HEADLINES

Robert Meachem

Saints Re-Sign Robert Meachem

April 21st, 2014 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 12:25pm: Meachem’s one-year deal with the Saints is a minimum salary benefit contract that features a $65K signing bonus, tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. It’ll pay the receiver $920K if he sticks with the team, and will cost $635K against the cap.

FRIDAY, 11:20am: The Saints have added some depth to their wide receiver corps by bringing back a familiar face. According to a press release from the team, New Orleans has re-signed free agent wideout Robert Meachem to a one-year contract for 2014.

Meachem, 29, was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2007 draft and spent five seasons with the team before playing in San Diego during the 2012 season. The Tennessee product returned to the Saints last season in a reduced role — after averaging 43 catches per season in New Orleans from 2009 to 2011, Meachem hauled in just 16 passes last season for 324 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

For 2014, Meachem will likely assume a similar role on the Saints’ depth chart, assuming he even earns a spot on the roster. The departure of Lance Moore could mean a few more balls to go around for the team’s receivers, but second-year wideout Kenny Stills will likely see an increasing number of those passes thrown in his direction.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Meachem played on a minimum-salary contract last season and will almost certainly do so again this year.

NFC Notes: Panthers, Rams, Saints, Vikings

February 25th, 2014 at 1:34pm CST by Luke Adams

Restructuring multiple contracts has helped the Panthers create some cap flexibility for 2014, which should increase the odds of prospective free agent Greg Hardy remaining with the team, writes ESPN.com’s David Newton. Still, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com writes, pushing back cap commitments to several players ensures that Carolina’s long-term cap outlook remains shaky at best. Additionally, while some outlets have reported that the latest moves will create nearly $29MM in cap room for the club, Fitzgerald and Joel Corry (Twitter link) believe that figure is closer to $19MM based on recent cap projections.

As the Panthers continue to maneuver to field a competitive roster under the 2014 cap, let’s check in on a few more Tuesday notes from across the NFC….

  • Although the Rams met with Rodger Saffold‘s representatives at the combine, the team has yet to make a contract offer, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The club is expected to propose a new deal soon in an effort to lock up the free agent offensive lineman.
  • The Saints are holding early discussions with several of their own free agents, according to reports by ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett and Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. In addition to talking to Zach Strief, which we heard about yesterday, the Saints have approached wide receivers Joe Morgan and Robert Meachem, as well as linebacker Parys Haralson. There seems to be mutual interest in each case, though no deals appear imminent yet.
  • Redskins defensive lineman Adam Carriker has only played in two games in the last two seasons due to quadriceps issues, but he’s optimistic about returning for 2014 and is hopeful that the Redskins will give him that chance, as he tells John Keim of ESPN.com. Carriker is viewed as a likely cap casualty, since releasing him would create nearly $3MM in cap savings for Washington.
  • Dave Campbell of The Associated Press passes along comments from Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman on the organization’s search for a long-term answer at quarterback.

NFC Notes: Murray, Austin, Cardinals

February 9th, 2014 at 7:53pm CST by Ben Levine

In spite of putting up career numbers in 2013, running back DeMarco Murray isn’t expected to receive an extension from the Cowboys any time soon, writes Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Murray ran for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns this past season, which were solid improvements for the 25-year-old. Still, Archer refers to the Cowboys reluctance to re-sign former running back Julius Jones as a clue that the team may be patient with their third-year star. Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Archer adds that the Cowboys want to move on from wide receiver Miles Austin. Hamstring injuries derailed Austin’s 2013 season, as the 29-year-old only had 24 receptions. Archer thinks there’s a chance Austin could return at a reduced rate, but he also believes the team may replace Austin in the draft or free agency. The writer names Robert Meachem as a possible target.
  • ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss feels there’s a possibility that the Cardinals don’t re-sign any of their top free agents, but suggests that Karlos Dansby, Matt Shaughnessy and Antoine Cason are among the players most likely to return.
  • Weinfuss also guesses that the Cardinals will not cut offensive guard Daryn Colledge. While the move would save the Cardinals $5MM, Weinfuss believes that the offensive guard played well enough in 2013 to stick around.