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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Extra Points: Texans, Jaguars, Bucs, Kraft

May 23rd, 2015 at 7:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Let’s run down some bits and pieces from the league from Saturday.

  • The Lions acquired Haloti Ngata via trade to plug one of their defensive tackle holes vacated by the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, and CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora notes (on Twitter) Detroit could make a similar play to find more help on its defensive interior. Detroit picked Gabe Wright in Round 4 and signed Tyrunn Walker, he of one career start, from the Saints, so a need obviously remains.
  • Blake Bortles‘ offseason development choice was working with the same motion analysis specialists Tom Brady has in the past, Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union writes. The columnist reports Bortles, who rushed for 345 yards as a rookie with the Jaguars, dropped from 250 pounds to 238.
  • Jags remaining unsigned draft choices T.J. Yeldon and A.J. Cann should agree to terms this week during OTAs, Ryan O’Halloran of the Times-Union notes.
  • The Texans are the favorites to be this year’s featured team on HBO’s Hard Knocks, reports ESPN.com’s Tania Ganguli (on Twitter).
  • Johnthan Banks figures to present a tough challenge for veteran Mike Jenkins to reclaim his starting cornerback job alongside Alterraun Verner with the Buccaneers, writes ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinkas. Although Pro Football Focus doesn’t rate Banks, a starter for most of his two NFL slates, as a particularly good cover man (93rd among corners last year; subscription required), the third-year player did intercept four passes and deflect 10. A Pro Bowler with the Cowboys in 2009, Jenkins is entering his age-30 season. Although only on a one-year contract after not being tendered as a restricted free agent by Dallas, Sterling Moore should be in this conversation as well after his breakout 2014.
  • Yasinkas also expects Charles Sims to give the suddenly mediocre Doug Martin a stiff challenge for the Bucs’ top ball-carrying job. Sims averaged just 2.8 yards per tote as a rookie in limited duty, while Martin averaged 3.7 per carry on 134 carries.
  • Justin Smith‘s retirement didn’t exactly catch the 49ers in an experience sinkhole like Suh and Fairley’s did for the Lions, with Darnell Dockett and Glenn Dorsey (234 starts between them) fronting the competition. But other candidates loom in what could be more of a committee-type arrangement, writes the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. First-round pick Arik Armstead and Tank Carradine are among those potentially able to supply depth after the loss of the unit’s leader. Dorsey rated ahead of the departed Ray McDonald — via PFF during his last healthy season in 2013, but both McDonald and Smith boasted top-flight marks last season.
  • The Boston Globe’s Christopher L. Gasper argued Patriots owner Robert Kraft put his own legacy ahead of his team’s immediate future in withdrawing from a potential battle with commissioner Roger Goodell over the team’s Deflategate penalties. The Pats boss backed Goodell on the Saints’ Bountygate punishment and his initial ruling in the Ray Rice domestic-abuse incident before objecting to sanctions against his own team.

NFC Notes: Rams, Garcia, Lions, Walsh

May 20th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

Former NFL signal-caller Jeff Garcia interviewed for the Rams‘ quarterbacks coach job earlier in the offseason, but the position ultimately went to Chris Weinke. Still, the club apparently liked what it saw from Garcia. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), the Rams have added Garcia to their coaching staff as an offensive assistant for the coming season.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Lance Moore received a $40K signing bonus from the Lions and will get another $40K bonus if he’s on the team’s roster in Week 1, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As Birkett observes, the modest guaranteed money on the minimum salary deal hardly assures the veteran wideout of a regular season roster spot. Birkett also provides contract details for defensive lineman Corey Wootton ($150K guaranteed) and second-round running back Ameer Abdullah ($2.29MM guaranteed).
  • Asked about a possible contract extension to keep him in Minnesota beyond the 2015 season, kicker Blair Walsh expressed optimism, but cautioned that he and the Vikings haven’t had serious talks yet. “We have to make sure we’re on the same page and the numbers match up,” Walsh told Alex Marvez and Bill Polian on SiriusXM NFL Radio (TwitLonger link). “That’s for management and my agent to discuss. I’ll be ready to talk about it when they are.”
  • The Cowboys are happy to have cornerback Orlando Scandrick back at their offseason workouts, as Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram details. Scandrick and the team continue to discuss the possibility of a new contract that would increase his salary for 2015.
  • Seahawks defensive tackle Jesse Williams was diagnosed with papillary type 2 cancer and will undergo kidney surgery, the team announced this week.

Extra Points: Rams, Washington, Lions

May 16th, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

As Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com tweeted Friday morning, Washington confirmed that quarterback Connor Halliday isn’t in attendance at the club’s rookie minicamp. Halliday, who signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent last week, decided to retire before his NFL career had even begun, writes Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

For now, the unexpected retirement leaves Washington with three quarterbacks on its roster — Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, and Colt McCoy. However, the team may still bring in one more arm to replace Halliday and to get through the offseason. More from around the NFL..

  • Dave Peacock, the co-leader of the St. Louis stadium task force, can see a scenario in which Stan Kroenke moves to Los Angeles but St. Louis retains the Rams, as Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. “It’s possible we have different ownership of the (Rams) because I think (Kroenke) is really committed to Los Angeles,” Peacock said. “I’m not against Stan going to Los Angeles, I just don’t want our team there. This is why we’re spending most of our time with the league — we think this is an NFL issue.”
  • With Brian Orakpo gone and with Ryan Kerrigan being the most accomplished outside linebacker left in Washington, John Keim of ESPN.com wonders how much Kerrigan will be moved around. Kerrigan was effective rushing from other areas besides the left outside linebacker spot two years ago, particularly against guards, so there’s reason to believe that he can succeed in different positions. Still, he’s comfortable coming from the left side, particularly because he’s deaf in his left ear.
  • The Lions brought a fourth quarterback to training camp last year, James Franklin, and he didn’t take a snap in an exhibition game. This year, UDFA Anthony Boone is joining a team that already features Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, and Kellen Moore, and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press wonders if he’ll suffer a similar fate.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Cowboys, Robison, Lions

May 14th, 2015 at 10:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Ryan Williams had chances last season to join another team’s 53-player roster, but he chose to stay on the Cowboys‘ taxi squad instead, Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram writes. Williams wanted to stay in Dallas so that he could get a shot to run behind the league’s best offensive line. This year, he’ll be competing with three other veteran tailbacks for roster spots, playing time, and carries. Williams has only 58 carries for 164 yards and no touchdowns over the course of his career, playing only five games since the Cardinals made him a second-round pick in 2011. Williams has a serious injury history, but he claims that he’s been healthy for the last three years.

  • Vikings defensive end Brian Robison suffered a pectoral injury while working out on Thursday, according to Peter Schrager and Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The extent of the injury is not yet known, but the 32-year-old believes that he’ll be OK. The extent of the injury will not be known until medical tests are completed, but the injury is not believed to be serious, sources tell Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. Robison started every game in 2014, but he had just 4.5 sacks and 24 tackles, his lowest totals since becoming a starter in 2011.
  • The Lions announced promotions for execs Scott McEwen, Lance Newmark, and Cedric Saunders, as Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com writes. The three men have a combined 55 years of experience with the team.
  • After losing two straight years of football due to injury, Vick Ballard is worried that people have forgotten about him. Now, he’s preparing for Colts training camp, which could be his last shot in the NFL, Zak Keefer of the Indy Star writes. The Colts signed Frank Gore in March, used a sixth-round pick on a running back earlier this month, and signed two more tailbacks, so there’s lots of competition for the veteran this summer.

Lions Sign Corey Wootton

May 14th, 2015 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

11:32am: The Lions have officially signed Wootton, the team announced in a press release.

10:57am: Wootton’s deal with the Lions is a minimum salary benefit contract, with an $80K signing bonus and a portion of the base salary guaranteed, tweets Birkett.

