2014 Free Agency Rumors and or Speculation

[woodbuck27]

Posted February 21, 2014

http://nfl.si.com/2014/02/21/nfl-free-agency-rumors-2014/

NFL free agency: Latest rumors, buzz

NFL Free Agency ... By SI.com Staff

GO PACK GO !

[pbmax]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 25m
Report: Seahawks plan to cut DE Red Bryant to create cap space for DE Michael Bennett http://wp.me/p14QSB-9pZi

[Zool]

Doc Jennings will not be tendered.

https://twitter.com/zachkruse2/status/437987500791832579

[mraynrand]

Doc Jennings will not be tendered.

https://twitter.com/zachkruse2/status/437987500791832579


He was beat so many times, he's already been tenderized.

[smuggler]

Damn. Sick burn mraynrand.

[pbmax]

He was beat so many times, he's already been tenderized.
His other nickname is McCormick.

http://www.mccormick.com/-/media/McCormick/Products/Herbs%20and%20Spices/Tenderizers/1007x545/5210006210_1007x545.ashx

[pbmax]

Well, at least someone in the Packer front office can send a message.


Last year, Raji and his agent, David Dunn, turned down an offer from the Packers that was for $8 million per year and contained in the range of $20 million in guarantees.

As Raji's mediocre season unfolded, the Packers rescinded their offer.


Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ryan-pickett-bj-raji-arent-finished-in-green-bay-yet-b99212049z1-246924351.html#ixzz2uIAka4iO
Follow us: @JournalSentinel on Twitter

[red]

good to hear

[Joemailman]

I wonder if MM was partly referring to Raji when he said this at his season ending PC:


“Well, I'm not going to get into specifics of conversations and this and that. But I think when adversity hits, people go one way or the other, so a lot of it was good, some of it wasn't so good. And with that, when you set a path, and particularly with the program, it's about the program. Everybody has to buy into the program, and when you do that, you're able to get through times like we were able to get through this year. But also, things show up that you may not think were there. With that, it just gives you more information, gives you more of an opportunity to grow.

[smuggler]

When I read it at the time, I believed he was referring to Raji or Shields. I guess it was Raji.

[Fritz]

I wonder if MM was partly referring to Raji when he said this at his season ending PC:

I think most people, writers and Datone Jones included, think MM was referring to Raji. I don't see him coming back, unless he is shamed in free agency. But I don't think he will be - someone will take a chance on talent like that. He strikes me as one of those guys who will get a good contract from a team like the old Raiders or the Vikings or Jets, have one really good year, then play down to the level he displayed this year since he's got his contract in his pocket.

I'd like to see them sign Pickett for another year if he's affordable. Again, maybe someone will spot him a big contract, just for his limited snaps and his locker room character.

I'm not hearing much about Jolly. Not at all. I wonder what his condition is, medically?

And when MM says things like “In planning, I want to be more multiple"

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/246916031.html#ixzz2uKjvrt99
Follow us: @JournalSentinel on Twitter

What the hell does that mean, exactly? He said it in relation to Sam Barrington, I think. But what the fudge does that mean? When I see "I want to be more multiple" I think of Bretsky's fantasies.

[smuggler]

Its a defensive scheme. It means we might actualky line up in a 4-3 from time to time. (!!!)

[denverYooper]

I think most people, writers and Datone Jones included, think MM was referring to Raji.

After seeing Jones's comments, I felt M3 was referring to Raji as well. Guys usually know what's going on in their own position group. I'm willing to bet Raji started making comments to the effect that he wasn't going to do anything to injure himself in a contract year because their season was shot anyhow. Those comments probably bubbled up to M3's ears.



What the hell does that mean, exactly? He said it in relation to Sam Barrington, I think. But what the fudge does that mean? When I see "I want to be more multiple" I think of Bretsky's fantasies.

Maybe he just meant that it would be nice to be able to stop run and pass, and not pick one.

[red]

I think most people, writers and Datone Jones included, think MM was referring to Raji. I don't see him coming back, unless he is shamed in free agency. But I don't think he will be - someone will take a chance on talent like that. He strikes me as one of those guys who will get a good contract from a team like the old Raiders or the Vikings or Jets, have one really good year, then play down to the level he displayed this year since he's got his contract in his pocket.

I'd like to see them sign Pickett for another year if he's affordable. Again, maybe someone will spot him a big contract, just for his limited snaps and his locker room character.

I'm not hearing much about Jolly. Not at all. I wonder what his condition is, medically?

And when MM says things like “In planning, I want to be more multiple"

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/246916031.html#ixzz2uKjvrt99
Follow us: @JournalSentinel on Twitter

What the hell does that mean, exactly? He said it in relation to Sam Barrington, I think. But what the fudge does that mean? When I see "I want to be more multiple" I think of Bretsky's fantasies.

yeah, i think it means we're also going to need a whole slew of 4-3 guys to go a long with all the 3-4 guys

good thing most of our guys are already better fits for the 4-3

just more playing time for more guys

[red]

and since we're all talk right now about changing up everything on defense

i'd like to recommend that we dump the shitty zone coverage that has been burning us over and over again for years now

its obviously too complicated for the players and coaches we have

[pbmax]

Doesn't mean 4-3 personnel or even that alignment. Remember McCarthy also said they had plans for different packages that went by the wayside when Jones and then Matthews got hurt.

McCarthy is saying you can't not use what you have on the sideline even if someone is injured. So if you had a plan for Psycho with Jones and Matthews rushing from the same side, you can't stop using that D if Matthews is hurt. Injuries cannot make you be simple. Mostly because the Packers rarely are assignment sure when young.

[Fritz]

Doesn't mean 4-3 personnel or even that alignment. Remember McCarthy also said they had plans for different packages that went by the wayside when Jones and then Matthews got hurt.

McCarthy is saying you can't not use what you have on the sideline even if someone is injured. So if you had a plan for Psycho with Jones and Matthews rushing from the same side, you can't stop using that D if Matthews is hurt. Injuries cannot make you be simple. Mostly because the Packers rarely are assignment sure when young.


But this doesn't make sense to me. Is MM saying that, even if his preferred starters get hurt, he still wants to run the same very complex schemes with a bunch of rookies and guys who were on the DL last year?

If so, that's a recipe for even more of the communication breakdowns that lead to a wide receiver strolling into the end zone with the ball while two Packer defensive backs argue about who was supposed to take the guy. Unless one of the Packers slipped and is laying on the ground, thirty yards away, only to later tell reporters it wasn't clear that it was his guy to cover.

[pbmax]

But this doesn't make sense to me. Is MM saying that, even if his preferred starters get hurt, he still wants to run the same very complex schemes with a bunch of rookies and guys who were on the DL last year?

If so, that's a recipe for even more of the communication breakdowns that lead to a wide receiver strolling into the end zone with the ball while two Packer defensive backs argue about who was supposed to take the guy. Unless one of the Packers slipped and is laying on the ground, thirty yards away, only to later tell reporters it wasn't clear that it was his guy to cover.

Its tough to parse. But it can still be very simple. You can still run only the basic concepts, but like McCarthy does with his offense, you swap out bodies to get different match ups.

So with Jones and Neal on the field at the same time, Neal might always be the interior pass rush and Jones at OLB/DE. You could go four OLBs with Daniels and Jones and play nickel. The only thing that would need to change is question of who rushes and who drops back. You put Hawk and DB in and take Jones and OLB out and play psycho dime.

Same defenses, different personnel.

What is clearer is what Capers does now. Defined packages and groups. Outside of injury, you know if they call base, nickel or dime who will be where. Even fans can tell you this. Blitzes are standard with exceptions for occasional slot/corner or safety blitz. Offenses plan for this and scheme and use formation to out matchup them (especially first two 49er games) to create mismatches (Perry on WR, Gore on ILB, etc.). To combat this and provide solid coverage, Capers relies on some pattern reading and some complex rules in the secondary to reign in what offenses are trying to do. This is where injuries and youth hurt them. They often blow those adjustments.

If the Packers had the talent to overwhelm (2010) it wouldn't matter. Capers can call a good enough game and scheme to put players in a good spot and if they make plays, everything is OK. But the big talent edge (Collins/Woodson) is gone. And the INTs that used to bail them out have disappeared.

[3irty1]

Its tough to parse. But it can still be very simple. You can still run only the basic concepts, but like McCarthy does with his offense, you swap out bodies to get different match ups.

So with Jones and Neal on the field at the same time, Neal might always be the interior pass rush and Jones at OLB/DE. You could go four OLBs with Daniels and Jones and play nickel. The only thing that would need to change is question of who rushes and who drops back. You put Hawk and DB in and take Jones and OLB out and play psycho dime.

Same defenses, different personnel.

What is clearer is what Capers does now. Defined packages and groups. Outside of injury, you know if they call base, nickel or dime who will be where. Even fans can tell you this. Blitzes are standard with exceptions for occasional slot/corner or safety blitz. Offenses plan for this and scheme and use formation to out matchup them (especially first two 49er games) to create mismatches (Perry on WR, Gore on ILB, etc.). To combat this and provide solid coverage, Capers relies on some pattern reading and some complex rules in the secondary to reign in what offenses are trying to do. This is where injuries and youth hurt them. They often blow those adjustments.

If the Packers had the talent to overwhelm (2010) it wouldn't matter. Capers can call a good enough game and scheme to put players in a good spot and if they make plays, everything is OK. But the big talent edge (Collins/Woodson) is gone. And the INTs that used to bail them out have disappeared.

I think you're right. Less volume but more variance by cross training players to avoid injury. I don't expect the scheme to look different either.

