Month: November 2013

Andre Ellington has injured knee

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Andre Ellington has injured knee

The Cardinals appear to be dodging a scare with running back Andre Ellington popping up on Thursday's injury report with a bothersome knee.

According to the Arizona Republic, Ellington had his knee wrapped and is hopeful about his outlook for the Cardinals' game in two days against the Eagles.

The Cardinals are perhaps the NFL's most under-the-radar 7-4 team at the moment, with Ellington playing a big part of that. For the season, Ellington has 441 yards and two touchdowns. He's averaging six yards per carry.

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Start 'em, Sit 'em, Smash 'em

Posted on | by Joe Fortenbaugh | Leave a Comment on Start 'em, Sit 'em, Smash 'em

LIVE CHAT

I’m currently visiting my parents in Del Boca Vista Phase III and will be on a cross-country flight Sunday morning during our normal live chat time, so this week’s Q&A session is off. However, feel free to reach out via twitter @JoeFortenbaugh or email at Joe.Fortenbaugh@NationalFootballPost.com with any questions you may have heading into Week 13.

Best of luck to you all.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING PRIMER

The CFB betting primer will return to its normal format next week. For now, here are our top plays entering this weekend’s slate of action:

Last week: 2-3

Season: 44-28-1 (.611)

Pittsburgh Panthers (+2.5) over Miami Hurricanes
Ohio State Buckeyes (-16) over Michigan Wolverines
TCU Horned Frogs (+13) over Baylor Bears
Florida State Seminoles (-27) over Florida Gators
Colorado State Rams (-15) over Air Force Falcons

**We’re going to wait/shop for Pittsburgh +3 and TCU +14.

CLICK HERE to check out all of the current lines.

WEEK 13 SURVIVOR PICK

Leans to (in order): Buffalo, Carolina and Minnesota.

…but we’ve been ice cold in this department over the last couple of weeks, so take these recommendations with a grain of salt.

MISFIRE OF THE WEEK

Last week: St. Louis Rams (-1) vs. Chicago Bears (won)

Season: 7-4-2

PICK: BUFFALO BILLS (-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons (in Toronto)

Analysis: Buffalo is rested coming off the bye week, is familiar with the Toronto game and, at 4-7, still alive in the hunt for the postseason. Atlanta has dropped eight of their last nine contests and during the team’s current five-game losing streak is averaging just 14.8 points per game with 13 turnovers. We’ll back the rested team with something to play for over the guys who have packed it in for the season any day of the week.

LVH SUPERCONTEST SELECTIONS

Last week: 3-1-1

Season: 34-23-3

WEEK 13

BUFFALO BILLS (-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons (in Toronto)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (PK) vs. Chicago Bears
DENVER BRONCOS (-4.5) at Kansas City Chiefs
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-7.5) at Houston Texans
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-4.5) over New Orleans Saints

**Card not final yet, so a couple of these picks are subject to change.

CLICK HERE to check out all of the current Week 13 lines.

START ‘EM UP

Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (at San Diego): A risky play considering Dalton’s track record on the road in 2013 (10 TDs, 10 INTs, QB rating of 79.6), but the Cincinnati signal-caller had an extra week of rest to get ready for a San Diego secondary that currently ranks 28th in the league against the pass (276.0 yds/gm) while surrendering an average of 23.6 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks in 2013 (fourth-most in NFL). Remember, this is the same Chargers defense that was torched by game manager Alex Smith last Sunday to the tune of 294 yards and three touchdowns (68.4 percent completion percentage).

Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers (vs. St. Louis): Hasn’t found the end zone in three weeks, but should enjoy more success Sunday against a Rams defense that is giving up an average of 22.9 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season (second-most in NFL). The last time these two teams got together, Gore ran wild for a season-high 153 yards and a touchdown.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (at Philadelphia): Fitz has found the end zone in four of his last six starts (five total TDs during that span) and faces a Philadelphia secondary on Sunday that currently ranks dead last in the NFL in pass defense (300.1 yds/gm) this season while surrendering more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers than any other team in the business (30.0 pts/gm). You couldn’t ask for a better matchup for the future Hall of Famer.

Frank GoreGore ran wild against the Rams earlier this season. Look for him to do it again in Week 13.

Andre Brown, RB, New York Giants (at Washington): Has carried the football 69 times over his last three starts with two 100+-yard rushing efforts. Expect another big outing Sunday night at Washington against a Redskins defense that has been gashed for an average of 21.5 fantasy points per game by opposing running backs in 2013 (seventh-most in NFL).

Stevie Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills (vs. Atlanta in Toronto): Johnson has reached double digit targets in three of his last four starts and should run free north of the border on Sunday against a terrible Atlanta defense that currently ranks 24th in the league against the pass (251.2 yds/gm) while giving up an average of 25.8 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts this season (sixth-most in NFL). For those of you in deeper fantasy formats looking for help at the quarterback position, Buffalo’s E.J. Manuel makes for a nice sleeper option in Week 13.

Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns (vs. Jacksonville): Only the Arizona Cardinals (14.5) are surrendering more fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season than the Jaguars (11.2), so anticipate a big effort from Cameron in Week 13. The stud tight end hasn’t found the end zone since October 20, so we’ll be on the lookout in Vegas for any proposition bets that have Cameron scoring a touchdown this Sunday.

Miami Dolphins, D/ST (at NY Jets): Certainly not the most appealing matchup on the Week 13 board, but note that the Jets have already surrendered 38 sacks (t-fourth-most in NFL) and coughed the ball up 24 times (third-most in NFL) in 2013. In addition, be advised that in his last two games alone, rookie quarterback Geno Smith has committed six turnovers and been sacked seven times.

SIT ‘EM DOWN

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Tennessee): Luck isn’t a terrible option in Week 13, but it’s worth noting that the second-year signal-caller has thrown just two touchdown passes over his last three starts, with four interceptions. The Stanford product will try to right the ship Sunday against divisional foe Tennessee, who just so happens to rank eighth in the NFL against the pass (217.4 yds/gm) while surrendering an average of just 16.2 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season (fifth-fewest in NFL).

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers (vs. Cincinnati): Mathews is dealing with a hamstring injury sustained in Week 12 at Kansas City, so he won’t be operating at 100 percent Sunday against a rested Cincinnati defense that currently ranks tenth in the NFL against the run (102.0 yds/gm) while permitting an average
of only 14.0 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2013 (t-fourth-fewest in NFL).

Andrew LuckLuck's last three performances have left fantasy owners scratching their heads.

Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Carolina): Has found the end zone just once over his last five starts and goes head-to-head with a red-hot Carolina defense Sunday afternoon that currently ranks seventh in the NFL against the pass (215.9 yds/gm) while allowing an average of just 15.8 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season (third-fewest in NFL).

Pierre Thomas & Mark Ingram, RBs, New Orleans Saints (at Seattle): New Orleans makes the trek to the nastiest road venue in the NFL Monday night for a possible NFC Championship game preview against the Seattle Seahawks. Pete Carroll’s team is currently permitting an average of just 15.0 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season (seventh-fewest in NFL) and has surrendered just two rushing touchdowns on 136 carries at CenturyLink Field in 2013.

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints (at Seattle): Ditto goes for New Orleans wide receiver Colston, who has found the end zone just twice in 2013 and has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark only one time (November 10). Seattle will have the benefit of record-breaking crowd noise to back a defense that currently ranks second in the NFL against the pass (180.4 yds/gm) while giving up an average of just 16.1 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season (fourth-fewest in NFL).

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons (at Buffalo in Toronto): Has topped 65 receiving yards in a game just once over his last six starts with only one trip to the end zone over his last seven starts. Tony G is riding a cold streak that should continue through the weekend against a Buffalo Bills defense that is giving up an average of only 6.4 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season (seventh-fewest in NFL).

Kansas City Chiefs, D/ST (vs. Denver): Surrendered 27 points to this same Denver offense two weeks ago, but will be without pass rushing specialist Justin Houston (elbow) for the rematch. And after the way the Broncos blew that game at New England last Sunday night, do you really want to roll the dice against a pissed off Peyton Manning in Week 13?

