The Red Zone Lounge

Posts Tagged ‘NFC’

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with linebacker Leroy Hill.  The multiyear deal worth $38 million came Thursday, right before Seattle’s minicamp this weekend.  The terms of the deal, as reported by the NFL, are that it’s a six year deal for $38 million with $15.5 million guaranteed.  The deal also includes preventing the Seahawks from going after Hill’s bonuses if he is suspended by the league.  Hill could be facing a suspension from an arrest in January over a misdemeanor marijuana possession in Georgia.

Hill had received the franchise tag from the Seahawks but following the 2009 NFL Draft, in which Seattle took linebacker Aaron Curry with the fourth pick overall, the recinded the tag as Hill refused to sign the $8.3 million tender.  It was expected Hill might have been released but that was put to rest with Thursday’s signing.

A new deal announced Thursday allows the New Orleans Saints to call the Louisiana Super Dome their home through at least 2025.  The deal also will create a Sports Development District by allowing Saints owner Tom Benson to purchased the surrounding structures, the New Orleans Centre and Dominion Tower.  These two were damaged during hurricane Katrina and were never repaired.  They currently remain unused.

The new agreement is good for the state as well, saving them $280 million compared to the current deal with the Saints.  This opens the door for New Orleans holding another Super Bowl in the near future and restoring the city to what it once was before the natural disaster stuck it down.

As expected, veteran running back Edgerrin James has been released from the Arizona Cardinals.  James’ request to be released was honored Tuesday allowing him to seek out another franchise.  Besides James, two other players were cut including Rod Hood and Travis LaBoy.  All three played in Super Bowl XLIII.

The releasing of all three players will create some breathing room under the salary cap for Arizona, the team has been a mere $1 million under the cap.  With the new found room the team can now focus on new contracts for linebacker Karlos Dansby, safety Adrian Wilson and if they’re smart, wideout Anquan Boldin.

According to NFL reports, several teams have immediately been in contact with James’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and is expected to be on another roster in the near future.  Two teams stand out as possibilities, the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.  James would be a valuable change of pace back and would compliment Steve Slaton of the Texans or tandem backs Bush and Pierre in New Orleans.

Over the last three seasons with the Cardinals, James has totalled 794 carries for 2,895 yards with 16 touchdowns.  Both 2006 and 2007 were 1,000 seasons for James but with Tim Hightower and less of a running game, his numbers suffered.  James did how ever bring life back to the running game in the post season to help carry the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.  He would only rush for 33 yards over nine carries in the loss to Pittsburgh.

Anyone think the NFL Draft is two long for just two days?  Well the NFL itself might.  Confirmed reports say that the NFL is thinking about changing the layout of the 2010 NFL Draft to extend over three days, instead of the usual two.    The possible change would start the draft in prime time with round 1 begining Thursday night, rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday.

The NFL feels it would be very appealing having the draft spread out, especially to the fans and audience of the event.  The decision to go to a three day draft would undoubtedly have mixed feelings amongst fans but would really help ratings.  The idea, and thats as far as it goes at this point, is still being discused and has no way been finalized but already has some support.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2010 Draft does go to the three day format.

The Arizona Cardinals releasing veteran running back Edgerrin James is expected to go down sometime this week, says an anonmyous NFL source.  The Cardinals picked up two running backs in this years draft including first round pick Chris “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State.  Already having Tim Hightower as a change of pace back, Wells is projected to take the starting roll and be the featured back in the desert. 

James sought an exit from Arizona during last season, after seeing a decreased roll in the offense due to the prolific passing game and introduction of Hightower.  James only put up 133 carries for 514 yards for the season, career lows for the 10-year veteran.  James could be released as early as Tuesday says the source and would be able to go to another team but with all the younger talent he may find the same situtation in another franchise.  He may find the role he’s looking for with a team that doesn’t yet have a defined running game, such as Cincinnati or perhaps Cleveland.  Kansas City wouldn’t be a stretch but what is almost certain is James will find a home rather quickly if he is indeed let go from Arizona.

The Draft has come and gone.  Miss the coverage and want to see who your team drafted?  You watched it but just want to recap?  Check out the full draft results here.

The Carolina Panthers have locked up their starting quarterback, Jake Delhomme.  The Panthers signed the veteran signal caller to a five-year, $42.5 million extension which will provide valuable cap space.  Delhomme is now under contract until the 2014 season, when he will be 39.

The new deal come with $20 million guaranteed money and and comes after a horrible show in the NFC divisional playoffs against the surging Arizona Cardinals.  Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in that game, but didn’t shake the confidence of head coach John Fox.  Fox and GM Marty Hurney strongly support Delhomme as the starter, a gig he has held since the 2003 season.

“Jake Delhomme is incredibly excited to be able to finish his career in Carolina,” his agent, Rick Smith, said. “He felt there was unfinished business at the end of last year.”

Delhomme through for 3,288 yards and 15 touchdowns with 12 interceptions last season.

The debating about Tony Gonzalez can finally be put to rest.  The Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end has been dealt to the Atlanta Falcons.  After much speculation about Gonzalez’s future and his wishes to be traded, the deal was struck sending the future Hall of Famer to the Falcons for a second-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.  The 10-time Pro Bowler becomes yet another weapon added to the arsenal of young quarterback Matt Ryan.

“On behalf of my family and the Chiefs, I want to thank Tony for his time in Kansas City,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement released by the team. “Over the last 12 seasons, Tony has been one of the finest players in Chiefs history, and he will always be remembered as a member of the Chiefs. His play on the field speaks for itself -– he holds almost every major NFL record for tight ends, and he is arguably the best to ever play his position. We wish him the best in Atlanta.”

Gonzalez is known for being one of the best tight ends the game has ever seen.  He currently owns NFL records for most receptions by a tight end with 916, most receiving yards by a tight end with 10,940, 76 receiving touchdowns and 26 100-yard receiving games.  He will make an outstanding addition to an up and comming Falcons team who made the playoffs with an 11-5 record after going 4-12 the year before.

The Detroit Lions are finalizing contract negotions with their number one overall pick in this years NFL Draft.  The Lions are dealing with Tom Condon and Ben Dogra,  who represent Matthew Stafford and Jason Smith, and have not said who that person would be.  Many sources are saying it would be Stafford.  Smith would be their choice is contract negotiations fell through with the Staffor camp.  Sources say negotiations could be finalized as soon as Wednesday night.

If the Lions take Matthew Stafford, he will most likely be second to veteran QB Dante Culpepper as he has shined quite a bit this offseason.  Stafford would probably be giving a chance to compete for the starting gig, a job that most experts agree he is ready for.

Once the pick is all wrapped up with their giagantic contract, the focus will turn to the holders of the second pick, the St. Louis Rams.  The Rams are expected to take an offensive tackle, Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe, with the pick.  The Rams have moved Alex Barron from right to left tackle and have liked what they’ve seen.  This move allows the Rams to look at possibly taking Aaron Curry, linebacker, or taking the second best available quarterback Mark Sanchez.  Unlike the Lions, the Rams will most likely not sign their pick pre-draft and will not make it available until the Commissioner walks across that stage to the podium.

The Jacksonville Jaguars took a major step in filling holes Monday with the signing of veteran wideout Torry Holt.  Holt and the team agreed to a three-year deal worth $20 million, $4 million guaranteed.  The Jaguars were in dire need of receivers after the releasing of Matt Jones and Jerry Porter.

Holt was released from the St. Louis Rams, where he’s played his whole career, in March to clear cap space for younger talent.  Releasing Holt cleared up $8 million in cap space for the Rams.  The question wasn’t would Holt find another home, it was with who and what was his price tag.  After a short stint of shopping it came down to Jacksonville and Tennessee.  There were rumors that Orlando Pace, also recently released by the Rams and picked up by the Bears, wanted Holt to join him in Chicago.  In the end, both the Jaguars and Holt felt it was the right fit.

Jacksonville holds the 8th overall pick in this weekend’s NFL Draft.  It’s been speculated that they would surely go wide receiver with that selection but with the aquisition of Holt it seems they have more options.  Drafting a young receiver would allow him to study under a veteran of high calibur to train for the number one spot.  Or they could go with quarterback to give them to option to release or not renew current signal caller David Garrard’s contract in the next year or two.  Anything can happen in the NFL Draft, tune in this weekend to see it live!