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NFC Notes: Kilgore, Carroll, Thompson, Fells

October 20th, 2015 at 3:33pm CST by Zachary Links

49ers center Daniel Kilgore suffered a broken left leg in a loss against the Broncos one year ago, but his 2015 debut doesn’t appear to be imminent, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. When asked if he could sit out the 2015 season, Kilgore didn’t rule out that scenario.

“I wouldn’t suspect that, but there’s always that possibility,” Kilgore said. “A year ago, I wouldn’t have said I would be in this situation. So you always have that possibility.”

Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFC….

  • Joining a chorus of NFL head coaches who have had to shoot down college rumors in recent weeks, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said that a return to USC is “not happening,” as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes.
  • Good news for the Panthers: Shaq Thompson appeared to suffer a serious injury on Sunday, but a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) that it turned out to only be a sprained MCL for the rookie linebacker.
  • Cardinals tight end Darren Fells may miss two or three weeks with a sprained shoulder, a source tells ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter). Fells had an MRI on Monday morning to better assess the damage.
  • As we detailed yesterday, the Buccaneers have two players now eligible to begin practicing, and the club announced today that both Demar Dotson (IR-DTR) and Akeem Spence (PUP) will rejoin their teammates on the practice field beginning Tuesday. Tampa Bay will have a three-week window to activate the duo.
  • Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com feels that Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery is worthy of a long-term investment. Jeffery’s performance in Detroit – eight receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown – reinforced his importance to the team in the view of Dickerson, who says Chicago should not let the wideout reach the open market next spring. Dickerson doesn’t view Jeffery as an elite receiver, but he does feel that he is in the next tier, along with guys such as T.Y. Hilton, Mike Wallace, Vincent Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. I’d agree with that assessment, though Jeffery has to stay healthy in order to justify that type of money.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Seahawks Notes: Wilson, Bennett, Chancellor, Thomas

August 1st, 2015 at 11:00am CST by Ben Levine

We learned some details of Russell Wilson‘s four-year, $87.6MM contract with the Seahawks yesterday, and CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora provides us with some more information on the extension.

The quarterback’s cap hit for 2015 will be $6.9MM, followed by cap hits of $18.5MM (2016), $18.8MM (2017), $21.7MM (2018) and $23.2MM (2019). As the writer notes, these numbers are “very manageable” for the organization, as they can convert some of the base salary to bonus money.

Wilson’s 2016 and 2017 salaries (as well as part of his 2018 salary) are guaranteed for injury, and the contract has the potential to be fully guaranteed later on. Therefore, the injury guarantee total of $61MM comes via $30MM in injury guaranties and $31MM in signing bonus money. $20MM of that bonus will be delivered in August, and Wilson will get the other $11MM in April.

The first three years of Wilson’s contract totals around $56.6MM, trailing the deals recently signed by Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger. As the cap continues to rise and quarterbacks keep signing extensions, La Canfora opines that the two sides could be talking about a new contract in 28-36 months.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com notes that the only guaranteed money in the entire contract is the signing bonus and Wilson’s $700K base salary for 2015.

Let’s take a look at some more notes out of Seattle…

  • Defensive end Michael Bennett showed up to training camp despite not receiving a new contract. “I’m still upset about my contract situation but it’s one of those things where it is what it is,” Bennett said (via Tim Booth of the Associated Press). “I’ve got to be professional and come out here and be a leader that I’ve always been and get this team back to where we need to be.”
  • Meanwhile, coach Pete Carroll said he has been in contract with safety Kam Chancellor, who decided to hold out. “He has his points. He got his thoughts,” Carroll said. “He’s a very smart guy. He’s thought this out. He’s made a clear choice. We’ll see how it goes. I miss him.”
  • Following offseason surgery on his left shoulder, safety Earl Thomas has indeed been placed on the PUP list to start Seahawks training camp (via the Associated Press). Carroll preached patience as the All-Pro recovers, saying he doesn’t want Thomas to return until he’s “safe and secure.”

NFC West Notes: Wilson, Irvin, Lee, Gunter

May 2nd, 2015 at 3:36pm CST by Rob DiRe

Contract talks between the Seahawks and Russell Wilson are going “a little slow,” according to head coach Pete Carroll, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). They are talking, but are not progressing as fast as the two sides would like. Condotta writes that Adam Schefter of ESPN followed that news up by reporting that Wilson is looking for guaranteed money of a quarterback while the Seahawks are trying to sign him for less (via Twitter).

