2014 August - Pro Football Rumors

East Notes: Wake, Redskins, Mallett, Jackson

August 15th, 2014 at 8:58am CST by Dallas Robinson

After analyzing each team’s best and worst contracts, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap takes a look at the league as a whole to determine who has the most most team-friendly deal. Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake, who is set to count just $7.285MM against the cap in 2014, rated as the third-best 4-3 defensive end in the league last season per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and has the league’s best contract from management’s perspective, per Fitzgerald. Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has the most constraining deal, says Fitzgerald, as the RB is in the midst of a five-year, $36.5MM extension.

Rather than file an appeal, the Redskins are actually starting litigation anew regarding the cancellation of several of their trademarks, writes Megan Finnerty of the Arizona Republic. The case will attract the attention of a federal courtoom, rather than redirect back to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, the team will argue that there is a distinction between “redskin” and “Redskin,” holding that the latter, proper noun is not disparaging.
Ryan Mallett started the Patriots’ first preseason game, perhaps as a showcase for a trade, so New England’s use of the fourth-year quarterback in Friday’s game against the Eagles will be interesting to watch, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. If rookie Jimmy Garoppolo is allowed to play most of the second half behind starter Tom Brady, it could be a sign the Pats are willing to deal Mallett.
An arbitrator ruled in April that Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson owed his former agent Drew Rosenhaus over $500K in fees and loans, but that decision is now being called into question. Per Will Brinson of CBSSports.com, arbitrator Roger Kaplan failed to notify Jackson’s legal team that he had a prior working relationship with Rosenhaus. A district court judge has ordered a hearing to determine whether Kaplan, who claims he disclosed his conflict in a letter to Jackson’s lawyer, acted improperly.

Pro Football Rumors On Facebook/Twitter

August 14th, 2014 at 9:23pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s 2014 regular season debut is just three weeks away, and a significant amount of roster shuffling is expected over the next few weeks, as teams cut their 90-man rosters down to 75 players, and then to 53. There will be plenty of notable stories to track on Pro Football Rumors, and you don’t necessarily have to keep refreshing our site to keep tabs on them. There are a handful of different ways you can follow us to get the latest updates on NFL news and rumors all year.

You can like us on Facebook, and receive headlines and links for all our posts via your Facebook account. You can also follow us on Twitter to have all our posts and updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. Meanwhile, our Google+ page is located here, and if you’d like to follow us using your RSS reader of choice, you can find our RSS feed right here.

If you prefer to receive updates only on roster moves such as signings, cuts, and trades, you can follow our transactions-only feeds via RSS and Twitter.

NFC East Links: Brent, Foles, Giants

August 14th, 2014 at 7:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest out of the NFC East..

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “has heard nothing” from the NFL pertaining to a possible Josh Brent reinstatement, according to Charean Williams of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram (Twitter link). Brent was set to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the beginning of August and discuss his re-entry to the league. About 65% of PFR readers believed that Brent, whose driving under the influence led to the tragic death of teammate Jerry Brown, should not be able to play in the NFL again.
Bruce Carter is the Cowboys’ presumptive starter at weakside linebacker, but as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes, Rolando McClain is pushing for more playing time on Dallas’ front seven. McClain has been working as the starter at middle linebacker, with Justin Durant shifting to the “Will” position, meaning Carter is having to fight for snaps.
In a piece for ESPN Insider (subscription required), Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus points to the Eagles as one of five teams that could contend for the Super Bowl with improved quarterback play. Despite his excellent counting stats, Nick Foles finished with just a +7.4 grade from PFF.
David Molk, a Chargers sixth-round pick in 2012, is working as the backup to Eagles center Jason Kelce, and the former Michigan Wolverine feels he’s the perfect fit for Chip Kelly’s up-tempo scheme. “Frankly, as far as this offensive line and [how] this offense is built … this is what I am made for,” Molk told Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. “Smaller, quicker, faster guy who’s strong, uses good balance. This is what my tools are made for.”
Giants general manager Jerry Reese was succinct when discussing his team’s 2014 hopes with Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks. “There are two guys on our team that have to play really well and it’s Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul,” said Reese. “If those guys play well, I think we’ve got a chance to be really good.”

AFC North Notes: Gordon, Manziel, Roethlisberger

August 14th, 2014 at 7:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A decision in the Josh Gordon appeal case might not be delivered until the end of next week, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). On August 4, we heard that a ruling would be handed down within one to three weeks — that time frame would set August 25 as the deadline, meaning the end of next week would be plausible. Gordon is facing a one-year ban for violating the league’s policy on drugs of abuse. As of last week, no settlement had been discussed, though it seems like a reduced suspension would benefit all parties involved.

We heard earlier today that the NFL is considering harsher penalties for domestic abuse incidents after the fallout of Ray Rice‘s two-game ban, but a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that increased discipline might not be that easy. The league would need to consult the NFL Players Association before installing stiffer suspensions, and per Florio, league management has not yet raised the topic with the union. While the NFL’s position might be that it controls all disciplinary regulations, Florio notes that the NFLPA would argue that any changes would need to be negotiated.
It had previously been reported that Johnny Manziel would start the Browns’ second preseason game, but according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), Brian Hoyer will take the reins at quarterback against the Redskins. Both players will spend time with the first-team offense, tweets Rapoport, alternating every two series.
More Manziel: ESPN’s Chris Mortenen reports that the rookie quarterback, along with several other first-year players, were a few minutes late to a team meeting on Monday. The incident is being handled intenally, and was not a factor in the Browns’ decision to start Hoyer next week. The episode shouldn’t be a big deal, but it speaks to the media coverage that surrounds everything Manziel-related.
Ben Roethlisberger was hurt by former teammate Emmanuel Sanders‘ recent declaration that Peyton Manning is a “far better leader” than the Steelers quarterback, writes Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I wish he would have reached out to me and just say that and I would have been fine with it,” said Roethlisberger. “Whether he meant it or not, it hurt in a sense that I tried so hard to keep him here last year and was always supporting him.”

Minor Moves: Thursday

August 14th, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll use this post to round up Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, adding the latest moves to the top of the page throughout the day as they’re reported or announced….

The Steelers have signed long snapper Luke Ingram, the team announced (Twitter link via Scott Brown of ESPN.com). Ingram was a 2013 undrafted free agent out of Hawaii, and spent time in Pittsburgh’s camp last summer.

Earlier updates:

The Cowboys have officially added tight end Asa Watson, and in order to clear a roster spot, waived tight end Dallas Walker, whom Dallas added just under a month ago, per Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
The following players were released from their respective teams’ injured reserve lists with injury settlements, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links): running back Ben Malena (Cowboys), defensive end Shelton Johnson (Raiders), and linebacker Marshall McFadden (Raiders).
Raiders cornerback Jansen Watson is back on Oakland’s 90-man roster, as his exempt-left squad designation period expired, tweets Wilson.
The Browns have filled an open roster spot, announcing today that they’ve signed linebacker Caleb McSurdy (Twitter link). A former seventh-round pick, McSurdy has yet to appear in a regular season game since being selected by the Cowboys 222nd overall in 2012.
The Patriots‘ tight end carousel continues, with the team announcing in a press release that Ben Hartsock has been released. Hartsock was one of three tight ends signed by New England on Sunday, and of the three, only Steve Maneri remains on the roster.
Free agent tight end Matt Veldman has signed with the Redskins, according to the team (Twitter link). Defensive end Doug Worthington is the roster casualty, having been waived to clear a spot for the newcomer.
The Cowboys have signed defensive tackle Zach Minter and cut cornerback Korey Lindsey, per Wilson (via Twitter). Wilson adds that the team is still expected to sign tight end Asa Watson, as we heard yesterday, though a corresponding roster move will be required.

NFC Notes: Sims, Redskins, Boone, Vikings

August 14th, 2014 at 6:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran guard Rob Sims hasn’t spoken to the Lions about a new contract as he enters the final year of his deal, and both he and the team are prepared to wait until the offseason to address the issue. As Sims tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, he’d like to remain a Lion beyond this season, but he knows the decision may ultimately be out of his hands. “I would love to be here, I’ve done a lot of stuff with charity, I’ve done a lot of stuff with business around the city, and I would love to finish what I started here as far as trying to help build this offensive line,” Sims said. “But, hey, when I was in Seattle five years ago, I thought for sure, ‘Oh, I’ll be a Seahawk for life.’ So I’m a little less naïve to the fact.”

Bills Notes: Roster, Ownership, Sale

August 14th, 2014 at 4:35pm CST by Luke Adams

Wide receiver T.J. Graham, tight end Tony Moeaki, and linebacker Jimmy Gaines are among the players whose roster spots are in jeopardy for the Bills as August’s cutdown dates approach, writes Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News. Still, even as Buffalo prepares for the regular season, its play on the field is taking a back seat in the news these days to the sale of the franchise, so let’s check out the latest reports on that process….

The Buffalo Fan Alliance, a Bills fan group, has discovered documents referring to Rogers Communications consultant, Roger Rai, as part of the ownership group “attempting to acquire and move the Buffalo Bills to Toronto,” writes John Wawrow of The Associated Press. The Rogers family is part of the Toronto-based group led by Jon Bon Jovi pursuing the Bills, but Rai that he’s not involved with that group, and that any references connecting him to an attempted purchase of the franchise is “a mistake on my behalf.”
Whether or not Rai is involved, and whether or not that Toronto group wants to move the Bills to Canada, things aren’t looking particularly good for Bon Jovi and company. Tim Graham of the Buffalo News tweets that there’s “major tension” within the group lately, with the partners not getting along.
Meanwhile, multiple sources who spoke to John Kryk of the Toronto Sun about the Toronto group’s meeting with the Bills sellers described the sitdown as “purely perfunctory.” According to Kryk, defeat for Bon Jovi’s group seems “more inevitable than ever.”
At least two Los Angeles-based parties signed the Bills’ non-disclosure agreement, but abandoned any pursuit of the franchise once they found out how difficult it would be to relocate the team to L.A., says Graham in a story for the Buffalo News. According to Graham, philanthropist Eli Broad, who is worth an estimated $6.9 billion, was one potential suitor who signed the non-disclosure agreement but was discouraged about his chances of moving the club west.

Extra Points: Reed, Decker, Gordon, Young

August 14th, 2014 at 3:08pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard a couple months ago that Ed Reed was still hoping to play in the NFL in 2014, but the chances of that happening look slimmer today, after Showtime and CBS announced that the former Ravens safety will join Inside the NFL for the coming season. Bears wideout Brandon Marshall is also a new addition to the show, so Reed’s inclusion doesn’t necessarily rule out his return to the field, but CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus referred in a statement to “Ed just coming off the playing field and Brandon still on it.”

As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tweets, Reed said today that he may “never” officially announce his retirement, so while we shouldn’t close the book on his career quite yet, it’s possible we’ve seen the veteran take the field for the last time.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Wideout Eric Decker spoke to Brian Costello of the New York Post about how some offseason online research on Geno Smith helped convince him to sign with the Jets. “I was impressed by the games I watched of Geno, and then I Googled and YouTubed interviews to get a feel of who he was as a person more than just the physical skill on the field,” Decker said. “That’s a big thing.”
As the Browns await final word on Josh Gordon’s suspension, they’ve been proactive about lining up a support system and possible treatment for the wideout if he has to spend a significant amount of time away from the team, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the NFL is mulling harsher penalties for domestic abuse incidents, including potential season-long suspensions for repeat offenders. The move, which remains under consideration, is undoubtedly related to Ray Rice‘s modest two-game ban for a domestic abuse incident, and all the negative publicity that decision garnered.
Two months after announcing his retirement from the NFL, Vince Young has accepted a job at his alma mater, with the University of Texas announcing today that the former quarterback will serve as a development officer for program alumni relations.

Chinese Football League To Launch In 2015

August 14th, 2014 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Marty Judge, the co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League, has an agreement in place with Chinese officials to launch a new football league in China, he tells Richard Sandomir of the New York Times. The new Chinese American Football League wouldn’t emulate the NFL’s outdoor, 100-yard fields, but rather would follow the blueprint established by the AFL — 50-yard indoor arenas, with eight players per side.

The league, which has a targeted launch date of August 2015, will feature 20-man rosters comprised of Chinese and American players. Many of those players are expected to be drawn from the AFL, as well as colleges. While six to eight teams are anticipated for the league’s debut, Judge told Sandomir confidently that the CAFL will have up to 30 teams in just in a few years. Still, in spite of Judge’s optimism, it’s too soon to know how the league will be received in China.

“Like any endeavor, there is some risk involved,” said ESPN’s Ron Jaworski, who co-owns the Soul with Judge. “No one else has tried it. I don’t have a crystal ball, but we’re highly confident this will work. I think we can find great passion for football in China.”

Judge suggested that he felt the arena football model would fail in Europe, but says he says a golden opportunity in China. He has invested in training players at six Chinese universities, and those schools will play a season of games starting this October.

Former Eagles, Rams and Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil is among the investors in the new Chinese American Football League, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter links). In addition to being a league partner, Vermeil is expected to serve as a spokesman and perform ambassadorial work for the CAFL.

Buccaneers Sign Larry English

August 14th, 2014 at 1:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers have signed free agent edge defender Larry English, tweets Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. According to Smith, the team has waived-injured former Michigan defensive tackle Jibreel Black, who had just been added to the roster last month, in order to clear room for the newcomer.

English, a former first-rounder who was drafted with the 16th overall pick in 2009, appeared in 52 games for the Chargers during his five years with the team, struggling with injuries in recent years and never establishing himself as a consistent performer. He started five of nine games for San Diego in 2013, recording 2.5 sacks, before a pectoral injury sidelined him for the season.

With Dwight Freeney starting at one outside linebacker spot in San Diego, a healthy Melvin Ingram ready to reclaim his position on the other side, and players like Jarret Johnson and second-round pick Jeremiah Attaochu also in the mix, there wasn’t a defined role for English with the Chargers, so the team cut him last month. After his release, English drew some interest from the Cowboys, but ultimately lands in Tampa Bay, where he’ll try to break camp with the Bucs as a defensive end.