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Matt Schaub

AFC Rumors: Griffen, Soliai, Vick, Raiders

March 12th, 2014 at 1:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos were high on Everson Griffen and dangling a deal averaging $9MM per season, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1. That forced the Vikings to sweeten their offer to keep Griffen in house. Minnesota wound up giving the defensive end a five-year deal worth $42.5MM that includes $20MM guaranteed. More out of the AFC..

  • The Colts had interest in nose tackle Paul Soliai before he signed with the Falcons, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Soliai got $33MM over five years from Atlanta with $14MM guaranteed over the life of the contract.
  • Michael Vick will likely wait until after the draft to sign with a team, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Meanwhile, the Raiders are waiting to see what happens with Matt Schaub and are also interested in Josh Freeman.
  • The Texans will try and trade Schaub before releasing him, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora adds that the Raiders are after a veteran quarterback and someone like Mark Sanchez could be a fit, if he becomes available.

Jets Rumors: Giacomini, Schaub, RBs, Howard

March 11th, 2014 at 11:43pm CST by Luke Adams

With Austin Howard headed to Oakland, the Jets are making a “strong push” to sign offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who reports (via Twitter) that the free agent tackle will visit with the team on Wednesday. Here’s more on the AFC’s New York squad:

  • While it may seem logical to link the Jets to Matt Schaub, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that New York is unlikely to seriously pursue or sign the Texans signal-caller if and when he’s released.
  • The Jets’ 2013 signing of Mike Goodson didn’t pan out, but the team is “nosing around” the free agent market for running backs again this year, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
  • According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter), the difference between the Jets’ offer and Howard’s asking price wasn’t that significant. Cimini hears from a source that it was a case of GM John Idzik drawing a line in the sand.

Raiders Rumors: QBs, Revis, Jenkins, Jennings

March 11th, 2014 at 12:38pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders are interested in quarterback Josh McCown, but the team is also waiting to see what the Texans will do with Matt Schaub, says Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Additionally, many believe the McCown sweepstakes could be down to the Bears and Buccaneers, according to Tafur. Here’s more on the Raiders:

  • The Raiders are thought to be “strong players” in the Darrelle Revis sweepstakes, according to Tafur (via Twitter), who says the Browns are involved as well. Both clubs have a boatload of cap space available this offseason, which makes them logical destinations to either absorb Revis’ contract in a trade or outbid other teams should he reach free agency.
  • Five teams are interested in free agent cornerback Mike Jenkins, who may be harder for the Raiders to re-sign than they expected, tweets Tafur.
  • Rashad Jennings may make a decision today, and it appears the Raiders and Giants are his top two suitors, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter links).
  • There’s nothing new on the Raiders front when it comes to Jared Veldheer and Lamarr Houston, tweets Tafur. It continues to look like Veldheer will land in Arizona, and Houston could sign elsewhere too.

Texans Rumors: Smith, Schaub, Crennel

March 11th, 2014 at 11:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Texans want defensive end Antonio Smith back, but it has to be at a price they can afford considering their needs on the offensive line and defensive line, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. More out of Houston with all links going to McClain’s Twitter.

  • Don’t expect the Texans to spend big in free agency (link). Instead, they’ll wait out the feeding frenzy and go after “lunch-pail” types from other teams.
  • With a thin free agent quarterback market, the Texans should hang on to Matt Schaub if he’ll re-do his contract that calls for a $14.12MM cap figure with a $10MM base (link). As McClain notes, if Houston cuts Schaub, he’ll be the hottest signal caller on the open market (link).
  • To suit Romeo Crennel’s 2-gap 3-4 scheme, the Texans need to find large starters on the defensive line and at inside linebacker (link).

Browns Interested In Matt Schaub, Grossman

March 10th, 2014 at 10:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Quarterback Matt Schaub is a “serious possibility” for the Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com agrees, noting the Browns will monitor the QB market, and sign one of Schaub or Rex Grossman, both of whom are familiar with new Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (via Twitter).

Schaub is still under contract with the Texans, but is expected to be released, as he is due a $10MM base salary for 2014. He struggled mightily last season, but flourished under Shanahan’s tutelage from 2007-2009 (Shanahan was Houston’s quarterbacks coach in 2007, and their offensive coordinator in 2008-09). Grossman is a free agent, and also knows Shanahan, having played under him in both Houston and Washington.

Either quarterback would likely be part of a three-way competition in Cleveland, joined by Brian Hoyer, who is coming off a torn ACL, and a rookie, perhaps one selected with the fourth overall pick. Jason Campbell, who took over for Hoyer after his injury, is expected to be released.

AFC Rumors: McCluster, Titans, Steelers, Jets

March 10th, 2014 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

A league source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that wide receiver and return man Dexter McCluster won’t be returning to the Chiefs. McCluster has four or five suitors and will likely sign Tuesday night, says Paylor, and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com also hears that the free-agent-to-be will be “snapped up quickly.” Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • In addition to Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby, other players on the Titans‘ radar include Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain and Broncos defensive end/outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
  • Red Bryant says he received interest from the Packers, Chiefs, and Redskins signing with the Jaguars, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Bryant signed a four-year deal with Jacksonville that could pay him up to $17MM but guarantees him just $5.25MM.
  • The Steelers are working to see if Ike Taylor will take a pay cut, tweets La Canfora. If Taylor is unwilling to do so, I imagine Pittsburgh will release him soon.
  • Chiefs inside linebacker Akeem Jordan is drawing interest from six teams and has a visit set up with one AFC club for Thursday, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (at the National Football Post).
  • The Jets are high on Matt Schaub, and figure to target him in free agency if he’s released by the Texans, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

AFC East Rumors: Vick, Jets, Grimes, Bills

February 24th, 2014 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

On Sunday morning, we passed along word that the Jets are eyeing Josh McCown as a potential quarterback option in free agency. Today’s first round of rumors out of the AFC East includes a couple more updates on potential QB targets for the Jets, so let’s dive right in….

  • A reunion between free-agent-to-be Michael Vick and Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is not likely, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The two men spent several years together in Philadelphia, when Vick was the Eagles‘ quarterback and Mornhinweg was the club’s offensive coordinator.
  • According to Mehta, Matt Schaub is also an unlikely target for the Jets. The Texans are expected to release their longtime starter, but if he hits free agency, Schaub won’t be interested in backing up Geno Smith, sources tell the Daily News.
  • Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes is “cautiously optimistic” he’ll sign a long-term contract with the team this offseason rather than receiving the franchise tag, tweets Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Grimes expressed his desire for a multiyear deal earlier this month, suggesting that being franchised “is not what anybody wants.”
  • There’s a disconnect between the younger members of the Bills‘ front office and the so-called “lifers,” writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. According to Graham, head coach Doug Marrone and GM Doug Whaley are looking to shift the team’s “this-is-the-way-we’ve-always-done-it culture” and want more say in personnel decisions, but are facing pushback from execs like CFO Jeffrey C. Littmann, senior VP of football administration Jim Overdorf, and senior VP of communications Scott Berchtold.

Cap Notes: Bills, Giants, Browns, Texans

February 1st, 2014 at 8:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bills safety Jairus Byrd will need to be tendered at $8.3MM if the team wants to keep him under the franchise tag for a second consecutive year, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Back-to-back franchise tags call for the affected player’s salary to be increased by 120%. Byrd, widely considered one of the best safeties in the NFL, was displeased with being franchise tagged last year, having hoped to work out a long-term extension. Recent extensions by comparable safeties include those of Eric Weddle, who was guaranteed $19MM by the Chargers, and Dashon Goldson, to whom the Buccaneers guaranteed $18MM (numbers courtesy of OverTheCap.com).

Some other cap notes from around the league:

AFC Notes: MJD, Harvin, Sanchez, Texans

January 31st, 2014 at 10:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars are allowing Maurice Jones-Drew to hit the open market this offseason and the tailback says he has no problem with that, writes Ryan O’Hallaran of the Florida Times-Union.

“I’m fine with it,” Jones-Drew said. “I kind of figured that because we didn’t talk throughout the year. That’s part of the business. There’s no hard feelings. I gave everything I could to the organization. I appreciate them giving me that opportunity. Wherever I go next year, they’ll have a person ready to play at a high level.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Before Percy Harvin was sent to the Seahawks by the Vikings a year ago, there was some talk of a possible trade to the Patriots, the receiver confirmed to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “It flew around for a little bit, but I never really dug into it to see how much interest there was,” Harvin said. “I was working out and waiting for my agent to do all that work.”
  • Should the Jets roll on with Mark Sanchez under center or find themselves a new quarterback? Many ex-Jets were asked that question along radio row this week and the consensus seems to be that they should look elsewhere, writes ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini. Former Jets linebacker Bart Scott thinks the Jets should go make a run at Matt Schaub, who could be cut loose by the Texans.
  • Speaking of Schaub, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle continues to report that the Texans intend to take a quarterback with the first overall pick in this year’s draft (Twitter link).
  • One of John Elway‘s best moves may have come years after he retired when he traded Tim Tebow and made way for Peyton Manning, writes Nancy Armour of USA Today. It’s safe to say things worked out pretty well for the Broncos as Manning will lead them in Sunday’s Super Bowl while Tebow is out of professional football.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.