Jerry Lovelocke

Workout Updates: 1/15/16

After working out earlier this week for the Jets, free agent offensive tackle Lamar Holmes got a look from another AFC East team, auditioning for the Dolphins, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Holmes, a former third-round pick, started 19 games at tackle for the Falcons in 2013 and 2014. However, he spent most of the 2015 season on the PUP list due to a foot injury, and was ultimately cut by Atlanta in December with an injury settlement, allowing him to explore other opportunities. If he’s healthy, he should get a chance to sign somewhere and compete for a roster spot in 2016.

Here are the rest of today’s workout updates:

  • In addition to trying out Holmes, the Dolphins also brought in CFL pass rusher Cleyon Laing, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. An Iowa State product, Laing recorded 40 tackles and eight sacks for the Toronto Argonauts this season.
  • Another CFL star, wide receiver Eric Rogers, continued his NFL tour by working out for the Titans, tweets Caplan. Wilson (Twitter link) adds Laing and quarterback Jerry Lovelocke to the list of players who tried out for Tennessee.
  • Linebacker Jason Ankrah, who appeared in two games in 2014 for the Texans, auditioned for the Packers, per Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Chiefs worked out a pair of tackles, Kevin Graf and Bryce Quigley, according to Wilson (Twitter link). Kansas City remains alive in the postseason, so the team could be considering those offensive linemen as additions to the current roster, but I expect they’re candidates for reserve/futures contracts instead.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/2015

Here are Saturday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

  • Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, who was cut by the Bengals earlier this week to make room for Greg Little, was claimed off waivers by the Dolphins, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Miami waived another wideout, Kai De La Cruz, just three days after signing him in order to clear room on the roster for Hamilton.
  • The Giants created two roster openings today by waiving two players with injury designations. Per Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), tight end Matt LaCosse (hamstring) and defensive end Brad Harrah (quad) were cut.
  • The Vikings have a full roster again after signing wide receiver Ryan Whalen, a former sixth-round pick, tweets Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.
  • The Jets cut fullback J.C. Copeland today after a poor showing in practice, according to Connor Hughes of the Journal Inquirer and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter links).

Earlier updates:

  • A sixth running back is coming to the Eagles, with rookie free agent Kevin Monangai signing with the team, per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. Monangai starred at Villanova, scoring 29 career touchdowns in four years with the Division I-FCS Wildcats.
  • The Patriots‘ roster stands at 87 players following the cutting of cornerback Justin Green and linebacker D.J. Lynch, reports WEEI’s Mike Petraglia. Green signed with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2013, playing in two games since, with practice squad time in between. Lynch came to the Pats this offseason as a rookie free agent from Bowling Green.
  • The Bills‘ roster now sits at 89 players after the team claimed Terren Jones off waivers from the Titans, ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak reports, on Twitter. An undrafted free agent who signed with the Falcons in 2013, the 6-foot-7, 341-pound Jones becomes the fifth offensive tackle on Buffalo’s roster. He’s spent time with the Titans, Ravens and Washington, playing in one game in two seasons.
  • To clear space for wideout Trent Steelman, the Ravens cut quarterback Jerry Lovelocke, according to CSNBaltimore.com’s Clifton Brown (Twitter link). Levelocke came to the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in May from Prairie View A&M. A former Army quarterback, Steelman will vie for a roster or practice squad spot at wide receiver. Eligible for the 2013 draft and a participant in the Ravens’ rookie minicamp that year, Steelman was released from active duty in Dec. 2014 in order to pursue an NFL career.
  • The Falcons swapped out one offensive lineman for another, in signing Pierce Burton and waiving Harland Gunn, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link). The Vikings originally signed Burton as an undrafted free agent last offseason, while Gunn played in 13 games for Atlanta from 2012-14 after signing there as an undrafted rookie in 2012.
  • Washington signed rookie cornerback Deshazor Everett and released fellow first-year player Dasman McCullum, a linebacker, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (on Twitter). Everett is an undrafted product from Texas A&M and will serve as secondary depth while Bashaud Breeland recovers from a torn MCL.
  • The Cowboys signed Will Smith, a linebacker taken by the team in the seventh round of the 2014 draft before spending his rookie campaign on Dallas’ practice squad, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/15

Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

  • Ravens: Signed former Army quarterback Trent Steelman, who tried out as a receiver this week, and cut rookie QB Jerry Lovelocke (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson). 
  • Bears: Signed G Tyler Moore (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune).
  • Cardinals: Signed CB Shaquille Richardson (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com).
  • Chiefs: Signed DT Hebron Fangupo and RB LaVance Taylor; waived RB Keshawn Hill (Twitter links). Taylor was signed after tweeting his highlight reel to the team.
  • Cowboys: Re-signed LB Keith Smith (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). Smith, who played 10 games for the Cowboys last season, was cut by the team in May.
  • Giants: Waived WR Ben Edwards and T Troy Kropog (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Both players received a failed physical designation.
  • Seahawks: Signed S Tyrequek Zimmerman (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Titans: Signed WR Tebucky Jones, waived T Terren Jones, and placed TE Dorin Dickerson on injured reserve (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com; link via AP).

Extra Points: Chiefs, Berry, Brady, Ravens

Here’s a quick look around the NFL..

  • Chiefs coach Andy Reid told Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter) that he doesn’t anticipate adding any big-name guys with his remaining roster spot.
  • Reid gave reporters, including BJ Kissel of KCchiefs.com (on Twitter), an update on safety Eric Berry. “Eric is going through some tests right now. We’ll have more information in a day. Everything has been positive so far,” said Reid. The Chiefs safety has been battling Hodgkin lymphoma and it sounds like we may be getting close to hearing a timetable for his return.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (on Twitter) believes that the Patriots will rework Tom Brady‘s contract to bring the suspension money down significantly.
  • The Ravens are expected to stick with reserve quarterbacks Bryn Renner and Jerry Lovelocke heading into camp, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Still, the Ravens tried out Doug Williams’ son, D.J. Williams, sources tell Wilson (on Twitter) as well as quarterback Austin Trainor and quarterback/wide receiver Trent Steelman (link).

North Notes: Johnson, Lions, Suh

New Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo is signing the praises of offseason pickup Josh McCown, but it’s a rite of spring at this point for a Cleveland OC to speak highly of his QB, Bud Shaw of the Northeast Ohio Media Group writes. Shaw contrasted Kyle Shanahan‘s comments on Johnny Manziel last year with DeFilippo’s comments on McCown this year and the two read pretty similarly. Of course, we know how things turned out with Manziel in 2014. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC North..

  • UDFA safety Isaiah Johnson chose to sign with the Lions because of the chance that he could fill the void if James Ihedigbo doesn’t work out his contract dispute, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes. “(That) was in there a little bit,” Johnson said of his reasoning for picking Detroit. “Just looking at the opportunity. Everyone knows we’re coming in and trying to fight for theirs, and it’s just the game of football. It’s a business now. So I got to be a business.” Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that Johnson reportedly got a $12K signing bonus from the Lions, the highest sum of any UDFA on the team. Detroit must be high on the youngster, because that’s the same kind of financial commitment they made to LaAdrian Waddle, Cornelius Lucas and Joseph Fauria the last two years and all three of those players remain on the roster.
  • After losing defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, and C.J. Mosley this offseason, the folks at Football Outsiders (ESPN Insider sub. req’d) are projecting that the Lions will finish with a 7-9 record for this year. Of course, it also doesn’t help that Detroit has one of the toughest schedules in the league this season.
  • The Ravens will likely go with two quarterbacks – Joe Flacco and Matt Schaub – on the 53-man roster, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. After the release of Keith Wenning, Bryn Renner has the edge over undrafted rookie Jerry Lovelocke to get the No. 3 spot and go on the practice squad.

Ravens Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents

With rookie minicamps getting underway around the NFL, teams continue to officially confirm which undrafted free agents have been added to their rosters in time for the weekend. The Ravens announced today in a press release that they’ve signed 15 UDFAs, and we’ve got the full list below, including known bonus information, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun:

  • Darius Allen, OLB, Colorado State-Pueblo ($1K bonus)
  • Darryl Baldwin, T, Ohio State ($9K bonus)
  • Brennen Beyer, OLB, Michigan ($6K bonus)
  • DeAndre Carter, WR, Sacramento State ($7.5K bonus)
  • Blaine Clausell, T, Mississippi State ($10K bonus)
  • Trey DePriest, ILB, Alabama ($5K bonus)
  • Nick Easton, T, Harvard ($9K bonus)
  • Kaleb Johnson, G, Rutgers ($6.5K bonus)
  • Jerry Lovelocke, QB, Prairie View A&M ($5K bonus)
  • Terrence Magee, RB, LSU ($3K bonus)
  • Justin Manton, P, Louisiana-Monroe
  • Nick Perry, S, Alabama ($5K bonus)
  • De’Ondre Wesley, T, BYU
  • Julian Wilson, CB, Oklahoma ($9K bonus)
  • Cam Worthy, WR, East Carolina ($2.5K bonus)

AFC North Notes: Manziel, Reid, Peerman

Earlier today we heard that Johnny Manziel was released from rehab, but he returns to a very different Browns’ team than he left, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. The offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and receivers coach all changed over, and quarterback Brian Hoyer has been replaced by Josh McCown and Thaddeus Lewis.

Should Manziel win a starting job, he will not have Miles Austin or Jordan Cameron to throw to. Instead, Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, and Rob Housler will be lining up for the Browns on offense.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC North:

  • While the Browns have a long way to go to improve at quarterback and on offense, Tom Reed of Cleveland.com writes that improving at punt returner will be an easy way to help the offense. Last year the team struggled to to find a player who could even successfully field punts, and eventually put Jim Leonhard back there giving up the hope of a big play return. With electric players like Tyler Lockette, Jamison Crowder, and Nelson Agholor likely to be available on day two or three in the draft, they could provide value as a returner while they work their way onto the field as receivers.
  • Prairie View quarterback Jerry Lovelocke will work out for the Ravens at their local prospect day on April 21st, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. He could be in consideration during the later rounds of the draft or as a rookie free agent.
  • Jah Reid‘s one-year deal with the Ravens is worth $745,000 and includes another $400,000 in playing time incentives that are not likely to be earned, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
  • With A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu all entering the final years of their respective contracts, the Bengals should be looking for a receiver early in the 2015 NFL Draft. Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com has outlined a number of top prospects that could be intriguing to the team, and picks out Devin Smith, Phillip Dorsett, and Tyler Lockette as logical fits if they are available in the second round.
  • Running back Cedric Peerman re-signed with the Bengals on Thursday with a two-year deal worth $2.13MM, according to Wilson (via Twitter). He will earn $745,000 and $885,000 in salaries over the next two seasons, plus an annual workout bonus of $50,000 and $300,000 in an unlikely to be earned rushing yards incentive foreach season (via Twitter). Wilson also passes along his salary-cap figures for the next two seasons (via Twitter).