AFC West Notes: Raiders, Broncos, Ball
The Raiders have released an early version of their depth chart, and one of the big surprises is the absence of new addition James Jones from the first string, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Jones is expected to lead the group in production, but was listed as a part of the second string.
Here are some other notes from around the western divisions:
- While he did analyze the Raiders‘ depth chart, Bair did say not to put too much stock in such an early version, even though he believes it will give some insight into the team’s plans at kick returner and punt returner (via Twitter).
- Rahim Moore and Derek Wolfe are back on the field and impressing the Broncos‘ coaches, as they have taken starting jobs, at least for now, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Both players finished last season missing games due to injury.
- Broncos‘ running back Montee Ball had his appendectomy today, but the team expects him to be ready for the first game of the season against the Colts, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).
Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are some minor transactions from around the NFL on Saturday:
- The Rams have waived wideout Jamaine Sherman from injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports.
- The Seahawks have waived defensive tackle Jesse Williams with the injured designation, tweets The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. The player has cleared waived and will be placed on the team’s injured reserve.
Earlier updates:
- To make room for new addition Samson Satele, the Dolphins have waived rookie lineman Samuel Longo, the team announced on Twitter.
- The Seahawks have indeed claimed Cory Brandon off of waivers from the Cardinals, tweets Field Yates. Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reported that the move was likely following the release of Michael Bowie.
- The Texans have released tight end Chris Coyle to make room for Irwin, tweets James Palmer of Comcast Sportsnets Houston. Houston added the rookie tight end in late July.
- Josh Hull‘s contract with the Jaguars will be a two-year deal, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Hull signed earlier today, along with Kenny Shaw and David Carter. The team waived three players to make room for the signings.
- The Patriots have released rookie wide receiver Cole Stanford, according to the team’s official website.
- The Texans have signed offensive guard Bronson Irwin, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. He was recently released by the Seahawks.
- The Cardinals were awarded linebacker Trevardo Williams off waivers from the Texans, reports Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (via Twitter). The team released cornerback Todd Washington to make room for Williams.
Matt Feminis and Ben Levine contributed to this post.
NFC South Notes: Bucs, McCown, Cooks, Dickson
The Buccaneers were the subject of Peter King’s in depth training camp review, and the thing that stood out most for King was the potential size among the pass catchers. He notes that in three receiver, one tight end sets they have the opportunity to put four different receiving options that stand 6’5″ tall (Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Tommy Streeter, Austin Sefarian Jenkins). The shrimp of the group is Chris Owusu, and he is 6’2″, but could play out of the slot with Jackson and Evans on either side of him.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC South:
- King also touched on two new players in Buccaneers camp, singling out Michael Johnson as the best new addition. He picked Johnson as the most important player to have a huge year if the team was going to finish among the best in the NFC. He also made a bold prediction on quarterback Josh McCown, saying he will be a “middle-of-the-pack” starter, which is all the team needs him to be.
- Saints‘ first-round pick Brandin Cooks was a standout during the team’s Black and Gold scrimmage, amassing over 100 total yards, reports Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com. That includes a number of highlight plays, including one deep pass that was negated by penalty. According to Terrell, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan also put up a big number, using 20+ expletives during the scrimmage, although it is unclear exactly how many were yelled at Cooks.
- The Panthers are planning to utilize double tight end looks more often this season with the addition of Ed Dickson this offseason, according to USA Today. Dickson will join Greg Olsen as a second tall receiving option, that can also be used as an in-line blocker.
Ravens, 49ers Notes: Practice, Mosley, Hyde
The Ravens and 49ers have been linked together thanks to their head coaches, brother Jim and John Harbaugh, and their epic battle in Super Bowl XLVII. The two franchises were planning on continuing their connection with a joint practice on August 8th, but that scrimmage has been canceled according to the Baltimore Sun. The practice would violate the collective bargaining agreement, which dictates the amount of practices a team can have, and what is considered an “off day” under the agreement.
Here are some other notes from among the two training camps:
- The Ravens have listed first-round pick C.J. Mosley as a starting inside linebacker on their most recent depth chart, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Mosley is currently ahead of last year’s second-round pick Arthur Brown, who missed the 2013 season but was expected to be a contributor.
- Ravens‘ star Haloti Ngata will shift over on the defensive line into the position vacated by Arthur Jones, according to Wilson (via Twitter). Jones was signed by the Colts this offseason. Wilson also noted that Darian Stewart and Brandon Williams are listed as starters at safety and defensive tackle respectively, although the team drafted Terrence Brooks and Timmy Jernigan, both out of Florida State, to compete at those spots (via Twitter).
- 49ers‘ defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey tore his bicep, and could potentially miss the entire season, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). According to the depth chart, Quinton Dial is set to step up in his absence, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Dial was drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but missed all of last season.
- With the 49ers‘ depth chart being announced, Carlos Hyde has emerged as the backup running back in the aftermath of the injuries to Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
Jaguars Sign Three, Waive Three
The Jaguars have signed wide receiver Kenny Shaw, defensive tackle David Carter, and linebacker Josh Hull, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN (via Twitter).
Shaw, who was cut from the Browns earlier this offseason, was a standout pass catcher at Florida State University in 2013. He caught 54 passes for almost 1,000 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, while also serving as the main punt returner for the National Champion Seminoles.
Carter has played 32 NFL games with the Cardinals, while Hull has appeared in 28 games with the Rams, according to DiRocco (via Twitter).
In order to make room for the three signings, the team has waived receiver Damian Copeland, defensive tackle Jordan Miller, and linebacker John Lotulelei.
PFR Originals: 7/20/14 – 7/27/14
The original content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- We continued our Offseason in Review series, as Ben Levine covered the Eagles, David Kipke covered the 49ers, and Zach Links evaluated the Giants and the Cowboys.
- As we finished up our Offseason in Review series in the NFC East and NFC West, PFR took to the polls to see who our readers thought would win each division. The Eagles took a good lead in the East and the Seahawks barely edged out the 49ers in the West.
- Our Extension Candidate series plugged along, as Dallas Robinson examined the case for 49ers guard Mike Iupati.
Week In Review: 7/20/14 – 7/27/14
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
Extended:
- Packers – WR Jordy Nelson (link)
- Chiefs – RB Jamaal Charles (link)
Signed:
- Jets – DE Jason Babin (link)
- Ravens – S Will Hill (link)
- Falcons – LB Pat Angerer (link)
- Bears – OL Dylan Gandy (link)
- Panthers – OL Fernando Velasco (link)
- Chiefs – OT Ryan Harris and LB Josh Mauga (link)
- Browns – CB Justin Gilbert (link) and LB Jamaal Westerman and LB Edgar Jones (link)
- Texans – OT Tyson Clabo (link) and LB Lawrence Sidbury and LB Quentin Groves (link)
Released:
- Raiders – LB Kevin Burnett (link)
Suspended:
- Ravens – RB Ray Rice suspended two games (link)
- Jaguars – WR Ace Sanders facing four-game suspension (link)
- Eagles – OT Lane Johnson suspended four games (link)
Retired:
- WR Sidney Rice (link)
- OG Chris Snee (link)
- TE Sean McGrath (link)
- CB De’Quan Menzie (link)
Other:
- Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen steps down from his position with the team due to his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease (link)
- Seahawks‘ RB Marshawn Lynch holds out of training camp (link)
- 49ers‘ TE Vernon Davis reports to training camp despite contract dispute (link)
- Texans‘ WR Andre Johnson reports to training camp despite trade demand earlier this offseason (link)
Panthers’ De’Quan Menzie To Retire
Panthers cornerback De’Quan Menzie has decided to retire from the NFL, reports Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
Person noted that Ron Rivera had announced the decision earlier today, and that Menzie’s Twitter account posting “Officially done…” all but confirmed the report.
Menzie was drafted by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was released by the team during the following offseason, when he was claimed off of waivers by the Lions. The Panthers signed him to a reserve/future contract early this past January.
NFC East Notes: McClain, Williams, Beckham
Cowboys‘ wideout Terrance Williams is going to have a chance to improve on his 2013 campaign, writes Jon Machota of DallasNews.com. The second year receiver is looking to avoid a sophomore slump by emerging as a dependable number two receiver and the third option in the passing game after Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Bryant is even more optimistic about Williams’ chances.
“Terrance done blew up,” Bryant said. “He’s lightning fast, outstanding hands, probably one of the best route runners I’ve ever seen. He’s going to do some big things.”
Head coach Jason Garrett said that Williams would have an increased opportunity to show off his talents.
“I think he has a little confidence based on how he played and he’s going to have a big role for our football team,” said Garrett. “He earned a bigger role on our football team last year. We’re excited to see him play.”
Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:
- New Cowboys‘ linebacker Rolando McClain is being given every opportunity to win a starting job with middle linebacker Sean Lee out of the season, writes Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. McClain has been working mostly with the second team, but showcased his natural talent during his first practice with the team.
- If McClain does earn that spot on the Cowboys‘ defense, he will be part of a unit trying to go from worst in the NFL in 2013 to the best in 2014. At least that is the goal cornerback Morris Claiborne has set for the defensive squad, write Machota. “We were last in the league in defense and we’re trying to be No. 1,” said Claiborne. “That’s our goal. We’re not shying away from it.”
- Giants‘ head coach Tom Coughlin is frustrated with his first-round pick’s absence from training camp, as Odell Beckham Jr. is sidelined with a hamstring injury, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Coughlin said that he was disappointed not to see Beckham on the field. “It would be nice to get him back practicing,” Coughlin said. “He actually looks pretty good out there. He’s moving around, catching the ball, he doesn’t favor anything. I’m just hoping it’s a real short amount of time.”
- The Eagles have a shot to really hurt defenses in the passing game with their backfield in 2014, writes Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com. LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles are talented receivers out of the backfield, and could find some intriguing mismatches in the defense.
- The two most important statistics of training camp for the Eagles thus far are a pair zeros, zero injuries and zero interceptions, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. The team has managed to get through camp unscathed so far, and none of the four quarterbacks has turned the ball over through the air. Of course, while this is a positive for the team’s offense, the linebackers and secondary are not so happy with their part in that second zero.
Cardinals Notes: Peterson, Massie, Fanaika
Cardinals’ star cornerback Patrick Peterson is preparing to reel in a huge payday with only two years left on his rookie contract, one of which is his fifth-year team option the Cardinals have already picked up. Peterson understands the situation, and is not letting it distract him from his job, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).
“Those guys are still talking. … I’m here to play football. I have 2 yrs left on my deal and I want to do the best I can to help this team win,” said Peterson. “I haven’t been to the playoffs since I’ve been here & that’s my 1st goal.”
Peterson said he is not unhappy with his contract situation at the moment, and that the new deal will happen when it happens (via Twitter).
Here are some other notes from around the Cardinals camp:
- Head coach Bruce Arians said Peterson will not be used at all on offense this season, reports Kent Somers of AZCentral.com (via Twitter). Arians major reason for the declaration is that the team has more speed on the roster at wide receiver this year.
- Peterson will also be relieved of his punt returning duties, according to Somers (via Twitter). Peterson says this will make him a better cornerback, and Somers notes that Peterson already claims to be the best.
- Arians is also preparing to solidify his offensive line, noting that the right tackle job is Bobby Massie‘s to lose, reports Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (via Twitter). He did add the disclaimer that the team hadn’t put pads on yet.
- Arians also added that the right guard job is Paul Fanaika‘s to lose, according to Weinfuss (via Twitter).