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znModerator“The team can place one of three tenders on the player. The highest tender is the 1st round compensation tender, meaning if another team signs the player and the original team decides to not match it the new team will have to give the team a 1st round draft pick in 2014. If the team does not own their first round pick (such as the Bills) they are unable to sign the restricted free agent. The other tenders are a 2nd round tender, original draft round, and finally right of first refusal tender. The ROFR means you get no compensation if you decide to not match the offer sheet. Teams have five days to match the new offer sheet. During that time period the player will count on both teams’ salary cap.”
March 9, 2016 at 2:25 pm in reply to: 4/9 tweets & kwik-hit messages on free agency… Rams pursuing corner? etc. #40226znModeratorPeter King @SI_PeterKing
Reminder to the panic-stricken that your team’s not doing mega-deals today: Lots more bad deals than good get signed on Free Agency day 1.znModeratorIan Rapoport @RapSheet
#Browns C Alex Mack is headed to the #Falcons, source said. The 5-year deal is being finalized.Peter King reports the deal is worth $9.5 million per year.
znModeratorRams prepared to handle loss of Janoris Jenkins
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Make no mistake, the Los Angeles Rams badly wanted to keep cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
They tried for more than a year to strike a long-term deal with their soon-to-be former No. 1 cornerback, but it was all for naught. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Jenkins is headed to the New York Giants on a deal that will pay him more than $12 million per season. The move can’t be made official until 4 p.m. ET, when the new league year begins.
Assuming there are no hiccups before that, Jenkins is on his way to play for former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants’ defensive coordinator. Really, Jenkins’ departure should not surprise. He was always going to go to the highest bidder, and once the Rams put the franchise tag on fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson, the team’s willingness to pay such a heavy freight for Jenkins dwindled.
Back in October, Jenkins said he was looking for a team that would give him a deal that would show the “respect” he believed he deserved. League sources told me he would seek a contract that would start at the $10.5 million annual average that the Philadelphia Eagles gave Byron Maxwell last year. The Rams were more comfortable with something in the area of $8 million per year.
In heading to New York, Jenkins takes his knack for big plays — his six return touchdowns are the most of any defensive player in the NFL in the past four years — with him. He also takes his penchant for allowing big plays — Pro Football Focus has him down for 22 touchdowns allowed in that same time span, third most in the NFL.
Jenkins had his best NFL season in 2015, cutting down on some of the mistakes that previously plagued him, and the Rams understandably wanted to bring him back because of it. But if there was one player among their key defensive free agents whom they were equipped to handle losing, it was Jenkins — not necessarily Jenkins personally, but more so one of their top corners.
Once they tagged Johnson instead, it made Jenkins the most likely candidate to depart. That’s not to say the Rams will be able to keep others like ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims and linebacker/safety Mark Barron, but they are right to put the priority on trying to keep those players rather than paying big money for a second corner.
That’s because the Rams have some depth in place that makes losing Jenkins more tolerable. Johnson will return as the No. 1 corner, a job he hasn’t done much in his four NFL seasons but showed he could handle in a late-season win against the Detroit Lions and receiver Calvin Johnson. Opposite Trumaine Johnson, the Rams are expecting to get E.J. Gaines back in the fold after a season-ending foot injury. Remember, Gaines was actually the favorite to win the starting job instead of Johnson before last season. Assuming he returns to health, which is the expectation, Gaines is capable of stepping in and playing well.
Lamarcus Joyner took a big step forward as the nickel corner and Marcus Roberson is a still-developing talent who can handle the fourth cornerback job. And, of course, the Rams could still turn to the draft to add another topflight corner, especially with three picks in the top 45.
In the meantime, they now have more money they were ready to spend on Jenkins that they can allocate elsewhere. That means continued efforts to keep the likes of Barron, Hayes and Sims and potentially even find some upgrades for an offense in desperate need of some.
No, the Rams didn’t want to lose Jenkins just like most teams don’t want to lose players they’ve drafted and developed. But at least in this case, they’re prepared to replace him.
March 9, 2016 at 1:50 pm in reply to: 4/9 tweets & kwik-hit messages on free agency… Rams pursuing corner? etc. #40221znModeratorAnd another domino falls in Rams secondary. No obvious replacement in house for this one, though. https://t.co/ELrwy4z0Jq
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 9, 2016
znModeratorfigured JJ would be hard to resign but isn’t Mcleod’s contract unusually large for a safety?
EDIT: this is wrong. I correct it below.
If the reported numbers are right, in terms of annual avg.
McCleod’s deal with the Eagles would rank 18th.The top 5 safeties avg. 9.6 M per year.Right now this is a defense that has subtracted 4 starters.
znModeratorRight now they have both Christian Bryant and Cody Davis. Bryant is currently listed as a strong safety on the depth chart, but IMO that was because of losing McDonald.
I don’t know what they will do, but, if G.Wms does anything, it’s develop safeties. Maybe they like either Davis or Bryant.
As I recall, a couple of years ago McCleod did not appear to be irreplaceable. Given that it’s possible they could like someone they already have, someone we don’t know enough about yet to say.
Or they could add someone. Or both…they could add someone, AND promote Bryant or Davis.
…
March 9, 2016 at 12:11 pm in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #40211znModeratorfrom off the net
===
BigGame81
Eagles just signed Chase Daniels. So they won’t be drafting a QB in Round 1. Not with Bradford and Daniels.
March 9, 2016 at 11:28 am in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #40209znModeratorWagoner: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers — This is still the name that makes the most sense to me for the Rams on this list from a scheme, cost (on a new, short-term deal) and upside standpoint. He’s the most accomplished in terms of winning in the postseason
You would think ole Wagoner would be beyond the “look at the team record, it tells you all about the qb” approach.
They worked around CK’s limitations and won with defense and running the ball. That wasn’t CK.
And, the more they have had to depend on him since then, the more he has regressed.
In the 2013 playoffs, CK was 45 of 82 (53.6%) for 6.85 YPA, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, and an avg. qb rating of 73.2 (ranked 11th in that year’s playoffs). He also ran for 28 yards.
March 9, 2016 at 11:10 am in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #40208znModeratorAs free agency begins, quarterback market still unclear for Rams
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — At 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, the free-agent negotiating window will give way to the real business of the NFL and the Los Angeles Rams and the rest of the league will finally be able to be about action rather than discussion.
The two-day negotiating window has offered some early answers on destinations for top free agents such as end Malik Jackson, pass-rusher Bruce Irvin and guard Kelechi Osemele. But the game’s most important position, quarterback, still hasn’t gained clarity.
From a Rams’ perspective, interest in the free-agent quarterbacks has either been a well-kept secret or it’s just plain tepid. That doesn’t mean the Rams won’t kick the tires on some of the available signal callers, but it seems other dominoes may need to fall before we see if the Rams are going to seriously pursue a free agent or wait until the draft to get better there.
Heading toward the start of the new league year, here’s what we know about some of the quarterbacks poised to hit the market:
Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos — Osweiler is widely-regarded as the best option on the market and it seems that a two-horse race between the Broncos and Houston Texans has emerged. Reports have indicated that Osweiler is pondering offers in the $13-15 million annual range. If that’s the case, it’s understandable why the Rams might not be willing to get in the mix. Osweiler doesn’t have much of a sample size and a commitment beyond one year at a high price comes with its share of risk.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets — Fitzpatrick has long been presumed to return to the Jets and though that still could be in the works, there are contradictory reports on how close the two sides are to a deal. The New York Daily News believes it’s all posturing and the marriage between the two will continue. Fitzpatrick could become an option for the Broncos if they lose out on Osweiler but otherwise, it doesn’t seem the market for him is more than lukewarm. The Rams drafted Fitzpatrick when he entered the league but they don’t offer the situation the Jets do in terms of receiver help.
