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Richard Sherman

Watt’s Contract Status Highlights Controversial Fifth-Year Option Issue

June 28th, 2014 at 10:14am CST by Matt Feminis

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the game. By any measure, Watt is a dominant force and he’s recognized as such. He’s still playing on his rookie contract, however, and will make $1.9MM in base salary plus another $1.67MM in prorated signing bonus. From the team’s perspective, Watt is the ultimate bargain, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says, “the Texans arguably are treating Watt like a chump by not rewarding him now for his contributions and potential.”

For perspective, Watt’s newest running mate, No. 1 overall pick Jedeveon Clowney will make $4.05MM in 2014. Together, Watt’s and Clowney’s combined 2014 cost is $7.62MM, which is less than the Vikings will pay Everson Griffen ($8.2MM combined base salary and prorated signing bonus), who has started one game in four years.

While Watt is deserving of a deal commensurate with his status, Florio isn’t just taking up for him. Instead, he sees Watt as a poster child for a bigger issue, one USA Today’s Jarrett Bell detailed on Friday: the implementation of the fifth-year option, a new contract element introduced as part of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, effectively penalizes first-round picks. While 2011 draftees Richard Sherman (fifth round) and Colin Kaepernick (second round) have already landed mega second contracts, first-rounders like Watt can be controlled by their team and kept off the open market for an extra year. From a player’s perspective, that’s a tough pill to swallow given football’s inherent injury risk.

Florio concludes his editorial by saying, “Watt’s case arguably is the most glaring for a league that has yet to sign any of the 2011 first-round picks to second contracts. In a year featuring plenty of holdouts, none of them have taken a stand. It will be interesting to see whether the patience demonstrated by Watt and others will run out if the offseason clock expires without new deals being given to any of the guys picked at the top of the first draft that, thanks to the rookie wage scale, paid them a lot less than they would have earned a year earlier.”

PFR kept track of which 2011 first-round picks had their options exercised by the May 3 deadline. Click here for the full list.

Seahawks Sign Richard Sherman To Extension

May 7th, 2014 at 3:31pm CST by Luke Adams

3:31pm: Sherman’s cap number for 2014 will be $3.631MM, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. It’ll jump to $12.2MM in 2015, $14.769MM in ’16, $13.631MM in ’17, and $13.2MM in ’18.

1:48pm: Tom Pelissero of USA Today confirms (via Twitter) that Sherman’s four new years are worth $56MM, meaning the overall value of his contract should be $57.431MM.

1:00pm: Just over a week after the Seahawks finalized a long-term extension with one key member of their secondary (Earl Thomas), the team has locked up another one of its top defensive backs. Richard Sherman officially signed a long-term extension with the Seahawks today, ensuring that he remains under contract for an additional four years, through the 2018 season (Twitter link).Richard Sherman

Sherman, 26, is viewed as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and you could make the case he deserves to be atop that list. Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required) ranked Sherman outside the top five at the position in 2013, though quarterbacks compiled a meager 47.3 QB rating on passes into his coverage, which was the best mark in the league. The former fifth-round pick, who earned his second All-Pro spot in 2013, also grabbed a league-leading eight interceptions.

Back in April, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported that Sherman and the Seahawks had made real progress on a new contract that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. At the time, La Canfora suggested that Seattle and Sherman hoped to finalize something in time for the draft, so the two sides ended up meeting that informal deadline.

The new contract also did indeed make Sherman the league’s highest-paid corner. According to Sherman’s website, the deal is worth $57.4MM, with $40MM in guaranteed money. We’ll have to wait on the specifics of those figures to see just how much of that salary is fully guaranteed, as opposed to being guaranteed for injury only. It’s also not entirely clear if the $57.4MM figure includes his 2014 salary ($1.431MM), or if it’s all new money. Assuming it includes his ’14 salary, the four new years would amount to about $56MM, good for $14MM per year.

Per OverTheCap.com’s data, the largest per-year salary at cornerback previously belonged to Darrelle Revis, who is essentially under contract one year at $12MM. Brandon Carr was the runner-up in annual value, at a little over $10MM per year. La Canfora reported last month that several league sources believed the Seahawks were resisting going up to $14MM annually on Sherman’s deal, but it looks like the team ultimately conceded to that asking price. Of course, if you include the 2014 season in Sherman’s contract, it works out to a five-year deal worth less than $12MM per season, which is a little more palatable for the team.

Sherman’s extension could have a significant impact on contract talks for other young star corners around the league, such as the Browns’ Joe Haden and the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson. Both players will likely be pushing for similar annual salaries on their next deals.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports (Twitter links) first reported that Sherman and the Seahawks had reached an agreement on a four-year extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links), Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link), and Sherman himself also helped break the story.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

West Notes: Sherman, Chiefs, Chargers, 49ers

May 3rd, 2014 at 4:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Contract extension talks between the Seahawks and All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman are still occurring, but a deal has not yet been reached, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Some reports have indicated that a deal could coalesce before the draft on Thursday, and while that still may be realistic, it reportedly “won’t be easy.” The Seahawks, who recently locked up another young defensive back in Earl Thomas, have Sherman under contract for one more season, at a base salary of $1.431MM.

More rumblings from the West divisions:

  • Adam Teicher of ESPN.com believes that defensive lineman Ra’Shede Hageman is something of a boom-or-bust prospect, while fellow D-lineman Stephon Tuitt is more likely to be a solid, productive player, leading Teicher to surmise that the Chiefs, who are without a second-round pick, would be less likely to gamble on Hageman were he to fall to the 23rd pick.
  • The Chargers have often taken one of two approaches when drafting defensive players, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com — selecting a player who performs a single task well (like Larry English‘s and pass rushing), or taking a prospect who is more well-rounded and versatile (such as Melvin Ingram). If versatility is the objective for Chargers general manager Tom Telesco in next week’s draft, a defensive lineman like Oregon State’s Scott Crichton could be of interest.
  • The 49ers’ plans regarding Aldon Smith need not have changed simply because the team exercised its 2015 option on the linebacker, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Niners have some time to further decide on Smith’s future. Maiocco believes that because of Smith’s status, outside linebacker must be a consideration for San Francisco in next week’s draft.
  • It might take a draft day slide, but cornerback Kyle Fuller would be of interest to the Broncos, according to ESPN’s NFL Nation blog. Some have raised concerns about Fuller’s size (5’11”, 190 pounds) but his ability to play in multiple spots might overcome those defects. “I feel comfortable playing in the nickel, playing outside,’” said the young defensive back. “I just want to be versatile.”

Seahawks Notes: Sherman, Williams, Thomas

April 29th, 2014 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Now that the Seahawks have finalized an extension with one of the top two All-Pro players in their secondary, the team appears set to shift its focus to the other half of that duo. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, after locking up safety Earl Thomas through the 2018 season, the Seahawks are expected to resume contract talks with cornerback Richard Sherman. Reports last week indicated that Seattle and Sherman had made some progress in negotiations, and while no deal is imminent yet, the two sides could get something done in time for the draft.

Let’s check out a few more Seahawks items….

  • Free agent defensive tackle Kevin Williams paid a visit to the Seahawks on Monday, according to Howard Balzer of the SportsXchange (via Twitter). The former Viking is still looking for a home, and may end up signing after the draft is over, when potential suitors have a better idea of what holes they need to fill.
  • Marshall offensive tackle Garrett Scott worked out for the Seahawks this afternoon after doing the same for the Chargers this morning, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a closer look at the Thomas extension, suggesting it’s the latest indication of the rising value of elite safeties in today’s NFL.

Richard Sherman’s Contract Extension

April 23rd, 2014 at 7:23pm CST by Rob DiRe

Richard Sherman spoke about his expectations for his next contract with the Seahawks, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Sherman, who is in a position to be the highest paid cornerback in the NFL on his next deal, is coming off a Super Bowl that was largely possible due to the team friendly deals for stars such as Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Russell Wilson. He talked about the possibility of receiving that lucrative deal from the Seahawks as the league’s top cornerback.

“Whatever they feel I am due. I will take it as respect,” said Sherman. “It’s all about respect in this game and the only way people show respect is the dollars. We’ll see what happens.” 

Sherman’s dominance the past two seasons has brought in a new age of defense in the NFL, as a number of teams have followed the Seahawks’ lead in looking to acquire tall and lengthy cornerbacks to combat the increased size of elite NFL receivers. The lack of such players only drives Sherman’s value even higher. If he were to hit the open market, he could challenge some of the highest guaranteed money for a cornerback ever seen in the NFL.

Despite durability concerns, Aqib Talib signed a six-year $57MM deal with the Broncos, and Darrelle Revis signed a one-year deal worth $12MM guaranteed, which is a lot of money considering this is his third team in as many years. A healthy Sherman could potentially look to surpass both those deals.

