Extra Points: Hardy, Asamoah, Falcons
Greg Hardy is waiting for a final recommendation from the NFL Players Association before deciding on whether to make a legal challenge on his four-game suspension, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Even if he does, Florio writes that it’s hard to see the Cowboys star getting that four-game ban cut down based on the timing of everything. If Hardy files something now, he won’t get a final ruling before Monday, September 21st. There’s also the possibility of a PR backlash against Hardy, who has already had his suspension stemming from domestic violence reduced significantly.
Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Falcons guard Jon Asamoah wasn’t seen with the team tonight during its preseason game and that led some, including ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (on Twitter) to speculate that he could be involved in a trade. However, the Falcons quickly took to Twitter to declare that Asamoah is not being traded. Still, Chris Chester has taken the spot of the former third-round draft choice and it’s conceivable that he might not survive the cutdown to a 53-man roster. Prior to the 2014 season, Asamoah inked a five-year, $22.5MM deal including $8MM guaranteed with Atlanta. After the game, coach Dan Quinn told reporters, including McClure (link), that Asamoah and Jake Matthews were excused from the game with injuries.
- The Falcons announced linebacker Brooks Reed underwent groin surgery, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport hears that Reed will be out for six weeks and that is a tough blow for the Falcons’ front seven.
- Bills coach Rex Ryan is less-than-pleased with kicker Dan Carpenter. “I’m tired of seeing us miss a field goal. We’ll certainly be looking. Nobody earns this job by default,” Ryan said, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (on Twitter). If the Bills cut Carpenter, they would save $1.3MM this season and $1.75MM next season.
- The Vikings have added a veteran lineman after final cuts the last two years and Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (on Twitter) would not be surprised at all to see them do the same thing again this year.
NFC Notes: Hardy, Crowder, Falcons
Earlier today, we heard that the Tom Brady decision by Judge Richard Berman had prompted Greg Hardy‘s camp to reconsider whether or not to challenge his own suspension in court. The Cowboys defensive end appealed his 10-game suspension and had it reduced to four games, but there was a belief that he and the NFL Players Association would consider a lawsuit for anything over two games.
According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), it has seemed all along as if Hardy would rather not go to court over the suspension, preferring that the issue is laid to rest instead. The NFLPA, on the other hand, would like to fight the ruling.
As we wait to see which side wins out, let’s check in on a few more odds and ends from around the NFC….
- An NFL spokesman has told Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link) that Washington receiver Jamison Crowder won’t face league discipline stemming from a domestic violence accusation on social media.
- Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio last night, with Marvez and Gil Brandt speaking to him about the team’s extension with Julio Jones, how player evaluation has changed under Dan Quinn, and the club’s up-and-down offensive line. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution provides a transcript of some of the GM’s more notable comments.
- In the wake of Dimitroff’s comments, Ledbetter published a second AJC story wondering aloud if it was a mistake for the Falcons to cut veteran linemen Sam Baker and Justin Blalock.
- Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com examines whether or not the Eagles should have any interest in trying to acquire Robert Griffin III, who is a candidate to be traded or waived by Washington.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/15
Here are today’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Falcons have made a change on offense, signing offensive lineman Eric Lefeld and waiving wide receiver Bernard Reedy, the team announced today in a press release. Reedy, who joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2014, spent last season on the team’s practice squad.
- After cutting their roster down to 74 players on Tuesday, the Jaguars have filled the lone opening by re-signing tight end Connor Hamlett, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter links). O’Halloran adds that the club also reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Greg Jenkins, so he has been removed from the injured reserve list.
- The Giants also left an open spot on their 75-man roster following Tuesday’s cuts, and they’re using that spot to re-sign kicker Chris Boswell, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). As Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter), Josh Brown has been dealing with a leg injury, so Boswell will handle the job in New York’s final preseason game on Thursday night.
- The Ravens released linebacker Steven Means (groin) with an injury settlement, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
South Notes: K. Lewis, Jennings, J. Jones, Jags
The Saints made the cornerback position a priority this offseason when they added former Patriot Brandon Browner and CFLer Delvin Breaux as free agents, but the team’s top corner won’t be available to start the regular season. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Keenan Lewis underwent hip surgery yesterday and will miss about four to six weeks of action.
