BengalRep85-9 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 If you're an upper level FA like Ward and Mack why would you want to come back to Cleveland? No stability, no continuity, no reason to believe the coach or gm will last more than 2 years max. Haden I could see re-signing just to hedge against injury before he hits FA. But the other 2, you've already hit FA and you'll get paid by SOMEONE else. When new people come in and decide you aren't their guy, you're out of a job and millions of dollars. i.e. D'qwell Jackson. That 5 year $42M looks and sounds good until you only see 2 years of it and are deemed too expensive by the next coach/gm. Move on to a place of your choosing with more stability and likelihood of seeing those dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 If you're an upper level FA like Ward and Mack why would you want to come back to Cleveland? No stability, no continuity, no reason to believe the coach or gm will last more than 2 years max. Haden I could see re-signing just to hedge against injury before he hits FA. But the other 2, you've already hit FA and you'll get paid by SOMEONE else. When new people come in and decide you aren't their guy, you're out of a job and millions of dollars. i.e. D'qwell Jackson. That 5 year $42M looks and sounds good until you only see 2 years of it and are deemed too expensive by the next coach/gm. Move on to a place of your choosing with more stability and likelihood of seeing those dollars. D’QWELL JACKSON LOOKING FOR “MORE STABILITY” AFTER LEAVING CLEVELAND Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 D’QWELL JACKSON LOOKING FOR “MORE STABILITY” AFTER LEAVING CLEVELAND Looking for more stability than Cleveland? Doesn't narrow things down very much, does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alleycat Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Ravens doing what the Bengals should: cutting overpriced veteran fat. It's a biz, after all... Ravens to cut Vonta Leach, Jameel McClain soon Posted by Darin Gantt on February 27, 2014, 3:03 PM EST AP With the names the Ravens were willing to let go last offseason, nothing should be a surprise. But as they prepare to adjust the team via free agency, they’re letting go a pair of veterans. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens are releasing fullback Vonta Leach and linebacker Jameel McClain. Leach came back last year in one of the most drawn-out sagas ever for a veteran fullback, and helped the Ravens (so to speak) to the worst rushing season in franchise history. Cutting him clears $1.75 million off the books. The Ravens got McClain back on the field last year after his 2012 neck injury, and he started 10 games. But they can clear $3.2 million in cap space with the move and plug second-year linebacker Arthur Brown in to his spot. With the Ravens trying to retain left tackle Eugene Monroe, they’re going to need cap room, and getting rid of disposable veterans is a sure way to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 BRING LEACH HERE!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 So let me get this straight... We should let a player's contract expire and let him hit free agency. OK, not too bad so far. When no one else wants his we should re-sign him to a 2 yr $3.75M contract. Still not too bad - maybe high for a dying breed of FB. Give him a $1.16 signing bonus. Uh oh. Cut him the next season and lose half that bonus to dead money. Genius! Somehow Ozzie will come out of this looking good, but in reality this was a bad deal (which doesn't offset his good deals). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Wish we would have drafted him. Seems pretty grounded.... Matt Elam working sales at mall Updated: February 27, 2014, 1:13 PM ET By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com Many NFL players will go to malls this offseason. Matt Elam is working in one. Elam, a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 draft, is spending his offseason as a part-time sales associate at a Finish Line store in Gainesville, Fla., before he returns to the team in April. He says he works about 20 hours per week, helping customers with shoes and occasionally stocking shelves. Baltimore Ravens The Ravens' Matt Elam, right, a first-round pick in 2013, works as a sales associate at a Florida mall. His goal is to open his own sports merchandise store. "I just need to get retail knowledge," Elam told the team's website. "That's basically what I'm doing. I'm getting that knowledge for when it's time." Elam applied online to five stores before being hired at Finish Line a month ago, raising eyebrows considering he made $3.7 million last season (salary and signing bonus) as the 32nd pick in the draft. "Everybody was surprised when I started," said Elam, who isn't sure how much he makes per hour. "They were like, 'Why? You got enough money.' But it's not about the money. It's just me building." The mall is a few miles from the University of Florida, where