Chiefs Audition Four
- The Chiefs, dealing with injuries to Dontari Poe and Jaye Howard (placed on IR), auditioned veteran defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis and Montori Hughes, per Caplan (Twitter link). Kansas City also worked out inside linebackers James Burgess and Darnell Sankey on Saturday, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
Jeremy Maclin On Track To Play Thursday
The Chiefs could see the return of one of their top offensive weapons this week, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) reports Kansas City is “optimistic” that wide receiver Jeremy Maclin will be ready to play on Thursday night against the Raiders. Maclin, who has missed the past four games with a groin injury, has been a full practice participant in each of the past two days.
[RELATED: Chiefs Place Jaye Howard On IR]
Kansas City fared well during Maclin’s quarter-season absence, posting a 3-1 record with impressive wins coming over the Panthers, Broncos, and Falcons. On Thursday night, however, the Chiefs will face their most important game to date, as they’ll go up against the division rival Raiders, who are currently leading the AFC West with a 10-2 mark. A Kansas City victory would give the Chiefs the division lead, as though both clubs would have the same record, KC would have won both head-to-head matchups and thus own the tiebreaker.
Upon his return, Maclin will rejoin a Chiefs’ receiving corps that includes recent breakout star Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, De’Anthony Thomas, and Demarcus Robinson. In eight games this season, Maclin has registered 30 receptions for 376 yards and two touchdowns.
NFL Spending By Team Over Last Four Seasons
The NFLPA has released the official data on team spending over the last four seasons. The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that each team must utilize 89% of the salary cap over two four-year periods, 2013-16 and 2017-20. As previously reported, the Raiders are the only team that has yet to satisfy that requirement for the closing period. The CBA also requires the league, as a whole, to spend 95% of the cap, in cash, for the same period. That requirement has been easily met.
Here is the full rundown of every team’s spending in declining order:
Philadelphia Eagles – $613,928,134
Denver Broncos – $587,712,791
Seattle Seahawks – $584,305,975
Green Bay Packers – $583,138,740
Miami Dolphins – $577,975,260
Kansas City Chiefs – $575,541,332
Buffalo Bills – $573,647,850
Chicago Bears – $568,301,610
Cincinnati Bengals – $567,289,411
Baltimore Ravens – $562,425,698
San Diego Chargers – $562,232,116
Indianapolis Colts – $556,335,689
Atlanta Falcons – $550,614,572
New York Giants – $543,787,033
Arizona Cardinals – $543,327,538
Los Angeles Rams – $541,957,711
New Orleans Saints – $539,836,498
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $539,736,102
Minnesota Vikings – $539,162,454
New York Jets – $533,151,519
Washington Redskins – $532,545,662
Pittsburgh Steelers – $530,698,171
Detroit Lions – $530,210,549
Tennessee Titans – $524,505,256
Dallas Cowboys – $523,033,036
Houston Texans – $517,212,166
Jacksonville Jaguars – $516,908,734
Cleveland Browns – $516,158,864
San Francisco 49ers – $514,488,198
New England Patriots – $500,083,836
Carolina Panthers – $495,149,346
Oakland Raiders – $491,433,408
Paylor: Chiefs Need Eric Berry Solution
- The Chiefs balked at meeting Eric Berry‘s asking price this summer and still face a reality where their most popular player departs next year. Berry scored twice today on a pick-6 and a pick-2, if you will, to help the Chiefs upset the Falcons. He will turn 28 later this month, and Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes the team needs to do everything it can to keep the cancer survivor in Kansas City. Thanks largely to a spree of extensions over the past few years, the Chiefs will be up against the cap in 2017, with OverTheCap projecting them to be more than $1MM over the next salary ceiling. This is without Berry or Dontari Poe on the books for next season. It would cost the team $12.967MM to franchise Berry again. That would be the highest safety cap number by over $1MM for 2017.
Chiefs Promote DT As Poe Insurance
- The Chiefs have promoted defensive tackle T.J. Barnes to the active roster, reports Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star (via Twitter). If Dontari Poe is unable to play, Barnes could slide into the backup nose tackle role behind Jarvis Jenkins.
Fitzgerald: Will Berry, Poe, Howard Be Sticking Around Kansas City?
- Fitzgerald imagines that Chiefs safety Eric Berry still wants to be among the highest-paid defenders in the league, but he notes that the 27-year-old hasn’t received the buzz that often accompanies top free agents. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald could see the Chiefs spending to retain defensive tackle Dontari Poe, but he’s uncertain about defensive end Jaye Howard‘s future in Kansas City.
[SOURCE LINK]
Chiefs Place Jaye Howard On IR
The Chiefs have placed defensive end Jaye Howard on injured reserve, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Howard, who has been dealing with a hip injury, will miss at least eight weeks. But with running back Jamaal Charles also on IR and seemingly a strong candidate to return this season, it’s likely Howard is done for the year.
The loss of Howard is a notable blow to a Chiefs defense that also saw fellow lineman Allen Bailey head to IR earlier this season. Howard hasn’t suited up since the team’s win over the Jaguars on Nov. 6, though, and the Chiefs have gone 2-1 since – including a crucial win over AFC West rival Denver last Sunday.
Howard, 27, appeared in eight games (five starts) this season, amassing 18 tackles and a sack, after re-signing with the Chiefs on a two-year, $12MM deal last winter. He currently ranks as Pro Football Focus‘ 53rd-best interior D-lineman among 122 qualifiers. Kansas City, which is 8-3 and ranks 13th in defensive DVOA, will go forward with Kendall Reyes starting in Howard’s spot.
NFL Teams Showing Interest In Rugby Stars
Last year, rugby star Jarryd Hayne signed with the 49ers and tried his hand at the NFL. His stay in the league was short, but there are now a pair of rugby standouts that are hoping to follow his footsteps. Australian Rugby League players Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo tried out for teams on Saturday, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
The Bills, Bears, Browns, Packers, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Rams, Jets, Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks, Cardinals, and the 49ers were all in attendance for the workout (Twitter link). Taumalolo, 23, and Holmes, 21, ran passing routes, underwent speed and agility tests, and ran the 40-yard dash, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Taumalolo hears that he could project to fullback, tight end, or linebacker while Holmes was pegged as a wide receiver or safety.
At least four NFL teams expressed interest in taking a second look at the duo, the Australian Associated Press reports. Scouts from the Packers, Eagles, Jets, Chiefs and Cardinals appeared to be the most interested. The AAP writes that both players intend on fulfilling their NRL contracts for 2017, but one has to imagine that they could change their minds if presented with an NFL offer.
Chiefs Will Be Without Nickel Back
- The Chiefs will be without nickel corner Steven Nelson against the Broncos with a neck injury, the team announced. After being deemed not ready as a rookie, the former third-round pick has become one of his team’s top three corners this season. Marcus Peters missed last week’s game and is questionable for Sunday night. Each of Kansas City’s corners is a rookie-contract player on a veteran defense, with rookie D.J. White and seldom-used trade acquisition Kenneth Acker next in line to join Peters and Phillip Gaines in sub-packages in Week 12. Dee Ford and Jeremy Maclin are also out for the Chiefs.
Chiefs Promote Terrance Mitchell
- The Chiefs have promoted cornerback Terrance Mitchell from their practice squad, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Mitchell joined the Chiefs organization shortly after the Texans cut him in September. He has totaled one appearance this year, giving him nine since Dallas took him in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.