Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/16
Thursday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
- The Seahawks have waived two players from injured reserve, linebacker Christian French and tight end Cooper Helfet, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). The team reached an injury settlement with Helfet.
- The Bills announced the release of linebacker Kevin Reddick from the reserve/injured list with an injury settlement.
- The Colts signed running back Chase Price and linebacker Anthony Sarao, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Seahawks are signing defensive tackle Tylor Harris, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Harris is a UDFA out of Wake Forest. To make room for Harris, they’ve waived linebacker Montese Overton to make room for Harris, per Condotta (Twitter link).
- The Texans reached an injury settlement with Richard Leonard (hamstring surgery), removing him from IR, Wilson tweets.
Jerry Jones On Gregory, Hardy, Elliott
Earlier this week, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report sat down with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to discuss a wide range of topics on his organization and the NFL as a whole. The whole interview is worth a read, but we have also compiled some of the highlights below.
On the suspensions of DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, and Rolando McClain plus dealing with Greg Hardy last year:
Gregory would have been a bonus. We were aware of Gregory’s iffiness at the end of last season. I look at him as a bonus that is looking diminished right now. We didn’t alter our approach in any way with him. There are issues you read about in the program that he has to address, and he has done that. So we can [draft] the Gregorys because of the core character base we have on our team. I’ve had teams where we certainly had some behavioral issues and won big. That wouldn’t have worked if you had not had the overwhelming number of players on your team who had no issues relative to availability, as to suspension. We’ve had teams that could have a Charles Haley. You could have a player that gave you some iffiness but his talent would make a real contribution, but you had to have an overwhelming base of players so you know exactly what you had. That allows me and us to take risk, and we’ve had real success in taking risk with players. 
So recognizing the risk involved and the reward that could come with a player of Gregory’s talent, you deal with a player of Hardy’s talent, you deal with others like that. But with Gregory and Hardy, we had too much at one position. That will give you a concern. If you had that two or possibly three and they were on different sides of the ball, at different position groups, that would lessen how this looks. We had an issue with [Joseph] Randle last year. We don’t have him on the roster now, but since we had McFadden and other backs, we didn’t have as big an issue with the position. That really can create some scrutiny and some critiquing and some second-guessing even on our part when it really happens at one position as it did last year with Gregory and Hardy as right ends, rush ends.
But therein lies why we took some risk, because of the value of the position. And really, our contract with Hardy last year was a thing of beauty relative to structuring to getting him at the values and getting him, period. I do recognize the criticism…was more than we expected because of the pictures and things like that, and his approach to things was more than we had anticipated. And don’t misunderstand my statement. We abhor domestic violence and are in no way making a statement there, but what we are doing is trying to put a team together within the rules.
On whether he regrets not cutting Hardy sooner:
Well, if I had had a crystal ball and known we were not going to get [Tony] Romo back and only win four games…in hindsight, there’s a lot to consider here. And I think it had a lot to do with the success Hardy had. Had we been a team that was contending, had we been a team that was in the Super Bowl hunt, you might have had a little more success with Hardy….He certainly he has a lot of ability, but the results for our defense certainly exacerbated the criticism of the decision to bring him on.
On rookie Ezekiel Elliott:
Well, the fact that he’s a rookie—albeit an accomplished one—but getting him acclimated and having high expectations of his production has some iffiness to it. I’ll be the first to admit that. On the other hand, his skills are outstanding. It’s arguably the most impressive thing. The staff at Ohio State will tell you that. He’s an outstanding running back. He’s an instinctive receiver. He’s as instinctive as you could imagine as a blocker.
It’s like [former Cowboys fullback] Daryl Johnston. With Daryl, it wasn’t the guy he was supposed to get, but it’s the one that would appear when he wasn’t supposed to. He had the instincts to pick up that guy first because if he took the guy he was supposed to get, that guy would have made the tackle. So there are instincts in blocking. [Elliott] has that, and he has real good instincts relative to route running. So those things could really add to [the team], but we’re not just counting on him.
We’ve got [Darren] McFadden, who did exceed expectations for us [last season]. So with that, the kid we got from Washington [Alfred Morris], [Lance] Dunbar, that’s a position of strength for us, and I say position as it relates to Ezekiel and the expectations for him. Now, does he have some skills that we see that are just exceptional in terms of running the ball? We think so. The running back thing, when I look at that, I see a group of players with Ezekiel, his talent being the juiciest unknown and a way to really add a level that his talent would allow you to have.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Steelers’ Green Sidelined By Headaches
It might be time for the Steelers to worry about their prized free agent pickup. Tight end Ladarius Green has been sidelined so far this summer and the culprit is not his surgically-repaired ankle, as once thought. Instead, painful chronic headaches are keeping the former Charger out of action, says Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com. 
