HEADLINES

Month: September 2017

Chiefs Cut C.J. Spiller

September 2nd, 2017 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs have released running back C.J. Spiller, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Spiller had a strong camp and appeared likely to make the cut this week.

It’s possible that the Chiefs have their eye on another running back to fill that third spot behind rookie Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West. They’ll be without Spencer Ware for 2017 after he suffered a season-ending knee injury, including a torn PCL and damaged LCL.

Spiller caught on with KC in February after being cut by several teams. The former first-round pick was slated to make only the league minimum.

Vikings To Release OL Alex Boone

September 2nd, 2017 at 2:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In a surprising development, the Vikings will release starting offensive guard Alex Boone, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).Alex Boone (Vertical)

Boone was one of Minnesota’s most prized free agent additions just one year ago, as the former 49ers lineman agreed to a four-year, $26.8MM deal with the Vikings last spring. That deal contained $10MM in guaranteed money, a high price to pay for only a single season of work.

Boone’s contract does not contain offsets, meaning Minnesota won’t gain any salary relief if he signs elsewhere (Twitter link). The Vikings asked Boone to accept a paycut, but he refused, tweets Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. Minnesota will take on $3.4MM in immediate dead money by cutting Boone.

A 14-game starter for the Vikings in 2016, Boone ranked as the NFL’s No. 37 guard among 75 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned him high marks for his pass blocking but poor scores in the run game. With Boone gone, Minnesota figures to turn the interior of its offensive line over to some combination of Joe Berger, Nick Easton, and rookie Pat Elflein.

Cowboys To Cut Kellen Moore

September 2nd, 2017 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Months after agreeing to re-sign Kellen Moore, the Cowboys will move on from the backup quarterback. Dallas will cut Moore, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

However, Rapoport adds the sixth-year backup could return to the team at some point. A year after carrying one of the most accomplished backups in NFL history in Tony Romo, the Cowboys are not exactly deep at this position. They signed Luke McCown in late July, but Rapoport tweets rookie UDFA Cooper Rush is set to be the backup quarterback for now (Twitter link). Rush played at Central Michigan.

The 29-year-old Moore did not play last season, spending it on IR after suffering a summer injury that opened the door to Dak Prescott‘s remarkable rise. He was brought in on a one-year, $775K in March but did not play well during the preseason. Moore last played in 2015, filling in for an injured Romo.

The Cowboys could remain in the market for a backup quarterback. Although Romo said he would only consider coming out of the broadcast booth and suiting up for his former team, Dallas is now somewhat vulnerable if Prescott goes down.

Bears To Take LB Pernell McPhee Off PUP

September 2nd, 2017 at 2:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears will take linebacker Pernell McPhee off the physically unable to perform list to begin the season, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).Pernell McPhee (vertical)

McPhee has dealt with injuries since joining the Bears prior to the 2015 campaign, and it’s a knee injury that’s kept him sidelined this time around. He’s missed nine games over the past two seasons, but he’s been effective when on the field. McPhee has posted 10 sacks since 2015 while earning positive marks from Pro Football Focus.

While McPhee will earn a place on the Bears’ roster and won’t be forced to miss the season’s first six games, that doesn’t mean he won’t need time to ramp up. Chicago will use 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd and veteran Willie Young at outside linebacker while McPhee adjusts, while the club also has depth options in reserve. However, the Bears are currently shopping ‘backers Dan Skuta and Sam Acho.

Bengals Reach 53-Man Limit

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

The Bengals officially made 30 moves on Saturday in order to reach the 53-man max. The full rundown is below.

Waived:

Released:

Reserve/Suspended:

The team also freed up a roster spot on Saturday by trading cornerback Bene Benwikere to Dallas for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Chargers To Cut Josh Lambo

September 2nd, 2017 at 2:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chargers will cut third-year kicker Josh Lambo and give his job to undrafted rookie Younghoe Koo, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Lambo played in all 16 games for the Bolts over the past two seasons, but the team will move on and go with Koo — a South Korean talent who kicked at Georgia Southern before signing with the Chargers in May.

The Bolts are the latest AFC team to award their kicking job to the lower-profile competitor, doing so shortly after the Texans released Nick Novak — whom Lambo succeeded with the Chargers in 2015 — in favor of a second-year kicker.

Lambo made 26 of 32 field goal tries last season. He’s missed eight extra point attempts in his two-year run, however, misfiring on four post-touchdown efforts in each season. Koo only served as Georgia Southern’s full-time kicker in one season, 2016, but made 95 percent of his tries (19-for-20) during his final college campaign.

Vikings Place DE Datone Jones On IR

September 2nd, 2017 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are placing defensive end Datone Jones on injured reserve due to his shoulder injury, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He’ll likely then reach an injury settlement with the team, allowing him to explore other options.

Recently, head coach Mike Zimmer indicated that Jones was on the roster bubble.

“At times he’s had a good stretch and then stretches where he reverts back,” Zimmer said in late August.

The Vikings gave Jones a one-year, $3.75MM deal in March. The pact included a $1.6MM signing bonus, so it’s a deal that the front office regrets. On the plus side, the team saved $2.19MM by cutting ties with him now.

Jones spent the first four years of his career with the rival Packers. A first round pick in 2013, he never fulfilled his promise in Green Bay. Last year, Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 70 out of 110 qualified edge defenders.

Bears Likely To Release Lamarr Houston

September 2nd, 2017 at 1:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears will place edge rusher Lamarr Houston on injured reserve with the intention of reaching an injury settlement, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.Lamarr Houston (vertical)

Houston, who has torn his ACL twice in the past, doesn’t have any structural damage to his knee this time around, per Pelissero, but he’ll go on IR nonetheless. An injury settlement would pay Houston for the time it takes him to recover, and allow him to sign with any club when the settlement timetable expires.

Long an underrated player with the Raiders, Houston hasn’t been able to contribute much after inking a five-year, $35MM contract with Chicago prior to the 2014 campaign. In three seasons with the Bears, the 30-year-old Houston has appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only 10 starts. He’s managed nine total sacks in Chicago, but eight of those came in 2015, his only healthy year with the Bears.

Chicago will create $6MM in cap room by releasing Houston, but it will also incur nearly $1MM in dead money in each of the next two seasons.

Broncos Waive QB Kyle Sloter

September 2nd, 2017 at 1:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have waived quarterback Kyle Sloter, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter links).

Sloter’s release — and Paxton Lynch‘s lingering injury — means Denver will likely bring in a veteran quarterback, per Klis, who speculates the club could target Brock Osweiler. Two player sources expect the Broncos to target Osweiler in the near future, tweets Klis. Osweiler, of course, spent four seasons with the Broncos before signing with Houston last spring. He’s a free agent after being released by the Browns this week, and would only cost the minimum given that he’s earning $16MM from Cleveland.

Sloter, for his part, is a rookie undrafted free agent out of Northern Colorado. He could conceivably slip through waivers and be placed on Denver’s practice squad.

Colts Release LB Akeem Ayers

September 2nd, 2017 at 1:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have released veteran linebacker Akeem Ayers, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (on Twitter). As a vested veteran, he will be a free agent and not subject to waivers.

Ayers was cut loose by the Rams this time last year, a surprise since he had started eleven games for the club in the previous season. Ayers didn’t have that large of a role with the Colts in 2016, but his release was not expected.

Ayers appeared in all 16 games for Indy last year, but did not make a start. He finished out with 18 tackles, two sacks, and one interception. Ayers graded out as the No. 54 edge defender in the NFL out of 110 qualified players, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics.

The Colts plan to start John Simon and Jabaal Sheard at the outside linebacker spots in their 3-4 scheme. Rookie Tarell Basham and free agent additions Barkevious Mingo and Sean Spence will serve as their backups.

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