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Malcolm Butler - DB - Patriots

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the Saints and Patriots restricted free agent CB Malcolm Butler have mutual interest in working out a trade and extension following Thursday's visit.
Per Rapsheet, the visit "went well." CSN New England reported two days ago that Butler had "warmed up" to the idea of playing in New Orleans. If the sides can agree to the parameters of a long-term deal, the Pats and Saints should be able to work out trade compensation.

Related: Saints
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter Mar 16 - 4:39 PM

Interesting. I wonder why Butler was not part of the trade for Cooks. That would have made perfect sense to me.

It's the Terrelle Pryor signing, just with a fat guy instead of a wide receiver.

It's cool to make fun of players.

All I know is that those two signings have led to Washington and Atlanta improving and Cleveland and KC becoming worse.

Of Miles Garett .

I haven't seen a player so regarded by this board, pre-drafting him, since Trent Richardson.

Wrong guy to say that to, since I dogged TRich almost constantly pre and post-draft.

I do have fond memories of people telling me how stupid I was and/or had an agenda, though. LOL

I hope we're still making it a priority to sign a veteran safety, last I looked our safeties wouldn't scare a divsion 3 college Qb. You cant draft experience and we are sorely lacking that in the safety department.. Just MHO.

Unless we're set on drafting one at 12

Is Beast Mode unretiring?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/17/very-good-chance-marshawn-lynch-unretires/



Beast Mode in a Raiders uniform would be awesome. Oakland has turned it around big time with Carr, Mack and other people they've signed/drafted.

I thought Trent was going to be good and I pimped him big time. I was wrong. At least we had a chance to save face when we off'ed him to the Colts.

The Jets signed Morris Claiborne to a one year deal. Supposedly the Cowboys offered more to keep him. Prove it deal.

Pryor is [obviously] not the only one.

Colin Kaepernick - QB - Free Agent

49ers GM John Lynch said free agent Colin Kaepernick nearly signed with another team at the start of free agency.

"He was in everyone’s mind in this league very close to signing a deal with a team at a really good number," said Lynch. "And it fell through, apparently." Kaepernick's market has been nonexistent with some reports suggesting teams are avoiding him due to his political views. The 29-year-old didn't move the needle much last year but his supporting cast in San Francisco was abysmal. He'd make sense for the Jets, though they seem to be zeroing in on Jay Cutler and Josh McCown. It goes without saying that Kaepernick won't be back with the 49ers.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle Mar 17 - 2:28 PM

Didn't see this one coming ...

According to Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post, Marshawn Lynch asked for his release Thursday in a meeting with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider.

Despite retiring last year, the Seahawks still hold Lynch's rights. Schultz also added that Lynch has been wearing Raiders gear around his friends. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo confirmed that Lynch was at the Seahawks facility on Thursday, though Garafolo called it "more of a personal visit than anything." Garafolo went on to say that Lynch is in a "holding pattern" right now and is still weighing his options. Lynch is an Oakland native and the Raiders need a running back after losing Latavius Murray to the Vikings. It doesn't look like this story is going away.

Related: Raiders

Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter Mar 17 - 3:12 PM

If the Browns sign Kap................I will stop rooting for them.

How many years are you gonna claim to stop rooting for the team if such and such happens?

We got over having Jamal Lewis on our team, all those years ago, and he served 4 months in federal prison for trying to set up a cocaine buy ...... but people accepted him on our team.

I'm not a fan of Kap, but if the team brought him in, it wouldn;t cause me to end my fandom, or anything like that. I would just hope that he had a contract stipulation that says that he stands, respectfully, for the national anthem.

I don't think he's a good starting QB, but he did have a solid 3 years or so, where he threw 50 TD passes vs 21 INT, and also ran for 1600 or so yards, with another 10 TD rushing. He might be an OK bridge or backup, if we give him the simpler reads he had during his better years.

I don't know if I can really do this...but If we use the #1 pick on anything but Garrett, I feel like I'm gonna be done. We need to draft the best players, not go reaching for maybe's. IMO

what's the cost of Kaep most likely? 10 million per?

maybe like 10% of that with his baggage.

It's best if you click the link because there's a couple of short videos they use to illustrate their point.
Peter King - MMQB



Kaepernick and RG3: Is There Anything Left?
Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III changed the quarterback position in 2012 and seemed destined to dominate for years, but their magic turned out to be fleeting. Now free agents facing a soft market, both could be out of football this fall


The issue with Colin Kaepernick

The MMQB's Andy Benoit takes a look at the on-field problem facing free agent QB Colin Kaepernick.

