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LaMarr Woodley

Raiders Notes: Woodley, Schaub, McFadden

May 31st, 2014 at 5:45pm CST by Peter Sowards

LaMarr Woodley won’t drop back into coverage as much with the Raiders like he did with the Steelers, and he’s just fine with that. Oakland utilizes a base 4-3 alignment, and defensive ends are consumed with what’s in front of them, not behind. As CSNBayArea.com’s Scott Bair notes, Woodley last played in a 4-3 defense at Michigan.

“Looking at the (Raiders) defense, seeing how guys were flying around on defense, getting after people, I kind of felt like after talking to the coach that that’s what he wanted me to do,” Woodley said. “He wanted me to rush the passer more and then drop back in coverage. I felt like with the kind of people that was on this defense, and add me in there, I felt like I could help the team win.”

Woodley signed a two-year deal worth a maximum of $12MM in March, and he’s eager to show the Raiders made a good investment.

“You still have to come here and prove yourself, at least that’s how I feel. The last few years for me haven’t been good. So I have to come here and I feel like I have to rebuild myself as well.”

Other news and notes from the Oakland Raiders:

  • Matt Schaub is a Top 10 quarterback in the Raiders’ eyes, says ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez in his Twitter mailbag. As long as the skill set of the former Texans QB can fit with what offensive coordinator Greg Olson wants to do, it’ll be a good match.
  • Gutierrez predicts a run-first offensive approach with Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew, along with 2013 sixth-round pick Latavius Murray. If the runners can stay healthy and consistently produce positive yardage, that’ll set up the play-action pass, at which Schaub excels.
  • Wide receivers Andre Holmes and Juron Criner have been the stars at three OTA practice thus far.
  • Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com recaps Week 1 of OTAs, with Schaub able to go against an active defense with his receivers for the first time.

Contract Details: DRC, Hauschka, Edelman

March 18th, 2014 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ve got plenty more contract details to round up, so let’s dive right in….

  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun and Albert Breer of the NFL Network pass along several key details on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie‘s contract with the Giants, which seems to include $12MM in fully guaranteed money, and a little more in salary guaranteed for injury only. Here are the relevant Twitter links to read up on all the specifics.
  • Wilson also shares the specifics on Steven Hauschka‘s three-year contract with the Seahawks (Twitter link), Walter Thurmond‘s one-year deal with the Giants (Twitter link), and Dane Fletcher‘s one-year deal with the Bucs (Twitter link).
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has been doing a great job all week getting finalized contract details up in his database, and he passed along several new entries today. Among them: The Raiders‘ two-year deals for LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck, the Eagles‘ extension for Darren Sproles, and the Saints‘ five-year pact with Zach Strief.
  • Julian Edelman received a $5MM signing bonus from the Patriots on his new contract, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
  • John Keim of ESPN.com has the details on Santana Moss‘ minimum salary benefit contract and Clifton Geathers‘ two-year deal with the Redskins.
  • Although Michael Oher‘s four-year deal with the Titans was initially reported as including $9.5MM in guaranteed money, it’s actually a little less than that, and only $6MM is fully guaranteed, with another $3.35MM guaranteed for injury only. Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com has the details.
  • Emmanuel Sanders‘ three-year, $15MM contract with the Broncos features $6MM in guaranteed money and cap hits of $6MM (2014), $4MM (2015), and $5MM (2016), tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
  • Updating his earlier report on Charles Tillman‘s contract with the Bears, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets that the deal includes $150K in performance incentives (based on total interceptions), so it could max out at $3.4MM instead of $3.25MM.
  • Frank Zombo‘s two-year deal with the Chiefs is worth $1.6MM and includes a $100K signing bonus, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. A minimum-salary deal for Zombo with a $100K bonus would work out to $1.575MM, so either that $1.6MM figure is rounded up, or the linebacker received slightly more than the minimum.

Raiders Sign LaMarr Woodley

March 13th, 2014 at 6:17pm CST by Luke Adams

6:17pm: The Raiders announced via Twitter that the deal is official.

5:22pm: The Raiders have reached an agreement to sign LaMarr Woodley to a two-year deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Schefter reports that the new contract will have a max value of $12MM.

The 29-year-old pass rusher had 18 sacks over the past three seasons while playing through injuries, missing 14 games over that time span. Between 2008 and 2010, Woodley was among the most terrifying pass rushers in the game. He reached the quarterback consistently, recording 34.5 sacks during those seasons on the way to a monster contract extension to stay with the Steelers.

After an injury plagued 2013, the Steelers faced a dilemma with an aging star in Woodley, and a promising young player in Jason Worilds. With their salary cap problems, when they placed the transition tag on Worilds, they all but guaranteed Woodley would not return.

FA Rumors: Steve Smith, Andre Brown, Hatcher

March 13th, 2014 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens will be in hot pursuit of Steve Smith when he’s officially released by the Panthers, and a deal could end up materializing quickly, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Here’s more:

  • It sounds like there’s a decent chance free agent running back Andre Brown could end up signing with the Raiders, continuing the offseason’s apparent free agent swap between Oakland and the Giants, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
  • Assuming Jason Hatcher doesn’t sign with the Raiders, the defensive lineman will visit the Redskins, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • Cornerback Brandon Browner will visit with the Redskins tonight, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
  • The Panthers have interest in bringing back free agent receiver Brandon LaFell, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • Although fullback Henry Hynoski is visiting the Lions today, he has remained in contact with the Giants, tweets Rapoport.
  • ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter links) has the details on the Titans‘ upcoming free agent visits: LaMarr Woodley intends to visit Friday if he doesn’t sign with the Raiders, while Pat Sims and Antonio Smith will visit today.
  • The Vikings have made a call inquiring on free agent guard Daryn Colledge, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Colledge, who will visit the Rams today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), was recently cut loose by the Cardinals for cap savings.

FA Visits: Woodley, Munnerlyn, Browner

March 13th, 2014 at 7:25am CST by Luke Adams

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen were out to dinner with edge defenders LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck Wednesday night with the Raiders, and things are moving in the right direction with both players, says Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). Here’s more from around the NFL on free agent visits:

  • While it sounds as if Woodley’s meeting with the Raiders went well, the ex-Steeler is on his way to Tennessee to meet with the Titans today, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
  • Panthers free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn visited the Vikings last night and also has appointments planned with the Jets and Buccaneers, tweets Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • After reaching an agreement yesterday with ex-Buc Darrelle Revis, the Patriots will host another free agent cornerback for a visit today, according to Mark Ockerbloom of Fox 25 Boston, who tweets that Brandon Browner will meet with the team.
  • Defensive lineman Anthony Spencer is visiting the Redskins, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
  • The Panthers brought free agent defensive back Roman Harper in for a visit, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • Free agent linebacker Darryl Sharpton is meeting with the Titans today, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Lions are hosting free agent safety James Ihedigbo for a visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who notes (via Twitter) that Ihedigbo has a history with new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley Visiting Raiders

March 12th, 2014 at 10:57am CST by Luke Adams

10:57am: In addition to Tuck and Woodley, defensive linemen Henry Melton and B.J. Raji are receiving interest from the Raiders, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). However, Tafur thinks Melton will end up landing with the Cowboys.

8:15am: The Raiders lost a key edge defender in free agency yesterday when Lamarr Houston agreed to a lucrative long-term deal with the Bears, but Oakland will bring in a pair of intriguing free agents as the team considers alternatives. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), veteran pass rushers Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley will visit with the Raiders today.

The Raiders entered the offseason with more available cap space than any other team, and while the team has invested heavily in a pair of offensive linemen (Rodger Saffold, Austin Howard), Oakland should still have plenty of financial flexibility to add talent on both sides of the ball.

Tuck, who recorded 11 sacks last season, doesn’t seem to be attracting a whole lot of serious interest so far. One report yesterday suggested that there was a suitor willing to pay him $3MM per season, which is a fairly modest price for the longtime Giant, who may be more inclined to return to New York if he doesn’t receive a significant offer.

As for Woodley, he became a cap casualty in Pittsburgh after a couple disappointing and injury-plagued seasons with the Steelers. However, now that he’s no longer attached to a $13MM+ cap number, he could provide much better value for a new team. Woodley will turn 30 during the 2014 season, while Tuck turns 31 later this month.

Titans Rumors: FA Visits, Hatcher, Woodley

March 12th, 2014 at 10:04am CST by Luke Adams

Several of the Titans’ early free agent visits have been reported already, but Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean now provides a specific schedule for the first few. According to Wyatt (Twitter links), defensive lineman Al Woods and running back Anthony Dixon will be in town today, while the team will host defensive lineman Antonio Smith and linebacker Wesley Woodyard on Thursday, assuming neither player has agreed to sign with another club by then.

Here’s more from Wyatt:

Steelers Release LaMarr Woodley

March 11th, 2014 at 5:40pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 5:40pm: ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter tweets that the release of Woodley by the Steelers is now official.

MONDAY, 12:34pm: The Steelers will release linebacker LaMarr Woodley when the new league year begins tomorrow, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). According to Schefter, the team will designate Woodley as a post-June 1 cut, allowing his cap number to be spread across 2014 and 2015.

Since signing his massive six-year contract in 2011, Woodley has recorded just 18 sacks in three seasons, after notching 35 from 2008 to 2010. He still graded well above average last season according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, but his cap hit is untenable for the Steelers, particularly with Jason Worilds locked in at nearly $10MM as the team’s transition player.

Woodley had been slated to earn a base salary of $8MM in 2014, with a cap number of $13.59MM. Designating him a June 1 cut will ensure that only $5.59MM of his cap number counts on the Steelers’ books for 2014. The contract will then represent $8.58MM in dead money on the team’s 2015 cap.

Once he’s officially released on Tuesday, Woodley will be free to sign with any team, and despite the decline in his sack totals in recent years, he’ll still make a very intriguing option for clubs eyeing edge defenders.

FA Roundup: Woodley, Allen, Tuck, Mack

March 10th, 2014 at 10:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest on the free agent front:

  • Many in the Steelers organization believe that linebacker LaMarr Woodley will end up in Tennessee, where he would be reunited with former Steelers secondary coach Ray Horton, who is now the defensive coordinator with the Titans, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
  • La Canfora also notes that those involved in the defensive end market expect Jared Allen to sign with the Broncos, and Justin Tuck to return to the Giants (Twitter link).
  • Alex Mack‘s agent tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link) that he believes he can find his client an offer sheet the Browns may not match. That’s not to say that Mack wants out of Cleveland. However, as a transition player, his best chance of a long-term payday involves signing an offer sheet, and no rival teams will spend time negotiating that offer if they expect the Browns to simply match it.
  • The Buccaneers have not yet asked left tackle Donald Penn to take a pay cut, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
  • With Alterraun Verner expected to be out of their price range, the Giants are eyeing other cornerbacks, and have expressed interest in Corey Graham, a source tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
  • Offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz will not return to the Chiefs, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
  • Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell will not return to the Texans, writes Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. We noted earlier today that the Chargers will pursue Mitchell.
  • The Cardinals have interest in cornerback Mike Jenkins, tweets Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910.
  • Re-signing with the Buccaneers remains a possibility for linebacker Dekoda Watson, but he’ll test the market and begin visiting other teams, starting tomorrow, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
  • The Eagles have contacted several free agents, and among them are Lamarr Houston, Graham, and Nolan Carroll, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

AFC North Notes: Smith, Haden, Dalton

March 2nd, 2014 at 12:51pm CST by Rory Parks

Now that the Ravens have signed Dennis Pitta to a long-term deal, Baltimore’s next biggest priorities are left tackle Eugene Monroe and middle linebacker Daryl Smith. Monroe could still receive the franchise tag before tomorrow’s 4 p.m. deadline, but even if the Ravens do not tag him, they are expected to continue to work towards a multiyear contract extension with him. Meanwhile, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com is “quietly confident” that the team will re-sign Smith, especially since they just released Jameel McClain.

Hensley adds that the bump in the 2014 salary cap makes it a little more likely that the Ravens can re-sign Jacoby Jones, but they will still not want to pay him more than $1-2MM. The team sees Jones as a returner, but if other teams see him as both a returner and receiver, those teams could offer him something closer to the $4MM he made last season. For a team that has a number of holes to fill–and Hensley added that GM Ozzie Newsome would not be afraid to sign some unrestricted free agents this season–Jones might be too much of a luxury item.

More notes from the AFC North:

  • Several weeks ago, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that, despite the posturing of GM Kevin Colbert, the Steelers would not be able to bring back both LaMarr Woodley and Jason Worilds and that Woodley would be released. Although he does not deviate from that stance in his latest piece, he does add an interesting twist. He notes that, according to Pro Football Focus, Woodley graded out as a slightly better player overall in 2013 (when he played, of course) and as a significantly better pass rusher. Although Woodley’s significant cap hit and recent injury history probably means he is still the odd-man out in Pittsburgh, the PFF grades and the increased salary cap at least give reason for pause.
  • Some of the Browns‘ top performers are eligible for free agency in 2015, and Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com believes that several of them will receive new contracts this season. He also hears that the team and Joe Haden are close to a new deal.
  • Paul Dehner of Cincinnati.com looks at the Bengals‘ quarterback outlook for 2014. Although Andy Dalton is of course the unquestioned starter and the team is not likely to peruse the free agent market for QBs, Dalton’s rocky postseason performances and his entering the final year of his rookie contract make this a pivotal year for him and for his club. Dehner believes mid- to late-round QB prospects like Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger would be logical selections for the Bengals.
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