Stock Up

NFL Stock Up: Week 2

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

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Philip Rivers– The old guard from the 2004 draft are all entering contract periods where extensions are on the horizon and Rivers sure stated his case on Sunday as he tore up the vaunted Seahawks defense for 284 yards on over 75%completion percentage. Rivers turnaround from where he was two years ago, when he looked finished, is pretty remarkable. He’s fearless and you knew he would challenge the Seahawks this week but nobody expected this kind of performance.

DeMarco Murray– Murray had a bad fumble on Sunday but finished the day with 29 carries for 167 yards. The Cowboys are no stranger to paying big money for top talent and it almost looks as if we are seeing a changing of the guard in Dallas. Tony Romo does not look like the same player and Jason Witten has been MIA for two weeks. If Dallas is going to enter a transition period in which Romo becomes the game manager, Murray is going to benefit with big dollar signs.

Ryan Kerrigan– I don’t care that it was against the Jaguars, 4 sacks in a game is an incredible accomplishment. Kerrigan has his option picked up for next season, but with teams wisely locking up player inn the 2011 draft class he is putting himself in a great position for a new deal. Hes been incredibly steady since entering the NFL and should set a new career high in sacks this year following this game. With JJ Watt and Robert Quinn getting massive extensions, the payscale is rising for players that can rush the passer and Kerrigan should benefit.

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New Contract Player Of The Week

Ted Ginn– I know it’s a strange position to take for this distinction, but in watching that game Ginn’s touchdown return changed the whole game. New York had taken control of the game, despite their mistakes, and seemed like they were wearing down the banged up Cardinals. Ginn’s return took the air out of the Giants and the Cardinals players even alluded to that after the game insinuating that the Giants were mentally beaten. You can’t have much more impact than that.

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NFL Stock Up: Week 1

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

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AJ Green– I can not figure out why people don’t realize how special Green is. Outside of the touchdown production he is every bit as productive as Calvin Johnson was at the same point in his career and there is no reason for AJ Green to not be the top paid receiver in the entire NFL. This week he put together a 131 yard game including the game winning 77 yard haul that took all the steam out of a Ravens team that had just battled back to take the lead. IMO, this is the best receiver in the NFL.

Julius Thomas– Thomas obliterated the Colts secondary to the tune of 7 receptions for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was getting open at will and toying with the coverage schemes of the Colts. Thomas is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and a few more games like this and he may end up getting a new deal before seasons end. Thomas is in an interesting contract position because the Broncos have another potential franchise tag free agent in Demaryius Thomas meaning one of the two should be able to jump into a new offer.

Jake Locker– Locker did not get the option year picked up on his contract and gets the opportunity at free agency in 2015. There was a lot of talk about how well the new coaching staff might benefit him and for this week it certainly did. Locker completed 66.7% of his passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Locker completed passed to eight different receivers and was very effective in leading his team to a surprising dominating win against the Chiefs.

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New Contract Player Of The Week

Knowshon Moreno– I very easily could have gone with JJ Watt who had a dominating performance in every phase of the game for the Texans, but Moreno hit a second gear that seemed to completely catch the Patriots off guard. 24 carries for 134 yards acting like a workhorse back that could take the entire load on his shoulders and power a team to a win. His score with about 3 minutes left in the game cemented one of the big upsets of the week.

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Stock Up: Week 17

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Greg Hardy– Just another day at the office for Mr Hardy who continues his incredible hot streak, this time taking advantage of a porous Falcons offensive line to the tune of 4 sacks on Sunday. Hardy was dominant and he had to be if the Panthers wanted to clinch a first round bye. The offense simply did not have it on Sunday but Hardy helped provide the team with the spark it needed to clinch the NFC South. Hardy will be a free agent in 2014.

LaGarrette Blount– Blount carried the Patriots to victory on Sunday with an impressive 189 yards and two td’s on just 24 carries. It was one of the most impressive games you will ever see for a running back and the head coach showed his appreciated as he took him off the field to a standing ovation from the Patriots crowd. Blount was also a new addition for the Patriots this year as they traded for him after he fell out of favor with the Tampa Bay coaching staff in 2012. He reworked his contract to take a paycut in order to get an opportunity in New England as he approached free agency. Now he has a major game to fall back on when looking for a new contract.

