Extra Points: Vick, Saints, London, Bears
Would things have gone differently for the Jets this season if Michael Vick was the team’s starter from Week 1? Running back Chris Johnson sure seems to think so. “Yeah, I think so. I think if he was starting from day one it would be totally different,” Chris Johnson told Seth Walder of the Daily News. “He came in and his role was to help Geno (Smith) develop and try to help him the best he can, but at the end of the day it turned out how it turned out and (we’ve) just got to live with it.” More from around the NFL..
- Reserve offensive tackle Nick Becton, who was just signed from the Giants practice squad, could be let go by the Saints to make way for the returning Joe Morgan, writes Evan Woodbury of The Times-Picayune.
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Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com takes a deep dive into the NFL’s desire to expand to London, and finds that while a franchise in England could be viable, the league may be overlooking more logical markets stateside, such as Toronto and Mexico City.
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While it appears the Bears don’t intend to make any coaching changes for now, Peter King of TheMMQB.com suggests the team should make a statement by parting ways with defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, whose unit has allowed 106 points in the last two games.
- Vick’s future in New York is uncertain, but Danny Knobler of ESPNNewYork.com says that the Jets should make him their quarterback for next season. The 12th-year vet will be 35 next season, but Gang Green has seen some solid play from him over the course of two-and-a-half games.
- The Ravens miss having linebacker James Ihedigbo in the fold, tweets Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. The veteran safety left to join the Lions in the offseason and has been making key plays for them this year.
Poll: Which Team Will Win AFC North?
Coming into the season, the AFC North was expected to be one of the league’s more competitive divisions, with the Bengals viewed as the slight favorites and the Ravens and Steelers expected to challenge Cincinnati for the top spot. However, through 10 weeks, the division as a whole has significantly outperformed expectations. Not only are the three aforementioned clubs still in the hunt for the AFC North title, but the upstart Browns are actually leading the way with a 6-3 record.
Of course, while Cleveland may be clinging to the division lead now, the team could also be a week or two away from falling to last place. With the Bengals at 5-3-1 and the Steelers and Ravens both at 6-4, all four teams in the North are separated by just a half-game. As the league noted on the weekend (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala), it’s the first time since 1935 that every team in an NFL division is at least two games over .500.
With all four teams bunched up and seven weeks still to play, it’s anyone’s division, and there’s no clear-cut favorite to earn a home playoff game. Even Vegas is at a loss when it comes to picking a frontrunner — betting site Bovada.lv gives Baltimore, Cleveland, and Cincinnati equal odds to finish in first place, while Pittsburgh is a very marginal underdog.
The Bengals may have the most challenging remaining schedule, with five of seven contests on the road, including this weekend in New Orleans and Week 17 in Pittsburgh. But each North team has one difficult stretch of games still on its schedule — the Ravens play the Saints, Chargers, and Dolphins following their bye; the Browns host the Colts and have road games in Atlanta, Buffalo, and Baltimore, all difficult places to win; and the Steelers still face the Saints and Chiefs, as well as the Bengals twice.
So what do you think? Will the Bengals repeat as division champs? Will the Ravens or Steelers knock them off? Or will the Browns be this year’s surprise division winner?
Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll track today’s minor transactions in this space, including small tweaks to 53-man rosters as well as practice squad signings and cuts. Here’s the latest:
- To fill the roster spot vacated by Williams (referenced below), the Bears have promoted guard Ryan Groy from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). In a separate tweet, Biggs notes that right tackle Jordan Mills said he was set to have his rib injury examined today, suggesting the Groy promotion could be a precautionary move in case Mills is sidelined.
Earlier updates:
- Following Aaron Rodgers‘ shredding of the Bears‘ secondary last night, Chicago has waived defensive back Teddy Williams, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team has yet to announce a corresponding move.
- The Chiefs have replaced one offensive lineman with another on their practice squad, announcing in a press release that they’ve released Curtis Feigt and signed Jarrod Pughsley.
- Offensive lineman Darren Keyton is joining the Lions‘ practice squad in the wake of an injury to Larry Warford, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Birkett speculations that Rodney Austin could be promoted to the team’s 53-man roster in order to accommodate the move.
- Washington has signed tight end Chase Dixon, an undrafted free agent out of Central Arkansas, to their practice squad, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Dixon, who initially signed with the Seahawks in May, was cut during the summer and worked out for Washington last week.
- The Ravens have added offensive tackle Terren Jones to their practice squad, cutting defensive tackle Jamie Meder in order to clear room on the unit, the team announced today in a press release. Following Meder’s release, only one of the 10 players on Baltimore’s taxi squad is a defender.
Ravens Links: Reed, Reid, Smith, Hill, Forsett
The Ravens have had incredible struggles in the secondary, and that group only got worse as Jimmy Smith was officially moved to the IR. With their rival Steelers bringing legends James Harrison and Brett Keisel back into the fold to sure up their defense, Ravens fans have been left wondering if Ed Reed could be an option for a unit that could use some help.
There is no chance the team brings Reed back in any capacity other than on a one day contract to retire as a Raven, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. He writes that Reed showed nothing on the field last year, either with the Texans or the Jets, and that he would no longer inspire fear roaming center field at free safety.
He adds that bringing him back as a coach or a motivator would be a bad idea, as Reed had become a headache for the team towards the end of his tenure in Baltimore.
Here are some other links from around the Ravens’ organization:
- In his mailbag, Hensley also addresses how the recent purge in the secondary will shape up for the team, how linebacker Arthur Brown is progressing within the defense, and the positions of interest the team should focus on in free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft.
- Offensive tackle Jah Reid underwent surgery on his broken hand, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Whether or not Reid will return at some point this season has not been decided as of yet.
- With Jimmy Smith done for the season, there are questions as to whether the Ravens will be able to stop any legitimate quarterbacks the rest of the season. Brett Foote of EbonyBird.com examines what the team can do to survive the season so thin in the defensive backfield.
- The team only has five interceptions on the season, and Smith is the only member of the secondary contributing to that figure. However, the team believes it could have the answer to improve that, and expects safety Will Hill to be the team’s top ballhawk now that is returning to the field, writes Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com.
- Justin Forsett was cut by the Jaguars in March, but got the opportunity to compete for carries with the Ravens this offseason, with the added bonus of knowing incumbent starter Ray Rice would have to miss two games with a suspension. However, with Rice‘s eventual release from the team gave Forsett the best opportunity of his career, according to offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, as reported by the Associated Press on SFGate.com. “This is probably his biggest opportunity as a player,” Kubiak said. “And he’s really taking advantage of it.”
- The entire Ravens’ backfield should get credit for the improved running game, write Bryan Stauffer of NumberFire.com. Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, and Lorenzo Taliaferro are piecing together a formidable unit that has been more productive than last year’s combination of Pierce and Rice.
Ravens Move Jimmy Smith To IR
The Ravens lost their top corner to a foot injury, as Jimmy Smith underwent surgery on his right foot. The decision to have surgery had essentially ended his season, and the team made it official today as Smith was placed on the IR, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
The Ravens signed cornerback Rashaan Melvin off of the Dolphins’ practice squad to provide them help at corner. The 6’2″ defensive back was on IR last year with the Buccaneers, and was released this past September, when the Dolphins signed him.
Smith, 26, was drafted in the first-round in the 2011 NFL Draft. Although he struggled at times early in his rookie season, he excelled late in the year and played a huge role in the Super Bowl win over the 49ers. Since then, he has overtaken Lardarius Webb as the best defensive back on the team.
Now, as the team nears a decision on his future, the injury has robbed Smith of the back half of his best season as a pro. Had he kept his play at this level through the end of the season, and possibly into the playoffs, he could have been in line for a monster extension comparable to some of the top ten cornerbacks in the league. The Ravens will likely still do whatever is needed to keep Smith on the roster going forward, but the price tag may have come down after the injury.
Latest On Ray Rice
As part of Ray Rice‘s appeal hearing, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome testified under oath Thursday that he heard Rice tell NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that the ex-Ravens running back hit his then-fiancée in a casino hotel elevator, reports ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr.
Thursday concluded Rice’s two-day appeal, which also included testimony from Goodell, Rice and and Rice’s wife, Janay. Additionally, the player’s union and the league submitted notes taken during the June 16 disciplinary hearing which left Rice suspended indefinitely for violating the personal conduct policy. The decision is now in the hands of U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones, who has asked for final briefs from both sides next week before she levies a ruling.
“Rice and the NFL Players Association contend the league’s indefinite suspension constitutes an enhanced punishment for the same violation and thus violates labor law,” writes Van Natta Jr. “The union also is arguing that the discipline of Rice by Goodell was inconsistent as it relates to the league’s conduct policy.”
Rice is seeking immediate reinstatement, which seems inconsequential given the PR firestorm sure to result from Rice signing with another team, though Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman tweeted a quote an AFC scout who said: “I don’t think any team will sign him. But then again, there’s always an idiot in the room.”
Van Natta Jr. says ESPN’s Outside the Lines has a pair of sources confirming Thursday’s news. The program also quoted four sources in September who said Rice had told Goodell he hit Janay. Goodell denies that claim, saying that Rice’s June 16 account of the events was “ambiguous.”
As for the testimonies from Rice and his wife, Van Natta Jr. says a gag order imposed by Jones prevented the release of details. However, sources say Newsome supported Rice’s previous explanation to Goodell.
Weighing in on the news, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio condemns the NFL by wondering:
“But does any of this matter? It was known that Rice had knocked out Janay Palmer in the elevator. Whether he used a closed fist, an open hand, an elbow, a forearm, or some other part of his body, he knocked . . . her . . . out.
“And if there were any ambiguity at all, the NFL should have gotten the video. It could have gotten the video. It failed to get the video.
“Regardless, the idea that the NFL would see any ambiguity at all in the information from Rice suggests either a lack of empathy for the victim of a knockout blow. Alternatively, it’s entirely possible that the NFL is simply feigning ignorance regarding what actually happened in order to support the knee-jerk second suspension, which came only hours after the video of the incident was published.”
Click here to read the NFLPA’s statement on the hearing.
Jimmy Smith Out For Season
The Ravens’ embattled secondary was dealt another blow today, according to the team, which announced (via Twitter) that standout cornerback Jimmy Smith underwent surgery on his injured foot and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2014 season. The injury was initially expected to keep Smith out of action for a few weeks, but it was determined to be serious enough that he now won’t be back until next season.
“The plan for Jimmy was to do more testing once swelling subsided,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). “With this exam, doctors decided he needed surgery. That means Jimmy is finished for the season, but is ready for our offseason.”
The coming offseason could wind up being a big one for Smith, whose rookie contract expires at season’s end. The Ravens exercised their fifth-year option on the 26-year-old for 2015, meaning the team will have him under control for one more year, but working out a longer-term arrangement this offseason for the Ravens’ top cornerback could be in the club’s best interest.
In the meantime, a shorthanded Ravens secondary will look to cope with Smith’s absence as best it can. The team released Chykie Brown and Dominique Franks this week, meaning Lardarius Webb is now the only healthy veteran cornerback on the roster. Defensive backs Danny Gorrer and Tramain Jacobs also figure to see plenty of action, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Baltimore add one more veteran corner before this weekend’s game against the Titans. Currently, there are no defensive backs on the team’s practice squad.
Wednesday Roundup: Peterson, Bryant, Briggs
After Adrian Peterson accepted a no-contest plea yesterday, the speculation surrounding if and when he would be allowed to take the field again predictably spiked. However, there has also been some speculation regarding if Peterson will be back with the Vikings next season, and Bob Sturm, special contributor to the Dallas Morning News, says he would not put it past Cowboys‘ owner Jerry Jones to go after Peterson in 2015.
Sturm says, “Reality says that if [Peterson] is free to play, Jerry will be interested. If you think about it, it might actually help you with leverage over [DeMarco] Murray if you choose to use it. I would stick with Murray for several reasons, but I would never rule out the possibility that Peterson is RB1 next fall. Jerry Jones has left too many bread crumbs to ignore on this front.”
Murray, who will be a free agent after this season, has been terrific in 2014, and the Cowboys will have a big decision to make regarding whether or not to bring him back. Jones, understandably, has long coveted Peterson, and he may be willing to let Murray walk if he can land AD a few months after the dust surrounding his child abuse case settles.
Now for a quick swing around the league on this quiet Wednesday evening:
- Speaking of big-name free agents in Dallas, Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News writes that super-agent Tom Condon will represent Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in his contract negotiations. Our Dallas Robinson wrote several days ago that this would be a possibility after Bryant left his former agent to join Roc Nation.
- Lance Briggs, who is playing in his 12th season for the Bears, believes 2014 is his last year in Chicago, writes Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com.
- The Ravens have struggled mightily with their cornerback play this season, a situation dramatically worsened by the injury that Jimmy Smith suffered in Week 8. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tweets that these problems were predictable after the club elected to allow players like Corey Graham and Cary Williams leave in free agency without investing a high draft choice on a corner since Smith himself was drafted in 2011.
- Tom Pelissero of USA Today writes that the NFLPA is pushing for a neutral arbitrator to decide all punishments for violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday
We’ll keep tabs on today’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the league right here:
- After waiting for him to clear waivers, the Ravens have officially signed tight end Phillip Supernaw back to their practice squad, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- The Seahawks have signed defensive end Ryan Robinson to their taxi squad and are now back to the maximum 10 players, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link).
- Having lost tackle Nick Becton off their practice squad when he signed with the Saints, the Giants have filled his spot by adding safety Kyle Sebetic, who was in camp with the team this summer.
Earlier updates:
- The Patriots have re-signed wideout Jonathan Krause to their taxi squad, dropping defensive lineman Kona Schwenke from the unit to clear a spot, the team announced today in a press release.
- Running back Michael Hill has been released from the Packers‘ practice squad, replaced by guard Jordan McCray, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Heading into today with one open spot on their practice squad, the Buccaneers created another opening by cutting defensive end George Uko, then filled those spots by signing defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo and cornerback Quinton Pointer, tweets Scott Smith of Buccaners.com.
- The Steelers have added safety Jordan Dangerfield to their practice squad, releasing defensive end Ethan Hemer, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Pittsburgh safeties Troy Polamalu and Shamarko Thomas are both dealing with injuries, so Dangerfield could be a candidate for promotion this weekend depending on the status of those players.
- Defensive tackle Loni Fangupo has joined the Chiefs‘ practice squad, according to his representatives at ARN Sports (Twitter link).
Ravens Waive Franks, Claim Danny Gorrer
4:47pm: The Ravens have claimed cornerback Danny Gorrer off waivers from the Lions to replace Franks, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
4:45pm: The Ravens continue to shake up a secondary that allowed six passing touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers on Sunday night. After announcing earlier today that they’ve cut cornerback Chykie Brown, the Ravens have now parted ways with a second veteran cornerback, Dominique Franks, per a team release.
Franks, who turned 27 last month, spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Falcons, contributing on defense, in kick and punt coverage, and occasionally returning punts as well. In four games with the Ravens this year, Franks logged 203 defensive snaps, and performed reasonably well until Sunday night, when he was scorched by Roethlisberger along with the rest of the Baltimore secondary.
The move leaves the Ravens with an open spot on their 53-man roster. That opening figures to be filled by a cornerback, since, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com observes (via Twitter), Lardarius Webb is now the one healthy corner with NFL experience on the roster.