ESPN stat guru assesses Stevie
ESPN resident statistical guru KC Joyner recently put together an analysis of the top seven free agent wide receivers using some of his unique receiver metrics to ascertain which receivers offer the best free agent value. On that list was Bills free agent wideout Stevie Johnson.
Joyner used some unique metrics in addition to the familiar yards per attempt. They were vertical yards per attempt (VYPA), which measures productivity on aerials thrown 11 or more yards downfield; and stretch vertical yards per attempt (SVYPA), which measures productivity on aerials thrown 20 or more yards.
Stevie was admittedly at a disadvantage for yards per attempt knowing how quickly the ball comes out in Chan Gailey’s offense, so not surprisingly he had the lowest yards per attempt. In any event Johnson’s yards per attempt were 8.0, his vertical yards per attempt were 11.6 and his stretch vertical yards per attempt were 14.8. Those figures among the top 7 wideouts profiled ranked 7th, 5th and 3rd.
Here was Joyner’s assessment of Johnson and his value.
Steve Johnson
Pros: Johnson posted quality VYPA and SVYPA totals last year despite being maybe the only good pass catcher on the Bills’ roster. He is the second-youngest player in this comparison and his height/weight combination fares well against the group.
Bottom line: Johnson wants to be paid like a true No. 1 wideout but there are too many facets of his game that say he has a production ceiling that doesn’t justify that type of expenditure.
Steelers WR Wallace worth a 1st?
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Mike Wallace will be tendered at the first-round level, meaning a team could sign him to an offer sheet and if the cap-strapped Steelers do not match the team signing Wallace would have to compensate Pittsburgh with a first-round pick? Is he worth it?
As outlined in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers do not think he’s a $9-$10M a year receiver, not to mention their cap can’t take that kind of hit anyway. That being said I think for some teams one of the fastest receivers in the league will be worth the parting with a pick, especially teams with two in the first round (San Francisco, New England).
He’s a proven player and only has three seasons of NFL mileage on his legs, even if he slumped in the second half of the season. He’d be the perfect complement to Stevie Johnson in Buffalo, but I’d be shocked if the Bills would part with their first-round draft choice to sign him knowing there’s likely to be comparable (though not as youthful) receiver talent in the free agent market.
That’s undoubtedly what Pittsburgh is banking on as well. Knowing they can’t afford to put the franchise tag on Wallace being $10M over the cap, they’re hoping that with a bounty of receiving talent expected to hit the market not requiring first-round pick compensation, that they’ll be able to hold onto Wallace for at least another season and hopefully clear up their cap problems before next offseason and sign him to a long-term deal at that time.
It wouldn’t shock me though if some team took a swing at trying to sign Wallace. Say a team like New England that has two first-round picks and desperately needs a deep threat in the passing game. Their own pick is at the end of the first round, which makes it a better value for New England than most clubs for Wallace.
Routt signs with KC
Free agent CB Stanford Routt has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The AFC West club announced the signing Monday afternoon on their team website. ESPN is reporting it’s a 3-year deal worth $19.6 million with $6.5M guaranteed part of which is a $4M signing bonus.
Routt’s decision isn’t surprising. He’s playing in a familiar division having spent his entire career with the Raiders in the AFC West and the Chiefs likely told him we’ll commit to you since we’re unlikely to afford their own free agent CB Brandon Carr, knowing they have big money tied up already in Brandon Flowers.
Tag time
Today is the first day NFL clubs can make use of their franchise tags, but there’s two weeks for teams to place it on one of their prospective free agents.
The deadline for tags is March 4th.
Top cap space teams need WRs
Tags: NFL free agency
Knowing there’s a bounty of potential free agent talent at the wide receiver position out there in the NFL market, some of the teams with the most cap space this offseason are undoubtedly formulating plans to lure any one of them should they make it to the market.
As SI.com’s Peter King points out in his Monday Morning QB Column, five of the top six cap space teams all have receiver needs assuming Kansas City is unable to re-sign Dwayne Bowe. Here’s the list King provided on the top cap space teams, keeping in mind that Cincinnati does not need receiver help.
1. Tampa Bay $67M
2. Kansas City $62M
3. Cincinnati $60M
4. Washington $49M
4. Denver $49M
6. Jacksonville $45M
Jacksonville and Tampa are probably the most desperate for receiver help as both teams need a true number one receiver to help their young quarterbacks progress.
Routt decision soon?
Free agent CB Stanford Routt will reportedly make a decision on where to sign very soon.
That according to Pro Football Talk. Routt made free agent visits to Buffalo, Kansas City and Cincinnati, with the visit to the Bengals taking place on Friday. There were reportedly other teams interested, but no word on if those unnamed clubs have had any contact with Routt.
Routt in Cincy
The free agent tour for CB Stanford Routt continues.
