NFC Mailbags: Panthers, Peppers, Beatty, Reese
We took a look at ESPN’s AFC mailbags earlier today. Let’s check out what ESPN’s NFC writers had to say…
- David Newton thinks it’s pretty clear that the Panthers will focus on their offensive line in the upcoming draft. Meanwhile, he doesn’t expect the team to consider a running back until at least the third or fourth round.
- If Julius Peppers return to the Packers next season, it would have to be with a restructured contract, writes Rob Demovsky.
- Todd Archer says that Jerry Jones certainly deserves some credit for the Cowboys‘ success this season.
- Dan Graziano writes that the Giants will have an interesting decision to make this offseason with left tackle Will Beatty. If the team decides to part ways with the former second-rounder, they could target an offensive lineman in the draft or free agency.
- Graziano clarifies that Giants general manager Jerry Reese is not on the hot seat and is not in any danger of losing his job.
South Notes: Panthers, Griffin, Titans, Bucs
Plenty of Panthers players were caught off guard by the team’s release of veteran defensive back Charles Godfrey, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, who says words like “shocking” and “surprising” were used to describe the move.
“With a guy of his stature who’s been here for as long as he had, and all of a sudden you wake up and he’s not here, it’s definitely got to be a shock. It’s shocking to me,” said fellow defensive back Roman Harper. “But it’s a job. We’ve got to take it seriously and understand that nobody’s job is safe from top to bottom. They’ll always fire you before you get them fired. That’s just what I’ve always been taught.”
As the Panthers’ defense adjusts to life without Godfrey and one of the newest additions to the free agent market looks for work, let’s check out a few more items from around the NFL’s two South divisions….
- We heard yesterday that the Titans had been entertaining trade discussions involving wide receiver Nate Washington, and it sounds like he’s not the only veteran the team is mulling moving. In addition to confirming the Washington report, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com says he has heard defensive back Michael Griffin may be on the block as well (Twitter link). The Titans, who announced last night that Zach Mettenberger will start at quarterback this weekend, seem to be “embracing” a rebuild, notes McCormick.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) adds several new names to the list of players to audition for the Panthers this week. According to Wilson, the club took a look at cornerbacks Trevin Wade, Robert Steeples, Ellis Lankster, and Josh Victorian, as well as offensive linemen Ryan Miller and Matt Patchan.
- Besides the players they signed to their 53-man roster or practice squad, the Buccaneers also worked out linebackers Erin Henderson and Lawrence Wilson this week, tweets Wilson. Per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Henderson had a tryout with the Titans too.
- Cornerback Deveron Carr auditioned for the Jaguars this week, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
Extra Points: Mariota, Goodell, Peterson
Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich sees his star quarterback Marcus Mariota stealing the show at this year’s scouting combine, writes NFL.com’s Bryan Fischer. “He’s a competitive perfectionist. Every single thing he does, he wants to do great,” Helfrich said. “He competes in period four just like he does in a BCS bowl game. To him, (the combine) is right in his wheelhouse, and he’ll do great.” Helfrich might be a bit biased, but Mariota is widely projected to be a top choice in the 2015 Draft. More NFL news..
- A judge has ruled that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will be forced to testify at the Ray Rice hearing, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The ruling was expected by many since Goodell played an active role in all facets of Rice’s suspension.
- A prosecution request to remove the judge handling the felony child abuse case against Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been denied, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The judge made some less-than-kind remarks about Peterson’s defense team earlier this month. As Rochelle Olson of the Star-Tribune writes, the trial is still on track for December 1st.
- Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy hasn’t showed up at Bank of America Stadium since being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, but that’s not because he’s not welcome, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. “We haven’t asked him to stay away,” coach Ron Rivera said. “At the same time, we’re letting him take care of his business.”
- Former Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice thinks Seattle made the right move by trading Percy Harvin, writes Terry Blount of ESPN.com. “I was surprised, but at the same time, it may have been the best thing for the team,” Rice said. “It’s tough losing a guy like Percy. He’s one of a kind. The league has never seen a player like Percy Harvin.”
- The Rams auditioned wide receivers Skye Dawson and Derek Moye yesterday, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports. Dawson, who was cut by the Bucs in late August, worked out for the Lions last week. Moye, meanwhile, was scooped up by the Titans earlier today.
NFC Notes: Cards, Cowboys, Hardy, Eagles
While the 6-1 Cowboys and 5-1 Eagles are vying for the best record in the NFC, it’s the 5-2 Packers who currently have the best Super Bowl odds, according to betting site Bovada.lv. Bovada lists Green Bay as 8/1 to win this year’s championship, while the Cowboys have 9/1 odds and the Eagles are down at 16/1, behind the Seahawks (9/1) and 49ers (12/1). As we look forward to seeing how those NFC frontrunners fare this weekend, let’s check in on the latest updates from around the conference….
- The Cardinals would like to extend Carson Palmer‘s deal before season’s end, but he isn’t the only player on the roster whose contract situation the team could address. As Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic details, GM Steve Keim said during his weekly appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 that there are several other extension candidates on expiring contracts. Although Keim didn’t name those players, Somers identifies a few possibilities, examining the likelihood of new deals for each of them.
- Meanwhile, the Cowboys also have several players who deserve contract extensions, but Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News argues that the team should wait until after the season to open serious negotiations. When so many key contributors are playing for contracts, extending one or two of them and sending the message that certain players are more valuable than others could upset the balance in Dallas, says George.
- Greg Hardy remains on the commissioner’s exempt list for the Panthers, but his attorney is preparing for the defensive end’s trial to get underway on November 17, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
- Marcus Smith has shuffled back and forth between outside and inside linebacker for the Eagles so far, and the first-round pick’s future role with the team remains cloudy, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com.
Update On Traded 2015 Draft Picks
The trade that sent Percy Harvin from Seattle to the Jets this past week was the latest example of a swap in which the draft pick involved in the deal is tied to a condition which will affect the value of that pick. In the case of the Harvin deal, the pick Seattle acquired reportedly can become a fourth-rounder if the wideout remains on the Jets’ roster beyond this season, but if New York moves on from Harvin in the offseason, the 2015 pick will be a sixth-rounder.
Considering we haven’t even seen Harvin suit up for the Jets yet, we’re nowhere close to knowing whether he’ll remain in the team’s plans for 2015, so that conditional pick remains very much up in the air. However, there are a number of other conditional picks whose outlook is much clearer. Here’s an update on several of the picks that could change hands in 2015:
Conditions met, or likely to be met:
- Dolphins acquired 49ers‘ seventh-round pick for Jonathan Martin: Martin had to make San Francisco’s opening day 53-man roster for this pick to change hands, which he did.
- Giants acquired Broncos‘ seventh-round pick for Brandon McManus. The deal required McManus to remain the Broncos’ kicker even after Matt Prater‘s four-game suspension ended for the Giants to acquire the pick, which he did.
- Ravens acquiring Cowboys‘ sixth-round pick for Rolando McClain: McClain needs to play in 50% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps for Baltimore to land this pick, and so far, he has played in about 81%, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Assuming he meets the criteria, the Ravens would sent their seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for the Cowboys’ sixth-rounder.
- Titans acquiring Cowboys‘ seventh-round pick for Lavar Edwards: Edwards must spend at least 10 games on the Cowboys’ roster for Tennessee to grab this pick, and so far he has been on the team for all but one contest. He’ll need four more games on the 53-man roster for the Titans to get the pick.
Conditions not met, or unlikely to be met:
- Packers won’t acquire Patriots‘ seventh-round pick for Jerel Worthy: Worthy had to make the Pats’ opening day 53-man roster for Green Bay to get this pick, but he was waived during preseason cutdowns.
- Panthers likely won’t acquire Eagles‘ seventh-round pick for Kenjon Barner: Barner must spend at least four games on Philadelphia’s 46-man game day roster for this pick to change hands. Considering Barner hasn’t even been on the team’s roster since the season began, this appears unlikely.
- Jaguars likely won’t acquire pick from 49ers for Blaine Gabbert: The Jags would’ve landed a pick if Gabbert started eight or more games in 2014. Unless Colin Kaepernick goes down with a serious injury in the team’s next game, this won’t happen.