Justin Tuck– In a meaningless season for the Giants, Tuck made the most of the situation and put up his best statistical year since 2010 finishing the season with 63 tackles and 11 sacks. He pretty much owned the Redskins this year racking up two sacks on Sunday and four sacks the last time the two teams met. While I personally would be worried about handing over too much money to Tuck, I have to think more than a few teams, if not the Giants, will be asking him to rush the passer on an incentive based deal next season.

 

New Contract Player Of The Week

Anquan Boldin – Boldin began the season in this spot and finished it here as well after his 9 catch 149 yard performance for San Francisco. The 49ers running game fell flat leaving the passing game to pick up the offense and Boldin responded greatly. The Ravens made a mistake in trading Boldin who finished the year with nearly 1200 yards and was a big member of the 49ers team. He’ll be 34 next season but is proving that someone needs to give him a mid range contract next year.

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Stock Up: Week 16

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

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Greg Hardy– Hardy registered 3 sacks against the Saints and had Drew Brees showing the look of fear on more plays than not. Hardy has 11 sacks on the season and with a great crop of young pass rushers all eligible for new contracts its going to be a race to see who gets the most money in the new pass rushing marketplace. The Panthers don’t really have the cap space to franchise him and carry him on that tag for any period of time and he has a teammate already making wild money that he will use as a starting point in negotiations. With the playoffs coming up he has a chance to earn some big money.

Robert Quinn– Another 3 sack game for Quinn, who now has five multi-sack games on the season and three games with three sacks. He has 18 sacks on the season, dominates the competition, and seems to make this list every week. The one thing he does not have going for him that Hardy does is the fact that he is not a free agent next season, while Hardy is. Quinn is extension eligible which gives a bit more leverage to the Rams when working out a contract with him. Still this is going to be a race to crown the highest paid player and one likely playing leapfrog over the other.

Andy Dalton– I’ve given up trying to figure Dalton out. He is all over the map this season but he sure did tear it up against the Vikings. Dalton threw for 4 touchdowns and 366 yards on the day. I don’t know what the Bengals really do here. The team is good enough to win it all, perhaps even this season, which could leave Dalton getting a Joe Flacco like contract. Of course the bad Dalton is going to leave you stuck with a Matt Schaub type contract if you extend early. Big decision is looming for the Bengals here.

 

New Contract Player Of The Week

Julian Edelman– Edelman could really go in either category since his contract was just a one year deal, but imagine where the Patriots offense would be without him?  In a season of injuries and turnover at the position, Edelman has been the lone steady force out there. On Sunday he racked up another 7 receptions for 77 yards and he is going to surpass 1,000 yards on the season. Not too bad for a player with incentives for just low level of catches since nobody expected much from him. I’m not sure if the Patriot “system” has watered down the value of their players following flops of players like Deion Branch, Randy Moss, and David Givens over the past decade once they left the Patriots, but Edelman is one of the best values at his position this year and will likely earn a low level number 2 type deal next season.

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Stock Up: Week 15

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

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Robert Quinn– The young pass rusher abused the Saints line on Sunday and registered two sacks to bring his total on the season up to 15. Quinn is arguably the best all around defensive end in the NFL and he is extension eligible this year.  The Rams history has been to extend in contract seasons and pay their players and incoming free agents quite nicely. At this point I have to think Quinn might set the new market for the position, discounting the Mario Williams contract that will likely disappear after 2014.

Captain Munnerlyn– Munnerlyn was pretty much an afterthought stopgap player for the Panthers who had a terrific game on Sunday against the Jets. The Panthers developed a nice blitz package featuring Munnerlyn and he got to the QB twice. He also had a pick 6 in the secondary that cemented the win for the Panthers who had looked sluggish most of the day. Munnerlyn is never going to be one of the high paid corners, but he is going to get some added security next year.

Jay Cutler– Cutler spent the last few weeks hearing about how he was no better than a player who was a journeyman. While Cutler had two bad interceptions the offense itself did not miss a beat, scoring 38 points in a critical victory over the Cleveland Browns.  Cutler completed 71% of his passes, spread the ball around to three receivers and led the team to 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter. Cutler may not be in Chicago next season but he got the opportunity to remind everyone that he can be pretty good as well.

