The Tiger Report: 07/26/11

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Nnamdi and Revis? Jets in contract negotiations with Nnamdi Asomugha

The New York Jets are negotiating with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, considered by many the top free agent in this year's market, according to the Star-Ledger.

The newspaper cited two people with knowledge of the talks. If the Jets can sign Asomugha, an eight-year veteran who has played his entire career with the Oakland Raiders, they could pair him with Darrelle Revis to form one of the league's all-time best tandems of shutdown corners.

Free agent Antonio Cromartie, who played opposite Revis last year, was also contacted by the Jets on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the communication.

ESPN reported Tuesday that Asomugha might be willing to take less money to play for a contender, and that he is interested in pursuing an acting career when his playing days are over. That would seem to favor the Jets.

Bucs and Cowboys begin a tug of war for tackel Doug Free

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on July 26, 2011, 10:20 PM EDT

Getty Images

After ranking left tackle Doug Free as a top-12 free agent in this class, we said that he would be very expensive for the Cowboys to keep.

The Bucs are helping to make sure that’s true.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Bucs and Cowboys are in a “dogfight” for Free. In Tampa, Free would presumably play right tackle. (They have Donald Pennon the left side.)

“Could get REALLY expensive,” Cole writes.

In other offensive line news, Cole writes that Tyson Clabo is “close” to returning to Atlanta. The Bengals and Seahawks are reportedly both bidding for guard Robert Gallery.

Multiple players returning to their 2010 Teams, including: S. Moss, Wiegmann, J. Moss, Yanda, A. Smith

Santana Moss | WR 2010 Team: Washington Exp: 10 years

Analysis: NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora is reporting that Moss has agreed to terms on a three-year, $15 million deal with the Redskins with a $5 million signing bonus and $6 million total in guarantees.

Casey Wiegmann | C 2010 Team: Kansas City Exp: 15 years

Analysis: Wiegmann has agreed to return to the Chiefs on a one-year deal, a league source with knowledge of the situation told Scout.com, with two other teams reportedly making inquiries about the center.

Jarvis Moss | OLB 2010 Team: Oakland Exp: 4 years

Analysis: Moss has agreed to return to the Raiders on a one-year, $1.25 million contract, reports The Sports Xchange. Moss was a first-round pick of the Broncos in 2007, but landed with the Raiders after being released in November. In five games with Oakland, Moss had three tackles and one sack.

Marshal Yanda | G 2010 Team: Baltimore Exp: 4 years

Analysis: The Ravens agreed to terms on a deal with Yanda, general manager Ozzie Newsome confirmed on Tuesday. NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports that the deal is for five years and $32 million.

"We got Marshal Yanda. That's great news," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Yanda was among one of four unrestricted free-agent offensive linemen on the market along with Jared Gaither, Chris Chester and Tony Moll.

Alex Smith | QB 2010 Team: San Francisco Exp: 6 years

Analysis: The 49ers and Smith have agreed to a one-year deal worth around $5 million, a source told ESPN.

The 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in the second round of April's draft, but Smith is expected to be the team's starter when the season opens on Sept. 11

Takeo Spikes has agreed to terms with the San Diego Chargers

Takeo Spikes | ILB 2010 Team: San Francisco Exp: 13 years

Analysis: The Chargers have agreed to terms with Spikes, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowler, had spent the previous three seasons with the 49ers and started all 16 games in 2010

Paul Posluszny has agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars

Paul Posluszny | ILB 2010 Team: Buffalo Exp: 4 years

Analysis: The Jaguars and Posluszny have agreed to terms on a six-year deal, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.

The linebacker had expressed interest in returning to the Bills, but the chance to move to a 4-3 defense in Jacksonville helped sway the decision

Potential Landing Spots for Some Key Free Agents

Each day I will attempt to take a look at some different players on the market, here is the first dose.

Sidney Rice - WR - Seattle Seahawks
Rice despite only having one good season in his career, is still going to expect to get paid, and Minnesota won't be able to do it. Look for Rice to end up in Seattle with former teammate Tarvares, and former Offensive Coordinator, Darrell Bevel.

