Jeremiah Ratliff Suspended Three Games
Bears defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff has been suspended for the first three games of the NFL season for violating the league’s policy and program for substances of abuse, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes (via Twitter), the team was likely expecting a suspension at some point, stemming from Ratliff pleading guilty in 2013 to a DWI charge in Texas.
Ratliff will turn 34 this Saturday and hasn’t played a full season since 2011, but his absence will be a significant blow for the Bears’ defense. A year ago, Ratliff racked up 37 tackles and 6.5 sacks in just 11 games, grading as the league’s sixth-best defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), despite playing fewer snaps than any other DT in the top 10.
With Ratliff out of action for the season’s first three weeks, it may open the door for rookie Eddie Goldman to step into the starting lineup. Goldman, out of Florida State, was the Bears’ second-round pick in this year’s draft, going 39th overall. Assuming he gets the starting nose tackle job, he’ll face a significant challenge in September, as the Bears open their season with three games against NFC playoff teams — the Packers, Cardinals, and Seahawks.
FA Rumors: Packers, Wayne, Mathis, Deering
The Packers are still waiting on the official results of Jordy Nelson‘s MRI, but if the star wideout has a torn ACL, as is feared, the team is expected to inquire on Reggie Wayne, reports Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Green Bay still has a good deal of wide receiver depth without Nelson, and the club typically doesn’t sign outside free agents very often, so it seems unlikely that Wayne would land with the Packers. It’s fair to wonder if Wayne’s camp is using Green Bay as a leverage play, as the veteran free agent attempts to negotiate a deal with the Patriots or perhaps another team.
As we wait to see where Wayne lands, let’s round up a few more notes on free agents….
- Agent Drew Rosenhaus expects free agent guard Evan Mathis to have a new team by the end of the week, he said during an appearance on South Florida’s WSVN-7 (link via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald). According to Rosenhaus, his client has received interest from the Seahawks and “other teams,” and Salguero suggests the Dolphins should be in the mix if Mathis’ asking price is coming down at all.
- It’s a busy week for former Rutgers safety Jeremy Deering, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who tweets that Deering tried out for the Eagles, is working out for the Colts today, and has an audition with the Jets later in the week.
- Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin examines the Packers‘ wide receiver situation, speculating that ex-Packer James Jones could be an option for the team. For now though, Jones is a Giant, so he’d probably have to be cut for Green Bay to consider him. Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports made a similar point yesterday.
Vikings Release Cullen Loeffler
The Vikings have parted ways with their longest-tenured player, the team confirmed today, announcing in a press release that veteran long snapper Cullen Loeffler has been released. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported (via Twitter) that Minnesota was cutting Loeffler, who was beaten out by Kevin McDermott for the long snapper job.
“These types of decisions are the hardest part of our jobs,” Vikings GM Rick Spielman said in a statement. “Cullen was outstanding in the community and on the field for the Vikings. He handled his business with class and his impact in the locker room and on the franchise were second to none. We wish him the best in the future.”
Loeffler, 34, had served as the Vikings’ long snapper since the 2004 season, appearing in a total of 171 regular season contests for the team during that stretch. His minimum salary contract featured an $80K signing bonus and $220K in guaranteed salary, so the Vikings will eat $300K by releasing him.
Because Loeffler is a vested veteran, he’ll immediately become a free agent without having to pass through waivers, making him eligible to join a new team right away.
Texans To Start Brian Hoyer At QB
The Texans have made a decision in their quarterback battle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Brian Hoyer will open the regular season as Houston’s starting QB. Hoyer and Ryan Mallett had been vying for the position throughout the offseason and into the preseason.
Both Hoyer and Mallett signed two-year contracts with the Texans this past March, with Mallett getting a $7MM deal from the team, while Hoyer received a $10.5MM pact. While Mallett had the advantage of having spent the 2014 season in Houston, Hoyer has the more extensive résumé as a starter, having started 17 career games, including 13 last season for the Browns. Mallett has just two career starts.
The decision shouldn’t have a real impact on the Texans’ roster or on either quarterback’s short-term contract prospects, since both Mallett and Hoyer – along with third QB Tom Savage – are on multiyear deals. All three signal-callers still appear very likely to make the regular-season roster. It’s also not guaranteed that Hoyer will finish the season as the Texans’ starting quarterback.
