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znModeratorznModeratorLong going to make visits before deciding
SiriusXM NFL Radio
.@JOEL9ONE says he’s in “no hurry” to sign. Plans on taking more FA visits next week before making up mind. @SiriusXMNFL @SeniorBowlPhil
FA DE @JOEL9ONE: I’m excited for the next chapter & I’m the healthiest that I’ve been in 2 years. I want a team that will be in playoffs.
znModeratorHey SD…your link don’t work (cause the vandals took the handles).
It goes to the wrong thing.
I tried to fix it but I couldn’t find the right thing.
znModeratorAnd that ‘single issue’ is about as
big as they get.Yes, but (and I hear YOU too)…so is racism…as single issues go.
Count on it. Trump courts, relies on, fosters, and depends on a racist vote. This goes back to his first days as a public figure in NY, when he first began jumping into political issues.
He’s going to make GW2 look like an apostle of reason in comparison.
znModeratorWhy not? No risk, we can cut him in a minute without any cost
Honestly, ag, IMO he’s just not worth the distraction. I mean this is a guy who showed up drunk at practice. His problems go way deeper than anything Fisher can fix with a good closed-door chat. He makes guys like Jenkins look like choir boys in comparison. PLus of course…there’s no reason to believe he can play in the NFL.
znModeratorAnd that ‘single issue’ is about as
big as they get.Yes, but (and I hear YOU too)…so is racism…as single issues go.
Count on it. Trump courts, relies on, fosters, and depends on a racist vote. This goes back to his first days as a public figure in NY, when he first began jumping into political issues.
He’s going to make GW2 look like an apostle of reason in comparison.
znModeratorTrump, the Republican, wants to help the poor get
adequate health-care. Clinton, the Democrat,
does not.Trump also wants to maintain a racially charged world, fear monger about islam, and generally incite what’s worse about the USA. Plus, imagine what kind of assholes he appoints in his cabinet and the judiciary.
I personally am not a 1 issue type. His stray mouthings in favor of single-payer do not even begin to balance what is bad about him.
I live in a state where idealists and purists accidentally elected one of the worst republican governors in the country because they went all 3rd party.
Trump would be worse than LePage, and Lepage is an intolerable embarrassment.
Electing Trump would be a huge mistake. Anyone here voting for him would start expressing regrets about it almost the minute he took office and started implementing policies.
For those who say he can’t go too far because of restraints on him? Think back to the worst moments of the GW2 administration. That’s not how it works.
You want another name for right-wing populism? Fascism.
.
March 11, 2016 at 9:46 am in reply to: Patriots are hosting restricted FA running back Benny Cunningham #40415znModeratorRams need to keep running back Benny Cunningham
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Perhaps lost in the madness of the first day of free agency was a blip on the transaction radar in the form of the Los Angeles Rams extending the minimum qualifying offer to restricted free-agent running back Benny Cunningham.
The original-round tender means the Rams retain matching rights should another team come calling for Cunningham but includes no compensation if the Rams decline that option. Sure enough, Cunningham received swift and serious interest from other teams. He visited the New England Patriots on Thursday and has reportedly heard from others. But, unless another team makes a substantial offer, the Rams should do what’s necessary to keep him in the fold.
Cunningham offered a quick update after the visit to New England.
Benny Cunningham @BennyCunningham
Back In Nashville.. Visit went great and I really enjoyed the hospitality.. All around great experience #FirstClass #GreatOrganizationThat the Patriots quickly expressed such interest in Cunningham should be a reminder of Cunningham’s value to the Rams. That’s not to say that just because New England likes a player the Rams should break the bank to keep him, but it’s a good window into the way Cunningham is viewed by a franchise that has made a living finding cheaper options who produce above their pay grade.
From a Rams’ perspective, keeping Cunningham makes sense on multiple levels.
First and foremost, the three-year veteran is the best back on the team — and among the best in the NFL, some coaches have said — when it comes to picking up the blitz. Cunningham has also been a solid option as a pass-catcher, particularly in the screen game. That makes him the ideal third-down back for a team that figures to ride star runner Todd Gurley on most other downs.
Cunningham also brings plenty to the table on special teams. Over the past two seasons, he’s fifth in the NFL in kick-return yards and sixth in yards per kick return (among those with at least 10 attempts). He contributes on coverage units as well.
Beyond his on-field work, Cunningham is well-liked in the Rams’ locker room and has the makings of a team leader for a franchise that is looking for more in light of the departure of linebacker James Laurinaitis and end Chris Long.
Add running back Tre Mason’s recent run-in with the law and you have a depth chart that could be perilously thin behind Gurley should Cunningham depart. And though Mason is widely viewed as Gurley’s backup, the snap counts don’t back that up. In 2015, Cunningham played 261 snaps in 16 games while Mason played 176 snaps in 13 games.
The one-year tender offer for Cunningham comes at a price of $1.671 million. With other teams sniffing around, it’s entirely possible it will take a longer, more expensive contract to retain his services. And though keeping Cunningham’s presence won’t determine the fate of the Rams in 2016, keeping him around for at least one more season certainly wouldn’t hurt
znModeratorRodney McLeod, Janoris Jenkins thank Rams, fans on the way out
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod never got a chance to play for the Los Angeles Rams. But they did spend their first four NFL seasons as members of the St. Louis version of the team.
As Jenkins and McLeod head to the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, each took a moment on social media to stop and say thank you to the Rams, coach Jeff Fisher, his staff and the fans who watched them grow up in their burgeoning careers.
Jenkins was the first to acknowledge his newest venture, one that will pay him more than $62 million over five years, going to Twitter to post a special message.
https://twitter.com/JjenkzLockdown/status/707641495889833989/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
For Jenkins, the Rams were the team that took a chance on him when he came out of North Alabama with a lot of baggage and off-field questions.
McLeod had quite a road to his five-year, $37 million deal in his own right. An undrafted free agent out of Virginia in 2012, he worked his way on to the roster through special teams and eventually earned a starting job.
A photo posted by Rodney Mcleod (@rodmcleod4) on
znModeratorGrading every deal of 2016 NFL free agency PFF
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/03/10/pro-nfl-free-agency-grading-every-deal/
During the season, Pro Football Focus grades every player on every play of every game. We are doing the same for every transaction this free-agency period, with the return of our Deal Grader.
How should you feel about the moves your team made? Take a look at our grades for each move, on an A through F scale, which we will update throughout free-agency season as contract terms become known:
A-plus:
None
A:
DE Jason Pierre-Paul (NYG): One year, $10 million with $8.5 million guaranteed
When you see what other edge defenders have got, how can you not like this? Even if JPP never completely adjusts to his injured hand, he proved in 2015 he can still get it done, recording one of his best pass-rushing seasons of his career.
DE William Hayes (LA): Three years, $17.5 million with $10 million guaranteed. Whenver called upon Hayes delivered the goods in St Louis, and he has earned this deal and the starting spot that comes with it. Four strong seasons in a row for the one time Titan who can contribute on every down. Not a lot of money at all for a guy who had the 13th best grade of all edge defenders in 2015.
LB Danny Trevathan (CHI): Four years, $24.5 million with $12 million guaranteedIs there a more perfect fit in free agency? Chicago desperately needed linebacker help, and the only surprise about this move is how little it cost them to execute. Sure Trevathan has battled some injury issues in the past. But he’s a guy who had the 10th highest grade of all linebackers and was one of our top 10 free agents on the open market.
A-minus:OLB Tamba Hali (KC): Three years, $22 million with $12 million guaranteed
While Hali isn’t getting any younger, he still proved to be a productive pass-rusher this season, even when Justin Houston went down to injury and he had more attention to deal with.
RB Lamar Miller (HOU): Four years, $26 million with $14 million guaranteed
Given that Miller took less money to go to Houston should give you an idea of the value of this move. Miller has graded positively the past three years, with his 2015 effort worthy of a top-five grade at the position. Now he should get the opportunity to carry the load in a way Miami never gave him.
G Ramon Foster (PIT): Three years, $9.5 million with $2.75 million guaranteed
The past five years Foster has developed into one of the most reliable guards in a league devoid of them. To retain his services for so little money, and with the knowledge the team isn’t tied to him if his performance drops, is great work.
B-plus:
G Richie Incognito (BUF): Three years, $11.5 million with $5.45 million guaranteed
Buffalo is rewarded for taking a chance on Incognito with a per annum payout far less than his 2015 performance (top ranked left guard) would say he’s worth.
RB Doug Martin (TB): Five years, $35.75 million with $15 million guaranteed
It was a big move for the Buccaneers to keep Martin in town. He was our first-team All-Pro running back and led our rushing rankings with a nice bounce-back year after two years of underwhelming play. If he can maintain that level, he’s well worth this deal, which looks huge on the surface but isn’t too crazy in terms of guaranteed money.
K Adam Vinatieri (IND): Two years, $6 million with $3 million guaranteed
Maybe this is the year age catches up with the leg of Vinatieri, who is one of the greatest kickers of all time.
S George Iloka (CIN): Five years, $30 million with $5 million guaranteed
This was a big move for the Bengals, ensuring they kept an important part of their defense in town. Iloka isn’t your Earl Thomas type of playmaking safety, but he is a more than competent player who can make an impact as a center fielder. The money, given what others have been given, makes this a real win for the Bengals.
DE Derrick Shelby (ATL): Four years, $18 million with $7.5 million guaranteed
Coming off a year where he had the 10th-highest PFF grade of all 4-3 defensive ends, we expected Shelby to walk away a little richer, so kudos to Atlanta for getting value on a day when not everyone did. The former undrafted free agent really took advantage of Cameron Wake’s injury to show himself as more than just a run defender.
OT Mitchell Schwartz (KC): Five years, $33 million with $12.66 million guaranteed
One of the top right tackles in the league, Schwartz was a PFF selection for a second-team All-Pro spot after a strong 2015 season. He did an admirable job against Von Miller this season, but will now get to show whether that was a fluke when he faces off with him and Khalil Mack twice a year.
