Dolphins Hire Dave DeGuglielmo As Asst.
The Dolphins have hired Dave DeGuglielmo as a senior offensive assistant, the club announced today. Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com first linked DeGuglielmo to Miami earlier this week. DeGuglielmo will replace Chris Foerster, who resigned on Monday after a video was posted showing Foerster snorting a white substance.
Although DeGuglielmo will land in South Beach, it doesn’t appear that he’ll be formally taking over as the club’s offensive line coach. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald indicated on Tuesday that that could be the case, and assistant offensive line coach Chris Kuper will presumably take on a more prominent role in leading the Dolphins’ front five.
DeGuglielmo, 49, offers vast experience as an offensive line coach at both the collegiate and NFL level. He’s worked for Miami before, as he was the club’s line coach from 2009-11. Most recently, DeGuglielmo served as the Patriots’ offensive line coach from 2014-15 and as an assistant with the Chargers in 2016.
While Foerster clearly didn’t resign because of the Dolphins’ on-field performance, Miami’s offensive line has been nothing special this season. The unit is below average in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders, while none of the Dolphins’ linemen rank inside the top-20 at their respective positions, according to Pro Football Focus.
DeGuglielmo earned a job in Miami, but Dave Magazu — who worked under Dolphins head coach Adam Gase in both Denver and Chicago — was reportedly in consideration for a gig, as well.
Dan Orlovsky To Retire
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has announced his retirement in a piece for Sports Spectrum.
Orlovsky, 34, entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of UConn in 2005. He participated in two separate stints with the Lions — the club that drafted him — and is perhaps best-known for his seven-game run as a starter for Detroit in 2008. After one season with the Texans, Orlovsky started five games for the Colts in 2011 before landing with the Buccaneers from 2012-13 and re-joining the Lions in 2015.
Orlovsky inked a deal with the Rams this summer, but he was released after losing out to Sean Mannion in the Los Angeles backup quarterback battle. The Rams ultimately brought in a third quarterback — former Jaguars draft pick Brandon Allen — off waivers just days after cutting Orlovsky.
PFR extends its best wishes to Orlovsky in retirement.
NFL: No Change To National Anthem Policy
Although reports earlier this week indicated that the NFL may force players to stand for the national anthem, the NFL and NFLPA today released a joint statement indicating that the league’s policy has not been altered.
“Commissioner Roger Goodell reached out to NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith today and both he and player leadership will attend the League meetings next week. There has been no change in the current policy regarding the anthem.
The agenda will be a continuation of how to make progress on the important social issues that players have vocalized. Everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military, and we are coming together to deal with these issues in a civil and constructive way.”
Goodell released his own memo earlier this week in which he stated the following: “Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem.” That, combined with indications that the NFL itself would mandate standing for the anthem, generated a round of controversy on top of what has already become a hot-button issue.
NFC Notes: Packers, Vikings, Bucs, Cardinals
Davante Adams remarkably scored two touchdowns for the Packers just 10 days after taking a violent hit from Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan, and it’s clear that Adams is in line to become Green Bay’s No. 1 wideout at some point, opines Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Of course, that would first entail the Packers extending the 24-year-old Adams, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next spring. While Green Bay could hypothetically deploy the franchise tag on Adams, the club is unlikely to invest $16MM+ on a single pass-catcher given the investment it already has is Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. A new deal for Adams, who managed 997 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago, could potentially top $10MM annually.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- The Vikings‘ head trainer says quarterback Sam Bradford is not dealing with a new injury to his knee, but does have “wear and tear” on his left knee, which has undergone two ACL operations, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Bradford returned Monday night following a three-week absence, but couldn’t make it through the first half before experiencing an issue with his knee. Minnesota didn’t offer any timeline on Bradford’s return, meaning Case Keenum (and possibly the returning Teddy Bridgewater) will be under center for the time being.
- Stevan Ridley, who spent four days on the Vikings‘ roster last week, is staying in the Minneapolis area as there is a possibility he’ll be re-signed to the club’s active roster, Tomasson reports in a separate piece. The Vikings are currently carrying only Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon at running back, although fullback C.J. Ham can also handle tailback duties. Ridley, 28, handled only three carries during the 2016 campaign.
- The Buccaneers selected Patrick Murray as their new kicker on Monday, but the club reportedly prefers former Chief Cairo Santos among the available free agents, according to Roy Cummings of FanRag Sports (Twitter link). Santos was in Tampa Bay yesterday to take a physical, but he’s roughly two weeks away from full health. The Buccaneers, then, could theoretically give Murray something of a two-week tryout before circling back to Santos if Murray fails. Murray, Santos, Andrew Franks, Josh Lambo, and Mike Nugent were all in consideration to replace the struggling Nick Folk as Tampa’s kicker.
- Before signing Justin Drescher to replace the injured Aaron Brewer, the Cardinals worked out four other long snappers, tweets veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. Andrew East, Colin Holba, Jeff Overbaugh, and Drew Williams all auditioned for Arizona before the Cardinals went with Drescher. General manager Steve Keim & Co. appear to have gone with experience, as Drescher was the only member of the group who had appeared in an NFL game. Drescher, 29, played in 16 games per season for the Saints from 2011-16.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/10/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- DT Mike Purcell; CBs Trevin Wade, B.W. Webb (link)
Buffalo Bills
- DBs Lonnie Ballentine, Antone Exum (link via Adam Caplan)
Detroit Lions
- DT Will Sutton (link via Caplan)
Green Bay Packers
- WR Tevaun Smith; G Cameron Hunt; DL Sean Daniels; DBs Charlie Miller, Ahmad Thomas (link via Rob Demovksy of ESPN.com)
Houston Texans
- QB Connor Shaw; WRs Rivers Cracraft, Paul Turner; T Steven Moore; DBs J.R. Nelson, Marcus Sayles (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB Lamar Atkins; FB Glenn Gronkowski; C Taylor Boggs; DBs Anthony Cioffi, K.J. Dillon (link)
Oakland Raiders
- DEs Sterling Bailey, Patrick Gamble, Jaye Howard; DT Toby Johnson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- T Andrew Lauderdale; LB Josh Forrest (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LBs Johnathan Calvin, Jayrone Elliott; DE Cashaud Lyons (link)
Texans To Sign DE/LB Lamarr Houston
The Texans didn’t stop after reaching an agreement with free agent defensive lineman Kendall Langford earlier tonight — they’re also planning to sign linebacker/defensive end Lamarr Houston, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26.
Although the Texans lost two of their best defenders — J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus — to season-ending injuries on Sunday night, they’re still firmly in the AFC South race. They sit alongside the Colts and Titans at 2-3, and all those clubs are one game behind the division-leading Jaguars. With one fell swoop, the Texans have now added two veteran defensive players who between them offer 225 games of NFL experience.
Houston, 30, was never able to stay fully healthy after inking a five-year, $35MM contract with Chicago prior to the 2014 campaign. In three seasons with the Bears, the 30-year-old Houston appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only 10 starts. He managed nine total sacks in Chicago, but eight of those came in 2015, his only healthy year with the Bears.
Houston, who was in town today to work out for the Texans, has been busy since being released by Chicago last month. In addition to the Texans, he’d met with or auditioned for the Patriots, Saints, and Buccaneers.
Texans To Sign DL Kendall Langford
The Texans are in agreement with free agent defensive lineman Kendall Langford, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
After losing both J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus to season-ending injuries in Week 5, Houston had widened its search for defensive front reinforcements in recent days. Veteran edge defenders Lamarr Houston and Tyson Jackson were in town for workouts today, while the Texans also looked at linebacker Jayrone Elliott, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
No freely available player — including Langford — is going to replace Watt or Mercilus, who are arguably Houston’s best pass rushers. But Langford, who at 6’5″, 275 pounds should be able to play at both end and tackle in the Texans’ 3-4 scheme, will be able to add depth and experience to a defensive unit that ranked fourth in DVOA heading into Week 5.
Langford, 31, offers a wealth of NFL history, as he’s appeared in 135 games (113 starts) during his nine-year pro career. In 2016, Langford lasted just seven games before the Colts placed him on injured reserve with a knee injury that had bothered him since a 2015 arthroscopic operation. All told, Langford played 301 snaps and tallied 10 tackles. Notably, he failed to register a sack for just the second time in his and the first time since 2011.
Along with the Colts, Langford has also suited up for Miami (2008-11) and St. Louis (2012-14). He’s been employed this season, as well, as he bounced on-and-off the Saints’ roster but never actually appeared in a game for New Orleans.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Derrick Nelson, DT Kapron Lewis-Moore
- Released: TE Ryan Malleck, S Ronald Martin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Ryan O’Malley, C Adam Redmond
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Matt Lengel
- Released: TE J.P. Holtz
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Cole Toner
- Released: QB Taylor Heinicke, G Jason King
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Woodrow Hamilton, LB Shayne Skov
- Released: CB Bradley Sylve
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Ethan Cooper, WR Kalif Raymond
- Released: OL Anthony Fabiano
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jahad Thomas
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Released: LB Boseko Lokombo
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Alex McCalister
- Released: WR Rashard Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DE Noble Nwachukwu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Larry Webster
- Released: FB Austin Johnson
Jets Working Out DE Jacquies Smith
The Jets worked out free agent defensive end Jacquies Smith today, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
Smith, 27, had established himself as a serviceable edge rusher for the Buccaneers (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, but saw action on only seven snaps. Tampa Bay apparently didn’t like what it saw in that game, as it released Smith prior to its Thursday night contest against the Patriots.
Given that New York plays a 3-4 front under head coach Todd Bowles, Smith — who stands 6’2″, 250 pounds — would presumably play stand-up linebacker in the club’s base package. Smith could move to a two-point stance as a situational edge rusher, however, and that’s likely the role he’d play if signed. Kony Ealy, acquired off waivers from the Patriots earlier this year, has been used in that capacity for the Jets this season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Justin Drescher
- Placed on injured reserve: LS Aaron Brewer
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted to active roster: DT Taniela Tupou
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: T Matt McCants
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers: CB Marcus Williams
- Released: CB Johnthan Banks, T Jah Reid
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR: CB Josh Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Gabe Martin
New York Giants
- Promoted to active roster: WR Ed Eagan
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Demetrius McCray
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: CB Asa Jackson