HEADLINES

Thomas DeCoud

Panthers Release Thomas DeCoud

February 17th, 2015 at 11:58am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran safety Thomas DeCoud has been released by an NFC South club for the second consecutive offseason. Less than a year after being cut by the Falcons, DeCoud has been let go by the Panthers, the team announced today in a press release. Within the same release, Carolina also confirmed its previously-reported one-year deal with offensive lineman Chris Scott.

DeCoud, who turns 30 next month, started 11 of 15 games for the Panthers in 2014, after having started all but one game he played in during the previous five seasons in Atlanta. The former third-round pick totaled 50 tackles and three passes defended to go along with an interception last season, and ranked 74th out of 87 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required).

The Panthers signed DeCoud to a two-year contract back in April that was worth a base value of $3.525MM, including a $500K signing bonus. Half of that bonus will remain on the team’s 2015 cap, counting for $250K in dead money, but Carolina still creates close to $2MM in cap savings by parting ways with the safety.

As for DeCoud, as a seven-year veteran, he won’t have to clear waivers, and is immediately free to sign with another team.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Panthers, Cards, Saints

April 15th, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

After hosting prospects such as defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Kony Ealy on Monday, the Cowboys are being visited by the likes of Florida State’s Timmy Jernigan, UCLA’s Anthony Barr, and Boise State’s Demarcus Lawrence today, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com adds (via Twitter) that Northwest Missouri State cornerback Brandon Dixon is also visiting the club today.

Here’s more out of the NFC:

  • A player like Donald may not be available at No. 16, but there’s no guarantee the Cowboys will be keeping that pick, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who points out that in the 25 drafts Jerry Jones has overseen, the team has traded up or down 20 times.
  • The Panthers worked out LSU receivers Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry today in Baton Rouge, according to David Newton of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) provides the specifics on Thomas DeCoud‘s two-year contract with the Panthers, which has a base value of $3.525MM. That includes a $500K signing bonus and base salaries of $900K (2014) and $1.675MM (2015). Meanwhile, Alex Hall‘s one-year deal with the Panthers is for the minimum, but included a modest $10K signing bonus, tweets Wilson.
  • Colorado State center Weston Richburg visited with the Cardinals on Monday, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
  • Ohio State’s Bradley Roby and Lindenwood’s Pierre Desir are among the five cornerbacks visiting the Saints today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The other three – Justin Gilbert, Aaron Colvin, and Demetri Goodson – had been previously reported.
  • Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports (via Twitter) that Stanford offensive tackle Cameron Fleming visited the Redskins today, while ESPN.com’s John Keim tweets that Demarcus Lawrence is also scheduled to visit Washington.
  • D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution lists more than a dozen players who worked out at the Falcons‘ local prospect day today, including Tennessee running back Rajion Neal and Georgia Tech safety Jemea Thomas, among others.

Panthers Sign Thomas DeCoud

April 10th, 2014 at 7:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have announced (via Twitter) that they have signed free safety Thomas DeCoud to a two-year deal. With the signing, the Panthers have filled a void in their secondary while also plucking a free agent away from one of their divisional rivals. The deal can reach $3.75MM and includes a $500K signing bonus, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

DeCoud will help give the Panthers depth at safety behind Charles Godfrey, who is coming off of Achilles surgery. While DeCoud started for the Falcons for the last five years and is a former Pro Bowler, he had by far the worst season of his career in 2013. The 29-year-old racked up just 44 tackles and failed to intercept a pass for the first time since becoming a starter.

Godfrey, meanwhile, remains a restructuring candidate for Carolina as his $7.1MM 2014 cap figure makes him the fifth-highest paid player on the Panthers’ roster. The veteran missed the final 14 games of 2013 with a torn achilles.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Donald, Seahawks

April 7th, 2014 at 11:03pm CST by Peter Sowards

With his scintillating workout numbers and collegiate accolades, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald is viewed as the preeminent three-technique defensive tackle in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Cowboys seem to be a perfect landing spot for Donald’s services, argues Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News.

Donald was a first-team All-America selection and garnered every award save for the Heisman Trophy. Sabin contends that Donald could pair with recently signed defensive tackle Henry Melton in 2014 — who signed a one-year deal — then take over as a cornerstone on the defensive line going forward.

More news and notes from the National Football Conference…

Panthers To Host Avant, DeCoud

April 6th, 2014 at 11:09pm CST by David Kipke

The Panthers are scheduled to host wide receiver Jason Avant and free safety Thomas DeCoud in Charlotte tomorrow, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

The team’s receivers have been subjected to the most significant upheaval of any position group in the NFL over the past few weeks with the departures of Steve Smith (to the Ravens), Brandon LaFell (to the Patriots), Ted Ginn Jr. (to the Cardinals), and Domenik Hixon (to the Bears). Although last week’s additions of Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood will provide depth for the new-look Panthers’ receiving corps, Avant would be likely be a much more highly utilized target should he choose to sign with Carolina. Although he was only marginally effective in 2013, Avant, who played his first eight seasons for the Eagles, enjoyed the best three seasons of his career from 2010-2012, averaging over 50 receptions per year.

DeCoud’s visit raises significant questions regarding the status of former starting free safety Charles Godfrey. Godfrey, whose $7.1MM 2014 cap figure makes him the fifth-highest paid player on the Panthers’ roster, was thought to be a candidate for a contract restructure after missing the final 14 games of the last season with a torn achilles. While DeCoud started for the Falcons for the last five years and is a former Pro Bowler, he had by far the worst season of his career in 2013- registering just 44 tackles and failing to intercept a pass for the first time since becoming a starter.

