J.D. Woods

The Spring League Announces Camp Roster

Since we learned last year that there’d be a spring football league in 2017, several former NFL stars have committed to the endeavor. Today, The Spring League announced (via Twitter) their full training camp roster.

Ahmad BradshawAs was previously reported, defensive end Greg Hardy, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., and running back Ben Tate were among the major names to have committed to the league. Former cornerback Brandon Browner was reportedly involved, but he was curiously omitted from the training camp roster. Former Giants and Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw is seemingly the biggest addition to the roster since the last update.

The Spring League is composed of four teams, with the rosters comprised of veteran free agents. Ultimately, six games will be played between April 5 through April 26. Players who are currently on NFL rosters are not eligible to participate.

The full training camp roster can be found below:

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Fullbacks

  • Adam Cox
  • Jonathan Amosa

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Kellen Winslow, Ben Tate Join Spring League

The Spring League kicks off in April and it will feature some notable names looking to resurrect their football careers. Defensive end Greg Hardy, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., cornerback Brandon Browner, and running back Ben Tate are among the players who have been confirmed as participants, according to a press release. Greg Hardy (vertical)

Winslow has not played in an NFL game since the 2013 season and we haven’t heard much from him since he worked out for the Packers last August. Tate, a former second-round pick, showed lots of promise in Houston but could not capitalize on a starting opportunity with the Browns in 2014. Hardy and Browner first committed to the league in early March.

The Spring League consists of four teams comprised of veteran free agents. The league will conduct practices and play six games from April 5 through April 26. Players who are currently on NFL rosters will not be eligible to participate.

The league has secured five quarterbacks thus far, including Chiefs 2011 fifth-round pick Ricky Stanzi and NFL practice squad journeyman McLeod Bethel-Thompson. At wide receiver, there’s former Ram Brandon Gibson, Jets 2014 fourth-round pick Jalen Saunders, and one-time Bills WR2 David Nelson. Former Jets defensive back Ellis Lankster and Texans 2013 third-round defensive tackle Sam Montgomery will also be suiting up for The Spring League next month.

The full list of players can be found below. In addition to those listed here, Pro Football Rumors has learned that another 30 players are expected to join prior to the start of training camp.

Quarterbacks

  • Hutson Mason
  • Ricky Stanzi
  • McLeod Bethel-Thompson
  • Zach Kline
  • Jeremy Cannon

Running backs

Wide receivers

  • Jalen Saunders
  • David Nelson
  • Kenzel Doe
  • Brandon Gibson
  • Daje’ Johnson
  • Gavin Lutman
  • Tyler McDonald
  • J.D. Woods
  • Sed Cunningham
  • Lawrence Smith
  • Terrance Lewis
  • Rashon Ceaser
  • Kendrick Wiggins

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AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Burleson, Pats, Jets

As we noted this morning, Jordan Rodgers represents the latest signee for a Dolphins team that has been busy over the last couple days. However, even though the team has reportedly inked Rodgers, Michael Rios, and Kevin Cone to deals in the last 24 hours or so, those weren’t the only lesser-known players brought in for workouts. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald details, ex-Texans receiver Lestar Jean, and former West Virginia receiver J.D. Woods also auditioned for the club on Wednesday, but left without contracts.

Here’s more from around the AFC East:

  • The Dolphins continue to look at receivers and will bring in Nate Burleson for a visit today, reports Steve Wyche of the NFL Network (Twitter link). Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is a little surprised by the news, since he doesn’t think Burleson would be more than the No. 5 receiver in Miami, and doesn’t think the former Lion would have interest in being buried so deep on the depth chart.
  • Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty was in Florida with Vince Wilfork last week when the veteran nose tackle signed the new deal that will keep him in New England. McCourty tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald that he played a role in helping convince Wilfork to remain a Pat, joking that “he kind of owes me a little percent of his contract.”
  • The Jets are “very intrigued” by Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin, a team source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Benjamin will be paying a visit to the Jets, according to Mehta.