NFL Free Agency Live Blog: Frenzy Of Activity On First Day Of New League Year
BOSTON (CBS) -- Follow along for all the updates leading up to the start of NFL free agency at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday!
7 p.m.: Keep up with the latest in free-agent happenings around the NFL with our NFL Free Agency Tracker.
6:56 p.m.: The Patriots have reportedly added a new wide receiver to their roster.
6:16 p.m.: Though LeGarrette Blount confused some people earlier in the day, he clarified Tuesday night what some missed during his initial tweet.
6:06 p.m.: CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora provides some details on the range of Revis' likely contract.
5:51 p.m.: The Pats likely knew that Vereen would be gone, but they have a hopeful contingency plan:
5:46 p.m.: The Boston Globe's Ben Volin sheds some light on where the Patriots and Revis may be differing.
5:38 p.m.: A.J. Hawk will be a Bengal:
5:36 p.m.: The Jets, as expected, released Percy Harvin, and Ian Rapoport says the Patriots may be his eventual landing spot.
5:29 p.m.: With the rest of the world on Revis Watch, the Saints may already be making a play on Brandon Browner.
5:14 p.m.: If you were curious whether the NFL was serious about its intention to investigate some over-the-line tampering during the "legal tampering" window, it appears as though it is no joke.
5:05 p.m.: In much more minor Patriots news, the team elected to not make offers to Brian Tyms and Greg Orton, making them free agents.
4:50 p.m.: Old friend Vince Wilfork may find a new home soon:
Imagine Vince lining up next to J.J. Watt in Houston. Scary.
4:40 p.m.: Brandon Browner may be a free agent, but a return to New England isn't completely out of the question just yet:
4:15 p.m.: The Jets are reportedly signing a corner, just not the corner everyone is watching for.
Maybe that means they know Revis won't be returning. Tom E. Curran of CSNNE thinks the Patriots not picking up Browner's option is a sign they're preparing a big money offer for Revis:
4:13 p.m.: If you want to know what the Patriots are doing at the start of free agency, don't ask Brandon LaFell.
It is what it is, right Brandon?
4:04 p.m.: It's also not looking good for New England on the Revis front, according to Adam Schefter:
Things can change, but it's never good to see Schefter report something like that.
4:01 p.m.: Happy (NFL) New Year, everyone!
It looks like Brandon Browner is heading to free agency:
Not picking up Browner's option will save the Patriots $4.29 million towards the cap next season.
3:57 p.m.: Well, here's an interesting one for you:
Now the crazy portion of the day can officially begin.
3:52 p.m.: We've officially reached the crazy portion of the day, as Haloti Ngata has reportedly been traded to the Lions.
The Lions lost Ndamukong Suh to free agency (or, they're about to in a few minutes), but Ngata would seemingly help fill a void on the D line.
The Ravens confirmed the trade shortly after the report.
3:47 p.m.: Holy smokes! Just minutes before free agency officially begins, we get what could be the story of the day -- or even the whole offseason. The Saints and Seahawks have agreed to a deal that will send Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick to Seattle in exchange for center Max Unger and a first-round pick, according to Jay Glazer.
2:49 p.m.: Brandon Browner will not take a pay cut for next season, meaning the Patriots will have to make a tough decision within the next hour:
2:05 p.m.: LeGarrette Blount caused a few people to skip a heart beat a few minutes ago, sending out this tweet:
Don't worry. Blount is still a member of the Patriots and signed through next season. He's just going to Arizona for vacation.
1:51 p.m.: This is not exactly a big name, but, Patriots fans will likely care. Jeff Howe reports that James Develin will remain a Patriot.
Develin didn't post too many statistics as a fullback, but he did score a touchdown in the AFC Championship Game. He played an important role in the running game, particularly in the regular-season and postseason meetings with the Colts.
1:19 p.m.: Dwayne Bowe could be hitting the market, according to Schefter.
Like the rest of the Chiefs wide receivers, Bowe did not catch a touchdown last year. He may not be the force he once was, but he figures to draw interest from a number of teams.
1:09 p.m.: The Titans are going to sign wide receiver Harry Douglas, according to Schefter.
Douglas caught 51 passes for 556 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games last year.
12:52 p.m.: It looks like Shane Vereen's days with the Patriots are over:
Vereen is cashing in from an overall solid season in 2014, capped off with an 11-catch performance in Super Bowl XLIX. He made 18 catches for 144 yards in three playoffs game this year, and while he never found the end zone, eight of those receptions went for first downs.
The Patriots will miss his presence, especially on third downs, so it will be interesting to see if their rumored interest in Roy Helu picks up.
12:40 p.m.: Trent Cole isn't a Colt after all (or at least not yet):
12:28 p.m.: And we have another move by the Colts, this time on the offensive side. They have reportedly added veteran running back Frank Gore:
Recently released wide receiver Andre Johnson may also find himself wearing a Colts uniform next season, according to Schefter:
Their best years are behind them, but both would be solid veteran additions to a Colts team looking to take that next step.
12:20 p.m.: The Colts remain busy, as Ian Rapoport reports that Indianapolis will sign Trent Cole.
Cole has spent his entire 10-year career with the Eagles, where he racked up 85.5 sacks.
12:01 p.m.: A Patriots free agent we haven't talked much about is linebacker Jonathan Casillas, but he's apparently getting a lot of love on the open market:
The Patriots acquired Casillas and a 2015 sixth round pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the trade deadline last season for a 2015 fifth round pick.
11:15 a.m.: The rumors have been pretty quiet today, but things should pick up as we get closer to the start of free agency.
While it looks like the Patriots are in real danger of losing Shane Vereen to free agency, they may also have some competition for their other running back on the open market.
According to Chris Tomasson of The Pioneer Press in Minnesota, the Vikings have shown some interest in Stevan Ridley as a potential replacement for Adrian Peterson. Tomasson isn't sure how serious the Vikings are though:
However, the source stressed it is all very preliminary and there might not be any interest if Peterson were to remain with Minnesota.
Matt Asiata, who took over for the suspended Peterson in Minnesota last season, is also a restricted free agent, so this could just be the Vikings doing their homework on any available running back.
The New York Jets also reportedly had some interest in Ridley, but have reportedly come to terms with running back Bilal Powell.
10:35 a.m.: We knew teams would line up for Revis, and Ian Rapoport is painting a bigger picture for the corner's market:
More teams to drive up the price tag.
8:30 a.m.: The new NFL year officially begins Tuesday afternoon, and with that marks the start of free agency.
We know what you're saying -- didn't free agency start over the weekend with all the contracts that were agreed upon? We know that Devin McCourty will be back with the Patriots, Ndamukong Suh is heading to the Miami Dolphins, and Jeremy Maclin will join Andy Reid in Kansas City, among many other deals that came to fruition over the weekend.
Technically, none of those deals will be official until 4 p.m. Tuesday, when the NFL calendar flips to 2015. Those deals were all reached during the league's three-day negotiating window prior to the open of free agency, and the contracts can't be signed until the new year begins.
Of course, all eyes are on Darrelle Revis and the New England Patriots. The Patriots reportedly declined Revis' $20 million option for 2015, making him an unrestricted free agent. He's now open to sign with any of the many suitors that will line up for his services.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe touched on Brandon Browner, Darrelle Revis, Vince Wilfork, Shane Vereen and much more Tuesday morning on Toucher & Rich:
The Patriots and New York Jets are the favorites, but there are a handful of other teams also interested, who have plenty of money to spend, which could end up making Revis' price tag a little too expensive for New England.
There are some rumbles about the guy who plays on the other side of the field from Revis, with The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reporting the Patriots are letting Brandon Browner explore his worth on the open market. Browner is signed through next season and dumping him would save the Patriots nearly $5 million towards the cap, so there's a chance the two could part ways by this afternoon.
After Revis, the Patriots also have a few other free agents to worry about. Running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are both unrestricted free agents, as is guard Dan Connolly. There is a good chance Ridley returns on a one-year, incentive laden deal after missing 10 games in 2014 with a torn ACL he suffered in October, but Vereen will probably cash in on his 11-catch performance in Super Bowl XLIX. The New York Giants are reportedly "very serious" about adding Vereen.
The Patriots are exploring backup plans should Vereen leave. According to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, New England has checked in on Washington running back Roy Helu, though it's unclearn how interested they are in the veteran back.
Connolly should be welcomed back with open arms, especially now with two matchups with Suh on the schedule, but we'll see if the Patriots want to get younger on the offensive line.
There are many big names still out there who didn't shake hands with anyone ahead of Tuesday, and are worth monitoring throughout the day. DeMarco Murray (the NFL's leading rusher in 2014) may be moving on from Dallas, tight ends Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron may find new homes, and Andre Johnson is free to find a new team for the first time in his NFL career. There are also a handful of corners available should New England need to replace one of the best to ever play the game (though no one wants to see it come to that).
As of late Monday, the Patriots were rumored to be in on outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard to help their pass-rush:
Sheard was a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2011, and started 50 games over the last four years, recording 23 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wild rumors we'll get throughout the rest of the day. Stick with CBSBostonsports.com throughout the day on Tuesday for all the rumors leading up to 4 p.m., and all the deals that get signed at 4:00:01 p.m.!
