Kurt Coleman - Pro Football Rumors

Panthers Release S Kurt Coleman

February 26th, 2018 at 12:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers will release Kurt Coleman despite two seasons remaining on the safety’s deal. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter) Carolina will cut one of its safety starters.

Coleman started three seasons for the Panthers and signed an extension in 2016. He was set to comprise $5.15MM of the Panthers’ 2018 cap. This move will tag Carolina with $2.5MM in dead money while creating $2.65MM in cap space.

Coleman’s stay in Charlotte rebuilt his value after he’d been a part-time player with the 2013 Eagles and 2014 Chiefs. He started throughout the Panthers’ Super Bowl season and signed a three-year, $15.1MM extension during the summer of 2016.

Dave Gettleman signed off on Coleman’s extension that summer, and the Panthers have gone through three defensive coordinators since that move commenced. Coleman played in 12 games last season, missing time because of an MCL sprain. He will become a street free agent — on a market that also includes another Panthers safety from Super Bowl 50, Tre Boston — in advance of his age-29 season.

The Panthers may be looking to add younger talent at this position soon. Soon-to-be 37-year-old Mike Adams was Carolina’s other primary starter at this spot last season.

Panthers Rumors: Davis, Olsen, Kuechly

October 27th, 2017 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thomas Davis provided some clarification about his health this week, making a slight correction to his wife’s assessment of an injury with which he’s dealing. During a TV interview, Kelly Davis said her husband was broken “completely broken ribs” for several weeks. The longest-tenured Panthers player said (via David Newton of ESPN.com) his wife didn’t lie and he is dealing with a broken bone in that area, but only one rib is affected. The 13th-year linebacker added the injury has healed to the point he doesn’t have to treat it any further. The Panthers called Kelly Davis’ comments “heartfelt” but “overstated,” noting Thomas Davis did appear on the team’s injury report for multiple weeks due to a rib ailment. Having started each of Carolina’s seven games this season, the linebacker is not in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

Here’s the latest out of Charlotte.

Greg Olsen says he’ll test his surgically repaired foot on the field next week, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. That’s when Olsen will first become eligible to resume practicing after going on IR in Week 3. If he’s healthy enough, Olsen could suit up again in mid-November. League rules dictate that players can return from IR after spending eight weeks on the list.
Ryan Kalil has played in just two of Carolina’s seven games this season and is unlikely to see action Sunday, although Ron Rivera said the longtime center could play in an emergency situation. Kalil’s dealing with a neck injury, one he aggravated in Week 7 after returning to the lineup. Rivera said (via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer, on Twitter) the Panthers are not ready to discuss an IR move for the 11th-year snapper. Tyler Larsen has started in Kalil’s place.
Luke Kuechly is in the final stage of concussion protocol, needing to be cleared by an independent doctor in order to play this week. The All-Pro middle linebacker practiced fully all week, per Newton, and is just more than two weeks removed from the latest concussion he suffered. Signs point to Kuechly playing against the Bucs. Should Kuechly return after missing just one game, it will mark his shortest concussion-induced absence as an NFLer. He missed three games in 2015 and six last season because of head injuries.
Rivera added the Panthers will get Kurt Coleman back after three missed games. The safety missed time because of a knee injury.

Zach Links contributed to this report.

NFC Notes: Avril, Redskins, Panthers, Sloter

October 19th, 2017 at 8:29pm CST by Ben Levine

After being placed on injured reserve earlier this week, there were whispers that Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril could decide to hang up his cleats. While the player subsequently denied those reports, coach Pete Carroll addressed the rumors earlier today.

“We have to wait and see on that,” Carroll said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “That’s really up to the docs and Cliff and all that kind of stuff, and I’m one-thousand percent supportive of whatever we need to do here to help him, and so that’s why we’re taking our time. The IR thing gives him six weeks at least to figure whatever else we can figure out. But he’s not sure what’s best for him right now and he’s trying to find that out. We’re giving him hopefully a good sense and a comfort that we’re going to support it all the way throughout and figure out what’s best and all that.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…

