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Author: Zachary Links

Panthers Cut Fifth-Round CB Zack Sanchez

By | at September 3, 2016 7:59 am

After the Panthers effectively cut Josh Norman loose, they drafted multiple cornerbacks to help fill the void. Unfortunately, it sounds like one of the Panthers’ three freshman corners wasn’t as sharp as they anticipated. Fifth-round pick Zack Sanchez will be waived today as the team cuts down to 53, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). Zack Sanchez (vertical)

If Sanchez goes unclaimed on waivers, he could theoretically be a practice squad candidate for Carolina. However, by exposing Sanchez to waivers, the Panthers are effectively saying that they are not afraid to lose him. Sanchez, the 141st overall pick in the draft, received what was supposed to be a four-year contract worth $2.612MM with a signing bonus of about $272K.

Here’s our running list of the Panthers’ cuts so far today, via Joseph Person and Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer, unless noted otherwise:

  • RB Brandon Wegher
  • CB Zack Sanchez
  • DT Eric Crume 
  • TE Eric Wallace
  • TE Marcus Lucas
  • DE Arthur Miley
  • S Stevie Brown (story)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/16

By | at September 2, 2016 8:29 pm

To cap off a transaction-packed Friday, here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

  • The Steelers released former Virginia Tech offensive lineman Wade Hansen, agent Brett Tessler tweets, and waived quarterback Dustin Vaughan with an injury settlement (Twitter link via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).
  • The Colts waived defensive back D’Joun Smith with an injury designation, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Smith was a third-round pick in 2015.
  • The Lions cut center Gabe Ikard, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • The Jets waived safety Dion Bailey off IR with an injury settlement, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Cowboys are releasing linebacker Derek Akunne, according to his agent David Canter (on Twitter). They’ve also waived defensive ends Gerald Dixon and Shaneil Jenkins off IR with injury settlements, Caplan tweets.
  • The Saints waived linebacker Dillon Lee, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.
  • The Falcons will work out an injury settlement with fullback Will Ratelle, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Buccaneers reached an injury settlement with receiver Donteea Dye, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.
  • The Seahawks signed long snapper Tyler Ott, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
0 comments Atlanta Falcons Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions Indianapolis Colts New Orleans Saints New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Jaguars Cut Josh Evans, Others

By | at September 2, 2016 7:57 pm

7:57pm: Jacksonville has also released safety Josh Evans, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Evans played a significant role during his three years with the Jaguars, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. All told, he appeared in 47 of a possible 48 regular-season games and tallied 36 starts, with at least 11 coming in each individual campaign. Evans, 25, amassed 201 tackles – including a career-high 90 in 2014 – with the Jags. For his performance last season, he ranked just 77th among Pro Football Focus’ 89 qualified safeties.

4:50pm: The Jaguars’ quest to get to 53 has bumped Ryan Davis from the roster. The pass-rushing specialist took to Twitter on Friday to announce that the Jaguars have let him go.

“I got love for Duval, but my time here is done, catch ya later,” he wrote.

Davis was considered something of a lock to make the Jags’ roster this year after he was hit with the second-round tender worth $2.55MM. After spending past years at defensive end, the Jags were hopeful that he could successfully transition to linebacker. Davis, who has registered 11 career sacks with 10 in the last two years, was expected to back up Dan Skuta on the strong side.

Here are cuts made by the Jags so far today:

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Pigskin Links: Lacy, Sanchez, Vikings, Titans

By | at September 2, 2016 7:05 pm

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:

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.

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Chiefs Release Jamell Fleming, Others

By | at September 2, 2016 6:43 pm

6:43pm: In addition to the previously mentioned players, the Chiefs have released safety Jamell Fleming, tweets Paylor. Fleming, whom the Cardinals selected in the third round of the 2012 draft, joined the Chiefs in 2014 and appeared in 23 games in his two seasons in Kansas City. Fleming took the field for all of the Chiefs’ contests in 2015 and picked up 21 tackles.

5:06pm: The Chiefs are cutting safety Jeron Johnson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Johnson is the latest to go today as KC works down to a 53-man roster.

After serving as a backup DB and a special-teamer for several years in Seattle, Johnson signed with Washington last year and appeared poised to get the opportunity to play more. However, things didn’t work out in D.C., and Johnson was cut by them this offseason.

Here is the updated list of cuts made by the Chiefs today:

With the exception of Mulumba and Johnson, each player signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs in January. Mulumba inked a one-year deal with the club in April after spending the first three years of his career in Green Bay. The 26-year-old was delayed in signing anywhere because of citizenship issues, as detailed at the time by Weston Hodkiewicz of USA Today. The native of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a Canadian citizen and had been working to attain U.S. citizenship and residency, but he had to return to Canada after his work visa expired. Mulumba met with the Chiefs on a visitor visa before signing with them.