There has been a deluge of veteran quarterback moves since free agency opened on March 9. Several teams still have dire needs at the position. And yet we’ve barely heard a peep about free agent Colin Kaepernick. There’s one conspicuous reason why, and it has nothing to do with him not standing for the national anthem last year. It has everything to do with him not standing firm in the pocket.

We might as well bring Robert Griffin III into the conversation, too. He was released by the Browns earlier this week and appears destined to also watch from the sidelines while the QB market shakes out.

Both players had enchanting seasons in 2012. Griffin was the offensive rookie of the year, and Kaepernick became a starter midway through the season and led the 49ers to Super Bowl 47. Neither has come close to recapturing his magic.

There’s a simple explanation.

In 2012, both players presented threats with their legs in ways the NFL had never seen. Griffin ran the read-option. So did Kaepernick, though he was more dangerous as a scrambler. Over time, however, NFL defenses learned how to adjust to these mobile quarterbacks.

This is why playing in the pocket is so crucial. A quarterback can’t rely primarily on his legs. He must be able to drop back and make throws from behind his O-line. We hear this all the time, but nobody actually ever explains why. Let’s change that by further evaluating the Kaepernick/RG3 predicament.

Quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (l.) and Robert Griffin III are free agents in need of team who will embrace their unique styles.

In the NFL, the defenders are extremely smart and athletic, so everything happens fast. Dropping straight back and throwing is the most efficient way to counter this speed. It’s also the safest way. A quarterback at the top of his drop is squarely behind his three interior offensive linemen and flanked by his two biggest linemen, the tackles. He’s also at the physical point farthest away from both edge rushers, usually the defense’s most dangerous attackers.

Behind this five-man wall, not only is a quarterback not getting sacked, but he’s also less likely to have to throw with bodies around him. That makes a world of difference for arm strength and accuracy.

Even the best pass-protection can still leak, of course, which is why part of pocket passing is having the footwork and poise to subtly move in the pocket. In many ways, a quarterback is as responsible as the offensive line for the cleanliness of his throwing platform.

This is where Kaepernick and Griffin get into trouble. Both have a tendency to anticipate pressure that hasn’t arrived yet. They’ll take their eyes off the field and look at pass-rushers. They’ll break down when no one is around, converting themselves from would-be throwers into randomized scramblers. Often, no running lanes exist here, so this scrambling quickly leads to sacks or contested throwaways.

All of this ruins a play’s timing, which nullifies the offense’s best chance at counteracting the defense’s speed. Yes, occasionally you’ll see a quarterback break down, go off schedule and make a spectacular play. Think Russell Wilson and, especially, Aaron Rodgers. But not Kaepernick or Griffin. Look closely and you see that neither is as proficient on the move as their styles of play suggest. Kaepernick is hindered by a long, angular throwing motion; Griffin simply has no idea of how to protect himself.

It’s no coincidence that the best pocket passers tend to be the best field readers. The two go hand in hand. Which brings us to the geometry of football. In addition to keeping an offensive play on schedule, a pocket passer also ensures the integrity of the angles in the passing game. He makes every eligible receiver a threat. This is crucial in the NFL, where the hash marks are closer together than college and the ball, therefore, is always spotted almost right down the middle. You need a quarterback who can survey and attack the entire landscape from there.


As we’ve covered, Kaepernick and Griffin don’t have sufficient pocket poise to give themselves a chance to survey. Even if they did, there’s no evidence they would. As throwers, both struggle with timing and anticipation. And, based on how they look on film, both seem to have a disconnect with why a play is called. Too often you see basic designs with basic route combinations going unrecognized.

When that happens, life becomes difficult for the other 10 guys on offense. Linemen can’t be sure what pass-blocking technique to employ because they can’t trust that the man behind them will be where he’s supposed to be or throw when he’s supposed to throw. Receivers stop trusting that the ball will come to them when it should (should meaning either “on time” or “at all”), which eventually impacts their execution.

There are many flawed quarterbacks still on the market: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jay Cutler, Geno Smith, Josh McCown. But these QBs at least have a demonstrated ability to play in the pocket. It’s infinitely easier to plug one of these guys in than it is to plug in Kaepernick and Griffin.