[mraynrand]

PBMax (or anyone else),

Are you suggesting that - say on 3rd and 15 - the Packers will mix up the personnel but still have a dime package (6 dbs).....OR that they will use dime sometimes and other times use psycho or some other package (so rather than maybe two lineman an OLB and a DB pass rushing as might happen in dime, they might sometimes have 4 dbs and rush 5 or six, but the rushers would be two linemen and 3 OLBs).

[mraynrand]

For everyone who wants N'ail Diggs or Barnett back, D'Qwell Jackson is now available...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/26/browns-parting-ways-with-dqwell-jackson/

[pbmax]

Going to say, no thanks.

Robert Klemko ‏@RobertKlemko 1h
D'Qwell was the 25th-rated ILB by @PFF who played over half his team's snaps in 2013, so, maybe not that surprising a move.

[pbmax]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 2h
ILB Robert Francois' recovery from Achilles surgery on sked, but won't sign with anyone until April or after draft: http://tinyurl.com/k8ypahr

[pbmax]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 2h
Packers want ILB Jamari Lattimore back, though not at RFA tender of $1.38 milllion: http://tinyurl.com/n8rhlok

Jamari Lattimore, he's no Jarrett Bush.

[mraynrand]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 2h
Packers want ILB Jamari Lattimore back, though not at RFA tender of $1.38 milllion: http://tinyurl.com/n8rhlok

Jamari Lattimore, he's no Jarrett Bush.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2165/2135235473_66aae9e50f_o.jpg

[pbmax]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 47s
Talked to Chris Banjo's agent, confirmed Banjo signed exclusive-rights offer, one-year deal.

[denverYooper]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 47s
Talked to Chris Banjo's agent, confirmed Banjo signed exclusive-rights offer, one-year deal.

MOAR BANJO!

[Freak Out]

LOL @ Rand.

[Freak Out]

So is Lattimore going to be back with the Pack? He showed some flash.......Nice to see Deliverance will be back.

[Jimx29]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 47s
Talked to Chris Banjo's agent, confirmed Banjo signed exclusive-rights offer, one-year deal.

https://twitter.com/Chris1Banjo/status/438804598128517120

[mraynrand]

LOL @ Rand.

Freak, I posted that just for you. :-D

[woodbuck27]

Well, at least someone in the Packer front office can send a message.

B.J. Raji had 10.5 sacks in his first three years with the Packers, but has none the last two seasons."

It looks like no Sacks in 2012 was worth $8 Million$ per season and a $20 million$ in guarantees. No SACKS extended to last season (2013) got to that offer being rescinded.

B.J. Raji... was really hard to watch last season. He didn't have a bad contract season in 2013 as it was really bad.

[woodbuck27]

http://comps.canstockphoto.com/can-stock-photo_csp1441597.jpg

[woodbuck27]

http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-free-agent-targets-bj-raji

Eagles free-agent targets: B.J. Raji

Lunch Break: Eagles free-agent targets

[mraynrand]

Eagles free-agent targets: B.J. Raji

Cullen Jenkins II!

[woodbuck27]

For everyone who wants N'ail Diggs or Barnett back, D'Qwell Jackson is now available...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/26/browns-parting-ways-with-dqwell-jackson/

I predict that he'll find work elsewhere within the first week or March 11-18, 2014.

[Bossman641]

I think you're right. Less volume but more variance by cross training players to avoid injury. I don't expect the scheme to look different either.

I honestly have no clue how to take the quotes about the defense. I hope we go with less volume but more variance and cut down on coverage breakdowns. But it also seems like MM laments that we only used XX% of the playbook and would like to delve deeper into it.

[woodbuck27]

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2165/2135235473_66aae9e50f_o.jpg


http://prod.static.packers.clubs.nfl.com//assets/images/imported/GB/photos/landing_page_centerpiece/2014/02-february/140219-project-play-60-650.jpg

[Bretsky]

Going to say, no thanks.

Robert Klemko ‏@RobertKlemko 1h
D'Qwell was the 25th-rated ILB by @PFF who played over half his team's snaps in 2013, so, maybe not that surprising a move.

this seems kind of harsh; I'd welcome him
Did you see the amount of tackles the guy has made over the last three season whlie staying pretty healthy
Now browse at his divisional games against their rivals...Pittsburg....Baltimore...Cincy...dude basically averaged about ten tackles a game
I'm not making him out to be a star but reminder.........before saying no way Jose remember we've got Just a Jag Jones as one of our starters at ILB
I think his stats over the past few years have been about what Hawk gets on his good years

[pbmax]

this seems kind of harsh; I'd welcome him
Did you see the amount of tackles the guy has made over the last three season whlie staying pretty healthy
Now browse at his divisional games against their rivals...Pittsburg....Baltimore...Cincy...dude basically averaged about ten tackles a game
I'm not making him out to be a star but reminder.........before saying no way Jose remember we've got Just a Jag Jones as one of our starters at ILB
I think his stats over the past few years have been about what Hawk gets on his good years

OK, but what is his price at his age? PFF is essentially saying the production your seeing is the result of a lot of plays coming his way. And he seems to be missing his share. Even if he is still better than Jones, doesn't seem likely to last long.

[Fritz]

this seems kind of harsh; I'd welcome him
Did you see the amount of tackles the guy has made over the last three season whlie staying pretty healthy
Now browse at his divisional games against their rivals...Pittsburg....Baltimore...Cincy...dude basically averaged about ten tackles a game
I'm not making him out to be a star but reminder.........before saying no way Jose remember we've got Just a Jag Jones as one of our starters at ILB
I think his stats over the past few years have been about what Hawk gets on his good years

TWO Hawks at ILB? Packer Nation would foam at the mouth and have a collective stroke.

[red]

but two hawks is better than 1 hawk and 1 jones

[3irty1]

Obviously there is a price point where I'd be happy to bring him in. He's not the biggest or the fastest, doesn't make a lot of plays, and is pretty shitty in coverage but he's steady, durable, and a class act. I have a feeling he'd prefer to go back to a 4-3 though. Probably going to be a Viking.

[Brandon494]

I hear the Cardinals have just set up a visit for him, guess that means they are letting Dansby walk.

[mraynrand]

but two hawks is better than 1 hawk and 1 jones


I'll drink to that. Preferably, a White Russian.

[red]

i'm guessing this thread is for all teams, right? not just the packers?

here comes the big fight

reports say that the saints are going to tag jimmy graham

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

[pbmax]

Neither rumor nor speculation (need a new thread?)

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 1h
Seahawks officially have released defensive end Red Bryant and wide receiver Sidney Rice, the team announced.

[pbmax]

At first I was excited until I remembered the Patriots safeties have been terrible too.

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 3h
Agent: Patriots parting ways with safety Steve Gregory http://wp.me/p14QSB-9qe4

[woodbuck27]

i'm guessing this thread is for all teams, right? not just the packers?

here comes the big fight

reports say that the saints are going to tag jimmy graham

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

That looked like a real possibility.

[red]

graham was officially tagged

him and his agent have huff and puffed the last month or two that they would take the saints to the courts if he was tagged as a TE

same thing finley said he would do a couple years ago if tagged

they feel like they should be tagged at the WR about rather then the TE amount because graham lines up off the line more then on it

btw, the wr numbers is almost twice as much as the TE tag

[Old School]

I've heard that Jackson makes a lot of tackles ...... 5 yards and more down field. seems we already have that.

[smuggler]

The Saints dont determine at what position he is franchised, the league office does. If they determine his tag number is a WR number (according to the language in the CBA he will be a WR), the league will reject the franchise designation. The Saints do not currently have enough cap space to tag at the WR amount.

In short, get your popcorn ready.

[red]

The Saints dont determine at what position he is franchised, the league office does. If they determine his tag number is a WR number (according to the language in the CBA he will be a WR), the league will reject the franchise designation. The Saints do not currently have enough cap space to tag at the WR amount.

In short, get your popcorn ready.

cool news, i didn't know the nfl was the ones who decide the tag positions and numbers

[woodbuck27]

I'll place this here as there is a precedent:

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/2/28/5418912/greg-hardy-panthers-franchise-tag

DE Greg Hardy receives franchise tag from Panthers

By Matt Verderame  @MattVerderame

Feb 28 2014, 4:00 PM

GO PACKERS !

[Guiness]

The Graham situation is confusing right now...the Saints have applied the non-exclusive tag to him. At PFT they seem to be assuming it will be the WR tag that applies, quoting his upcoming salary as $12.3M, and talking about how the exclusive tag would've been higher based on Wallace/Johnson/Johnson/Harvin/Jackson contracts.

Hard to see where this goes. Once the league determine which tag applies, do the Saints have an opportunity to withdraw the offer? They might well want him as a TE, but not so interested in a big slow $12M dollar guy.

[KYPack]

The big disparity btw TE and WR tags may require the creation of a new designationfor recievers.

A flex or rover spot where the tag would be midway in between WR and TE.

[mraynrand]

The big disparity btw TE and WR tags may require the creation of a new designationfor recievers.

A flex or rover spot where the tag would be midway in between WR and TE.

Perhaps if the TE position becomes a bigger weapon league-wide, the salaries will increase and so will the tag amount. The player pretty much should accept his designation and tag amount. If he doesn't like it, he can hold out. TEs coming into the league, if they want WR money, should compete with other WRs.

[red]

lets look at it another way. if he is a WR like he seems to think he is, and should be paid like a WR

does he play like one of the top WR's in the game, and should he be paid like one of the top 5 WR's?

he ranked 15th in the nfl this year in yards, and 13th in receptions. not in the "elite" range imo. he did lead the nfl in TD's though

lets say the nfl does classify him as a WR? is he worth that kind of money as a WR?

he would be the 6th highest paid WR in the NFL next season

though call for me

[Brandon494]

Hes worth the money and they lined him up at WR more then TE. The guy has been putting up monster numbers for them and wasn't even healthy last season, I don't know why NO is being cheap but it might back fire when he decided to leave. Someone is going to pay him big money.