CB William Gay (PIT): Three years, $7.5 million with $1.9 million guaranteed
This really isn’t a lot of money for a guy who graded above average and was as solid as it got in a disappointing Steelers secondary in 2015. Gay might not be getting any younger, but the structure of the deal ensures the Steelers are covered if his play drops off.
C Alex Mack (ATL): Five years, $45 million with $28.5 million guaranteed
It’s a lot of money for a center, but given that no team lost as many games last year because of the play of their center, it was somewhat necessary. The Falcons retooled offensive line is one of the better ones in the league, especially if Mack can return to his pre-leg break form.
S Tavon Wilson (DET): Two years, $2.2 million with $500k guaranteed
Wilson always impressed in spot duty for the Patriots, but never really got the extended look to really showcase if he could turn that small sample size into a sustained career. Now he gets that opportunity in a Detroit system that will offer a path to playing time. For the Lions the lack of cash means they really have nothing to lose here.
CB Sean Smith (OAK): Four years, $40 million for $20 million guaranteed
The Raiders made a big statement raiding their AFC West rivals, getting our 12th highest grade of all cornerbacks in 2015. Given some of the deals that cornerbacks have got recently this has to be considered a real value get for Oakland.
B:
DL Malik Jackson (JAX): Six years, $90 million with $42m guaranteed
Have the Jaguars overpaid? Heck yeah. But they have so much cap room they have to spend that it’s justifiable. Grabbing an inside pass-rushing beast in Jackson (seventh highest grade of all interior defenders) is a win for the team.
OT Joe Barksdale (SD): Four years, $22.2 million with $10.5 million guaranteed. Given the Chargers’ luck with injuries you wouldn’t be surprised if Barksdale got injured signing his contract. But presuming he can make it to the regular season in good shape, Barksdale was a bright spot (21st-ranked tackle in PFF grades) on a terrible offensive line.
TE Antonio Gates (SD): Two years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed
It was hard to imagine Gates playing anywhere else, and common sense shines through with this re-signing. Sure, Gates isn’t the athlete he once was, but his ability to get open remains excellent, as evidenced by him having the ninth-highest receiving grade of any tight end despite missing nearly half the season.
G Brandon Brooks (PHI): Five years, $40 million with $17 million guaranteed
It’s a lot of money, especially since Brooks didn’t have his best year in 2015. But his work prior to that was of a level of a player who deserved to paid near the top of his position. A rare athlete, he can really open up lanes in the run game.
B-minus:
G Alex Boone (MIN): Five years, $26.8 million with $10 million guaranteed
Boone hasn’t really built upon his breakout 2012 season and become one of the best guards in the league. But he has always graded positively, and given the money the Vikings have put into this deal they can consider this a good value pickup as they retool their offensive line.
DE Olivier Vernon (NYG): Five years, $85 million with $52.5 million guaranteed
In three years time, when people are re-grading this free-agent period, Vernon won’t sit here in the middle of the pack. No, he’ll either be right at the top because he delivered, or right near the bottom because he failed to. If he can play close to the way he did in the second half of the 2015 season, then he’ll be considered a success. He was as good as any edge rusher in the league during that stretch, and he did it against top tackles like Dallas’ Tyron Smith. But if he reverts closer to how he played earlier in his career — when he was a solid player, not an elite one — he won’t come close to justifying this contract.
LS Morgan Cox (BLT): Five years, $5.6 million with $700k guaranteed
Long snappers are people, too! Cox is one of the more reliable ones in the league, and this kind of figure puts him rightfully near the rest of the top earners at the spot.
LB Audie Cole (MIN): One year, $760k with $40k guaranteed
Caught our eye with some impressive play in 2014 but then got bitten by the injury bug last year. There’s definitely talent there, and given the money involved the Vikings will be happy to get at the very least solid depth and a good special teamer.
TE Ben Watson (BAL): Two years, $7 million with $3 million guaranteed
He’s not getting any younger but the Ravens need at tight end combined with his good work in the passing game show what a valuable weapon he could be for Joe Flacco. The worry is if they’re expecting an every down guy, his blocking isn’t what it once was.
RB Matt Forte (NYJ): Three years, $12 million with $8 million guaranteed
With a back who has had as many touches as Forte you always worry that the cliff is just around the corner. For that reason it’s a little scary that they team are tied to him for a couple of years, but on the plus side the Jets have got a do it all back who had the 10th highest grade of all running backs last year.
T Chris Clark (HST): Two years, $6 million with $3.25 million guaranteed
Outside of a game against Miami where he was torn apart, Clark has a nice first year in Texas. He’s got his limitations but the Texans are paying a small chunk of change for a guy who can play both tackle spots, and do it to a serviceable level. He might lose some battles, but at this cost he’ll win more than enough.
S Isa Abdul-Quddus (MIA): Three years, $12.75 million with $4.23 million guaranteed
An underrated move by the Dolphins to pick up a safety in the prime of his career who hasn’t cost them an arm and a leg. Sure he’s not the flashiest player but generally if you can get a safety who keeps it safe, you’ve done alright.
S Dwight Lowery (SD): Three years, $7.2 million with $1.5 million guaranteed
Similar to the William Gay deal the Chargers have lined up a tried and tested veteran who can ably fill in without impacting too much on the cap. Lowery had a solid year in Indianapolis after resurrecting his career somewhat in Atlanta.
WR Rishard Matthews (TEN): Three years, $15 million with $2.5 million guaranteed
It also felt a little odd Matthews couldn’t get more of an opportunity in Miami, but with a tidy little outlay from Tennessee he should get the chance to showcase his skills in extended playing time.
C-plus:
OLB Bruce Irvin (OAK): Four years, $37 million with $12.5 million guaranteed
This contract is a bit rich for a player who never delivered consistently, despite getting ample opportunities. But at the very least Irvin is a solid starter to whom the team isn’t tied for the long term, and when you have the cap room Oakland has, it’s hard to go wrong front-loading these deals.
DB Tyvon Branch (ARZ): Two years, $10 million with $5 million guaranteed
Is Branch an insurance plan in case Tyrann Mathieu can’t come back early next season? In any case, the Cardinals love themselves players who can do multiple things, and Branch is a guy who can line up all over the defensive backfield and provide solid play.
CB Kyle Wilson (NO): One year, $840k with $80k guaranteed
Wilson never delivered on his first-round potential, but has developed into the definition of an average slot corner. Not every player on your team needs to be a star, so if you can land contributors for less than market value it’s got to be considered a marginal win.
S Keith Tandy (TB): Two years, $1.85 million with $250k guaranteed
It might win the award for least flashy move, but free agency isn’t just about finding starters. It’s about finding reliable depth players who can contribute on special teams and Tandy checks those boxes nicely.
DT Haloti Ngata (DET): Two years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed
Ngata proved he still has some juice in the tank with a strong finish to his 2015 season. He might not be the player he once was, but he can still make the kind of plays you look for at an interior spot. This is a reasonable move Detroit couldn’t afford not to make.
G Lane Taylor (GB): Two years, $4.15 million with $600k guaranteed
Didn’t look out of place when forced into the starting lineup. This is a useful chunk of change for the insurance of having someone fill in should either of the Packers stellar guards be forced from the field.
OL Kelechi Osemele (OAK): Five Years, $60 million with $25.4 million guaranteed
On one hand we love Osemele at guard. And if the Raiders play him there the move makes a degree of sense because Oakland simply has to burn some cash in this window. But there’s a sneaky suspicion that he might end up at left tackle, and that’s a huge leap of faith given how little experience has at the spot and how he played when forced to play there last year. Fantastic run blocker mind.
WR Marvin Jones (DET): Five Years, $40 million with $20 million guaranteed
It is certainly a great time to be a free agent receiver. Jones broke out in 2014 but nothing he did in 2015 suggested this big a pay day was coming his way. The talent is certainly there, but is the consistency? He’ll be vying with Golden Tate to be the Lions top target and now the pressure is cranked up on our 38th ranked receiver in 2015.
LB Frank Zombo (KC): Three years, $3.5 million with $500k guaranteed
With Tamba Hali locked up, the Chiefs are in consolidation mode on defense and the signing of Zombo brings back a guy who can help at any of the linebacker spots, as well as on special teams. He may not wow you when on the field, but for the cost involved it’s worth it.
TE Ladarius Green (PIT): Four years, $20 million with $4.75 million guaranteed
A move that could pay off or one that might see Green looking for a new contract this time next year. A somewhat aggressive move for a team scrambling to replace the ever excellent (and now retired) Heath Miller. Green must be happy to be out of the shadow of Antonio Gates, and you’d imagine he’s set to improve upon his career high mark of 686 snaps.
C:
TE Dwayne Allen (IND): Four years, $29.4 million with $16 million guaranteed
On his recent performance this deal makes little sense. But Allen has talent like few others at the position. If he can find the kind of form he did in his rookie year, and if the Colts can figure out how to use him more often, he has the talent to get Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods.
C Ben Jones (TEN): Four years, $17.5 million with $7.5 million guaranteed
While we don’t like this is verging on top-10 center money, we do like that the Titans are rectifying their big-time issues at the pivot. The three guys they started at center last year had a combined minus-47.0 grade, so they simply had to do something here.
S Rodney McLeod (PHI): Five years, $37 million with $17 million guaranteed. McLeod is very much an ascending player, and brings with him an intensity and aggressiveness you don’t often see from safeties. But as good as he is, it’s an almighty leap of faith to pay him like a top-5 safety when he’s never played like one.
DT Damon Harrison (NYG): Five years, $46.25 million with $24 million guaranteed
We love the play of “Snacks,” who has developed into a one-man wrecking crew in the run game, regularly leading the league in defensive stops against the run. There is no doubt that he makes the Giants better on early downs, but we can’t go higher with our grade because of the money involved. It’s simply too much for a guy who doesn’t get after the passer.
