Ponder wants to meet Favre as he progresses as a QB

Getty Images

The Vikings are still trying to figure out whether Christian Ponder can be a franchise-level quarterback.

Toward the end, Ponder wants to meet the lsat guy the Vikings had who met that description.

Ponder told Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com he was trying to arrange a meeting this offseason with Brett Favre, to pick his brain for help taking the next step in his own development.

“We’re going to bring that up and try to take advantage of that,” Ponder said.

After trying and coming close with a quarterback on the downside of his career, the Vikings went the opposite route in drafting Ponder and trusting him with the job as a rookie, after it became obvious Donovan McNabb had nothing left.

He’s played a mostly efficient style, and the Vikings haven’t asked too much of him, but he’s nearing the point where he’s either going to take a step or not. Tomorrow’s game against the Packers is going to be a good gauge of where he stands in the process.

“You talk about litmus tests,” Frazier said. “This will be one going on the road in Green Bay against a high-powered offense that we need to match at times. This will be a gauge for [Ponder] as to where he is in his career.”

Walking in as the starter on a team that was already 1-5 last year tempered expectations, but he’s got them 6-5 this season, and on the fringes of the playoffs.

“He’s coming along,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said of Ponder. “The coaches are working with him. But it’s a process. You don’t expect him to come in and be All-World.

“He’s going to make some mistakes and go through some growing pains. But I think he’ll be a better player because of it.”

Whether he ever gets to Favre’s level remains to be seen.

AP

The Colts are open for business, and everyone is eligible for a deal.

This morning, they’ve retained their punter, as Pat McAfee announced on the NFL Network he had agreed to a new five-year deal with the team.

Apparently, it’s a little early in the morning for Jim Irsay to be up and tweeting.

McAfee would have been an unrestricted free agent, and gets the security he was looking for a year after being franchise-tagged by the Colts.

As prosecutions launch in both California and Louisiana against former NFL safety (and as of last week former NFL Network employee) Darren Sharper for rape, Louisiana has something that California doesn’t.

A co-defendant.

In Louisiana, Erik Nunez remains in jail on charges of aggravated rape.  The arrest warrants, according to Naomi Martin of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, allege that Nunez was present in Sharper’s apartment for the rape of two women last September 23, that both women woke up “disoriented” from a “stupor” to find Sharper on top of them naked, and that another acquaintance who had a key to Sharper’s apartment arrived after the alleged assaults and saw both Sharper and Nunez wearing only boxer shorts.

Sharper is suspected of nine rapes in five states during a period of less than four months.  He also is suspected of drugging 11 people.

The presence of Nunez and his subsequent prosecution give the authorities an potentially significant edge in their effort to secure a conviction of Sharper.  Cut a deal with Nunez, who testifies against Sharper, and Sharper goes away for a long, long time — regardless of the outcome of the other cases in the other jurisdictions, where without a witness who was in the room and wasn’t drugged an “if it doesn’t fit you must acquit” outcome becomes more likely.

In those other jurisdictions, Nunez also could be a key witness.  At a minimum, he can testify about “other bad acts” of Sharper in Louisiana (that’s Rule 404(b) for the aspiring lawyers in the crowd).  Nunez also can provide testimony about things Sharper may have said to Nunez about drugging and raping other women in other states (that’s not hearsay, under Rule 801(d)(1)(A)).

It all comes down to what Nunez knows, whether he’d be able to tell a credible story in court, and whether a mutually-acceptable plea agreement can be negotiated.

Getty Images

The Steelers can’t possibly keep all their old defensive standard-bearers around.

So while defensive end Brett Keisel is hoping for a return, he’s not banking on it.

Keisel’s agent told Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he’s heard nothing from the Steelers, so Keisel is preparing to play elsewhere next year.

“He’s productive, healthy and has every intention to continue to play football,” agent Eric Metz said.

Keisel’s 35, but he’s still playing at an effective level  when he’s well. He missed four games late in the year with foot problems, but came back to finish the season and should be ready to go for his next employer, if it’s not the Steelers.

“Hopefully, he can finish his career a Steeler as he’s always desired,” Metz said.

This could also be a case of the Steelers slow-playing veterans to see if they can get a better offer elsewhere, so the lack of contact might not necessarily mean there’s no chance.

Getty Images

Ka’Deem Carey was the Pac-12 offensive player of the year as a running back at Arizona last season, but NFL teams may be wondering whether he’s fast enough to play running back at the next level.

At the Scouting Combine, Carey was one of the slowest running backs to run, clocking at 4.70 seconds in the 40-yard dash. At Arizona’s Pro Day Carey wasn’t much better: According to NFL.com, Carey ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 and 4.69 seconds.

