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Trades & Signings
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Matthew Coller
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Friday, 18 December 2009 04:49 |
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 The Washington Redskins hired Bruce Allen as general manager Thursday to replace Vinny Cerrato. Allen, who was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for five seasons, was fired last January when the Bucs cleaned house.
In a statement released by the team, Redskins owner Dan Snyder said, “We know his abilities. He is the right person to lead our club.” Allen was at the helm of two division championship teams in Tampa Bay and previously worked in the front office of the Oakland Raiders.
Allen, son of legendary coach George Allen, said he knows what it means to be dedicated to the Redskins and can’t wait to get to work. There is plenty of work to be done, the ‘Skins are 4-9 this season.
Allen’s predecessor Cerrato had been in the front office since 1999, sort of. He was fired in 2001 in order for then-coach Marty Schottenheimer to take control of football operations, but the next season Cerrato was back after Snyder fired Schottenheimer.
Cerrato offered his thanks to Snyder, but didn’t go home without a poke at Zorn. “(I’ve) had the pleasure of working with some great coaches such as Joe Gibbs, Greg Blanche and Sherman Lewis,” he said. Somehow, current head coach Jim Zorn was somehow left out of his goodbye.
Though Cerrato may be to blame for letting the team’s offensive line suffer, the Redskins No. 1 pick Brian Orakpo has 11 sacks and is a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Cerrato said the team has some “outstanding draft picks and encouraging performance by our younger players.”
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Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Matthew Coller
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Wednesday, 11 November 2009 00:42 |
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The Kansas City Chiefs released troubled running back Larry Johnson Monday, ending his tenure of controversy and unfulfilled expectations. The move will cost the Cheifs $2.14 million if Johnson clears waivers. Johnson had three years left on the five-year contract he signed in 2007. If he stayed, Johnson would have earned $22.5 million over those three seasons.
Here is a timeline of Johnson’s career and events leading up to his release:
- 2003: Larry Johnson drafted by 27th overall by the Chiefs after finishing third in Heisman voting.
- 2003: Johnson arrested on felony aggravated assault charges for waving a gun at his girlfriend and was sentenced to probation
- 2004: Johnson has conflict with head coach Dick Vermeil. Coach Vermeil said Johnson needed to “take the diapers off”
- 2005: Johnson runs for 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns and makes his first of two Pro Bowl appearances
- 2005: Johnson arrested for assault when a woman accused him of pushing her to the ground during an argument. Charges were eventually dropped.
- 2006: Johnson rushes 416 times for 1,789 yards. He is elected to the Pro Bowl and named first team All-Pro
- June 21, 2007: Johnson begins hold out
- August 21, 2007: Johnson ends hold out and signs contract extension for five-years, $45 million with $19 million guaranteed
- February 2008: Johnson arrested for pushing a woman’s head at a nightclub
- Oct. 19, 2008: The Chiefs suspend Johnson for one game for “violating team rules”
- Oct. 26, 2008: The Chiefs bench Johnson in a game vs. the New York Jets
- October 2008: Johnson arrested for non-aggravated assault after spitting in a woman’s face
- 2008: League commissioner Roger Goodell suspends Johnson for one game
- 2009: Johnson pleaded guilty to two 2008 incidents and was sentenced to two years probation
- Oct. 2009: Johnson uses gay-slur on Twitter, then uses the same slur on reporters
- Oct. 27, 2009: Chiefs suspend Johnson for two weeks, instructing him to refrain from practicing with the team
- Nov. 9, 2009: Chiefs release Larry Johnson
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Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Carter Bryant
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Thursday, 22 October 2009 18:22 |
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 Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler signed a two-year contract extension through the 2013 season this past Tuesday. The new deal includes nearly $30 million in new money and about $20 million guaranteed.
The extension couldn’t have come at a better time for both Cutler and the Bears. At the end of 2013, Cutler would only be 30-years-old. If Cutler continues to play at a high-level, he would have a good chance at getting another long-term contract with the Bears.
The Bears negotiated the deal exceptionally well. By giving Cutler an extension now, the Bears can fill some space in their salary cap this season, giving them more room in the future to get weapons to put around Cutler. On top of that, the Bears might have had to pay an even high price down the road for Cutler. This is due to the increasing rates to pay for franchise quarterbacks.
This past summer, fellow quarterbacks and first-round picks Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers both received blockbuster deals, allowing them to receive annual amounts of $16.25 million and $15.33 million respectfully.
Knowing that the price has gone up every year for a franchise quarterback, the Bears paid him while the price was still relatively low, giving him $15.33 million annually.
As a rookie, the Denver Broncos, Cutler’s old team, signed him to a six-year, $48 million contract.
The former Vanderbilt standout was traded from the Broncos after Josh McDaniels took over the head coaching duties from two-time Super Bowl winning coach Mike Shanahan. After a long and heated offseason debate between McDaniels and Cutler, Denver and Chicago agreed to trade quarterbacks, with Cutler going to the Bears and Kyle Orton to the Broncos.
In the Bears three wins this season, Cutler has played at a pro-bowl level passing for 624 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He is on pace to shatter franchise records at the quarterback positon.
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Carter Bryant is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network.
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Matthew Coller
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Friday, 16 October 2009 18:46 |
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 A few weeks ago, sports talk radio host Jim Rome asked Junior Seau if he’d consider a comeback. Seau said only if the Patriots called. The Patriots called and Seau stuck to his word. Seau returns in search of a Super Bowl ring at age 40. Seau cited his strong relationship with coach Bill Belichick as another reason for his return. “I trust Bill,” Seau said. “Because I trust Bill, I’m here today.”
The 12-time Pro Bowler hasn’t exactly been sitting on the couch for these first six weeks. Seau has been recording episodes of “Sports Jobs With Junior Seau” for the Versus Network. His duties on the show include being a Los Angeles Dodgers ballboy, a caddy on the LPGA tour and a performer in a rodeo. The show is set to debut Dec. 2 at 10 p.m.
The 3-2 Patriots are looking for veteran leadership in Seau, and already Pats players are embracing him. “He looks like he’s 25,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “There’s very few people that you can bring into the locker room at this stage that bring that type of leadership.”
Seau said he will be ready for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans . The Patriots have not yet announced if Seau will play.
Seau stats via Pro Football Reference
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Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Matthew Coller
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Sunday, 13 September 2009 02:15 |
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 Oakland Raiders newly acquired defensive end Richard Seymour ended his five-day holdout Saturday saying he is “happy to go there.” The Pro-Bowler was traded by the New England Patriots earlier in the week for a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, but Seymour failed to report to the Raiders. Seymour’s holdout created a virtually unprecedented situation leaving both teams shrugging their shoulders.
Seymour said he was “blindsided” by the trade and needed time to process the move. The new Raider cited “reasons more pressing than football” for the delay in joining Oakland. Seymour has four children and is the guardian of his 15-year old cousin, who recently joined him in Boston. Seymour’s family will return to his home in South Carolina as he joins Oakland just one day before their season opener against the San Diego Chargers.
The end of the five-day saga brought about a collective sigh of relief for Raiders coaches, infamous owner Al Davis and even Seymour’s new teammates. Pro-Bowl corner back Nnamdi Asomugha said, “I think guys are pretty excited to have him because guys know what he’s done in the past.” Seymour has 39 career sacks and three Super Bowl rings.
Seymour, who is in the last year of his contract, said he may seek an extension with the Raiders. He will earn $3.7 million this season. Had Seymour not reported, things could have gotten tricky. The Raiders may have tried to send Seymour back to the Patriots and get their draft pick back or suspend him for the season and roll his contract over to 2010.
The new defensive end maintains that he was holding out only for personal reasons and will do his best for the Raiders. “I’m happy to go there,” Seymour said. “But me and my family have never been separated. This was a difficult transition.”
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Matthew Coller is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
Oakland Raiders newly acquired defensive end Richard Seymour ended his five-day holdout Saturday saying he is “happy to go there.” |
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Evan Nuckles
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Tuesday, 25 August 2009 03:23 |
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 San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers has agreed to a contract extension with the team, according to ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli and the Associated Press.
A source told ESPN.com the deal is for six years and i$92 million, with $38-39 million guaranteed. Rivers was set to become an unrestricted free-agent after the season, and the extension keeps the Chargers from having to use a one-year franchise tag on him that would have been in the $16 million range.
Rivers, 27, was entering the final year of the six-year, $40.5 million rookie contract he signed as the fourth overall selection in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of N.C. State. Within an hour of being chosen by the New York Giants, he was dealt to the Chargers for Eli Manning who was the No. 1 overall choice in the draft. A lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiation ensued before a deal was finally reached.
Rivers became the starter in 2006 after backing up Drew Brees in his first two years, which led to Brees signing with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent.
He has started all 16 games in each of the past three seasons, including a career 2008 year in which he led the league in passer rating (105.5) and touchdown passes (34), and was fourth in the NFL in passing yardage (4,009 yards) along with just 11 interceptions. For his career, Rivers has thrown for over 10,000 yards, with 78 touchdown passes, 36 interceptions, and a passer rating of 92.9.
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Evan Knuckles is a staff author with the Business of Sports Network. His main contribution is reporting on trades and signings for The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey.
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Evan Nuckles
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Wednesday, 19 August 2009 03:13 |
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Three-time MVP quarterback Brett Favre has changed his mind and will play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2009 afterall, according to NFL.com WireReports and the Associated Press.
The Vikings waited for a decision from the 39-year-old quarterback from May through July before Favre announced that he would remain retired. But three weeks later, he is preparing to start the team's preseason game this Friday night. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Both Favre and the Vikings dismissed any concerns about the health of his arm. Last month, Favre explained his decision to stay in retirement by saying he had to be "careful not to commit for the wrong reasons." "I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to my name," he said. Favre revealed Tuesday that he was told by Dr. James Andrews, who performed the arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder in May, that he's been playing with a torn rotator cuff for a few years.
Now he must fit in with a team that's gone through training camp with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson competing for the starting job, and amid widespread criticism from both fans and the media over his retirement flip-flopping that has occured for most of the decade. Favre was defiant in his response stating, "Don't watch, you know?", adding: "My legacy, it's mine. It's what I think of it." Head coach Brad Childress addressed the change in his stance on the situation by stating that "this is a fluid business, and we were moving ahead but you always go back and reassess." The coach added: "The guys will learn him. He'll learn them, and we've got a whole month to put this thing together."
The Vikings have their sights set on the Super Bowl with a roster loaded with Pro Bowl players, headlined by NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson in the backfield and Jared Allen on the dominant defensive line. Favre holds nearly every career NFL passing record (including the most interceptions), and should help stabilize the quarterback position with his leadership and experience.
Favre began the 2008 season strong after being dealt by the Green Bay Packers following his first retirement to the New York Jets, but faded down the stretch amid problems with his throwing arm and ending the year with his second retirement and another "I'm done" announcement. The Jets released him from his deal following the draft, and the Vikings were openly expressing interest soon after.
The future Hall-of-Fame quarterback will face his long-time former team twice this season, first when Green Bay visits Minnesota on Oct. 5, and again on Nov. 1 when the Packers host the Vikings.
Evan Nuckles reports on trades for the Business of Sports Network.
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Matthew Coller
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Friday, 14 August 2009 06:40 |
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Just hours after the Philadelphia Eagles signed controversial quarterback Michael Vick (see details of the signing), a spokesmen for People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released a harsh statement expressing dissapointment in the Eagles decision to sign Vick.
"PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Philadelphia Eagles have chosen to sign a man who hanged dogs from trees," the statement said. "What sort of message does this send to young fans who care about animals and don't want to see them be harmed?"
Eagles coach Andy Reid said Vick will be in an Eagles uniform as soon as Saturday. He is, however, suspended for at least the first six games of the regular season. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would consider full reinstatement after week six.
In the statement, PETA said that despite Commissioner Goodell's ruling that allows Vick to play, PETA does not feel Vick has shown remorse. "PETA certainly hopes that Vick has learned his lesson and feels truly remorseful for his crimes--but since he's given no public indication that that's the case only time will tell," the statement said.
But, Vick has made efforts to indicate to the public and the NFL he's changed. During his stint in federal prison, Vick met with the president of the Humane Society of the United States to discuss plans to create a program designed to steer inner city kids away from dogfighting.
Ed Sayres, president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a more hopeful outlook on Vick, he said the organization hopes Vick "rises to the occasion and proves worthy of the rare second chance Commissioner Goodell has granted him."
Sayres isn't the only one ready to forgive. Many sports writers, including legendary Sports Illustrated football columnist Peter King say Vick should be allowed to work. Late Thursday night, King tweeted this message to fans: "No one minimizes a series of heinous offenses. But should he never be able to do his chosen job again? Ever? Even after 20 months of jail?"
PETA blogger Joel Bartlett says sports writers like King are part of the problem. Bartlett wrote in his August 13 blog:
"Thanks to Richard Cohen for his Washington Post piece in which he asks if some sports reporters have a special key on their typewriters for 'he's served his time."
"Michael Vick may deserve to walk free, but he doesn't deserve to be a football star or a hero to children, and no group has any business helping him do so," Bartlett said.
Eagles protests and boycotts have not yet been listed on PETA's "Action Alerts," but come week seven, it may be a different story.
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Matthew Coller is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Maury Brown
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Friday, 14 August 2009 00:55 |
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UPDATE (11:15pm ET): There is considerable news this evening after the Vick signing. Andy Reid has just concluded his press conference, and details of that presser are forthcoming.
As we find key quotes and details, and other information surfaces, we will be updating our Twitter account often until late this evening. You can see our Tweets by selecting the tab to the left of the site, or directly on Twitter @BizofFootball. Here are some early details from the Reid presser at Eagles headquarters:
- Vick will address the media Friday at 11am. The press conference will be streamed live of PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
- Vick will practice with the Eagles on Saturday
- McNabb: "There's no threat for me. There's no threat for Kolb. It's an opportunity to add another weapon to our offense, and our team."
Michael Vick, who completed his Aug. 2007 sentence for conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation, and was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in late July has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles to a one-year deal with an option year. The signing was first reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN. Vick's agent, Joel Segal, has confirmed the signing.
Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that "Vick will make $1.6 million for the first year of the deal. The Eagles have an option on the second year for $5.2 million."
According to Mortensen, the $1.6 million in the first year of the deal matches what the UFL was offering.
Vick may not be allowed to play immediately, based on the terms of his conditional reinstatement by the league. He will be considered for full reinstatement and to play in regular-season games by Week 6 (October 18-19) based on the progress he makes in his transition plan.
With the option-year in play, the deal might best be considered a one-year contract, and technically less than that, based upon the league's conditional reinstatement that would have him available for play no sooner than Week 6. Over the course of the season, the Eagles will be able to gauge the PR hit, and see how the dynamic plays out with quarterbacks Donavan McNabb, A.J Feeley, and Kevin Kolb (Vick is already listed on the Eagles roster). As to the latter, Kolb will most assuredly be moving down the depth chart as the Eagles look to see how Vick works into the system.
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 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided).
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Trades & Signings
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Written by Evan Nuckles
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Sunday, 09 August 2009 19:45 |
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 Wide receiver Roddy White has ended his holdout and agreed to a six-year, $50 million contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons, as reported by NFL.com and the Associated Press.
League sources report that White's contract is worth $28 million over the first three years, just shy of Larry Fitzgerald's $10 million per year salary with the Arizona Cardinals which leads all receivers. Another source told NFL.com's Steve Wyche that the receiver is guaranteed $18.6 million. The new contract replaces the existing year on White's old deal that runs through 2014 and would have paid him $2.28 million this season.
White had a career-best 88 receptions for a franchise-record 1,382 yards last year, and earned his first Pro Bowl berth en route to becoming the first Falcons receiver in ten years to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, as well as the first in team history to post back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons.
The former 2005 first-round draft pick out of UAB was facing fines of $15,888 per day during his eight-day holdout. He is expected to be in camp for two practices Monday.
Evan Nuckles is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey.
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Trades & Signings
