Lions Waive Tim Wright
SATURDAY, 11:35am: The organization has officially waived Wright, according to the team’s transaction log.
THURSDAY, 3:34pm: The Lions have waived/injured tight end Tim Wright, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). Wright was acquired by Detroit last August via trade from the Buccaneers and re-signed this March.
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Wright, 26, made his NFL mark in 2013 with an impressive rookie year, racking up 54 receptions, 571 yards, and five touchdowns for the Buccaneers. However, he has changed teams twice since then – first traded to New England, then claimed off waivers by Detroit – and has seen his role reduced along the way. In 2015, he caught just nine balls for 77 yards and two TDs for the Lions.
While financial terms of Wright’s March agreement were not disclosed, we do know that he was eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, and wasn’t offered a contract tender by the Lions. A low-end RFA tender would have been worth $1.671MM, so it’s reasonable to assume that his one-year deal was worth less than that — likely for the minimum salary, or close to it.
With Wright out of the picture, the Lions now have five tight ends on the depth chart:Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, and Matthew Mulligan plus rookies Adam Fuehne and Cole Wick.
Wright was expected to have the opportunity to earn a roster spot and possibly compete for playing time for Detroit in 2016. Now, he’ll try to do the same thing with a new team – once he gets healthy.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC Notes: Lions, Lynch, Saints, Cowboys
As Lions OTAs continue, the shadow of Calvin Johnson looms large. How long did it take quarterback Matthew Stafford to get used to life without Megatron?
“Apparently, a lot quicker than you guys,” he said to reporters (link via The Associated Press).
The Lions signed Marvin Jones in free agency and he’ll likely be their No. 2 option at wide receiver behind Golden Tate. They Lions also picked up Jeremy Kerley in the offseason to add some depth to the position and possibly take the role of punt returner off Tate’s plate. The Lions still have plenty of passing options – including tight ends Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew – but it remains to be seen whether they can collectively fill the void left by Johnson’s retirement.
More from the NFC:
- There was a report Wednesday offering conflicting viewpoints from those close to Marshawn Lynch on whether the four-time Pro Bowl running back will actually finalize his retirement. Now Seahawks receiver and longtime Lynch teammate Doug Baldwin has become the latest to weigh in, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio, “I’m most certain that he’s not coming back” (Twitter link).
- Former Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan claims that he he did not have a full say in how their defense was run, but coach Sean Payton dismissed that notion in an interview on Thursday night. “We tried to implement some schemes we thought would help our defense,” Payton said (link via The Times-Picayune). “But the idea that it wasn’t his defense, or that he wasn’t, you know, in charge of it, is silly.”
- The Cowboys have gotten inquiries from teams interested in their running backs, but they don’t plan on dealing any of them, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.“We got calls during the draft asking to trade for some of our running backs. We just don’t have that interest,” he said Thursday (link via Katie Halropoulos of the Dallas Morning News). In addition to fourth overall pick Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys have Darren MacFadden – who ran for 1,000-plus yards last year – as well as three-time 1,000-yard rusher Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar as credible options out of the backfield.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Ravens have signed sixth-round wide receiver/return man Keenan Reynolds, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Earlier today, United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter gave Reynolds permission to defer his obligations with the Navy to play in the NFL in 2016. Reynolds had a stellar four-year playing career at Navy, where he served as a dual-threat quarterback and accounted for 119 touchdowns (88 rushing, 31 passing).
- The Browns announced the signing of fourth-round defensive back Derrick Kindred. Kindred played in 50 games during his time at TCU, including 30 starts. In that span, Kindred recorded 235 tackles, 15 passes defensed, eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. With Kindred in the fold, the Browns have now signed eight of their 14 draft picks.
Broncos GM John Elway On Sanchez, Lynch
The Broncos are the defending champions, but they’re not the odds-on favorites in Las Vegas to repeat. This offseason, the Broncos saw future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning retire and while promising backup Brock Osweiler left via free agency. As if finding a new solution at quarterback wasn’t enough of a challenge for GM John Elway, the team also had to deal with the departure of defensive end Malik Jackson, who inked a six-year deal worth up to $90MM with Jacksonville. 
After an eventful winter and spring, Elway sat down with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report to discuss the tough decisions that he made and the challenges ahead for Denver. Here are some of the highlights:
On the challenge of finding a new quarterback
Elway: There are challenges every year. That’s why this year in free agency and all that, there are challenges every year trying to keep things together. So that’s always a challenge. Was it a big surprise that we were in that situation? Yeah, because I thought…we drafted Brock [Osweiler] when we got Peyton [Manning] because we didn’t know exactly what Peyton was going to be. But also, if [Manning] wasn’t in good shape, we were going to a guy who was going to be here for a long, long time. Now, that didn’t work out, so it was a matter of, you have to fix the issue. There are going to be issues every year.
[RELATED: What will it take for the Broncos to extend linebacker Brandon Marshall?]
