Bears’ Tayo Fabuluje Suspended Four Games
The NFL has handed out its second four-game suspension of the day, with the Bears announcing (via Twitter) that rookie tackle Tayo Fabuluje has been banned for the next four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. We heard earlier this afternoon that free agent running back Joseph Randle has also been suspended four games.
Fabuluje, a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, has been active for the Bears’ last several games. While he hasn’t earned a spot in the starting lineup, the 24-year-old has played on the field goal unit and in goal-line and short-yardage situations, as Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
In a text message to Peggy Kusinski of NBC Chicago, Fabuluje acknowledges that he “took [an] appetite suppressant back in training camp” that resulted in a failed drug test.
The Bears may look to add an offensive lineman via free agency or from their practice squad later this week, to fortify their depth at the position. With Fabuluje sidelined for the next four weeks, the rookie will miss Chicago’s games against the Rams, Broncos, Packers, and 49ers.
Joseph Randle Suspended Four Games
Former Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been suspended without pay for four games by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Randle has been a free agent since being cut by Dallas, and this news won’t help him as he attempts to find a new job.
Randle’s four-game ban presumably stems from a February incident in Wichita, Kansas, which saw him arrested for unlawful possession of marijuana after police received a call for an alleged domestic incident involving Randle and the mother of his son. Charges against the 23-year-old were dropped in April, but the NFL continued its own investigation, reportedly meeting with Randle over the summer, and again in October.
Randle, 24 in December, was expected by many to emerge as the leader in the Cowboys’ fractured backfield this season, following the offseason departure of DeMarco Murray. However, with Randle suffering from an injured oblique and dealing with off-field issues, he lost his starting job and eventually his spot on the Cowboys’ roster, having rushed for just 313 yards on 76 attempts in the first half.
Based on a tweet from Ed Werder of ESPN.com this morning, it sounds as if there were teams with interest in Randle, but those clubs were waiting to hear on his potential suspension. Rapoport (Twitter link) had reported a couple weeks back that the running back would likely face a one- or two-game suspension, so potential suitors may be put off by the longer ban.
North Notes: Joe Thomas, Bengals, Peterson
We’re a full week removed from the trade deadline, but whispers about the blockbuster deal that didn’t get done on that day – Joe Thomas to the Broncos – continue to linger. For his part, Thomas today denied a weekend report suggesting he and/or his agent asked the Browns to explore the trade market for a possible deal.
“I’m not sure where that report came from, but I can say in no uncertain terms that I never asked the Browns for a trade, that I never talked to them about wanting to be traded, (nor) did any of my representatives talk to the Browns about wanting to be traded,” Thomas said today, per Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. “From what I understand about how things went, the Browns were contacted by the Broncos and that’s where the trade came from.”
That weekend report also indicated that Thomas wanted the Broncos to guarantee his 2016 and 2017 salaries before agreeing to a deal, which the Browns star tackle also denied.
“The other thing I’m going to be very firm and make no qualms about is myself was never involved in any contract discussions with the Denver Broncos, my agent was never involved in any contract discussions, there was never any guaranteed money discussed,” Thomas said. “I was off the grid this weekend, so I was a little surprised to see (the report).”
Let’s round up a few more Tuesday notes from across the NFL’s North divisions….
- The Browns will add running back Glenn Winston and cornerback Charles Gaines to their active roster at some point this week, according to head coach Mike Pettine (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal). Having cut linebacker Jayson DiManche and defensive back De’Ante Saunders yesterday, Cleveland shouldn’t need to make any other roster moves to accommodate the returning players.
- A pair of Bengals players that opened the year on reserve lists returned to practice for the team today, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. As Harvey notes, Cincinnati will now have a three-week window to decide whether or not to activate offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (non-football injury list) and linebacker Sean Porter (physically unable to perform list).
- As Joel Corry of CBSSports.com observes (via Twitter), Adrian Peterson needs at least 1,350 rushing yards and a Vikings playoff berth to keep his 2016 roster bonus from dropping by $2MM. While those may have seemed like tall orders before the season, Peterson – the league’s leading rusher – is currently on pace to exceed 1,500 yards, and Minnesota is tied for first place in the NFC North.
Jets Sign Randy Bullock; Nick Folk To IR
12:41pm: The Jets have made the move official, signing Bullock and placing Folk on IR to accommodate the move. Unless he struggles, Bullock figures to handle kicking duties for the team for the rest of the season.
12:07pm: With Nick Folk unable to kick for the Jets, the team will sign Randy Bullock in preparation for this Thursday’s game against Buffalo, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Bullock was one of four veteran free agents to work out for New York yesterday, with Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports suggesting at the time that the former Texans kicker was the odds-on favorite to replace Folk.
Bullock, who turns 26 next month, had been the Texans’ kicker since the 2013 season, making 74.3% of his field goals in his rookie year before bumping up that mark to 85.7% in 2014. However, he was inconsistent through three weeks this season, missing a 43-yard field goal and a pair of extra points, which resulted in his release.
Since being waived by the Texans, Bullock has been very busy, working out for the Steelers, Buccaneers, Saints, Jaguars, and Cardinals before this week’s audition for the Jets. Bullock, who has a Houston connection to former Texans executive – and current Jets GM – Mike Maccagnan, beat out Garrett Hartley, Kyle Brindza, and Billy Cundiff for the job, and could hang onto it for a few weeks, with Folk expected to miss multiple games.
Ravens Sign Terrance West To Practice Squad
The Ravens have added a local running back to their practice squad, announcing today in a press release that Baltimore native and former Towson standout Terrance West has joined the club. The club cut defensive end Nordly Capi from its practice squad to clear room for West, who first broke word of his signing via his Instagram account.
West, 24, was the Browns’ leading rusher in his rookie season last year, accumulating 673 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, on 171 carries. However, the 2014 third-round pick was sent to the Titans prior to the 2015 season, and he didn’t have much of a role in Tennessee. Having fallen behind Antonio Andrews and Bishop Sankey on the depth chart, West had just 50 yards on 16 carries for the Titans this season.
West went unclaimed on waivers this week after being cut by Tennessee on Saturday, but drew interest from around the league. According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football post (Twitter link), West had several offers from other NFL teams before he decided to head to Baltimore. As Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (via Twitter), there was an “obvious allure” for West in joining his hometown team.
Javorius Allen and Raheem Mostert are currently backing up Justin Forsett in the Ravens’ backfield on the active roster, so if any of those players were to go down with an injury, West would be a candidate for a promotion.
Patriots Extend G Josh Kline Through 2017
The Patriots have reached an agreement on a contract extension for starting guard Josh Kline, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Yates, the two-year deal has a base value of $3.3MM, and can max out at $4.9MM.
Kline, 25, joined the Patriots in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State. After getting four starts in his first two seasons, Kline has become a full-time starter in his third year with the Pats, appearing in more offensive snaps than any lineman on the team besides David Andrews in 2015.
Having settled in at right guard for the time being, as the Patriots deal with a handful of injuries along their offensive line, Kline has graded as the league’s 20th-best this year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF considers Kline a slightly better pass blocker than a run blocker, but he has been solid in both areas.
Under his previous contract, Kline would’ve been eligible for restricted free agency after this season. The new deal will keep him locked up through the 2017 campaign, at which point he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Assuming he remains in the starting lineup and continues to be effective, Kline will likely earn the majority of his bonuses and/or incentives, but even if he maxes out his deal, the Pats would only be paying him about $2.5MM annually, an excellent price for a starting offensive lineman.
Lions Notes: Stafford, GM Search, Ford
Since GM Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand were fired last week by the Lions, the latest rumors and speculation in Detroit have centered on quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose future with the club beyond the 2015 season is somewhat uncertain. Still, speaking to FOX2 in Detroit on Monday, Stafford said he wasn’t caught up in thoughts about his long-term outlook, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com details.
“I don’t think it helps, you know, for me to sit there and think about it,” Stafford said. “I’m doing a disservice to the other guys in the locker room preparing to win games on Sundays to sit there and worry about what the future holds. I’m trying to play as good of football as I possibly can and help the Lions win. … I love playing here. I’ve enjoyed it. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully I’m here for a long time.”
Here’s more on the Lions:
- Despite those Stafford rumors, some people around the league think the idea that the team would move him in the offseason is “crazy talk,” writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. As Florio notes, Stafford may not be a top-10 quarterback, but he’s not a bottom-10 option either, so the Lions are unlikely to let him go unless they have a viable plan in place for his replacement.
- Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link) reported over the weekend that the Lions have hired a search firm to help the franchise identify and hire a new president and general manager. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press spoke to Ernie Accorsi and Ron Wolf, who have served as consultants for teams’ GM searches in recent years, about what that process entails.
- In an ESPN.com piece, Rothstein lays out a few characteristics the team will be looking for in its next general manager.
- Lions owner Martha Ford addressed the players on Monday, introducing the replacements for Mayhew and Lewand, and telling the team “in no uncertain terms that she expects the Lions to start playing better football,” Birkett writes for the Free Press.
49ers Sign Travaris Cadet, Cut Pierre Thomas
10:49am: The 49ers have officially signed Cadet, announcing in a press release that they’ve cut Thomas to make room on the roster. Although the move wasn’t previously reported, it makes some sense, since Cadet and Thomas are both strongest in third-down and receiving roles.
8:40am: After auditioning him on Monday, the 49ers will sign running back Travaris Cadet to their 53-man roster, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The team has yet to officially announce the move, so the corresponding cut isn’t yet known.
Cadet, 26, saw his first significant action for the Saints in 2014, hauling in 38 passes on 51 targets, totaling 296 yards and a touchdown on those receptions. Although he was listed as a running back and generally lined up in the backfield, the Appalachian State product only had 10 carries for 32 yards. After signing with the Patriots in March, Cadet appeared in just one regular season game for the team this year before being cut.
According to Rapoport, Cadet drew interest from three teams, though it’s not clear if the Patriots – who have an opening in their backfield with Dion Lewis out for the season – were one of them. In recent weeks, Cadet has also auditioned for the Colts, Lions, and Jets, so it’s possible one of those clubs renewed its interest.
As for the Niners, they added Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas to their roster last week, and those backs saw plenty of action on Sunday, with Kendall Gaskins getting some touches as well. With Carlos Hyde expected to be healthy enough to return to the field soon, the Niners’ backfield is starting to get crowded. Gaskins could be a candidate to return to the practice squad with Cadet coming aboard, but we’ll have to wait and see how San Francisco manages its roster.
Cadet will become the third notable ex-Saints running back to sign with the 49ers this year, with the team also having added Thomas and Reggie Bush.
Browns Waive Robert Turbin
The Browns have cut running back Robert Turbin from their 53-man roster, the team announced today (via Twitter). Turbin’s roster spot will now be occupied by offensive lineman Darrian Miller, who has been elevated from the practice squad.
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.
In those three games, Turbin ran the ball 18 times for 60 yards, adding another eight yards on two receptions. While it briefly appeared as though he may become a significant part of the offense, fumbling issues plagued Turbin against the Cardinals, and may have ultimately led to his release. The Browns will move forward with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson Jr. carrying the load.
Crowell and Johnson are currently the only running backs on Cleveland’s roster, outside of fullback Malcolm Johnson, so we’ll see if the team makes another move later in the work to fortify the position. As for Turbin, he’ll have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent.
Dolphins Cut Jonas Gray, Sign Sam Brenner
The Dolphins have added some additional offensive line depth to their roster, re-signing center Sam Brenner to the active squad, the team announced today (via Twitter). In order to make room for Brennet, the club has released running back Jonas Gray.
Gray, 25, wasn’t a huge part of Miami’s ground attack this season, but earned 31 carries for 122 yards, along with six receptions for another 72 yards. With rookie Jay Ajayi coming off IR-DTR in Week 9 and looking good, Gray no longer had a real place on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster, making him expendable.
Because he’ll have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent, Gray won’t be able to sign with any team right away. But it’s possible his old team – the Patriots – will have some interest in bringing him back, now that Dion Lewis is set to miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL.
Since they’re 8-0, the Patriots will be at or near the bottom of the league’s waiver order, but Gray has been cut already this year and didn’t attract much interest around the NFL, so it’s possible he’d make it to New England. If he goes unclaimed and the Pats don’t want to re-sign him, Gray could end up back on Miami’s practice squad, where he spent some time earlier in the season.