East Notes: Hardy, Fins, D. Lewis
Greg Hardy is set to make his Cowboys debut today, though it will not come without some extra controversy. On Tuesday, in his first media session since he signed a one-year deal with Dallas this offseason, Hardy made some bizarre and ill-timed comments regarding Tom Brady‘s wife and returning to the field with “guns blazin,'” and a rap video heavy on strippers and guns–which Hardy made during his suspension–surfaced just yesterday. The NFL’s first vice president of social responsibility, Anna Isaacson, recently issued the following statement:
“I couldn’t disagree more with Greg Hardy’s comments, and they do not reflect the values of the league. We are working hard to bring attention to the positive role models many other players represent and also to continue our education with all members of the NFL family.”
As the early Week 5 games approach, let’s take a quick swing around the league’s east divisions, including more notes on Hardy:
- Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett reportedly admonished Hardy for his comments, but on Friday, owner Jerry Jones took to the airwaves to defend his player. In so doing, says Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News, Jones undermined his head coach and further enabled the apparently oblivious Hardy.
- In a bit of Twitter repartee this morning, ESPN’s Ed Werder and former Packers executive Andrew Brandt discussed the Hardy signing. Brandt points out that, in normal circumstances, Hardy would have generated interest from 12-15 clubs, but given his impending suspension, only one or two teams were interested. Werder says that, had teams known Hardy would have agreed to the team-friendly terms that the Cowboys offered him, there would have been at least 15 clubs in the running. The lack of interest, Werder says, was not based upon morality.
- The Dolphins might have just fired Joe Philbin, but it was not that long ago that owner Stephen Ross was determined that Philbin would lead his club for the foreseeable future. Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Miami vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum pushed Ross to at least pursue Dan Quinn, who was ultimately hired by the Falcons, but Ross would have none of it, and the Dolphins never even made an effort to contact Quinn.
- Whether or not the Dolphins are able to land Sean Payton in the offseason–and all indications are that Payton will remain in New Orleans—James Walker of ESPN.com says the interest in Payton makes it clear that Miami will be seeking an experienced head coach at season’s end.
- Ben Volin of The Boston Globe explores why the Patriots, who rarely invest in running backs, recently signed Dion Lewis to a contract extension through 2017 after just three games. As Volin points out, the Pats got tremendous value out of the deal, as Lewis has no guaranteed money for 2016 or 2017, and his cap number for 2017 will be the second-lowest among all starting running backs. New England is privately shocked that Lewis accepted a deal so far below market value.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/15
Let’s round up Saturday’s minor moves, which we’ll keep updated throughout the day:
- A week ago, the Buccaneers cut tackle Reid Fragel from their active roster, with Sunday’s game around the corner. Today, the Bucs brought Fragel back into the mix, promoting him to replace guard Matthew Masifilo, who has been waived, according to a team release. With starting center Evan Smith not expected to play and guard Logan Mankins listed as questionable, Fragel could be forced into action if Tampa Bay’s offensive line gets hit with injuries again this weekend.
Earlier updates:
- The Jaguars signed linebacker Jordan Tripp from their practice squad and waived/injured linebacker John Lotulelei to make room, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports (on Twitter). Tripp played in 13 games for the Dolphins last year after the team drafted him in the fifth round out of Montana. Miami waived Tripp prior to the season. A third-year UDFA, Lotulelei played in 14 games as a rookie in 2013 for the Seahawks and Jaguars and four this season for Jacksonville.
- The Cowboys have promoted wideout Vince Mayle from the practice squad, tweets Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The receiver will replace pass-catching back Lance Dunbar, who was placed on injured reserve earlier today. Mayle, a former fourth-round pick out of Washington State, has yet to make an NFL appearance.
- The Seahawks have promoted running back Rod Smith from the practice squad, tweets ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Marshawn Lynch isn’t expected to play Sunday, and Fred Jackson is battling through an injured ankle. Smith, an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, compiled 549 yards and eight touchdowns during his college career.
Lance Dunbar Out For Season
SATURDAY, 11:00am: The Cowboys have placed Dunbar on the injured reserve, tweets Todd Archer of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 6:56pm: Cowboys running back Lance Dunbar will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, head coach Jason Garrett told reporters, including Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The surgery, of course, will end Dunbar’s season at the quarter-mark.
Dunbar, 25, has been a key part of the Dallas offense through the first month of the season, establishing a new career high already in receptions (21). He racked up 54 yards on the ground on just three carries before leaving Sunday’s game against the Saints.
While DeMarco Murray‘s departure opened the door for Dunbar to get a little more playing time, his receiving ability out of the backfield would have helped him carve out a role even if Murray had re-signed with the Cowboys in the offseason.
Dallas still has Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden in-house and Christine Michael could take on a larger role, so there’s no guarantee that they’ll look out-of-house for a running back. Dallas also has running back Gus Johnson on the practice squad and he could be promoted to the 53-man roster for additional depth, if needed.
NFC Notes: Jones, Cousins, Lions, McClain
Many 31-year-old receivers don’t get a second chance when they’re cut by an NFL team, but Packers wideout James Jones was confident he’d eventually find his footing.
The veteran signed with the Giants early this offseason, but he was cut by the squad in early September. Jones quickly caught on with his former team, but no one expected this kind of production. Through four games, the wideout has compiled 17 catches for 317 yards and four touchdowns.
“I never doubted that I could play the game,” Jones told Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com. “It’s just the hand you’re dealt sometimes. New coaches come in, and they get rid of certain guys. You don’t know why. I don’t ask no questions. I just go about my business, ‘Thanks for the opportunity,’ and look for the next door to open. Where was I mentally? I was in a great spot because I knew I still could play. There were a lot of teams who needed a receiver. So I knew I would land somewhere. I never doubted nothing.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…
- Former Washington coach Mike Shanahan is confident that quarterback Kirk Cousins can be a foundational piece for a contender. “I think he’s a guy that can take your team and win a Super Bowl,” Shanahan told ESPN 980, via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. “And that’s the biggest compliment I can give somebody. Does this person have the ability, the ingredients, that if he has the right supporting cast on offense/defense and special teams, can he win you a Super Bowl? And I believe that Kirk Cousins has that ability.”
- Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. acknowledged that his role within the franchise has been reduced, while his mother Martha Ford has taken on a larger role. “She is [in charge],” Ford Jr. told WJR Radio (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com). “She is, and since my dad died, I’ve been less involved with the Lions and the NFL. She is very much in charge, and she’s got the decision-making role.”
- Rolando McClain made his return to practice this week, and the linebacker admitted it was tough to sit out the Cowboys‘ first four games. “It’s always good to watch football, be a part of it, not to get out of it, keep your mind in it, but in a way it was frustrating,” McClain told ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. “Frustrating for myself and for the fact that I feel like I should have been out there to help my team. Luckily those four weeks flew by and I finally get to go out and play football and contribute to this defense and contribute to this team.”
NFC East Notes: Cassel, Cowboys, Kelly
The NFC East is in flux right now, with the Cowboys, Giants, and Washington all sitting at 2-2 and the Eagles only a game behind at 1-3. Here are a few notes as we get ready for Week 5:
- The Cowboys have activated Matt Cassel to be the primary backup behind Brandon Weeden, according to ESPN.com. Kellen Moore had previously been the backup as Cassel learned the offense, and will drop to the No. 3 quarterback for this Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
- The Cowboys have only 52 players on their roster at the moment and David Moore of The Dallas Morning News expects them to promote either defensive end Lavar Edwards or wide receiver Vince Mayle from the practice squad to fill out that final spot (via Twitter).
- In college news, USC lost to Washington at home despite being a huge favorite, leading to rumors that the Trojans could be in the market for a new head coach, and Eagles’ head coach Chip Kelly could be a target, according to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated. This was a huge defeat considering head coach Steve Sarkisian’s ugly start at the school, which was also considering Chris Petersen, who instead was hired in Washington. The loss has begun speculation of Sarkisian being replaced at Southern Cal, and one name the school would be extremely interested in Kelly, who they were interested in before he left for the NFL.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Browns, Cowboys, Bears, Jags
Owners are batting around different ideas with regards to Los Angeles but they’re also considering making a major change to the preseason, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The NFL is considering a reduction in preseason games, going from four to three.
From the outside, it’s hard to imagine owners giving up money in the preseason without getting it back elsewhere. In the past, there has been speculation that the owners and the NFLPA could reach an agreement to expand the regular season beyond 16 games and I’d imagine that could be on the table in the next round of CBA talks if the preseason is reduced.
Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Browns coach Mike Pettine insists his team is making improvements and he’s not planning any major changes to his disappointing defense, Tom Withers of The Associated Press writes. The Chargers gained 438 yards against Cleveland on Sunday and the Raiders got 468 yards against them in the week prior.
- Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News believes that the Cowboys will go to the free agent market to find a replacement for injured running back Lance Dunbar.
- There’s a good chance the Bears will re-sign undrafted rookie linebacker John Timu to the practice squad, provided he clears waivers tomorrow, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).
- Linebackers Emmanuel Acho and Philip Wheeler worked out for the Jaguars on Monday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).
NFC East Notes: JPP, Cowboys, Washington
When Jason Pierre-Paul reported to the Giants shortly before the regular season got underway, he and his camp expressed confidence that he’d be ready to play soon, perhaps even as early as Week 1. The Giants, of course, didn’t see it that way, and JPP returned home to work on getting his injured hand healthy enough to play before the end of 2015.
So when do the Giants expect Pierre-Paul to be ready? According to Bob Glauber of Newsday, the club is hopeful that the veteran defensive end will be back for the final four games of the season, or perhaps even longer. However, the Giants are optimistic about seeing JPP back on the field down the stretch, a source tells Glauber that it’s “still possible he doesn’t come back [this year].”
As we wait to see how Pierre-Paul’s recovery progresses, let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFC East…
- Lance Dunbar‘s season-ending injury will be a significant blow for the Cowboys‘ backfield, but Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets that the team isn’t planning on bringing in another free agent running back. Werder hints that Christine Michael, acquired last month via trade, could take on a bigger role in Dunbar’s absence.
- Former 49ers guard Joe Looney was among the players to work out for Washington this week, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets that ex-Ravens wideout Daniel Brown and tight end D.J. Williams also tried out for the team. Washington let Williams go with an injury settlement about a month ago, so he wouldn’t be eligible to rejoin the team for at least a couple more weeks.
- While Chip Kelly won’t admit it, the Eagles head coach has to recognize that the lack of talent on his offensive line is killing his run schemes, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Having cut Evan Mathis in the offseason, Kelly insists that there’s no lesson to be learned there: “If we didn’t renegotiate [Mathis’ contract], we weren’t getting him back.” Still, it’s fair to be skeptical of that assertion, considering Mathis was under contract and likely wouldn’t have extended a holdout into the regular season like Kam Chancellor did.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/15
Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..
- The Colts announced that they have signed free agent cornerback Shaun Prater. Prater will take the roster spot vacated by quarterback Josh Johnson. Prater was originally signed by the Colts as a free agent on September 29, 2015 and was waived on October 2. He has played in 19 career NFL games (three starts) and registered six tackles, seven passes defensed, one interception and five special teams tackles
- The Cowboys waived linebacker Keith Smith and defensive tackle Ken Bishop, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. With Lance Dunbar sidelined with a knee injury, the Cowboys will use two of their three open roster spots for the returns of Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain.
- The Buccaneers waived wide receiver Adam Humphries, according to Pat Yasinskas of WalterFootball.com (on Twitter). In a related move, wide receiver Donteea Dye has been promoted to the 53-man roster, as Jenna Laine of FOX Sports 1 tweets.
- Washington announced the signing of defensive end Frank Kearse and the release of linebacker Terrance Plummer.
Gates, Hardy, Others Return From Suspensions
With four weeks of the NFL season now in the books, several players – and one general manager – are eligible to return from their four-game suspensions, as Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes. While Yates’ list isn’t exhaustive, he includes the most notable names who will be eligible to suit up for their teams’ next games:
- Martavis Bryant, WR (Steelers)
- Antonio Gates, TE (Chargers)
- Greg Hardy, DE (Cowboys)
- Rolando McClain, LB (Cowboys)
- Sheldon Richardson, DL (Jets)
- Derek Wolfe, DE (Broncos)
- Ray Farmer, general manager (Browns)
In most cases, teams will be given a roster exemption for their returning players, so they won’t have to immediately make room for them on the 53-man roster today. However, teams will have to create an opening on their rosters by Thursday if they intend to activate these players, and there aren’t any players on this list that look like release candidates.
The Cowboys could get the biggest boost this week, with two of their best defensive players – Hardy and McClain – set to return. McClain’s career production has been somewhat up and down, and Hardy hasn’t played since Week 1 of the 2014 season, so it’ll be interesting to see if either player is able to make an immediate impact for Dallas.
Richardson, meanwhile, could be a candidate for additional discipline — he’ll have his pre-trial hearing on street-racing charges today, but the legal process is expected to continue for about a month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). The NFL could step in and hand out another suspension for Richardson before his trial, but it’s more likely that the league will simply wait until after it concludes to make a decision.
As for Farmer, the Browns GM, who was suspended for texting coaches on the sideline during games last season, will be able to resume making roster decisions today, though Cleveland wasn’t exactly closed for business over the last four weeks — with interim GM Bill Kuharich at the helm, the team locked up quarterback Austin Davis to a two-year extension last week.
Cowboys Fear Lance Dunbar Out For Season
Cowboys running back Lance Dunbar is scheduled to undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the damage to his left knee, but the term isn’t overly optimistic. According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, the Cowboys fear Dunbar tore the ACL and MCL in his knee, which would sideline him for the rest of the 2015 season.
Dunbar, 25, has been a key part of the Dallas offense through the first month of the season, establishing a new career high already in receptions (21). He racked up 54 yards on the ground on just three carries before leaving Sunday’s game against the Saints.
While DeMarco Murray‘s departure opened the door for Dunbar to get a little more playing time, his receiving ability out of the backfield would have helped him carve out a role even if Murray had re-signed with the Cowboys in the offseason.
If Dunbar is sidelined for the year, Dallas would still have Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden, and Christine Michael could take on a larger role. However, the team may want to add another receiving back to the mix, particularly to help alleviate the pressure on Brandon Weeden – or Matt Cassel – until Tony Romo returns.