Richard Sherman Joins Amazon, Still Considering NFL Options
Richard Sherman is officially heading to broadcasting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s hanging up his cleats. NFL on Prime tweeted that they’ve added the former All-Pro defender to their Thursday Night Football team.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero cautions (on Twitter) that the move isn’t an indication that Sherman will be calling it a career. According to the reporter, Sherman isn’t retiring from playing just yet, and he’ll continue to train as he prepares for a potential gig.
“No, no, I’m still leaving that door open as long as I can,” Sherman said of his NFL career during an appearance on NFL Network (via Nick Shook of NFL.com) . “I’m obviously going to keep training and staying in shape, but gotta take the opportunities when they’re there, and this is an amazing opportunity with Amazon, so I couldn’t pass it up.
“But I’m going to leave that door open, if somebody wants to call late December, and needs some help, I’m happy to help.”
We heard recently that Sherman was in talks to join Amazon but was still keeping his options open regarding a return to the field. While the veteran started five games for the Buccaneers last season, he wasn’t able to stay healthy, and his season eventually ended on injured reserve after he suffered an Achilles injury. He finished the season with 11 tackles and one interception.
A fifth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2011, Sherman put together an iconic career as a main member of the Legion of Boom, earning himself a Super Bowl ring and five Pro Bowl/All-Pro nods. While his accomplishments and experience can’t be denied, he’s also 34 years old and has been limited to only 10 total games over the past two years. There’s a chance a team could be desperate enough to give him a final run, especially if a contender is struggling with injuries late in the season…but there’s a better chance his playing career has come to an end.
AFC East Notes: Poyer, Becton, Jets, Patriots
Jordan Poyer continues to pursue a new contract, but that won’t keep him away from mandatory minicamp. The Bills All-Pro safety is in attendance for practice this week, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
The impending free agent is seeking a new deal, and the Bills have been in communication with the player’s camp. According to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, Poyer’s participation may be limited in a pseudo-holdout move.
“I think Jordan is in a good place mentally,” said defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. “He’s still staying in touch with his teammates, and hopefully, we’ll see him soon.”
Poyer has been a consistent starter on the Bills defense since joining the organization in 2017, missing only a pair of games. After collecting 100+ tackles between 2018 and 2020, the safety earned his first career All-Pro nod in 2021 after finishing with 93 tackles, three sacks, and five interceptions. The veteran inked a two-year extension with the organization in 2020.
More out of the AFC East:
- The Jets could turn to a committee approach as they look to replace Jamison Crowder‘s spot at slot receiver, writes ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Many assumed that Braxton Berrios would slide into the role, but head coach Robert Saleh admitted the team is “working through it” and prefers to slide players in and out of the spot to keep things unpredictable. Elijah Moore and rookie Garrett Wilson are among the receivers who could join Berrios in the slot rotation.
- Jets defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd rejected a better offer to re-sign with the Jets on a one-year, $1.1MM deal, according to Cimini. Incredibly, the 2018 draft pick is the team’s longest-tenured player, and he’s earned a reputation as a hard worker and loyal player. As Cimini notes, Shepard is now the biggest player on the team with Folorunso Fatukasi gone, and that could mean the veteran will see a more significant role in run-stopping situations.
- Jets offensive lineman Mekhi Becton made it to mandatory minicamp after having sat out previous voluntary sessions, tweets ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The lineman didn’t practice, presumably because he’s still rehabbing his surgically repaired knee. Meanwhile, SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano writes that the player’s ability to return to the field could ultimately influence the left tackle competition between Becton and George Fant. “The faster that you can stamp ‘Hey, this is what we feel like is going to be our best going into Week 1 vs. Baltimore,’ the faster we can do that the better,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said (via Vacchiano). “I think it will play itself out fairly quickly. When we get back (for training camp), we’re rolling, we’re running the football, and we’re going to see. It’ll all play itself out.”
- At least one “prominent” member of the Patriots offense believed the coaching staff was unprepared at the start of the team’s offseason workout, according to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus. Following Josh McDaniels move to Las Vegas, the Patriots haven’t replaced anyone as their offensive coordinator, with former ST coordinator Joe Judge and former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia apparently taking on larger roles on offense. However, it sounds like the coaches are settling into roles, with Kyed describing Judge as the “passing game coordinator” and Patricia as the “running game coordinator.” Naturally, head coach Bill Belichick recently swatted away any questions about the offensive play calling. “If you’re asking about game plans, we’re months away from that — months,” Belichick said. “Months away. Months. What plays are we calling? Mini-camp plays?”