 

New Contract Player Of The Week

Greg Jennings– Jennings has not done much damage this season as a Viking, but on Sunday he was near unstoppable. Jennings went off for 163 receiving yards and a touchdown in the victory over the Eagles. Jennings still has a far way to go in justifying the contract he received in the offseason, but he has at least shown a pulse the last few weeks. If the Vikings can get numbers half of this moving forward they will be happy with the contract.

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Stock Up: Week 14

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

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Frank Gore– Without Frank Gore the 49ers would have lost to the Seahawks and their playoff chances would have taken a big hit. Gore rumbled for 110 yards including the 51 yard backbreaker that set up the winning field goal. It was a great run by Gore made even better when he realized he was going to get tackled from behind so rather than risk going out of bounds or getting the ball poked out he dropped to the ground and gave himself up to keep the clock moving. With the 49ers salary cap getting tight next season and Colin Kaepernick needing that running game Gore will likely get a contract extension as the Niners look to lower his $6.45 million cap charge.

Karlos Dansby– All Dansby did on Sunday was register 8 tackles, get a sack, and intercept a pass for a touchdown. I’d say that is pretty good. Dansby who now has two touchdowns on the season is just 1 touchdown behind WR Mike Wallace of Dansby’s former team. Think about that for a second. An inside linebacker playing for $2.25 million has almost as many scores as an offensive player earning $12 million. Its been an amazing turnaround for Dansby who was one of the most overpaid players in Miami who is now one of the most underpaid in Arizona. He’s in line again for a longer term contract next season and with the way he is playing it will likely be a big raise from his current one year deal.

Roddy White– I have touched on White’s contract situation before and how he will either be extended or released, but he’s making a hard push for a nice extension with his last two games. With the Falcons battling the elements and lack of weapons White was the main target and caught 8 passes for 74 yards. This brings his two week total to 18 receptions for 217 yards, which are vintage numbers for White. He has battled injuries this year but can use the final three weeks of the season to state his case that he is still a perfect complement to Julio Jones.

 

New Contract Player Of The Week

John Abraham– Abraham was released by the Atlanta Falcons over the cost of his contract and probably his age as well. They wanted to get younger along their line and cut the 35 year old loose. After garnering little interest around the league the Cardinals offered him $1 million guaranteed and $2.1 million total for the year to try out for Arizona. He’s been one of the best bargains in the NFL this season and notched 3 sacks this week against the Rams to bring  his season total to 11. With 3 games to go he should end up with the second highest total of his career. Arizona has him under contract for $2.5 million plus bonus clauses next season if he continues to play in the NFL.

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Stock Up: Week 13

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Stock Up

Eric Decker– The Broncos are going to have an interesting decision on their hands this offseason. Do they pay a huge price for Decker to stick around with Peyton Manning or do they let him walk and assume Manning will do well enough with what they have?  Decker’s 174 yard, 4 touchdown game against what was supposed to be a great defense was quite the show. Decker has an excellent chance to set a career high in yards as he heads into free agency.

Justin Tuck– Tuck, who will be a free agent next season, had a pretty quiet year up until last night. Tuck manhandled the Redskins offensive line to the tune of 4 sacks and 5 tackles. It was one of the most dominant defensive performances of the year and will pad his statline for the season. Tuck still has 4 weeks to prove he deserves a decent contract somewhere in the NFL, but games like this can go a long way towards convincing a team that Tuck is a benefit to take a flier on next season if they feel the situation is a good one to get the maximum value out of him.

Trent Cole-I got a few comments concerning Cole this week and his contract status. My gut feeling is that he is safe, but he went a long way towards helping that status this week. Cole had two sacks against the Cardinals, one of which led to a fumble. The other sack came on a 3rd down conversion opportunity. This was his second two sack game in a row which should help him maintain a spot in Philadelphia next season. Cole had a bit of a weird extension in which he had a relatively high contract value but it was heavily backloaded, with the big payments beginning in 2015. Cole had to always assume he was getting to 2014 and he’s close to making that a reality.

 

New Contract Player Of The Week

Brian Hartline– Earlier this year when we discussed Hartline’s signing I felt it was pretty strong value for Miami. He proved it this week with a big game against the Jets. Hartline could not be covered by New York, whether it was Antonio Cromartie or Dee Miliner. He ended the day with 9 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. If Ryan Tannehill had not badly underthrown him on another play he probably would have been over 150 and added another score to the mix. Hartline is the most productive receiver on the Dolphins.

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