Arguably the top cornerback on the free-agent market may not be available much longer. According to NFL.com, the Miami Dolphins are “closing in” on re-signing Brent Grimes to a long-term contract.
No details about the value or length of the deal are available, but it does mean the team will not use the franchise tag on Grimes and other teams in need of improving its secondary will have to look elsewhere — perhaps to an Aqib Tailb or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the other top corners available.
Source: #Dolphins and CB Brent Grimes are closing in on a deal to keep him in Miami without the franchise tag. Could happen very quickly
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2014
And the ‘Fins may not be done there.
According to the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are “very interested” in safety Louis Delmas. Since being released by the Detroit Lions, Delmas has visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and most recently the New Orleans Saints. He stopped in Miami on Friday.
The Dolphins have not yet made a contract offer to Louis Delmas but club is very interested in the free agent safety. Delmas visited Fri.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) March 3, 2014
The New York Jets are in the market for a veteran quarterback this season to back up Geno Smith entering his sophomore season. Perhaps the team will look not have to look much further than a down I-95.
The Jets are “definitely” expected to make a push for former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick at the start of free agency, according to ESPN. Reports last week indicated the team may still have some interest in retaining Mark Sanchez, but over the weekend a report surfaced the Minnesota Vikings may be considering Sanchez as well.
Gang Green has previously been connected to Josh McCown, as well as Vick, and in addition to the Jets, a host of other teams may be keeping tabs on the 33-year-old. With the Jets, Vick may have a chance to push Smith for the starting job.
Vick’s former club, the Philadelphia Eagles, just finalized deals with wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper. But what does that mean for DeSean Jackson?
According to Philly.com, there are some members of the Eagles’ front office that don’t believe Jackson’s personality fits in with the team and locker room culture, and that the team “could be open to trading him.” The team is not going to openly shop Jackson, per the report, but would be willing to listen to teams interested in trading for the wide receiver if they were to make a phone call.
It looks like safety Jairus Byrd will be able to avoid getting slapped with the franchise tag this offseason, but it also doesn’t look as if his NFL future will be with in Upstate New York.
According to WGR 550 in Buffalo, the Bills are unlikely to re-sign Byrd. The team and player have had productive discussions and will resume talks if and when Byrd becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 11, however, the report indicates it’s more realistic to see the two sides split up.
Sports Illustrated names the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a potential landing spot for Byrd. Tampa signed Dashon Goldson to a big-time deal last offseason and former first-rounder Mark Barron rounds out the tandem. Though the Bucs don’t have a need for safety, Byrd’s father, Gil Byrd, is an assistant defensive backs coach for the Bucs.