FA Notes: DeCoud, Reynolds, Coffman, Packers

April 3rd, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of notable safeties have come off the board today, with Patrick Chung heading back to New England, and Danieal Manning putting the finishing touches on a deal with Cincinnati. Like those players, Thomas DeCoud didn’t have an expiring contract, but found himself on the open market last month when his team decided to release him. And it appears a potential suitor has emerged for DeCoud as well. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the former Falcon is visiting the division-rival Panthers on Monday.

While we wait to see if DeCoud ends up reaching a deal in Carolina, let’s check out a few more free agency items:

  • Rapoport passes along a little more free agent safety news, tweeting that Kurt Coleman, who met with the Jets earlier this week, is visiting the Colts tomorrow.
  • Before the Titans signed Eric Olsen for offensive line depth, the team engaged in contract talks with free agent guard Garrett Reynolds, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). However, the two sides couldn’t work out an agreement.
  • Chase Coffman was already an unrestricted free agent, but now it looks like a lock that he won’t be returning to his old team. The Falcons have informed the tight end that they won’t be offering him a contract, Coffman tweeted this morning.
  • The Packers are the only team that hasn’t signed an unrestricted free agent from the 2014 class, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. While the team did bring players like Julius Peppers and Letroy Guion aboard, those players were released by other clubs, rather than having their contracts expire. As Hodkiewicz notes, the team’s offseason reflects GM Ted Thompson‘s philosophy, which places more value on the compensatory picks acquired by losing free agents than on signing free agents themselves.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

March 22nd, 2014 at 4:34pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bears added three safeties during free agency, but aren’t yet finished at the position, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. While Ryan Mundy could be in a position to compete for a starting job, M.D. Jennings and Danny McCray are more likely depth signings who will see time on special teams. The team could still look to add another safety in the draft, or in free agency closer to the season.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:

  • The Lions will likely be looking to draft the best player available in the first round, which likely means they will not be drafting an offensive lineman, writes Mike Rothstein of ESPN.com. With the top two offensive linemen in Greg Robinson of Auburn and Jake Matthews of Texas A&M likely off the board, Rothstein does not see the team reaching for the next tackle at that pick.
  • Rothstein also writes that he does not expect the Lions to rely on the draft to fill all the needs in the secondary. Specifically, he envisions the team signing one of the three safeties who recently visited, in James Ihedigbo, Chris Clemons, and Thomas DeCoud. Signing one of those players would not preclude the team from using the first-round pick on a defensive back.
  • The Vikings are in the market for a quarterback in this draft, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, but may not get a chance to draft one early in the first round. The team is exploring other options, appearing at Fresno State’s pro day to watch Derek Carr, and to heading to San Jose State’s pro day to scout David Fales.

Lions Re-Sign Andre Fluellen

March 21st, 2014 at 11:20am CST by Luke Adams

The Lions have re-signed defensive tackle Andre Fluellen, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Fluellen, who has spent nearly all of his six NFL seasons in Detroit, had been an unrestricted free agent.

With the signing, the Lions add some depth to their defensive line by bringing back a familiar face. Last season, Fluellen appeared in 170 defensive snaps for the club, recording three tackles, pressuring the quarterback five times, and recovering a fumble. He’ll almost certainly be on a minimum salary benefit deal.

Meanwhile, the Lions continue to seek out upgrades in other areas of their defense. Earlier today, we heard that the team was eyeing three potential options at safety, including James Ihedigbo and Thomas DeCoud. Birkett reports (via Twitter) that DeCoud left today’s visit in Detroit without a deal in place, but he’s not the only free agent the team is hosting. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), safety Chris Clemons is visiting with the Lions today, making him the third safety the club is considering.

FA Rumors: Ihedigbo, DeCoud, Britt, Incognito

March 21st, 2014 at 9:16am CST by Luke Adams

James Ihedigbo won’t be returning to his old team, and there’s a chance he also won’t be headed to the club he looked likely to land with last week. According to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times, the Ravens are no longer in the running for the free agent safety, who has narrowed his decision down to three NFC teams — one is believed to be the Lions, who appeared to be closing in on Ihedigbo last Thursday. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds (via Twitter) that Baltimore wasn’t willing to match the Lions’ initial offer, but it sounds like two other clubs are at least in that ballpark.

Here are a few more Friday morning free agent updates:

  • Free agent safety Thomas DeCoud may represent a Plan B for the Lions if they can’t land Ihedigbo. DeCoud, who was released by the Falcons earlier in the offseason, is visiting Detroit today, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link) expects the Lions to sign a safety very soon, and says it sounds like there are three potential options on the table, which suggests the team is eyeing another player in addition to Ihedigbo and DeCoud.
  • Agent Pat Dye Jr. confirmed last night that Kenny Britt had received from the Bills, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says (via Twitter) the free agent receiver will be making his next visit to Buffalo.
  • Rapoport also reports (Twitter links) that while free agent guard Richie Incognito can sign with an NFL team, he can’t play or be paid until undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by medical advisors designated by the league and the NFLPA.
  • Adam Caplan of ESPN.com passes along a pair of free agent nuggets, tweeting that fullback Spencer Larsen worked out for the Bills and cornerback Elbert Mack worked out for the Bengals.
  • With Matt Schaub heading to Oakland, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) predicts that the Browns will land Rex Grossman, adding that perhaps Mark Sanchez ends up on the Bills and Michael Vick lands with the Jets. Vick is visiting with the Jets today, and the club also has to make a decision soon on Sanchez, who is owed a roster bonus on Tuesday.

Wilson On Steve Smith, Cuts, Daryl Smith

March 12th, 2014 at 8:05am CST by Luke Adams

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has provided plenty of interesting tidbits on Twitter this morning, so let’s round up a few of the highlights. All links go to Wilson’s Twitter….

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