HEADLINES

Paul McQuistan

Browns Release Paul McQuistan

February 13th, 2015 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

A year after signing him as a free agent, the Browns have parted ways with veteran offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). McQuistan’s deal with the Browns was a two-year pact, so he’ll reach free agency a year earlier than he would’ve if he had played out the contract.

McQuistan, a former third-round pick, spent three seasons with the Seahawks before signing with the Browns, starting 40 games for the club from 2011 to 2013. Despite being a regular contributor in Seattle, the 31-year-old saw his playing time significantly scaled back during his first and only year in Cleveland. McQuistan played just 121 offensive snaps, recording a -6.8 grade during his limited run with the club, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

The contract McQuistan signed with the Browns included a $750K signing bonus, so half that amount ($375K) will count against the team’s cap in 2015. However, the offensive lineman’s overall cap hit on Cleveland’s books has been reduced by $1.395MM, the amount of his non-guaranteed base salary.

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.

Browns To Sign Paul McQuistan

March 24th, 2014 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

2:04pm: McQuistan’s two-year deal with the Browns is worth $3MM, with $750K in guaranteed money, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.

12:04pm: According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, McQuistan’s deal, which has now been confirmed by the team (via Twitter), is for two years rather than one.

11:21am: The Browns have reached an agreement to sign offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, reports ESPN’s John Clayton (link via ESPN.com’s Terry Blount). According to Clayton, the two sides have agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

McQuistan, a former third-round pick, has spent the last three seasons with the Seahawks, starting 40 games for the club since 2011. In 2013, he started the season off at left guard before moving to left tackle for several contests as an injury replacement. McQuistan returned to guard down the stretch, but was only a part-time player, appearing in just 63 offensive snaps during Seattle’s playoff run.

As Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com tweets, GM Ray Farmer and the Browns are “intrigued” by McQuistan’s versatility and ability to play both guard and tackle. Still, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), the 30-year-old would be much better off at one of the guard spots. McQuistan has posted middle-of-the-pack grades as a guard, but ranked 71st out of 76 qualified tackles last season, according to PFF.

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.

Extra Points: Browns, Goodson, Dolphins, Rams

March 19th, 2014 at 4:30pm CST by Luke Adams

After initially suggesting that he’d be open to returning to the Seahawks on a “hometown discount,” Golden Tate ultimately landed with the Lions, inking the second-largest deal of the offseason for a wide receiver. In retrospect, Tate may regret making the comment about giving Seattle a discount, as he explained on 710 ESPN in Seattle (link via Terry Blount of ESPN.com).

“I didn’t mean a 40% discount,” Tate said. “I’m going to earn in one year at Detroit what Seattle was going to pay me for two years. Seattle offered numbers that were laughable. I thought, ‘I’ve given you everything and this is what you give me?'”

As Tate looks forward to teaming up with Calvin Johnson in Detroit, let’s check in on a few more odds and ends from around the NFL….

  • Free agent offensive lineman Paul McQuistan and defensive lineman Alex Carrington visited with the Browns, tweets Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
  • The Jets have converted Mike Goodson’s $650K roster bonus into a different form of roster bonus that can be obtained if he’s on the roster for all 16 games, as Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com details (via Twitter). The move takes the bonus charge off the cap, creating some modest savings for the Jets.
  • Before he re-signed with the Jets, Willie Colon drew interest from the Falcons and Vikings, but those teams both ultimately “backed off,” the lineman told reporters today (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
  • The Redskins hosted free agent guard Mike McGlynn for a visit today, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Washington is clearly in the market for at least one interior lineman after cutting Will Montgomery, considering we heard earlier in the afternoon that the club will also host Brian De La Puente.
  • The conditional draft pick the Dolphins sent to the Ravens for Bryant McKinnie last season will be a seventh-rounder, a league source tells Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
  • The Vikings‘ offer to Henry Melton was competitive with the Cowboys‘ proposal in terms of salary, but the free agent defensive lineman simply chose Dallas instead, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
  • A little over a week into free agency, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch examines where the Rams stand, and takes an in-depth look at Rodger Saffold‘s new contract.
  • Javier Arenas‘ one-year deal with the Falcons is a minimum salary benefit contract with a $65K signing bonus, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the details on the new additions to the NFLPA’s executive committee.