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Matt Cassel

NFC Notes: Giants, Cassel, 49ers, Eagles

June 6th, 2014 at 12:04pm CST by Luke Adams

A former Packers tight end will work out for the Giants next week, but it’s not the player voted the best remaining free agent by PFR readers last month. Tom Crabtree, not Jermichael Finley, will audition for the Giants, a source tells Conor Orr of The Star-Ledger. Crabtree’s stint with the Buccaneers came to a premature end after an injury-plaged 2013 season, but the tight end is healthy now, according to Orr’s source. While the 28-year-old has never provided consistent production as a pass-catcher, he did make several big plays for the Packers in 2012, racking up 203 receiving yards and three TDs on just eight receptions.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Extra Points: Contracts, Vikings, Football In LA

May 25th, 2014 at 12:45pm CST by Rory Parks

In his weekly Sunday column, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe describes an interesting phenomenon regarding “offset language.” Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill was the first top-10 pick to have offset language put into his contract, language that allows a team to avoid paying the full balance of a player’s salary if the player is cut and signed by another team. Since the 2011 CBA essentially reduced all rookie contracts to little more than boilerplate, Volin notes that the issue of offset language is one of the few negotiating points left.

In exchange for the salary offset, the Dolphins converted half of Tannehill’s base salary into bonus money, and eight of the top 12 draft picks in last year’s draft had similar language inserted into their deals. Of the top picks in the 2014 class that have already signed, only Raiders‘ LB Khalil Mack and Falcons‘ OT Jake Matthews have offset provisions in their contracts, but more are sure to come. For your edification, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets a complete definition of the term “contract offsets.”

Now let’s have a look at some notes from around the league:

  • Chargers GM Tom Telesco held an online chat with fans earlier this week, and a couple of interesting tidbits came out of it. For instance, Telesco addresses his team’s relatively conservative approach to free agency this season and writes that this year was more about re-signing core players than making a splash with players from other clubs.
  • Albert Breer of the NFL Network touched on a couple of rookie storylines in a brief segment on the network’s Total Access program, noting that the Rams plan to start first-round pick Greg Robinson at left guard in his rookie season–much like the Ravens did with Hall-of-Fame LT Jonathan Ogden in Ogden’s rookie year–and the Cowboys will start Zack Martin at right guard.
  • Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists 10 reasons as to why Sam Bradford remains the Rams’ best option under center.
  • Breer also tweets that the Vikings will allow Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, and Teddy Bridegwater to get reps with the first team in the offseason, but they would like to go into training camp with an established depth chart.
  • Tim Graham of the Buffalo News writes that, although Bills fans have been worried about the team’s potential relocation to Los Angeles for years, neither the Bills nor any other club in the league will be heading to Hollywood anytime soon. According to Graham, there are just too many political, social, and historical obstacles for Los Angeles to land an NFL team in the foreseeable future.
  • Citing a league source, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that a new league policy concerning DUI infractions is on the horizon. Once the league and the players’ union iron out the last few details surrounding HGH testing, the NFL will implement the policy, which would impose a one-game suspension and fine for a first DUI offense. Currently, the league punishes first-time DUI offenders with a two-game fine; a suspension is not typically imposed until a player is convicted of a second DUI.
  • Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune tweets that Mike Glennon definitely has a chance at starting for the Buccaneers this year, and will get his opportunity should Josh McCown get hurt or falter.

Vikings Beat Analyzes Draft’s Top QBs

April 19th, 2014 at 7:16pm CST by Peter Sowards

With just two quarterbacks currently under contract, the Minnesota Vikings most likely will come away from the 2014 NFL Draft with at least one new signal caller. Matt Cassel recently signed a two-year deal with the club, and Christian Ponder is under club control for at least one more season, but neither are franchise quarterbacks. In separate pieces for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Matt Vensel and Mark Craig break down the potential fits of the consensus top-three throwers: Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater.

Vensel separates his thorough profile of Manziel into sections, analyzing Johnny Football’s dazzling play-making ability, his smallish stature, the rock star persona and other potential choices at the position Minnesota may make. Thanks to Michael Vick and other mobile quarterbacks who have had success in the league, Vensel contends that general manager Rick Spielman will have to reconsider the future of the position, which in the past has relied upon the tall, statuesque passers.

Craig looks in depth at Bortles and Bridgewater, speaking to David Gibbs, the University of Houston defensive coordinator who faced the two quarterbacks in consecutive weeks last season.

“I think they’re both going to be good NFL quarterbacks. How good? I’m not a quarterback guru,” Gibbs said. “But neither one of them is going to be a bust. They’re safe picks. In my opinion, because of the way they’ve been trained and coached, you’re not going to get a Ryan Leaf. You’re not going to get JaMarcus Russell. You’re not going to get a guy who just can’t play.”

Gibbs likes Bortles upside, but said he’s more prone to force a throw, whereas Bridgewater is content to check down on third-and-20 rather then turn the ball over.

For Manziel, Gibbs is reticent to give his full endorsement: “I do see him as a risk. And I don’t know him personally. I’m just watching him. He’s doing all of this stuff in college. What’s he going to do when he gets to pro football? You know the lifestyle changes. He’s saying all the right things now, and he should. He’s smart. But I don’t know about him.”

Contract Details: McCluster, Bradshaw, Cassell

March 12th, 2014 at 6:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest contract details from around the NFL..

  • Dexter McCluster‘s three-year deal with the Titans gets him $7.35MM guaranteed with a $3MM bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. While he can earn $12MM over those three years through incentives, it’s valued closer to $9MM, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean. The base salaries are as follows: $1MM, $2.35MM, and $2.275MM (link).
  • Ahmad Bradshaw‘s deal with the Colts is a minimum salary benefit contract, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The tailback gets an $855K base which counts as $695K against cap. The deal also has an injury split.
  • Jacoby Jones‘ four-year deal with the Ravens has a base value of $12MM and a max value of $14MM, tweets Wilson. The wide receiver has a $2MM incentive clause for catches and $4.5MM guaranteed.
  • Matt Cassel gets a $3MM roster bonus Monday and a $2.65M base in 2014 in his new two-year, $10.5MM pact with the Vikings, tweets Pelissero. In 2015, it’s a $4.15MM base with a $500K roster bonus due in March. There’s also $100K without the bonus each year. He also has an injury waiver.
  • In Linval Joseph‘s five-year, $31.25MM deal with the Vikings, he gets $12.5MM guaranteed with a $3MM signing bonus, tweets Wilson.
  • Jon Asamoah‘s deal with the Falcons is a five-year, $22.5MM deal with $8MM guaranteed, Pelissero tweets. The total includes $500K in per-game roster bonuses each year.
  • T.J. Ward‘s deal with the Broncos is a four-year, $22.5MM pact with $7MM due in the first year, tweets Pelissero. Another $6.5MM is guaranteed for injury only in 2015.
  • DeMarcus Ware‘s three-year, $30MM deal with the Broncos is front-loaded, with $13MM due in 2014 and $23M after 2015, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports. Ware’s cap numbers are: $9.6MM, $11.6MM and $8.6MM for 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, adds Corry (via Twitter).
  • Austin Howard‘s five-year, $30MM deal with the Raiders has $11.8MM guaranteed, tweets Wilson. The salaries are as follows: $2.9MM, $3.9MM, $4.4MM, $4.9MM, and $5.4MM.

Free Agency Notes: Vikings, Johnson, Gerhart

March 8th, 2014 at 5:46pm CST by Peter Sowards

With more than $40MM in cap room available, Vikings GM Rick Spielman and his staff will be busy adding talent to their roster once free agency officially opens at 3:00pm Tuesday. In addition to cornerback Alterraun Verner, Minnesota has also called to express interest in former Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson, tweets ESPN.com reporter Ben Goessling. Following up on that tweet was ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan, who tweeted that at least six teams should be involved for Johnson’s services.

More free agency notes from Minnesota and elsewhere around the league…

Matt Cassel To Re-Sign With Vikings

March 7th, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by David Kipke

7:31pm: Cassel’s two-year pact will be worth $10MM, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

7:14pm: The deal is for two years, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).

6:57pm: Quarterback Matt Cassel is re-signing with the Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Cassel had been set to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday.

In six starts this season for the Vikings, Cassel enjoyed a relatively successful, albeit mistake-prone resurgence, amassing 1,807 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Cassel replaced Christian Ponder this past December when the Vikings starter exhibited concussion symptoms after a Week 13 game against the Bears, and Cassel’s new deal further signals that Ponder’s time in Minnesota is coming to an end. Ponder is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and almost certainly won’t be with the Vikings beyond 2014.

Cassel, 31, opted out of the final year of his contract with Minnesota last month. He had been set to earn a little over $3MM on that deal, so the new pact with the Vikings will surely represent a more lucrative payday. Even with Cassel now locked up, Minnesota figures to add at least one more quarterback this offseason, either in free agency or the draft.

Cassel was believed to be drawing interest from Bill O’Brien and the Texans, as recently as yesterday. The Vikings signed Cassel in March of 2013 immediately after the Chiefs decided to cut the 2010 Pro Bowler.

NFC North Notes: Vikings, Kuhn, Lions

March 6th, 2014 at 2:43pm CST by Luke Adams

With Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman eligible for free agency, Vikings GM Rick Spielman told ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd today that he would like to draft a young quarterback and also sign a QB in free agency, writes Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.

“We’re looking defense, I can tell you that,” Spielman said. “We have to improve on the defensive side of the ball. The QB scenario will work itself out. We don’t play any games next week. We’re not going to force the issue…. We’ll be able to find a young quarterback in this draft, because there’s enough depth. But we’re also going to have to look at one in free agency as well.”

Here’s more on the Vikings and their NFC rivals:

  • Cassel is one free agent quarterback the Vikings will consider, and head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters today, including Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, that he hopes the team can bring Cassel back for 2014.
  • Free agent linebacker Jameel McClain will visit with the Vikings next, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). McClain has already met with the Bills and Giants since being released by the Ravens.
  • Fan favorite John Kuhn won’t sign a new contract with the Packers before Tuesday, and will reach the open market, a source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. According to Demovsky’s source, the Packers and their longtime fullback intend to keep in touch, so there’s still a chance Kuhn could return to Green Bay.
  • In order to draft Sammy Watkins, the Lions would almost certainly have to move up from No. 10, but Detroit is showing “a ton of interest” in the Clemson wide receiver, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

AFC Notes: Brinkley, Cassel, Bailey, Byrd

March 6th, 2014 at 10:18am CST by Luke Adams

The Bills are getting an early start on perusing this year’s crop of free agent linebackers. After meeting with Jameel McClain, who was released last week by the Ravens, Buffalo is hosting another free agent LB today, as Jasper Brinkley comes to town, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. Brinkley was cut last Friday by the Cardinals.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Matt Cassel, who opted out of his contract with the Vikings, has an old Patriots connection with new Houston head coach Bill O’Brien, and the interest between Cassel and the Texans is mutual and real, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links).
  • Rapoport also hears that before D’Qwell Jackson signed with the Colts, the free agent linebacker turned down more money elsewhere (Twitter link).
  • Veteran defensive back Champ Bailey, who is being released by the Broncos, tells Mike Klis of the Denver Post (Twitter link) that GM John Elway didn’t present a pay cut as an option. “There was no discussions about it,” Bailey said. “It was like, ‘We’re ready to move on.'”
  • The Broncos will look to add a pass rusher this offseason to play opposite Von Miller, and free agency may be a better bet for the club than the draft, according to Klis, who identifies Jared Allen as one possible target.
  • In a Q&A with John Kryk of the Toronto Sun, Bills GM Doug Whaley suggested that not franchising Jairus Byrd earlier this week set up a “more amicable” negotiation with the free agent safety. Said Whaley, in noting that the team franchised Byrd a year ago: “This year we said, ‘For the betterment of the Buffalo Bills, and to show you more or less good faith, we’re not going to use that option to restrict you from hitting the market. Let’s try to go full bore, with both of us focused on trying to get a deal done.'”
  • Ben Volin of the Boston Globe explains why he thinks it make sense for the Patriots to pass on re-signing prospective free agent Aqib Talib and instead try to trade for Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis.

QB Rumors: Vick, Cassel, McCown

February 25th, 2014 at 4:11pm CST by Luke Adams

As Andrew Cohen writes at OverTheCap.com, at least two former starting quarterbacks, Mark Sanchez and Matt Schaub, will likely be cap casualties in the coming days or weeks. Both players are expected to be released, as their respective teams move on to alternative options and take advantage of the cap savings.

While Sanchez and Schaub haven’t reached free agency yet, several other signal-callers appear poised to hit the open market in a couple weeks, assuming they don’t re-up with their current teams before March 11. Here are the latest rumors on a few of the top options on the QB market, mostly courtesy of Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com:

  • A strong market is forming for Michael Vick, and while the Jets have been mentioned as a potential suitor, league sources believe the team may refrain from spending in the range that Vick would require, says La Canfora.
  • The Raiders are considering multiple free agent quarterbacks, and Oakland may represent the best spot for Vick to start immediately. However, it’s still possible that Vick re-signs with the Eagles.
  • The Vikings, 49ers, Buccaneers, and Texans are exploring free agent options as well, according to La Canfora.
  • Matt Cassel is viewed as a decent bet to return to Minnesota, but if he doesn’t, the Texans are a likely suitor for him.
  • Josh McCown is drawing interest from several teams, including, as we’ve already heard, the Bears and Jets. However, New York’s interest will again be dependent on how much the club is willing to spend on a veteran QB.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com makes a case for why the Jets should re-sign Vick.

Vikings Notes: Free Agents, Freeman, Draft

February 20th, 2014 at 12:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities reported this morning (via Twitter) that the Vikings will meet with representatives for multiple free agents tomorrow in Indianapolis, including quarterback Matt Cassel and defensive end Everson Griffen. However, speaking to local reporters today at the combine, GM Rick Spielman said he’ll actually meet with Cassel’s agent today, and added that the Vikings will meet with the reps for all their free agents this weekend (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports). Here are a few more updates from Spielman, via Pelissero (all links go to Twitter):

  • The Vikings don’t anticipate using their franchise tag, which isn’t a big surprise — none of the team’s free agents are strong candidates to be franchised.
  • Minnesota “definitely” wants and needs to add a young quarterback, according to Spielman. The team’s preferred setup would be to head into camp with a young QB, a veteran (perhaps Cassel), and Christian Ponder.
  • Spielman didn’t close the door on re-signing Josh Freeman, though Pelissero would be “shocked” if the former Buccaneer returns to Minnesota.
  • The Vikings would be interested in trading down from No. 8 overall, since they feel like there’s good depth at the quarterback position in this year’s draft class. According to Spielman, the team has eight or nine private workouts lined up with quarterbacks in advance of the draft.
  • Minnesota will look to address its holes on defense in both free agency and the draft, says Spielman.
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