Here are some other notes from around the NFC West:

  • Condotta also points out that while Carroll says nothing is final about a possible extension for former first-round pick Bruce Irvin, but also says nothing to a report that the Seahawks would like to trade the young linebacker (via Twitter).
  • The 49ers have not asked punter Andy Lee to take a pay cut, but drafting Clemson punter Bradley Pinion in the fifth-round certainly puts his future with the team in question, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). Cole notes that Lee is scheduled to make $2.05MM in base salary in 2015, suggesting the team could look to save some money at that position on the roster.
  • The Cardinals felt forced to trade up in the fourth round to select Delaware State’s Rodney Gunter, as they were convinced that another team drafting in that area was going to take their coveted defensive line prospect, according to Kent Somers of AZCentral.com (via Twitter).
  • After drafting Missouri receiver Bud Sasser in the sixth round, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes Rams have now gone with an offensive player in all six of their selections in the 2015 NFL Draft (via Twitter). They have taken three offensive linemen, a quarterback, and a running back to go along with Sasser so far, in hopes of building up an offense that has been far behind their stout defense the past few seasons. The last defensive player they have chosen was Michael Sam in the seventh round last year.

Seahawks Coach, GM Discuss Clark, Lockett, Irvin

May 2nd, 2015 at 8:37am CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks made one of the more surprising selections on Friday evening, selecting embattled defensive end Frank Clark at the end of the second round. The former Michigan Wolverine certainly has plenty of talent, but the 21-year-old was dismissed from his team in November following his involvement in a domestic violence case.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider explained the logic behind the decision, and they also discussed some other topics following the second day of the draft. Let’s take a look at some of the notable quotes (via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)…

Schneider on the organization’s investigation, and subsequent selection, of Clark:

“Our organization has an in-depth understanding of Frank Clark’s situation and background—we have done a ton of research on this young man. There’s hasn’t been one player in this draft that we have spent more time researching and scrutinizing more than Frank. That is why we have provided Frank with this opportunity, and we look forward to him succeeding in our culture here in Seattle.”

Carroll on whether the Ray Rice situation had an impact on their decision:

“Absolutely. It was crucial we did all of the work that we did—all of the meetings, all of the interviews, questions asked to get to the point where we knew what was going on—that we understood the situation and could go ahead to give him a chance to do this. With all of the elevated awareness that made us more tuned in with what we needed to do to take care of business. John made his trips, we visited with the kid numerous times, we flew him in here—we have taken every opportunity and every chance to figure out what we needed to figure out. We did it, and we are going to hold him to a very standard of expectation like we do, and we think he is going to be very successful.”

Carroll on why Clark’s skills make him a worthy pick:

“His mentality in the way he plays the game—he is such a competitive kid and it’s so important to him to play his best. He plays so tough and chases the football—he is physical in the way the players play. He just has the kind of nature that really fits in with those players. He has a ton of upside—as John said—and he is going to improve a lot. We think he is going to be a really exciting addition to the club.”

Schneider on the team’s selection of wideout Tyler Lockett:

“Just a need, a strong need at the punt return position. I was actually with his father in Kansas City, which is amazing and makes me feel very old, but Tyler is a phenomenal kid: academically, driven, captain, leader of his team—both of these guys are actually big-time leaders of their team. Those are some of the things that stood out with both of these guys—highly driven, just instincts and catching the ball. He is a great fielder. He’s incredible as a slot receiver inside. The week he had at the Senior Bowl was phenomenal. We just felt like he is the premier returner in this draft.”

Carroll on whether the Clark selection will impact Bruce Irvin‘s future with the team:

“We plan on having Frank in the defensive end spot and we are going to find out what that means. We are going to find out and spot him like we always have. We know he has unique qualities about him—we know that he can be a quality outside rusher, but he also does a lot of stuff, they moved to the inside rush, as well. We are just thrilled to have the chance to figure that out, and to find where he fits to complement the rest of the guys.”

Pete Carroll On Wisniewski, Jackson, O-Line

March 14th, 2015 at 10:10am CST by Ben Levine

It’s been a busy couple of days for the Seahawks front office. The team has made a number of notable moves, bringing in Jimmy Graham, Cary Williams and Will Blackmon. However, the team also lost Max Unger, Byron Maxwell, Zach Miller and Malcolm Smith.

Head coach Pete Carroll appeared on Seattle’s KJR Radio to discuss the team’s offseason. ESPN.com’s Terry Blount transcribed some of his notable soundbites, which you can find below:

On free agent center Stefen Wisniewski, who met with Seattle earlier this week:

“He’s a legitimate starter in the league. He really likes us and we liked him. That’s a potential thing that can happen. It will be some time before this gets worked out. He’s got some visits [with other teams]. It’s recruiting and we’re battling. He’s a really solid football player and a smart kid. We’ll see where it goes.”

On the team’s options at punt returner following Bryan Walters departure:

“That will be a wide-open competition, but one of the guys you might not think about is B.J. Daniels. We’re really looking forward to B.J. taking a shot at that [punts and kickoffs], and also catching some footballs for us. He’s a multi-talented guy that can help us a quarterback as well. He’s a kid we’re excited about. He’s very tough and strong and has great quickness.”

On whether veteran quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will return:

“We hope so. We want him to be on this team again. We’re in talks.”

On losing a pair of offensive linemen, Max Unger and James Carpenter:

“Obviously we’ve got some work to do up front, but we’ve got a big plan there. It’s going to be very competitive. I think it’s going to be exciting to see how guys elevate. It’s also a very good draft [for offensive linemen] and an opportunity to help ourselves there, as well. It’s going to be a focal point, but we have some really good guys. If not, we wouldn’t have done it [traded Max Unger for Jimmy Graham]. We’ll be OK.”

Marshawn Lynch On Future, Carroll, Harvin

November 16th, 2014 at 9:07pm CST by Ben Levine

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Marshawn Lynch‘s future with the Seahawks, and the running back did little to quiet those rumors today. NFL.com’s Michael Silver reports that Lynch did not accompany his team into the locker room during halftime of today’s matchup against the Chiefs, and the reason was attributed to fatigue. However, Silver is skeptical about that excuse, and he openly wonders whether it was a statement of displeasure by Lynch.

Reporters didn’t have an opprtunity to speak to the All-Pro following the game (Lynch skipped out on his media session), but Silver was able to catch the running back on the phone. Here are some highlights from their conversation…

On his future with the Seahawks:

“Do I think I’ll be gone after this season. I don’t know, man. The Seahawks, their front office gets in the media; they talk a lot. I don’t talk too much. I just play the game.

“If they have something going on, I don’t know about it.”

On the potential that he could be released following the season:

“I understand the business. At the end of the day, it’s just a business.”

On his relationship with coach Pete Carroll:

“Pete’s my head coach. Well, I mean, you know, he’s really not in my position meetings. … It ain’t like we get to chop it up like that.”

On his reported displeasure regarding the Percy Harvin trade:

“I’m upset when I don’t get a first down on fourth-and-inches. … You know, it is what it is. I was surprised, I guess you could say.”

On whether the Seahawks are still a contender:

“Is this a championship team? Yeah, yeah, we’ve got the heart of a champion,” he said. “When you’ve got players like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor — you’re about to make me name the whole damn roster — aand there’s some young guys whose names a lot of people don’t know who bring a lot of fight. I always look at the best of our team. So … hell yeah. I would have to be a fool to say no.”

NFL Fines Pete Carroll, Seahawks

August 26th, 2014 at 5:03pm CST by Zachary Links

5:03pm: The Seahawks players will still be paid for the cancelled sessions, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Seattle forfeits its first two days of on-field double practices for their 2015 minicamp and will have one 2.5 hour on-field practice on the final day (link).

4:36pm: The Seahawks and coach Pete Carroll have been collectively fined more than $300K and will lose two minicamp practices in 2015 for violating no-contact rules that govern NFL teams offseason practices, sources tell ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Carroll’s fine was “at least” $100K and the Seahawks were docked “in excess of $200K” by commissioner Roger Goodell according to Mortensen’s sources.

The team will lose at least two minicamp practices in 2015 because they had excessive contact between players during a June 16th practice. Seattle is no stranger to this sort of thing either – the club was fined an undisclosed amount in 2012 by Goodell for a similar violation under Carroll’s supervision and lost their final two OTA practices. The 2011 CBA bans physical contact between players during the offseason and the NFL has come down hard on violations.

 

Seahawks Notes: Wilson, Daniels, Bowie

August 4th, 2014 at 7:30pm CST by Rob DiRe

Andy Dalton‘s contract extension with the Bengals shook up the day across the NFL landscape, but one player who could benefit most from those numbers is Russell Wilson, writes Sarah Kirkpatrick of SeattlePi.com.

Kirkpatrick notes that Wilson’s raw numbers are comparable to Dalton’s, and his success in the playoffs where Dalton has consistently failed make him a candidate to surpass that deal considerably. Wilson will likely begin extension talks next offseason.

Here are some other notes from around Seahawks camp:

NFC West Links: Lynch, Fitzgerald, Hunter

July 25th, 2014 at 9:45pm CST by Ben Levine

It’s hard to imagine a head coach being in a good mood when their star player decides to hold out, and Pete Carroll certainly confirms that notion. The Super Bowl-winning coach was asked about Marshawn Lynch‘s decision to skip Seahawks training camp and gave an honest (albeit snarky) answer.

“It’s a contract for a reason. We made a decision and it was signed, by us and by them,” Carroll told USA Today Sports’ Tom Pelissero. “We expect them to honor their contract just as we will. We’re going to honor it and we expect them to do the same.

“We’ve had a big plan for a long time working here, and Marshawn is a huge part of that plan, and we made a huge commitment to him a couple years ago. He remains a big part of that plan – if he’ll show up. The same thing will carry over to Doug (Baldwin) and Richard (Sherman) and Earl (Thomas) and Kam (Chancellor) and all of the guys that have signed with us.

“He’s got his own mind on this. We’ve communicated quite a bit, and I know where he is on it and we just have to see what happens.”

Lynch originally signed a four-year, $30MM deal in 2012 and the contract’s average annual value is among the top-six in the league.

Now, for some more NFC West notes…

  • In a series of tweets, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen suggests that Lynch could lose a portion of his signing bonus if he misses the first six days of camp. If the Seahawks star decides to miss the first 11 games and the preseason opener, Mortensen estimates Lynch could give up more than $624K (based on CBA’s $30K daily fine and $294K penalty for missed preseason game).
  • Cardinals team president Michael Bidwell was clear that he wants franchise receiver Larry Fitzgerald to spend the rest of his career in Arizona. “Our intent all along is to have Larry retire as an Arizona Cardinal,” he said (via AZCentral.com). “He’s been a great player on the field, a great person in the community, and a great ambassador not only for the Cardinals and the National Football League but also for the state of Arizona. We’ve worked hard to keep him a Cardinal, we’re going to keep him a Cardinal, and we intend to have him retire as a Cardinal.” 
  • 49ers running back Kendall Hunter was hurt during practice today, and ESPN’s Ed Werder tweets that the organization is “concerned” about the injury. The source indicated that the seriousness of the injury wasn’t known but the team “didn’t like way it looked.” If the injury proves to be serious, LaMichael James‘ chances of making the roster will certainly improve.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Sam

May 11th, 2014 at 12:07pm CST by Peter Sowards

General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have worked five drafts together with the Seahawks, and as The News Tribune’s Todd Dybas writes, the duo has developed a penchant for taking lesser-known players.

Examples of this include Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle Jimmy Staten, Marshall offensive tackle Garrett Scott and Arkansas fullback Kiero Small, none of whom received much notoriety in the days leading up to the draft.

Schneider talked about the ambitious nature of his team’s roster and a mentality his players must possess: “There’s so much competitiveness. These guys are on edge. They’re confident, so you have to have a certain mentality to be able to battle. You’ve got to bring it right away. Right when you walk in the door, you’ve got to bring it.”

More notes from the division of the reigning Super Bowl champions below…

  • The unpredictably consistent Seahawks need five or six of the nine draft picks to hit for Schneider and Carroll to retain the title of draft geniuses, penned Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times.
  • A roundup of the Rams‘ 11 draft picks by Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. With two first-round picks, St. Louis solidified the trenches, going with Auburn tackle Greg Robinson No. 2 overall and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald at No. 13.
  • At No. 249, the Rams made one of the more memorable picks in the draft, selecting Missouri DE/OLB Michael Sam, who will become the first openly gay player to play in the NFL. As Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch writes, now Sam needs to prove that he can also play football in addition to breaking barriers.
  • USA TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero named the Rams as one of five teams that should expect instant impact from its rookies in 2014.
  • 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was happy for Sam, but wished that the Missouri rusher landed outside the NFC West and thus avoiding facing him twice a year, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.
  • South Florida outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, standing an impressive 6-foot-6 and 244 pounds, lauds himself as a first-round talent with mistakes in his past. He slipped to the 49ers in the fifth round because of those mistakes, and head coach John Harbaugh says Lunch needs direction, according to Eric Branch of SFGate.com.
  • Despite the availability of SEC quarterbacks Zach Mettenberger (LSU), Aaron Murray (Georgia) and A.J. McCarron, the Cardinals took a developmental project instead, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, writes Kent Somers of AZcentral.com.
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