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Jay Cutler

NFC North Notes: Packers, Bears, Vikings

July 19th, 2014 at 10:27am CST by Matt Feminis

The injury-related retirement of Packers running back Jonathan Franklin means there are third-down snaps to be had, writes ESPN Wisconsin’s Jason Wilde in a position preview. If/when Eddie Lacy is off the field, the leading candidates are DuJuan Harris — if he can show improvement in blitz pickup — and “old reliable” fullback John Kuhn.

Here’s a few more NFC North links:

  • The Packers’ run defense fell off significantly last season, and the team made a concerted effort to get younger and more athletic along the defensive line. In fact, 28-year-old B.J. Raji is now the “old man of the line.” In the spotlight, however, is 2013 first-rounder Datone Jones, whom Press-Gazette’s Pete Dougherty calls a “critical player for meaningful improvement.” Jones sustained a sprained ankle in the preseason opener and didn’t get healthy until the end of the season. The team expects Jones to step up his game this season, as he will have significantly more responsibility than his niche role as an inside, sub-package rusher last year.
  • The Bears, who were even worse than the Packers against the run last season, also expect to have a better defensive front in 2014. A healthy Jay Ratliff is one of the reasons why. The veteran defensive tackle is 33, but is 100 percent healthy now, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright, who shared a text message he received from a Bears employee: “It helps that we signed Rat. He’s a soldier if healthy!” If that’s the case, it will be a coup for the Bears, who scooped up Ratliff in November for a late-season look-see after he was released by the Cowboys. Encouraged by Ratliff’s health, the Bears retained him on a team-friendly, two-year deal, expecting him to provide disruption from the three-technique.
  • Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times identified the Bears’ 10 most important players, including defensive lineman Lamarr Houston, whom the Bears see as a “star in the making.”
  • Bears head coach Marc Trestman sat down with the Chicago Tribune’s Dan Wiederer for an extensive one-on-one interview in which Trestman touched on a variety of topics, including Jay Cutler, Jared Allen, locker-room culture and leadership, among other things.
  • Vikings fourth-year tight end Kyle Rudolph, who shed 15 pounds this offseason, believes he’s an improved route runner thanks to new offensive coordinator Norv Turner, writes ESPN’s Ben Goessling.

Extra Points: Dreessen, Cutler, Ferguson

July 12th, 2014 at 1:11pm CST by Matt Feminis
  • Speaking with Vic Carucci & Dan Leberfeld on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Broncos tight end Joel Dreessen weighed in on the Jimmy Graham ruling, saying the decision struck a nerve and that he agreed with Tony Gonzalez’s take on the situation: “It’s kind of frustrating that guys who get asked to do probably the second most after the quarterback is kinda down there on the pay scale.”
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune listed 12 NFL training camp storylines to watch, including Jay Cutler‘s new deal. “The Bears signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a $126 million contract extension that is essentially a $54 million deal for the next three seasons before it goes year-to-year,” says Biggs. “It’s a huge payday that general manager Phil Emery based on future performance, as Cutler’s resume includes only one postseason victory.”
  • Last year was an “uncharacteristically bad year” for Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, says the New York Post’s Brian Costello, who believes 2013 will prove to be “an aberration and not a sign of decline.” However, Costello does caution: “Ferguson has the highest salary cap figure on the team at $11.7 million. After a few restructurings to help the team gain salary cap space in 2012 and ’13, the bill is now coming due for the Jets. Ferguson’s cap numbers are huge for the next four years. If Ferguson’s play slips, the Jets might have to consider releasing him before the 2016 season, when they could save $9 million in cap space by cutting him.”
  • Branden Albert of the Dolphins and Jairus Byrd of the Saints topped ESPN’s list of free agents who will transform teams. The last three seasons, Albert has allowed just 4.6 pressures per 100 pass blocks, good enough for third in the league over that span. As for Byrd, he allowed a paltry 0.23 yards per coverage snap last season, third-best in the league.
  • Answering questions about the Eagles’ projected roster, PhillyMag.com’s Tim McManus said he doesn’t expect many “curveballs,” i.e. surprises, when the team’s 53-man is finalized. McManus expects LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles and Chris Polk to serve as the running back trio, and he expects Brad Smith to stick as the fifth receiver. The one mild surprise could be Travis Long forcing veteran Brandon Graham out, though that would mean employing two backups at defensive end (Long and first-rounder Marcus Smith) with no NFL experience.
  • Entering training camp, 49 Patriots players are “sure-fire locks” or “near locks,” in the estimation of ESPN New England’s Mike Reiss, who breaks down the projected roster.

