HEADLINES

Month: April 2018

Dion Jordan Signs RFA Tender

April 12th, 2018 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dion Jordan will move forward with his second NFL employer. The Seahawks defensive end signed his RFA tender and is now under contract for the 2018 season.

Tendered at the original-round level, Jordan is now attached to a $1.907MM salary this season. The 28-year-old pass rusher made just $640K last year.

He’ll move back into the picture for the Seahawks as they construct a defensive line that will not include Michael Bennett and may well be without Cliff Avril as well.

Although Jordan only played in five games last season, starting none, the former No. 3 overall pick showed promise. He registered four sacks and earned an 83.6 grade from Pro Football Focus. He will now be part of an edge defender core that houses Barkevious Mingo, who also underwhelmed as a top-10 pick from 2013, and one that could be centered around Frank Clark.

The Seahawks will begin their offseason program Monday.

Cardinals Cut Center Max Tuerk

April 12th, 2018 at 3:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Max Tuerk‘s time in Arizona has come to an end. On Thursday, the Cardinals announced that the offensive lineman has been released from his contract. 

Tuerk, a third round pick of the Chargers in 2016, signed with the Cardinals in November. He played in just one game, a 23-0 romp over the Giants in December.

In 2016, injuries kept Tuerk off of the field. Last season, he missed the first four games of the year after violating the league’s PED policy The Chargers waived him before he was eligible to return and later stashed him on the practice squad. Curious about his potential and in need of offensive line depth, the Cardinals swooped in.

Tuerk was a standout at USC where he played guard, tackle, and center. His versatility should allow him to find another opportunity, but his injury and suspension history may hurt his market.

Jets Notes: Rosen, Johnson, Minter, Dozier

April 12th, 2018 at 3:20pm CST by Zachary Links

If the Jets are looking to play it safe at quarterback, Josh Rosen would be the smart choice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com argues. Of course, that’s assuming that Rosen will be on the board for Gang Green at No. 3 overall, and that’s far from a certainty.

That’s also not to say that Rosen is a slam dunk. Although Rosen has great mechanics, the Jets do have concerns about his accuracy. Conversely, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield has been lauded for his precision. The UCLA star also doesn’t have the arm strength of Wyoming product Josh Allen.

Currently, all signs are pointing to the Browns selecting Sam Darnold at No. 1 overall and there are rumblings that the Giants are not particularly interested in Rosen at No. 2. Assuming the Browns take Darnold and the Giants go with a non-QB, the Jets will get to choose between three of this year’s top four QB prospects.

Here’s more on the Jets:

  • Wide receiver Charles Johnson‘s contract with the Jets is a one-year, $1.5MM pact, Cimini tweets. The deal includes a $250K signing bonus, a $250K workout bonus, and a $1MM base. Johnson spent the 2017 season on the Panthers’ IR after a summer injury. He made some noise in Minnesota, but has not made a noticeable impact since 2014.
  • Linebacker Kevin Minter‘s contract with the Jets is a one-year, $880K deal with a $90K signing bonus, Cimini tweets. Same goes for guard Dakota Dozier.

Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict Loses Appeal

April 12th, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2018 season, per a league announcement. This means that Burfict has lost his appeal to overturn his ban for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Burfict is no stranger to suspensions, but this marks his first ban for PEDs. In the past, Burfict has been sidelined for violations of league safety rules. Between injuries and suspensions, Burfict has missed 28 regular season games over the past four years. That tally will climb to at least 32 this year.

Despite it all, Burfict remains one of the very best linebackers in the NFL. In 2017, Burfict managed 69 tackles and 1.5 sacks in ten games.

In theory, the suspension could have financial implications for Burfict beyond the missed paychecks. Now that he has lost his appeal, the guarantees in his three-year, $33MM contract will void. With that $11.3MM guarantee off the books, the Bengals have the ability to move on from Burfict without dead money left on the cap. The 27-year-old (28 in September) is slated to be under contract with the team through 2020.

Although he is out for the first four games of the year, Burfict will be permitted to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. This marks the third consecutive year in which Burfict will serve a suspension to start the season.

Packers To Re-Sign CB Davon House

April 12th, 2018 at 2:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers may be on the verge of re-signing cornerback Davon House. Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel (on Twitter) hears that House has agreed to a new one-year deal. Meanwhile, House tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that that he has a visit scheduled with the Packers for Friday, provided that he can make it in time from his home in Hawaii. He expects to re-sign, but says that no deal is done just yet.

Demovsky reported later a deal to keep House in Green Bay is expected to be finalized soon. The only thing that’s holding this deal up is House passing a physical on his visit, Demovsky reports.

[RELATED: Packers WR Trevor Davis Arrested]

House started in all 12 of his games last year but missed time due to an injury early in the year and a late-season transverse process fracture in his back. He recorded 44 total tackles, six passes defensed, one interception, and one sack on the year, but he struggled in coverage. For the second straight year, he earned a poor grade from Pro Football Focus.

This offseason, the Packers added Tramon Williams in free agency, so House won’t necessarily be in line for a starting role if he returns.

