HEADLINES

Month: August 2015

49ers’ Aldon Smith Arrested

August 7th, 2015 at 11:09am CST by Luke Adams

11:09am: After getting out of jail this morning, Smith told KTVU (YouTube link) that “this wasn’t a DUI” and “the truth will come out,” while apologizing to fans. Meanwhile, 49ers CEO Jed York tells Michael Silver (Twitter link) that the team hasn’t yet made any decisions on Smith.

9:58am: 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith has run into more off-field trouble, according to Matt Keller of ABC7 News, who reports (via Twitter) that Smith was arrested and booked by Santa Clara Police last night. The Santa Clara PD confirmed Smith’s arrest, tweeting that he was charged with hit and run, DUI, and vandalism.

Smith, 25, has had his share of legal run-ins in the past, including multiple DUI arrests. The linebacker has missed nearly half the 49ers’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014. Given the nature of his latest violation, Smith may be facing another suspension, either from the team or the league. Repeated arrests cost Ray McDonald his spot on the Niners’ roster last season, so Smith’s spot on the team may also be in jeopardy.

The timing of the incident is unfortunate for the 49ers, whose GM – Trent Baalke – spoke earlier this week about wanting to lock up Smith beyond the 2015 season. Instead, the club may consider parting ways with Smith, since his cap hit wouldn’t be exorbitant. The former seventh overall pick agreed to restructure his contract during the offseason, converting most of his base salary to per-game roster bonuses. Smith can earn up to $9.754MM via bonuses and incentives, but the Niners would only have to eat $1.6MM if they were to release him.

When he’s healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, Smith recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team. However, his off-field issues have limited his production since then.

The 49ers’ defense has already taken several hits this offseason, so Smith’s absence – if he’s cut or suspended – would be the latest blow to the increasingly depleted unit. The club saw cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox depart in free agency, while defensive end Justin Smith and linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland all decided to retire.

Antonio Allen Injures Achilles, Waived By Jets

August 7th, 2015 at 9:42am CST by Luke Adams

A day after he went down in practice with an Achilles injury, defensive back Antonio Allen has been waived by the Jets with an injury designation, the team announced today in a press release. The club signed cornerback Keon Lyn to replace Allen on its roster.

As Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported last night, the Jets feared that Allen tore his right Achilles when he went down with an injury yesterday. The 26-year-old underwent an MRI today, and it appears the Jets confirmed that diagnosis, which means Allen will be out for the year.

Because he was cut with an injured designation, Allen will revert to the Jets’ injured reserve list if he goes unclaimed on waivers. A team could decide to claim him, but the defensive back is entering the final year of his contract, so if he’s out for the year, it wouldn’t really benefit another club to add him.

Allen, who joined the Jets as a seventh-round pick in 2012, assumed a major role for the team in 2013, starting nine games at safety and accumulating 60 tackles. Last season, he saw some time at cornerback when New York’s depth chart at the position thinned out. Assuming he recovers from his torn Achilles, he should draw some interest on the free agent market next year, once his rookie contract expires.

Extra Points: Sam, CJ2K, D-Jax, Ravens

August 6th, 2015 at 9:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Montreal Alouettes are feeling very good about Michael Sam‘s progress and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) would be very surprised if he doesn’t make his CFL debut Friday night. Sam left the CFL team for personal reasons over the summer but recently returned to practice. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Despite talk and speculation to the contrary, there’s nothing going on between the Texans and running back Chris Johnson, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (on Twitter) hears from a source. Johnson, who survived a drive-by shooting earlier this year, has gone unsigned so far this offseason.
  • Following a collision with a blocking sled, DeSean Jackson has been diagnosed with a separated shoulder, and the Washington wideout is expected to miss “a few weeks,” per Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Jackson should be ready to go for the regular season, so he figures to remain on the active roster.
  • The Ravens didn’t immediately sign ex-Niner Chris Cook following his workout with the team today, but it’s clear Baltimore is still considering adding a veteran cornerback, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Bears rookie wide receiver Kevin White could start the year on the PUP list, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). White, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 draft, reportedly expects to begin running on his injured shin early next week.
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com passes along a couple more details on DeAndre Levy‘s extension with the Lions, tweeting that the deal drops the linebacker’s base salary to $3.5MM in 2015, but he’ll receive a $12MM signing bonus.