NFC North Links: Cutler, Fales, Lions, House

June 28th, 2014 at 3:35pm CST by Rob DiRe

Bears‘ quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh is impressed with Jay Cutler going into year two in head coach Marc Trestman’s offense, writes Chris Boden of CSNChicago.com. “I’ve seen incredible progress,” said Cavanaugh. “He’s taken every suggestion we’ve given and he’s embraced it. From how he holds the ball to how he lines up in the`Gun’ pre-snap to how he drops back, to his throwing base to his follow-through. Every little fundamental we’ve talked to him about, he’s embraced, and it’s like night & day.”

Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:

  • Although the Bears signed veterans Jimmy Clausen and Jordan Palmer to compete to be Cutler’s backup, the team still is invested in rookie sixth-round pick David Fales, writes Boden. “He had a real good understanding of defenses, coverages, where to go with the ball, based on what the coverage was. He has a good understanding of protections — he’s figuring out ours right now,” said Cavanaugh. “But I thought just a real good core understanding of offense and defense. If you have that, you can learn the language and be productive.”
  • With some time before training camp opens, the Lions still have a number of questions that need to be answered, writes Lindsay Selengowski of DetroitLions.com. Selengowski examines how an injury to rookie receiver T.J. Jones will effect the team’s depth chart, and which second-year players are looking to contribute in 2014.
  • The Lions have an ongoing kicking battle between Nate Freese and Giorgio Tavecchio for a roster spot, writes Josh Katzenstein of DetroitNews.com. Freese, a seventh-round pick this year, has the slight edge over Tavecchio at the moment, although both struggled so far.
  • Packers‘ cornerback Davon House has found himself in a tough depth chart situation, behind starters Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, and Casey Hayward, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com. House, who played 16 games last year for the first time in his career, was relegated mostly to special teams towards the end of last year, but played well in the playoffs against the 49ers after Shields left the game with an injury.

Chiefs Notes: Dressler, Smith, Johnson

June 1st, 2014 at 10:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Cousins David and DeMarcus Van Dyke have waited their entire lives to be on the same team. The time has finally come, as the two cornerbacks are now teammates on the Chiefs. There’s one problem, though: the players are competing for a roster spot.

The duo are two of ten cornerback candidates currently in Chiefs camp, and it’s no guarantee that either player makes the team. Even with all of the competition, the family members are still rooting for each other.

Via Randy Covitz of The Kansas City Star:

“May the best man win,” said DeMarcus. “I’ll be proud of him if he does make it, because I want him to win an opportunity in the NFL. He’s worked hard since little league to get here, so anything I can do to help him win a job, I’m down for it.”

“You have to compete for a job,” said David, “no matter what team you go to.”

DeMarcus was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2011 draft. He’s appeared in 25 career games. David was undrafted out of Tennessee State.

There’s a lot more going on in Kansas City. ESPN.com’s Chiefs writer Adam Teicher answered questions from readers this past weekend. Let’s see what he had to say…

  • Teicher believes it will be difficult for CFL veteran wide receiver Weston Dressler to make the roster. The writer says the drafting of De’Anthony Thomas “doomed” Dressler’s chances.
  • Teicher thinks the Chiefs will keep six wideouts:  Thomas, Donnie Avery, Dwayne Bowe, Junior Hemingway, Frankie Hammond Jr. and A.J. Jenkins.
  • The writer doesn’t think Alex Smith will receive a contract approaching Jay Cutler‘s $126MM deal. He suggests a contract worth $14-$15MM annually, less than the $18MM that Cutler averages.
  • It wouldn’t surprise Teicher if the Chiefs hold on to four quarterbacks, especially if they don’t sign Alex Smith to an extension. Besides Smith, the team also has Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray.
  • The addition of linebacker Joe Mays is “an ominous sign” for Nico Johnson, the writer says.

AFC Mailbags: Bengals, Steelers, Colts, Jags

June 1st, 2014 at 8:54pm CST by Ben Levine

ESPN’s NFL writers answered questions from their readers this weekend. Let’s take a look at some interesting notes from the AFC…

Brandon Marshall Announces Contract Extension

May 19th, 2014 at 7:33pm CST by Matt Feminis

7:33pm: The financials of Marshall’s extension have been released, with the big-play wideout earning $30.1MM in new money, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Of the three year extension, $22.5MM is guaranteed, and Marshall will make $15MM in his first year of the new deal.

11:53am: Marshall’s extension has some “hidden” importance, says Dan Pompei on Sulia: “…the other aspect of [Marshall’s] value is his leadership. Marshall gets players together and runs offseason workouts both on the field and off…it would send the wrong message for the Bears to dole out all the money they have this offseason to players from other teams such as Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and others, and then re-sign their own players such as Tim Jennings, Charles Tillman, Jay Ratliff, Jay Cutler and others, and then not take care of one of their foremost leaders. This contract is about rewarding a great player, but it’s also about sending a message to the entire roster.”

11:20am: Bears receiver Brandon Marshall broke news of a three-year, $30MM contract extension on the television program “The View.” Marshall, who had one year and $9.3MM remaining on his five-year, $44.8MM deal, is now locked up for four years and $40MM ($23MM guaranteed), per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

Acquired from the Dolphins in March of 2012 for a pair of third-round picks, Marshall was the first big splash of GM Phil Emery’s tenure. The 30-year-old has rewarded the team’s confidence, establishing a rapport with Jay Cutler and posting two Pro Bowl seasons in which he totaled 218 receptions for 2,803 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Bears Notes: Freeman, Eachus, Ringer

April 7th, 2014 at 8:55pm CST by Peter Sowards

While Kentucky and Connecticut go to battle in one of the more improbable NCAA title games, the machine that is the NFL never stops, and the rumors continue to stream in. The Bears had a busy day, hosting former Buccaneers and Vikings quarterback Josh Freeman and signing long snapper Chad Rempel.

Rounding up more of the latest Windy City news below…

NFC Notes: Sanchez, Cutler, Kaepernick, Kuhn

March 24th, 2014 at 4:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles appear to be the frontrunners to sign Mark Sanchez, but the quarterback doesn’t have an agreement in place with any team yet. As Sanchez and his suitors weigh the decision, we can rule out Seattle as a potential landing spot. Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that the Seahawks, who had been mentioned because of the connection to former USC coach Pete Carroll, aren’t in the mix for the former Jet.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • According to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter), the Bears have created a little 2014 cap space by converting $5MM of Jay Cutler‘s $22.5MM base salary into a signing bonus. That allows the team to spread the bonus out in even $1MM hits over the next five seasons, creating $4MM in cap savings for ’14.
  • Working out a deal that will keep Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco long-term is a “priority” for the 49ers, head coach Jim Harbaugh said today. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com has the details and quotes from Harbaugh.
  • Free agent fullback John Kuhn continues to talk to the Packers and other teams, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  • Saints GM Mickey Loomis spoke at length to Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune about his team’s offseason so far, including New Orleans’ additions and subtractions. Discussing the Darren Sproles trade with the Eagles, Loomis suggested that he hopes the move doesn’t come back to “bite” the Saints.
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links) passes along some specific details on J.D. Walton‘s two-year contract with the Giants. With an overall base value of $6MM, the deal includes annual base salaries of $1.25MM (2014) and $2.25MM (2015), a $1.25MM signing bonus, a $250K roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2015 league year, and $50K each season in per-game roster bonuses.