2015 August - Pro Football Rumors

Samson Satele Expected To Visit Seahawks

August 24th, 2015 at 11:45am CST by Luke Adams

After hosting Evan Mathis over the weekend, the Seahawks are expected to bring in another veteran offensive lineman looking for work. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), free agent center Samson Satele is expected to visit the Seahawks today.

Satele, 30, spent the 2014 season with the Dolphins, starting all 16 games for the team. The eight-year veteran, who has also spent time with the Raiders and the Colts, has started 114 of his 118 career regular season contests, and we heard back in March that he was looking for a team that would give him an opportunity to compete for a starting center job.

There haven’t been many rumors surrounding Satele since that March report, but it’s not surprising that the Seahawks would want to kick the tires on him. Having traded away Max Unger in an offseason deal, Seattle doesn’t have a clear-cut starter at center, where Drew Nowak is believed to have the lead over Lemuel Jeanpierre. Nowak has never started an NFL game, while Jeanpierre has 11 starts to his name, so adding some veteran depth could make sense.

Jeremiah Ratliff Suspended Three Games

August 24th, 2015 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

Bears defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff has been suspended for the first three games of the NFL season for violating the league’s policy and program for substances of abuse, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes (via Twitter), the team was likely expecting a suspension at some point, stemming from Ratliff pleading guilty in 2013 to a DWI charge in Texas.

Ratliff will turn 34 this Saturday and hasn’t played a full season since 2011, but his absence will be a significant blow for the Bears’ defense. A year ago, Ratliff racked up 37 tackles and 6.5 sacks in just 11 games, grading as the league’s sixth-best defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), despite playing fewer snaps than any other DT in the top 10.

With Ratliff out of action for the season’s first three weeks, it may open the door for rookie Eddie Goldman to step into the starting lineup. Goldman, out of Florida State, was the Bears’ second-round pick in this year’s draft, going 39th overall. Assuming he gets the starting nose tackle job, he’ll face a significant challenge in September, as the Bears open their season with three games against NFC playoff teams — the Packers, Cardinals, and Seahawks.

FA Rumors: Packers, Wayne, Mathis, Deering

August 24th, 2015 at 10:40am CST by Luke Adams

The Packers are still waiting on the official results of Jordy Nelson‘s MRI, but if the star wideout has a torn ACL, as is feared, the team is expected to inquire on Reggie Wayne, reports Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Green Bay still has a good deal of wide receiver depth without Nelson, and the club typically doesn’t sign outside free agents very often, so it seems unlikely that Wayne would land with the Packers. It’s fair to wonder if Wayne’s camp is using Green Bay as a leverage play, as the veteran free agent attempts to negotiate a deal with the Patriots or perhaps another team.

As we wait to see where Wayne lands, let’s round up a few more notes on free agents….

Agent Drew Rosenhaus expects free agent guard Evan Mathis to have a new team by the end of the week, he said during an appearance on South Florida’s WSVN-7 (link via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald). According to Rosenhaus, his client has received interest from the Seahawks and “other teams,” and Salguero suggests the Dolphins should be in the mix if Mathis’ asking price is coming down at all.
It’s a busy week for former Rutgers safety Jeremy Deering, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who tweets that Deering tried out for the Eagles, is working out for the Colts today, and has an audition with the Jets later in the week.
Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin examines the Packers‘ wide receiver situation, speculating that ex-Packer James Jones could be an option for the team. For now though, Jones is a Giant, so he’d probably have to be cut for Green Bay to consider him. Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports made a similar point yesterday.

Vikings Release Cullen Loeffler

August 24th, 2015 at 9:21am CST by Luke Adams

The Vikings have parted ways with their longest-tenured player, the team confirmed today, announcing in a press release that veteran long snapper Cullen Loeffler has been released. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported (via Twitter) that Minnesota was cutting Loeffler, who was beaten out by Kevin McDermott for the long snapper job.

