Giants Will Not Activate Jonathan Stewart
The Giants did not activate running back Jonathan Stewart from injured reserve before the Thursday deadline. Per league rules, Stewart is stuck on IR and barred from playing again in 2018. 
A foot injury landed Stewart on IR in September, but the Giants activated a three-week use-it-or-lose-it window by bringing him back on the practice field in November. Because he was not activated, Stewart may well have played his final game in a Giants uniform.
The Giants signed Stewart to a two-year deal in March with a base value of $6.9MM. However, the Giants can 86 the final year of his deal this offseason with just $250K in dead money. It would be the logical move for the Giants since rookie Saquon Barkley has solidified himself as a star and does not require an expensive veteran backup. With a number of holes to fill, the Giants will likely look to add a running back that is cheaper, younger, and perhaps better than the 31-year-old Stewart.
Stewart, who turns 32 in March, had just six carries for 17 yards in his three games with the Giants. He earned his first Pro Bowl nomination with nearly 1,000 rushing yards in 2015, but he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in his final two seasons with the Panthers.
Poll: Which Spring Football League Will Come Out On Top?
The U.S. can’t get enough of the NFL, but the country’s appetite for professional football alternatives is highly questionable. Despite the collapse of the USFL, the first iteration of the XFL, and other challengers, there are now three ambitious spring football leagues in development. 
On Thursday, Ricky Williams, Terrell Owens, and other former NFL notables announced the formation of the Freedom Football League, a league that vows to give players an opportunity to speak out on social injustice while providing fans with an opportunity to become full-fledged shareholders. The FFL also intends to focus on player wellness with “support on and off the field.”
The FFL says it will have teams in San Diego, Oklahoma City, Portland, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Birmingham, St. Louis, Connecticut, and Oakland, but what it doesn’t have is a concrete launch date or a broadcasting deal like the American Alliance of Football. It’s also unclear whether it has the financial backing to match the returning XFL, which is owned by billionaire Vince McMahon.
These three leagues will fight for the biggest slice of a pie that may not be all that big in the first place. One could argue that the AAF – which boasts a roster of coaches including Brad Childress, Mike Singletary, Steve Spurrier, and Mike Martz – has the best chance for survival, though McMahon seems driven to eclipse the memory of his one-and-done football experiment of 2001. We don’t know much about the FFL, but we do know that it will be playing catchup when and if it launches.
Which spring league will reign supreme? Cast your vote below (link for app users) and head to the comment section to let us know whether you think large-scale spring football can be viable.
Which Spring Football League Will Be The Most Successful?
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AAF 53% (712)
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XFL 42% (564)
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FFL 5% (69)
Total votes: 1,345
Ex-NFL Players Form New Football League
A third spring football league is on the way. On Thursday, a group of ex-NFL players announced the formation of the Freedom Football League, a new association that plans to build capital via private shareholders and public offerings, meaning that fans will have an opportunity to join in as business partners. 
The league’s founding owners include ex-NFL players Ricky Williams, Terrell Owens, Simeon Rice, Mike Alstott, Byron Chamberlain, Jeff Garcia, and Dexter Jackson. There are 50 former players in the ownership group, according to Williams, who says there are approximately 100 partners at this time.
The league did not disclose its launch date, but did reveal that its first ten teams will be the San Diego Warriors, Oklahoma City Power, Portland Progress, Texas Revolution, Ohio Players, Florida Strong, Birmingham Kings, St. Louis Independence, Connecticut Underground, and Oakland Panthers.
The FFL intends to “attract football players at their highest level of athletic ability, including those defecting from the NFL, graduating college or high school or playing in international or alternative professional football leagues.” Of course, they’ll face an uphill battle – many spring leagues have launched and collapsed over the last 20 years, and the Alliance of American Football and XFL are already gearing up to battle for dominance in what may or may not be a promising space. The AAF will launch after the Super Bowl in 2019 and Vince McMahon’s XFL reboot will kick off in 2020.
The FFL vows to provide players with “permanent and reliable holistic health and wellness support on and off the field” as well as encouragement to address “hot-button” societal issues. That’s one way in which they can potentially differentiate themselves from the other forthcoming spring leagues.
“We’re trying to develop young men,” Williams said on ESPN. “You can’t take away their voice and expect them to develop. … When I grew up watching football, I really wanted to be like Jim Brown, not because of what he did on a field, but because he could take that platform and have a voice. And so, when I got to the NFL, expecting that to be the case, anytime a big social issue came up, we were told, ‘Be quiet. … It’s a distraction.’ And so, really, [we’re] changing the conversation.”
However, the FFL does not currently have a television partner, whereas the AAF will be telecast on CBS and its subsidiaries. It’s also unlikely that the FFL has the financial backing to match either competitor. McMahon is said to have sold a considerable share of his stock in the WWE to back the XFL 2.0, and its plan to place teams in big markets like New York/New Jersey, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles indicates that the league has a considerable war chest at its disposal.
Chiefs To Meet With Kelvin Benjamin
Kelvin Benjamin will visit with the Chiefs on Thursday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Benjamin was released by the Bills earlier this week and went unclaimed on waivers, making him a free agent. 
Benjamin could help to fill in for wide receiver Sammy Watkins if his foot trouble continues. He may also help to replace some of the offensive firepower the Chiefs lost by releasing running back Kareem Hunt. Backup Spencer Ware averaged just 3.36 yards per carry against the Raiders on Sunday, a sign that the Chiefs may have to rely even more on the pass going forward.
Benjamin, 27, had just 23 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for Buffalo this season, but he was a monster in his early days with the Panthers. His conditioning has been an issue in the past, but Benjamin will have tons of motivation as he looks to boost his stock before free agency in March.
If signed, Benjamin will have the opportunity to play in the fourth postseason game of his career. He didn’t do much in the Bills’ postseason appearance last year against the Jaguars, but he did score two touchdowns in the Panthers’ second round loss to the Seahawks following the 2014 season.
Redskins’ Alex Smith Battling Leg Infection
Redskins quarterback Alex Smith is battling an infection in his broken fibula and tibia, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a serious matter and one that could potentially threaten his playing future. 
[RELATED: Latest On Reuben Foster]
When Smith suffered the gruesome injury against the Texans, his broken bone punctured his skin. The nature of the injury increased the likelihood for infection and that’s exactly what happened, even though Smith underwent immediate surgery to lessen the chance of that happening.
Smith, 34, posted the best campaign of his NFL career in 2017 as a member of the Chiefs before being shipped to the Redskins for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. Smith had reverted to his conservative ways in Washington and his yards per attempt average dropped by more than a yard from 2017-18. Among the 26 quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts, Smith ranked 19th in adjusted net yards per attempt and 20th in passer rating at the time of the injury.
The Redskins turned to Colt McCoy after the injury, but McCoy is likely done for the year after suffering a fractured fibula of his own. Mark Sanchez is now under center for Washington with the newly-signed Josh Johnson as his backup.
Latest On Reuben Foster
Reuben Foster‘s ex-girlfriend admitted that she falsely recanted her allegations of abuse earlier this year in an effort to protect the linebacker. In an interview with ABC, Elissa Ennis explained that she helped get the charges dropped against Foster in order to keep him out of prison and continue their relationship. 
“Love will have you doing things that’s not in your best interests,” she said (via ESPN.com) “I did what I had to do for the person I love. I thought that he would change.”
Ennis also claims the 49ers tried to intervene during Foster’s arrest last month. When police arrived to the team hotel, she alleges that people from the 49ers told cops she was the same woman who previously recanted allegations against Foster. It’s not immediately clear whether Ennis is alleging interference from players or other team staffers.
During the interview, Foster’s ex-girlfriend described a pattern of abuse between her and Foster. On at least three different occasions, she says, she was punched and kicked by the former first round pick.
The 49ers released Foster soon after the November arrest and the Redskins claimed him off waivers. Foster was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list (paid suspension) while the legal process plays out, so he is unlikely to suit up for Washington this year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Mose Frazier
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Eric Lee
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DE Fadol Brown (from Raiders), DB Natrell Jamerson (from Texans)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Kony Ealy, CB Bené Benwikere
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Colin Holba
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Pita Taumoepenu
- Placed on injured reserve: DE Dekoda Watson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/5/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Suspended for four games: DT Daniel Ekuale (PEDs)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Horace Richardson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Justice Liggins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT DeShawn Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- Released: CB Simeon Thomas
Kelvin Benjamin Goes Unclaimed On Waivers
Former Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin went unclaimed on waivers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He’s now a full-fledged free agent, but Schefter doesn’t expect him to last on the open market for long. 
[RELATED: Bills Waive WR Kelvin Benjamin]
Benjamin’s Tuesday release came as a surprise, but it’s not a shock that the league’s 31 other teams declined to pick up his contract off waivers. Any team claiming Benjamin would have been responsible for the remaining prorated portion of his base salary, which comes out to a little under $2MM. Instead, a contender will likely swoop in and grab Benjamin for a lesser sum.
The Broncos could be a logical destination for Benjamin following Emmanuel Sanders‘ season-ending Achilles injury, but they could also stand pat after plucking Benjamin’s ex-teammate Andre Holmes off waivers. The Chiefs could also explore Benjamin after dumping Kareem Hunt, one of their best offensive weapons.
Benjamin, 27, has just 23 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for Buffalo this season, numbers that are a far cry from his best seasons with the Panthers. Still, a change of scenery may help Benjamin, and teams are curious about what he can bring to the table.
Packers Place CB Kevin King On IR
The Packers have placed cornerback Kevin King on IR, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Running back Tra Carson has also been ruled out for the remainder of the year. 
King, a second-year pro, has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. Ultimately, the injury was too serious to overcome and, frankly, it wasn’t worth risking a more serious issue at this stage of the season. The Packers are 4-7-1 and, naturally, are more concerned with the former second-round pick’s long-term health.
Both of King’s pro seasons have ended prematurely. Last year, King appeared in nine games and made five starts before he was shut down in December.
King was the Packers’ first pick in the 2017 draft after Green Bay moved down from No. 29 in a swap for the No. 33 selection (King) and a fourth-round choice. There were other big names available, but the Packers were happy to expand their draft stockpile and land the Washington product after he posted a 4.43 second 40-yard-dash, a 39.5-inch vertical leap, and the best times of any cornerback in both the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle.