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NFL notebook: Dolphins reportedly set to release Suh

[March 13, 2018] The Miami Dolphins expect to release three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, NFL Network reported on Monday.

Suh would count $22 million in dead money for the Dolphins in 2018 if he is cut. He spent three years in Miami and recorded 15.5 sacks after signing a $100 million contract in free agency.

The Dolphins traded running back Jay Ajayi in October and last week dealt wide receiver Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns. Darlington reported all three moves -- including the impending release of Suh -- are related to a culture change being pushed by head coach Adam Gase.

The Dolphins also released linebacker Lawrence Timmons, the team's third-leading tackler in 2017, according to multiple reports on Monday. Timmons briefly was absent without leave before Miami's first game last season and was suspended for the Week 2 game as a result.

--With three quarterbacks on their roster heading to the open market, the Minnesota Vikings reached out to the agent for free-agent quarterback Drew Brees, NFL Network reported.

Brees, 39, is expected to return to the New Orleans Saints. But a deal had been expected in February and the two sides were unable to quickly complete a contract after Tom Condon, Brees' agent, met with the Saints at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said the Vikings reached out to representatives for several quarterbacks as the NFL free-agent negotiating window began Monday afternoon. The Vikings are also weighing the return of one of their own quarterbacks. Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum are all unrestricted free agents.

--The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to acquire left tackle Cordy Glenn from the Buffalo Bills, according to multiple reports.

The deal reportedly includes the swapping of first-round draft picks. Buffalo moves up to 12th overall and the Bengals drop to 21st. The Bills also send their fifth-round pick to Cincinnati, and the Bengals send their sixth-round selection to Buffalo.

Glenn is entering the third season of a five-year, $65 million contract he signed in May 2016. The 28-year-old has been Buffalo's starting left tackle since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2012 but a foot injury limited him to six games last season.

--One of the draws to the San Francisco 49ers for first-time free agent Richard Sherman was the revenge factor.

The opportunity to play the Seattle Seahawks, who released Sherman on Friday, twice every season and returning home to California helped seal Sherman's decision to sign in San Francisco. A three-year deal was finalized over the weekend after a physical in which medical personnel signed off on Sherman's surgically repaired Achilles.

Sherman said "I'm vengeful in that way" when discussing what took him to San Francisco after the Detroit Lions set up a visit with the three-time All-Pro and several other suitors emerged. The incentive-laden deal reportedly could be worth up to $39.15 million.

--Adrian Peterson is expected to be released by the Arizona Cardinals.

Peterson joined the Cardinals via trade from the New Orleans Saints last season and led the team in rushing despite an erratic six-game stretch with the team.

Peterson, who turns 33 on March 21, plans to continue playing and could come back at a reduced rate to be the primary backup to David Johnson. The former Vikings standout is 12th on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 12,276 yards since entering the league in 2007.

--Saints right tackle Zach Strief announced his retirement after 12 seasons with the franchise.

The 34-year-old Strief played in 158 games for the Saints and became a starter in 2011. He started two games last season but suffered a season-ending knee injury in an October game in London.

"My career here has exceeded my wildest imagination," Strief said. "I didn't think this was going to last through my first August, never mind 12 years."

--The speculation regarding just how badly the Philadelphia Eagles are willing to trade quarterback Nick Foles -- and just how much they would want in return -- continued as teams officially began negotiating with free agents.

And according to multiple reports, if you want to even speak with the reigning champs about their Super Bowl MVP, you need start with the words "first-round pick."

As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport pointed out, Philadelphia is in no hurry to get rid of Foles. With starting quarterback Carson Wentz barely three months removed from torn knee ligaments, Foles currently sits as perhaps the NFL's premier insurance policy.

--Tamba Hali and Ron Parker are the latest regulars not returning to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hali, a first-round pick out of Penn State, was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and ends his time in Kansas City second on the team's all-time sack list behind only Derrick Thomas (89.5).

Parker was also released, saving the Chiefs $5 million against the 2018 salary cap.

--Kirk Cousins thanked the Washington Redskins and their fans in a heartfelt letter he penned on his website just two days before the free agent-to-be is able to sign a new contract with another team.

Cousins, 29, spent his first six NFL seasons with the Redskins but will be playing elsewhere next season after Washington acquired veteran quarterback Alex Smith to be its new starter moving forward.

"Knowing I will not be putting on a Redskins jersey next season, it's hard to look back at all that's taken place and not become emotional," he wrote. "I will forever be grateful to (former coach) Mike Shanahan for taking a chance on me in the 2012 draft. At the time, many people saw his selection as foolish. Time proved otherwise and taught me that there are no guarantees in this business -- if you work hard and learn from your mistakes, good things can happen."

--Veteran Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick has requested his release from the team, ESPN reported.