RB Chris Ivory (JAX): Five years, $32 million with $10 million guaranteed
It’s hard for the Jaguars to make bad moves, given how much money they have to spend. But that doesn’t mean every move they’ve made sees them hitting it out of the park, and there is a question whether Ivory was a player they really needed to go after, especially with the impressive rookie year of T.J. Yeldon. Nonetheless, they have acquired one of the better runners in the league.
TE Michael Hoomanawanui (NO): Three years, $5.2 million with $1.85 million guaranteed
In a league filled with terrible run-blocking tight ends, being around average has a level of value. Hoomanawanui won’t pull up any trees, but he will serve a function as a No. 2 tight end in an offense not afraid to use them.
P Brad Nortmann (JAX): Four years, $8.8 million with $1.65 million guaranteed
While Nortmann isn’t a top tier punter, that’s okay, because the Jags haven’t paid him top dollar. He’ll do a job worth the money on offer.
G Jeff Allen (HST): Four years, $28 million with $12 million guaranteed
It’s a big investment in a player who until last year was someone who didn’t inspire confidence when he got on the field. But the versatile and tough lineman did enough last year that Texans fans should be relatively happy with this move. Allen was our 10th ranked guard in 2015.
TE Coby Fleener (IND): Five years, $36 million with $14.6 million guaranteed
Was it Fleener’s inability or the all round ability of Dwayne Allen that limited his contributions in Indianapolis? Well they’ll be no excuses in New Orleans where the team will be counting on Fleener to best his 491 receiving yards of 2015.
S Tashaun Gipson (JAX): Five years, $35.5 million with $12 million guaranteed
If Gipson can get back to his 2014 form then this move will prove much better than the grade we’ve currently given it. But we can’t ignore how Gipson struggled last year and that’s what makes this move something of a leap of faith.
CB Ron Brooks (PHI): Three years, $5.5 million with $1.55 million guaranteed
A solid signing by the Eagles which reunites new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz with another player from his time in Buffalo. Brooks struggled to get on the field last year but with the money involved he should provide handy depth and special teams assistance.
DE Jaye Howard (KC): Two years, $10 million with $5.8 million guaranteed
A versatile lineman who can play over the center or up to a five tech, Howard had a breakout 2015 and while he didn’t deliver the consistency we wanted to see, there was enough to show he can start in this league. Our 24th ranked interior defender in 2015.
C-minus:
DE Mario Williams (MIA): Two years, $17 million with $7.5 million guaranteed
Rarely has Williams lived up to what is expected of him, but last season was a borderline disaster for him, as he ranked dead-last in pass-rush grade among edge defenders. It was less an aberration and more the culmination for a player who has rarely delivered against top competition. He is by no means a bad player, and the relatively little money involved here makes this worth a flyer. But why has the team gotten older and less explosive at a premium position?
DT Ahtyba Rubin (SEA): Three years, $12m with $5.5m guaranteed
Rubin did get better towards the end of the season, but he has a skill set that is readily available in the NFL. It’s a move that means the team doesn’t need to go out shopping for an early-down player, and it’s relatively cheap, so consider this a giant “meh.”
T Eric Winston (CIN): One year, $1.1m with $80k guaranteed
It’s not a lot of money for a guy who more than likely acts as little more than insurance given the team spent their first two picks last year on offensive tackles. Once one of the best right tackles in the league, Winston isn’t that guy any more, but at a push he could fill in.
DT Brandon Mebane (SD): Three years, $13.5 million with $5.5 million guaranteed
While Mebane had a good run in Seattle, he’s not the player he was once and it’s hard to envisage him making a big impact on the nose in a Chargers defense that is devoid of talent. Mebane had the 70th highest grade of 123 qualifying interior defenders.
T LaAdrian Waddle (NE): Two years, $2.35 million with $250k guaranteed
If Waddle can forget his 2015 performance and play more like he did when he entered the league, then this isn’t such a bad deal. But there’s no guarantee of that, with the only guarantee being Waddle is going to get $250k. That seems rich for a guy who will do well to make the roster.
CB Jeremy Lane (SEA): Four years, $23 million with $11 million guaranteed
Is Lane a bad player? No. But has he done enough to warrant double digits on the guaranteed money front? We’d say no, given in four years he’s never managed more than 356 snaps. He’s a guy you’d want on your roster but it’s hard to imagine many teams getting close to paying him that figure.
D-plus:WR Travis Benjamin (SD): Four years, $24m with $13m guaranteed
It’s a terrible market for wide receivers, and the result is guys getting paid far more than they warrant. Benjamin may be coming off a career year, but he still only finish 66th in our wide receiver rankings. Is he the kind of receiver Philip Rivers needed?
WR Brian Quick (LA): One year, $3.75 million with $1.5 million guaranteed. For a guy who has never managed more than 400 snaps in a year, with a career best of 375 yards, you wonder if the Rams couldn’t have sweated a lower figure out of a guy who you imagine will be competing for a roster spot.
D:
QB Brock Osweiler (HOU): Four years, $72 million with $37 million guaranteed
There are those who like Osweiler’s potential and those who don’t, but wherever you stand you can’t deny there’s a huge air of uncertainty about a guy who was benched for a fading Peyton Manning last year. Osweiler did a serviceable job when coming into the lineup, but enough to think that he could be “the guy”? He ranked just 20th in PFF quarterback grades and second-worst in deep-ball accuracy percentage this season. This is the kind of risky move that could define Bill O’Brien’s time as Texans head coach.
S Andrew Sendejo (MIN): Four years, $16 million with $3.9 million guaranteed
It’s starter money for a guy who isn’t all that likely to start (certainly not in an every-down role), and isn’t all that good. Sendejo had the 85th-highest grade of 88 safeties in 2015.
T Donald Stephenson (DEN): Three years, $14 million with $10 million guaranteed
Paying Stephenson starter money is fine if he can play like he did Week 2 of the 2015 season against the Broncos. He was impressive then, but that was the exception to his season, and not the rule. He’s consistently been one of the weaker starters in the league, and paying him to be something else seems unnecessary.
C Tim Barnes (LA): Two years, $5.6 million with $2.5 million guaranteed. It’s not so much the max value of the deal that bothers us. In any move there’s an element of projection, and the Rams will hope that Barnes is better for having a year’s worth of starts under his belt. But the guaranteed figure seems unnecessary, given that Barnes could only finish the year 29th out of 39 ranked centers.
G J.R. Sweezy (TB): Five years, $32.5 million with $14.5 million guaranteed
He of the highlight-reel block. Sweezy can do things that coaches and fans can’t help but fall in love with, but it’s the lack of consistency (especially in pass protection) that has us shaking our heads at this deal. He’s earned a negative grade in each of his four years and looks to be quite the drop-off from the recently retired Logan Mankins.
LB Mark Barron (LA): Five years, $45 million with $15 million guaranteed. The league may be shifting to smaller linebackers but this seems an overpay for a guy who produced his first decent season in the NFL last year. And we emphasize the word decent, because while he was much improved in St Louis, he was still only our 20th ranked linebacker on the year. He’ll need to play at a level we haven’t seen to justify this cash.
LB Emmanuel Lamur (MIN): Two years, $6 million with $2.2 million guaranteed
While Lamur is familiar with Mike Zimmer from their time in Cincinnati he really isn’t a guy who has got better the more he played. In fact the past two years he’s really struggled, to the point where he’s really a guy you bring into compete for a spot on a roster, rather than offering enough in guarantees that you’re pretty much obliged to keep him.
D-minus:Janoris Jenkins (NYG): Five years, $62.5 million with $29 million guaranteed. This is just an awful lot of money for a good corner who still gambles way too much. Big plays win games, and while Jenkins can make them, he’s been on the wrong end of more than his fair share. The Giants paid top-10 cornerback money for a guy who barely cracked the top 20 in our 2015 cornerback grades.
QB Chase Daniels (PHI): Three years, $21 million with $12 million guaranteed
It’s just an awful lot of money for a backup, and if he isn’t a backup, then why was so much money spent on Sam Bradford? In some respect you have to trust new head coach Doug Pederson, who has more knowledge of Daniels than any of us, but even he hasn’t seen how Daniels might handle significant game action.
F:
znModeratorSeven riskiest signings of NFL free agency so far
By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The NFL EditorAfter an insane first day of free agency, things calmed down considerably around the NFL on Thursday. That gives a chance to take stock of what’s happened so far.
While it’s more fun to choose our favorite deals of free agency thus far, it should be easier to predict what deals won’t pan out. History tells us that the majority of first-day signings in free agency won’t be worth the money. So what were the seven shakiest deals thus far?
1-2. Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones: The former Bengals receivers are both nice players, but they benefited from a razor thin free-agent wide receiver market. Sanu, signed by the Atlanta Falcons, was essentially the fifth receiver in Cincinnati last year and did not quite measure up when he was asked to start while replacing Jones in 2014. He didn’t top 500 yards in any other season. Ultimately, he is a solid underneath receiver with flexibility that is getting paid like a top-level starter. His contract (five years for $32 million and $14 million guaranteed) positions him as a No. 2 wideout.
Jones has a much more complete skill set, and we’ve long believed in his talent. But he’s been in the league four seasons and has never topped 850 yards. He will make $13 million in 2016, and $27 million over the first three seasons. That’s No. 1 receiver money and it won’t help the expectations in Detroit that he was signed the day after Calvin Johnson retired.
It’s not a great sign that the Bengals didn’t make it a priority to bring the receivers back. But it also wasn’t that surprising; they were secondary pieces on the Bengals’ offense.
