Spencer Paysinger

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/17

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Promoted to active roster: LB Howard Jones, OL Cameron Lee

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Promoted to active roster: T Mike Liedtke

NFL Workout Updates: 11/14/17

Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

  • T Laurence Gibson (link)

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • TEs Brandon Barnes, Gabe Holmes (link)

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • LSs Ryan DiSalvo, Andrew East, Drew Ferris (link)

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Redskins

NFC North Notes: Pack, Adams, Bears, Lions

Even after absorbing a violent hit from Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan last week, Packers wide receiver Davante Adams may be in line to play in Week 5, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Adams was taken to the hospital following the hit — which resulted in a two-game suspension for Trevathan — and thankfully escaped with only a concussion. If available, the 24-year-old Adams would be a boon to Green Bay’s offense against the Cowboys on Sunday, as he’s recorded 16 receptions, 219 yards, and two scores thus far in 2017.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

  • The Bearsdecision to start rookie Mitch Trubisky over Mike Glennon speaks to the No. 2 overall selection’s development this year, opines Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Trubisky, who started only 13 collegiate games before entering the NFL draft, was so raw that had to be taught how to take snaps under center in the spring, per Breer. But Trubisky has displayed so much improvement in the months since that Chicago formulated a plan to have the North Carolina product take starter’s practice reps in the fall. Of course, Glennon’s sub-par performance also made the Bears’ call a simple one, as the former Buccaneers ranks near the bottom of the league in nearly every quarterback metric.
  • The Lions took a look at tight ends Jace Amaro, Gavin Escobar, Cory Harkey, and David Johnson and linebackers Akeem Ayers, Andrew Gachkar, and Spencer Paysinger, today, reports veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link). Detroit’s linebacker auditions are particularly notable, as the club just lost base package starter Paul Worrilow to an MCL strain. All three of Ayers, Gachkar, and Paysinger appeared in at least 15 games a season ago, but were mostly relegated to special teams duty.
  • Offensive tackles Andrew Wylie, Stephen Evans, and Storm Norton, plus running back Joel Bouagnon, worked out for the Packers on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Wylie went undrafted out of Eastern Michigan earlier this year, but signed with the Colts shortly thereafter. He took a spot on Indy’s practice squad until being waived in September. Bouagnon, too, is a rookie UDFA (Northern Illinois) who spent eight weeks with the Bears this summer.
  • The Bears auditioned safety Jordan Moore yesterday, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Moore, a rookie undrafted free agent out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, signed with the Falcons earlier this year but has been on the workout circuit since August.

Jets Cut 10, Place Quincy Enunwa On IR

The Jets have moved their roster to 76 players in advance of Saturday’s cutdown deadline. New York has announced the following transactions:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/NFI:

Jets Sign LB Spencer Paysinger

The Jets have signed linebacker Spencer Paysinger, according to a team announcement. Paysinger will help fill in for the recently released David Harris. Spencer Paysinger

[RELATED: Jay Cutler, Jets Couldn’t Line Up Visit]

Paysinger, 29 later this month, has spent his entire career to date with Jets rivals. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Giants in 2011. In 2015, he joined up with the Dolphins and has spent the last two seasons in Miami. Last year, Paysinger made 15 appearances (three starts) for Miami, tallying 52 tackles, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries.

The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus rated Paysinger as the 51st best linebacker in the league last year out of 87 qualified players. His 68.4 overall score wasn’t earth-shattering, but it was better than that of the recently re-acquired Demario Davis (58.4) and 2016 first-round pick Darron Lee (38.3).

Contract Details: A. Smith, V. Davis, Knighton

Here are the latest details on recently signed or agreed-upon contracts from around the NFL. All links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated.

  • Aldon Smith, OLB (Raiders): Two years, $11.5MM. Annual salaries of $1.25MM. Up to $4MM annually in per-game roster bonuses. $500K annual workout bonus. Up to $3.5MM in annual incentives (Twitter link).
  • Vernon Davis, TE (Washington): One year, $2.4MM. $500K signing bonus. $600K of $1.35MM base salary is guaranteed. $150K roster bonus due on August 22. Up to $300K in per-game roster bonuses. Up to $2.1MM in incentives (Twitter links).
  • Terrance Knighton, DT (Patriots): One year, $2.018MM. $250K signing bonus. Up to $500K in per-game roster bonuses. $100K workout bonus. Up to $300K in performance incentives. Up to $2MM in playing-time incentives. $500K Pro Bowl incentive (links via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • Jasper Brinkley, LB (Giants): One year, $1.8MM. $1.2MM base salary is guaranteed. $500K roster bonus paid on April 1. $100K workout bonus. Up to $500K in incentives for playing time (Twitter link)
  • Stefen Wisniewski, C/G (Eagles): One year, $1.51MM. $500K signing bonus. Up to $250K in per-game roster bonuses. Up to $1.25MM in incentives (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports).
  • Wallace Gilberry, DE (Lions): One year, $1.25MM. $340K signing bonus. $25K workout bonus. Up to $500K in incentives for performance and playing time (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
  • Jack Crawford, DE (Cowboys): One year, $1.1MM. $240K signing bonus. $100K workout de-escalator. Up to $500K in incentives (Twitter link).
  • Spencer Paysinger, LB (Dolphins): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus. $120K of $760K base salary is guaranteed. (Twitter link).
  • Kyle Love, DT (Panthers): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus (Twitter link).