The 31-year-old Scandrick has played nine NFL seasons, all with the Cowboys. He is scheduled to make $3 million in base pay in 2018 and $4 million in 2019.

The Cowboys have been looking to get younger at cornerback and began the movement when they selected Chidobe Awuzie in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft and Jourdan Lewis one round later. Scandrick started 11 games last season and 69 since joining the Cowboys in 2008.

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--Denver Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis was recently arrested for an alleged rape of a woman in 2013, the team acknowledged.

Gotsis, 25, turned himself into Atlanta police Wednesday and faces a charge of strong-arm rape, according to a police incident report. He was released after posting $50,000 bond.

The incident allegedly occurred March 9, 2013, at a party when Gotsis was a student at Georgia Tech. A then 25-year-old woman met Gotsis through a mutual friend and said she was raped at his home. The woman, now 30, filed a police report on Feb. 1 of this year.

--The Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up tight end Cameron Brate on a busy day for the club.

According to multiple reports, the deal is for six years and $41 million and contains $18 million in guaranteed money. The 26-year-old Brate has caught 14 touchdown passes over the past two seasons while becoming one of the NFL's better pass-catching tight ends.

The Buccaneers also agreed to deals with veteran cornerback Brent Grimes and linebacker Adarius Glanton.

--Linebacker Mark Herzlich and offensive lineman Jon Halapio re-signed with the New York Giants.

Herzlich, 30, was an unrestricted free agent and has spent his entire eight-year career with the Giants. He spent last season on injured reserve because of a neck injury in training camp.

Halapio is primarily an offensive guard and started the final six games of last season. He originally joined the Giants as a member of the practice squad.

--Dustin Hopkins re-signed with the Washington Redskins.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hopkins made 14 of 17 field-goal attempts last season, appearing in only eight games because of a hip injury. The 27-year-old was scheduled to become a free agent this week. He entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2013.

--Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst signed a four-year, $17.5 million contract with $8 million guaranteed.

Hurst, 26, is primarily a left guard but has the versatility to play other positions in the front five. He would have become an unrestricted free agent without the new deal.

The team also informed cornerback Lardarius Webb he will be released. Releasing Webb, 32, for the second consecutive offseason saves the Ravens $1.75 million against the 2018 salary cap.

--The Seahawks are set to re-sign safety Bradley McDougald, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network.

The reported three-year, $13.95 million deal gives the Seahawks some insurance against the potential loss of Kam Chancellor.

McDougald joined the Seahawks as a free agent in 2017 and replaced the injured Chancellor in the lineup for seven games. He finished with 75 tackles.

--The Chicago Bears locked up offensive tackle Bradley Sowell with a two-year deal, the team announced.

Sowell, 28, has played both guard and tackle for the Bears and is also the team's emergency long snapper.

Sowell has played in 84 games for five NFL teams since entering the league with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie in 2012.

--The Chiefs re-signed an unsung member of the offense, fullback Anthony Sherman, according to multiple reports.

Terms of the deal were not available.

Sherman, 29, is a 5-foot-10, 240-pound back who is mostly used as a lead blocker and on special teams. He had 14 carries for 40 yards in 2017, both career highs, and scored one touchdown.

--Cornerback Sean Smith is reportedly being released by the Oakland Raiders and is soon to be on the roll call of the California prison system.

Smith will plead guilty on Tuesday to a felony count of assault with great bodily injury related to an altercation in Pasadena last year, the Los Angeles Times reported. He will be sentenced to one year in jail and three years of probation as part of his plea agreement, the Times reported.

NFL Network reported Smith would be released before the start of NFL free agency on Wednesday. Parting with Smith will save the Raiders $8.25 million against the salary cap in 2018.

--The Cowboys signed defensive tackle Brian Price to a new two-year contract.

Price, who spent the second half of the 2017 season on injured reserve because of a knee injury, was an exclusive-rights free agent.

The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Price had eight tackles and three quarterback pressures in eight games after the Cowboys claimed him off waivers from the Packers in September.

--The Houston Texans, looking to bolster their offensive line, are the favorites to land free-agent offensive lineman Zach Fulton, according to NFL Network.

The Texans reportedly are expected to offer Fulton a multi-year deal worth more than $7 million per year.

Fulton played mostly at center for the Chiefs last season, but also filled in at both guard spots. He likely would play center for the Texans.

--With Fox uncertain about the prospects of being able to lure Peyton Manning, network executives may be targeting Cowboys tight end Jason Witten to be its Thursday Night Football analyst, a Sporting News report said.

Witten, 35, has shown no intention of hanging up his cleats yet.

He caught 63 passes for 560 yards in 2017, both his lowest marks since his rookie season in 2003, but he also nabbed five touchdowns and was named to his 11th Pro Bowl after the season as a replacement for Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.

--Field Level Media

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