AFC East Notes: Thuney, Dolphins, Sanders, Patriots
Patriots guard Joe Thuney is expected to undergo foot surgery and is likely to miss the team’s entire offseason program but is expected to be ready for training camp, which was first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss and confirmed by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).
Thuney is projected to start at left guard for the Patriots, where he’s started all 16 regular-season games the last two seasons since the Patriots took him in the third round of the 2016 draft. He’s missed just nine snaps since being drafted by the Patriots.
The 25-year-old is one of a select group of returning starters to the Patriots offensive line, with tackles Nate Solder and Cameron Fleming departing in free agency this offseason. The Patriots currently have Marcus Cannon, Ted Karras, Matt Tobin and James Ferentz as guard depth on the roster.
Reiss opines that recently-drafted Isaiah Wynn, who’s currently slated to take over as the team’s left tackle, could shift over to help at guard if Thuney were to miss any time in 2018. He also notes that Karras would’ve been the team’s in-house option to take over at guard had there been an injury at the position last season.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- Former Florida Atlantic kicker Greg Joseph, who signed with the Dolphins after the draft, is expected to be in an open competition with Jason Sanders, who the team selected in the seventh round of the draft, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Joseph spent time last season working with former Dolphins kicker Cody Parkey, who signed with the Bears this offseason.
- Dolphins special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi explained some of the rationales behind drafting Sanders in the seventh round of New Mexico, despite his 71-percent conversion rate in college. Rizzi stated, via Jackson, that the team didn’t look heavily into his percentage due to faults in collegiate special teams operations, such as faulty snaps and holds.
- The Patriots have yet to designate a defensive coordinator following the departure of Matt Patricia to the Lions, though a logical candidate seemed to be linebackers coach Brian Flores. Though he won’t have the designation of defensive coordinator, Flores will take on many responsibilities attached to the position. The Patriots have done in this in the past with assistants like Bill O’Brien, not giving assistants the job title despite performing many of the job’s functions. To his part, Flores is not focusing on his title. “I’ve never been big on titles,” Flores said, to Rich Garven of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. “I’m here to work. I’m here to help this team win any way I can. I think I’ve always said that in some form or fashion.”
Bengals Sign 10 UDFAs
The Bengals have signed 10 undrafted free agents. Here’s the complete list:
- Devonte Boyd, WR (UNLV)
- Gaelin Elmore, DE (East Carolina)
- Austin Fleer, T (Colorado Mesa)
- Quinton Flowers, RB (South Florida)
- Jordan Franks, TE (Central Florida)
- Trayvon Henderson, S (Hawaii)
- Junior Joseph, MLB (UConn)
- Ray Lawry, RB (Old Dominion)
- Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, DE (Arkansas State)
- Chris Worley, OLB (Ohio State)
Worley started 50 games at Ohio State and joins offensive lineman Billy Price and defensive end Sam Hubbard as Buckeyes rookies on the Bengals roster. Flowers may be the most intriguing of the group as he’s prepared to make the switch from quarterback to running back. Flowers had 71 touchdown passes and 41 rushing touchdowns in his three seasons as South Florida’s starting quarterback. Boyd finished his career at UNLV as the schools second all-time leading receiver.
Though Fleer comes from Division II Colorado Mesa, his 11-inch hands are bigger than any of those measured from offensive tackles at the Scouting Combine. Franks is the brother of Florida quarterback, Feleipe Franks, and started 21 games at tight end at UCF over the last two seasons after making the switch from the defensive side of the ball.
Cowboys Rumors: McClain, Richard, Austin
The Cowboys had pursued defensive tackle Terrell McClain before he signed a one-year, $4MM deal with the Falcons this offseason, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
“We wanted him here,” Garrett said. “Different factors played into it for him and he decided to go to Atlanta.”
The Cowboys had been seeking depth with their interior line as defensive tackle Malik Collins is expected to miss at least three months after undergoing foot surgery. McClain started 15 games at defensive tackle for the Cowboys when they went 13-3 in 2016 but departed in free agency to the Redskins in March 2017. The Redskins released him this offseason, though, and the Cowboys were one of several teams he visited with before signing with the Falcons.
Johnathan Hankins, Alan Branch and Karl Klug all still remain unrestricted free agents.
Here’s more from the Cowboys:
- Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli seemed adamant that the team’s best acquisition this offseason didn’t come in the form of a player but rather a coach — new secondary coach Kris Richard, who helped construct the Legion of Boom as Seattle’s former defensive coordinator. The Cowboys weren’t overly active on the defensive side in free agency but did use their first-round pick last month to take Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. “Might be as good as any acquisition coming in,” Marinelli said to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “This guy’s really good. He is special. He is one of the best things we’ve got. He did a terrific job in Seattle. The resume is in the tape. He brings energy, intensity. And he can relate well to these players. That’s what I really like. You get tickled when you get a guy like that.
- Tavon Austin has plenty of special teams experience over his five-year career but it appears the Cowboys plan to use the former longtime Ram mostly at wide receiver. “We’ll use him for a lot of things, but he’s a receiver first,” said Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). “He’s really in a lot of ways…an outside receiver, which is really unique, but he can move around, the slot. … He can move in the backfield at times. He’s done that his whole career.”
- Earlier this week, we learned that Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is no longer wearing a brace following the severe injury he suffered in his final game at Notre Dame in January 2016. Smith made his Cowboys debut last season and played in all 16 of the team’s games, starting six.
Extra Points: Steelers, Raiders, Browns, Colts, Panthers
The Steelers do not have concerns about a possible neck injury to Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter).
Vander Esch, the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to go at some point in the first round of this week’s draft. The linebacker climbed to No. 28 in the latest Top 50 prospect rankings from NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah.
Reports had come in earlier during the draft process that Vander Esch had been medically flunked by several teams due to a neck injury. The Steelers brought in Vander Esch, who’s drawn comparisons to Brian Urlacher, earlier this month. The Steelers have taken a linebacker in the first round of four of the last five drafts but only two (Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt) will be able to play for the team in 2018.
NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline reported earlier this month that he doesn’t expect Vander Esch to get past the Steelers at No. 28 if he’s still on the board.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Raiders defensive backs Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu did not participate in individual drills during the portion of the team’s Tuesday practice that was open to the media, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). Bair did note, though, that both players were out on the field with their helmets. Injuries limited the secondary duo, who were both selected in the first two rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft, to a combined seven games last season.
- The Colts announced that they’ve released running back George Winn with a failed physical designation.
- A source told Michael Lombardi of the Ringer (on Twitter) that the Browns are being considered for the upcoming season of “Hard Knocks.”
- Mark Richardson, son of Panthers owner Jerry Richardson — and part of the team’s current ownership group — told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer that Charlotte businessman Ben Navarro is his favorite amongst the list of candidates to potentially take over as the team’s owner. Jerry Richardson, the only owner in the franchise’s history, announced in December that he would be selling the team after Sports Illustrated outlined sexual and racial misconduct throughout his tenure. Mark Richardson said he’d consider remaining on as a limited partner with the Panthers if Navarro won the bid.
NFC Notes: Meredith, Janikowski, Cowboys, Griffen
Newly-signed Saints wide receiver Cameron Meredith may be able to partially participate in the team’s minicamp, Sean Payton said to Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate.
The Saints signed Meridith to a two-year offer sheet worth $9.6 MM ($5.4MM in guarantees) earlier this month after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Bears. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent missed the entire 2017 regular season due to a torn ACL. There were indications that his knee injury might take longer to heal than expected, which played into the Bears’ decision to not match the Saints’ offer sheet.
Saints coach Sean Payton seemed content with the team’s decision to pick up Meridith and his rehab from the injury.
“We feel like he’s a guy that’s on pace with his rehab, we feel comfortable with the diagnosis,” Payton said, via Erickson. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see him getting some work in our minicamp, based on our report.”
Meridith was set to enter the 2017 season as a starter in the Bears’ receiving corps. He’s currently projected to serve as the Saints’ No. 3 wideout behind Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr [via Roster Resource].
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Sebastian Janikowski‘s one-year contract with the Seahawks is for one year and $2.015MM, according to a source who spoke with Brady Henderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal includes a $1.015MM base salary, a $600K signing bonus, a $100K bonus if he’s on the 53-man roster in Week 1, and $300K in per-game active roster bonuses.
- The Dallas Police continue to investigate Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving following domestic violence allegations levied against him earlier this week, per the Dallas Morning News. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also responded to the allegations Tuesday during the team’s pre-draft news conference. “We’re getting the information today, and we’ll continue to gather it,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. “And we’ll see where that comes out. The authorities are really doing the legwork, which I’m all for. We’ll let that get resolved as far as the facts.”
- Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter) that he tore his Plantar Fascia ligament in Week 8 last season, electing to play through it for the rest of the year. Griffen appeared in 15 games last season, along with the team’s two postseason contests. “It’s doing great (now),” Griffen said, via Tomasson. “I feel good. I’m excited to be back here.’‘
Zach Links also contributed to this report
Jerry Jones Reaffirms Cowboys Are Moving On From Dez Bryant
Just in case there were any thoughts to the contrary, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones closed the book on any chance of wide receiver Dez Bryant returning to the team. The Cowboys released the three-time Pro Bowler earlier this month.
“I have no thoughts about the timing when we decided to move on [from Dez Bryant],” Jones said, via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter) “… I think a nice, crisp time to call it a day was the way to do this. We need to move on knowing that we don’t have Dez.”
It’s certainly not a shock that the Cowboys reiterated that Bryant’s tenure in Dallas is over. But the fact he’s yet to sign with a team could’ve have raised some eyebrows.
Bryant had expressed interst in joining the NFC East rival New York Giants but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported last week that the Giants are not interested in signing Bryant at the moment. It’s also been reported that the Jaguars and Browns are out on the Bryant sweepstakes. It was reported that the Ravens were interested in Bryant as well, though they also signed Willie Snead to an offer sheet last week.
Despite picking up Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson in free agency, the Cowboys are still likely to pick up a receiver at some point in the draft. But they’re not going to try and directly replace the workload of Bryant. They also have Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley and Ryan Switzer on the roster at wide receiver.
“I think we recognize that we have a hole to fill with Dez,” Jones said, via Machota (on Twitter). We know we won’t [get] a pure X receiver to replace Dez [out of this draft].”
Florida WR Antonio Callaway Reportedly Tests Positive For Marijuana
Former Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Callaway’s new agent, Malki Kawa, has said the positive test was due to a diluted sample. 
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) added that Callaway said he was over-hydrated at the combine and that he will address the positive test with teams.
In terms of talent, Callaway is one of the top receivers slated to be available in this week’s draft. But this is far from his first off-the-field incident that might keep teams from picking him until Day 3 of the draft, if at all. While at Florida, he was cleared of a sexual assault allegation but didn’t do himself any favors at his Title IX hearing, saying he was too “stoned” to have intercourse.
Callaway was also charged with two third-degree felonies for his involvement in a credit card scam while at Florida. He was suspended from Florida’s team for all of last season. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reported on Friday that Callaway had already been completely taken off the draft board of three teams.
Pelissero also reported that Florida had privately told teams in the Southeast to steer clear of Callaway, as he needed to get as far away from South Florida as possible. Some NFL teams still believe he can turn things around and have a positive impact on the field, though.
“He’s not a bad kid, either. He’s just been around a lot of trouble,” an AFC scout told Pelissero. “And he admits to the fact that trouble finds him. He just hangs with the wrong people. It’s a shame, because he’s ridiculously talented.”
Dalvin Cook On Track For Full Participation At Vikings Training Camp
It appears Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is on track to be a full participant when the team opens training camp in July, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Cook, who tore his ACL in Week 4 of his rookie season last year, has been participating in some on-field drills since the Vikings began their voluntary workouts on April 16.
The Vikings took Cook in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Florida State and he had a superb start to his NFL career, rushing for 354 yards on 74 carries (4.8-yard average) to go with two rushing touchdowns, while also catching 11 passes for 90 yards.
Minnesota advanced to last season’s NFC Championship game, relying on the services of Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon at running back. Cook had assumed the starting role to open the year over Murray, who’s set to enter the second year of a three-year deal. McKinnon signed with the 49ers this offseason.
“When I first got hurt, I told [Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman], ‘I’m going to attack this thing 100 percent,’ ” Cook said, via Tomasson. “And the staff we’ve got around me, the people they put around me, there was no chance that I wasn’t going to come back.”
Tomasson notes that the departure of McKinnon likely means the Vikings will add depth at the position through the draft. Mack Brown is currently the only other running back on the roster outside of Cook and Murray.
Rob Gronkowski To Play In 2018
Five-time Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski announced Tuesday (on Instagram) that he’ll be returning to the Patriots for the 2018 season after sitting down with Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
“I met with coach today and informed him I will be back for the 2018 season with the Pats,” Gronkowski said in a caption for his post. “I have been working out, staying in shape and feel great. Looking forward to another championship run.
There had been rumors nearly the entire offseason that the four-time All-Pro tight end might call it a career after eight seasons and two Super Bowl titles. The 28-year-old’s decision to not take part in the team’s voluntary workouts this offseason certainly didn’t quell those rumors.
There had been reports that Belichick lashed out at Gronkowski in front of teammates because of his participation at Tom Brady‘s Sports Therapy Center and with Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported earlier this month that Gronkowski was looking for a raise on his current deal and that the retirement rumors and his decision to not attend the workouts could’ve been him angling for a new contract. Gronkowski is under contract through the 2019 season.
Injuries have also limited Gronkowski of late, as he’s been held to just 22 games over the last two seasons. He hasn’t played a full 16 regular-season games since his sophomore campaign in 2011.
When on the field, though, his play has been unquestioned. He’s hauled in 10-plus touchdowns in five of his eight seasons and already holds several NFL records, including most postseason receiving touchdowns for a tight end (12), the most single-season receiving yards from a tight end (1,327, 2011) and most single-season touchdowns from a tight end (18, 2011).
The Patriots have lost several key pieces of their receiving corps from last year’s Super Bowl run in wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola. They did add wide receiver Jordan Matthews in free agency and also acquired wide receiver/return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson from the Raiders.
Pauline’s Latest: Ravens, 49ers, Cowboys, Taylor
Here’s the latest from NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline (Link to article)
- Pauline hears that the Ravens could be targeting Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne with the No. 16 overall pick in the draft, though he has Baltimore selecting Payne’s teammate, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, in his latest mock draft. Paulino also notes that he doesn’t believe the team feels an urgent need to take a tight end and will simply play the board. They also may be still interested in picking up free-agent wide receiver Eric Decker.
- He has the 49ers trading down with the Bills in his latest mock draft but that won’t be the case if Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is still on the board.
- In order of their desire to pick them, Pauline hears the Cowboys are coveting Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and Maryland wide receiver D.J. Moore.
- Pauline has heard from his sources that if Temple defensive lineman Jullian Taylor had been invited to work out at the Scouting Combine, he would be a second-day pick in the draft. He noted that the Eagles, Titans and Patriots have been the latest teams to work him out.
- New technology has played many different roles in how teams prepare for the draft, including the use of Facetime instead of face-to-face meetings that at times came down to the wire, Pauline says. He referenced a last-minute meeting in which the Jets flew out to Pittsburgh in 2007 to meet with Darrelle Revis.