Extra Points: Romo, Rams, Keenum, Broncos
Tony Romo left last night’s game against the Redskins during the third quarter with a back injury, but ultimately returned to play the fourth quarter and overtime. Per Ian Fitzsimmons of ESPN Radio in Dallas (via Twitter), Romo’s season is not in jeopardy. However, the Cowboys’ quarterback’s short-term health could be a concern, and he will be labeled “questionable,” at best, for Sunday’s contest against the Cardinals. Here’s more from around the league.
- The Rams took on about $902K in 2014 cap charges when they acquired Mark Barron from the Bucs earlier today, and as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap notes, St. Louis only had roughly $540K in cap room, meaning the club likely had to restructure another player’s contract in order to fit Barron on the roster. Fitzgerald also writes that the new CBA was central to this trade — though Barron was a first-round pick, his guarantees are still relatively low, enabling Tampa Bay to take on his dead money without causing much financial discomfort.
- Quarterback Case Keenum was waived by the Rams in order to clear a spot for Barron, but it’s fair to wonder if he could soon find another job with the Ravens. As Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com points out (Twitter link), Keenum has a familiarity with Baltimore offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak from the duo’s time in Houston. The Ravens were rumored to be looking for an upgrade over backup QB Tyrod Taylor during the offseason.
- Sources tell Mike Klis and Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post that although several teams were interested in trading for Broncos cornerback Tony Carter, no club was willing to part a “significant draft pick” in order to acquire the defensive back. We first heard last Friday that carter was drawing interest around the league, but the 28-year-old will finish out the season with Denver.
- A torn biceps is a season-ending injury for most players, but Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans will attempt to play through the ailment, write Jeff McLane and Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce should return to the Birds’ line soon, so if Herremans can manage his health concern, Philadelphia should have its Week 1 starting offensive line together again soon.
- Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News wasn’t impressed with Jets general manager John Idzik’s Monday state-of-the-franchise press conference, and doesn’t believe Idzik should be allowed to hire a new coach if Rex Ryan is let go.
NFC West Notes: Barron, Rams, Cards, 49ers
Let’s check out the latest from the NFC West, where the Rams made a relatively surprising trade earlier today…
- Acquiring Mark Barron from the Buccaneers was a low-risk, high-reward move for the Rams, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, but it’s fair to wonder how Barron will fit in with St. Louis’ defense. Barron has been more successful as an in-the-box type safety, but as Wagoner notes, the Rams currently deploy T.J. McDonald near the line of scrimmage. In fact, McDonald grades as the second-worst safety in the league in terms of pass coverage, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Nevertheless, St. Louis can use the remainder of the season to determine if Barron has a future with the club, and more specifically, if it wants to exercise his fifth-year option.
- Several bullets into his latest notes post, Mike Sando of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) examines the Rams’ free agent miscues during head coach Jeff Fisher’s tenure. Jake Long is now injured once again, Jared Cook hasn’t been worth his $7MM annual salary, and a third high-priced addition, cornerback Cortland Finnegan, was released prior to the season.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link), Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said that he and general manager Steve Keim discussed several potential trades, but none came to fruition. Additionally, Arians suggested the trade deadline be moved later in the season.
- The 49ers currently have an open space on their 53-man roster, notes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter). San Francisco did not make a transaction today, and while the club could be saving a spot for Aldon Smith, the league did not make an announcement regarding a reduction of his suspension. Jim Harbaugh told reporters yesterday that he had yet to hear anything about Smith’s ban being lessened.
- After giving up multiple draft picks for Percy Harvin (and then dealing him away one year later), the Seahawks were right to not make a trade today, opines ESPN.com’s Terry Blount.
Chiefs Unlikely To Extend Justin Houston
With a 4-3 record through the first eight weeks of the season, the Chiefs are still in the thick of the AFC playoff picture, and their defense, which ranks ninth in DVOA, has played a central role in the club’s success. One key cog in Kansas City’s defensive unit might not be around for the long-term, however, as sources tell Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports that linebacker Justin Houston and the team are “worlds apart” in extension talks, meaning the NFL’s current sack leader is likely to either become a free agent at season’s end, or be slapped with the franchise tag.
