HEADLINES

Lance Moore

Steelers GM On Mitchell, Harrison, WRs, Cap

March 24th, 2014 at 10:53am CST by Luke Adams

With the majority of the league’s owners and decision-makers congregated in Orlando, we can expect plenty of interviews this week with NFL general managers. Already this morning, we’ve passed along comments made by Browns GM Ray Farmer, so let’s turn our attention to one of his division rivals. Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has provided a transcript of a discussion with Steelers GM Kevin Colbert. Here are a few notable items:

  • The Steelers typically like pursuing free agents coming off their first contract, but the team felt that Mike Mitchell essentially fit that bill, since his second contract was only for one season. Colbert also believes there’s “a lot of room for continued growth” with the Steelers’ new safety.
  • Colbert is leaving the door open for a possible reunion with James Harrison, though he cautioned that there may be other outside linebackers that could help the team.
  • The Steelers would have liked to bring back Jerricho Cotchery, but wish him luck in Carolina, with Colbert suggesting that the Panthers were “able to do some things financially that we weren’t able to do.”
  • Discussing the signing of Lance Moore, Colbert indicated that the former Saint should give the club a little of what both Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders provided last season: “He’s a very smart, experienced receiver that knows how to work in the slot.” The Steelers GM also isn’t overly concerned about Moore’s dip in production last season, pointing out that there may not have been enough balls to go around in New Orleans after Kenny Stills entered the mix.
  • The Steelers hadn’t been anticipating the bump to a $133MM salary cap at all, and it allowed the team to make a couple moves that otherwise may not have been possible.
  • Colbert on whether he feels okay about having parted with 2014’s third-round pick in a trade for safety Shamarko Thomas: “If he was in this draft, we certainly would feel good about having used that third-round pick.”

Steelers Notes: Moats, RBs, Harrison

March 23rd, 2014 at 2:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers will meet with free agent inside linebacker Arthur Moats, likely on Monday, tweets Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Moats, 26, has drawn a surprising lack of interest during free agency. He started 12 games last season for the Bills, accruing 54 tackles and grading as the 12th-best inside linebacker in the league, especially excelling in run defense, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He would slot in next to Lawrence Timmons in the Steelers 3-4 defense.

Some other Steelers items:

  • Robinson also tweets the Steelers will add a veteran running back, and corroborates an earlier report that the team will meet with LeGarrette Blount on Friday.
  • Continuing on the running back theme, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chimes in, adding that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin “felt good” about last week’s visit with RB Maurice Jones-Drew, and that Pittsburgh remains amenable to signing the veteran (Twitter link).
  • Dulac also adds that the team maintains interest in bringing back linebacker James Harrison, quoting general manager Kevin Colbert as saying the team is “never going to close the door on any possibility, especially with a guy who was a huge part of our success” (via Twitter).
  • Dulac tweets that recently-signed Cam Thomas will work as a defensive end, but could also get time at defensive tackle.
  • Robinson reports that the Steelers scouting staff will attend the pro days of North Carolina, Duke, and Texas A&M, with Colbert and Tomlin likely attending the Aggies event (Twitter link).
  • Signing a steady, low-cost free agent like receiver Lance Moore is symbolic of the Steelers free agency strategy, writes Scott Brown of ESPN.com.

FA Notes: Moore, Jordan, Carrington, Ford

March 18th, 2014 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard earlier in the week that wide receiver Lance Moore would visit the Steelers today, but it sounds like that meeting will happen tomorrow instead, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). Here’s more on a few free agents looking for jobs:

  • Free agent linebacker Akeem Jordan visited with the Redskins today, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Jordan reportedly met with the Titans last week.
  • The Rams remain interested in defensive lineman Alex Carrington but have yet to set up a visit, says Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
  • Speaking to Josina Anderson of ESPN (TwitLonger link), wide receiver Jacoby Ford confirmed that the Jets have expressed interest in him. “I would say they’re the team showing the most interest in me,” Ford said. “Right now we’re still in the exploration phase, weighing things out.”
  • In their search for receivers, the Jets called Emmanuel Sanders‘ camp on Saturday to try to reschedule a visit for the free agent, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The Jets had originally scheduled a meeting for last week but had to back out due to a scheduling conflict, and by the time the team attempted to set up another one, it was too late.
  • As the Cardinals consider cornerbacks like Mike Jenkins and Antonio Cromartie, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link) gets the sense that the club is waiting to see if anyone’s price tag drops.
  • The Vikings have inquired on free agent defensive end Robert Ayers, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.

Free Agency Notes: Visits, Jaguars, Patriots

March 16th, 2014 at 6:11pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of notes from around the NFL to distract on this Selection Sunday…

Saints Release Lance Moore

March 7th, 2014 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

3:38pm: The Saints have officially released Moore, according to the league’s transaction wire.

10:28am: A day after being involved in trade rumors, wide receiver Lance Moore is being released by the Saints, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Moore hinted at the news earlier this morning, tweeting, “Thank you New Orleans for an amazing nine years. Who Dat Nation, the best on earth!!!” The tweet suggested the team had told the veteran receiver he’d been cut or traded.