During the on-field drills, Carey worked out at wide receiver, not at running back. Carey did line up in the slot at times in Arizona’s offense, and perhaps he thinks he has a better chance of making it in the NFL as a slot receiver than as a running back.

At either position, Carey’s lack of speed could be a concern. You can’t argue with his production in college, but in the NFL speed is at a premium, and Carey doesn’t have it.

Getty Images

Lance Moore’s days in New Orleans are apparently done.

Moore, who was the longest-tenured player on the team, took to Twitter on Friday morning and indicated that it’s time to say goodbye.

“Thank you New Orleans for an amazing nine years. Who Dat Nation, the best on earth,” Moore wrote.

The Saints were shopping Moore in a trade, but it’s hard to imagine any other team giving anything up for a receiver who will turn 31 before the season and had only 37 catches for 457 yards last year. So Moore’s message seems to suggest that he’s going to be released.

Cutting Moore will give the Saints $3.8 million in cap space, and for a team that’s in a very tough cap situation right now, it’s a move that makes a lot of sense. Even if it will be tough for Moore and for Saints fans, to say goodbye after nine good years.

Getty Images

When the salary cap jumped from $123 million to $133 million last week, some suggested it could move to $140 million in 2015 and $150 million in 2016.

Think higher.

One source with knowledge of the process (but not the same source who was on the money — pun lame but intended — when providing info about the 2014 cap) tells PFT that the cap could spike to $145 million in 2015 and a whopping $160 million in 2016.

A large jump wouldn’t be a major surprise.  While the new TV deals kick in this year (including the recent Thursday night CBS simulcast), the revenue increase won’t hit the cap until next year.

That raises an intriguing question:  Why did the cap go up by $320 million based on 2013 revenues?  With a 50-50 split in revenue between the owners and players, the increase reflects $640 million in new money.

The full truth as to the bump, annually negotiated by the NFL and NFLPA, never will be known.  The teams, however, didn’t anticipate it.  Last October, owners were told that the cap would increase by only $3.3 million, to $126.3 million.  More recently, the number was pegged increasing by $128.3 million.

As one source explained it to PFT, that’s the number most if not all owners used when establishing their budgets for the upcoming free-agency period.  It means that most if not all General Managers will have to persuade their owners to increase the budget in light of the increased cap room.

In Dallas, that would be an interesting conversation.

Moving forward, teams may want to make multiple budgets, because the information the teams are getting from the NFL has been suggesting much lower growth.  For now, it’ll be interesting to see whether many/any teams alter their budgets in light of the unexpected spike in the cap.

AP

Bills CEO Russ Brandon said that the team will be active in free agency according to their “master plan.”

DT Paul Soliai is looking forward to hitting the open market with no deal signed with the Dolphins.

What are realistic cornerback options for the Patriots?

The Jets took a close look at Clemson WR Sammy Watkins at the school’s pro day.

Workouts for QB Joe Flacco with his receivers would be a good thing for the Ravens offense.

DE Michael Johnson’s future is the biggest question about the Bengals defensive line.

The Browns extended a tender to exclusive rights free agent LB Craig Robertson.

It looks like DE Brett Keisel’s run with the Steelers has come to an end.

The Texans waived LB Evan Frierson and claimed LB Paul Hazel off of waivers.

A retort to criticism lobbed in the direction of the Colts’ deal with LB D’Qwell Jackson.

The Jaguars are well-stocked at tackle, but the rest of the offensive line needs work.

DL Ropati Pitoitua welcomed a new baby before re-signing with the Titans.

How cutting Champ Bailey could work out well for both the Broncos and Bailey.

Could Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers make the move to safety?

Trying to get a sense of Raiders T Jared Veldheer’s value on the open market.

Assessing WR Ted Ginn’s fit with the Chargers.

A call for the Cowboys to go after defensive linemen early in the draft.

Giants QB Eli Manning showed off his singing and dancing skills at a Better Than Ezra concert.

What will the Eagles do at safety in free agency?

Breaking down the Redskins’ needs at inside linebacker.

How much will TE Martellus Bennett’s presence help the Bears with recruiting DE Michael Bennett?

Former NFL K Michael Husted is a fan of Lions K Giorgio Tavecchio.

Will the Packers be more active in free agency than in past years?

Said Vikings coach Mike Zimmer of calling defensive plays, “I think on Sundays I do a pretty good job as far that kind of stuff. So I feel if it can help us best win games by me starting to do it then I will, but I haven’t made that decision totally yet.”

The Falcons will hold a Moms Football Safety Clinic for mothers of kids playing youth football.

The offensive line is the most glaring need for the Panthers.

An argument that cutting ties with vets on offense is what the Saints need to move forward.

A call for patience for the new regime running the Buccaneers.

A list of reasons for optimism about the Cardinals.

CB Alterraun Verner could be an option to replace Cortland Finnegan with the Rams.

49ers CB Chris Culliver continues to reach out to the LGBT community.

The best moments of what might have been WR Golden Tate’s final season with the Seahawks.

AP

Last year, the Bears parted ways with longtime linebacker Brian Urlacher. This year, they’re parting ways with longtime kick returner Devin Hester. Urlacher wonders what that says about the Bears.

“Look at what the Steelers have done the last couple days signing Troy Polamalu, Heath Miller, some older guys to a couple more years just so they can retire as Steelers,” Urlacher told FOXSports.com. “The Bears could do that with Devin. He should retire a Bear. He set all those records in a Bears uniform and his number 23 should be retired one day in Chicago. It’s just the loyalty factor. It’s just not there. He should be a guy that retires as a Bear.”

Hester is the NFL’s all-time record holder for combined kick return touchdowns and punt return touchdowns, and he’s tied with Deion Sanders for the most return touchdowns of all types (Hester has 13 punt return touchdowns, five kickoff return touchdowns and one missed field goal return touchdown, while Sanders had six punt return touchdowns, three kickoff return touchdowns, nine interception return touchdowns and one fumble return touchdown). Urlacher would like to see Hester get his record-breaking 20th career return touchdown in a Bears uniform.

“He’s going to break the record on another team, probably. It’s crazy to think he won’t be in a Bears uniform doing that. It’s frustrating as an ex-Bear and a player to see that happen,” Urlacher said.

The 31-year-old Hester led the league in kickoff return yards last year and will be a good addition for some other team. Urlacher said Hester should go to Tampa Bay to play for former Bears coach Lovie Smith, who feels the loyalty toward Hester that Urlacher thinks the Bears lack.

Getty Images

The Cowboys have told defensive end DeMarcus Ware that they want him to stay in Dallas for the 2014 season, but that he will have to cut his $12.25 million salary coming off a year plagued by injury.

If Ware were agree to the haircut or be cut, the Cowboys would be able to drop below the cap and start putting together plans for free agency. So their rationale for wanting the change is obvious. For Ware, taking a pay cut would make sense if he felt there would be a limited market for his services.

According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ware doesn’t feel that way. Per Hill, Ware expects to get a lot of interest from the rest of the league if he’s released by the Cowboys. That interest may not add up to a $12.25 million salary, but he may be confident it is close enough to tell the Cowboys that he’s not interested in playing for anything other than the salary that the team agreed to pay him.

Ware also reportedly believes his elbow surgery will allow him to get back to his old ways on the field, although he’s not going to have a chance to prove that before his contract situation plays out.

Getty Images

Jets defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson is finding out he’s going to have to wait a year for his long-term contract, something most of the 2011 first round is going to learn.

According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets spoke with Wilkerson’s agents recently about his contract future, but they aren’t close to a new deal. Instead, the team will exercise the fifth-round option to lock him up through the 2015 season, and resume talks later.

For Wilkerson, that will mean another year at around $5 million to $6 million tacked onto his affordable rookie deal, which is great for the Jets. For players picked in the top 10, the option number is the transition tag amount this year. For players drafted 11th through 32nd, it’s the average of the 25 highest-paid players at the position, with the top three excluded.

But the Jets have until May 3 to exercise that option, so the current business will be in free agency and the draft. And with the cheap option year in their pockets (and a franchise tag available after that), there’s far less urgency for the Jets to do a long-term deal this offseason unless it’s good for them.

AP

There are some teams that are thinking about adding a two-Carr garage this offseason.

Draft prospect Derek Carr told FOX Sports’ Alex Marvez and Phil Savage on SiriusXM NFL Radio that teams had mentioned the possibility of drafting him and signing his brother David as a package deal.

Derek said that he’s realized again how good his brother was during their workouts with Mike Sullivan (who coached David with the Giants), and thinks having the pair of them can only help.

“I wouldn’t want to step on anybody’s toes or anything like that,” Derek said. “But I think to have David and I on the same team, you get two things. First, you get a great quarterback, as coach Sullivan can testify. he worked us out and said it himself. Secondly, you’re getting a veteran guy who this will be his 13th year in the NFL who genuinely cares to help the rookie out. We’ll be doing it as our job, so there’s nothing more we’d care about than trying to make that team win.