[mraynrand]

Hes worth the money and they lined him up at WR more then TE. The guy has been putting up monster numbers for them and wasn't even healthy last season, I don't know why NO is being cheap but it might back fire when he decided to leave. Someone is going to pay him big money.

I think they are just up against the cap.

[pbmax]

Perhaps if the TE position becomes a bigger weapon league-wide, the salaries will increase and so will the tag amount. The player pretty much should accept his designation and tag amount. If he doesn't like it, he can hold out. TEs coming into the league, if they want WR money, should compete with other WRs.

Its actually a wee bit more complicated than a simple designation from the GameDay Program. The Management Council needs to count the number of snaps to determine the position at which the player played the plurality of his snaps.

If he was a D line player, it could be very up in the air whether it was they were a DE or DT. And it wouldn't matter about competing with one position group or another. They have had to make that call before.

Graham is no in line blocker. Its a fair claim that will be hard to judge. Just as that DE who lines up as a DT in nickel could be called a DE out of his typical position, Graham could be called a TE no matter he lines up on the field. But that's not exactly what the CBA says on the matter:


the position . . . at which the Franchise Player participated in the most plays during the prior League Year.

Going to be an interesting hearing.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/28/10-things-to-know-about-the-jimmy-graham-franchise-tag/

[pbmax]

I think they are just up against the cap.

I read they may not be able to afford the WR Franchise Tag if that is what comes down.

[smuggler]

The actual language of the NFL franchise tag says he is a wide receiver.

Article 10, Section 2(a)(i):

It deems that the franchise player be tendered at the position “at which [he] participated in the most plays during the prior League Year.”

Again, the Saints do not actually have salary cap space to tag a wide receiver. The obvious answer for the Saints is to negotiate with Graham while he's stuck in free agents' limbo.

[Carolina_Packer]

I know Red Bryant is a Seattle cap casualty as of a few days ago, so he's not likely going to accept a lot less money than what he was hoping to make, because some other team will probably see him as an upgrade at DE. He's 6'4 and weighs 323 and is known to be an excellent run stopper. But, he'll be 30 years old on April 18th. I know there are those who will argue that you wouldn't pay a big contract to a guy like this, given age and likely salary demands, but man would he look good in a Packer uniform. Holding the point of attack, keeping the linebackers clean to do what they are supposed to do.

[bobblehead]

Hes worth the money and they lined him up at WR more then TE. The guy has been putting up monster numbers for them and wasn't even healthy last season, I don't know why NO is being cheap but it might back fire when he decided to leave. Someone is going to pay him big money.

Since he can't block and the saints go out of the way to run away from his side, I have to say he is a WR. I would debate if he deserves top 5 money though.

[woodbuck27]

Since he can't block and the saints go out of the way to run away from his side, I have to say he is a WR. I would debate if he deserves top 5 money though.

he does play like a WR.

[Tony Oday]

Ware and CM III...that could be fun.

http://lombardiave.com/2014/02/28/demarcus-ware-green-bay-packers-free-agency/

[woodbuck27]

Ware and CM III...that could be fun.

http://lombardiave.com/2014/02/28/demarcus-ware-green-bay-packers-free-agency/

Ted likes his hot dog with simple mustard and a scat of relish when he's feeling a little crazy.

Screw the "all dressed" dog.

[Tony Oday]

Woodson was plain as can be...

[red]

Ware and CM III...that could be fun.

http://lombardiave.com/2014/02/28/demarcus-ware-green-bay-packers-free-agency/

i think i would rather have orakpo if you're gonna live in fantasy land.

my guess is thier cap numbers will be pretty close together

[red]

I know Red Bryant is a Seattle cap casualty as of a few days ago, so he's not likely going to accept a lot less money than what he was hoping to make, because some other team will probably see him as an upgrade at DE. He's 6'4 and weighs 323 and is known to be an excellent run stopper. But, he'll be 30 years old on April 18th. I know there are those who will argue that you wouldn't pay a big contract to a guy like this, given age and likely salary demands, but man would he look good in a Packer uniform. Holding the point of attack, keeping the linebackers clean to do what they are supposed to do.

this i would see as a realistic option for us. he's probably won't receive a huge contract, if he was, it probably already would have happened

i would have to question if TT really would sign a guy who's 30 or over. he likes his boys young

[woodbuck27]

this i would see as a realistic option for us. he's probably won't receive a huge contract, if he was, it probably already would have happened

i would have to question if TT really would sign a guy who's 30 or over. he likes his boys young

Young comes at a cost.

Inexperience and a too often a general lack of poise under fire.

[woodbuck27]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1978054-nfl-free-agency-2014-breaking-down-latest-rumors-about-top-targets

NFL Free Agency 2014: Breaking Down Latest Rumors About Top Targets

By Alex Koma , Featured Columnist

March 2, 2014

RE: The Redskins OLB Brian Orakpo ... The Ravens LT Eugene Monroe.

[mraynrand]

Its actually a wee bit more complicated than a simple designation from the GameDay Program...

sure, I agree with your post. Just calling a guy a TE, doesn't mean that's what he is. But does Finley get to be a WR because he refuses to/doesn't block well? Or does a taller, bigger WR get designated a TE because they run a lot of bubble screens/runs and are blocking more? Will the committee go deep into the weeds to account for whether a player blocks a DE/LB more than a DB? Next up: Brian Bostick! Fun times at the league office!

[denverYooper]

Young comes at a cost.

Inexperience and a too often a general lack of poise under fire.

Yeah, the young Seahawks team sure seemed to have a lack of poise last year.

[pbmax]

sure, I agree with your post. Just calling a guy a TE, doesn't mean that's what he is. But does Finley get to be a WR because he refuses to/doesn't block well? Or does a taller, bigger WR get designated a TE because they run a lot of bubble screens/runs and are blocking more? Will the committee go deep into the weeds to account for whether a player blocks a DE/LB more than a DB? Next up: Brian Bostick! Fun times at the league office!

That's the $3-4 million dollar question. The CBA says position he plays the most number of snaps at. It doesn't say how to designate those positions. But the Management Council aren't coaches and they aren't calling out patterns in their film room or designating X, Y and Z. Unless they sub the work out to more knowledgeable people, Graham probably counts as a WR if he is in the slot or wide. And as a TE if he is in tight or in the backfield.

If they don't, I would like to know how they determined it. By inclination, they probably don't want to create a fine line precedent, but they will have to jump through some hoops to avoid it.

[pbmax]

Yeah, the young Seahawks team sure seemed to have a lack of poise last year.

They should practice in pads more often, with live hitting.

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 1h
More than that. RT @ProFootballTalk: Report: Colin Kaepernick looking for $18 million per year http://wp.me/p14QSB-9qiU


WOO-HOO!

I think he is worth $20 mil.

[woodbuck27]

Yeah, the young Seahawks team sure seemed to have a lack of poise last year.

That team just somehow got it right.

I believe that right is a solid combination at GM and Scouting Dept. and a smart hard working HC.

I had that team in the Super Bowl before the start of the 20i3 season.

With the controversy in San Francisco I see no real reason not to expect that the Seattle Seahawks repeat as a best case prospective winner of the next Super Bowl trophy. The Seattle Seahawks are the team to beat in the NFC next season (2014).

GO PACK GO !

[mraynrand]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 1h
More than that. RT @ProFootballTalk: Report: Colin Kaepernick looking for $18 million per year http://wp.me/p14QSB-9qiU


WOO-HOO!

I think he is worth $20 mil.


25! 25!

[pbmax]

Remember these are the funny numbers.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 3m
The 4-year deal for CB Brent Grimes is worth up to $32M with $16M guaranteed. In his fourth year, he’ll be 34 years old.

[bobblehead]

They should practice in pads more often, with live hitting.

Well, if you use enough "substances" you can get away without it I guess....if its even true that they don't practice contact, I have my doubts. I think they know you MUST have contact in practice and spread the rumor they don't so other teams will "copy".

[pbmax]

Well, if you use enough "substances" you can get away without it I guess....if its even true that they don't practice contact, I have my doubts. I think they know you MUST have contact in practice and spread the rumor they don't so other teams will "copy".

Rodgers has a couple of good sources. Flynn, Lynch, Giacomini. Heck, he might even know Russell Wilson.

[pbmax]

Orakpo gets tagged. Possible DE/OLB issue coming up with tag as well. Might be even harder to parse than Graham since Orakpo is playing in a 3-4 but with his hand on the ground a significant part of the time.

[bobblehead]

Rodgers has a couple of good sources. Flynn, Lynch, Giacomini. Heck, he might even know Russell Wilson.

well, that settles it then. Time for stubby to get his wish and go full fledged flag football and hope guys remember how to hit on sunday. I really don't buy it though.

[pbmax]

well, that settles it then. Time for stubby to get his wish and go full fledged flag football and hope guys remember how to hit on sunday. I really don't buy it though.

Its just one part of the story. But clearly practice isn't the only factor.

[pbmax]

TJ Ward, Jarius Byrd hit the market. Bernard Pollard signs with the Flaming Thumbtacks.

[pbmax]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 32s
So 4 players get franchised (Hardy, Graham, Orakpo and Foles) and 2 get transitioned (Mack and Worilds). A week from today - market opens

2 men enter, one man leave.

Both get wads of cash.

