Colts To Release LB Sean Spence
The Colts will release linebacker Sean Spence, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
Spenece, 27, was one of many Indianapolis additions on the defensive side of the ball, and looked to be a good bet for a roster spot based on salary, versatility, and experience. Spence agreed to a one-year pact with $750K guaranteed, a total that the Colts will now be forced to eat. Able to play both inside and outside linebacker, Spence looked like a viable starting option for Indy, but he’s fallen down a depth chart that also includes John Simon, Jabaal Sheard, Antonio Morrison, and Jon Bostic.
Spence wasn’t a full-time starter for the Titans last year, but did play on nearly 50% of the club’s snaps, managing 50 tackles and three sacks. He boasts 46 career appearances, with 19 total starts.
Rams, Aaron Donald “Not Close” To Deal
Although Rams brass met with Aaron Donald‘s camp earlier this week, the two sides are “not close” on a new deal, sources tell Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Donald’s staged holdout has now passed the one-month mark, and there’s apparently no end in sight. With the regular season staring next week, Donald is extremely likely to miss games, something that Rams general manager Les Snead recently admitted. Los Angeles opens the season against the Colts on September 10, and then faces the Redskins, 49ers, and Cowboys.
Los Angeles had indeed discussed a new deal for Donald, but “little progress” has been made in negotiations. Asking price is surely the primary issue in talks, but the Rams’ level of team control over Donald means the club has little incentive to rush discussions. Donald is under contract through 2018 at a total cost of roughly $10MM thanks to the fifth-year option, and the Rams can then deploy the franchise tag in 2019.
That’s not to presume that Donald hasn’t outplayed his contact, a fact with which the Rams agree. Donald, 26, has been absolutely dominant since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2014. A two-time All-Pro, Donald has managed 28 sacks during his three years in the NFL, an astonishing total for a defensive tackle. Donald, who played 828 snaps a season ago, graded as the league’s No. 1 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus, which awarded him a 99.0 mark for his pass-rushing prowess.
Panthers To Release OL Chris Scott
The Panthers will release offensive lineman Chris Scott and place fellow offensive lineman Gino Gradkowski on injured reserve, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter links).
Both Scott (four) and Gradkowski (three) made starts for Carolina last season, but the Panthers will instead go with youth along the interior of their offensive line. Carolina, which boasts one of the league’s best guard/center trios in Trai Turner, Andrew Norwell, and Ryan Kalil, will roll with Tyler Larsen and second-round rookie Taylor Moton as its reserve offensive linemen. Amini Silatolu has a chance to make the squad, as well.
Scott — who missed the past two weeks with a concussion, reports Person — signed a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal over the offseason, so the Panthers will incur a small total ($80K) in dead money by releasing him.
Latest On Jets RB Matt Forte
Although recent reports indicate that he’s being shopped, Jets running back Matt Forte said he’s been assured by general manager Mike Maccagnan that he won’t be traded, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets.
Those two viewpoints aren’t necessarily disparate, as New York could be offering Forte up on the trade market and not finding a taker. That wouldn’t be altogether surprising, especially given that Forte will be 32 years old in December, struggled in his first season with the Jets in 2016, and is due a fully guaranteed $4MM base salary for the upcoming campaign.
The Jets haven’t been afraid to part with veterans this offseason, as they’ve released Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis, David Harris, Nick Mangold, and others. Maccagnan & Co. also traded defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to the Seahawks earlier today.
If Forte were to be dealt or released, the Jets would turn to Bilal Powell and sixth-round rookie Elijah McGuire as their options in the backfield.
Raiders Had Interest In CB Joe Haden
The Raiders expressed interest in cornerback Joe Haden before he signed with the Steelers on Thursday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link).
Haden, of course, signed with the Steelers just minutes after being officially released by the Browns, but he managed to generate an extremely fruitful market during his brief period as a free agent. A number of clubs, including the Dolphins, Eagles, Saints, Chiefs, Cowboys, and 49ers were all mentioned as potential suitors for Haden, who ultimately leveraged that interest into a three-year, $27MM deal with Pittsburgh.
Oakland ranked just 25th in DVOA against the pass a season ago, and the team is already experiencing turnover at its cornerback position. Sean Smith, who inked a hefty free agent contract in 2016, has been demoted from the Raiders’ starting lineup, meaning T.J. Carrie is now playing opposite David Amerson. First-round rookie Gareon Conley is available, as well, but he was only activated off the PUP list on Tuesday.
Bears Shopping LBs Sam Acho, Dan Skuta
The Bears have made linebackers Sam Acho and Dan Skuta available for trade, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Bears Release Victor Cruz]
Chicago has a slight surplus at outside linebacker, as Leonard Floyd and Willie Young are the club’s projected starters while veteran Pernell McPhee recovers from a knee injury. Lamarr Houston is also around, and given his and McPhee’s lengthy injury history, it’s surprising the Bears don’t want to keep Acho and/or Skuta as insurance.
It’s not as if the Bears can hope to reap much in the way of draft compensation for either player — both Acho and Houston were freely available on the open market earlier this year, and both landed only minimum salary benefit contracts with Chicago. Both will be at least 29 years old by next, and neither has been a full-time starter in some time.
Given that the Bears are shopping Acho and Skuta, both figure to be in severe danger of being released by Saturday if Chicago can’t drum up a trade market.
Lions Release RB Matt Asiata
The Lions have released veteran running back Matt Asiata, the club announced today.
Detroit signed Asiata away from the division rival Vikings in May, inking the 30-year-old to a minimum benefit contract. Always something of a plodder (3.5 yards per carry average for his career), Asiata had a chance to serve as the Lions’ power back if he performed well during the summer. However, Detroit will instead roll with Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, and Dwayne Washington behind starter Ameer Abdullah.
The Lions also announced the following transactions:
Waived:
- G Connor Bozick
- DE Giorgio Newberry
Waived/injured:
- WR Dez Stewart
- CB Tramain Jacobs
Giants Reduce Roster To 80
The Giants have begun the process of getting their roster to the league-mandated maximum of 53 players. The club announced the following moves today:
Placed on IR:
Waived:
- LB Chris Casher
- LB Steven Daniels
- WR C.J. Germany
- CB Tay Glover-Wright
- CB Daniel Gray
- OL Richard Levy
- S Eric Pinkins
- CB Tim Scott
Jets Cut 10, Place Quincy Enunwa On IR
The Jets have moved their roster to 76 players in advance of Saturday’s cutdown deadline. New York has announced the following transactions:
Waived:
- OL Jeff Adams
- TE Brandon Barnes
- DB Armageddon Draughn
- DL Jeremy Faulk
- WR Chris Harper
- K Ross Martin
- LB Spencer Paysinger
- DB David Rivers
- OL Craig Watts
- WR Myles White
Placed on IR:
- WR Quincy Enunwa
- TE Chris Gragg
- LB Corey Lemonier
Placed on reserve/NFI:
- DB Jeremy Clark
Steelers To Waive RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
The Steelers will place running back Fitzgerald Toussaint on waivers, reports Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Toussaint, 27, spent the past two seasons in Pittsburgh and managed 32 totes during that time. Although Toussaint appeared to have a shot at a roster spot earlier this year, Le’Veon Bell‘s decision to report to the club negated that opportunity. Instead, the Steelers will go with rookie James Conner and Terrell Watson behind Bell, who officially returned today.
Pittsburgh values Toussaint’s “toughness,” per Fowler, and given that he still has practice squad eligibility, Toussaint could see his way back to the Steelers’ taxi squad.