NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Vikings have reached out to Drew Brees’ agent

Every team that needs a quarterback is surely reaching out to the best quarterback available in free agency, Drew Brees. The Vikings are the first team confirmed to have done so.

The Vikings reached out to Brees’ agent shortly after it became legal for teams to do so, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

It would really only be newsworthy if the Vikings hadn’t reached out to Brees’s camp. If there’s a single team that needs a quarterback that hasn’t already called Brees’s agent to see if there’s any interest, that team is making a huge mistake.

Brees has said repeatedly that he has no interest in leaving New Orleans, and the Saints remain the favorites to retain his services. But it’s now completely legal for any NFL team to call Brees’s agent, make a contract offer and try to get him to change his plans about where to go next.

The most likely scenario is that Brees’s agent uses those other offers to get the Saints to sweeten their offer a little bit. But it’s also possible that some team will blow Brees away with an offer that dwarfs what the Saints are willing to pay. At the very least, all the teams that don’t already have a franchise quarterback should be giving it a shot. (PFT)

 

I wouldn't be shocked if the Bills aim for #2 overall. This is shaping up like the Carson Wentz trade up.

 

Could be - Bills have 2 picks in each of the first three rounds.

 

Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis has been charged with strongarm rape over an incident that allegedly took place five years ago in Georgia.

 

Case Keemun expected to sign with the Broncos.

Allen Robinson expected to sign with the Bears.

Wow, kinda surprised Keemun has a team before Cousins. This mean Cousins headed to the Vikings?

 

Sure looks and feels like a huge mistake to me. I loved his play and season and think he was improving. The only thing that would make any sense now is the signing of Cousins, who will probably demand the world.

Vikings must be willing to give him the world too, because they must have known contacting Brees was going to be very costly.

Sure hope this works out for Minnesota and doesn't turn into another Vikings blunder.

 

It’s going to be 3 years, $42M with roughly $25M guaranteed. ~ Adam Schefter

 

If these are the terms, either Allen Robinson will be an over paid WR or Antonio Brown will be considered to be very under paid.

 

Here's another dandy...

Former Panthers’ G Andrew Norwell intends to sign with the Jaguars on a 5-year deal for $66.5 million, including $30M fully guaranteed, source tells ESPN. He is going to become NFL’s highest paid guard - $13.3 million average. ~ Adam Schefter.

 

The Chiefs locked in on WR Sammy Watkins late last night and the deal is expected to be worth roughly $16M per year over 3 years, sources say... According to Rappaport.
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The Chiefs are giving their young starting quarterback a big-play receiver.

Sammy Watkins and the Chiefs have agreed to terms on a contract that should be signed tomorrow, according to multiple reports. The deal has been pegged at about $16 million a year for three years.

That pairs Watkins with Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ new starting quarterback, and adds him to a talented offense that also includes Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs have set Mahomes up to succeed in his first year as the starter, following the Alex Smith trade.

Watkins didn’t live up to expectations in Buffalo after the Bills packaged two first-round picks to move up and draft him. But with the Rams last year he played well in a supporting role, and now the Chiefs will hope he can be their No. 1 wide receiver. (PFT)

 

If Cousins goes to Arizona, will Minnesota make a play for Drew Brees ?

 

Report: Saints, Drew Brees progressing toward two-year deal

Drew Brees was at the Saints’ facility on Monday for tackle Zach Strief’s retirement press conference and that gave him the opportunity to spend a little time talking about a new contract as well.

That conversation appears to have gone well. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Brees and the Saints have made “significant progress” toward a two-year deal that would keep Brees in New Orleans. Rapoport adds that the “belief” is that the deal will get to the finish line on Tuesday.

Other teams were allowed to contact Brees’ representatives on Monday and the Vikings reportedly did exactly that. As PFT reported Tuesday morning, however, there’s no sign that Brees is looking to leave New Orleans and getting a deal done before Wednesday afternoon’s start of the league year would avoid Brees’ current contract voiding. That would create an $18 million charge on the Saints’ cap just as free agency gets rolling, but the charge would be spread out if the sides can get a new deal done before that point.

It looks like things are trending that way as Tuesday gets going. (PFT)

 

Looks like we have a baseline for Zach Martin.

 

Former Panthers’ DT Star Lotulelei intends to sign a 5-year deal with the Buffalo Bills when free agency opens, source tells ESPN.

 

"The #Saints and QB Drew Brees have struck a 2-year deal worth $50M, sources tell me and @SlaterNFL. He gets $27M guaranteed. He’s back and everyone can breathe."

 

Linebacker Paul Posluszny retires

The Jaguars have a promising young core of defensive players, and one of their mentors is walking away.

According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union, veteran linebacker Paul Posluszny is retiring after 11 seasons.

With much sadness but without regret, I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to the unwavering standard of excellence that professional football demands,” he wrote. “I say this with a heavy heart: I am retiring from the NFL. I love the game of football so much, and I know there is truly only one acceptable way to play. Knowing I can no longer compete at a level that I find acceptable, I have chosen to end my football career. This decision is mine alone, and although I know this will not bring me happiness, it is the right and honorable action to take at this time in my life. I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I have played. I anxiously look forward to next football season to arrive, but this time with the sole focus of being a great husband and father for my loving family.

The 33-year-old signed with the Jaguars in 2011 and endured the lean years, and then was moved out of the middle on an every down basis when Myles Jack was ready to take over there. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow.

He played his first four years with the Bills, and retires second on the Jaguars’ all-time tackle list with 973, trailing only Daryl Smith (1,089). (PFT)

 

I thought he was going to Arizona ?

 

http://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-reportedly-sign-former-all-pro-dt

Eagles sign Haloti Ngata !

 

He'll be a back-up, like Beau Allen.