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Green’s agent, Adisi Bakara, declined to comment on his client, saying only that his ankle is “fine.” The tight end complained of headaches after suffering two concussions in two weeks last September, and one has to wonder if his current issue is related. Green sat out one game last season due to a concussion and one game during the 2014 season. He also missed two games in 2015 due to his ankle ailment.
This spring, the Steelers inked Green to a four-year, $20MM deal, expecting him to provide the team with a talented playmaker at the tight end position. Instead, the fleet-footed athlete hasn’t been able to get on the field this offseason.
Green has long been viewed as a potential star in the game thanks to the athleticism he provides coupled with his 6-foot-6, 237-pound frame. Many expected 2015 to be the year that Antonio Gates would cede the torch to Green, particularly given Gates’ suspension to start the season, but that was simply not the case. Now, the Steelers may be doubting whether Green will ever fulfill his potential. Concussion headaches are not easily treated and it may prove difficult for Green to perform if they linger.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Cowboys, Elliott
At the age of 36, Eagles punter Donnie Jones might look more like a coach than a player. But, don’t tell him he’s too old for the job, CSNPhilly.com’s Dave Zingaro writes.
“I sure don’t feel 36,” Jones said. “I know a lot of people see that [age] in the NFL and think, ‘He may only have one or two years left.’ Well, I say that’s a bunch of BS. Play as long as you want if you take care of yourself, keep being productive. And I’m going to continue to do it as long as I can.”
If Jones wants to play for several more seasons, there is precedent as there have been multiple punters over the years who played into their 40s. The question is, will the Eagles want to continue with him or move on to a different punter after this season? Jones is entering the final year of the four-year contract he signed with the Eagles before the 2013 season. He has a base salary of $1.75MM in 2016 before his scheduled entry into the free agent market.
Here’s today’s look at the NFC East:
- The Cowboys were criticized for carrying too many running backs on the roster, but injuries have proven that to be a smart move by Dallas, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News writes. Veteran Alfred Morris, sixth round pick Darius Jackson, and converted fullback Rod Smith find themselves getting tons of snaps in practice as Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar are on the PUP list and rookie Ezekiel Elliott deals with a sore hamstring. With McFadden and Dunbar being viewed as regular season PUP list candidates, Elliott and Morris are the only locks to be on the opening day roster. Jackson and Smith, meanwhile, could earn spots and fill in until they are ready. For a full view of the Cowboys’ depth chart, check out their page on Roster Resource.
- Did the Giants draft studs in the first, second, and third round of this year’s draft? Veteran scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas gave us his thoughts on Big Blue’s draft class this week.
- Recently, NFL officials were asked to rank the league’s starting quarterbacks by one football writer. The consensus ranking of Redskins QB Kirk Cousins may surprise you.
- The Eagles are looking to trade for an inside linebacker. What players do you think they should target? Let us know in the comments.
NFC West Notes: Seahawks, 49ers, Davis
Jahri Evans‘ contract suggests he’ll have to compete for a spot with the Seahawks, Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com writes. With just $80K guaranteed on his ~$1MM deal, it’s a low-risk move for Seattle and they know that they can press the escape button with minimal consequences if he does not resume his old form. If Evans does look strong in practice, then he could possibly earn a starting job and bump rookie Germain Ifedi from right guard to right tackle. If he doesn’t provide much of an upgrade, then he won’t be on the 53-man roster.
Here’s more from the NFC West:
- 49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis still isn’t practicing with the starting unit, but he’s not complaining, despite his predilection for blasting the team in the past. “I’ve never played third team. It’s an experience,” Davis said (via Cam Inman of the Mercury News). “I don’t mind it. Coach (Tom) Higgins used to say at Piscataway (New Jersey) High School: ‘The cream always rises to the top.’ That’s how it always works out.” Speaking of New Jersey, some within the Giants have reportedly pushed for the team to deal for Davis, though we haven’t heard much on that front in the last week.
- Seahawks offensive lineman Germain Ifedi and Buccaneers defensive lineman Martin Ifedi have hired Tory Dandy and Jimmy Sexton of CAA Football for representation, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.
- With Earl Watford out at least two weeks, the Cardinals‘ second unit ls lacking consistency in camp and Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (on Twitter) opines that the team could use some veteran depth on the O-Line.
- Earlier this week, we interviewed Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times about Marshawn Lynch and other key storylines from the Seahawks‘ offseason.
