HEADLINES

Larry Foote

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, Cards

March 25th, 2015 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Rams coach Jeff Fisher, and Cardinals coach Bruce Arians all offered up a few notable comments today during their morning session with reporters in Phoenix at the owners’ meetings. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights from the breakfast discussions, starting with the reigning NFC champs….

Pete Carroll
(Twitter links via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times and ESPN.com’s Terry Blount)

  • Carroll reiterated what GM John Schneider said earlier this week, indicating that defensive end Michael Bennett has never said anything to him about wanting to be traded or wanting a new contract.
  • Carroll is optimistic about a number of the team’s free agents returning to the fold, indicating the club plans to re-sign center Stephen Schilling and defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs. The head coach is also confident that the Seahawks will work something out with backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who remains on the market. Jackson visited the Dolphins, but Miami ultimately brought back QB Matt Moore.
  • Caroll suggested that the Seahawks and Russell Wilson‘s camp have had “great talks” about a new contract for the young signal-caller. “It’s a long process with extraordinary ramifications,” according to Caroll, but he’s hopeful that the two sides can work something out.

Jeff Fisher
(Twitter links via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, and Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com)

  • According to Fisher, trade discussions with the Browns involving quarterback Sam Bradford happened on the weekend of March 7, before free agency opened. The Rams eventually announced their deal with the Eagles on Tuesday, March 10.
  • The Browns’ offer for Bradford featured the No. 19 overall pick and never the No. 12 pick. However, Fisher said today that it wouldn’t have made a difference if Cleveland offered the higher first-rounder, since St. Louis still wouldn’t have gotten a QB back in the deal — the Eagles’ willingness to part with Nick Foles gave the Rams a Bradford replacement.
  • The Rams remain active in their search for offensive linemen, with talks expected to pick up again following this week’s league meetings. Joe Barksdale, who played right tackle for the team last year, is still an option, and the Rams are in talks with him. According to Fisher, Barksdale’s initial asking price was a little surprising, but it’s in a more reasonable range now, and “it makes sense to get Joe back.”
  • The Rams have added Jeff Imamura to their staff as a defensive assistant, according to Fisher. Imamura previously worked for the Vikings.

Bruce Arians
(Twitter links via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com and Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)

  • The Cardinals cut center Lyle Sendlein earlier in the offseason, but would like to get him back on the roster at a reduced cap number.
  • Running back figures to be a spot the Cards will address in the draft, perhaps in the fourth or fifth round. The team is looking for a player with both size and speed.
  • The Cards also figure to look at cornerbacks in the draft. Arians said today that he wants to add a young, speedy corner, but doesn’t see a need to add a veteran to the roster.
  • Veteran linebacker Larry Foote is currently a member of the Cardinals’ coaching staff, but may still decide to play for the team in 2015. Arians is hopeful that Foote, who is recovering from knee surgery, will make that decision in time for training camp.

Minor Moves: Thursday

February 19th, 2015 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

While most teams around the NFL are busy this week getting a look at this year’s draft prospects or finding out where they stand with their top free-agents-to-be, some clubs are still making minor roster moves. Here’s the latest from around the league, with any additional Thursday transactions added to the top of the list throughout the evening:

  • According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), the Giants have re-signed offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds, who was on track to become a restricted free agent. Reynolds only played 32 offensive snaps in 2014, serving as a reserve on New York’s line. He’ll likely be in line for a minimum-salary deal.
  • With Chris Jones facing restricted free agency, the Cowboys have added another punter to their roster, according to Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Australian-born Tom Hornsey signed with the team.
  • As part of the process that saw him join the Cardinals‘ coaching staff, linebacker Larry Foote has been formally released by the team, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Foote, who had been set to hit the open market next month anyway, will have the opportunity to sign a new deal with Arizona this summer if he decides to continue his playing career.