Landing on the IR with the designation to return doesn’t appear likely for Lewis, since that would sideline him for the entire first half, but the Saints will have to make do without him for at least the next month.
Let’s check in on a few other items from out of the league’s two South divisions….
- Speaking to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Facebook link), free agent cornerback Tim Jennings said a visit with to Tampa Bay “went well,” but he hasn’t made a decision yet on whether he’ll sign with the Buccaneers. “I do want to take this time to see what other opportunities may materialize, if possible,” Jennings said. “Some teams may have some things come up with more roster cuts. Obviously, I also have a strong connection to Tampa too. So we will see.”
- Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com has the full year-by-year breakdown for Julio Jones‘ extension with the Falcons, which includes a $12MM signing bonus and $35.5MM in fully guaranteed money.
- Echoing many of the same points made by Jason La Canfora in a recent CBSSports.com column, Bob Kravitz of WTHR Sports writes that Chuck Pagano‘s future as the Colts head coach is uncertain, given his expiring contract and possible tension with GM Ryan Grigson.
- The Jaguars would “most likely not” let Justin Blackmon out of his NFL contract to pursue a contract in the CFL, writes Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. Of course, Blackmon would also have to be reinstated by the NFL before he could even consider playing in Canada, and that doesn’t appear imminent either.
- A housekeeping detail on the Steelers‘ acquisition of Josh Scobee, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links): The Jaguars converted $925K of Scobee’s base salary into a signing bonus before completing the deal, meaning they pay that amount, leaving the Steelers with just a $2.5MM tab for 2015.
Falcons Reach 75-Man Roster Limit
The Falcons got most of their heavy lifting done early when it came to the 75-man roster deadline. This afternoon, they simply reached an injury settlement with guard Peter Konz to get their numbers in order, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets.
Konz, 26, started 25 contests during his first two seasons with the Falcons after being drafted in the second round in 2012, but was relegated to a backup role to open the 2014 season. When center Joe Hawley was placed on injured reserve, Konz slid back into the starting lineup, but he saw his campaign end after just seven games.
NFC Notes: FJax, Cowboys, Mathis, Long
The Cowboys have no interest in Fred Jackson at this time, sources tell David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. For now, they plan on going into season with a committee of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar, but they haven’t closed the door on adding a tailback either. Jackson, of course, is on the open market after getting cut by the Bills on Monday.
Here’s more from the NFC..
- Cowboys COO Stephen Jones admitted that he would pursue a talented tailback if there was a fit, though he said that age is a factor. “If we saw a young running back to add to the mix, we’d certainly look at it,” Jones said, according to Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).
- Evan Mathis is now a Bronco, but he received interest from the Seahawks before he landed in Denver, and according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Seattle wanted to know if the veteran guard could play center. The Seahawks moved Max Unger in the Jimmy Graham trade with New Orleans back in March, and will likely roll with the inexperienced Drew Nowak at center to start the season.
- Falcons head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that he has not ruled out signing veteran offensive tackle Jake Long, as Andrew Hirsh of AtlantaFalcons.com writes. “He’s somebody we’ve still talked about for sure,” Quinn said of Long, who auditioned for Atlanta earlier this summer. “(He’s) a guy we have lots of regard for.”
Falcons Trim Roster To 76
MONDAY, 3:21pm: In an unusual twist, the Falcons announced today (via Twitter) that Terrell Manning, whose name is listed below as one of the team’s roster casualties, is actually still on the team, since the transaction was never sent into the league office.
The club waived defensive back Jonathon Mincy today, according to a press release, but is still at 76 players since Manning remains on the roster. Presumably, the club will officially cut Manning tomorrow in order to get to a 75-man squad, but we’ll see if the Falcons have a change of heart at all.
SUNDAY, 4:46pm: The Falcons have announced a series of roster moves, trimming their roster to 76 players:
Waived:
- Boris Anyama, LB
- Marquez Clark, WR
- Michael Ford, RB
- John Harris, WR
- Warren Herring, DT
- Derrick Hopkins, NT
- Matt Huffer, T
- Michael Lee, CB
- Eric Lefeld, G
- Terrell Manning, LB
- Sam Meredith, DE
- Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, C
Released:
- Mickey Shuler, TE
Placed on Physically Unable To Perform List:
- Lamar Holmes, T
Atlanta will still need to move one more player off its roster before Tuesday’s deadline.