Dolphins Re-Sign Spencer Paysinger

Free agent linebacker Spencer Paysinger will be returning to Miami for the 2016 season. Paysinger himself broke word of his new deal with the Dolphins, announcing the news on his Twitter account.Spencer Paysinger

Paysinger, 27, joined the Dolphins for the 2015 season after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Giants. Although he earned 10 starts in 2013, logging a career-high 74 tackles, Paysinger has served primarily as a backup linebacker and a special-teamer since entering the league. In 2015, he appeared in 14 games for Miami, playing just 72 defensive snaps.

Paysinger paid a visit to the Steelers earlier in free agency, after Pittsburgh saw backup linebacker Sean Spence sign with Tennessee. The Steelers ultimately re-sign Steven Johnson as Spence’s probable replacement, opening the door for Paysinger to return to Miami.

Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but Paysinger was on a minimum salary benefit contract in 2015 and probably won’t be in line for much of a raise.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

FA Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Steelers, Norwood

Only five players on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents remain unsigned, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (No. 19) is the highest-rated player of that group. The Jets and Fitzpatrick have been at an impasse since free agency opened, with Fitzpatrick seeking a sizable raise and New York offering a more modest deal.

Speaking today to reporters, including Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said that Fitzpatrick remains a “very good fit” for the team, adding that the goal is to eventually re-sign him. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN (Twitter links), Maccagnan declined to put a time frame on those talks, suggesting there’s no real deadline. The GM also confirmed that the Jets’ visit with Robert Griffin III was “due diligence,” and that the club remains focused on getting something done with Fitzpatrick.

As we wait to see if the two sides can reach an agreement, let’s check in on a few other free agent updates from across the NFL…

  • The Steelers are hosting free agent linebackers Spencer Paysinger and Mike Morgan for visits today, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Neither player projects as a probable starter, so Pittsburgh is presumably looking to fill out its depth chart after losing Sean Spence to the Titans. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes (via Twitter) that the Dolphins would like to bring back Paysinger, but he wants to see if he can get more than the minimum salary from another club.
  • Free agent wide receiver Jordan Norwood ended his visit with the Lions today without a deal in place, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. According to Birkett, Norwood – who also met with the Jets – has a visit with another team set up for next week, and has yet to make a decision.
  • Offensive tackle Andre Smith, who signed with the Vikings, said today that his agent told him he would have a visit with the Cardinals, but that trip never happened (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press).

Dolphins Sign Spencer Paysinger

After hosting him for a visit today, the Dolphins have signed linebacker Spencer Paysinger, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that it’s a one-year contract.

Paysinger, who has spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants, was a regular contributor on defense in 2013, starting 10 games at linebacker and recording 74 tackles and a sack for the year. However, he returned to a backup and special teams role last season, during his final season in New York.

That reserve and special teams role will likely be the one Paysinger assumes in Miami. The team saw Jason Trusnik sign with the Panthers this week, and Jonathan Freeny signed with the Patriots last month. Both players were regular contributors on kick and punt coverage for the Dolphins, and occasionally saw playing time on defense as well — the duo combined for just over 400 defensive snaps in 2014.

Paysinger previously visited the Jets.

FA Notes: Ravens, Paysinger, Fins, Bengals

The Ravens have accumulated more compensatory draft picks than any other NFL team over the past two decades, and Peter King of TheMMQB.com notes (via Twitter) that the Matt Schaub signing this week is a good example of how the team does it. Schaub, who was cut by the Raiders, won’t count toward the compensatory draft pick formula, but former backup Tyrod Taylor, whose contract expired, will count toward that formula. In other words, by swapping out one backup QB for another, the club could net a seventh-round comp next year.

Here are a few more notes on free agency, including some updates on players who remain unsigned:

  • The Dolphins are hosting free agent linebacker Spencer Paysinger for a visit today, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Paysinger, who has spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants, was a regular contributor on defense in 2013, but returned to a backup and special teams role last season.
  • Quarterback Josh Johnson, who spent a good chunk of the 2014 season with the 49ers, is visiting the Bengals today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). La Canfora notes that Johnson’s athleticism and experience in different offensive systems should bode well for his chances of signing with Cincinnati or another team.
  • As shown by their apparent interest in veteran guard Dan Connolly, the Buccaneers haven’t given up on the idea of signing an interior offensive lineman in free agency, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. It’s not clear yet if the Bucs will shift their focus to another veteran if they don’t land Connolly, or if they’ll simply wait and address the spot in the draft.
  • Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times wonders if the NFL’s decision to move up a key free agency date from June 1 to May 12 will affect the Seahawks‘ pursuit of a veteran center.