2017 September - Pro Football Rumors

Vikings To Put Teddy Bridgewater On PUP

September 1st, 2017 at 10:52am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are expected to keep quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on the PUP list for six games, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This means that the Vikings haven’t ruled out the possibility of him playing in 2017.

If placed on PUP, Bridgewater will be shelved for the first six weeks of the season. After that point, if he’s healthy enough, he can return to the active roster as Sam Bradford‘s understudy. Even if Bradford stays healthy and productive, that could be a significant development for Bridgewater. It is believed that Bridgewater can avoid having his contract toll if he does not miss the entire 2017 season. If he does miss the year, then the Vikings will be able to keep him under contract through 2018 as a part of his rookie deal.

In May, it was reported that Bridgewater would fight a PUP designation if he believed he could pass a physical. It’s not clear if Bridgewater can get a medical green light at this point, nor do we know whether that’s still his intent.

Ezekiel Elliott Accuses NFL Of “Conspiracy”

September 1st, 2017 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

Things just keep getting uglier in Ezekiel Elliott‘s fight with the league office. The Cowboys’ star running back has filed suit against the NFL in Texas federal court, alleging that he is the victim of a “league-orchestrated conspiracy…to hide critical information” from commissioner Roger Goodell and other key decision makers.

Elliott’s camp argues that the league’s director of investigations, Kia Roberts, found accuser Tiffany Thompson to be “not credible” in her allegations and saw little evidence to support her claims. His team alleges that the league then kept Roberts away from meetings in which experts made recommendations to Goodell. Furthermore, Roberts chronicled her concerns about Thompson in an internal memo entitled “Tiffany Thompson Inconsistency Transcripts,” a league source told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.

The NFL denies any wrongdoing.

“They’re trying to create a grand conspiracy story where none exists,” league spokesman Joe Lockhart told Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Lockhart says there is no truth to allegations that the league kept Roberts’ concerns away from Goodell. In fact, he says the commissioner was aware of her doubts heading into the aforementioned meetings. At the same time, Lockhart says that it is not common for someone in Roberts’ role to make a disciplinary recommendation.

“In fact, at Kia’s level, she wouldn’t, and she didn’t [make a recommendation for discipline],” Lockhart said. “She made her point of view on particularly the credibility issues known in the report; they are reflected in the report. It is the commissioner and the commissioner’s sole role to decide on discipline. In fact, the union filed a grievance to force him not to delegate the decision [on disciplinary decisions].”

Jaguars Cut RB DuJuan Harris

September 1st, 2017 at 9:43am CST by Zachary Links

DuJuan Harris‘ time with the Jaguars did not last long. The team released the running back on Friday morning, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Harris, 29 on Sunday, inked a deal with Jacksonville on Aug. 20. He had a grand total of seven carries for 26 yards in the preseason and had zero receptions. He held down the fort while rookie Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon dealt with injuries, but both players should be ready to go for Week 1, which meant that Harris was no longer needed.

Last year, Harris totaled 38 carries for 138 yards (3.6 YPC) for the Niners, adding eight catches for 115 yards and a TD. The 49ers re-signed him to a one-year deal in March but released him just a few weeks later.

Dolphins, T.J. McDonald Discussing Extension

September 1st, 2017 at 9:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins signed T.J. McDonald to a one-year deal this past offseason to bolster their secondary. They’re so happy with their decision to add the safety that they’re already discussing an extension with his representatives, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes.

McDonald, 26, has thrived over the last few months. He won’t be in action until the ninth game of the season thanks to his substance abuse suspension, but he has impressed the Dolphins by flashing the skills that made him a four-year starter with the Rams.

Last year, McDonald had 62 total tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and six passes defensed for Los Angeles, but the Rams did not show any interest in re-signing him. He graded out as as Pro Football Focus’ No. 58 safety.

McDonald projects to start opposite strong safety Reshad Jones when he is in the lineup. In the interim, Nate Allen will hold down the fort at free safety.

Buccaneers Cut DE George Johnson

September 1st, 2017 at 8:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers are getting a head start on roster cuts. The team has released defensive end George Johnson, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The move brings Johnson’s second stint with Tampa Bay to an end. In the process, the Bucs get themselves off the hook for his $2.25MM salary, which would have become guaranteed if he was on the roster for Week 1.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old (30 in December) hasn’t seen the field since the 2015 season. Last August, an ACL tear shut him down for the year.

An undrafted free agent in 2011, Johnson originally signed multiple contracts early in his career with the Buccaneers, and spent parts of the next two seasons with the club. He was quietly effective in 2014, appearing in all 16 games for the Lions and earning a positive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), largely thanks to his excellent pass-rushing acumen. In 2015, Johnson appeared in eleven games for the team, tallying 23 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Johnson’s release could bode well for defensive end Jacquies Smith making Bucs’ roster to start the year, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Smith has been on the PUP list throughout the summer.