On taking his time in the QB search
Elway: Well, the first thing we did is we got Mark [Sanchez] and I feel good about Mark. So by getting Mark—and we’re a lot higher on him than a lot of people are—so once we landed Mark and he was here, we felt better about the situation. It was a matter of bringing somebody in for competition. But of the guys who were out there at the time, there were no difference-makers. So why would I overpay for a guy who wasn’t going to be a difference-maker?
On the athleticism of rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch
Elway: He’s very consistent with the way he throws it, the release, all that stuff. Very consistent and athletic. He can move around.
On Mark Sanchez and whether he fits the Broncos’ offense
Elway: I feel good about Mark. I think he’s got a chance. If a guy is talented who can move around and do different things…he’s had success in the playoffs. He’s been to the AFC Championship Game. He has won playoff games. Those are all things that you wonder about guys who haven’t done it and you don’t know how they will react when they get there. He’s proven he can do that. Has Mark ever been in the perfect situation to prove what he can do? A lot of times, quarterbacks don’t get in the right systems that fit them. That’s a big part of this. So I think this is the type of offense that will benefit Mark and knowing what they did in New York and what they did in Philadelphia. He moved all around. You get him with the right coach in the right system and good people around him and you have a little chance.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Navy Permits Keenan Reynolds To Play In 2016
United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has cleared Ravens rookie and Navy product Keenan Reynolds to play in the NFL in 2016, the Ravens announced on Friday. Reynolds, who was listed as a return specialist in addition to wide receiver, issued the following statement: 
“It is a blessing to hear the news from Defense Secretary Carter today,” Reynolds said. “I am truly excited to proudly serve my country while having the ability fulfill my dream of playing for the best organization in the NFL. I would like to thank the Navy for allowing me to represent them while taking advantage of this unique opportunity. I would also like to thank Mr. Bisciotti and the Ravens organization for believing in me and giving me this chance.”
Reynolds is obligated to serve in the military as per his agreement with the United States Naval Academy, but he has received special clearance to defer his service. The Navy likely sees tremendous upside in the good PR that will come from Reynolds playing in the NFL.
Leading up to the draft, the Patriots were heavily connected to Reynolds. The Ravens reportedly had what they considered “reliable information” that the Patriots would try to draft Reynolds in the sixth round. With that in mind, Baltimore beat New England to the punch by nabbing Reynolds with the 182nd overall selection. New England has shown an affinity for Navy alums in the past and Reynolds’ ability to be used as a wide receiver, kick returner, or even a quarterback appealed to coach Bill Belichick.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Roseman, Redskins
This week, Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman sat down with Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (audio link) to discuss a wide range of topics, including the year he spent effectively squeezed out of the Eagles’ front office. 
“When we restructured last year and I was put in a different role for the 2015 season, one of the things I asked Jeffrey [Lurie] was, if it was OK, I had always envisioned if I wasn’t going to be doing the same thing that I would do what a coach does when he takes a year away from it and they go visit the programs that they respect and appreciate and talk about all the things that take up their time — player personnel and analytics and sports science and relationships and team building — all the things that we spend our time on,” said Roseman (transcript via Philadelphia Magazine). “What an unbelievable experience. You think about it and you go, well, that year must have been tremendously hard and difficult, and I look back at it and it may have been one of the best years of my life because of the perspective.”
Roseman was pushed out of the picture by former coach Chip Kelly, but Kelly is out and he is now back at the helm.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Redskins defensive end Chris Baker is entering the final year of his contract and he hopes to work out an extension before the start of the season, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post writes. “It’s pretty important,” Baker said. “I’d love to get some financial security and be here for years to come, but I’ve just got to let that take care of itself and just continue to do what I’ve always done – work hard and just let the business take care of business.” Baker probably stands as the Redskins’ top defensive lineman and he’ll be their top in-house priority once Kirk Cousins‘ situation is settled.
- Recently, the Giants tried to claim quarterback Zach Mettenberger off waivers from the Titans. backing up Eli Manning. Had the Giants successfully claimed him, Mettenberger would have competed with B.J. Daniels for the No. 3 spot on the team’s depth chart behind starter Eli Manning and No. 2 QB Ryan Nassib.
- Cowboys offensive lineman Ronald Leary wants a trade, but Dallas doesn’t want to give him away for cheap.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pigskin Links: Offsets, Wilson, Falcons
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:
- Not A Scout says NFL teams shouldn’t argue over offset language.
- Wayniac Nation wonders who the NFL’s top QB is.
- Falcon Eye View previews Atlanta’s defense in 2016.
- NFL Spin Zone gave some early postseason predictions.
- NFL Girl UK praised Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll.
- Cup Of Joe In The D set the over/under on wins for every team.
- NFL Draft Report has an extensive rundown of the 2016 first round class.
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.
Panthers, Kawann Short Pause Contract Talks
Contract talks between the Panthers and defensive tackle Kawann Short “temporarily are on hold,” according to ESPN.com’s David Newton. The two sides have been discussing a new deal since May and even though talks have cooled down, Newton still expects a deal to get done between June and the start of the 2016 season. For his part, Short isn’t sweating the potential extension. 
