HEADLINES

Month: September 2017

Chargers Re-Sign QB Kellen Clemens

September 4th, 2017 at 11:50am CST by Zachary Links

Kellen Clemens is back with the Chargers. The Bolts re-signed the quarterback on Monday, just 48 hours after releasing him. Kellen Clemens

Clemens, 34, will return for a fourth season as a backup to Philip Rivers, though he may not be Rivers’ primary understudy. The Chargers acquired former Ohio State standout Cardale Jones through a trade with Buffalo earlier this offseason and he may be the first one in the game if Rivers suffers an injury.

With that said, Rivers has been remarkably healthy throughout his career and has not missed a regular season game since becoming the Chargers’ starter in 2006. If that continues, this could be an uneventful season for both Jones and Clemens.

Clemens has attempted only ten passes with the Chargers, but he does have 21 career starts to his name thanks to his time with the Jets and Rams.

Cowboys, G Zack Martin Put Contract Talks On Hold

September 4th, 2017 at 11:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys and All-Pro guard Zack Martin have put contract negotiations on hold, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. They’ll try again next offseason to get a deal done. Zack Martin (Vertical)

The two sides unofficially set a late August deadline for getting a contract done so that it would not be a distraction during the year. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot of progress on that front this summer.

The Cowboys exercised Martin’s fifth-year option in the spring and he’s now slated to earn $9.341MM in 2018. The option is guaranteed for injury only, so Martin would presumably prefer an extension to gain greater financial security. The Cowboys, in theory, can use tags to keep him through 2021, but they’ll probably want to use their one tag per year on other players along the way.

Last year, Martin finished as Pro Football Focus’ second-best guard. Kevin Zeitler, who inked the largest free agent contract ever given to a guard this offseason, was seventh. Martin is likely looking to top Zeitler’s five-year, $60MM pact, and that has given Dallas some pause.

Other key players on the Cowboys’ line are already locked up for years to come. Left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick are under contract through through 2023 and right tackle La’el Collins is signed through 2019.

Packers, G Lane Taylor Agree To Extension

September 4th, 2017 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers announced that they have agreed to an extension with guard Lane Taylor. It’s a three-year, $16.5MM extension, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal includes a $5MM signing bonus and gives him $7.8MM overall in 2017. Lane Taylor (vertical)

This time last year, Taylor was thrust into a starting job after the Packers surprised everyone with the release of Josh Sitton. He did well in the new role, grading out as the league’s No. 41 guard among 72 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. In May, he earned a $400K raise for 2017 thanks to performance escalators.

Taylor was one of three Packers offensive linemen to start every game last year, along with David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Thanks in part to Taylor and the rest of the O-Line, the Packers’ offense finished top ten in points, yards per game, and first downs in 2016.

Taylor’s previous deal called for him to reach unrestricted free agency in March. Under the terms of the new contract, Taylor will have another opportunity to cash in again at the age of 30.

Colts Place TE Erik Swoope On IR

September 4th, 2017 at 11:21am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts placed tight end Erik Swoope on injured reserve. To take his place, tight end Brandon Williams has been signed to the roster.

Swoope underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this offseason, meaning that he’ll be unable to suit up for the season opener. However, that type of procedure is rarely a season ender, so it seems possible that he could return during the season. The latest iteration of the league’s IR rules permit teams to bring two players back from IR each season. Erik Swoope (vertical)

Swoope, 25, appeared in all 16 games for the Colts last season. He finished out with 15 catches for 297 yards and one score.

The Colts now have three tight ends on the roster in starter Jack Doyle, Williams, and reserve Darrell Daniels.

In other news, the Colts have signed wide receiver Krishawn Hogan, nose tackle Joey Mbu, and offensive tackle Andrew Wylie to the practice squad.

Bears Sign DT John Jenkins

September 4th, 2017 at 10:29am CST by Zachary Links

Here today, gone tomorrow, and back again. That’s the story of the Bears and defensive tackle John Jenkins who was released on Saturday and re-signed on Monday. Jenkins takes the place of safety Deiondre’ Hall on the roster after he was placed on injured reserve. John Jenkins (vertical)

Jenkins, 28, first signed on with the Bears in March. He’ll help to provide depth behind starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman in Vic Fangio‘s 3-4 set. Jenkins bounced around in 2016 but he was a 12-game starter for New Orleans as recently as 2015.

