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Month: September 2016

Bears To Sign Connor Barth

By | at September 5, 2016 9:15 am

MONDAY, 9:15am: Barth’s deal with the Bears is for one year, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

SUNDAY, 9:51pm: The Bears are having a busy night, as after agreeing to a three-year contract with guard Josh Sitton, the club is planning to sign kicker Connor Barth, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Barth is the replacement for longtime Bears kicker Robbie Gould, who was released earlier today.Connor Barth

[RELATED: NFC North Transaction Tracker]

Barth, 30, has been in the NFL since 2008, and has spent time with the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Broncos during his seven-year stint. He had signed with the Saints earlier this summer, but was released yesterday as part of final cuts. Last year, Barth was in his second go-round with Tampa, and he nailed 23-of-28 field goal attempts. From 50+ yards, Barth was three-for-five, and he only missed one extra point.

Given that the Bears were presumably looking to save money by releasing Gould, it’s likely that Barth signed for something close to the minimum.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC East

By | at September 5, 2016 9:10 am

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day (all links go to Twitter unless noted otherwise):

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

3 comments Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Rico Gathers Transactions Washington Commanders

Titans Sign Marc Mariani

By | at September 5, 2016 9:04 am

After having spent the past couple of seasons in Chicago, Marc Mariani is back in Tennessee. According to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com, the Titans have signed the veteran WR/KR. The team has waived wideout Tre McBride to make the necessary roster spot, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.

Jan 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Marc Mariani (80) during the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The former seventh-round pick broke onto the scene with the Titans as a rookie in 2010. The returner ended up making the Pro Bowl that season after having collected 27 punts for 329 yards and a touchdown and another 60 kickoffs for 1,530 yards and a touchdown. 2011 was another solid season for Mariani, but injuries kept him off the field in 2012 and 2013.

The receiver was ultimately cut by the Titans, and he landed on the Bears. In 2015, the 29-year-old finished with 29 punt returns for 129 yards, as well as 16 kick returns for 418 yards. Mariani also finished with career-highs in receptions (22) and receiving yards (300). The Bears re-signed the veteran this offseason, but he was cut by the squad this weekend.

McBride, a seventh-round pick out of William & Mary, initially made the Titans roster over former second-rounder Justin Hunter.

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Colts Sign Darryl Morris

By | at September 5, 2016 8:49 am

With the Colts’ secondary battling through injury issues, the team’s front office has brought in a veteran cornerback. According to Zak Keefer of The Indianapolis Star (via Twitter), the Colts have signed cornerback Darryl Morris. To make room on the roster, the team has cut rookie Frankie Williams.

Darryl MorrisMorris, 25, joined the Jets this offseason after having spent the past two seasons with the Texans. The former Texas State standout played in 23 games between 2014 and 2015, compiling 46 tackles and six passes defended. The Jets were hoping that Morris would provide some depth to their aging cornerback corps, but the defensive back was ultimately cut by the team on Saturday.

Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Purdue, will now seek work elsewhere, although Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral.com tweets that the Colts are hoping he’ll land back on their practice squad. The team was seeking some reinforcement at cornerback, as Vontae Davis is expected to miss some time. Patrick Robinson and Darius Butler are also currently battling injuries.

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Browns Sign Britton Colquitt

By | at September 5, 2016 8:25 am

MONDAY, 8:25am: Colquitt’s one-year deal with the Browns is worth $1.7MM, tweets Mike Klis of 9News in Denver.

SATURDAY, 5:54pm: The Browns announced that they’ve waived Palardy to make room for Colquitt.

10:12am: It didn’t take long for punter Britton Colquitt to find a new team. Days after being cut by the Broncos, the 31-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Browns, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). As our own Zach Links noted, as a vested veteran, Colquitt wasn’t subject to waivers.

