Jacques McClendon

NFL Staff Rumors: Commanders, Packers, Colts, Cardinals, Rams

The Commanders had the biggest offseason front office staff change of any other franchise as Josh Harris became the new team owner in Washington. There are plenty of issues that need to be addressed throughout the organization, and surely, Harris will be getting to all of them, eventually. Early this morning, though, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports gave some insight into what may be a top priority for the new executive.

While recent rumors surfaced claiming that another change to the team’s name was imminent, Jones reports that, for now, they will remain the Commanders, as a name change “isn’t being seriously considered at this time.” While getting back to a winning culture and reconnecting with the community are certainly among the top priorities, the biggest issue is reportedly finding a new stadium to play in.

The team recently hired Thad Sheely as a consultant in the endeavor. Sheely was instrumental “in the development of MetLife Stadium more than a decade ago.” With FedEx Field routinely being considered one of the league’s worst facilities, the brass has been working with local governments in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia to discuss potential sites or public funding.

The organization would ideally like to have a site selected by the end of 2024, while the construction of a stadium that can “host major events like a Final Four and Super Bowl would take about four years” more. The team’s current lease at FedEx Field is active through 2026.

Here are some other recent staff updates from around the NFL:

  • The Packers announced the addition of Maureen Smith as the team’s new chief financial officer last month. Smith comes to the NFL from the MLS, where she most recently served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Minnesota United FC. Beginning her career as a CPA in public accounting, Smith now has “more than 20 years of diverse experience across the sports, healthcare, consulting, and finance industries.
  • The Colts made an effort at the end of August to replace the analytics value lost in John Park‘s departure for Dallas and George Li‘s departure for Carolina. Indianapolis hired Greg Starek as their new director of football analytics, according to Nate Atkins of the Indy Star. Starek joined the 49ers last year as a senior performance analyst after a career as a data scientist for the San Francisco Giants of the MLB. He’ll continue to carve out his space in the NFL in Indy.
  • The Cardinals brought in a new executive to focus on the business side of the team last month. According to Cardinals director of editorial content and senior writer Darren Urban, Jeremy Walls is that new executive, serving as the team’s new chief operating officer. Walls most recently spent the last several years in Miami with the Dolphins.
  • The Rams experienced a departure in their staff near the end of last month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Former director of football affairs Jacques McClendon has left the team to join the WME Sports agency. McClendon will now be an agent working in the agency’s coaches and executives division.

Jaguars Down To 53

The Jaguars announced that they are now compliant with the league’s 53-man max. Here’s the full list:

Released:

Waived:

The Jags also made moves on Friday and that list can be found here.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • To make room for the newest member of their roster, Brock Vereen, the Chiefs released safety Akeem Davis (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).
  • The Ravens signed cornerback Carrington Byndom and waived fellow corner Sam Brown, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.
  • The Browns waived offensive lineman Erle Ladson, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
  • The Jaguars signed guard/center Jacques McClendon and waived wide receiver Rasheed Bailey, as Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com tweets. McClendon was with the Jaguars in 2013-14.
  • The Colts signed free agent safety Alden Darby, as Colts PR man Christian Edwards tweets. They also removed running back Abou Toure from IR with an injury settlement, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
  • The Giants signed defensive back Joe Powell, who attended Globe Institute of Technology in Manhattan, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN (Twitter link). Powell will take the place of fellow DB Matt Smalley, who suffered a dislocated shoulder Monday.
  • The Titans announced that they have signed wide receivers Jarrod West and Donte Foster. The team also waived/injured offensive lineman Josue Matias. Matias, a 2015 UDFA addition, spent last year on Tennessee’s practice squad and is facing a six-month recovery.
  • The Lions waived wide receiver Alex Chisum and signed free agent offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre, according to a team announcement.
  • The NFL announced that Chiefs offensive tackle Zach Sterup has been suspended four games for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.

Dolphins Waive Lansanah, McClendon

The Dolphins have waived offensive lineman Jacques McClendon and linebacker Danny Lansanah, according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald (on Twitter). Danny Lansanah (vertical)

[RELATED – Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins]

Lansanah was signed by Miami just days ago, after he beat out Brandon Spikes and Jerry Franklin for the team’s open linebacker spot. Lansanah, soon-to-be 31, has spent the last two seasons and change with Tampa Bay. Over the last two years, Lansanah has appeared in every regular season game for the Bucs, making 22 total starts. In 2014, Lansanah recorded three interceptions, eight pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, and 81 total tackles. His production tailed off last season, though he still notched 47 tackles, one sack, and four pass breakups.

McClendon spent time in Miami in 2015, but didn’t see much action. In the spring, the Dolphins signed McClendon to a one-year deal, but it seems like they are more focused on Jermon Bushrod and Kraig Urbik, who were also signed this offseason. Bushrod is pushing for a starting job at right guard while Urbik is slated for a reserve role.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Sign OT Jermon Bushrod

The Dolphins have signed free agent tackle Jermon Bushrod to a one-year deal, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Bushrod himself broke the news, posting a photo on Instagram of himself signing his new contract.Jermon Bushrod (vertical)

Bushrod, 31, was cut by the Bears last month with a failed physical designation. After suffering a concussion early in the 2015 season, Bushrod was later sidelined by a shoulder injury, which was reportedly the cause of his failed physical designation.

Although injuries woes limited him to 12 games (and four starts) last season, Bushrod had previously been a stalwart at left tackle for the Bears and the Saints. The former fourth-round pick started 62 games for the Saints from 2009 to 2012, earning two Pro Bowl nods. He then started 30 games for Chicago in 2013 and 2014.