Chase Daniel, Kansas City Chiefs — Daniel doesn’t seem like a fit for the Rams since he’s a bit redundant with current projected starter Case Keenum. Nonetheless, he brings some intrigue simply because there’s a bit of the unknown based on his lack of opportunities as a starter. Even though they re-signed Sam Bradford, there are multiple reports that a reunion with coach Doug Pederson in Philadelphia could be in the offing for Daniel. Still, if he wants to be a starter, he’ll probably need to look elsewhere.
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins — Washington did what was long expected on Monday when it released Griffin. Immediately, the rumors connecting Griffin and the Rams heated up again. But ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that the Rams had “no significant interest” in Griffin and while that left some wiggle room with the use of the word significant, there haven’t been any signs of the Rams making a push in that direction yet.
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers — This is still the name that makes the most sense to me for the Rams on this list from a scheme, cost (on a new, short-term deal) and upside standpoint. He’s the most accomplished in terms of winning in the postseason and he’s still young enough to turn his career around. The Niners have said they want to keep Kaepernick but there have been signs to the contrary, including potential interest in Griffin. And there’s still a good chance San Francisco will use the No. 7 overall pick on a quarterback. What the Niners do in the next couple of weeks should tip their hand on Kaepernick’s future, but it seems unlikely the Rams would want to offer much, if anything, in trade when they know he could ultimately be released. Kaepernick has his warts or he wouldn’t be on this list but we’ll keep monitoring this situation moving forward.
March 9, 2016 at 11:02 am in reply to: former Rams in free agency (Barksdale, JL, Givens, etc.) #40207znModeratorAdam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Former Rams DE Chris Long, who visited Washington this week, scheduled to visit the Cowboys, per source.znModeratorrotoworld.com
Giants give Janoris Jenkins 5 years, $62.5M
Giants agreed to terms with CB Janoris Jenkins, formerly of the Rams, on a five-year, $62.5 million contract.The deal includes “around” $30 million in fully guaranteed money. After turning down five years and $45 million from the Rams, Jenkins went on to hit it big as the No. 1 available corner. The $12.5 million per year places Jenkins as the league’s seventh-highest paid corner in terms of annual average. The Giants better hope they’re getting the 2015 version of Jenkins rather than the 2012-2014 one who got roasted routinely for big plays. Jenkins has allowed 22 touchdowns in his coverage across his four NFL seasons. The G-Men have a ton of money invested in cornerback with Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They now need to find safety help and some pass rushers.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter Mar 9 – 10:32 AM
znModeratorprofootballfocus.com
The Giants’ new starting cornerback adds a boom-or-bust element to the secondary.
BEN STOCKWELL
Editor’s note: Grades and analysis for this article may be updated as further details of the deal are reported.
The deal: Per a report from Rand Getlin, cornerback Janoris Jenkins will sign with the Giants when free agency opens with Ian Rapoport adding that it will be a multi-year deal “worth more than $12 million per year.”
Grade: D
What it means for the Giants: This is a boom-or-bust move for the Giants. From a financial perspective, this is a big gamble on a cornerback who has not proven himself to be among the top tier of corners. Jenkins has consistently been a corner equally adept at creating impact plays for both his team and the opposition.
Since Jenkins entered the league in 2012, only Buster Skrine (25) and Patrick Peterson (23) have surrendered more than Jenkins’ 22 touchdowns, while only four corners (Antonio Cromartie, Brandon Carr, Cary Williams and Tramon Williams) have allowed more plays of 20-plus yards than Jenkins (39). On the positive side, Jenkins will make big plays for his own team as well; his 10 career interceptions are tied for the 12th-most since he entered the league, and his 34 passes defensed are tied for the seventh-most.
Paired with incumbent No. 1 corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jenkins gives the Giants two aggressive corners who love to make plays on the ball. Rodgers-Cromartie himself has 12 interceptions and 38 passes defensed since 2012, and if the Giants can land a pass-rusher to play opposite Jason Pierre-Paul, they are setting themselves up to have an extremely aggressive pass defense that could lead for some explosive games in 2016 — for both them and their opponents.
What it means for the Rams: When the Rams franchise-tagged Trumaine Johnson last week, it seemed clear that the Rams were moving on from trying to retain Jenkins. While Jenkins has provided Jekyll and Hyde play since he entered the league, Johnson has been a far more consistently positive presence in the Rams secondary. Johnson has 15 interceptions (five more than Jenkins) since 2012 and 20 pass defenses on 1,300 fewer snaps.
The Rams need a second corner opposite Johnson now that Jenkins is headed for the Big Apple, but they can get comparable if not more consistent play at a far lower price than the Giants have paid Jenkins.
znModeratorWill Rams spend freely to keep and pursue free agents?
By RICH HAMMOND
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-707418-free-agents.html
It’s time to find out whether the slow-build, draft-and-develop Rams are ready to move into win-quick mode.
Already, this has been a year of transition because of franchise relocation and the Rams, with a young roster, have banked approximately $45 million in salary-cap space. They can spend freely starting Wednesday , when the NFL year officially begins and the free-agent signing period opens.
Under Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead, the Rams have been consistently mediocre, with records of 7-8-1, 7-9, 6-10 and 7-9. Since 2012, though, management has been building a core of young players. Is now the time to complement them with some higher-priced free agents?
“You want to tip and have that winning season,” Snead said recently. “We’ve been on the cusp for a couple.”
Spending for the sake of spending rarely works out well, but the Rams have the ability to target positions in need of an upgrade and the financial flexibility to out-bid competitors in the free-agent market.
First, the Rams must answer internal questions. They enter the day with 11 players who are unrestricted free agents, including six starters: center Tim Barnes, defensive end William Hayes, linebacker Mark Barron, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod and kicker Greg Zuerlein.
The Rams must also replace three veteran starters they cut last month: defensive end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurinaitis and tight end Jared Cook.
It’s possible that several of the free agents will return. They’ve been able, since Monday, to gauge their value on the open market during what the NFL cheekily calls a “legal tampering” period, during which pending free agents can negotiate with other teams.
The Rams hope several of those players will return, but if not, they face a potentially large restructure.
Defense has been the Rams’ clear strength in recent years, but the decision to cut Laurinaitis and Long meant the team would have to improve its depth among the front seven. Should the Rams also lose Hayes, Barron or backup linemen Nick Fairley and Eugene Sims, the situation would become even more urgent.
The Rams attempted to re-sign Jenkins but could not, then used the franchise-player tag on their other starting cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, and resigned themselves to the idea that Jenkins would hit the open market. He is likely to be a top cornerback target for several other teams.
There’s more certainty for the Rams on offense, where they know what spots need to be filled.
At the oft-discussed quarterback spot, the Rams could make a big splash by going after Brock Osweiler or Robert Griffin III, or go for the lower-profile Ryan Fitzpatrick or Chase Daniel. The Rams’ activity, when it comes to free-agent quarterbacks, could indicate whether they intend to draft one in the first round.
