Reports: Glennon to Bears
Ex-Bucs QB poised to join Chicago; Bills rework Taylor’s deal.
Twenty-four hours into the NFL’s negotiating period, the word around the league was that the Bears will be signing quarterback Mike Glennon.
No deals can be consummated until the start of the new league year today, but teams have been able to negotiate with agents since Tuesday. While nothing is binding, that doesn’t prevent the sides from reaching agreement.
While the Bears have given no indication Glennon is their man, other teams are operating as if Glennon to the Bears is a move that will happen today. The NFL Network reported Wednesday a deal for Glennon was “all but done.”
Glennon was identified last week as the Bears’ top choice as they chart a future without Jay Cutler, who had a 52-52 record as a starter in eight seasons. The team prioritized Glennon and Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore as top targets. The team is believed to be aggressively pursuing Gilmore.
No details have emerged on the length of a contract for Glennon, a third-round draft pick of the Buccaneers in 2013, but word is the range will be near $14 million and perhaps as much as $15 million per year. That would rank Glennon 23rd among quarterbacks currently under contract in terms of annual average.
Bills: Tyrod Taylor will remain the starting quarterback after the team announced it restructured his five-year contract extension. The Bills faced a Saturday deadline to determine whether to pick up the extension Taylor signed in August or part ways with their two-year starter.
Under the initial contract extension, Taylor was due to be paid just under $31 million in salary and bonuses during the first year of the deal, and count nearly $16 million against Buffalo’s salary cap. Taylor had surgery in January to repair a sports hernia but has since been cleared for practice. He has a 15-14 record in two seasons with Buffalo.
The Bills also announced they agreed to sign former Carolina fullback Mike Tolbert and re-sign punter Colton Schmidt, who had been released Monday.
Cowboys: Tony Romo’s star-crossed career as the starting quarterback in Dallas will soon be over. A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Cowboys will release Romo when the NFL year opens today.
Romo, who will get a chance to pursue a starting job elsewhere, leaves the Cowboys as the franchise leader in yards passing (34,183) and touchdowns (248). A 10-year starter who joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003, Romo lost the job last season to rookie Dak Prescott after breaking a bone in his back in a preseason game.
A trade was unlikely because Romo turns 37 next month, carries a $24 million salary-cap hit and has missed most of the past two seasons with injuries. But he should be attractive as a free agent to contenders wanting a quarterback, a list that could include Denver and Houston.
A release will free about $5 million in cap space for the Cowboys, who can split the dead money from a $19 million hit over two seasons.
49ers: Reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer. NFL Network said Hoyer has decided to join the Niners, where he will have a chance to compete to be the starter next season. San Francisco entered its first free-agency period under new coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch with no quarterbacks on the roster.
Shanahan will begin his tenure with a familiar quarterback. Hoyer made 13 starts for Cleveland in 2014 when Shanahan was offensive coordinator. Hoyer won seven of those starts and threw for a career-high 3,326 yards.
Giants: Signed free-agent receiver Brandon Marshall to a two-year contact. The former Jets receiver tweeted a picture of the signed contact Wednesday. The signing gives the Giants a talented outside receiver to play opposite Odell Beckham Jr.
The Jets released Marshall less than a week ago, making him eligible to sign with any team before today’s start of free agency. Marshall, who turns 33 this month, had 59 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Ravens: Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil was cut by Baltimore, which was looking to free up salary-cap room before the start of free agency. Dumervil missed eight games last season because of injuries and finished with only three sacks. Two years earlier, he set the team single-season record with 17 sacks.
The Ravens did not rule out the possibility of bringing back the 33-year-old at a lesser price.
Patriots: Tight end Dwayne Allen is eager to get started in New England after the Colts traded him on the eve of free agency. Allen acknowledged the trade on Twitter, where he thanked Colts fans for their support and wrote he was “humbled and eager to earn the right to be called a New England Patriot.”
NFL.com reported the Colts will send Allen and a sixthround draft choice to New England in exchange for the Patriots’ fourth-round pick. Allen signed a four-year deal worth $29.4 million last year.
Dolphins: Defensive end Andre Branch agreed to a $27 million, three-year contract to remain with Miami, multiple reports said. The five-year pro had 51/2 sacks last season, his first with the Dolphins. Redskins: Re-signed tight end Vernon Davis to a threeyear contract. The 33-year-old revitalized his career last season with the Redskins, starting 14 games and catching 44 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns.
Panthers: Re-signed running back running back Fozzy Whittaker to a two-year contract. The 28-year-old served as Jonathan Stewart’s primary backup last season.