Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll keep tabs on Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Rams have signed to two players to reserve/futures deal, adding tight end Brad Smelley and punter Michael Palardy, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
- The Giants have added a veteran to their offseason roster by singing linebacker Victor Butler to a reserve/futures deal, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Butler, 27, played for the Cowboys from 2009-12, but has bounced around in recent years, spending time with the Saints, Cardinals, and Colts in the past two seasons.
Earlier updates:
- In addition to formally announcing the signing of DeMarcus Van Dyke (noted below), the Vikings also tweeted out word of their signings of defensive end Leon Mackey and defensive tackle Chigbo Anunoby.
- The Jaguars announced three signings today, two of which had been previously reported. The new one is kicker Derek Dimke, who inked a reserve/futures contract with the team, per John Oehser of Jaguars.com (via Twitter).
- Washington also confirmed a handful of signings that had already been reported, and added one more to the list. According to the club (via Twitter), former Abilene Christian wideout Braylon Bell has signed a futures deal.
- Tight end Dorin Dickerson has signed a reserve/futures contract with the Titans, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. The team removed Dickerson from their IR list back in August with a settlement, but worked him out again in November.
- The Vikings have signed cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke to a one-year futures contract, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Van Dyke was placed on injured reserve by the Chiefs at the end of the 2014 preseason, and was later released with an injury settlement.
- The Buccaneers have added three players to their list of reserve/futures signings for 2015, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (Twitter link). The most notable player in the trio is safety M.D. Jennings, who spent his first three seasons with the Packers before being signed and cut by the Bears in 2014. Tampa Bay also signed tight end Taylor Sloat and punter Chase Tenpenny, whose agreement was previously reported.
- Having previously signed nine of their 10 practice squad players to reserve/futures contracts for the 2015 season, the Eagles made it a clean sweep today, announcing that linebacker Brandon Hepburn had inked a deal of his own (Twitter link).
Steelers Sign Seven To Futures Contracts
Like the Bengals and the Cardinals, the Steelers didn’t waste any time following their elimination from the playoffs to move forward on 2015 business, confirming today that they’ve signed seven practice squad players to reserve/futures contracts for 2015. Here’s the list of players locked up by Pittsburgh so far, via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link):
- Rob Blanchflower, TE
- Kevin Fogg, CB
- C.J. Goodwin, WR
- Ethan Hemer, DL
- Howard Jones, LB
- Joe Kruger, DE
- Alejandro Villanueva, OL
The Steelers finished the season with a full 10-man practice squad, but so far wide receiver Tim Benford, running back LaDarius Perkins, and offensive lineman Ronald Patrick remain unsigned.
NFC North Notes: Suh, Bears, Peppers
Standout defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh declined to talk about his contract situation during his post-game discussion with the media yesterday, but Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that Suh and the Lions are expected to resume negotiations in the coming weeks, after having tabled talks at the start of training camp. As if there was any doubt, head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed today to reporters, including Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, that re-signing Suh will be a top priority for the club this offseason.
Let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFC North….
- Texans director of pro personnel Brian Gaine has an interview lined up with the Bears for their general manager position later this week, after Lake Dawson and Chris Ballard meet with the team, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Julius Peppers isn’t sure how much longer his playing career will last, but he feels good enough to play next season, and he hopes it for the Packers, as Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com details. Peppers remains under contract with Green Bay for two more years, but his cap number will jump from $3.5MM in 2014 to $12MM in 2015, so the Packers may approach him about a restructure if they need the added flexibility.
- In conversations with the media today, virtually every one of the Lions‘ prospective free agents indicated a desire to return to the team, but few were as adamant about it as kicker Matt Prater: “I’ve already told my agent I want to stay here. I’ve enjoyed it so much. I want to stay here” (Twitter link).
Cards Sign 10 Players To Futures Contracts
Following their first round playoff loss to the Panthers, the Cardinals are moving forward by locking up several players for 2015. The team announced today that it has signed 10 players to futures contracts, including nine members of their practice squad. The new additions are as follows:
- Zach Bauman, RB
- Ted Bolser, TE
- John Fullington, G
- Travis Harvey, WR
- Jimmy Legree, CB
- Kelvin Palmer, T
- Tavon Rooks, T
- Ryan Spadola, WR
- Ross Weaver, CB
- Darren Woodard, CB
Bolser confirmed today (via Twitter) that he rejoined the Cardinals’ practice squad at season’s end before inking his futures deal, which makes Rooks the only player on the list that didn’t finish the season on the team’s taxi squad. Arizona also signed three other players – tackle Cameron Bradfield, guard Antoine McClain, and cornerback Roc Carmichael – to reserve contracts last week.
Seahawks Sign Landon Cohen
The Seahawks have signed defensive tackle Landon Cohen to their 53-man roster, the team announced today in a press release. No corresponding roster move is required to accommodate the addition of Cohen, since Seattle had been carrying just 52 players since the conclusion of the regular season.
Cohen, 29, was active for 14 contests in 2013 — 12 for Chicago and two more for the Cowboys. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), the former seventh-round pick posted a grade of -16.4 in ’13, though most of that was a result of poor run defense — he rated as a slightly above average pass rusher, with nine total quarterback pressures.
Cohen signed with the Bills in July, but was released during roster cutdowns prior to the regular season, and hasn’t played in the NFL this year. The Seahawks worked out the veteran lineman last month.
