Brandon Ghee

Workout Notes: Raiders, Colts, Packers

Today’s workouts from around the league:

Bengals Reduce Roster To 53 Players

After having waived defensive tackle Devon Still earlier today, the Bengals have trimmed their roster down to 53 players. The team announced the corresponding moves via Twitter.

Waived:

Released:

Waived/injured:

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform:

Burfict is the most notable of the moves, as the former Pro Bowler will leave a hole in the Bengals’ defense. The former undrafted free agent played only five games last heason, compiling 29 tackles and one forced fumble.

Bengals Sign Brandon Ghee

The Bengals are bringing back a player they selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft, announcing today that they’ve signed cornerback Brandon Ghee to a new contract (Twitter link).

Ghee, 27, saw the field in just 23 contests for Cincinnati over the course of his four years with the team before signing with the Chargers last year and then landing with the Titans in October. In six contests for Tennessee in 2014, Ghee made four tackles and grabbed his first career interception. However, he was cut in December by the Titans, making him a free agent again.

Having battled injuries in the past, Ghee should have an opportunity to make the Bengals’ 53-man roster if he stays healthy, but he likely won’t be counted on to have a significant role in the team’s secondary in 2015.

NFC North Notes: Peterson, Suh, Workouts

If Adrian Peterson is reinstated this season, Vikings ownership, GM Rick Spielman, and head coach Mike Zimmer will welcome him back, says Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune. However, for the running back to continue his career in Minnesota beyond this season, he will likely have to agree to take a pay cut, according to Hartman’s sources. Still, while there’s been plenty of speculation that the Vikes will simply part ways with Peterson prior to the 2015 season, that’s not necessarily the case — if the Pro Bowler is open to renegotiating his contract, there’s “no doubt” Minnesota wants to work something out and bring him back, per Hartman.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

  • If the Lions end up losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency this offseason, the team should at least have a few strong options to consider in the first round of May’s draft, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “There’s some good ones, some real good defensive tackles or nose tackle types coming out,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper said today during his first pre-draft conference call for 2015.
  • In addition to hosting safety DeJon Gomes for a visit, the Lions also worked out cornerback Brandon Ghee, along with wide receivers Skye Dawson and Colin Lockett, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (all Twitter links).
  • Per Wilson (via Twitter), the Vikings also brought in a handful of free agents for tryouts this week, and Minnesota’s list of participants includes several under-the-radar names. Wide receiver Jalil Carter, defensive tackle Moton Hopkins, defensive back Johnny Sears, safety Garrett Waggoner, and safety Ian Wild auditioned for the club.
  • The Bears made a pair of roster moves earlier today, signing fullback Montell Owens and placing linebacker D.J. Williams on IR.

NFC East Notes: Coughlin, Gruden, McCoy

While many observers have predicted that the Giants will replace head coach Tom Coughlin at season’s end, those who know co-owner John Mara “are convinced” he doesn’t want to fire Coughlin and is no lock to do so, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. As Vacchiano points out, Mara and fellow co-owner Steve Tisch could come up with several compelling reasons to keep Coughlin around, including a desire to maintain stability and a lack of star candidates to replace him.

As we wait to see how the Giants finish the season and how that affects Coughlin’s future in New York, let’s check in on a few other items from around the NFC East….

  • As Dianna Marie Russini of NBC Washington tweets, Washington head coach Jay Gruden acknowledged to reporters yesterday that jobs will be on line for his team during the final three weeks of the season. With whispers that Gruden could be one-and-done in Washington, his own job may be one that’s on the line down the stretch.
  • According to reports from Mike Jones of the Washington Post and John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the neck injury sustained by Washington quarterback Colt McCoy on Sunday is not believed to be serious or career-threatening, and McCoy could even be healthy enough to play in Week 15.
  • After signing a contract extension with the team in the offseason, Eagles wideout Riley Cooper hasn’t provided the same sort of big plays he did a year ago, but head coach Chip Kelly is pleased with Cooper’s play, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • The Giants took a look at a pair of defensive players yesterday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who tweets that the club brought in linebacker Victor Butler and defensive end Gerald Rivers for tryouts.
  • Having been cut by the Titans last week, cornerback Brandon Ghee was among a handful of players to work out for Washington, tweets Wilson. The club also auditioned cornerback Qua Cox, offensive lineman Ty Nsekhe, defensive back Justin Rogers, and defensive lineman Shawn Lemon, who is coming off a 13-sack season with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

Titans Sign Jemea Thomas, Cut Brandon Ghee

The Titans have made a change in their secondary, waiving veteran cornerback Brandon Ghee and signing rookie cornerback Jemea Thomas off the Rams’ practice squad to fill the newly-created opening on their roster, according to the club (via Twitter).

Ghee, 27, saw time in 10 games last season for the Bengals and registered five pass deflections and four tackles. The former third-round pick saw the field in just 23 contests for Cincinnati over the course of his career before spending time with the Chargers this past offseason and then landing with the Titans in October.

In six contests for Tennessee, Ghee made four tackles and grabbed his first career interception. However, he had a subpar game on Sunday against the Texans, allowing 74 yards and a touchdown on passes thrown into his coverage, despite playing just eight defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

As for Thomas, the Georgia Tech product has already bounced around the league a little since being drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of May’s draft. Thomas was cut by New England during the preseason, caught on with the Cowboys’ practice squad, then spent most of the season with St. Louis, either on the Rams’ 53-man roster or taxi squad.

Titans Sign Brandon Ghee; Pollard To IR

The Titans have officially ended the season of safety Bernard Pollard, who suffered a ruptured Achilles this weekend against the Browns. The team announced today (via Twitter) that Pollard has been placed on injured reserve, with free agent cornerback Brandon Ghee signing to take his spot on the 53-man roster.

Ghee, 27, saw time in 10 games last season for the Bengals and registered five pass deflections and four tackles. The former third-round pick saw the field in just 23 contests for Cincinnati over the course of his career and was cut several weeks ago by the Chargers after signing with the team in the offseason. He’ll provide some depth in the secondary for the Titans, though it’s unlikely he’ll see much action, barring further injuries.

As for Pollard, while his 2014 season is over, his time in Tennessee may not be. The veteran safety signed a two-year pact with the team back in March, so the club will have the option of bringing him back for the 2015 season. Pollard will be in line for a base salary of $3.1MM, and would only count $425K against the cap in dead money if he were cut, so the Titans figure to keep a close eye on his recovery to see if it’s worth keeping him around.

Titans Eyeing Cornerbacks

The Titans brought in several cornerbacks for auditions today, working out Derek Cox, Brandon Ghee, and Curtis Marsh, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). Tennessee didn’t list any CBs on its latest injury report, but Jason McCourty was questionable last week while dealing with a groin ailment, so perhaps the Titans are looking to add depth at the position.

Cox, 28, is probably the most notable name of the three players who tried out. He’s had a busy 2013 — after being cut by the Chargers in March, Cox quickly signed with the Vikings, but was let go in August. He joined the Ravens, and after being the victim of several back-end roster machinations in Baltimore, he was released on September 6. Since becoming a free agent, Cox has had auditions with numerous CB-needy teams, including the Jets, Bears, and Lions. In his five-year career, he has started 56 games, accruing 13 interceptions and 204 tackles.

Like Cox, Ghee is also a former Charger, having signed a two-year deal with San Diego early in the offseason. He never logged game time with the team however, as he was cut August 28 despite being guaranteed $300K. The Wake Forest product was a third-round pick by the Bengals, but played in just 23 games over four seasons in Cincinnati. He’s worked out for the Saints, Jaguars, and Bears since being let go by the Chargers, but has yet to find work.

At 26, Marsh is the youngest of the group; a 2011 third-round pick, the Utah State has played in 26 games over three seasons. He has spent time with both the Eagles and the Bengals. Since being cut by Philadelphia on August 30, Marsh has yet to garner any known interest.

NFC South Notes: Bucs, Falcons, Saints

The NFC South has been one of football’s less predictable divisions so far, with the Saints – everyone’s preseason pick to win the division – sitting at 1-2, while the popular postseason sleeper Buccaneers look like the NFL’s worst team at 0-3. All four teams, including the 2-1 Panthers and Falcons, are on the road this week, as Carolina and Atlanta try to continue their winning ways in Baltimore and Minnesota respectively. Meanwhile, the Bucs will try to get in the win column in Pittsburgh, while the Saints will look to halt the Cowboys’ winning streak in Dallas.

Here’s the latest out of the NFC South:

  • With offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford away from the team indefinitely for health reasons, don’t expect the Buccaneers to hire an offensive consultant to work with Marcus Arroyo, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. According to Marvez, “it’s Arroyo’s show” in Tampa Bay.
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) adds defensive backs Roc Carmichael and Tommie Campbell to the list of players to work out for the Buccaneers this week.
  • Reid Fragel was the offensive lineman to ultimately sign with the Falcons‘ practice squad this week, but the club also took a look at tackles Kevin Murphy and Martin Wallace, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Saints also auditioned a handful of players this week, and Wilson provides several new names (via Twitter). The team signed offensive lineman Alex Parsons to its practice squad, but also tried out linemen Lemuel Jeanpierre and Eric Olsen, as well as cornerback Brandon Ghee.

NFC Notes: Hester, Sproles, Graham, Bears

Devin Hester was one of many Falcons to reach the end zone last night, scoring on a record-setting punt return and a running play. However, it’s his role as a wide receiver that has him more happy with the Falcons than he was in his last few seasons with the Bears.

“I wasn’t happy the last three or four years in Chicago because things wasn’t going the way I expect,” Hester said yesterday, according to Adam Hoge of WGN Radio (Twitter link). “I would always have a great camp, have all the receivers saying and coaches saying I had the best camp of all the receivers. And once the season start off, I’m not there.”

As Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets, there were a few teams eyeing Hester in free agency that felt the veteran wasn’t worth the $10MM contract he signed with Atlanta, but it’s looking like a good investment for the Falcons so far. Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • So far, the deal that saw Darren Sproles land with Philadelphia in exchange for a fifth-round pick looks like a steal for the Eagles, and the veteran running back is happy with his situation. As he told reporters on Thursday, including Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, Sproles wasn’t initially informed of his impending release by the Saints, but when it turned out that the Eagles were one of a handful of teams interested in trading for him, he told his agent to “make that happen.” Per Sproles, five teams explored acquiring him, and the Eagles were one of the three with serious interest.
  • Within the same piece, McManus takes a look at the unusual case of Eagles linebacker Brandon Graham, who has a chance to make $2.5MM in not likely to be earned incentives, but will need to see a few more snaps to have a chance at that money.
  • The Bears worked out a long list of free agents this week, and Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com passes along the names in a pair of tweets: Blake Annen (TE), Derek Cox (CB), Brandon Ghee (CB), Mike Harris (CB), Lavelle Hawkins (WR), Kendall James (CB), Derrick Martin (S), David Paulson (TE), Brad Sorensen (QB), Jordan Sullen (CB), Asa Watson (TE), Damian Williams (WR), and Kyle Williams (WR).
  • Linebacker Jamar Chaney tried out for the Saints this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). We heard yesterday that New Orleans also took a look at veteran linebacker Pat Angerer.