HEADLINES

Month: September 2017

NFL Workout Updates: 9/8/17

September 8th, 2017 at 9:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s NFL workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, Packers

September 8th, 2017 at 8:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

When asked if edge rusher Pernell McPhee will ever be the player he was when the Bears originally signed him in 2015, Chicago defensive Vic Fangio gave a simple answer: “Probably not” (Twitter link via Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly). McPhee, who was surprisingly removed from the physically unable to perform list and placed on Chicago’s initial 53-man roster, has injured both knees during his time with the Bears. While he’s missed nine games over the past two seasons, McPhee has still been relatively effective when on the field, but may need his snaps limited going forward.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

  • The Vikings surprisingly released offensive guard Alex Boone last week, and former Minnesota linebacker Chad Greenway hears that Boone had reported to camp out of shape and “wasn’t really prepared for the season,” as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Even so, the the Vikings decision to cut ties with Boone means they spent roughly $10MM on one season of production. Boone has since landed with the Cardinals, where he’ll initially serve as a backup.
  • Ahmad Brooks‘ one-year deal with the Packers has a base value of $3.5MM and includes a $1.75MM signing bonus and a $1MM base salary, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. The veteran pass rusher can also earn $750K in gameday active roster bonuses, plus $1.5MM in sack-based incentives, although those are considered not-likely-to-be-earned, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That means the sack threshold Brooks must reach is greater than six, the total he hit in 2017. Now 33 years old, Brooks will serve in a rotational edge defender capacity for Green Bay.
  • Another 49ers castoff — defensive lineman Quinton Dial — also recently agreed to a one-year pact with the Packers, and his deal will pay him one dollar more than the veteran’s minimum ($775,001), reports Silverstein (Twitter link). By adding that single dollar, Green Bay has kept open the possibility of extending Dial in-season. Had Dial simply signed for the minimum, the Packers wouldn’t have had the right to give him a new contract until after the new league year opens in the spring.
  • The Bears and defender Lamarr Houston agreed to a two-week injury settlement that precipitated his release, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Technically, Chicago could re-sign Houston in five weeks (time of the settlement plus a three-week waiting period), but that seems highly unlikely. But the two-week timetable means Houston should be healthy soon, meaning he could quickly latch on with another club.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/17

September 8th, 2017 at 8:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: CB Dee Virgin
  • Released: DE Daniel Ross

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed: K Giorgio Tavecchio
  • Released: LB Max Valles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

AFC East Notes: Jets, Mo, Pats, Hightower

September 8th, 2017 at 7:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets are “fully prepared” to release defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson if he posts another disappointing campaign in 2017, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Wilkerson graded as a bottom-15 edge defender last season, per Pro Football Focus, and sources tell Mehta that Gang Green isn’t happy with Wilkerson’s conditioning or motivation level. Speaking earlier this year, however, head coach Todd Bowles admitted Wilkerson was playing through injury in 2016, and the cost of cutting Wilkerson could also prove prohibitive. Even if he were designated as post-June 1 release, Wilkerson would count for $9MM in dead money over the 2018-19 seasons.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • After leaving last night’s game against the Chiefs with a knee injury, Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower has escaped with only a minor MCL sprain, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. New England gets a 10-day break before playing again, so it’s possible Hightower will be able to suit up when the Pats face the Saints in Week 2. If Hightower can’t go, New England will likely turn to fellow ‘backers David Harris and Elandon Roberts to take on more snaps.
  • Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley reached out to the Jets and Bowles immediately after being cut by the 49ers last week, reports Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Kerley, of course, is now in his second stint with New York, as he spent 2011-15 with the club. The 28-year-old re-signed with San Francisco on a three-year deal that contained $2.8MM in guarantees, but was still handed his walking papers on Saturday. The Jets are now paying him the minimum to add experience to their youthful receiving corps.
  • Former Texans safety Robert Nelson worked out for the Jets today, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Nelson, 27, played in 11 games for Houston a year ago, and while he spent most of his time on special teams, he did manage one interception. New York ranked dead last in special teams DVOA in 2016, so Nelson could help out there, while the club is also fielding two rookie safeties in Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, so adding a defensive back with experience such as Nelson could make sense.
  • Patriots defensive end Geneo Grissom is the NFL’s highest-paid practice squad player at $36,716 per week, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. That’s an active roster salary for a player of Grissom’s experience (two accrued seasons), a clear indication New England wants to keep the former third-round pick around. For reference, the minimum salary for a practice squad player is $7,200 per week.

Saints To Sign LS Zach Wood

September 8th, 2017 at 6:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have signed long snapper Zach Wood, a source tells Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link). Wood will replace veteran Jon Dorenbos, who has been placed on the non-football injury list following the revelation that he’ll need heart surgery.

