Extra Points: Manziel, Sam, Gilbert, Crabtree
There are story lines abound in the NFL, but which division is the league’s most compelling? NFL.com asked a roundtable of analysts that very question and there’s a wide range of answers. Charley Casserly likes the sardine-packed NFC West. Bucky Brooks likes the electrifying offenses of the NFC East. Dave Dameshek, meanwhile, picks the AFC North simply for Browns quarterbacks Johnny Manziel. More from around the league..
- if Michael Sam can show some versatility over the next two games and an ability to hang on special teams, he can make the Rams‘ final cut on August 30th, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports. “Michael Sam has shown enough rushing the passer – and that’s what he is, he’s a DPR, he’s a designated pass rusher – that he can get off and beat a tackle on the upfield shoulder. He can spin and come underneath,” former Rams vice president of player personnel Tony Softli said. “He’s got to prove he can do it on special teams, and I think that’s going to be his (way) to make this team.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap takes a closer look at the contract extension the Steelers gave to Marcus Gilbert. Despite what others have said, the average annual value of the five new years ($6MM) isn’t too high in Fitzgerald’s estimation.
- In a piece for the Sporting News, Fitzgerald looks at ways the 49ers and Michael Crabtree can come to terms on a deal in the next two weeks.
- CFL commissioner Mark Cohon will not return for a third term when his contract expires next year, according to The Associated Press. Cohon, whose contract ends in April, wants to give the board of governors time to find a successor. The 48-year-old commissioner says this is the “right time” to leave.
- The NFL needs to have a developmental league like the NBA, writes Andrew Brandt of The MMQB. In the next two weeks, many players will lose their jobs, and it would make sense for them to have a place to go. NFL Europe didn’t pan out as planned, but a league with teams in Florida, Texas or, Southern California would have players ready to hit the ground running nearby.
Rams Place Isaiah Pead On Injured Reserve
THURSDAY, 3:55pm: Pead has cleared waivers and has been placed on the Rams’ injured reserve list, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).
WEDNESDAY, 8:51pm: The Rams have waived-injured running back Isaiah Pead, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). Pead will land on St. Louis’ injured reserve if no one claims him.
Pead suffered a torn ACL late last week which ended his 2014 season before it even began. Pead, who was drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft to be an heir apparent to Steven Jackson, was said to be on the roster bubble this offseason after Rams used this year’s second round pick to grab Auburn tailback Tre Mason. With Benny Cunningham also on the depth chart to support starter Zac Stacy, Pead was rendered expendable.
NFC West Links: Extensions, Seahawks, Givens
In a piece examining how the Seahawks can keep their championship window open, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes that even though Seattle has already extended the deals of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Doug Baldwin, the team could look to hand out even more new contracts in the coming months. Fourth-year linebacker K.J. Wright, whom Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded as the 13th-best 4-3 OLB in the NFL last season, might be next in line for an extension, per La Canfora. The Seahawks might also look to tack on years to defensive end Cliff Avril‘s original two-year, $13MM deal, which expires after this season. Left tackle Russell Okung is also entering the final year of his contract, but might have to wait for new money, as La Canfora believes his injury history will prompt Seattle to evaluate his health after 2014. More from the NFC West:
- The Seahawks have a history of keeping just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, but Terrelle Pryor‘s performance through two preseason games has Gregg Bell of the News-Tribune wondering if the team will keep the 25-year-old Ohio State product around.
- Per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, Rams receiver Chris Givens has been surpassed on the depth chart by Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, and Brian Quick. It’s fair to wonder if Givens, entering his third season, will survive final cuts.
- It’s common practice for teams to send scouts to preseason games around the league, hoping to get looks at players who could be available in the coming weeks as cutdown dates approach. Eight NFL teams, plus two CFL squads, had officials on hand to scout the Broncos-49ers exhibition game, but Seahawks general manager John Schneider was the only top executive on hand to view the contest, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
NFC Notes: Pead, Holmes, Giants, Sam
As the NFL preseason rolls on with a handful of Saturday night games in progress, let’s check out a few weekend items from around the NFC….
- Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters, including Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), that the team believes running back Isaiah Pead tore his ACL today and will be lost for the 2014 season.
- Concerns about his foot and his attitude kept Santonio Holmes on the free agent market until mid-August. However, the veteran wideout officially signed with the Bears today, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes Holmes could flourish in Marc Trestman‘s offense in Chicago, assuming he’s healthy. The club will be seeking a third receiver behind Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, after seeing Marquess Wilson suffer a clavicle injury.
- For years, the Giants have been trying different cornerbacks and safeties in the nickel back role, but after they went out and signed Walter Thurmond this offseason, they may have finally found an answer at the position, writes Newsday’s Tom Rock.
- Rams rookie Michael Sam recorded his first sack in today’s preseason game against the Packers, but undrafted defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks, who may be vying with Sam for a single roster spot, had a big game as well, as Gary Mihoces of USA Today details.
West Notes: Carr, Crabtree, Broncos, Rams
Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr sustained a concussion and injured ribs last night, with SI’s Austin Murphy reporting (via Twitter) Carr told a team doctor, “I just heard a crunch. I don’t know if my rib’s broken. But it hurts.”
Here’s some more links from the AFC and NFC West divisions:
- Healed from a July hamstring pull, 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree participated in his first full practice Friday. Afterward, he told reporters to expect a more impactful version of himself in 2014. According to SFGate.com’s Eric Branch, Crabtree was a “diminished” receiver last season when he came back from a torn Achilles weighing 230 pounds. Crabtree will play at approximately 215 pounds this season.
- Optimism is flowing in Broncos camp, particularly because defensive ends Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware look healthy and are gelling, according to the Coloradoan’s Arnie Stapleton. Additionally, Quanterus Smith‘s “ability to create pressure off the edge continues to impress coaches,” per the Denver Post’s Troy Renck, who says Smith is soaking up veteran advice from Ware.
- Speaking of optimism. . .Rams receiver Kenny Britt, who is being given another chance by Jeff Fisher, is 100 percent and drawing praise in camp. That’s not surprising. But an article headlined “Rams hoping Kenny Britt can be a leader” is.
- Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez paints an optimistic picture of Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who enters a make-or-break season with a confidence boost derived from the organization’s confidence in him.
- Although it was just a second preseason game, the Chargers were humbled by the Seahawks, writes Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune.
Minor Moves: Monday
Here are Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with any additional moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- In addition to releasing Andre Brown, the Texans have also cut running backs Dennis Johnson (via tweet from ESPN’s Tania Ganguli) and Tim Cornett (via tweet from Fox Houston’s Mark Berman).
- The Texans have added a running back, as ESPN’s Josina Anderson tweets that the team has added William Powell on a two-year deal.
- Former Redskins cornerback Peyton Thompson has cleared waivers and is now a free agent, tweets Zac Boyer of The Washington Times.
Earlier updates:
- According to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), tight end Richard Quinn has been placed on the Saints‘ reserve-retired list, so it appears the former second-round pick has elected to end his playing career.
- Wide receiver Quintin Payton was cut by the Lions today, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). The move clears a spot for new wideout Conner Vernon, who Detroit claimed off waivers from the Bengals, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
- The Chiefs have signed safety Jonathon Amaya, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Per a series of tweets from Wilson and ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, the following players have cleared waivers and been placed on their respective teams’ IR lists: Ben Malena (Cowboys), Daniel Adongo (Colts), Jeris Pendleton (Colts), Dezman Moses (Chiefs), Alvin Scioneaux (Chargers), Mike Taylor (Seahawks), and Chuck Jacobs (49ers).
- Less than a week after signing him, the Browns have waived tight end Kyle Auffray, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
- Tight end Brad Smelley, who was on the Rams‘ roster briefly at the end of last season, has been re-signed to take the place of Mason Brodine, who sustained a fractured ankle (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner).
- As the Dolphins explore the free agent market for quarterbacks, they parted ways with one of their undrafted rookies, former North Dakota State signal-caller Brock Jensen (Twitter link via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). With the open roster spot, the club re-added running back Cameron Marshall.
- The Colts have signed defensive end Gannon Conway, cutting offensive lineman Eric Pike to make room on the roster, tweets assistant director of communications Matt Conti.
- Running back Jawan Jamison has been waived by the Steelers, according to the team’s PR man Burt Lauten (on Twitter).
- With the empty 90th spot on the roster, the Cowboys will sign Australian punter Tom Hornsey, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Incumbent punter Chris Jones ranked in the league’s top ten last season according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and has had a solid camp, so Hornsey seems unlikely to make the team.
Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are some minor transactions from around the NFL on Saturday:
- The Rams have waived wideout Jamaine Sherman from injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports.
- The Seahawks have waived defensive tackle Jesse Williams with the injured designation, tweets The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. The player has cleared waived and will be placed on the team’s injured reserve.
Earlier updates:
- To make room for new addition Samson Satele, the Dolphins have waived rookie lineman Samuel Longo, the team announced on Twitter.
- The Seahawks have indeed claimed Cory Brandon off of waivers from the Cardinals, tweets Field Yates. Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reported that the move was likely following the release of Michael Bowie.
- The Texans have released tight end Chris Coyle to make room for Irwin, tweets James Palmer of Comcast Sportsnets Houston. Houston added the rookie tight end in late July.
- Josh Hull‘s contract with the Jaguars will be a two-year deal, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Hull signed earlier today, along with Kenny Shaw and David Carter. The team waived three players to make room for the signings.
- The Patriots have released rookie wide receiver Cole Stanford, according to the team’s official website.
- The Texans have signed offensive guard Bronson Irwin, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. He was recently released by the Seahawks.
- The Cardinals were awarded linebacker Trevardo Williams off waivers from the Texans, reports Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (via Twitter). The team released cornerback Todd Washington to make room for Williams.
Matt Feminis and Ben Levine contributed to this post.
NFC West Links: 49ers, Cooper, Bailey
The 49ers‘ running back depth took a hit this week when Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James both suffered injuries. As the team tries to keep starter Frank Gore fresh and healthy for the regular season, some other players have had a chance to shine. Rookie Carlos Hyde has particularly taken advantage of the opportunity and has drawn praise from the entire coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman remarked on the second-round pick’s ability to pick up instruction (via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee)…
“I guess, you know, somebody that’s seven-years-old playing the piano and you kind of show them, they hear it, and then they start playing the piano,” Roman said. “It’s one of those things that if you can explain it to him, once it clicks with him – and that’s happened repeatedly on a lot of different things – he just makes that adjustment, and we keep moving.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh even went as far as to compare the rookie to the veteran he’s hoping to back up.
“Carlos gets football, understands football; it’s natural for him to understand the game, similar to Frank Gore,” Harbaugh said. “And we’re seeing those things, and both are very good signs and bode well for us.”
- 49ers defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey tore his bicep earlier today, and ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson tweets that Isaac Sopoaga could be an option to replace him. The 32-year-old split 2013 between the Eagles and the Patriots.
- Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper missed all of 2013 recovering from a broken fibula. The team was counting on their former first-rounder to contribute this season, but coach Bruce Arians doesn’t sound overly optimistic. “I’m a little disappointed with where Coop is at right now,” Arians told Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “I’d hope he come a little faster.” To perhaps make a bit of a statement, the team played Earl Watford with the first team during practice (via a tweet from ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss).
- Even with his impending four-game suspension, Rams receiver Stedman Bailey has been impressive at camp, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. This is leaving many, including coach Jeff Fisher, confident that the second-year player will make a big impact once he returns. “He’s there,” Fisher said. “He knows how to get open, and knows how to make the plays. Yes, we’ll miss him, but he’s going to push right through camp and we’ll get through his ordeal and we’ll get him right back in the lineup.”