Browns Cut TE Gavin Escobar

April 12th, 2018 at 1:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are trimming down the roster in advance of the draft. On Thursday, Cleveland announced that seven players have been cut. Here’s the full rundown:

Released:

Waived:

Escobar, 27, never lived up his to second-round draft status with the Cowboys. In four seasons with Dallas, he managed just 30 receptions for 333 yards. He inked a minimum salary benefit contract with the Chiefs in March of 2017, but did not make the final cut. He later hooked on with the Ravens, but he did not record an official statistic in his two games with the club.

Bullough spent three years with the Texans and appeared in 29 games with the club between 2015 and 2016. In the summer of 2017, the Texans released him after he was hit with a PED suspension. After his release, the NFL hit the linebacker with another four-game ban. The Michigan State product has not seen the field since Week 17 of the ’16 season.

Seahawks Rumors: Kaepernick, Reid, Carroll

April 12th, 2018 at 1:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have postponed a scheduled workout with Colin Kaepernick, but the door is not closed on the polarizing quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Seahawks brass, including GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll, want Kaepernick to consider how he wants to proceed on his social justice initiatives – not just the anthem protests – before getting together at a later date when his plans are formed. Overall, as Rapoport notes, the Seahawks have been on board with players speaking out for what they believe.

Here’s more from Seattle:

Seahawks Postpone Kaepernick Workout

April 12th, 2018 at 12:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks made plans to audition Colin Kaepernick this week, but the trip has been postponed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The workout has been pushed off after Kaepernick declined to stop kneeling during the national anthem next season. 

[RELATED: NFL Lawyers Depose Kaepernick]

Kaepernick did not decline to stop kneeling, per se, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Apparently, the team “asked for his plan moving forward on how to handle everything and there was not a firm plan.” The Seahawks also have concerns about Kaepernick’s overall commitment to football, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times hears. Still, the Seahawks have not closed the door on signing Kaepernick.

Coach Pete Carroll & Co. also showed interest in Kaepernick last offseason during the height of his anthem protest controversy. Seattle ultimately chose journeyman Austin Davis as their backup quarterback, perhaps because of public relations fears. Depending on who you ask, Kaepernick’€™s salary expectations may have also been a factor.

Kaepernick, of course, is presently embroiled in a collusion suit filed against the league. Kaepernick’s attorneys have deposed a number of owners and executives and, on Tuesday, NFL lawyers responded by deposing Kaepernick himself. Depositions are done behind closed doors, but it is believed that he was asked about whether he expected to be signed as a starter last season, the kind of money he was seeking, and whether his injury history had deteriorated his skills.

It’s unclear how the Seahawks’ latest invitation to work out – and postponement of that audition – may affect his case.

NFL Draft Rumors: Broncos, Jones, Jaguars

April 12th, 2018 at 12:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos hosted USC running back Ronald Jones on a pre-draft visit on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Jones, a likely first or second round pick, is coming off of a Monday visit with the Redskins.

It’s very unlikely that Jones is in play at No. 5 overall, but the Broncos also hold the eighth pick in the second round (No. 40 overall), so Jones could be a consideration there.

Here’s the latest round of NFL Draft news:

  • South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert visited with the Jaguars, Alex Marvez of The Sporting News tweets. All in all, Goedert says he has worked out for or visited with “15 to 20 teams.”
  • Pittsburgh tackle Brian O’Neill met with the 49ers, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. As a former tight end, O’Neill has tremendous athleticism for the left tackle position.
  • NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb says that he he does not have a visit lined up with the Browns and the same goes for Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. However, that doesn’t mean that either player is out of consideration for Cleveland. The Browns are apparently comfortable with the medicals and character of both players.
  • The Patriots are hosting Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans now that his White House trip is over, Rapoport tweets.

Latest On 49ers’ Reuben Foster

April 12th, 2018 at 11:43am CST by Zachary Links

49ers linebacker Reuben Foster is facing multiple felony charges and one misdemeanor in relation to a February incident, according to a press release from the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office. If convicted, he’ll face more than eleven years in prison. 

[RELATED: Former 49ers CB Dontae Johnson Signs With Seahawks]

Foster faces charges of domestic violence with an allegation that he inflicted great bodily injury, forcefully attempting to prevent a victim from reporting a crime, and possession of an assault weapon, all of which are felonies. He is also charged with misdemeanor possession of a “large capacity weapon magazine.” Foster will be arraigned in California on Thursday afternoon.

Per the DA’s office, Foster’s victim “told responding sheriff’s deputies and Los Gatos police that Foster dragged her by her hair, physically threw her out of the house, and punched her in the head eight to ten times.” In response, the 49ers released a statement indicating that Foster will be jettisoned if he his found guilty of the more serious charges:

“The 49ers organization is aware of today’s disturbing charges regarding Reuben Foster. We will continue to follow this serious matter. Reuben is aware that his place in our organization is under great scrutiny and will depend on what is learned through the legal process.”

Foster made an impact right out of the gate as a rookie in 2017, tallying 72 total tackles in ten games (all starts). In November, he earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors and appeared to be on track for a promising NFL career. Right now, his football future is very much in jeopardy.

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