Steelers, DE Stephon Tuitt Nearing Extension
The Steelers and defensive end Stephon Tuitt are close to inking a contract extension, according to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
[RELATED: Le’Veon Bell Signs Franchise Tender]
Pittsburgh has a team policy not to negotiate new deals once the regular season gets underway, so the club will cease talks after Saturday. The Steelers are tight on cap space — just under $7MM, per Over the Cap — and that’s accounting for fellow defensive lineman Cameron Heyward‘s contract restructure, which opened ~$3.1MM. An extension for Tuitt would likely cut into those reserves, as Pittsburgh nearly always relatively large signing bonuses.
Tuitt doesn’t have to worry about a fifth-year option given that he was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, so he’ll hit the open market next spring. Scheduled to earn just $1.094MM in 2017, Tuitt posted four sacks a season ago while grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 interior defender. The going rate for non-Muhammad Wilkerson/J.J. Watt 3-4 defensive ends is around $10MM annually, and given his age (24), Tuitt could reach or surpass that mark.
The 2018 franchise tag for defensive ends figures to come in north of $17MM, a figure that’s probably untenable for a 3-4 end like Tuitt. As such, the Steelers will need to hammer out an agreement with Tuitt or risk losing him to free agency next year.
Bills Add Incentives To LeSean McCoy’s Deal
The Bills have added $2.5MM worth of incentives to running back LeSean McCoy‘s contract, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
While there’s no word as to how McCoy can reach that new incentive threshold, the extra funds are likely tied to rushing yards and/or rushing touchdowns. McCoy, 29, is scheduled to earn base salaries of $6MM, $6.075MM, and $6.175MM over the next three campaigns before becoming a free agent in 2020. Poised to be the focal point of Buffalo’s offense once again next season, McCoy averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2017 while posting 14 total touchdowns.
The Bills, of course, have traded away several assets this year, shipping wide receiver Sammy Watkins to Los Angeles and cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia. However, general manager Brandon Beane has been adamant that Buffalo has no plans to shop McCoy.
Chiefs’ Eric Berry Done For Season
Chiefs safety Eric Berry has suffered a ruptured Achilles, meaning his 2017 season is now over, head coach Andy Reid confirmed to reporters, including Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
The news doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as Reid indicated late last night that the Chiefs were expecting the worst. But it’s still a blow for both Berry and Kansas City, as the 28-year-old is not only an excellent defensive back (as evidenced by his erasing tight end Rob Gronkowski during the Chiefs’ surprise victory over the Patriots on Thursday), but also one of the club’s emotional leaders on and off the field.
Berry played a full 16-game season in 2016 and posted four interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one forced fumble. He graded out as the NFL’s No. 8 safety, per Pro Football Focus, which handed Berry top marks for pass coverage. In February, he re-signed with the Chiefs on a six-year, $78MM deal that made him the league’s highest-paid safety.
The Chiefs do have depth at safety, but clearly don’t have any players that can hope to replicate Berry’s production. Veteran Daniel Sorensen and 2016 fourth-rounder Eric Murray are candidates to take on more snaps, while Kansas City could speculatively re-sign defensive back Steven Terrell, whom the club released during final cutdowns. Other free agent safeties available on the open market include Will Blackmon, Jairus Byrd, Dwight Lowery, and Robert Blanton.
Saints Want To Rescind Jon Dorenbos Trade
The Saints will attempt to rescind the trade that sent long snapper Jon Dorenbos from Philadelphia to New Orleans given the news that Dorenbos will require heart surgery, head coach Sean Payton told reporters, including Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Because Dorenbos’ aortic aneurysm is a pre-existing condition, the Saints should be able to recoup the 2019 seventh-round pick they dealt to the Eagles.
To be clear, Dorenbos’ health is clearly the most important issue at hand, and the re-acquiring of a draft pick isn’t at the top of the Saints’ itinerary at the moment given Dorenbos’ impending surgery. As Katzenstein tweets, Payton didn’t bring up the effects on the original trade and was merely answering a question from the media.
Nevertheless, New Orleans will need to replace Dorenbos on the field. Free agent long snapper Jeff Overbaugh will work out for the club today, joining a group of snappers that will audition for the Saints on Friday, reports Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Justin Drescher, whom the Saints cut after acquiring Dorenbos, could also be an option, although that’s entirely speculative. Drescher was released with an injury settlement, so New Orleans might not have the right to re-sign him just yet.