“These types of decisions are the hardest part of our jobs,” Vikings GM Rick Spielman said in a statement. “Cullen was outstanding in the community and on the field for the Vikings. He handled his business with class and his impact in the locker room and on the franchise were second to none. We wish him the best in the future.”

Loeffler, 34, had served as the Vikings’ long snapper since the 2004 season, appearing in a total of 171 regular season contests for the team during that stretch. His minimum salary contract featured an $80K signing bonus and $220K in guaranteed salary, so the Vikings will eat $300K by releasing him.

Because Loeffler is a vested veteran, he’ll immediately become a free agent without having to pass through waivers, making him eligible to join a new team right away.

Texans To Start Brian Hoyer At QB

August 24th, 2015 at 8:27am CST by Luke Adams

The Texans have made a decision in their quarterback battle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Brian Hoyer will open the regular season as Houston’s starting QB. Hoyer and Ryan Mallett had been vying for the position throughout the offseason and into the preseason.

Both Hoyer and Mallett signed two-year contracts with the Texans this past March, with Mallett getting a $7MM deal from the team, while Hoyer received a $10.5MM pact. While Mallett had the advantage of having spent the 2014 season in Houston, Hoyer has the more extensive résumé as a starter, having started 17 career games, including 13 last season for the Browns. Mallett has just two career starts.

The decision shouldn’t have a real impact on the Texans’ roster or on either quarterback’s short-term contract prospects, since both Mallett and Hoyer – along with third QB Tom Savage – are on multiyear deals. All three signal-callers still appear very likely to make the regular-season roster. It’s also not guaranteed that Hoyer will finish the season as the Texans’ starting quarterback.

Still, if Hoyer takes the job and runs with it, it could have a serious long-term impact on the earning potential of him and Mallett. At $5.25MM per year, Hoyer would be one of the least expensive veteran starters in the league, and he’d be due for a raise after next season if he hangs onto the job and plays well.

Rob Sims Retires

August 23rd, 2015 at 9:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Veteran offensive lineman Rob Sims is retiring, reports Fox2 in Detroit (via ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein on Twitter). The 2006 fourth-round pick spent nine seasons in the league, starting 114 of his 125 games. The 31-year-old hadn’t missed a regular season contest since 2009, and he started 16 games in each of his five seasons with the Lions.

Sims’ career began in Seattle, where he played 45 games in four seasons with the Seahawks. He was traded to Detroit in 2010 for defensive end Robert Henderson (as well as fifth- and seventh-round picks), and he consistently ranked as the Lions’ best offensive lineman for three seasons, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). While his production has apparently dropped over the past two years, the 31-year-old still rated as an above-average guard.

In June, Sims told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that he could still be productive.

“I still can play,” he said. “I want to play. I guess, for me, (by) getting my ducks in a row (while I was still playing), I have the ability to look for the right deal, just don’t take any deal. I can actually pick what’s right for me and my family.”

The Lions had reportedly made the veteran an offer for 2015, but Sims had said that the contract wasn’t worth considering.

Extra Points: Giants, Nelson, Packers, Moss

August 23rd, 2015 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the league as we wrap up the weekend:

Six-year veteran safety Corey Lynch will workout with the Giants on Monday, reports Mike Kaye of First Coast News (via Twitter). The 30-year-old entered the league in 2008 with the Bengals before a three-year stint with the Buccaneers.
If Jordy Nelson ends up missing the entire season, it’ll cost him $500K, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter), noting that the contract tactic is used often by the Packers and 49ers.
Yahoo’s Charles Robinson wonders if the Packers would consider James Jones if the receiver was cut by the Giants (Twitter link).
Randy Moss sounds like he’d like to get back in the NFL, and the former receiver said as much during the Vikings broadcast on Sunday evening. “I actually have not lost the itch,” Moss said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “I’ve been working out with a few guys over the offseason. I have been retired for the last two years, but you never know, Curt. But it’s the love of the game that I still have inside of me.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/15

August 23rd, 2015 at 9:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Former USC wideout George Farmer will sign with the Seahawks, and the team intends on converting the receiver to defensive back, the organization announced. Farmer was cut by the Cowboys last week, and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says Dallas won’t be obligated to the $5oK in guaranteed money if he ends up sticking in Seattle.
To make room, the team waived/injured Kona Schwenke, who suffered a knee injury on Friday evening.
Receiver Michael Preston tweeted that he has been cut by the Dolphins (as passed along by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald on Twitter). The reporter notes that Matt Hazel‘s four-catch, 47-yard performance in last night’s game may have made Preston expendable.
The Lions filled two open roster spots by signing former Central Michigan linebacker Justin Cherrocci and former Bethune Cookman defensive end Erik Williams, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). Detroit had two vacant slots after releasing Taylor Mays and Jarred Haggins yesterday.

AFC East Notes: Wayne, Jets, Bills

August 23rd, 2015 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

There was a mixed reaction among league executives to reports that veteran wideout Reggie Wayne visited the Patriots, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.

“He’ll be in great shape – always takes car of himself,” said one AFC executive. “Tremendous pro and teammate. Health has been issue past two years. Great hands and routes. Did not have a lot left in his legs last year and struggled. Will struggle vs press – very savvy vs zone. New England has history of getting some production out of players like him.”

“Possession guy with hands and savviness but loss of speed and explosiveness evident,” said another AFC exec. “Maybe as a role player, but don’t see him as a starter solution.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the AFC East…

Colts coach Chuck Pagano was thrilled that Wayne may get an opportunity to play this season. “I think that’s great for Reg,” Pagano said (via ESPN.com’s Mike Wells on Twitter). “Happy they’re looking at him and there’s an opportunity.”
While John Idzik‘s tenure with the Jets has certainly been scrutinized, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writes that he may have found a pair of diamonds in the rough. Cornerback Marcus Williams and wideout Quincy Enunwa were both under-the-radar pickups by the former general manager, and the players are set to contribute in 2015.
Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has continued to complain about his contract situation, and Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News has some of the player’s comments following last night’s game. “They’re making it hard,” said Dareus, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. “And it’s just really making me unhappy. I feel like they don’t really want me here…We’re still waiting. I feel like they don’t want me here as bad as I want to be here, as bad as the fans and my team wants me here. I feel like they’re saying, ‘Whatever. You come a dime a dozen.’”

NFC Notes: 49ers, Walsh, Vikings, Lions

August 23rd, 2015 at 7:18pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite suffering three concussions during his two years in the league, 49ers safety Eric Reid said he hasn’t thought about retiring. The comments come after former teammate Chris Borland hung up his cleats due to concerns over brain trauma.

“No. Not at all,” Reid told Eric Branch of SFGate.com. “Every guy has to evaluate their decision, whether it’s a concussion, whether it’s an ankle sprain, a torn ACL. With any injury, you have to evaluate yourself and make a personal decision.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC…

49ers nose tackle Mike Purcell is set to play a bigger role this season, and Branch notes that the former undrafted rookie is going to have to adjust to the spotlight. “I just want to stay humble and keep working,” said the 24-year-old. “My goal right now is to show I can do it back-to-back.”
Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed three field goals during last night’s game, and Matt Vessel of the Star Tribune says the team should definitely be concerned about the position. Walsh inked a four-year extension with Minnesota in July.
Even with the emergence of Vikings rookie receiver Stefon Diggs, Vessel believes Marcus Sherels‘ roster spot is still secure. The writer cites the player’s production on both the kick and punt return units.
Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn could very well be a backup for the Vikings, notes Vessel. However, even with the veteran’s $3.45M salary, the writer believes the team should retain their depth.
Jermelle Cudjo has been a revelation during Lions camp, and ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein says the player is ready for an opportunity. “I’m just hungry, you know,” Cudjo said. “Sitting out last year, having a chip on my shoulder and I just want to come out here and blessed with the opportunity to showcase my skill.”