An upgrade at receiver is also possible. Beyond Tavon Austin, the Rams aren’t particularly deep or strong, but then again, neither is the free-agent class of receivers.
The most intriguing option might be Marvin Jones, who played at Etiwanda High in Rancho Cucamonga and Cal. Jones had 816 receiving yards for Cincinnati last season, and it will be interesting to see whether teams view Jones, 25, as a potential No. 1 receiver.
The Rams also must get six restricted free agents under contract – quarterback Case Keenum, running backs Benny Cunningham and Chase Reynolds, offensive lineman Brian Folkerts, linebacker Daren Bates and safety Cody Davis – and the future of backup running back Tre Mason remains uncertain. Mason was arrested Saturday and the Rams have not yet commented on his long-term status.
It’s already been a busy week in the NFL, with teams retaining potential free agents and agreeing to terms with those on other teams during the legal tampering period. Thus far, the Rams have been quiet, but given all the questions they face, that won’t be the case for long.
“Everybody is trying to find out what their realistic value is,” Snead said. “That’s why I do think it is a positive that we have that 48-hour period. … (Potential free agents) can come back and say, ‘This is what we’ve got,’ and you either say yes or no, or they may figure out that what we’ve been offering all along is the best deal.’
znModeratorWhat we learned: Big-name free agents off board
Gregg Rosenthal
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000642569/article/what-we-learned-bigname-free-agents-off-board
Free agency hasn’t officially started, yet many of the best free agents are already accounted for. That was the biggest takeaway from a busy Tuesday that included five of our top seven available players agreeing to terms. The teams that jumped on big players early — should not be a surprise.
Let’s break down the four most important moves of the day in order of cash:
Top 99 available free agents
Mario Williams agrees to deal with Dolphins
Malik Jackson set to join Jaguars
Kelechi Osemele reaches deal with Raiders
Jason Pierre-Paul staying with Giants
Bills, Richie Incognito strike three-year deal
Potential landing spots for RGIII
Best team fits for free agency
Breer: Building-block free agents
Watch:
Marvin Jones a priority for Bengals
Vikings release Mike Wallace1. The Jacksonville Jaguars entered free agency with a record amount of salary-cap space, a requirement to spend most of it, and a mandate from ownership to win now. It should be no surprise they agreed to terms with our No. 1 overall free agent Malik Jackson on a six-year contract worth $90 million, including $42 million fully guaranteed according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. In short: A player that has never made a Pro Bowl and wasn’t even a full-time starter until 2015 just got paid like a starting quarterback. And we don’t think it was a crazy move. Jacksonville needs to improve its defense and Jackson is a versatile fit for any scheme. The Jaguars also are adding a nice complement to T.J. Yeldon in their backfield with power back Chris Ivory from the Jets, according to Rapoport
2-3. The most surprising news of the day came late when the Raiders swooped in and stole former Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin from the Arizona Cardinals and other potential suitors. We are waiting to hear details on the money, but it’s safe to expect it will be massive. The Raiders wanted some help in the front seven with Khalil Mack after missing Aldon Smith in the second half of last season, and they found it with Irvin. While he’s not a pure pass rusher like Smith, Irvin’s flexibility should fit into any system.
Last year, the Raiders had more salary-cap room than they knew what to do with. This season, general manager Reggie McKenzie made sure that wasn’t a problem again. Kelechi Osemele is hardly a household name, but he’s one of the best guards in football. NFL Media’s Rand Getlin was the first to report his agreement with the Raiders. His contract, which averages more than $11 million per season, resets the market at guard (Osemele could wind up playing tackle for the Raiders, too).
4. The Dolphins annually make big news in March, and this year has been no exception. Following Monday’s big trade agreement with the Eagles, they doubled down on their strategy of buying medium on big names that struggled elsewhere by signing a two-year, $16 million deal with Mario Williams. Cameron Wake remains in the team’s plans, which makes it very hard to imagine they will keep Olivier Vernon. So the Dolphins essentially chose to get older at defensive end with a player whose effort was widely questioned last season. Miami has done this “Offseason Champion” thing before without a lot of success.
5. Jason Pierre-Paul will try to get his Malik Jackson-like money next season. His one-year deal to stay with the Giants was a sign of how well the Giants handled his situation last year. He probably could have earned more money elsewhere, but he wanted to stay where he was comfortable and produce a huge 2016 season before cashing in next year. We think he has a chance to be one of the best bargains of this free-agent period. The Giants have so many holes on defense that they should remain very active over the next week. That’s how the start of free agency goes: Desperation inspires spending.
The hog mollies up front weren’t the only players in the news Tuesday. Let’s break down the rest of the activity on the eve of free agency:
Megatron retires his way
One day after Peyton Manning’s retirement news conference, Calvin Johnson walked away from football in fitting fashion. Even the impact of his announcement was diminished by all the other moves of the day, not to mention the two-month buildup leading to the moment.
“Let me begin by apologizing for making this announcement via a statement and not in person. While I truly respect the significance of this, those who know me best will understand and not be surprised that I choose not to have a press conference for this announcement,” Johnson stated.
Kevin Patra wrote a great piece about Johnson’s decision to retire. It’s not going to be easy for Matthew Stafford or Lions general manager Bob Quinn to handle a Megatron-sized hole on the depth chart.
Best Bargain of the day
The Panthers released defensive end Charles Johnson last Thursday when he was set to count more than $15 million on the salary cap. They agreed to re-sign him on Tuesday for $3 million, despite getting offers for double that elsewhere. A lot of players say it’s not about the money, but Johnson truly meant it. As Johnson showed in the Super Bowl, he still has plenty of snaps left as a solid starter. The Panthers were thin at defensive end if he left, and Johnson ultimately spurned division rivals (Tampa) after visiting with them, just like he spurned a big-free agent offer from the Atlanta Falcons in 2011.
I would rather have Charles Johnson than Mario Williams at any salary, much less at less than half the price.
Johnson staying “home” with the Panthers is a cool story, just like Tamba Hali’s contract with the Chiefs. It would be strange to see Hali play in any other uniform. One year after taking a paycut to stay on the roster, Hali earned his three-year, $22 million deal.
Tweet that would have been hard to imagine two years ago
Incognito played extremely well for Rex Ryan last year in Buffalo, and the team showed they saw him as a priority with a three-year contract worth $15 million, Rapoport reported.
Cuts to know about
1. Mike Wallace, who was our top free agent available back in 2013, is back on the open market again. He wasn’t worth the money in Minnesota, although he could still help a team as a deep threat specialist.
2. Colts general manager Ryan Grigson finally admitted his error from 2013 by cutting first-round pick Bjoern Werner.
3. The Broncos, a rare team tight to the cap this year, had to let go of former All-Pro guard Louis Vasquez. Tight end Owen Daniels also was let go.
Signings to know
1. Tight end Jordan Cameron will stay with the Dolphins after taking a small pay cut on his current deal. Cameron vanished last season, but he should be a nice fit for offensive coordinator Adam Gase’s offense.
2. The Ravens surprisingly signed one of Drew Brees’ best buddies, tight end Ben Watson, to a two-year contract. Watson will act as a mentor to a pair of young tight ends in Baltimore. Watson was also a Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate.
3. The Colts signed Adam Vinatieri to a new contract. He’s 43 years old and will be entering his twenty-first season in the league, and eleventh with the Colts!
