Josh McDaniels: I’m trying to do my best in job I have now

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We have five confirmed head coaching vacancies around the NFL at the moment and we’re still waiting to find out whether the Cardinals and Chargers will make it seven by parting ways with Norv Turner and Ken Whisenhunt respectively.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ name has already come up in connection with the openings in Cleveland and Chicago. The former Broncos head coach talked a bit about the prospect of a second shot at running a team on Monday. McDaniels stopped well short of declaring himself a candidate for any jobs and said his focus is on the playoffs while also suggesting he’d be okay with his current job title being a temporary one.

“I’m happy here,” McDaniels said, via WEEI.com. “My family is happy here. We’re excited about what’s ahead of us here in the playoffs, and to talk about any other opportunities at this point is, to me, irrelevant, because I’m totally focused on this season and what this season holds. I couldn’t be more excited to be here and be a New England Patriot and try to do the best job that I can with the title I have right now.”

With the Patriots on a bye week before starting the playoffs, McDaniels could interview for interested teams this week.

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Jimmy Graham isn’t the only one who’s shocked by the Saints’ offseason moves.

Saints running back Mark Ingram told Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune that he was stunned to learn that fellow running back Darren Sproles was among the players the Saints released, and that another running back, Pierre Thomas, might follow Sproles out the door.

“Everything has been shocking,” Ingram said. “If something did happen to Pierre, it would be a shocker, too. It would be completely different. I would be the oldest guy in the [running backs meeting] room. It’s crazy to think about, and it’s shocking with everything going on. But it’s just the business side of everything. Those guys in the front office are doing what they think is best to have success this year.”

Ingram also realizes, however, that he’s likely to play a bigger role in the offense with Sproles gone and Thomas possibly following him.

“It’s an exciting time in my career,” Ingram said. “I just want to take advantage of my situation and the opportunity that’s presenting itself. Just want to prove to the organization that I can be the back they wanted, an every-down back, type of playmaker that they need. I’m excited about my situation. It’s unfortunate to see a lot of guys go, but I’m excited about my opportunity that I have coming up.”

It’s an opportunity for Ingram to be something he’s never been in New Orleans: The Saints’ primary running back.

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The Ravens released linebacker Jameel McClain as they started getting ready for free agency, but they’ve held onto another member of the linebacking corps who was headed for restricted free agency.

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports that the team has re-signed Albert McClellan ahead of Tuesday’s start to free agency. According to Wilson, it’s a two-year deal that allows McClellan and the team to avoid the restricted free agent tender process.

McClellan made the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Marshall and has played 45 games over the last three years. His most extensive playing time on defense came in 2012 when he made 11 starts and recorded 49 tackles and a sack. McClellan has played both inside and outside linebacker in Baltimore and seen extensive time on special teams.

Wide receiver Tandon Doss is the only other potential restricted free agent on the Ravens this offseason.

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After earning $15.1 million through six NFL seasons, running back Rashard Mendenhall has had enough.  He has explained in an item for the Huffington Post his decision to retire at age 26.

Basically, Mendenhall says:  (1) he has done everything he could do in football; (2) football has become more about entertainment than football; and (3) he no longer wishes to put his body at risk for the entertainment of others.

Mendenhall also explains that he has experienced hate and racism, presumably via the Internet.  Possibly in response to his controversial remarks following the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.

Lost in Mendenhall’s essay is any reference to his actual expected earnings in 2014 or beyond.  At one point he explains that others have asked, “You’re just going to walk away from millions of dollars?”  But it’s unlikely that anyone would have paid him “millions” in 2014.

Last year, Mendenhall was paid $2.5 million by the Cardinals.  Eventually, he was displaced by rookie Andre Ellington.  With a soft market for veteran tailbacks, Mendenhall quite possibly was at the point where, if he found a team, he’d be getting at best the veteran minimum for a player with six years of experience.