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Top 10 dead money deals

Posted on | by Joel Corry | Leave a Comment on Top 10 dead money deals

A salary cap charge for a player who is no longer on a team’s roster is commonly referred to as dead money. It is a result of signing bonuses, option bonuses and certain roster bonuses being prorated or spread out evenly over the life of a contract (for a maximum of five years) under the salary cap.

When a player is released or traded, the remaining amounts of proration in a contract accelerate into his team’s current salary cap. For example, if a player signs a five-year contract with a $10 million signing bonus, $2 million of his signing bonus counts towards the salary cap for each year of his contract. If he is released after the second year of his contract, the $4 million of signing bonus proration from the last two years of the contract automatically accelerates into the club’s current cap, which results in $6 million of dead money.

There are two major exceptions to this general rule. Only the current year’s proration counts towards the cap with players released or traded after June 1. The proration from the remaining contract years doesn’t accelerate until the next year. A team can also release two players each year prior to June 1st who will be treated under the cap as if they were released after June 1. This is known as a “Post-June 1 designation.”

Here’s a look at the players responsible for the largest amounts of dead money in 2013. Termination pay is being treated separately from dead money since it is a collectively bargained for right available one time during a player’s career. Thus, Josh Freeman does not make the list despite collecting $8.43 million from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season.

1. Richard Seymour (DT)-Oakland Raiders: $13.714 Million

Seymour’s $13.714 million cap charge is a result of two contract restructurings where three voidable years were added to his two-year, $30 million contract to create over $16.5 million of cap room in 2011 and 2012. Once Seymour’s contract voided in early February, the proration from the additional years accelerated into the 2013 cap.

2. Darrelle Revis (CB)-New York Jets: $13 Million

Darrelle RevisLosing Revis cost the Jets a Pro Bowl cornerback as well as $13 million in 2013 dead money.

Revis counts $13 million on the Jets’ cap primarily because $9 million in option bonus proration from the 2014-2016 voidable years of his 2010 renegotiated contract accelerated to this year after his pre-draft trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Revis’ cap charge includes his $1 million fifth day of the league year (March 16) roster bonus. The Jets paid the roster bonus as a part of the trade even though Revis was required to fully participate in offseason mini-camps and training camp to earn it. Revis also received a six-year, $96 million contract from Tampa Bay that doesn’t contain any guaranteed money to complete the deal.

3. Carson Palmer (QB)-Oakland Raiders: $9.34 Million

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie’s preference was for Palmer to take a $3 million pay cut to lower his $15.335 million cap number and $13 million salary. When Palmer refused, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals with a 2013 seventh-round pick for a 2013 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2014 seventh-round pick (if Palmer starts at least 13 games this season). Palmer accepted a bigger paycut than the Raiders proposed by re-working his contract in the trade. He now has a two-year, $16 million deal (worth up to $20 million through salary escalators and incentives) with an $8 million salary this year.

4. Laurent Robinson (WR)-Jacksonville Jaguars: $8.4 Million

The Jacksonville Jaguars released Robinson one year after signing him to a five-year, $32.5 million contract with $13.6 million in guarantees. A series of concussions limited Robinson to seven games in 2012. Robinson was one of several veteran players released in March as new general manager David Caldwell embarked on a rebuilding project. His contract contained a $2 million fully guaranteed 2013 roster bonus and a $2.6 million 2013 base salary guaranteed for injury which would have become fully guaranteed on April 5. Robinson filed a grievance against the Jaguars for his base salary because he still hadn’t recovered from the concussions when the additional guarantees would have vested. $1.04 million of Robinson’s base salary is counting on Jacksonville’s cap in addition to his dead money until the grievance is resolved.

5. Rolando McClain (LB)-Oakland Raiders: $7.26 Million

McClain was the final first-round pick of Al Davis’ illustrious NFL career. The eighth overall selection in the 2010 NFL draft is part of a roster purge that has created over $50 million in dead money for the Raiders this year. McClain’s two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team in 2012 voided the remaining $3.635 million of 2013 and 2014 base salary guarantees in his contract, which made it easier for the Raiders to cut him. If the guarantees had remained intact, Oakland’s cap charge for McClain would have been $10.895 million upon release with his $2.1 million 2014 guaranteed base salary accelerating into this year’s salary cap. He also would have collected an additional $3.635 million from the Raiders. McClain quickly caught on with the Baltimore Ravens after Oakland let him go, but abruptly retired a month later.

6. Robert Meachem (WR)-San Diego Chargers: $6,880,075

Robert MeachemMeachem started just three games in San Diego before getting cut and returning to New Orleans.

The Chargers inked Meachem to a four-year, $25.5 million deal (with $14 million guaranteed) at the start of the 2012 free agent signing period as a much cheaper alternative to re-signing Vincent Jackson. Meachem caught only 14 passes for 207 yards in 2012. He didn’t survive the final cut in San Diego this year despite having a fully guaranteed $5 million base salary. Meachem returned to the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him in the first round in 2007, on a one-year, $715,000 deal. Since Meachem’s guarantee has an offset, the Chargers are recouping the $715,000 from the Saints and get a cap credit in 2014 for those payments.

7. Eugene Monroe (OT)-Jacksonville Jaguars: $6,598,236

Monroe was acquired by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth week of the season for 2014 fourth and fifth round picks. Because of Baltimore’s tight salary cap and the NFL’s prohibition of including cash in player trades, Jacksonville converted all of Monroe’s $3.8 million base salary except for his $715,000 league minimum salary into a signing bonus in order to facilitate the deal. Baltimore’s cap charge for Monroe is only $546,765 or his prorated minimum salary for 13 weeks. The Jaguars also deleted Monroe’s 2014 contract year, which was scheduled to void after this season, in the salary conversion. Instead of Jack
sonville having a 2014 cap charge of $1,397,500 for Monroe from option bonus proration, the deletion accelerated this cap charge into Jacksonville’s 2013 cap.

8. Tommy Kelly (DT)-Oakland Raiders: $6,324,270

The Raiders raised eyebrows in 2008 by signing Tommy Kelly to a seven-year, $50.125 million contract (with $17.5 million in guarantees) while he was recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee. At the time, it was the richest deal in NFL history for a defensive tackle. The Raiders got a much better return on their investment with Kelly than expected. He played five seasons in Oakland under the deal without taking a paycut and led NFL defensive tackles (along with Geno Atkins) with 7.5 sacks in 2011.

9. Kevin Kolb (QB)-Arizona Cardinals: $6 Million

The Cardinals pulled the plug on the two-year Kevin Kolb experiment instead of paying his $2 million fifth day of the league year (March 16) roster bonus. Kolb was scheduled to make $11.5 million this year. The Cardinals acquired Kolb in a 2011 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second-round pick. The veteran quarterback then signed a six-year, $63.5 million contract (with $20 million in guarantees) as a part of the trade. Kolb was plagued by injuries that limited him to 15 games during his tenure in Arizona.

10. Quintin Mikell (S)-St. Louis Rams: $6 Million

Mikell was released after playing two seasons of his four-year, $27 million contract because the Rams wanted to get younger at safety. Mikell was 32-years-old at the time of his release. The $3 million in cap space created by Mikell’s departure helped the Rams sign tight end Jared Cook and offensive tackle Jake Long in free agency.

Follow me on Twitter: @corryjoel

Joel Corry is a former sports agent who helped found Premier Sports & Entertainment, a sports management firm that represents professional athletes and coaches. Prior to his tenure at Premier, Joel worked for Management Plus Enterprises, which represented Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ronnie Lott. You can email Joel at jccorry@gmail.com.

Broncos: John Fox returning to coaching Monday

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Broncos: John Fox returning to coaching Monday

Denver Broncos coach John Fox is returning to work Monday to resume his head-coaching duties as he recovers from heart surgery earlier this month, a procedure to repair his aortic valve.

The Broncos released the following statement on Fox:

“John Fox has been cleared by doctors to return as head coach of the Denver Broncos beginning Monday,” the statement said. “We are very pleased that his recovery from a heart procedure on Nov. 4 has progressed so well. Our organization is confident that his health will allow him to meet his head coaching responsibilities.

“While no formal restrictions will be placed on his workload upon return, he will continue to be monitored by our medical staff as his well-being remains our No. 1 priority. We look forward to Coach Fox’s return to the team on Monday.”

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Jets try out Torell Troup, Shaun Draughn

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Jets try out Torell Troup, Shaun Draughn

The New York Jets continue to keep their emergency lists updated.

According to a source, they worked out four players this week.

That included former Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs running back Shaun Draughn, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Kheeston Randall, former Miami Dolphins offensive guard Josh Samuda and former Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Torell Troup.

None were immediately signed.

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Lions' Houston out today against Packers

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Lions' Houston out today against Packers

The Detroit Lions will be without starting cornerback Chris Houston today against the Green Bay Packers due to a foot injury.

WIth Houston scratched, rookie Darius Slay is expected to start opposite Rashean Mathis.

The backups will be Bill Bentley and Jonte Green.

“I'm ready,” Slay told Detroit reporters. “Ain't no second-guessing about me being a starter. If they tell me I'm going to be a starter, I'm going out there with the same mentality I got out there when I wasn't. Go out there and compete and beat the guy in front of me.”

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Robert Griffin III defends father's locker room visit

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Robert Griffin III defends father's locker room visit

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was paid an unexpected visit in the locker room by his father, Robert Griffin Jr., following a rough game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Griffin Jr. was checking on his son, concerned that he might have been injured.

Griffin said he was shocked to see his father in the locker room, but emphasized that he was “not overstepping any bounds.”

“I don’t know what all has been said,” Griffin III said. “I just know it hasn’t all been positive. My dad came to check on me. He came to check on me to make sure I wasn’t injured. Mom was upset. He wanted to do his fatherly duties and step in there and see if I was okay. So that’s all I can say.”

Added Griffin III: “Family members sometimes come in the locker room. So I’m not gonna say whose family members are in the locker room. It’s just he showed up. Yeah, I was shocked that he was there. But he meant no harm. And anybody out there that’s going after my dad needs to back up. That is my father. I will protect my family. And he served 21 years in the military. I know that’s not an excuse for anything that he does. But he’s not overstepping any bounds. I hope people respect that and will back off.”

Griffin III got kicked in the groin during the game.

“Obviously I got kicked in the [groin],” Griffin III said. “He wanted to see if I was okay there…. So he was just checking on that. It was more so just my mom…. No mom wants to see her kid out there getting hit at all. So, like I said, it was just him being a father, my mom being a mother. And there’s no problem in that.”

Are the Griffin family jewels intact?

“There will be a Griffin IV,” Griffin III said. “There will be.”

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Chiefs try out five defensive players with Houston sidelined

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Chiefs try out five defensive players with Houston sidelined

The Kansas City Chiefs tried out five defensive players with star outside linebacker Justin Houston sidelined with an elbow injury.

They worked out former Washington Redskins defensive end Hall Davis, defensive tackle Chas Alecxih, defensive tackle DaJohn Harris, linebacker Delano Johnson and defensive tackle Martin Parker, according to a league source.

None of the players were immediately signed to a contract.

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Source: Panthers try out Kahlil Bell, Brandon Jackson, Lance Ball, Jalen Parmele

Posted on | by Aaron Wilson | Leave a Comment on Source: Panthers try out Kahlil Bell, Brandon Jackson, Lance Ball, Jalen Parmele

The Carolina Panthers might need some reinforcements at running back.

Jonathan Stewart (ankle), Mike Tolbert (knee) and DeAngelo Williams (quadriceps) all missed practice Wednesday due to injuries.

Although none were immediately signed, the Panthers did bring in four running backs for workouts and visits.

The Panthers auditioned former Denver Broncos running back Lance Ball, former Clevleand Browns running back Brandon Jackson, former Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins running back Jalen Parmele and former Chicago Bears and New York Jets running back Kahlil Bell.

None were immediately signed, though.

Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider

Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.