Seahawks, Sherman Progressing On Extension

April 22nd, 2014 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Seahawks and Richard Sherman have made “considerable progress” on a new long-term contract for the standout cornerback, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. According to La Canfora, Seattle is prepared to make Sherman, whose current deal expires after the 2014 season, the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

Per OverTheCap.com’s data, the largest per-year salary at cornerback currently belongs to Darrelle Revis, though his $16MM annual average is a little misleading, since his deal will almost certainly end up being one year for $12MM. Brandon Carr is the runner-up, at a little over $10MM per year. As for Sherman, several league sources expect his next deal to exceed $13MM per year, according to La Canfora, though he notes that the Seahawks have resisted going up to $14MM annually.

La Canfora writes that Ben Dogra and Jimmy Sexton of CAA, Sherman’s new agents, have been engaged in contract talks with the Seahawks for some time, and says negotiations have been “amicable and productive.” While nothing is necessarily imminent, there’s a chance the two sides could finalize something in time for May’s draft. That would have a significant impact on extension talks for other young star corners around the league, such as the Browns’ Joe Haden and the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson.

Sherman, who is in line for a $1.431MM base salary in 2014, is viewed as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and based on the numbers reported by La Canfora, it sounds like the Seahawks believe he deserves to be atop that list. Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required) ranked Sherman outside the top five at the position in 2013, though quarterbacks compiled a meager 47.3 QB rating on passes into his coverage, which was the best mark in the league. The 26-year-old, who earned his second All-Pro spot in 2013, also grabbed a league-leading eight interceptions.

Seahawks Notes: Tate, Bennett, Salary Cap

March 1st, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Peter Sowards

As the Seahawks said goodbye to receiver Sidney Rice and defensive lineman Red Bryant, they said hello to approximately $12.8MM in savings, freeing the defending Super Bowl champions to be active participants in upcoming free agency.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reached out to cap expert Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com, and Fitzgerald offered a plethora of knowledge, shining light on the possible plans of GM John Schneider in the coming months.

  • According to Fitzgerald, the team will have about $17.8MM in cap room. He predicts a safe spending level between $10-10.5MM after setting aside $1.5MM for rookie draft picks and a minimum $6MM cushion.
  • Fitzgerald views tight end Zach Miller and defensive end Chris Clemons as “too expensive” on their current deals, set to earn $7.5MM and $6MM in 2014, respectively.
  • With a cap number hovering around $76MM in 2015, Fitzgerald does not envision Seattle having any problems taking care of quarterback Russell Wilson, left tackle Russell Okung, cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas going forward. With the exception of Okung, who has two years left on his current deal, each player is eligible for free agency next offseason.
  • Free agent Golden Tate should not be that expensive to re-sign, says Fitzgerald, likening him to Eagles receiver Riley Cooper, who just received a five-year, $25MM contract with $10MM guaranteed.
  • Defensive lineman Michael Bennett, however, “is a trickier one” because he excelled at a premium position last season in a contract year. Fitzgerald doesn’t know if the Seahawks can retain Bennett’s services if the former Texas A&M Aggie goes for a $9-10MM/year contract.

Schneider On Tag, Bennett, DBs, Draft

February 20th, 2014 at 6:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks are unlikely to use the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Bennett, writes Todd Dybas of the News Tribune. Bennett, who was part of a formidable defensive line featuring Cliff Avril, Brandon Mebane, and Red Bryant, is a free agent after playing the 2013 season under a one-year, $4.8MM contract. Bennett has indicated he will not give the Super Bowl champions a discount in negotiations, which is understandable given his soft market after the 2012 season. That year, he finished with nine sacks and was rated the seventh-best 4-3 defensive end in football by Pro Football Focus, yet still was only able to garner the one-year deal with Seattle. Seahawks general manager John Schneider insisted Bennett will remain a priority. “He had a great season,” said Schneider. “Proved to be versatile. Is a great guy, a fun guy to be around. Hopefully we can get something worked out.”

A few more notes on the Seahawks, courtesy of Dybas’ piece:

  • The Seahawks not only won’t use the franchise tag on Bennett, but they probably will not utilize it all.
  • Schneider wouldn’t give any details on the status of coach Pete Carroll’s contract, which has one year remaining. Schneider, somewhat cryptically, stated Carroll is “doing great,” and refused to give any updates regarding tweaks in the head coach’s deal.
  • The Seahawks will try to keep the “Legion of Boom” intact, but extending both cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas might be tricky. “We have days ahead that are going to be hard because they are going to be tough decisions,” said Schneider. “If you want to be a championship-caliber football team, you have to make those tough decisions. You can’t keep everybody. It’s actually a sad thing.” We previously noted that Thomas is likely to be the higher priority of the two.
  • Regarding the draft, Schneider noted his aversion to need-based selections: “We’re not going to have this player, so we have to draft this position? I think that’s where you get in trouble. Any of the draft rooms I’ve ever been in, the biggest mistakes you make are when you [draft based on position scarcity].”
  • Seattle’s draft meetings began the Wednesday following their Super Bowl victory, with more work being required than usual due to the large amount of declaring underclassmen.

Michael Bennett Won’t Give Seahawks Discount

February 12th, 2014 at 3:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Golden Tate recently expressed a willingness to accept a hometown discount to return to the Seahawks for 2014 and beyond, but fellow free agent Michael Bennett doesn’t sound as enthused about that idea. Noting on the NFL Network on Tuesday night that “this isn’t Costco,” Bennett suggested that, in his opinion, there’s “no such thing” as a discount in the NFL (link via ESPN.com’s Terry Blount).

“There is no discount really because you go out there and you don’t give a discount on effort,” Bennett said. “You go out there and you give the best effort every day and you fight for your teammates, and you want to be compensated for the way that you perform and the kind of teammate you are.”

While Tate’s stance may endear him more to Seahawks fans, it’s hard to argue that Bennett should give up his own potential payday, particularly coming off a Super Bowl season in which he recorded 8.5 sacks to go along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The 28-year-old was a key piece of the Seahawks’ defensive line, spending time both in the middle and on the end, while playing on a one-year, $4.8MM deal.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this month that the Seahawks were expected to re-sign Bennett, and ESPN.com’s John Clayton (video link) said today that the odds of the two sides reaching an agreement are still “pretty good.” But the Bears, who have Michael’s younger brother Martellus Bennett on their roster, are lurking as a potential bidder for the free-agent-to-be, and Clayton figures it’ll take at least a $6-7MM annual salary to lock up the elder Bennett.

In addition to attempting to re-sign 2014 free agents like Bennett and Tate, the Seahawks figure to explore long-term extensions for Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman this offseason. However, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, there have been no talks yet between Sherman and the team about a new contract. Florio points out that Sherman and his agent likely plan to let the club sort out this year’s free agents before pushing for a long-term deal.

Poll: Who Faces Seahawks In NFL Opener?

February 8th, 2014 at 7:33pm CST by Peter Sowards

One of the many perks of being Super Bowl champions, with the exception of last year’s Ravens, is hosting the following season’s opening game in primetime.

Though the official schedule for the 2014 season won’t be announced until April, we do know each team’s home and road opponents, which gives us some insight as to who might be heading to Seattle for the first of the league’s 256 contests.

Fresh off a 43-8 whooping in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Broncos could be an interesting choice for the opener. They opened the 2013 season as well, avenging a devastating loss in the divisional round to the Ravens with a 49-27 victory. The game was played in Denver because of a scheduling conflict with Baltimore’s MLB team, the Orioles. As you probably recall, Peyton Manning tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes.

For a rematch of the most recent NFC championship — one of the better games played during the 2013 season — the league could call for the division-rival 49ers to open against Seattle. Plenty of sparks flew the last time these teams played (cough, Richard Sherman) and the rivalry is developing into Bears/Packers and Steelers/Ravens territory.

One of the more memorable regular season games the past few years is the “Fail Mary” game between the Packers and Seahawks, the last game played with replacement referees. With Green Bay set to travel to the Pacific Northwest in the 2014 season, pitting two of the top teams in the NFC up against one another in the NFL opener would be a great way to kick off the season.

Lastly, there’s always a chance that the league and networks will schedule the Cowboys in a must-see primetime game. This is probably the most improbable of all the scenarios, but it’s not impossible. “America’s Team” continues to draw monster ratings year after year with the unpredictable Tony Romo under center, and their 2006 playoff matchup with the infamous bobbled snap by the aforementioned Romo remains one of the most exciting finishes in postseason history.

Back up your vote with a comment as to why you think a certain team should open its season with a trip to Seattle.

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