Tag: signing

Report: Texans agree to terms with rookie cornerback John Reid

The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with fourth-round rookie cornerback John Reid.

The Houston Texans are chipping away at getting their 2020 NFL Draft class signed as rookies reported to the team facility on Monday.

With third-round edge defender Jonathan Greenard under contract, the Texans are on the verge of getting their second member of five-man draft class on board.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans and fourth-round cornerback John Reid have agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $3.789 million. The Penn State product and the Texans have only agreed to terms; the contract remains to be signed, but the former Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Preparatory School alumnus should become a Texan soon enough.

Coach Bill O’Brien likes Reid’s ability to play both inside and outside in new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense.

“I think he can do both,” O’Brien told reporters on April 25. “I do think that he can play on the inside. I think he’s got good quickness, he’s got good toughness. I’ve known John for a while. When I was at Penn State he was a sophomore in high school and came to our camp. I think we offered him a scholarship right there. Really smart guy, comes from a great family.

“But yeah, I think he can do both. I think he can play on the inside and I also think that he’ll help us on special teams.”

Reid left Penn State with 125 total tackles and seven interceptions. Reid also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2017.

Along with second-round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and Greenard, Weaver expects Reid to contribute early for the Texans.

“Those are guys that have played some significant snaps and have played well in college, and we expect them to come here and to contribute because they have the three qualities that we talk about all the time: guys that are dependable, guys that are tough and guys that are smart,” Weaver told reporters on May 13. “They have those attributes, and if you have those things, then you have a chance to come in and come in and play early.”

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Cowboys begin signing 2020 rookie class ahead of camp

The Cowboys have started to bring their rookies into the flock. With reporting day less than 24 hours away, the deals are starting to flow. Here’s who’s in, how much everyone will get and how it will impact the 2020 cap.

With rookies reporting to training camp just a day away, the Dallas Cowboys have finally gotten around to bringing their draft class under contract.

According to Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, Dallas has agreed to terms with the last two of their picks; fifth-round DE Bradlee Anae and seventh-round quarterback Ben DiNucci. Anae agreed to terms on Monday and DiNucci last week.

The Cowboys still need to agree with WR CeeDee Lamb, CBs Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson, center Tyler Biadasz and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore.

Thanks to the rookie wage scale as part of the collective bargaining agreements, an approximation of the amounts of each deal and their impact on the 2020 salary cap are already known.

The Cowboys will award roughly $7.4 million worth of 2020 cap space to it’s seven drafted rookies. That includes their 2020 base salary, as well as the prorated signing bonus that is spread evenly across all four years of a rookie contract.

That amount, however, is not how much cap space the rookies will take up; it will be considerably less.

During the offseason, team’s cap compliance is based on what the top 51 players of the 90-man roster come up to. Only when things are whittled down to 53 players for the start of the league year does everyone count.

So when Dallas signs these players, whether tomorrow or right before training camp, they will replace people already included in the calculation. The change in the team’s total salary number will be the difference between the rookies and the salaries at the bottom of that top 51.

The bottom seven players almost all make the minimum salary on each team, which thanks to the new CBA was bumped up to $610,000 per man.

7 x $610,000 = $4,270,000 removed from the total team salary to make room for the $7,376,668 means Dallas will add a net total of around $3.1 million.

The Cowboys currently have around $11.2 million of cap space remaining.

Player: WR CeeDee Lamb
Round/Slot Picked: 1.17
Signing Bonus: $7,749,100
Total Salary: $14,010,014
2020 Cap Hit: $2,547,275

Player: CB Trevon Diggs
Round/Slot Picked: 2.51
Signing Bonus: $2,157,024
Total Salary:  $6,320,908
2020 Cap Hit: $1,149,256

Player: DT Neville Gallimore
Round/Slot Picked: 3.82
Signing Bonus: $963,956
Total Salary:  $4,680,438
2020 Cap Hit: $850,989

Player: CB Reggie Robinson
Round/Slot Picked: 4.123
Signing Bonus: $729,268
Total Salary:  $4,024,268
2020 Cap Hit: $792,317

Player: C Tyler Biadasz
Round/Slot Picked: 4.146
Signing Bonus: $494,400
Total Salary:  $3,789,400
2020 Cap Hit: $733,600

Player: DE Bradlee Anae
Round/Slot Picked: 5.179
Signing Bonus: $237,776
Total Salary:  $3,532,776
2020 Cap Hit: $669,444

Player: QB Ben DiNucci
Round/Slot Picked: 7.231
Signing Bonus: $95,148
Total Salary: $3,390,148
2020 Cap Hit: $633,787

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Former Notre Dame Captain Signs with NFC Champion 49ers

Chris Finke walked on at Notre Dame. Now the wide receiver will essentially try to walk on with the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.

Chris Finke has beaten the odds before.  He walked onto the Notre Dame football team before eventually earning a scholarship and ultimately becoming a captain this past season.  Now he’ll get to try and essentially walk-on in the NFL as he’s signed with the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent.

Finke was a vital part of the 2018 team that went unbeaten in the regular and had a huge game against USC in the regular season finale.  After struggling most of the first half Finke had a couple huge catches before capping the first Notre Dame scoring drive of the night just before halftime.

Finke finishes his Notre Dame career with 1251 career receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions.  His best game his senior year came against Duke in early November as he found the end zone twice and was given game ball honors by his head coach.

The 5-9 Finke is a product of Dayton Archbishop Alter High School in Ohio and at Notre Dame majored in finance with a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship.

10 free agents the Lions should consider adding

The Detroit Lions have been very active so far in free agency but they still have a few more holes on their roster where they should consider adding talent.

The Detroit Lions have been very active so far in free agency but they still have a few more holes on their roster where they should consider adding talent.

Not all the Lions’ free-agent contracts have been reported, but based on our best guess, they have around $12 million in available salary-cap space that they can still spend in free agency. So with that in mind, here a list of remaining free agents they should consider.

1. Kamalei Correa, JACK LB

Correa is everything the Lions are looking for in a JACK linebacker. Comfortable pass-rushing, stopping the run, and dropping into coverage, Correa fits the mold of the hybrid linebacker the Lions have slowly been moving towards over the past two offseasons. As a career rotational player, Correa shouldn’t command a hefty payday, but his experience working with new Lions’ linebacker coach Tyrone McKenzie, could be enough to entice him to sign on with the Lions.

2. Daryl Williams, T/G

I had Greg Van Roten pegged here, but he signed with the Jets last night, so I shifted gears to his teammate in 2019, Daryl Williams. Williams is capable of playing both tackle and guard at a starter level and is arguably the top remaining guard in free agency. He is coming off a subpar year in 2019 and season-ending knee injury in 2018, but in 2017, he was one of the best right tackles in the league. His ability to play multiple positions and win in the running game will appeal to the Lions. He’s capable of starting at right guard on this current roster and should come with a reasonable price tag after his previous two seasons.

3. Shelby Harris, DT

The Lions have already signed Nick Williams and Danny Shelton, but it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities for them to add another defensive tackle. The biggest obstacle for adding Harris will likely be price but if the Lions aren’t interested in adding a defensive tackle in the draft, he may be the most impactful option.

Marcel Dareus is someone the Lions were looking into at the Combine, and Mike Daniels is another option the Lions would consider bringing back, but both are coming off multiple seasons where injuries impacted their availability.

4. David Morgan, TE

My 2016 draft crush, Morgan is a blocking tight end with basketball skills and vice-grip hands that make him an ideal TE3, who could push Jesse James for TE2 snaps. A knee injury cost him last season with the Vikings and the current world situation makes getting him medically cleared a large obstacle, but he’s worth making the effort for.

5. Ronald Darby, CB

Injuries have been a massive problem for Darby and significantly damaged his perceived value. But, he has a history of working with new Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin and his above-average cover skills make him a capable starter. He would give the Lions insurance if they don’t land Jeff Okudah in the draft and if Amani Oruwariye isn’t ready for a starting role. If he signs, expect a contract heavy with incentives surrounding performance and availability.

Logan Ryan and Aqib Talib are also starting level corners with ties to the coaching staff but both come with a glaring concern. Ryan’s reportedly asking for a minimum contract that averages $10 million, while Talib is 34-years-old and coming off a season-long rib injury.

6. Breshad Perriman, WR

Robby Anderson is the top wide receiver available in free agency but the cost of adding him would likely force the Lions to make a hard decision on Marvin Jones. Anderson is three years younger than Jones, but he probably comes with a higher price tag as well.

Perriman, whose father had a long career with the Lions, is a tick younger than Anderson, and after tough first few years in the league, has found his confidence. He is a legitimate vertical threat with sub-4.3 speed and would fit in this scheme like a glove.

Phillip Dorsett is another vertical threat with sub-4.3 speed and could also be in the mix.

7. Dion Lewis, RB

At this point in his career, Lewis is likely a third-down back only, but with the departure of J.D McKissic, the Lions are in the market for one. Lewis is declining a bit as a runner, but he can still be a weapon in the passing game, especially as a pass protector.

Devonta Freeman should also be in the mix, but will likely require a higher price to secure.

8. Josh Kline, RG

Kline was in Minnesota in 2019 but spent his first three years in the NFL with the Patriots. He has always been a solid pass protector, which will appeal to the Lions, but he is probably better suited as a spot starter and rotational player at this point in his career — which may fit what the Lions are looking for.

9. Everson Griffen, DDE

Griffen is one of the top available pass rushers remaining in free agency and even at age 32, is terrific at creating pressure. The Lions would love to get him on their team as opposed to facing him twice a year, but the big question is can the Lions afford him?

10. Clay Matthews, pass-rushing specialist

By the time the 2020 season opens, Matthews will be 34-years old and far removed from his days of glory, but he showed last season (8 sacks) he is still capable of contributing as a pass-rushing specialist. He could fill a void as a rotational JACK linebacker for the Lions.

Cowboys to sign Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix to fill safety void

The Dallas Cowboys rarely make the splashes in free agency many of their rabid fan base demands, but they do tend to put in the necessary work to make it to the draft without glaring holes. Late into the night on Thursday, they did just that, …

The Dallas Cowboys rarely make the splashes in free agency many of their rabid fan base demands, but they do tend to put in the necessary work to make it to the draft without glaring holes. Late into the night on Thursday, they did just that, shoring up their safety position.

With Jeff Heath departing for Las Vegas, the club had a huge hole to fill beside free safety Xavier Woods, and they found a solution in a player new head coach Mike McCarthy is familiar with. The newest Dallas Cowboy is Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix.

NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports it’s a one-year deal for $4 million with $2.5 million guaranteed.

Drafted by the Packers in 2014’s first round, Clinton-Dix spent four-and-a-half years under McCarthy before Green Bay traded him in the middle of the 2018 season to Washington. That was the head coach’s final season in Wisconsin and things were unraveling at that point. It’s safe to say there weren’t hard feelings between the two, likely because of how little influence McCarthy had on personnel matters in Green Bay.

Clinton-Dix spent last season in Chicago with the Bears where he hauled in two interceptions with long returns, including a37-yard score against Washington.

He has 16 career interceptions in his six seasons, something the Dallas defense desperately needs an uptick in. He also has 33 pass deflections as he’s played both safety positions across his career.

At 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, Clinton-Dix isn’t known as an imposing hitter, but he has made timely plays. Pro Football Focus has given him 75.5 and 80.2 coverage grades during the last two years across three different teams.

He ranked 19th in defensive grades among all safeties who played at least 50% of team snaps in 2019, in the same range as Tyrann Mathieu and Earl Thomas. By comparison, Heath ranked 38th on the year.

On a one-year deal, Clinton-Dix allows the Cowboys to have a veteran presence in 2020, but also gives them the flexibility to draft a safety in the 2020 draft and not be too impeded by a long-term deal.

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4 reasons why the Browns – Case Keenum deal could be one of the sneaky good signings of the offseason

(Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports) There are bigger deals than Case Keenum signing with the Cleveland Browns. Fine, there are much bigger deals than Case Keenum signing with the Cleveland Browns – and you can see all the deals right here. The thing about …

Case Keenum Browns
(Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

There are bigger deals than Case Keenum signing with the Cleveland Browns. Fine, there are much bigger deals than Case Keenum signing with the Cleveland Browns — and you can see all the deals right here. The thing about Case Keenum’s three-year $18 million contract is that it could be a sneaky good signing for the Browns. Here’s why:

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Cowboys bring back third FA of offseason

The Cowboys bring back a young OL member to try and keep the party going.

The Dallas Cowboys have a plethora of offseason free agents they need to address, and they come in all shapes, sizes and statuses. QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper, CB Byron Jones and DE Robert Quinn get all of the headlines, but they are hardly the only decisions the club needs to render verdict on. No, they are just four of 25 unrestricted free agents and the club has another entire subset to decide on before the market opens up on March 18.

Earlier in the month, the team indicated they were going to place tenders on restricted free agents TE Blake Jarwin and QB Cooper Rush. Now, they’ve indicated they are going to bring back reserve lineman Adam Redmond to help ensure continuity among the backups on the offensive line.

Redmond did not dress for a single game for the Cowboys last season, after being active for 10 games in 2018. Thanks to only appearing in four games with Indianapolis  in 2017, he has only accrued two seasons towards free agency, thus his ERFA status. Players with three years towards free agency are restricted free agents (Jarwin, Rush) and players with four years or more are unrestricted free agents (Prescott-4, Cooper-5).

Bringing back Redmond is imperative, as Joe Looney and Xavier Su’a-Filo are the primary interior backups and both are UFAs this offseason. Dallas has third-round pick Conner McGovern in line to be the main swing interior, but they normally like to keep either 3 or 4 OL backups on the roster.

Rosters will expand from 53 to 55 if the new CBA is ratified, so there could be more help in the trenches there as well.

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Former Lions TE Michael Roberts reportedly signing with Dolphins

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that former Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts is signing with Miami Dolphins.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that former Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts is signing with Miami Dolphins.

Roberts was a dynamic player at Toledo, scoring 16 touchdowns during his senior season and eventually being drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the ensuing draft.

Overall, his play was frustratingly inconsistent during his two years with the Lions, and over a six-day period last June, his NFL career looked like it had potentially come to a close.

 

After the Lions overhauled the tight end room, adding four players including first-round pick T.J. Hockenson, Roberts was traded to the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, he failed a physical in Foxborough and reverted back to the Lions. The Lions then released him. The next day, Roberts was claimed off of waivers by the Green Bay Packers, but after another failed physical, he was once again released.

The unique ordeal took its toll on Roberts who wrote on social media, “I’ve faced depression, weight gain, huge feeling of unworthiness, uncertainty and so much more.”

Then in late August, Roberts had reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder and began refocusing on rebuilding his life. His work as paid off, as now six months later, Roberts appears to be back in the NFL.

We at Lions Wire wish him the best of luck.

Lady Vols basketball signs two four-star recruits

Lady Vols basketball signs two four-star recruits.

KNOXVILLE — The Lady Vols basketball program got in on the college basketball signing fever on Wednesday, adding two four-star recruits.

Tess Darby, a 6-foot-1 swingwoman from Greenfield High School in Greenfield, Tenn., first verbally committed to UT back on October 18, but the paperwork is now official. The prized perimeter player is rated at four-stars, as well as the No. 33 guard and the No. 144 player overall by ProspectsNation.com; she is given a three-star rating and ranked as the No. 29 guard in the nation by espnW HoopGurlz. She won a state championship in 2018 and was a Class A finalist for Miss Tennessee Basketball that season.

Head coach Kellie Harper had the following to say about her newest Lady Vol.

“Tess is a skilled and competitive wing. She is a terrific shooter and has a high basketball IQ. As a native Tennessean, Tess has a great appreciation of what it means to be part of our university and the Lady Vol(s) program.”

Destiny Salary, a 6-foot guard out of Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Ark., is ranked as a four-star guard by both espnW HoopGurlz and ProspectsNation.com. She was a USA Today All-Arkansas Second Team selection in 2019 and earned Class 5A all-state in 2019 and Class 6A all-state in 2017.

Coach Harper also had some encouraging words about the four-star signee.

“Destiny is an athletic and high-energy guard. She is aggressive getting to the basket and defending the ball. Destiny has a magnetic personality that will be great for our team and Tennessee fans.”

 

The two women represent the first high school signees of the Kellie Harper era. She was quoted saying, “both Tess and Destiny are really good people, and we are excited to be adding them to the Lady Vol family.”