[Guiness]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 32s
So 4 players get franchised (Hardy, Graham, Orakpo and Foles) and 2 get transitioned (Mack and Worilds). A week from today - market opens

2 men enter, one man leave.

Both get wads of cash.

Huh? Foles? He's entering the 3rd year of his rookie contract, isn't he? I'm pretty sure he's not even eligible to renegotiate, forget be tagged.

edit: Folk. As in the Jets kicker. I know this is La Canfora's mistake, but I swear you're trolling me!

[Guiness]

That's the $3-4 million dollar question. The CBA says position he plays the most number of snaps at. It doesn't say how to designate those positions. But the Management Council aren't coaches and they aren't calling out patterns in their film room or designating X, Y and Z. Unless they sub the work out to more knowledgeable people, Graham probably counts as a WR if he is in the slot or wide. And as a TE if he is in tight or in the backfield.

If they don't, I would like to know how they determined it. By inclination, they probably don't want to create a fine line precedent, but they will have to jump through some hoops to avoid it.

I don't know how they can using snap counts to make the designation, there is a realistic chance it could impact the game on the field. We could see the situation described somewhere else...week 17, a team with no playoff hopes playing a contender, and a call comes down to the coach telling him that his pass catching TE can only be used in-line AND can't be taken out of the game because he's only had 49% of his snaps at the 'TE approved location' this season and his an FA in month or so.

In my mind, Graham a WR doesn't pass the sniff test. You only have to look at him to know he's not a WR. He lines up wide because it creates mismatches when the D is in nickel...which happens to be the dominant personnel grouping in the NFL for many teams.

I don't know how they're going to do it. I suspect it is a can of worms the NFL would prefer remains closed.

[pbmax]

I don't know how they can using snap counts to make the designation, there is a realistic chance it could impact the game on the field. We could see the situation described somewhere else...week 17, a team with no playoff hopes playing a contender, and a call comes down to the coach telling him that his pass catching TE can only be used in-line AND can't be taken out of the game because he's only had 49% of his snaps at the 'TE approved location' this season and his an FA in month or so.

In my mind, Graham a WR doesn't pass the sniff test. You only have to look at him to know he's not a WR. He lines up wide because it creates mismatches when the D is in nickel...which happens to be the dominant personnel grouping in the NFL for many teams.

I don't know how they're going to do it. I suspect it is a can of worms the NFL would prefer remains closed.

If they had a brain between them, the Management Council and NFLPA would split the different. Just as NBA position numbers (1-2-3-4-5) don't due justice to the skills of each player, neither TE nor WR cover Graham or Finley. And a 3-4 OLB is not the same as a 4-3 SAM. Poor planning.

[pbmax]

Silverstein wounds in less than 140 characters.

Tom Silverstein ‏@TomSilverstein 13m
#Packers' worst use of the franchise tag: 2003, DT Cletidus Hunt. Best use: 2004, LT Chad Clifton.

[Guiness]

And the NFL decides Graham is a TE. #GrievanceIncomming

[bobblehead]

Cool, a TE who can't block and never even tries to. He is a TE because of his body type?? Then franchise Calvin Johnson cuz dude looks like a TE and lines up wide causing mismatches. In the running game Graham doesn't factor, the saints almost exclusively run away from him. I have never seen him pass block, but am open to saying he might do so once in awhile.

Graham is a really tall WR by any common sense test. If we are going to say 'big tall mismatch TE' as the "new" TE in the NFL, that is just a fancy word for big WR. Graham has a legit beef in my case, but then again, I am about the only one left in the world who thinks a TE's value comes from his ability to force teams to honor the run (because he can block) but then run up the seams.

[woodbuck27]

Well, if you use enough "substances" you can get away without it I guess....if its even true that they don't practice contact, I have my doubts. I think they know you MUST have contact in practice and spread the rumor they don't so other teams will "copy".

You must have contact in practise. You must be battle (contact ready) for the real games.

No contact make NO sense.

PACKERS !

[3irty1]

Cool, a TE who can't block and never even tries to. He is a TE because of his body type?? Then franchise Calvin Johnson cuz dude looks like a TE and lines up wide causing mismatches. In the running game Graham doesn't factor, the saints almost exclusively run away from him. I have never seen him pass block, but am open to saying he might do so once in awhile.

Graham is a really tall WR by any common sense test. If we are going to say 'big tall mismatch TE' as the "new" TE in the NFL, that is just a fancy word for big WR. Graham has a legit beef in my case, but then again, I am about the only one left in the world who thinks a TE's value comes from his ability to force teams to honor the run (because he can block) but then run up the seams.

I'm with you, he's getting screwed.

[red]

And the NFL decides Graham is a TE. #GrievanceIncomming

it'll be interesting to see how this plays out and what kind of future impact it has on the TE position

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 31m
Teams have a week to lock up FAs-to-be, and #Texans are working to do so with TE Garrett Graham. #Packers will have interest if he’s free

[pbmax]

Jason Wilde ‏@jasonjwilde 2h
MT @TomPelissero: #Gophers DT Ra'Shede Hageman has been working out in Milwaukee with @JJWatt and other #NFL players. http://Instagram.com/p/lFkrfFLr5C/

OK, that video better be from Minneapolis or Milwaukee has some explaining to do re: Gopher Banners.

[Zool]

Jason Wilde ‏@jasonjwilde 2h
MT @TomPelissero: #Gophers DT Ra'Shede Hageman has been working out in Milwaukee with @JJWatt and other #NFL players. http://Instagram.com/p/lFkrfFLr5C/

OK, that video better be from Minneapolis or Milwaukee has some explaining to do re: Gopher Banners.

Or Minnesota bought Marquette?

[pbmax]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 8m
Lions not expected to sign Brandon Pettigrew before free agency http://wp.me/p14QSB-9qnA

[smuggler]

Orakpo gets tagged. Possible DE/OLB issue coming up with tag as well. Might be even harder to parse than Graham since Orakpo is playing in a 3-4 but with his hand on the ground a significant part of the time.

This actually had already been done by the league with the tagging of Suggs in ~2010. It created a hybrid position for 3-4 OLBs which is almost as much as a DE to retain.

[Guiness]

This actually had already been done by the league with the tagging of Suggs in ~2010. It created a hybrid position for 3-4 OLBs which is almost as much as a DE to retain.

That was an arbitrator's decision to split the difference between the two tags. From what I can see, that was a one time thing - if another player wanted to be tagged as a hybrid, they'd have to appeal again.

I'd forgotten about that, and that's what I'd guess Graham will get, halfway between the two tags. The NFL probably realizes that and they're just going through the motions.

[pbmax]

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero 1h
Cap space "leaders":
#Raiders $60M,
#Jaguars $50.3M,
#Browns $50M,
#Dolphins $39.1M,
#Colts $38.4M,
#Vikings $30.4M,
#Packers $29.3M.


I need to program a bot that whenever someone posts cap numbers they must explain the baseline used. Because these numbers vary greatly from those published immediately after the cap announcement.

[red]

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero 1h
Cap space "leaders":
#Raiders $60M,
#Jaguars $50.3M,
#Browns $50M,
#Dolphins $39.1M,
#Colts $38.4M,
#Vikings $30.4M,
#Packers $29.3M.


I need to program a bot that whenever someone posts cap numbers they must explain the baseline used. Because these numbers vary greatly from those published immediately after the cap announcement.

how did we lose 6 million almost over night? it was just over 35 million last time i saw it from someone else acouple days ago

[red]

these guys have us at 35.1

http://www.spotrac.com/cap-tracker/nfl/

[pbmax]

If its a roughly uniform 3-5 million, must be pool for draft picks.


Kevin Seifert has it at $34 million.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/118418/inside-slant-cap-space-based-on-132m



TEAM CAP SPACE*
Oakland Raiders $66,387,920
Jacksonville Jaguars $55,128,123
Cleveland Browns $51,227,168
Indianapolis Colts $40,014,750
Miami Dolphins $38,181,273
Green Bay Packers $34,197,930
Minnesota Vikings $30,733,489
Cincinnati Bengals $29,362,957
Washington Redskins $28,684,986
New York Jets $25,744,558


*based on $132 estimate

Guess not.

[Guiness]

how did we lose 6 million almost over night? it was just over 35 million last time i saw it from someone else acouple days ago

Fuck knows, eh? The Cowboys gained $10M this morning by effectively guaranteeing Romo's 2014 salary. Apparently they wrote the ability to do that into the contract so they don't have to go back to the player and ask. Insane that they are already re-jigging a contract written last off-season.

They did the same with Sean Lee.

[red]

Fuck knows, eh? The Cowboys gained $10M this morning by effectively guaranteeing Romo's 2014 salary. Apparently they wrote the ability to do that into the contract so they don't have to go back to the player and ask. Insane that they are already re-jigging a contract written last off-season.

They did the same with Sean Lee.

they did it with one other guy too. i think they've cleared up like 17 million in the last couple of days, and they're still a million over the cap i believe

[pbmax]

Romo's cap number in 2015 is north of $25 million.

[red]

Romo's cap number in 2015 is north of $25 million.

27.7

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/tony-romo/

they're already over the cap for the 2015 season now after the romo restructure. thats unreal. for comparison, green bay is almost 45 million under the cap for 2015

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cap-hit/2015/

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Packers after TE Graham. No not that Graham.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000330578/article/houston-texans-hope-to-resign-garrett-graham

[Fritz]

27.7

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/tony-romo/

they're already over the cap for the 2015 season now after the romo restructure. thats unreal. for comparison, green bay is almost 45 million under the cap for 2015


http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cap-hit/2015/

Red, if TT went ahead and gave SS the deal he and Rosenhaus want, and then did the same with, say, Jones and Neal and Raji and maybe Cobb and Nelson next year, how long before these kind of wacky numbers would apply in GB?

[red]

Red, if TT went ahead and gave SS the deal he and Rosenhaus want, and then did the same with, say, Jones and Neal and Raji and maybe Cobb and Nelson next year, how long before these kind of wacky numbers would apply in GB?

depends, is it all real money, or funny money like most other teams use?

theres always guys on the team that are making way more then they should that can be easily cut to free up room if need be. we had a few guys this year that easily could have been cut without much loss to the team overall, if we needed the money, which we didn't

but lets see. drew wanted around 6 originally for shields, jones might get another deal at 3 a year, neal, i honestly have no clue what he's worth, lets just say 3 for arguments sake, no one wants raji, so zero for him, and lets say 8 or 9 a year for the average of cobb and nelson, hell lets just say 17 million a year for the two of them

so an average of 29 million a year. so, still plenty of room to play with IMO

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

depends, is it all real money, or funny money like most other teams use?

theres always guys on the team that are making way more then they should that can be easily cut to free up room if need be. we had a few guys this year that easily could have been cut without much loss to the team overall, if we needed the money, which we didn't

If you look at 2015s numbers really only Rodgers, Matthews, Hawk, and Jones have big cap figures. You could even cut Hawk and Jones and gain almost another 8 million cap space (minus the penalties for cutting them). If the cap goes up again next season anything close to this year, then Rodgers and Matthews deals are going to look like bargains.

[Joemailman]

Devin Hester will be entering FA as the Bears have not attempted to sign him. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000330703/article/devin-hester-unlikely-to-return-to-chicago-bears

[KYPack]

If you look at 2015s numbers really only Rodgers, Matthews, Hawk, and Jones have big cap figures. You could even cut Hawk and Jones and gain almost another 8 million cap space (minus the penalties for cutting them). If the cap goes up again next season anything close to this year, then Rodgers and Matthews deals are going to look like bargains.

Lang, Burnette and Sitton are in Hawk range. Man, we are paying out the ass for a couple guards. I assume you mean Brad Jones, at sub 5 million he no big cap saver and might even be a bargain (not that I mean that).

I totally agree on ARod and CMIII. I've always wondered if that isn't gonna bite us in the ass. Wonder if one of those two won't deserve a re-write.

[Zool]

Burnette

I like this. He's either a lady-like or French. Seems accurate.

[Patler]

Man, we are paying out the ass for a couple guards.

Can't be. Not possible. You must be mistaken. One of the absolutes I heard about TT just a few short years ago is that he does not value guards, or centers for that matter. You know, along with those other absolutes about him that he never trades up, never signs free agents, never cuts his own draft picks, never lets a good young player he drafted leave in FA, etc., etc.

Someone must have signed those contracts when TT was away on vacation.

[red]

Lang, Burnette and Sitton are in Hawk range. Man, we are paying out the ass for a couple guards. I assume you mean Brad Jones, at sub 5 million he no big cap saver and might even be a bargain (not that I mean that).

I totally agree on ARod and CMIII. I've always wondered if that isn't gonna bite us in the ass. Wonder if one of those two won't deserve a re-write.

yeah, i've brought this up in the past, sitton is worth his money, but lang is not worth that same amount

and you would save about 2 million by cutting jones this year, or 3.5 if you did it next year. not that we need it

[pbmax]

Twitter for the win, Pellisero's numbers did not account for the Top 51 cap number adjustment in play through most of the offseason.


Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More
Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero 2h
Forgot to factor Top 51 adjustment on cap numbers. Corrected "leaders":
#Raiders $65M
#Jaguars $56.1M
#Browns $47.4M
#Dolphins $39.1M ...

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero 2h
... #Packers $33.1M
#Vikings $31.7M
#Bengals $30.3M
#Bills $25.7M
#Ravens $24.9M
Same leaders mostly, just a little more space.

[red]

and hes still 2 million off from our other sources

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

James Jones prefers Packers

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000330815/article/james-jones-prefers-packers-colts-chargers-in-mix

Has a line in the article that the team has talked contract extension with Jordy Nelson.

[woodbuck27]

James Jones prefers Packers

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000330815/article/james-jones-prefers-packers-colts-chargers-in-mix

Has a line in the article that the team has talked contract extension with Jordy Nelson.

Here it is. Evidence on a lack of respect or any loyalty demonstrated on behalf of Green Bay Packer management towords some of the teams veteran players that can't be good for the teams spirit in the locker room:

" Jones doesn't want to leave the Packers.......that's clear if he has a choice in the matter.

"Honestly, I feel that there is a chance that I can be back, and then I honestly feel that there's a chance that I can't," Jones told Around The League on Tuesday from NFL Network studios. "This is the time where you just kind of wish that something would happen so you can know where you're going."......


"I've thought about places that I would like to go play, whether it's in Indy or there's coming back home, San Diego or somewhere. Teams have popped up in my head. I can't say I haven't thought about it, but in a perfect world I'd love to go back (to Green Bay)." [/I]

GO PACKERS !

[woodbuck27]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3170/demarcus-ware

The Cowboys have informed DeMarcus Ware they "definitely want to keep him," but not at his current salary.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6512/brandon-browner

Free agent CB Brandon Browner tweeted Tuesday that he was reinstated by the NFL.

[woodbuck27]

The Giants are likely to be priced out of free agent Linval Joseph's market if he is allowed to reach free agency.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5867/linval-joseph

He could command $6 million annually or more in free agency.

Mar 4 - 8:48 PM

[woodbuck27]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4674/john-Carlson

" Carlson caught 40 passes in 27 games as a Viking, and saw his 2013 cut short by the third-known concussion of his pro career."

[Fritz]

Has anyone fingered out yet who the teams might be that will be lining up to bid on Shields?

He's been mentioned casually in the Detroit papers as a guy the Lions might consider, but that's just conjecture.

Hell, everything in Detroit is conjecture until they restructure Suh's contract.

[Bretsky]

Raiders have a lot of money

[Cheesehead Craig]

Raiders have a lot of money

They always seem to have a lot of money.

[mraynrand]

They always seem to have a lot of money.

Pimps always be flashing the cash

[3irty1]

I've heard Browns as a possible landing spot for Shields. I don't remember where.

[pbmax]

I've heard Browns as a possible landing spot for Shields. I don't remember where.

I think Rapapport, which means he is on Rosenhaus' speed dial. If I can find the Tweet, I might just stop following him for that.

I'd have to back to Albert Breer's Ohio State trolling.

[pbmax]

Good news everyone ...

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 37m
With Colin Kaepernick, the magic number is $20M a season, not $18M. And eventually he'll get it: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24469225/kaepernick-will-get-his-20m-per-deal-whether-niners-pay-up-now-or-later …

[Guiness]

Has anyone fingered out yet who the teams might be that will be lining up to bid on Shields?

He's been mentioned casually in the Detroit papers as a guy the Lions might consider, but that's just conjecture.

Hell, everything in Detroit is conjecture until they restructure Suh's contract.

Which they can't because he has no agent they can talk to and is thinking about representing himself...I assume with some sort of James Bond setup with an earpiece that Jay-Z can communicate with him through, since he can't actually take part in the negotiations...

Horrible, horrible timing of him to do that, really handcuffing the Lions.

[mraynrand]

I've heard Browns as a possible landing spot for Shields. I don't remember where.

Can't imagine it, since they have to work long-term contract for Haden, and he's supposed to get 7 mil this year. If they negotiate him down, depending on SB, and then bring in Shields for more, that's just more chaos for Cleveland. Oh, wait, I change my mind, Cleveland is sure to sign him.

[Guiness]

Good news everyone ...

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 37m
With Colin Kaepernick, the magic number is $20M a season, not $18M. And eventually he'll get it: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24469225/kaepernick-will-get-his-20m-per-deal-whether-niners-pay-up-now-or-later …

Good news for the rest of the league as he (then Wilson) do that.

One thing I would disagree with in the article is how smart it would be for Kaep to 'bet on himself' like Flacco. I know the saying that every play could be his last, but the way he plays the position is a lot more dangerous than Flacco. He didn't run as often in 2013 as some thought he would, but he still did enough of it. La Canfora might be right and he's stubborn and confident enough to play it out instead of giving a bit of a discount to get it early. You have to think not signing to go from 18 to 20 million is all about ego, and he seems to have plenty of that.

[Guiness]

Can't imagine it, since they have to work long-term contract for Haden, and he's supposed to get 7 mil this year. If they negotiate him down, depending on SB, and then bring in Shields for more, that's just more chaos for Cleveland. Oh, wait, I change my mind, Cleveland is sure to sign him.

and pick up Regis just for good measure...

[red]

and pick up Regis just for good measure...

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/files/2009/04/mill_regis_b6.jpg

[Fritz]

Good news for the rest of the league as he (then Wilson) do that.

One thing I would disagree with in the article is how smart it would be for Kaep to 'bet on himself' like Flacco. I know the saying that every play could be his last, but the way he plays the position is a lot more dangerous than Flacco. He didn't run as often in 2013 as some thought he would, but he still did enough of it. La Canfora might be right and he's stubborn and confident enough to play it out instead of giving a bit of a discount to get it early. You have to think not signing to go from 18 to 20 million is all about ego, and he seems to have plenty of that.

When you're a regular schmuck, going from 18 to 20 mil a year sure does seem unnecessary, to say the least.

But does this mean we should root for Krappernick to do well next year, so he can wreck SF's salary structure?

[Guiness]

When you're a regular schmuck, going from 18 to 20 mil a year sure does seem unnecessary, to say the least.

