Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/18
As we get set for preseason football, we’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Detroit Lions
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Deontez Alexander
New England Patriots
- Waived from injured reserve: TE Shane Wimann
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: S Quincy Mauger
- Waived: LS Drew Scott
West Notes: Kaepernick, Cardinals, Raiders
Thursday will mark a pivotal moment in Colin Kaepernick’s collusion case against the NFL, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports writes. Arbitrator Stephen Burbank will meet with lawyers representing the NFL and the former 49ers quarterback to determine whether his case moves forward. If Burbank sides with Kaepernick, a hearing will take place and the QB’s team could press for even more discovery or depositions in an effort to prove its case.
Even if Kaepernick loses in this round, his legal team could still believe it has the necessary evidence to take President Donald Trump to federal court. That’s seen as a last-ditch effort for Kaep, so a victory on Thursday could lessen the chances of that battle taking place.
Here’s more from the West divisions:
- Cardinals wide receiver Greg Little has a really good chance to make the roster, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Little, 29, has not seen the field since the 2014 season, but his route-running ability has impressed coaches thus far in camp. Little showed promise during his tenure with the Browns, including a 2011 rookie season in which he hauled in 61 receptions for 709 yards and two scores. Now that he’s healthy, Little believes that he can get back to his old form.
- Raiders coach Jon Gruden has been critical of Martavis Bryant this offseason, but he impressed this week and had a particularly strong showing on Wednesday, as Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes. “Today was probably his best day,” wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett said. “Obviously, he got more reps today because of his overall preparation. Again, he’s putting the time in and the work in, and then he’ll benefit like he’s doing right now. That’s the starting point. It always starts with the preparation. … He just needs now to be consistent and keep stacking success. “He had a good day today. Now we need to stack tomorrow and keep building on it, keep building on it.” Regardless of Bryant’s performance or his understanding of the playbook, it would be a shocker if Bryant did not make the final cut.
Vikings Asked Joe Berger To Unretire
In need of a guard after Nick Easton‘s neck surgery, the Vikings reached out to retired lineman Joe Berger to see if he would be willing to come out of retirement, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). However, Berger informed the team that he plans to stay retired. 
[RELATED: Vikings’ Nick Easton Likely Done For Season]
Berger, 36, didn’t hang up his cleats due to lack of interest. Both the Vikings and the Lions had standing offers out to Berger this spring, while at least two other unidentified clubs may have also been involved in talks. However, we heard all throughout 2017 that Berger was expected to retire after the season, and he ultimately followed through on his plan.
A former sixth-round pick, Berger started at least ten games only one time during the first decade of his career before signing with Minnesota in 2015. Berger then became a fixture on the Vikings’ front five, starting 46 games over the next three campaigns. Capable of playing both center and guard, Berger was still effective in 2017, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s No. 23 guard among 77 qualifiers.
The Vikings would have loved to get another season out of Berger, but he’ll move on to other endeavors instead. And, with that, the Vikings will have to move on in their search for interior line help.
NFC North Notes: Packers, Rodgers, Bears
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has some ideas for how the NFL can improve, specifically when it comes to the salary cap and contracts. Given Rodgers’ contractual situation, it’s no surprise that he would like to see the league do away with the franchise tag.
“I think if you didn’t have it, it would encourage teams to get deals done earlier and in the long run it actually might save them money,” he said (via Kevin Clark of The Ringer). “Because you’re doing a guy’s deal a year before he’s ready to play, especially young guys. Maybe they get him for cheap and, if he has a huge season his last year, cheaper than they would have gotten him after that season, if you sign him early.”
Rodgers, who is a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, would also like to see the NFL take a page from the NBA and institute a soft salary cap.
“I would allow teams to go over the cap knowing if they do, since there’s not a hard cap, they are going to be faced with some luxury tax issues and they’d change their strategy,” Rodgers said. “It’s not like we’re hurting—just like the NBA, we’re not hurting for revenue. We’re doing excellent in the NFL and the NBA is doing fantastic as well.”
While you mull over Commissioner Rodgers’ suggestions, here’s more from his division:
- Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is the only remaining unsigned 2018 draft pick and Joel Corry of CBSSports.com has a suggestion for how the two sides can bridge the gap. Smith’s contract, he writes, could have similar language to what was in Ndamukong Suh‘s Dolphins contract. Smith’s camp doesn’t want his guarantees to void in the event of league discipline, but a compromise could involve a clause that says Smith would have to be suspended for at a certain percentage of the season’s game in order for the guarantees to be 86’d. In Suh’s case, that number was 25%.
- On Wednesday, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the club would be open to exploring the free agent guard market for depth purposes. “We’re looking at all free agent areas, really,” Zimmer said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). “That’s what those guys do at night. They come in here and watch — heck they watch other teams, they watch guys on the street. So yeah.” After learning that Nick Easton will likely miss the entire 2018 season with a neck injury, it seems likely that the Vikings will explore outside help for the interior line.
Vikings Place Nick Easton On IR
Vikings guard Nick Easton done for the season after undergoing surgery to correct a herniated disc in his neck, agent Joe Linta tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Fortunately, it is not expected to be a career-ending injury. After Schefter’s report, the Vikings confirmed that Easton will head to IR.
Easton was retained this year via a one-year, $2.9MM restricted free agent tender. He was hoping to sign a long-term extension with the Vikings, but his malady will keep that from happening this year.
Easton, a Harvard product, has appeared in 23 games with 17 starts. Although he has seen time at center, left guard, and right guard, he was slated to be the team’s top LG in 2018. Easton didn’t fare all that well according to the advanced metrics, but the Vikings had enough confidence to put him in that starting role.
Without Easton, the Vikings may turn to Tom Compton, Danny Isidora, or sixth-round pick Colby Gossett to fill the void.
Patriots Sweeten Tom Brady’s Contract
The Patriots will add up to $5MM in performance-based incentives to Tom Brady’s contract, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), allowing him to make up to $20MM. The move is reminiscent of what the Pats did last year with tight end Rob Gronkowski. 
Brady was scheduled to make $15MM in base salary this season, an absolute bargain for the game’s top quarterback. For reference, Brady’s former backup Jimmy Garoppolo will carry a $37MM cap number in 2018. Of course, even with the potential to earn up to $20MM in 2018, Brady is still an absolute bargain for New England.
The Patriots quarterback abstained from voluntary OTAs this offseason and his absence may have been tied to dissatisfaction with his contract. By amending Brady’s deal, it appears the Patriots have mended fences with their star player.
The five-time Super Bowl winner turned 41 this summer, but he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down. Last year, he completed 66.3% of his passes for a league-leading 4,577 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Oprah, Brady indicated that retirement is not on his mind.
“As long as I’m still loving it,” Brady said. “As long as I’m loving the training and the preparation and willing to make the commitment. But it’s also, I think what I alluded to a lot in the docu-series, there’s other things happening in my life, too. I do have kids that I love, and I don’t want to be a dad that’s not there, driving my kids to their games . . . my kids have brought a great perspective in my life. Kids just want the attention. You better be there. And be available to them.”
Brady’s current deal runs through the 2019 season. Prior to Thursday’s agreement, each season called for Brady to carry a cap number of $22MM.
Patriots Work Out WR Brenton Bersin
The Patriots worked out wide receiver Brenton Bersin last week, a source tells Doug Kyed of NESN.com (on Twitter). Will Bendetson of The Sports Xchange first reported the news. 
The Patriots signed fellow receiver Eric Decker while Bersin was in transit to the team, so it’s not clear whether the team is still interested. However, Kyed hears the workout went well, and the team still has a vacant roster spot, so a signing may still be possible.
Bersin, a 6’3″, 210-pound receiver, has 32 career catches for 415 yards and one touchdown across four seasons with the Panthers. Bersin, who grew up in the neighborhood where former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson lives, continually found a way on to the Panthers’ roster, but has not received a ton of interest as a free agent this offseason.
Even if Bersin is signed, he’ll face an uphill battle in trying to make the final cut. The Pats’ WR group already includes Julian Edelman (suspended for the first four games of the season), Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Decker, Cordarrelle Patterson, Braxton Berrios, and special teams ace Matt Slater.
DRC To Work Out For Seahawks, Raiders
Free agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will work out for the Seahawks at some point over the next few days, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). After that, he’ll audition for the Raiders. 
DRC was originally scheduled to workout for Seattle last week, but that had to be rescheduled due to a family matter. The Seahawks should be keenly interested in DRC since they could use a slot cornerback after waiving DeAndre Elliott. Behind projected starters Justin Coleman and Shaquill Griffin, the Seahawks are also rostering Dontae Johnson, Byron Maxwell, Tre Flowers, Neiko Thorpe, and Trovon Reed.
Rodgers-Cromartie’s age (32) was likely a factor in the Giants showing him the exit, but that is hardly a deterrent for Jon Gruden. And, even though the Raiders already have plenty of cornerback talent, they are apparently interested in seeing what DRC has to offer. The Raiders project to use Gareon Conley, Rashaan Melvin, and Daryl Worley as their top corners with support from the likes of Shareece Wright, Dexter McDonald, fourth-rounder Nick Nelson, and veteran Leon Hall.
It was an underwhelming 2017 campaign for Rodgers-Cromartie, who finished out as Football Focus’ 58th-ranked cornerback. He finished the season with 48 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one pass defended in 15 games (five starts) for the Giants.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/18
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB James Crawford
New England Patriots
- Released from IR: T Nate Theaker
New York Giants
- Signed: S Mike Basile
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Gerald Holmes
- Waived: WR Marvin Bracy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Nathan Bazata
- Waived/Injured: CB David Rivers
Panthers To Place Daryl Williams On IR
The Panthers will place right tackle Daryl Williams on injured reserve, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The hope is that Williams will be able to heal up in time to return for the second half of the season. 
[RELATED: Panthers, Tyler Larsen Agree To Extension]
Williams dislocated his right kneecap and tore the MCL in the same knee in late July. The tackle opted for rehab over surgery, but that path means that he’ll still need a fair amount of time to heal.
It’s a tough blow for a Panthers offense that will likely also be without guard Amini Silatolu to start the year. The Panthers will likely use Brandan Mahon or Tyler Larsen to fill in for Silatolu while 2017 second-round pick Taylor Moton figures to start in place of Williams.
Williams, a fourth round pick in 2015, will be a free agent after the season, so he has extra motivation to get back out on the field. The Panthers, meanwhile, will have to hope for the best while they’re without one of the game’s better tackles. Last year, Williams graded out as the 15th best overall tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.