Matt Schaub - Pro Football Rumors

Recent Signings Facing Former Teams In 2014

April 23rd, 2014 at 9:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 2014 NFL schedule has been released, and it gives us an interesting chance to see some players face their former teammates for the first time. Some of these players were traded or otherwise unwanted by their former teams, and others spurned their hometown fans for greener pastures elsewhere. In all cases, there are some fans or players who must be licking their chops to finally treat these players in their new colors as enemies for the first time.

The following players will get the chance to play against their former teams in 2014:

Matt Schaub will either get a chance to show up his replacement in Week 2, or possibly hope to avoid getting tormented by Jadeveon Clowney when the Texans visit the Raiders on September 14th (4:25 EST, CBS).
DeSean Jackson would love a chance to show the world the Eagles made a mistake, and he will return to Philadelphia for Week 3 on September 21st (1:00 EST, FOX). Jackson will get a second chance on Saturday, December 20th (4:30 EST, NFL Network/CBS).
Branden Albert got see Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in practice for years. He will get them in a game for the first time when the Dolphins host the Chiefs on September 21st (4:25 EST, CBS).
Julius Peppers can wreak some havoc in a new system in his former stadium when the Packers visit the Bears on September 28th (1:00 EST, FOX). Peppers will get a second chance in Green Bay on November 9th in primetime (8:30 EST, NBC).
Steve Smith told the fans to “Put your goggles on cause there’s going to be blood and guts everywhere,” when he signed with the Ravens. Well have your goggles ready for Week 4, when the Ravens host the Panthers on September 28th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Alex Smith didn’t get to see Jim Harbaugh last year, but will finally get his shot to go after his former coach when the Chiefs travel to face the 49ers on October 5th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Eric Decker will get to watch Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ offense churn on without him when the Broncos play the Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 12th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Brandon Spikes will have to be prepared for the Patriots after a contentious offseason, as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have been known to pick on players before. The Bills host the Patriots on October 12th (1:00 EST, CBS) and travel to New England on December 28th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Darrelle Revis will get to feast on a passing offense that struggled in 2013, and will likely invite Eric Decker to Revis Island when the Patriots host the Jets on Thursday Night Football on October 16th (8:25 EST, CBS/NFL Network). Revis will then get to return to a stadium filled with jeering fans on December 21st (1:00 EST, CBS).
Jared Veldheer seemingly couldn’t leave Oakland quick enough, and the Raiders will host his Cardinals on October 19th (4:25 EST, FOX).
Jason Hatcher had a career season with the Cowboys in 2013, and now returns to a 3-4 defense hoping to build upon his great season against his former team when the Redskins head to Dallas for Monday Night Football on October 27th (8:30 EST, ESPN). His second meeting with the Cowboys will be in Week 17, when the Redskins host their rivals on December 28th (1:00 EST, FOX).
Aqib Talib took the money to switch from the AFC runner up to the AFC champion, and he will take part in his third Brady-Manning matchup, his first as a Bronco, on November 2nd (4:25 EST, CBS).
Hakeem Nicks looked like he hated playing with the Giants in 2013, and this is his chance at revenge after feeling mistreated by the Giants organization and fans when the Colts visit MetLife Stadium for Monday Night Football on November 3rd (8:30 EST, ESPN).
Jared Allen gets to tee off against the Vikings offensive line he has been practicing against for the past six years, and for the first time since 2007 will finally get to share the field with Adrian Peterson on November 16th when the Bears host the Vikings (1:00 EST, FOX). Allen will head back to Minnesota on December 28th (1:00, FOX).
Lovie Smith gets his shot to beat the team that fired him, and will bring former Bear Josh McCown with him to move the football against a no longer feared Bears defense on November 9th (1:00 EST, FOX).
Mike Pettine left the Bills to coach the Browns, and will have to return to Buffalo on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Michael Johnson left the Bengals to be the featured pass rusher for the Buccaneers, and he will get his chance to beat Andrew Whitworth and the Bengals offensive line to get a hit on Andy Dalton on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Rodger Saffold can show the Raiders exactly how healthy he is after the team signed him to a huge money deal and subsequently failed him on his physical, voiding the deal. The Rams host the Raiders on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
Henry Melton got hurt after receiving the franchise tag by the Bears, and will get a chance to prove he is still an effective player when the Cowboys visit the Bears for Thursday Night Football on December 4th (8:25 EST, NFL Network).
Chris Johnson will get to face the Titans for the first time, as he tries to show the team he still has some miles left on his tires when the Jets go to Tennessee on December 14th (4:05 EST, CBS).

