Marcus McNeil impressed with Lions, but will visit Falcons and Chiefs

Posted by Evan Silva on March 16, 2012, 3:02 PM EDT

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Free agent offensive tackle Marcus McNeill spent Friday at Lions headquarters. He spoke to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press just after the meeting.

“I can tell you that Detroit made a very good impression on me just off the bat,” said McNeill, who acknowledged the return or lack thereof of longtime Lions left tackle Jeff Backus would “probably affect” McNeill’s plans.

Backus is also a free agent.

McNeill disclosed to Birkett that he has scheduled visits with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, both slated for next week. The No. 27 overall player on PFT’s Hot 100 list, McNeill does not plan to sign with a team before he’s weighed all offers.

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John Abraham stays put in Atlanta

Posted by Evan Silva on March 16, 2012, 2:33 PM EDT

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Falcons havereached a three-year agreement with defensive endJohn Abraham.

During a short stay on the free agent market, Abraham received interest from the Titans and Broncos.

Abraham has 54.5 sacks over the past five seasons and remains one of the game’s top pass rushers despite his age (34 in May) and declining role. Abraham rarely plays on running downs anymore.

While keeping Abraham is a plus for Atlanta, the Falcons’ defensive end depth chart is shaping up similar to last year’s. Kroy Biermann will also return, and starting left end Ray Edwards is coming back after flopping as a 2011 free agent signing.

The Falcons must keep adding talent to the position.

Abraham was the No. 14 overall player on the PFT Hot 100.

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Manning's price range coming into focus

Posted by Mike Florio on March 16, 2012, 2:31 PM EDT

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Now that Peyton Manning seems to be getting closer to a decision (which may or may not be televised by ESPN), the numbers are coming into focus.

Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that theparameters of a potential contract fall in the range of $60 million over five years, with $30 million guaranteed.

That seems a little light.  Yes, he has the neck thing and the arm strength thing.  But this is Peyton F. Manning.

Peyton F. Manning doesn’t average $12 million a year, not when he was averaging $18 million under his last deal, the same average that Tom Brady still has.

And now we may know why it’s taken so long to get this done.  The teams at the table, though supposedly willing to do whatever it takes to get Peyton, have not yet offered him a contract that reflects the zeal with which they are pursuing him.

With the rest of the league on notice regarding the parameters, the pool could once again expand.

Jed York, it’s your move.

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49ers jump into the Peyton Manning sweepstakes

Posted by Evan Silva on March 16, 2012, 2:18 PM EDT

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the San Francisco 49ers have emerged as one of the three finalists to sign free agent quarterbackPeyton Manning.

The other two teams are the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans. According to Schefter, the Arizona Cardinals “have been advised that they are to proceed as if they will not get Peyton Manning.”

We already knew the Dolphins were out.

Schefter, who broke the 49ers news on SportsCenter early Friday afternoon, reported that San Francisco secretly sent club officials to watch Manning throw at Duke University last Tuesday night. The 49ers’ representatives were said to be “very impressed with what they saw.”

The Niners have already given Manning a physical.

And this explains whey they haven’t re-signed free agent quarterback Alex Smithyet.

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Cedric Griffin joins the Redskins

Posted by Evan Silva on March 16, 2012, 1:41 PM EDT

AP

ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the Washington Redskins have agreed to terms with defensive back Cedric Griffin on a one-year contract with a max value of $2.5 million.

Griffin spent his first six NFL seasons with the Vikings as a Cover-2 cornerback. Some NFL teams liked him as a safety prospect coming out of Texas in 2006, however, and Minnesota hadconsidered moving Griffin from corner to safety, before his release last week.

Griffin goes 6-foot and 203 pounds. He could play either cornerback or free safety in D.C. The Redskins are expected to hold a training camp competition at strong safety, involving Reed Doughty and newly acquired Brandon Meriweather.

Griffin was the No. 78 overall player on PFT’s Hot 100.

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Miami concerned Flynn could sign with Seattle

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 16, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT

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With the Dolphins out of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, attention in Miami is turning to Matt Flynn, who always seemed like a good fit because he learned coach Joe Philbin’s offense in Green Bay.

But there’s one problem: Flynn is visiting Seattle first, and some folks in Miami are concerned that the Seahawks will make Flynn a great offer that convinces him to sign without even visiting the Dolphins. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports, quoting an unnamed associate of Flynn, that Flynn signing with Seattle before he flies to Miami can’t be ruled out. Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel also writes that the big question right now is: whether the Dolphins can keep Flynn from Seattle.

Flynn could sign with the Seahawks as soon as today if Seattle makes him a great offer, and the Seahawks have plenty of money and cap space with which to do that, if they’re so inclined. That would put the Dolphins in the position of not only missing out on their first choice, but also missing out on their fallback option.

It took a few days, but as Manning narrows his options, it appears that interest in Flynn is starting to heat up. That’s not a good sign for the Dolphins.

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Raiders expected to release Kamerion Wimbley today

Posted by Evan Silva on March 16, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT

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NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi reports that the Raiders will release linebacker Kamerion Wimbley on Friday.

