Dolphins Had Interest In Richard Sherman
The Seahawks were known to have discussed cornerback Richard Sherman with the Patriots this offseason, but apparently New England wasn’t the only AFC East club to have inquired on the All Pro defensive back. The Dolphins also asked about Sherman’s availability, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, and while receiver Jarvis Landry was “raised” in talks, there’s no indication Landry was ever formally offered in negotiations.
Miami is no stranger to acquiring former Seattle cornerbacks, as the club picked up Byron Maxwell (after a one-year layover in Philadelphia) last season. But the Dolphins are still weak in the secondary, as second-year pro Xavien Howard and Alterraun Verner are the team’s top options behind Maxwell (Tony Lippett is out for the season, but his injury occurred after any presumptive Sherman talks). Recently, Miami went hard after free agent corner Joe Haden before he signed with the Steelers.
Sherman, who is due base salaries north of $11MM in each of the next two seasons, reportedly requested a trade out of Seattle, and the Seahawks attempted to honor his ask, but discussions seemingly never got serious with any other club. The Patriots were in the Sherman market but ultimately bowed out, possibly because of Seattle’s high asking price (a 2017 first-round pick plus a conditional mid-round choice in 2018).
Landry, meanwhile, has also been mentioned in trade rumors, although the Dolphins have refuted those reports. Scheduled to become a free agent next spring, Landry still hasn’t been offered an extension by Miami, which may prefer fellow wideout DeVante Parker. The franchise tag probably isn’t an option for the 24-year-old Landry, as the $16MM+ tender figure is likely untenable for a receiver who primarily plays in the slot.
Lions Audition Jaye Howard, Garrett Grayson
The Lions have hosted workouts for defensive lineman Jaye Howard and quarterback Garrett Grayson, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (all Twitter links).
Howard, 28, was released by the Bears during final cutdowns after having a signed a one-year pact in May. A longtime Chief, Howard only suited up eight times and made five starts last year, as a hip injury ended his season in November. During his limited action in 2016, Howard added 23 tackles and a sack, and ranked 55th in performance among Pro Football Focus‘ 127 qualified interior defensive linemen.
Detroit needs all the help it can get in the front seven, as the club’s defensive line has been decimated by injuries and suspensions. Kerry Hyder and Jordan Hill have both been placed on injured reserve, while Armonty Bryant and Khyri Thornton won’t return until Weeks 4 and 6, respectively, after being hit with league-imposed bans.
Quarterback is a less-pressing need for the Lions, as Matthew Stafford and Jake Rudock comprise the team’s top two options under center. Seventh-round pick Brad Kaaya was lost via waivers earlier this month, and Detroit doesn’t currently have a signal-caller on its practice squad. Grayson, a former third-round selection of the Saints, has never attempted an NFL pass.
Howard and Grayson weren’t the only free agents on display in the Motor City. Per Balzer, the Lions also took a look at quarterback Mitch Leidner; wide receivers C.J. Board, Montay Crockett, Anthony Dable, Cyril Grayson, Bug Howard, and Jordan Payton; defensive tackles Jeremy Faulk, Marcus Hardison, and Louis Trinca-Pasat; defensive end Patrick Gamble; LB Nicholas Grigsby; and S Jack Tocho.
49ers Sign LB Elijah Lee Off Vikings’ PS
The 49ers have signed linebacker Elijah Lee off the Vikings’ practice squad, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (Twitter links).
San Francisco had interest in signing Lee to its practice squad following final cutdowns, but the Vikings increased his salary above the $7,200 per week minimum in order to convince to stick in Minnesota. Lee, whom the Vikings selected in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, spent three seasons at Kansas State. Last year, he appeared in 13 games and managed 110 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
The 49ers are searching for linebacker depth following the news that rookie Reuben Foster is expected to be sidelined for at least one month with a high-ankle sprain. While San Francisco worked out veterans Sean Spence and Donald Butler earlier this week, the club has decided to go with a less experienced option in Lee.
Latest On Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott
The judge involved in Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s legal case has requested the NFLPA and the NFL offer filings by 5pm Wednesday and Friday, respectively, according to Tom Peliserro of USA Today (Twitter link), which means it’s a “virtual certainty” Elliott plays against the Broncos on Sunday. As was the case in Week 1, the NFL has taken the position that a delay in a ruling means Elliott will be available for the week in which a decision is handed down.
Here’s more on the Elliott saga:
- The “expedited” appeals process in the Elliott case will be similar to that of the Tom Brady/Deflategate timeline, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), meaning arguments will be held in September, followed by a hearing in January and a decision in April. That is, of course, a court grants a stay in the case, something the NFL is requesting. League spokesman Joe Lockhart indicated Elliott won’t be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list, tweets Rapoport.
- Elliott and the NFL aren’t likely to reach a settlement that would absolve the second-year back of domestic violence responsibility, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Given that Elliott has been unwilling to accept any blame, there is “no middle ground” on which the two parties can land. Instead, Elliott is expected to be either banned for six games or zero games.
- The NFL did not ask Elliott’s accuser, Tiffany Thompson, to testify under oath, as Florio writes in a separate piece. While the league doesn’t hold subpoena power, Thompson did agree to be interviewed by the NFL on six occasions, meaning she may have been willing to offer testimony. However, the league reportedly is wary of placing domestic violence victims in “awkward and uncomfortable” situations, per Florio.
