NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/23/16
The latest practice squad changes from around the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Trae Elston
- Cut From P-Squad IR: K Patrick Murray
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Woodrow Hamilton
Joe Haden To Undergo Offseason Surgery
Browns cornerback Joe Haden will play the final two games of the season and then undergo surgery to repair both groin muscles in early January, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Haden anticipates a two-month recovery time and will “for sure” be ready for offseason workouts, he told Cabot. The two-time Pro Bowler (and 2016 Pro Bowl alternate) has played through groin injuries for a large portion of the year, which would at least partially explain why his overall performance ranks just 97th among 121 qualifying corners at Pro Football Focus. Haden, 27, also started the year behind the 8-ball after undergoing ankle surgery last March, which prevented him from participating in offseason workouts and delayed his training camp debut until August.
Browns’ Josh McCown Considering Retirement
Browns quarterback Josh McCown admits that he is pondering retirement, as ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi writes. 
“It’s a matter of getting away with my family and talking to them,” the 37-year-old said. “Every year since my [oldest] daughter’s been in high school, we’ve always discussed it. It hasn’t been a very long conversation, necessarily, but we’ve always discussed it because [family] is my priority. She’s a senior, will be going to college next year. We’ll do what we always do — think about it, pray about it, and try to make the best decision we can.”
McCown is signed through 2017 and he says his plan is to “honor” the contract, but he admits that he is thinking about spending more time with his family and the Browns might him loose before March 11 when he is due a $750K roster bonus. The rebuilding Browns could drop McCown to clear a spot for a younger quarterback on the depth chart, though it may also behoove them to keep him as a backup. After all, his salary of $3.625MM is pretty reasonable and he does offer experience at a paper thin position.
After suffering two broken collarbones and going through two trying years with the Browns, no one would blame McCown for calling it a career.
Browns Notes: Pryor, RG3
- Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor has a torn ligament in his finger but he’ll try to play through it, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He plans to instead have a procedure done after the season. The Browns have until March 9 to either extend Pryor or use the franchise tag on him.
- Robert Griffin III will remain the Browns‘ starter – for now. When addressing reporters on Monday, coach Hue Jackson said that RG3 will start against San Diego on Saturday, but he’ll be on a short leash. “I do have that card to where I could put Cody (Kessler) in the game. Won’t hesitate,” Jackson said (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com).
Notable 2017 Pro Bowl Incentives/Escalators
The NFL announced the 2017 Pro Bowl rosters earlier tonight, and aside from determining which players will spend a week in Orlando early next year, the rosters also dictate several important bonuses and/or contract escalators for individual players. Former NFL agent and current CBSSports.com contributor Joel Corry has rounded up the notable incentives earned tonight, and we’ll pass those along below. As Corry notes (Twitter links), only first ballot Pro Bowlers who actually participate in the game (unless injured or playing in the Super Bowl) can earn bonuses, which are typically paid out by the end of March.
Here are the notable Pro Bowl bonuses and escalators that were preliminarily netted this evening (all links to Corry’s Twitter):
Incentives
- Raiders G Kelechi Osemele, $300K (link): Under general manager Reggie McKenzie, the Raiders have employed what is often referred to as an “all cash” salary cap management system, wherein prorated signing bonuses are rarely used while base salary guarantees, roster bonuses, and — as evidenced by the number of Oakland players on this list — incentive clauses are heavily employed. Osemele, the league’s highest-paid interior offensive lineman, is signed through 2020 with cap charges north of $10MM in each season.
- Colts P Pat McAfee, $250K (link): McAfee, who signed a five-year extension with the Colts in 2014, ranks third in the NFL in net punting average at 42.8 yards. The Indy special teams unit ranks fourth in the league in DVOA, while McAfee himself has been worth four points of field position on punts, third-best in the AFC.
- Raiders S Reggie Nelson, $250K (link): Nelson sat on the free agent market until April, but has rewarded the Raiders for signing him by earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl season. The 33-year-old Nelson, who’s posted four interceptions after leading the NFL with eight picks in 2015, is in the middle of a two-year, $8.5MM deal.
- Raiders T Donald Penn, $200K (link): Penn is the definition of stability, as the veteran left tackle hasn’t missed a game since becoming a starter during his rookie season in 2007. Penn signed a two-year, $11.9MM contract with the Raiders this spring, and is set to count $6.1MM against Oakland’s cap in 2017.
- Raiders C Rodney Hudson, $100K (link): The third member of the Raiders’ offensive line to earn a Pro Bowl bonus, Hudson is the fourth-highest paid center in the league, earning $8.9MM annually. The No. 4 center in the NFL this year according to Pro Football Focus, Hudson is signed through the 2019 campaign.
- Titans RB DeMarco Murray, $100K (link): After a putrid season in Philadelphia during which he barely topped 700 yards rushing, Murray has rebounded since being traded to the Titans, and is currently second in the league with 1.224 yards on the ground. He’s scored nine rushing touchdowns, and has added three more scores thorugh the air.
Escalators
- Browns T Joe Thomas, $1.5MM 2017 roster bonus escalator (link): Thomas is due a roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, and that bonus’ value has now increased from $1MM to $2.5MM. That bonus could factor in (in a minimal way) to any trade talks the Browns might have with other clubs, but Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson has been adamant that the Browns won’t deal Thomas.
- Titans LB Brian Orakpo, $200K 2017 base salary escalator (link): Orakpo’s 2017 base salary will increase to $5.95MM after he was selected to the Pro Bowl and played in more than 65% of the Titans’ defensive snaps. Orakpo, who has posted 11 sacks during his second season with Tennessee, is signed through 2018.
- Titans DT Jurrell Casey, $100K 2017 base salary escalator (link): Casey, 27, is arguably one of the more underpaid defenders in the league, as he’s due only $36MM from 2014-2018. His 2017 base salary will now increase to $5.9MM in 2017, and he’s also due a $200K roster bonus next spring.
Browns Lose Terrence Magee
- The Seahawks announced a handful of roster moves today, with chief among being the placing of defensive lineman Damontre Moore, who was recently arrested for DUI, on injured reserve. Additionally, Seattle waived running back Kelvin Taylor, signed running back Terrence Magee off the Browns‘ practice squad, and claimed J.D. McKissic (whom the club will use as an RB, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times) off waivers from Atlanta.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Ronald Zamort
Cleveland Browns
- Signed LB James Burgess, TE J.P. Holtz
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Austin Traylor
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Andrew Turzilli
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Max McCaffrey
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Cory Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: C Kyle Friend, TE Jason Vander Laan
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Al-Hajj Shabazz
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DiAndre Campbell, CB Duke Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson
- Placed on practice squad IR: OL Robert Myers
2017 NFL Draft Order Through Week 15
With just two weeks to go, the NFL playoff picture is starting to get clearer. The Cowboys, Seahawks, Patriots, and Raiders have already punched their playoff tickets while the Chiefs, Steelers, Falcons, and Giants are considered near locks by the forecasts at Five Thirty Eight.
Here’s a look at where the draft order stands for the teams not currently slated to make the cut (Note: Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
1. Browns 0-14
2. 49ers 1-13
3. Jaguars 2-12
4. Bears 3-11
5. Jets 4-10
6. Rams (pick belongs to Titans) 4-10
7. Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 5-9
8. Chargers 5-9
9. Cardinals 5-8-1
10. Bengals 5-8-1
11. Panthers 6-8
12. Saints 6-8
13. Bills 7-7
14. Colts 7-7
15. Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-7
16. Redskins 7-6-1
17. Titans 8-6
17. Ravens 8-6 (Note: The Titans and Ravens are currently knotted up in terms of both record and strength of schedule. In all statistical likelihood, the SOS logjam will be broken by the end of the season.)
19. Texans 8-6
20. Buccaneers 8-6
Browns Promote WR Mario Alford
The Browns will have a new wideout in uniform for Sunday’s game against the Bills. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports (via Twitter) that the team has promoted receiver Mario Alford from their practice squad.
Alford, a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft, spent his rookie season with the Bengals, where he hauled in one 15-yard reception in one game. The West Virginia product was cut by the team following the 2016 preseason, and he briefly caught on with the Jets practice squad. The 24-year-old was released by the organization in early December, and he caught on with the Browns a week later.
It’d be a stretch to expect the 5-foot-8, 177-pound wideout to make a significant impact on the Browns passing game. Of course, the Browns could use all the help they could get. Despite Terrelle Pryor‘s breakout campaign, Cleveland’s passing game still ranks towards the bottom of the league in nearly every passing/receiving category. Five different quarterbacks (excluding Pryor) certainly hasn’t boosted the passing game, nor did the loss of Josh Gordon and Jordan Payton to suspension.
Seifert: Browns Set Up Well For Draft
The Browns and Titans have done an admirable job of setting themselves up well for the upcoming draft, writes ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. Cleveland acquired three extra draft picks this season, and they’re guaranteed to have at least two picks in each of the first four rounds. Despite the fact that the 2017 draft is expected to feature weak quarterback offerings, Seifert believes the Browns could still select a signal-caller with one of their many picks.