[RELATED: Saints Working To Rescind Jon Dorenbos Trade]

Wood, who spent four years as a defensive lineman at Southern Methodist University, transitioned to long snapper during his second camp with the Cowboys in 2017. While he was waived during final cutdowns after failing to overtake 13-year veteran L.P. Ladouceur, Wood will now get a chance to snap for the Saints.

Wood worked out for New Orleans today, but he wasn’t the only long snapper to do. John DePalma, Colin Holba, and Tanner Purdum all auditioned for the Saints today, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, as did Jeff Overbaugh, whose inclusion was reported earlier today.

Chiefs Re-Sign RB C.J. Spiller

September 8th, 2017 at 6:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chiefs have re-signed running back C.J. Spiller after releasing him on Thursday, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).C.J. Spiller (vertical)

Spiller’s return to the Kansas City surprise — as Paylor explained yesterday, the Chiefs cut Spiller prior to their Week 1 game so that his 2017 base salary would not become fully guaranteed. Now that Kansas City has completed its season opener (with a win to boot), Spiller is back on the roster. For more details on the mechanisms of such a move, read Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap‘s excellent breakdown of the reasoning behind cutting veterans early in the season.

Spiller might not get much run now that rookie Kareem Hunt firmly established himself with 246 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on Thursday night against the Patriots. But the 30-year-old Spiller will slot in as the Chiefs’ third running back, and perhaps serve on kick and/or punt returns.

Vikings Cut DL Datone Jones From IR

September 8th, 2017 at 6:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Vikings have released defensive lineman Datone Jones from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).Datone Jones

Jones, a former first-round pick of the Packers, signed with the Vikings in the spring, presumably with the hope that a shift to a 4-3 defense would allow him to flourish. Expected to play three-technique and end, Jones simply never stood out, and head coach Mike Zimmer admitted in late August that Jones wasn’t a roster lock. Ultimately, Minnesota went with other options — such as undrafted rookie Tashawn Bower — over Jones.

The 27-year-old Jones, who’s posted nine sacks over four NFL seasons, inked a one-year, $3.75MM deal to join the Vikings. While he won’t collect that entire total, Jones will take home at least $1.838MM for his short stay in Minnesota, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.

Ezekiel Elliott Granted Restraining Order

September 8th, 2017 at 5:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Elliott is now expected to be available for the remainder of the season while his case is sorted out, and his six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations is on hold.Ezekiel Elliott (vertical)

A judge found that Elliott “did not receive a fundamentally fair hearing, necessitating the Court grant the request” for a restraining order, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Because neither Elliott’s accuser nor NFL comissioner Roger Goodell was allowed to testify at said hearing, Judge Amos Mazzant accepted Elliott’s request. The risk in asking for a restraining order is that the case is decided in November or December, according to Breer (Twitter link), which could lead to Elliott missing critical games late in the season.

Elliot’s ban was upheld last week, but he was still going to be able to play in Dallas’ season opener against the Giants on Sunday night thanks to the NFL’s policy of not imposing suspensions if an appeal decision isn’t made by 4pm ET on a Tuesday. However, Elliott had been set to miss games against the Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, and Redskins.

Elliott, the fourth overall selection in the 2016 draft, has accused the NFL of fomenting a conspiracy against him, and the dispute has gotten ugly from all angles. Elliott and his camp have cast doubt on the consistency of his accuser’s claims and suggested her motives were profit-based, while the NFL has accused Elliott of victim-shaming.

On the field, Elliott is one of the league’s more dynamic talents, as he lead the NFL in rushing yards while scoring 15 times a year ago.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/17

September 8th, 2017 at 5:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

  • Released from IR: WR Dez Stewart

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Saints Working Out LB Sean Spence

September 8th, 2017 at 4:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints are auditioning free agent linebacker Sean Spence today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.Sean Spence (Vertical)

[RELATED: Saints Work Out CB Leon Hall]

Spence already joined one linebacker-needy team — the Colts — earlier this year, inking a one-year deal that included $750K in guaranteed. That wasn’t enough to keep the 27-year-old Spence on Indianapolis’ roster, however, as he was released during final cutdowns. A four-year NFL veteran, Spence spent the 2016 campaign in Tennessee, where he posted 50 tackle and three sacks in 15 appearances (six starts).

The Saints are expected to three newcomers at linebacker in their base package: free agent signings A.J. Klein and Manti Te’o, plus third-round rookie Alex Anzalone. While the club has depth behind that trio in the form of Craig Robertson, Stephone Anthony, and Nathan Stupar, Anthony could conceivably be dropped at any time. The former first-round selection wasn’t considered a roster lock as of last month, and while he did end up making the squad, Anthony could theoretically be traded or cut in the future.

In addition to Spence, New Orleans is also taking a look at cornerback D’Joun Smith and offensive lineman Michael Person, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

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