at 8:01pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Dolphins have promoted John Benton to offensive line coach and named Jack Bicknell Jr. the team’s assistant offensive line coach, the team announced today.

Benton was originally hired by the Dolphins on January 29. He replaces Jim Turner, who was fired earlier this month for his involvement in the Richie Incognito–Jonathan Martin bullying scandal.

Bicknell spent the 2013 season as the Steelers‘ offensive line coach. Before that, he had NFL stops with the Chiefs and Giants, and 24 seasons coaching at the collegiate level.

Here are some more bits and pieces from a relatively slow Saturday night…

Combine Updates: Orakpo, Talib, Welker

February 21st, 2014 at 3:34pm CST by Luke Adams

Redskins GM Bruce Allen is a big fan of Brian Orakpo and will to talk to his agent this weekend, but there’s no guarantee that the free agent linebacker will be back in 2014, writes the Washington Times’ Zac Boyer.

“We like Brian,” Allen said. “There’s no doubt we like Brian, as well as a number of other players. If we were just one player short, that would be an easy question, but we have several [needs] that we’re looking to fill.”

Orakpo, 27, is considered among the best pass rushers available and is expected to command an average salary in the neighborhood of $10MM per season. Here’s more from the second day of the 2014 combine:

  • The Patriots are set to meet with Aqib Talib in Indianapolis to discuss a new deal, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. As Howe notes, it’s a buyer’s market at the cornerback position with Alterraun Verner, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Charles Tillman, Vontae Davis and Brent Grimes also set to become available.
  • Broncos GM John Elway expects wide receiver Wes Welker to be back with the team in 2014 for the final year of his contract, tweets Howe.
  • Ken Harris, Jared Allen‘s agent, tells Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) that he had a “constructive” meeting with the Vikings on Thursday.
  • Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said he anticipates getting two to three compensatory draft picks, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
  • In Ron Rivera’s view, the Panthers don’t have a successor to Steve Smith on their roster, which is something the head coach believes the club could address this offseason, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • According to GM Martin Mayhew, the Lions have no plans to try to re-sign wide receiver Nate Burleson or safety Louis Delmas, who were released earlier this month. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has the details.
  • Johnny Manziel wants to endear himself to NFL GMs, so naturally, he decided to refer to himself in third person at the combine today when talking to reporters. “Johnny Manziel is a small-town kid. People make me out to be a Hollywood type,” the quarterback said, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).

Zach Links contributed to this post.