HEADLINES

Michael Johnson

Extra Points: Bengals, Sam, Jets, Bortles

February 10th, 2014 at 4:55pm CST by Luke Adams

In assessing the likelihood of the Bengals‘ free agents returning to the team, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer suggests that defensive end Michael Johnson is likely to end up elsewhere this spring. After franchising Johnson last year, the Bengals could choose to place the franchise tag on their defensive end again this time around, but Dehner believes that’s the only scenario in which he returns to Cincinnati. According to Dehner, the club will likely be unwilling to shell out big bucks for another defensive lineman with Geno Atkins already on a lucrative, long-term deal.

Here’s more from around the NFL, with just over a month remaining until 2014’s free agent period:

  • The success of teams with low-salary quarterbacks like the Seahawks and 49ers has prompted a discussion on whether clubs with solid veteran QBs ought to let them walk in free agency if the price gets too high. However, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com dismisses such thinking, arguing that the NFL’s cap structure ensures that even the more highly-paid signal-callers remain undervalued.
  • Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal reports (via Twitter) that defensive end prospect Michael Sam, who publicly came out as gay yesterday, left The Novo Agency and signed with new NFL agents Cameron Weiss and Joe Barkett of Empire Athletes.
  • Mullen also reports (via Twitter) that free-agent-to-be Emmanuel Sanders has left agent Jordan Woy.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com takes a look at one of the Jets’ top priorities this offseason: Wide receiver. In Cimini’s view, the club would be wise to avoid paying top dollar for Eric Decker, and instead should focus on a $5-7MM free agent, who can be slotted alongside a receiver picked in the draft. Cimini identifies potential Seahawks cap casualty Sidney Rice as a possible target for New York.
  • We learned earlier today that Henoc Muamba received a $107K guarantee from the Colts on his futures contract, the largest guarantee for that type of deal so far this offseason. According to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter), the second-largest guarantee for a player on a futures deal belongs to safety Sherrod Martin ($100K), who signed with the Jaguars.
  • Top QB prospect Blake Bortles is preparing to do everything, including throw, at this month’s scouting combine, writes Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel.

AFC South Links: Jaguars, Colts, Mitchell

February 9th, 2014 at 3:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com believes the Jaguars will select defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the third overall selection, adding that while quarterback remains an obvious need, internal team sources may believe that none of the top QB prospects are ready to start from day one. Clowney certainly presents a safe option, and would allow the Jaguars to wait until a later round to select a quarterback, ostensibly to pair with a veteran like Chad Henne. DiRocco’s opinion meshes with comments made by Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell, who indicated the team would not be beholden to drafting a quarterback with the third pick.

  • Regarding Caldwell’s indication that the team has an internal consensus of the top five players available, DiRocco believes those players to be Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, Khalil Mack, and one of Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles.
  • Defensive end Michael Johnson is an option for the Jaguars as they look to bolster their defensive line.
  • The notion that the Colts’ hiring of Rob Chudzinkski is indicative of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s performance last season is only partially true, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. While Wells believes the hire is more related to Chudzinski’s familiarity with Chuck Pagano, there is do denying that Hamilton’s run-heavy play-calling was widely panned last season.
  • Colts running back Donald Brown is among the best bargains available at the position this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com.
  • Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell will likely not be re-signed by the Texans, as they aim to find a more traditional 3-4 nose tackle, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com.

AFC Notes: Johnson, McFadden, Butler

February 1st, 2014 at 11:06am CST by Matt Feminis

The Bengals used the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson a year ago, but the 27-year-old repaid the team with just 3.5 sacks in 2013, making a second tag unlikely. Consequently, he’s expected to hit the open market, but the presence of Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry could soften the blow, according to ESPN.com’s Cole Harvey.

Other AFC news and notes:

  • Harvey also mentions Raiders free agent running back Darren McFadden as a realistic acquisition given Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson’s not-so-secret appreciation for the 26-year-old, 2008 first-rounder.
  • Chargers inside linebacker Donald Butler, whose rookie deal is expiring, has missed 23 of 66 career games, but the Bolts value what he brings when healthy, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic. In fact, the team drafted Manti Te’o with the intention of pairing him with Butler inside defensive coordinator John Pagano’s 3-4 front. Butler and the team discussed a contract extension last summer, and all indications suggest both sides are interested in a new deal.
  • The Ravens are expected to be awarded the league-maximum four compensatory picks, according to ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley.