HEADLINES

Sergio Brown

Bills Sign Sergio Brown

November 2nd, 2016 at 6:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Traversing the workout circuit since being cut by the Falcons before the season, Sergio Brown reached an agreement to sign with the Bills, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

Brown has not played in 2016 but worked out for the Dolphins last week. The veteran safety started four games for the Jaguars last season but was cut after one year of a three-year contract.

The Bills placed Aaron Williams on their IR list this week due to a neck injury but still have four other safeties on their active roster. Williams started five games and played in seven for Buffalo in 2016 and has been a starter in the Bills’ secondary since 2011.

Brown, though, could provide a veteran presence as a stopgap. He played in at least 14 games from 2011-15, starting in 12 combined during the ’14 and ’15 campaigns with the Colts and Jaguars, respectively.

The 28-year-old back-line defender will join a safety corps headed by Corey Graham and Robert Blanton, the former rating as a top-20 Pro Football Focus safety and the latter the site’s No. 68 of 69 full-time performers. The Bills have now have five safeties with at least four years of NFL experience, with Duke Williams and Jonathan Meeks being 2013 draftees.

Dolphins Working Out Safeties

October 25th, 2016 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins are auditioning a group of safeties today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That bunch includes James Ihedigbo, Major Wright, and Sergio Brown. James Ihedigbo (Vertical)

After starting 21 games for the Lions over the past two seasons, safety James Ihedigbo has been unable to find work this season. In fact, today’s workout with Miami marks his first known free agent visit of the year. At the age of 32, it seems that Ihedigbo’s stock has gone down. Last year, his production slipped and he lost his starting job to Isa Abdul-Quddus later on in the year. The veteran finished out 2015 as Pro Football Focus’ No. 64 ranked safety out of 69 qualifiers. At the same time, 2014 was Ihedigbo’s best NFL season and it seems possible that he could get back to his old form just two years later.

Wright was cut by the Bucs in late August and we haven’t heard his name mentioned since he worked out for the Panthers days later. Brown, meanwhile, was cut by the Falcons around the same time. The safety played in at least ten games in each of his six seasons and is actually coming off of one of his best seasons. In 2015 with the Jaguars, Brown racked up 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Dolphins have been thinned out at safety after losing star Reshad Jones for the season.

Falcons Cut Ties With Renfree, Brown, Seven Others

August 27th, 2016 at 12:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons have trimmed their roster to 75 after having cut ties with nine players today (via ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure on Twitter):

Sergio BrownRenfree may be one of the more notable moves, if only because the transaction provides some clarity on the team’s quarterback depth chart. With Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub having a solid hold on the starter and back-up gig, it looks like veteran Matt Simms will ultimately make the team as the Falcons’ number-three signal-caller.

Brown is another notable subtraction, as the safety has played in at least ten games in each of his six seasons. The 28-year-old actually had one of his best seasons in 2015 with the Jaguars, compiling 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The veteran’s tenure in Atlanta was short, as he was signed by the team last week.

Falcons Sign Sergio Brown

August 20th, 2016 at 3:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons ended Sergio Brown‘s lengthy offseason stay in free agency by signing the veteran safety to help an injured secondary, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Released by the Jaguars in April after playing just one season of a three-year contract, Brown will provide some depth for the time being after the Falcons have observed multiple safeties struggle with injuries this summer.

A shoulder malady’s sidelined Kemal Ishmael, with first-round pick Keanu Neal having been slowed by a back injury during the preseason.

Brown signed for $7MM with the Jags following an eight-game starting stint with the Colts in 2014. He’s played in 86 games during a six-year career that also featured a stop in New England before the three-year stay in Indianapolis. The 28-year-old Brown started four games for the Jaguars last season but ranked as a bottom-10 safety in the opinion of Pro Football Focus.

The former UDFA out of Notre Dame joins a Falcons secondary that also includes projected starter Ricardo Allen, but one that is thin behind its first unit.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jaguars Cut Sergio Brown

April 18th, 2016 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

About 13 months after signing him to a three-year, $7MM contract, the Jaguars have parted ways with veteran safety Sergio Brown. As Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union details, Jacksonville released Brown today, making him a free agent.Sergio Brown

Brown, who turns 28 next month, appeared in 15 contests during his lone season with the Jaguars, starting four games before he was relegated to backup duty. Playing about half the team’s defensive snaps, the Notre Dame alum recorded 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and broke up two passes.

Like many of the contracts the Jaguars signed last winter, Brown’s deal didn’t feature any guaranteed salary or dead money beyond its first season, which means the team can clear his entire cap hit from the books for 2016. Brown had been set to earn a $2.25MM non-guaranteed base salary, so his release removes that $2.25MM charge from Jacksonville’s cap.

Brown, who ranked as a bottom-10 safety (among regulars) last season according to Pro Football Focus’ grades, became expendable when the Jaguars landed ex-Browns free safety Tashaun Gipson in free agency.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jaguars Sign Sergio Brown

March 11th, 2015 at 10:56am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 10:56am: Brown’s signing with the Jaguars is now official, tweets John Oehser of Jaguars.com.

TUESDAY, 3:43pm: Brown’s deal with the Jaguars is worth $9MM over three years, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter). The deal could be worth up to $11MM, Garafolo adds.

12:25pm: It’ll be a three-year deal for Brown, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

12:01pm: The Jaguars’ free agent blitz continues to roll on, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that safety Sergio Brown is expected to agree to a deal with the team later today.

Brown, 27 in May, made a career-high eight starts in 2014. All in all, the free safety recorded 34 tackles, 6 pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one sack on the year. Last year, Brown re-signed with the Colts on a one-year deal worth $1.4MM with a $300K signing bonus.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was pretty impressed with Brown’s work in 2014, ranking him as the 24th best safety in the NFL with a 5.3 score.

Contract Details: Franklin, Kern, Cole, Vereen

March 10th, 2015 at 9:15pm CST by Luke Adams

A few details on some noteworthy new contracts from around the NFL:

  • Orlando Franklin, G (Chargers): Five years, $35.5MM base value. $15.5MM fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Brett Kern, P (Titans): Five years, $15MM base value. $2.5MM signing bonus. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
  • Trent Cole, OLB (Colts): Two years, $14MM base value. $2MM signing bonus. $8MM guaranteed at signing. $1MM annually in playing-time/sack incentives (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
  • Shane Vereen, RB (Giants): Three years, $12.3MM base value. $3.5MM signing bonus. $4.75MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
  • J.T. Thomas, LB (Giants): Three years, $10MM base value. $4.5MM guaranteed. $1MM annual escalators in 2016, 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Virgil Green, TE (Broncos): Three years, $8.4MM base value. $4.2MM guaranteed. Max value of $11.25MM (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Sergio Brown, S (Jaguars): Three years, $7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. Escalators can push total value up to $9MM (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Ed Dickson, TE (Panthers): Three years, $6.8MM base value. $2MM signing bonus ($700K deferred) (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Joe Berger, OL (Vikings): Two years, $2.155MM base value. $130K guaranteed. $800K available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).

Colts Sign Mike Adams

June 18th, 2014 at 8:58am CST by Matt Feminis

WEDNESDAY, 8:58am: Adams’ minimum salary benefit contract includes a $65K signing bonus and an additional $100K in guaranteed money, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

SATURDAY, 9:06am: A day after placing veteran safety and special-teams standout Corey Lynch on injured reserve, the Colts announced they have agreed to terms with another veteran safety: 33-year-old Mike Adams, who spent the last two years with the Broncos. With Antoine Bethea now in San Francisco, the Colts’ safety depth now consists of LaRon Landry. . .and the rest, including Adams, Colt Anderson, Sergio Brown and Delano Howell.

Adams, 33, started seven games last season and totaled 64 tackles, six passes defended and an interception. According to Pro Football Focus, Adams rated as a middle-of-the pack safety (-1.0 overall grade), though he had career highs in tackles (80) and passes defended (11) in 2012.

Before his two years in Denver, Adams played five in Cleveland and three in San Francisco. He entered the league in 2004 as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware.

AFC Contract Details: Talib, Bills, Conner

March 13th, 2014 at 5:11pm CST by Luke Adams

Aqib Talib‘s contract with the Broncos features a $5MM signing bonus, a $2MM roster bonus, a $4.5MM guaranteed base salary, and $500K in per-game roster bonuses, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Since Talib has a small signing bonus and his 2015 and 2016 salaries are guaranteed for injury only, the Broncos could essentially cut ties with him for no guaranteed money and a minimal ($4MM) cap hit even after the 2014 season, barring a major injury, tweets Pelissero. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has the breakdown in chart form right here.

Here are a few more specific details on deals signed this week:

  • Corey Graham‘s new contract with the Bills can be worth over $19MM, but on the surface, it’s a four-year, $16.3MM deal with $8.1MM guaranteed, says Pelissero (via Twitter). According to Pelissero, the deal includes $700K in annual incentives, plus an extra $100K bonus each season for making the Pro Bowl.
  • The Chargers‘ three-year deal with Kavell Conner is worth $2.7MM, with a $270K signing bonus and an escalator worth up to $500K in 2016, tweets Pelissero.
  • Jim Dray‘s contract with the Browns features a $900K signing bonus, says Pelissero (via Twitter).
  • Pelissero also passes along the details on Chris Williams‘ four-year contract with the Bills. According to the USA Today scribe (via Twitter), it’s worth $13.04MM with $3.025MM in the first year, and is only guaranteed for injury in year two. Pelissero adds in another tweet that there’s a $2.5MM roster bonus due early in 2016 that’s a clear “trigger point” for the deal.
  • The Colts signed safety Sergio Brown on Tuesday, and that one-year deal will be worth $1.4MM, with a $300K signing bonus, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • While Keith Rivers‘ new deal with the Bills was reported as a two-year, $5MM contract with half of that amount guaranteed, it looks like it won’t be worth quite that much. Wilson tweets that it’s worth $4.05MM, with a $1MM signing bonus, base salaries of $1.25MM (2014) and $1.6MM (2015), and annual workout bonuses of $100K.
  • Michael Hoomanawanui‘s two-year contract with the Patriots is worth a total of $2.4MM, with a $360K signing bonus and $1.1MM in total guarantees, tweets Wilson.
  • The two-year, $5MM figure reported for Al Woods earlier today includes incentives, according to Wilson (via Twitter). The defensive lineman’s contract with the Titans features a signing bonus of $1MM, base salaries of $900K (2014) and $2.1MM (2015), and incentives worth up to $500K annually.

FA Signings: Buccaneers, Colts, Bears, Bills

March 11th, 2014 at 5:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

Among the big name signings flying around today, here are a few minor signings that might have slid under the radar:

  • The Buccaneers have re-signed cornerback Danny Gorrer, according to Greg Auman of TampaBay.com (via Twitter). Gorrer has bounced around the league, playing for three teams in three years before landing with the Buccaneers in 2012.
  • The Colts have agreed to a contract to retain safety Sergio Brown, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Brown has played the last two seasons with the Colts.
  • The Bears have signed linebacker Jordan Senn, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Senn had played the last four seasons with the Panthers.
  • The Bills have re-signed tight end Mike Caussin, according to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). Caussin has not played in an NFL game since 2011.