HEADLINES

Month: August 2014

Bon Jovi, Toronto Group Vying For Bills Part Ways

August 29th, 2014 at 11:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

11:02pm: Sources tell Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter) that the group is “falling apart,” and that a cabal involving just Tanenbaum and the Rogers family is unlikely to be successful.

10:10pm: Jon Bon Jovi is no longer a part of the Toronto-based group vying for the Bills franchise, report Josh Kosman and Lois Weiss of the New York Post. Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Lead Sports and Entertainment, and the Rogers family, were apparently concerned about Bon Jovi’s lack of funds (relative to other bidders).

As the leader of the bidding group, Bon Jovi was responsible for thirty percent of the party’s total bid. Because the rocker is worth approximately $300MM, the group’s offer would have been capped at roughly $1.1 billion — this would fall in line with the numbers we heard last week. While reports have differed, Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula might have bid up to $1.3 billion, leaving the Toronto group’s figure well short.

Per Kosman and Weiss, the Rogers family is “very serious” about winning the Buffalo franchise. Sources tell the duo that while reports paint the bidding group as fragmenting, it is in fact “reforming,” as evidenced by the removal of Bon Jovi. Final offers for the Bills are due on September 9. Donald Trump and former Sabres owner Tom Golisano are among the remaining contenders for the team.

Minor Moves: Friday Night

August 29th, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Luke Adams

As our transactions log shows, it’s been a busy day for roster moves around the NFL, and tomorrow will be even more hectic, as teams cut their rosters down to 53 active players in advance of the 3:00pm CT deadline. As we look forward to what should be a fun Saturday, let’s round up a few more odds and ends from Friday’s transactions wire….

  • Kicker John Potter (Dolphins) and defensive back Devin Smith (Steelers) have been removed from their team’s respective injured lists with injury settlements, tweets Wilson.
  • Two Raiders have posted the news of their own waiving via social media: DE Jack Crawford (via Instagram) and TE Jake Murphy (via Twitter) each indicated they had been cut by Oakland.

Earlier Updates:

  • According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), the Cowboys waived a pair of players today, parting ways with wide receiver Jamar Newsome and running back D.J. Adams.
  • The Dolphins began trimming their roster from 75 players to 53 today, informing tight end Kyle Miller that he’s being cut, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
  • Packers tackle Aaron Adams has suffered a torn ACL and MCL, and will be placed on injured reserve, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Adams would have been in contention for a spot at the back end of the 53-man roster had he remained healthy.
  • The Lions and 49ers both freed up some cap space by restructuring the contracts of safety Glover Quin and defensive lineman Ray McDonald, respectively, per reports by Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). We don’t have the specific details yet on either move, but they were likely simple restructures, converting a portion of the players’ base salaries into signing bonuses.
  • The following players were cut off their respective teams’ injured reserve lists with injury settlements, according to reports from John Oesher of Jaguars.com, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (all Twitter links): Defensive end David Carter (Jaguars), linebacker Jamar Chaney (Broncos), and safety DeJon Gomes (Lions).

Rams Start Trimming Roster Down To 53

August 29th, 2014 at 10:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has been tweeting out the details on the Rams’ first wave of final cuts this afternoon, as the team has now parted ways with five players from its 75-man roster. Here, via Thomas, are the players cut by St. Louis so far, with any further cuts added to the list throughout the day:

Texans Release Eight Players

August 29th, 2014 at 10:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have released tight end Zach Potter, according to Dave Zangaro of CSNHouston.com (on Twitter). Earlier today, Houston released wide receiver Travis Labhart, kicker Chris Boswell, fullback Toben Opurum, and former USC safety Jawanza Starling. Here’s your running list of the players released in Houston today:

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Bryant, Garrett, Giants

August 29th, 2014 at 8:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although undrafted free agent Carey Spear’s performance wasn’t worthy of wresting a roster spot from incumbent Eagles kicker Alex Henery, it appears recent Philadelphia acquisition Cody Parkey has in fact unseated the veteran. Sources tell Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com that Parkey has won a place on the Eagles’ 53-man roster — if confirmed, the news doesn’t bode well for Henery, as most teams don’t carry two kickers. Parkey, acquired from the Colts on August 20, made two field goals from 50-plus yards in Philadelphia’s preseason game against the Jets on Thursday. More from Philly and the rest of the NFC:

  • The Eagles are trying to trade third-year receiver Damaris Johnson, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). It sounds like the 24-year-old Johnson, who saw just 53 offensive snaps last season, will be waived if Philadelphia can’t find any takers.
  • Though progress has been made towards an extension, “there’s nothing all that close” to a new deal between Dez Bryant and the Cowboys, tweets Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
  • Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is entering the final year of his contract, and owner/GM Jerry Jones tells Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News that he’s content to let Garrett lead the team as a lame duck coach. “I, in no way, have shut that door [on extending Garrett’s deal],” said Jones. “But I have already decided that we were going to operate this year with his contract status the way that it is.”
  • Unsurprisingly, Garrett’s name is on Adam Caplan of ESPN.com’s list of coaches entering 2014 on the hot seat. Mike Smith and Jeff Fisher are the other NFC head men that Caplan thinks could be in trouble.
  • Paul Schwartz of the New York Post looks at some Giants who could be on the roster bubble.