- The Rams are concerned about running back Tre Mason.
AFC North Notes: RGIII, Browns, Ray Rice
Will RGIII succeed in Cleveland? Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report asked around about the free agent acquisition and league execs were not optimistic about how the QB will perform. 
“RG3 is going to bury Hue [Jackson] ,” one GM said.
“Hue is going to find out that RG3 isn’t coachable,” another front-office executive said.
“RG3 is going to drag Hue down with him,” one scout said.
Griffin was a superstar early on with the Redskins, but things fizzled out for him in a hurry as his relationship with coach Mike Shanahan also went south. Under coach Jay Gruden, he watched Kirk Cousins go from understudy to undisputed starter, ending his D.C. run in bizarre fashion. Still, the Browns see something in the former Baylor star and their commitment to him this offseason clearly demonstrates that. In the spring, the Browns inked him to a two-year pact worth $15MM, with a signing bonus of $3.5MM and $6.75MM in total guarantees.
Here’s more from the AFC North:
- Will former Ravens running back Ray Rice get another chance in the NFL? Many are skeptical of that, but Rice is staying optimistic. “In my heart of hearts,” Rice told ESPN’s Mike & Mike (video link), “it will happen.” Of course, teams are wary of taking on the PR hell storm that would come with signing Rice and it also doesn’t help that his last season played in the NFL was lackluster. For what it’s worth, Rice blames his 2013 struggles on a torn muscle which has since healed up.
- Ladarius Green signed a four-year, $20MM contract with the Steelers but has not practiced a down with them yet after January ankle surgery. With that in mind, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wonders if the Steelers made a mistake with their major free agent signing. As shown on Roster Resource, the Steelers’ TE depth chart beyond Green leaves a lot to be desired. Jesse James has minimal game experience, Xavier Grimble never has played an NFL game, and Michael Cooper and Paul Lang are undrafted rookies. H-back David Johnson has experience, but mostly as a blocker. If Green is going to miss significant time, one has to wonder if the Steelers will be in the market for a tight end addition.
- Will Desmond Bryant receive his $6MM base salary for the 2016 season? He may have to battle it out with the Browns.
Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.
Impact Rookies: Chicago Bears
The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?
To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.
First Round – Leonard Floyd, OLB (Georgia, No. 9 overall)
The Bears came into the draft looking to improve the talent on both of their lines. But, they instead traded up from No. 11 to No. 9 to land Georgia ‘backer Leonard Floyd. Hopefully, he survives the rigors of training camp, as his professional debut saw him carted off the practice field after he was overcome by the heat and scrimmage action. 
When the NFL teams arrived in Athens for the Georgia March 17th Pro Day, they not only wanted to see how Floyd performed in drills, they also wanted to figure out what his best position might be. . That has been the “pleasant” problem for Georgia coaches during the last three years – where to put their top playmaker. It was not as if he could not perform at any of these positions, but more so that he was needed elsewhere to fill the voids created by injuries or poor performances by others. Since first putting on the Georgia uniform, Floyd played all the “name” game positions – Jack, Sam, Mike and Will. He’s lined up as a rush end and even played inside as a defensive tackle for three contests late in the 2014 campaign.
Wherever he has played, Floyd has done so at a high level. He started 32-of-38 games at various positions while recording 184 tackles that saw him deliver 33 of those stops behind the line of scrimmage. He got in on twenty quarterback sacks and pressured opposing passers 54 times. On five of those plays in the backfield, he caused fumbles, recovering two to set up Georgia touchdown drives. All in all, a good day of work is usually the norm for Floyd on Saturdays. Now, he’s likely ticketed for the outside linebacker position on Sundays with Chicago.
Floyd has never been known for being a bulky guy and his thin frame did draw considerable concerns from scouts who analyzed him in 2014. He played at 237 last season after checking in at 220 during his first two years, but impressed team decision-makers with his 244-pound weigh-in at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. While his frame is likely at a maximum growth potential, he demonstrated to the Bears that he has plenty of strength and also eased concerns about his surgically repaired shoulder.
Floyd has that quick first step that will usually see him gain advantage on a slower offensive lineman. He can get up field quickly and reaches the corners with good urgency to push the outside running game back in. He flashes that burst to surprise a lethargic blocker (see 2015 ULM, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Missouri and Georgia Southern games), which allows him to get instant penetration. He has the lateral range to slip into the backfield when working in-line and with his quick hands and feet, he has no problem retreating and chasing down receivers when working in the second level (might be considered as a Sam linebacker because of this). He has the acceleration to take a wide loop around the corner and still pressure the pocket.
He stays low in his pads and has the loose hips to redirect, also displaying the second gear needed to excel in long pursuit. He is a quick twitch type with very active hands and good balance, keeping his feet on the move while doing a nice job of avoiding low blocks. Because of his shoulder surgery, Floyd was limited a bit early in the year, but as the 2015 season progressed, he showed that he actually was getting stronger and quicker deeper into the games, thanks to his excellent athletic ability. There’s no reason to doubt that he can do the same at the next level.
Continue reading about the Bears’ rookie class..
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/16
Here are today’s minor moves.
- A sixth-round Colts pick in 2015, linebacker Amarlo Herrera could not stick on Indianapolis’ roster long. The team cut the second-year ‘backer midway through his second training camp and also waived/injured running back Abou Toure, Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral reports (on Twitter). Toure will revert to the Colts’ IR if unclaimed. Drafted out of Georgia, Herrera played in three games for the Colts last season. The move to cut Herrera served as a football-0nly move despite it coming before Indianapolis’ preseason debut, per Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (on Twitter).
- The Broncos terminated former Browns first-rounder Phil Taylor from their IR, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Taylor signed with the defending champions before the start of free agency.
- The Panthers cut Roderick Byers, a UDFA guard from Clemson, with a failure to disclose physical condition designation, Wilson tweets.
- The Cowboys claimed offensive lineman Mike McQueen off waivers from the Chargers and cut wide receiver Ed Eagan, Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News reports. San Diego initially signed McQueen, a rookie UDFA out of Ohio University who played mostly tackle for the Bobcats, after the draft.
- The Rams signed defensive tackle Zach Colvin, a rookie free agent out of Bowling Green, Wilson reports (on Twitter).
- The Bears placed Marquis Jackson on waivers after reaching an injury settlement, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. He was placed on waivers.
- Titans safety Josh Aubrey has retired, as Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets. Aubrey, 25, appeared in games for Cleveland in 2013 and Houston in 2014.
- The Lions signed free agent cornerback Rashaad Reynolds and waived/injured cornerback Ian Wells, as Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets.
- The Falcons have signed running back Cyrus Gray, a former sixth-round pick of Kansas City, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets. Gray will give Atlanta an extra RB as third-stringer Terron Ward is in a walking boot following a left ankle injury.
- Defensive lineman Julien Obioha has cleared waivers and reverted to the Jets‘ IR, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
Bills, Taylor Making Progress On New Deal
The Bills continue to make headway on a new deal with quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. However, there are still issues being worked out with regards to the backend of the deal. 
[RELATED: Bills’ Shaq Lawson To Return In October]
As reported earlier this month, the two sides are discussing a “bridge” deal that would keep Taylor in Buffalo for two years beyond his current pact, which is set to expire at the end of the year. Right now, the Bills are discussing an extension that would tack $35MM to Taylor’s contract, keeping him in place through the 2018 season.
Because Taylor does not have a long history of success, these are unique negotiations and, fittingly, the terms being discussed are also unique. Taylor is a rare and valuable commodity as a qualified young starting quarterback, but the Bills are understandably wary of making a massive long-term commitment to him. After all, when Taylor arrived in Buffalo, he had only 35 regular season passes to his credit as Joe Flacco‘s understudy.
Starting for the first time in his career, Taylor proved himself to be a dynamic playmaker last year, throwing for 3,035 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games, completing 63.7% of his passes and tossing just six interceptions. He also provided plenty of value with his legs, rushing for 568 yards and four TDs.
If Taylor and the Bills are able to come to an agreement on a two-year extension, the Bills will keep their long-term options open while Taylor will get another crack at a massive payday while he is on the right side of 30. The quarterback celebrated his 27th birthday just last week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bears To Sign OT Mike Adams
The Bears have agreed to sign Mike Adams, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The former Steelers tackle is not to be confused with the Colts safety of the same name. Terms of the deal are not yet known. 
[RELATED: Bears C Hroniss Grasu Tears ACL]
Adams, a former second-round pick, was released by Pittsburgh in May. Thus far in the NFL, Adams has had a disappointing career since the Steelers used a second-round selection on him in 2012. In his first three years, Adams appeared in only 41 games with 20 starts. Last year, Adams did not take the field due to a back injury. The Steelers were apparently not hopeful about what Adams could do in 2016, but the Bears are cautiously optimistic and want to give him a shot.
Had he remained in Pittsburgh, Adams would have received an $873K salary for 2016. His new deal in Chicago is presumably for the minimum salary and without guarantees.
To make room for Adams, the Bears have waived fellow lineman Nick Becton, as Adam Jahns of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.