“If it happens, it happens, but we haven’t focused on that,” Short said of a new deal. “I’ve still got a lot I need to do. I’ve put myself in the position, but at the same time, I’m not where I want to be. We’re not rushing the issue.”
Short led the Panthers with 11 sacks last season and Carolina knows that the bidding for Short will get out of hand if he reaches the open market after the 2016 season . At present, the Panthers have roughly $30MM in cap room which will allow them to give Short a deal that reflects his place as one of the league’s best defensive tackles.
Short, 27, enjoyed a breakout season in 2015, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and starting all 16 of the Panthers’ games for the first time. The Purdue product racked up 11 sacks to go along with 55 tackles, three forced fumbles, and a pair of fumble recoveries. He also added two more sacks and a forced fumble in the postseason.
As PFR’s Dallas Robinson observed in his preview of the Panthers’ offseason, the negotiations between Short’s camp and the team will be interesting. On one hand, the Pro Bowl defender has really only produced at an elite level for one season. However, there’s no reason to think Short’s reps won’t make the case that their client deserves to be paid like Marcell Dareus or Gerald McCoy — those players inked long-term pacts worth $95MM+, making them the highest-paid 4-3 defensive tackles in the NFL not named Ndamukong Suh.
If the two sides cannot agree on a brand new deal, Short will likely receive the franchise tag from the Panthers. This year, the franchise salary for a defensive tackle was $13.615MM and that number is expected to go a little bit higher in 2017.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Cowboys, Ronald Leary
Ronald Leary has requested a trade from the Cowboys, but Dallas isn’t in a hurry to send him elsewhere. On Thursday, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones explained that he’d only trade the offensive lineman if he can get a decent return. 
“We told Ron that he could certainly look around, but we’re not in the business of letting go of good football players for little or nothing,” Jones said (link via Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News). “We got calls during the draft asking to trade for some of our running backs. We just don’t have that interest. Ron’s a big part of this football team. We know it’s disappointing when you’ve been starting and you’re not. We’d hoped that he would look at it as ‘let’s come in here and compete.'”
Jones went on to say that the Cowboys expect Leary “to come in here at some point.” Leary, of course, is abstaining from voluntary OTAs but Jones hopes he’s “getting in shape wherever he is right now.”
Leary started at left guard for the Cowboys in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, he started the season in the same role but undrafted rookie La’el Collins – who was graded as a first-round talent before his infamous draft day slide – eventually took the job from him. The Cowboys are planning to start Collins at left guard once again in 2016, but they want all of the help they can get on the offensive line with Tony Romo returning from injury and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott leading the team’s running back committee.
Leary was on the field for only 137 pass snaps and 84 run snaps in 2015, according to the stats compiled by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Although he did not qualify to be ranked based on that limited sample size, Leary was given an overall grade of 72.2, which would have placed him among the top 30 guards in the NFL last season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Elliott, Romo, Eagles
Are expectations too high for Cowboys rookie Ezekiel Elliott? ESPN.com’s Todd Archer fears that the bar is being set a little high as Elliott is already being considered a frontrunner for the offensive rookie of the year award. The hype, of course, is understandable. Elliott was taken with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft thanks to his well-rounded skill set and body of work at Ohio State. Now, he’s entering a near perfect situation with a killer offensive line and a passing game led by Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten that will keep defenses honest. Still, Elliott isn’t even old enough to drink (he turns 21 in July) and plenty of talented rookies have faltered out of the gate.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- This offseason, there was pressure on the Cowboys to select Romo’s successor. However, after whiffing on Paxton Lynch, they didn’t exactly find their quarterback of the future. While some fans may fret over Dallas’ situation under center, Romo says that he probably has four or five years left in the tank. “I’m not in my mid-20s anymore, but I do think based on what my situation has been like the last three or four years, I do think this [offseason] is drastically different,” Romo said (link via Archer). Romo missed 12 games last season because of a broken left collarbone. He also has had a pair of operations on his back.
- Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz believes that newcomer Rodney McLeod and Malcolm Jenkins could form the best safety tandem in the NFL, as Josh Paunil of Philadelphia Magazine writes. “That was money well spent,” Schwartz said. “I’m sort of violating my rule with judging too much into this time of year, (but Jenkins and McLeod) are veteran players and you can see that right away. They’re both multi-dimensional. They communicate very well. They can cover a lot of ground. They can blitz, they can play man, they can play zone. I’d be very surprised as the year went on if they’re not one of the better safety tandems in the NFL. They’ve been very impressive so far.” In February, Jenkins and the Eagles agreed to a four-year extension worth $35MM that will keep him in Philly through the 2020 season. In his two seasons with the Eagles, Jenkins has averaged 92 tackles per season, grabbed five total interceptions – including two for touchdowns – and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015. McLeod, meanwhile, inked a five-year, $37MM with the Eagles in March.
- Cowboys offensive lineman Ronald Leary is abstaining from OTAs and reportedly wants to be traded. Leary started at left guard for Dallas in 2013 and 2014 and opened the 2015 season in the same capacity. However, he was eventually leapfrogged by rookie La’el Collins.