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 03/11/2015 NFL Note - New York Giants Vereen, Shane
RB Shane Vereen agreed to a contract with the Giants Tuesday (March
10). The deal is for three years and worth $12.3 million with a $3.5
million signing bonus and $4.75 million guaranteed. Vereen caught 12
passes in the Super Bowl and totaled 99 catches in the regular
season in 2013 and 2015.
He was second on the team in rushing (391 yards) in 2014 after
Stevan Ridley went down with a knee injury and had 52 catches for
447 yards and three touchdowns.
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NFL Note - New York Giants Newhouse, Marshall
T Marshall Newhouse agreed to a contract with the Giants Tuesday
(March 10). The deal is for two years and worth $3 million with a
signing bonus of $800,000 and $1 million guaranteed.
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NFL Note - New York Giants Harris, Dwayne
WR Dwayne Harris, primarily a return specialist with the Dallas
Cowboys, agreed to terms with the Giants Tuesday. The deal is for
five years and worth $17.5 million with $7.1 million guaranteed.
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NFL Note - New York Jets Revis, Darrelle
CB Darrelle Revis is returning home.
On a day marked by blockbuster trades, one of the most stunning
moves took place Tuesday night when Revis and the New York Jets
agreed to reunite.
Revis tweeted: "I want to thank the Pats and Pats Nation for an
unbelievable year. NEW YORK I'm coming home."
Just five hours after becoming a free agent, the Jets swooped in and
secured the services of one of the best defensive players in the
league.
Revis signed a five-year deal worth $70 million, which will make him
the highest paid cornerback in NFL history. According to reports,
$39 million is guaranteed.
By signing with the Jets, Revis picked the team that drafted him
over the team he helped win a Super Bowl.
The Patriots had declined to exercise Revis' $20 million option for
2015, but they had retained exclusive negotiating rights until 4
p.m. ET.
Revis played for the Jets from 2007 to 2012, earning All-Pro honors
three times. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the
2012 season.
After one season in Tampa Bay, he was released and signed a two-year
deal worth $32 million with New England.
By the time the Jets traded Revis, he had worn out his welcome
because of two contract holdouts.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Jets bolstered their defensive backfield
with the signing of former Cleveland Browns cornerback Buster
Skrine.
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NFL Note - Miami Dolphins Gibson, Brandon
WR Brandon Gibson agreed to terms om a one-year contract with the
Patriots Tuesday (March 10). The deal is estimated to be worth
$825,000.
Gibson has made 233 receptions during a six-year career that has
included a four-year stop in St. Louis as well as two years in
Miami.
His best season was in 2012 when he recorded 51 receptions for 691
yards and five touchdowns.
Gibson was a sixth-round pick out of Washington State where he
played football and basketball.
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NFL Note - Atlanta Falcons Durant, Justin
LB Justin Durant agreed to terms with the Falcons Tuesday (March 10)
on a three-year contract worth $10.8 million. Durant played last
season for the Dallas Cowboys. He started six games and was the
Cowboy's leading tackler before suffering and injury in Week 8.
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NFL Note - Atlanta Falcons Reed, Brooks
LB Brooks Reed agreed to terms with the Falcons Tuesday (March 10)
om a five-year contract. Reed was originally selected by the Houston
Texans in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Arizona. He
started 52 of 59 career games, recording 211 tackles (122 solo),
14.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and two fumble
recoveries in four seasons in Houston.
Last season, Reed started 13 of 16 games and finished with 41
tackles, three sacks, 10 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss,
four passes defensed, and one interception.
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NFL Note - Atlanta Falcons Smith, Antone
RB Antone Smith agreed to re-sign with the Falcons Tuesday (March
10. Smith was signed to the Falcons practice squad on Oct. 21, 2009.
Smith sparkled in limited action in 2014, rushing for 144 yards and
two touchdowns on 23 carries and adding 222 yards and three more
touchdowns on 13 receptions.
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NFL Note - St. Louis Rams Keenum, Case
QB Case Keenum was traded by the Texans to the Rams Tuesday (March
10) for a 2016 seventh-round draft pick. Prior to the deal, Keeenum
signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender of $585,000.
