March 6, 2015

J302: No Offseason - March

Here's what happened during the NFL offseason in February. Now onto March, where it'll start to get a bit more busy. Players must be franchise tagged by March 2, and March 10 is the first day for teams to sign free agents. Mix that with more draft talk, and teams continuing to make moves to clear up cap space, and March, specifically the beginning of the month, will be the busiest month of the offseason.

I was planning on keeping up with what want down when free agency starts on March 10 in some type of short form, but Rotoworld already does that for us This list will be a handy tool come March 10.
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Date: March 2, 2015
Thomas wasn't ever going to get away from the Broncos, but it's unfortunate they couldn't come to a long-term deal before the franchise tag deadline. The team will keep trying to sign their top target, who would break the bank on the free agent market, but for now, they're fine with paying him the $12.8 million owed to him via the franchise tag. When/if he is re-signed, look for a deal around $13-$14 million per year, and he'll be worth every penny.
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Date: March 2, 2015
When news was announced that Hampton had been arrested for driving while intoxicated, it was only a matter of time before the 2014 undrafted free agent was released. Hampton jumped around from practice squad to practice squad last year, wearing three different practice jerseys by year's end, but he never cracked an active roster. He was found to have a .10 percent blood-alcohol content level, just over the .08 legal limit. It's uncertain if Hampton will ever get another chance in the NFL.
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Date: March 2, 2015
On the last day for franchise tenders, Pierre-Paul got one. JPP returned from injury to log 12.5 sacks in 2014 on one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and showed he can still do what he did in 2011, when he tabbed 16.5 sacks before he dealt with back issues in 2013 and 2014. The franchise tag will cost the team $14.8 million as they try to agree to a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. The one-year deal gives the Giants another year to evaluate JPP, see where he is both skill and injury-wise before they decide to break the bank for him. 
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Date: March 2, 2015
Finnegan was very, very bad last year. He started in 12 games, the ones he was healthy for, but he ranked only 74th of 108 eligible CB's on ProFootballFocus. That's not going to cut it when a team can make $5.48 million by releasing you. He'll likely get picked up somewhere else, just but name recognition, but it won't be for a lot of money. The 31-year-old is nearing the end of his NFL career.
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Date: March 2, 2015 
The official number is $143.8 million, up form $133 million in 2014. This is about the same jump (percent-wise) that we saw last year, when the cap rose from $123 million to $133 million. Here's the deal: the NFL is making a lot (A LOT) of money, so they can budget $10 million in extra funds to pay their players a bit more. Since the CBA was signed in 2011, the cap has risen from $120 million to $148.3 million (23.5 percent). Many teams  — including the Super Bowl-winning Patriots — will also have carry-over money from 2014, so they will be above the $148.3 million number under one of the NFL's newest rule. The Jaguars will have $168.4 million to spend. 
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Date: March 2, 2015
This was expected all along. If the franchise tag was placed on Cobb, he would be paid $12.823 million, simply too much for a receiver who can't be a stand-alone No. 1 wide receiver. Playing on for the Packers, who haven't used one of their tags on a player since 2010, made it even less likely. Now, it's unlikely that we'll see Cobb in the green and gold again next season. He's rumored to be looking for at least $9 million on the free agent market, as a basement number, but it's likely his asking price is around $12 million, on which he'll go down to $10-11 million, which is around what Jordy Nelson received when he negotiated a new contract with the Packers. If the Packers can't pay that, another team will, as he's the best receiver available on the market after Demaryius and Dez were franchise tagged. It'll be interesting to see exactly where his price lands, but the Raiders seem like a real possibility.
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Date: March 2, 2015
Houston is probably the league's best pure edge rusher right now, so the $13.195 million tag he'll get is a bargain for the Chiefs, but it's important that they get a long-term deal done so they aren't in this situation again next year. If Houston puts up 20+ sacks again and then hits the free agent market, he could become one of the highest paid defenders in the entire league, looking at numbers over $16 million, at least. The tag is non-exclusive, so teams can get Houston if they have the money and two first-round picks (can be 2015/2016, or 2016/2017 after the draft), and, still, the Chiefs would have the chance to match any offer brought to Houston. But he'll more than likely be in a Chiefs uniform next year.

