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Zach Miller (Nebraska-Omaha)

NFC Notes: Mathieu, Lions, Panthers

February 12th, 2016 at 1:02pm CST by Luke Adams

A January report indicated that getting an extension done with Tyrann Mathieu will be a top priority for the Cardinals this offseason, and GM Steve Keim confirmed as much during an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7FM on Thursday (link via Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com).

“It’s hard to say that that we’ll be able to get something done for sure, but we certainly have that goal in mind and there’s no doubt that this organization wants Tyrann Mathieu to be a fixture here for years,“ Keim said.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • The Lions are set to hire Broncos offensive assistant Brian Callahan as their new quarterbacks coach, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter). With Jim Bob Cooter having been promoted from QBs coach to offensive coordinator in the fall, Detroit needed someone to fill his old role.
  • The Panthers are making some changes to their special teams staff, with Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer tweeting that the club has parted ways with assistant ST coach Russ Purnell, and Marvez tweeting that Curtis Fuller will return to a defensive role rather than helping out with special teams in 2016. According to Person and Marvez (Twitter links), Buccaneers ST coach Kevin O’Dea, 49ers ST coach Thomas McGaughey, and former Panthers linebacker Chase Blackburn are getting interviews for spots on Carolina’s special teams staff.
  • Marvez also reports (via Twitter) that the Giants are hiring Jeff Zgonina as their assistant defensive line coach, which should complete Ben McAdoo‘s staff.
  • The Panthers were one game away from a championship this past season, but GM Dave Gettleman vows he’ll remain patient this winter when it comes to making roster decisions, and won’t force any moves in an effort to get the team over the top. Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review has the details and the quotes from Gettleman.
  • Despite one report suggesting he hopes to land a $5MM annual salary, it would be an upset if tight end Zach Miller leaves the Bears this offseason, says Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Dickerson doesn’t predict a potential price tag for Miller, but suggests he’d be next in line for a larger role if the team trades or cuts Martellus Bennett.

Bears’ Zach Miller Seeking $5MM Per Year

February 2nd, 2016 at 1:15pm CST by Luke Adams

After enjoying a breakout season in 2015 for the Bears, veteran tight end Zach Miller is eligible for free agency, and according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, he’s aiming high on his next contract. Biggs reports that Miller is asking for $5MM per year on a new deal.Zach Miller

Not to be confused for former Pro Bowler Zach Miller, who spent time with the Raiders and Seahawks, this Zach Miller had an improbable comeback to the NFL in 2015 after not having appeared in a game since the 2011 season due to various injuries. The former sixth-round pick, who came into the season having recorded 45 career receptions, set new career highs by grabbing 34 balls for 439 yards and five touchdowns in 2015.

While the timing of the lucrative new extensions signed by Zach Ertz of the Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Chiefs may appear to help Miller’s case for a big raise, those players are significantly younger than the Bears tight end, and have more impressive résumés.

At age 31, Miller is more comparable to Gary Barnidge, who came out of nowhere at age 30 to rack up 79 catches, 1,043 yards, and nine touchdowns for the Browns. However, even Barnidge, whose numbers were much more impressive than Miller’s, didn’t get a $5MM annual salary on his new extension, so it seems unlikely that Miller will be able to get that high.

Although Miller’s asking price is reportedly at $5MM annually now, that figure could decrease in the coming weeks. If it doesn’t, the tight end may get an opportunity to gauge his value on the open market in March — if he finds that the Bears aren’t the only team unwilling to meet his asking price, it could pave the way for a reunion with Chicago at a lesser rate.

Considering he’s coming off a productive year and is already 31 years old, it’s hard to blame Miller for doing his best to cash in on what will likely be the biggest contract of his NFL career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sunday Roundup: Long, Wilkerson, Irvin

June 7th, 2015 at 12:40pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s have a look at some links from around the league on this Sunday afternoon:

  • After Will Beatty‘s torn pectoral muscle threw the Giants‘ offensive line into a state of confusion, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com has received a number of questions from Giants fans curious about the status of free agent tackle Jake Long. Raanan writes that even though Long tore his ACL two years in a row, there will be a starting job for him somewhere this season if he is healthy. The Giants are still in the mix, but Long appears content to let the market for his services play out.
  • The Patriots have lost a number of big names this offseason, but Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com says tight end is one area where the team may have gotten stronger. Newly-acquired Scott Chandler will team with Rob Gronkowski to create a formidable pair of towers at the position, and Reiss predicts New England will deploy a number of two-tight end sets in 2015, just as they did in 2011 with Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
  • Cameron Jordan recently signed a new five-year, $55MM deal with the Saints, and despite the similarities between Jordan and Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com believes Wilkerson will be aiming even higher. Jordan got $33.5MM in total guarantees, and Cimini thinks Wilkerson is seeking at least $40MM in guaranteed money.
  • Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com writes that Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry does not plan on moving any of his cornerbacks to safety in an effort to bolster the team’s long-floundering safety corps.
  • Zach Miller has not played a regular season game since 2011, thanks to a bevy of injuries that have derailed his career. But for the second straight season, Miller is performing well in the Bears‘ offseason workouts, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. And if Miller can remain healthy, he could become a valuable weapon for Jay Cutler and take some pressure off Alshon Jeffery, rookie Kevin White, and first-string tight end Martellus Bennett.
  • When asked if his client had requested a trade, the agent for new Browns and former 49ers punter Andy Lee did not answer directly, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). The agent simply said it was an amicable parting that worked well for all involved.
  • Despite recent comments that created a minor controversy in Seattle, Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin said yesterday, “I would love to be in Seattle. That was the team that gave me a chance when nobody else did.” But as Manouk Akopyan of NFL.com writes, given the pending extensions that the Seahawks will undoubtedly hand out to Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson, and considering the amount of money Seattle has already invested in retaining players like Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman, Irvin will likely find greener pastures elsewhere.
  • The Jaguars plan to frequently utilize two- and three-tight end looks this season under new offensive coordinator Greg Olson, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. That scheme will offer plenty of playing time for Marcedes Lewis and Clay Harbor, who now find themselves behind Julius Thomas on the team’s depth chart.
  • In the same piece, O’Halloran writes that even though Tyler Shatley earned a place on the Jaguars‘ roster as an undrafted rookie guard last season, his task will be even more difficult this year. The team has shifted him over to center, which Shatley has never played, and Jacksonville appears committed to Stefen Wisniewski or Luke Bowanko at the position.

Bears Re-Sign Zach Miller

February 27th, 2015 at 11:33am CST by Luke Adams

The Bears have kept tight end Zach Miller off the free agent market, extending his expiring contract today, according to an announcement from the team (via Twitter). Miller’s new deal is a one-year pact.

Miller, not to be confused with the Seahawks tight end who has the same name, saw his 2014 season come to an end before it even began, as he went down in August with a season-ending foot injury and spent the year on injured reserve. However, the Bears liked what they saw from Miller prior to that injury — he caught a pair of touchdowns in the team’s preseason opener.

Considering Miller had been on a minimum-salary contract in 2014, he’ll almost certainly make the minimum again on his new deal after sitting out the season. While the new agreement may include a little guaranteed money, it won’t be enough to assure of him anything heading into camp this summer.

Minor Moves: Friday

August 15th, 2014 at 5:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ll round up today’s minor transactions here, with the latest news appearing at the top.

  • The Raiders worked out a pair of tight ends today, and have opted to sign Kyle Auffray rather than Logan Brock, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Oakland will have to make a corresponding roster move to clear room for Auffray, who has already spent time with the Patriots and Browns this season, having been waived by Cleveland earlier this week.
  • Using the roster spot created when the team placed Zach Miller on injured reserve, the Bears have signed free agent wideout Kofi Hughes, the team announced today (via Twitter). Hughes hit free agency after being cut last week by the Texans.

Earlier updates:

  • Tight end Terrence Miller has been removed the Patriots‘ injured reserve list with a settlement, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).
  • After suffering an injury in the Bears‘ preseason game last night, tight end Zach Miller is being placed on injured reserve, says Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter links). Miller, who played his college ball at Nebraska-Omaha and shouldn’t be confused with the Seahawks tight end of the same name, sustained a Lisfranc injury, tearing ligaments in his foot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • The Dolphins have swapped kickers today, signing John Potter while waiving Danny Hrapmann, the team announced on Twitter. Potter was a Bills sixth-round pick in 2012, and has also spent time with Redskins and Lions. Hrapmann, meanwhile, was undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi in 2012, has logged time with the Steelers and Cardinals, and played in the AFL.

Bears Notes: Clausen, Safeties, Scott

August 15th, 2014 at 10:52am CST by Matt Feminis

The Bears played another flag-filled preseason game last night, and the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs provided his post-game thoughts:

  • The Bears have ongoing competition for backup quarterback — Jimmy Clausen and Jordan Palmer are both playing well — and running back, where Shaun Draughn and fourth-rounder Ka’Deem Carey are vying for carries behind Matt Forte.
  • The safety position remains a jumble, though Chris Conte is expected to be cleared for action in next week’s third preseason game, and the best estimation for the starting combination come opening day might be Conte and veteran Ryan Mundy.
  • In keeping with the question mark theme, the job of kick returner is also up for grabs because Chris Williams is hurt, and Eric Weems has done nothing to take ownership. “The Bears have gone from Devin Hester to who-knows-what entering the third preseason game,” says Biggs.
  • A week after starring in the first preseason game, tight end Zach Miller went down with a left foot injury. The team will get details on the injury today.
  • Defensive end Trevor Scott is emerging as the fourth defensive end, says Biggs: “[Scott] looked good again. He’s got legit speed and is being used with the first unit on special teams by Joe DeCamillis.”
  • Sixth-rounder Pat O’Donnell has all but locked up the punting job.
  • With Marquess Wilson injured, veteran Josh Morgan could position himself as the third receiver.
  • Shea McClellin, who is being scrutinized in Chicago, struggled again last night in his second game as a linebacker, says ESPN’s Michael C. Wright: “The Bears want to remain patient with Shea McClellin as he transitions to linebacker, but his play against the Jaguars seemed just about on par with his shoddy showing last week. McClellin did stuff the run once early on but continues to struggle at shedding blocks and making tackles in space.”