Browns middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson is the Brown's top priority when it comes to keeping its free agents. Talks began last week, and both sides want to reach a multiyear deal according to Scott Petrak of the Chronicle Telegram. The combine is a good place for general managers and agents to meet, so an agreement may be reached. If not, the Browns could be forced to use the franchise tag to keep Jackson for 2012. The deadline for applying the tag is March 5.
The Dallas Cowboys very much want to bring Laurent Robinson back this season after he provided a real boost to the passing game with hamstring injuries wiping out much of Miles Austin’s season. But they will not be able to re-sign the wide receiver until he is on the open market as a free agent. Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas explains that because Robinson was signed to a minimum salary benefit deal this past season, he cannot be re-signed until free agency opens March 13. The Cowboys can meet with Robinson’s agent Harold... [Read More]
Rich Rosa, the agent for Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham, said Wednesday that he believes his client will become a free agent this offseason, based on contract talks with the team. Abraham, 33, has spent the past six seasons with Atlanta, where he has recorded 58.5 of his 112 career sacks. He spent six seasons with the New York Jets before signing with the Falcons as a free agent in 2006. Abraham is one of three key Falcons defenders scheduled to hit free agency. In addition to Abraham, the team also must... [Read More]
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said Tuesday that signing cornerback Stanford doesn’t necessarily mean Brandon Carr will be playing elsewhere in 2012. In a radio interview with 810 WHB, Pioli said the team has already conveyed that fact to their cornerback and that Carr said he wants to remain in Kansas City. "I’ll say this: The signing of Stanford Routt does not impact where we’re at with Brandon Carr. As a matter of fact, Romeo and I both reached out to Brandon yesterday as this was unfolding and talked to... [Read More]
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle mentions that Texans GM Rick Smith and VP of football administration Chris Olsen are currently trying to create some extra cap space in an attempt to offer DE Mario Williams a better deal. Houston has already said that Williams remains their top priority but considering their depth on defense, it was assumed that they would be unable to allocate even more money to a position of strength. Williams has said that he would consider offering Houston a discount and mentioned that landing... [Read More]
League sources have told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that there is "real concern" within the Steelers front office that they could lose WR Mike Wallace, scheduled to become a restricted free agent next month. Citing what he called "serious issues" with the salary cap, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert has said the team would not re-sign any of its own free agents, including Wallace, before the start of free agency on March 13. The Steelers could place the highest free-agent tender on... [Read More]
The San Diego Chargers are unlikely to use the franchise tag to retain wide receiver Vincent Jackson, according to NBCSanDiego.com. The Chargers have until March 5 to use the tag on Jackson, otherwise he will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent on March 13. Tagging Jackson would cost San Diego nearly $13.7 million. The Chargers used the franchise tag on Jackson last season, and another use of the tag would result in a 120 percent salary increase from the $11.4 million he made in 2011. Chargers general manager... [Read More]
Saints guard Carl Nicks wants his next contract to be among the most lucrative at his position. While it stands to reason Nicks, a two-time All-Pro, would receive a big pay day on the free-agent market, it seems less likely he will land that kind of contract from the Saints. Nicks told Sirius XM NFL radio Tuesday that his next contract should be worth more than the seven-year, $56.7 million deal teammate Jahri Evans signed in 2010. But the Saints have a laundry list of high-priority free agents, starting with franchise... [Read More]
Giants RB Brandon Jacobs told the New York Post that he “fully expects” to be back with the team next season after speaking with his agent. “I spoke with my agent and I do expect to be fully back with the New York Giants next season,” said Jacobs. “These guys in the front office they’ve been doing this for years, they know what they gotta do. I want to be back, but they actually know what has to be done.” It’s was previously mentioned that Jacobs could be cap casualty considering that New York is projected to over the... [Read More]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and starting left guard Jeremy Zuttah have already agreed on what is sometimes the most difficult aspect of any free agency negotiation. "The team wants the player and the player wants the team," Zuttah's agent, Noel LaMontagne, told the Tribune on Monday. "That's the most important progress you can have. The rest just comes down to dollars and cents." Zuttah, a third-round pick out of Rutgers in 2008, will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time this spring, but... [Read More]
Jackie Battle the free agent running back made an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio this afternoon. The Kansas City Chiefs running back indicated he plans to test the free agency waters in March and, while he's willing and hopeful to come back to the Chiefs, he does hope to find a situation that gives him more opportunities as a running back. "[The Chiefs] said they wanted me back before we left but I was gonna just see what my options were before I made that decision," Battle told Andrew Bogusch and Pat... [Read More]
When the Tennessee Titans meet with the agent for cornerback Cortland Finnegan this weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Terry Watson is hoping the Titans show something in terms of money. Watson said the Titans have not countered a proposal he made to them in August, one believed to be in the ballpark of a $50 million package, which came on the heels of an offer made by then general manager Mike Reinfeldt of $7 million a year over four years. “I can't negotiate with myself,” Watson said of the talks.... [Read More]
The Titans have had conversations with linebacker Patrick Bailey about a long-term contract, according to his agent Dr. D.S. Ping. “I am always optimistic,” Ping said. “Tennessee is a team that likes to take care of its ball players, and Patrick is happy with Tennessee. We’ll see.” The Titans have also discussed a multiyear contract for linebacker Tim Shaw, who was special teams captain in 2011, and defensive lineman Jason Jones. The Titans have already signed tight end Craig Stevens, wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins and... [Read More]
Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star reports the Chiefs were unable last year to extend the contracts of cornerback Brandon Carr and one of their other better young potential free agents, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. The team was looking at effectively keeping one of those players off the free-agent market by making him the franchise player but risked losing the other if they couldn’t re-sign him by the start of free agency on March 13. In signing Stanford Routt, it appears the Chiefs have made their decision to place... [Read More]
Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports the Titans and safety Jordan Babineaux’s agent have had “fairly meaningful discussions and dialogue” about a long-term deal, according to agent J.R. Rickert. Because the Titans took advantage of a league rule that lowered Babineaux’s cap number in 2011, however, the team can’t sign him before the March 13 start of free agency like they’ve done with other players scheduled to become free agents. “If the Titans are able to offer him a package that is fair and reflects his market value,... [Read More]