It’s probably not a coincidence that Mendenhall’s initial column hinting strongly at retirement came after the Scouting Combine, where his agent would have learned whether and to what extent the Cardinals or another team have interest in employing Mendenhall for another year, or longer.

In the end, that’s the unanswered question.  How much is he really walking away from?  Our guess is that it’s a non-guaranteed base salary $715,000.

While still not easy to walk away from, it’s a lot easier to walk away from than $7.15 million.

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A so-so veteran quarterback market could soon add another name.

Jason Campbell, former starter in Washington and Oakland, has a $250,000 roster bonus due on the third day of the 2014 league year.  To avoid paying it, the Browns would have to cut or trade Campbell before Thursday.

Campbell, a first-round pick in 2005, started eight games for the Browns in 2008.  But he won only one of them, throwing 11 touchdown passes against eight interceptions.

The Browns signed Campbell to a two-year contract in 2013.  In addition to the roster bonus, he’s due to earn a $3 million base salary.

The PFT Free Agent Hot 100 has only five quarterbacks; two of them (Matt Cassel and Chad Henne) have re-signed with their current teams.  Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez presumably will have a market for his services, if/when the Jets cut him.

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Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has spent some time this weekend making sure that NFL teams know that his knee and foot are fine after injuries to each slowed him over the last two seasons with the Giants.

Nicks also spent some time talking to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com and said that he hopes teams looking for “a missing link” to their championship aspirations give him the chance to show that he’s over the injuries. He told Anderson that he’s considering “a number of teams” and revealed a few of the players he could envision as his next quarterback.

“I know if I went to a place like Indianapolis, I would be dangerous with a quarterback like Andrew Luck,” Nicks said. “I can see myself catching passes from Cam Newton or even Philip Rivers.”

There’s no word on interest in Nicks from the Colts, Panthers or Chargers although the fact that Nicks is from North Carolina and played for the University of North Carolina in college and the Panthers need some help at wideout have led some to connect those dots while forecasting free agency.

Nicks also addressed a report that he’s willing to consider a one-year deal as a way to rebuild value he may have lost on the field recently. Nicks told Anderson he wants to “make it clear that I want a long-term deal” from whichever team signs him this offseason.

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It had been expected for some time and all but confirmed when the Vikings re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen, but defensive end Jared Allen made his departure from Minnesota official on Saturday night.

Allen’s agent Ken Harris said that Allen does not know where he’ll wind up playing in 2014, but that the decision was made to let the Vikings know that Allen’s time with the team was done.

“He made his decision to narrow it down [Saturday] night after I had a final conversation with the club,” Harris said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.

After opening their wallet to sign Griffen and Brian Robison, the Vikings pretty much told Allen, the 16th-ranked free agent on PFT‘s Hot 100, the same thing. Allen’s run with the Vikings comes to an end after six seasons, 85.5 sacks and plenty of recognition as one of the best pass rushers in the league. 

Those skills will now be put to use for another defense, with Allen saying last week that he’s looking for “a chance to win” and a “fair contract” above all else.

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The Cardinals are looking for a tackle in free agency and expressed early interest in Branden Albert, but they are turning their attention elsewhere with word that Albert will be headed to Miami.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports that the team has set its sights on Jared Veldheer. The Raiders opted not to use the franchise or transition tag on Veldheer last week, leaving the 26-year-old on track to sign with any team he chooses come Tuesday.

Somers thinks Veldheer will come in as a cheaper alternative to Albert and points out that he’s three years younger than the longtime member of the Chiefs. They won’t be the only team chasing him, however, and the Raiders are believed to have made an offer to keep him.

Should Veldheer land elsewhere, the Cardinals will be moving on to other options. Somers reports that any interest they may have had in Rodger Saffold has “cooled.” Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher and Anthony Collins are some of the other tackles on PFT‘s list of the Hot 100 free agents.

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With the Titans unwilling to pay running back Chris Johnson $8 million in 2014 and Johnson unwilling to take less, the Titans will be moving on.

Before they do, they’ll try to get value in return for the man they selected in the first-round of the 2008 draft, and to whom they’ve paid $30 million in the last three years.

Per a league source, the Titans soon will commence efforts to trade Johnson.  If the Titans can find no takers, they will cut him.

It’s unclear when they would cut him.  With no bonus coming due or a trigger to make all or part of the base salary guaranteed, the Titans don’t have to make a decision until the eve of Week One, when the full salary becomes guaranteed as a practical matter.

If he’s not cut before the launch of the offseason program, the Titans could face a repeat of the ugly final days of Steve McNair’s tenure with the team, when the Titans were hoping both to trade McNair and to keep him from suffering a potential season-ending injury while on the premises, which would have made his full salary guaranteed.  They locked McNair out of the facility, he filed a grievance, and he eventually won.

From Johnson’s perspective, the sooner the release comes, the better.  With a running back market that has yet to generate much buzz, Johnson would quickly go to the top of the class — eclipsing Ben Tate of the Texans, the No. 38 player on the PFT Free Agent Hot 100.

Cutting Johnson would result in a $4 million cap charge.  That amount would be cut in half and spread over two years if he’s released with a post-June 1 designation.

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Some confusion has arisen regarding the status of Patriots receiver Danny Amendola, who will see $2 million of his $3 million base salary become guaranteed this week.

Per a league source, here’s the situation.

Amendola’s contract paid him $8 million last year, via $6 million in signing bonus and a $2 million base salary.  He also added $375,000 in roster bonuses, at $31,250 per game.

The trigger for $2 million in base salary becoming guaranteed as of the first day of the 2014 league year specifically was selected to ensure that Amendola, if cut, would be available on the first day of free agency.

If not, the $2 million becomes fully guaranteed on the first day of the league year.

A player can’t be released with a post-June 1 designation until the league year begins.  This means that the Pats can’t cut Amendola with a post-June 1 designation without guaranteeing the $2 million.

But the guarantee has offset language, which means that the Patriots would keep up to $2 million based on Amendola’s 2014 compensation elsewhere.

The Patriots have four options:  (1) cut Amendola before Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, resulting in a $4.8 million cap charge in 2014; (2) cut Amendola after Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET with a post-June 1 designation, resulting in a $1.2 million cap charge in 2014 and $3.6 million in 2015, but guaranteeing up to $2 million in base salary if he doesn’t land elsewhere; (3) trade Amendola before June 1, resulting in a $4.8 million cap charge in 2014; or (4) keep Amendola, paying him up to $3.5 million and carrying a $4.543 million cap number.

It remains unlikely that the Patriots will cut or trade Amendola.  But those are the options, along with the precise consequences for each.

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When admitting on NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk that he’ll likely be cut by the Jets, cornerback Antonio Cromartie said he nevertheless hopes to retire with the team.

There’s a chance, albeit small, that it’ll happen.

Per a league source, the Jets haven’t closed the door on re-signing Cromartie.  However, it’s currently believed they have another cornerback already locked up.

Of course, the Jets aren’t currently permitted to have anything more than negotiations that don’t lead to an agreement.  But the thinking is that, before cutting Cromartie loose, the Jets became satisfied that negotiations with another cornerback will become an offer and an acceptance as of 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

If the non-binding winking and nodding and negotiating falls apart by then, the Jets could be bringing back Cromartie.

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Last year, the Dolphins nearly traded for Chiefs tackle Branden Albert.  This year, they need only to make a deal with Albert himself.

Per a league source, all signs currently point to Albert signing with the Dolphins not long after the market officially opens on Tuesday.

Albert instantly would be installed as the left tackle in Miami, succeeding Bryant McKinnie.  Who replaced Jonathan Martin.  Who replaced Jake Long.