We’ve heard before that Houston was expected to play out his contract, despite the fact that, as Getlin reports, the Chiefs and Houston representatives have been discussing a long-term pact for the better part of a year. If Kansas City does opt to place the franchise tag on Houston’s, he will earn a fully guaranteed salary of between $12.9MM and $15.1MM — the figure will be set once the 2015 salary cap is set. Per Getlin, league sources expect Houston to meet, or possibly exceed, the $30.8MM that J.J. Watt received when he signed an extension with the Texans.
Houston, a Georgia product, was selected in the third round of the 2011 draft. In 50 games (44 starts), Houston has registered 164 tackles and 36.5 sacks; he’s tenth in the league in sacks during that span. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) confirm that Houston is an outstanding pass-rusher, and also give him a positive grade in pass coverage. Overall, he grades as the second-best 3-4 outside linebacker in the league this season, second only to Khalil Mack.
In the final year of his rookie deal, Houston is earning just $1.406MM, and counts only $1.598MM against the cap. The Chiefs have a little more than $3.5MM available in 2015 cap space, so it might be tough for them to justify a franchise tagged player on their roster. However, Kansas City could cut fellow pass-rusher Tamba Hali to create more than $5.5MM in cap relief, while releasing lesser players like Anthony Fasano or Mike McGlynn could open up even more cap space. Regardless, a long-term deal would probably make better financial sense for both parties — but it doesn’t sound like that outcome is likely.
Nick Fairley To Miss 4-5 Weeks
The Lions will be without one of their key defenders for at least the next month, as Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that defensive tackle Nick Fairley will miss four-to-five weeks after spraining his MCL and PCL. Detroit already used its injured reserve/designated to return slot on rookie linebacker Kyle Van Noy, so that tag isn’t an option for Fairley. Even if the Lions did still have their IR-DTR spot available, they probably would’ve opted to ride it out with Fairley, as his timetable for return is sooner than that of the required absence (eight weeks) of an IR-DTR player.
Fairley, 26, has been a central cog in a Detroit defense that has been excellent by both traditional statistics (first in both yards allowed and point per game allowed) and advanced metrics (first in defensive DVOA). Although he’s registered just one sack and eight tackles, he grades out as the eighth-best defensive tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required); Fairley’s line mate, Ndamukong Suh, ranks fourth. Fairley, a first-round pick out of Auburn in 2011, is a free agent after the season due to the Lions’ failure to exercise his fifth-year option.
The next man up on Detroit’s depth chart is Caraun Reid, a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft out of Princeton. He filled in for Fairley on Sunday, but still has seen only 85 defensive snaps on the season. The Lions do not have another player listed as a defensive tackle on their active roster, although C.J. Mosley should return to the team in Week 10 following his two-game suspension. Though they would have to clear a roster spot, the club could look to add an external option at tackle, with Isaac Sopoaga, Derek Landri, and Antonio Johnson topping the list of veterans available, per Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter).
West Notes: Collins, Gruden, 49ers, Seahawks
Former Raiders guard Mo Collins passed away Sunday at the age of 38, writes Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times. Collins, a first-round pick in 1998, played in 71 games over six seasons in Oakland, and was a part of the Raiders squad that made a Super Bowl run in 2002. Per Langston Wertz of the Charlotte Observer, Collin had been working as an assistant coach at his former high school, and even secured a grant from the Panthers in order to install an artificial turf field. Our thoughts go out to Collins’ friends and family.
- Jon Gruden told one close friend that the Raiders‘ gig is the one job he’d come back to the NFL for, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Still, Gruden has a very comfortable and high-paying job as the color commentator of Monday Night Football and it’s not a given that he would give that up.
- 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters, including Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, that his club doesn’t figure to make any trades before tomorrow’s deadline.
- Within the same piece, Harbaugh says he hasn’t heard anything from the league regarding a reduction of Aldon Smith‘s suspension.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap looks at the financial ramifications of Jake Long‘s season-ending injury, and delves into the decisions the Rams will have to make on Long, Sam Bradford, and Kendall Langford in the coming months.
- With cornerback Byron Maxwell nursing a calf injury, the Seahawks worked out several defensive backs today, auditioning David Van Dyke, Rashaan Melvin, and Trevin Wade, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- The Chargers brought in linebacker Shayne Skov for a tryout last week, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan. Skov has spent time with both the 49ers and the Buccaneers this year.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC East Notes: Vick, Jets, Bills, Patriots
After suffering a 43-23 loss at the hands of the Bills yesterday, the Jets will make a change at quarterback, head coach Rex Ryan announced today (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Michael Vick will take over under center, while second-year signal-caller Geno Smith, who completed two of eight passes with three interceptions before being benched, will ride the pine for the forseeable future. While Ryan said this change wasn’t necessarily permanent for the remainder of the season (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News), it’s easy to see the implications of this move. Ryan needs to win games immediately to have any chance at saving his job, and while Vick, 34 and a free agent after the season, obviously isn’t the long-term solution for New York, Smith hasn’t proven that he should be the starter going forward, either. The transition from Smith to Vick will undoubtedly have implications for the 2015 offseason, as general manager John Idzik & Co. make their decisions on Ryan, Smith, and the rest of the roster. Here’s more from the AFC East.
- In addition to affirming his support for Ryan as head coach, Idzik took the blame for the Jets‘ 1-7 start during a press conference today. “Ultimately I am responsible for the performance of our team and the product that we put on the field,” Idzik told reporters, including Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today. “That lies with me. The buck stops here. My performance, to date, is unsatisfactory.”
- When asked if he would be involved in trade deadline talks, Bills coach Doug Marrone replied, “I would hope so… but I learned in this league you never know,” according to ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (on Twitter).
- There is no still official confirmation of a deal between Alan Branch and the Patriots, tweets Shalise Young of the Boston Globe. Reports of an agreement between the two sides surfaced three days ago, and though Branch has been assigned a number and a locker, New England has yet to announce the transaction.
- Though the Patriots did make a trade for ex-Titan Akeem Ayers, head coach Bill Belichick explains to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe why such midseason deals are “tricky.”
- James Walker of ESPN.com examines whether the Dolphins should buy, sell, or stand pat as tomorrow’s trade deadline approaches.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Browns Place John Hughes On IR-DTR
Although the Browns did manage a 23-13 victory against the Raiders yesterday, and in doing so, kept pace with the rest of a highly competitive AFC North, it’s not all good news coming out of Cleveland. Per Terry Grossi of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the team has placed defensive end John Hughes on injured reserve/designated to return after he suffered an MCL injury in Sunday’s contest. The Browns filled the open space on their 53-man roster by claiming tight end Ryan Taylor off waivers from the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
Now that’s he been slapped with the IR-DTR tag, Hughes can resume practicing in six weeks, and return to game action in eight. Therefore, Hughes will only be able be to play in Cleveland’s Week 17 game against the Steelers, as well as the playoffs (if Cleveland makes the postseason). A Cincinnati product, Hughes has played in 35 games since being selected in the third round of the 2012 draft. He’s started two games this season, and graded out as the league’s 15th-best 3-4 defensive end among 49 qualifiers per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The loss of Hughes won’t help a Browns defense that already ranks 25th in DVOA, but perhaps former first-round pick Phil Taylor, who will presumably see more snaps in Hughes’ absence, can help fill the void.
Taylor, 26, was a seventh-round pick by the Packers in 2011. After being waived by Green Bay in early October, he was picked up by Baltimore; he was waived once again on October 25. Taylor has been more of a special teams contributor during his career, as he’s caught only eight passes for 45 yards. The fact that the Browns claimed him is interesting, as it could signify that Jordan Cameron won’t be available for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers after suffering a concussion yesterday.
NFC Notes: Jake Long, Bucs, Bears, Lions
The Rams fear that left tackle Jake Long has torn his ACL, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Long, the first overall pick in 2008, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Dolphins before signing a four-year, $34MM contract with St. Louis prior to last season. If the diagnosis is correct, Long would be the second notable Rams player, along with quarterback Sam Bradford, to have his season cut short by an ACL injury. Long also missed the final game of last season after tearing his ACL. Greg Robinson, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, will presumably take over at left tackle. He had been playing left guard, and given that Rodger Saffold also suffered an injury today, the Rams will have to do some maneuvering along their offensive line. Veteran guard Davin Joseph is a candidate to be re-inserted into the starting lineup.