The Dolphins believe Bushrod will be back to 100% health in time for training camp, according to Salguero, but given the veteran’s injury issues, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins are penciling him in as a starter. Still, Bushrod figures to push for playing time on a line that currently features tackles Branden Albert, Ja’Wuan James, and Sam Young. Both Albert and James were solid in 2015, so if they remain in the starting lineup for 2016, Bushrod will likely compete for either a starting guard job or the swing tackle role.

In other Dolphins news, the team signed another offensive lineman, guard Jacques McClendon (Twitter link). McClendon spent time in Miami in 2015, but didn’t see much action. The 28-year-old made three starts for the Jaguars in 2014. According to Salguero, the Dolphins may not make a bigger splash than McClendon on the free agent guard market, preferring to address the position in the draft.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins also confirmed (via Twitter) that they’ve officially restructured Byron Maxwell‘s contract, a move that was expected as part of the trade that sent the cornerback to Miami. Maxwell’s deal is expected to remained relatively unchanged for 2016, with alterations starting in 2017.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Place Koa Misi, Chris McCain On IR

A pair of Dolphins linebackers will see their seasons come to an early end, with the team announcing today (via Twitter) that it has placed Koa Misi and Chris McCain on the injured reserve list. To get the roster back up to the 53-man limit, the Dolphins have signed linebacker James-Michael Johnson, center/guard Jacques McClendon, and guard Shelley Smith (Twitter link).

Misi, who turns 29 next month, is the more notable of the two Miami linebackers headed to IR, having started 13 games for the team this year. The Utah product has been with the club since being selected in the second round of the 2010 draft, starting 70 games and playing in a total of 81 contests during that stretch. Misi remains under contract with the Dolphins for two more seasons.

McCain, meanwhile, has contributed a little on both defense and special teams, recording a sack and a forced fumble for the Dolphins this season.

The new additions will help provide depth not only at linebacker, but on the offensive line, where the team has injuries mounting as well. Veteran stalwarts Mike Pouncey and Branden Albert both left Sunday’s loss to the Chargers with injuries.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/15

Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:

  • The Dolphins announced (Twitter link) that they have claimed defensive end Damontre Moore off waivers from the Giants. To make room, center/guard Jacques McClendon has been waived.
  • The Bengals are expected to promote practice squad quarterback Keith Wenning to the 53-man roster as a backup to A.J. McCarron, per Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter).
  • The Bears announced (via Twitter) that they have promoted rookie linebacker John Timu from the taxi squad while waiving veteran defensive lineman Ziggy Hood.
  • The Seahawks waived receiver B.J. Daniels and safety Akeem Davis while activating linebacker Brock Coyle from IR, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes.
  • Adrian Phillips will be promoted off of the Chargers‘ practice squad and on to the 53-man roster, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego writes.
  • The Saints waived veteran defensive end Phillip Hunt on Tuesday, as Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune writes.
  • The Raiders have signed long snapper Thomas Gafford, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). In a related move, long snapper Jon Condo has been placed on IR.
  • The Bengals (on Twitter) announced that they have waived linebacker Chris Carter.
  • Tight end Chase Coffman has re-signed with the Seahawks, a source tells Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • Washington announced the signing of veteran tight end Alex Smith (not to be confused with the quarterback of the same name). Smith, 33, is an 11-year veteran who has had previous stints in the NFL with the Bucs, Pats, Eagles, Browns, and Saints. In other roster moves Tuesday, the team waived safety Trenton Robinson from IR with an injury settlement.
  • The Cowboys have released cornerback Tyler Patmon, according to a source who spoke with Charean Williams of The Star-Telegram (on Twitter). Terrance Mitchell will now be called up from the taxi squad and given an opportunity to play at nickel.
  • The Rams waived kicker Zach Hocker and signed defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat from the taxi squad, Howard Balzer of USA Today tweets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/1/15

Here are Tuesday’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Seahawks signed tight end Chase Coffman and released center Drew Nowak, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
  • The Patriots claimed running back Trey Williams off waivers from the Cowboys, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In a related move, defensive end Trey Flowers has been moved to IR.
  • The Broncos waived tight end Richard Gordon and promoted safety Josh Bush from the taxi squad, as Troy Renck of The Denver Post tweets.
  • The Patriots are expected to sign return specialist Damaris Johnson, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal for Johnson, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.

Earlier Updates:

  • The Bills created two openings on their 53-man roster with a pair of Monday moves, and opened up a third vacancy by officially placing Kyle Williams on IR today, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. The move had been expected since last week.
  • To fill those three spots on their roster, the Bills signed defensive end Lavar Edwards off the Cowboys‘ practice squad, defensive lineman T.J. Barnes off the Jets‘ practice squad, and linebacker Kevin Reddick via free agency, per Rodak (all Twitter links). The series of signings helps the team fortify its banged-up defensive line, while also re-adding Reddick, who was cut prior to the regular season.
  • The Dolphins have re-signed center/guard Jacques McClendon to their 53-man squad as an insurance policy for Mike Pouncey, the team announced today (via Twitter). Pouncey is dealing with a minor foot sprain and is considered day to day for now. Miami waived linebacker James-Michael Johnson in a corresponding move.

Workout Notes: Patriots, Texans, Chargers

The latest workouts from around the NFL:

Workout Notes: Bears, Broncos, Packers

Here’s a roundup of today’s auditions from around the NFL. All links go to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle on Twitter), unless noted otherwise..