Like Long, Albert was a first-round pick in 2008.  After his rookie contract expired, Albert played in 2013 under the franchise tag.

If/when (when) Albert leaves the Chiefs, it’s possible that right tackle Eric Fisher, the first pick in the 2013 draft, will flip to the left side.  It’s also possible that Fisher will stay on the right side and Donald Stephenson, who started seven games last year, will play the left side.

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Antonio Cromartie saw it coming.

Appearing in January on NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk, Cromartie said he expected to be a cap casualty.  On Sunday, he was proven right.

“I think I am, just because my cap number is very high and I had one of the worst seasons of my career this past year,” Cromartie said.

Cutting Cromartie avoids a $5 million roster bonus due in March, a $4.3 million base salary, and a $200,000 workout bonus.  That’s a total of $9.5 million that Cromartie would have been paid.

With the market for cornerbacks rebounding this year, Cromartie could still do fairly well on the open market.  Between signing bonus and base salary, he could still get at least $9.5 million this year on a multi-year deal.

Especially if teams accept that his performance last year was the result of injury.

“I was banged up,” Cromartie said.  “You know, I got hurt in Week Two but that’s not an excuse. You know, if I’m going to go out and go play every single week, I expect for myself to be playing at a high level and my teammates and my organization expects for me to be playing at a high level, so I never make excuses.  You know, I just had a bad year.  And that falls heavily on me and no one else.”

That kind of candor is rare and refreshing.  It could help Cromartie, who still hasn’t turned 30, in his quest to find another job.

AP

Now that the Vikings have opted to keep defensive end Everson Griffin, the numbers suggest that they won’t be able or inclined to keep Jared Allen.

With Brian Robison already signed to a four-year, $22 million deal, Griffen has a five-year, $42 million contract.  Per a league source, Griffen gets $13 million fully guaranteed at signing.  Another $7 million that is currently guaranteed for injury only becomes fully guaranteed next March.

So Griffen gets $13 million for one year or $20 million for two.  And, of course, $42 million for five.

The Vikings paid Jared Allen $73 million over six years after trading for him in 2008.  He played out the entire deal, and he’ll now undoubtedly sign with another team.

The move also takes the Vikings out of play for the other defensive ends who expect to be paid big money.

AP

The Jets have told Antonio Cromartie he is being released.

Cromartie, who was viewed as a potential cap casualty, confirmed as much when he wrote a farewell message to the team and its fans on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.

“I would like 2 thank the Jets organization so much with helpin me grow as leader and a player. S/O 2 my teammates I wish u guys the best,” Cromartie wrote. “I would also like to give a big up to The Jets Fan base. Thank you for all the support thru my 4 yr career with you. Thank you again. It’s time for a new chapter in my life and now it’s time to let my lord and savior lead my steps every step of the way.”

The departure of Cromartie means the Jets will be big players in the free agent cornerback market. The Jets are believed to be very interested in signing Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner when free agency officially begins on Tuesday.

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The Vikings may be planning to draft a quarterback, but not Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles or Johnny Manziel with the eighth overall pick.

Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman suggested that his team might be more interested in addressing another position in the first round of the draft, and taking a quarterback on the second day of the draft.

“I think you can find quarterbacks in the second round and the third round, as well,” Spielman told the Star Tribune. “We’ve started that process on the evaluation part. I think we’re scheduled to go out there and see a lot of these quarterbacks through the spring and get to know them a little bit better. The one thing that I want to make sure we don’t do is box ourselves into having to take a quarterback if there’s another player that’s very significant at another position.”

With Matt Cassel signed for another two years, the Vikings may see Cassel as a player who can start this year while helping to groom a young quarterback who would be available on the second day of the draft, such as Jimmy Garoppolo of Eastern Illinois or AJ McCarron of Alabama. Cassel may not be a long-term answer, but he may be a stopgap that gives the Vikings an opportunity to be patient for a quarterback to develop, rather than thinking they need a rookie to start right away.