For details on all of 2015’s traded draft picks, be sure to check out our complete list.
Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday
We’re keeping tabs on today’s minor moves that affect 53-man rosters right here, but we’ll use the space below to track transactions involving teams’ practice squads:
- The Chiefs signed guard Jarrod Pughsley to the taxi squad to take the place of the released Jerel Worthy, according to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star.
- Linebacker Shaq Barrett cleared waivers and is expected to be re-signed to the Broncos‘ practice squad soon, tweets Mike Klis of The Denver Post.
- The Colts announced that they have signed running back Jeff Demps and tight end Konrad Reuland to the practice squad while releasing quarterback Dominique Davis and wide receiver Chandler Jones to make room. Demps, a 2012 Summer Olympics silver medalist, was recently
- The Saints have signed offensive tackle Demarcus Love to their practice squad, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, while Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets that the club cut center Alex Parsons from the unit.
- Caplan also notes (via Twitter) that the Chiefs have cut defensive lineman Jerel Worthy from their taxi squad.
- A pair of receivers have joined the Rams‘ practice squad, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who tweets that Kadron Boone and Devon Wylie have signed with the team. Thomas adds (via Twitter) that the club also replaced one linebacker with another, cutting Denicos Allen and signing Korey Toomer.
Earlier updates:
- The Panthers have announced a pair of practice squad additions, confirming (via Twitter) that they’ve signed safety Robert Lester and offensive tackle Martin Wallace using their two open spots.
- The Jaguars have signed cornerback Lou Young to their practice squad, filling the 10th and final opening on the unit, the club announced today (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys have released edge defender Michael Sam from their practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. Although Sam spent several weeks on Dallas’ taxi squad, he never got the opportunity for a promotion to the 53-man unit, and figures to draw some attention around the NFL as he looks for a new job. Using the two openings on their practice squad, the Cowboys added linebacker Troy Davis and defensive tackle Ken Bishop, according to the team.
NFC South Notes: Bowers, Falcons, Saints
Despite having already had their bye week, the Buccaneers have given up more points than any other team in the NFL — in six contests, Tampa Bay has surrendered 204 points, good for an average of 34 per game. Today, the Bucs’ defense took another hit when the league announced that defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has been suspended two games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports).
The league’s new policy on PEDs calls for suspensions of up to six games for first-time violations, but the use of a diuretic or masking agent results in just a two-game ban. And Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms (via Twitter) that Bowers’ failed test came as the result of a diuretic, which explains the relatively modest penalty.
Let’s check in on the Bucs’ rivals, and round up the news from elsewhere in the NFC South…
- Following the season-ending injury suffered by center Peter Konz, the Falcons signed offensive lineman Jonathan Scott, but the team also auditioned fellow lineman Thomas Austin, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- The Saints just got Mark Ingram back this past week, but now they’ll be without another running back, according to Rapoport, who tweets that Pierre Thomas is expected to miss two or three weeks with a shoulder injury.
- Offensive tackle Bruce Campbell worked out today for the Panthers, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
Panthers Release Charles Godfrey
2:12pm: The Panthers have formally confirmed Godfrey’s release, signing offensive lineman Chris Scott of their practice squad to take his roster spot (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan).
2:10pm: The Panthers have informed agent Doug Hendrickson that they’re releasing veteran defensive back Charles Godfrey, Hendrickson announced today (via Twitter). The move will open up a spot on Carolina’s 53-man roster, though neither Godfrey’s release nor a corresponding signing has been announced so far.
Godfrey, 28, was sidelined for most of the 2013 season after tearing his Achilles early in the year. While the Panthers elected to keep him on the roster through the offseason and for the start of the 2014 campaign, the team reworked his contract significantly, reducing his base salary by more than $4MM and converting some of that money to per-game roster bonuses.
After starting all but one of his 73 games for Carolina during his first five years with the team, Godfrey began this season playing a lesser role, appearing in just 84 defensive snaps through four games. However, he was forced into more frequent action in recent weeks and struggled with the increased workload, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF’s data gave Godfrey a -0.5 grade for his play through the first four weeks, and a -9.9 mark for the last three weeks.