4. Drew Stanton will be back with the Arizona Cardinals for all your sideline dancing needs.
znModeratorNFC West free agency preview: Capsules of NFC West teams heading into free agency.
Available salary cap space is an estimate. The 2016 salary cap is $155.27 million per team.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (14-4)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Rashad Johnson, CB Jerraud Powers, RB Chris Johnson, RT Bobby Massie, TE Jermaine Gresham, OLB Dwight Freeney, C Lyle Sendlein, LG Ted Larsen, QB Drew Stanton, ILB Sean Weatherspoon, DE Josh Mauro, OLB LaMarr Woodley, RT Bradley Sowell, DE Red Bryant, CB Corey White, OLB Jason Babin.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Tony Jefferson, WR Jaron Brown, S D.J. Swearinger, ILB Kenny Demens, TE Ifeanyi Momah.
NEEDS: GM Steve Keim listed finding outside pass rusher as a top priority. Freeney filled in admirably after his in-season signing, finishing with team-high eight sacks in 11 games. But Freeney is contemplating retirement and team might want to go in another direction, anyway. Keim doesn’t usually go after high-money free agents. Cardinals already have promising rookie OLB Markus Golden. Cardinals also are hunting for center, Massie probably will leave and Cardinals insist last year’s first-round pick D.J. Humphries is ready. But they may want a veteran just in case; same could be said for RG. Also need bigger CB even if Powers re-signs. And they need backup QB if Stanton doesn’t re-sign. Keim is adept at plugging holes with late one-year deals with veterans. Effort to extend S Tyrann Mathieu could limit available cap space.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE: $16 million.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-9)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: C Tim Barnes, LB Mark Barron, DT Nick Fairley, DE William Hayes, FB Cory Harkey, CB Janoris Jenkins, S Rodney McLeod, WR Brian Quick, DE Eugene Sims, WR Nick Toon, WR Wes Welker, K Greg Zuerlein.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Daren Bates, RB Benny Cunningham, DB Cody Davis, QB Case Keenum, RB Chase Reynolds.
NEEDS: Rams will scour quarterback market for addition to compete with Case Keenum, Nick Foles and Sean Mannion. They could use upgrades at almost every offensive position aside from running back, with offensive line and tight end getting particular attention. Defense will be solid if they re-sign their own free agents, but Los Angeles might look at potential starting cornerbacks if it won’t meet Janoris Jenkins’ hefty price.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE: $44 million
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-11)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Anquan Boldin, OL Alex Boone, K Phil Dawson, DL Ian Williams, RB Reggie Bush.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Michael Wilhoite, DL Tony Jerod-Eddie, S Ray-Ray Armstrong.
NEEDS: Biggest priority will be deciding whether to keep QB Colin Kaepernick and his nearly $12 million salary or let him go and find another quarterback to team with Blaine Gabbert. RT Anthony Davis could return after sitting out last season but offensive line will still need help even with Davis back. Niners also must upgrade at receiver and in secondary if they are to rebound in coach Chip Kelly’s first season.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE: $63 million.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-7)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: T Russell Okung, DT Brandon Mebane, DT Ahtyba Rubin, G J.R. Sweezy, WR Jermaine Kearse, LB Bruce Irvin, CB Jeremy Lane, QB Tarvaris Jackson, LB Mike Morgan, P Jon Ryan, RB Fred Jackson, FB Will Tukuafu, DE Demarcus Dobbs, C Lemuel Jeanpierre, TE Chase Coffman, RB Bryce Brown, TE Anthony McCoy.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Ricardo Lockette, DB DeShawn Shead, LB Nick Moody, RB Christine Michael, C Patrick Lewis, DB Steven Terrell, DT A.J. Francis, T Alvin Bailey, FB Derrick Coleman, CB Marcus Burley, CB Mohammed Seisay, TE Cooper Helfet, LB Eric Pinkins, DT Jesse Williams.
NEEDS: Line of scrimmage is priority for Seattle. There are problems to solve on offensive line and decisions to make on bringing back Okung and Sweezy. On the defensive front, Seattles direction will be determined whether Rubin or Mebane is retained. Irvin is expected to be hot commodity on open market so Seattle will also need to find pass-rushing outside linebacker and could be looking to fill cornerback if Lane seeks new home.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE: $20
znModerator
Free agency: All eyes are on Brock Osweiler, including Ryan Fitzpatrick’sJASON LA CANFORA
It’s foolish to believe too much of what any team says, or whispers, this time of year, with free agency on the horizon. There’s a high-stakes game of leverage and bluffing underway between NFL clubs and agents.
But when it comes to the New York Jets, and them holding a firm line on how high they will go to compensate quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, I tend to buy in.
While it is true the rampant spending on quarterbacks has driven up what some passers will look for on the open market and in looming renegotiations, it will apply more in some cases than others. And in the particular case of Fitzpatrick, I still see his ultimate earning potential and leverage to be somewhat capped.
In fact, if Brock Osweiler ends up staying in Denver, then I don’t see too many viable options for Fitzpatrick beyond returning to the Jets. Making matters a little more interesting, Osweiler and Fitzpatrick are both represented by the same man, Jimmy Sexton.
John Elway wants to keep Osweiler, it has been and remains far and away their favored option and, after developing him for four years, watching him walk would be somewhat painful. Of course, the Broncos also franchised Von Miller and would like to keep Malik Jackson — that gets more bleak by the day — and if anything, 2015 proved beyond belief to them that with their defense they don’t even need a game manager to win.
There is some very real interest for Osweiler from Houston. (USATSI)
Some weeks, Osweiler and/or Peyton Manning were barely serviceable. In the postseason it was clear Denver had a unique formula here where the quarterback didn’t need to lead the way, he just needed to keep from messing it up.That’s not to say they are low-balling Osweiler in any way. Sources said they are offering $13 million per year on a three-year deal — not bad for a kid with seven NFL starts — and I would expect Denver to be willing to lift that offer to $15 million per year. Beyond that, however, they may draw a line.
What Osweiler has going for him, however, is some very real interest from the Texans, who have been stealth in the weeds on this situation for quite some time just waiting for the opportunity to speak to Osweiler. It only takes one team to get a contract and if you have two teams, you have a market. Osweiler has a market and given the timing of the recent spending splurges, he is very well-positioned.
But let’s consider Fitzpatrick for a moment. He was traded by the Texans for a conditional late-round pick a year ago; obviously he is not going back there. And he’s been there/done that with the Rams as well, another team potentially in the market for a starter, albeit in a limited fashion. And signing a 33-year old quarterback at this stage of the Rams’ perpetual rebuild doesn’t make much sense, either.
The Browns want to draft a quarterback with the second-overall pick. Now he’s going to have Robert Griffin III on the market and perhaps soon, Colin Kaepernick joining him.
The Bills? They are sticking with Tyrod Taylor, have a cap crisis and Fitzpatrick already got paid there once before and then it all fell apart.
Seriously, if Osweiler goes to Houston, then I get it. Fitzpatrick gets some play with the Broncos and maybe he can command a little more coin. But I wouldn’t blame the Jets at all for sticking to their stance here and being willing to watch how the Osweiler saga unfolds. Fitzpatrick is clearly the best fit with them, he’s been at his best with Chan Gailey as his offensive coordinator, the Jets nearly made the playoffs a year ago and teammates like Brandon Marshall are mounting a sustained campaign to lobby him back.