Cards Add Larry Foote To Coaching Staff

February 19th, 2015 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran linebacker Larry Foote was a key piece of the Cardinals’ defense in 2014, and while he’ll contribute to the unit again in 2015, it may be as a coach rather than as a player. According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (via Twitter), Arizona is adding Foote to its coaching staff. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s officially retiring as a player — Marvez adds that Foote will have to decide before the 75-man roster cutdown in August whether or not he wants to play.

Foote, 34, spent all but one season of his NFL career with the Steelers prior to the 2014 campaign, having played briefly for the Lions in 2009. However, heading to Arizona to play for the Cardinals seemed like a natural fit for the Michigan product, since it reunited him with ex-Steelers assistant Bruce Arians. When injuries and a year-long suspension for Daryl Washington decimated the Cardinals’ linebacking corps, Foote gamely stepped up and played more than 1,000 snaps for the club, recording 88 tackles and a pair of sacks.

Still, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Foote 56th out of 60 qualified inside linebackers, and the longtime Steeler will turn 35 in June, so he may decide he doesn’t have any more football left in him. If that’s the case, Foote will end an impressive career with 807 total tackles, 25 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles in 187 contests (134 starts).

If Foote decides to continue his career, he would have to sign a new contract with the Cards, since he’s currently set to become a free agent. Arians also notes that the former fourth-round pick would have to give up his role as a coach in that scenario, since the NFLPA wouldn’t allow him to be a player and coach (Twitter link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com).

Cardinals Eye Larry Foote For Coaching Staff

January 31st, 2015 at 2:57pm CST by Rob DiRe

Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote is a free agent this offseason, and his future is uncertain.

Foote was signed by the Cardinals this past offseason, after being cut by the Steelers to provide Pittsburgh with additional cap space. After being released by the Steelers last March, Foote was adamant that he was not considering retirement.

As a free agent, the 35-year old linebacker will face a similar decision. There is a chance the Cardinals will want him back on another short term deal, or he could explore other options across the league.

If he does decide to retire, the Cardinals could elect to keep him in Arizona on the coaching staff, reports Kent Somers of AZCentral.com (via Twitter).

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has long familiarity with Foote going back to their time together in Pittsburgh. Arians had coached offense for his entire career in Pittsburgh, joining the Steelers’ staff following the 2003 season. Foote was already becoming established in Pittsburgh after being selected as a fourth-round pick in 2002.

Foote was released by the Steelers after the 2008 season, spending a year with the Lions before returning to Pittsburgh before the 2010 season. Arians coordinated the Steelers’ offense until accepting the same position with the Colts before the 2012 season.

Cardinals Notes: QB, Dockett, Bowles

January 4th, 2015 at 6:58pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cardinals’ season is over after losing to the Panthers on Saturday, but the team has a number of decisions to make with their roster as they approach a critical offseason. The team’s front office will have to make a more than a few of choices on personnel, with a number of players’ statuses uncertain for 2015.

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald and defensive lineman Darnell Dockett both have high cap numbers going into next year and could be asked to take pay cuts to stay with the team, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. The team will also have the opportunity to bring back or move on from free agents Antonio Cromartie, Larry Foote, Tommy Kelly, and Sam Acho.

One of the biggest mysteries will be how the team treats inside linebacker Daryl Washington. Washington could be reinstated from suspension in May but could face a separate suspension for an assault conviction upon his return.

  • Poor quarterback play ruined the Cardinals’ year after losing both starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton for the season. The team was forced to roll with Ryan Lindley down the stretch. Head coach Bruce Arians does not believe the team will be able to bring in another veteran signal caller in the offseason, citing the move as too expensive, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • An important part of the defense that is expected to return is Dockett, writes Weinfuss (via Twitter). Bob McNaman of the Arizona Republic also writes the team plans on bringing Dockett back, despite a cap hit of close to $9MM next season (via Twitter).
  • Coach Arians stated that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has been requested for interviews with multiple organizations, and he expects his assistant coach to pursue openings in New York, Atlanta, and Chicago, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter).
  • Arians was extremely complimentary of Bowles, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). “He’s a great teacher, great communicator and players love him,” said Arians. “Very bright guy. He’s soft spoken but a very good motivator and he can get on their asses as good as anybody.”
  • Arians also noted that he does not expect to make any other coaching changes this offseason, other than Bowles, according to Weinfuss (via Twitter).

