2015 August - Pro Football Rumors

Bills Internally Discussing Ray Rice

August 19th, 2015 at 10:40am CST by Luke Adams

10:40am: A source tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (Twitter link) that there’s “zero” chance the Bills will sign Rice. The club added free agent running back Cierre Wood earlier today.

9:13am: With most of their top running backs dealing with an injury of some sort, the Bills are having internal discussions about whether or not to pursue free agent running back Ray Rice, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Starting running back LeSean McCoy is the latest player in the Bills’ backfield to be sidelined. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), McCoy, who injured his hamstring on Tuesday, is expected to be ready to go for the team’s regular-season opener against the Colts. Still, with McCoy expected to miss a few weeks, and Fred Jackson (hamstring), Anthony Dixon (calf), and Karlos Williams (illness) also battling health issues, a veteran addition may be necessary.

Rice, of course, comes with plenty of baggage — because of the elevator video that showed him knocking his then-fiancée unconscious, no team has been willing to take a flier on him since the Ravens released him last fall. It doesn’t help Rice’s case that the last time he saw the field, in 2013, he had a miserable season in Baltimore, averaging just 3.1 yard per rush on 214 carries, and 5.5 yards per reception on 58 catches.

Under new head coach Rex Ryan, however, the Bills have shown a willingness this offseason to roll the dice on players with troubling off-field reputations, including Richie Incognito, Percy Harvin, and IK Enemkpali. Ryan also has some history with Rice, having served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in Baltimore during the running back’s first year with the Ravens in 2008.

Reports this offseason have indicated that, while some general managers and coaches have expressed interest in Rice, owners have been reluctant to sign off on him. So if the Bills decide they want to add the former Raven to their roster, it will require Terry and Kim Pegula’s approval.

Bills Sign Red Bryant

August 19th, 2015 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

The Bills have announced a series of transactions, according to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, who tweets that the team has signed veteran defensive lineman Red Bryant. In addition to signing Bryant, the Bills also added running back Cierre Wood, cutting tight end Chris Manhertz and cornerback Rod Sweeting.

Bryant, who was among the defensive players to work out for the Bills earlier this week, saw time in all 16 games in his first and only season for the Jaguars in 2014. In total, he racked up 23 tackles to go with one pass deflection and one sack. The 31-year-old graded out as a slightly below-average contributor, according to Pro Football Focus‘ (subscription required) metrics, coming in with a -1.6 grade. Overall, that placed him 31st out of 59 qualified 4-3 defensive ends.

Before his season in Jacksonville, Bryant spent six years with the Seahawks, starting all but one regular-season contest for the team from 2011 to 2013. Although Bryant has been a starter for the last four years, one GM tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the veteran defender is best used in a rotation at this point in his career, perhaps for 20-30 plays per game. That shouldn’t be a problem in Buffalo, where the Bills have plenty of talent on the defensive line, even after taking a few injury hits.

The addition of Wood should help provide depth at another injury-plagued position for the Bills, though it’s not clear if his signing means the team has decided not to sign a veteran like Ray Rice. As I outlined earlier today, Buffalo had been discussing a possible pursuit of Rice, with LeSean McCoy (hamstring), Fred Jackson (hamstring), Anthony Dixon (calf), and Karlos Williams (illness) all battling health issues.

Texans Sign Quintin Demps, Fili Moala

August 19th, 2015 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Texans have added a pair of veteran defenders to their roster, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who reports (via Twitter) that safety Quintin Demps and defensive lineman Fili Moala have signed with the club. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links), both deals are one-year, minimum-salary pacts.

Demps, who turned 30 earlier this summer, has spent time in Houston previously in his NFL career, having played for the Texans in 2011 and 2012. The former fourth-round pick has also played for the Eagles, Chiefs, and Giants since entering the league in 2008, starting a career-high nine games last season in New York. In his one year with the Giants, Demps recorded 57 tackles and grabbed four interceptions. He’ll join Rahim Moore and former teammate Stevie Brown as part of a revamped group of safeties in Houston.

Moala, meanwhile, has spent his entire NFL career with another AFC South team, playing 64 regular season contests (45 starts) for the Colts. Moala, a second-round pick out of USC back in 2009, missed the entire 2014 season due to an ACL injury, and will compete for a roster spot with the Texans.

By my count, Houston had a full 90-man roster prior to the signings, so a pair of corresponding moves should be required. The Texans have yet to officially announce the transactions.