The former University of Houston star took over as the Texans'
starting quarterback in the middle of 2013. Houston released Keenum
during training camp last season, but re-signed with the team after
injuries to quarterbacks Matt Schaub, Tom Savage and Ryan Mallett.
After he was released by the Texans, the Rams claimed him on
waivers, then later signed him to their practice squad.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Williams, DeAngelo
RB DeAngelo Williams had his contract terminated by the Panthers
Tuesday (March 10) with a post-June 1 designation.
"DeAngelo will forever be remembered as one of the quintessential
Panthers of this era," head coach Ron Rivera said. "He holds all of
our running back records and his 20 total touchdowns in the 2008
season was a truly special feat. I really enjoyed watching DeAngelo
grow over the past four years and wish him nothing but the best
moving forward."
Injuries limited Williams to six regular season games for Carolina
in 2014. Williams rushed for 219 yards on 62 carries and totaled
five receptions for 44 yards. Williams played in two postseason
games, rushing for 30 yards on six carries and recording two catches
for two yards.
Williams, who has spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the
Panthers, leaves as Carolina's all-time leader with 6,846 rushing
yards, 1,432 rushing attempts, 46 rushing touchdowns and 18 games
with 100 or more rushing yards.
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NFL Note - New York Jets Skrine, Buster
CB Buster Skrine agreed to terms with the Jets Tuesday (March 10).
It was no secret the Jets wanted to address the cornerback position
in free agency.
Skrine was a two-year starter with the Browns and had four
interceptions last season.
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NFL Note - San Francisco 49ers Smith, Torrey
WR Torrey Smith and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a five-year
deal on Tuesday (March 10).
The former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver was heavily recruited by
Anquan Boldin, who last played with Smith in Super Bowl XLVII, when
the Ravens beat the 49ers in New Orleans.
Smith penned a heartfelt goodbye to Ravens fans on Sunday and spent
time with Boldin before agreeing to a deal that will pay him $40
million over five seasons, with $22 million guaranteed. The Ravens
offered $35 million over five years, according to CBS Sports.
As a vertical threat with the Ravens, Smith had 11 touchdowns and
averaged 15.7 yards per reception (49 catches) last season. He
averaged 17.4 yards per catch in 2013, when he led the Ravens with
65 receptions for 1,128 yards.
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NFL Note - San Francisco 49ers Nelson, Kyle
LS Kyle Nelson re-signed a four-year contract with the 49ers Tuesday
(March 10). Nelson played in all 16 games last season and had four
tackles on special teams.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Hill, Shaun
QB Shaun Hill agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the
Vikings Tuesday (March 10). Hill signed a two-year, $6.5 million
deal with $3 million guaranteed to return to the Vikings after
spending the 2002 through the 2005 seasons with the team that
drafted him.
Last year, Hill started eight games for the St. Louis Rams and went
3-5 while completing 63.3 percent of his passes in place of injured
quarterback Sam Bradford, who was traded Tuesday to the Philadelphia
Eagles for Nick Foles.
The 35-year-old Hill is expected to serve as a backup for
second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings traded backup
Matt Cassel to the Buffalo Bills earlier.
Hill played for current Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner
with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Asiata, Matt
RB Matt Asiata, who wasn't tendered by the Vikings as a restricted
free agent, quickly re-signed a one-year deal with the team Tuesday
(March 10). The deal is worth $800,000 and includes a $100,000
signing bonus.
Asiata led the Vikings with 164 carries for 570 yards and nine
touchdowns and caught 44 passes as Minnesota attempted to
manufacture a consistent running game without Adrian Peterson.
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NFL Note - New Orleans Saints Unger, Max
The New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks agreed to a blockbuster
deal that will send tight end Jimmy Graham to the two-time defending
NFC champions for center Max Unger.
"It's hard when you're talking about moving someone the caliber of
Max Unger," GM John Schnieder said of the Seahawks' thinking in an
interview with NFL Network Tuesday. "This is one of the deals we
felt like we needed to make to move forward as an organization."
The Saints will receive Unger, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, and a
fourth-round pick in exchange for Graham and the Seahawks' 31st pick
in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
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.
"We had a good feel for where people were going to fall in line,
continued to talk to the Saints and they had a lot going on as
well," Schneider said. "His size, what he does in the red zone -- 46
touchdowns in 2011."
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 '
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NFL Note - Miami Dolphins Sheppard, Kelvin
LB Kelvin Sheppard was re-signed by the Dolphins Tuesday (March 10).
The 6-foot-2, 252-pound, Sheppard is entering his fifth NFL season
and second with the Dolphins after spending one season with the
Indianapolis Colts and two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.
Sheppard has played in 61 games with 32 starts and recorded three
sacks.
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NFL Note - Miami Dolphins Thomas, Michael
S Michael Thomas, an exclusive-rights free agent, was signed by the
Dolphins Tuesday (March 10). Thomas played in eight games with two
starts for the Dolphins in 2014 before being placed on injured
reserve on Nov. 3.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Smith, Shelley
G Shelley Smith had his contract terminated by the Dolphins Tuesday
(March 10).
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Wheeler, Philip
LB Philip Wheeler had contract terminated by the Dolphins Tuesday
(March 10) with a post-June 1 designation.
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NFL Note - Baltimore Ravens Ngata, Haloti
The Baltimore Ravens parted with one of their defensive mainstays on
Tuesday, sending tackle Haloti Ngata and a 2015 seventh-round draft
pick to the Detroit Lions in a trade for fourth- and fifth-round
picks.
The Lions added Ngata to fill a big hole in their defensive line
after losing free agent Ndamukong Suh to the Miami Dolphins.
The Ravens had salary cap issues with Ngata after he refused to take
a pay cut and contract negotiations stalled. He is scheduled to make
$8.5 million in 2015 and would have counted $16 million against the
Ravens' cap in 2015.
CBSSports.com reported that the Lions are discussing a new contract
with Ngata.
"Haloti has been an outstanding player for us for many years,"
Ravens executive vice president and general manager Ozzie Newsome
said in a statement. "He consistently showed tremendous leadership
in our locker room and on the field. At times, he was one of the
NFL's most dominant players."
The 31-year-old Ngata will be reunited in Detroit with Lions
defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who previously served on the
coaching staff in Baltimore.
The veteran Ngata is a five-time Pro Bowl selection who had spent
his entire nine-year career with the Ravens. Last season after being
suspended for the final four games for violating the league policy
on performance-enhancing drugs, the defensive tackle returned to
collect 32 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.
A first-round draft pick by the Ravens in 2006, Ngata totaled 528
tackles, 25 1/2 sacks and five interceptions for Baltimore.
"Haloti is a great player but an even better person," Ravens coach
John Harbaugh said. "He has been an anchor of our success for many
years. We appreciate everything he has done for our organization and
the Baltimore community. We wish he and his family nothing but the
best."
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NFL Note - Philadelphia Eagles Bradford, Sam
The St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are swapping
quarterbacks.
The Rams are sending former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford to Chip
Kelly and the Eagles in exchange for Nick Foles.
St. Louis drafted Bradford out of Oklahoma in 2010. Bradford is
coming off two ACL injuries and has started just seven games in the
past two years. For his five-year career, Bradford sports an 18-30-1
record.
In 2013, Foles emerged as a surprise starter after being drafted out
of Arizona. He threw 27 touchdowns against just two interceptions as
the Eagles advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
He was unable to capture the same magic in 2014 and suffered a
broken collarbone on Nov. 2. He was replaced by former New York Jets
Mark Sanchez, who agreed to re-sign with the Eagles for two years.
Once the trade is finalized, St.Louis will save about $13 million in
base salary. Foles' salary is slightly more than $1.5 million.
The Eagles now have traded last season's Opening Day quarterback and
their leading rusher (LeSean McCoy) and watched their leading
receiver (Jeremy Maclin) leave via free agency.
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NFL Note - St. Louis Rams Foles, Nick
The St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are swapping
quarterbacks.
The Rams are sending former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford to Chip
Kelly and the Eagles in exchange for Nick Foles.
St. Louis drafted Bradford out of Oklahoma in 2010. Bradford is
coming off two ACL injuries and has started just seven games in the
past two years. For his five-year career, Bradford sports an 18-30-1
record.
In 2013, Foles emerged as a surprise starter after being drafted out
of Arizona. He threw 27 touchdowns against just two interceptions as
the Eagles advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
He was unable to capture the same magic in 2014 and suffered a
broken collarbone on Nov. 2. He was replaced by former New York Jets
Mark Sanchez, who agreed to re-sign with the Eagles for two years.
Once the trade is finalized, St.Louis will save about $13 million in
base salary. Foles' salary is slightly more than $1.5 million.
The Eagles now have traded last season's Opening Day quarterback and
their leading rusher (LeSean McCoy) and watched their leading
receiver (Jeremy Maclin) leave via free agency.
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NFL Note - Washington Redskins Robinson, Trenton
S Trenton Robinson, an exclusive-rights free agent, was re-signed by
the Redskins Tuesday (March 10).
Robinson originally was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the
sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Since signing with the Redskins
as a free agent on Oct. 15, 2013, Robinson has appeared in 26 games.
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NFL Note - Green Bay Packers Bulaga, Bryan
RT Bryan Bulaga re-signed with the Packers Tuesday (March 10) on a
five-year deal worth $33.5 million.
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NFL Note - New England Patriots Tyms, Brian
WR Brian Tyms, who wasn't tendered by the Patriots as an
exclusive-rights free agent, re-signed Tuesday (March 10).
Tyms, 26, is entering his third NFL season. The 6-foot-3,
204-pounder, was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a
rookie free agent out of Florida A&M in 2012 and spent that season
on the 49ers practice squad. He started the 2013 season on Miami's
practice squad before being signed by the Cleveland Browns
midseason. Tyms played in seven games for the Browns in 2013 and
caught two passes for 12 yards. Last season with the Patriots, Tyms
played in 11 games with two starts and finished with five receptions
for 82 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown in the 37-22 victory at
Buffalo on Oct. 12. Tyms played in the AFC Divisional playoff game
vs. Baltimore but was inactive for the AFC Championship game and
Super Bowl XLIX.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Green, Virgil
TE Virgil Green agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the
Broncos Tuesday (March 10). The deal is worth $8.4 million with $4.2
million guaranteed.
"Virgil has been a big part of our team the last four years and will
continue to be in the future," general manager John Elway said.
"He's been a reliable, solid contributor since the day he was
drafted. We're very excited Virgil is returning to the Broncos."
Green has 17 starts in 56 career games entering his fifth NFL
season.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Daniels, Owen
TE Owen Daniels agreed to a three-year contract with the Broncos
Tuesday (March 10). Daniels joins the Broncos after playing for the
Baltimore Ravens in 2014.
Daniels was a key receiver for the Ravens on third down in an
offense directed by current Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, who also
coached Daniels in Houston along with Denver's first-year offensive
coordinator Rick Dennison. Daniels, 32, had 48 receptions in 2014
and 433 for 5,144 yards in his career.
"I've had the opportunity to coach Owen for the last nine years, and
he's the consummate pro," Kubiak said. "He has one goal - to win a
championship. Owen is a great player and an even better person and
teammate. He is a leader and the type of guy you want on your
football team."
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NFL Note - Atlanta Falcons Hankerson, Leonard
WR Leonard Hankerson left the Redskins for the Falcons Wednesday
(March 11). He signed a one-year contract worth $1 million that
includes a $255,000 signing bonus.
Hankerson, 6-2, 211 pounds, was originally selected by the Redskins
in the third round (79th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of
Miami. He has played in 31 games with 14 starts and posted 81
receptions for 1,081 yards with six touchdowns during his career.
Hankerson played in one game last season, battling back from an
injury he suffered at the end of the 2013 season.
He played in 10 games with seven starts and caught 30 passes for 375
yards with three touchdowns in 2013. Hankerson enjoyed his best
season as a pro in 2012, playing in all 16 games while tallying
career highs in receptions (38), yards (543), and touchdowns
(three). His first career touchdown came on a 68-yard reception
against St. Louis that year. As a rookie in 2011, Hankerson played
in four games, starting two, and caught 13 passes for 163 yards. He
posted his first career 100-yard game against Miami in Week 1,
becoming the first Redskins rookie receiver to have 100 yards
receiving in a single game since Rod Garner in 2011.
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NFL Note - Oakland Raiders Smith, Lee
TE Lee Smith left the Bills for the Raiders Wednesday (March 11).
The three-year deal is worth $9.1 million with a $1.6 million roster
bonus this year and $3.1 million guaranteed.
Smith, 27, joins the Raiders after four seasons with the Bills
(2011-14). Smith's career totals include 56 games played with 34
starts, 20 receptions for 144 yards (7.2 avg.) and three touchdowns.
Smith joined the Bills via waivers from the New England Patriots
shortly before the 2011 regular season. In 2014, Smith appeared in
14 games and led all Bills tight ends with 10 starts. He hauled in
seven catches for 42 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in the
Bills' season-ending victory over New England.
Smith appeared in every game for the Bills from 2012-13, starting
21-of-32 games played during that span. He recorded two receiving
touchdowns in 2012, a career high, and totaled a career-high 78
receiving yards in 2013.
The Powell, Tenn., native was originally selected by the Patriots in
the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of
Marshall. Smith totaled 75 receptions for 791 yards and three
touchdowns, and served two seasons as a captain on the Thundering
Herd. In his senior year, Smith ranked second on the team with 38
receptions for 358 yards (9.4 avg.), earning him All-Conference USA
honors and an Allstate Good Works Team nomination.
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NFL Note - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Johnson, Leonard
CB Leonard Johnson, who was scheduled to become a restricted free
agent, re-signed with the Buccaneers Tuesday (March 10) on a
one-year deal worth $1 million plus a $125,000 roster bonus. Johnson
started three games and played in all 16 last season for the
Buccaneers, accumulating 41 tackles, three passes defensed and three
forced fumbles.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Collins, Anthony
T Anthony Collins had his contract terminated by the Buccaneers
Tuesday (March 10). Collins started 10 games last season.
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NFL Note - Oakland Raiders Hudson, Rodney
C Rodney Hudson left the Chiefs for the Raiders Tuesday (March 10).
His contract is worth $44.5 million over five years and includes a
$6.9 million roster bonus this year and $20 million guaranteed.
Hudson has started 31 games at center over the last two seasons for
the Kansas City Chiefs.
Entering his fifth NFL season, Hudson has appeared in 51 games with
35 starts for Kansas City. He was originally selected by the Chiefs
in the second round (55th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. After
playing in all 16 games as a rookie, Hudson started the first three
games at left guard in 2012 before suffering a season-ending leg
injury. He took over as the team's starting center in 2013, helping
Kansas City to back-to-back winning seasons from 2013-14.
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NFL Note - New York Giants Casillas, Jonathan
LB Jonathan Casillas agreed to a contract with the Giants Tuesday
(March 10). The deal is for three years and worth $8 million with
$975,000 guaranteed.
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NFL Note - Atlanta Falcons Person, Mike
OL Mike Person agreed to terms with the Falcons Tuesday (March 10).
Person played for the St. Louis Rams the past two seasons and
appeared in all 16 games in 2014.
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NFL Note - Cincinnati Bengals Hawk, A.J.
LB A.J. Hawk is returning to his home state, reaching agreement on a
two-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday (March 10).
The former Green Bay Packers linebacker is a Centerville, Ohio,
native who starred at Ohio State.
Hawk spent nine seasons with the Packers, who chose not to re-sign
their No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft after last season in
order to save $3.5 million against the salary cap.
In 16 games for Green Bay last year, Hawk had 90 tackles and 1/2
sack. He has not missed a game during his NFL career and leads the
franchise in career tackles with 1,118. He was voted to the Pro Bowl
after the 2010 season.
The 31-year-old Hawk, who had surgery to remove bone spurs from an
ankle in the offseason, will join a linebacking group in Cincinnati
that includes Rey Maualuga, Emmanuel Lamur and Vontaze Burfict.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Harvin, Percy
WR Percy Harvin had his contract terminated by the Jets Tuesday
(March 10).
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NFL Note - Arizona Cardinals Woodley, LaMarr
LB LaMarr Woodley agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the
Cardinals Tuesday (March 10). The deal is worth $950,000 with a
$40,000 signing bonus/
The 30-year-old Woodley is an eight-year veteran who played last
season with the Oakland Raiders after spending the first seven years
of his career with Pittsburgh.
Woodley has compiled 57 sacks, nine forced fumbles, nine fumble
recoveries and five interceptions in 100 career games.
He was a second-round pick by the Steelers in the 2007 draft. He
appeared in only six games with the Raiders last season before being
placed on injured reserve with a biceps injury in October.
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