Elam was a first-team All-American. Fans often recognize him at the store and ask to take pictures, which have circulated on social media. "People will be buying stuff just for me to sign it," he said. "It's pretty exciting." As a rookie, Elam was fourth on the Ravens with 76 tackles. He had one interception and two fumble recoveries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcat Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 So let me get this straight... We should let a player's contract expire and let him hit free agency. OK, not too bad so far. When no one else wants his we should re-sign him to a 2 yr $3.75M contract. Still not too bad - maybe high for a dying breed of FB. Give him a $1.16 signing bonus. Uh oh. Cut him the next season and lose half that bonus to dead money. Genius! Somehow Ozzie will come out of this looking good, but in reality this was a bad deal (which doesn't offset his good deals). It is especially strange considering that the run game is what they are trying to fix. They have no replacement right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|SF2| Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Wish we would have drafted him. Seems pretty grounded.... Matt Elam working sales at mall Updated: February 27, 2014, 1:13 PM ETBy Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com Many NFL players will go to malls this offseason. Matt Elam is working in one. Elam, a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 draft, is spending his offseason as a part-time sales associate at a Finish Line store in Gainesville, Fla., before he returns to the team in April. He says he works about 20 hours per week, helping customers with shoes and occasionally stocking shelves. Baltimore Ravens The Ravens' Matt Elam, right, a first-round pick in 2013, works as a sales associate at a Florida mall. His goal is to open his own sports merchandise store. "I just need to get retail knowledge," Elam told the team's website. "That's basically what I'm doing. I'm getting that knowledge for when it's time." Elam applied online to five stores before being hired at Finish Line a month ago, raising eyebrows considering he made $3.7 million last season (salary and signing bonus) as the 32nd pick in the draft. "Everybody was surprised when I started," said Elam, who isn't sure how much he makes per hour. "They were like, 'Why? You got enough money.' But it's not about the money. It's just me building." The mall is a few miles from the University of Florida, where Elam was a first-team All-American. Fans often recognize him at the store and ask to take pictures, which have circulated on social media. "People will be buying stuff just for me to sign it," he said. "It's pretty exciting." As a rookie, Elam was fourth on the Ravens with 76 tackles. He had one interception and two fumble recoveries. Patterson and Elam were the guys I wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Love to see Pitt losing guys. Will Sanders go to NE this time? They hamstrung the Stealers last year by offering him a 1-yr deal twice what Pitt restricted him at. Assessing three Steelers' free agents February, 28, 2014 By Scott Brown | ESPN.com PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have 21 players who can become free agents on March 11. Here is a look at the three who figure to draw the most interest on the open market if they do not re-sign with the Steelers before the start of free agency:OLB Jason Worilds: His breakout season couldn't have come at a better time as Worilds is in position to cash in after emerging as the Steelers' best pass-rusher in 2013. Worilds' value will be enhanced if players such as Carolina's Greg Hardy and Washington's Brian Orakpo are tagged or if they sign long-term deals to remain with their respective teams. That would further dilute a free-agent crop that is not exactly flush with pass-rushers. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger fetched a five-year, $40 million contract last year but the Browns way overpaid for a player who has 20 sacks in five NFL seasons. Worilds isn't going to command that kind of money after starting just one season though all it takes if he hits the open market is for one team to break the bank for him. A more realistic point of reference when it comes to assessing Worilds' value may be Brian Robison. The Vikings' defensive end signed a four-year, $28.3 million contract last October with more than $12 million guaranteed. Robison has been more productive than Worilds -- he has 25 1/2 sacks in the last three seasons -- but Worilds only turns 26 on Monday while Robison is 30.Chances of Worilds re-signing with Steelers: I don't like them if he hits the open market unless the Steelers are willing to pay more than they probably would like to retain the fourth-year veteran. It would be ideal for the Steelers to sign Worilds before March 11 but if you are in his position why not let the market set his price, especially if there is a dearth of pass-rushers in this free-agent class? Worilds has said he wants assurances that the Steelers view him as a long-term starter at outside linebacker. While general manager Kevin Colbert can't make any guarantees as far as his role on the team Worilds will know how highly the Steeler think of him by how much they are willing to pay to keep him off the open market.WR Emmanuel Sanders: The fourth-year veteran had a solid, if sometimes maddening season, after cracking the starting lineup in 2013. Sanders established career-highs across the board, including six touchdown catches, but he also had some key drops. Don't be surprised though if a team is willing to pay him in the $5 million a season range a year after the Patriots were willing to give up a third-round draft pick to sign Sanders, then a restricted free agent, to a one-year $2.5 million contract. Riley Cooper signed a five-year, $25 million contract to stay in Philadelphia, taking a wide receiver out of the free-agent class and perhaps setting parameters for the kind of deal that Sanders, who turns 27 next month, is hoping to ink.Chances of Sanders re-signing with the Steelers: It's hard to imagine a scenario in which he returns to Pittsburgh. The Steelers will let the market set Sanders' value before deciding if they want to make a run at keeping the former third-round draft pick. Teams are likely to bid on Sanders, one of the top receivers in an underwhelming class. Some team is going to pay Sanders the going rate for No. 2 wide receivers who still have upside, and if that is the case the Steelers are prepared to go with second-year man Markus Wheaton opposite Pro Bowler Antonio Brown.DE Ziggy Hood: The Steelers' first-round pick in 2009 has not lived up to expectations though it would be unfair to call him a bust. Hood is one of the strongest players on the team, and he is the epitome of an effort-guy, but he lacks the athleticism to consistently push the pocket or chase down opposing backs when a play is run away from his side of the defense. Hood lost his starting job to Cameron Heyward last season though he still played a lot and tied his career-high with 40 tackles while adding three sacks. He is one of three defensive ends on the roster who can become an unrestricted free agent in less than two weeks, and lack of depth at the position is the strongest argument for the Steelers re-signing Hood.Chances of Hood re-signing with the Steelers: Not much better than Sanders'. The Steelers appear willing to let the market set Hood's price as well, and he may be attractive to teams that play 4-3 defenses and need help up front. Hood played nose tackle in a 4-3 defense in college. He did not line up directly over the center, which may be the best position for him. Hood, who just turned 27, could command $3 million a year on the open market. If that is the case the Steelers won't bid on the player who could not establish himself as a long-term starter in Pittsburgh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Ziggy would be a steal at $3 bills or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coup000 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 If you're an upper level FA like Ward and Mack why would you want to come back to Cleveland? No stability, no continuity, no reason to believe the coach or gm will last more than 2 years max. Haden I could see re-signing just to hedge against injury before he hits FA. But the other 2, you've already hit FA and you'll get paid by SOMEONE else. When new people come in and decide you aren't their guy, you're out of a job and millions of dollars. i.e. D'qwell Jackson. That 5 year $42M looks and sounds good until you only see 2 years of it and are deemed too expensive by the next coach/gm. Move on to a place of your choosing with more stability and likelihood of seeing those dollars. The dude got over $16M in the first 2 years and now gets to be a sought after free agent again. I'd say this was about the best case scenario for him. That's the thing with other teams, guys don't mind being cut generally because they got a huge chunk of cash up front. The players and agent know exactly what they are doing when they negotiate a $4M roster bonus into a deal 3 years in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Browns confident they'll keep Mack March, 3, 2014 By Pat McManamon | ESPN.com The Cleveland Browns made an interesting decision Monday that they feel will keep center Alex Mack with the team. The Browns declined to make Mack their franchise player and instead made him the transition player. That means the Browns can match any offer he receives on the free-agent market. But if they don't, they will receive no compensation if he goes to another team. The franchise tag would have cost more but would have given the Browns two first-round draft picks as compensation -- a price no team would pay for a center. It will be interesting to see if another team is willing to overpay Mack to the point that the Browns would not match. Safety T.J. Ward was not tagged and will become a free agent March 11 if he does not sign a new deal. Buffalo also did not tag safety Jarius Byrd, which opens the floodgates of speculation that new coach Mike Pettine will try to bring Byrd from the Bills to the Browns. Pettine was Byrd's defensive coordinator last season in Buffalo. The transition tag means Mack will be paid $10.039 million if he signs the one-year deal. The franchise tag would have cost the Browns $11.6 milion. For $1.6 million, the Browns could have guaranteed Mack would be back. The risk by not doing so is they give Mack's agent Marvin Demoff the chance to craft a contract the Browns won't want to match. Demoff is one of the best player agents working. However, the team clearly feels the ability to match will be enough of a deterrent to Mack signing elsewhere. The $10.04 million figure is on the high end for centers, and the Browns could actually save salary-cap costs by matching another offer because Mack is not likely to be paid $10 million per year on the open market. Among the league's top-paid centers are the following, with their per-year average pay and their salary-cap figure for this season: Carolina's Ryan Kalil -- $8.186 million per year, $7.284, million under the salary cap New York Jets' Nick Mangold -- $7.725 million per year, $7.227 million under the cap Buffalo's Eric Wood -- $6.35 million per year, $5.95 million under the camp Philadelphia's Ryan Kelce -- $6.25 million per year, $2.622 million under the cap Houston's Chris Myers -- $6.25 million per year, $7 million under the cap Seattle's Max Unger -- $6.23 million per year, $6.1 million under the cap The Browns no doubt feel confident they're retained their center – and saved themselves $1.6 million cap room by using the transition tag on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Tag doesn't guarantee Worilds' return March, 3, 2014 By Scott Brown | ESPN.com The Steelers’ surprising use of the transition tag on Monday reflects, among other things, the paucity of pass-rushers in this year’s crop of free agents. It also signals significant differences between the Steelers and outside linebacker Jason Worilds, their top impending free agent, when it comes to a long-term contract. All the Steelers did by tagging Worilds is assure themselves the right to determine how much they are willing to pay -- or overpay -- the four-year veteran if other teams pursue him in free agency. Since a team would not have to give up any draft picks should it sign Worilds to a contract that the Steelers decline to match, he figures to still have his share of suitors and perhaps offers. Worilds led the Steelers with eight sacks last season and showed the kind of impact he can make while starting regularly for the first time in his career. He is only 26, turning that age on the day the Steelers slapped the transition tag on him, which is kind of like getting luggage or a couple of new car tires for your birthday -- practical but lacking the wow factor that a new contract would have provided. Worilds’ transition tag comes with a one-year contract worth $9.75 million, and if he signs it, the Steelers would hope it is a mere layover on the way to the kind of multiyear deal that would make them and Worilds happy. The tag is often seen as a negative and something that players generally don’t like. But the Steelers tagging Worilds could provide the assurance he needs to sign the kind of contract that will keep the former second-round draft pick in Pittsburgh well beyond the 2014 season. Worilds wants the Steelers to see -- and value -- him as a long-term starter. They certainly gave the impression that they do by offering a contract that could scramble their finances as they work to get in compliance with the salary cap. It may not have been team president Art Rooney II showing up at Worilds’ house with a birthday cake and singing to him, but it is significant that one of only two teams currently over the salary cap is willing to go to this length to keep Worilds. And this less than three weeks after general manager Kevin Colbert said he doubted that the Steelers would use a tag this year in large part because of their salary-cap situation. Does that mean Worilds is a lock to return to Pittsburgh? Hardly. All it takes is one team to overpay, and supply and demand as well as the transition tag's lack of deterrence should embolden at least one organization to make a serious run at Worilds. In that sense, the question for the Steelers hasn't fundamentally changed. How much are they willing to pay to keep him? We should get the answer in a couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Ravens wisely don't use tag on Monroe March, 3, 2014 By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com The deadline to use the franchise tag passed Monday at 4 p.m. ET, and the Baltimore Ravens didn't put one on offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. It was a wise move. The Ravens certainly need a left tackle, and Monroe proved to be a quality blocker on Joe Flacco's blind side. The problem is Monroe wasn't worth the tag. The Ravens would have paid Monroe $11.6 million in 2014, which represents a huge chunk of the team's available salary-cap space. If you're going to pay an offensive tackle that amount of money, he'd better be Jonathan Ogden or at least Joe Thomas. The Ravens have too many other needs to devote that amount of cap space to an above average -- but not Pro Bowl -- left tackle. By not using the tag, the Ravens could easily lose Monroe to the Miami Dolphins or Arizona Cardinals. But it makes more financial sense to try to sign Monroe to a long-term deal than tag him. I wouldn't rule out Monroe's return. He enjoyed his three months with the Ravens. His wife's family lives in the area. So, what is Monroe worth? When looking at the average salaries for tackles, a deal that averages between $8 million and $9 million per season seems fair. That's the going rate for Duane Brown, Jake Long and Russell Okung. It would put Monroe in the top 10 for highest paid left tackles. There is a chance that another team is going to pay more. But it wouldn't be the Ravens making that mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 On the same day Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller received contract extensions, the Steelers announced they have released linebacker Larry Foote, offensive tackle Levi Brown and cornerback Curtis Brown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcat Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 On the same day Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller received contract extensions, the Steelers announced they have released linebacker Larry Foote, offensive tackle Levi Brown and cornerback Curtis Brown. The Steeler's don't like Brown Feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Aaron Wilson @RavensInsider 2m Trainer says Ravens running back Ray Rice has lost 15 pounds, down to 210 pounds http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-traine-says-ray-rice-has-lost-15-pounds-down-to-leaner-210-pounds-20140315,0,4167136.story … Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|kennethmw| Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Aaron Wilson @RavensInsider 2m Trainer says Ravens running back Ray Rice has lost 15 pounds, down to 210 pounds http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-traine-says-ray-rice-has-lost-15-pounds-down-to-leaner-210-pounds-20140315,0,4167136.story … Walking the stairs at the casino instead of riding in the elevator will do that to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khatmandude Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Walking the stairs at the casino instead of riding in the elevator will do that to you. He's been doing lots of dead lifts this offseason :ninja: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 He's been doing lots of dead lifts this offseason :ninja: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 ESPN - Panthers Pro Bowl QB Cam Newton will undergo ankle surgery Wednesday; recovery period is about 4 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 ESPN - Panthers Pro Bowl QB Cam Newton will undergo ankle surgery Wednesday; recovery period is about 4 months @AdamSchefter: When doctors operate on Cam Newton's ankle Wednesday, they will NOT be inserting a wide receiver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|SF2| Posted March 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 If you're an upper level FA like Ward and Mack why would you want to come back to Cleveland? No stability, no continuity, no reason to believe the coach or gm will last more than 2 years max. Haden I could see re-signing just to hedge against injury before he hits FA. But the other 2, you've already hit FA and you'll get paid by SOMEONE else. When new people come in and decide you aren't their guy, you're out of a job and millions of dollars. i.e. D'qwell Jackson. That 5 year $42M looks and sounds good until you only see 2 years of it and are deemed too expensive by the next coach/gm. Move on to a place of your choosing with more stability and likelihood of seeing those dollars. Don't forget other issues: Indy plays in a Dome and its conference games are in Nashville (nice city), Jacksonville (no state income tax) and Houston (no state income tax). Indiana's state income tax rate is 3.40% verses 5.92% for Ohio. Lets just look at the guaranteed money of $11 million. He keeps an extra $277,000 on that money alone. States charge income tax on GAME checks. He avoids them in Texas and Florida. Indy is NOT Cleveland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Indy's owner is in some legal trouble but probably not as much as Cleveland's owner. And in Cleveland they're playing the staph and MRSA lottery. Nobody with equal options would choose the Browns so they have to overpay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.