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By | at October 22, 2014 4:55 pm

We’ve detailed how you can follow Pro Football Rumors on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or using an RSS reader to ensure that you receive all of our updates, 365 days a year. If you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NFL team, PFR has you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 32 teams.

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NFC Notes: Cards, Cowboys, Hardy, Eagles

By | at October 22, 2014 3:24 pm

While the 6-1 Cowboys and 5-1 Eagles are vying for the best record in the NFC, it’s the 5-2 Packers who currently have the best Super Bowl odds, according to betting site Bovada.lv. Bovada lists Green Bay as 8/1 to win this year’s championship, while the Cowboys have 9/1 odds and the Eagles are down at 16/1, behind the Seahawks (9/1) and 49ers (12/1). As we look forward to seeing how those NFC frontrunners fare this weekend, let’s check in on the latest updates from around the conference….

  • The Cardinals would like to extend Carson Palmer‘s deal before season’s end, but he isn’t the only player on the roster whose contract situation the team could address. As Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic details, GM Steve Keim said during his weekly appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 that there are several other extension candidates on expiring contracts. Although Keim didn’t name those players, Somers identifies a few possibilities, examining the likelihood of new deals for each of them.
  • Meanwhile, the Cowboys also have several players who deserve contract extensions, but Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News argues that the team should wait until after the season to open serious negotiations. When so many key contributors are playing for contracts, extending one or two of them and sending the message that certain players are more valuable than others could upset the balance in Dallas, says George.
  • Greg Hardy remains on the commissioner’s exempt list for the Panthers, but his attorney is preparing for the defensive end’s trial to get underway on November 17, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • Marcus Smith has shuffled back and forth between outside and inside linebacker for the Eagles so far, and the first-round pick’s future role with the team remains cloudy, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com.
0 comments Arizona Cardinals Carolina Panthers Dallas Cowboys Philadelphia Eagles

Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday

By | at October 22, 2014 1:57 pm

We’ll keep tabs on Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts right here, as teams look to fill out their units and make sure they have insurance for positions hit hard by injuries. Here’s the latest:

  • The Saints have filled the 10th and final opening on their practice squad by re-signing linebacker Todd Davis, who was waived earlier this week, tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.

Earlier updates:

  • Despite being in London for the week, the Lions have made a change to their practice squad, signing safety Jerome Couplin, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter links). The unlucky roster casualty is running back William Powell, who will have to return stateside.
  • After being cut by the team and clearing waivers, defensive lineman Jacobbi McDaniel has returned to the Browns‘ practice squad, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, who tweets that the club has also added wide receiver L’Damian Washington.
  • As anticipated, linebacker Shaquil Barrett has officially re-signed with the Broncos‘ practice squad, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com.
0 comments Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions New Orleans Saints Transactions

Extra Points: Trades, Harvin, Rice, Bengals

By | at October 22, 2014 1:42 pm

With next Tuesday’s trade deadline now just six days away, and one blockbuster trade (Percy Harvin to the Jets) already in the books, a few outlets have proposed several more league-changing deals. Greg Garber of ESPN.com, for instance, has put forth four separate trade ideas, all of which are extremely unlikely to happen, but are interesting to consider nonetheless. Garber’s proposals include sending Tom Brady to the Texans, LeSean McCoy to the Raiders, Marshawn Lynch to the Chargers, and Ndamukong Suh to the Bengals.

Here are a few more Wednesday items from around the NFL, including some more plausible trade ideas:

  • Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and four other writers discuss trade ideas of their own in an NFL.com piece. They range from proposals we’ve heard many times before (Larry Fitzgerald to the Patriots) to outside-the-box blockbusters (Jay Cutler to the Buccaneers). Again, in all likelihood, none of these deals will happen by next Tuesday, but they’re fun to mull over, and it’s easy to see the logic behind some of them.
  • With a hand from a reader of TheMMQB.com, Jenny Vrentas suggests an alternative for installing an NFL franchise in London. The idea, which includes a 19-week regular season that features 17 games and two bye weeks for each team, is “definitely something to be studied,” according to members of the league office.
  • In his latest mailbag for ESPN.com, John Clayton writes that the price the Seahawks paid for what amounted to about a half-season of Harvin will revive concern around the league about trading for big-name receivers.
  • Harvin’s departure from Seattle and his potential effect on Rex Ryan‘s job status with the Jets are among the topics touched upon by Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report in his latest 10-Point Stance column. Freeman also hears from NFL executives that even if Ray Rice‘s appeal is successful and he’s reinstated at some point this season, it’s extremely unlikely that any team will be signing him anytime soon. “Ray Rice will be radioactive for a long time,” one exec said.
  • Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer addresses several Bengals-related inquiries in his latest piece, discussing the possibility of a free agent addition at linebacker.
0 comments Cincinnati Bengals New York Jets Seattle Seahawks

Update On Traded 2015 Draft Picks

By | at October 22, 2014 12:28 pm

The trade that sent Percy Harvin from Seattle to the Jets this past week was the latest example of a swap in which the draft pick involved in the deal is tied to a condition which will affect the value of that pick. In the case of the Harvin deal, the pick Seattle acquired reportedly can become a fourth-rounder if the wideout remains on the Jets’ roster beyond this season, but if New York moves on from Harvin in the offseason, the 2015 pick will be a sixth-rounder.

