2017 September - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Trade Sammie Coates To Browns

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Haden won’t be the only AFC North player to see his old team when the Steelers and Browns convene in Cleveland come Week 1. Sammie Coates will be a part of the Browns in that contest after the Steelers traded him to Cleveland on Saturday, the team announced.

The Steelers shipped the wide receiver to the Browns in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round selection. Cleveland will also receive Pittsburgh’s 2019 seventh-round pick.

Coates was jockeying for position among a crowded Pittsburgh receiving corps, one that again has the services of Martavis Bryant. He, second-rounder JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eli Rogers comprise the Steelers’ top Antonio Brown complements.

Coates will see his tenure in western Pennsylvania conclude early after two underwhelming seasons.

The 6-foot-2 deep threat mostly observed as a rookie behind a Brown-, Bryant-, and Markus Wheaton-fronted Steelers receiving attack. But last season with Bryant suspended and Wheaton mostly sidelined, Bryant played in 14 games and started five. However, after a midseason spurt of productivity, the former Auburn talent struggled due partially to a broken finger. The 24-year-old Coates finished his Steelers run with just 22 receptions.

He figures to receive a better chance to play in Cleveland. The Browns have an opening behind Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman. Their five-wideout draft class of 2016 hasn’t produced a surefire second contributor behind Coleman, so Coates figures to compete with the Browns’ incumbents for work off the bench.

Cowboys Release S Robert Blanton

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:33am CST by Ben Levine

Robert Blanton joined the Cowboys earlier this offseason, but he didn’t even make it to the regular season. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the organization has released the safety.

Blanton signed with Dallas earlier this offseason following a single season in Buffalo, where he compiled 35 tackles in 10 games (two starts). The 2012 fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Minnesota, where he served mostly as a backup defensive back. His best season came in 2014, when he compiled 106 tackles and one interception.

Roster Resource expected the 27-year-old to start at strong safety alongside Byron Jones. Following the release of Blanton, the Cowboys will now lean on one of Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath, and Kavon Frazier to fill that role.

Redskins Could Cut TE Derek Carrier

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

One way or another, Derek Carrier‘s time with the Redskins is drawing to a close today. If the Redskins cannot find a trade for him by this afternoon’s roster deadline they’ll release him outright, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Carrier has been slowed by injuries ever since coming to the Redskins in 2015. He suffered a torn ACL during the 2015 season and his recovery extended into 2016. He has appeared in 20 games for Washington, but he has only 19 receptions to his name during that time.

If a team trades for Carrier, they’ll be taking on a $1MM cap charge for 2017. A trade doesn’t seem terribly likely, but two teams are at least discussing a swap with Washington today.

Patriots To Acquire DB Johnson Bademosi

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:28am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots have agreed to acquire defensive back Johnson Bademosi from the Lions, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit will pick up New England’s 2019 sixth-round pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Badedmosi, 27, started the first three games of his career in 2016, as he’s been mostly a reserve and special teamer through five NFL seasons. In 2016, Bademosi played on roughly a quarter of Detroit’s defensive snaps but saw action on more than half the club’s special teams plays. He’s entering the final season of a two-year deal and will make $1.3MM in base salary in 2017.

The Patriots are typically field one of the league’s best special teams units, so Bademosi will fit in nicely. Last year, New England ranked eighth in special teams DVOA. The Patriots had interest in signing Bademosi before he landed with the Lions last year, tweets Michael Lomardi of the Ringer.

Chiefs Release DL Cam Thomas

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:25am CST by Ben Levine

Despite signing with the Chiefs this offseason, it looks like veteran Cam Thomas won’t even make it to the regular season. According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter), the team has released the nose tackle.

The 30-year-old has bounced around the league since being selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. The North Carolina product has served mostly as a reserve nose tackle during his career, as he’s started only 27 games in seven NFL seasons. Last year, he appeared in 16 games (two starts) with the Rams, compiling 15 tackles and one sack. Thomas has also spent time with the Chargers and Steelers.

Bennie Logan figures to be the Chiefs starting nose tackle, but Thomas was expected to serve as a capable backup. However, the team’s signing of Roy Miller back in August presumably hurt the veteran’s chances. The team is also rostering Rakeem Nunez-Roches, making Thomas expendable.

Redskins To Cut Matt Jones

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:24am CST by Sam Robinson

The drawn-out Redskins/Matt Jones saga appears to have ended. The franchise informed the running back he’ll be waived today, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Jones fell out of favor with the team early during his second season and found himself on the trade block, having fallen behind Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine on Washington’s depth chart. He’ll venture onto waivers after the Redskins were evidently unwilling to find a trade partner, one they were reportedly searching for as far back as the 2016 trade deadline.

The former Florida running back’s former agent lobbied for a release in June, and Jones then switched representation to Drew Rosenhaus. Being a former third-round pick whose yards-per-carry average spiked by more than a yard to 4.6 per tote last season, Jones figures to draw interest on the waiver wire.

Washington benched Jones midseason, however, after using him as a starter in seven games. He nearly outdid his 2015 production (490 yards) despite playing in six fewer contests. But the team clearly soured on the former well-regarded investment. Jones’ improved per-carry numbers notwithstanding, he’s fumbled eight times over the past two seasons.

Extra Points: Steelers, Bell, Bears

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:18am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look around the NFL:

Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell passed his physical yesterday after showing up at the team’s facility, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He did not sign his franchise tag yet, but he will, Rapoport adds. Bell’s Steelers open up the season in Cleveland on Sept. 10.
The Bears were the only team to put in a waiver claim on kicker Roberto Aguayo after the Bucs cut him earlier this month, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. They’re now likely going to be stuck paying his $428K guarantee after releasing him on Saturday.
The Redskins are still trying to trade Derek Carrier and two teams are currently in on him, Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter) hears. It’s still unclear how likely a deal is, however. Carrier has been traded before – he came to Washington via a swap with San Francisco in 2015.
The Cardinals will pursue punter Andy Lee now that he is a free agent, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. This makes sense considering that the Cardinals considered trading for him this week prior to his release.
The Packers are looking for help at offensive guard, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle hears (Twitter link). Green Bay will start Lane Taylor and Jahri Evans at the two guard spots.

Texans Release Nick Novak

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:17am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite reaching an agreement to re-sign Nick Novak in March, the Texans will move on from the veteran kicker. Houston released Novak on Saturday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets.

Novak kicked for the Texans for both of their past two AFC South-winning teams, but it appears the franchise will opt for second-year specialist Ka’imi Fairbairn. The Texans signed Fairbairn as a UDFA out of UCLA in 2016, but Novak won last summer’s kicking competition. A year later, the 23-year-old Fairbairn looks to have prevailed in the rematch after spending a season on IR.

The 36-year-old Novak signed a one-year, $1.15MM deal with a $250K signing bonus. The former longtime Chargers kicker hit 85.4 percent of his attempts last season, a tick above his career average.

Novak figures to receive interest in free agency after being a regular kicker for the past six seasons.

Raiders Release LB Jelani Jenkins

September 2nd, 2017 at 11:05am CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders have apparently parted ways with their lone defensive free agent signing. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins tweeted that he’s been released by the organization.

The 25-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Raiders back in March, and many expected him to serve as a top reserve for starting outside linebackers Bruce Irvin and Shilique Calhoun. Now, the team might be eyeing Tyrell Adams or James Cowser for that top backup role, or they could also turn to their trio of undrafted rookies (LaTroy Lewis, Brady Sheldon, and Nicholas Morrow).

Prior to his brief Raiders tenure, Jenkins spent four seasons in Miami. Selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, the linebacker had a breakout campaign in 2014, compiling 110 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Jenkins started another 13 games in 2015, but his role was reduced in 2016. The linebacker ultimately appeared in nine games (seven starts), compiling only 29 tackles.

Giants To Waive TE Will Tye

September 2nd, 2017 at 10:58am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants will waive tight end Will Tye, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Tye, 27, had started 17 games for New York over the past two seasons. Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015, Tye has averaged 45 receptions, 430 yards, and two touchdowns per year. Because he’s not a vested veteran, he’ll go on waivers and can be claimed by any club.

The Giants used a first-round pick on tight end Evan Engram earlier this year, a move which spelled Tye’s departure. Other tight ends on New York’s roster include free agent acquisition Rhett Ellison and 2016 sixth-rounder Jerell Adams.