Britton Colquitt (Featured)Colquitt is only the latest punter to join Cleveland this offseason. After trading away punter Andy Lee for another punter in Kasey Redfern, the Browns also brought in Michael Palardy. Considering Colquitt’s track record, the team will presumably be going with the 31-year-old. The veteran has averaged 45.2-yards-per-punt during his career, and he’s placed at least 20 punts per season within the 20-yard-line.

Colquitt, who was the Broncos longest-tenured player, was replaced by rookie Riley Dixon in Denver. At the time of his release, his agent said the veteran was willing to take a $1MM pay cut on his $3.25MM salary.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Bears To Sign Josh Sitton

By | at September 4, 2016 9:55 pm

After being released by the Packers yesterday, free agent guard Josh Sitton will stay in the NFC North, as he’s agreed to a three-year contract with the Bears, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The deal is worth $21.75MM and contains $10MM in guarantees, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.Josh Sitton (Vertical)

[RELATED: Bears Sign Kyle Long To Extension]

Sitton, 30, is a three-time Pro Bowler who has long been considered one of the best — if not the best — guards in the NFL, so the Packers’ willingness to move on from him certainly came as a surprise. In eight seasons in Green Bay, Sitton appeared in 121 games, starting 112, while delivering dominant results on the interior of the offensive line.

Last year, Sitton graded out as the sixth-best guard in the NFL, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. He received a strong 91.1 pass blocking grade (tied for fourth-best in the NFL) with a still respectable 81.2 mark against the run.

While the Saints were also reported to have interest in meeting with Sitton, he’ll instead head to the Chicago, where his presence along the interior offensive line will be a boon. While the Bears boast the recently-extended Kyle Long at right guard, left guard and center had been wide open following the release of Matt Slauson, the retirements of Nate Chandler and Manny Ramirez, and the injury to Hroniss Grasu.

Sitton will start on the left side, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, while rookie Cody Whitehair and veteran Ted Larsen compete for time at center.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

9 comments Chicago Bears Newsstand Transactions

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South

By | at September 4, 2016 9:50 pm

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

0 comments Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Jets Work Out David Cobb

By | at September 4, 2016 8:52 pm

David Cobb is a busy man, as the free agent running back has visited a number of teams this weekend. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the 23-year-old’s latest audition was with the Jets. Cobb already worked out with the Patriots and the Chiefs this weekend.

David Cobb (vertical)Cobb, a former fifth-round pick, was waived by the Titans last week. The running back made only seven appearances during his rookie season, compiling 146 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries. While Cobb’s 2015 campaign certainly didn’t do him any favors, a crowded Titans depth chart (which includes DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, and Dexter McCluster) didn’t help.

It’s uncertain where Cobb would slide in on the Jets. The team released running backs Khiry Robinson and Dominique Williams today, making Troymaine Pope the team’s third running back behind Matt Forte and Bilal Powell.

3 comments New York Jets

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC West

By | at September 4, 2016 8:36 pm

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

1 comment Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Transactions

Bears Release Robbie Gould

By | at September 4, 2016 8:21 pm

The Bears have parted ways with the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the organization has released long-time kicker Robbie Gould. Despite the veteran’s recent struggles, the move comes as a bit of a surprise, especially since the Bears don’t have another kicker on their roster. The 34-year-old was set to make $2.9MM this upcoming season.

Aug 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould practices a field goal prior to a game against the against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Gould had spent the past 11 seasons on the Bears, converting 85-percent (276-323) of his field goals and 99-percent of his extra points (379-383). After a disappointing 2014 campaign where he only made 12 appearances and finished with a career-low field goal percentage, the veteran seemed to have bounced back in 2015. Gould connected on nearly 85-percent of his field goals, and his kickoffs continued to be as consistent as ever.

However, Gould struggled down the stretch last season, and those inconsistencies carried into the 2016 preseason. In the team’s final preseason game, Gould missed a pair of extra points.

As our 2016 free agent list shows, the pickings at kicker are rather slim.

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