Patriots Add Seven To Practice Squad
11:52am: The Pats have officially announced their full practice squad in a press release, and the following players are the three that had yet to be reported:
- Kanorris Davis, S
- Chris Martin, OL
- Deontae Skinner, DL
11:00am: The Patriots have added four players to their practice squad, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via a series of Twitter posts). The following players joined the practice squad today:
- Jake Bequette, linebacker
- Charley Hughlett, long snapper
- Daxton Swanson, cornerback
- Josh Boyce, wide receiver
Minor Moves: AFC South
Here are some minor transactions from around the AFC South this Labor Day:
- The Jaguars have added cornerback Peyton Thompson, reports Michael DiRocco (via Twitter).
- The Titans have signed pass rusher Quentin Groves (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter), and have also added linebacker Dontay Moch and tight end Orson Charles to their practice squad (via Wyatt on Twitter).
- The Titans have also released linebacker Patrick Bailey (via Jim Wyatt on Twitter).
Bears To Sign Jeremy Cain
9:49 A.M.: The Bears have made the signing official, and Cain will be the long snapper for the team, reports Biggs (via Twitter).
8:54 A.M.: The Bears are in need of a long snapper, after the retirement of long-time Bear Patrick Mannelly and the release of Brandon Hartson. The team is expected to sign former Buccaneer Jeremy Cain, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
Cain had filled in for Mannelly in two games last season, and was signed by the team as an undrafted rookie in 2004 to play backup linebacker, according to Biggs (via Twitter).
Cain also served as the Jaguars’ long snapper between 2009 and 2012, play in 64 games for the team, writes Biggs (via Twitter).
Ray McDonald Arrested For Domestic Violence
49ers’ defensive tackle Ray McDonald has been arrested on charges of domestic violence, reports Damon Trujillo of NBC Bay Area (via Twitter).
Trujillo described the scene through a series of tweets. The San Jose Police Department confirmed that the arrest was for felony domestic violence. His sources say that his alleged victim was pregnant.
Coincidentally, McDonald was arrested on the same street that outside linebacker Aldon Smith was in an accident in relation to his DUI. Trujillo also posted McDonald‘s mug shot.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that McDonald was booked at 5:30 A.M. this morning (via Twitter). He was arrested for “inflicting injury on a spouse or cohabitant” and no bail has been set. Barrows also reports that the incident happened at a party for McDonald’s birthday, and that many 49ers’ players were in attendance (via Twitter).
The NFL recently announced a new policy for dealing with domestic violence charges in the wake of the Ray Rice two-game suspension. Under the new rules, a first offense will warrant a six-game suspension, and a second offense will result in a lifetime ban from the NFL. McDonald is the first case that will be eligible under this policy.
Panthers Links: Benjamin, Gettleman, Cuts
Two of the three position groups on the Panthers that were the most uncertain heading into the offseason remain that way as the regular season is only a week away. The offensive line and the secondary could struggle in 2014, but the team had questions at those spots last year and found ways to patch up the holes, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. Hopefully rookie first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin can do his part to sure up the lack of receiving threats on the team.
Here are some other links from around the Panthers as the season draws near:
- General manager David Gettleman made a few gambles this offseason, and the future of the team depends on how these moves pay off, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Gettleman completely revamped the secondary and the receivers, and also franchising Greg Hardy will go a long way to determining his legacy as a general manager.
- Person also breaks down the team’s final roster, going through all the cuts and surprising keepers, as the team looks to build on a strong 2013.
- The Panthers have not repeated as division champions in the NFC South since the NFL realigned divisions in 2002, but has high hopes to do so for the first time in 2014, after going from worst-to-first in 2013, according to Person.
- While Person is optimistic, his colleague Tom Sorensen notes that it will be hard to replicate their success in 2013. He sees their records in close games will be hard to keep up, and it would be unlikely to see them go 5-1 in the division again.
- Part of the reason the Panthers are optimistic about making it back to the playoffs is their impressive draft record as of late. Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer notes that the team believes it has hit big on their last four first-round picks, with Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Star Lotulelei and Benjamin.
- Jones also writes that no matter what problems the team has on offense and in the secondary, the team is built with the front seven. He compares the team to a bucket of rocks, while they fill it with the pebble at receiver and corner, with free agents, the team has drafted big rocks and boulders along their defensive line and with their linebackers.
- Two surprises to make the team were Andrew Norwell and David Focault, offensive linemen who were on the outside looking in a few months ago, writes Bill Voth of the BlackAndBlueReview.com. Norwell is a former Ohio State Buckeye who played well in the preseason. Focault comes from the University of Montreal, and while he was outmatched at times in the NFL, the team was worried he would not clear waivers.
Jets Notes: Cuts, Joseph, Bailey, Hill
Jets’ general manager John Idzik is putting his stamp on the team, as 32 players on the final 53-man roster were Idzik acquisitions, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). That leaves only 21 players left from former general manager Mike Tannenbaum’s time with the team,
Here are some other notes surrounding Gang Green after final cuts:
- The team will be looking hard at the waiver wire for cornerbacks, and will also consider trading to bring someone in, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). One name Mehta brings up as a player to look out for is Texans’ cornerback Johnathan Joseph. Joseph was a Pro Bowler in 2011 and 2012, but struggled with injuries last year.