The Redskins placed rookie defense end Jonathan Allen on the injured reserve earlier today, but ESPN.com’s John Keim reports that the team is hoping he’ll be back before the end of the season. Coach Jay Gruden said the team’s prognosis changed after the player underwent surgery on Wednesday night. “We got better news after the surgery that it wouldn’t be as lengthy as they typically are,” Gruden said. “That’s good news. But we still have to rehab it. He’s a big man and sometimes bigger guys take a little bit longer. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully we see him again, but it’s up to the rehab.”
While it was initially believed that Kurt Coleman could miss up to a month, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers safety could return this weekend after missing only a pair of games. Coleman suffered a sprained knee ligament earlier this month in a win over the Patriots. Meanwhile, linebacker Luke Kuechly made more progress towards passing the concussion protocol, as the Pro Bowler was seen riding a stationary bike earlier today.
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is confident that he’ll return this season, and the team may be forced to make a difficult roster decision. With the team currently rostering Sam Bradford and Case Keenum, third-stringer Kyle Sloter appears to be the odd man out. Of course, the undrafted rookie isn’t worried about future transactions, as he’s confident he’ll find a job elsewhere. “I’m not really too concerned day in and day out with my NFL future,’’ Sloter told Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com. “I think that I’ll have a job.” The reporter also tweets that the organization could look to pass Sloter through waivers with hopes that he’ll land on their practice squad.

Panthers S Kurt Coleman Sprains MCL

October 2nd, 2017 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers are probably going to have to get by without their top safety for the time being. Kurt Coleman is set to miss time after spraining an MCL in Sunday’s victory over the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The team confirmed the injury Monday and said the eighth-year veteran could be out as long as a month, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. The Panthers will face the Lions on Sunday in a matchup of 3-1 teams before a Thursday-night game against the Eagles. Coleman will almost certainly miss both of those games, regardless of his recovery speed.

Carolina is suddenly hurting for depth on its defensive back line. The team signed 36-year-old Mike Adams to play alongside Coleman but doesn’t have much starting experience behind its top duo. Longtime special-teamer Colin Jones replaced Coleman on Sunday. Rookie UDFA Demetrious Cox is the only other safety on the roster. Jones did start six games for the Panthers from 2014-16, however.

Last year, Coleman signed an extension with the Panthers that runs through the 2019 season. He hasn’t missed more than a game in a season since joining the team in 2015, playing in 15 regular-season contests in each of the past two years.

Vikings Notes: Peterson, Coleman, Zimmer

September 22nd, 2016 at 5:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After Vikings running back Adrian Peterson underwent surgery on his meniscus today, initial reports indicated that he’d miss a minimum of three-to-four months, with the possibility looming that he could be sidelined for as many as six months. Two surgeons (who, it should be noted, did not operate on Peterson), confirmed that general timeline to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, who writes that Peterson is unlikely to return before December, if at all.

Had Peterson opted to have the injured portion of his meniscus removed rather than repaired, he could have returned to the field in weeks, not months, according to one of the surgeons. But doing so could have presented problems for Peterson later in his career and during his post-football life, as such a procedure can lead to arthritis in the knee.

Peterson’s 2016 season may be over prematurely, and his career with the Vikings could be coming to a close as well, opines Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Even setting aside his injury, Peterson never looked like a great bet to return to Minnesota in 2017 barring some sort of contract adjustment, as he’s set to count for an untenable $18MM on next year’s cap. All of that total can be cleared out by releasing him, and given that Peterson isn’t a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Norv Turner‘s scheme, it seems logical that he’ll be playing for a new club next season.
Head coach Mike Zimmer admitted that the Vikings made a “mistake” when they released safety Kurt Coleman prior to the 2014 season, as Tomasson writes in a separate piece. Coleman signed a one-year deal with Minnesota during Zimmer’s first year as coach, but the veteran defensive back never played a down for the club. In the years since, he’s blossomed into an excellent player with the Panthers, and recently inked a three-year extension. For his part, Coleman says he has “no hard feelings” about the decision, as Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer writes.
Peterson isn’t the only Viking on the mend, as we learned earlier today that defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd is also undergoing a knee operation. Specifics of the surgery aren’t yet known, but it’s not a great sign for Floyd, who is signed through 2017 thanks to his fifth-year option.
In case you missed it, the Vikings yesterday placed left tackle Matt Kalil on injured reserve and signed former Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman.

