Packers Notes: Brooks, Dial
- Ahmad Brooks‘ one-year deal with the Packers has a base value of $3.5MM and includes a $1.75MM signing bonus and a $1MM base salary, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. The veteran pass rusher can also earn $750K in gameday active roster bonuses, plus $1.5MM in sack-based incentives, although those are considered not-likely-to-be-earned, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That means the sack threshold Brooks must reach is greater than six, the total he hit in 2017. Now 33 years old, Brooks will serve in a rotational edge defender capacity for Green Bay.
- Another 49ers castoff — defensive lineman Quinton Dial — also recently agreed to a one-year pact with the Packers, and his deal will pay him one dollar more than the veteran’s minimum ($775,001), reports Silverstein (Twitter link). By adding that single dollar, Green Bay has kept open the possibility of extending Dial in-season. Had Dial simply signed for the minimum, the Packers wouldn’t have had the right to give him a new contract until after the new league year opens in the spring.
Packers, OL Corey Linsley Talking Extension
The Packers are negotiating an extension with center Corey Linsley, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Packers Sign DL Quinton Dial]
Linsley, a fifth-round pick in 2014, started 16 games during his rookie campaign, but split time with fellow interior lineman J.C. Tretter over the past two seasons. After being activated off the physically unable to perform list last November, Linsley started Green Bay’s remaining nine regular season contests. With Tretter out of the picture after signing a free agent deal with the Browns, Linsley is the Packers’ clear primary option at the pivot.
While Green Bay has let Tretter, Josh Sitton, and T.J. Lang depart from its offensive line over the past two years, the club has also paid up from time to time. Both of the club’s tackles — David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga — are on long-term deals, while guard Lane Taylor received a three-year extension earlier this week.
Entering his age-26 campaign, Linsley will earn a base salary of $1.797MM in 2017 after qualifying for the proven performance escalator.
Workout Notes: Patriots, Jets, Bills
The Patriots auditioned some players of note this week, including linebacker Akeem Ayers, quarterback Thad Lewis, and wide receiver Jeremy Ross (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
Ayers has some history with New England after playing on their 2014 Super Bowl championship team. Last year, Ayers appeared in all 16 games for Indianapolis and recorded two sacks.
Linebackers Nicholas Grigsby and Antwione Williams also showed their stuff for the Pats.
Here’s a look at Wednesday’s other workouts from around the NFL:
- The Jets worked out former Maryland cornerback Alvin Hill, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- Canadian defensive tackle Stefan Charles worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, John Kryk of The Toronto Sun tweets.
- The Cardinals worked out wide receivers Donteea Dye, Cobi Hamilton, and Rashad Ross, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
- The Bills auditioned defensive backs Ironhead Gallon, Lee Hightower, Rickey Jefferson, Marcus McWilson, Orion Stewart, and Jack Tocho, linebackers Kenneth Olugbode, defensive tackle Marcus Hardison, running back Connor Harris, and tackle De’Ondre Wesley, according to Balzer (via Twitter links).
- The Buccaneers auditioned quarterback Trevor Knight, wide receivers C.J. Board and Jake Lampman, and tackles Justin Murray and Avery Young, Balzer tweets.
- The Packers took a look at running back Jacob Huesman, Balzer tweets.
- The Colts auditioned linebacker Travis Feeney and defensive backs Jordan Moore, Taurean Nixon, Ezra Robinson, and Deron Washington, Balzer tweets.
- The Giants auditioned defensive backs B.W. Webb Brandon Dixon, and Jeremiah McKinnon, Balzer tweets.
James Jones Announces Retirement
James Jones did not play last season, and the longtime Packers wide receiver does not plan to suit up again. Jones announced his retirement on Wednesday, via PitchEngine.com.
The 33-year-old Jones played nine NFL seasons — eight with the Packers — prior to being released by the Chargers in August 2016. A Green Bay third-round pick in 2007, Jones started in 72 games and played in 13 playoff contests as an auxiliary pass-catcher on Brett Favre- and Aaron Rodgers-fronted offenses.
“I have truly been blessed to have worked with such wonderful people throughout my career,” Jones said. “I would personally like to thank the entire Packers Organization, Packer Nation and particularly Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and (longtime Packers scout) Sammy Seal. I would also like to thank the Raiders Organization, my agents at Sun West Sports, Frank Bauer and Kenny Chapman, and everyone who believed in my talents which allowed me to continue playing the sport I love.”
Although he played a role in the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV championship, Jones put together his best season in 2012, leading the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions. The former San Jose State prospect caught 51 touchdown passes in his career — including eight in a 2015 reunion with the Packers.
The career supporting-caster recorded at least 600 receiving yards in seven of his nine seasons and surpassed 800 twice — in 2013 and ’15. Jones also averaged at least 16 yards per catch in two seasons, with the final Green Bay campaign appearing in that category as well. The Bolts signed Jones early in their final San Diego training camp but released him just before the season.
Jones said he’s accepted a position with the NFL Network
Packers Sign Quinton Dial
The Packers have signed former San Francisco defensive lineman Quinton Dial, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
The Packers have now added two former Niners front seven players in the last week. At the end of August, Green Bay also inked linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Brooks wound up on the curb as a cap casualty while Dial was not a scheme fit for SF’s new look defense.
Now back in a 3-4, the Packers are hoping that Dial can produce. He started 26 games for SF over the last two years and he’s still only 27, so there’s reason for hope. He’ll likely start off the year in a reserve role but he has an opportunity to get some real playing time with the Packers..
The Packers start their season at home against the Seahawks on Sunday.
Packers, G Lane Taylor Agree To Extension
The Packers announced that they have agreed to an extension with guard Lane Taylor. It’s a three-year, $16.5MM extension, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal includes a $5MM signing bonus and gives him $7.8MM overall in 2017. 
This time last year, Taylor was thrust into a starting job after the Packers surprised everyone with the release of Josh Sitton. He did well in the new role, grading out as the league’s No. 41 guard among 72 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. In May, he earned a $400K raise for 2017 thanks to performance escalators.
Taylor was one of three Packers offensive linemen to start every game last year, along with David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Thanks in part to Taylor and the rest of the O-Line, the Packers’ offense finished top ten in points, yards per game, and first downs in 2016.
Taylor’s previous deal called for him to reach unrestricted free agency in March. Under the terms of the new contract, Taylor will have another opportunity to cash in again at the age of 30.
Packers To Work Out DL Quinton Dial
The Packers will work out free agent defensive lineman Quinton Dial on Monday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Dial was cut by the 49ers on Saturday..
Dial had been a consistent presence on San Francisco’s defensive line over the past few seasons, starting 26 games between 2015 and 2016. Following a 2015 campaign when he established career-highs in tackles (59) and sacks (2.5), Dial seemingly took a step back in 2016, finishing with 36 tackles and no sacks. The 27-year-old had signed a three-year extension with the 49ers prior to last season.
Green Bay projects to be a bit thin along the defensive line, as Letroy Guion has been released and rookie Montravius Adams will likely miss time to begin the year. Dial, if signed, would join Packers options such as Kenny Clark, Mike Daniels, and Christian Ringo.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Chicago Bears
- Claimed:
- LS Andrew DePaola
- WR Tre McBride
- RB Taquan Mizzell
- Cut:
- TE Ben Braunecker
- RB Jeremy Langford
- LS Jeff Overbaugh
Detroit Lions
- Claimed:
- G Zac Kerin
- T Brian Mihalik
- Cut:
- T Cornelius Lucas
- G Brandon Thomas
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Thurston Armbrister
- CB Adairius Barnes
- WR Jace Billingsley
- WR Dontez Ford
- C Leo Koloamatangi
- DT Derrick Lott
- S Rolan Milligan
- T Storm Norton
- DE Pat O’Connor
- TE Cole Wick
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed:
- DE Chris Odom
- Placed on IR:
- OL Don Barclay
- Signed to practice squad:
- G Kofi Amichia
- CB Donatello Brown
- QB Joe Callahan
- WR Michael Clark
- LB Reggie Gilbert
- DT Izaah Lunsford
- LB Derrick Mathews
- G/T Adam Pankey
- S Jermaine Whitehead
- WR DeAngelo Yancey
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed:
- TE Blake Bell
- Waived/injured:
- TE Bucky Hodges
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT Dylan Bradley
- TE Kyle Carter
- RB Bronson Hill
- WR Cayleb Jones
- LB Elijah Lee
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- CB Horace Richardson
- QB Kyle Sloter
Cowboys Acquire Jayrone Elliott From Packers
The Cowboys have traded for Packers outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). Dallas will send a 2018 conditional seventh-round pick to Green Bay, per Archer.
The Packers initially non-tendered Elliott this offseason, but they later re-signed him to a $1.6MM deal. Interestingly, Elliott did not visit with the Cowboys during his free agent period as he met only with the Bills and Steelers.
Dallas will be without Anthony Hitchens for an unspecified amount of time, meaning Elliott could have a chance to play on defense. He’ll also likely see time on special teams.
Packers Down To 53
The Packers’ 53-man roster is set…for now. Here’s a look at the players that were cut to allow the team to get down to the limit.
Cut:
- DT Calvin Heurtelou
- RB Kalif Phillips
- CB Daquan Holmes
- TE Aaron Peck
- G Thomas Evans
- S Aaron Taylor
- OLB Johnathan Calvin
- ILB Cody Heiman
- G Geoff Gray
- DT Izaah Lunsford
- CB Raysean Pringle
- QB Joe Callahan
- TE Emmanuel Byrd
- QB Taysom Hill
- WR Malachi Dupre
- ILB Derrick Mathews
- OT/G Adam Pankey
- WR DeAngelo Yancey
- CB Donatello Brown
- WR Max McCaffrey
- WR Michael Clark
- DT Brian Price
- OLB Reggie Gilbert
- G Kofi Amichia
- OT Robert Leff
- OLB Josh Letuligasenoa
- WR Montay Crockett
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- OLB Vince Biegel
- CB Demetri Goodson
Placed on reserve/Injured
- FB Joe Kerridge
- LB David Talley
The Packers surprised some by releasing Yancey, a fifth-round pick, and Dupre, a seventh-round pick. Both could be candidates for the practice squad if they clear waivers.