Tag: Salary

Michael Thomas reacts to Deshaun Watson’s monster contract extension

The Houston Texans signed QB Deshaun Watson to a big contract extension, prompting New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas to congratulate him.

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Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is easy to root for, even in the eyes of his peers. So when he earned a $40 million per-year contract extension on Saturday, he also earned words of congratulations from other young stars around the NFL — like New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Thomas praised Watson from his official Twitter account, also offering a shoutout to Watson’s agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Mulugheta once represented Thomas himself, though the All-Pro wide receiver has since signed with a different member of the same agency: Andrew Kessler, who helped secure a $100 million extension for Thomast last summer.

It’s a big win for Watson, who returned from an early-career knee injury to lead the Texans in several postseason runs. He’s one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the game today, and memorable to Saints fans after taking them down to the wire in the 2019 season opener. For our part, we’re happy to see him stay in the AFC, where the Saints will only have to see him every four years.

That said: what could Watson’s contract extension mean for the Saints quarterbacks? Both Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston will be testing free agency in the next year or two, and this is the sort of tide that raises all ships. If either of them becomes the starter in New Orleans after Drew Brees, they should expect their salaries to take a big boost to keep up with the market. Now just how high they might claim remains to be seen.

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Saints still in on Jadeveon Clowney, but Titans’ Mike Vrabel speaks up

The New Orleans Saints are going hard after free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, but Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel is in the hunt

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We’re onto the next hour of Jadeveon Clowney Watch, with the New Orleans Saints vying against the Tennessee Titans and maybe another team or two for the free agent. And Titans coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Friday that his team has put their offer on the table.

“We have an offer out, we’ve been in contact with Jadeveon, with J.D. and his agent,” Vrabel said in a media conference call after Titans practice. “That’s all I can report, and that’s all I really know.”

It’s confirmation of what was expected: that the Titans, who have been reported to be in negotiations with Clowney’s representatives for months, have put their best foot forward and taken a shot at signing the 2014 first-overall draft pick. Whether or not it’ll be enough to convince Clowney is anyone’s guess.

For their part, the Saints aren’t content to just exchange phone calls. They’ve reportedly sent a coach to Houston to track down Clowney and personally sell him on what New Orleans has to offer. The Saints have also done their homework on how to fit a possible Clowney contract on their books by calling veterans about contract restructures. Those are some great lengths to go to, but it’s always wise to be prepared.

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REPORT: Saints’ Alvin Kamara has 3-day unexcused absence, possibly contract-related

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara missed three days of training camp practice in an unexcused absence amid contract negotiations.

The New Orleans Saints got the ball rolling on a contract extension with Alvin Kamara nearly two weeks ago, but Kamara appears to be doing what he can to push things towards the finish line. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that Kamara missed three days of training camp practices, which is believed to be related to ongoing contract talks with the Saints.

Progress on a Kamara contract extension was backed up by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, who reported that negotiations have progressed over the last week. Kamara missed two practice sessions early last week with a stomach virus before taking an unexplained absence, which Saints coach Sean Payton declined to comment on after Monday’s practice.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Kamara offered his stance on a potential extension back on Aug. 10, saying: “Me and my agent talked briefly about it and I said, ‘Don’t tell me anything about a contract until it’s like something where it’s happening or if it’s something that I need to know,’ other than that, like if I was my own agent then I’d have everything to tell you guys about a contract, but I’m not. I don’t talk upstairs about contracts, I don’t talk to coaches about contracts. I’m just here to do my job.”

Hammering out a new deal for Kamara and the Saints is a tricky process. He’s played just as efficiently as Christian McCaffrey and the game’s other top-paid running backs, but Kamara hasn’t been able to match them in sheer volume. He was also hobbled by a 2019 knee injury, raising concerns about his long-term durability. But there’s no doubting whether he’s as talented as any other runner you’ll find around the league.

This is a rapidly-developing situation, and a quasi-holdout like this by Kamara could expedite things; the strategy worked for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram, who secured a $14 million guaranteed salary after sitting out several days of work. Keep an eye out for updates in the days ahead.

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Report: Saints contract talks with Alvin Kamara have ‘begun in earnest’

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the New Orleans Saints have kickstarted negotiations with Pro Bowl RB Alvin Kamara on a contract extension

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Money isn’t really on Alvin Kamara’s mind right now. The New Orleans Saints running back said early in training camp that he’s not worried about his contract situation; that’s despite him entering the final year of his rookie deal, with a possible franchise tag on the horizon in 2021.

It makes sense. Kamara has a lot to prove after his hobbled 2019 season, in which his performance slumped following an early-season knee injury. He’s kicking any questions about his contract upstairs, where his agent and Saints management may or may not be hashing things out. For his part, general manager Mickey Loomis shot down any questions about it earlier this month.

Kamara addressed the situation himself back on Aug. 10, making his stance on the subject very clear: “Me and my agent talked briefly about it and I said, ‘Don’t tell me anything about a contract until it’s like something where it’s happening or if it’s something that I need to know,’ other than that, like if I was my own agent then I’d have everything to tell you guys about a contract, but I’m not. I don’t talk upstairs about contracts, I don’t talk to coaches about contracts. I’m just here to do my job.”

But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. According to the latest report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Saints have finally gotten the ball rolling with Kamara, though it doesn’t appear anyone is ready to put pens to paper just yet.

“Kamara and the New Orleans Saints have begun contract negotiations in earnest,” Fowler said on ESPN. “Now there is nothing imminent but the team has made clear with their proposal that they value him, and they know he played hurt last year, and they believe he is elite.”

Now, Fowler was careful to couch his report by saying sides are not close to a deal — it just means that the team has put an offer on the table, and now they’re in wait-and-see mode.

But things could develop in a hurry. Fowler also pointed out that three different big-name running backs are in talks with their teams around the league: Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings, Joe Mixon and the Cincinnati Bengals, and of course, Kamara and the Saints. It’s a bit of a race to see who signs first.

New contract extensions for superstar running backs Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry have already been signed earlier this year, raising the cost for players at the position across the board. If the Saints put this deal off much longer, Kamara’s market value will only increase.

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Taylor Decker: Projecting what the Lions left tackle’s next contract will cost

Decker is going to get paid this coming offseason, if not sooner

Taylor Decker is entering the final season of his rookie contract, and the Lions starting left tackle is due for a handsome reward. The Lions have a chance to reach an extension this offseason before the price tag goes up, if they so choose. Or they could play it out, possibly use a franchise tag to keep him or let Decker hit free agency and create a huge hole on Matthew Stafford’s blindside.

What kind of money is Decker looking at in his next deal, be it in Detroit or elsewhere?

The Lions might have unwittingly set the market value higher for their left tackle by paying what they did to lure right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai as a free agent this offseason. Detroit inked Vaitai, a career backup (although an oft-used one) in Philadelphia, to a 5-year, $45 million deal that could bump to $50 million. A full $20 million is guaranteed at signing.

Vaitai’s deal raised the floor considerably for tackles. While Decker was primed to earn significantly more regardless of this contract, what Vaitai got solidified Decker’s leverage and value, be it in Detroit or on the open market.

Another 2020 free agent tackle, this one more of Decker’s caliber of player, that helps set the value is Jack Conklin. The Browns signed the former Titan right tackle to a 3-year, $42 million contract with $30 million guaranteed at signing.

The $14 million per year is a good bargaining point. Decker and Conklin have largely parallel career arcs, starting out very well as rookie first-round picks in 2016, fading back to average for a couple of years before rebounding with a solid 2019. Both are slightly above-average starters for their positions with a high overall floor but also enough issues that they’re unlikely to ever get much higher than that current status.

Then again, left tackles do earn significantly more. Donovan Smith of the Buccaneers inked a 3-year, $41.25 million deal in 2019. He’s not even close to as good as Decker; per Pro Football Focus, Smith has allowed 10 more sacks, 49 more QB pressures and committed 18 more penalties over the last four seasons than Decker.

Houston’s Laremy Tunsil, another 2016 first-rounder, signed for $66 million over three years just before April’s draft. A full $40 million of that money is guaranteed. Tunsil’s PFF numbers are close to Decker’s, allowing fewer sacks and pressures but committing far more penalties and earning consistently lower run-blocking marks.

Expect Decker’s next contract to come in between what Conklin and Smith got and what Tunsil earned in his extension with the Texans. A 3-year deal for $50 million, with $35 million guaranteed, is the right range for a deal for both sides. Decker could take a longer deal with a lower percentage of his salary guaranteed, too.

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Tom Herman not among coaches taking a pay cut during pandemic

According to an ESPN report, Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman is not among those taking a pay cut during the pandemic.

There have been plenty of coaches during the COVID-19 pandemic that have taken pay cuts as schools adjust their payrolls. Some schools have reduced salaries, announced furloughs or outright laid off staff members. However, Texas head football coach Tom Herman is not among them according to a report from ESPN.

According to the ESPN staff, 75 schools were contacted about their payrolls. A Texas spokesman stated that “they are still considering options as they finalize the budget.”

Coaches who have taken a reduction:

  • Bill Self, Kansas
  • Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
  • Tom Izzo, Michigan State
  • Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
  • Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

Five of the Big 12 schools have taken cuts while three have not. Two other Big 12 schools refused to answer on whether or not there will be cuts made. Herman is set to make his $6.8 million salary if no changes are made to the budget. Most schools are taking a 10 percent reduction that would essentially drop Herman down to $6.12 million. If the college football season is cancelled as many think, Herman likely will have a pay cut with no revenue being generated from football.

Colleges are bracing for huge losses from declining enrollment due to the pandemic. At the same time, athletic departments are facing dramatic losses of their own, starting with the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournament in March. A year ago, schools split a pool of $600 million; this year, they were told to expect barely a third of that. With larger uncertainty ahead — namely whether there will be football this fall — athletic directors are looking for ways to save money, including the elimination of some sports.

Long Game: Ladouceur spans eras of coaches, holders, kickers, punters

LP Ladouceur bridges into new era of Cowboys history in 2020.

Bill Parcells. Wade Phillips. Jason Garrett. Mat McBriar. Sam Paulescu. Chris Jones. Brian Moorman.  Jose Cortez. Billy Cundiff. Shaun Suisham. Mike Vanderjagt. Martin Gramatica. Nick Folk. David Buehler. Dan Bailey. Mike Nugent. Brett Maher. Kai Forbath. Tony Romo. He’s been integral for all of them.

The Dallas Cowboys will enter a new era in 2020, but they’re bringing with them a bridge to their past. Longtime long snapper L.P. Ladouceur will return for a 16th season, bringing back much more than a key special teams role.

Originally a 2005 UDFA signing who was later cut by the New Orleans Saints, Ladouceur caught on with Dallas during Week 4 that year, and has remained entrenched ever since. New head coach Mike McCarthy will be the fourth regime he’ll play under, twice as many as any other player.

The 39-year-old Ladouceur has appeared in 236 consecutive games, second-most in team history. He’s the last remaining player to have stepped onto the field at Texas Stadium. He’s the last to have been yelled at by Bill Parcells. He’s the team’s elder statesman, and most veteran. And though the Dallas bias caught up with him in a 2018 game, he’s been literally perfect the entire time, batting 1.000 on snaps for his career, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2014.

Amidst so much organizational change, having Ladouceur back will be huge this season. For him, it’ll be mostly business as usual, but the start of the season might be a little different, as it’ll mark the one-year anniversary of Ladouceur becoming an American citizen.

Hailing from Montreal, Ladouceur is one of three Canadian-born Cowboys players (Tyrone Crawford and 2019 rookie Neville Gallimore). Football first brought him to America, on a scholarship to play at the University of California. He played for the Cowboys on yearly work permits for eight seasons, first beginning the naturalization process in 2013. Said Ladouceur of his citizenship journey,  “To me there is a sense of accomplishment because I have spent 19 years in this country. I’ve spent half my time on earth here in this country. My wife is American. Our kids are American, and I wanted to be able to complete that. There is pride in that I stuck this out and I got it done and I am an American. I will always be a Canadian at heart but I’m also an American.”

On March 17, Ladouceur signed a 1 year, $1,187,500 contract which included a $137,500 signing bonus. Of that $887,500 is guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,187,500. Because of the veteran minimum salary benefit, only the $887,500 works against the Cowboys’ salary cap.

A 2020 Super Bowl run would certainly cap off a wonderful career for the French Canadian American, especially validating for a Cowboys player who’s been a part of so much modern team history.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. With 90 days remaining until the NFL’s first game, up next is defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory| Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |

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Derrick Henry in contact with Titans GM regarding long-term deal

Former Alabama RB Derrick Henry is in talks with the Tennessee Titans GM regarding a long-term contract after the 2020 NFL season.

Last month, it became public that Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans have yet to find “common ground” on a long-term contract.

Henry, who has signed to a one-year deal with the franchise, wants to stay with the team, but they haven’t agreed on a price and timeline on the contract.

Titans general manager Jon Robinson posted a video, via the Titans channel, to discuss various offseason topics with the team. One of them being the former Alabama Heisman-winning running back.

“We had a phone call last week, had a phone call the week before that, just kind of continuing to work through things,” said Robinson. “I think the conversations have been positive between me and the reps there. And again, just trying to find some common ground. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again that Derrick’s an important part of what we do. Just trying to find the spot where we all need to be, where we all want to be.”

There’s no word yet on what the contract’s specifics would be, but as Robinson said, they are not yet there.

Hope can still be seen beyond the horizon as the general manager stated he and Henry’s team have had positive conversations.

As Robinson admits, Henry is a crucial part to the Tennessee Titan’s recent success and identity, overall.

Roll Tide Wire Will keep you updated on Derrick Henry and what transpires between him and the Titans as they work towards a long-term deal!

Saints pickups Ty Montgomery, Patrick Omameh qualify for veteran salary benefit

The New Orleans Saints signed free agents Ty Montgomery and Patrick Omameh to contracts that qualified for the NFL veteran salary benefit.

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The New Orleans Saints are one of several teams taking advantage of the new CBA’s veteran salary benefit, allowing them to retain players with four or more NFL seasons behind them at a lower salary cap charge. According to a report from ESPN’s Field Yates, the Saints are using this tool again by signing running back Ty Montgomery and offensive lineman Patrick Omameh.

Under the new CBA, these benefits manifest in a one-year contract valued at the minimum base salary for that player’s accrued NFL experience, as well as an additional $137,500 paid out through a signing bonus, roster bonus, or other incentives. But the benefit for teams comes around in these contracts equaling the salary cap charge of a player with just two seasons credited to them.

So of course the Saints are going to take advantage of a salary cap loophole. They’re always working overtime in trying to retain high-priced talent, and this is an opportunity the NFL drew up for them — no smoke and mirrors needed. But what does it mean for Montgomery and Omameh?

Per Yates’ report, Montgomery received a $137,500 signing bonus (as expected) and a base salary of $910,000. Omameh also agreed to a contract with a $137,500 signing bonus, but his base salary is valued at $1.05 million. Both deals will count just $887,500 against the Saints salary cap due to the new benefit rule.

Other Saints players who have qualified for this benefit:

  • Defensive lineman Margus Hunt ($1.05 million base salary)
  • Fullback Michael Burton ($910,000 base salary)
  • Cornerback Johnson Bademosi ($1.05 million base salary)
  • Running back Dwayne Washington ($910,000 base salary)

This sort of salary cap manipulation is par for the course in New Orleans, allowing the Saints to compete for free agents despite their limited resources on paper. It’ll be fascinating to see what new maneuvers the Saints find to work around the cap as we move deeper into the decade of this new CBA.

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Could Blake Gillikin be more than a camp leg for the Saints?

The New Orleans Saints signed Blake Gillikin as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State, but he might have what it takes to win a job.

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One name instantly stood apart from the rest when the New Orleans Saints announced their list of undrafted free agent signings: Blake Gillikin, a rookie punter out of Penn State. With spots on the 90-man roster running at a premium this offseason, many Saints fans were left wondering why the team would choose to add a second specialist with longtime punter Thomas Morstead so well-entrenched.

