Howe: Patriots, WR Mohamed Sanu Showing 'Mutual Interest' (UPDATE: Sanu Signs With Falcons)
UPDATE (Thursday 3/10/2016, 2:30 p.m.): According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Mohamed Sanu has agreed to terms on a five-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
BOSTON (CBS) -- NFL Free Agency kicks off at 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, and the rumors and reports are already swirling around New England. The Patriots, who are in the market for a wide receiver, and the Cincinnati Bengals' Mohamed Sanu are showing mutual interest, according to the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe, who joined Toucher & Rich to talk about the possibility of a deal.
He said the two sides may need to reach a compromise, in terms of dollars, for a deal to happen.
"There's mutual interest between both parties there, which makes all the sense in the world considering he's a free agent wide receiver who went to [head coach Bill] Belichick's favorite university, Rutgers," said Howe. "You could see this one coming a mile away. The problem is, how much money is it going to take to get it done?"
SEE ALSO: NFL Free Agency Tracker
Howe is guessing that the Patriots do not want to pay a free agent wide receiver more than they paid Brandon LaFell (three years, $9 million) two years ago, Sanu could be drawing interest elsewhere and command as much as $5 million a season, and the team may not want to "upset the power structure" at that position by making Julian Edelman the third-highest-paid receiver on the team.
UPDATE (4:28 p.m.): ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini reports that Sanu is headed to Atlanta to sign a deal with the Atlanta Falcons worth $7 million per season.
UPDATE (4:44 p.m.): According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Sanu said he is planning to visit Atlanta then head to New England for a visit with the Patriots afterward.
Listen to the full podcast below!