NFC South Notes: Jones, Brown, Glennon, Griffin
The Falcons went all in on Julio Jones during the 2011 draft, trading five picks to move way up in the first round to take the star receiver out of Alabama. Despite a trip to the NFC Championship game in 2013, the last two seasons have gone less than perfectly for the Falcons. Yet the team is going all in on Jones again, giving him a five-year extension with $47.5MM in guaranteed money, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His injury history derailed the top-heavy roster before, and with his new deal he needs to stay on the field to give the offense a chance to score.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC South:
- Despite six dropped passes in two preseason games, Panthers wide receiver Corey Brown is still a lock to make the final roster, writes David Newton of ESPN. He notes that Brown has the confidence of head coach Ron Rivera.
- For teams who may need to scramble for a starting quarterback due to an injury in preseason or early in the regular season, the first call they should make should be to the Buccaneers concerning Mike Glennon, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. A source ranked Glennon as the best trade target, ahead of other notable backups Zach Mettenberger, Kirk Cousins, and Ryan Mallett. For the record, Cousins might not be a backup any longer.
- The Saints are set at starting quarterback with Drew Brees, but the depth chart after him is in flux. Luke McCown took over after Brees during today’s preseason game, followed by rookie Garrett Grayson, writes Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (via Twitter). That may leave Ryan Griffin on the outside looking in, in terms of a roster spot.
Falcons, Julio Jones Agree To Extension
The Falcons and wide receiver Julio Jones have agreed to a five-year contract extension, Peter King of The MMQB tweets. The deal is worth $71.25MM and includes $47MM in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (Twitter link).
Our own Luke Adams speculated in July that Jones could become the league’s second-highest-paid wideout. That has come to 
fruition, as Jones’ $14.25MM annual salary is second to the Lions’ Calvin Johnson, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter).
Jones is the latest in a string of standout receivers to sign an extension prior to the upcoming season, joining the Cowboys’ Dez Bryant (five years, $70MM, $45MM guaranteed), the Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas (five years, $70MM, $43.5MM guaranteed), and the Colts’ T.Y. Hilton (five years, $65MM, $39MM guaranteed). This news comes despite a report earlier this week (Twitter link) that contract talks between the Falcons and Jones had “stalled significantly.” Nevertheless, the two sides set a deadline for today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, and were able to hammer out a deal to keep Jones from possibly testing free agency next offseason.
“We could not be more thrilled to make Julio a Falcon for life,” team owner Arthur Blank said, per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter link).
King reported (via Twitter) that, as recently as a few weeks ago, “there was unanimity that all in” the Falcons organization wanted Jones to spend his entire prime in Atlanta, and for good reason. The Falcons took Jones in the first round of the 2011 draft and the ex-Alabama star has since established himself as one of the best wideouts in the league, catching 278 passes and 26 touchdowns in 49 games. The 26-year-old is coming off his best season, one in which he totaled personal bests in receptions (104) and yards (1,593). He also hauled in six touchdowns, his second-highest amount in a season, averaged 15.3 yards per catch, and made his second Pro Bowl.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Campbell, Mathis, Falcons
Back in June, we heard that quarterback Jason Campbell was planning to retire from the NFL. However, Campbell hasn’t yet made the decision official, and according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link), at least three teams have inquired on the veteran free agent. As Joel Corry of CBSSports.com points out (via Twitter), pseudo-retirement ended up benefiting Kyle Orton a year ago, so it’s possible a desperate team will make it worth Campbell’s while to continue his playing career.
Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Field Yates of ESPN.com has the breakdown of Evan Mathis‘ one-year deal with the Broncos, tweeting that the pact features $750K in per-game roster bonuses and up to $750K in playing-time incentives. Mathis can start earning those incentives if he plays 55% of Denver’s offensive snaps, and would max out if he plays at least 85%.
- Falcons president Rich McKay, who was disciplined by the NFL as part of the team’s penalty for pumping in fake crowd noise to their stadium, has been reinstated to the league’s competition committee, tweets D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The decision becomes effective immediately.
- Colts coaches seem to be doing their best to create competition at the nose tackle spot, which defensive coordinator Greg Manusky acknowledges is one of the most important positions on the team’s defense. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star has the details.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.