It’s a valid question. The Saints haven’t carried multiple punters on the roster since 2015, when Morstead missed two games with a quadriceps injury (former Miami Dolphins punter Brandon Fields stood in during his absence). Before that, you have to dig all the way back to Morstead’s rookie training camp in 2009 to find another punter wearing black and gold — be sure to file away Glenn Pakulak’s name for trivia night. The journeyman punted for the Saints during the 2008 season, but Morstead won the starting job from him the following summer and has held onto it ever since.

But let’s circle back to the present. The Saints signing Gillikin reunites the rookie with Phil Galiano, the ex-Penn State special teams coordinator who the Saints hired as an assistant after the 2018 season. The Saints have linked Galiano with his former players before. Last year, they drafted Rutgers safety Saquan Hampton — who Galiano recruited and started on special teams as a freshman when he was coaching the Scarlet Knights.

Beyond that connection, Gillikin is a fine talent in his own right. He started four full seasons for the Nittany Lions, averaging 43.0 yards per punt in his collegiate career. As a senior, he pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line on 32 of 62 punts (51.6%). For perspective, Morstead had one of his most effective performances ever last year, dropping punts inside the 20 on 29 of 60 attempts (48.3%). The NFL’s most-efficient punter was Sam Koch, who forced the Baltimore Ravens’ opponents to start inside their own 20 on 21 of his 40 tries (52.5%).

Could Gillikin beat Morstead for a spot on the 53-man roster? The Saints have held vicious training camp battles at long snapper and kicker in recent years, but Morstead has weathered those storms for more than a decade. It’s almost impossible to imagine someone besides No. 6 handling punts for New Orleans.

Still, let’s look at it objectively: great as he’s been (and remains), Morstead turned 34 this year and carries a 2020 salary cap hit of $4.3 million, along with the NFL’s highest annual average salary among punters (north of $3.9 million). He’s under contract through 2023, but the Saints could release or trade him after June 1 and recoup $3.3 million. Those resources could be put to use retaining younger talents like Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, or Ryan Ramczyk.

And it’s not like the Saints have been shy about moving on from special teamers before. Just last year they inked Chris Banjo to a three-year contract extension, only to cut him months later once (he ended up with the Arizona Cardinals, and re-signed with them this offseason).

Considering Gillikin is only 22 and will earn just $610,000 this season and, well, it’s not impossible to say a changing of the guard might be on its way. And it’s no knock on Morstead. He’s beaten every expectation for a fifth-round draft pick, starting and playing at a high level for a decade. He’s a leader in the locker room due as much to his reputation (he and Drew Brees are the last remaining holdovers from the Super Bowl XLIV-winning team) as his actions, taking an active interest in his family life and the well-being of his community. The roots he’s put down in New Orleans won’t be easily removed.

But time marches on. And Gillikin might have what it takes to displace such a respected veteran. I mean, the kid even has his own highlight reel:

Now, for the counter-argument: if something isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it. Morstead thrived during special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi’s first year on the job, and his status as a known quantity to Saints head coach Sean Payton can’t be understated. An offseason abbreviated by the coronavirus pandemic might mean the Saints can’t evaluate Gillikin, the rookie, to their satisfaction.

And it’s possible that this is all part of a plan to get Gillikin some NFL exposure in a friendly situation, working with coaches he knows. That’s how the Saints found Wil Lutz, their franchise kicker (who marvels at Morstead’s stardom when they’re out around town). Lutz worked with veteran Ravens kicker Justin Tucker and head coach John Harbaugh (whose background lies in special teams) during his own rookie training camp, using the opportunity to learn from the best and get some exposure.

When Harbaugh met Payton at a Saints-Ravens preseason game, he put in a good word for his rookie — prompting Payton to cut both of the kickers he was auditioning in training camp and debut Lutz in Week 1. And the rest is history.

Maybe that’s what the Saints are thinking to do with Gillikin, allowing an assistant coach to help him get a strong start in the NFL. Or maybe he’ll win the job outright and it’ll be Gillikin’s No. 4, not Morstead’s No. 6, punting for the Saints this year and for years to come.

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