“There’s so much positive things about having us both on the same team, that i don’t  know why somebody wouldn’t think about it. And the truth is there are teams thinking about it, because they’ve been letting us know about it.”

While they might not match the Mannings (or the McCowns), Derek could aspire to his brother’s career.

David might not have lived up to his original draft status, as the top pick in the 2002 Draft, he has carved out a long run as a backup in the league, and that has as much to do with his ability off the field as on it.

While a team might want a non-Carr to park ahead of or at least between them on the depth chart, it’s doesn’t take a long look around to realize it isn’t the worst plan.

Getty Images

The Bengals took care of one item on their shopping list Thursday, hanging onto versativle offensive lineman Mike Pollak.

Geoff Hobson of the team’s official website reported the agreement, and Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reported it was a three-year deal.

Pollak joined the Bengals last year on a one-year deal, and played well for them when guard Kevin Zeitler was out for a month because of a foot problem. The Bengals also have some question marks about other interior blockers because of injuries, so keeping Pollak around was good insurance.

Of course, that demands that Pollak stay healthy himself.

The former second-round pick of the Colts only played one game during his one season with the Panthers thanks to a shoulder injury, and missed the first seven games of his Bengals career with a knee problem.

Getty Images

The Buffalo Bills elected not to place the franchise tag on safety Jairus Byrd this season in hopes it could smooth discussions surrounding a long-term contract for Byrd to remain in Western New York.

It shouldn’t hurt that Byrd apparently wants to stick around with the Bills either.

The Bills already signed safety Aaron Williams to a four-year contract extension earlier this week. Byrd, meanwhile, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday.

Williams joined Alex Marvez and Phil Savage on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Thursday to discuss his own extension with the Bills and Byrd’s impending free agency. Williams said that Byrd wants to remain in Buffalo.

“I know that they’re still negotiating. I don’t want to speak on their situation because I have no say, nor do I know the full story on it, but I know Jairus does want to come back and wants to be a part of something special. Jairus and I have a great friendship. We communicate non-stop,” Williams said.

“Actually, I had the chance to talk to him last night and I wish him the best regardless of if he stays or doesn’t. We’re always going to have a great relationship with each other and always going to keep in touch. We have a great chemistry together on the field. They know that we’re probably one of the best duos of safeties in the league and I’m pretty sure they want to keep him.”

Byrd has been named an All-Pro three times in five seasons with the Bills including each of the last two seasons. If both sides get their wish, Byrd will have the chance to add more All-Pro selections to his resume in Buffalo.

AP

The Houston Texans were considered to be a potential Super Bowl threat in the AFC last season up until Matt Schaub’s bubble burst.

Schaub fell apart as the team’s starting quarterback and lost his job to Case Keenum as the Texans plummeted to the worst record in the league. It’s made finding a new signal caller the top priority for the Texans this offseason.

With the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Texans will have their choice of any quarterback in the 2014 draft class and the team is doing their due diligence to breakdown the group.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Center Florida’s Blake Bortles and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel are all being “seriously considered” for the top pick in the draft.

While none of the three quarterbacks are thought to be the most talented player in the draft – that distinction is commonly thought to fall to South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney or Auburn tackle Greg Robinson – it is the most glaring need for the Texans at the game’s most pivotal position.

With a Pro Bowl defensive end in J.J. Watt and a Pro Bowl left tackle in Duane Brown already on their roster, it appears likely that quarterback will be the direction the Texans will go with their top selection in May.

Getty Images

It’s a given that quarterback Mark Sanchez won’t return to the Jets with a $9 million base salary and a $2 million roster bonus due later this month.  But until he’s cut, there’s a chance he could stay, with a revised deal.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, it’s still too early to know how it will play out.  Whatever the Jets offer Sanchez on a reduced contract could be more than what another team would pay.

The Jets haven’t committed to Geno Smith as the starting quarterback in 2014, but it would be awkward for G.M. John Idzik if the guy Idzik tried to displace returns to the team after a year spent on injured reserve and knocks Smith to the bench.  For coach Rex Ryan, in contrast, it could be just what he needs.

Ryan is coaching for his job once again in 2014.  If Smith can’t do lead the team to victory, then Ryan needs someone else to get it done.

The final outcome hinges largely on whether the teams potentially interested in Sanchez find other quarterbacks elsewhere, in the early days of free agency.  By the time March 25 approaches, much more will be known about the available options — and much more will be known about whether and to what extent the Jets’ best offer compares to what another team would pay.

Yes, it’s tampering for another team to let Sanchez or his agents know what another team would pay.  That won’t stop it from happening.

The Jets have the space to carry Sanchez’s $13 million cap number.  Based on the way his latest contract was written, they also have some time.