This raises an interesting question: Will either Kaepernick or Griffin even be in the league in 2017? Though blemished, both are still talented enough to be on rosters. However, their playing styles are so unique that they’d change an offense’s entire identity upon taking the field. Ideally, you want your backup quarterback’s skill set to be similar to your starter’s. Unless it’s the Bills, who go to great lengths to accommodate Tyrod Taylor’s similar pocket-passing woes, no offense will be a natural fit for Kaepernick or Griffin. We said it last year—wrongly, as it turned out—but it’s worth saying again: It’s possible we’ve seen the last of these guys.

Nice article. Thanks.

I found this particularly thought-provoking. Says to me that the QB doesn't understand the scheme or rhythm of the game. If so, how can he change the play at the line of scrimmage?

j/c

With what's left in FA (not much)..

I'd offer DL Hankins (who's only 24) a solid deal, him next to Shelton would be noice.

Might give Kamar Aikens a few year deal, just to add an experienced body to the WR Corp.

Then draft BPA.

something must be up with Hankins ... I'd give him a lot of money. He's young and good

I just read an article somewhere ... I was surprised to read that most teams don't view him as a difference maker ..

I didn't really agree with it ... but his market is non existent so maybe that's the problem ...

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Marshawn Lynch - RB - Seahawks

ESPN's Sheil Kapadia believes the Seahawks may be forced to cut Marshawn Lynch if he decides to come out of retirement.

Lynch will be owed $9 million if he comes out of retirement, a number which would take up a large chunk of Seattle's remaining $14.7 million cap space. The Seahawks could hold Lynch in an effort to extract a draft pick from the Raiders, but doing so would limit their flexibility in the second and third waves of free agency. If Lynch does decide to come back, Kapadia believes the Seahawks will "most likely" release him.

Related: Raiders

Source: ESPN Mar 18 - 11:31 AM

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reports some teams don't consider free agent DT Johnathan Hankins an impact player.

It explains why teams haven't met his asking price. Hankins is holding out for a multi-year deal at $8-plus million annually, but that's unlikely to happen in the second wave of free agency. Miami and the Giants are the only teams connected to Hankins at this point. Hankins may ultimately have to settle for a prove-it deal.

Related: Dolphins, Giants
Source: SNY.tv

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football/?ls=roto:nfl:morenewsbottom

TY sir ...

Sounds a lot like TP's situation ...

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Josh McCown - QB - Free Agent

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reports Josh McCown's visit with the Jets is "going very well" and the two sides have "discussed contract parameters."

It seems each side is serious about a potential deal. In theory, McCown is a good stop-gap option and mentor as the Jets attempt to develop Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, but McCown has not lasted more than a few games before getting hurt the last couple years. If the 37-year-old ends up being the Jets' only addition at quarterback, Petty or Hackenberg likely will see plenty of time on the field in 2017.

Related: Jets

Source: SNY Mar 18 - 1:04 PM

Andre Holmes - WR - Bills

Bills signed WR Andre Holmes a three-year, $6.5 million contract.
It's $2 million higher than the deal that was reported earlier this week. Holmes is coming off two nondescript seasons as Oakland's No. 4 receiver behind Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, and Seth Roberts. He lands in a good spot with Buffalo as a veteran flyer. Holmes adds depth in a deep threat/red-zone role.

Mar 18 - 2:14 PM

I think Josh may have a strange competition going vs Tom Brady. They both plan to play until they're 45 years old but from opposite ends of the spectrum. Brady from the winningist, McCown as the losingist.

Andre Holmes is an under the radar signing

Be nice to know if we are even interested, whatever the cost.
I would think a young guy like that next to Shelton would be a big plus for us? Maybe there's more to the story and he's a locker room cancer.

Bargain shopping time. Jonathan Hankins is still available.

Bengals to sign Kevin Minter

Hmmmm

Anquan Boldin - WR - Free Agent

Free agent Anquan Boldin doesn’t expect to sign until the start of training camp.
Boldin didn’t sign with Detroit until late July last year. He plans to play another season, but hasn’t been connected to any teams. The Lions haven’t ruled out bringing Boldin back.

Related: Lions
Source: ESPN Mar 18 - 7:11 PM

Johnathan Hankins - DL - Free Agent

ESPN's Jordan Raanan believes there's a "50-50" chance of the Giants re-signing free agent DT Johnathan Hankins.

Even with Bennie Logan and Dontari Poe off the market, Hankins continues to draw little interest. Raanan believes that every day that he remains unsigned, Hankins has a better chance to returning to New York. The Giants don't have a ton of spending money, but they did receive some cap relief last week when they signed Jason Pierre-Paul to a long-term contract. In all likelihood, Hankins will have to settle for a one-year prove-it deal.

Related: Giants
Source: ESPN.com Mar 19 - 12:44 PM