3. Janoris Jenkins, New York Giants cornerback: Jenkins is a solid starting cornerback that excels in man coverage and is undoubtedly a playmaker. But he also gives up big plays and doesn’t always have consistent effort as he admitted on Thursday. When Jenkins was asked what he can improve upon, he answered:
“Stop being lazy at the end of games.”The money is just out of whack in Jenkins’ deal. With $62.5 million over five seasons, including $29.5 million guaranteed, Jenkins now ranks second among cornerbacks in guaranteed money. That’s ahead of guys like Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman. Jenkins has not made a Pro Bowl and the Rams chose to keep Trumaine Johnson over him. So essentially the Giants spent nearly $200 million on three players (Jenkins, Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison) that weren’t even the top players at their position on their previous teams. General manager Jerry Reese knows that his dream team needs to start fast in 2016 or the natives will be restless in New York.
4. Mario Williams, Miami Dolphins defensive end: Some teams try to “buy low” on bargains during free agency. Others just spend like crazy. Miami’s strategy has been curious. They are “buying medium” on players like Mario Williams and Byron Maxwell coming off down seasons at big prices elsewhere. The price tag on Williams ($17 million over two years) isn’t outrageous, but there just isn’t great reason to believe Williams will bounce back after a lackluster effort in Buffalo last season.
5-6. Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford, quarterbacks: The going rate of $18 million per season for mid-level starting quarterback play is suddenly the norm. Bradford’s numbers have never matched his potential and he is barely making less than Cam Newton, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees. Bradford might start out as the clear No. 1, but he’s transitioning to yet another system and has a backup in Chase Daniel who knows the scheme better. What player other than Bradford could sign for that much money and then potentially have to battle to keep his starting job?
Should Brock Osweiler get extra credit for having less experience and more potential when compared to a quarterback such as Bradford? Osweiler could turn out to be a risk worth taking for the Houston Texans. But there is no denying that general manager Rick Smith put his future on the line by giving such an unproven commodity $37 million guaranteed over the next two seasons *the full contract is $72 million over four years). It’s impossible to know how Osweiler will pan out in coach Bill O’Brien’s system. Osweiler showed some promising characteristics in Denver, especially in his pocket movement. But he’s an unknown quantity that will now determine the future of this franchise.
7. Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints tight end: It’s never a good sign when a player’s original team shows little interest in keeping him. The Colts decided to re-sign Dwayne Allen for big money despite lower production than Fleener over the last four years. Fleener’s reputation for drops and soft play precede him in New Orleans. Ben Watson was coming off a season with nearly 1,000 yards receiving and they let him leave for little money, instead using up much of their small cap space on Fleener. If they wanted to sign a very poor man’s Jimmy Graham, why not just keep Jimmy Graham?
March 11, 2016 at 12:33 am in reply to: Patriots are hosting restricted FA running back Benny Cunningham #40401znModeratorRams can match.
So I wouldn’t write him off yet.
.
I meant that if NE didn’t sign him while he was there, that they weren’t going to sign him to an offer. I was writing NE off. <
I misread, then. Mea culpa.
March 10, 2016 at 11:41 pm in reply to: Patriots are hosting restricted FA running back Benny Cunningham #40399znModeratorRams can match.
So I wouldn’t write him off yet.
.
znModeratorRams do not see much free-agency movement on Thursday
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-rams-nfl-free-agency-20160311-story.html
After a frenetic opening day to free agency, it was mostly quiet Thursday — at least outwardly — for the Rams.
A day after unrestricted free-agent cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod joined other teams, and safety/linebacker Mark Barron and defensive end William Hayes re-signed with the Rams, there have been no major moves.
Running back Benny Cunningham, a restricted free agent who received an original-round tender from the Rams, reportedly visited the New England Patriots on Thursday.
The Rams have the right of first refusal if Cunningham receives an offer sheet from another team. There would be no compensation for the Rams if Cunningham signs elsewhere.
Cunningham tweeted about his trip to New England. “Back In Nashville.. Visit went great and I really enjoyed the hospitality.. All around great experience #FirstClass #GreatOrganization”
Defensive linemen Eugene Sims and Nick Fairley, kicker Greg Zuerlein, tight end/fullback Cory Harkey, and receiver Wes Welker are unrestricted free agents.
The Rams also are waiting to see what offers, if any, quarterback Case Keenum receives. The Rams offered Keenum, an restricted free agent, the first-round tender of about $3.6 million.
If Keenum receives an offer sheet from another team, and the Rams choose not to match it, the Rams would be awarded a first-round draft pick as compensation if Keenum signs with the other team.
The Rams are regarded as possible landing spots for other quarterbacks through free agency, trades or the draft.
Robert Griffin III was released by the Washington Redskins and is searching for a new employer. The New York Jets’ Ryan Fitzpatrick is an unrestricted free agent.
Brian Hoyer of the Houston Texans and Mark Sanchez of the Philadelphia Eagles could possibly be traded after their teams signed Brock Osweiler and Chase Daniel, respectively.
The Rams have the 15th pick in the draft.
znModerator. So, i still
am in a quandary as to how CoachO evaluates centers.Well except see there’s no such thing as “one way” to play center.
Look at what the Rams, ie. Boudreau’s Rams, value at center. It’s not being able to maul a defender one on one, which unfortunately is about the only criterion many of Barnes critics refer to. He has to have smarts, AND movement skills.
Think of Barnes’s best moments, the ones that stood out and got praised–he got to the second level, eg. in the great blocks he made downfield for Gurley last year.
That means that you trade that off for needing guard help on in-line blocking. And Coach is absolutely right about that—Barnes looked better last year when either he had experienced guards next to him, or Wichman improved across a few games.
It’s an old pattern with Boudreau.
Barnes is the perfect size for a center who needs to get out and move and get to the second level. Wells was signed because of that. Jackson used to say he never played for a center before who got to the second level so quickly.
Here are Boudreau centers over the years…and in terms of their weight, they are all in “if that” territory:
Barnes 6’4 297
Wells 6’2 300
McClure 6’1 286
Romberg 6’3 293
Meester 6’3 300
Mitchell 6’4 300
Ruddy 6’3 295
Wohlabaugh 6’3 296
Glover 6’2 278
Hilgenberg 6’3 250There’s 3-4 pro bowl years mixed in there btw.
They are never big maulers.
They won’t look good in one on one drills going against a DT. But that’s not as important as their smarts + movement skills.
…
March 10, 2016 at 10:26 pm in reply to: informal poll … how do the Rams look in free agency so far #40393znModeratorAnother note on the market this year. Posting them as the occur to me.
EVERYONE knew this would be a boom free agency market. It was being written about in the sports media from the second they announced the 2016 cap, and it was known before then.
The players wanted to hit the market. There was just less of an opportunity to extend players ahead of the market. Cause, you can’t extend players who want to hit the market.
I don’t know this for a fact but I bet if someone looked up the details, this would be a unique market. More players tagged throughout the league than usual just to keep them, fewer extensions overall throughout the league, more big 1st day of free agency payouts. I can’t prove that without the numbers but I have a hunch it’s true.
IMO what happened with the Rams was league-wide.
i wanted mcleod back. that’s what i’m most disappointed in.
Yeah I was hoping they would keep McCleod too, but I console myself on that one with some different thoughts. Basically, I think that the Rams had a lower value on signing McL than McL could get on the market.
And remember, this is a very good D coach who has one primary strength above others—developing DBs, particularly safeties. This goes throughout his whole career. Bowens, the former Ram turned Washington DB who played for Wms in Washington turned reporter, has famously said that GW knows how to get the most out of safety play. So that not only means they trust his ability to find a replacement, but they also trust his eye for what a particular player is worth
March 10, 2016 at 9:49 pm in reply to: informal poll … how do the Rams look in free agency so far #40387znModeratorJust a thought on free agency.
When was the last time the Rams let good draft picks go in free agency because quote unquote you can’t keep em all?
Maybe Fletcher? (But then the idea they couldn’t keep Fletcher was a misconception on their part). (Plus of course London wasn’t a draft pick but you know what I mean.)
It’s not Holt or Bruce…they were past their prime.
Letting Jenkins go is an interesting by-product of drafting 2 good CBs in one year. Once they were both up for free agency, there was always a chance they could not keep both.
We as fans haven’t been in this position for a long time because the drafting from 2000-2008 was overall pretty bad, while the drafting from 2009-2011 was most just average with the occasional score like Quinn.
Now, the Rams have players we would like to see them keep. But, they can’t.
Teams like New England and Pittsburgh are in this position all the time. In comparison we’re not used to it.
…
znModeratorFalcons agreed to terms with former Bengals WR Mohammad Sanu on a five-year deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2016
znModerator
Breer: Jets offer to Fitzpatrick “only a little better” than Chase Daniel dealThe contract money the New York Jets are offering veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is only “a little better” than what career backup QB Chase Daniel got from the Philadelphia Eagles according to Albert Breer of NFL Network.
Daniel received $21 million over three years with another $15 million available in incentives. Granted Daniel is much younger than Fitzpatrick but he is also much shorter, has started only two regular season games in his entire NFL career, and did not lead the Jets to the brink of the playoffs last season. According to Breer, Fitzpatrick “knows where (the Jets) stand,” and they “set a price and plan to stick to it.” – even though their current in-house alternative is the less-than-illustrious Geno Smith.
Breer claims there is no “acrimony” between Fitzpatrick and the Jets but no one can blame him for continuing to shop around for a better deal given his stellar 2015. The Jets, on the other hand, are reportedly joining the Broncos and Browns in exploring a trade with the 49ers for QB Colin Kaepernick.
znModeratorIt sounds like there’s a big reason why Brock Osweiler spurned the Broncos for the Texans, and it’s not just money
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sounds-theres-big-reason-why-212718361.html?hl=1&noredirect=1
Brock Osweiler made the first shocking move of NFL free agency by spurning the Denver Broncos, his team since 2012, to sign with the Houston Texans.
The Broncos wanted the 25-year-old quarterback on the team, reportedly offering him a three-year, $45 million deal.The Texans trumped that offer with a four-year, $72 million deal, but that doesn’t sound like the only reason why Osweiler decided to move to Houston.