Panthers, Kurt Coleman Agree To Extension

July 27th, 2016 at 2:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

WEDNESDAY, 2:12pm: Coleman’s three-year extension is worth $17MM, a source tells Rapoport (on Twitter). The deal includes $7MM guaranteed with $6MM paid up front.

TUESDAY, 6:43pm: The Panthers and safety Kurt Coleman have agreed to a three-year extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Coleman will sign the deal tomorrow.

Coleman, 28, was scheduled to reach free agency next spring, so this multi-year contract will take him through the 2019 campaign. After inking a two-year deal prior to the 2015 season, Coleman was set to earn about $1.6MM during the upcoming season, but he’s now presumably in line for a substantial raise. Earlier this month, Coleman expressed hope that he and the Panthers could come to some sort of agreement.

“I respect everyone that’s involved in the process and I’m trusting that both sides are going to do what’s right and what’s fair,” Coleman said. “Honestly, it’s out of my hands. My job isn’t to negotiate. I probably wouldn’t be that good at it. My personal feelings might get (involved). I just control what I can control.”

Serving as a full-time starter for only the third time in his six-year career, Coleman posted his best season to date, starting 15 games while picking up 53 tackles and seven interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Coleman, an Ohio State alum, also posted two more picks during Carolina’s postseason run. He graded out as the league’s No. 14 safety in 2015, according to Pro Football Focus, just ahead of other playmakers like George Iloka and Will Hill.

Coleman becomes the second Panther to sign an extension this offseason, joining offensive lineman Ryan Kalil and Michael Oher, each of whom were signed through 2018.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

South Notes: Coleman, Luck, Robinson, Lewan

July 5th, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In his sixth NFL season, safety Kurt Coleman enjoyed something of a career renaissance with the Panthers, starting 15 games while posting seven interceptions, good for second in the NFL. With Josh Norman and Roman Harper no longer around, Coleman will be counted on to act as a veteran leader in Carolina’s secondary, and though he’s entering the final year of his contract, he’s not worried about inking a new deal.

“I respect everyone that’s involved in the process and I’m trusting that both sides are going to do what’s right and what’s fair,” Coleman told Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. “Honestly, it’s out of my hands. My job isn’t to negotiate. I probably wouldn’t be that good at it. My personal feelings might get (involved). I just control what I can control.”

As Roster Resource shows, the Panthers will be relying on players with little to no NFL experience in the defensive backfield. Bene Benwikere, Tre Boston, James Bradberry, and Daryl Worley are among the defenders who will need to contribute in 2016, and that lack of pedigree is one reason I pegged Carolina as a logical landing spot for free agent safety Donte Whitner.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two South divisions:

After driving into a retention pond and preceding to fall asleep Sunday morning, Jaguars running back Denard Robinson was — somewhat surprisingly — determined to not be impaired while at the wheel, as Joe Daraskevich of the Florida Times-Union reported. Robinson and a passenger were apparently both found asleep at around 4:20am on Sunday, and each reportedly dismissed an officer’s attempt to remove them from the car. “I should not have been driving that late or when I was that tired, but again, I’m just glad that everyone was safe,” Robinson said in part.
While Andrew Luck‘s new contract set a new NFL record in terms of average annual value, many observers were surprised that the Colts quarterback didn’t receive more (in either guarantees or yearly salary). Personally, I count myself among those that believe that Luck could have held out for a larger payday, but former agent Joel Corry (now a CBSSports.com contributor) has a different take. “I’m surprised that so many people seem so underwhelmed by the deal, because it did establish new benchmarks and certain parameters,” Corry told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, pointing to Luck’s cash flow and effective guarantees as positives in the contract.
Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan is exhibiting a new level of maturity, and head coach Mike Mularkey has noticed the change, as Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com writes. Meanwhile, Mularkey said that eighth overall pick Jack Conklin‘s development on the right side has gone “smoothly,” according to John Glennon the Tennessean. PFR recently took its own look at Conklin and the other Titans first-year players in our Impact Rookies segment.

Contract Details: Morgan, Gilchrist, Cameron

March 16th, 2015 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are some details on several of the new contracts agreed to or signed by free agents within the last few days:

AFC deals:

Derrick Morgan, OLB (Titans): Four years, $27MM base value. $10.5MM fully guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
Marcus Gilchrist, S (Jets): Four years, $22MM base value. $10MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
Jordan Cameron, TE (Dolphins): Two years, $15MM base value. $5MM fully guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
Paul Fanaika, OL (Chiefs): Three years, $6.5MM. $1.75MM signing bonus. Incentives and escalators available (Twitter links via Wilson).
Alan Branch, DT (Patriots): Two years, $4.3MM base value. $700K signing bonus. Option for 2016 (all Twitter links via Wilson).
Tyrod Taylor, QB (Bills): Two years, $3.35MM base value. $1.15MM fully guaranteed. $400K signing bonus. Third year voids (all four Twitter links via Wilson).

NFC deals:

Jasper Brinkley, LB (Cowboys): Two years, $6.5MM base value. $2MM guaranteed, $2MM option bonus in 2016 (Twitter link via Wilson).
Akeem Ayers, LB (Rams): Two years, $6MM base value. $2.75MM guaranteed. $1.3MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter links via Wilson).
Andrew Gachkar, LB (Cowboys): Two years, $5.2MM base value. $1.2MM signing bonus. Up to $1MM in annual incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
Nick Fairley, DT (Rams): One year, $5MM base value. $1.5MM roster bonus in 2015. Sack and playoff incentives available (Twitter links via Wilson).
Erik Pears, OL (49ers): Two years, $4.7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
Kurt Coleman, S (Panthers): Two years, $2.8MM base value. $600K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
O’Brien Schofield, DE (Falcons): One year, $1.7MM base value. $255K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
Chris Conte, S (Buccaneers): One year, $1.5MM base value. $1.25MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com).

Panthers Sign Kurt Coleman

March 16th, 2015 at 10:23am CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers have officially signed safety Kurt Coleman, the team announced today (via Twitter). Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer first reported (via Twitter) that Coleman was expected to sign with Carolina, while David Newton of ESPN.com tweets that it’s a two-year deal.

Coleman, 26, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Eagles, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 draft. Although he was the team’s starter at free safety in 2011 and 2012, he played a reduced role in 2013 before joining the Chiefs in 2014. The Ohio State product saw his defensive playing time increase once again in Kansas City, as he logged 37 tackles and grabbed three interceptions for the season.

When Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star examined Coleman’s free agency last month, he indicated that the veteran safety would be seeking a team that would give him a chance to compete for a starting job. Coleman should get that opportunity in Carolina, for a Panthers team that parted ways with Thomas DeCoud earlier this year.

Financial terms of the contract aren’t yet known, but Paylor speculated in February that Coleman would likely be seeking a salary in the range of $1.5-2MM per year.

AFC Notes: Broncos, Coleman, Ravens, Revis

February 26th, 2015 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Following up on a report that indicated the Broncos and Peyton Manning are engaged in contract discussions, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) notes that the veteran quarterback would like the team to re-sign tight end Julius Thomas, even though that seems increasingly unlikely. Whether Manning takes a pay cut or simply restructures his deal, the move could create $7-9MM in cap room, which would certainly give the club more flexibility to bring back free agents like Thomas and Terrance Knighton.

Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall is still a year away from even being eligible for restricted free agency, but he has signed with Rosenhaus Sports, and will be represented by Drew Rosenhaus and Jason Katz, reports Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (via Twitter).
The Chiefs met with the representative for safety Kurt Coleman at the combine, and talks between the two sides were positive, a source tells Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com. Earlier in the month, we heard that Coleman would likely be seeking $1.5-2MM per year, and would prefer to sign with a team that gives him the opportunity to start.
There’s a case to be made for the Ravens to try to retain most of their free agents, but Pernell McPhee looks like a goner, writes Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap in his preview of Baltimore’s offseason. You can find PFR’s own look ahead at the Ravens’ offseason right here.
Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com also weighs in on the Ravens‘ upcoming moves, focusing on the immediate future and explaining what the team could do to create $15MM+ in cap room.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com breaks down the Darrelle Revis situation, writing that it wouldn’t surprise him if the cornerback left a little money on the table to re-sign with the Patriots, but still drove a very hard bargain. Corry could imagine the first three years of such a deal exceeding Patrick Peterson‘s contract with the Cardinals, but falling short of top contracts like J.J. Watt‘s and Mario Williams‘.