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Browns Cut Multiple Players

By | at September 2, 2016 5:09 pm

The Browns have made a handful of moves they work their way down to a 53-man roster. Here’s what they’ve done thus far:

Waived/Injured:

  • RB Rajion Neal (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)

Waived:

Ulrich reports that the Browns hope to sign Hamlett to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

5 comments Cleveland Browns Transactions

Cardinals Cut Butler, Clemons, Others

By | at September 2, 2016 5:02 pm

The Cardinals are cutting linebacker Donald Butler and safety Chris Clemons as a part of their effort to get down to 53, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. "<strong

Butler signed a one-year deal with Arizona earlier this offseason, but it did not include any guaranteed money. The veteran, who has seven career sacks and three interceptions to his credit, played well enough in both 2012 and 2013 to earn a lucrative extension from the Chargers after the ’13 season. However, he struggled in 2014 and 2015, leading to his release in March of 2016. Butler was expected to bring experience to Arizona’s inside linebacker corps.

Clemons didn’t see much playing time since joining the Cardinals in 2014, but he was re-signed by the team in February to a non-guaranteed deal. The veteran was battling the likes of Tony Jefferson, rookie Marqui Christian, and Durell Eskridge for a spot behind starters Tyrann Mathieu and D.J. Swearinger but came up short. Earlier this offseason, Clemons was accused of assaulting a 25-year-old woman outside of a downtown Scottsdale nightclub.

The Cardinals also waived running back Kerwynn Williams, cornerback Cariel Brooks, wide receiver Marquis Bundy, tackle Rob Crisp, and guard Antoine McClain, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The full list of moves by the Cardinals today (so far) is below:

  • LB Donald Butler
  • S Chris Clemons
  • RB Kerwynn Williams
  • CB Cariel Brooks
  • WR Marquis Bundy
  • OT Rob Crisp
  • G Antoine McClain
  • WR Jaxon Shipley
  • C Taylor Boggs

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Bears Cut Several Players

By | at September 2, 2016 4:33 pm

The Bears dropped a number of players today in their quest to get down to a 53-man roster. Here are the cuts that we know of so far. All links to go to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter), unless otherwise noted.

Waived:

Released:

Waived/Injured:

  • LB Danny Mason (link)

Mason suffered a knee sprain in last night’s preseason game. Daniels hooked on with the Bears in late July, making them his fifth NFL franchise since San Francisco picked him in the seventh round of the 2013 draft. The former South Florida quarterback has spent time at both QB and receiver in the pros. In his eight appearances (six with Seattle, two with Houston) last year, he lined up at wideout and on special teams.

2 comments Chicago Bears Transactions

Panthers Cut Stevie Brown

By | at September 2, 2016 4:14 pm

Well, that was fast. The Panthers have released safety Stevie Brown just days after signing him, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Stevie Brown (vertical)

A former member of the Giants, Brown was brought in to provide additional depth at safety, though he went without an NFL gig in 2015. Brown, a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2010, posted a career year in 2012 as a member of the Giants as he hauled in an eye-popping eight interceptions. However, he failed to register a pick in each of his other three seasons – one apiece with the Giants, Raiders and Colts. Brown signed with the Chiefs in early April but he became an early roster casualty when he was dropped recently. Now, he’s been dropped by the Panthers before could even take his coat off.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Titans Cut Justin Hunter, Bishop Sankey

By | at September 2, 2016 4:00 pm

4:00pm: The Titans have made more cuts this afternoon, including another big name. Running back/wide receiver Dexter McCluster has been let go. McCluster averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season in Tennessee and averaged 8.4 yards per reception, but the Titans saw a better use for his roster spot. McCluster already pocketed a $350k roster bonus earlier this year, but the Titans will save $2.275MM in cash by cutting him.

Here is the full, updated list of Titans cuts so far:

11:07am: The Titans have jettisoned a pair of notable players from the old front office regime. Wide receiver Justin Hunter and running back Bishop Sankey have both been cut, as Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports (Twitter links). "<strong

Hunter, an exceptionally talented receiver, was drafted 34th overall in 2013. Since then, the Titans have been frustrated with Hunter and there have been rumblings that his work ethic was not up to par. Days ago, the Titans shipped out another talented wide receiver with perceived motivation problems when they traded Dorial Green-Beckham to the Eagles.

“It is still going to be hard (to make the team) because we have a lot of talented receivers in the group. We are fighting for spots, and you have to keep up and progress at the same time,” said the 25-year-old Hunter last month, acknowledging that his spot on the roster was not guaranteed.

Hunter has an uninspiring 68 receptions and eight touchdowns in 35 career games (13 starts). While Hunter has averaged an impressive 16.8 yards per catch, that number dropped to a career-worst 12.0 on 22 grabs last season. The 2015 campaign was a short one for Hunter, who only appeared in nine games as a result of a mid-November fractured ankle.

Sankey was once viewed as the Titans’ best running back and was expected to break out as a rookie in 2014. Sankey, 24 later this month, appeared in all 16 games for the Titans as a rookie but amassed only 569 yards off of 152 carries. Last season, Sankey’s role was reduced even further has he had only 47 rushing attempts for 193 yards in 13 games.

The surprising cuts didn’t stop there. The Titans are going to waive guard Jeremiah Poutasi, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Poutasi was an early third-round pick of the Titans last year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

3 comments Newsstand Tennessee Titans Transactions
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