His seven career starts all came in 2015 while he filled in for an injured Peyton Manning. Osweiler played reasonably well in those seven games, but during an iffy Week 17 performance against the San Diego Chargers, in which he threw two interceptions, the Broncos benched him for Manning.
Denver went on to win that game with the help of Manning, and Peyton was the starter throughout the postseason as the team won the Super Bowl.
The move reportedly upset Osweiler. Before Manning was healthy, there were reports that the Broncos were Osweiler’s team going forward. He didn’t play a snap the rest of the season after Week 17.
Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver suggests that this is part of the reason why Osweiler fled Denver:
Broncos offered Osweiler $16M per yr with $30M guarantee. Houston $17M- $18M per yr. Manning shadow/fresh start were factors #9news #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 9, 2016
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on Tuesday that Osweiler might re-sign with Denver “if the money is right and if he has found a way to reconcile being removed from the lineup in the regular-season finale.”
While there were never direct reports that Osweiler was outright angry at being benched for Peyton, it does seem like it took him by surprise. At the time of the benching, Osweiler admitted that it took him a little while to process that he was removed from the Week 17 game. Head coach Gary Kubiak said he didn’t think it would affect Osweiler.
Since Manning’s retirement, particularly following a Super Bowl victory, the showering of love for Manning was setting up a difficult transition for Osweiler. It would be hard for him to fill Peyton’s shoes after a successful season, even if Peyton didn’t play all that well in his final year. To get out from under that shadow is likely a relief for Osweiler.
With a bigger payday in Houston, a solid defense, and an elite wide receiver already in place, it’s not hard to see why the Texans were a more attractive option for Osweiler.
March 10, 2016 at 8:54 am in reply to: informal poll … how do the Rams look in free agency so far #40347znModeratorLast year I saw some people around there, on the net in general, lamenting that the Rams did not sign veterans for the OL.
Well if they had, there would be even less cap space now, and a chance of losing one of the guys they did sign.
Any vet they signed in 2015 who was worth it would have been taking cap space from 2016.
I always thought they had to choose their poison—go young on the OL and save 2016 and 2017 cap space, or add vets to the OL and subtract 2016 and 2017 cap space.
I think of the 2 poisons they chose the right one.
–
znModeratorThis is not the entire list. For that go to the link. One thing I noticed–there are so many projected 3rd and 4th round picks throughout the league this year, that they are less of a boon—the 2017 draft will get watered down by them.
Rams are projected to get a 3rd for JJ and a 4th for Mc.
link: http://overthecap.com/draft/
znModerator[Grading every deal of 2016 NFL free agency PFF
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/03/10/pro-nfl-free-agency-grading-every-deal/
During the season, Pro Football Focus grades every player on every play of every game. We are doing the same for every transaction this free-agency period, with the return of our Deal Grader.
How should you feel about the moves your team made? Take a look at our grades for each move, on an A through F scale, which we will update throughout free-agency season as contract terms become known:
A-plus:
None
A:
DE Jason Pierre-Paul (NYG): One year, $10 million with $8.5 million guaranteed
When you see what other edge defenders have got, how can you not like this? Even if JPP never completely adjusts to his injured hand, he proved in 2015 he can still get it done, recording one of his best pass-rushing seasons of his career.
DE William Hayes (LA): Three years, $17.5 million with $10 million guaranteed
Whenver called upon Hayes delivered the goods in St Louis, and he has earned this deal and the starting spot that comes with it. Four strong seasons in a row for the one time Titan who can contribute on every down. Not a lot of money at all for a guy who had the 13th best grade of all edge defenders in 2015.
LB Danny Trevathan (CHI): Four years, $24.5 million with $12 million guaranteed
Is there a more perfect fit in free agency? Chicago desperately needed linebacker help, and the only surprise about this move is how little it cost them to execute. Sure Trevathan has battled some injury issues in the past. But he’s a guy who had the 10th highest grade of all linebackers and was one of our top 10 free agents on the open market.
A-minus:OLB Tamba Hali (KC): Three years, $22 million with $12 million guaranteed
While Hali isn’t getting any younger, he still proved to be a productive pass-rusher this season, even when Justin Houston went down to injury and he had more attention to deal with.
RB Lamar Miller (HOU): Four years, $26 million with $14 million guaranteed
Given that Miller took less money to go to Houston should give you an idea of the value of this move. Miller has graded positively the past three years, with his 2015 effort worthy of a top-five grade at the position. Now he should get the opportunity to carry the load in a way Miami never gave him.
G Ramon Foster (PIT): Three years, $9.5 million with $2.75 million guaranteed
The past five years Foster has developed into one of the most reliable guards in a league devoid of them. To retain his services for so little money, and with the knowledge the team isn’t tied to him if his performance drops, is great work.
B-plus:
G Richie Incognito (BUF): Three years, $11.5 million with $5.45 million guaranteed
Buffalo is rewarded for taking a chance on Incognito with a per annum payout far less than his 2015 performance (top ranked left guard) would say he’s worth.
RB Doug Martin (TB): Five years, $35.75 million with $15 million guaranteed
It was a big move for the Buccaneers to keep Martin in town. He was our first-team All-Pro running back and led our rushing rankings with a nice bounce-back year after two years of underwhelming play. If he can maintain that level, he’s well worth this deal, which looks huge on the surface but isn’t too crazy in terms of guaranteed money.
K Adam Vinatieri (IND): Two years, $6 million with $3 million guaranteed
Maybe this is the year age catches up with the leg of Vinatieri, who is one of the greatest kickers of all time.
S George Iloka (CIN): Five years, $30 million with $5 million guaranteed
This was a big move for the Bengals, ensuring they kept an important part of their defense in town. Iloka isn’t your Earl Thomas type of playmaking safety, but he is a more than competent player who can make an impact as a center fielder. The money, given what others have been given, makes this a real win for the Bengals.
DE Derrick Shelby (ATL): Four years, $18 million with $7.5 million guaranteed
Coming off a year where he had the 10th-highest PFF grade of all 4-3 defensive ends, we expected Shelby to walk away a little richer, so kudos to Atlanta for getting value on a day when not everyone did. The former undrafted free agent really took advantage of Cameron Wake’s injury to show himself as more than just a run defender.
OT Mitchell Schwartz (KC): Five years, $33 million with $12.66 million guaranteed
One of the top right tackles in the league, Schwartz was a PFF selection for a second-team All-Pro spot after a strong 2015 season. He did an admirable job against Von Miller this season, but will now get to show whether that was a fluke when he faces off with him and Khalil Mack twice a year.
CB William Gay (PIT): Three years, $7.5 million with $1.9 million guaranteed
This really isn’t a lot of money for a guy who graded above average and was as solid as it got in a disappointing Steelers secondary in 2015. Gay might not be getting any younger, but the structure of the deal ensures the Steelers are covered if his play drops off.
C Alex Mack (ATL): Five years, $45 million with $28.5 million guaranteed
It’s a lot of money for a center, but given that no team lost as many games last year because of the play of their center, it was somewhat necessary. The Falcons retooled offensive line is one of the better ones in the league, especially if Mack can return to his pre-leg break form.
S Tavon Wilson (DET): Two years, $2.2 million with $500k guaranteed
Wilson always impressed in spot duty for the Patriots, but never really got the extended look to really showcase if he could turn that small sample size into a sustained career. Now he gets that opportunity in a Detroit system that will offer a path to playing time. For the Lions the lack of cash means they really have nothing to lose here.
CB Sean Smith (OAK): Four years, $40 million for $20 million guaranteed
The Raiders made a big statement raiding their AFC West rivals, getting our 12th highest grade of all cornerbacks in 2015. Given some of the deals that cornerbacks have got recently this has to be considered a real value get for Oakland.
B:
DL Malik Jackson (JAX): Six years, $90 million with $42m guaranteed
Have the Jaguars overpaid? Heck yeah. But they have so much cap room they have to spend that it’s justifiable. Grabbing an inside pass-rushing beast in Jackson (seventh highest grade of all interior defenders) is a win for the team.
OT Joe Barksdale (SD): Four years, $22.2 million with $10.5 million guaranteed
Given the Chargers’ luck with injuries you wouldn’t be surprised if Barksdale got injured signing his contract. But presuming he can make it to the regular season in good shape, Barksdale was a bright spot (21st-ranked tackle in PFF grades) on a terrible offensive line.
TE Antonio Gates (SD): Two years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed
It was hard to imagine Gates playing anywhere else, and common sense shines through with this re-signing. Sure, Gates isn’t the athlete he once was, but his ability to get open remains excellent, as evidenced by him having the ninth-highest receiving grade of any tight end despite missing nearly half the season.
G Brandon Brooks (PHI): Five years, $40 million with $17 million guaranteed
It’s a lot of money, especially since Brooks didn’t have his best year in 2015. But his work prior to that was of a level of a player who deserved to paid near the top of his position. A rare athlete, he can really open up lanes in the run game.
B-minus:
G Alex Boone (MIN): Five years, $26.8 million with $10 million guaranteed
Boone hasn’t really built upon his breakout 2012 season and become one of the best guards in the league. But he has always graded positively, and given the money the Vikings have put into this deal they can consider this a good value pickup as they retool their offensive line.
DE Olivier Vernon (NYG): Five years, $85 million with $52.5 million guaranteed
In three years time, when people are re-grading this free-agent period, Vernon won’t sit here in the middle of the pack. No, he’ll either be right at the top because he delivered, or right near the bottom because he failed to. If he can play close to the way he did in the second half of the 2015 season, then he’ll be considered a success. He was as good as any edge rusher in the league during that stretch, and he did it against top tackles like Dallas’ Tyron Smith. But if he reverts closer to how he played earlier in his career — when he was a solid player, not an elite one — he won’t come close to justifying this contract.
LS Morgan Cox (BLT): Five years, $5.6 million with $700k guaranteed
Long snappers are people, too! Cox is one of the more reliable ones in the league, and this kind of figure puts him rightfully near the rest of the top earners at the spot.