Moore, 30, had been one of the longest-tenured Saints, acting as a target for Drew Brees‘ for the last several seasons. However, Moore’s 2013 receptions (37), receiving yards (457), and receiving touchdowns (2) were his worst totals since an injury-plagued 2009. The decreased production, combined with the presence of 2013 fifth-rounder Kenny Stills and the team’s need to pay star tight end Jimmy Graham, contributed to Moore’s exit from New Orleans.

While there had been two years remaining on Moore’s contract, the Saints won’t be on the hook for a number of roster and workout bonuses owed to him in 2014 and 2015. Overall, the veteran receiver’s $5.069MM cap number for ’14 will be reduced to a dead money charge of about $2.538MM, creating $2.531MM in cap savings for the club.

As for Moore, he’ll immediately become an unrestricted free agent, joining a class that includes Hakeem Nicks, Eric Decker, Golden Tate, and Julian Edelman, among others.

Saints Shopping Pierre Thomas, Lance Moore

March 6th, 2014 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Saints are shopping running back Pierre Thomas and wide receiver Lance Moore to other teams in trade talks, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). According to Schefter, New Orleans may also be open to the idea of moving running back Darren Sproles.

With a potential battle looming for Jimmy Graham, the Saints may be looking to create space to pay their tight end by clearing salary that’s currently committed to some of the team’s other offensive playmakers. Thomas is owed $2.9MM in total salary for 2014, while Moore has a cap number of about $5.07MM and Sproles is on the books for $4.25MM.

Although Moore is under contract through 2015 and may have the trickiest contract to move, Thomas and Sproles only have one year remaining on their respective deals. Thomas’ entire $2.9MM salary is currently non-guaranteed, which would make a trade very palatable for the Saints, though the team would have to find an interested suitor. The Saints reportedly reached out to Thomas and his agent last week to discuss the running back’s future, so perhaps the possibility of a trade was floated during that conversation.

NFL Notes: Saints, Redskins, Vikings

February 14th, 2014 at 6:29pm CST by Matt Feminis

Despite cutting ties with a handful of veterans earlier this offseason, the Saints hover just $3MM under the salary cap with free agent tight end Jimmy Graham‘s future still uncertain. Accordingly, Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune lists a handful of veterans who could be released in order to create more room (cap figure in parentheses): Brodrick Bunkley ($6.1MM), Lance Moore ($5.1MM), Pierre Thomas ($2.9MM), Darren Sproles ($4.25MM) and Patrick Robinson ($2.8MM).

In other NFC notes:

    • The Redskins “must devote a significant of attention and efforts to improving the offensive line,” says Mike Jones of the Washington Post. The coach and scheme will not change, and eight of the team’s top nine linemen are under contract, but personnel upgrades are needed. Aside from stalwart left tackle Trent Williams, left guard Kory Lichtensteiger (who could be tried at center) seems like the only 2013 starter whose job is safe. Whether or not the team intends to release center Will Montgomery, right guard Chris Chester and/or right tackle Tyler Polumbus is uncertain, but any of the three could be replaced via free agency or draft.
    • Vikings new head coach Mike Zimmer plans to implement a more aggressive defensive scheme, meaning the team’s scouting staff will take a longer look at prospects whose skill sets might not have fit with Leslie Frazier’s more conservative cover-2 system, writes ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.
    • Panthers free agent Captain Munnerlyn says his agent will meet with team officials at the Combine next week, according to Charlotte Observer beat reporter Joe Person (via Twitter).

Payton Talks Graham, Free Agency

February 8th, 2014 at 9:46pm CST by Peter Sowards

Saints head coach Sean Payton joined Fox Sports 1 on Friday and discussed the issues facing his team this offseason, according to Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune.

The most notable free agent in New Orleans, without a doubt, is tight end Jimmy Graham. Now, if it comes down to a franchise tag, Graham will contend that he should be paid as a wide receiver rather than a tight end. The difference figures to be nearly $5MM ($11.6MM for WR and $6.8MM for TE).

“I know that Mickey Loomis, CAA (Creative Artists Agency), Jimmy Sexton (Graham’s agent) and all parties involved are going to work very hard and very diligently, no different than they did with Drew (Brees) on his contract,” Payton said. “With that being said, the first thing that comes to my mind with free agency is your own roster. I think often times that gets overlooked.

“The most challenging part of your job as a coach, and I share that with Mickey or anyone that has been with an organization as long as we have been, going on year nine, is some of the tough decisions that have to be made with regards to your cap with the ability that you possibly can sign Jimmy Graham.”

Holder points out safety Malcolm Jenkins, tackle Zach Strief and center Brian de la Puente as “key potential free agents” the team would like to re-sign. Easier said than done, noted Payton.

“It’s very easy to say ‘you are certainly going to get this done’ but you have to understand there is a budget here. That’s the challenging part. You are going to read these names that have already come across the ticker from Atlanta last week (Asante Samuel and Stephen Nicholas) and we will be no different.”

According to Holder, players that could become cap-casualties to help the Saints be able to afford signing Graham to a long-term contract include (figures courtesy of Holder):