For what it’s worth, Dorenbos has been dealing with a heart murmur for at least five years, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), who adds the Eagles were “monitoring” the condition.
Extra Points: Colts, Browns, McGill, Patriots
The Colts placed a waiver claim on wide receiver Kasen Williams after he was cut by the Seahawks on Saturday, but the Browns held waiver priority and landed the preseason standout, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Ultimately, Indianapolis ended up keeping six wideouts: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Kamar Aiken, Chester Rogers, Matt Hazel, and Quan Bray. A Williams addition likely would have led to the release of either Hazel or Bray. The Colts, of course, also traded away a wideout over the weekend, shipping former first-rounder Phillip Dorsett to the Patriots in exchange for quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
- Another Browns waiver claim — defensive tackle T.Y. McGill — is in legal hot water after being charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana early Saturday morning, reports Katherine Peralta of the Charlotte Observer. Cleveland picked up McGill, who’s appeared in 25 career games, from the Colts just hours after the charge. While it’s an minor episode (McGill wasn’t arrested and was cooperative when cited, per Peralta), but the NFL could still hand down some sort of suspension down the road.
- After being waived by the Patriots on Saturday, tight end James O’Shaughnessy was claimed by a league-high six NFL clubs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Bills, Colts, Chargers, Jets, Saints, and Jaguars (who ultimately landed him) all put in claims on O’Shaughnessy, whom New England originally acquired in a draft-day trade with Kansas City. O’Shaughnessy, 25, appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs in 2016 and spent most of his time on special teams. He’ll be Jacksonville’s third tight end behind Marcedes Lewis and Ben Koyack.
- The 49ers, Browns, and Jaguars will enter the 2017 regular season with the most cap space in the league, although San Francisco ($64.2MM) and Cleveland ($61.8MM) are in a different tier than the rest of the NFL, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. While some of those reserves can be spent during the season on additional signings and extensions, most of that space will be carried over to the 2018 campaign. The Dolphins, Rams, and Chargers, meanwhile, sit at the bottom of the league in cap space.
- Defensive backs Jarrell Carter, Cody Riggs, Channing Stribling, and Jamal Wiltz, plus tight end Alex Ellis, all worked out for the Patriots on Tuesday, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Only Riggs (14 games) and Ellis (six) have appeared in an NFL contest thus far in their careers.
NFC East Notes: Redskins, Eagles, Giants
Su’a Cravens‘ decision to retire (and then reverse his course of action) stunned both the Redskins‘ front office and many of the club’s players, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), although Jones report that Cravens had discussed his intentions with some Washington coaches. Cravens, who’s now on the exempt/left squad list, took to Snapchat on Monday to express that while he doesn’t feel the need to “explain” his reasons for leaving the Redskins, he will attempt to be more open, as Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post writes. Walking away could cost Cravens more than $1MM, as Washington could force the second-year safety to pay back a portion of his signing bonus, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Offensive guard Chance Warmack‘s one-year extension with the Eagles has a base value of $2.5MM and can be worth as much as $5MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Given that Warmack, a former top-10 draft pick, is scheduled to earn roughly $1.3MM in 2017, his new deal could allow him to take a leap in terms of salary in 2018. Warmack isn’t projected to start for Philadelphia during the upcoming season, but he’ll be the club’s top backup guard behind Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo. Speculatively, the Eagles could view Warmack as a future starter if they part ways with Jason Kelce and shift Seumalo to center.
- The Redskins put in a waiver claim for former Jaguars quarterback Brandon Allen but lost out to the Rams, who had the higher waiver priority, tweets Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post. Allen, a sixth-round pick in 2016, would have become Washington’s third quarterback behind Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. Instead, the Redskins — who waived signal-caller Nate Sudfeld over the weekend — signed 2017 undrafted free agent Alek Torgersen to their practice squad.
- Similarly, the Giants attempted to claim offensive tackle Zach Banner off waivers from the Colts, but lost out to the Browns, reports Dan Duggan of NJ.com (Twitter link). Currently, New York boasts Chad Wheeler and D.J. Fluker as tackle depth, while guard Justin Pugh can also move outside. Banner, who stands a gargantuan 6’9″, 350 pounds, was a fourth-round selection in this year’s draft.
- After acquiring Ross Cockrell from the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2018 pick over the weekend, the Giants have now reduced the cornerback’s pay from $1.797MM to $1.1MM, tweets cap guru Ian Whetstone. Cockrell will now earn a base salary of $1MM, while that extra $1MM is available via bonuses, per James Kratch of NJ.com. A restricted free agent during the spring, Cockrell was tendered at the original round level by Pittsburgh, but RFA salaries aren’t guaranteed. Cockrell is expected to serve as depth for a stacked New York secondary that includes Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Valentino Blake To Retire
Veteran cornerback Valentino Blake has decided to retire, according to Dan Duggan of NJ.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Giants Work Out Dan Williams]
New York designated Blake as “left squad” at the end of last month after the veteran defensive back left the team for a personal reason. It’s still unclear as to what exactly Blake — who was formerly known by the first name “Antwon” — was dealing with, but it’s possible he was simply contemplating the end of his career.
The Giants signed the 27-year-old Blake in March, after he proved to be a durable defender for the Jaguars, Steelers and Titans over the first five seasons of his career. Blake, who has appeared in 78 of 80 regular-season games since going undrafted in 2012, logged his third straight 16-game campaign last year with the Titans, though Pro Football Focus graded his performance an underwhelming 76th among 110 qualified corners.
With Blake out of the picture, the Giants picked up extra cornerback depth on Saturday, acquiring Ross Cockrell from the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2018 draft pick.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/17
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Tony McRae, C Matt Skura
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Eric Lee
- Released: S B.T. Sanders, CB Marcus Sayles
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB Alex Armah
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Ben Braunecker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Rashard Higgins, CB Darius Hillary, S Kai Nacua
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Released: WR Brian Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Released: S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Joseph Jones, CB Craig Mager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
- Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Released: LB Trevor Bates, DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nordly Capi, WR Travis Rudolph
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Lawrence Thomas
- Released: DL Patrick Gamble
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Ben Boulware, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
Ezekiel Elliott’s Suspension Upheld
Arbitrator Harold Henderson has upheld Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-game suspension, per Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Elliott will still play in Week 1 against the Giants, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, as the NFL typically doesn’t implement suspensions when a decision is made after 4pm ET on a Tuesday. Instead, Elliott will begin his suspension in Week 2, and will subsequently miss games against the Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, and Redskins.
Of course, the battle may not yet be concluded even after a yearlong investigation into domestic violence allegations against Elliott, a suspension, and a unsuccessful appeal. Elliott has vowed to take his case to court, and a judge is expected to rule on a restraining order against the NFL by 5pm ET on Friday, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. If that order is accepted, Elliott will likely be available to play out the entire season, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link).
Elliott, the fourth overall selection in the 2016 draft, has accused the NFL of a conspiracy against him, and the dispute has gotten ugly from all angles. Elliott and his camp have cast doubt on the consistency of his accuser’s claims and suggested her motives were profit-based, while the NFL has accused Elliott of victim-shaming. Nevertheless, Elliott plans to fight his ban to the “complete exhaustion of his legal options,” a source tells Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
On the field, Elliott is one of the league’s more dynamic talents, as he lead the NFL in rushing yards while scoring 15 times a year ago. Without him, the Cowboys will turn to a trio of Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, and Rod Smith to run behind arguably the league’s best offensive lines.
Jets Audition TE Gavin Escobar, OL Jah Reid
The Jets worked out tight end Gavin Escobar, running back Juwan Thompson, and offensive lineman Jah Reid, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Jets Sign WR Jeremy Kerley]
New York has been focusing extensively on tight ends in the past few days, as the club first claimed former Giant Will Tye off waivers before working out free agent Tim Wright, formerly of the Lions. Escobar, 26, never lived up his to second-round draft status, as he managed only 30 receptions and 333 yards over four seasons with the Cowboys. He inked a minimum salary benefit contract with the Chiefs in March, but was part of the club’s final cutdowns on Saturday.
Like Escobar, Thompson was cut over the weekend, as the Broncos handed him his walking papers after three seasons. The 25-year-old Thompson has never been much of an offensive contributor, and he rushed the ball a career-low eight times in 2016. The Jets have a pair of veterans leading their running back depth chart in Matt Forte and Bilal Powell, while rookie Elijah McGuire brings up the rear.
Reid, 29, is perhaps the best fit for the Jets’ current roster, as Gang Green is fielding one of the league’s worst offensive lines. Released by the Chiefs at the tail end of August, Reid has experience at both tackle and guard and 61 career appearances (18 starts) under his belt.