Because Godfrey is a vested veteran, he won’t have to pass through waivers, so other teams are free to bring him in for a workout or offer him a contract immediately after the move becomes official.
Injury Updates: Sunday
Several big names who have been contending with injuries are expected to suit up for their Week 7 matchups today. Be sure to check back here when the games begin to keep an eye on any significant injuries that may arise over the course of today’s action:
- Falcons‘ offensive lineman Peter Konz will have an MRI tomorrow, but a source has said that the injury is considered to be severe and will cost him the trip to London if not more, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN (via Twitter).
- Bills‘ running back Fred Jackson‘s injury is thought to keep him out of the lineup for a maximum of four weeks, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). He notes that four weeks is the worst-case scenario.
Earlier Updates:
- Fred Jackson suffered a groin injury during today’s game, and he will miss at least two weeks, per La Canfora (on Twitter). The Bills have a bye during Week 9, so it’s possible the veteran running back could return for Week 10.
- Bears first-round cornerback Kyle Fuller has suffered a broken hand in addition to a hip pointer, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). There’s no word on how long the rookie will be sidelined, but as La Canfora notes, “it’s hard to play corner [with one] hand.”
- In an unfortunate turn of events, Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman broke his foot during warmups, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Terry Blount of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict had already been dealing with concussion issues during recent weeks, and now head coach Marvin Lewis tells reporters, including Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link), that Burfict has a “cervical neck strain.”
- Having recovered from a minor groin injury, Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers was forced from today’s game against the Chiefs with a concussion, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
- Ravens long-snapper Morgan Cox tore his ACL, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Harbaugh confirms the team will immediately begin looking for a new LS.
- Saints center Jonathan Goodwin had to be helped off the field during Sunday’s loss to the Lions, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com. Tim Lelito is Goodwin’s direct backup.
- Also per Sessler, Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo suffered a pectoral injury today, and will undergo an MRI tomorrow. A significant injury to Orakpo could mean more playing time for rookie Trent Murphy.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Bengals WR A.J. Green will not play against the Colts.
- Saints TE Jimmy Graham is expected to take the field against the Lions today, but he wants to test his shoulder prior to the game before officially declaring himself ready, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter adds (via Twitter) that even if Graham does play, he is not expected to start, and NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweets that he expects the Saints to use Graham in red-zone packages as they have done when he has been banged up in the past.
- NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin, who has been dealing with a concussion, has been cleared to play against the Packers this afternoon.
NFC Notes: Bears, Bucs, Lions, Kuechly
We’re witnessing a good afternoon game in the NFC, as the Giants and Cowboys are tied 14-14 early in the third quarter. Let’s take a look at some notes from around the NFC:
- Unhappy with his team’s effort today against the Dolphins, Brandon Marshall called out several of his Bears teammates in the locker room following the contest, a source tells Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. Quarterback Jay Cutler and kicker Robbie Gould were reportedly the targets of Marshall’s criticism. “We lost, there should be a lot of frustration,” Marshall told reporters. “You should hear frustration. We’re 3-4. Yeah, this means everything to a lot of guys in this locker room. This means a lot.”
- The Buccaneers were among the most active teams during free agency, but as of yet, the team hasn’t gotten much production from its investments, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Tampa brought in Michael Johnson, Josh McCown, and Anthony Collins, among others, and the poor performance of those acquisitions have contributed to the team’s 1-5 record.
- Second-year linebacker Jonathan Bostic might be auditioning to take over the weak side for the Bears in 2015, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Bostic has mostly played in the middle and on the strong side, but with Lance Briggs‘ contract expiring after this season, Bostic might be a better fit at the “Will” spot. For his part, Briggs is still out of action with a rib injury.
- Sunday’s win over Saints was a personal victory for Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, opines Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News (Twitter link). Mayhew’s top two free agent acquisitions over the past two offseasons, Glover Quin and Golden Tate, each had a big impact against New Orleans. Quin registered five tackles and an interception, while Tate caught 10 balls for 154 yards and one touchdown.
- Luke Kuechly was ejected from the Panthers‘ game against the Packers for making contact with an official, and although he’s likely to be fined, he won’t be suspended, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).