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Chancellor, L.A.

August 6th, 2015 at 8:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Tonight’s look at the NFC West..

  • Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Facebook) hears that Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor could end his holdout if he is better cash flow over the first two years of the remaining three on his current deal. A team tight against the cap but somewhat cash-rich like the Seahawks could get that done by converting the majority of his base salary over the next two years ($9.65MM) to a signing bonus, she posits. As Anderson reported earlier today, Chancellor is prepared to take his holdout into the regular season if necessary.
  • Meanwhile, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) hears that the Seahawks will not do any kind of new deal with the safety unless that deal is highly favorable for the club and ties him up for the rest of his career. Despite Seattle’s stance, GM John Schneider is keeping negotiations peaceful. The solution, Cole says, could be a “band-aid” deal, like they did with Marshawn Lynch. To satisfy Lynch last year, the Seahawks moved money from the back-end of the contract to the current year.
  • Sources have told Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports that, at next Tuesday’s special meeting in Illinois, NFL owners will discuss implementing a program to allow fans to make deposits to get on a waiting list for tickets at a temporary stadium in Los Angeles before the end of the calendar year. The goal would be to start building a season-ticket base for the 2016 season now, rather than waiting until it’s clear which, and how many, teams will be making the move. The Rams are one of the teams in the mix to make the move, of course, but the Chargers and Raiders could also wind up in L.A.

More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/16

August 6th, 2015 at 7:22pm CST by Zachary Links

We rounded up some of the minor signings and moves in the NFL earlier today. Below, we’ll round up the very latest..

  • The Bills are signing former Eastern Michigan running back Bronson Hill, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Hill should provide Buffalo with more depth as they get set to install a run-heavy offense. To make room, the Bills cut defensive end Erik Williams, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Colts were awarded cornerback Tevin Mitchel off waivers from Washington and waived safety Robert Smith to make room for him, Wilson tweets.
  • The Steelers waived-injured Rob Blanchflower and claimed tight end Ray Hamilton off waivers from the Cowboys, Wilson tweets.
  • The Patriots announced today that they have signed offensive lineman Mark Asper and tight end Mason Brodine. To make room, offensive lineman Harland Gunn has been let go. Asper, 29, originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick by the Bills in 2012.
  • The Cardinals waived/injured guard John Fullington (knee) and released tight end Ted Bolser, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The 49ers have waived/injured offensive lineman Ben Gottschalk, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group tweets.
  • The Saints waived defensive end Glenn Foster with a failed physical designation, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets. To fill his spot, New Orleans inked undrafted rookie cornerback Travis Manning.

Community Tailgate: Who Will Win AFC West?

August 6th, 2015 at 6:02pm 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 want to know who you think will win the AFC West in 2015. The Broncos have won the division four years in a row but there’s reason to think that we could see a changing of the guard this season. For starters, familiar faces such as tight end Julius Thomas and nose tackle Terrance Knighton are out of the picture and it’s fair to wonder if Peyton Manning, now entering his age-39 season, can still be an elite quarterback at this stage of his career. There are also questions on the defensive line. Still, with Manning under center, Wade Phillips calling plays on the other side of the ball, and a not-too-difficult schedule, the Broncos are the favorites in the eyes of many.

There’s still plenty of uncertainty about the future of the Chargers given the talk of a possible move to Los Angeles and Philip Rivers‘ contract situation, but they did address their offensive line troubles this offseason. With guard Orlando Franklin in the fold and powerful tackle King Dunlap re-signed, Rivers should have a much easier time moving his offense down the field in 2015. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that Franklin was plucked away from Denver, which theoretically could take a bit out of the reigning AFC West champs.

The Chiefs’ offense sputtered in 2014 but they may have found a solution when they gave Jeremy Maclin a five-year, $55MM deal this offseason. With the additions of guards Paul Fanaika and Ben Grubbs, KC has also gone to great lengths to address the offensive line. Things are looking up for the Chiefs, even with a rigorous start to their schedule.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, star quarterback Derek Carr has a bonafide No. 1 receiver available to him in rookie Amari Cooper and a veteran wideout in Michael Crabtree who is looking to reestablish himself. And while the Raiders didn’t reel in the big fish they were targeting on the open market, they did sign notables such as center Rodney Hudson, linebacker Curtis Lofton, defensive tackle Dan Williams, safety Nate Allen, and running back Roy Helu.

Who do you think will win the AFC West in 2015? Let us know in the comment section below!

Offseason In Review: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

August 6th, 2015 at 4:16pm CST by Zachary Links

Picked by some as a possible surprise playoff contender, the Buccaneers went on to tie the Titans with a league-worst 2-14 mark. The Bucs entered the offseason with serious question marks on both sides of the ball, but also with some flexibility to make changes.

Notable signings:

The Bucs already had one of the best outside linebackers in football in Lavonte David and this spring they brought in another intriguing player at the position. Former Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter hasn’t lived up to expectations so far, but he does boast freakish athleticism and the Bucs likely feel that they can utilize him better than Dallas has. Carter was given a negative grade by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in 2014 and ranked as just the 34th best outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme out of 40 qualified players. However, in 13 games (with eight starts), the 27-year-old recorded 82 total tackles with an eye-popping five interceptions and one sack.

Another former members of the Cowboys, Henry Melton, will be making his home in the Tampa area in 2015. Melton, a former fourth-round pick, broke onto the scene with the Bears in 2010, when he finished with 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. His best season in Chicago came in 2012, when he compiled 32 tackles and six sacks, earning him a trip to the Pro Bowl and a top-six spot on Pro Football Focus’ rankings (subscription required) of defensive tackles. However, his career with the Bears ended rather unceremoniously, as Melton only appeared in three games in 2013 before injuring his ACL. Melton joined the Cowboys in 2014 and played well in part-time action, recording five sacks, but the team decided not to pick up his pricey option for 2015 and beyond, making him a free agent.

Prior to March 10th, the Buccaneers reached agreement on a two-year, $3MM deal to retain safety Major Wright. Wright, a third-round pick of the Bears in the 2010 NFL Draft, is quite familiar with Lovie Smith’s defense. He was inconsistent in Chicago, but Smith saw enough in him to sign him to a one-year deal last offseason. Now, he’s slated to be in Tampa Bay through the 2016 season.

If Carter and Melton ever get wistful for Dallas, they can reminisce with ex-Cowboys cornerback Sterling Moore, who signed a one-year deal with the Bucs. Moore, 25, played an increased role for the Cowboys in 2014, starting seven regular season games for the team and appearing in all 16. Playing 866 defensive snaps, Moore didn’t grab an interception, but defended 13 passes and made 50 tackles. He also ranked 22nd out of 108 qualified cornerbacks during his time at the position, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Notable losses:

The Buccaneers knew they had to make a change at quarterback in 2015 and in February, they let cut veteran Josh McCown loose. Coming off an excellent run in Chicago in which he threw 13 touchdowns and just one interception in relief of Jay Cutler in 2013, McCown inked a two-year, $10MM deal with the Bucs last offseason. McCown’s age-35 season, his lone year as Tampa Bay’s primary starter, didn’t go well — he won just one of 11 starts, throwing more INTs (14) than TDs (11), and completing just 56.3% of his passes. With McCown out of the picture, the Bucs were able to clear a path for their No. 1 overall pick to take over.

Defensive end Michael Johnson was another top pickup from the 2014 offseason who was shown the door in 2015. After signing a hefty five-year, $43.75MM deal, Johnson logged just four sacks, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s 53rd-best 4-3 defensive end, out of 59 qualified players (subscription required). Now, Johnson is back with the Bengals where he’ll try to get back to his old form.

The Bucs declined their fifth-year option on Adrian Clayborn, a former No. 20 overall pick, in April of 2014. Clayborn was then in a position where he would have to prove himself in order to stay in Tampa Bay, but he never got the opportunity. The 27-year-old played in only one game before being placed on IR last September. The year prior, he made 16 starts in 2013 at right defensive end and tallied 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) weren’t all that fond of Clayborn’s performance in 2013 – ranking him 47th out of 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends – and neither were the Bucs, apparently. Clayborn will now try and rebuild his value with the Falcons after signing a one-year, make-good deal.

Less than one year after the Bucs signed left tackle Anthony Collins to a five-year deal worth $30MM, they cut him loose. A former fourth-round pick in 2008 and part-time starter with the Bengals, Collins missed time with injuries last year but rated as a low-end blocker when on the field, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Collins was the sixth-highest-paid player on the Bucs’ payroll and his release cost the team $3MM in dead money while saving an equal amount.

Dane Fletcher, 28, spent four years with the Pats before signing with the Buccaneers last offseason. When the Bucs didn’t make a great effort to retain him this offseason, Fletcher wound up returning to New England. Appearing in all 16 games for Tampa Bay, Fletcher recorded 41 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 2014. While the linebacker logged 358 defensive snaps, he also contributed significantly on special teams, racking up 11 of his tackles in kick and punt coverage.

Before hitting free agency, Buccaneers linebacker Mason Foster made it known that he would like to stay with the team for 2015 and beyond. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be. Foster was courted by the Bears at the outset of free agency and their newly acquired defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins joined in on the recruiting efforts. Near the end of March, Foster inked a deal with Chicago.

Trades:

  • Acquired a 2016 sixth-round pick from Washington in exchange for S Dashon Goldson and a 2016 seventh-round pick.
  • Acquired DE George Johnson (RFA) and a 2015 seventh-round pick from the Lions in exchange for a 2015 fifth-round pick.
  • Acquired a 2015 second-round pick (No. 61; G Ali Marpet) and a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 128) from the Colts in exchange for a 2015 third-round pick (No. 65; CB D’Joun Smith) and a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 109; S Clayton Geathers).
  • Acquired a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 124; LB Kwon Alexander) from the Raiders in exchange for a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 128; G Jon Feliciano) and a seventh-round pick (No. 218; T Anthony Morris).

Dashon Goldson would have gone in the category above this one had it not been for Washington. Washington GM Scot McCloughan helped bring Goldson into the league when he was with the 49ers and he jumped at the opportunity to reunite this offseason. Goldson, 30, signed a massive five-year contract worth $47.5MM with the Bucs prior to the 2013 season, but they won’t carry any dead money since there was no signing bonus on that deal. When Goldson signed that lucrative five-year contract with the Bucs, he was coming off an All-Pro season in San Francisco. However, his production has slipped a little over the last two seasons, as he has battled injuries.

The Buccaneers signed George Johnson, a restricted free agent, to a three-year, $9MM deal with de-escalators for years two and three designed to dissuade the Lions from matching. Initially, it seemed like Detroit was gearing up for a battle with the Bucs as they asked the league office for clarification on which terms they had to match on the offer sheet in order to retain Johnson. Ultimately, however, the two sides skirted a dispute by reached agreement on a trade. Tampa Bay got Johnson and a seventh-round choice from the Lions in exchange for a fifth-round selection. The 27-year-old was quietly effective in 2014, appearing in all 16 games for the Lions and earning a positive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), largely thanks to his excellent pass-rushing acumen.

Extensions and restructures:

Draft picks:

  • 1-1: Jameis Winston, QB (Florida State): Signed
  • 2-34: Donovan Smith, T (Penn State): Signed
  • 2-61: Ali Marpet, OL (Hobart): Signed
  • 4-124: Kwon Alexander, LB (LSU): Signed
  • 5-162: Kenny Bell, WR (Nebraska): Signed
  • 6-184: Kaelin Clay, WR (Utah): Signed
  • 7-231: Joey Iosefa, FB (Hawaii): Signed

Despite all the moves listed above, Jameis Winston stands as the face of the Bucs’ 2015 offseason. When Tampa Bay officially drew the No. 1 pick in the draft, there was little question that they would select the Florida State star, even though some evaluators saw Marcus Mariota as the best QB in this year’s class. Still, despite questions about his makeup and character, Winston is undeniably talented. When he’s on, Winston has shown a level of football intelligence than many rookie signal callers simply don’t have.

In the second round, the Bucs scored a pair of promising offensive lineman. The first, Donovan Smith, started 31 games while at Penn State, all at left tackle. Some wonder if he’s athletic enough to stick on the outside of the O-Line, but the Bucs probably think so after watching him excel at the Senior Bowl. Marpet, meanwhile, hails from Division III Hobart and it’ll be interested to see how quickly he can adjust to the pace of the NFL.

Other:

In May, the Buccaneers decided to decline the fifth-year option on Doug Martin, which means that the running back is now entering his walk year. Martin, 26, burst into the league in 2012, racking up 1,454 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, en route to a spot in the Pro Bowl. However, injuries and underwhelming production have limited him during the last couple seasons, as he has been repeatedly usurped on the Bucs’ running back depth chart. As the 31st overall pick, Martin would have been in line for a $5.621MM salary in 2016 had the Bucs elected to pick up his option.

In addition to having the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, the Bucs also had top priority on the waiver wire and they repeatedly took advantage of that. Their most notable waiver pickup of the bunch was tight end Tim Wright, who burst on to the scene with the Bucs as a rookie in 2013. Wright, 25, grabbed 54 balls for 571 yards and five touchdowns in his first season but after drafting Austin Seferian-Jenkins and signing Brandon Myers, the Bucs took advantage of their depth at tight end and sent Wright to the Pats in a deal for veteran guard Logan Mankins. Wright’s former Rutgers teammate, Khaseem Greene, and safety D.J. Swearinger, are also in Tampa Bay thanks to the Bucs’ top draw on the waiver wire.

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

  1. Gerald McCoy, DT: $14,595,000
  2. Vincent Jackson, WR: $12,209,777
  3. Michael Johnson, DE: $7,000,000 (dead money)
  4. Logan Mankins, G: $7,000,000
  5. Carl Nicks, G: $4,714,000 (dead money)
  6. Jameis Winston, QB: $4,609,323
  7. Bruce Carter, LB: $4,250,000
  8. Alterraun Verner, CB: $4,250,000
  9. Dashon Goldson, S: $4,000,000 (dead money)
  10. Evan Smith, C: $3,750,000

The Buccaneers’ success in 2015 and beyond will largely be tied to the development of Winston. It remains to be seen whether he can justify his No. 1 overall selection, but at the very least, he should help improve an offense that graded out as one of the league’s worst last year.

Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Mathis, Jets

August 6th, 2015 at 2:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Since Evan Mathis was released by the Eagles, there have been conflicting reports on the Dolphins‘ level of interest, with some stories painting them as Mathis’ most likely suitor, while others suggest their interest has been overstated.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Miami’s interest in Mathis is almost entirely dependent on his price. The Dolphins would be willing to do a deal similar to what they’ve done in the past with veteran offensive linemen, paying an annual salary of $2-3MM, with no guarantees beyond the first year. However, Mathis is seeking a salary close to the $5.5MM figure he would have made in Philadelphia.

For now, Mathis is content to wait, knowing that if a team has a starting guard suffer a serious injury, or if a team’s starting guards significantly underperform in the preseason, he may come closer to get the sort of money he’s seeking.

Let’s check in on a couple more AFC East teams….

  • Having read Tom Brady‘s appeal hearing transcript, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that Ted Wells was an “independent” DeflateGate investigator in name only. Florio points to specific excerpts from the transcript that suggest NFL general counsel Jeff Pash had some input on Wells’ report.
  • Following his recent arrest, Sheldon Richardson, who is already set to serve a four-game suspension to open the season, may face additional discipline from the NFL. In fact, Jets head coach Todd Bowles sounded today like he’s resigned to the fact that Richardson will be suspended further, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
  • Richardson’s uncertain future in New York won’t lead to a “massive about-face” in the Jets‘ stance with Muhammad Wilkerson, sources tell Albert Breer of NFL.com. The team plans to stick to its guns in regard to Wilkerson’s contract negotiations.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/15

August 6th, 2015 at 1:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Broncos have re-signed nose tackle Sione Fua for another stint in Denver, per Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). The former third-round pick, who played for Cleveland last season, last spent time with the Broncos in 2013. Denver waived punter Karl Schmitz in a corresponding move. The Broncos have also reached an injury settlement with rookie offensive tackle Connor Rains, removing him from their IR, tweets Mike Klis of 9News.
  • The Buccaneers have signed former Arena League quarterback Sammuel Lamur, the team announced today in a press release. Lamur, the brother of Bengals linebacker Emmanuel Lamur, will be moved to linebacker in Bucs camp.
  • The Titans have made a change in their secondary, signing safety Josh Aubrey and waiving safety Cody Prewitt with an injured designation, per a team release.
  • The Cowboys swapped one tight end for another this week, signing Brandon Barden and cutting Ray Hamilton, tweets Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. As Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets, the club also moved linebacker Justin Anderson and offensive lineman Reshod Fortenberry to its injured reserve list.
  • Patriots tight end A.J. Derby and Eagles outside linebacker Travis Long landed on their respective teams’ injured reserve lists after going unclaimed on waivers, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Panthers have moved retired offensive tackle Jonathan Martin from the reserve/retired list to the reserve/did not report list, tweets Wilson.

Extra Points: Rivers, Ravens, Levy, Mingo

August 6th, 2015 at 11:43am CST by Luke Adams

Multiple reports, including one earlier this week from the San Diego Union-Tribune, have suggested that Philip Rivers and the Chargers have established a deadline for their contract extension negotiations, with the quarterback set to play out the final year of his contract if no deal is reached by next Thursday. However, Rivers downplayed the notion that there’s a hard deadline to get something done, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com writes.

“My mentality has been the same since March, which is I’m playing this season right here,” Rivers said. “Like I said a few weeks ago, if something happens, it does. But I don’t think you should hold your breath for an update any time soon.”

As we wait to see whether Rivers and the Chargers can work something out this month, let’s round up a few more odds and ends from across the league…

  • Having been released yesterday by the 49ers, cornerback Chris Cook already has his first meeting lined up. According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter), Cook will visit John Harbaugh and the Ravens after playing for Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco last year.
  • Financial details of DeAndre Levy‘s extension with the Lions still aren’t available, but Levy acknowledged that the deal will make him the highest-paid 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. That means Levy’s deal will be worth more than the $6.75MM per year K.J. Wright is earning.
  • Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo is undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee today, and is expected to be sidelined for about a month, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. If all goes well, Mingo figures to remain on the active roster and should be able to return for the team’s Week 1 game.
  • It’s time for Ray Rice to be given a chance to return to the NFL, Christine Brennan of USA Today opines. Brennan feels that the former Ravens tailback has been more contrite in his apology and more aware of the ramifications what he did than the likes of Greg Hardy or Adrian Peterson. Several teams have question marks in their backfield at this time, so it’s not hard to imagine someone at least considering Rice, though the general consensus is that the veteran has lost a step.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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