Released by Oakland last week, Routt after visiting Buffalo first, followed by Kansas City has moved on to the AFC North. That according to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora.
Jason La Canfora Stanford Routt making his latest free agent visit today, in Cincy. Was in Buffalo and KC earlier this week. #insideslant
With Leon Hall coming off a major injury last season and Nate Clements getting long in the tooth, the Bengals certainly need to bolster their cornerback contingent.
Routt still talking to Bills
Free agent CB Stanford Routt is spending a second day in Kansas City to visit with the Chiefs on his free agent tour that began in Buffalo with the Bills on Monday. And Buffalo is still very much in the hunt.
That according to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora, who tweeted the following concerning Routt’s free agent visit schedule.
Jason La Canfora Stanford Routt remains in KC for second day of meetings with Chiefs. Still talking to Bills and scheduled to visit Bengals Fri #insideslant
Texans not on Routt’s itinerary
Even though some national media outlets have reported that free agent CB Stanford Routt will be visiting with the Texans later this week, one of the most respected football journalists in the country says it’s not happening.
Houston Texans’ beat reporter John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported that Routt is not a player of interest for the Texans. Here’s what he wrote in his column today (Tuesday).
There were reports by reputable websites that cornerback Stanford Routt had visits lined up with the Texans this week. I checked with the Texans and with Routt’s people and was told no by both sides. The Texans will kick the tires on a lot of players, but even if they loved Routt, they couldn’t afford him. They don’t have cap dollars to spend on free agents from other teams.
Their top priority is Mario Williams. And they’re going to have to scramble big time to make Williams a serious offer before he becomes unrestricted on March 13.
Add in the fact that the Texans spent big free agent dollars on CB Jonathan Joseph in free agency last offseason (5 yrs. $48.75M, $23.5M guaranteed, $12.5M to sign) and you see why spending significant additional dollars at the same position would compromise keeping one of their best players on defense (Williams).
Routt’s roots a factor?
Free agent CB Stanford Routt, who visited with the Bills on Monday, had a busy schedule lined up with other teams to meet with as well. Two of those teams are from his home state. Will it make a difference in his decision?
Routt is a Texas native, born in Austin and played his college ball at the University of Houston. It wouldn’t be shocking if he chose to play closer to home with Houston and Dallas both interested.
According to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora, Routt will be visiting with the Chiefs in Kansas City today (Tuesday) with other visits lined up with a few other NFL clubs.
Jason La Canfora Former Raiders CB Stanford Routt visiting KC today and HOU, DAL and TEN later this week.
WR Wallace to be franchised?
In what is expected to be a bumper crop of wide receiver talent on the open market come March 13th, the Pittsburgh Steelers are determined not to add an emerging Pro Bowl wideout to join the group.
Steelers speed demon Mike Wallace is a restricted free agent, but Pittsburgh’s front office widely believes there would be offer sheets headed Wallace’s way by other NFL clubs were they only to tender him. According to the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review, the Steelers are trying to work out a multi-year deal. If that’s not successful in the coming weeks the franchise tag was not ruled out by GM Kevin Colbert.
One of the main reasons why is because even if the Steelers put a high tender on Wallace, it would only return compensation of a first-round pick were someone to sign him to a deal that Pittsburgh chose not to match. Under the old CBA the high tender was a first and a third-round pick. Some team might see Wallace as a commodity that’s worth parting with a first-round pick, hence the possibility of the franchise tag for him.
Wallace had 72 catches for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns en route to an AFC Pro Bowl nod in 2011.
Routt knows Wannstedt’s resume
Tags: Dave Wannstedt, NFL free agency, Stanford Routt
Bills free agent visitor Stanford Routt is very familiar with Bills new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. Growing up in Austin, Texas he still remembers his defensive coordinator in Big ‘D’. Whether it’s enough to lure Routt to Buffalo remains to be seen.
“I remember Dave all the way when he was back with the Cowboys and the Bears,” said Routt. ”It was a pleasure meeting him. Obviously he’s a great guy and a great football mind and he can definitely bring a lot of things to a corner(‘s game).”
Routt was asked to describe his strengths and responded with the following.
“I can cover,” he said. ”Obviously I can run and I can come up and make plays in any facet of the game.”
Being a free agent when the rest of the cornerback crop is not is to his advantage. He doesn’t have to worry as much about doors closing on him knowing other free agents aren’t out there scooping up potential jobs that he could have. So it sounds as though his final decision on his new NFL destination might be a while.
“It’s definitely been a bit different,” he said. “This is the first time ever being a free agent, but I’m enjoying it and I know that I’ll find a home eventually.”
Our updated story on Routt’s visit is at the home page of Buffalobills.com right now.
CB Routt visiting 1 Bills Dr.
As scheduled free agent cornerback Stanford Routt is visiting One Bills Drive this afternoon.
Routt arrived after meeting with team physicians for a physical earlier in the day Monday. He’s now meeting with members of the coaching staff. We’ll have much more on the home page at Buffalobills.com. Routt was released by the Raiders last week.
Dallas’ Spencer to be franchised?
Dallas Cowboys OLB Anthony Spencer is scheduled to become a free agent, but reports out of Dallas are that the Cowboys are considering the franchise tag for him.
That according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Spencer has never had more than six sacks in a season, but there are some NFL personnel people that believe he’s been miscast in Dallas’ 3-4 defense and would benefit from a switch to a 4-3 front as a weak side defensive end. That’s a position where Spencer flourished in college at Purdue, leaving us at Buffalobills.com to wonder if he’d be a pass rushing option for Buffalo in free agency.
This news that the Cowboys are considering franchising Spencer is perplexing knowing they already have $40M guaranteed in Pro Bowl pass rusher DeMarcus Ware as part of a six-year $78M contract. To guarantee another $8.8M to Spencer would be surprising, but the report said it’s being discussed because the Cowboys aren’t sure they want to create another hole to fill in their lineup.
Add another big name WR to FA mix
Tags: Marques Colston, NFL free agency, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson
With a free agent wide receiver list expected to be littered with veteran talent, one of the more prolific wideouts of this generation has announced his return to the game after sitting out the 2011 season.
Randy Moss announced online that he’s interested in playing football again. He’s 35-years old so he’s likely not going to be all that attractive to some clubs still building with an eye for the future. But a team that feels their close to getting over the hump will strongly consider Moss provided his workout proves he’s still got it.
Wouldn’t be shocked if he winds up with the Patriots again. Don’t really think he’s what Bills are looking for at his age and stage of his game.
Other veteran FA receivers expected to hit the market include Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne and possibly Marques Colston.
Another big WR to hit market?
We’ve already relayed to you how San Diego WR Vincent Jackson is likely to hit the free agent market. Now there’s another from the star-studded group of free agent wideouts that might be available come March 13th.
According to the National Football Post, New Orleans’ Marques Colston could become a free agent by the mid-March mark as the Saints have a couple of other major free agent priorities. Here’s what they wrote.
*It’s possible Marques Colston will be a former Saint in the near future. The Saints have made no attempts to re-sign the star wide receiver up to this point. The front office has been pre-occupied with trying to work out a new deal for Drew Brees. If the Saints can’t sign Brees, they likely will use the franchise tag on him, giving them one less way to retain Colston. Also complicating the issue is the pending free agency of guard Carl Nicks. Given the cash outlay this team will be facing, the Saints may have to choose between Colston and Nicks.
5 teams interested in CB Routt
According to an ESPN report there are five NFL teams already expressing interest in CB Stanford Routt including the Bills.
ESPN Dallas Calvin Watkins is reporting the following.
*Update: The Vikings are one of five teams that have inquired about Routt. The others, including the Bills and Titans, are the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. At this point, Routt’s only scheduled visits are with the Bills and Titans.
Routt has six interceptions and 28 pass breakups the past two seasons and now we know why he was clipped by the Raiders. He was due a $5M roster bonus today. ESPN is reporting that Routt will visit the Bills on Monday.
Report: CB Routt to visit Monday
Recently released Oakland CB Stanford Routt will reportedly pay a free agent visit to Buffalo on Monday.
The 28-year old cornerback was released by the Raiders Thursday as the new regime under GM Reggie McKenzie did not see him as a part of their future plans. Per the report Routt graded out as one of the top cover cornerbacks in the league in 2010, but slipped from those lofty performance levels a bit in 2011.
Two years ago Routt allowed the lowest completion percentage against him in the league among corners (39.4%). That number increased to 47.4 this past season, but is still considered well above average.
Opposing quarterbacks completed better than 63% of their passes against Buffalo’s defense last season. The Tennessee Titans are also reportedly interested in Routt, but no visit has been scheduled with them as of Friday morning.
Vincent Jackson to hit market
With the Chargers publicly saying that WR Vincent Jackson will not be franchise by the club, there’s more and more sentiment pointing to the deep threat wideout hitting the free agent market.
That according to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora, who said the following on NFL Total Access on the NFL Network.
“I don’t see any way he’s back there,” LaCanfora said. ”The Chargers won’t franchise him, they’ve come out and said that. There’s been acrimony between the two sides over the years and there are too many teams that need receiving help, St. Louis, San Francisco and Tampa are some teams off the top of my head. Somebody is going to give him big bucks.”
Other clubs like Chicago and Seattle may also be looking for a top flight wideout.
Lindell 1-on-1
Here is our exclusive 1-on-1 interview with Rian Lindell just minutes after he signed his new multi-year contract with the Bills late Tuesday morning.