But does this mean we should root for Krappernick to do well next year, so he can wreck SF's salary structure?

Lesse, best case:

He plays like a bat out of hell for the first 8 games, SF becomes the super bowl favorite. They realize they are in big doo-doo when it comes to resigning him and negotiate a 7 year, $175M deal with a $50M signing bonus. He goes out the following week and suffers a Sherrod-like leg break. SF falls apart and misses the play-offs!

Work for you?

Ok, I'd never actually wish on injury on someone....

[pbmax]

Pittsburgh Steelers ‏@steelers 1h
We have released linebacker Larry Foote, cornerback Curtis Brown and offensive tackle Levi Brown.

Not a horrible way to go out, though there may be lingering bad feelings inside the office. Finnegan was presented option of new contract with pay cut or release.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 1h
Cortland Finnegan may have alerted coach Jeff Fisher of the news. But key members of the #Rams staff did not find out until he tweeted.

Cortland Finnegan ‏@CortFinnegan 2h
St.Louis thank you for your letting me play for a classy franchise and coach fish nothing but love thank you all. #Motivation @AdamSchefter

[red]

Good news everyone ...

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 37m
With Colin Kaepernick, the magic number is $20M a season, not $18M. And eventually he'll get it: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24469225/kaepernick-will-get-his-20m-per-deal-whether-niners-pay-up-now-or-later …

i brought up awhile back that kaep and wilson were both going to be expecting huge deal, some if not most did not agree

kaepernick is flacco like, an ok QB on a great team. the 49ers won all those games because they have a shit ton of talent all over the field, kaepernick was just the QB who didn't do anything to lose games for them. it would be good for the rest of the nfl if the 9ers give him that much money, it means they won't be able to afford to keep all the other players together much longer

QB's on winning teams usually get paid, whether they are the reason the team wins (like a-rod, brady or manning) or not (flacco, romo, stafford, eli, cutler, bradford, etc)

[mraynrand]

Finnegan was presented option of new contract with pay cut or release.

beginagain!

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Packers and raji close to one year deal??

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=10560650

[Bossman641]

Packers and raji close to one year deal??

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=10560650

Ah, you beat me to it. Shit, for 1 year, sure I'll do it. Will be interesting to see the numbers on this. Unless the packers absolutely blew him away, you've got to imagine he was seeing a very lukewarm market.

[red]

oh fuck off

[red]

It's telling that Raji is willing to accept a "prove it" deal from the Packers without even testing his value on the open market. He knows his value needs to be rehabbed. The five-year veteran's play has inconsistent at best and poor at worst recently, culminating with just 17 tackles and no sacks while getting destroyed against the run last season. As former Rams GM Billy Devaney recently said, Raji is "pretty much just a guy."
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

so, its not just us that thinks he sucks

[Tony Oday]

Hester doesn't want to go back to the Bears, we need a return man, we have money, he is good.

[Tony Oday]

WOW I think Raji needs to beat his agent with a rubber hose...wow totally should have sign that HUGE deal that was on the table...lol sucks to be you you discount double check stealer!

[red]

Hester doesn't want to go back to the Bears, we need a return man, we have money, he is good.

is he still a good return man though? i know he didn't do it in awhile, focusing on being a WR, and the couple times i saw him return anything this year he didn't look all that dangerous

and he's kind of old for a return man (31)

[Teamcheez1]

so, its not just us that thinks he sucks

I think it also indicates how precarious our own D-line situation is. Jolly seriously hurt, Pickett a year older, and a bunch of unproven youngsters. As poorly as Raji played, we need some bodies.

[Cheesehead Craig]

With Slocum, I just don't know if having Hester back there would matter.

[Tony Oday]

From ESPN.com article:

His touchdown return against Washington was his first in nearly two years. Hester led the NFL with a career-high 1,436 kick return yards on a league-high 52 tries, and he returned five kickoffs for a team-record 249 yards against Minnesota in September.

So he still can return the rock...emergency WR when Cobb gets hurt again.

[run pMc]

More on Raji: sounds like 1yr/$4M, with him likely playing NT, not DE:
http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/packers-free-agency-2014/2014/3/6/5477158/packers-bj-raji-free-agency-one-year-contract-near

[Fritz]

I'd be a lot more excited to watch Hester returning punts and kickoffs than Micah Hyde or Jonathan Franklin.

But at what price?

[pbmax]

More on Raji: sounds like 1yr/$4M, with him likely playing NT, not DE:
http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/packers-free-agency-2014/2014/3/6/5477158/packers-bj-raji-free-agency-one-year-contract-near

I copied you over to the Raji thread but I would trust Rapoport more on this if Raji had played DE at all since 2010. He has lined up as 3 tech a lot, but not DE.

[Teamcheez1]

Colts cut starting center Samson Satele. He was due to make $4M this year. I wonder if they are looking at EDS?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/06/colts-cut-starting-center-samson-satele/

[pbmax]

PFT Twitter
Report: Saints "shopping" Pierre Thomas and Lance Moore, could be open to Sproles trade wp.me/p14QSB-9qwN

[smuggler]

Pierre Thomas: No. Too many concussions and we have a crouded backfield considering Starks might come back.

Lance Moore: No. Old and his performance has already slipped and he was never very good anyway.

Sproles: No. This is around the time he falls off the horse and never gets back on.

Sampson Satele: LOL. One of, if not *the*, worst center in the league.

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 11m
Seattle has made an offer to Michael Bennett, who has left it on the table to seek others. Will see if he returns. Oak, Chicago, others wait

[pbmax]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 20m
Chiefs release TE Dominique Jones, LB Robert James http://wp.me/p14QSB-9qxu

[Joemailman]

Champ Bailey released by Broncos. Would be willing to consider moving to Safety. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000331171/article/champ-bailey-open-to-playing-safety-for-new-team

[red]

Champ Bailey released by Broncos. Would be willing to consider moving to Safety. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000331171/article/champ-bailey-open-to-playing-safety-for-new-team

no

champ is 35 and missed almost all of last year. i don't know if he has anything left in the tank

[pbmax]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 54m
Broncos will not be tendering a contract to WR/KR Trindon Holliday, per league source. He'll become a free agent.

[Guiness]

More on the Broncos front - Trindon Holliday not being tendered. He's a pretty solid KR, although at 5'5" that's likely all he'll ever be. Something to think about, he certainly has the ability to bring one to the house.

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 1m
Update on #Raiders & Jared Veldheer: He’s going to take his decision into the weekend, weigh his options and the market. Nothing imminent.

Christopher Hansen ‏@ChrisHansenNFL 24m
Source tells me the #Raiders and Jared Veldheer have agreed to 5-year deal with 6th year option. $23 guaranteed. Total value $55M.


Just doesn't seem to be Rapoport's month.

Rap Sheet holding firm to no deal report!

gregg rosenthal ‏@greggrosenthal 43m
On Veldheer report. No agreement imminent RT @RapSheet: @NFL_ATL The numbers are not accurate.

[denverYooper]

More on the Broncos front - Trindon Holliday not being tendered. He's a pretty solid KR, although at 5'5" that's likely all he'll ever be. Something to think about, he certainly has the ability to bring one to the house.

I don't think solid is the word for his KR abilities. Micah Hyde is solid. Holiday is (very) high risk/high reward guy back there. Once he loses it. He can really go in the tank.

[Fritz]

How does he lose it? Is he a fumbler?

[smuggler]

Holliday might be an interesting guy to look into. It's not like we don't need to address kick returns, and whether it's a rookie or not doesn't really matter. It's still going to take a roster spot.

[pbmax]

How does he lose it? Is he a fumbler?

Yes. Original team (Texans I think?) let him go due to turnovers. Very much like Jeremy Ross.

[Guiness]

Yes. Original team (Texans I think?) let him go due to turnovers. Very much like Jeremy Ross.

Yup. Put the ball on the ground 6 times in 2012, 5 more times last year. You're right DY, solid was the wrong word! He's only had one fumble on KR duty (49 attempts), vs 10 on PR (80 attempts).

stats from nfl.com

[woodbuck27]

Champ Bailey released by Broncos. Would be willing to consider moving to Safety. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000331171/article/champ-bailey-open-to-playing-safety-for-new-team

Another solid ( his time has passed ) NFL player; ala Charles Woodson looking at retirement.

Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey and Tony Gonzalez all entering the NFL HOF at the same time!?

[run pMc]

No to Trindon Holiday. He's fast, but he's a midget and a fumbler. You can't trust him, and he doesn't play much WR.
I'd expect there are taller WR with speed and KO return ability in the draft.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Sign Hester

[pbmax]

In a discussion about the speed at which the salary cap will rise, Florio reports an interesting fact that probably will have an impact on early Free Agency.

Cap Could Hit $160 Million in 2016 (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/07/cap-could-hit-160-million-in-2016/)


The full truth as to the bump, annually negotiated by the NFL and NFLPA, never will be known. The teams, however, didn’t anticipate it. Last October, owners were told that the cap would increase by only $3.3 million, to $126.3 million. More recently, the number was pegged increasing by $128.3 million.

As one source explained it to PFT, that’s the number most if not all owners used when establishing their budgets for the upcoming free-agency period. It means that most if not all General Managers will have to persuade their owners to increase the budget in light of the increased cap room.

Even if only a portion of the unexpected rise in the cap number is spent, some players will be more expensive. This helps explain Shields testing the market and it also might point out how terrible Raji's film was last year.

[red]

so, you're saying that raji was terrible last year because teams didn't know that cap was going up so much this year?

[pbmax]

so, you're saying that raji was terrible last year because teams didn't know that cap was going up so much this year?

Nope, but maybe BJ would like you to think that.

I meant that even with extra cash lying around (sort of) Raji couldn't scare up a multi-year deal he wanted to sign. So his film wasn't even close to good enough to get him where he wanted to be.

[pbmax]

Mike Neal:


A source familiar with the talks said the Packers have made a meaningful offer for Neal, but not strong enough to keep him from talking to other teams first.

John Kuhn:


Kuhn’s agent, Kevin Gold, said he and the Packers negotiated into late this week, though no deal is imminent.

http://www.packersnews.com/article/20140306/PKR01/303060430/

[Teamcheez1]

Honestly, what kind of leverage would Kuhn have in any deal? He is an aging RB that has no real value except to the Packers.

As long as they don't run him on 3rd and 1, I'm o.k. with keeping him at a nominal cost for another year or two.

[Tony Oday]

Better be negotiating with Kuhn to be RB coach...

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Yeah I don't understand that one. If the packers want Kuhn back offer him 1 mil/year and if he accepts great, if not then good luck finding more.

[run pMc]

Until Lacy/Franklin/Harris prove they can do it, Kuhn's your pass protector in the backfield, and last resort at running the ball. I don't expect Starks back unless there's a dearth of offers...which would be a surprise. When healthy, he's a pretty good #2 and could push to start on a few other teams. Kuhn also plays ST. That said, I don't see a huge market for him, and wouldn't offer him a huge contract, but if I wanted him back I wouldn't insult him with a lowball offer either. Something around $2yr/$3M would be ok.

Wonder what kind of offer Neal will get.

That packernews article reports they have interest in TEs John Carlson and Garrett Graham. Carlson was good back when he played for SEA, but he has at least 3 concussions, and his availability plus Kyle Rudolph made him expendable. Don't know a lot about Graham other than he's a former Badger. Neither excites me. With GB reportedly talking to Quarless, it seems like they are planning to move on without Finley.

[Guiness]

I know it's OT for this thread, but isn't the following statement false?


As one source explained it to PFT, that’s the number most if not all owners used when establishing their budgets for the upcoming free-agency period. It means that most if not all General Managers will have to persuade their owners to increase the budget in light of the increased cap room.

I assume Florio's trying to be cute, and it talking out of his ass here? With the current CBA, there was a lot of talk about a salary 'floor' which was a percentage of the cap. So extra money in the cap would automatically convert to extra money for GMs to spend, right?

[red]

packers talking to Q




The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the Packers have been in "regular contact" with free agent Andrew Quarless.
With free agent Jermichael Finley's (neck) status still up in the air, the Pack could find themselves short at tight end if Quarless walked. Quarless has been linked to the Giants and former Pack assistant Ben McAdoo. Quarless is Rotoworld's No. 9 free-agent tight end.

[red]

I know it's OT for this thread, but isn't the following statement false?



I assume Florio's trying to be cute, and it talking out of his ass here? With the current CBA, there was a lot of talk about a salary 'floor' which was a percentage of the cap. So extra money in the cap would automatically convert to extra money for GMs to spend, right?

but a lot of owners would like to pocket as much money as they can. if teams and owners have already made a budget for this year, then the cap all of a sudden going up by 7 million more then they figured for, could screw up a lot of things

plus the cap floor isn't a year to year thing, over a 4 year period a team has to spend 89% of the cap

it comes down to, some owners will not want to spend that extra 7 million, especially when some teams are losing money to begin with

[pbmax]

I know it's OT for this thread, but isn't the following statement false?



I assume Florio's trying to be cute, and it talking out of his ass here? With the current CBA, there was a lot of talk about a salary 'floor' which was a percentage of the cap. So extra money in the cap would automatically convert to extra money for GMs to spend, right?

Yes, there is a floor for the cap and a minimum cash to spend number, but both are below the max cap number. So persuasion could still buy you increased player spending.

[Guiness]

but a lot of owners would like to pocket as much money as they can. if teams and owners have already made a budget for this year, then the cap all of a sudden going up by 7 million more then they figured for, could screw up a lot of things

plus the cap floor isn't a year to year thing, over a 4 year period a team has to spend 89% of the cap

Forgot about the 4 year rolling floor thing.

So the increased cap would pull the floor up, but even if a team was close to (or below) the floor they could still sit on that amount short term.


it comes down to, some owners will not want to spend that extra 7 million, especially when some teams are losing money to begin with

*cough* *cough* what?!?

My sarcasm meter is bouncing around, not at all sure if you were being facetious there or not!

[pbmax]

Well, I am not even going to try to parse this.

Sam shields ‏@ShieldSam37 1h
I feel a big blessing coming

[red]

Well, I am not even going to try to parse this.

Sam shields ‏@ShieldSam37 1h
I feel a big blessing coming

that could go all kinds of different ways

[pbmax]

that could go all kinds of different ways

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 1m
Re Shields' cryptic tweet - 'I feel big blessing coming' - source close to him says no deal with Packers imminent.

[pbmax]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 4m
Arziona Cardinals gave former Vikings TE John Carlson a two-year deal.

[red]

Forgot about the 4 year rolling floor thing.

So the increased cap would pull the floor up, but even if a team was close to (or below) the floor they could still sit on that amount short term.

*cough* *cough* what?!?

My sarcasm meter is bouncing around, not at all sure if you were being facetious there or not!


is that because you think all nfl teams make money?

i don't know about this last season, but before that the lions had had 4 straight seasons of losing money, 6 of the last 7 seasons

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/59397/forbes-lions-continue-losing-money

you gotta wonder how a team like the jags are profitable when they can't sell out their stadium, they may be close to the break even point (even with shared money) and 7 million could put them in the red (or black, whichever one is the bad one)

[red]

Pete Dougherty ‏@PeteDougherty 1m
Re Shields' cryptic tweet - 'I feel big blessing coming' - source close to him says no deal with Packers imminent.

thats what i figured. today everyones agent is talking with every team out there trying to get deals done, but can't sign until monday.

sounds to me like sam just got a big offer from someone else

[red]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 4mgonna knock him out of the game
Arziona Cardinals gave former Vikings TE John Carlson a two-year deal.

good, i didn't like that report about us being interested

if he's had 3 concussions, it may as well be 20, any little hit to the head area is

[Guiness]

is that because you think all nfl teams make money?

i don't know about this last season, but before that the lions had had 4 straight seasons of losing money, 6 of the last 7 seasons

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/59397/forbes-lions-continue-losing-money

you gotta wonder how a team like the jags are profitable when they can't sell out their stadium, they may be close to the break even point (even with shared money) and 7 million could put them in the red (or black, whichever one is the bad one)

lol leave it to those morons to manage to run an NFL franchise at a loss. One helluva neat trick. And yes, I'm sure all NFL teams make money, unless they're trying like hell not for some financial reason. The NFL ownership rules mostly stop the owners from moving money around for favorable tax reasons, but I'm sure it still goes on.

But as TFA even pointed out, it's just a guess since the books are private. The projected loss, $3.5M, was relatively small compared to the gross, and the payroll costs mentioned in TFA are not annual things.

I suspect an NFL team could come pretty close to playing in an empty stadium and break even just by collecting the shared revenues...

[Fritz]

Well, I am not even going to try to parse this.

Sam shields ‏@ShieldSam37 1h
I feel a big blessing coming

I think he just meant that he's masturbating.

[denverYooper]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 33m

The #Saints are cutting RB Darren Sproles, per source.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Was watching NFL network earlier and they reported Finley has been cleared medically for everything expect full contact and that 3 or 4 teams including the Seahawks are interested in him.

[Joemailman]

Saints release Lance Moore. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000331596/article/lance-moore-released-by-new-orleans-saints

They apparently decided that Moore is less.

[pbmax]

That Finley report sounds a day or two ahead.

PFT reported this week his Doc and Neurologist were out of the country, returning today. Goal was to be examined and cleared to train by Tuesday, next week. Saturday is the start of legal tampering (i.e. contact with other teams). But signatures on contracts can't happen until next Tuesday.

Team Docs still need to make the call on him actually playing in a game though.

[Carolina_Packer]

I think he just meant that he's masturbating.

Yeah, he's too young to be concerned about the bowel movement type of blessing, so your guess might be spot on.

[pbmax]

Alex Marvez ‏@alexmarvez 3h
Confirming @JasonLaCanfora report: Source tells @FOXSports1 that Matt Cassel deal is for 2-year, $10 million with @Vikings

[Guiness]

Alex Marvez ‏@alexmarvez 3h
Confirming @JasonLaCanfora report: Source tells @FOXSports1 that Matt Cassel deal is for 2-year, $10 million with @Vikings

anyone else think it's a little bizarre the way that turned out? He opts out of a contract with the team then resigns with them? Granted, for more money, but I thought he wanted out.

[Bretsky]

Jared Allen had a nice interview last week and noted his focus was going to a winner with a very established GM, QB. Noted his focus is not money but trying to win it all

Denver, Seatttle, New England, San Fran, and Green Bay came to mind

[3irty1]

Did he name those teams or did you? I'd be surprised if he'd have much interest in becoming an OLB at this point in his career. NE seems like a perfect landing spot.

[red]

Alex Marvez ‏@alexmarvez 3h
Confirming @JasonLaCanfora report: Source tells @FOXSports1 that Matt Cassel deal is for 2-year, $10 million with @Vikings

lets hope the vikings in all their wisdom resign ponder for about 15 or 16 per year too

[pbmax]

anyone else think it's a little bizarre the way that turned out? He opts out of a contract with the team then resigns with them? Granted, for more money, but I thought he wanted out.

There are a lot of Patriot connections to Cassell, O'Brien and Penn State so Matt must have bought into Norv and Zim. Plus, the odds of the Vikings taking a QB high are probably lower than the Texans grabbing one. Less competition.

[red]

That Finley report sounds a day or two ahead.

PFT reported this week his Doc and Neurologist were out of the country, returning today. Goal was to be examined and cleared to train by Tuesday, next week. Saturday is the start of legal tampering (i.e. contact with other teams). But signatures on contracts can't happen until next Tuesday.

Team Docs still need to make the call on him actually playing in a game though.

i just don't buy it. everyone else that has had that operation has been out for at least close to a full year, even the ones that had the "less risky" c4-c5 and c5- c6, fusions were out for around 10 or 11 months

so finley is now cleared in, what, 3 or 4 months? i don't buy it

[pbmax]

i just don't buy it. everyone else that has had that operation has been out for at least close to a full year, even the ones that had the "less risky" c4-c5 and c5- c6, fusions were out for around 10 or 11 months

so finley is now cleared in, what, 3 or 4 months? i don't buy it

Cleared in this circumstance would be cleared to return to physical activity, like training. And even that could be limited to running or swimming and no weighs, etc.

[red]

"legal" tampering begins in just over an hour, agents will be legally allowed to shop their players to teams before the tuesday free for all begins.

no contracts can be signed before tuesday, but deals can be negotiated and "agreed to"

[Bretsky]

Did he name those teams or did you? I'd be surprised if he'd have much interest in becoming an OLB at this point in his career. NE seems like a perfect landing spot.

No..that was me....he's smarter than to name any specific teams

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 6m
A #Saints player tweeted as if Pierre Thomas was released, as well. At this point, he was not. Could happen, also could be back on new deal

Do the Saints, if the Tweet is true, have any RBs left?

[pbmax]

Hoo boy will Atlanta be prepared for the change from Tony to Jermichael?

Jason Wilde ‏@jasonjwilde 54s
We writers do not assume based on Tweets. Right, @mneal96? :) RT @JermichaelF88: Good Morning ATL! (Thanks for the heads up, @stditka.)


EDIT:
Just a wedding! No negotiating allowed during nuptials but you can discuss scheme fits during the dance.

Michael Neal ‏@mneal96 2m
@jasonjwilde @JermichaelF88 @stditka lol wedding day for @MoBetta_42

[Fritz]

Jermichael just tweeted that he will do the waltz and the salsa, but will not do the hokey-pokey because it requires him to move into the middle of a large group of dangerous people at some point. He says that he's tuned in perfectly to his dance partner on all this.

[pbmax]

I've sussed it out. Ian Rapoport is the pipeline for David Dunn. Explains he detailed info on Raji and general info on Packers (Rodgers and Matthews).

[Guiness]

wrong thread...

[pbmax]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 8m
Bucs announce their release of OL Davin Joseph, after being unable to real him. Jags have signed DL Red Bryant, as @AdamSchefter reported

[pbmax]

Rob Demovsky ‏@RobDemovsky 1h
First tidbit of #Packers FA news today. No deal yet for veteran DT Ryan Pickett but he's been in touch with them and will continue to talk.

[denverYooper]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 8m
Bucs announce their release of OL Davin Joseph, after being unable to real him. Jags have signed DL Red Bryant, as @AdamSchefter reported

Makes sense. Bradley was Bryant's DC for a few years and he wants to bring that D to Jax.

[Fritz]

Rob Demovsky ‏@RobDemovsky 1h
First tidbit of #Packers FA news today. No deal yet for veteran DT Ryan Pickett but he's been in touch with them and will continue to talk.

Uh, who's "them"?

[pbmax]

Uh, who's "them"?

Packers. Or perhaps Popeye's Chicken.

[denverYooper]

Uh, who's "them"?

After all, we're only ordinary men.

[SMBASS]

After all, we're only ordinary men.

Lol...nice Floyd reference DY.

[Fritz]

So no big stories of Packer FA's??

[red]

So no big stories of Packer FA's??

no, it looks like at this point, the only way we resign any of our FA's is if every other team in the NFL thinks that they suck so bad that they aren't worth even minimum money. in that case they'll come running back to GB and TT will give them 4 or 5 times what no one else would offer

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Yeah it actually pretty disappointing the lack of weight our free agents are putting into staying in GB. Most seem more than happy leaving if the deal is even slightly better. Only James Jones has openly expressed his desire to come back..

[digitaldean]

Drew Rosenhaus is tweeting that the Packers and Shields have a new deal.

$39 million, 4 years
https://twitter.com/RosenhausSports/statuses/442449920164130816

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Drew Rosenhaus is tweeting that the Packers and Shields have a new deal.

$39 million, no length of contract reported yet.
https://twitter.com/RosenhausSports/statuses/442449920164130816

You should make a thread for that. Thats big news.

[Teamcheez1]

Drew Rosenhaus is tweeting that the Packers and Shields have a new deal.

$39 million, no length of contract reported yet.
https://twitter.com/RosenhausSports/statuses/442449920164130816

Many of you need to step off the ledge. You seem to think that MM and TT are not trying to improve this team. If they sign no other Packer FA's this year, they have done fine by me signing the most important one.

[digitaldean]

You should make a thread for that. Thats big news.

Done..
http://packerrats.com/showthread.php?26642-Packers-re-sign-Shields-4-year-39-million&p=776514#post776514

[red]

Many of you need to step off the ledge. You seem to think that MM and TT are not trying to improve this team. If they sign no other Packer FA's this year, they have done fine by me signing the most important one.

yeah, but by resigning our own we haven't "improved" the team, at best you've kept it the same

we still need to improve the team

[Teamcheez1]

yeah, but by resigning our own we haven't "improved" the team, at best you've kept it the same

we still need to improve the team

I won't disagree with you there, but at least we get to keep one part of what little talent we have on defense.

[digitaldean]

Cardinals released former Packer G Daryn Colledge.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Packers are "among those interested" in free agent DE Lamarr Houston.

Houston would be a huge get for GM Ted Thompson, who is trying to get quicker and more athletic on the defensive line. Houston is listed at 6-foot-3, 300, but after watching his 2013 tape we believe he was closer to the 275-280 pound range, at least in his contract year. The Raiders have been surprisingly lukewarm on keeping him. Houston is Rotoworld's No. 2 free agent defensive end left on the market, behind Michael Johnson and ahead of Michael Bennett.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Houston would be a great addition!

[red]

sounds like some of the other undersized 3-4 DE's that TT has drafted lately that have been ineffective in capers scheme (neal, datone)

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Nah I've seen this guy play, I see him more as the next Cullen Jenkins.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

The National Football Post's Aaron Wilson reports the Packers are interested in free agent DE Arthur Jones.

They're also interested in Lamarr Houston, perhaps indicating GM Ted Thompson will finally emerge from his annual free-agency hibernation this year. Jones is drawing a ton of interest, also being connected to the Titans, Giants, Redskins, and Vikings. He'll probably command $7 million per year or more.

[red]

SI.com does have him as the top defensive FA available

http://nfl.si.com/2014/03/07/2014-nfl-free-agent-bargains/


1. LaMarr Houston, DL (Oakland Raiders)

It’s not known why the Raiders, in desperate need of great players all along their roster and with $65 million in cap space, haven’t sewn up one of their few legitimately high-quality homegrown prospects. But Houston said last December that he feels the Raiders are ready to move on without him, a notion that head coach Dennis Allen doesn’t share. At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Houston is amazingly versatile — he can play three-tech tackle, end and even outside linebacker with consistency and effectiveness. Houston bagged a career-high six sacks last season, plus 27 quarterback hurries. And if playing in Oakland has decreased his profile enough that he’s not seen as a near-elite player around the league, someone’s going to get an enormous bargain.

[Teamcheez1]

The National Football Post's Aaron Wilson reports the Packers are interested in free agent DE Arthur Jones.

They're also interested in Lamarr Houston, perhaps indicating GM Ted Thompson will finally emerge from his annual free-agency hibernation this year. Jones is drawing a ton of interest, also being connected to the Titans, Giants, Redskins, and Vikings. He'll probably command $7 million per year or more.

TT doesn't really hibernate, he is more like a cicada. He only surfaces every few years to sign a high dollar FA

[Patler]

Nah I've seen this guy play, I see him more as the next Cullen Jenkins.

If we pay him the FA contract it will probably take to get him, I sure hope he is better than Jenkins.

[red]

If we pay him the FA contract it will probably take to get him, I sure hope he is better than Jenkins.

gotta wonder why a team with 65 or 70 million in free cap space isn't trying to keep him, if he's really any good

its not like the raiders don't need good players

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Well the last time we signed an ex-raider it worked out pretty well.

[pbmax]

If those stories are citing "League Source", as Andrew Brandt reminded everyone recently, remember its another job title for an agent.

[red]

the titans are going to try and trade chris johnson

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/09/titans-will-commence-efforts-to-trade-chris-johnson/

who the hell in their right mind would trade anything for a running back, that you would then have to pay 8 million dollars to, who only averaged 3.9 yards per carry last year, and blames everyone but himself?

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 30m
If you thought Everson Griffen #Vikings deal ruled out Jared Allen, you’re right. Agent Ken Harris said Allen & Vikes parted ways last night

[pbmax]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 3h
It is is confirmed and official. Jets are releasing CB Antonio Cromartie, as he tweeted.

[pbmax]

Football Perspective ‏@fbgchase 4h
For all the coach speak about how important running and stopping the run are, very low FA buzz surrounding RBs and 2-down ILBs.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 4h
The 5-year contract for #Vikings DE Everson Griffen is for $42.5M with $20 guaranteed. Pass-rushers are getting paid, too, along with CBs