Date: March 2, 2015
This story came as a massive surprise. The Texans gave their all-time best receiver permission to seek a trade after he was told that he will have a reduced role in the offense in 2015. Johnson said the Texans brass told him he would "only probably catch 40" passes next season, according to the Houston Chronicle. If Johnson can't be traded — he likely won't — then he will be cut by the team; he won't be in a Texans jersey next season. Since he hasn't yet been traded quickly, it's been reported that Andre Johnson has already been asked to be released by the team. Getting onto the market before March 10 would likely improve his value on the market, he would get to choose where he wants to play, and the Texans would get any compensation for the unhappy receiver, which is exactly the way Johnson wants it. A release heavily favors Johnson.
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Date: March 2, 2015
This was expected, and it relevant to the Jerry Hughes situation, who will now become the most coveted edge rusher on the free agent market after both Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston were franchise tagged. The tag would have cost the Bills $14.8 million, all guaranteed, but the Bills will instead try to get a long-term deal done. The negotiations don't seem optimistic though, as Hughes has been in talks with the Bills for multiple months, and nothing has been close to getting finalized. He's likely to land somewhere other than Buffalo, and might be this class's highest paid free agent to sign with a different team.
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Headline: Dolphins assign $7.07M transition tag to Clay
Date: March 2, 2015
It essentially locks up Clay to be a Dolphin next season. Technically, Clay will be ears to offers, but it's unlikely he gets an offer better than $7 million. If any team does complete an offer sheet, the Dolphins would get the chance to match it. If they decide not to match it, Clay will walk, and the Phins will be uncompensated for their loss. The Bills reportedly have interest, but the price tag is just too high. If they're going to pay over $7 million for a tight end, they'll go get Julius Thomas.
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Headline: DeMarco Murray on radar of Colts, Cardinals, Jags?
Date: March 2, 2015
All three of those teams listed in the headline need a RB, but it's pure speculation at this point. It's just too early to decide where Murray, who led the league in rushing and was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, could wind up. Ian Rapoport even gives the Cowboys a "slim chance" of keeping Murray, and they hope for the chance to match any offer that Murray might get out on the open market. The Colts and Jags make sense, as they have one of the top remaining cap numbers in the league, but it doesn't necessarily mean they will choose to chase RB. The Cardinals have been rumored to possibly seek a trade for Adrian Peterson, when he becomes available, so it's likely that they are seeking a running back to join their squad during free agency. A lot of teams could be out of the running just by opting to go to the draft pool, which is filled with great running back talents this year, and keeping that decision hush-hush. It'll be fun to keep an eye on Murray's decision after his huge year in 2014.
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Date: March 3, 2015
The Eagles saved $6.5 million by cutting Williams, so this was a no-brainer. Williams was absolutely awful last year, and simply isn't capable of covering No. 1 receivers, as seen by Dez Bryant's domination over the Eagles while Williams was on the Eagles roster. Williams will land back with some team, but he's not going to be a No. 1 corner.
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Date: March 3, 2015
This is what happens when you're a fading star in the NFL. Cole and the Eagles couldn't agree on a new deal on Wednesday before the two sides decided to split ways. Cole has been out of place playing in the Eagles 3-4 over the last two years after they switched formations from a 4-3, where Cole played for most of his career. If he doesn't return to the Eagles, he'll finish his Philly career as the second franchise leader in sacks. There's already a lot of teams interested in Cole, including the Browns, Bucs, and Colts. 
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Date: March 3, 2015
The Eagles were busy today. In a rare player for player deal, the Bills got their new running back, who is considered to be a top five running back in the NFL. He'll run alongside Fred Jackson in Philadelphia, while C.J. Spiller, an impending free agent, will be free to sign somewhere else. It's likely that McCoy and Jackson will eat up each other's fantasy value, though McCoy will likely carry the bulk of the load. According to reports, McCoy and the Bills are working on a restructured/new contract, and that deal is expected to be done before Tuesday when the trade become official. Alonso had a fantastic rookie year, and was regarding as one of the top inside linebackers in the league before he tore his ACL in 2014. Alonso also get a chance to reunite with his Oregon coach, Chip Kelly, who was very fond of Alonso's ability, but wasn't able to get him in the draft. Though the deal won't be done until March 10, it's expected to be a straight up, player-for-player trade.
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Date: March 3, 2015
Beasley became Romo's favorite go-to target down the stretch of 2015, so the deal isn't a surprise. The team will pay him about $3.4 million per year for a total of $13.6 million. The receiver who almost quit football will have plenty of reason to hang around now after catch 44 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns last season — all four touchdowns which came from Weeks 12-17. He was crucial on third downs in 2014, where he tabbed 15 of his catches. It's a solid signing at a reasonable price, and Beasley should again solidify himself as the team's starting slot guy in 2015
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Date: March 4, 2015
Thomas was a center-piece in Super Bowl XLIV, but has since faded away a bit. The Saints are in one of the worst cap crises in the NFL, and so cutting a 30-year-old running back was a no-brainer. They also restructured the deal of Marques Colston recently as well to create a few more million dollars. The doom and gloom around the Saints leads to a bigger picture which has created the issue: the Saints can't cut ties with their veterans. Of course, Thomas is one of the few players to go against that theme, but it was only because they were forced too. The Saints are going to have to do a whole lot more cutting if they want money to spend in free agency.
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Date: March 4, 2015
The plan is for Cassel to come in and be able to mentor E.J. Manuel, who is coming into his third year in the NFL. Cassel might start early on, as he has in the past in New England and Kansas City, but the expectation around the league is for Manuel to be able to live up to his first-round pick status. The Bills gave up a fifth-round pick for Cassel, who will have the chance to start next to LeSean McCoy. Rex Ryan's Bills have been very busy, before free agency even opens. 
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Date: March 5, 2015
Briggs is an impending free agent, so it's just the Bears telling him they won't give the 12-year veteran another contract. Briggs tabbed the second-most tackles in Bears franchise history, and will be remembered for being a member of the rock solid defense with Brian Urlacher who made it all the way to Super Bowl XLI. Briggs just wasn't suited to be a starter in Vic Fangio's 3-4 scheme, as he's a 4-3 outside backer. However, he's not a terrible stop gap at LB if a team needs it, so he'll probably get signed somewhere before retiring.
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Date: March 5, 2015
Jones-Drew was on his way out when he signed his new deal with the Raiders last year, so it was only a matter of time. He played most of his career with the Jaguars, where he topped out in 2011 with a 1,600-yard rushing season before a plague of injuries hit him. He finished his career with 8,167 yards on 1,847 carries. He likely would have had a hard time finding work elsewhere if the Raiders decided to cut him.
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Date: March 5, 2015
Olsen gets a massive $12 million signing bonus on the three-year, $22.5 million real. He was set to become a free agent after next season, but he now won't hit the open market until he's 34 years old. Olsen was one of the top fantasy options at tight end last year, quietly producing consistent numbers week in and week out on a team that lacked many other targets. The deal is well deserved, and at a very fair price.

Headline: Carson Palmer restructures contract
Date: March 5, 2015
Palmer converted a $9.5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, which can be spread over the last three years of his contract. It almost cuts his roster number in half, from $14.5 million to $7.4 million. It also said in the report linked that he will be ready for training camp after tearing his ACL in the middle of last year and killing the Cardinals' Super Bowl hopes. Although he said he's shooting for mandatory minicamp, that's unlikely, as he only had surgery just 3.5 months ago. Without a doubt, though, it sounds like he will be ready for Week 1 on the regular season, which is good news for Palmer and the Cardinals.
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Date: March 6, 2015
The Broncos finalized Manning's return to the field by getting a new contract done. He cleared up about $4 million in cap space for the team by taking a paycut, going from $19 million to $15 million. He passed his physical, and he's now ready for his age-39 season. Expect another Super Bowl-type run from Denver, as long as Manning's arm can stay healthy.
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The rest of the March news can be found by looking at the free agent tracker and live blog.
Posted by Unknown at 6:30 PM 0 comments

J302: Restricted Free Agent List

Larry Asante, S, Oakland Raiders — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings — Re-signed with Vikings (1-year deal)
Johnson Bademosi, S, Cleveland Browns — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Don Barclay, OT, Green Bay Packers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Antwon Blake, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Jarrett Boykin, WR, Green Bay Packers — Not tendered
Travaris Cadet, RB, New Orleans Saints — Not tendered
Tony Carter, CB, Denver Broncos — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Paul Cornick, OT, Denver Broncos — Tender contract (1-year, $510,000)
Austin Davis, QB, St. Louis Rams — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Lance Dunbar, RB, Dallas Cowboys — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Kai Forbath, K, Washington Redskins — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Jerrell Freeman, ILB, Indianapolis Colts — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Ben Garland, OG, Denver Broncos — Tender contract (1-year, $510,000)
Tashaun Gipson, S, Cleveland Browns — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Robert Golden, S, Pittsburgh Steelers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Lawrence Guy, DE, Baltimore Ravens 
Damon Harrison, DT, New York Jets — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Cory Harkey, TE, St. Louis Rams — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Will Hill, S, Baltimore Ravens — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Andre Holmes, WR, Oakland Raiders — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Duke Ihenacho, S, Washington Redskins — Re-signed with Redskins (1-year, $666,000)
Kareem Jackson, CB, Houston Texans — Re-signed with Texans (4-years, $34 million)
Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, New York Jets — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
George Johnson, DE, Detroit Lions — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Will Johnson, FB, Pittsburgh Steelers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seattle Seahawks — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, DT, Cleveland Browns — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Emmanuel Lamur, LB, Cincinnati Bengals — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Danny Lansanah, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Qualifying offer made (re-signed)
Ronald Leary, G, Dallas Cowboys
Kendrick Lewis, S, Houston Texans — Not tendered
Ryan Lindley, QB, Arizona Cardinals — Won't be tendered
Ricardo Lockette, WR, Seattle Seahawks — Won't be tendered
Ryan Mallett, QB, Houston Texans — Re-signed with Texans (2-year, $7 million)
Danieal Manning, S, Houston Texans — Not tendered
Brandon Marshall, ILB, Denver Broncos — Tender contract (1-year, $555,000)
Bradley McDougald, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Quality offer extended (re-signed)
Rodney McLeod, S, St. Louis Rams — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Kellen Moore, QB, Detroit Lions — Re-signed by Lions (2-year deal)
Derek Newton, RT, Houston Texans — Re-signed by Texans (5-years, $26 million)
Chris Polk, RB, Philadelphia Eagles — Original-round tender (1-year, $1.542 million)
Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Original-round tender (1-year, $1.542 million)
Craig Robertson, LB, Cleveland Browns — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Brandian Ross, S, Oakland Raiders
Derek Shelby, DE, Miami Dolphins — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
A.Q. Shipley, C, Indianapolis Colts — Won't be tendered
Matt Simms, QB, New York Jets
Devon Still, DT, Cincinnati Bengals — Won't be tendered
Rod Streater, WR, Oakland Raiders — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Marcus Thigpen, RB, Buffalo Bills
Cedric Thornton, DE, Philadelphia Eagles — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Jordan Todman, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars — Won't be tendered
Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Michael Wilhoite, ILB, San Francisco 49ers — Tendered (ERFA)
Posted by Unknown at 5:32 PM 0 comments
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March 2, 2015

