Extra Points: Browns, 49ers, Patriots, Cardinals
Some assorted notes from around the NFL…
- The Browns tried out defensive end Sterling Bailey and wideouts Antwan Goodley and Mitch Mathews, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- After retiring, Anthony Davis owes the 49ers quite a bit of money, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Davis owes $1.235MM for 2016, which is 14/17th of his salary for the year. Then, if he remains retired, he’ll owe $1.5MM in 2017. The lineman is already familiar with the process of refunding San Francisco after giving back $1.667MM in 2015. Davis could return to football at some point, but it sounds like he is over the day-to-day grind that it takes to play in the NFL.
- Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was asked how long the team would keep punter Drew Butler on the active roster. “As long as we can,” the coach responded (viaFox Sports 910’s Mike Jurecki on Twitter). “That will all depend on other injuries.” The Cardinals recently signed punter Ryan Quigley to fill in for the injured Butler, who’s battling an injured ankle.
- Chris Long‘s tenure with the Patriots doesn’t need to be a “one-year fling,” writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Of course, the defensive end gave a very Belichickian response when discussing his future with the franchise. “One way to get yourself in trouble as a football player is to think past this week or today,” Long said. “You can’t take anything for granted as far as going out and practicing, going to play on Sundays. If you keep things one day at a time and you keep it narrow, I mean, there’s nowhere I’d rather be today. That’s the way I come to work every day.” Long will be earning $2.37MM this season.
Giants To Work Out Will Allen, Jeron Johnson
Add another pair of safeties to the Giants’ growing list of auditionees. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Giants will workout veteran defensive backs Will Allen and Jeron Johnson tomorrow. We learned yesterday that the team was also going to take a look at former Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner and former undrafted free agent Shamiel Gary.
Allen, 34, is the oldest of the bunch, although the veteran did have a career year for the Steelers in 2015. The 12-year veteran started 13 games, collecting career-highs in tackles (80), sacks (four), forced fumbles (two) and passes defended (eight). Allen has only missed 17 games throughout his career, so he’d certainly add some dependability to a depleted Giants safety corps.
Johnson has bounced around a bit since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011. The five-year veteran had one of his best seasons with the Redskins in 2015, compiling a career-high 27 tackles. The 28-year-old caught on with the Chiefs this offseason, but he was ultimately released in early September.
The Giants secondary has been struggling with injuries. Safeties Nat Berhe and Darian Thompson are both battling various ailments and are unlikely to play on Monday night. PFR’s Dallas Robinson noted that cornerback Leon Hall could easily fill in, but the veteran will likely be required to play his natural position considering the injuries to cornerbacks Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Browns Notes: Gordon, Pryor, Workouts
Browns head coach Hue Jackson confirmed that the organization has moved on from wideout Josh Gordon. The 25-year-old revealed earlier this week that he’d be putting his career on hold and entering an in-patient rehabilitation facility. It was reported yesterday that the organization was planning on parting ways with the talented receiver.
According to Nate Ulrich of Cleveland.com, Jackson said that he talked to Gordon “several times” about the decision. Otherwise, the coach was more focused on his current, active players.
“I think what we need to do is just close that chapter right now,” Jackson said. “He’s doing what he needs to do, and we need to do what we need to do, which is continue to move forward.
“Obviously, Josh is not here and doing what he thinks he needs to do for his life, which we support 100 percent. And I think after today, today is really the last Josh Gordon comment I want to make about that. I think what’s best for our football team is that we move forward and move on. He’s not going to be with us, and we wish him well. But we’re moving forward. We’re going to move on.”
Let’s check out some notes pertaining to Gordon and the Browns organization…
- Receiver Andrew Hawkins had no issues with Gordon’s decision, noting that the player’s well-being is more important than football. “The personal side is more important,” Hawkins told Ulrich. “I love football as much as anybody else and Josh is one of the best talents…But it’s still secondary. Him being a good receiver isn’t going to save his life 20 years from now. Him coming back to help the Cleveland Browns in 2016 isn’t going to help him in 2025 if he’s still dealing with these same issues, so I’m sincere in [saying] what he’s doing is important.”
- Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com wonders if NFL teams “understand drug abuse enough to properly assess the risk” of selecting embattled players. The writer focuses on a pair of recent Browns supplemental draft picks: Gordon and Terrelle Pryor. Gordon, a second-round pick in the 2012 supplemental draft, was dismissed from Baylor following failed drug tests. Pryor, a third-round pick in the 2011 supplemental draft, left Ohio State following a memorabilia-selling scandal. Gordon’s future with the franchise appears to be over, while Pryor has been a bright spot for the 0-3 Browns.
- Wide receiver Mitch Mathews is worked out for the Browns yesterday, agent Brett Tessler tweets. The BYU product was supposed to work out with Cleveland last week, but the audition had to be rescheduled.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Tom Coughlin Met With Bills During Offseason
There’s now more clarity on that mysterious meeting between the Bills and former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. According to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen, the two sides did actually meet… although the meeting took place during the “early part of the offseason.” Furthermore, it’s unlikely that Coughlin was interviewing for a head coaching gig, as Bills head coach Rex Ryan was reportedly at the meeting. Previous reports, which has been denied by the NFL and Coughlin’s agent, were uncertain of the purpose of the gathering.
Mortensen writes that Ryan, Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, and team president Russ Brandon all met with Coughlin in South Florida “around March or early April.” The hour-long discussion was focused on Coughlin’s willingness to join the organization as an active consultant. A later phone conversation between Ryan and Coughlin convinced the Super Bowl winning coach to pursue other opportunities.
“I can confirm that the meeting you’re talking about did take place, but it was several months ago and there have been no calls from any team about Tom’s availability to coach,” agent Sandy Montag told Mortensen. “He is fully engaged in his job with the NFL.”
The timing of the initial report was notable, as the Bills had recently fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Furthermore, there have been lingering questions regarding the job security of both Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley.
Coughlin stepped down as the Giants head coach in early January following 12 seasons (and a pair of Super Bowl championships) with the team. The 70-year-old has indicated that he wants to coach again, and he took meetings with both the Eagles and 49ers this past offseason. Coughlin ultimately accepted a job working alongside Troy Vincent in the NFL’s football operations department.
Injury Updates: Bosa, Pouncey, Brown, Doctson
Redskins coach Jay Gruden may sit rookie wideout Josh Doctson, who is currently struggling through an Achilles injury. After having hauled in a single catch for 57 yards through two games, the first-rounder was a late scratch prior to last weekend’s game against the Giants. The injury first popped up all the way back during May’s OTAs.
“We’ve had all of the tests, and there is really nothing there that we should be concerned about from a long-term problem,” Gruden told ESPN.com’s John Keim. “It’s just, he is dealing with some pain. We don’t know why it is, but we have to try and figure out what it is and get it fixed.
“It could be a possibility or a time that we put him down for a couple more weeks or a couple more days like we’re taking him off today, probably sit him down tomorrow and see if that helps a little bit.”
Let’s check out some more injury news from around the NFL…
- Chargers first-round pick Joey Bosa has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Saints, but the defensive end is confident that he’ll be making his debut very soon. “I’m very close,” Bosa told ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams. “We’re getting there. We’re just being smart. There’s no point to rush someone back, and then you get hurt and you’re out for longer when we’ve got a really long season ahead of us.” The third-overall pick has been hampered by a hamstring injury.
- Dolphins lineman Mike Pouncey will return to practice next week, and ESPN.com’s James Walker says the coaching staff is confident the veteran could play in next week’s game against the Titans. The Pro Bowl center has sat out his team’s first four games with a hip injury.
- Texans left tackle Duane Brown has been ruled out of this Sunday’s contest against the Titans, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The Pro Bowler is recovering from an injured quad muscle.
- In case you missed it, Bills wideout Sammy Watkins was placed on the injured reserve yesterday.