2015 August - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Los Angeles, Cardinals, Levy

August 10th, 2015 at 9:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, San Diego city officials are meeting with NFL today in Schaumburg, Illinois, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. The city of St. Louis has already met with the league. He adds that there is no meeting scheduled as of yet between the NFL and the city of Oakland, because there’s been no progress on that front (link). Here’s more from around the NFL..

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says that he’s not happy with the play of his running backs and will discuss options for outside help with GM Steve Keim, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. When asked if Ray Rice will be among the options considered, Arians said no (link).
San Diego officials announced a stadium financing plan that would require $750MM in private money from the Chargers and NFL with $350MM in public funds, Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego tweets. Meanwhile, Chargers attorney Mark Fabiani struck back with a strongly worded statement that refuted the viability of the plan (via Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Twitter links).
The early word from Chicago is that Carmen Policy should not be underestimated when it comes to the Los Angeles situation, Mike Florio of PFT tweets. Policy, the longtime NFL exec, is pushing the Carson stadium project.
The Lions were smart to get their extension with DeAndre Levy done before Lavonte David reached agreement with the Buccaneers, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. Corry reasons that David’s deal might have complicated things for Detroit.
The Ravens lost ace returner Jacoby Jones this offseason but they’re not sweating it because their system has been successful in producing many different quality returners, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. Currently, Michael Campanaro, Asa Jackson and DeAndre Carter are listed as the top three on the team’s unofficial depth chart. Lardarius Webb and Steve Smith also have expressed an interest in running back kicks.

Community Tailgate: 8/10/15

August 10th, 2015 at 8:01pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still a few weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier 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 wide receiver Steve Smith and his candidacy for the Hall of Fame. As you surely know by now, Smith announced on Monday morning that the 2015 season will be his last. Smith, now with the Ravens, stands as the Panthers’ all-time leading receiver with 836 receptions for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns receiving. For his career, spanning 15 years to date, Smith has caught 915 passes for a total of 13,262 yards and 73 touchdowns. It seems quite possible that Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, could be inducted into the Hall of Fame once he’s eligible. But it’s not a slam dunk.

Due largely to the evolution of the game and voters’ difficulty in comparing wide receivers from different eras, receivers have had some difficulty finding their way into Canton. Since 2000, there have been only ten WRs inducted into the Hall of Fame, and that number includes the controversial selection of Steelers notable Lynn Swann. Smith’s numbers are better than many of the receivers already in the Hall, but voters might chalk that up to the passing-friendly rules that have been brought into the NFL in the modern era.

When Smith is eligible, do you think he’ll enter the Hall of Fame? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Brady, Patriots

August 10th, 2015 at 7:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Dolphins offensive coach Jim Turner is filing a defamation lawsuit in Florida against Ted Wells for his findings in his February 2014 report on the Dolphins bullying scandal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes. Turner, who thinks his reputation and career have been unfairly affected, believes that Wells’ report on the Dolphins negatively and perhaps permanently altered his ability to land another NFL coaching job. The Dolphins were plagued by the scandal in 2013 which centered on the relationship between offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. Here’s more out of the AFC East..

Some of those connected to the Tom Brady case tell Mark Maske of the Washington Post that they’re skeptical that Wednesday’s settlement conference in federal court in New York will move the NFL and the NFLPA significantly closer to a compromise and resolve their dispute over Brady’s punishment. “I don’t see much willingness to move toward a middle ground,” one of those people said. Another person familiar with the case expressed similar sentiments, saying: “You never say never, I guess. [But] I don’t expect it.”
By cutting Chris White and trading Matt Wells, the door is open wider for Rutgers product Jonathan Freeny to make the Patriots, Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald tweets.
Since the start of the Deflategate investigation, there was a lot of questioning of Ted Wells’ standing as an independent investigator. However, if you ask Tom E. Curran of CSNNE, that’s ultimately a moot point.

Buccaneers To Sign Tony McDaniel

August 10th, 2015 at 6:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Buccaneers worth up to $2.5MM, a source tells Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). McDaniel was slated to earn that same amount with the Seahawks, so he’ll now have the opportunity to match that if he reaches certain incentives.

Since joining the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, McDaniel has been a full-time starter in the middle of the team’s defensive line, starting 29 contests during that stretch. He played on 413 snaps last year, posting 17 tackles, but didn’t grade too well according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked McDaniel as a bottom-10 defensive tackle.

As a vested veteran, McDaniel did not need to pass through waivers before signing with another club. The 30-year-old was scheduled to earn a $2.5MM base salary in 2015 and when combined with his prorated roster bonus and workout bonus, he would have counted $3.625MM against Seattle’s cap. By cutting him in August, the club cleared out that total except for his roster bonus, saving $3MM in the process.

Several other clubs, including the Raiders, have been linked to McDaniel in the past week.

Latest On Greg Hardy

August 10th, 2015 at 4:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFLPA wants to see what happens at Thursday’s hearing on regarding Adrian Peterson before taking any action on behalf of Greg Hardy, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Hardy still hasn’t made a decision regarding a potential lawsuit against the league, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Florio.

On July 10th, the Cowboys defensive end saw his ten-game suspension lowered to a much more palatable four-game ban. However, Hardy’s camp reportedly decided from the outset that they would battle anything beyond two games since he already sat out the lion’s share of the 2014 season. Florio’s source says that Hardy has decided to follow the lead of the union on this one – he’ll proceed with action if the NFLPA wants to, but otherwise, he’s prepared to serve a four-game suspension.

For now, assuming Hardy accepts the four-game suspension, he’ll have the potential to earn up to about $10.628MM this season. The 26-year-old’s contract has a modest base salary, but features up to $9.25MM in per-game roster bonuses and about $1.8MM in incentives. By getting his penalty reduced from 10 games to four games, Hardy will have the opportunity to earn nearly $3.5MM in extra per-game roster bonuses.

As a refresher, Hardy allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder in May of 2014. After being found guilty by a judge, Hardy was scheduled to get a jury trial, but due to a lack of cooperation by Holder, the charges against the defensive end were ultimately dismissed, as he reached a civil settlement with his accuser. While the case played out, Hardy spent the 2014 season on the commissioner’s exempt list for the Panthers, missing all but one game. The Cowboys signed Hardy earlier this offseason before word of his suspension broke, and a four-game ban is about what the team had initially expected.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/15

August 10th, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest minor moves and signings from around the NFL..

The Dolphins signed running back Demitrius Bronson and safety Phillip Thomas, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets. To make room, Miami waived/injured safety Shamiel Gary and waived receiver Tyler McDonald.
The Colts re-signed guard Kitt O’Brien and waived guard Dionte Savage, Mike Chappell of the Indy Star tweets. Just days ago, the Colts cut O’Brien and signed Savage.
The Broncos claimed Matt Hall off waivers from the Colts, Wilson tweets.
The Saints waived UDFA wide receiver Malcome Kennedy from their IR, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.
The Seahawks signed safety Tyrequek Zimmerman, Wilson tweets.
The Patriots signed Tony Creecy and Logan Stokes while cutting Chris White and Mason Brodine, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
The Lions signed tight end Jacob Maxwell, who was briefly with the team as a UDFA, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
The Titans waived-injured cornerback Curtis Riley and picked up fellow corner Will Brown, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
The Jaguars signed defensive end Camaron Beard and waived/injured linebacker Matt Robinson, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.
The Eagles signed ex-Falcons wide receiver Freddie Martino and released fellow wideout John Harris, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Defensive end Frances Mays has also been waived/injured.

Earlier updates:

The Packers announced that they have released punter Cody Mandell, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. Mandell was in competition with fellow punter Tim Masthay, but that showdown didn’t even make it until the preseason opener.
The Browns worked out and signed linebacker Moise Fokou, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). To make room for Smith, the Browns have cut Rodney Smith, Wilson tweets.
The Seahawks cut Robert Smith with a failed physical designation, Wilson tweets. The safety was claimed off waivers from the Colts late last week.

NFC East Notes: Hankins, Lee, Eagles

August 10th, 2015 at 2:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins may be the most important piece of the Giants‘ defense this season, but he’s also not getting a ton of attention from onlookers. That’s just fine with him, as Newsday’s Tom Rock writes. However, after racking up seven sacks in 2014, that could all change. He also might get more attention now that defensive line coach Robert Nunn plans to use Hankins more on passing downs.

“He kind of started showing up a year ago. When we would get in one-on-one pass rush, he was doing some good things and he got his opportunity and took advantage of it,” Nunn said. “If he’s producing, he’s definitely going to be in there. He’s definitely going to have that opportunity to get in there in some rush situations.”

Here’s more out of the NFC East..

Linebacker Sean Lee, who missed the 2014 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, says he’s coming along well, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. It’s not clear if he’ll be on the field for Thursday’s preseason opener, but Lee says that he’s up to the task. “His rehab has gone really well,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s making progress every day. I think we have done a good job as an organization of being deliberate with him and his return…It’s good to see him getting more work over the last couple of days.”
Former Eagles cornerback Cary Williams stirred things up when he said he and his teammates were “exhausted” toward the end of the year due to Chip Kelly’s intense practices. Now, David Murphy of the Daily News wonders if JaCorey Shepherd’s injury gives credence to those claims.
It’s still early, but Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com took his best guest at predicting Washington‘s 53-man roster. Tandler projects that running back Silas Redd will be among the final cuts in camp, especially if Chris Thompson stays healthy. Thompson currently has the edge because of his speed, though Redd has time to overtake him in the coming weeks.

Patriots Acquire Ryan Groy From Bears

August 10th, 2015 at 12:23pm CST by Zachary Links

12:23pm: The Patriots traded linebacker Matthew Wells to Chicago to acquire Groy, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Wells was a 2015 sixth-round selection by New England.

11:32am: The Patriots have acquired guard Ryan Groy from the Bears, a source tells Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). The exact return is not known at this time, but the Patriots likely didn’t give up much to acquire the offensive lineman.

Groy was a member of the Bears’ practice squad to start the 2014 season but was promoted to the 53-man roster when right tackle Jordan Mills went down with a rib injury. Groy, 25 in September, saw time in four games for Chicago last season, including three starts. He entered the league as a UDFA last offseason after going undrafted out of Wisconsin.

The acquisition of the Wisconsin product marks the Patriots’ second transaction so far on Monday. Earlier today, the Pats cut quarterback Matt Flynn in order to sign Ryan Lindley.

Steve Smith To Retire After Season

August 10th, 2015 at 12:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith announced on Monday afternoon that he’ll be retiring after the 2015 season (via the Ravens’ official Twitter account). Smith said that he knew back in April that this would be his final season, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets.

Smith, 36, spent 14 years with the Panthers up until his surprising release following the 2013 season. The veteran later told reporters that he was planning on retiring after the 2014 campaign as a Panther. In March, Smith would go on to sign with the Ravens and last season he proved that he still has plenty left in the tank. In 16 regular season games, Smith, hauled in 79 catches for 1,065 yards and 6 touchdowns, easily topping his performance in the year prior for Carolina. Signed through the 2016 season, Smith will be walking away from a $3MM base salary in the final season of his contract.

Smith stands as Carolina’s all-time leading receiver with 836 receptions for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns receiving. For his career, Smith has caught 915 passes for a total of 13,262 yards and 73 touchdowns. It seems possible that Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, could be inducted into the Hall of Fame once he’s eligible.

Shaun Suisham May Have Torn ACL

August 10th, 2015 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham has told people the belief is he tore his ACL, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The kicker will have an MRI done later today to confirm the likely diagnosis.

Suisham, 33, signed a four-year extension with the Steelers last year that takes him through the 2018 season. Across the last five seasons with the Steelers, Suisham has connected on 87.9% of his field goal attempts, though that average was weighed down by a subpar 2011 campaign. Last season, he converted on 90.6% of his field goal tries, missing only one chip shot and two 50 yard+ attempts. From 30-49 yards out, he was a flawless 16-16.

Prior to joining the Steelers in 2010, Suisham spent time with the Cowboys and Washington. For his career, he has converted on 274 out of 276 extra point tries. In the last five years with Pittsburgh, he has never missed a PAT.