Pigskin Links: Falcons, Mariota, Fisher
Here at Pro Football Rumors, we deliver up-to-the-minute news on NFL transactions and high-quality original analysis. Each week, we also feature some of the best blog articles from around the web in our regular feature, Pigskin Links.
We’re looking for interesting reads on all things football from blogs of all sizes. While PFR is dedicated to player movement, Pigskin Links is open to pieces on all areas of the game. If you would like to suggest your blog post (or someone else’s) for Pigskin Links, send us an email with the link and a brief synopsis at PigskinLinks@gmail.com.
Here’s this week’s look around the football blogosphere:
- Wayniac Nation says the Falcons are No. 1 in the NFC.
- Titans 247 discussed the two sides of Marcus Mariota.
- From The Rafters says Jeff Fisher should do the right thing.
- Sports Central has Week 10 picks and fake quotes.
- Cup of Joe In The D turned in Week 10 power rankings.
Got a great football blog post that you want to see featured in next week’s Pigskin Links? Email it to Zach or tweet it to him: @ZachLinks.
Scouts See Chad Kelly As Day 3 Prospect
After quarterback Chad Kelly suffered an unfortunate injury, it’s not clear where the Ole Miss could go in this year’s NFL Draft. There were already questions about Kelly’s inconsistent play on the field and questionable decisions off the gridiron and his recent setback only complicated things further. 
Now, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) hears that execs still like him as a Day 3 prospect. Kelly, despite all of the question marks, could go as high as the fifth round, Cole hears. NFL officials say that they are high on Kelly in some respects because of his fearless approach to the game and his performance against high-level opposition, like Alabama.
As Kelly deals with a torn ACL and lateral meniscus, it’s unlikely that he will be able to workout for teams prior to the spring draft.
Cowboys’ Randy Gregory Facing One-Year Ban
Randy Gregory has failed yet another drug test, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). According to the league’s rules for substance abuse, Gregory’s test could trigger a one-year ban. 
Gregory was originally scheduled to return to action later on this season. Now, barring a successful appeal, he is done for 2016 and part of 2017.
As a rookie, Gregory was in uniform 12 contests and missed a good chunk of games due to an ankle injury. In total, he had eleven tackles and no sacks. The Cowboys have been holding out hope that Gregory could fulfill his vast potential, but it now seems like he is facing even greater demons than previously thought.
Gregory completed a stint at a Massachusetts rehab facility in September and those close to him insisted that he had been clean for a while. Initially suspended through Week 16, the hope was that Gregory could clean up his life away from the field while working his way back to football shape. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened for the former Nebraska standout.
Eagles Promote CB Aaron Grymes
Eagles coach Doug Pederson told reporters that cornerback Aaron Grymes will be signed to the 53-man roster (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). He will be active on Sunday against the Falcons. 
[RELATED: Ex-Eagles WR Josh Huff Earning Significant Salary With Bucs]
A couple of days ago, Pederson indicated that Grymes and wide receiver Paul Turner were in play to be promoted to the 53-man roster to fill their final spot. Ultimately, Eagles coaches decided that they needed the extra cushion in the secondary rather than at WR. The addition of Grymes gives the Eagles three reserve cornerbacks behind starters Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin. McKelvin has been dealing with a hamstring issue as of late and Grymes’ promotion might not be a great sign for his Sunday status.
Meanwhile, the team will continue with four receivers on the 53-man: Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Bryce Treggs. The Eagles toyed with the idea of adding a receiver to replace Josh Huff following his release, but they instead have decided to activate Treggs on gameday and use running back Wendell Smallwood as their return man.
Grymes, a former CFL standout, has been on the Eagles’ practice squad since late October. The 25-year-old is hoping to see his first taste of NFL regular season action this weekend.
Bucs Giving Josh Huff Significant Money
Earlier this week, the Buccaneers scooped up troubled wide receiver Josh Huff by signing him to a practice squad deal. It turns out that he is getting paid a lot more than your average practice squad player, a likely indication that there was competition for his services. The Buccaneers are paying wide receiver Huff $31K/week to be a member of their practice squad, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. That’s a solid paycheck, especially when considering that he was making $36K/week on the Eagles’ active roster. 
P-squad players make a minimum of $6,900 per week which comes out to just over $117K if that player is on the roster for the entire season. Taxi squad players also earn weekly paychecks during the playoffs, provided that the team makes it to the postseason. Huff’s deal with Tampa Bay is worth nearly five times the league-mandated minimum wage, so one has to imagine that other teams expressed interest in him.
Huff found himself out of work following an arrest for a gun charge, speeding, and marijuana possession. It seems likely that he will face punishment from 345 Park Ave., but the league must wait for the legal process to play out a bit before doling out a suspension or fine.
In the interim, the Bucs are evaluating the Oregon product and a promotion to the 53-man roster may not be far off.
Seahawks To Sign John Jenkins
Defensive tackle John Jenkins will be signing with the Seahawks, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jenkins was let go by the Saints earlier this week. 
Because Jenkins was released after the trade deadline, he was subject to waivers. However, no team moved to take on the contract of the defensive tackle, particularly because of his $1MM proven performance escalator for 2016. Terms of the deal are not yet known, but the Seahawks have likely scored Jenkins on a deal at or near the league minimum for a player of his experience level.
Jenkins was only on the field for about one-third of the Saints’ defensive snaps this season. Not long ago, Jenkins was a starting player on New Orleans D-Line. In his reduced role, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus have the former third-round pick rated rather poorly with a 42.7 overall grade.
Jenkins will now battle for playing time behind reserves Tony McDaniel and Sealver Siliga, giving them five DTs for the first time since fifth-round pick Quinton Jefferson was placed on IR in late October. Seattle starts Ahtyba Rubin and rookie Jarran Reed on the interior defensive line.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB David Fales (Twitter link via Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Khari Lee
- Cut: CB D’Joun Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Cut: OL Sean Hickey
Patriots Release RB Tyler Gaffney
The Patriots have released running back Tyler Gaffney, according to Doug Kyed of NESN.com (on Twitter). This could be a sign of good things to come for New England as Gaffney’s release is likely paving the way for a Dion Lewis return. 
Gaffney, 25, was a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft, but various injuries have held him back over the last few years. The Patriots claimed Gaffney off waivers from the Panthers during his rookie season, and stashed him on injured reserve in each of the next two years. After being waived with an injury settlement in September, Gaffney signed on with New England’s practice squad in mid-October. Although he was bumped to the 53-man roster recently, he still hasn’t seen the NFL field.
Gaffney was expected to serve as a depth option behind LeGarrette Blount, James White, Brandon Bolden, and D.J. Foster. Now, he’s out of the picture altogether as Lewis gears up for his highly-anticipated return. Given his injury history, it seems likely that New England could sneak him through waivers and stash him on the practice squad again.
Dolphins Activate DT Earl Mitchell From IR
The Dolphins are officially activating Earl Mitchell. The defensive tackle has been on injured reserve for the last two months. 
Mitchell suffered a calf injury early on in September, leading Miami to put him on the shelf. Now that his mandatory eight weeks are up, Mitchell is free to return to the team and suit up on Sunday against the Chargers.
Mitchell, 29, left the Texans in free agency to sign with the Dolphins prior to the 2014 season. The defensive tackle received a four-year, $19MM deal with $8MM guaranteed. In his first year as a Dolphin, Mitchell was a highly-valued sub as he notched 33 total tackles and 2.0 sacks. Last year, he had 22 total tackles and no sacks in 12 games (all starts).
This year, Mitchell was being counted on to start on the interior line alongside Ndamukong Suh. Miami has had to get by without him for the last couple of months, but they’ll be happy to have the veteran on the field this weekend.
Saints’ Kenny Vaccaro Facing Four-Game Ban
Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy for use of Adderall, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Vaccaro has the option to appeal and it stands to reason that he will fight the ban. 
Vaccaro, 25, has been a full-time starter at safety since joining the Saints as the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft. He played all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2015, and while he failed to record an interception for the first time, he set new career highs in tackles (104) and sacks (three). This year, he has started in all seven of his games, totaling 43 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Pro Football Focus viewed Vaccaro’s play favorably last year, ranking him 27th out of 89 qualified players. Out of that group, only five safeties received a higher grade as a run defender than Vaccaro. This year, he stands as the 19th ranked safety in the NFL, meaning that he is a well above-average starter.
The Saints have Vaccaro under contract through 2017 after exercising his fifth-year option in the spring.