Bengals Sign Cordell Volson, Finish Signing Draft Class
The Bengals have finished signing their draft class. The team announced that they have signed fourth-round offensive lineman Cordell Volson to his rookie contract.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman set a school record at North Dakota State University by appearing in 65 career games (including 41 straight starts). His consistency earned him a pair of Associated Press FCS All-America first team nods, and he also won four FCS national championships during his six years at the school.
At 23 years old, Volson was one of the oldest prospects in the draft; he redshirted his freshman season and opted to use his extra year of college eligibility in 2021. The Bengals ultimately used the No. 136 pick in the draft to select the offensive lineman, making him the 11th offensive tackle off the board. The rookie will join a long list of newcomers on the offensive line, but unlike some of those acquisitions (center Ted Karras, right guard Alex Cappa, and right tackle La’el Collins), there’s little chance Volson starts, at least to start his career.
With this signing, the Bengals have officially completed the signing of their draft class:
Round 1: No. 31 Daxton Hill, S (Michigan) (signed)
Round 2: No. 60 (from Buccaneers through Bills) Cam Taylor-Britt, CB (Nebraska) (signed)
Round 3: No. 95 Zachary Carter, DL (Florida) (signed)
Round 4: No. 136 Cordell Volson, OL (North Dakota State)
Round 5: No. 166 (from Cardinals through Eagles, Texans and Bears): Tycen Anderson, S (Toledo) (signed)
Round 7: No. 252 Jeffrey Gunter, DE (Coastal Carolina) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/14/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Wyatt Ray
- Placed on IR: DE/OLB Jordan Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: C Darryl Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: LB Travin Howard
Washington Commanders
- Signed: OT Willie Beavers, DT Justin Hamilton
Latest On Chargers S Derwin James
Chargers safety Derwin James had offseason shoulder surgery that has limited him during the early part of minicamp, reports USA Today’s Tyler Dragon (on Twitter). While James is limited, it’s a good sign that he’s already on the field, and Dragon notes that the defensive back is expected to be a full participant by the time training camp comes around.
[RELATED: Latest On Derwin James Extension Talks]
“Derwin didn’t participate in any of the seven-on-seven this spring because of him coming off the labrum surgery,” coach Brandon Staley told reporters (via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry). “We wanted to make sure he stayed out of the competitive seven-on-seven. He did all the individual work … he was in all our 11-on-11 team stuff.”
“It was more just precautionary in nature and if you know anything about Derwin, it killed him that he wasn’t out there, for sure.”
James missed a pair of contests in 2021 because of a hamstring injury, but he otherwise started 15 games. As Thiry observes, James did land on the injury report early in the season with a shoulder ailment, but it didn’t force him to miss any time. The former first-round pick earned his second Pro Bowl nod in 2021 after finishing with 118 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The safety was limited to only five games in 2019 before sitting out the 2020 campaign, so it was a positive sign for both the player and organization that he could return to his Pro Bowl status.
With James entering the final year of his rookie contract, Dragon tweets that the two sides have started “preliminary” discussions on a long-term deal. There have been recent reports that the organization and the safety were both optimistic that they’d agree on an extension before the start of next season. The two sides are expected to continue negotiating with the expectation that they’ll agree to a deal before the start of next season.
Latest On Cardinals Offensive Line
Rodney Hudson is a no-show in Arizona. The veteran center hasn’t attended Cardinals mandatory minicamp and doesn’t have an excused absence, coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters (via Darren Urban of the team’s website). The coach wouldn’t reveal why Hudson was staying away from the team, just noting that the two sides were “working through something.”
[RELATED: Center Billy Price To Visit Cardinals]
Hudson was acquired by the Cardinals last offseason, and he started each of his 12 games in 2021 while missing a handful of appearances thanks to rib and shoulder injuries. The 32-year-old still has two years remaining on the three-year, $30MM extension he signed Arizona following his trade from the Raiders. Of course, the offensive lineman’s absence may have nothing to do with money, and considering the Cardinals don’t really have a path to get out of his 2022 salary, it’d make more sense if the front office pursued a reworked deal next offseason. We’ll likely learn more about the situation if Hudson’s absence extends into the preseason.
With the Cardinals down a man, the organization has turned to veteran guard Justin Pugh to pick up the slack at center. Speaking to reporters, Pugh said switching positions could ultimately extend his career.
“I could see myself playing center,” Pugh said. “I’ve capped out money-wise at guard. Why not go out and see if I can play center? In this offseason, with Kyler (Murray), center is a very important position. There are a lot of centers that play older in their years, because physically it’s not as demanding. Mentally it’s much more intense, and that’s where I think I can succeed.
