HEADLINES

Mike Kafka

NFC Links: Panthers, Bucs, Lions, Packers

June 1st, 2014 at 7:57pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve taken a look at rumors from the NFC West and NFC East this afternoon. Now let’s focus on some links from the North and South divisions…

Buccaneers Sign Mike Kafka

February 14th, 2014 at 11:07am CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 11:07am: Kafka’s deal with the Bucs is a two-year pact worth $1.255MM, tweets Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. That figure suggests the contract either includes a signing bonus or is worth slightly more than the minimum.

MONDAY, 3:15pm: The Bucs have officially announced the signing of Kafka, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter).

2:05pm: Although it looked last week as if he was poised to join the Cowboys, free agent quarterback Mike Kafka will sign with the Buccaneers, according to his agent. Mike McCartney of Priority Sports tweeted today that he’s excited for Kafka signing with Tampa Bay.

Kafka, a fourth-round pick in 2010, saw a little action for the Eagles in 2011, but was waived by the team before the 2012 season. Signed last January to a reserve/futures contract by the Patriots, Kafka was subsequently waived and claimed by the Jaguars, where he competed for a roster spot in the summer before being cut again. The Northwestern alum worked out for the Cowboys last week, but it seems either Dallas or the signal-caller himself chose to go in another direction.

Although details of Kafka’s deal with the Bucs aren’t known, it will likely be another reserve/futures deal, perhaps with a small portion of guaranteed money included. Considering Josh Freeman is no longer in the picture in Tampa Bay and Dan Orlovsky is eligible for free agency, there may be an opening for the 26-year-old Kafka to compete for a job on the Bucs’ 2014 roster.

Florida Notes: Jaguars, Dolphins, Kafka

February 11th, 2014 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

After rounding up the latest updates on a handful of AFC and NFC North teams earlier this afternoon, we’ll head down south and check in on today’s items on the league’s three franchise in Florida:

  • Last offseason, the Jaguars didn’t sign any free agents to contracts exceeding two years, but GM Dave Caldwell has expressed a willingness to go to three or four years this time around, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. Still, Caldwell cautioned that the club won’t be looking to set the market with big deals.
  • Selecting an offensive tackle with the No. 19 pick in May’s draft isn’t the Dolphins‘ only option, but it’s the best option, according to Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Perkins also identifies running back and free safety as positions the Dolphins may target in the first round, with linebacker as a “dark horse.”
  • Agent Mike McCartney tells Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that Mike Kafka signed with the Buccaneers instead of the Cowboys because Tampa Bay is more likely to carry three quarterbacks in 2014.
  • Given Kafka’s and Mike Glennon‘s lack of NFL experience, Cummings expects the Buccaneers to add a third quarterback to the roster in free agency rather than in the draft (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Kluwe, Blackmon, Rogers

February 6th, 2014 at 9:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Clayton Halunen, the attorney for former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, says he’s upset with the club’s decision to retain special teams coach Mike Priefer before the conclusion of the investigation into his comments, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press details. The punter, who has been a vocal advocate for gay marriage, alleged that Priefer made a number of homophobic remarks in his presence. More from around the NFL..

  • At a fan event, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said that at some point, suspended wide receiver Justin Blackmon will be back with the team, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. That falls in line with recent comments from Jags owner Shad Khan.
  • The 49ers may ask cornerback Carlos Rogers to take a pay cut yet again, writes CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco. Money is fairly tight in San Francisco. The salary cap is expected to be in the $126-128MM range and the 49ers’ top 51 players currently under contract account for $121.2MM, according to a league source. The club has an additional $2.175MM in carryover of unused cap space from the 2013 season, but Rogers, Jon Baldwin, and others may have to take less to stay in SF.
  • Newly-minted Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil is glad to have Barkevious Mingo on his squad. In fact, Buffalo’s former outside linebackers coach pushed the Bills to pick Mingo with the eighth pick in last year’s draft but he was off the board once Cleveland grabbed him at No. 6, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “I’m a big fan of Mingo. I’m looking forward to working with him. He flashes some on tape. He did a lot of good things. He’s obviously a young player. He’s got some things to work on, but we’re excited as a defensive staff to get him back here and start working with him,” said O’Neil.
  • Albert Breer of NFL Network (via these five Twitter links) rightfully notes that the NFL salary cap isn’t set in stone at the $126.3MM estimate that came about in December. A number of factors, including TV money and the influence of the NFLPA, could drive that number closer to $130MM.
  • Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) expects the Cowboys to sign quarterback Mike Kafka. Dallas will need a QB to get through the offseason program while Tony Romo goes through rehab. Earlier today we learned that Dallas auditioned the former Northwestern signal caller.

NFC East Notes: RGIII, Morgan, Cowboys

February 6th, 2014 at 6:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, our own Luke Adams ran down the free agent market for quarterbacks, starting with Michael Vick of the Eagles. Vick had a strong first month to the season but understudy Nick Foles eventually seized his opportunity when he fell to injury. The veteran is unlikely to return to Philadelphia and is confident that he’ll be starting somewhere to open up the 2014 season. The Jaguars, Texans, Browns, Vikings, Buccaneers, and Raiders are among the teams expected to seek a starting QB and he could have the opportunity to show that he still has plenty to give in the fall when he will have turned 34. More from the NFC East:

  • New Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan says the adversity that he experienced with the Redskins and quarterback Robert Griffin III last season will help him improve going forward, writes Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. The topic of Shanahan’s relationship with RGIII came up in his interview with Cleveland on January 29.
  • Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan would like to play for his hometown team again in 2014, but he’s not sure if the feeling is mutual, writes CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir. Morgan was the Redskins’ leading receiver in 2012, hauling in 48 passes for 510 yards. Last season, however, the 28-year-old fell out of favor with then-coach Mike Shanahan and was deactivated twice. He finished with 20 receptions for 214 yards and zero touchdowns.
  • The Cowboys auditioned quarterback Mike Kafka and former Arena League receivers Braylon Bell and Maurice Williams at a local high school, according to Rowan Kavner of DallasCowboys.com. Kafka, a fourth-round draft pick of the Eagles’ in 2010 out of Northwestern, spent time briefly with the Patriots and Jaguars last season but hasn’t played in a regular season NFL game since 2011.