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Scott Wells

NFC Notes: Mathis, Flowers, Rams

June 13th, 2015 at 2:18pm CST by Rob DiRe

Offensive lineman don’t always make the most headlines, but when a high-profile blocker like Evan Mathis gets released everyone starts to pay attention.

Aside from fans, analysts, and general managers, the NFLPA has also taken interest in the All-Pro guard’s release, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com (via Twitter). The Association is currently in the “information-gathering” phase of the process.

The NFLPA could be investigating whether the team’s decision to cut Mathis was a direct result of his absence at voluntary offseason workouts, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

The more likely explanation for the investigation, writes Florio, that the Eagles cut him after reports that the team removed an offer to rework his contract because Howie Roseman was no longer the team’s general manager.

Here are a few more nots regarding offensive linemen in the NFC:

  • With Mathis and Todd Herremans no longer on the team, the Eagles will have a tall task to replace both starting guards from 2014. Zach Berman of Philly.com lists all of the teams options, including a number of names already on the roster and a few free agent options, like Davin Joseph and Dan Connolly.
  • Giants’ first-round pick Ereck Flowers is one of the last unsigned draft picks left, which is notable because he is also one of the few rookies who has elected not to hire an agent. However, he still is confident that he will get a deal done, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, saying that negotiations are “going good.”
  • With Scott Wells out of the picture, the Rams will have three players competing to start at center, writes Joe Lyons of STLToday.com. Tim Barnes, Barrett Jones, and Demetrius Rhaney are battling for the job, and all three are still in the running to start. “We’re not going to make a decision real early,” said head coach Jeff Fisher. “We’ll let them all play. We’re rotating them. They’re all getting opportunities to work with (new quarterback Nick Foles), so he’s familiar, not only with the exchanges, but also the communication. We’ll make that decision when somebody shows us he’s earned the job.”

Extra Points: Wells, Broncos, Raiders

June 1st, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Rams center Scott Wells is paying a visit to the Titans today, a league source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The 34-year-old, who earned a Pro Bowl berth during his final season with the Packers in 2011, played his college ball at Tennessee, so it would be a homecoming of sorts if he were to sign with the Titans.

  • Tight end Jeff Heuerman is the Broncos‘ only remaining unsigned draft pick but his deal is likely to get done later this week, Troy Renck of The Denver Post tweets. Earlier today, first round choice Shane Ray put pen to paper with Denver.
  • After signing blocking tight end Lee Smith away from Buffalo and using a third-round pick on Miami’s Clive Walford, the Raiders are hoping to get significant production out of their TEs this season, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. He notes that tight end versatility is essential in Bill Musgrave’s offense, particularly when they go up-tempo.
  • North Carolina Central wide receiver/kick returner Adrian Wilkins will enter the Supplemental Draft, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. As a sophomore, Wilkins returned five kicks for touchdowns, three kickoffs and two punts and was given All-American honors for his play.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Rams Release Jake Long, Scott Wells

March 9th, 2015 at 6:04pm CST by Zachary Links

6:04pm: The Rams officially announced the release of Long and Wells, Wagoner tweets.

5:38pm: The Rams informed offensive tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells that they will be released, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The moves will save the team about $12MM in cap space.

The Rams will continue to speak with Long as he rehabs from his torn ACL and “discuss options,” tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL. Long, a former No. 1 overall pick, had been in St. Louis for the past two seasons after spending the first five years of his career with the Dolphins. The Rams had acknowledged that the 29-year-old would no longer be playing left tackle, as the club planned to move 2014 No. 2 overall selection Greg Robinson to that spot. Still, St. Louis had indicated that Long might still be retained, possibly to play on the right side.

But with Long scheduled to count $10.5MM against the cap in 2015, it simply didn’t make financial sense to keep him around. Injury concerns also surely played into the Rams’ thinking, as Long has torn his ACL in each of the prior two seasons, playing in just 22 games during that timeframe. With needs elsewhere on the roster, St. Louis couldn’t afford to sink money into such risky player. But if Rapoport is correct, a reunion between Long and the Rams could be in the cards, albeit at a much lower salary.

Wells, meanwhile, is a more durable player, having started 28 out of 32 games from 2013-14, but he was largely ineffective during that time — last season, in fact, he rated as the worst center in the league per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). At this point in his career, the 34-year-old Wells could struggle to find many offers on the open market. As for the Rams, they could potentially look to find a new center in free agency, where Stefen Wisniewski is the best available option.

