Cowboys Sign Robert Turbin
A day after parting ways with one former Seahawks running back – Christine Michael – the Cowboys are bringing aboard another, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, who reports that the club is signing Robert Turbin.
Turbin, who turns 26 next month, was claimed off waivers by the Browns prior to their first regular season game, despite the fact that he was still recovering from an ankle injury. After sitting out for five weeks, Turbin made his Cleveland debut against the Broncos last month, and appeared in three games for the team before being waived. In those three games, Turbin ran the ball 18 times for 60 yards, adding another eight yards on two receptions.
During his first three NFL seasons, Turbin served as Marshawn Lynch‘s primary backup in Seattle, compiling 928 rushing yards on 231 carries, along with another 427 yards on 43 receptions, from 2012 to 2014. Turbin is the third former Seattle back picked up by the Cowboys this year, who also traded for Michael and claimed Rod Smith off waivers from the Seahawks.
In Dallas, Turbin will join a backfield that has undergone plenty of changes this season, and currently features Darren McFadden, Smith, and Trey Williams. While Turbin figures to start no higher than second or third on that depth chart, he could see his role increase if he gets up to speed quickly and plays well for the Cowboys.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/15
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from across the NFL:
- The Dolphins waived center Sam Brenner, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets.
- The Browns waived tight end Rob Housler (hamstring) from injured reserve today, Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal tweets.
- The Patriots waived offensive lineman Chris Barker while promoting wide receiver Chris Harper from the practice squad, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
Earlier Updates:
- The Seahawks have waived wide receiver Chris Matthews, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Matthews had just four receptions during his 12 regular-season games with Seattle, matching the four balls he caught in last season’s Super Bowl against the Pats. Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter), the Seahawks are promoting wide receiver Kevin Smith to the active roster to replace Matthews.
- The Dolphins will sign linebacker James-Michael Johnson, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Johnson was just released by the Lions on Saturday, so he didn’t last long on the open market.
- Speaking of the Lions, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that, as expected, the club will place cornerback Josh Wilson on injured reserve due to what Jim Caldwell called a “significant” knee injury. Detroit is expected to sign a new cornerback shortly to help solidify a position that has been hit hard by injuries.
- The Titans have added two players to their 53-man roster, signing wide receiver Tre McBride from their own practice squad, along with wide receiver Andrew Turzilli from the 49ers‘ practice squad (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). The two wideouts will take the roster spots vacated by WR Justin Hunter and CB Jason McCourty, who were formally placed on injured reserve today.
- The Bears have made a change at cornerback, waiving Terrance Mitchell and promoting Jacoby Glenn from their practice squad to fill the newly-opened roster spot, the team announced today (Twitter link).
- The Chiefs have placed tight end James O’Shaughnessy on injured reserve due to a foot injury, creating an opening for defensive tackle David King, whom Kansas City claimed off waivers from the Seahawks, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
- The Giants have waived linebacker James Morris, according to a team release. Morris, who was elevated from the practice squad at the end of October, played on special teams during his brief stint on New York’s 53-man roster.
NFL Won’t Discipline Johnny Manziel
The good news keeps coming today for Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. After the team announced earlier today that Manziel would be the starting QB for the remainder of the 2015 season, the NFL has announced that the second-year signal-caller won’t face any discipline from the league for an October 12th incident that involved a public altercation with girlfriend Colleen Crowley.
“Consistent with the procedures of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, we have examined the available evidence regarding the recent incident involving Johnny Manziel,” the NFL announced in a statement. “Our investigation included a thorough review of information from law enforcement and our own interviews with multiple individuals, including the two involved in the incident.
“Based on the information gathered, we have concluded that there is an insufficient basis on which to take disciplinary action. In all cases of this nature, under the Personal Conduct Policy our concern goes well beyond the issue of discipline, and we have made comprehensive professional resources available on a confidential basis.”
The decision from the NFL opens the door for Manziel to start the rest of the Browns’ games without having to worry about a looming suspension. The team has Week 11 off, and will play its next game on Monday, November 30th at home against the Ravens.
Giants Sign Hakeem Nicks; Victor Cruz To IR
3:08pm: The Giants have officially signed Nicks, placing Cruz on injured reserve, the team announced today in a press release.
8:31am: After auditioning for a handful of potential suitors this year, veteran wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has finally found a new team — his old team. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), with Victor Cruz heading to the injured reserve list, the Giants are re-signing Nicks.
Nicks, 27, spent the first five years of his career in New York with the Giants, enjoying the most productive stint of his career with the team. Posting consecutive seasons of 75+ receptions and 1,000+ receiving yards in 2010 and 2011, Nicks totaled 311 catches, 4,622 yards, and 27 TDs from 2009 to 2013.
However, prior to the 2014 season, the former first-round pick signed a one-year deal with the Colts, and struggled to get much going with Andrew Luck and company, establishing new career-lows in receptions (38) and yards (405). Nicks signed with another AFC South team, the Titans, earlier this year, but was cut by Tennessee a week before the regular season got underway.
Since becoming a free agent in September, Nicks has worked out for several teams, including the Rams, Ravens, Patriots, Cowboys, and Saints. The North Carolina product also had an audition with the Giants, and will now return to his old team in the hopes of providing some veteran depth and perhaps replacing a little of the potential production lost when Cruz went down with a season-ending calf injury.
Ravens Sign Three Players; Perriman To IR
After a devastating loss on Sunday to the Jaguars, the Ravens have shaken up their roster a little, removing three players from the 53-man squad and bringing in three new additions. Here are today’s roster moves out of Baltimore, according to the team (all Twitter links):
Signed:
- WR Kaelin Clay (off Lions’ practice squad)
- TE Chase Ford (off Vikings’ practice squad)
- CB Cassius Vaughn
Placed on injured reserve:
- WR Breshad Perriman (knee)
Waived:
- WR/KR Jeremy Ross
Waived/injured:
- CB Asa Jackson (ankle) — will revert to IR if unclaimed (Twitter link)
The most notable move of the Ravens’ six transactions today is the decision to put Perriman on IR, officially ending his rookie season. Baltimore’s first-round pick never saw the field during the 2015 regular season, and after being selected 26th overall in the draft back in April, he won’t get an opportunity to make his NFL debut until 2016.
The Ravens will also be turning to a new return man for their next game, with Ross no longer in the mix, and the newly-signed Clay may get a shot at the job. Ross had fumbled twice in Baltimore’s last three games, leading to his release.
Cowboys Cut Christine Michael, Corey White
It’s been a busy day of roster moves for the Cowboys, who cut Brandon Weeden to pave the way for Tony Romo‘s return earlier today. Now, the team has waived two more players, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who reports (via Twitter) that running back Christine Michael and cornerback Corey White are being released.
Michael, who turned 25 last Monday, had been expected to get an increased workload after Joseph Randle was demoted and then released, but it was the veteran, Darren McFadden, who ended up taking many of those carries. In five games with the Cowboys, Michael ran for just 51 yards on 15 attempts, adding a single reception for two yards.
According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter), the Seahawks, who traded Michael to the Cowboys earlier in the year, are still expected to receive a conditional pick from Dallas as a result of that swap, since the running back was on the Cowboys’ active roster for enough games.
White, a fifth-round Saints pick in 2012, started 19 games with New Orleans the past three seasons, including nine last year. However, he didn’t see the field much during his time with the Cowboys in 2015.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), Michael and White were cut for both “playing and locker room reasons,” though Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears from a Cowboys source that they’re “not bad kids” and were cut based on their on-field performance. Regardless of the Cowboys’ motives, the club will now have multiple open roster spots to work with, as Week 11’s game against the Dolphins approaches. Michael and White, meanwhile, will be subject to waivers.
Extra Points: Mexico City, O’Brien, Lions
After sending a contigent of league officials to Mexico City to assess the possibility of playing a 2016 regular season game at Azteca Stadium, the NFL received “overwhelmingly positive reports,” sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
According to La Canfora, the league was already intrigued about the possibility of playing a game next year in Mexico City, and that possibility looks even more likely after last week’s visit. The CBSSports.com scribe suggests it would be a surprise if a game isn’t played at Azteca Stadium in 2016, adding that the NFL could make an announcement to that end in the near future.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the league:
- Addressing his brother’s firing today, Bills head coach Rex Ryan said the former Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will “take some time” to decide his next move, according to ESPN’s Mike Rodak. The Buffalo coach added that he hadn’t thought about the possibility of his brother joining the Bills’ staff, but admitted that “it would be pretty fun.”
- In the wake of a Sunday report that suggested he’d have interest in the head coaching job at Maryland, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien dismissed that idea, asserting that he’s “damn proud to be the head coach of the Houston Texans.” Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has the quotes and the details.
- The Lions haven’t indicated yet that veteran cornerback Josh Wilson will be placed on injured reserve, but whether or not Wilson lands on IR, the team will need to add depth at the position, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Detroit, down to three healthy cornerbacks, is auditioning free agent corners today, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
- Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun wouldn’t be surprised to see the Ravens make some roster moves this week, specifically addressing the team’s return game.
Cowboys Waive Brandon Weeden
With Tony Romo on his way back to the active roster, the Cowboys won’t be carrying three quarterbacks, and Brandon Weeden is the odd man out in Dallas. According to a press release, Weeden has been released by the Cowboys today.
Weeden, 32, entered the season as Romo’s backup, and looked good in relief of the injured starter in Week 2, completing all seven of his passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, as Dallas secured a 20-10 win over the Eagles. However, Weeden was up and down in his next three starts, throwing just one touchdown in those games, as the Cowboys lost all three.
Matt Cassel, who usurped Weeden on the Cowboys’ depth chart last month, will remain on the club’s roster as Romo’s backup going forward. As for Weeden, he’ll have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent. Assuming he goes unclaimed and hits the open market, he’d become a viable veteran option for any team that has its quarterback go down with an injury within the next few weeks.
East Notes: Vernon, Hardy, Dolphins
Defensive end Olivier Vernon, who has had to step up for the Dolphins with Cameron Wake out for the season, didn’t have a sack on Sunday against the Eagles, but he had an impact on the game, recording a handful of quarterback hits and hurries.
Vernon’s latest solid performance has Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald wondering why the Dolphins aren’t more inclined to engage in at least preliminary extension talks with the defender’s camp during the season. Vernon isn’t the Dolphins’ only notable free-agent-to-be, and Miami doesn’t make a habit of discussing new deals during the season. However, as Salguero writes, waiting until the offseason and having to decide whether it’s worth using the franchise tag on Vernon could cost the team much more.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s East divisions:
- Head coach Jason Garrett didn’t want to go into any specifics about a report on Greg Hardy being late for a Cowboys‘ meeting last week, but he also didn’t deny it happened, as Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com writes. “Suffice it to say that we have standards here with the Cowboys, that if a player were to miss something or be late for something, we address it in-house, and we address it the right way,” Garrett said. According to Archer, the penalty for such a transgression would be a fine, per team rules.
- With a game against the Dolphins on tap this weekend, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted in an appearance on 105.3 The Fan that his team previously tried to hire Dan Campbell as its tight ends coach, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link).
- The Dolphins are hosting former Patriots linebacker Cameron Gordon for a visit today, tweets agent Brett Tessler. While the Michigan product spent some time on New England’s roster, he has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game.
- Jets quarterback Geno Smith exercised poor judgment once again in the wake of last week’s loss to the Bills, and it’s the latest example of why he doesn’t have a long-term future with the organization, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Several Philadelphia News staffers, including Les Bowen and Paul Domowitch, evaluated the performance of Chip Kelly as the Eagles‘ general manager, with none of the 23 poll respondents giving Kelly better than a C grade.
Browns Plan To Start Manziel Rest Of Season
After declining to commit to Johnny Manziel for the last several weeks, Browns head coach Mike Pettine appears to have made a definitive call on the team’s quarterback situation for the rest of the 2015 season. According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the Browns plan to start Manziel over Josh McCown throughout the remainder of the second half.
Manziel, who turns 23 next month, has started the Browns’ last two games, a pair of losses that saw the team outscored by a combined score of 61-19. Still, the sophomore signal-caller has shown some positive signs, completing nearly 75% of his passes and racking up 372 yards through the air on Sunday against the Steelers.
Manziel will have nearly two weeks to prepare for his next game, since the Browns are off in Week 11, then play the Ravens on Monday night in Week 12. He’ll also play his next three games in Cleveland, with the club set to host Baltimore, Cincinnati, and San Francisco before heading back out on the road. The combination of the bye week, that somewhat favorable schedule, and the Browns’ 2-8 record should take a little of the pressure off Manziel as the team sees what it has in him down the stretch.
As for McCown, the veteran has been battling a rib issue, but figures to return to the No. 2 role when he’s healthy. He remains under contract with Cleveland through the 2017 season, so the decision to go with Manziel the rest of the way doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve seen McCown playing as a Brown for the last time.
Depending on how the second half plays out, McCown could return in 2016 to compete for the starting job — he also wouldn’t be an overly expensive backup, with a base salary of $4.375MM due next year. Of course, it’s also possible he’ll reclaim the starting role before year’s end, if Manziel struggles badly or goes down with an injury of his own.