2015 August - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Myers, Barnes, Devlin, Thigpen

August 26th, 2015 at 10:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Texans center Chris Myers told Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that he had offers to sign with multiple teams in the “past few weeks” but he had already come to grips about wanting to retire. Myers announced on Wednesday that he is stepping away from football. Myers, who turns 34 next month, was a sixth-round draft pick in 2005, going 200th overall to the Broncos. The former Miami Hurricanes lineman became Denver’s full-time center in 2007, then joined the Texans in 2008, starting every game for the team over the course of the next seven seasons.

Former Jets, Chargers, and Ravens pass rusher Antwan Barnes is drawing interest from a few NFL teams, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
Former Dolphins quarterback Pat Devlin will be working out for the Browns on Thursday, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Devlin was with the Bears until he was released in June.
Tyler Thigpen is another option for the Browns as an extra quarterback, Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer tweets. Thigpen was in camp with Cleveland last summer and GM Ray Farmer is a fan of his.

Raiders, Donald Penn Discussing Extension

August 26th, 2015 at 9:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders and Donald Penn are discussing an extension, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Penn has said in the past that he wants to retire a Raider and a contract extension could ensure that.

“I don’t want to get into that, just focusing on things on the field,” said Penn, who stands 6’4″ and weighs 315 pounds. “But yeah, that would be great. I love it here. I grew up a Raiders fan and we’re getting closer to bringing it back to the old, winning ways.”

Penn is on the backend of a two-year, $9.6MM contract that the Raiders offered him after would-be free-agent signee Rodger Saffold failed his physical. Penn was motivated after being cut by the Bucs and has never looked back. Quarterback Derek Carr had the NFL’s third-lowest knockdown rate (8.0 percent) last season thanks in large part to Penn’s play.

Last season, Penn graded out as the No. 11 tackle in the NFL with an overall grade of 3.4, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That was a big improvement from the previous season, where Penn placed No. 29 among tackles, per PFF.

Buccaneers To Sign Connor Barth

August 26th, 2015 at 7:37pm CST by Zachary Links

7:37pm: It’s a two-year, $2.75MM deal for Barth, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.

7:21pm: The Buccaneers are set to sign kicker Connor Barth, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. Barth was released by Denver earlier today.

Barth, 29, was signed by the Broncos last November to replace Brandon McManus, who was struggling with his accuracy. However, McManus beat Barth out for the kicking job in Denver this season, even though Barth finished the 2014 campaign by nailing 15 of 16 field goals for Denver. Now, Barth will return to the Buccaneers in hopes of becoming their primary kicker.

Barth will vie with Pat Murray for the Bucs’ kicking job in 2015. Murray got his athletic start in Gaelic football, the national sport of Ireland, and transitioned smoothly to American football. Murray edged Barth for the kicking job in training camp last season and he’ll look to do the same in this year’s rematch. He connected on 20 field goals in 24 attempts in 2014 (83.3%).

Brooks Charged, McDonald Indicted

August 26th, 2015 at 7:18pm CST by Zachary Links

7:18pm: 49ers GM Trent Baalke issued a statement regarding Brooks (via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports on Twitter):

“The organization is aware that a misdemeanor charge has been filed against Ahmad Brooks stemming from a December 2014 matter. We take any charge against a member of this organization seriously and are in communication with the NFL. Ahmad is returning home to California and will not participate in Saturday’s game.”

6:55pm: A district attorney has charged 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks with sexual battery, according to court reporter Tracey Kaplan (on Twitter). Meanwhile, a grand jury has indicted Ray McDonald on rape. McDonald was indicted on one count of rape of an intoxicated person, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee tweets.

Brooks was accused of assault and battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress by the same alleged victim in the McDonald case. The accusation against Brooks came about following a defamation lawsuit McDonald filed against his accuser in March. At the time, McDonald was a free agent and claimed the woman defamed him and interfered with his livelihood as he struggled to find his next team. In a cross complaint filed in May, she alleges that Brooks “groped her person in a sexual manner” when she was passed out from hitting her head.

Last season, Brooks came to camp out of shape and during the season he was benched twice for off-the-field actions. This year, there was some talk that his legal situation coupled with the presence of young linebackers could put him on the roster bubble. Now that charges have been filed, Brooks’ stay with San Francisco could be coming to an end.

McDonald signed a one-year contract with the Bears earlier this offseason, with team ownership expressing confidence in the defensive lineman’s character after some initial apprehension. The NFL cleared McDonald of any violation of the league’s personal conduct policy relating to an August, but had yet to make a decision on a December sexual assault accusation. When the 30-year-old was arrested yet again in May, the Bears acted swiftly and released him. Not long after that, McDonald was arrested again for violating a restraining order.

Chicago’s agreement with McDonald was a modest $1.05MM deal that didn’t include any guaranteed money, so they were able to drop him without financial penalty. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McDonald was the league’s 12th-best 3-4 defensive end in 2014, grading well both against the run and as a pass rusher. Over the last four regular seasons as the 49ers’ starting left defensive end, McDonald racked up 14.5 sacks, 153 tackles, five forced fumbles, and a safety. As of today, McDonald’s football future is very much in doubt.

AFC West Notes: Mathis, Helu, Raiders

August 26th, 2015 at 5:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC West..

There was a lot of speculation about where guard Evan Mathis would wind up but, at the end of the day, his aim was to sign with a winner, Mike Klis of 9NEWS writes. “The No. 1 priority in finding a new place to play was playing for a contender,” Mathis said. “The Broncos weren’t in the mix early on. They were kind of the darkhorse in the race. They emerged here late and I just couldn’t turn down that opportunity.”
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters that Roy Helu is “running short of time” to earn his role on the team, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets. It would be surprising if Helu didn’t make the Raiders’ 53-man roster, but his spot might not be a sure thing at this stage. Helu signed a a two-year, $4MM pact with Oakland this offseason. That deal includes $1MM fully guaranteed.
Del Rio said the Raiders think that new addition Taylor Mays could fit in well in a safety-in-box role, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. The Raiders signed the former second-round pick to a no-risk deal earlier this week. In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/26/15

August 26th, 2015 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are today’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:

The Patriots cut cornerback Jimmy Jean, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. The rookie was signed by the Pats as a rookie free agent out of Alabama-Birmingham on May 8, 2015. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder, played both safety and cornerback over two seasons at University of Alabama- Birmingham.
The Buccaneers have signed punter Jacob Schum, waiving safety Derrick Wells in the corresponding roster move, the team announced today (via Twitter). Schum just became a free agent last week after being cut by the Jets.
The Lions have signed former Arena League center Joe Madsen, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link). Madsen, who finished last season on Green Bay’s practice squad, has spent time with the Packers and Browns this year.
The Seahawks have cut quarterback Jake Waters, leaving just three quarterbacks on their roster, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The move seems to suggest that the club isn’t too worried about Tarvaris Jackson‘s health. To fill Waters’ roster spot, the Seahawks signed wide receiver Deontay Greenberry.

East Notes: T. Williams, Jets, Cowboys, Wayne

August 26th, 2015 at 2:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Washington offensive tackle Trent Williams isn’t worrying about his contract situation, focusing instead on giving Washington “one of the best years of my career” in the final season of his current deal, as he tells John Keim of ESPN.com.

Keim suggests that if the two sides don’t reach an agreement on an extension, the franchise tag will be an option for Washington, but Williams’ cap hit this year is $14.23MM, so franchising him would mean committing to a salary north of $17MM for 2016. As such, it’s in Washington’s best interest to work out a longer-term arrangement, and Williams should have plenty of leverage in those negotiations.

Let’s round up a few more notes from out of the NFL’s East divisions…

Speaking today to reporters, including Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links), Osi Umenyiora said he got an offer from a team yesterday, but didn’t want to continue his career if he wasn’t playing for the Giants. According to Garafolo, the Jets contacted Umenyiora yesterday, but didn’t make a formal contract offer — they were just checking to see whether he was really retiring. The veteran pass rusher paid an informal visit to the Jets earlier this year.
Although an earlier report suggested the Cowboys were poking around for cornerback help, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that the team has no plans to add a corner in the wake of Orlando Scandrick‘s ACL injury. I’d expect the Cowboys to keep an eye on defensive backs who are cut next week, but it doesn’t sound like the club is in the market for a starter at all.
Field Yates of ESPN.com passes along some specific details on Reggie Wayne‘s one-year contract with the Patriots, tweeting that the wideout will earn a base salary of $1.1MM to go along with a $450K signing bonus. The pact also features $750K in per-game roster bonuses, plus additional bonuses if Wayne reaches 55 receptions ($250K) and 65 receptions (another $250K).

Junior Galette Tears Achilles, Out For Year

August 26th, 2015 at 2:34pm CST by Luke Adams

2:34pm: A source close to Galette confirms to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link) that the pass rusher did indeed tear his Achilles. Washington hasn’t officially confirmed the injury or placed Galette on IR yet, but his season will be over.

1:42pm: Washington is concerned that the lower leg injury suffered in today’s practice by veteran pass rusher Junior Galette is serious, tweets Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), it’s an Achilles injury, and the team fears it’s torn — Galette is undergoing tests today to determine the severity of the injury.

If the team confirms that the Achilles is, in fact, torn, it would be the latest piece of bad news in a terrible offseason for Galette, who began the year with the Saints. The 27-year-old was New Orleans’ best pass rusher over the last two seasons, recording 12 sacks in 2013 and picking up another 10 – along with three forced fumbles – in 2014. Galette’s production earned him a lucrative contract extension in September, but his offseason was dominated by negative headlines.

In January, Galette was arrested on a domestic violence charge that was later dropped. More recently a video from 2013 surfaced showing a man that appears to be Galette involved in a beach brawl, striking a woman with a belt. The off-field concerns resulted in the Saints releasing the edge defender, despite having to eat a huge chunk of dead money. Following the move, reports surfaced indicating that Galette had a negative influence on the New Orleans locker room, and his former teammates didn’t seem too broken up about his departure.

Washington quickly snatched Galette off the free agent market when he became available, despite an expectation that he could face a suspension, but it was a low-risk, minimum-salary deal for the team. Although it won’t hurt the club much financially if Galette’s season ends early, it would be bad news for Washington’s pass rush, considering Brian Orakpo departed to Tennessee in March and Ryan Kerrigan is returning from arthroscopic knee surgery.

If Galette lands on injured reserve, it wouldn’t necessarily end his time in Washington — the team’s one-year contract with the ex-Saint includes the right of first refusal for 2016, meaning Washington will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives from another club.

Community Tailgate: Who Will Lead NFL In Rushing?

August 26th, 2015 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re still a few weeks away from the start of regular-season battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This summer, we launched a new series here at PFR known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today, we’re shifting our focus to a position that has evolved significantly over the last decade or two. For the most part, NFL running backs are no longer expected to carry the ball 350 times in a season, with most teams employing a backfield that features multiple ball-carriers who share the load.

The reduced workload for top running backs means that, with a few exceptions, we won’t see many ball-carriers approaching the 2,000-yard mark anymore. A year ago, only one back ran for more than 1,400 yards, with DeMarco Murray racking up 1,845 — Le’Veon Bell finished second, with 1,361.

According to betting site Bovada.lv, both Murray and Bell are among the top candidate to lead the NFL in rushing yards in 2015, but it’s former MVP Adrian Peterson who is viewed as the favorite. Peterson turned 30 this year, and he missed all but one game in 2014 due to legal troubles, but he has made it his goal to shoot for an outrageous 2,500 rushing yards, and he has a history of defying the odds — his 2,097-yard season in 2012 came after he returned from an ACL tear.

Besides Peterson, Murray, and Bell, several of the usual veteran contenders are near the top of Bovada’s list of favorites for the rushing title, including Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles, and LeSean McCoy. The site also gives younger backs Eddie Lacy, Jeremy Hill, and C.J. Anderson strong odds of challenging for the crown.

What do you think? Who will lead the NFL in rushing yards in 2015? Will it be a veteran like Peterson or Murray, or will a younger player earn the honor for the first time in his career?

Raiders Sign Taylor Mays

August 26th, 2015 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 12:14pm: Mays has officially signed with the Raiders, who confirmed the deal and announced that they’ve cut linebacker Chase Williams to create room on the roster for Mays.

TUESDAY, 8:52pm: The Raiders have reached agreement on a deal with safety Taylor Mays, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal reunited Mays, a USC product, with Ken Norton Jr., who is now Oakland’s defensive coordinator.

Last week, Mays asked the Lions for his release after he didn’t receive any playing time in the team’s preseason contest against Washington. That marked the second time this year that Mays was released by an NFC North team — the veteran safety and special-teamer signed with the Vikings earlier in the year, and was cut by Minnesota back in June.

In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, the former second-round pick is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason.