HEADLINES

Month: July 2018

WR Philly Brown Expected To Sign With Broncos

July 26th, 2018 at 8:29pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Corey “Philly” Brown is headed to Denver. The wide receiver is set for a physical examination with the Broncos tomorrow, reports Mike Klis of 9News.com. Assuming everything goes well, it’s expected that the wideout will be on the squad when the team hits the field for its first training camp practice this weekend.

The former Ohio State star had three solid seasons with the Panthers despite going undrafted in the 2014 draft. He had his best season in 2015, hauling in 31 receptions for 447 yards and four scores. After appearing in a career-high 16 games during the 2016 campaign, he signed a one-year deal with the Bills last offseason. However, he didn’t end up seeing the field for Buffalo before being released in October. While he had workouts with several teams, he ended up sitting out the entire 2017 season.

Now, he’ll be looking to rebound with the a Broncos squad that’s looking for some depth behind Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and second-rounder Courtland Sutton. The team placed a pair of receivers, Carlos Henderson and Jimmy Williams, on the reserve/did not report list yesterday. While Henderson is expected to eventually report to camp, Williams is considering retirement. The team already added Mark Chapman, and they’re also rostering DaeSean Hamilton, Jordan Taylor, Isaiah McKenzie, River Cracraft, Jordan Leslie, and Kenny Bell.

Bills Sign DT John Hughes

July 26th, 2018 at 6:15pm CST by Ben Levine

John Hughes has found a home. The Bills announced (via Twitter) that they have signed the veteran defensive tackle to a one-year deal.

The 30-year-old has managed to put together a six-year career despite serving as mostly a backup. The 2012 third-round pick spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Browns, including a rookie season where he collected three sacks. However, he was released by the organization in 2016, less than two years after inking a four-year, $14.4MM extension.

He split the rest of that campaign with the Patriots and Buccaneers before signing with the Saints last year. In eight games last season, the six-foot-two, 320-pound lineman compiled 10 tackles. He tore his bicep late in the season, landing him on the injured reserve.

Kyle Williams and Star Lotulelei are currently slotted in as the Bills starting defensive tackles, and Buffalo has some solid depth behind the two veterans. Hughes will likely have to compete with rookie third-rounder Harrison Phillips, former third-rounder Adolphus Washington, free agent addition Tenny Palepoi, and second-year lineman Rickey Hatley for backup reps.

Either way, it sounds like the Bills were in the market for more depth at the position. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the organization also considered free agent defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker. The 28-year-old was more production last season, finishing with 22 tackles, one sack, and four passes defended in 16 games (four starts) for the Rams. However, the organization ultimately decided on Hughes, who Rapoport describes as “more of a space eater.”

Redskins Sign QB Colt McCoy To Extension

July 26th, 2018 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

The Redskins have extended quarterback Colt McCoy through the 2019 season. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the organization has signed the 31-year-old to a one-year extension that can be worth up to $7MM.

In a follow-up tweet, Rapoport notes that McCoy could still have the ability to hit free agency next summer. The deal contains a “void and buyback provision,” and if the quarterback hits the “void criteria,” the organization will have the ability to buyback for six different amounts, each of which is based on playing time and performance. McCoy it set to earn a $2.8MM base salary in what would have been the final season of his contract in 2018. He originally inked a three-year, $9MM extension with the organization back in 2016.

After spending the first four years of his career with the Browns and 49ers, the 2010 third-round has found a home in Washington. The quarterback has spent the past four seasons with the Redskins, including a 2015 campaign where he completed 71.1-percent of his passes for 1,057 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in five games (four starts). However, McCoy slid into a backup role following the emergence of Kirk Cousins, and he’s only appeared in a single regular season game over the past two seasons.

It will likely be more of the same for McCoy in 2018. While Cousins is gone, the team added veteran signal-caller Alex Smith this past offseason. McCoy will likely serve as Smith’s backup, with Kevin Hogan rounding out the depth chart.

Seahawks Add Three Tight Ends, Waive CB DeAndre Elliott

July 26th, 2018 at 5:05pm CST by Ben Levine

With Ed Dickson currently dealing with an injury, the Seahawks added several tight ends today. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Seattle has claimed tight end Kyle Carter off waivers from the Giants. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brady Henderson adds that the team has also signed tight ends Kayaune Ross and Je’Ron Hamm (Twitter link).

The team had already opened one roster spot today by releasing former second-round defensive lineman Malik McDowell, and John Boyle of Seahawks.com notes that the team also let go of cornerback DeAndre Elliott with a failed physical designation.

Carter, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Penn State, was waived by New York yesterday. The 25-year-old spent the first two seasons of his career with the Vikings, appearing in three games with the team last season. Hamm, 26, has spent time with the Saints, Redskins, and 49ers since going undrafted out of Louisiana-Monroe in 2014. He has a pair of career catches for 13 yards. Ross, an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky, finished his collegiate career with 19 catches for 286 yards.

Dickson has been dealing with a groin injury, leading to his placement on the PUP list earlier today. The trio of new tight ends will be hard pressed to make the roster unless Dickson is forced to miss the start of the regular season, as the Seahawks are also rostering Nick Vannett, Will Dissly, and Tyrone Swoopes.

Elliott joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in 2016. In two seasons with the team, he’s compiled eight tackles.

Lions Sign LB Darnell Sankey

July 26th, 2018 at 4:39pm CST by Ben Levine

The Lions made a series of moves today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). Besides making their signing of Ricky Jean-Francois official, the Lions also signed linebacker Darnell Sankey. To make room on the roster, the team has waived linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton and offensive lineman Beau Nunn.

Sankey, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State, has bounced around the league over the past two years. The six-foot-two, 250-pound linebacker has had stints with the Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Vikings, Colts, and Ravens. He ended up appearing in six games for Indy last season without compiling a tackle. He’ll joined a crowded Lions depth chart that already has Christian Jones, Jonathan Freeny, Cam Johnson, Trevor Bates, and Steve Longa competing for backup reps.

Benton, a former standout at West Virginia, signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent back in May. Nunn, an Appalachian State product, also signed with Detroit as an undrafted free agent. With the offensive tackle off the roster, one of Corey Robinson, Brian Mihalik, Adam Bisnowaty, and Dan Skipper will presumably have a better shot of making the roster.

After meeting with the Lions yesterday, Jean-Francois inked a one-year deal with Detroit. The 31-year-old split last season between the Patriots and Packers, compiling seven total tackles.

NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Boston, Rams

July 26th, 2018 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals‘ one-year deal with free agent safety Tre Boston is worth just $1.5M, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). However, Boston can earn up to $3MM if he hits certain requirements and incentives.

These last five months probably felt like five years for Boston as he lingered on the open market. Like other veteran safeties, he found that interested teams were only willing to offer him deals at or near the minimum salary as they preferred younger and cheaper options in the draft.

The good news for Boston is that he may be able to reestablish his value with a strong year in Arizona. The Cardinals tend to employ sets with three safeties on the field, so he’ll have a chance to shine as he mans center field.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

  • Are the Rams concerned about giving Aaron Donald big money? Mike Florio of PFT wonders aloud if the Rams are wary of paying Donald only to watch him take his foot off of the gas, like other defensive tackles have done before him. Most notably, former standout Albert Haynesworth tanked after signing a $100MM deal with the Redskins.
  • Todd Gurley‘s new $57.5MM extension with the Rams is a rarity in the NFL, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap writes. That’s because Gurley’s new contract represents a 74% uptick over the second highest paid running back in the NFL and a 110% increase over the fifth highest paid RB. The last player to sign a deal like this was Ndamukong Suh and that was as an unrestricted free agent and his increases were closer to 50% and 75%, respectively. Fitzgerald also believes that the Rams’ ill-fated extension with Tavon Austin hurt their leverage with Gurley.
  • On Thursday, the Seahawks formally placed retired safety Kam Chancellor on the PUP list and released 2017 second-round pick Malik McDowell.

Cardinals Sign DE Jacquies Smith

July 26th, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals signed defensive end Jacquies Smith to a one-year deal, according to a team announcement. To make room, the club waived/injured defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike. 

[RELATED: Cardinals Sign Tre Boston]

Smith, 28, established himself as a serviceable edge rusher for the Bucs (13.5 sacks from 2014-15) before a torn ACL ended his 2016 campaign after only one game. After working his way back to full health, Smith had played in his first contest of the year during Week 4 last year, but saw action on only seven snaps. Smith wound up signing with the Lions during their bye week in 2017, but did not play in any games for them. A second stint with Detroit later in the year resulted in two appearances for Smith, but he recorded only one tackle.

Smith is the third noteworthy defender to join the Cardinals this week, following safety Tre Boston and linebacker Arthur Moats. The Cardinals signed Benson Mayowa earlier this year to be their first defensive end off of the bench, but Smith has a real chance to also make the roster as a reserve.

Seahawks Release Malik McDowell

July 26th, 2018 at 12:48pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s officially official. On Thursday, the Seahawks released 2017 second-round pick Malik McDowell. It was first reported back in April that Seattle would be moving on from the defensive tackle. 

[RELATED: Seahawks Place Chancellor On PUP List]

The Seahawks had high hopes for the Michigan State product last year, but an ATV crash last summer changed the course of his career. Then, in the midst of his would-be rookie season, he was arrested for disorderly conduct after an incident at an Atlanta night club. According to reports, McDowell demanded a refund on a $600 alcohol purchase. When he was told that he had no€™t yet paid that $600 tab, he got into a shouting match with club employees. When police arrived on the scene, he got into a verbal tirade with officers.

Last year, the Seahawks moved down three times from No. 25 before selecting McDowell with the No. 35 overall pick. At the time, it appeared be a savvy maneuver. Unfortunately, it turned out to be yet another draft miss from the Seahawks’ front office.

The 6’6″, 295-pound McDowell tallied 24.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 32 games at Michigan State, where he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in each of his final two seasons on campus.

Seahawks Place Chancellor On PUP List

July 26th, 2018 at 12:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Kam Chancellor‘s season is officially over, and so is his career. The Seahawks placed safety Kam Chancellor on the Reserve/PUP list on Thursday, formally ruling him out for the year. 

[RELATED: Kam Chancellor Announces Retirement]

After eight seasons with the Seahawks, Chancellor announced his retirement earlier this month. There was little doubt about his future, but the transaction means that the Seahawks have been forced to eat his $5.2MM injury guarantee for 2019. Chancellor is undoubtedly disappointed about how things have turned out, but he won’t be hurting for cash as he leaves the club with $12MM in guaranteed cash for the ’18 and ’19 seasons.

Chancellor missed nearly half of last season with a neck injury and was unable to get the greenlight from doctors this year. His nine appearances in 2017 marked a career low. Chancellor missed 16 combined games over the last three seasons after starting at least 14 games between 2011-14.

Chancellor leaves Seattle as one of the club’s most accomplished defensive players of all time. As a pivotal part of the “Legion of Boom,” Chancellor earned four Pro Bowl nods and helped the club to its first Super Bowl win following the 2013 season.

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