10:18am: The Lions are adding a little more depth to their revamped defensive line, according to agent Mike McCartney, who tweets that his client Corey Wootton is heading to Detroit on a one-year contract. Wootton had worked out for the club earlier this month.

Wootton, who turns 28 next month, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Chicago before joining the Vikings for the 2014 season. While he has never been an every-down player, Wootton saw 22 starts and totaled 10 sacks during his final two seasons with the Bears. Last year in Minnesota, he came off the bench and recorded just a single sack.

In Detroit, Wootton will be part of a new-look defensive line for the Lions, who lost Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, and George Johnson in free agency. C.J. Mosley also remains unsigned. To replace the departed players, the team has brought in Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker, rookie Gabe Wright, and now Wootton.

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), Wootton is expected to play primarily at defensive end for the Lions. The veteran lineman also tried out for the Jaguars and Titans earlier in the offseason and visited with the Saints in April before landing in Detroit.

Extra Points: Winston, Peterson, Lions

May 13th, 2015 at 10:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith isn’t thrilled with former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and his comments about Jameis Winston, Greg Auman and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times write.

“I’m disappointed. To say that the young man is an “embarrassment’? That’s pretty strong,” Smith said. “I just don’t think he’s speaking for all of Florida State, even though he’s in an official role there. Normally, what we’re doing today with our greats, you (embrace) them. Everybody on the outside may be throwing stones at them. Normally, when you’re in a family, you don’t do that. I’m very disappointed that somebody like that would make that type of statement.”

Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Vikings coach Mike Zimmer claims that he doesn’t envision any issues with team harmony if Adrian Peterson returns to the club and remains disgruntled, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Peterson, who missed 15 games last season, has been (ostensibly) pushing for the Vikings to guarantee the money owed to him over the next three years of his contract. Peterson is set to earn $12.75MM in 2015 and Zimmer declined comment when asked if he has spoken recently to Peterson or if the running back will be at OTAs.
  • Ameer Abdullah‘s trainer offered up a very flattering NFL comparison for his client. “He reminds me a ton of Steve Smith and you see what he’s done in the league,” Otis Leverette told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I played with him in (a college) all-star game and played with him in the league for a while, they’ve kind of got that same thing to them. They just don’t know that they’re supposed to be small, they don’t believe in obstacles. The things that other people see as obstacles, they just see as another day at the office.” The Lions‘ second-round pick put pen to paper earlier today.
  • Cardinals fans who are wondering which rookie free agents will be making the final roster should look at the bonuses being paid to the UDFAs for clues, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic writes. BYU inside linebacker Alani Fua leads the pack with a healthy $17K bonus while North Carolina State tackle Robert Crisp is the runner-up with $15K.

Minor Moves: Wednesday

May 13th, 2015 at 8:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Broncos signed guard Andre Davis and wide receiver David Porter, both undrafted rookies, Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post writes. Both tried out for other NFL teams recently before the Broncos landed them. Davis played guard for the University of Buffalo after originally playing defensive tackle early in his college career.
  • The Rams have released defensive end/tight end Mason Brodine, Nick Wagoner of the Post-Dispatch tweets. Brodine sat out the 2014 season with a fractured ankle.
  • The Seahawks have signed safety Ace Clark as an undrafted free agent following the team’s invitation to tryout, according to NFL Draft Bible. Clark finished his Western Carolina career with 340 career tackles including 169 solo stops, ranked second in the school record books for career tackles.
  • The Falcons waived Azusa Pacific offensive tackle Cody Clay today, according to Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com (via Twitter). Atlanta’s roster now sits at 89 players.
  • The Lions released wide receiver Skye Dawson today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (on Twitter).
  • The Rams signed former Virginia Tech center David Wang, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).

Extra Points: Bowers, Cowboys, Eagles

May 13th, 2015 at 4:47pm CST by Luke Adams

A second-round pick just four years ago, Da’Quan Bowers hasn’t generated much interest on the free agent market this offseason — or at least not much that has been reported. However, with veteran free agents no longer tied to draft pick compensation after May 12, the former Buccaneers defensive end may soon find a home.

According to Jayson Braddock of ESPN 97.5 Houston (Twitter link), Bowers is paying a visit to New Orleans to meet with the Saints this week. Previously, Braddock reported (via Twitter) that the 25-year-old had narrowed his options down to the Lions and Dolphins, so it’s not clear whether those teams remain in the mix, or if they’ve moved on.

As we wait for an update on Bowers, let’s round up a few more items from around the NFL….

  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed today that restructuring Brandon Carr‘s contract is a priority for the team this offseason, but no work has been completed yet on that front (Twitter link via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News). Meanwhile, Jerry’s son Stephen Jones said that the Cowboys’ meeting with Orlando Scandrick and agent Ron Slavin was productive, but he wouldn’t say whether the two sides will reach a new contract agreement (link via Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com).
  • The Eagles have announced in a press release that former Bears executive Dwayne Joseph has been hired as the team’s director of pro scouting, while Louis Clark has been promoted to senior director of pro personnel. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), who reported Joseph’s hiring earlier today, notes that the Bears tried hard to keep their associate director of pro personnel, but he chose to seek a better opportunity in Philadelphia.
  • Offensive lineman Austin Wentworth, who joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and was cut earlier this month, must end his playing career because of blood clots in his leg, as he tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. While the 25-year-old is currently walking with a limp, and will have to wear a brace for the rest of his life, he’s expected to walk normally eventually, according to Tomasson. Wentworth is currently on Minnesota’s reserve/non-football illness list.
  • Former Iowa State defensive end Cory Morrissey had agreed to terms on a three-year rookie contract with the Ravens as a UDFA, but ultimately decided to walk away from football instead, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun details.
  • Elsewhere at the Baltimore Sun, Jeff Zrebiec takes a closer look at what this week’s roster moves and decisions mean for the Ravens.

Lions Sign Ameer Abdullah

May 13th, 2015 at 1:28pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lions have moved one step closer to completely locking up their 2015 draft class, announcing today that they’ve signed second-round running back Ameer Abdullah to his rookie deal. With Abdullah now under contract with the club, only first-round pick Laken Tomlinson remains unsigned.

Abdullah, the 54th overall pick in this year’s draft, was the fourth running back to come off the board, behind Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, and T.J. Yeldon. While Joique Bell may currently sit first on the Lions’ depth chart at the position, Abdullah is expected to play a major role in the backfield this year, and may also return kicks and/or punts for the team.

While Abdullah will count for a modest $756K hit against the Lions’ cap this season, he’ll earn a signing bonus of about $1.283MM now that he has inked his rookie contract. The four-year value of the rookie’s deal will be approximately $4.156MM, per Over The Cap.

Lions Sign Greg Salas, Chris Owens

May 13th, 2015 at 12:33pm CST by Luke Adams

With unrestricted free agents no longer tied to the compensatory draft pick formula, the Lions have added a pair of veterans to their roster, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Per Twentyman, the club has signed wide receiver Greg Salas and cornerback Chris Owens to one-year contracts.

Salas, a fourth-round pick by the Rams in 2011, only spent one season in St. Louis before moving on to play for the Patriots, the Eagles, and – most recently – the Jets. Over the course of his four-year NFL career, the 26-year-old has accumulated 43 receptions, including eight last year for New York — most of those catches came in Salas’ rookie season, when he hauled in 27 balls for the Rams.

As for Owens, he has more NFL experience than Salas, having appeared in 83 games (17 starts) over the last six years for the Falcons, Browns, Dolphins, and Chiefs. A cornerback who plays most frequently in the slot, Salas has totaled 217 tackles, 21 passes defended, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries in his career.

Salas will compete for reps behind Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, alongside recently-signed vet Lance Moore and a handful of other players, while Owens will join a group of cornerbacks that includes Darius Slay, Rashean Mathis, Josh Wilson, Bill Bentley, Nevin Lawson, Alex Carter, Quandre Diggs, and Crezdon Butler.

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