Cardinals Sign Larry Foote

May 14th, 2014 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams

MAY 14: Foote received a minimum salary benefit contract, but a $65K bonus takes his overall salary up to $1.02MM, and $513K of his deal is guaranteed, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.

MAY 7: The Cardinals have signed free agent linebacker Larry Foote to a one-year contract, according to The Associated Press. Foote himself essentially confirmed the agreement last night, posting “AZ birdgang!!!!!!!!” on his Twitter account.

Foote, 33, has spent all but one of his 12 NFL seasons in Pittsburgh with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls with the club. He started 16 games at inside linebacker as recently as 2012, but missed significant action last season for the first time in his career, appearing in just one game due to a biceps injury.

Foote should provide a solid veteran presence on the Cardinals’ defense, though he shouldn’t necessarily be counted on to be the impact player in the middle he was earlier in his career. In 2012, he ranked just 46th of 53 qualified inside linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

The rumor mill had been fairly quiet on Foote for nearly two months — the last we heard, he had no plans to retire and wanted to sign with a contender. While Arizona didn’t make the postseason last year, the team won 11 games and will bring back most of its key contributors from 2013, so it certainly fits the bill.

FA Rumors: Saffold, Houston, Foote, Finnegan

March 10th, 2014 at 12:48pm CST by Luke Adams

We dedicated an early-morning post to passing along a few miscellaneous free agent updates, but the rumor mill been busy enough that it’s time to round up a few more. Here’s the latest:

  • Jared Allen, Jared Veldheer, Rodger Saffold, Arthur Jones, and James Jones are among the free agents expected to change teams this week, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • The Raiders are offering Saffold $8MM per year, with the potential to increase that offer, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link via John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game).
  • Middlekauff (Twitter link) also spoke to multiple NFL executives about prospective free agent Lamarr Houston, and none thought the defensive end would be a very good fit for a 3-4 team.
  • After having been released by the Steelers last week, Larry Foote has no plans to retire and would like to sign with a contender, as he tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link).
  • Recently released defensive back Cortland Finnegan will be representing himself in free agency, according to Anderson (TwitLonger link). Typically, free agent players without agents wouldn’t be able to talk to teams until Tuesday, but Finnegan can seek out a new team now since he was cut.
  • One general manager suggests to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link) that NFL teams treat their equipment people better than they treat running backs. While that may be an exaggeration, it signals that this year’s group of free agent running backs probably isn’t drawing much interest yet.
  • Former first-round pick Rolando McClain is telling people that he plans to return to the NFL in 2014, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. However, a source tells Aaron Wilson (Twitter link) that there’s nothing imminent, and that talk of a McClain comeback is probably “premature.”

Steelers Release Levi Brown, Larry Foote

March 5th, 2014 at 3:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Steelers cap-related moves keep coming, as the team is releasing offensive lineman Levi Brown and linebacker Larry Foote, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The team has confirmed the cuts (via Twitter), and also announced the release of cornerback Curtis Brown, which we discussed earlier.

Brown, who the Steelers acquired in a trade with the Cardinals last October, didn’t play a single snap for Pittsburgh after tearing his triceps. His release will be a major boon for the Steelers, wiping a $6.25MM from the club’s books for 2014. As for Foote, the team may miss his on-field contributions a little more. Drafted by the Steelers in 2002, Foote has remained in Pittsburgh since then, appearing in 172 games for the franchise. His 2013 season was also wiped out by an injury (torn biceps), and his release will create about $1.167MM in cap savings for the Steelers.

Taking into account their three cuts and two extensions for Heath Miller and Troy Polamalu, the Steelers have created more than $14MM in cap savings today, which should go a long way toward getting the team under the 2014 cap. At least one or two more moves will likely be required, with Ike Taylor and LaMarr Woodley representing strong candidates to be released or restructured.