Bykowski Out For Year, Vikings Eyeing Tackles
Just days after placing starting right tackle Phil Loadholt on injured reserve with a season-ending Achilles injury, the Vikings confirmed that another tackle, Carter Bykowski will also miss the 2015 season. As Master Tesfatsion and Chris Miller of the Star Tribune detail, Bykowski will be out for the year after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.
Bykowski hadn’t been expected to see significant action for the Vikings this season, with Matt Kalil and rookie T.J. Clemmings penciled in as the starters at left and right tackle respectively. However, with Loadholt sidelined, Bykowski, who was plucked from the 49ers’ practice squad by Minnesota last December, slid up a spot on the team’s depth chart, and may have been the next man up if Kalil or Clemmings had gone down.
Now, with their ranks thinning at offensive tackle, the Vikings will be on the hunt for more bodies at the position. The club signed former Giants and Cowboys tackle Stephen Goodin on Tuesday, and head coach Mike Zimmer suggests he’ll get an opportunity to earn a roster spot, but Minnesota will continue to pursue possible upgrades.
“He’s just another athlete to come in here and help,” Zimmer said of Goodin. “We’ll give him a look and see. We’re going to continue to look.”
Currently, the only tackles listed on the Vikings’ depth chart behind the starters are seventh-round rookie Austin Shepherd, raw Polish newcomer Babatunde Aiyegbusi, and Goodin.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/15
Here are Wednesday minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL:
- When word broke earlier today that the Texans had signed safety Quintin Demps and defensive lineman Fili Moala, I noted that two corresponding roster moves would be required. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has the details on those moves, reporting (via Twitter) that the team has waived defensive end Jasper Coleman and waived/injured tight end Mike McFarland. McFarland will land on the Texans’ injured reserve list if he clears waivers.
- After releasing him earlier this week, the Saints have re-signed veteran tight end Alex Smith, placing tight end Kevin Brock on injured reserve, writes Nick Underhill of The Advocate. Brock had to be carted off the field after going down with an injury during Tuesday’s practice.
- Former Georgia wide receiver Michael Bennett – not to be confused with the Michael Bennetts who played on the defensive line at Texas A&M or Ohio State, respectively – signed a contract with the Bengals today, according to the team (Twitter link). Cincinnati cut tight end Jake Murphy to create roster space for the addition.
- The Steelers have claimed linebacker L.J. Fort off waivers from the Patriots, waiving linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, a 2014 sixth-round pick, with an injury designation, the team announced today (via Twitter).
- The Chargers have also claimed a former Patriot, nabbing tight end Logan Stokes off waivers, according to a team release. Tight end Eric Frohnapfel was cut to create a spot for Stokes.
- Washington has reached an injury settlement with outside linebacker Trevardo Williams, who landed on the team’s IR with a hamstring strain, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. Williams is now a free agent, able to sign with any team.
Kelvin Benjamin Has Torn ACL
4:51pm: The Panthers confirmed that Benjamin is done for the year, David Newton of ESPN.com tweets.
4:39pm: The worst-case scenario for the Panthers has come to fruition, as Kelvin Benjamin‘s MRI today revealed an ACL tear, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The club has yet to officially confirm the news, but the injury figures to sideline the young wideout for the entire 2015 season, a devastating blow for a team relying on Benjamin to be its No. 1 receiver.
As a rookie in 2004, Benjamin had 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. This season, the Panthers were counting on that level of production and perhaps more as they looked to have a bounce back year on the whole.
The Panthers could look to the free agent market for outside help, but they have yet to contact the reps for Reggie Wayne, a league source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). Wayne, who spent 14 years in Indianapolis after being drafted by the Colts in the first round way back in 2001, is no longer the sort of impact player he was during his prime. However, he was still a reliable target for Andrew Luck last season, compiling 779 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 64 catches.
Community Tailgate: Who Will Win Offensive ROTY?
We’re still a few weeks away from the start of regular-season battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This summer, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Last week, one of our Community Tailgate discussions centered around who would win the 2015 NFL MVP award. Today, we’ll shift our focus to an award that might be a little more wide open. As was the case with the MVP, there are two quarterbacks who appear to be the early favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but given the growing pains typically experienced by first-year QBs, we probably shouldn’t pencil Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston in for the award quite yet.
Elsewhere in the first round of the 2015 draft, there are plenty of offensive weapons whose production may be limited in their rookie seasons due to injuries. We might not see Bears WR Kevin White at all this season, while other players – such as Rams RB Todd Gurley, Dolphins WR DeVante Parker, and Ravens WR Breshad Perriman – could see their early-season reps limited as they return from summer injuries. Among first-rounders, Raiders WR Amari Cooper, Chargers RB Melvin Gordon, and Eagles WR Nelson Agholor may be the best bets to come out of the gate strong.
Of course, it’s not just first-round picks who will be relied on to play major roles in their respective teams’ offenses this season. I expect we’ll see plenty of opportunities for players like Jaguars RB T.J. Yeldon, Panthers WR Devin Funchess, Lions RB Ameer Abdullah, Falcons RB Tevin Coleman, and Cardinals RB David Johnson, among others.
What do you think? Do you have a dark horse candidate to make a huge impact as a rookie this year, or will one of the players I mentioned above take home the hardware? Who do you think will be the 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year? We’re looking forward to hearing from you, so be sure to weigh in with your thoughts in the comment section below!
NFC Notes: Benjamin, Falcons, AP, RGIII
The Panthers are holding their collective breath as they await the results of an MRI on Kelvin Benjamin‘s left knee. The Panthers wideout went down with an apparent non-contact injury during today’s joint practice with the Dolphins, and while head coach Ron Rivera indicated that it’s a sprained knee, there’s a chance the injury is more serious than that. If Benjamin has to miss regular-season action, it’ll be bad news for a Carolina receiving corps that’s lacking legit playmakers outside of Benjamin. Jonathan Jones and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer have the details.
As the Panthers and their fans wait on the results of that MRI, let’s round up a few more items from across the NFC….
- A report yesterday suggested that free agent quarterback Rex Grossman was drawing interest from the Falcons, but D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says it’s the other way around, tweeting that Grossman is interested in the Falcons. According to Ledbetter, the team is happy with T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree behind Matt Ryan.
- Within an extensive look at Adrian Peterson‘s unusual offseason, Eli Saslow of ESPN The Magazine says that the Vikings running back wants to play another eight season in the NFL, in the hopes of breaking Emmitt Smith’s career rushing record.
- Washington would like to stick with Robert Griffin III as the team’s starting quarterback for the entire 2015 season in order to make a fully informed decision about his future, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). The club has already picked up RGIII’s fifth-year option for 2016, but that salary doesn’t become guaranteed until the first day of the ’16 league year, so Washington could still decide to move on from the young QB if this season doesn’t go well.
- The Cardinals‘ signing of running back Chris Johnson is a potential coup, and a move straight from the Steve Keim playbook, writes Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic.
- Lions safety James Ihedigbo, who had been seeking a new contract earlier this year, still feels like he’s in his prime as he prepares to turn 32 years old, he tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Latest On Tom Brady’s Suspension Appeal
1:38pm: While Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) heard from a source this morning that Schefter’s report on Brady (detailed below) was “dead on,” some contradictory reports have surfaced since then. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald writes that Brady isn’t getting ready to accept a suspension, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says (via Twitter) that Brady’s stance hasn’t changed and that he isn’t willing to accept any suspension at this point.
Unless Schefter and Freeman were entirely off base, it’s possible that today’s hearing in New York played a part in Brady’s continued reluctance to agree to any form of suspension. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter links), Judge Berman was “very critical” of the NFL today, grilling the league’s lawyers and making observations on his own that boosted the credibility of the NFLPA’s arguments. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (TwitLonger link) and Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk detail a few specific points made by Berman as he poked holes in the NFL’s arguments.
Per Schefter (via Twitter), Judge Berman continued to push today for a settlement, asking the two sides to return to court on August 31 if there’s still no agreement in place. It’s still not clear which way Berman would rule if the two sides can’t reach a compromise, but given the way he has grilled the NFL so far, it looks like there’s more pressure on the league to reach a settlement — especially since, as Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reports, team owners want resolution in the matter, and would accept a reduced suspension for Brady.
8:04am: Throughout the appeal process for Tom Brady‘s case, a settlement has been viewed as extremely unlikely, since the NFL is pushing for some form of suspension for Brady, while the Patriots quarterback has appeared unwilling to agree to more than a fine. A settlement still doesn’t appear imminent, with the two sides returning to court today, but there may be a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Facebook link), Brady is open to the idea of accepting a suspension, but only for failing to cooperate with the NFL’s investigation — not for admitting to anything in Ted Wells’ report’s findings. Of course, the suspension would have to be reduced from its current four games, in that scenario. Per Schefter, the NFL has been adamant that Brady admit to the report’s findings, which the Super Bowl MVP doesn’t seem willing to ever do.
A penalty that results in perhaps a one-game suspension and a fine for Brady has always seemed like the most logical compromise, if the two sides are going to reach an agreement. That would allow the NFL to uphold its suspension, while allowing Brady to significantly reduce the number of games he’d miss. We’ll see if Judge Richard M. Berman can cajole the two sides any closer to such an agreement today.
Mike Reiss of ESPN.com has a primer on what to expect from today’s hearing.
Cardinals Release Darryl Sharpton
Darryl Sharpton‘s stint with the Cardinals lasted just three months, as the team announced today that it has released the veteran linebacker (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). Because he’s a vested veteran, Sharpton won’t have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent.
In four years in Houston between 2010 and 2013, Sharpton, appeared in 42 games (19 starts), totaling 146 tackles as a part-time player for the Texans. The former fourth-round pick out of Miami joined the Bears last season, but played sparingly for the club, appearing in just 108 defensive snaps. Sharpton signed with the Cardinals in May in the hopes of providing some depth at linebacker for the team this season, but Arizona has opted not to hang onto him.
Following the release of Sharpton, the Cardinals have 89 players on their roster.
Dolphins’ Louis Delmas Has Torn ACL
Safety Louis Delmas went down with a knee injury during today’s joint practice between the Panthers and Dolphins, and Miami has received a worst-case initial diagnosis on Delmas’ knee. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Delmas has torn his right ACL for a second consecutive year.
Delmas, 28, started 12 games at safety for the Dolphins last season, racking up 60 tackles and grabbing one interception, which he returned for an 81-yard touchdown. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and recorded a sack before a December ACL injury cut his year short. In his 844 defensive snaps, Delmas graded as about an average safety, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), receiving middle-of-the-pack marks for both his run defense and his pass coverage.
The Dolphins re-signed Delmas in March to a one-year contract that was worth up to $3.5MM, including a $2.25MM base value. However, considering he was coming off a major knee injury, the team protected itself for this scenario, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, who reports (via Twitter) that the safety’s salary will drop by about $1MM with a preseason IR designation. And it does appear that Delmas is headed for the injured reserve list, though the Dolphins haven’t made that official yet.
Assuming the Dolphins confirm Delmas’ initial diagnosis and rule him out for the season, the team will likely turn to safety Michael Thomas to take Delmas’ spot in the starting lineup.
Eli Manning Denies Wanting To Be Highest-Paid QB
Speaking to reporters today, including Dan Graziano of ESPN.com, Eli Manning denied that he or his agent has told the Giants he wants to become the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Manning, who said he heard about the report from his father, Archie Manning, was “clearly annoyed” by the story, tweets Graziano.
“The reports are all wrong,” Manning said, per Graziano (Twitter link). “Never been said, never came out of my mouth, never said it to my agent.”
While it’s possible that agent Tom Condon expressed that sentiment to the Giants without directly hearing it from his client, Manning dismissed that notion as well, telling reporters, “I know that was never said by him, claiming that was the goal” (Twitter link).
It makes sense that Manning would be frustrated by such a story, since the leaking of such lofty alleged contract demands generally only serves to turn a fanbase against the player. It also seems unlikely that Manning, who typically avoids discussing his contract publicly and opts to leave that side of the business to his agent, would draw such a line in the sand during negotiations.
On the other hand, even if Manning didn’t explicitly ask the Giants to make him the league’s highest-paid quarterback, he would have a reasonable case to do so, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explained yesterday. New York appears ready to use its franchise tag on Manning if the two sides don’t agree on a long-term deal, and the value of that tag would be at least $23.7MM — it would likely be higher, since the Giants would probably use the exclusive designation, rather than the non-exclusive one.
Based on those figures, Manning would have the leverage to seek an extension that surpasses Aaron Rodgers‘ $22MM annual salary, even if a deal in the neighborhood of Ben Roethlisberger‘s new contract ($21.85MM per year) may be more probable. According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, recent extensions signed by Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers, Manning’s fellow 2004 draftees, are the points of reference in talks with the Giants, with the two-time Super Bowl MVP aiming to match or exceed their deals.
Bills Internally Discussing Ray Rice
10:40am: A source tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (Twitter link) that there’s “zero” chance the Bills will sign Rice. The club added free agent running back Cierre Wood earlier today.
9:13am: With most of their top running backs dealing with an injury of some sort, the Bills are having internal discussions about whether or not to pursue free agent running back Ray Rice, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
Starting running back LeSean McCoy is the latest player in the Bills’ backfield to be sidelined. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), McCoy, who injured his hamstring on Tuesday, is expected to be ready to go for the team’s regular-season opener against the Colts. Still, with McCoy expected to miss a few weeks, and Fred Jackson (hamstring), Anthony Dixon (calf), and Karlos Williams (illness) also battling health issues, a veteran addition may be necessary.
Rice, of course, comes with plenty of baggage — because of the elevator video that showed him knocking his then-fiancée unconscious, no team has been willing to take a flier on him since the Ravens released him last fall. It doesn’t help Rice’s case that the last time he saw the field, in 2013, he had a miserable season in Baltimore, averaging just 3.1 yard per rush on 214 carries, and 5.5 yards per reception on 58 catches.
Under new head coach Rex Ryan, however, the Bills have shown a willingness this offseason to roll the dice on players with troubling off-field reputations, including Richie Incognito, Percy Harvin, and IK Enemkpali. Ryan also has some history with Rice, having served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in Baltimore during the running back’s first year with the Ravens in 2008.
Reports this offseason have indicated that, while some general managers and coaches have expressed interest in Rice, owners have been reluctant to sign off on him. So if the Bills decide they want to add the former Raven to their roster, it will require Terry and Kim Pegula’s approval.