Roy Williams - WR - Chicago Bears
Roy failed to live up the the huge expectations that came from the blockbuster trade Detroit fleeced them with. More importantly Roy knows he did not perform up to his contract or hype, so he will be able to be had at a decent price. Cutler needs a large target to pair with his speedy Knox/Hester duo. Most importantly, this would reunite Williams with Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz. It was in the Martz offense in Detroit that Roy had his only Pro-Bowl season with over 90 receptions. Martz knows how to best utilize Roy's unique talents.

Kyle Orton - QB - Arizona Cardinals
We have been hearing the Kolb to Arizona speculation for months, but I just think Orton is a better quarterback, and a much cheaper one. I also think he throws a better deep ball. They may still pursue Kolb, but Orton is the better value in my opinion.

Tuesday: Players on the Chopping Block

Here are some of the notable veterans that were let go today, day 1 of the new NFL league year:

Seattle Seahawks are releasing Matt Hasselback

Dallas Cowboys are release Marion Barber, Roy Williams, Marc Colombo, and Leonard Davis

Baltimore Ravens are releasing Derrick Mason, Willis McGahee and Kelly Gregg

Green Bay Packers release Nick Barnett

Detroit Lions release Bryant Johnson

New York Giants release Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert

New England Patriots release Tully Banta-Cain

Quentin Mikell heading to St. Louis

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on July 26, 2011, 6:24 PM EDT

The Rams have quickly replaced safety O.J. Atogwe.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports St. Louis and former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell have agreed on a four-year contract.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo loves his former players, and he had Mikell in Philadelphia. While Mikell and Atogwe have a different skill set, the Rams needed to find capable players for their secondary.

We ranked Mikell as the 46th best available free agent this offseason, so he must be pretty sweet.

UPDATE: Mikell gets $28 million over four years. We have to think that deal was Kardashianed. (Heavier on the back end.)

Tarvares Jackson has agreed to terms with the Seattle Seahawks

It has been reported the Tarvares Jackson has agreed to undisclosed terms with the Seattle Seahawks, where he will be reunited with his offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. He will be given the opportunity to compete for the starting QB role.

Word is also spreading that the Seahawks are also going to pursue Sidney Rice from the Vikings as well.

Source NFL Network

Charles Johnson lands a $76million dollar deal to stay in Carolina

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 26, 2011, 5:46 PM EDT

Chicago Bears quarterback Todd Collins has his pass blocked by Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) during an NFL football game in Charlotte

Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson was expected to be a sought-after free agent, but he won’t be going anywhere.

A league source tells PFT’s Mike Florio that the Panthers and Johnson have agreed on a deal that will keep Johnson in Carolina.

The Panthers’ front office and Johnson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have worked out a six-year, $76 million deal with $32 million guaranteed, including a $30 million signing bonus.

The 25-year-old Johnson started all 16 games for the Panthers last season and recorded 11.5 sacks.

Jason La Canfora: Vikings and Skins have agreement in place for McNabb, contingent on a pay cut

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 26, 2011, 6:09 PM EDT

The talk of the Redskins tradingDonovan McNabb to the Vikings is heating up. Now the only question is whether McNabb will buy into it.

Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports that the Vikings and Redskins have agreed to the terms of a trade that would send the veteran quarterback to Minnesota.

But the trade will only go through if McNabb agrees to a new contract. There’s no way the Vikings are paying him the $12.5 million he’s due this season.

And getting McNabb to agree to a new deal could be difficult. In Minnesota, McNabb would only be the starter for as long as it takes the Vikings to get first-round draft pick Christian Ponder up to speed. Given the way McNabb was stung by getting benched last year, he presumably doesn’t want to play for a team where the guy he’d get benched for is already in place.

So even though both the Redskins and McNabb are ready to move on, that doesn’t mean they’re both ready to reach a deal with McNabb’s next team.

The Tiger Report

Pages