2015 August - Pro Football Rumors

Chris Myers Announces Retirement

August 25th, 2015 at 8:29am CST by Luke Adams

Former Texans center Chris Myers announced today that he has decided to retire from the NFL, according to John P. Lopez (Twitter link), who passes along comments Myers made on Sports Radio 610 in Houston. Myers himself has since confirmed the decision on his Twitter account, thanking the Texans, the Broncos, his family, and the fans.

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.

For his career, Myers appeared in 153 games, starting 128 of them. The veteran center also earned Pro Bowl nods in 2011 and 2012, excelling in Gary Kubiak‘s zone-blocking scheme for most of his time in Houston. There had been some speculation that Kubiak would attempt to bring Myers with him back to Denver this offseason, but there was never any indication that the Broncos seriously pursued the free agent lineman.

In Houston, former left guard Ben Jones appears poised to take over at center this season for Myers, marking the first time since 2007 that anyone else has started at the position for the Texans.

NFC Notes: JPP, Mathis, Wayne

August 24th, 2015 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

According to three sources informed of his recovery, Jason Pierre Paul‘s rehab is “progressing very well,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes. However, it’s not clear if the Giants star will be in uniform Week 1 against the Cowboys. It’s also not clear when the Giants will get a chance to examine JPP’s hand to get a better read on his situation. Here’s more from the NFC..

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (on Twitter), that even though Evan Mathis‘ workout went well, there are “a lot of issues” preventing a deal from happening. The biggest roadblock, unsurprisingly, is Mathis’ asking price. Carroll indicated that the Seahawks can’t offer the guard the $5.5MM salary he earned last year with the Eagles. The Seahawks may have to wait and see if Mathis gets that kind of cash elsewhere. If he doesn’t, then he could bounce back to them, Condotta tweets.
Reggie Wayne considered waiting for the Packers, but the team did not confirm its interest before Wayne decided to sign with the Patriots, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets.
Washington worked out fullback/tight end Evan Rodriguez today, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The versatile Rodriguez spent time on Tampa’s practice squad last year and made five starts with the Bears in 2012.

AFC East Notes: Wayne, Dolphins, Patriots

August 24th, 2015 at 7:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Reggie Wayne should provide the Patriots with a new weapon on offense but cornerback Malcolm Butler says he’ll also provide the team with some intangible value, D.J. Bean of WEEI.com writes.

“Just his knowledge of the game: knowing where to be, knowing where to line up, knowing how to release on the cornerbacks,” Butler said when asked what stood out. “Just all of the savvy things that veteran receivers know.”

Wayne’s production was up and down with the Colts ever since the team made the switch from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck. Now, the Patriots are hoping that he’ll click with Tom Brady. Here’s more from the AFC East..

Now that the Packers are down a receiver, James Walker of ESPN.com wonders aloud if the Dolphins could use wide receiver Rishard Matthews as trade bait. Miami currently has at least five capable receivers in Jarvis Landry, Greg Jennings, Kenny Stills, first-round pick DeVante Parker, and Matthews, so they can afford to part with one. If the Dolphins can get a third- or fourth-round pick for Matthews, who is a former seventh-round pick in the final year of his contract, that would be a worthy trade, Walker writes.
Patriots rookie cornerback Darryl Roberts has a significant wrist injury that could threaten his season, according to Adam Caplan and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Pats selected the Marshall product in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.
Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald took a crack at projecting the Patriots’ 53-man roster. If Roberts’ wrist injury keeps him out for an extended period of time, Guregian writes that veteran Bradley Fletcher could have a greater chance of making the roster.

Eagles, Mychal Kendricks Agree To Extension

August 24th, 2015 at 6:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles and linebacker Mychal Kendricks agreed to a four-year, $29MM contract extension, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). His deal includes a healthy $16.4MM guaranteed, a league source tells Caplan.

There was a great deal of speculation throughout the offseason that the Eagles could move Kendricks. However, coach/chief decision maker Chip Kelly was adamant that Kendricks wouldn’t be going anywhere. Kelly changed up his roster quite a bit this spring, but he stayed true to his word when it came to the 24-year-old (25 in September).

Given that the Eagles made several additions at inside linebacker during the offseason, it was fair to speculate if Kendricks was a candidate to be dealt to another club. Philadelphia not only renegotiated veteran DeMeco Ryans‘ contract, ensuring that he’ll stay with the team in 2015, but traded for former Bill Kiko Alonso, signed ex-Packer Brad Jones, and drafted Jordan Hicks in the third round.

Reports earlier this year indicated that the Eagles did shop Kendricks during the draft, and were asking for as much as a second-round pick. Teams reportedly balked at the request, but Kendricks was also rumored to be part of a proposed package to acquire the No. 1 or No. 2 pick, in the hopes of selecting quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Kendricks has been a starting inside linebacker for the Eagles since entering the league as the 46th overall pick in 2012. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former second-round pick was one of the league’s best ILBs last season, despite only playing 12 games — his grades as a pass rusher and in pass coverage were among the best at his position. He said during OTAs that he had not been approached about an extension, but it appears that things have changed over the last few weeks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Hakeem Nicks, James Jones Drawing Interest

August 24th, 2015 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), Hakeem Nicks, James Jones, Deonte Thompson, and Vincent Brown are among the wide receivers drawing interest around the NFL as potential release candidates, in that order. He adds that the Panthers, Ravens, Packers are a few of the teams considering adding wideouts as the season draws near.

The Panthers, of course, are in the market for a reliable target after Kelvin Benjamin suffered a season-ending injury. The Ravens could also use a receiver with promising rookie Breshad Perriman currently sidelined. And the Packers are undoubtedly scouring the market for options now that Jordy Nelson is confirmed to be done for the 2015 season. While sources tell Cole that Nicks will generally get the most attention of this quartet, the Packers are more interested in Jones that the rest of the bunch, due in part to their familiarity with him.

Nicks, 27, first reached unrestricted free agency in March 2014, and signed a modest one-year contract with the Colts after spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Giants. While fellow 2009 first-round wideout Jeremy Maclin parlayed a one-year, prove-it deal in 2014 into a huge, long-term contract, Nicks was unable to do the same in Indianapolis. Currently, Nicks is on a one-year deal with the Titans that holds a modest guarantee and he could be days away from hitting the open market again.

Jones had 73 catches for 666 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Raiders in 2014. This offseason, the veteran hooked on with the Giants and it has been widely speculated that he could be released before the final rosters are set. His best individual output came in 2013, when he hauled in 64 passes for 784 yards and a career-best 14 TDs for the Packers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/24/15

August 24th, 2015 at 6:27pm CST by Luke Adams

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

The Patriots waived Brian Tyms, who will revert to their IR (foot injury) if he goes unclaimed, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.

Earlier Updates:

The Lions waived/injured linebacker Kevin Snyder, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets.
The Bears made a change on their offensive line today, signing former Raiders guard Lucas Nix to a one-year contract and waiving offensive lineman Jason Weaver with an injury designation (Twitter link). Nix, who started 10 games for Oakland in 2013, worked out for Chicago earlier in the month.
The Dolphins have waived wide receiver Michael Preston, the team announced today (via Twitter). Preston himself broke word of the move yesterday, with a tweet thanking the club for the opportunity.
The Eagles have added one safety to their roster and removed another, signing Brandan Bishop and reaching an injury settlement with Earl Wolff (Twitter links via agent David Canter and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Wolff, a 2013 fifth-round pick, will become a free agent as he recovers from his knee surgery. The Eagles also waived/injured defensive tackle Wade Keliikipi, who suffered a Lisfranc foot injury this weekend, replacing him with defensive tackle Jeremy Towns (Twitter links).
The Falcons have parted ways with 2014 fifth-rounder Marquis Spruill, placing him on waivers today, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Spruill, whose rookie season was wiped out by a torn ACL, never played a regular-season down for Atlanta.
The Giants formally announced several moves today, including the signing of veteran linebacker Ashlee Palmer, who started 15 games over the last two seasons in Detroit. The club also signed rookie defensive back C.J. Conway, and waived/injured safety Justin Currie (ankle) and linebacker Tony Johnson (knee).
The Jaguars announced a series of moves today (via Twitter and press release), adding wide receiver Erik Lora, linebacker Mister Alexander, and offensive lineman Will Corbin to their roster. The outgoing players are receiver Damian Copeland (waived/injured), offensive lineman Brennan Williams (waived/injured), and wideout Arrelious Benn (placed on IR).
The Panthers have waived/injured defensive end Frank Alexander, signing tight end Dallas Walker to replace him on the roster, the team announced today (Twitter link). Alexander, who sustained a torn Achilles, is in the final year of his contract, so Carolina isn’t worried about another team claiming him.
The Saints‘ tight end carousel continues, as the club is cutting Michael Egnew just a week after signing him, per Kristian Garic of WWL 870AM (Twitter link).
The Seahawks have cut defensive back Jeremy Crayton, using the newly-created roster spot to re-sign wide receiver DeShon Foxx, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
The Jets signed tight end Matt LaCosse and waived/injured defensive lineman Davon Walls, Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.

Jordy Nelson Done For Season

August 24th, 2015 at 5:35pm CST by Zachary Links

5:35pm: Nelson’s MRI showed only an ACL tear and his other ligaments are in tact, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

4:14pm: The Packers announced that Jordy Nelson is done for the season with a “significant right knee injury.” The injury, according to reports on Sunday night, is a torn ACL.

The loss of Nelson, 30, constitutes a body blow to a Green Bay offense that ranked first in offensive DVOA last season. Nelson was a major part of that success, catching 98 passes for more than 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to being named a second-team All Pro. Coming off offseason hip surgery, Nelson was recovering nicely and fully participating during the preseason, so this latest injury is especially devastating.

Second-year pro Davante Adams is likely to move into the starting lineup opposite Randall Cobb, but it’s highly doubtful that he can replicate Nelson’s production. In 15 games last season, the 22-year-old Adams caught 38 balls for 446 yards and three scores, numbers that should significantly increase if he becomes a starter. Jeff Janis, Myles White, and rookie Ty Montgomery could also become candidates for increased playing time in Nelson’s absence.

If the Packers opt to bring in a free agent receiver, they could have their pick of several veteran options, including Donnie Avery, Robert Meachem, and Kevin Ogltree. One other option — former Colt Reggie Wayne — is now off the table following his agreement with the Patriots.

Nelson becomes the second No. 1 receiver to suffer an ACL injury in the past week, joining the Panthers’ Kelvin Benjamin.

Patriots Place Brandon Gibson On IR

August 24th, 2015 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Hours after word broke that the Patriots agreed to terms with one veteran wide receiver, reaching a one-year deal with Reggie Wayne, the team has ended the season of another veteran wideout. According to a press release, the Pats have placed Brandon Gibson on injured reserve.

A former Ram, Gibson joined the Dolphins prior to the 2013 season, and put up nearly identical numbers in his two seasons with the club. Of course, in 2013, when he grabbed 30 balls for 326 yards and three touchdowns, he did so in just seven games. In 2014, Gibson totaled 29 receptions for 295 yards and a TD in 14 contests.

Gibson, 28, signed a one-year, minimum-salary benefit contract with the Patriots in March, getting a $40K bonus to join the club. He had looked good in the preseason and was poised to earn a roster spot in New England before he suffered a knee injury over the weekend. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), it’s a torn ACL for Gibson.

With the roster spot created by placing Gibson on IR, the Patriots have re-signed rookie linebacker D.J. Lynch, according to the team. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com also reported earlier today (via Twitter) that fullback Eric Kettani was informed of his release by the team, though there’s no word of that move in the Pats’ official announcement today.

King’s Latest: Broncos, Rams, Walsh, Dareus

August 24th, 2015 at 2:55pm CST by Luke Adams

As a former quarterback himself, Broncos general manager John Elway admits that it wasn’t easy asking Peyton Manning to take a $4MM pay cut this offseason, money which Manning could make up in incentives. Elway tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com that it was a “really hard” conversation to have.

“A lot of times, as much as you like to say you want those things to stay business, they always end up being a little personal,” Elway said. “That’s the hard part, because I have a great deal of respect for Peyton. I think, hopefully, Peyton will be able to look back in a few years, especially if we have a really good year, and see that, ultimately, the decision was made to give us the best chance to go out and win a Super Bowl this year. That, ultimately, is the best thing for Peyton Manning—even though, of course, it was $4MM.”

Here are a few more items of note from King’s latest Monday Morning Quarterback feature:

With three starters on the offensive line who have never played a regular season snap, the Broncos will likely move a late-round pick for an offensive lineman, or claim a player – likely a guard – off waivers in the near future, says King.
One team owner who spoke to King believes that Stan Kroenke‘s plan for a new NFL Network facility and multi-purpose theater in Inglewood could be a big factor in the league’s decision on the Los Angeles market. King adds that he views the Inglewood stadium plan, along with the Rams, as the NFL’s preferred route to L.A., though that’s far from a sure thing at this point.
While the Vikings are “trying not to show their concern” with recently extended kicker Blair Walsh, the situation is worth keeping an eye on after Walsh missed five kicks in the team’s two preseason games, writes King. When I examined Walsh as an extension candidate back in May, I suggested the team may want to see how he responds to the longer extra point this year before extending him, but Minnesota locked him up to a new deal last month.
Responding to reports that Marcell Dareus didn’t accept an alleged six-year, $90MM extension offer, King suggests that the Bills defensive tackle is “misreading the market.” In King’s view, Dareus has a case for a rich contract, but not one that exceeds J.J. Watt‘s deal.

North Notes: Pouncey, Flacco, Guion, Lions

August 24th, 2015 at 1:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Injured Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is undergoing surgery on his fractured ankle today, tweets Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), the exact timetable for Pouncey’s recovery still isn’t known, but the injury is unlikely to be season-ending. Based on what we’ve heard so far regarding the veteran center, he would appear to be a viable candidate for Pittsburgh’s IR-DTR slot this season.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two North divisions:

As Ashley Fox of ESPN details, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been keeping an eye on the megadeals signed by his fellow signal-callers, recognizing that Baltimore will almost certainly have to rework his contract in 2016, when his cap hit is set to jump to $28.55MM. Both Flacco and the team would like to see the former Super Bowl MVP become a “Raven for life.”
The appeal hearing for Letroy Guion‘s three-game suspension concluded on Monday, but there has been no ruling yet on whether that penalty will be reduced for the Packers defensive lineman, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
Demovsky also provided an update on former Packers receiver Kevin Dorsey, tweeting that the ex-Maryland wideout has retired. Green Bay used a seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft to nab Dorsey, but he only played in three games with the club.
After losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency this offseason, the Lions were happy to acquire Haloti Ngata to fill the newly-created void on their defensive line. However, the club still isn’t sure when Ngata will return from the hamstring injury that has plagued him throughout training camp, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.