Having recently cut veteran wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and letting Bernard Berrian seek out an exhorbitant deal via free agency, the Chicago Bears had a couple of roster spots open up this last week, and today filled one of them by signing free agent wideout Marty Booker to a 2-year deal for $3.5 million total. This will be Booker's second tour of duty with the Bears, who he played for from 1999-2004, before being traded to the Miami Dolphins in a deal that brought the Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. The Dolphins recently cut Booker, who was in the last year of a 7-year $28 million contract he originally signed with Chicago in 2002.
The Bears also notified the agent for defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy that they will not match the Jacksonville Jaguars' 1-year $655,000 offer (including a $50K signing bonus). The Bears held the right of first refusal due to a clause they inserted in his contract last year when they signed Kennedy off the scrap heap. Kennedy came into the league as a 1st round pick by the Rams in the 2003 NFL Draft, and was quickly declared a bust. He was traded to the Broncos for a 6th round pick on June 8 2007, and then was cut September 1. Needing help at the tackle position because of injuries, the Bears signed him to a deal for the rest of the season, and Kennedy went on to contribute next to nothing in 3 games with Chicago, notching 0 sacks, 0 solo tackles and 2 assisting tackles.
Showing posts with label jacksonville jaguars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jacksonville jaguars. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Bills Trade 3rd & 5th Rounders to Jags For DT Stroud, Sign Spencer Johnson
The Buffalo Bills are looking to improve a run defense that ranked 25th in the NFL in 2007, and have started to do so by acquiring a pair of defensive tackles. Buffalo has nabbed 3-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud from the Jacksonville Jaguars, in exchange for 3rd and 5th round picks in the upcoming 2008 NFL Draft. The Bills have also signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Spencer Johnson to a 5-year contract for an undisclosed amount.
Stroud was drafted by Jacksonville out of Georgia with the 13th overall pick in the 1st round in 2001, and was elected to both the Pro Bowl and NFL All-Pro teams in 2003 through 2005. Teaming with John Henderson inside, Stroud helped the Jags run defense consistently be one of the top run stuffing units in the league the past few years. He was suspended for 4 games in 2007 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy related to steroids, but Stroud contended that he was given an over-the counter supplement by an Atlanta physician to help recover from off-season ankle surgery, and that is what ultimately triggered the positive test. Stroud is still under contract for the next 3 years at $16.5 million total, which seems like a pretty good deal in today's market for top shelf defensive tackles.
Spencer Johnson has been a backup defensive tackle in the rotation in Minnesota, and comes Buffalo seeking more playing time, and will probably also be part of a rotation that will include the newly acquired Stroud, as well as 2005 1st round pick John McCargo and second year starter Kyle Williams. The Bills ranked 31st in the league defensively in 2007, so the moves can only help to improve the team.
Stroud was drafted by Jacksonville out of Georgia with the 13th overall pick in the 1st round in 2001, and was elected to both the Pro Bowl and NFL All-Pro teams in 2003 through 2005. Teaming with John Henderson inside, Stroud helped the Jags run defense consistently be one of the top run stuffing units in the league the past few years. He was suspended for 4 games in 2007 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy related to steroids, but Stroud contended that he was given an over-the counter supplement by an Atlanta physician to help recover from off-season ankle surgery, and that is what ultimately triggered the positive test. Stroud is still under contract for the next 3 years at $16.5 million total, which seems like a pretty good deal in today's market for top shelf defensive tackles.
Spencer Johnson has been a backup defensive tackle in the rotation in Minnesota, and comes Buffalo seeking more playing time, and will probably also be part of a rotation that will include the newly acquired Stroud, as well as 2005 1st round pick John McCargo and second year starter Kyle Williams. The Bills ranked 31st in the league defensively in 2007, so the moves can only help to improve the team.
Jaguars Hand CB Drayton Florence Nonsensical 6-Year $36 Million Contract
The Jacksonville Jaguars may be responsible for one of, if not the worst contract doled out this offseason, as they recently signed unrestricted free agent cornerback Drayton Florence to a 6-year $36 million contract, with $13 million guaranteed. There have been reports that Florence will compete for the starting cornerback opposite Rashean Mathis, or even a nickel position, but common sense will tell you that you don't pay $6 million a year to have someone in the seconardy sit on the bench at that price. Florence will start the year opposite Mathis, but don't be surprised if he ends the year on the bench, as he will frequently be targeted by offenses looking to exploit a weakness in the Jags defense in the upcoming season.
Florence, who originally grew up in Ocala (FL), was a 2nd round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 2003 NFL Draft, and has been an on and off starter for San Diego the past 5 years. Most Chargers fans will recognize him as a liability in pass coverage, but for some reason a number of scouts in the NFL think he has potential, and the Jaguars ultimately overpaid for him in an extremely thin free agent class at the cornerback position.
Florence, who originally grew up in Ocala (FL), was a 2nd round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 2003 NFL Draft, and has been an on and off starter for San Diego the past 5 years. Most Chargers fans will recognize him as a liability in pass coverage, but for some reason a number of scouts in the NFL think he has potential, and the Jaguars ultimately overpaid for him in an extremely thin free agent class at the cornerback position.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Jacksonville Hauls in WR Jerry Porter With 6-Year $30 Million Deal
The Jacksonville Jaguars have gotten little production from their wide receiver core the last few years, and are hoping things will change with their newest additions. The team signed free agent wideout Jerry Porter to a 6-year $30 million contract, which is similar to the 6-year $25 million deal that Plaxico Burress had signed with the New York Giants in 2005. Neither receiver had ever been a stud #1 for a team, but with a weak market at the position both were rewarded handsomely.
Porter was drafted by the Oakland Raiders out of West Virginia in the 2nd round of the 2000 NFL Draft, but never lived up to the hype as a field stretching threat. In 8 seasons with the team Porter only totaled 284 receptions and 30 touchdowns in105 games (2.7 catches per game), and has never produced a 1000 yard season. In 2005 he spent 12 games watching from the sidelines after quarelling with coaches over his lack of work ethic.
Jacksonville continues to re-shape the roster at the position after failing with key draft picks at the position like Matt Jones (1st round 2005) and Reggie Williams (1st round 2004), neither of whom have materialized as a go-to-guy on gameday.
Porter was drafted by the Oakland Raiders out of West Virginia in the 2nd round of the 2000 NFL Draft, but never lived up to the hype as a field stretching threat. In 8 seasons with the team Porter only totaled 284 receptions and 30 touchdowns in105 games (2.7 catches per game), and has never produced a 1000 yard season. In 2005 he spent 12 games watching from the sidelines after quarelling with coaches over his lack of work ethic.
Jacksonville continues to re-shape the roster at the position after failing with key draft picks at the position like Matt Jones (1st round 2005) and Reggie Williams (1st round 2004), neither of whom have materialized as a go-to-guy on gameday.
QB Cleo Lemon Signs 3-Year $8.1 Million Incentive-Laden Deal With Jaguars
Career backup quarterback Cleo Lemon has agreed to a 3-year, $8.1 million contract to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com reports that the deal includes a $2.95 million signing bonus, and up to $4 million in incentives. This means that the realistic value of the deal is probably about $4.1-$5 million over the 3 year term, as Cleo Lemon probably isn't going to be reaching many incentive thresholds.
Lemon started his career as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State, and spent part of 2002 on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. He then spent 2003 to 2005 as a 3rd string backup on the San Diego Chargers, before leaving for the sunnier pastures of the Miami Dolphins in hope of finding more playing time. Aside from a decent preseason performance in 2006, Lemon has not really done anything to demonstrate he is a NFL caliber quarterback, but he will be expected to backup quarterback David Garrard in Jacksonville the next 3 years.
Lemon started his career as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State, and spent part of 2002 on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. He then spent 2003 to 2005 as a 3rd string backup on the San Diego Chargers, before leaving for the sunnier pastures of the Miami Dolphins in hope of finding more playing time. Aside from a decent preseason performance in 2006, Lemon has not really done anything to demonstrate he is a NFL caliber quarterback, but he will be expected to backup quarterback David Garrard in Jacksonville the next 3 years.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Vikes Deal WR Bust Troy Williamson to Jaguars For 6th Rounder
One man's junk is another man's treasure, or something like that. The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to send former 1st round draft pick and current wide receiver bust Troy Williamson to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2008 6th round draft pick.
Williamson was drafted #7 overall in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, and has contributed little to the organization since then. The alleged big play threat has averaged 19.7 catches and 1 touchdown per year since his arrival in Minnesota, which wasn't quite the impact the Vikings expected him to have when they reached for him in the draft to try to fill the void left by Randy Moss' departure. He will join a Jacksonville roster full of other 1st round offensive busts (Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Marcedes Lewis), and probably have little to no impact.
Williamson was drafted #7 overall in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, and has contributed little to the organization since then. The alleged big play threat has averaged 19.7 catches and 1 touchdown per year since his arrival in Minnesota, which wasn't quite the impact the Vikings expected him to have when they reached for him in the draft to try to fill the void left by Randy Moss' departure. He will join a Jacksonville roster full of other 1st round offensive busts (Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Marcedes Lewis), and probably have little to no impact.
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