AFC Notes: Pryor, Hill, Bills

April 19th, 2014 at 1:05pm CST by Matt Feminis

The Raiders will cut Terrelle Pryor if they can’t find a trade partner by Monday, reports Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (via Twitter). The news portends an inevitable conclusion to Pryor’s time in Oakland, as the writing has been on the wall since the team traded for Matt Schaub and declared confidence in Matt McGloin as the backup.

Here’s a handful more AFC notes:

The Broncos are nearing decision time on Von Miller, who is eligible for a fifth-year option, and ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold details the figures, options and factors involved. Even if the team decides against the fifth-year option in the short-term, franchising Miller next year is a realistic possibility assuming he returns healthy from his ACL injury and gets back to his impact form (30 sacks between 2011 and 2012).
In a mailbag, ESPNNewYork.com’s Jane McManus shares her opinion that, in theory, the Jets “have already moved on” from 2012 second-rounder Stephen Hill, who has been a bust through two seasons.
The Bills are set at one safety spot with Aaron Williams, who is locked up until 2018. However, despite an uninspiring trio of competitors for the other starting position (Da’Norris Searcy, Duke Williams and Jonathan Meeks), the team does not seem motivated to pluck one of the top-rated safety prospects, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Rodak speculates the Bills likely won’t address safety in the draft until the middle or late rounds if at all, saying, “They could also wait another year, see what they have in those two second-year players, and re-assess the position after this season.”

Contract Details: Schaub, Allen, Ihedigbo

March 27th, 2014 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Matt Schaub‘s reworked deal with the Raiders includes pay cuts in both 2014 and 2015, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), who identifies Schaub’s new cap numbers as $8MM (2014) and $5.5MM (2015). The contract now includes $3MM in performance-based incentives in both 2014 and 2015, but the 2016 season has been totally removed, according to Pelissero (Twitter links). Jason Fitzgerald breaks down the new-look deal in chart form at OverTheCap.com.

Here are a few more contract details from around the NFL:

Jared Allen‘s deal with the Bears includes guaranteed base salaries of $3MM in 2014 and $1MM for 2015, with an $11.5MM ’15 roster bonus guaranteed for skill and injury, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). As Breer notes, the $8.5MM and $8MM salaries for 2016 and 2017 essentially amount to team options, and if Allen posts 12+ sacks in any season between 2014 and 2016, the final year of the contract voids.
According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), James Ihedigbo‘s two-year pact with the Lions functions more like a one-year deal, with a roster bonus decision due in March 2015. The contract, which will be worth $3.15MM ($750K guaranteed) over two years, would see the safety earn $1.525MM in 2014 and $1.625MM in 2015, if he sticks.
Paul McQuistan‘s two-year, $3MM contract with the Browns features annual base salaries of $855K (2014) and $1.395MM (2015), with up to $1MM per year in incentives, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Wilson tweets that Marc Mariani‘s one-year deal with the Titans is a minimum salary contract, with an extra $40K workout bonus. It also features a split salary as an IR precaution for the oft-injured receiver.

Terrelle Pryor Likely To Be Traded Or Cut

March 26th, 2014 at 10:07am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 10:07am: The Raiders have received some trade feelers for Pryor, a source tells Alex Marvez (Twitter link). If no deal is reached, the team will likely cut the quarterback at some point in April, says Marvez.

MONDAY, 1:52pm: According to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter), Pryor’s trade request dates back to the Senior Bowl in January, well before the Raiders acquired Schaub.

12:19pm: The Raiders’ quarterback situation got a little more crowded last week when the team acquired Matt Schaub from the Texans. With Schaub expected to be the starter and Matt McGloin backing him up, there isn’t much room left for 2013’s part-time starter Terrelle Pryor. As such, the club appears likely to part ways with Pryor sooner or later.

According to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News (Twitter link), GM Reggie McKenzie said today that Pryor could be traded or released. Pryor’s agent has conveyed to the Raiders that his client would like a chance to earn a starting job, which won’t happen in Oakland, tweets Kawakami. There’s a little confusion about whether Pryor would prefer to be released or traded, but the Raiders GM intends to speak with the young quarterback within the next week or so to plan a course of action, tweets Kawakami.

As for the Raiders’ new top quarterback, McKenzie indicated that the team’s decision to restructure Schaub’s contract shows that Oakland wants more than a one-year relationship with the ex-Texan. However, the GM also didn’t rule out the possibility of drafting a QB early in May, telling Kawakami that the club is open to any position with its first pick (Twitter links).

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Schaub’s 2014 cap number for the Raiders is now in the neighborhood of $7.5MM.

Browns GM Talks Haden, QBs, FAs, Mack

March 24th, 2014 at 9:48am CST by Luke Adams

Appearing at the NFL’s owner meetings in Orlando, Browns GM Ray Farmer answered several questions from reporters today, including Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Here’s a round-up of some of the highlights, with Twitter links via Ulrich and Cabot:

After cornerback Joe Haden fueled speculation by tweeting “It’s a crazy business” last night, Farmer insisted that the team has no interest in trading Haden, and would like to keep him in Cleveland for a long time.
Farmer defended the team’s decision not to attend the Pro Days of top quarterback prospects like Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, and Johnny Manziel by arguing that those days are “scripted” and saying that the Browns’ absence keeps teams guessing about Cleveland’s intentions. The general manager added that he’s “not leaning in any direction” with the No. 4 pick in the draft.
Farmer believes Cleveland will have opportunities to trade up or down in the draft, and confirmed that discussions about those possibilities are already underway.
Asked if the Browns have interest in Mark Sanchez, Farmer said the team would be interested in “anyone who can help us win,” though he didn’t say whether Sanchez was one such player. For now, the GM says he’s comfortable with Brian Hoyer, and that Hoyer’s competition could come from anywhere, including a player in the draft.
Farmer confirmed that the Browns had interest in Matt Schaub before Houston sent him to the Raiders.
According to Ulrich, Farmer paused for a few seconds when asked where the Browns stood with offensive lineman Paul McQuistan and defensive end Alex Carrington, before replying, “We’ll see.” Both free agents visited the team last week.
Cleveland investigated many options for a No. 2 wide receiver and No. 2 cornerback in free agency, but nothing worked out, according to Farmer.
The Browns are still focused on working out a long-term deal with Alex Mack, who received the transition tag from the club this offseason.

Raiders Acquire Matt Schaub From Texans

March 23rd, 2014 at 8:00pm CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 23rd, 8:00pm: Schaub has restructured his deal with Oakland, lowering his base salary and cap number for this year, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. The veteran can still earn $15-20MM over the next couple of seasons.

MARCH 21st, 3:48pm: The Raiders have officially acquired Schaub, the team announced (via Twitter). The Texans will receive a sixth-round pick in the deal, says Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

9:09am: Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) confirms that the two sides have agreed to terms, meaning the deal is just pending a physical. Of course, considering this is the Raiders, that’s not necessarily a given.

9:00am: A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that Schaub is flying to Oakland right now to take a physical. Assuming there are no snags, the deal could be officially completed later today.

7:45am: The Raiders are expected to trade a 2014 late-round pick to the Texans in exchange for Matt Schaub, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter (via Twitter), the Browns also expressed interest in Schaub, but Oakland has made a stronger push to get a deal done.

Schaub, the Texans’ longtime signal-caller, lost his starting job in Houston in 2013, and the team was expected to make a move with him this offseason, whether it was a trade or release. The 32-year-old’s fate looked particularly sealed when the Texans agreed to terms with Ryan Fitzpatrick yesterday. With Fitzpatrick in the fold and the club likely to draft another quarterback early in May’s draft, there isn’t much room to keep Schaub around.

As for the Raiders, they’ve been linked to Schaub throughout the offseason, with a report last Friday suggesting he and Mark Sanchez were Oakland targets. A separate story on Sunday suggested the Raiders and Texans were engaged in “serious” trade talks, though the Browns were also in the mix. As Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports notes (via Twitter), acquiring Schaub wouldn’t necessarily stop the Raiders from drafting a QB early in the draft, but it would give the franchise some options.

Although he struggled with performance and health in 2013, Schaub is only two years removed from a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for more than 4,000 yards, completing 64.3% of his passes and recording a 22-12 TD-INT ratio. Even during his down year, he completed 61.2% of his passes and averaged 231 passing yards per game, numbers that compare favorably to the ones compiled by Raiders starter Terrelle Pryor.

Assuming his contract remains untouched, Schaub would count for $10.5MM in dead money on the Texans’ books this season if he’s traded, creating nearly $4MM in cap savings. Meanwhile, the Raiders, with their excess cap space, would take on his $10MM base salary, plus a a little under $1MM in per-game bonuses. Schaub’s contract runs through 2016, though he’s extremely unlikely to play out that entire deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Backup QB Notes: Browns, Eagles, Raiders, Ravens

March 22nd, 2014 at 11:20am CST by Matt Feminis

Browns veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer, rehabbing his torn ACL injury suffered in October, says his goal is to be the starter, writes Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. Hoyer’s role remains to be seen, as the team is expected to draft its quarterback of the future, but who that is and when he’s drafted could dictate Hoyer’s place on the depth chart. If the Browns spend the fourth overall pick on a passer, Hoyer is likely relegated to a backup role, but if the team drafts a quarterback not quite pro-ready, Hoyer could have an opportunity as a bridge starter. Meanwhile, Ulrich speculates the Browns could sign 33-year-old Rex Grossman to serve as a No. 3 and mentor.

In other backup signal caller news:

With trade acquisition Matt Schaub in the fold, the Raiders are content with backup Matt McGloin, tweeted Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Writing about the Eagles’ quarterback depth, CSNPhilly.com’s Geoff Mosher says the team is “thinner at the position than they’ve been in more than a decade.” Second-year man Matt Barkley, whom the Eagles traded up to draft in the fourth round, is in line to be the backup, and Mosher notes, “Chip Kelly touted Barkley’s progress throughout the season and seemed very enthused about the former USC star’s future.” Should the team decide to add a veteran competitor for the No. 2 job, Terrelle Pryor, expected to be squeezed out of Oakland, could be the best system fit.
The Ravens should be in the market for another quarterback, believes CSN Baltimore’s Ray Frager. The Ravens spoke with Brandon Weeden before he signed with the Cowboys, indicating the team is looking for a backup capable of running new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak’s play-action passing game for an extended stretch of games in the event starter Joe Flacco goes down. Current backup Tyrod Taylor‘s inexpensive contract is up next season, and his style of play and inaccuracy make him more suited for a No. 3 job.

Raiders, Browns Considering Matt Schaub Trade?

March 17th, 2014 at 2:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 2:45pm: The Texans continue to push to trade Schaub, according to Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), who identifies the Raiders and Browns as teams with some interest. As Rapoport notes (via Twitter), even though both Oakland and Cleveland have plenty of cap room, it will still be tough for the Texans to find a deal that works.

SUNDAY, 4:38pm: The Raiders are in “serious talks” about acquiring quarterback Matt Schaub from the Texans, according to Garrett Heinrich of Sports Radio 610 in Houston. The report also notes that the Texans will look to find a QB who can start immediately in 2014, either in the form of a draft pick or a free agent.

Reports on Friday indicated that Raiders might be interested in Schaub, along with other veteran options like Michael Vick, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman. The Raiders, who had the most cap space in the league heading into free agency, could easily absorb Schaub’s contract, which calls for base salaries totaling $37MM over the next three seasons. The Texans, meanwhile, would suffer a $10.5MM 2015 cap hit in the form of dead money in the event of a trade. Houston, holding the No. 1 overall selection in May’s draft, is expected to seriously consider drafting one of Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, or Blake Bortles to take over as its quarterback.

Schaub, who has also been linked to the Browns, struggled last season, throwing just 10 touchdowns against 14 interceptions, and ranked 35th in quarterback DYAR and quarterback rating. However, he has been largely successful as a starter; just two seasons ago, in 2012, he threw for 4,008 yards and 22 touchdowns.

FA Rumors: Fletcher, Starks, Penn

March 15th, 2014 at 4:56pm CST by Rob DiRe

Linebacker Dane Fletcher is reportedly visiting with the Raiders, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that while Fletcher is interested in the Raiders, he will not be visiting them until tomorrow (via Twitter).

Here are some other free agent rumors from around the league:

James Starks will be visiting the Steelers on Monday, reports Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel. Dunne believes that while running back is not a pressing need, the Packers would be interested in bringing Starks back.
Donald Penn will be visiting with the Redskins on Sunday, reports John Keim of ESPN (via Twitter). The former Buccaneer was released earlier this week.
The Raiders quarterback situation is still in flux, and Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports that the team is interested in Josh Freeman (via Twitter). The team will also look at Matt Schaub when he is released from the Texans, as expected. In a second tweet he writes that he imagines the Raiders will make a push after those two before considering Michael Vick.

Raiders Targeting Schaub, Sanchez

March 14th, 2014 at 10:33pm CST by Peter Sowards

Matt Schaub and Mark Sanchez are still employed by the Texans and Jets, respectively, but both teams are expected to move on from the veteran quarterbacks. And once they do, a source tells ESPN Reporter Paul Gutierrez that the Raiders will have interest in both quarterbacks, as well as Josh Freeman and Michael Vick, in that order.

As Gutierrez notes, Oakland’s quarterback depth chart consists of Terrelle Pryor, Matt McGloin and Trent Edwards, so adding a well-traveled veteran would be in the team’s best interests.

The rumors swirling around Sanchez have been pretty dormant as of late, but Schaub has been linked to the Browns as recently as Monday. Cleveland recently cleaned house at quarterback, releasing Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell on Wednesday (links here).