- We’ve heard rumors that the Buccaneers could look to move Vincent Jackson and/or Doug Martin, and following today’s overtime loss to the Vikings, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com opines (Twitter links) that Tampa Bay should look to deal the two, in addition to safety Dashon Goldson, at all costs. The Bucs generally don’t offer signing bonuses, so no money would accelerate onto their cap if Goldson was dealt. The acquiring team would be responsible for 9/17 of Goldon’s 2014 base salary, plus all of his 2015 guarantee — in total, about $7.18MM. Given that he rates 74th out of 82 qualified safeties per Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), I’d wager that no team would be interested in taking on his salary, and even less inclined to give up a draft pick.
- On the subject of Buccaneers trade rumors, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines what a Jackson deal would look like, noting that because an acquiring team would need at least $5.1MM in cap space in order to take on his contract, the pool of suitors is limited. Fitzgerald lists the Browns, Eagles, and Patriots among the clubs that have both the requisite cap space and the motivation to trade for a receiver upgrade.
- Bears defensive lineman Lamarr Houston will undergo an MRI tomorrow, but the club fears the worst, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Mike Garafolo adds (via Twitter) Chicago believes Houston, a key free agent addition over the offeseason, suffered a season-ending knee injury.
- Another NFC North lineman, the Lions’ Nick Fairley, suffered a knee injury today, and head coach Jim Caldwell isn’t optimistic about Fairley’s status. “I’m not quite certain where he is right now,” Caldwell told reporters, including Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “But obviously, when you’re carried off the field, it’s not the greatest news. We’ll see what the doctors say about him.”
Washington Signs Akeem Davis
In advance of tonight’s game against the Cowboys, Washington has made a change to its secondary by swapping one safety for another. The club promoted Akeem Davis from its practice squad while releasing Jamarca Sanford, the team announced (Twitter link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post).
Davis, 24, went undrafted last year after playing his college ball at Memphis. He did not play in the NFL in 2013, instead working as a graduate assistant as his alma mater. He eventually joined the Redskins in April, and has been active for four games this season. Davis was waived on October 7, but joined Washington’s practice squad just two days later. He will add depth to a safety group that features veterans Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark, neither of whom has been effective.
Sanford, 29, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Vikings after being chosen in the seventh round of the 2009 draft. The Mississippi product started 44 games during his tim in Minnesota, and averaged 34 tackles per season during that span. After signing with Washington in late September, Sanford has played in three games, solely on special teams. He should be able to latch on somewhere else as a back-of-the-roster type player.
49ers Could Trade Corey Lemonier
We learned earlier today that 49ers star Aldon Smith could return from suspension as early as Monday, giving San Francisco a pass-rushing element that’s been sorely missing from its defense. Additionally, defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, linebacker NaVorro Bownman, and running back Marcus Lattimore, all of whom are dealing with injuries, could return to practice, and subsequently, the active roster, soon. Roster space will be at a premium in the Bay Area in the near future, and as such, the Niners could look to make a deal in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline in order to clear at least one roster spot. Second-year linebacker Corey Lemonier is the most likely candidate to be traded, a team source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
Lemonier, 22, was selected in the third round of last year’s draft out of Auburn. He was active for all 16 games in 2013, registering 276 snaps on defense and playing on nearly 40% of the 49ers’ special teams plays. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) shows Lemonier to be something of a pass-rushing specialist, as he received a +3.9 grade when getting after the quarterback. This season, Lemonier has once again been active for every game, but despite the absences of Smith and Bowman, his defensive snap percentage has not increased. He is garnering more special teams duty, however, as he’s been involved on more than 50% of ST snaps.
Financials shouldn’t be an obstacle if the Niners do trade Lemonier. His modest bonus money, which amounts to less than $500K, would accelerate onto San Francisco’s cap, while an acquiring team would only be responsible for his base salaries, which would total less than $2MM over the next two-and-a-half years. As far as a return, the 49ers would surely be happy to recoup the third-rounder they spent on Lemonier in last year’s draft. That’s unlikely to happen, however, and I would think that the club would be content to get something in the neighborhood of a fifth-round pick for Lemonier.
Lemonier obviously has talent, so San Francisco wouldn’t be giving up on him by trading him; rather, the team simply has enough depth on the defensive side of the ball that even a promising second-year player like Lemonier is expendable. As Maiocco notes, the 49ers would obviously rather get any amount of draft pick compensation for the linebacker than be forced to simply waive him. Additionally, Maicco adds that the club is also extremely deep along the defensive, so a trade involving an end or tackle could also be in the works.