Seahawks cut Chris Clemons
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 12, 2014
Getty Images
The Seahawks have decided that Chris Clemons is expendable.
Clemons, a 32-year-old veteran who had been viewed as a likely cap casualty, was informed today that he is being released. According to Albert Breer of NFL Network, the move saves the Seahawks $7.5 million in cap room.
Clemons arrived in Seattle in 2010 and made an instant impact: He started all 16 games and had 11 or more sacks for three straight years. But in 2013 his role in the defense was reduced, and although he was in the starting lineup for most games, he had just 4.5 sacks.
Jared Allen is reportedly a potential free agent target of the Seahawks, and he could make sense as a replacement for the part that Clemons played in Seattle’s defense.
Darren Sproles to Saints: Cut me, don’t trade me
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 12, 2014
AP
Darren Sproles does not want to be traded.
Sproles, the running back and return man whom the Saints are shopping around the league, told Josina Anderson of ESPN that if he has no future in New Orleans, he wants the team to cut him.
“I want to get released,” Sproles said. “I don’t want to be traded. I don’t know where they would send me because I have no control over it and I want to be able to pick. The good thing is none of the teams I’m told they’re talking to are terrible. It’s more than two. I feel I should have more of an idea later on today.”
It’s easy to see why Sproles would feel that way: You’d always rather control your own fate, and potentially negotiate a pay raise, than have someone else determine your future for you. But the reality is that the Saints are reportedly fielding several offers for Sproles, and they’d be fools not to get some compensation for Sproles if they can.
If Sproles is adamantly opposed to a trade, he could threaten to retire if the Saints trade him somewhere he doesn’t want to go. That might scare some teams off. But the most likely scenario is that the Saints trade Sproles to the team that offers them the best deal, and that Sproles ends up playing for that team, even if it’s a team that wouldn’t have been his top choice.
DeMarcus Ware could sign with Broncos today
Posted by Mike Florio on March 12, 2014
AP
Free-agent defensive end/linebacker
DeMarcus Ware has arrived in Denver for the first free-agent visit of his career.
The Broncos are the front runners for Ware, and they’ll get the first crack at signing him.
Appearing on Wednesday’s edition of
PFT Live, Vic Lombardi of CBS 4 in Denver said he’ll be surprised if the Broncos don’t sign Ware today.
Ware is believed to be looking for $10 million per year. He was due $12.75 million from the Cowboys, and it’s unclear how much less than that the Cowboys were willing to pay to keep him.
If Ware gets out of Denver without a contract, there’s a good chance he’ll sign elsewhere. The best news is that the negotiations are occurring face to face, without the intervention of, you know, a fax machine.