Colts Release Gosder Cherilus
The Colts have released one of their starting offensive players from last season, announcing today in a press release that they’ve parted ways with right tackle Gosder Cherilus. As a veteran player, Cherilus won’t have to pass through waivers, and will immediately be free to sign with another team.
Cherilus, who turned 31 last month, signed a five-year, $35MM contract with the Colts in 2013, and started 29 games for the club at right tackle over the past two seasons. However, after a solid first season in Indianapolis, he struggled last year. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Cherilus 70th out of 84 qualified tackles, and he graded particularly poorly as a pass blocker. According to PFF’s data, he allowed six quarterback sacks, another 42 hits or hurries.
Because he received a sizable signing bonus when he signed his deal back in 2013, Cherilus will still count for a decent chunk of dead money against the Colts’ cap. His $6.9MM hit in 2015 will be reduced to just $2.9MM, but he’ll count for another $5.8MM against the club’s 2016 cap. All that dead money will serve as the Colts’ latest reminder of a poor class of 2013 free agents — the club has since cut LaRon Landry and Ricky Jean-Francois as well.
Now that the Colts have moved on from Cherilus, who was identified by our Dallas Robinson earlier this month as a release candidate, expect Jack Mewhort to get the first look at right tackle for the Colts, tweets Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Mewhort was the team’s starting left guard in 2014.
Bengals Want A.J. Green Deal Done In 2015
Less than two weeks ago, Bengals receiver A.J. Green told Coley Harvey of ESPN.com that he expected to play out the 2015 season on his current contract, and likely wouldn’t discuss a new deal with the Bengals until at least 2016. However, as of late, Green has sounded a little more optimistic, telling Fox10 that he expects the team to get something done at some point.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Green’s increased optimism regarding a new contract likely stems from the fact that the Bengals have told him he’s their top priority. Rapoport suggests that the club wants to get Green locked up this year, rather than letting the situation drag out.
When Green made his comments earlier this month, Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas remained unsigned, and it wasn’t clear if either of the franchised wideouts would ink a long-term deal this year. Now that both players are under contract on similar five-year, $70MM extensions, there’s an obvious point of reference for Green and the Bengals, which has perhaps increased the club’s motivation to work something out.
Cincinnati will have a number of players eligible for unrestricted free agency next winter, including both of their starting offensive tackles – Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith – along with defensive backs Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson. Signing Green to an extension now would give the Bengals a better idea of how much cap flexibility it has for those other potential free agents when the time comes.
Vikings’ Jabari Price Suspended Two Games
SATURDAY, 12:30pm: Price told reporters, including Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune, that he appealed the suspension and was denied (Twitter link).
FRIDAY, 12:21pm: Yet another NFL player is facing a suspension, as the Vikings announced in a press release that Jabari Price has been banned by the league for the first two games of the 2015 regular season for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse. Price is the third player to have a suspension announced today, following Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith and Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe.
Price’s suspension stems from a December incident, when he was charged for suspicion of drunken driving. That charge was ultimately reduced to careless driving, but the 22-year-old was still subject to discipline from the league. In a statement released on Price’s behalf through the NFLPA, the young defensive back apologized to his family, his teammates, the Vikings organization, and fans, vowing that he’ll never make the same mistake again.
After being selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, Price stuck with the Vikings last year, contributing sparingly on defense and special teams for the club. For the season, Price logged 47 defensive snaps and made five tackles in kick and punt coverage. He’ll provide depth in the Minnesota secondary once he returns from his two-game ban.
Community Tailgate: Should Rice Get Second Chance?
We’re still several weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier 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.
Today, we’ll be addressing a report from Ed Werder of ESPN.com, which suggests that running back Ray Rice and some of his supporters – including former Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano – have been contacting NFL teams in the hopes of landing Rice a job for training camp.
According to Werder, one club was seriously considering signing Rice, but team ownership “became uncomfortable” late in the process due to public relations concerns. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun passes along a similar report, tweeting that there are teams with interest in Rice, but owners are reluctant to sign off on any deal.
Those P.R. concerns stem from a leaked Atlantic City hotel elevator video that shows Rice hitting his then-fiancée and knocking her unconscious. The recording earned Rice his release from the Ravens, a suspension from the NFL, and so far has cost him a chance to catch on with another team in the league.
While Rice’s actions were appalling, and I can’t blame a team for not wanting to bring him aboard, it’s fair to wonder if the existence of a video in his case has resulted in him being blackballed from the league. Rice isn’t the first NFL player to strike a woman, but with no video evidence in most cases, players have often received second and third chances from NFL teams.
Just this offseason, Greg Hardy was found guilty in a non-jury domestic trial, but after reaching a plea deal, the defensive end signed a lucrative one-year pact with the Cowboys. If there had been a video of the alleged incident involving Hardy, he may not have received that second chance. Of course, in Hardy’s case, it’s worth noting that his performance on the field was still exceptional when we last saw him, which isn’t necessarily true of Rice.
What do you think? Does Rice, who has expressed more remorse than most NFL players involved in domestic incidents, deserve a second chance? Should a club give him an opportunity to try to earn a roster spot? Or is it entirely reasonable for the league’s 32 teams to pass on him, taking into account not only that elevator video, but also his advancing age and declining performance? Weigh in below in the comment section with your thoughts!
Dolphins Cut Josh Freeman
In advance of training camp, the Dolphins have parted ways with Josh Freeman, releasing him from his contract, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The move leaves Miami with three quarterbacks on its roster — starter Ryan Tannehill, backup Matt Moore, and third option McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
Freeman, 27, was Tampa Bay’s full-time starting quarterback from 2009 to 2012, but saw the wheels come off in 2013 and was cut by the team. In his first four seasons, the former 17th overall pick completed 58.8% of his passes and tossed 78 touchdowns to go with 63 interceptions, as well as throwing for more than 4,000 yards in 2012. In 2013 though, Freeman’s completion percentage in four starts with the Bucs was just 45.7%, a number which declined even more after he joined the Vikings and performed poorly in his lone start.
After trying out for the Jets this offseason, Freeman joined the Dolphins on a minimum salary contract. While there was some initial speculation that the former Buccaneer could challenge Moore for the No. 2 job, it seemed more likely that Freeman would simply serve as a camp arm. However, after today’s release, he won’t even be with the Fins when their training camp gets underway next week.
Free Agent Notes: Welker, Rice, D.J. Williams
Wes Welker has said publicly that he wants to continue his NFL career, but former teammate Champ Bailey wouldn’t mind seeing the free agent wideout decide to retire instead, according to an ESPN.com report.
“I don’t want Wes to play for my own personal reasons. I’ve seen him get concussions. It scares me,” Bailey said during an appearance on FOX Sports 1. “I think he can still play, but I don’t want him to play because of these concussions. … This thing is no joke. It’s a serious thing when you start talking about your head. And for him to have to worry about that at a young age that he is now, he has to think about that for years to come, and I just hope he hangs it up and not strap it up again.”
As we wait to see whether Welker can find a job this summer, let’s check in on some other veteran free agents around the league….
- Former Ravens running back Ray Rice and a group of his supporters – including ex-Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano – have been contacting NFL teams in an effort to land Rice a job, sources tell Ed Werder of ESPN.com. According to Werder, one club was seriously considering signing Rice, but team ownership “became uncomfortable” late in the process due to P.R. concerns.
- Veteran linebacker D.J. Williams, who turned 33 on Monday, still hopes to play in 2015, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. It doesn’t look like Williams will return to the Bears, but he was unsatisfied with the way 2014 ended – he landed on the IR while the Bears plummeted to the NFC North cellar – and would like to catch on with an NFL team in the coming weeks.
- Earlier this afternoon, we learned that the Bears have discussed the possibility of pursuing free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham.
Bears Consider Pursuing Jermaine Gresham
With training camps around the corner, unsigned tight end Jermaine Gresham is becoming a popular free agent target around the league. The latest team to be linked to Gresham is another NFC North squad — according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have discussed the possibility of pursuing the former Bengals tight end.
The Bears’ No. 1 tight end, Martellus Bennett, reportedly isn’t thrilled with his contract, and was mentioned as a potential trade candidate earlier in the offseason. However, Biggs’ report suggests that if the Bears were to go after Gresham, it would likely be as a complement to Bennett, rather than as a replacement.
While Chicago is one possible suitor for Gresham, he doesn’t appear to be lacking options these days. The 27-year-old recently paid a visit to the Cardinals, and the Packers hosted him for a visit this week as well, though Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets that Green Bay isn’t currently discussing a contract with Gresham. The Saints and Raiders are also said to have some interest in the former first-round pick.
I expect that Gresham, who is returning from offseason back surgery, will sign with a team around the time that training camps get underway in the coming days.
East Notes: Brady, Kromer, Randle
After speaking to multiple sources, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) says the NFL believes Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will ultimately accept a reduced suspension in order to avoid having the DeflateGate saga continue to be a distraction into training camp and the preseason. We’ll see if that’s ultimately the case, but we probably won’t find out today — a report this morning indicated there was “no chance” of an announcement on Brady from Roger Goodell before the weekend.
Here’s more from Cole on Brady, along with a couple other items out of the NFL’s East divisions:
- According to Cole, the wording of Brady’s penalty could be crucial — the Patriots signal-caller would be more inclined to accept a penalty for not cooperating with the league’s investigation, but would likely continue to fight any penalty that’s based on his perceived involvement in deflating footballs.
- The Bills are likely to part ways with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer following his arrest earlier this month, sources tell Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. For now, the team is weighing its options while Kromer remains on indefinite paid leave as his legal case plays out.
- After stealing $123 worth of cologne and underwear from a Texas mall last October, Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been put on six months of probation, according to an Associated Press report. At the time of the incident, the Cowboys opted to fine – but not suspend – Randle, who could still face additional discipline from the league now that the case has been resolved.
Bucs’ C.J. Wilson To Step Away From NFL
12:50pm: Wilson will be placed on the Bucs’ reserve-retired list, which leaves the door open for him to unretire later on, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
12:23pm: While Jason Pierre-Paul attempts to make his way back to the Giants, another player involved in a Fourth of July fireworks accident may not see the field in 2015. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), Buccaneers cornerback C.J. Wilson has decided to “step away from the NFL for now,” per agents Joel and Justin Turner.
Wilson, not to be confused with the defensive tackle who goes by the same name, hadn’t been expected to play a major role for Tampa Bay in 2015, but he did appear in two games for the team at the end of last season, logging some snaps on both defense and special teams.
However, on the same weekend of JPP’s much-publicized fireworks accident, Wilson lost two fingers in a fireworks accident of his own. A report last week indicated that the young defensive back was out of the hospital, doing well, and was “in very good spirits.” But while Wilson may be optimistic about his long-term health, it looks like he’ll be retiring from the NFL, at least temporarily.
Wilson’s decision to “step away” from the NFL is reminiscent of the language offensive tackle Anthony Davis used when he announced his decision to leave the 49ers in early June. It leaves the door open for Wilson to potentially return to the game down the road, if his health allows it.
Wilson, who had been in the final year of a two-year pact with the Bucs, will likely be placed on the non-football injury list or the reserve-retired list by Tampa Bay, unless the team decides to simply cut him.
Broncos’ Derek Wolfe Suspended Four Games
The NFL is continuing its July pattern of announcing suspension news on Fridays, with the Broncos confirming in a press release that defensive lineman Derek Wolfe has been suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Wolfe offered a “most sincere apology” to the Broncos, his teammates, and fans for his violation.
“During the offseason I took a medication which is on the banned substance list,” Wolfe said in the statement. “The medication is not a substance which would enhance my on-field performance in any way and I genuinely was unaware that it was prohibited, but players are responsible for what is in their bodies. … I will certainly exercise far greater caution in the future and will seek advice relating to the permissibility of any and all medications.”
While Wolfe can practice with the team throughout training camp, and can play in the preseason, he’ll be ineligible to play in Denver’s first four regular season contests. That means he’ll miss the club’s games against the Ravens, Chiefs, Lions, and Vikings before returning for the Broncos’ Week 5 contest against the Raiders.
Wolfe, 25, has started 43 games at defensive end for the Broncos since being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft. Although he has seen his sack totals decrease from six in his rookie year to four in 2013 to just 1.5 in 2014, he remains a steady piece on the Denver defensive line. As Pro Football Focus’ data shows (subscription required), he played significantly better against the run than as a pass rusher in 2014.
With new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips taking over a Broncos defense that was previously headed by Jack Del Rio, Wolfe’s role on the defensive line may evolve a little this season. However, for at least the first four weeks of the regular season, the team will have to rely more heavily on defensive ends Malik Jackson and Vance Walker.
Wolfe is entering the final year of his contract with the Broncos, making him extension-eligible this offseason, and eligible to reach unrestricted free agency next March.