LB Audie Cole (MIN): One year, $760k with $40k guaranteed
Caught our eye with some impressive play in 2014 but then got bitten by the injury bug last year. There’s definitely talent there, and given the money involved the Vikings will be happy to get at the very least solid depth and a good special teamer.
TE Ben Watson (BAL): Two years, $7 million with $3 million guaranteed
He’s not getting any younger but the Ravens need at tight end combined with his good work in the passing game show what a valuable weapon he could be for Joe Flacco. The worry is if they’re expecting an every down guy, his blocking isn’t what it once was.
RB Matt Forte (NYJ): Three years, $12 million with $8 million guaranteed
With a back who has had as many touches as Forte you always worry that the cliff is just around the corner. For that reason it’s a little scary that they team are tied to him for a couple of years, but on the plus side the Jets have got a do it all back who had the 10th highest grade of all running backs last year.
T Chris Clark (HST): Two years, $6 million with $3.25 million guaranteed
Outside of a game against Miami where he was torn apart, Clark has a nice first year in Texas. He’s got his limitations but the Texans are paying a small chunk of change for a guy who can play both tackle spots, and do it to a serviceable level. He might lose some battles, but at this cost he’ll win more than enough.
S Isa Abdul-Quddus (MIA): Three years, $12.75 million with $4.23 million guaranteed
An underrated move by the Dolphins to pick up a safety in the prime of his career who hasn’t cost them an arm and a leg. Sure he’s not the flashiest player but generally if you can get a safety who keeps it safe, you’ve done alright.
S Dwight Lowery (SD): Three years, $7.2 million with $1.5 million guaranteed
Similar to the William Gay deal the Chargers have lined up a tried and tested veteran who can ably fill in without impacting too much on the cap. Lowery had a solid year in Indianapolis after resurrecting his career somewhat in Atlanta.
WR Rishard Matthews (TEN): Three years, $15 million with $2.5 million guaranteed
It also felt a little odd Matthews couldn’t get more of an opportunity in Miami, but with a tidy little outlay from Tennessee he should get the chance to showcase his skills in extended playing time.
C-plus:
OLB Bruce Irvin (OAK): Four years, $37 million with $12.5 million guaranteed
This contract is a bit rich for a player who never delivered consistently, despite getting ample opportunities. But at the very least Irvin is a solid starter to whom the team isn’t tied for the long term, and when you have the cap room Oakland has, it’s hard to go wrong front-loading these deals.
DB Tyvon Branch (ARZ): Two years, $10 million with $5 million guaranteed
Is Branch an insurance plan in case Tyrann Mathieu can’t come back early next season? In any case, the Cardinals love themselves players who can do multiple things, and Branch is a guy who can line up all over the defensive backfield and provide solid play.
CB Kyle Wilson (NO): One year, $840k with $80k guaranteed
Wilson never delivered on his first-round potential, but has developed into the definition of an average slot corner. Not every player on your team needs to be a star, so if you can land contributors for less than market value it’s got to be considered a marginal win.
S Keith Tandy (TB): Two years, $1.85 million with $250k guaranteed
It might win the award for least flashy move, but free agency isn’t just about finding starters. It’s about finding reliable depth players who can contribute on special teams and Tandy checks those boxes nicely.
DT Haloti Ngata (DET): Two years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed
Ngata proved he still has some juice in the tank with a strong finish to his 2015 season. He might not be the player he once was, but he can still make the kind of plays you look for at an interior spot. This is a reasonable move Detroit couldn’t afford not to make.
G Lane Taylor (GB): Two years, $4.15 million with $600k guaranteed
Didn’t look out of place when forced into the starting lineup. This is a useful chunk of change for the insurance of having someone fill in should either of the Packers stellar guards be forced from the field.
OL Kelechi Osemele (OAK): Five Years, $60 million with $25.4 million guaranteed
On one hand we love Osemele at guard. And if the Raiders play him there the move makes a degree of sense because Oakland simply has to burn some cash in this window. But there’s a sneaky suspicion that he might end up at left tackle, and that’s a huge leap of faith given how little experience has at the spot and how he played when forced to play there last year. Fantastic run blocker mind.
WR Marvin Jones (DET): Five Years, $40 million with $20 million guaranteed
It is certainly a great time to be a free agent receiver. Jones broke out in 2014 but nothing he did in 2015 suggested this big a pay day was coming his way. The talent is certainly there, but is the consistency? He’ll be vying with Golden Tate to be the Lions top target and now the pressure is cranked up on our 38th ranked receiver in 2015.
LB Frank Zombo (KC): Three years, $3.5 million with $500k guaranteed
With Tamba Hali locked up, the Chiefs are in consolidation mode on defense and the signing of Zombo brings back a guy who can help at any of the linebacker spots, as well as on special teams. He may not wow you when on the field, but for the cost involved it’s worth it.
TE Ladarius Green (PIT): Four years, $20 million with $4.75 million guaranteed
A move that could pay off or one that might see Green looking for a new contract this time next year. A somewhat aggressive move for a team scrambling to replace the ever excellent (and now retired) Heath Miller. Green must be happy to be out of the shadow of Antonio Gates, and you’d imagine he’s set to improve upon his career high mark of 686 snaps.
C:
TE Dwayne Allen (IND): Four years, $29.4 million with $16 million guaranteed
On his recent performance this deal makes little sense. But Allen has talent like few others at the position. If he can find the kind of form he did in his rookie year, and if the Colts can figure out how to use him more often, he has the talent to get Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods.
C Ben Jones (TEN): Four years, $17.5 million with $7.5 million guaranteed
While we don’t like this is verging on top-10 center money, we do like that the Titans are rectifying their big-time issues at the pivot. The three guys they started at center last year had a combined minus-47.0 grade, so they simply had to do something here.
S Rodney McLeod (PHI): Five years, $37 million with $17 million guaranteed
McLeod is very much an ascending player, and brings with him an intensity and aggressiveness you don’t often see from safeties. But as good as he is, it’s an almighty leap of faith to pay him like a top-5 safety when he’s never played like one.
DT Damon Harrison (NYG): Five years, $46.25 million with $24 million guaranteed
We love the play of “Snacks,” who has developed into a one-man wrecking crew in the run game, regularly leading the league in defensive stops against the run. There is no doubt that he makes the Giants better on early downs, but we can’t go higher with our grade because of the money involved. It’s simply too much for a guy who doesn’t get after the passer.
RB Chris Ivory (JAX): Five years, $32 million with $10 million guaranteed
It’s hard for the Jaguars to make bad moves, given how much money they have to spend. But that doesn’t mean every move they’ve made sees them hitting it out of the park, and there is a question whether Ivory was a player they really needed to go after, especially with the impressive rookie year of T.J. Yeldon. Nonetheless, they have acquired one of the better runners in the league.
TE Michael Hoomanawanui (NO): Three years, $5.2 million with $1.85 million guaranteed
In a league filled with terrible run-blocking tight ends, being around average has a level of value. Hoomanawanui won’t pull up any trees, but he will serve a function as a No. 2 tight end in an offense not afraid to use them.
P Brad Nortmann (JAX): Four years, $8.8 million with $1.65 million guaranteed
While Nortmann isn’t a top tier punter, that’s okay, because the Jags haven’t paid him top dollar. He’ll do a job worth the money on offer.
G Jeff Allen (HST): Four years, $28 million with $12 million guaranteed
It’s a big investment in a player who until last year was someone who didn’t inspire confidence when he got on the field. But the versatile and tough lineman did enough last year that Texans fans should be relatively happy with this move. Allen was our 10th ranked guard in 2015.
TE Coby Fleener (IND): Five years, $36 million with $14.6 million guaranteed
Was it Fleener’s inability or the all round ability of Dwayne Allen that limited his contributions in Indianapolis? Well they’ll be no excuses in New Orleans where the team will be counting on Fleener to best his 491 receiving yards of 2015.
S Tashaun Gipson (JAX): Five years, $35.5 million with $12 million guaranteed
If Gipson can get back to his 2014 form then this move will prove much better than the grade we’ve currently given it. But we can’t ignore how Gipson struggled last year and that’s what makes this move something of a leap of faith.
CB Ron Brooks (PHI): Three years, $5.5 million with $1.55 million guaranteed
A solid signing by the Eagles which reunites new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz with another player from his time in Buffalo. Brooks struggled to get on the field last year but with the money involved he should provide handy depth and special teams assistance.
DE Jaye Howard (KC): Two years, $10 million with $5.8 million guaranteed
A versatile lineman who can play over the center or up to a five tech, Howard had a breakout 2015 and while he didn’t deliver the consistency we wanted to see, there was enough to show he can start in this league. Our 24th ranked interior defender in 2015.
C-minus:
DE Mario Williams (MIA): Two years, $17 million with $7.5 million guaranteed
Rarely has Williams lived up to what is expected of him, but last season was a borderline disaster for him, as he ranked dead-last in pass-rush grade among edge defenders. It was less an aberration and more the culmination for a player who has rarely delivered against top competition. He is by no means a bad player, and the relatively little money involved here makes this worth a flyer. But why has the team gotten older and less explosive at a premium position?
DT Ahtyba Rubin (SEA): Three years, $12m with $5.5m guaranteed
Rubin did get better towards the end of the season, but he has a skill set that is readily available in the NFL. It’s a move that means the team doesn’t need to go out shopping for an early-down player, and it’s relatively cheap, so consider this a giant “meh.”
T Eric Winston (CIN): One year, $1.1m with $80k guaranteed
It’s not a lot of money for a guy who more than likely acts as little more than insurance given the team spent their first two picks last year on offensive tackles. Once one of the best right tackles in the league, Winston isn’t that guy any more, but at a push he could fill in.
DT Brandon Mebane (SD): Three years, $13.5 million with $5.5 million guaranteed
While Mebane had a good run in Seattle, he’s not the player he was once and it’s hard to envisage him making a big impact on the nose in a Chargers defense that is devoid of talent. Mebane had the 70th highest grade of 123 qualifying interior defenders.
T LaAdrian Waddle (NE): Two years, $2.35 million with $250k guaranteed
If Waddle can forget his 2015 performance and play more like he did when he entered the league, then this isn’t such a bad deal. But there’s no guarantee of that, with the only guarantee being Waddle is going to get $250k. That seems rich for a guy who will do well to make the roster.
CB Jeremy Lane (SEA): Four years, $23 million with $11 million guaranteed
Is Lane a bad player? No. But has he done enough to warrant double digits on the guaranteed money front? We’d say no, given in four years he’s never managed more than 356 snaps. He’s a guy you’d want on your roster but it’s hard to imagine many teams getting close to paying him that figure.
D-plus:WR Travis Benjamin (SD): Four years, $24m with $13m guaranteed
It’s a terrible market for wide receivers, and the result is guys getting paid far more than they warrant. Benjamin may be coming off a career year, but he still only finish 66th in our wide receiver rankings. Is he the kind of receiver Philip Rivers needed?
WR Brian Quick (LA): One year, $3.75 million with $1.5 million guaranteed
For a guy who has never managed more than 400 snaps in a year, with a career best of 375 yards, you wonder if the Rams couldn’t have sweated a lower figure out of a guy who you imagine will be competing for a roster spot.
D:
QB Brock Osweiler (HOU): Four years, $72 million with $37 million guaranteed
There are those who like Osweiler’s potential and those who don’t, but wherever you stand you can’t deny there’s a huge air of uncertainty about a guy who was benched for a fading Peyton Manning last year. Osweiler did a serviceable job when coming into the lineup, but enough to think that he could be “the guy”? He ranked just 20th in PFF quarterback grades and second-worst in deep-ball accuracy percentage this season. This is the kind of risky move that could define Bill O’Brien’s time as Texans head coach.
S Andrew Sendejo (MIN): Four years, $16 million with $3.9 million guaranteed
It’s starter money for a guy who isn’t all that likely to start (certainly not in an every-down role), and isn’t all that good. Sendejo had the 85th-highest grade of 88 safeties in 2015.
T Donald Stephenson (DEN): Three years, $14 million with $10 million guaranteed
Paying Stephenson starter money is fine if he can play like he did Week 2 of the 2015 season against the Broncos. He was impressive then, but that was the exception to his season, and not the rule. He’s consistently been one of the weaker starters in the league, and paying him to be something else seems unnecessary.
C Tim Barnes (LA): Two years, $5.6 million with $2.5 million guaranteed
It’s not so much the max value of the deal that bothers us. In any move there’s an element of projection, and the Rams will hope that Barnes is better for having a year’s worth of starts under his belt. But the guaranteed figure seems unnecessary, given that Barnes could only finish the year 29th out of 39 ranked centers.
G J.R. Sweezy (TB): Five years, $32.5 million with $14.5 million guaranteed
He of the highlight-reel block. Sweezy can do things that coaches and fans can’t help but fall in love with, but it’s the lack of consistency (especially in pass protection) that has us shaking our heads at this deal. He’s earned a negative grade in each of his four years and looks to be quite the drop-off from the recently retired Logan Mankins.
LB Mark Barron (LA): Five years, $45 million with $15 million guaranteed
The league may be shifting to smaller linebackers but this seems an overpay for a guy who produced his first decent season in the NFL last year. And we emphasize the word decent, because while he was much improved in St Louis, he was still only our 20th ranked linebacker on the year. He’ll need to play at a level we haven’t seen to justify this cash.
LB Emmanuel Lamur (MIN): Two years, $6 million with $2.2 million guaranteed
While Lamur is familiar with Mike Zimmer from their time in Cincinnati he really isn’t a guy who has got better the more he played. In fact the past two years he’s really struggled, to the point where he’s really a guy you bring into compete for a spot on a roster, rather than offering enough in guarantees that you’re pretty much obliged to keep him.
D-minus:Janoris Jenkins (NYG): Five years, $62.5 million with $29 million guaranteed
This is just an awful lot of money for a good corner who still gambles way too much. Big plays win games, and while Jenkins can make them, he’s been on the wrong end of more than his fair share. The Giants paid top-10 cornerback money for a guy who barely cracked the top 20 in our 2015 cornerback grades.
QB Chase Daniels (PHI): Three years, $21 million with $12 million guaranteed
It’s just an awful lot of money for a backup, and if he isn’t a backup, then why was so much money spent on Sam Bradford? In some respect you have to trust new head coach Doug Pederson, who has more knowledge of Daniels than any of us, but even he hasn’t seen how Daniels might handle significant game action.
F:
None
znModeratorMixed results for Rams on Day 1 of free agency
Jim Thomas
Back in October, cornerback Janoris Jenkins told the Post-Dispatch he was finished negotiating with the Rams and was going to bet on himself in free agency.
It turned out to be a good gamble. Even before the start of the free agency period, Jenkins had agreed to terms with the New York Giants on one of the richest contracts ever for a cornerback _ five years, $62.5 million, with $28.8 million guaranteed according to the Over The Cap web site (@Jason_OTC).
Known for his frequently-controversial tweets, Jenkins took offense to a reported $9 million-a-year offer by the Rams not long before the start of the free agency period _ calling it “total disrespect” on his Twitter account. Maybe Jenkins was right on this one too, because his Giants contract averages $12.5 million a year.
It had bee clear for months that Jenkins was going to the highest bidder, and that’s what happened Wednesday. With the Giants, he’ll play for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired as Rams head coach after the 2011 season _ or just months before Jeff Fisher selected Jenkins in the second round of the 2012 draft.
In New York, Jenkins will be reunited with the Rams’ defensive coordinator of 2013 _ Tim Walton _ who is cornerbacks coach for the Giants. The Rams and Giants will meet in London next season.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, both Fisher and general manager Les Snead made it clear that re-signing their secondary was the top priority of the team in the upcoming free agency period. But before the formal start of the free agency period Wednesday afternoon, the Rams had lost half of their starting secondary in Jenkins and free safety Rodney McLeod.
McLeod signed a five-year, $35 million contract with Philadelphia including $13 million in guarantees according to Over the Cap. The Rams had known for some time that McLeod’s asking price was high, too high than they probably were willing to go.
McLeod didn’t play as well in 2015 as he did in ’14, taking bad angles to the ball on several occasions, and missing too many tackles even as he became a more physical tackler. Nonetheless, he has come a long way since his special teams days as an undrafted rookie in 2012, developing into a solid free safety.
While the Rams have E.J. Gaines ready to step into Jenkins’ starting position at cornerback, they don’t have a ready answer at free safety. Eureka High’s Maurice Alexander has the frame and playing style of a strong safety.
Cody Davis, who was not tendered as a restricted free agent, but was re-signed by theh Rams later Wednesday nonetheless, is a free safety who excelled on special teams last year but has next to no experience from scrimmage.
League sources told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday night that the team had expressed some interest in Cincinnati free agent free safety Reggie Nelson, and Eric Weddle of San Diego is a free agent as well.
Following those early hits in the secondary, the Rams rallied as the day progressed, re-signing defensive end William Hayes (three years, $21 million) and linebacker/safety Mark Barron (five years, $45 million). They were must “gets” considering they were being counted on to replace recently released Chris Long and James Laurinaitis, respectively, in the starting lineup.
The Rams felt good about retaining Barron and Hayes all along. In the case of Hayes, he has a longstanding relationship and loyalty to Fisher. As for Barron, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams created a unique role for him as a hybrid linebacker-safety _ a role that became a full-time job four games into the season when weakside linebacker Alec Ogletree was lost for the year with an ankle injury.
Although some teams are starting to use safeties in a hybrid linebacker fashion, it’s still a relatively new trend in the league, making for an uncertain market for a player with Barron’s skill set
The Rams topped the day by re-signing center Tim Barnes to a two-year $5.5 million deal with $3.25 million guaranteed, and re-signing wide receiver Brian Quick to a one-year deal that could max out at $3.75 million with $1.5 million guaranteed, according to the NFL Network.
Just a year ago the Rams didn’t even tender Barnes as a restricted free agent, instead signing him to a lesser amount. But the University of Missouri product earned a starting job in a three-way battle at center coming out of training camp, and after some tough moments early in the season played pretty well over the second half of the season.
The Rams also made one-year tender offers to quarterback Case Keenum and running back Benny Cunningham as restricted free agents. They tendered Keenum at the first-round level of $3.64 million, meaning the team gets a first-round draft pick as compensation if Keenum gets an outside offer and the Rams decide not to match.
Cunningham was tendered at the lowest level _ $1.67 million. Since Cunningham wasn’t drafted, that means they get matching rights but no draft pick compensation if they choose not to match. Given the low tender, it wouldn’t be shocking to see someone make a run at the versatile Cunningham.
The Rams didn’t make tender offers to three other restricted free agents: linebacker Daren Bates, running back Chase Reynolds, and center/guard Brian Folkerts. Folkerts, a Hazelwood Central High grad, later re-signed with the Rams, according to the team.
Bates and Reynolds were among the Rams’ top special teams players, Bates in fact was the Rams’ special teams captain. The Rams want Reynolds back if they can get him for a lower figure; and that’s probably the case with Bates as well.
znModeratorPFF’S LIVE FREE-AGENCY NEWS TRACKER
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/03/07/pro-pffs-live-free-agency-news-tracker/
Check back regularly as the PFF team provides updates and reactions on every NFL free-agent signing.
Throughout free agency, the PFF team will be commenting on the biggest signings, news, and rumors from around the league. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest free agency updates.
Mark Barron’s versatility too much for Rams to part ways with
4:10 p.m. ET, Wed., March 9According to Ian Rapoport, the Rams gave linebacker Mark Barron a five-year deal worth $45 million. It’s amazing to think that only two years after the Rams tossed pennies to the Bucs (fourth- and sixth-round picks) for Barron, they’re making him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL. The safety/linebacker hybrid is currently the “trendy” position in the NFL, and Barron fills the role admirably. The issue is that his deficiencies in coverage that forced his move from safety didn’t just disappear at linebacker—they were just less costly, as he graded out right around average in coverage. He’ll obviously improve with more experience at the position, but right now, all the Rams are paying for is potential. – Mike Renner, @PFF_Mike
Rams re-signing key defender in William Hayes
4:07 p.m. ET, Wed., March 9With DE Chris Long cut and DT Nick Fairley on the free-agent market, the Rams have come to terms on a new three-year deal with DE William Hayes (first reported by Mike Garafolo), with a maximum value of $21 million. Hayes was our No. 13 edge defender in 2015, and has graded very well the past four years, despite never officially being a full-time starter. In 652 pass-rush snaps the past two seasons, Hayes has racked up 10 sacks and 72 combined hits and pressures. – Josh Liskiewitz, @PFF_Josh
Rodney McLeod reportedly headed to Philadelphia
1:09 p.m. ET, Wed., March 9The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly landing Rams FS Rodney McLeod to a five-year, $37 million deal, per Ian Rapoport. McLeod is PFF’s fourth-best FA safety and 20th-overall FA, as he graded as the 10th best safety in 2015. McLeod played over 90 percent of his snaps from the deep safety spot in 2015, as he has been solid in pass coverage the past two seasons, allowing just three touchdowns to go along with three interceptions. It is yet to be seen how this shakes up the Eagles’ defensive backfield, but presumably this means Walter Thurmond is on his way out of the City of Brotherly Love. – John Kosko, @PFF_JohnKosko
Janoris Jenkins to the New York Giants
6.55 a.m. ET, Wed., March 9With the Rams tagging Trumaine Johnson it was always likely that Janoris Jenkins wouldn’t be making the move with them to Los Angeles. Well so it proved as according to Adam Schefter he’s going to sign a deal with the New York Giants who continue retooling their secondary. Jenkins has been something of a polarizing player since entering the league. Capable of the sublime and the ridiculous, he’s coming off his most solid year which saw him post his best touchdown allowed to interception differential (five to three) while breaking up a further 10 passes. The money he gets will be worth watching as it could set the market for guys like Sean Smith. Jenkins was our 26th ranked corner in 2015.
Rams re-sign WR Brian Quick
6:08 p.m. ET, Wed., March 9Brian Quick will be following the Rams to Los Angeles, as he’s signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal. Quick missed the beginning of the 2015 season, but still finished with nearly the same amount of offensive snaps as the previous two years. He finished with just 10 catches for 102 yards, both career lows. Quick’s 50.2 player grade ranked 108th out of 121 qualifying wide receivers last season. 2014 was his best season, when he caught 25 balls for 375 yards and three touchdowns—all career highs. – Matt Claassen, @PFF_Matt
Rams re-sign center Tim Barnes
4:54 p.m. ET, Wed., March 9According to Sam Farmer, the Rams are bringing back starting center Tim Barnes (45.6 overall grade in 2015). In his first year as a starter, he played in all but five snaps over the course of the season, but graded below average in both pass-blocking and run-blocking. Barnes did have two games against the Seahawks and Lions where he looked like one of the better centers in the league, but in more games than not, he wasn’t helping the team. Outside of right tackle Rob Havenstein (76.3), the Rams’ offensive line is a weak point for the team, and bringing back Barnes isn’t going to help their situation. – Nathan Jahnke, @PFF_NateJahnke
znModeratordam SchefterVerified @AdamSchefter
Buccaneers are giving former Seahawks guard J.R. Sweezy a 5-year, $32.5 million deal, per source.znModeratorwell. this pretty much eliminates lb in the first round.
Yeah, it seems they have their guy.
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—from off the net
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Kind of Blue/Gold
Mark Barron Fun Facts
Barron’s contract has been questioned by some, but the Rams may value him with Lavonte David, Pro Bowl WLB-type upside, and compensated him accordingly – David just signed a five year, $50 million ($25 million guaranteed) contract last year in the 2015 pre-season.
Barron was sort of playing at that level, his 66 solo tackles starting the last approx. 2/3 of the season would prorate to 100 solos, top 3-ish among NFL LBs . David himself, for instance, was #7 among LBs in 2015 (85 solo tackles – though second as a rookie in 2012 with 112, fifth in 2013 with 106 and second again in 2014 with 101, showing remarkable consistency). SF ILB Navorro Bowman was in a class by himself post-torn ACL, leading with 115+ solos, MLB Posluzsny, JAX and OAK WLBs Telvin and Malcolm Smith and KC ILB Derrick Johnson ranged from 103-95 solos.
They are somewhat paying for potential, being a position conversion, to an extent (though the way he was deployed formerly as a big nickel SS down in the box a lot used primarily in run support and occasional blitzes, is virtually indistinguishable from how he will be used as a full time WLB ), but he really did look like a natural. Interestingly, Barron was a five star prospect rated the #1 WLB prospect in the nation among the 2008 recruiting class by Scout.com who could have gone virtually ANYWHERE (in addition to Alabama, also offers from Auburn, LSU, Florida State and Florida, Tennessee, etc.), so he is in effect being converted BACK from DB to LB, where he began his multi-position journey and NFL pathway in the first place – his first conversion was from LB to safety at Alabama.
Back to the contract, not sure they had a choice, after losing half their secondary in the first few minutes of free agency, and already cutting JL and ANNOUNCING Barron was their intended replacement, they HAD to retain him.
Barron’s CV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_BarronTremendous, gifted prep athlete (sounds like a decathlete-type great athlete). Starred at RB, WR and LB. His track exploits sound like a poor man’s Christian Okoye (improbable combo as Nigerian national champ in BOTH the 100 and shot put), winning Alabama state titles in the triple and long jumps, discus and shot put.
Two time All-American at NFL pipeline/conduit Alabama
7th overall pick in the 2012 draft (the same when we traded the 1.2 to WAS, than traded their 1.6 to DAL and got Brockers at 1.14, also when we drafted JJ and TruJo in the second and third) would have given him among the highest pedigree for a safety since the merger, with late UCLA great Eric Turner [#2], former USC great Mark Carrier [#6], LSUs LaRon Landry [#6] and Miami legend and likely future Hall of Famer if not murdered, the late Sean Taylor [#7]. Also the highest pedigree on our defense, even with three firsts in the top half of the first round on the DL alone (Quinn, Donald and Brockers), as well as one other at LB, with Ogletree a late first, and if Ayers stays, not far behind as a relatively high second – as were the recently/just departed Laurinaitis and CB Jenkins, nickel CB Lamarcus Joyner was a mid-second. On offense, he would be second only to LT Robinson [1.2], and just ahead of Tavon Austin [1.8] and Todd Gurley [1.10]. Kenny Britt was a low first at TEN when Fisher was HC there, Saffold and Quick were high seconds.
Just 26, Barron’s best football could still be in front of him.
March 9, 2016 at 10:44 pm in reply to: Man Who Assaulted Black Woman At Trump Rally Learns It Ruined His Life #40325znModeratorIf indeed Trump is in favor of single-payer universal health insurance…2 things about that.
1. He’s running on his own money. He is therefore not beholden, like virtually everyone else is, to money from the pharms and private insurers.
2. I also would never be persuaded to vote for him, even with that. His overt racism is too much for me and having a Putin in office who thinks and talks that way for 4 years would be bad. I’ll wait until a progressive shakes free of the pharms and insurers and vote for them some day.
znModeratorHowever, you countered that “being in the middle” is in fact an ideology-something you claim I deny. Hence my response. Nevertheless, clearly in sociological terms being pragmatic is not an ideology. And to answer you other question in terms of whether the hatred between republicans and democrats has “always been that way”. Well-not in my world. At least not until the last several years. Maybe our society is simply more vitriolic these days. More callous. More malicious. I don’t know-maybe this is a product of an internet generation where on boards like this you can say anything you want against another w/o fear of being punched in the face. Maybe its reality TV. Who knows-but in such an environment the bully becomes the most popular. Hence you get Trump.
I guess I ran off the subject. I’m tired.
“Being in the middle” IS an ideology. In fact it cannot NOT be. And the idea that it is “pragmatic” is just spin and rhetoric and advertizing. It’s always something we SAY we are. As a rule, what I see from “middlers” is a general acceptance of the status quo, accompanied by the claim that those who advocate change are “on the extreme.” Inventing an “extreme” is part of its self-advertizing…it then paints general acceptance of the status quo as reasonable and practical.
Meanwhile I say I am an absolutely dead-on pragmatist because the policies that attract me are working in the world (they’re just exiled from the USA mainstream) and would have, if implemented, enormously positive effects.
When I say I am a pragmatist, is that rhetoric too? Of course it is. It’s just another way of explaining and defending certain positions.
See, to me, there is no “extreme” left in the USA, except among a tiny minority, and they don’t have candidates. That’s because there’s barely a LEFT in the USA, though there is throughout the developed world and even in south america (though all of those differ from one another). Those of us on the left do not count people like the Chinese communists as “left”—to us those are one-party authoritarians, and to the left, authoritarian is not left. (Sanders btw is more of a progressive than any candidate I have seen run for office in my lifetime.)
Many of the policies I see as reasonable, practical, obvious, sensible have a real basis throughout the developed world, and where implemented, work. But here in the USA they get labelled extreme. I don’t think of them as extreme at all. I just see the USA as tilted so far to the right that ideas like that are just usually just excluded from the mainstream.
Now is me saying all that an example of ideology, a colored lens, a bias in favor of certain policies? Absolutely. It’s no different from any other political position when it comes to that.
BTW it’s a big part of ordinary dominant mainstream thinking to see reform movements as driven by out-of-touch, emotional extremists. It’s one of the ways the mainstream limits the kinds of ideas it circulates, and unlike places in the world where there is actually real genuine political diversity, tends to narrow the range of the conversation.
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znModerator
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