Bills Work Out John Greco
The Bills worked out a handful of notable names as they gear up for Week 2. Their audition included guards John Greco and Tim Lelito, cornerback B.W. Webb, and wide receivers James Wright and Stephen Hill, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). 
Greco’s six-year tenure with the Browns came to an end prior to this year’s 53-man deadline. After entering the league as a third-round pick of the Rams in 2008, he became a regular for Cleveland in 2011. He started in 66 of 85 appearances with the Browns and finished out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 ranked guard last year. Unfortunately, he was not on the field for the Browns’ sole win of 2016 – he was shut down in November due to injury.
Lelito graded out as the No. 49 guard in the league last season for his work with the Saints, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF gave him a solid mark for his pass blocking with a less impressive score on running plays. He hooked on with the Titans in March, but he was let go after a disappointing preseason.
Hill, 26, was a bust for the Jets after being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft. He has not seen live action since the 2013 season.
Chiefs Work Out S Aaron Williams
With star Eric Berry done for the season, the Chiefs are looking into some reinforcements at safety. With that in mind, Kansas City auditioned former Buffalo safety Aaron Williams on Tuesday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears. 
Williams was cut loose by the Bills around the start of free agency following a season in which he suffered a painful neck injury. He met with the Jaguars in May and the Texans in June, but things have been quiet for him over the last few months. The good news is that Williams was said to be fully healthy when auditioning for Houston three months ago.
Williams, 27, has been a starter for the majority of his NFL career, posting seven interceptions and 183 tackles through 59 total games. His health limited him to only ten games from 2015-16, however.
For now, it looks like Daniel Sorensen could be in line to start with Berry out for the year.
Colts Sign LB Sean Spence
The Colts have signed free agent inside linebacker Sean Spence. To make room on the roster, Indy placed tackle/guard Denzelle Good on injured reserve. 
Spence signed with the Colts as an unrestricted free agent in March but missed the initial cut down to 53. Less than two weeks later, he’s back with the team. The Colts already paid out Spence’s $750K guarantee, but his new deal likely has no guarantees, making him a week-to-week player. Spence also auditioned for the 49ers earlier this week before circling back to the Colts.
Last year, Spence played in 15 games (six starts) for the Titans and set career highs with 77 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, three passes defensed, and one forced fumble. He finished third on the team in tackles.
Last year, the Colts ranked 32nd in DVOA against the run in 2016 and placed 31st in DVOA against opposing tight ends. With some improved depth at linebacker, they’re hoping to turn that around.
Extra Points: Steelers, Tuitt, Saints
Here’s a look around the NFL:
- Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt has a chance to play this week against Minnesota, coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). Tuitt has been classified as week-to-week with his bicep injury.
- In light of the Zach Strief injury news, Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter) notes that likely replacement Senio Kelemete can earn $200K by playing in 50% of the team’s snaps and up to $600K at 70%. The Saints will be without the tackle for at least a few weeks.
- Texans guard Jeff Allen is expected to miss at least one game with an ankle injury, Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. Allen, one of Houston’s starting guards, is in year two of a four-year, $28MM pact. He appeared in 14 games last season, all starts.
- Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton is working out for the Texans this week, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). The former Pittsburgh receiver could round out a banged up unit that is missing both Bruce Ellington (concussion) and Will Fuller (collarbone).
- The Chiefs gave running back Akeem Hunt an upgraded practice squad contract, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. He’ll now make $36K per week, which comes out to $615K for the year. Hunt signed on with KC’s taxi squad on Sept. 5 and it sounds like the Chiefs weren’t the only team interested in his services.
Ravens Could Place Danny Woodhead On IR
Danny Woodhead‘s injury is worse than the Ravens initially thought. The latest diagnosis on his hamstring malady has left him with a 6-8 week timetable for recovery, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That would make him a candidate for the injured reserve list. 
League rules dictate that two players can return from IR each season. The Ravens’ best bet might be to park Woodhead on IR for the next two months and promote former Bears standout Jeremy Langford or second-year pro Alex Collins from the practice squad.
Woodhead missed the majority of the 2016 season with the Chargers and the injury bug has apparently followed him to Baltimore. He is under contract with the Ravens through 2019 at a total of $8.8MM, but the Ravens could conceivably cut him before the start of next season, leaving just $1.5MM in dead money against the cap.
At minimum, Woodhead will miss games against the Browns, Jaguars, Steelers, Raiders, Bears, and Vikings.
Bills Cut QB T.J. Yates From IR
The Bills released T.J. Yates from IR today, according to the NFL’s transactions wire. The quarterback will be free to sign with any team once he recovers from his concussion. 
Yates and starter Tyrod Taylor were both knocked out of action with concussions in August, but only Taylor was able to recover in time for the season opener. The Bills could have brought Yates off of IR after eight weeks, but it appears that Buffalo is comfortable with their current trio of Taylor, rookie Nathan Peterman, and recent addition Joe Webb.
Yates, 30, has only seven regular season starts on his resume. He does, however, have two playoff starts to his credit thanks to his time with the Texans.
With Yates out of the picture, the Bills have only two players on IR: wide receiver Jeremy Butler and tight end Keith Towbridge.