The Bears also signed nine players to the practice squad:

Titans Sign Brian Schwenke

September 4th, 2017 at 10:16am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have reunited with center Brian Schwenke. To make room, fellow interior lineman Tim Lelito has been released. Brian Schwenke (vertical)

Schwenke was with the Titans from 2013-2016 but he signed a one-year deal with the rival Colts in March. He did not make the team’s final 53-man cut, a surprise since the team is looking thin at center, and the Titans pounced on the opportunity to bring him back. Lelito struggled throughout the preseason, so it was a fairly easy call for the front office to make. If Schwenke stays healthy, he figures to be the first interior lineman off the bench to support guards Quinton Spain and Josh Kline as well as center Ben Jones.

Schwenke played in all 16 games last season, but injuries held him back in the previous three years. From 2013-2015, he missed 23 regular season games.

Bills Sign QB Joe Webb

September 4th, 2017 at 10:09am CST by Zachary Links

They say networking is everything and connections played at least a small role in quarterback Joe Webb finding his latest job. Sean McDermott‘s Bills have signed the former Panthers QB, according to a team announcement. Joe Webb (vertical)

Webb, 30, is technically the Bills’ fourth quarterback after Tyrod Taylor, Nathan Peterman, and T.J. Yates. However, both Taylor and Yates are recovering from concussions, so Webb has been added for depth. In one or both QBs is cleared in time for the season opener, he might get released before he gets a chance to even suit up. If both players are ruled out for the Sept. 10 game against the Jets, Webb could be on the active roster as Peterman’s clipboard holder.

Webb is a versatile athlete who also offers experience at wide receiver. At present the Bills only have five receivers on the 53-man roster: Jordan Matthews, rookie Zay Jones, Brandon Tate, Andre Holmes, and new addition Kaelin Clay.

To make room on the roster, the Bills released safety Colt Anderson.

Le’Veon Bell Signs Franchise Tender

September 4th, 2017 at 9:32am CST by Zachary Links

It’s officially official now. Le’Veon Bell has signed his franchise tender, according to an announcement from the Steelers. Le'Veon Bell (Vertical)

Bell stayed home during training camp and preseason action after the two sides could not reach agreement on an extension before the deadline. All along, we heard that Bell would report to the team before the regular season and he made good on that when he arrived at team headquarters on Friday. He did not put pen to paper on his one-year tender, however. On Monday morning, he did.

The running back will now play out the season on a one-year, $12.12MM tender. If he continues to play at a high level, the Steelers will have to either use a second tag on him worth roughly $14MM or give him a monster multi-year deal to keep him.

Bell ran for 1,268 yards off of 261 carries last year, good for a 4.9-yards-per-carry average, and seven touchdowns. He also had 75 catches for 616 yards and two touchdowns. Bell earned a Pro Bowl nod for his performance and also was named team MVP.

The Steelers have received a roster exemption for Bell, so they are actually carrying 54 players on the roster as of this writing. They have two weeks to get the roster back down to the 53-man max.

Saints Add Max McCaffrey To Practice Squad

September 3rd, 2017 at 7:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are signing wide receiver Max McCaffrey to the practice squad, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). McCaffrey was one of the Packers’ more surprising cuts on Saturday.

McCaffrey spent time on the Packers’ taxi squad last season and also saw some time on the 53-man roster, but he did not appear in a regular season game. He impressed in practice, however, and it was expected that the Packers would work him back on to the p-squad. That didn’t come to fruition, however, as the Saints have plucked him away.

McCaffrey, of course, is the brother of Panthers rookie running back Christian McCaffrey and the two are now joined in the NFC South.

We’re keeping track of all practice squad signings in posts that are split up by division. You’ll find the Saints’ full practice squad roster in the NFC South post when it’s announced later today or tomorrow.

Giants To Work Out LB Jonathan Freeny

September 3rd, 2017 at 7:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Even after setting their 53-man roster, the Giants are still looking for ways to improve. In the next few days, they’ll audition former Patriots linebacker Jonathan Freeny, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jonathan Freeny

Freeny, 28, appeared in 18 games with eleven starts for the Pats over the last two years. He amassed 60 tackles and one sack during that span. He signed an extension with the Pats prior to the 2016 season that was supposed to carry him through 2018. He was let go before the contract kicked in, however.

The Giants currently project to start Devon Kennard, B.J. Goodson, and Jonathan Casillas at linebacker. Reserves include outside linebackers J.T. Thomas and Deontae Skinner and middle linebacker Keenan Robinson.

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