Extra Points: McCoy, Rice, Bucs, Broncos

August 18th, 2015 at 10:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Could this finally be Rueben Randle‘s breakout year? The wide receiver has long been expected to emerge as a star in New York and the Giants have a feeling that 2015 could be his time to shine, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) says. Randle is entering his contract year and a strong performance could lead him to a sizable payday in the offseason, whether it’s with the Giants or another squad. GM Jerry Reese also believes that the presence of Odell Beckham Jr. and the returning Victor Cruz will open things up for the 24-year-old. Here’s more from around the NFL..

Bills running back LeSean McCoy suffered a hamstring injury earlier today and the team ordered an MRI to determine the severity of it. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) now wonders if Ray Rice‘s best shot for a deal could be in Buffalo. Head coach Rex Ryan and Rice have a shared history thanks to their time together in Baltimore.
Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith says the starting right tackle job is up for grabs, though he added that he wouldn’t have signed Gosder Cherilus if they didn’t expect him to help right away, Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com tweets. Tampa Bay signed the veteran to a lucrative two-year deal on Monday.
Cherilus says he believes the Bucs would have drafted him if he lasted until pick No. 20 in 2008, Smith tweets. The offensive lineman wound up going 17th to the Lions instead.
Last week, the Broncos claimed Spencer Lanning off waivers when the Buccaneers waived him and Troy Renck of The Denver Post (on Twitter) notes that the Broncos put in a claim back when the Browns cut him loose. This means that Lanning has been on the radar for Denver for quite a while and this could be an indication that he has momentum going into the team’s kicking competition.

Rex Grossman Turned Down Jets

August 18th, 2015 at 8:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets signed Matt Flynn after Rex Grossman turned them down, Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, Grossman is drawing interest from the Falcons.

We heard last week that Grossman is dealing with an injury he suffered during his training and will need a few weeks to get ready for live action. The former Bears signal caller was linked to the Jets shortly after Geno Smith‘s jaw was broken and it would seem that he was one of the top options – or perhaps the top option – for Gang Green.

Alas, the University of Florida product won’t be coming to New York and he could instead pop up in Atlanta. At present, the Falcons have T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree backing up Matt Ryan.

Grossman, 35 on Sunday, last appeared in the NFL in 2013 with Washington, though he did not see any time on the field. His last season under center was all the way back in 2011 when he started 13 games in D.C., throwing for 3,151 yards with 16 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. The veteran is known for his proclivity for throwing the deep ball, which has led to a great deal of turnovers in the past.

Community Tailgate: 8/18/15

August 18th, 2015 at 6:56pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still a couple weeks away from the start of 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 that will be 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’ll be discussing Eli Manning‘s contract situation. The Giants QB is entering his walk year and his agent is currently discussing an extension with Big Blue. One might think that recent deals for quarterbacks, including Philip Rivers, would provide the two sides with a blueprint to get a deal done, but agent Tom Condon is aiming way, way higher. Manning’s rep, we learned yesterday, wants to make Manning the highest paid quarterback in the NFL.

Currently, Aaron Rodgers is the highest paid QB in the league with a $110MM deal that takes him through 2019. That pact includes a $33,25MM signing bonus with $54MM guaranteed and the average annual value of Rodgers’ deal comes out to a healthy $22MM. It wouldn’t be ludicrous of Condon to ask for a similar AAV given the deals inked by Ryan Tannehill, Cam Newton, and Ben Roethlisberger this offseason, but it’s hard to imagine giving Manning a Rodgers-type deal on the whole.

Most of us can agree that, on merit, Manning should not be the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. What we want to know is – what kind of deal do you think the Giants should give Manning? Or, do you think that the Giants should roll the dice and allow Manning to play out the 2015 season? Give us your thoughts in the comment section below.

More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/15

August 18th, 2015 at 6:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, we rounded minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the league. Here’s the latest batch..

The Giants announced that they have claimed defensive tackle Jimmy Staten off waivers from the Seahawks and waived rookie defensive tackle Carlif Taylor, Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News tweets.
The Jets announced that they have acquired tight end Arthur Lynch off waivers from the Dolphins. Lynch was the fifth-round pick (No. 155 overall) of Miami in the 2014 draft out of Georgia. He had 56 career receptions for 907 yards and eight touchdowns for the Bulldogs and was an All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection as a redshirt senior.
The Raiders announced that they have signed free agent receiver Devon Wylie. Wylie, originally drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, appeared in six games during his rookie campaign, recording six receptions for 53 yards.
Offensive tackle Chris Martin, who was waived by the Dolphins recently, was awarded to Patriots, Wilson tweets. Martin, who is 6’5″ and 305 pounds, has had two prior stints with the Patriots.
The Patriots cut tight end Logan Stokes, Wilson tweets.
The Saints will sign defensive tackle David Hunter, according to Brett Martel of The Associated Press (on Twitter). Hunter joins New Orleans after DT Austin Brown went down with an injury.
The Lions released David Ausberry with an injury settlement, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
The Lions waived/injured center Darren Keyton, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets.

West Notes: Raiders, CJ2K, Rivers, Rams

August 18th, 2015 at 5:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (on Twitter) spoke directly with the Raiders to shoot down a trio of rumors. The Raiders say they will not move to St. Louis, they will not move to San Francisco’s Levi Stadium, and owner Mark Davis will not sell the team. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC West..

Chris Johnson has $400K of his $870K salary with the Cardinals guaranteed, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. There are no other guarantees in the veteran running back’s deal. Unhappy with their choices behind Andre Ellington, the Cards inked Johnson to a deal on Monday.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said that he told both Johnson and Jermaine Gresham that they’re not “promised anything,” including a roster spot, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets.
All in all, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap thinks that the Philip Rivers deal is a very good contract for the Chargers. The Bolts, he says, avoided giving Rivers a monstrous signing bonus and they receive fairly favorable terms on the cash flows of the contract. Just days ago, Rivers and the Chargers shook hands on a four-year extension that is worth $84MM with $65MM guaranteed.
Rivers will now earn $32MM in 2015, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. He adds that $5.5MM of Rivers’ $22.5MM signing bonus is deferred until March 15th, 2016.
The Missouri Development Finance Board approved $15MM in tax credits this year for the proposed riverfront football stadium in St. Louis for the Rams, as David Hunn and Alex Stuckey of the Post-Dispatch write. Still, board Chairwoman Marie Carmichael said the money won’t be sent to new stadium planners until the board is assured the credits are a good deal for the state.
Carmen Policy says the Raiders and Chargers have agreed to shift divisions, if necessary, to make the Los Angeles project acceptable to the league, Michael R. Blood of the Associated Press writes.

North Notes: Benjamin, Vikings, Packers

August 18th, 2015 at 3:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, recognizes that it’s a “big, big year” for him, as he tells Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Still, he’s not looking ahead to signing an extension or a free agent contract, suggesting that if he plays well, things will take care of themselves.

“I’m playing for now. I don’t look far into the future,” Benjamin said. “I’m just playing for the Browns right now, and hopefully, if things work out, I’ll be here for another couple more years.”

As Benjamin looks to surpass his career high of 18 receptions this year, let’s check out some more notes from out of the NFL’s two Central divisions….

Head coach Mike Zimmer said earlier in camp that it’s not essential to keep a true fullback on the Vikings‘ roster this season, but you should still bet on the club hanging onto one, says Mark Craig of the Star Tribune, suggesting that Zach Line is a strong bet to make the team.
Jared Abbrederis, selected by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2014 draft, isn’t giving up on his NFL career, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. The former Wisconsin wideout missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, and has yet to be cleared this year due to a concussion, but Green Bay isn’t giving up on him, as Demovsky details.
Yesterday, we heard that wide receiver Adrian Coxson had been cut by the Packers outright, and that Coxson would be seeking an injury settlement from the team. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post clarifies (via Twitter) that Green Bay waived Coxson with a “failure to disclose physical condition” designation, suggesting he didn’t inform the team of concussion symptoms.

49ers’ Jerome Simpson Suspended Six Games

August 18th, 2015 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

3:46pm: Simpson’s suspension was initially going to be for 10 games, but was reduced to six games through the appeal process, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

3:37pm: An offseason littered with bad news for the 49ers got a little worse for the club today. Niners wide receiver Jerome Simpson has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse, the team announced today in a press release.

Simpson, who was suspended for three games to start the 2014 season, faces his latest penalty as a result of a July incident in Bloomington, Minnesota. The veteran receiver initially faced misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession, driving with an open bottle and violating limited license restrictions for that legal run-in last July.

“The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome,” general manager Trent Baalke said, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. “Since joining the 49ers, Jerome has proven to be a great teammate. … Although he will not be able to participate in the first six weeks of the season, Jerome has done everything asked of him, both on and off the field. We are in full support of the NFL’s decision, and look forward to Jerome’s future contributions to our organization.”

While Simpson has had his share of off-field issues, he had productive seasons on the field in 2011 and 2013. The numbers the 29-year-old posted for the Bengals in ’11 (50 receptions, 725 yards, four touchdowns) were nearly identical to the ones he put up for Minnesota in ’13 (48 receptions, 726 yards, one TD).

Along with Torrey Smith, Simpson was one of the free agents brought in this season by Baalke and company to replace a slew of departing players, including receivers Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson, and Brandon Lloyd.