2017 June - Pro Football Rumors

Seahawks Pass On Colin Kaepernick

June 2nd, 2017 at 4:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks won’t be signing Colin Kaepernick. At least, not right now. Today, coach Pete Carroll told reporters that while the door remains “open” to a union with Kaepernick, there is nothing imminent on that front.

This jibes with a report from earlier this week which indicated that no deal would be coming together at this time. Still, all signs indicate that the Seahawks’ meeting with Kaepernick was not just done as a courtesy. The team had real interest in him, reports say, and Carroll insists that there is some degree of interest in the former 49ers signal caller. Carroll said that Kaepernick demonstrated that he is still a starting-caliber quarterback and he can’t imagine that he won’t get an opportunity to play somewhere in the NFL this year.

Austin Davis worked out for the Seahawks on the same day as Kaepernick, but he also remains unsigned. If the Seahawks want to continue looking at outside backup QB options for starter Russell Wilson, they could explore vets such as Robert Griffin III, Shaun Hill, and Christian Ponder.

Ravens TE Dennis Pitta Suffers Hip Injury

June 2nd, 2017 at 2:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Awful news for Dennis Pitta. The Ravens tight end suffered yet another hip injury during practice on Friday, GM Ozzie Newsome announced.

“This is incredibly disappointing, obviously for Dennis, and for the Ravens,” Newsome said in the statement. “Dennis is one of the great Ravens, and he has done everything he can to make our team better.”

The severity of Pitta’s hip injury has not been officially disclosed, but this is crushing news for Pitta, the team, and the tight end’s supporters. The fear is that Pitta fractured and dislocated his hip for third time in four years, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. If that’s the case, then his NFL career is likely finished.

For approximately four years now, Pitta has been dealing with painful hip issues that have kept him off the field. Last year, Pitta bounced back in a major way and became one of the league’s greatest comeback stories.

In 2016, Pitta set career-highs in receptions (86) and receiving yards (729) while adding a pair of touchdowns. It was especially remarkable when considering that Pitta was limited to just seven games between 2013 and 2015.

Pitta, 32 in June, was originally set to carry a hefty $7.7MM cap number in 2017 and 2018. Now, per the terms of his recently restructured pact, he’s slated to carry $5.2MM cap numbers in each of the next two seasons.

Saints Sign Rookie CB Marshon Lattimore

June 2nd, 2017 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have officially signed first round pick Marshon Lattimore, according to a team announcement. Second round safety Marcus Williams and third round running back Alvin Kamara have also put pen to paper.

There was tons of trade speculation surrounding the Saints on draft night, but they stood pat at No. 11 and drafted a player who many see as the best cornerback in this year’s class. Lattimore, an Ohio State product, finished his collegiate career with 46 tackles (34 solo), one stop for a loss, four interceptions and 16 passes defensed. In his final year on campus, Lattimore was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and proved to scouts everywhere that he can succeed at the next level.

“I’ve studied the top cornerbacks coming out and he’s the best I’ve seen,” one pro personnel director for an AFC team told NFL.com before the draft. “He’s so athletic that he can just post up under the receiver’s chin and shadow him all over the field. And he’s tough, too. He’ll be one of the top cornerbacks pretty quickly.”

The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Kamara was a dual threat as a member of the Volunteers, with whom he averaged 6.2 yards per rush, caught 74 passes, and combined for 23 touchdowns over two seasons. Now, he’ll be learning from the best as he backs up both Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson. Kamara split carries with Jalen Hurd at Tennessee, so he’s no stranger to a timeshare.

Panthers, Trai Turner Discussing Extension

June 2nd, 2017 at 12:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers and guard Trai Turner are in the early stages of working out a new deal, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. League sources say that the talks are preliminary, and that’s probably because the price tag for Turner is trending upwards.

Guards don’t make as much as tackles, but recent contracts inked by Kevin Zeitler (five years, $60MM) and Kelechi Osemele (five years, $58.5MM) have pushed the market. Those deals were inked in free agency, but others like Joel Bitonio (five years, $51.2MM), David DeCastro (five years, $50MM), Kyle Long (four years, $40MM), and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (five years, $42.4MM) got paid handsomely to remain with their respective teams.

Now, it’s Turner’s turn to get paid. The 23-year-old (24 in June) has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons and has been viewed as a quality lineman ever since his rookie year in 2014. As a former third round pick, the Panthers have him under contract at a $1.931MM cap number (which was boosted thanks to the proven performance escalator clause), but it will take a lot more than that to lock him up for 2018 and beyond.

In February, Turner changed representation and signed with Drew Rosenhaus.

Texans Release Bullough, Mumphery

June 2nd, 2017 at 12:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Texans receiver Keith Mumphery and inside linebacker Max Bullough have been released, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). Different off-the-field issues have led to both players being jettisoned from Houston.

Bullough was suspended four games for a PED violation back in May. In a statement, Bullough indicated that a tainted supplement was to blame for the positive test, but that excuse apparently did not fly with Texans brass. The Michigan State product appeared in every game for Houston last season and even made three starts. He had just 19 tackles in total, however, and only saw the field for 240 defensive snaps.

The Texans used a fifth round pick on Mumphery in 2015 but only recently learned that he was expelled from Michigan State for a sexual misconduct violation. The local prosecutor declined to press charges when the accuser could not be reached, but the university booted him from the program for violating the policy on “relationship violence and sexual misconduct.” More than two years after the alleged incident, Mumphery now finds himself out of work in the NFL.

Vikings’ Joe Berger Likely To Retire After 2017

June 2nd, 2017 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Vikings center Joe Berger realizes that he’s getting towards the end of his career. The 35-year-old says that 2017 will probably be his final NFL season.

“You never know what the circumstances are going to be, but in my mind, that’s the way I’m looking at it,” Berger told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “It’s year 13 and it’s been fun. It’s a young man’s game, though.’’

Berger first broke into the league as a sixth-round pick of the Panthers, but never wound up taking the field for them. After trudging along in a largely reserve role for the Dolphins and Cowboys, he found a more permanent home with the Vikings in 2011. In 2015, he became a full time starter at center and that’s the role he’ll likely reprise for the third straight season this year.

In 2016, Berger saw time at center, left guard, and right guard. Listed as a guard by Pro Football Focus, he was given a strong overall score of 85.0 and ranked as the 12th best guard in the NFL. In the year prior, he pulled down a career best 88.0 mark. Berger is doing the best work of his playing career, but it sounds like he wants to leave the game with his health in tact.

“Not everybody gets the opportunity in this game to walk away on their own,” Berger said. “So, for [Chad Greenway] to have a great career like he did, all (with the Vikings), to be able to step away on his own with his timing, if I were able to get that opportunity, that would be great.”

Bengals Sign Rookie RB Joe Mixon

June 2nd, 2017 at 11:49am CST by Zachary Links

Joe Mixon is officially a member of the Bengals. The team announced that the running back has inked his four-year rookie deal.

From a talent perspective, Mixon was one of the best running backs available in this year’s class. However, his baggage dragged him further down the boards of several teams and completely off the board for some. Mixon, of course, was caught on video striking a woman while on campus at Oklahoma. Mixon and the woman reached a civil settlement one week before the draft, but that was not enough to quell the concerns of teams around the league. Ultimately, the Bengals took a chance on Mixon at No. 48 overall.

“In making our decision, we took a risk. In this case, the risk has an upside as well as a downside,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said. “We believe Joe has put this behind him and that he can turn into the player and community member that creates a plus for Cincinnati. We are going to do everything in our power to make this happen. Our hope is that time will prove that this opportunity is deserved, and perhaps – if given a chance – Joe can write a chapter in Cincinnati sports history that both he and Cincinnati can be proud of.”

Without the off-field concerns, Mixon would have been a mortal lock for the first round. In 2016, Mixon rushed for 1,274 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground for the Sooners, adding another 538 yards and five scores in the passing game.

Mixon is the ninth of the Bengals’ eleven draft picks to sign. Third round defensive end Jordan Willis and fifth round offensive lineman J.J. Dielman are the remaining stragglers.

Visit Pro Hockey Rumors for NHL Offseason Coverage

June 2nd, 2017 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

Just over two weeks remain before we find out the expansion protection lists for all 30 NHL teams and things are already starting to heat up. Who will be the latest victim of Chicago’s cap problems? Will Anaheim be able to protect all of its young defensive depth, or be forced to take a last-minute deal? Which goaltender will be the starter in Vegas next season?

For all the expansion draft info plus updates, analysis and insight for the rest of the NHL offseason, make sure to visit our sister site Pro Hockey Rumors. Make sure to also follow @prohockeyrumors on Twitter and download the Trade Rumors app for breaking news from the NHL as well as MLB, the NBA and the NFL!

Chris Johnson Wants To Continue Playing

June 2nd, 2017 at 10:46am CST by Zachary Links

CJ2K says that he still has some yards left in him. The veteran running back made it clear today that he wants to continue playing in 2017.

“I want to play. A few teams are interested and we’ve stayed in close contact with the Cardinals,” Johnson told SiriusXM (Twitter link).

Johnson, 32 in September, has taken a backseat to David Johnson in the Arizona backfield as of late. Before going on injured reserve with a groin ailment last October, CJ accrued just 25 carries in four games. Back in February, the veteran indicated that there was mutual interest between him and the Cardinals, but he wanted to see if he could find a club that would give him more playing time.

“I need to be involved,” the speedster said. “At this point in my career, I don’t want to sit on the sideline. I want to get in the game.”

Be that as it may, it doesn’t sound like Johnson was able to find much in the way of outside interest. CJ2K has six 1,000-yard seasons (including a 2,000-yard campaign) and three Pro Bowl nods on his resume, but teams probably feel that he’s a bit limited at this point in his career. His desire for playing time is understandable, but his best and only chance at that will be to hook on as a third or fourth running back and wait for an injury.

In addition to starter David Johnson, the Cardinals also have running backs Kerwynn Williams and rookie T.J. Logan on the roster. Andre Ellington remains with the team, but Arizona plans to convert him to wide receiver.

Dwight Freeney To Return To Falcons?

June 2nd, 2017 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

Dwight Freeney isn’t done with football just yet. Although he does not have a team for 2017, it sounds like that could change rather quickly.

“I’ve already been talking to the coaches and going back and forth here and there with the draft picks and free agents,” Freeney said (via Alex Marvez of The Sporting News). “That line of communication is still very open. They say they’re still very interested. I’m planning to reach out to them here soon and hopefully we both believe they want me back and playing for them.”

The Falcons will receive a $4.3MM salary cap credit on Friday and a chunk of that could go towards re-signing Freeney. At one point, that didn’t seem likely at all. Coach Dan Quinn is on record as saying that Freeney would have to participate in the team’s offseason program if he did want to return, but it now sounds like they’ll make an exception for the future Hall of Fame inductee. The good news is that Freeney, who would be entering his 16th NFL season, says that he has been staying in shape with workouts that are not overly strenuous on his joints.

Last season, Freeney played on roughly a third of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in 2016, and posted three sacks and 18 hurries. He can be a valuable edge rusher in a part-time capacity for Atlanta while also helping to mentor younger players like rookie Takkarist McKinley.