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 03/11/2015 NFL Note - Seattle Seahawks Graham, Jimmy
TE Jimmy Graham is heading to the Seattle Seahawks in a blockbuster
deal agreed to Tuesday.
The Saints will receive two-time Pro Bowl center Max Unger and a
fourth-round pick in exchange for Graham and the Seahawks' 31st pick
in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, as first reported by Fox
Sports' Jay Glazer.
It is a bold move by the Seahawks, who released veteran tight end
Zach Miller last week. They have been seeking to upgrade the
position for some time, and reportedly attempted to land Julius
Thomas from Denver and Cleveland's Jordan Cameron before the trade
deadline last season.
Graham had 85 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns last season,
and has averaged 88.6 catches for 1,099 yards and 11.5 touchdowns
over the past four seasons. By comparison, wide receiver Doug
Baldwin led the Seahawks with 66 catches and 825 yards last season,
and running back Marshawn Lynch led the team with four receiving
touchdowns. Luke Willson was the team's leading receiver at tight
end with 22 catches for 362 yards and three touchdowns.
The Seahawks know Graham well. He was limited to three catches for
42 yards and a touchdown in a 34-7 loss at Seattle in 2013, then
caught only one pass for eight yards in a 23-15 postseason loss at
Seattle just six weeks later.
Before the game, Graham was warming up on the wrong side of the
field and engaged in some trash talking with Seahawks linebacker
Bruce Irvin.
"I asked him politely, I said 'We're about to warm up,'" Irvin said.
"He said, 'I'm Jimmy.' I'm like, 'Who is Jimmy?' That's when I hit
the ball out of his hands and kicked it across the field."
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NFL Note - * Retired Locker, Jake
QB Jake Locker, the eighth overall pick by the Titans in 2011,
announced he will retire after just four NFL seasons.
Locker's history of injuries that began during his three seasons at
the University of Washington continued into the NFL, and he started
just 23 games over four seasons. He signed a four-year, $12 million
contract as a rookie, and was set to become an unrestricted free
agent Tuesday.
"I am retiring from football after much reflection and discussion
with my family," Locker said in a statement Tuesday. "I will always
be grateful for having had the opportunity to realize my childhood
dream of playing in the NFL and for the lifelong relationships I
developed because of that experience.
"Football has always played a pivotal role in my life and I love the
game, but I no longer have the burning desire necessary to play the
game for a living; to continue to do so would be unfair to the next
organization with whom I would eventually sign. I realize this
decision is surprising to many, but I know in my heart that it is
the right decision and I look forward to spending more time with my
family and pursuing other interests."
Locker started five of seven games he appeared in as a rookie,
primarily serving as a backup to Matt Hasselbeck. Locker was named
the Titans' starter entering the 2012 season, but he tore a muscle
in his non-throwing shoulder on Sept. 30. He returned to the lineup
Nov. 9, and finished the season with 2,176 passing yards and 10
touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 11 starts.
Locker opened the season as the starter again in 2013, but suffered
a hip injury on Sept. 29 and then a season-ending Lisfranc injury on
Nov. 10 and was limited to just seven games.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2014, Locker again
was named the starter coming out of training camp. However, he was
benched on Oct. 22 and eventually placed on injured reserve Dec. 14,
finishing the season with five starts in seven appearances.
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NFL Note - * Retired Worilds, Jason
LB Jason Worilds released a statement late Tuesday night through his
representative, Jason Bernstein, announcing the former Pittsburgh
Steelers pass rusher is retiring from football.
"I appreciate all of the interest from the organizations that have
reached out to us the past few days," the statement read. "With that
being said, after much thought and consideration I have chosen to
step away from football as I have opted to pursue other interests.
"I am especially grateful of the opportunity to play before some of
the greatest fans in football today. Despite any concern and
speculation that may ensue, I appreciate those that are respectful
of my decision."
Worilds, 27, became a free agent when the Steelers decided not to
use the transition tag on him in late February. Last spring, the
Steelers retained Worilds with the transition tag, and he earned
$9.754 million in 2014. He finished with 7.5 sacks and his first
career interception last year.
Over the past two seasons, his 15.5 sacks top the team.
In five seasons with Pittsburgh since he was a second-round pick in
2010 out of Virginia Tech, Worilds has 25.5 sacks and 204 tackles in
73 games (37 starts).
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NFL Note - Carolina Panthers Edwards, Dwan
DT Dwan Edwards signed to a two-year contract with the Panthers
Tuesday (March 10). He was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Edwards, 33, joined the Panthers in 2012, and has 13 sacks in 41
games with Carolina. He played in all 16 games last season,
recording 39 tackles, 4.0 sacks and an interception. Edwards also
played in both of the team's postseason games.
"I wanted to finish what we started," Edwards said. "I got here
three years ago and the defense has been improving, we've made a
couple playoff appearances and I want to see it through.
"We've got a great chemistry on the defensive line, and despite some
of the challenges that faced us last year, we continued to battle
and young guys stepped up and (defensive line) coach (Eric)
Washington did a great job. It was a great group to be a part of.
From where we started to where we are now, I wanted to be a part of
this."
The 11-year veteran has 343 tackles and 18.5 sacks in 124 career
regular-season games.
"Dwan has been very productive as a part of the defensive tackle
rotation with Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short and Colin Cole," Panthers
coach Ron Rivera said. "I really appreciate the senior leadership he
brings to the defensive line room and I'm excited to have him back
on our team."
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NFL Note - New York Jets Powell, Bilal
RB Bilal Powell re-signed with the New York Jets Tuesday (March 10).
Powell was one of the first players new head coach Todd Bowles
called in January when he was hired to replace Rex Ryan. He was set
to become an unrestricted free agent.
Powell was effective when he saw the field but was largely behind
running backs Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson, whose option wasn't
exercised, in the team's rotation and had only 33 carries for 141
yards in 2014.
Powell, 26, was a fourth-round pick in 2011. The Buffalo Bills, now
coached by Ryan, were reportedly targeting Powell in free agency.
In 2013, when Powell started 11 games, he rushed 176 times for 697
yards (4.0 yards per carry).
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NFL Note - Cincinnati Bengals Winston, Eric
T Eric Winston re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday
(March 10). Winston, the NFLPA president, played four games with the
Bengals last season after starter Andre Smith was injured. He has
121 career starts. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
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NFL Note - Indianapolis Colts Reitz, Joe
OL Joe Reitz signed a three-year deal worth up to $10 million with
the Colts Tuesday (March 10). Reitz is primarily a guard but has the
flexibility to slide to tackle in a pinch. He was set to become an
unrestricted free agent.
He has played in 44 career games with the Colts, including 24
starts, in the past four years (2011-14).
In 2014, he saw action at guard and tackle in 10 regular-season
games (four starts) and started three postseason games at right
tackle. The Colts finished the regular season ranked first in the
NFL in net passing yards, third in total net yards and sixth in
points scored. In the playoffs, the offensive line only allowed 1.0
sack and none in the final two games.
In 2013, Reitz appeared in a career-high 14 games in the regular
season (three starts) and was part of an offense that averaged 108.9
rushing yards per game.
Reitz was claimed off waivers by the Colts on September 28, 2010 and
spent his first season with the team on the practice squad before
being elevated to the active roster on January 8, 2011.
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NFL Note - Oakland Raiders Branch, Tyvon
S Tyvon Branch signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs Tuesday (March
10) that can be worth as much as $4 million.
Branch, 28, was the Raiders' fourth-round draft pick in 2008 out of
Connecticut, and spent his first seven NFL seasons in Oakland.
Injuries limited him to two games in 2012 (broken leg) and three in
2013 (broken foot). The previous three seasons, he started every
game and made more than 100 tackles each year.
"We are excited we were able to reach a deal with Tyvon and bring
him to Kansas City," Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said. "He is
a physical player who we feel can help our defense. We're looking
forward to having him."
Branch had one season left on a four-year contract that included
$17.6 million guaranteed. His salary for 2015 would have been $5.5
million with a $9,657,000 salary-cap hit and a $1 million roster
bonus due this month.
In 75 games as a member of the Raiders, Branch compiled 476 tackles,
four interceptions and 20 passes defensed.
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NFL Note - Jacksonville Jaguars Thomas, Julius
TE Julius Thomas signed a five-year, $46.25 million contract that
includes $24 million guaranteed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Thomas was the No. 1 tight end on the market largely because of his
production in the red zone with Peyton Manning and the prolific
Denver Broncos' offense. He had 24 touchdowns and 108 receptions in
the past two seasons as Denver's starting tight end.
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