This move has been expected for quite some time. As Florio has explained, the Raiders would have guaranteed Wimbley $17.5 millionhad they kept him on their roster through Saturday.

While the Raiders are still on the hook for $6.5 million of Wimbley’s $11 million base salary, releasing him saves them $4.5 million in 2012 salary cap space and clears him completely off the books for 2013.

Once Wimbley’s release becomes official, he’ll be the top free agent pass rusher available on the open market. Expect virtually every team that missed out on the Mario Williams sweepstakes to turn its attention to Wimbley.

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Levi Brown re-signs with Cards

Brad Biggs - National Football Post

Maybe Levi Brown decided the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.

Maybe it just took a little extra time to hammer out a deal.

Could Tim Tebow be on his way back to Florida?

Posted by Mike Florio on March 16, 2012, 8:56 AM EDT

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As Peyton Manning gets closer to a decision about his future (hopefully, he’s not getting farther away from making up his mind), the Broncos remain extremely viable — especially with the Dolphins reportedly focusing on Matt Flynn and the Cardinals having to decide by 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday whether to keepKevin Kolb on the roster and owe him $7 million as of Saturday.

If the Broncos land Manning, it’s highly likely that they’ll send Tim Tebow packing.

Deciphering the Calvin Johnson deal

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2012, 11:41 PM EDT

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On Wednesday, the Lions extended the contract of receiver Calvin Johnson.  Initially reported as a seven-year, $132 million deal, this characterization overlooked the reality that:  (1) it covers eight years; and (2) Johnson already was due to earn $18.5 million in 2012.  Also, the report that Johnson will receive $60 million in guaranteed money is, as reports regarding guaranteed money usually are, inflated.

We heard last night that the numbers may have been grossly inflated.  Here’s the real story on the deal.

Is Danny Amendola the Patriot's new Wes Welker?

Posted by Mike Florio on March 16, 2012, 7:34 AM EDT

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Silva pointed out on Thursday that Rams restricted free agent Danny Amendola has been spotted in the Boston area.  Our pal Tom Curran of CSNNE.com elaborated on the topic, sharing details of his efforts to pry details from Amendola’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, which seems to be even harder that squeezing blood from the Blarney Stone.  (And that’s the closest I’ll come to acknowledging that tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day.)

The Patriots have a well-earned reputation for reading the riot act to agents who represent players in whom the Pats are interested.  “If word of this gets out,” the warning usually goes, “we’re pulling the plug.”

Vikings corner Chris Cook acquitted on all charges

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 15, 2012, 3:43 PM EDT

AP

Vikings cornerback Chris Cook has been found not guilty on all charges after he was accused of hitting and choking his girlfriend.

Cook was charged with two felonies, domestic assault by strangulation and third-degree assault, and was acquitted of both. He also faced some lesser charges and was found not guilty of those.

Cook acknowledged that he slapped his ex-girlfriend and pushed her onto a bed but said it was self-defense after she first hit him and threw a shoe at him. His ex-girlfriend initially told police that he had choked her, but she recanted that claim at trial.

The jury began its deliberations on Wednesday morning and announced its not guilty verdict this afternoon.

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Reggie Nelson to visit Jets today

Posted by Evan Silva on March 15, 2012, 4:03 PM EDT

AP

Free agent safety Reggie Nelson will visit the Jets on Friday, according to Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Jets appear to be hunting for an upgrade on Jim Leonhard, who is also unsigned and tore his right patella tendon last December. It’s a significant injury.

Nelson is entering his age-29 season. He is the No. 49 overall player on the PFT Hot 100.

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Steve Hutchinson lands with Titans

Posted by Evan Silva on March 15, 2012, 4:13 PM EDT

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ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the Titans have signed guard Steve Hutchinson to athree-year contract.

Hutchinson is 34 years old and seems unlikely to fulfill the length of the deal, but he can still perform at a competitive level. The Titans wanted to remake their interior offensive line this offseason. They are likely also hoping that Hutchinson’s addition helps woo free agent quarterback Peyton Manning. The two are close friends.

Hutchinson has been a left guard for his entire career. The Titans may kick incumbent left guard Leroy Harris over to the right side, or perhaps use the draft to upgrade on Harris.

The Hutchinson signing should be good news for running back Chris Johnson’s 2012 aspirations.

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Chargers seal the deal with Eddie Royal

Posted by Evan Silva on March 15, 2012, 9:00 PM EDT

AP

Adam Caplan reports that the Chargers haveagreed to terms with receiver/returner Eddie Royal. The team later announced that Royal has signed a three-year deal.

Royal will be San Diego’s No. 4 receiver, and likely return punts.

Royal, who turns 26 in May, ranked eighth in the league in receptions (98) as a rookie in 2008. While he’s been less productive in each of the three seasons since, Royal is a quick-footed slot receiver type with sub-4.4 long speed and a good amount of potential if he can just stay healthy.

The Chargers know Royal well from the AFC West, of course. He scored two return touchdowns against them in an October game in 2009.

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