J302: No Offseason - February

From the combine to free agency to coach hirings and firings to saving as many pennies as possibly via cap moves, there is no offseason in the NFL. Those dedicated to the great sport of football, and it's the same in almost every sport. But while the teams might not be on the gridiron, they're improving and reinventing themselves for the season ahead. "No Offseason" will be dedicated to presenting the moves and rumors which stem from the moves of the offseason. The moves will be tracked using RSS feeds, and compiling some of the most interesting and notable stories throughout the offseason, and rehashing them on this blog. This will be the post which outlines those moves.
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Headline: Peyton Manning is training in New Orleans with "the intent to play" in 2015
Date: February 9, 2015
This was the first time we got a solid report on Manning's intentions for 2015, which later became reality. In the weeks following the report, Manning made it common knowledge that he would be returning to the Broncos in 2015. Head coach Gary Kubiak reiterated that point at a press conference a week later, and then again at the NFL Combine. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time will give it (at least) one more run at the Lombardi Trophy. However, the team and Manning are working to bring his $19 million contract number down. The Broncos are well under the cap, but may need some space after bringing back Manning's top target Demaryius Thomas via franchise tag on Monday. That $19 million will become guaranteed on March 9, so it's imminent that the Broncos get the number down as soon as possible.
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Date: February 10, 2015
Most know that Ndamukong Suh will become the most sought after free agent if he hits the open market, demanding likely the highest salary of any defensive tackle. But he's only the beginning of the Lions' problems. The team is also set to lose Nick Fairley, Andre Fluellen, and C.J. Mosley. As of March 2, the team hasn't re-signed any of these guys, and declined to franchise tag Suh. If they decline to re-sign Suh (which is going to be tough, after he hit the open market),  they'll need to move on to signing some new defensive tackles, or retaining some of the others they'll be losing. It'll be something to certainly keep an eye when the free agency flood gates open, and during the draft process.
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Date: February 10, 2015
This is an interesting example of how quickly the tides change in the NFL. NFL.com reports here that Browns general manager Ray Farmar has "shown a liking" for Oregon rookie QB Marcus Mariota. However, when Josh McCown was released by the Buccaneers, the Browns scurried after him, likely out-bidding other teams for him, signing him to a three-year deal, and telling other teams to go home. So, Mariota apparently wasn't too interesting to Farmar, who seemed to have to sided with McCown. With McCown now on the squad for around $5 million, it's unlikely the team chases anther QB, putting this early NFL.com noise of Mariota to the Browns to rest.
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Date: February 12, 2015
This report actually comes directly from the general manager of the Seahawks, John Schneider. Maxwell is expected to be one of the most sought-after defensive backs who will hit the free agency market, so it's unlikely the Seahawks will be able to match the highest bidder. According to a few reports (here and here) in the past few weeks, the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles will be the top suitors for the cornerback, who is seeking around $10 million a year, a high-end number for a cornerback. Both teams sport struggling secondaries, and Maxwell — a major part of the Legion of Boom over the last two years with six interceptions and 27 passes defensed — would be a big-time addition for either team.
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Date: February 14, 2015
This means that Melton suddenly will become one of the most sough after free agent defensive tackles, adding him to the mix with Suh, Fairley, Terrance Knighton, and C.J. Mosley and some others. This is a bit deeper than the Cowboys just declining to re-sign Melton, though. The Cowboys are a bit tight against the NFL cap number, and their two top priorities seem to be wide receiver Dez Bryant – who was franchise tagged by the team — and running back Demarco Murray — who seems unlikely to return. Though the Cowboys couldn't afford the number, it's likely that Melton will find a similar amount of money somewhere else on the open market, which opens on March 10.
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Date: February 16, 2015
The report of Mariota and the possibility of not throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine got a lot of traction, but it all added up to nothing. Winston eventually threw at the combine, and threw well. He even performed better than Marcus Mariota, who also wavered a bit on whether he would throw, but ultimately did. After Winston's shoulder was evaluated, there were some whispers about the quarterback having an injury that could affect him long-term. Winston shook those off, and decided that he would throw at the combine; the whispers of his injury may have ultimately made the decision for him, so he could prove to NFL teams that he was healthy. By the end of the week at the NFL Combine, it was expected that Winston will go first overall in the NFL draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Date: February 18, 2015
The Cardinals were considering cutting Larry Fitzgerald before he agreed to restructure his contract. The team gained around $12.6 million in cap space by making Fitzgerald's deal a two-year, $22 million deal, which includes a no-trade clause, and making his 2017 and 2018 completely voidable. By also getting rid of Darnell Dockett, the team has now gotten under the cap and can make some noise in free agency, but not a lot. They'll likely use most of their allotted cap space to sign rookies.
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Date: February 23, 2015
This would be interesting. Thomas will be leaving Denver seeking a big pay day, as the team isn't going to give him the long-term deal worth the amount of money/guarantees he would like. According to the Denver Post, the Jaguars will be the most aggressive pursuers of Thomas. Add him to sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles, receiver Marquise Lee and Cecil Shorts (if the team re-signs him), as well as the possible return of Justin Blackmon — who has struggled with suspensions from various run-ins with the law — and the team has seemed to make a real commitment to the vertical attack. They need it, as they finished second-to-last in passing yards in 2014.