Still, if Hoyer takes the job and runs with it, it could have a serious long-term impact on the earning potential of him and Mallett. At $5.25MM per year, Hoyer would be one of the least expensive veteran starters in the league, and he’d be due for a raise after next season if he hangs onto the job and plays well.
Lions Release Taylor Mays
SATURDAY, 5:03pm: The Lions have officially released Mays, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 4:04pm: After not playing in last night’s preseason game against Washington, safety Taylor Mays has asked the Lions for his release, and it appears the team will grant his request, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Mays will become an unrestricted free agent when Detroit makes the move official.
It’s already the second time this year that Mays has been released by an NFC North team — the veteran safety and special-teamer signed with the Vikings earlier in the year, and was cut by Minnesota back in June. Mays signed with the Lions less than a week later, so we’ll see if he finds a new job as quickly now that he’s becoming available again.
In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, Mays is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason. Teams hit hard by secondary injuries this preseason could be potential suitors for Mays this time around.
Adam Hayward Tears ACL, Out For Year
SATURDAY, 12:05pm: Washington has put Hayward on the IR, reports Mike Jones of The Washington Post (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 10:00am: Washington linebacker and special-teamer Adam Hayward left Thursday’s game against the Lions with a knee injury, and according to John Keim of ESPN.com, Hayward has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. The injury will land Hayward on IR, sidelining him for the entire 2015 season.
A longtime reserve linebacker for the Buccaneers, Hayward signed a three-year contract with Washington before the 2014 season. In his first year with the club, the former sixth-round pick played almost exclusively on special teams, appearing in just 14 defensive snaps. In kick and punt coverage, Hayward was a key contributor for Washington, accumulating eight tackles before a leg injury forced him to miss the last five weeks of the season.
It’s the second big blow for Washinton’s special teams, as the team also lost tight end Niles Paul to a season-ending injury earlier this month. With Hayward and Paul out for the year, fullback Darrel Young figures to head up the special teams unit heading into the season.
In other injury news out of Washington, Robert Griffin III left last night’s game with a concussion, as Zac Boyer of the Washington Times writes. However, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets that the concussion isn’t believed to be severe, and it’s possible RGIII could return to the field next week against Baltimore, so it sounds like his regular-season availability isn’t in jeopardy for now.
Jarrett Bush, Three Others Suspended
AUGUST 22nd, 8:35am: Bush has been suspended an additional 10 games by the NFL, reports Field Yates of ESPN (via Twitter). The free agent had originally been punished for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. In March, he was arrested in California for public intoxication, though no charges were filed (via Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post).
JULY 13th, 1:06pm: According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, Bush’s four-game suspension was for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, and was unrelated to his March arrest.
8:57am: The NFL made headlines before the July 4th weekend earlier this month when it announced suspensions for four notable players, including Antonio Gates, Rolando McClain, and Sheldon Richardson. According to Howard Balzer of The Sports Xchange, the league has now confirmed four more suspensions, though the latest penalties won’t have quite the same impact on the coming season.
All four players who received suspensions from the league are currently free agents, according to Balzer, who reports that the most notable recipient is former Packers defensive back Jarrett Bush. Former Cowboys safety Jakar Hamilton, ex-Colts cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy, and former Patriots running back Quentin Hines have also been suspended for the start of the 2015 regular season.
Hamilton and Purifoy received the most significant suspensions, and will miss the first 10 weeks of the season, likely for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. It’s the second suspension for Hamilton, who was banned for four games last year. Purifoy, meanwhile, has a history of off-field red flags, and when the Colts cut him last year, head coach Chuck Pagano called it an “in-house deal.”
Bush’s suspension will be for four games, following an incident in March in which he was arrested – but not charged – for public intoxication. It’s not clear whether the former Green Bay cornerback, who initially failed to cooperate with officers, is being disciplined for that incident or for some other violation of a league policy, as Balzer took to Twitter to clarify.
Finally, Hines will be suspended for the first week of the 2015 season — the reason for his penalty isn’t known.
All four players are still eligible to sign with any NFL team, but they’ll have to serve their suspensions before seeing the field.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/15
Here are Friday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Eagles have waived/injured safety Earl Wolff, who has been bothered by knee injuries since 2013, writes Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com. Wolff, a 2013 fifth-round pick, started six games for Philadelphia in his rookie year, but has been plagued by injuries since that season. He confirmed today (via Twitter) that he underwent surgery on his troublesome right knee.
- Rookie receiver Isiah Ferguson suffered a torn ACL and torn meniscus, and will be sidelined for the year, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who reports (via Twitter) that the Rams have waived/injured the young wideout.
- The Colts announced today that they’ve made a change at the back of their roster, waiving wide receiver L.T. Smith and replacing him with free agent guard Harland Gunn. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle adds (via Twitter) that the team also reached an injury settlement with linebacker Cody Galea, removing him from the roster.
- As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets, UDFA wideout Jarred Haggins announced today that he has been cut by the Lions. Neither this transaction nor the reported release of safety Taylor Mays showed up on today’s transactions log, so the team will probably officially confirm the moves tomorrow.
- After working him out earlier today, the Cowboys have signed free agent defensive tackle Carlif Taylor, waiving offensive lineman Cody Clay with an injury designation to clear roster space, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
- According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), the Eagles have waived linebacker Brandon Hepburn off their injured reserve list with an injury settlement, while the Saints have removed wide receiver Andy Tanner from their IR.
Washington Acquires Derek Carrier From 49ers
5:33pm: According to Barrows (via Twitter), the pick the 49ers acquired from Washington in the Carrier swap is for 2017, not 2016. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the Bears and Saints were also in the mix for Carrier before the Niners shipped him to D.C.
5:05pm: The 49ers have traded a tight end for the second time this week, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who reports (via Twitter) that Washington has acquired Derek Carrier from San Francisco. The Niners will get a fifth-round pick in exchange for Carrier, per Barrows.
On Tuesday, armed with a ton of tight end depth, the 49ers sent Asante Cleveland to the Patriots in exchange for offensive lineman Jordan Devey. At the time, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reported that both Cleveland and Carrier had been receiving trade interest, and since neither player was viewed as a lock to make San Francisco’s roster, it makes sense that they’d be traded.
Carrier, 25, saw his first real regular-season action on offense last year for the Niners, appearing in 11 games and grabbing nine balls for 105 yards. In Washington, he’ll have a clearer path to playing time, as the team will be without Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen this season — both players have sustained season-ending injuries during the preseason.
For their part, the 49ers will be hoping Carrier gets plenty of playing time in Washington. According to Barrows (via Twitter), the fifth-round pick San Francisco gets in the deal is a conditional selection. So if Carrier doesn’t reach certain thresholds for playing time and production, the Niners figure to get a lesser pick.
QB Rumors: Eagles, Bills, RGIII, Browns
Assuming he doesn’t make any significant errors during the team’s remaining preseason games, quarterback Tim Tebow is on track to earn a spot on the Eagles‘ regular season roster, a source tells ESPN’s Dianna Russini. According to Russini, head coach Chip Kelly has been getting increasingly excited about using Tebow in two-point and short-yardage scenarios.
With Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, and Tebow likely to make the Eagles’ roster, it would seem to leave Matt Barkley on the outside looking in. According to Russini’s source, Barkley remains available in a potential trade.
Here’s more on a handful of unsettled quarterback situations around the NFL:
- Bills head coach Rex Ryan sees potential big-play ability in quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and would prefer to start him over the team’s other QB options, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). However, Cole adds that other members of the Buffalo coaching staff believe Matt Cassel would make fewer mistakes than Taylor, and is the more consistent, reliable option.
- In a separate video at Bleacher Report, Cole also tackles the Washington quarterback situation, indicating that the decision on Robert Griffin III‘s long-term future – or lack thereof – with the team will ultimately be made by owner Daniel Snyder. Head coach Jay Gruden and his staff want RGIII in the starting lineup as much as possible this year, so that the club can get a thorough evaluation of the former second overall pick before that decision is made.
- On the heels of Josh McCown‘s underwhelming, two-interception performance against the Bills, Browns head coach Mike Pettine stressed that he’s not looking to create a QB competition, and that McCown remains his No. 1 guy over Johnny Manziel. Still, Pettine wasn’t ready to guarantee that McCown would be the team’s starting QB in Week 1 (Twitter links via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal).