2014 August - Pro Football Rumors

Chiefs Sign Mike McGlynn

August 28th, 2014 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 1:04pm: Per ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), McGlynn’s one-year deal is worth $1.125MM, and counts $925K against the cap. That sounds like it’s more than a minimum salary contract, so I’d guess the discrepancy between the total figure and the cap number means it includes some incentives.

WEDNESDAY, 9:58am: The Chiefs have made a move in the hopes of fortifying their offensive line, signing free agent guard Mike McGlynn to a contract, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The club has waived offensive lineman Ben Gottschalk to make room on the 75-man roster for the new addition, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.

McGlynn, 29, was brought in by the Redskins as a free agent back in March and received $200K in guaranteed money on a two-year deal with the team. The former fourth-round pick, who had been the Colts’ primary right guard for the last two seasons, was expected to compete for a starting role in Washington, but struggled in training camp and the preseason and lost his grip on a roster spot. He was released yesterday.

For Kansas City, McGlynn figures to vie for playing time on an offensive line that took a significant hit in free agency — 2013 regulars Branden Albert, Geoff Schwartz, and Jon Asamoah all signed with new teams this offseason. Additionally, starting right tackle Donald Stephenson was hit with a four-game suspension and will miss the first month of the season.

Cowboys Notes: Hamilton, Brent, Bryant

August 28th, 2014 at 11:52am CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up the latest items out of Dallas, as the Cowboys gear up for their final preseason game against the Broncos….

The Cowboys’ defense hadn’t expected to be an elite unit this season by any means, but suspensions may further diminish its effectiveness. As ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Todd Archer report, second-year defensive back Jakar Hamilton is facing a four-game ban for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse. Hamilton becomes the second member of Dallas’ secondary this month to be hit with a four-game suspension, as Orlando Scandrick will also miss the season’s first month. Of course, unlike Scandrick, Hamilton isn’t necessarily guaranteed a spot on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster.
Now that the Josh Gordon situation has been resolved, one player still awaiting a decision from the NFL is Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent. Brent, who was charged with intoxication manslaughter, and served a six-month jail sentence, has already voluntarily taken a full season off. So, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, it’ll be interesting to see whether the NFL suspends him upon reinstating him or whether the league determines that by voluntarily – and temporarily – retiring, Brent has already served his penalty.
Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News doesn’t think it’d be a bad idea for the Cowboys to let Dez Bryant play for his money. Bryant and owner Jerry Jones met yesterday to discuss a possible contract extension, but the talks did not advance.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Latest On Dimitri Patterson

August 28th, 2014 at 10:26am CST by Luke Adams

Reports over the weekend suggested that Jets cornerback Dimitri Patterson went AWOL from the team for about 48 hours, resulting in an indefinite suspension after he resurfaced. Today, Patterson issued a statement, via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (TwitLonger link), in which he suggested that the idea he went missing for two days is “completely false.” Here are Patterson’s comments in full:

“As it relates to my whereabouts and me missing for 48 hours without being seen or heard from me or my representative is completely false. My agent reached out to the Jets organization multiple times several hours prior to Friday night’s game. My commitment to the Jets organization and to my teammates has never been an issue and never will be an issue. As it relates to the rumors about my frustration in regards to the depth chart is totally and completely false. In nine years I have never had control over the depth chart.”

Considering both head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik said over the weekend that Patterson had gone AWOL, the cornerback’s statement is a little “stunning,” as Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets, since it’s essentially calling out Ryan and Idzik. In the view of Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), the only sensible solution for the Jets is to cut Patterson.

The one-year deal Patterson signed with the Jets earlier this offseason included $1MM in bonus money, and the team is already thin at cornerback, so parting ways with him isn’t an ideal solution for New York. Still, it’s an unusual situation that took a stranger turn after Patterson’s public statement today, and it seems unlikely that the Jets would simply drop the issue (and the suspension). With 53-man rosters due two days from now, we’ll have to wait and see if Patterson hits the free agent market this weekend.

Josh Gordon Has Explored Playing In CFL

August 28th, 2014 at 10:08am CST by Luke Adams

10:08am: According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), the Calgary Stampeders hold Gordon’s CFL rights and “want him badly.” That may not matter much though, since it seems as if the Browns and the CFL itself will dictate whether Gordon gets an opportunity to play in the league.

9:26am: Now that his appeal has officially been denied, Josh Gordon won’t be playing a game in the NFL during the 2014 season, but it sounds as if he and his camp are mulling other possible scenarios. According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Browns wideout has explored the possibility of playing in the Canadian Football League for the rest of the CFL’s season.

Considering Gordon is still under contract with the Browns through 2015, it would be nearly impossible for the 23-year-old to actually land with a CFL team. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com points out (Twitter link), the league’s rules wouldn’t allow Gordon to sign with a team unless the Browns were to cut him (and even then he’d have to pass through NFL waivers). Cleveland could potentially ask the CFL to make an exception to that rule to allow Gordon to play up north, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says (via Twitter) that the team isn’t interested in granting him permission to pursue that opportunity.

Now that Gordon is not permitted to practice with the Browns or attend team meetings, getting him under the support system of another professional coaching staff may have been in his best interests, so it’s not surprising that his camp has looked into the possibility. However, we shouldn’t expect to see the star wideout wearing a Toronto Argonauts or Montreal Alouettes uniform anytime soon.

Extra Points: Redskins, Titans, Mankins

August 27th, 2014 at 9:50pm CST by Zachary Links

In an interview with CSN Washington, Redskins owner Dan Snyder said that he’s looking into a new home for his team. “Whether it’s Washington, D.C., whether it’s another stadium in Maryland, whether it’s a stadium in Virginia, we’ve started the process,” Snyder said. The new stadium, he says, could be built with RFK Stadium’s design in mind. Before the opening of FedEx Field in 1997, the Skins played at RFK, which opened in 1961. Here’s more from around the NFL..

Former Saints kicker Garrett Hartley worked out for the Titans today, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. The Titans are also reportedly looking at ex-Cardinals kicker Jay Feely as well as Rian Lindell. Maikon Bonani currently sits at the top of the team’s depth chart, but he has yet to attempt a regular-season NFL kick. Despite working out three veteran kickers today, Wyatt (on Twitter) still believes the Titans would rather keep Bonani or Travis Coons.
The Bucs initially called the Patriots with an eye on acquiring a backup guard, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Pats followed up by expressing their interest in tight end Tim Wright and soon after, the two sides started discussing Logan Mankins. While Mankins is obviously the bigger name of the two, Wright is expected by some to play a key role in the Pats’ offense this season.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is disappointed that his team has been penalized for excessive physical contact in a June minicamp, writes The Associated Press. “We don’t want to do things wrong,” Carroll said following practice Wednesday. “We want to do things right. I’d like to show exactly how to do it. When you’re competing like we do, we’re trying to do things the best you can possibly do it. Unfortunately, this incident makes it look otherwise.”

East Notes: Thomas, Pats, Wright, Barkley

August 27th, 2014 at 8:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Daniel Thomas, who was once looked at as the best tailback in Miami, may not make the Dolphins‘ roster, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. The former second-round pick has been hampered by a hamstring injury this summer and has to make a big impression tomorrow night to solidify his spot. More from the AFC and NFC East..

The Patriots‘ acquisition of Tim Wright doesn’t have much to do with the health status of Rob Gronkowski, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Wright, a converted wide receiver, doesn’t block the way that Gronk can but will probably be utilized in the passing game.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer expects the Eagles to retain Matt Barkley at their third quarterback. There had been some speculation that G.J. Kinne could beat out Barkley for the final spot, or that the Eagles could carry only two quarterbacks, but Barkley solidified his standing after a rough spring, and Kinne is probably practice-squad bound.
Free agent addition Malcolm Jenkins could be the key to elevating the Eagles‘ secondary, writes Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles have been searching for a quality safety since the departure of Brian Dawkins six years ago and Jenkins could be just that. Jenkins was displaced in New Orleans when the Saints signed Jairus Byrd, and he’s surely anxious to show what he can do for a new club.

North Notes: Ponder, Browns, Lions, Blount

August 27th, 2014 at 8:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has fallen behind Matt Cassel and rookie Teddy Bridgewater on the depth chart, leading to some speculation that he could be trade bait for another team in search of an experienced backup QB. Still, the former first-round pick doesn’t feel as though tomorrow night’s game is an audition, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “I just want to go out and have a good game, not for an audition for another team or anything, but for myself and this team,” Ponder said. “Right now, my thoughts are securing a spot on this roster.”

With the cutdown to a 53 man roster looming, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal looks at who’s safe, who’s on the bubble, and who is a long shot to make the cut for the Browns. Wide receivers Nate Burleson and Charles Johnson are on the bubble, but no matter who survives Saturday’s cuts, Ulrich expects the team to scope out the waiver wire and perhaps trades to bolster their WR core.
The Lions axed coach Jim Schwartz, but there are plenty in Detroit who are still grateful for what he did during his tenure there, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “I know I’m going to get a hold of him prior to the game and just show gratitude and thank him for the opportunity of bringing me in,” linebacker Tahir Whitehead said. “Because I haven’t had the opportunity to do that since he left.” Schwartz is now the defensive coordinator for the Bills.
Steelers free agent addition LeGarrette Blount is refusing to talk about his incident last week and says that he’s focused solely on football, writes Ralph N. Paul of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Bryant, Cowboys Making Progress On Extension

August 27th, 2014 at 7:43pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 7:43pm: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones met with Bryant this morning and an extension was discussed, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. However, the talk didn’t bring the two sides closer to a deal.

TUESDAY, 10:30pm: Michael Silver of the NFL Network says a deal could be struck between now and Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Broncos, writes NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling.

6:45pm: Talks between Bryant and the Cowboys have “intensified greatly,” according to Mike Silver of NFL.com (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter). He adds that it’s now clear that the team is ready to commit to Bryant as its franchise wide receiver.

9:19am: Earlier this month, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested there was no need to accelerate extension talks for star wideout Dez Bryant. However, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bryant said yesterday that there’s a “big chance” the two sides work something out before the regular season begins, and Jones didn’t rule out that possibility.

“I wouldn’t refute that. I just wouldn’t,” Jones said. “I think that’s the best way to respond to that. He’s got a good sense of it. He obviously feels in the right circumstances he wants to get something done. We do, too. That can be good.”

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) also hears that Bryant and the Cowboys have been making progress on a new contract, though his source says it’s “up in the air” whether anything will get done by Week 1. As Rapoport adds in a second tweet, both sides are motivated to reach an agreement, but it remains to be seen if the Cowboys are willing to pay the 25-year-old like one of the league’s top five wideouts.

If no deal is reached within the next couple weeks, discussions will likely be tabled until after the season. Bryant is eligible for free agency in 2015, but it’s hard to imagine the club letting him hit the open market rather than signing him to an extension, or at least using its franchise tag. As Jones tells Williams, he has no problem with not negotiating during the season if the two sides don’t finalize a new deal by Week 1.

“I know Dez, know him well, and he wants to have his mind on nothing but football,” Jones said. “Obviously, he wants to be responsible as it pertains to his business, but it’s a pleasure to have someone that the only thing other than his family that matters to him is playing football for the Dallas Cowboys. I know he wants to be able to walk out there against San Francisco and not think about anything else. That’s a plus for everybody.”

Our Rob DiRe examined Bryant as an extension candidate back in June.

Steelers Notes: Villanueva, Jones, Moore

August 27th, 2014 at 7:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Will the Steelers snap out of their funk in 2014? Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review looks at it from both sides. The Steelers have done well in their last two drafts and they’ve gotten younger in an effort to catch up to the rest of the league. Conversely, Robinson is worried about the receiving core beyond Antonio Brown. Here’s more on the Steelers..

The Steelers worked out defensive end Alejandro Villanueva earlier today, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The former U.S. Army Ranger was recently waived by the Eagles.
Steelers quarterback Landry Jones will be playing to secure a roster spot when Pittsburgh takes the field on Thursday night, writes Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Coach Mike Tomlin says he needs to see consistent play out of Jones before deciding on whether the team will carry a third quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger and Bruce Gradkowski. On the other sideline, Joe Webb will be starting for the Panthers. His job is believed to be more secure, however.
The Steelers have lots of new faces at wide receiver that Roethlisberger will have to get used to, writes Ralph Paulk Jr. of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Second-year receiver Markus Wheaton will be lined up opposite incumbent star Brown while free agent signees Lance Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey, and rookie Martavis Bryant will be there in support.

Fallout From Josh Gordon Ruling

August 27th, 2014 at 6:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Suspended Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon can sue the NFL to stay on the field, but that might not be such a great idea, writes Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Gordon’s camp is at least considering a lawsuit that would include an injunction to put the suspension on hold while the legal process plays out, but if it doesn’t work, things could get worse for him. The NFL has the right to extend Gordon’s suspension beyond the one-year sentence and that’s a gamble that might not be worthwhile. Here’s more on Gordon..

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer passes along statements issued by Browns General Manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine on Gordon’s suspension. Both acknowledged the challenges they’ll face without one of the league’s top talents, but also expressed optimism that they can succeed in spite of it.
Gordon’s entire career in the NFL and with the Browns could be in jeopardy, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora cites the troubles of Justin Blackmon as reasons to be concerned that Gordon will be unable to keep his nose clean in his time away from football.
The NFL is doing Gordon a favor by refusing to buy his excuses, writes Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report.
Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network has heard that the Browns have been frustrated by the offseason situation with Gordon and notes that his focus in recent practices was lacking, writes Marc Sessler of NFL.com.
Darin Gannt of Pro Football Talk believes that tight end Jordan Cameron could wind up benefitting from Gordon’s suspension.
The NFL has been operating under the drug policy agreed upon between the NFL and the union in 2006, notes Albert Breer of the NFL Network (on Twitter). There could have been a revised policy in the CBA in 2011, one that might have raised the minimum needed for a positive test result on pot, but HGH haggling has kept that from happening.