“We’ll try it out. We’ll see how it goes. If I don’t play real well, you’ll see me at left guard.”
Pugh also admitted that he considered hanging up his cleats following the 2021 campaign, and he made it clear that his frustration was due to the pay cut he accepted prior to the season. Ultimately, Pugh re-signed with the organization this offseason on a one-year, $5.5MM pact, and while he ultimately decided to let bygones be bygones, he still sounded a bit worked up about the money he had to sacrifice last year.
“All of a sudden, it’s ‘I’m going to cut your pay,’ and I don’t care what you do, someone cuts your pay by 33 percent, you’re not going to be happy,” Pugh said. “Then you factor in how much you love the game, how much you love being around the guys, how much you love to compete, and there is no dollar amount that can fill that gap.”
Other than Pugh, the Cardinals have limited options at center. As Urban writes, veteran Sean Harlow has some experience playing the position, but similar to Pugh, he’s more of an offensive guard. The team has also tried rookie guard Lecitus Smith at the position throughout minicamp. The team also brought in Billy Price on a free agent visit.
Cowboys Finish Signing 2022 Draft Class
The Cowboys have officially signed their entire draft class. The team announced today that they’ve signed fourth-round tight end Jake Ferguson to his four-year rookie pact.
Ferguson was relatively consistent during his four years at Wisconsin. In 47 games, the tight end hauled in 145 receptions for 1,618 yards and 13 touchdowns. Thanks to that production, he was the eighth tight end off the board during this year’s draft, going to Dallas with pick No. 129.
Dalton Schultz isn’t participating in OTAs while he looks for a new deal, so Ferguson will have a chance to show what he’s got with increased reps. The rookie will be competing with the likes of Sean McKeon and Jeremy Sprinkle for the second spot on the depth chart.
With the signing, Dallas has signed all nine of their draft picks:
Round 1: No. 24 Tyler Smith, OL (Tulsa) (signed)
Round 2: No. 56 Sam Williams, DE (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3: No. 88 Jalen Tolbert, WR (South Alabama) (signed)
Round 4: No. 129 Jake Ferguson, TE (Wisconsin)
Round 5: No. 155 (from Browns) Matt Waletzko, OT (North Dakota) (signed)
Round 5: No. 167 DaRon Bland, CB (Fresno State) (signed)
Round 5: No. 176 Damone Clark, LB (LSU) (signed)
Round 5: No. 178 John Ridgeway, DT (Arkansas) (signed)
Round 6: No. 193 (from Browns) Devin Harper, LB (Oklahoma State) (signed)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/8/22
Today’s late-round draft pick signings:
Las Vegas Raiders
- RB Zamir White (fourth round, Georgia)
White had productive sophomore and junior seasons at Georgia. Over the past two years, the running back collected 1,747 yards from scrimmage and 22 touchdowns in 25 games. The Raiders have a crowded depth chart at RB, but he could slide in behind Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake as the third running back (especially if Brandon Bolden primarily plays special teams).
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/8/22
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Placed on reserve/retired list: CB Jermaine Waller
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Porter Gustin
- Waived: CB Javaris Davis
- Released: DE Daeshon Hall
Free Agents
- Retired: WR Gehrig Dieter
Dieter spent his five NFL seasons with the Chiefs. He didn’t make much of an impact from a statistical standpoint; in 10 regular season games, the receiver hauled in a pair of catches for 32 yards (plus another catch in the postseason). However, he became a popular player on the practice field, including his friendship with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Rams Waive LB Travin Howard
It’s been a busy day in Los Angeles. Tucked under the headline of Cooper Kupp‘s extension includes a transaction that saw the Rams moving on from one of their defenders. The team announced earlier today that they have waived linebacker Travin Howard. The linebacker was set to earn $2.5MM next season.
[RELATED: Rams, WR Cooper Kupp Agree To Extension]
Following a collegiate career at LSU that saw him earn two-straight first-team All-Big 12 honors and Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP, Howard was selected by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2018 draft. The linebacker appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, collecting 22 tackles while mostly playing on special teams.
He landed on IR prior to the 2020 campaign, wiping out his season. He returned for 2021 and got into 12 games (tw0 starts), finishing with 21 tackles and an interception. He added another 10 tackles in four postseason games (two starts), and he hauled in the game-clinching interception during the Rams NFC Championship Game victory.
Howard only his starts when rookie Ernest Jones was injured, and the organization also brought in Bobby Wagner at the linebacker position. As a result, Howard was already destined to be a backup at best in 2022, and it sounds like the organization will pivot to a younger option to round out their linebackers corps.