Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Cap Capi
- Waived/injured: DE Bryson Albright
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OL Korren Kirven, DE Joby Saint Fleur
- Waived: DE James Hearns, RB Trey Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Nick Callender
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Channing Stribling, WR Marcus Peterson
- Placed on IR: TE Austin Roberts
New England Patriots
- Waived/injured: G Nate Theaker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Bucky Hodges, OT Kyle Meadows
- Waived: LB Darnell Leslie, TE Ryan Malleck
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed CB Jeremy Boykins, LB Josh Forrest
- Waived: S Alex Carter, TE Je’Ron Hamm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale
- Waived: RB Dalton Crossan
Terrance Williams Has Charge Dismissed
A public intoxication charge against Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams has been dismissed, as the veteran pass-catcher’s attorney announced in a statement.
“Mr. Williams faced only a single charge, a Class C Misdemeanor of Public Intoxication,” the statement reads. “The maximum punishment for a Class C Misdemeanor in Texas is fine only. This is the same level charge as a speeding ticket. Mr. Williams’ [case] has now been dismissed following the completion of a state-mandated Alcohol Awareness Education course.
Additionally, any damage caused by Mr. Williams’ vehicle has been settled with the City of Frisco as well as any labor utilized by the city to fix any damage. The Frisco Police Department has reported that no additional charges are pending nor forthcoming.”
In May, Williams was arrested after allegedly crashing his vehicle into a light pole and subsequently leaving the scene of the crime. Notably, Williams first accused Vikings wide receiver and former teammate Kendall Wright of driving the car, but later retracted those claims. While it appears Williams escaped without ever formally being charged with leaving the scene, he was facing a public intoxication charge until today.
While no legal case will be brought against Williams, it’s possible that he’ll still face a suspension from the NFL. The league holds the ability to ban any player for off-field conduct, even if formal charges are never filed. A suspension seems unlikely given that Williams completed a diversion course, and any ban would almost surely come in 2019, not during the upcoming season.
Cowboys Place Rookie WR Cedrick Wilson On IR
Cowboys rookie Cedrick Wilson won’t make his NFL debut until at least 2019. The team placed the wideout on the injured reserve today, according to Calvin Watkins of The Athletic (via Twitter). The team has signed receiver Ricky Jeune to take the open roster spot (via Watkins).
The Cowboys selected Wilson with a sixth-round pick in this past year’s draft. The six-foot-three wideout had two productive seasons at Boise State, hauling in 139 receptions for 2,640 yards, and 18 touchdowns in 26 games. He also served as one of the team’s kick returners, averaging 23.9 yards on 31 returns. The rookie suffered an injury in a recent practice, and ESPN’s Todd Archer tweets that the receiver will eventually undergo surgery to repair a “subluxation issue” in his shoulder.
Jeune, also six-foot-three, was expected to be a late-round pick in this past year’s draft following a productive career with Georgia Tech. The wideout ultimately went undrafted before landing with the Rams after the draft. He was waived earlier this week, and he landed a workout with Dallas earlier today.
The 24-year-old will likely battle with Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir, and K.D. Cannon for one of the Cowboys’ final roster spots.
Cowboys Work Out WR Ricky Jeune
- The Cowboys worked out wide receiver Ricky Jeune on Tuesday, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Jeune, who previously spent time with the Rams, could add to the club’s depth in the wake of Cedrick Wilson’s shoulder injury.
Seahawks, Cowboys In Staring Contest Over Earl Thomas
There’s still no end in sight to the Earl Thomas/Seahawks drama. Thomas continues to insist he won’t report without a new contract, and that without a new contract he wants to be traded. The Seahawks won’t budge on extending him, but also haven’t complied with his trade demands. The Cowboys have been a frequently mentioned potential destination for Thomas, a Texas native, and Brady Henderson and Todd Archer of ESPN.com, the site’s Seahawks and Cowboys reporters, respectively, took a look at what it would take to get Thomas to Dallas.
Henderson notes that the Seahawks have the money available to give Thomas a new deal if they really wanted to, they just don’t have any desire to pay him longterm top-safety market as he enters his age-29 season. Archer notes the Cowboys are even less restricted by the cap, and could give Thomas any deal they want comfortably. Henderson says the Seahawks “aren’t going to give Thomas away for nothing despite the perception that they have no other choice.” The Seahawks are clearly intent on getting top dollar for the All-Pro safety in any trade, and it’s unclear if the Cowboys will be willing to pay it.
Archer writes the Cowboys “aren’t going to overpay”, that they’ve “held firm in talks”, and that it’s “basically a staring contest” between the two sides now. The start of the season is right around the corner, and any potential trade would have to happen relatively soon for Thomas to be able to get up to speed with his new team. It will be fascinating to watch to see which side blinks first.
Cowboys Notes: Elliott, Wilson
Todd Gurley‘s new deal with the Rams is great news for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, Charean Williams of PFT writes.
Gurley’s new four-year, ~$60MM deal includes $45MM guaranteed and may set a new standard for talented running backs like Elliott. The Cowboys will have to shell out more money than previously anticipated to lock up Elliott for the long term, but the good news is that they don’t have to worry about a new deal right away. Barring something unexpected, the Cowboys will pick up Elliott’s fifth-year option for 2021. After that, they’ll have to address his next contract.
- Cowboys rookie wide receiver Cedrick Wilson is believed to have torn the labrum in his shoulder in practice, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). If the sixth rounder misses significant time, it’ll be a blow to the Cowboys’ WR depth. A timetable has not been determined, but owner Jerry Jones confirmed that he’ll be out for a while (Twitter link via Jon Machota of the Dallas News).
Kavon Frazier May Have Blood Disorder
- Cowboys safety Kavon Frazier may have a blood disorder, a source told Brandon George of SportsDay Dallas News. Frazier, who played in 15 games for Dallas last season, is undergoing tests to determine if he will be able to return to the field. The Cowboys placed him on the non-football injury list just before training camp started.
Jerry Jones Won't Let Players Stay In Locker Room For Anthem
- Despite the NFL’s recent pullback on their national anthem policy, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said today that he will not allow any of his players to remain in the locker room during the anthem, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The league will no longer enforce its previously announced policy, which would have led to teams being fined if players “did not respect” the anthem. It’s unclear exactly what Jones can do to prevent his players from staying in the locker room, or performing a visual protest, but it’s an issue to keep an eye as the season gets underway.
Cowboys Haven’t Discussed Thomas Since Draft
According to one report, the Cowboys have discussed an Earl Thomas trade with the Seahawks in recent months. However, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones told reporters on Wednesday that the two sides have not talked about a deal since the draft (Twitter link via PFT’s Charean Williams). 
At this point, it’s hard to know whether Jones is telling the truth. What is clear, however, is that Thomas is still holding out hope of a trade if he does not get a new deal. This week, he is staying away from the club as training camp gets underway.
Thomas is under contract for one more season with a base salary of $8.5MM and a $10.4MM cap hit. When Thomas signed his four-year, $40MM extension with the Seahawks in 2014, he was the highest-paid safety in the game. Today, that deal puts him sixth in average annual value. Thomas either wants the Seahawks to restore his place atop the mountain or trade him to another team that will oblige.
For now, the Cowboys project to start Xavier Woods and Jeff Heath at safety.
Cowboys' David Irving Not At Camp
Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving was not present for the start of the Cowboys’ training camp on Tuesday, sources tell Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star Telegram. Irving has been excused from team activities to address ongoing personal issues, according to those sources.