Texans Release TE Ryan Griffin
The Texans have released tight end Ryan Griffin, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Griffin was arrested last month in Nashville after allegedly punching a hotel window. 
The incident occurred near the site of the NFL Draft and made headlines for the Texans at an inopportune time. Hotel security reported Griffin to police, and the tight end was subsequently arrested and charged with vandalism and public intoxication. The player was also reportedly bleeding from his left hand, although the extent of the injury is not clear. Instead of writing Griffin a citation, police decided to arrest the player “for his own safety.” The tight end was ultimately released from jail after paying his bond.
The 2013 sixth-round pick has spent his entire six-year career with the Texans, serving in mostly a backup role. His best season came in 2016, when he hauled in a career-high 50 passes. Griffin started a career-high 11 games (in 14 appearance) in 2018, compiling 24 receptions for 305 yards. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance last season, ranking him 56th among 70 eligible tight ends.
After selecting San Diego State tight end Kahale Warring in the third round and adding free agent Darren Fells this offseason, the Texans had little reason to keep Griffin. By releasing him, the Texans have brought an early end to the three-year, $9MM extension ($3.22MM guaranteed) he inked back in 2017.
Jets Le’Veon Bell, HC Adam Gase In Contact
New Jets head coach (and interim GM) may not have wanted Le’Veon Bell, but the two have been in constant contact this offseason, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post. Furthermore, Costello hears the conversations have been positive. 
[RELATED: Gase Didn’t Want Jets To Sign Bell]
Armed with $100MM+ in cap space, the Jets used a big chunk of their available money to ink the running back to a four-year, $52MM deal. Gase didn’t want the club to spend big bucks on any rusher, but GM Mike Maccagnan got his way and landed one of the league’s most dynamic offensive talents with an average annual value of $13MM. This week, the Jets sacked Maccagnan in a curiously-timed move.
Meanwhile, Bell seems committed to making the relationship with Gase work.
“There’s been a bunch of false reports and speculation about me in the past about things I’ve said and done, so I’m used to this,” Bell tweeted earlier this week. “I don’t jump to conclusions when I hear or see a story that may affect me. Even if reports are true, that won’t stop me from doing what I came here to do…everyone has a job to do, and I’m gonna do mine whether people “like” me or not. I’m here to win football games.”
Bell and Gase have little choice in the matter as both men are set to be together through at least the 2022 season. The running back did not show for the start of the Jets’ voluntary workouts in May, but he is expected to arrive for mandatory minicamp in June.
Latest On Cardinals, Patrick Peterson
On Thursday, the NFL handed Patrick Peterson a six-game ban for PEDs. Before that, the Cardinals cornerback had yet another flareup with team brass. The latest issue arose when Peterson asked GM Steve Keim about restructuring his contract to make more cash available immediately and Keim said no, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. 
Peterson, it seems, wanted to lessen his financial losses in advance of his suspension. The cornerback believed that he would have saved at least $2MM by adjusting his deal, John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM writes.
The cornerback knew the six-game ban was coming before it was announced on Thursday, but it’s not clear whether the Cardinals had advanced knowledge of the suspension. Either way, it’s not likely that the league office would have approved Peterson’s suggested workaround.
Peterson’s suspension will cost him $3.88MM in wages.
Vikings Offer Extension To Kyle Rudolph
The Vikings have offered a five-year extension to Kyle Rudolph that would make him one of the highest paid tight ends in terms of new-money average, a source tells PFT’s Mike Florio. However, there has not been much progress in talks. 
The proposed extension would likely reduce Rudolph’s $7.625MM cap number for 2019, but the veteran says there is “no way” he will take a pay cut. At the same time, Rudolph says he wants to stay with the Vikings.
The Vikings apparently want to keep Rudolph, though they have insurance after selecting Irv Smith Jr. in the second round of last month’s draft. Ideally, they’d like to have both of the well-rounded tight ends in the fold.
Last year, Rudolph had 64 receptions for 634 yards and four touchdowns. Even though many tight end needs around the league have been addressed, Rudolph would still find a strong market if released by Minnesota.
Patriots To Sign Brandon King To Extension
The Patriots are signing linebacker Brandon King to a 2-year extension, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). King will earn $3.5MM over the course of the two new years, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss (on Twitter).
King is a hybrid defensive back and outside linebacker, but hasn’t seen much time at either position. Instead, he has been a key cog in the third facet of the game for the Patriots since joining them as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2015. King has appeared in 57 career games for the Patriots and has already won two Super Bowl rings in his young career.
Last year, King recorded 13 special teams tackles, good for ninth in the NFL. On the Patriots, he was third behind Nate Ebner (15) and Matthew Slater (14).
Quinton Dial Retires From NFL
Former 49ers and Packers defensive tackle Quinton Dial announced his retirement late Thursday night, via social media. Dial leaves the sport after five seasons and a recent knee surgery that made him reconsider his future. 
“I want to thank the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers for the opportunity that you gave a country boy from a small town in Alabama when no one else would,” Dial wrote. “To the fans, thanks for the countless memories that have made the last five years something special…I knew this day would come, but I didn’t know when. That is why I’ve prepared myself since becoming an NFL player; because you are one play away from your career being over. I’ve faced a lot of injuries throughout my career and I feel it is in my best interest to hang up the cleats and pursue another career.”
Dial notched 145 tackles with 4.5 sacks over the course of his career. He was out of the league in 2018, so today’s news doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
Panthers Sign WR Aldrick Robinson
The Panthers signed wide receiver Aldrick Robinson, according to a team announcement. Robinson, 31 in September, believes that he can provide Carolina with a reliable deep threat. 
“They want to stretch the field. They want me to add to that. They like my speed and my ability to open things up,” Robinson said. “I can create separation and get by defenders.”
Robinson ran a 4.43 at the NFL combine in 2011, leading the Redskins to draft him in the sixth round. The speedster has bounced around since then and spent the 2015 season out of football, but he managed to score five touchdowns with the Vikings in 2018. For his career, Robinson boasts a 16.9 yards per catch average, showing that he can open things up when given an opportunity.
With D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, Jarius Wright, Torrey Smith, and Chris Hogan also on hand, it’s not a given that Robinson will make the 53-man cut.
Ravens Sign WR Michael Floyd
The Ravens will sign wide receiver Michael Floyd to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Floyd, who was once a standout in the Cardinals’ offense, spent last season with the Redskins.
[RELATED: Ravens To Sign Shane Ray]
Floyd didn’t see a whole lot of action with Washington, making just three starts and notching only ten catches for 100 yards. But, he has three 800-plus-yard receiving seasons on his resume dating back to his time in Arizona.
Floyd’s best season came in 2013 when he hauled in 65 grabs for 1,041 yards and five touchdowns. He following that up with a solid 47/841/6 showing in 2014 and averaged a career-high 17.9 yards per grab, a number that was topped only DeSean Jackson.
Ravens To Sign Shane Ray
The Ravens have agreed to sign Shane Ray, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The edge rusher’s deal is pending a physical, which may be more than a formality given his history. 
Ray has missed 13 games over the last two seasons with the Broncos due to various injuries. The LB/DE, who turns 26 on Saturday, hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft pedigree, but he has shown flashes of promise. The former first-round pick amassed four sacks as a reserve in his rookie season and tallied a career-high eight sacks in 2016.
Despite the setbacks, Ray drew interest from a handful of other teams this offseason, including the Seahawks, Colts, and Raiders. The Ravens arguably needed him more than any of those clubs after losing 2018 sack leader Za’Darius Smith to the Packers and all-time franchise sack leader Terrell Suggs to the Cardinals.
Jaguars Work Out RB Mike Gillislee
The Jaguars worked out free agent Mike Gillislee on Thursday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Jags were one of five teams that tried to sign the running back last year and they could be on the verge of adding him for 2019. 
Gillislee enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 as he averaged 5.7 yards per carry on 101 handoffs with the Bills. In the following offseason, the Pats signed him to a two-year, $6.4MM deal, but he didn’t get a ton of opportunities in 2017, outside of his three-touchdown performance in Week 1.
After missing New England’s cut in 2018 – and garnering interest from the Jaguars, Lions, and other clubs – Gillislee hooked on with the Saints. He averaged just 2.7 yards in the first four games of the year and was pushed aside after Mark Ingram returned from suspension.
The Jaguars used a fifth-round pick to select Temple running back Ryquell Armstead, but they’re still on the lookout for help behind starter Leonard Fournette. Insurance for the 24-year-old is key after he missed half of the 2018 season.