- Another name the Jets may be interested is recently released veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Bailey claims to be fully healthy and ready to play, and despite his age, the Jets are looking for upgrades in the secondary.
- While Bailey looks like an obvious choice, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com does not see the fit happening. The 36-year-old former All Pro player was just cut by the Saints, and if defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had no use for him on the team, then Rex Ryan knows exactly where he has lost a step.
- After Stephen Hill was cut by the team, his agent Alan Herman criticized the Jets for how they handled Hill’s early seasons, writes Cimini. “The quarterback situation with [Mark] Sanchez and [Tim] Tebow was obviously a disaster; it wasn’t right for a young player,” Herman said. “Last year, Geno [Smith] was thrown into a difficult situation and the offense was limited. Stephen’s bread-and-butter is the deep ball, which we rarely saw. Stephen needs an established quarterback situation to help him realize his potential.”
Bengals Sign Vontaze Burfict To Extension
2:37pm: The deal, which has now also been announced by the Bengals, has been slightly adjusted since the initial agreement, according to Adam Caplan, who says Burfict will earn $10.75MM in salary and bonuses in the first six months, and $12MM in the first two years of the pact (Twitter link).
AUGUST 27, 2:07pm: Burfict and the Bengals finalized the linebacker’s new deal today, according to agent Audie A. Attar of Paradigm Sports Management (via Twitter).
AUGUST 20, 4:38pm: The Bengals have agreed to a contract extension with Vontaze Burfict, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
According to Caplan, Burfict will earn $9.75MM in salary and bonuses by March of 2015, and is set to take in $11MM over the first two years of the deal (via Twitter).
Caplan’s colleague at ESPN, Adam Schefter, reports that that contract is a three-year extension, keeping Burfict with the team through 2017. His total contract is now a four-year, $20MM deal that will pay him a salary of $7.6MM in 2014 (via Twitter).
Burfict was once considered an early first-round talent, but issues on and off the field contributed to a drop in his stock prior to the 2012 NFL Draft. He ran poorly at the combine and tested positive for marijuana, which contributed to him going undrafted and signing with the Bengals as a rookie-free agent.
The troubled linebacker has since turned his career around, becoming the star player he was once thought of. He led the NFL in tackles in 2013, and was the only member of the vaunted Bengal defense selected to the Pro Bowl.
Dimitri Patterson Suspended Indefinitely
MONDAY, 12:01pm: Patterson has been suspended indefinitely, tweets Kimberly Jones of the NFL Network. Idzik says the team will “gather more information on what led to his behavior.”
SUNDAY, 5:39pm: Jets’ cornerback Dimitri Patterson was missing in action on Saturday, and head coach Rex Ryan had heard from him since the preseason game against the Giants on Friday, reports Kimberly Martin of Newsday (via Twitter).
Patterson has developed a reputation of being injury prone, and rumors circulated that the former Dolphin was considering retirement, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. General manager John Idzik maintains that Patterson intends to play for the Jets in 2014.
Patterson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirms that his player will return to the Jets, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The team is extremely thin at the cornerback position, and losing Patterson would only put them deeper into a hole than they already were.
Seahawks Cut Terrell Thomas, Seven Others
MONDAY, 11:54am: The Seahawks have cut six more players, per Brian McIntyre (Twitter link):
- Cory Brandon, OT
- Demitrius Bronson, RB
- Mike Dobson, S
- Kevin Smith, WR
- Wade Smith, OT
- Thomas Wolfe, CB
SUNDAY, 7:27PM: The Seahawks have cut cornerback Terrell Thomas, on their way to trimming the roster to 75 players by Tuesday, reports Tom Pellissero of USA Today (via Twitter). They also waived defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat.
Thomas was signed earlier this offseason to provide depth in the secondary. The former Giant was a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Thomas is also a former Trojan, playing for Seahawks’ head coach Pete Carroll at USC. He suffered a torn ACL in both the 2011 and 2012 preseasons, forcing him to miss both campaigns.
The injuries proved to be too much, as the Giants elected not to retain his services. Reuniting with Carroll could have rejuvenated his career, but he joined one of the youngest and deepest secondaries in the NFL in Seattle.
Dolphins To Sign Jake Rogers
Monday, 11:17am: In addition to confirming the signing of Rogers, the Dolphins announced (via Twitter) that they had added defensive tackle Cory Grissom.
Sunday, 6:32pm: The Dolphins are planning to sign kicker Jake Rogers, formerly of the Redskins, according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter). The team is in need of kicking help after the recent injuries to Caleb Sturgis and John Potter.
Sturgis, the team’s projected starter, has struggled with a groin injury that will keep him out of practice for the time being. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, out of the University of Florida.
As we learned when the Redskins signed Rogers earlier this offseason, he has yet to attempt a kick in an NFL game. He has competed for spots on multiple NFL teams, since signing with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Rogers is the University of Cincinnati’s all-time leading scorer.