HEADLINES

Stephen Nicholas

NFC East Notes: Jackson, Giants, Cowboys

September 17th, 2014 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

With the Eagles and Redskins set to meet for the first time this season in Week 3, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer revisits the Eagles’ decision to cut wideout DeSean Jackson in the offseason. As McLane writes, Jackson’s former Philadelphia teammates still aren’t entirely sure why the explosive receiver was cut.

“I didn’t see it coming at all,” linebacker Mychal Kendricks said last week. “It’s really none of my business, but I still ask the same question a lot – ‘Why? Why would that happen?'”

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • Several linebackers auditioned for the Giants this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), who identifies Stephen Nicholas, Kion Wilson, Moise Fokou, and James Davidson as free agents to work out for the club.
  • The Cowboys are also eyeing free agent options on the defensive side of the ball, having worked out linebacker Paul Hazel this week, along with defensive ends Steven Means and T.J. Fatinikun, tweets Wilson.
  • Offensive tackle Chris Faulk tried out for the Redskins this week, per Wilson (via Twitter).

Audition Notes: Titans, Giants

September 14th, 2014 at 4:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As we approach halftime of the late afternoon contests, we have a couple audition notes to pass along:

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Payton Talks Graham, Free Agency

February 8th, 2014 at 9:46pm CST by Peter Sowards

Saints head coach Sean Payton joined Fox Sports 1 on Friday and discussed the issues facing his team this offseason, according to Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune.

The most notable free agent in New Orleans, without a doubt, is tight end Jimmy Graham. Now, if it comes down to a franchise tag, Graham will contend that he should be paid as a wide receiver rather than a tight end. The difference figures to be nearly $5MM ($11.6MM for WR and $6.8MM for TE).

“I know that Mickey Loomis, CAA (Creative Artists Agency), Jimmy Sexton (Graham’s agent) and all parties involved are going to work very hard and very diligently, no different than they did with Drew (Brees) on his contract,” Payton said. “With that being said, the first thing that comes to my mind with free agency is your own roster. I think often times that gets overlooked.

“The most challenging part of your job as a coach, and I share that with Mickey or anyone that has been with an organization as long as we have been, going on year nine, is some of the tough decisions that have to be made with regards to your cap with the ability that you possibly can sign Jimmy Graham.”

Holder points out safety Malcolm Jenkins, tackle Zach Strief and center Brian de la Puente as “key potential free agents” the team would like to re-sign. Easier said than done, noted Payton.

“It’s very easy to say ‘you are certainly going to get this done’ but you have to understand there is a budget here. That’s the challenging part. You are going to read these names that have already come across the ticker from Atlanta last week (Asante Samuel and Stephen Nicholas) and we will be no different.”

According to Holder, players that could become cap-casualties to help the Saints be able to afford signing Graham to a long-term contract include (figures courtesy of Holder):

Falcons Cut Asante Samuel, Stephen Nicholas

February 5th, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons have begun making offseason cuts, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that the team released cornerback Asante Samuel and linebacker Stephen Nicholas today.

Samuel, who turned 33 last month, battled injuries early in the 2013 season and grabbed just one interception, his lowest mark since 2004. He had been set to enter the final year of his contract, and was on the books for a cap number of $5MM+. By waiving him now, the Falcons avoid having to pay Samuel’s base salary or roster bonus, creating $4MM+ in savings.

Nicholas, meanwhile, played a reduced role in Atlanta after starting 15 of the team’s 16 contests in 2012. His contract had been set to expire in 2016. He’ll still be on the books for $2MM in dead money for 2014, but by releasing him, the Falcons are able to cut his $4MM cap number in half.

Overall, the Falcons, who had been in the middle of the pack among NFL teams in terms of projected 2014 cap space, clear more than $6MM from their 2014 books with the two roster moves. That’ll give the club a little more breathing room as it explores possible moves to upgrade its offensive and defensive lines.

As for Samuel and Nicholas, since both players have at least four years of NFL experience, they’ll become unrestricted free agents without having to pass through waivers. In spite of a down year in 2013, Samuel tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that he still hopes to play for “two or three” more seasons.