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Date: February 23, 2015
I put little to no stock in the NFL Combine, which is why this is the only link you see on the actual event here, but Jones, a cornerback from Connecticut, earned himself a job at the event. Jones was the first player to ever broad jump over 12 feet, as he reached 12-feet, 3-inches. In fact, to anyone's knowledge, it's the best broad jump of all-time. He was also only half an inch away from this year's top vertical jump, as he tabbed in with 44.5 inches. There's no doubt that, even if he doesn't get drafted, he'll be getting a job come May.
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Date: February 23, 2015
McPhee is going to get a nice payday after his rookie deal expires on March 10, likely seeking $8 million per year. However, he only played about half of the Ravens snaps last season and is only a situational pass rusher. He's not going to be an every down guy, but he's also versatile in that he's a big outside pass rusher who can also go inside. A price above $8 million may be too rich for any team's blood, but the Colts are in the mix, and they've been known to overpay players if they have to to get who they want. They'd be the top team to keep an eye on; after releasing DT Ricky Jean-Francois, a failed experiment after just one season, they need to make a move on the defensive line.
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Date: February 23, 2015
Forsett is a sketchy free agent. He's going on his age 30 season, and while he doesn't have a ton of miles, an age like that is never a plus; we even saw his tired legs struggle down the stretch in 2014. However, Baltimore will try to retain Forsett this year to mentor its younger backs, but Atlanta makes sense too. The Falcons signed Kyle Shanahan to become the team's next offensive coordinator, and it's likely he installs a system similar to the one Kubiak installed in Baltimore — the same one Forsett thrived under. Plus, the Falcons have already released 2014 lead back Steven Jackson, and while they vocally support Devonta Freeman as the net workhorse, his style of play isn't the type to carry a backfield.
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Date: February 24, 2015
The headline is referring to a quote Williams made after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers, in reference to his mother's funeral during the 2014 season. Williams essentially went on record bashing the team after they released him, though he says he wasn't upset because of the way the team treated him. Defensive end Greg Hardy was the only player who came to the funeral, and he was on the commissioner's exempt list at the time (and currently still remains there). The team will designate Williams as a post-June 1 release and save $2 million to go towards the cap, but must wait until March 10 to make the designation (when the new league year begins). The 31-year-old's career is likely coming to an end, though he could float around the league a bit longer. Jonathan Stewart should be expected to handle the full workload going forward in Carolina, as he did at the end of last season.
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Date: February 25, 2015
This is a tough blog for Jones, who signed a four-year, $12 million deal before the 2014 season, just one year after he helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl. The cut only saves about $750,000. Jones will land back on his feet somewhere, but really is exclusively a kick returner. He visited the Bengals on March 2.
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Date: February 26, 2015
Bush is just another name on the long list of cap casualties. Bush couldn't stay healthy in 2014, and just turned 30 on March 2. The Lions saved $1.7 million by cutting the running back who only averaged 3.9 yards per carry when he played. That money will likely help re-sign some of their defensive tackles. Like Williams, he'll float around the NFL for a little longer before he completely fades out, but his career is mostly over. Theo Riddick will be the Lions passing back behind starter Joique Bell moving forward, and the Lions brass have spoken highly of him over the past few weeks.
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Date: February 26, 2015
This is the first chapter in what will be a long and developing offseason for Peterson. Although the suspension was initially overturned, he was not reinstated and stayed put on the commissioner's exempt list. Then the NFL decided to appeal the decision on Peterson's return, for an unseen reason. The appeal then goes to Harold Henderson, who originally upheld the Peterson suspension in December. It's a labyrinth and an absolute mess of lawsuits and back-and-forth. Until it gets sorted out, it's hard to say exactly what will happen, but it's unlikely we see Peterson in a Vikings uniform again. If he is able to return to the league, the most viable teams would likely be the Cowboys or the Cardinals, both of whom have reportedly expressed interest in the former league-leading rusher. Although he is on the exempt list, he will be able to be traded or released by the Vikings after March 10, though he'll likely have to restructure his contract before he goes anywhere, as his salary ($12.75 mil this year, $14.75 mil next year, and $16.75 million in 2017) is outrageous for a running back in comparison to others in the league.
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Date: February 26, 205
Branch was a starter in the secondary last year as a strong safety, and he's going to get back on a team after he was released, but not at a $5.5 million price tag. This is a money-making move for the Raiders, who already have plenty of it. Branch has tabbed over 100 tackles every single year he's been healthy, but in the last two season he's missed 27 games in each of his last two seasons. He's just not worth that kind of investment any longer. However, the Chiefs, Colts, and Redskins are already interested in signing Branch. If he can stay healthy, he'll be a tremendous signing at a prime age of 28.
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Date: February 26, 2015
Langford's release makes complete sense. DT Aaron Donald emerged onto the scene after a big way when he was drafted by the team last year. That made Langford, a defensive tackle who was set to make $6 million in the final year of his contract, expendable.  Langford is a very good interior lineman, and at 29 years old, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to find a starting spot somewhere, as he can play DT in a 4-3, or DE in a 3-4, and has experience with both. He currently has visits lined up with the Lions (who we mentioned are going to need some defensive lineman), the Jets, and the Saints. The Lions seem like the most likely as of now, as the 29-year-old would have the best chance to start there as their current situation stands.
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Date: February 27, 2015
Oh how quickly the tides turn in the NFL. Just 24 hours before McCown signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Browns, he had visited buffalo and was talking about a contract with the Bills. Apparently, the Browns outbid them, and he'll now likely be Cleveland's Week 1 starter. McCown feels like a stop-gap at quarterback as they wait and see where Johnny Manziel is, though they did sign the 35-year-old for three years. Brian Hoyer was okay for the Browns last year, but sometimes struggled mightily, and was never expected to return to Cleveland after the team missed the playoffs and he was set to hit free agency. Look for Cleveland to make another move at QB (likely in the draft) in the next few years, but for now, it'll be McCown under-center. As for Buffalo, they could make a play for Brian Hoyer in free agency, or catch a QB in the draft, unless they want to continue to ride with third-year quarterback E.J. Manuel.
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Date: February 27, 2015
Douglas was set to make $3.5 million in the final year of his contract. His main role with the Falcons has been filling in when Julio Jones or Roddy White got banged up and had to miss time. His best year was 2013 when he topped 1,000 yards on 85 catches. He's visiting the Titans, who he would fit with well, considering he's a rather mediocre receiver and the Titans are more than mediocre team who make awful free agent decisions.
———
Date: February 27, 205
While the Dolphins decide what to do with Mike Wallace, who won't take a pay cut, they decided to find money elsewhere, by cutting Brian Hartline. He was due $5.9 million this year, and teams just don't pay that much for guys who are complementary wide receivers unless they tall and big. There's already plenty of teams interested in Hartline, including the Browns, Texas, Bears, Chiefs, and Patriots. So, Hartline won't be making $5.9 million, but he'll be just fine, and likely be able to get back into a starting lineup somewhere outside of Miami. As for the Dolphins, last year's second-round pick Jarvis Landry is sure to get more snaps as Hartline descends. The team started to phase him in at the beginning of last year, and he did very well in his role, which is very similar to what Hartline was doing with the team as well.
———
Date: February 27, 2015
Just another cap casualty on this Friday. The team saved $2.66 million with the move before the final year of his three-year deal that he signed in 2013. It's possible that he could be retiring at age 32 after a 10-year career. The deal was most likely to clear up space to make moves on the offensive side, where Torrey Smith is a free agent.


