Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) runs past Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cassius Marsh (91) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Seahawks 25-20. Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
While the second day of the league wasn’t as chaotic as the first, there was still plenty of intrigue and eye-opening deals while things were eerily quiet on the quarterback front.
The Super Bowl champion Patriots made the biggest move on Friday when they acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Saints for first- and third-round picks in this year’s draft. New Orleans also sent a fourth-round pick to New England for Cooks, who had 78 receptions for 1,173 yards (15.0-yard average) and eight touchdowns last season. One of those scores was a 98-yard play.
A first-round pick in 2014, the Saints apparently simply wanted to avoid paying big money to Cooks down the road. That will be New England’s problem now. In another deal, the Patriots acquired defensive end Kony Ealy from Carolina, making it three trades in 24 hours after getting tight end Dwayne Allen from Indianapolis Thursday.
Allen essentially replaces Martellus Bennett, who signed a three-year, $21 million deal with Green Bay after talks broke off between the Packers and Jared Cook, who could be lamenting playing hard to get.
That also happened with wide receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr., who saw himself as a $14 million-a-year player in Cleveland. The problem for Pryor is that no one else did, including the Browns, who signed Kenny Britt for basically the same deal they were offering Pryor at about $8 million a year. With his tail between his legs, Pryor signed a one-year contract with Washington Friday for a mere $6 million plus a potential $2 million in incentives.
One of the not surprising revelations Friday was the true value of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery’s one-year contract with Philadelphia. It’s always shocking when agents misrepresent contracts to national media contacts when they know the real numbers will soon be known. However, it’s just as lamentable that in the urgency to try and be the first to report deals, that some reporters fail to ask agents the actual terms.
Some agents will include incentives in the package to jack up the value. That’s what happened with Jeffery. What was reported as a one-year, $14 million contract is actually worth only $9.5 million, plus $4.5 million in incentives.
It’s always important to have a jaundiced eye when seeing some of the numbers being pushed by agents with their own agendas.
With that in mind, we pass along some big-money deals revealed Friday with the proviso that they might not be totally real.
Cardinals franchised linebacker Chandler Jones signed a five-year deal said to be worth $82.5 million with $53 million guaranteed … The value of tackle Riley Reiff’s contract with Minnesota is reportedly $58.75 million over five years with $26.3 million guaranteed.
Great note from Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland after Friday’s release of quarterback Robert Griffin III: “Of the 26 Browns quarterbacks who started a game since 1999, Griffin joins a group of five with one career win for the Browns: Griffin, 1-4; Seneca Wallace, 1-6; Doug Pederson, 1-7; Jason Campbell, 1-7; and Josh McCown, 1-9.
The following is a capsule look at players re-signed, added and lost as of Friday night:
ARIZONA
–Staying: TE Jermaine Gresham, LB Chandler Jones, WR Jeremy Ross, C A.Q. Shipley.
–Coming: S Antoine Bethea (49ers), LB Karlos Dansby (Bengals), K Phil Dawson (49ers).
–Going: DL Calais Campbell (Jaguars), K Chandler Catanzaro (Jets), S Tony Jefferson (Ravens), S D.J. Swearinger (Redskins).
ATLANTA
–Staying: LB LaRoy Reynolds, QB Matt Schaub, TE Levine Toilolo, DT Courtney Upshaw.
–Coming: DE Jack Crawford (Cowboys).
–Going: DL Tyson Jackson (released), FB Patrick DiMarco (Bills), WR Aldrick Robinson (49ers), WR Eric Weems (Titans), LB Paul Worrilow (Lions).
BALTIMORE
–Staying: DB/LB Anthony Levine, QB Ryan Mallett, NT Brandon Williams.
–Coming: S Tony Jefferson (Cardinals), RB Danny Woodhead (Chargers).
–Going: G Vlad Ducasse (Bills), LB Elvis Dumervil (released), FB Kyle Juszczyk (49ers), S Kendrick Lewis (released), LB Zachary Orr (retired), WR Steve Smith Sr. (retired), T Rick Wagner (Lions), S Lardarius Webb (released), CB Shareece Wright (released).
BUFFALO
–Staying: LB Ramon Humber.
–Coming: FB Patrick DiMarco (Falcons), G Vlad Ducasse (Ravens), K Steven Hauschka (Seahawks), S Micah Hyde (Packers), S Jordan Poyer (Browns), FB Mike Tolbert (Panthers).
–Going: K Dan Carpenter (released), WR Marcus Easley (released), CB Stephon Gilmore (Patriots), WR Marquise Goodwin (49ers), S Corey Graham (released), LB Lerentee McCray (Jaguars), CB Nickell Robey-Coleman (released), LS Garrison Sanborn (released), S Phillip Thomas (released), S Aaron Williams (released), WR Robert Woods (Rams).
CAROLINA
–Staying: DE Mario Addison, DE Wes Horton, DE Charles Johnson, S Colin Jones, RB Fozzy Whittaker.
–Coming: S Mike Adams (Colts), WR Charles Johnson (Vikings), T Matt Kalil (Vikings), CB Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings), LB Julius Peppers (Packers), WR Russell Shepard (Buccaneers).
–Going: DE Kony Ealy (traded Patriots), WR Ted Ginn Jr. (Saints), LB A.J. Klein (Saints), T Mike Remmers (Vikings), DL Paul Soliai (released), FB Mike Tolbert (released/Bills).
CHICAGO
–Staying: K Connor Barth, C/G Eric Kush.
–Coming: CB Prince Amukamara (Jaguars), S Quintin Demps (Texans), QB Mike Glennon (Buccaneers), TE Dion Sims (Dolphins), WR Markus Wheaton (Steelers).
–Going: QB Matt Barkley (49ers), QB Jay Cutler (released), QB Brian Hoyer (49ers), WR Alshon Jeffery (Eagles), G/C Ted Larsen (Dolphins), TE Logan Paulsen (49ers), DE Cornelius Washington (Lions).
CINCINNATI
–Staying: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, WR Brandon LaFell, T Eric Winston.
–Coming: None.
–Going: LB Karlos Dansby (Cardinals), T Andrew Whitworth (Rams), G Kevin Zeitler (Browns).
CLEVELAND
–Staying: LB Jamie Collins, P Britton Colquitt.
–Coming: WR Kenny Britt (Rams), QB Brock Osweiler (trade Texans), C/G JC Tretter (Packers), G Kevin Zeitler (Bengals).
–Going: QB Robert Griffin III (released), WR Andrew Hawkins (released), QB Josh McCown (released), DT Stephen Paea (Cowboys), S Jordan Poyer (Bills), WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. (Redskins), DB Tramon Williams (released).
DALLAS
–Staying: WR Brice Butler, WR Terrance Williams.
–Coming: CB Nolan Carroll (Eagles), DE Damontre Moore (Seahawks), DT Stephen Paea (Browns).
–Going: S Barry Church (Jaguars), DE Jack Crawford (Falcons), G Ronald Leary (Broncos), DT Terrell McClain (Redskins).
DENVER
–Staying: None.
–Coming: G Ronald Leary (Cowboys), T Menelik Watson (Raiders).
–Going: T Russell Okung (Chargers), NT Sylvester Williams (Titans).
DETROIT
–Staying: None.
–Coming: CB DJ Hayden (Raiders), T Rick Wagner (Ravens), DT Akeem Spence (Buccaneers), DE Cornelius Washington (Bears), LB Paul Worrilow (Falcons).
–Going: LB DeAndre Levy (released), T Riley Reiff (Vikings), G Larry Warford (Saints).
GREEN BAY
–Staying: T/G Don Barclay, LB Nick Perry.
–Coming: TE Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
–Going: S Micah Hyde (Bills), LB Julius Peppers (Panthers), CB Sam Shields (released), RB James Starks (released), C/G JC Tretter (Browns).
HOUSTON
–Staying: P Shane Lechler, K Nick Novak.
–Coming: None.
–Going: CB A.J. Bouye (Jaguars), S Quintin Demps (Bears), S Don Jones (49ers), QB Brock Osweiler (traded Browns), LB John Simon (Colts).
INDIANAPOLIS
–Staying: TE Jack Doyle.
–Coming: P Jeff Locke (Vikings), LB Barkevious Mingo (Patriots), LB/DE Jabaal Sheard (Patriots), LB John Simon (Texans).
–Going: S Mike Adams (Panthers), TE Dwayne Allen (traded Patriots), LB D’Qwell Jackson (released), OLB Robert Mathis (retired), P Pat McAfee (retired), T/G Joe Reitz (retired), CB Patrick Robinson (released).
JACKSONVILLE
–Staying: WR Arrelious Benn, QB Chad Henne, DT Abry Jones, G Patrick Omameh, Potential UFA, WR Bryan Walters.
–Coming: T Branden Albert (trade Dolphins), CB A.J. Bouye (Texans), DT Calais Campbell (Cardinals), S Barry Church (Cowboys), LB Lerentee McCray (Bills).
–Going: CB Prince Amukamara (Bears), T Kelvin Beachum (Jets), S Johnathan Cyprien (Titans), CB Davon House (released), G/T Luke Joeckel (Seahawks), DT Sen’Derrick Marks (released), DE Jared Odrick (released), TE Julius Thomas (traded Dolphins).
KANSAS CITY
–Staying: S Eric Berry.
–Coming: RB C.J. Spiller.
–Going: RB Jamaal Charles (released).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
–Staying: SS Jahleel Addae, QB Kellen Clemens, NT Damion Square, LS Mike Windt.
–Coming: T Russell Okung (Broncos).
–Going: CB Brandon Flowers (released), G/T D.J. Fluker (released), WR Stevie Johnson (released), RB Danny Woodhead (Ravens).
LOS ANGELES RAMS
–Staying: CB Trumaine Johnson.
–Coming: T Andrew Whitworth (Bengals), WR Robert Woods (Bills).
–Going: C Tim Barnes (released), WR Kenny Britt (Browns), DE William Hayes (traded Dolphins), TE Lance Kendricks (released), DE Eugene Sims (released).
MIAMI
–Staying: DE Andre Branch, LS John Denney, WR Kenny Stills.
–Coming: S Nate Allen (Raiders), TE Anthony Fasano (Titans), DE William Hayes (trade Rams), G/C Ted Larsen (Bears), TE Julius Thomas (trade Jaguars), LB Lawrence Timmons (Steelers).
–Going: S Isa Abdul-Quddus (released), T Branden Albert (traded Jaguars), TE Cameron Jordan (retired), CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (released), DT Earl Mitchell (released/49ers), TE Dion Sims (Bears), DE Mario Williams (released).
MINNESOTA
–Staying: None.
–Coming: T Riley Reiff (Lions), T Mike Remmers (Panthers).
–Going: TE Rhett Ellison (Giants), G Brandon Fusco (released), LB Chad Greenway (retired), G Mike Harris (released), WR Charles Johnson (Panthers), T Matt Kalil (Panthers), P Jeff Locke (Colts), CB Captain Munnerlyn (Panthers).
NEW ENGLAND
–Staying: DT Alan Branch, FB James Develin, S Duron Harmon.
–Coming: TE Dwayne Allen (trade Colts), WR Brandin Cooks (trade Saints), DE Kony Ealy (trade Panthers), CB Stephon Gilmore (Bills).
–Going: TE Martellus Bennett (Packers), LB Barkevious Mingo (Colts), CB Logan Ryan (Titans), DE/LB Jabaal Sheard (Colts), T Sebastian Vollmer (released).
NEW ORLEANS
–Staying: DT Nick Fairley.
–Coming: WR Ted Ginn Jr. (Panthers), LB A.J. Klein (Panthers), G Larry Warford (Lions).
–Going: S Jairus Byrd (released), WR Brandin Cooks (trade Patriots).
NEW YORK GIANTS
–Staying: LS Zak DeOssie.
–Coming: TE Rhett Ellison (Vikings), WR Brandon Marshall (Jets).
–Going: WR Victor Cruz (released), K Robbie Gould (49ers), RB Rashad Jennings (released), FB Will Johnson (released).
NEW YORK JETS
–Staying: LT Ben Ijalana, OLB Corey Lemonier. LB Josh Martin.
–Coming: T Kelvin Beachum (Jaguars), K Chandler Catanzaro (Cardinals).
–Going: K Nick Folk (released), T Breno Giacomini (released), C Nick Mangold (released), WR Brandon Marshall (released/Giants), CB Darrelle Revis (released), RB Khiry Robinson (released).
OAKLAND
–Staying: None.
–Coming: None.
–Going: S Nate Allen (Miami), LB Daren Bates (Titans), CB DJ Hayden (Lions), DT Stacy McGee (Redskins), LB Malcolm Smith (49ers), S Brynden Trawick (Titans), T Menelik Watson (Broncos.
PHILADELPHIA
–Staying: LB Najee Goode, C/G Stefen Wisniewski.
–Coming: WR Alshon Jeffery (Bears), WR Torrey Smith (49ers), G Chance Warmack (Titans).
–Going: DE Connor Barwin (released), CB Nolan Carroll (Cowboys), G Evan Mathis (retired), CB Leodis McKelvin (released).
PITTSBURGH
–Staying: RB Le’Veon Bell, LB James Harrison, TE David Johnson, LB Steven Johnson, QB Landry Jones, LS Greg Warren.
–Coming: None.
–Going: CB Justin Gilbert (released), T Ryan Harris (retired), LB Lawrence Timmons (Dolphins), WR Markus Wheaton (Bears).
SAN FRANCISCO
–Staying: WR Jeremy Kerley.
–Coming: QB Matt Barkley (Bears), LB Brock Coyle (Seahawks), WR Pierre Garcon (Redskins), WR Marquise Goodwin (Bills), K Robbie Gould (Giants), QB Brian Hoyer (Bears), S Don Jones (Texans), FB Kyle Juszczyk (Ravens), DT Earl Mitchell (Dolphins), TE Logan Paulsen (Bears), WR Aldrick Robinson (Falcons), LB Malcolm Smith (Raiders).
–Going: S Antoine Bethea (released), K Phil Dawson (Cardinals), C Marcus Martin (released/Browns), WR Torrey Smith (released/Eagles).
SEATTLE
–Staying: None.
–Coming: CB Perrish Cox, G/T Luke Joeckel (Jaguars), K Blair Walsh.
–Going: LB Brock Coyle (49ers), K Steven Hauschka (Bills), DE Damontre Moore (Cowboys).
TAMPA BAY
–Staying: S Chris Conte, DE William Gholston, RB Jacquizz Rodgers.
–Coming: DE Chris Baker (Redskins), WR DeSean Jackson (Redskins).
–Going: QB Mike Glennon (Bears), WR Russell Shepard (Panthers), DT Akeem Spence (Lions), CB Alterraun Verner (released).
TENNESSEE
–Staying: QB Matt Cassel, DE Karl Klug, LB Nate Palmer.
–Coming: LB Daren Bates (Raiders), S Johnathan Cyprien (Jaguars), CB Logan Ryan (Patriots), S Brynden Trawick (Raiders), WR Eric Weems (Falcons), NT Sylvester Williams (Broncos).
–Going: TE Anthony Fasano (Dolphins), G Chance Warmack (Eagles), DT Al Woods (released).
WASHINGTON
–Staying: QB Kirk Cousins, TE Vernon Davis, LS Nick Sundberg.
–Coming: DT Terrell McClain (Cowboys), DT Stacy McGee (Raiders), WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. (Browns), S D.J. Swearinger (Cardinals).
–Going: DE Chris Baker (Buccaneers), WR Pierre Garcon (49ers), WR DeSean Jackson (Buccaneers), C Kory Lichtensteiger (retired).