Bengals Sign Seven To Reserve Deals
Following the conclusion of their 2014 season on Sunday, the Bengals have begun to move on to 2015 business. As such, the team announced today (Twitter links) that it has signed seven players to reserve/futures contracts for the coming season. All seven players finished the year on Cincinnati’s practice squad. Here’s the full list:
- L.J. Fort, LB
- Dan France, T
- Kwame Geathers, DT
- Onterio McCalebb, CB
- Jake Murphy, TE
- Tevin Reese, WR
- Eric Ward, WR
Of the 10 players who finished the season on the Bengals’ taxi squad, three have yet to sign new deals — offensive linemen Emmett Cleary, running back James Wilder, and defensive end Sam Montgomery.
Shane Ray To Enter 2015 Draft
Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray has become the latest potential top-10 pick to decide to enter the draft, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), who cites multiple sources in reporting Ray’s intentions. Per Getlin, the redshirt junior pass rusher will forgo his remaining year of college eligibility.
Ray, who had a breakout junior year after seeing Kony Ealy and Michael Sam drafted in May, had at least a half-sack in all but three games this year for Missouri, racking up multiple sacks in five of those contests. For the season, he finished with 61 tackles to go along with 14 sacks, a new school record.
A unanimous All-American and the SEC defensive player of the year, Ray is viewed as a strong candidate to be selected in the top 10, or perhaps top five, of this spring’s draft. In his first mock draft at ESPN.com, Todd McShay had Ray coming off the board fifth overall, to Washington. Per McShay, Ray is “an absolutely relentless pass-rusher who is tough, aggressive, can bend the end and has an explosive first step.”
Getlin reported last month that Ray was strongly considering entering the draft, adding that the defensive end’s mother was vetting potential agents.
Jets Notes: Ballard, Pace, Grier, Bowles
Chiefs executive Chris Ballard will interview for the Bears’ general manager opening later this week, but he won’t meet with the Jets about their GM position. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), Ballard has declined New York’s request for an interview. While there are a number of reasons why Ballard may be open to exploring the Chicago job and not the Jets’ opening, it’s not a great look for Woody Johnson and company, who were also officially turned down by Saints director of player personnel Ryan Pace, per Breer (via Twitter).
As the Jets shift their focus to GM candidates who will speak to them, let’s round up the latest out of New York….
- Dolphins scouting director Chris Grier will interview with the Jets for the general manager position on Tuesday, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link).
- The Jets will also continue to speak to head coaching candidates this week, with Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles lined up for an interview on Wednesday, tweets Costello. Per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), the Jets will be the first team to meet with Bowles, followed by the Falcons on Thursday, and likely the 49ers and Bears after that.
- Former Jets head coaches are also busy these days interviewing for head coaching jobs — Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports (via Twitter) that the 49ers’ interview with Rex Ryan took place on Sunday, while Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 in Washington tweets that Eric Mangini‘s meeting with the Raiders is happening today.
NFC East Notes: Giants, Phillips, Eagles
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is still evaluating his coaching staff, and has yet to make any formal announcements, but a source tells Newsday’s Tom Rock that it appears defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and special teams coordinator Tom Quinn will return to New York for the 2015 season. Fewell, in particular, was considered a candidate to be fired, though Coughlin strongly defended the DC at his end-of-season press conference, suggesting that he felt players responded to Fewell.
According to Rock, there may still be minor changes coming to the rest of the coaching staff, but it seems Fewell and Quinn are safe. Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- There’s a “strong sense” in Washington that Wade Phillips is positioned to become the team’s next defensive coordinator, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who tweets that the former Cowboys head coach has “ample support.”
- As Chip Kelly looks to hire a new general manager in Philadelphia, one executive who figures to draw interest is Lions vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport indicates that White is expected to interview for the Eagles‘ job.
- Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com makes a case for why the Eagles ought to strongly consider extending quarterback Nick Foles this offseason. Foles’ rookie contract is set to expire after the 2015 campaign.
Coach Updates: Pep, Shanahan, Holmgren
Following his team’s Wild Card win on Sunday, Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton is now free to interview for head coaching openings, but it sounds if he won’t have the opportunity to talk to the Bills and Raiders this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that the window is too tight and the logistics won’t work.
Per Rapoport (via Twitter), it sounds as if the Bills and Raiders are open to waiting for Hamilton, who is currently prepping for the Broncos. However, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link) isn’t convinced Oakland will wait on the Colts’ OC.
Here are several more Monday updates on head coaching searches from around the league:
- We heard previously that Mike Shanahan interviewed with the 49ers, and it seems the former Washington head coach has spoken to other teams as well. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 in Washington reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders talked to Shanahan, while Adam Schefter of ESPN.com says (via Twitter) that Shanahan spent Sunday meeting with Bills owners Terry Pegula and Kim Pegula, along with other team officials.
- Appearing on Sports Radio KJR in Seattle today, Mike Holmgren said he was offered NFL jobs last week, but decided that he won’t return to coaching. Holmgren added that the one job he might have had interest in was the 49ers‘ position, but the club didn’t reach out to him about exploring that possibility (Twitter links).
- Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has interviews scheduled with the Falcons and 49ers on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (via Twitter). Austin hadn’t been able to talk to teams last week, since Detroit was involved in the Wild Card round.
- The Eagles have given the Bills permission to interview offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for their head coaching job, tweets Mark Maske of the Washington Post. Shurmur previously interviewed with the Raiders.
- Although a report last week suggested the Bears intended to interview Doug Marrone for their head coaching position, no meeting has been scheduled yet, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- The Raiders have reportedly requested an interview with Cowboys assistant Scott Linehan, but he’s not interested in exploring any opportunities until Dallas’ season is over, as he tells Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
- To keep tabs on the interviewees for all six NFL head coaching vacancies, be sure to check out our tracker.