Considering we haven’t even seen Harvin suit up for the Jets yet, we’re nowhere close to knowing whether he’ll remain in the team’s plans for 2015, so that conditional pick remains very much up in the air. However, there are a number of other conditional picks whose outlook is much clearer. Here’s an update on several of the picks that could change hands in 2015:

Conditions met, or likely to be met:

  • Dolphins acquired 49ers‘ seventh-round pick for Jonathan Martin: Martin had to make San Francisco’s opening day 53-man roster for this pick to change hands, which he did.
  • Giants acquired Broncos‘ seventh-round pick for Brandon McManus. The deal required McManus to remain the Broncos’ kicker even after Matt Prater‘s four-game suspension ended for the Giants to acquire the pick, which he did.
  • Ravens acquiring Cowboys‘ sixth-round pick for Rolando McClain: McClain needs to play in 50% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps for Baltimore to land this pick, and so far, he has played in about 81%, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Assuming he meets the criteria, the Ravens would sent their seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for the Cowboys’ sixth-rounder.
  • Titans acquiring Cowboys‘ seventh-round pick for Lavar Edwards: Edwards must spend at least 10 games on the Cowboys’ roster for Tennessee to grab this pick, and so far he has been on the team for all but one contest. He’ll need four more games on the 53-man roster for the Titans to get the pick.

Conditions not met, or unlikely to be met:

  • Packers won’t acquire Patriots‘ seventh-round pick for Jerel Worthy: Worthy had to make the Pats’ opening day 53-man roster for Green Bay to get this pick, but he was waived during preseason cutdowns.
  • Panthers likely won’t acquire Eagles‘ seventh-round pick for Kenjon Barner: Barner must spend at least four games on Philadelphia’s 46-man game day roster for this pick to change hands. Considering Barner hasn’t even been on the team’s roster since the season began, this appears unlikely.
  • Jaguars likely won’t acquire pick from 49ers for Blaine Gabbert: The Jags would’ve landed a pick if Gabbert started eight or more games in 2014. Unless Colin Kaepernick goes down with a serious injury in the team’s next game, this won’t happen.

For details on all of 2015’s traded draft picks, be sure to check out our complete list.

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Titans Sign Richard Gordon

By | at October 22, 2014 11:18 am

In addition to finalizing the trade that sent linebacker Akeem Ayers to the Patriots this morning, the Titans have also completed a handful of other roster moves. The team announced today (via Twitter) that it has added tight end Richard Gordon to its 53-man roster, and signed linebacker Nate Askew and wideout Derek Moye to its practice squad.

Gordon, 27, has spent time with the Raiders, Chiefs, and Steelers, catching four passes for 14 yards and a touchdown during his three-year NFL career. The majority of his contributions have come on special teams, where he has accumulated 19 tackles in kick and punt coverage, per Pro Football Focus. Although he takes the roster spot vacated by Ayers, Gordon is essentially a replacement for tight end Brett Brackett, who was waived by Tennessee earlier this week.

Askew and Moye, meanwhile, take the two open spots on the Titans’ practice squad, so no corresponding cuts are necessary to make room for them.

0 comments Newsstand Transactions

Cowboys Unlikely To Extend Murray In Season

By | at October 22, 2014 8:47 am

Recent reports have suggested that the Cowboys are open to the idea of extending running back DeMarco Murray‘s contract during the 2014 season, and in fact have begun negotiating a potential deal with his representatives. However, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the sense is that an in-season extension for Murray is unlikely, since the league’s leading rusher has too much leverage for the sort of team-friendly deal the Cowboys would be seeking.

It’s not hard to see why Murray’s leverage has increased significantly over the last two months. The 26-year-old has piled up 913 rushing yards during the season’s first seven weeks, surpassing the 100-yard barrier in each of Dallas’ first seven contests and averaging a touchdown per game. His current pace has him on track for 2,087 rushing yards, which would be one of the best seasons for a back in NFL history, particularly during an era when the game is more pass-heavy than ever.

Of course, in addition to leading the league in rushing yardage, Murray has also racked up the most carries by a wide margin, and there should be some concern about his long-term durability if he keeps getting the ball at this rate. He’s presently on pace for 427 carries, which would be an NFL record and is virtually unheard of for a modern-day running back. In 2013, LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch were the only backs to crack 300 attempts, with McCoy leading the way at 314.

Considering Murray has had some health problems throughout his rookie contract, having never played more than 14 games in a season, it makes sense that the Cowboys would be wary of making a huge offer at this point. If Murray isn’t willing to accept a more team-friendly contract, which he probably shouldn’t, then it seems reasonable for the two sides to postpone serious negotiations until after the season. Assuming Murray continues on his MVP-caliber pace, he won’t come cheaply for Dallas at that point, but at least the team would know with more certainty what sort of state he’d be in for the 2015 season.

5 comments Dallas Cowboys Newsstand

Patriots Acquire Akeem Ayers From Titans

By | at October 22, 2014 8:08 am

WEDNESDAY, 8:08am: The Pats have officially announced the acquisition of Ayers, meaning he passed his physical. To make room on the roster, New England has waived linebacker Ja’Gared Davis (Twitter link).

TUESDAY, 3:43pm: La Canfora clarifies (via Twitter) that the Pats sent a sixth-round pick to Tennessee in the deal, and receive a seventh-round pick along with Ayers.

3:32pm: The Titans and Patriots have reached an agreement on a trade that will send linebacker Akeem Ayers to New England, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). According to Wyatt, Ayers will have to pass a physical before the deal becomes official. Meanwhile, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (via Twitter) that only seventh-round picks are involved in the trade, so it sounds as if the price tag is minimal for the Pats.

Ayers, a former 39th overall pick, started 43 games for the Titans in his first three seasons with the club, but has seen his playing time significantly reduced this season under head coach Ken Whisenhunt and a new staff. Earlier this month, Ayers expressed some frustration with his new spot on the bench, as Wyatt detailed at the time.

“Just because I am not walking around here ticked off and tearing everything up doesn’t mean I am comfortable with my situation,” Ayers said. “I am not comfortable with not playing. I want to play. I am a competitor, and I want to compete. So just because I am not carrying myself a certain way doesn’t mean I don’t care. But there is a way to handle everything, and I’m trying to handle things the right way.”

While Ayers didn’t air his frustrations or ask for a trade publicly, it makes sense that both he and the team would have welcomed a deal. It’s not clear immediately how he’ll fit in with the Pats, but the team’s linebacking corps got a little thinner after Jerod Mayo suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6 against the Bills, so Ayers should provide some reliable veteran depth at the very least.

Assuming Ayers passes his physical, the Patriots will also need to make a corresponding move to clear room on their roster before the trade can be finalized.

0 comments New England Patriots Newsstand Tennessee Titans Transactions

Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday

By | at October 21, 2014 7:00 pm

We’re keeping tabs on today’s minor moves that affect 53-man rosters right here, but we’ll use the space below to track transactions involving teams’ practice squads:

Earlier updates:

  • The Panthers have announced a pair of practice squad additions, confirming (via Twitter) that they’ve signed safety Robert Lester and offensive tackle Martin Wallace using their two open spots.
  • The Jaguars have signed cornerback Lou Young to their practice squad, filling the 10th and final opening on the unit, the club announced today (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys have released edge defender Michael Sam from their practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. Although Sam spent several weeks on Dallas’ taxi squad, he never got the opportunity for a promotion to the 53-man unit, and figures to draw some attention around the NFL as he looks for a new job. Using the two openings on their practice squad, the Cowboys added linebacker Troy Davis and defensive tackle Ken Bishop, according to the team.
0 comments Carolina Panthers Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams New Orleans Saints Transactions

Minor Moves: Tuesday

By | at October 21, 2014 5:14 pm

We’ll track today’s 53-man roster signings and cuts from around the NFL right here, adding the latest moves to the top of the list throughout the day….

  • The Seahawks claimed tight end Brett Brackett off waivers from the Titans, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • The Saints signed guard/center Eric Olsen, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That could indicate that they’re preparing to be without center Jonathan Goodwin for some time.
  • The Browns cut Jonathan Krause from injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
  • The Seahawks cut tight end Rashaun Allen, according to Wilson (on Twitter).

Earlier updates:

  • Linebacker Marshall McFadden has replaced wideout Austin Pettis on the Rams‘ 53-man roster, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The move leaves two openings on St. Louis’ practice squad, so the team will likely add some new players there soon.
  • In what’s becoming a weekly ritual, the 49ers have re-signed quarterback Josh Johnson and released safety Bubba Ventrone, the team announced today (via Twitter). The team made the same pair of transactions last Tuesday, then re-signed Ventrone to replace Johnson later in the week.
  • Running back Antonio Andrews announced (via Twitter) that he has been promoted to the Titans‘ roster from their practice squad, filling the opening created yesterday when the team cut tight end Brett Brackett. Per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Andrews had an offer to sign elsewhere, perhaps with the Bills, so the Titans made the move to avoid losing him.
  • The Browns have confirmed a move that was reported yesterday, announcing (via Twitter) that they’ve cut defensive lineman Jacobbi McDaniel. Tight end Gerell Robinson takes his spot on the team’s 53-man roster.
0 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams New Orleans Saints San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans Transactions
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