Eagles Begin Trimming Roster Down To 53

August 29th, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles released offensive lineman Josh Andrews, according to his agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter). Tessler adds that his client won’t be “unemployed for long.” Meanwhile, the Eagles have informed quarterback G.J. Kinne that he’ll be released, tweets Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. Kinne played well in the preseason but there was simply no room for him with Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley set to back up starter Nick Foles. We’ll keep track of all of the Eagles’ cuts here:

  • Emmanuel Acho (LB) (via Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter, 8:48pm)
  • Josh Andrews (OL)
  • Arrelious Benn (placed on injured reserve, via Aaron Wilson on Twitter, 2:23pm). Benn will be placed on the short-term IR, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link).
  • Henry Josey (RB) (via Adam Caplan on Twitter, 1:58pm)
  • G.J. Kinne (QB)
  • Travis Long (LB) (placed on injured reserve, via Shorr-Parks on Twitter, 8:48pm)
  • Ifeanyi Momah (WR) (via Zach Berman on Twitter, 1:58pm)
  • Quron Pratt (WR) (via Berman on Twitter, 2:43pm)

Cardinals Cut Isaac Sopoaga, Marcus Benard

August 29th, 2014 at 8:34pm CST by Luke Adams

Two notable veterans are among the Cardinals’ latest wave of cuts, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, who reports (Twitter links) that defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and linebacker Marcus Benard have been released by the team. The decisions suggest that new addition Tommy Kelly has impressed the Cardinals so far at defensive tackle, and that the club doesn’t feel like Benard has earned a spot on its linebacking corps even following Daryl Washington‘s year-long suspension.

Here are all of today’s Cardinals cuts, with any additional moves inserted into the list throughout the day:

Seahawks Release Terrelle Pryor

August 29th, 2014 at 8:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have released quarterback Terrelle Pryor, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Technically, Pryor will be waived, as he has accrued less than four NFL seasons. Seattle acquired Pryor from the Raiders earlier this offseason, but the 25-year-old ended up lasting just over four months on the Seahawks’ roster.

Pryor appeared in 11 games in 2013 for the Raiders, starting nine of them, but was underwhelming in those contests. Overall, he completed 156 of 272 pass attempts (57.4%) for 1,798 yards, seven touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He did add some value with his legs, racking up 576 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 93-yard score.

In Seattle, Pryor was expected to act as the third quarterback, or perhaps even challenge backup Tarvaris Jackson for the No. 2 role behind starter Russell Wilson. He struggled during the preseason, however, completing just 54% of his passes to go along with one touchdown and two interceptions. In addition to Wilson and Jackson, the Seahawks still have quarterback B.J. Daniels on the roster, but I’d be surprised if the team kept three QBs.

The Rams could be one team interested in acquiring Pryor, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Following Sam Bradford‘s season-ending ACL injury, St. Louis has little in the way of depth behind new starter Shaun Hill. The Rams could look to either place a claim on Pryor, or hope he passes through waivers and offer him a free agent deal.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Broncos Start Trimming Roster Down To 53

August 29th, 2014 at 5:38pm CST by Luke Adams

The defending AFC champions are the latest team to begin reducing their 75-man roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players in advance of tomorrow’s 3:00pm CT deadline. Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, and Mike Klis of the Denver Post have the names that are part of the Broncos’ first wave of final cuts, so let’s round them up. The following players are no longer on Denver’s active roster:

Titans Sign Jurrell Casey To Extension

August 29th, 2014 at 5:22pm CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 5:22pm: According to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter), Casey’s new deal includes $13MM in fully guaranteed money — a $10.6MM signing bonus and $2.4MM in base-salary money.

WEDNESDAY, 4:35pm: The Titans and Jurrell Casey have agreed to a contract extension that will keep the defensive lineman in Tennessee beyond the coming year, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, who tweeted a photo of Casey signing the deal. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), it’s a four-year extension worth $36MM, with $20.5MM in guarantees. However, it’s not clear how much of that $20.5MM is fully guaranteed.Jurrell Casey

“We are excited to come to an agreement on an extension with Jurrell,” said Titans GM Ruston Webster in a press release confirming the deal. “This is something Jurrell has earned not only with his play on the field but his work ethic as well. We appreciate Jurrell’s professionalism through this process and look forward to many good years to come.”

Casey, 24, is coming off a breakout season in which he compiled 10.5 sacks and 55 tackles, ranking fourth among 69 qualified defensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Casey’s pass-rushing grades placed him behind only Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh as an interior rusher, as he racked up 54 quarterback pressures for the season.

Not coincidentally, Suh and McCoy are the league’s top two highest-paid defensive tackles by per-year salary, so the Titans did well to lock up their star lineman for less than $10MM per year. Suh and McCoy are making average annual salaries of $12.9MM and $11MM respectively on their current pacts.

2014 was set to be the final year of Casey’s rookie contract, which paid him $1.431MM for the coming season. Based on the reported numbers on his extension, Casey should now be locked up through the 2018 season, and he should become Tennessee’s highest-paid player by annual salary, at $9MM per year. Jason McCourty‘s $8.6MM average per-year salary had previous been the top figure on the Titans’ books.

Locking up Casey had been a priority for the Titans this summer, with reports dating back to early June suggesting extension talks were underway between the two sides. Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reported yesterday that Rosenhaus was in Tennessee to negotiate a deal for Casey in person, which was viewed as a positive sign. It appears as if Rosenhaus and the Titans were able to put the finishing touches on the new deal during that face-to-face meeting.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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