Scott Wells Reworks Contract With Rams

June 9th, 2014 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

4:22pm: Wells’ 2015 bonuses actually amount to a $1MM payout on the third day of the league year and $1MM in per-game roster bonuses, according to Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange (Twitter link), who adds that Wells also has up to $2MM in not likely to be earned incentives in each of the next two seasons.

11:55am: Offensive lineman Scott Wells has restructured his contract with the Rams to reduce his 2014 cap hit, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com. The veteran center had been slated to earn annual base salaries of $5.5MM this year and next, but will instead have a 2014 salary of $1MM and a 2015 salary of $2MM.

In exchange for accepting a cut on his base salary, Wells received an immediate payment of $1.65MM in the form of a roster bonus. The 33-year-old can also earn up to $850K in per-game roster bonuses depending on how many games he appears in during the 2014 regular season. For 2015, Wells will receive a $1.75MM roster bonus if he remains on the roster. The end result is $2.2MM+ in cap savings for St. Louis this year, and $1.75MM in cap savings for 2015.

The restructured deal provides a nice real-life example of the difference between incentives which are likely or not likely to be earned, which I explained earlier today. Wells appeared in 12 of 16 games last season, so only 75% of his 2014 per-game roster bonuses are considered LTBE, with the remainder viewed as NLTBE — that means only $637.5K of that $850K total applies to the Rams’ cap for now.

Wells, who finished last season on injured reserve, is slated to be the Rams’ starting center in 2014 on a talented offensive line that includes All-Pro tackle Jake Long and No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson.

NFC Notes: Umenyiora, Sproles, Smith, Rudolph, Dietrich-Smith

March 8th, 2014 at 8:51am CST by Matt Feminis

A handful of Saturday morning notes from around the NFC leading up to the opening of free agency:

      • If Osi Umenyiora declines to accept a pay cut in Atlanta, a Giants reunion would be a possibility, writes Conor Orr of the New Jersey Star Ledger.
      • Darren Sproles would be an “outstanding fit for the Bears,” writes Dan Pompei, who says the former Saint could replace Devin Hester and be a dynamic change-of-pace back the team has been unable to field behind Matt Forte. Additionally, Pompei notes the connection between Sproles and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who was with Sproles in New Orleans.
      • “Financially, it makes little sense” for the Panthers to release Steve Smith because the team would take a financial hit in each of the next two seasons, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. The writer thinks the decision isn’t so much about money as it is the effect in the locker room. If the veteran’s role is reduced, would he turn sour?
      • The Vikings have $41MM worth of cap space to play with, and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling thinks a chunk of it will go to Kyle Rudolph, who is scheduled to hit free agency next year but has said he wants to remain in Minnesota long-term. It could behoove the team to act now, as Rudolph could see his production (read: value) increase under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
      • The Packers have expressed their desire to bring back center Evan Dietrich-Smith, says the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, who compares Dietrich-Smith’s free agent situation to Scott Wells‘ in 2012. Back then, the team thought they could let Wells negotiate with other teams and still retain his services, but they miscalculated and lost him to the Rams. The Packers are taking the same approach with Dietrich-Smith, who, coincidentally, has the same agent as Wells.

NFC Rumors: Tynes, Brown, Jackson, Hatcher

March 5th, 2014 at 4:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Buccaneers kicker Lawrence Tynes currently isn’t scheduled to hit free agency until after the 2014 season, but a decision on his contract status could mean he hits the open market next week, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, there’s a disagreement over whether the Bucs should have placed Tynes on the non-football injury/illness list or the injured reserve list last season when the kicker developed an MRSA infection. The team opted for the NFI list, whereas if Tynes had been placed on the IR, he’d be eligible for free agency this year, so a ruling will be required.

Let’s round up a few more afternoon notes from around the NFC….

  • The 49ers are “making a push” to re-sign prospective free agent Tarell Brown before Tuesday, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). As Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee details, former Colts GM Bill Polian had high praise for Brown, who Polian thinks is one of the best cornerbacks available this winter.
  • On the heels of a weekend report suggesting the Eagles could gauge DeSean Jackson‘s trade value, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com reiterates that the wide receiver’s days in Philadelphia may be numbered. In the piece, Mosher explains why he doesn’t think Jackson will be with the team beyond 2014.
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com believes the Buccaneers will be among the suitors for Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jason Hatcher, who the Cowboys may not be able to afford to re-sign (Twitter link).
  • While things could change in the next few days, indications are that the Rams will keep center Scott Wells for 2014, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Wells, who has two years left on his deal, has a cap number of $6.5MM for ’14.
  • Defensive back Kelvin Hayden and tight end Dante Rosario, who both recently re-signed with the Bears, will each make the minimum salary in 2014, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter links).