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November 15, 2014

Mmmm, 10-piece Basketball Nuggets: Kansas vs California Santa Barbara

Kansas basketball opened the season at Allen Fieldhouse with a 69-59 win over the University of California, Santa Brabara Gauchos on Friday night. Below are some interesting facts, figures, and quick hits from said game.

  • Some found it a bit surprising that freshman guard Kelly Oubre Jr. only played four minutes in his regular season debut for the Jayhawks. Bill Self said after the game that it was purely a coaching decision, nothing more. He said it wasn't a knock to Oubre, but he's young, and suggested that he's got a ways to go to get more time on the court. It'll be interesting to see where his role goes from here. Oubre didn't seem too upset about it after the game, and he even tweeted out some encouraging words for Devonte' Graham after the win.


  • Former Kansas coach Larry Brown said this week that Kentucky can go undefeated this year. When it came up in the press conference, Self laughed it off, but said the following. "Who knows what Larry's doing. He may be mad at Cal about something. ... They’re a team that could obviously make a (undefeated) run like that. ... Every game they play, they’re probably going to be favored. So if you're a favorite every game, the chances are probably pretty good you're going to win." The No. 5 Jayhawks take on No. 1 Kentucky in Indianapolis, Ind. on Tuesday.

  • Kansas forward Cliff Alexander left the Fieldhouse with an ice pack on his wrist. He bruised it in the last exhibition against Emporia State, but appears to be okay. Alexander dropped nine points and grabbed four boards in the win. Four of those points came from a pair of jumpers, which impressed Bill Self. Self said he reacted to those jumpers with a "No, no, no!... Good shot, Cliff. Self added: "He acted like he knew what he was doing. He played well."

  • Perry Ellis picked up his seventh career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. There's plenty where that came from. It's only the beginning of what we're going to see from Ellis this season.

  • Devonte' Graham made a good case for the starting shooting guard spot. He shot 5-of-8 from the floor for a team-high 14 points, was very efficient, and came out as a starter in the second half. Brennan Greene didn't play badly, but he had only three points, and didn't do anything to etch his name into the starting spot. Graham may not get the spot immediately, but Greene certainly doesn't have it locked down, by any means. The freshman is right on his tail.

  • 13 NBA scouts were at Allen Fieldhouse to witness UCSB big man Alan Williams, and he didn't shy away from the attention. He dropped 22 points on the Jayhawks, snatched 13 boards, and shot 9-of-18 from the field. Williams is a bad, bad man. He will go through you, and he's going to make fools of a lot of Big West defenders this year, as he did last year. This is a name to keep on your radar in the future, as he's very, very talented. 

  • The Jayhawks won their 42nd consecutive season-opener at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday, which dates back to 1973. IT was also the Jayhawks 13th straight season-opening victory. Bill Self has never lost a season-opener in his tenure at KU. But there were some disparities in the win. Kansas' 69 points were the lowest points scored by a team in its opener since the 2004 Jayhawks scored 68 against Vermont. 10-points was also the lowest season-opening victory since that 2004 game. 

  • Perry Ellis scored the first points of the season for the Jayhawks, just 12 seconds in. Legend. Ary.

  • Only six Jayhawks have scored more points than Graham (14) in their first regular season game in a Kansas jersey: Xavier Henry (27), Josh Selby (21), Andrew Wiggins (16), and Perry Ellis, Mario Chalmers, and Greg Ostertang (15). 

  • Self called Jamari Traylor "unnoticed" after the game. He picked up 10 boards for only the second time in his career, and was given the task of defending Williams with most of his time on the court. He notched two blocks as well. Both Traylor and Alexander deserve the starting spot next to Perry Ellis down low, so it's going to be interesting to see how Self handles that situation.

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November 3, 2014

Kansas vs. Washburn, from the student section

The University of Kansas basketball team opened their search for an 11th straight Big 12 title with an 85-53 win over Washburn University in an exhibition game on Monday night. It’s hard to judge some things in a game like this, where KU simply is bigger, faster, and stronger than the team they’re playing. But there were still takeaways. Here are some quick updates and thoughts from that game.

  • Cliff Alexander is that dude who gets “in the building” proclamations. Alexander is that guy that children will put so much effort into imitating on seven-foot goals during this season, and beyond. The curtain was pulled back on Alexander in the crimson and blue on Monday, and the show was more than compelling with him down low. In his first five minutes on the floor, the freshman posted 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting. He was getting after it harder than anyone else on the floor in what some would consider a scrimmage. Though it’s an overused cliche, Alexander quite literally looked like a man amongst boys against this undersized Washburn team. Alexander looked and played like an absolute Goliath. Despite the mismatch in game one, it’s easy to see that Alexander is the real deal. His aggressive defense style is a bit terrifying for Jayhawks fans, but if he can temper that side of him, there’s not much of his game that isn’t at an elite level. He finished with 17 points, 9 boards, and 3 blocks on the night.

  • Frank Mason III put on the best performance of the night. While Alexander was a show-stopper, Mason was consistent on both ends of the floor, and may have ended much of the debate at the point-guard position with his performance. He posted 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 boards. He was control of the floor for much of the second half, chipping in nine of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes. His passing looked much improved from last season, and he led a Jayhawks team that allowed only 13 points in the first half. 

  • Kansas loves Svi Mykhailiuk. If it wasn’t clear from the media already jumping on every angle they could with this kid, Allen Fieldhouse left no doubt in his first time stepping on James Naismith Court. It might be the nicknames, it may be his age, or the fact that he’s a long ways from home. Regardless, he’s a hotter commodity than Tyler Self. We’re going to hear a lot of “Svi for Threeeee!!!” and “Svi-fense” this season. *Men's Warehouse voice* I guarantee it.

  • Kelly Oubre Jr. might just replace Andrew Wiggins as dunk master. He had a big one that rocked the Fieldhouse in the second-half of Monday’s game. Okay, so it was only one dunk on a fastbreak, which I've embedded below. I really just wanted a chance to force you to watch Oubre dunking, because it’s pure gold. This guy can really throw down, and he has a cool haircut, too.




  • Brannen Greene has a concussion. It was picked up on a second-half screen from Washburn, where the Ichabod lifted his hands above his shoulders and put a football-type block on Greene. Play stopped, and Greene dropped to the floor on the other end of the court before getting up and walking to the locker room with a trainer. Greene was expected to start tonight, until his defense in Sunday’s practice derailed that, Self said. Of course, as with any concussion, there’s no timetable for his return.
Below are highlights from KU's official website.

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October 12, 2014

Vontaze Burfict deserves suspension for dirty plays against Panthers on Sunday

Vontaze Burfict is not your ideal football player. From a skills standpoint, Burfict has always been on top of his class of linebackers. But his issues staying level-headed both on and off the field have kept Burfict from being respected as an elite player that he is on the gridiron.

The 6'1" Centennial High School (Ca.) standout was a five-star recruit and ranked as the top middle linebacker by both ESPN and Rivals during his senior season. He originally committed to play for USC, but switched to Arizona State on signing day, something that is often frowned upon in the world of recruiting. He hardly qualified to meet NCAA eligibility standards before joining the Sun Devils in 2009. Nonetheless, by the end of the year he was named the Pac-10 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year, and was named as a Freshman All-American. His talent won out in that season.

But during his sophomore season, Burfict was benched for his "unusually high number of personal foul penalties." He later finished the season as an All-American and with a team lead in tackles. In his final 26 college games, he was tabbed with 16 personal fouls, and when he entered the NFL Draft, teams were concerned of his anger issues and controlling his emotions on the field. 

That, mixed with an ultimately underwhelming NFL Combine where he told many teams that he had smoked marijuana, failed the drug test, didn't help his draft prowess. He ran a 5.09 second 40-yard dash (the lowest of any linebacker in the combine), came in heavier than expected, and benched 225 pounds only 16 times. His broad jump and vertical jump were among the worst in comparison to the other linebackers. 

There were plenty of red flags for NFL teams, and it caused him to plummet in March's draft. He fell from an elite prospect that was expected to go in the first round to completely undrafted. He's been a star for the Bengals on the field since being signed after the draft, but in his third season in the NFL, he's still leaving people baffled by his pure stupidity on the field.

On Sunday, in a 37-37 tie with the Carolina Panthers, Burfict first was flagged for roughing the passer on Cam Newton in the first quarter. Then, after Newton's third quarter rushing touchdown, Burfict was caught on film blatantly twisting Newton's ankle, using the force of his body to try to injure him. The GIF of that is below.



Newton clearly felt the twist, and wasn't happy about it, as he turned around immediately after and attempted to get Burfict's attention by kicking his helmet. But Burfict's aggression wasn't done. Later, in the fourth quarter after Greg Olsen's go-ahead touchdown with 4:51 to go, Burfict grabbed the tight end's left leg and used his body to attempt what looks like a wrestling move. His intent, again, was clearly malicious. 


Obviously emotions were high in a game like this, which went back-and-forth, especially late in regulation, where it ended up at 34-34.

It is clear that Burfict has become better with his temper and blatant personal fouls during his tenure with the Bengals. In fact, he was the first to rush to Panthers linebacker and friend Luke Kuechly's side when he went down with a mild injury in the third quarter, beating teammates and trainers to the spot Kuechly was down at. But in a sport that is already being toned down during actual play, there's no excuse for Burfict's actions after the whistle.

Talking a storm after the play, or even physical aggression that goes both ways, is one thing. That's football, and it's passion. But attempting to injure a fellow player with malicious intent has, unconditionally, no place in the NFL.

The NFL hasn't announced the review of either of these plays, but it should. Simply, Burfict has to be punished, financially, and maybe even suspended for his actions. It wasn't just a dirty hit to the head in the heat of the moment; it was a blatant attempt to injure another player. As for the Bengals, who have crowned Burfict as a captain for the defensive side of the ball, have to rethink tabbing him as the voice and face of their defense after make boneheaded mistakes such as this.

Something has to be done, and hopefully the NFL or the Bengals won't leave it in the dark, and take action before the Bengals take on the Colts next Sunday.

---

Edit: After the posting of this article, it was brought to my attention that the ankle which Burfict attempted to injure was the same one that Newton had surgery on this offseason. Any other developments on this situation will be posted here.

Panthers kicker Graham Gano tweeted about Burfict's actions after the game. He didn't have nice things to say.

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November 10, 2013

NFL Misconceptions: Eric Decker

The NFL is full of misconceptions. By now, you should know that. Player-by-player, coach-by-coach, team-by-team, game-by-game, week-by-week -- there are piles of misconceptions. If a player isn't constantly shoved into your face by media or consistently producing at the top level, he isn't recognized to be a good player.

This is the case of Eric Decker. The No. 3 target for the Denver Broncos, he simply does not get enough credit for the mammoth of a beast he is. For sake of argument, I'm going to spend most of this article comparing him to Jordy Nelson, who has been pinned by most everyone to be a borderline top 10 receiver. You'll quickly figure out why I chose Nelson to compare to Decker as we venture on this jaunt.

I'll break it down into college numbers, pro numbers, and what we can expect going forward. Let's get to it.

College

Decker played his full college career out at Minnesota, where as Nelson played three years at Kansas State before entering the draft. Both posted very similar college numbers. Example one: yards per target. You can click to enlarge this graph, and all others.


Each posted roughly 10 yards per catch in their final year of college, though Nelson did it on nearly 70 more receptions. Decker bagged just 50 receptions in his final year at Minnesota due to a foot sprain that forced him out of five games and also held him out through the combine.

Nevertheless, Decker posted nearly 50 percent market share of his team's yards in his final year and 60 percent of touchdowns -- both feats that Nelson never conquered. Nelson's yardage market share continued to increase until it peaked in his senior year.

These market share numbers, among others, launched the "Eric Decker Factor", from RotoViz writer Jon Moore. As noted, Decker did not participate in the combine due to his foot injury, so we don't have many combine numbers. But he did run a 40-yard dash. What we do have is posted below. Jordy Nelson's combine numbers are included for a comparison point.


Player
Height
Weight
40-yard
Eric Decker
6’ 3 1/8’’
217
4.56
Jordy Nelson
6’ 2 5/8’’
217
4.51

Decker missed most drills, but considering his college baseball career and of course his game tape, he could have been expected to match Nelson's numbers. Decker was drafted in the third round by Denver despite his foot injury, and Nelson was drafted in the second round by Green Bay. Let's jump into his pro numbers.

Pro

Nelson was drafted in 2008 but didn't completely break out of his shell until 2011, whereas Decker was drafted in 2010 and became noteworthy for his attraction to the end-zone with eight touchdowns on 44 catches in 2011.

However, 2011's bar was set by Tim Tebow at the helm, and Jordy Nelson busted open for 1,302 yards and 15 touchdowns -- his best season. The two seasons aren't comparable in any facet, as Nelson dominated across the board, posting top five numbers in most stats. 2012 is the first comparable year -- when Peyton Manning took over for the Broncos under-center. Below are the stats.



Player
Rec
Yards
TDs
YPR
YAC/R
YPRR
CR
DR
Eric Decker
91
1,148
13
12.6
3.4
1.80
70.0%
12.37%
Jordy Nelson
57
842
7
14.8
5.0
1.86
68.7%
14.04%




Jordy was injured multiple times in this season and played through injury at times. He played 12 full games, two of which were in the playoffs. His stats extrapolated come out to: 86 receptions, 1,263 yards, and 11 touchdowns. The most important things to look at are YPC, YAC/R, YPRR, CR, and DR. Those numbers would tend not to vary depending on volume. 




Player           
Rec
Yards
TDs
YPR
YAC/R
YPRR
CR
DR
Eric Decker
49
721
3
14.7
5.2
2.10
65.3%
12.50%
Jordy Nelson
49
772
7
15.8
5.0
2.33
72.9%
4.44%


It's the difference between the two is clear: hands. Decker has had a drop rate of over 12 percent in every season in the NFL, once posting over 16 percent in 2011 (though he played less than 50 percent of his team's snaps that season). His big problem this year was dropping 31.3% of catchable passes -- five passes -- over his first two game. He's found a way to tame the drop beast and has limited it to 12.50%.

Luckily for Decker, hands is one thing a receiver can work to get better at. You can't change a small frame. The talent is here, it's just a matter of getting those hands into full form. 

Decker's lack of touchdowns in 2012 comes from the insufficiency of looks when it comes down to the red-zone. With the emergence of Julius Thomas and the addition of Wes Welker -- both tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns -- as well as Knowshon Moreno to churn out goal-line touchdowns, it's no shock that Decker isn't getting looks in the red-zone despite his 6'3" frame.

Whereas Nelson has only posted similar numbers team full of injured counterparts -- Jermichael Finley on IR, Randall Cobb missing most of the season, and James Jones struggling to stay on the field. He's seeing plenty of targets when it matters -- in the red-zone.

Future

From the numbers posted thus far, it's clear that Jordy Nelson is and has been the better receiver in the NFL based on production. I'm not arguing that.

But it can also be argued that Decker -- who has a similar build and catch rate when compared to Nelson over the last two years  -- is comparable and on the same level from a skill stand-point as Jordy Nelson. He's sat behind Demaryius Thomas as a WR2 for his short NFL career, but will hit the market after this year as an unrestricted free agent, as long as the Broncos do not choose to franchise tag him.

If the 26-year-old Decker lands on a WR-needy team with a quarterback who can play -- say, for example, the Panthers -- then, from what we have seen him do thus far, he can produce at the caliber that Nelson has produced over the last three seasons as a WR1.

As far as fantasy implications, I believe that in the near future Decker will be outproducing Nelson if he is placed on a team that he can be a true WR1. Decker is 26, Nelson is 28 and has two more years of NFL wear and tear on him. If Decker remains with the Broncos, his value won't vary drastically from what he posted in 2013, and he will continue to be classified as a middling receiver, which is a false narrative based only on his physique and production. 

Thanks for reading. Leave comments below, or let me know if your thoughts on Decker changed on my Twitter.

***

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