NFC West Notes: Witherspoon, Starks, Abraham
Though he has yet to officially retire, linebacker Will Witherspoon is taking steps in that direction, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (on Twitter) that Witherspoon has taken a job as the Rams‘ radio sideline reporter. Witherspoon, 33, is a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, having spent time with the Panthers, Rams, Eagles, and Titans. He reportedly engaged in contract talks with both the Rams and the Falcons earlier in the offseason, but it looks as if he’ll get started on his media career rather than continue as a player.
More from the NFC West:
- After the 49ers drafted Marcus Martin in the third round, some figured he might get a chance to challenge Daniel Kilgore for the right to replace Jonathan Goodwin as San Francisco’s center. But, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, Martin’s sprained ankle has disallowed him from even practicing, let alone acting as a serious threat to Kilgore.
- Newly-signed Cardinals tackle Max Starks is excited to be reunited with head Bruce Arians’ familiar playbook, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “All the terminology seems to be the old terminology, so it’s starting to click again,” said Stark, who played under Arians’ coordination with the Steelers. “Obviously it’s been two years since I was with [Arians] so just getting used to that lingo and getting that going.”
- Per Weinfuss on Twitter, Starks has already begun working with the second-team offense at Cardinals camp, supplanting Bradley Sowell.
- The Cardinals expect veteran linebacker John Abraham, who is sorting through legal issues, to report to camp “within five or six days,” Arians told reporters, including Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic.
- Undrafted linebacker Shayne Skov, who played under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, is impressing at 49ers camp, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.
Offseason In Review: St. Louis Rams
Notable signings:
- Rodger Saffold (OL): Five years, $31.722MM. $11MM guaranteed.
- Alex Carrington (DL): One year, $1.5MM. $1MM guaranteed.
- Kenny Britt (WR): One year, $1.4MM. $550K guaranteed.
- Shaun Hill (QB): One year, $1.75MM. $500K guaranteed.
- Davin Joseph (G): One year, $1.75MM. $300K guaranteed.
- Jo-Lonn Dunbar (LB): Two years, $2.05MM. $129K guaranteed. Can be voided after first year in certain scenarios.
Notable losses:
- Kellen Clemens (QB)
- Jermelle Cudjo (DL): Waived
- Harvey Dahl (G): Released
- Cortland Finnegan (CB): Released
- Matt Giordano (DB)
- Mike McNeill (TE)
- Quinton Pointer (DB)
- Daryl Richardson (RB): Waived
- Shelley Smith (OL)
- Darian Stewart (S)
- Chris Williams (G)
- Will Witherspoon (LB)
Extensions and restructures:
- Scott Wells (C): Restructured contract. Reduced 2014 base salary from $5.5MM to $1MM. Reduced 2015 base salary from $5.5MM to $2MM. Received $1.65MM roster bonus for 2014, as well as additional roster bonuses and incentives that can be earned for 2014 and 2015.
Trades:
- Acquired second-round pick (No. 41) from the Bills in exchange for second-round pick (No. 44) and fifth-round pick (No. 153).
Draft picks:
- Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn (1.2): Signed
- Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh (1.13): Signed
- Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State (2.41): Signed
- Tre Mason, RB, Auburn (3.75): Signed
- Maurice Alexander, S, Utah State (4.110): Signed
- E.J. Gaines, CB, Missouri (6.188): Signed
- Garrett Gilbert, QB, SMU (6.214): Signed
- Mitchell Van Dyk, OT, Portland State (7.226): Signed
- Christian Bryant, S, Ohio State (7.241): Signed
- Michael Sam, DE/OLB, Missouri (7.249): Signed
- Demetrius Rhaney, C, Tennessee State (7.250): Signed
Other:
- Hired Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator.
- Exercised Robert Quinn‘s fifth-year option for 2015 ($6.969MM).
- Received three compensatory draft picks.
- Signed 15 rookie free agents after the draft.
The Rams warned us early in the offseason that they wouldn’t be tremendously active in free agency and they stuck to that promise. The bulk of the club’s changes came through the draft and they hope those reinforcements, coupled with a few additions from the open market, will be enough to help them be competitive in the NFC West.
In a draft where much of the talk centered around speedy wide receiver Sammy Watkins and the dynamic Johnny Manziel, the Rams avoided flashiness with their two first-round choices. At No. 2, a pick the Rams received from the Redskins in the Robert Griffin III deal, they plucked Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson. While the big 6-5″ 332 pound tackle won’t be among the league leaders in jersey sales, he should, in time, give the Rams an imposing force on the offensive line. However, he might not have the kind of immediate impact that some were expecting just a few months ago. At the time of the draft, it was expected that Robinson would start his NFL journey as a right tackle before eventually making his way over to left tackle. Now, it sounds like Robinson will be playing guard in 2014.
“It’s frustrating that I’m not up to pace right now because the playbook is more intense and things are changing but once I get back to where I’m comfortable, things will calm down and I can be myself out there,” Robinson said in June, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
Robinson hasn’t played on the inside of the offensive line since high school, so the growing pains are understandable. But for the long term, it’s understandable if Rams fans have some concern about Robinson’s upside. Of course, plenty of top left tackles start out in the league playing elsewhere on the offensive line. The Cowboys first used Tyron Smith, who inked a mammoth eight-year, $98MM extension yesterday, as a right tackle before entrusting him to protect Tony Romo‘s blind side.
Robinson will also get to pick the brains of veteran offensive lineman like Jake Long, Scott Wells, and Rodger Saffold. Of course, Saffold appeared to be heading elsewhere in March before circling back to the Rams. Saffold and Oakland reached agreement on a five-year, $42.5MM deal before a physical exam revealed a shoulder issue. While it was enough to scare off the Raiders, the Rams’ doctors had no issue with it, though the ordeal potentially cost Saffold some significant coin as the veteran’s new deal is worth $31.7MM overall with $11MM guaranteed.
To improve their situation on the other side of the ball, the Rams drafted Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald with their pick at No. 13. Donald At 6’0″, 280 pounds, Donald isn’t really your prototypical interior defensive lineman, but he has a knack for getting past blocks and into the backfield. As Sports Illustrated’s Joan Niesen noted earier today, Donald is about 30 pounds lighter than your average defensive tackle in the past decade of the NFL. And, in the past quarter-century, only one DT at 6’0″ or shorter has made a Pro Bowl. Still, the Rams, and a lot of other draft pundits, are banking on Donald breaking the mold and defying the odds.
The Donald pick was surprising for a couple of reasons. One, while the Giants, Bears, Cowboys, and other teams in the middle of the first round were linked to him, there wasn’t much buzz around the Rams drafting Donald. Secondly, many expected St. Louis to use that pick to bolster their shaky secondary. They wound up addressing that with their second-round pick, Florida State cornerback/safety Lamarcus Joyner. Joyner seems likely to spend a lot of time at slot corner this year, and possibly even start there, but he won’t be pigeonholed into one spot as he was drafted in part for his versatility. Look for Joyner to spend time at multiple positions in 2014 and beyond for St. Louis.
While there wasn’t a ton of money spent on the open market, the signing of Kenny Britt to a one-year, $1.4MM could potentially be a needle-mover for this Rams offense. The deal reunites the troubled Rutgers product with former coach Jeff Fisher and if he’s able to replicate the production from early on in his career, he can be a very dangerous weapon for Sam Bradford alongside Tavon Austin, Chris Givens, Austin Pettis, and Brian Quick. Injury troubles and legal problems aside, Britt has the natural talent to extend the field for the Rams.
The Rams didn’t have as much turnover as other teams this offseason, but it’s possible that they can disrupt the 49ers and Seahawks if quarterback Sam Bradford stays healthy and their two top draft picks can adapt quickly to the pace of the NFL.
Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.