Whatever it turns out to be — $12 million per year on a bridge contract (2-3 years) with the chance to earn more in incentives — is probably good enough. Yes, Fitzpatrick has a unique allure to the Jets, but they have the same symbiotic relationship with him, and this team will have other plans to land a quarterback and their greater reality if they have to find a way to develop a quarterback of the future over the next 12 months regardless. Perhaps Bryce Petty is that guy or maybe they draft another quarterback in the mid-rounds.
A wise Ron Wolf once pontificated about the need to always be drafting quarterbacks. I suspect the Jets are wise enough themselves to be heeding that advice.
So, if Osweiler goes, maybe, maybe, so does Fitzpatrick. But if he stays, I don’t see many viable options for Fitzpatrick to go to.
Running backs are at the opposite end of the spectrum
Mercy me, it’s tough out there for a running back. This is the opposite end of the spectrum from what’s going on with quarterbacks. Godspeed to this group of free-agents runners. They’re going to need all the help they can get.
When DeMarco Murray — the rare back to manage to get himself overpaid by a run amuck Chip Kelly a year ago — re-does his contract a year later to facilitate a trade, you know it’s bad. I didn’t see any of these free agent backs getting much above $5 million per year prior to the Murray trade, and now, with the Titans — the team most execs identified as the club most likely to overpay for a runner — now out of that market, things only constrict further.
Many have long believed that Doug Martin will end up back with the Buccaneers, where he fits well and where they need a run game to buttress Jameis Winston — and they have the money to spend. Now more than ever that’s probably his best bet.
Lamar Miller’s quest to make more than $5 million a year may have taken a significant hit with Murray shuffled off to Tennessee now. The 49ers, another team doing work on free agent backs, seem inclined to go more on the cheap at that position and with so many attractive backs in the second tier — Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, and older Matt Forte — this could be a market where teams stick together (dare I type, collude?) to keep the money available to running backs at a very reasonable rate.
Roseman performing magic tricks with contracts in Philly
As much as I disagree with the contract the Eagles did for Sam Bradford, my goodness, let me applaud Howie Roseman for the magic tricks he performed on Monday. I didn’t think you could trade Murray’s contract, or Byron Maxwell’s contract — both part of Kelly’s implosion program in Philly — and not have to give away a bunch of picks with it. I didn’t think you could do it and not have to assume a large portion of the guaranteed money as part of the trade. And ain’t no way in hell I believed it was possible to unload them both within a few hours in the same day.
Bravo. Bravo.
This was part of the mess Roseman inherited in the aftermath of the power struggle for control of the Eagles’ front office a year ago, and it comes as no surprise that Roseman would want them gone with Kelly now exiled as well. But wanting something and being able to accomplish it are two different things, and I don’t care what he gets back in draft pick compensation, this is addition by subtraction and eliminates distractions there and turns the page further on the Kelly experiment.
The Eagles are unloading many of Kelly’s players, including Murray. Roseman is motivated to pawn off running back Ryan Mathews as well, I continue to hear, and will probably take next to nothing to move him. They may be positioned to draft a back in the first round, and I would not be surprised at all if the takes the future cash and cap savings from shipping off Murray and Maxwell and invests it in an extension for Fletcher Cox and perhaps a free-agent corner as well (he’s dabbled in that market with some regularity).
Even if Murray, Maxwell and Kiko Alonso thrive elsewhere — and there are serious doubts about that — I get this move and the message it sends. I didn’t think anyone could pull it off.
Things are unfolding very nicely for Olivier Vernon
Olivier Vernon is going to one of the big winners in this free agency. Miami placing a transition tag on him is like asking to lose him — and there’s no shortage of teams lining up to put together offer sheets.
Plenty of people around the league are scratching their heads at what the Dolphins are doing, including kicking the can down the road by pushing more money deeper into Ndamukong Suh’s contract via a restructure to create cap space.
Also, no progress between them and Cameron Wake on a new deal whatsoever, and it’s pretty clear they either pay him $9 million this season or cut him; not much middle ground there.
znModeratorRams have priorities set heading into the free-agency period
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-rams-free-agency-20160309-story.html
Peyton Manning is retired and off the market.
Robert Griffin III is available, and Brock Osweiler and Ryan Fitzpatrick are among unrestricted free-agent quarterbacks who could sign with new teams.
All are more high-profile options than Case Keenum, the Rams’ presumptive starter.
See the most-read stories in Sports this hour>>
The Rams could create competition at quarterback when the annual frenzy that is the NFL free agency begins Wednesday. However, Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead have said that re-signing free agents in their secondary is the top priority.
“You’ve got to have a plan, and Plan A is to get our guys done,” Snead said last week after a team meeting in Manhattan Beach. “And then there’s a [Plan] B and a C.”
With the salary cap at $155.27 million, NFL teams have about $1 billion in combined available cap space to spend. The Jacksonville Jaguars, with more than $79 million, have the most.
The Rams have about $45 million in cap space after signing cornerback Trumaine Johnson last week to a one-year franchise tender for nearly $14 million.
The 48-hour window known as the “legal tampering” period began Monday, allowing representatives for free agents to negotiate with teams but not sign contracts. They can start signing contracts Wednesday at 1 p.m. PST.
The Rams have 12 unrestricted free agents, including cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod and safety-linebacker Mark Barron. Snead said last month that re-signing those three and Johnson was “priority A.”
“We’ve got a sound, rational plan to get it done,” he said. “We’ll be competitive and I think, obviously, getting a chance to play for Coach Fisher and coming to L.A. can be a good tiebreaker.”
Johnson is in the fold for this season and the Rams will continue to negotiate a long-term deal until the July 15 deadline. Jenkins, the other starting cornerback last season, hired a new agent last week and has indicated via social media that he was seeking a larger payday than what the Rams were offering.
Linemen William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Nick Fairley also are unrestricted free agents from a defense that was regarded as the team’s strength last season. Hayes is expected to garner interest from several teams and Fairley also could be targeted.
Keenum is among five restricted free agents, and Snead has said, “We’re not going to let him go somewhere else.”
Keenum said last week that he was buoyed by his coaches’ confidence in him.
“I want to be the leader that this team needs,” he said. “It’s not just on the field on Sundays. It’s not just on the field during the week in practice. It’s off the field. It’s in the meeting room … It’s in the weight room. It’s in the cafeteria, talking to guys. All those things are very important to me.”
Fisher and Snead, however, have said the Rams are “always looking” to upgrade at every position, and would explore options via free agency, trades and the draft.
“When you’re focused on your guys, that’s the priority,” Snead said, adding, “Once the dust settles there, you then look and see what’s left and can something help you. Does something fit?”
Free-agent options are limited for a top-flight quarterback. Since Manning announced his retirement Sunday, retaining Osweiler is among the Denver Broncos’ top priorities. The Washington Redskins released Griffin, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner who was the second pick of the 2012 draft behind Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck, but he lost his job to fourth-round pick Kirk Cousins. The New York Jets are expected to try to retain Fitzpatrick, a journeyman who is 33.
But the Rams need more than a quarterback to help a passing offense that ranked last in the NFL last season.
The market lacks a marquee receiver after the Chicago Bears put their franchise tag on Alshon Jeffery, who signed a tender offer this week. Cincinnati’s Marvin Jones (65 passes, four for touchdowns last season) and Cleveland’s Travis Benjamin (68 passes, five for touchdowns) are a couple of potential free-agent prizes.
Center Tim Barnes and kicker Greg Zuerlein are among other Rams free agents Snead has said he hopes to retain.
“You get your guys done, and then it’s, ‘OK, from a budget standpoint you can go get this player, but that player usually just got done at the same time,’ ” Snead said. “And then everything settles and you get to what we always call Stage 2, Tier 2.”
With agents ramping up negotiations for clients Monday and Tuesday, the stage is set for a flurry of signings Wednesday.
znModeratorRams will have plenty of competition to keep their own
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Little more than 24 hours from the start of the 2016 NFL league year, competition for the Los Angeles Rams’ many key free agents is heating up.
This year’s free-agent market comes with the salary cap at an all-time high and plenty of teams flush with cash to spend. Which means it could take more than one might expect to sign players in the first wave. Some might call it overpaying, but exorbitant prices might just be the norm in this market.
Already, Indianapolis signed tight end Dwayne Allen to a four-year deal worth a little less than $30 million, and the expectation is that Baltimore guard Kelechi Osemele will break the bank in a new deal with Oakland.
For the Rams, their top targets aren’t exactly lacking in suitors, either. That doesn’t mean the Rams won’t be able to keep some of their own. They have the cap space to do it. They just might have to pay more than they wanted to ensure it happens.
Here’s a quick roundup of what’s been reported and what’s possible for some of the team’s primary free agents after one day of the open negotiating window:
DE William Hayes — The Rams want to bring Hayes back and Hayes has said he’d like to return. But they might not be able to do it as easily as some would have thought. Kent Somers of AZCentral.com reported that the Cardinals have interest in Hayes and it’s believed they are going to make a push to land him. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins have also been linked to Hayes in various reports.
CB Janoris Jenkins — After the Rams declined to tag Jenkins in favor of fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson, it was clear that Jenkins would not only hit the market but probably head to the highest bidder. There haven’t been a lot of specifics tied to Jenkins yet but there are apparently many teams that have expressed interest. Jacksonville, San Francisco, Oakland and Miami are among the teams that are expected to pursue the top corners. Jenkins could land a huge deal before all is said and done.
S Rodney McLeod — McLeod is also not lacking for teams interested in retaining his services and he’s expected to get a bigger deal than many might have originally expected. Like Hayes, the Giants also have been connected to McLeod as a solution for their woeful safety situation. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns have been brought up as landing spots for McLeod. It’s been quite a rise for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and is now among the top two or three safety options on the market.
LB/S Mark Barron — This is one of the more difficult situations to read as there hasn’t been a team in particular that’s been named, but there have been indications that he’s got many teams willing to make a push for him. Pro Football Focus named Barron the player most likely to be overpaid this offseason. And while you can debate the meaning of overpaid, chances are good he’s going to get a lucrative deal either with the Rams or elsewhere.
DT Nick Fairley — Fairley’s market might not be too hot right away, but teams are already looking into contingency plans if they lose key guys on their defensive line. The New York Jets have apparently viewed Fairley as a possible replacement for tackle Damon Harrison. The Philadelphia Eagles have also been linked to Fairley.
znModeratorJust in time for LA, Rams swimming in salary-cap room
Jim Thomas
There were many offseasons, particularly during the “Greatest Show on Turf” era and its immediate aftermath, in which the Rams did everything but search underneath sofa cushions for loose change.
They were that tight under the salary cap. My, how things have changed. Even after committing $13.9 million to place the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson, the Rams still have $43.7 million in cap space according to latest figures from the NFL Players Association.
Only six NFL teams have more, according to the NFLPA.
During most of their 21 seasons in St. Louis, the Rams entered the free-agency period with maybe one-third of that total — or less. Of course, the fact that all this money is available just in time for the team’s first season in Los Angeles is mere coincidence.
Right?
Well, not exactly. It would be naive to think the Rams didn’t want to make an offseason splash in their return to the West Coast. But most teams try to plan their salary cap a few years in advance anyway, with an eye toward which players’ contracts might be up at that time.
The Rams have been eyeing this offseason for quite a while, in part because of all the bodies brought in as a result of the deal that allowed Washington to draft Robert Griffin III, and spinoff deals. It was nice to get all the extra manpower in 2012 and 2013 to rebuild what might have been the league’s worst roster when coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead came aboard.
But now, those contracts are starting to expire. The Rams have 11 players scheduled for unrestricted free agency starting Wednesday afternoon, and five of those players were either drafted or signed as undrafted rookies in 2012: cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod, fullback/tight end Cory Harkey, wide receiver Brian Quick and kicker Greg Zuerlein.
A sixth player from the Class of 2012, Johnson, has basically been taken off the market with the franchise tag.
Of the remaining players scheduled for unrestricted free agency, two were on the roster when Fisher and Snead arrived — center Tim Barnes and defensive end Eugene Sims. The other four came to the team via free agency — safety/linebacker Mark Barron, defensive end William Hayes, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and wide receiver Wes Welker.
Of the entire group, it’s safe to assume that Welker is the only player the Rams have no interest in re-signing. He was brought in almost on an emergency basis, at age 34, after Stedman Bailey’s four-game NFL drug suspension.
There’s at least some interest in retaining everybody else. As a group, they started 88 games a year ago. And that’s not including Zuerlein, the team’s leading scorer in each of the past four seasons.
Defensively, you’re talking about two of the Rams’ top three tacklers from last season in Barron (135, first) and McLeod (106, third). Hayes was second on the squad in sacks (5 ½), while Jenkins was second in interceptions (three) and led the team in pass breakups (13).
On the eve of free agency, it’s amazing that none of these players has been locked up to long-term deals by now. And not in a good way. It’s not as if the team woke up Jan. 4, the day after the season finale, and discovered each of these players had a contract set to expire March 9.
They’ve had the whole year to work on them. Perhaps all the energy spent on getting out of St. Louis via relocation took away from efforts to re-sign players. The only player signed to an extension was quarterback Nick Foles, way back in August. Then you have the franchise tag for Johnson, and that’s it.
“We tried all year, and just couldn’t ever get anything done,” Snead said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Now that the guys have gotten to free agency, they would like to continue testing the waters and try to get the best deal they can for themselves.”
That’s usually the way it works. The closer it gets to the free agency period, the more likely players are to see what’s out there. As of 11 a.m. Monday, the Rams lost sole negotiating rights with their pending free agents.
That’s when the “legal tampering” period began, when teams can begin to contact and negotiate with players on other teams. They can even agree to terms — they just can’t sign contracts until after 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Although it wasn’t necessarily legal, the combine used to be the place where agents and team execs got a feel for the market value of a player. But since the advent of the legal tampering period, a couple of years ago, it’s tougher to gauge the market until now.
Of all the Rams’ free agents, Hayes and Barron would be the most likely to re-sign with the team because of the fit with Fisher and the defense of coordinator Gregg Williams. Hayes was drafted by Fisher as a Tennessee Titan and is very loyal to him. With the release of Chris Long, Hayes has the opportunity to be a full-time starter.
As for Barron, the creative mind of Williams has created a unique niche for him as a linebacker/safety hybrid. It’s a relatively new thing in the NFL, using a player the way the Rams use Barron, so there might not be much of a market for his skill set.
The release of middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, coupled with moving Alec Ogletree inside, means Barron has a starting spot at weakside linebacker with his name on it.
Jenkins has dropped hints that he’s going to the highest bidder. As for McLeod, good free safeties are hard to come by, and early indications are he’s drawing some interest around the league.
znModeratorRams expect to be busy as negotiating window opens
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — As Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead is quick to point out, the name for the next two days of NFL business is something of an oxymoron.
“Really, it’s time to find out. Everybody is trying to find out what the realistic value is and that’s why I do think it is a positive that we have that 48-hour period,” Snead said. “I don’t know what they call it. Sometimes we call it “legal tampering” but those two words together don’t make sense. But what that allows us to do is the agent can actually talk to other teams and actually finally discuss real figures and they can come back and say this is what we’ve got and you need to say yes or no. Or they may figure out that what we’ve been offering all along is the best deal. I think you are going to see more and more (unrestricted free agents) get into that 48-hour period and figure it out from there.”
That 48-hour period is now finally upon us. The NFL’s version of jumbo shrimp begins Monday at noon ET, as all 32 teams can finally begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents. In a departure from recent years, the window for those free-for-all negotiations will last two days instead of three and the NFL has relaxed a bit on what can be said and done during that time.
Nonetheless, any agreement that is reached during the two-day period cannot become official until players sign and execute actual contracts with a team. By league rule, that can’t happen until Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Janoris Jenkins
The Rams would like to re-sign cornerback Janoris Jenkins when the free-agent period officially begins.For the Rams, the next week will undoubtedly be busy and go a long way in shaping the direction of the 2016 season. Here’s a look at some of the business the Rams have to take care of in the coming days:
— The Rams have already placed the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has accepted the one-year deal at a price of $13.952 million. The Rams can and will continue to negotiate a long-term extension with Johnson but for now, we have to subtract that total from their available cap space entering the new league year. That means the Rams have about $45 million in cap space to work with as they head toward the league year.
— One piece of business the Rams will also take care of in the next few days that will alter their cap outlook is to extend tender offers to restricted free agents such as quarterback Case Keenum, linebacker Daren Bates, safety Cody Davis and running backs Benny Cunningham and Chase Reynolds. Of that group, only Keenum is likely to get a tender beyond the original draft-position level. Of course, none will count against the cap until or if they sign the tender offer, but the Rams will plan as though those numbers will change.
— To this point, the Rams have been active in trying to keep many of their own free agents. Players like Johnson, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod, linebacker/safety Mark Barron and defensive end William Hayes are their top priorities. None of them have agreed to deals yet and why would they? As Snead mentioned, with so much money available on the free-agent market, it behooves players and agents to at least see what the market has to offer before signing off on a deal with the Rams. Because of the negotiating window, the Rams should get quick answers on how their offers compare to what the open market could bring. It should also bring relatively fast decisions on whether they’ll be able to get their guys back.
— As for shopping around for outside free agents, we can’t rule out the chances that the Rams willl go out and spend on a big-name free agent though that is more likely if they lose out on a couple of the names mentioned above. The better bet is that the Rams will take a similar approach in free agency as in recent years, spending the bulk of their cap space to keep their own and supplementing with potential bargains at positions like tight end.
— The biggest X factor here is quarterback, where the Rams have repeatedly made it clear they’re open to and looking for competition for Keenum. The Peyton Manning dream is officially gone but Brock Osweiler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chase Daniel and Robert Griffin III are expected to be available. Would the Rams be willing to invest the money needed to pry a player like Osweiler away from Denver or another quarterback-needy team like Houston? The time for answers to replace speculation is coming soon
znModeratorLA Rams To Focus Mostly On Own Players For Next 48 Hours
Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160307/la-rams-to-focus-mostly-on-own-players-for-next-48-hours
With 11 unrestricted free agents, almost all of whom they have an interest in retaining, the Rams will spend most of the first day of the 48-hour legal tampering period of free agency focused on their own players.
The tampering period begins at 1 p.m. PST,
That doesn’t mean they won’t reach out to other unrestricted free agents across the NFL — with whom they can negotiate all aspects of an NFL player contract over the next two days but can not technically agree to anything — but their primary focus is on their own free agents.
The bulk of those players are on defense, which means retaining starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins, free safety Rodney McLeod, outside linebacker Mark Barron and defensive linemen William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Nick Fairley.
Among the other unrestricted free agents are kicker Greg Zuerlein, receivers Brian Quick and Wes Welker, tight end Cory Harkey and center Tim Barnes.
The Rams have already addressed one of their unrestricted free agents by applying the franchise tag to starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Johnson signed the designation and will earn $13.9 million in 2016. The Rams will continue to work with Johnson on a long-term extension.
Barring an agreement with Johnson, the Rams have approximately $45 million to work with under the salary cap.
The Rams also have six restricted free agents: linebacker Daren Bates, safety Cody Davis, quarterback Case Keenum, running backs Benny Cunningham and Chase Reynold and offensive lineman Brian Folkerts.
The deadline to extend qualifying tenders on restricted free agents is Wednesday.
Free agency officially opens Wednesday, at which time any “agreements” reached during the 48-hour legal tampering period can be announced.
One player the Rams can officially talk to is quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was released Monday by the Washington Redskins. Griffin is immediately free to talk to, visit and sign with any team.
March 8, 2016 at 9:39 pm in reply to: Jenkins fires his agent…but? (4/8) …may stay with Rams? #40174znModeratorBuzz builds of Janoris Jenkins staying with the Rams
Mike Florio
Buzz builds of Janoris Jenkins staying with the Rams
Janoris Jenkins wasn’t happy with the offer he got from the Rams prior to the deadline for using the franchise tag. He could soon be getting a lot happier with whatever the Rams are offering.
There’s a building buzz in league circles that Jenkins will ultimately remain with the Rams, keeping him in place for at least another year with fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has received (and accepted) the franchise tag.
Jenkins parted ways with his agent not long before the deadline for using the tag, and he has since hired Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod. Their primary job has been to see what else is out there, in order to compare it to whatever the Rams will offer.
Despite Jenkins’ performance in four years with the Rams, he arrived in 2012 with plenty of red flags. Those red flags, while fading, could make other teams concerned about the prospect of breaking the bank for a guy they don’t know. The Rams know him, and they clearly trust him.
The real question is whether he’ll continue to earn that trust after swapping his original four-year, $5 million deal for something that pays out a lot more.
March 8, 2016 at 8:27 pm in reply to: former Rams in free agency (Barksdale, JL, Givens, etc.) #40164znModeratorRichie Incognito will be back with Bills in 2016
Guard Richie Incognito will remain with the Buffalo Bills, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.
He indicated via his Twitter account Tuesday that he had agreed to a three-year deal.
“Who’s ready for 3 more years of DOMINATION in Buffalo!!!! @buffalobills”
A source said that the Bills’ final offer, made Monday, was three years for $15.75 million. It wasn’t immediately known if that is the deal agreed upon Tuesday by the two sides.
Incognito, 32, revived his NFL career in Buffalo last season after spending the entire 2014 season out of football.
March 8, 2016 at 8:26 pm in reply to: former Rams in free agency (Barksdale, JL, Givens, etc.) #40163znModerator49ers sign Ray-Ray Armstrong, tender two others
The 49ers announced on Tuesday they have given tender offers to linebacker Michael Wilhoite and guard Jordan Devey, and they signed linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong to a one-year deal, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports.
March 8, 2016 at 8:23 pm in reply to: former Rams in free agency (Barksdale, JL, Givens, etc.) #40162znModeratorCaplan
#Chargers RT Joe Barksdale contract numbers: 4 years, $22.2m, $10.5m fully guaranteed.znModeratorNFLPA takes away some of Rams’ 2016 salary cap space
NFLPA takes away some of Rams' 2016 salary cap space
By: Simon A Chester | 3 minutes ago
On Monday the NFLPA released revised figures for each NFL team’s salary cap, just in time for the new financial year, which begins tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET.
For half of the 32 teams it resulted in gaining more salary cap space, but the other half saw a reduction in their cap number. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Rams were in the wrong half:
In practical terms, the Rams had their salary cap number reduced by $538,332 according to the NFLPA’s own website.
This is not an astronomical figure by any means, and for a team with as much cap space as the Rams already have, it makes little difference. But for a team short of cap space these reductions have been painful. The Denver Broncos, for example, had their salary cap reduced by over $4 million.
March 8, 2016 at 8:04 pm in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #40159znModeratorStill early, but source close to the situation indicates #Rams have shown no interest thus far in Robert Griffin III
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) March 8, 2016
March 8, 2016 at 8:04 pm in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #40158znModeratorChris Cooley: Robert Griffin III ‘was never willing to be friends with Kirk Cousins’
By Dan Steinberg
Robert Griffin III is gone from the Redskins after four wildly up-and-down seasons, but it’s hard to make a clean break from someone who had such an outsized influence on your franchise. And so expect the stories (and headlines) about Griffin’s tenure here to continue for weeks if not longer, as everyone tries to make sense of one of the most dramatic rises and falls this town has seen in decades.
That already started on Monday. Chris Cooley — a former teammate of Griffin’s, who was also among the harshest critics of Griffin’s play in 2014 — looked back on the past four years during several segments on ESPN 980 on Monday afternoon, offering a level of candor we didn’t always hear in real time. Cooley’s thoughts were perhaps most interesting when he talked about his impressions of the Griffin-Kirk Cousins relationship.
“There’s always a working relationship,” Cooley said at the beginning of the discussion with co-host Al Galdi. “There’s a working relationship where guys show up and they work. I would drink a beer with Mike Shanahan today; I did not like him as a head coach. I like him as a dude. That said, I don’t think Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin are going to be drinking any beers together. One, Robert doesn’t drink, [and] Kirk rarely drinks. But there was never a friendship relationship. From the moment Kirk was drafted, I think Robert had animosity towards him. A lot of people in this area hated that fourth-round pick; I don’t think anyone hated it as much as RGIII hated it.”
Cooley said after Cousins excelled in a preseason game their rookie season, Griffin said it was nice to see “the twos” do well, implying that the remark did not go over well. And he said that while Griffin had many friends on the team, Cousins — who tries to be friends with everyone and is the “nicest dude in the world”– never really got there.
“Robert was never willing to be friends with Kirk Cousins,” Cooley said. “They never hung out together, they never spent time together, their families didn’t hang out together. … It was never a great relationship. I don’t think Robert ever wanted it to be a great relationship. And I think it became really contentious over the last two years, to where Rex Grossman, a guy who I’m close with, said ‘This is weird in here. This is a bad situation in here. These guys don’t like each other.’
“Colt McCoy had to deal with some stuff,” Cooley said. “Two years of who should be the starter, constant competition between a guy who doesn’t want to handle competition. And I think there was respect. I think there was enough working respect. But you have to understand, there’s a group of quarterbacks on every team, usually three, sometimes two. There’s a quarterbacks coach. Seventy-five percent of their professional time is spent in just that meeting room. Really. Quarterbacks spend more time [in meetings] than anybody else. Seventy-five percent of their time is spent not talking to each other, in the same room. That’s got to be so hard. You deal with it, but that’s got to be so weird.”
McCoy hinted at some of this to our Mike Jones and Liz Clarke, mentioning the “difficult circumstances” last season, and how “it was one of the most unusual rooms I’ve ever been a part of.”
Cooley said the issue wasn’t that Cousins was worried about preexisting loyalties to Griffin, or about losing his starting spot. And he said there was professional respect between the two players. But he said repeatedly on Monday that Cousins and Griffin “never became friends, they never became guys that hung out, that spent time together.”
“There was not a friendship there,” Cooley said. “Now again, I don’t know if it’s even relevant, but I just think it’s so interesting, and I just think it plays into so much of how much Robert disliked anyone ever challenging what he was. And when people started to challenge that Kirk might be the guy, it became even worse. It became even more awkward. Let me stop with that.”
Cooley also spoke explicitly of the longstanding impression that some of Griffin’s teammates did not enjoy playing with him.
“The offensive line did not like Robert Griffin,” Cooley said. “A lot of the receivers did not like Robert Griffin. The offensive line had a problem with Robert, because they were considered for a year-and-a-half or two years a terrible offensive line that couldn’t protect a quarterback. A lot of that isn’t true. A lot of that was Robert. A lot of the sacks were put on Robert. Want to believe it or not, they were, okay? Football-wise, they were: it was Robert.
“Robert never took [responsibility] for that,” Cooley said. “Robert continued to let his offensive line eat the blame. They don’t like it. They hate that, man. That kills them. Perception is the only thing an offensive line has, because 99 percent of people watching football have no idea what an offensive line’s doing.
“Receivers didn’t like playing with Robert, because they didn’t get the ball,” Cooley said. “It was never consistent, other than a couple in 2012; they struggled with that. So they didn’t like Robert. … Robert did have friends, of course he had friends, but there were a lot of guys on this team that said it doesn’t benefit me — as a player, as an individual — and we don’t know if it benefits the team with him under center at this point. That was what really happened in that locker room, in talking to a lot of those guys. That’s not me saying I think they would have perceived it this way. It’s me talking to a lot of players in this locker room, as friends, and understanding why the dislike or why the problem.”
Cooley also mentioned Griffin’s comments to members of the media after Cousins beat the Browns in late 2012, when Griffin was held out because of injury. ” I was not happy with the decision,” Griffin said then, even though the Redskins had won the game. “At the end of the day, that’s the decision they went with. I respect that, but it doesn’t mean I necessarily have to like it.” Griffin also said that it was a “great business trip,” and that the win was “huge” for the Redskins, but Cooley said players looked askance at his comments.
“The press conference was unprecedented, and it showed a little b—- in him,” Cooley said. “Not that he is that as a person, but it showed that characteristic, of ‘I can be a little b—- if I need to be a little b—-. I can make just enough noise if I need to make just enough noise.’ I don’t think anybody liked that. That was actually seen amongst the team as dude, we still won the game. We actually had to win this game to keep our playoff hopes alive. … All of it really starts to tie together towards the end of that season.”
And Cooley, it’s worth pointing out, was not entirely unsympathetic to the situation Griffin faced in Washington — a situation not of his own making.
“I think it was tough for Robert, knowing that there was a guy like Kirk over his shoulder,” Cooley said. “And I think it was tough as well because even in 2012 the players bonded a lot with Kirk. He showed a lot of promise in practice, he showed a lot of promise in the preseason games, and I’m sure there was always that thought that ‘I might not lose this job because he outplays me but if I’m hurt for a month I could potentially lose the job,’ or ‘This guy could step in and play some,’ or ‘The fans might like him more,’ or ‘The team might like him more.’ I think there was always that thought in Robert’s mind.”[
znModeratorI have to admit I am not that high on RF.
i like it. i’d totally be on board.
Hey. You know I don’t tolerate dissent.
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