Patriots To Cut WR Bennie Fowler
The Patriots signed both Bennie Fowler and Corey Coleman on the same day earlier this week but will keep only one of them on their roster going into Week 2.
Fowler received word the Patriots will cut him, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). New England will sign offensive lineman Cole Croston from its practice squad, per Rapoport (on Twitter).
This marks the second time in a month Fowler’s been cut. The Bears moved on from the veteran wide receiver prior to their regular-season opener, despite signing him in free agency. The Patriots will go into their Week 2 Jaguars tilt with Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson and Coleman as their wideouts.
Best known for catching Peyton Manning‘s final NFL pass, a two-point conversion in Super Bowl 50, Fowler spent three seasons on the Broncos’ active roster but has yet to establish himself elsewhere. While this could be a temporary move based on needs at other positions, with Croston joining a Pats team that may or may not have right tackle Marcus Cannon available Sunday and the fact Coleman’s been jettisoned by two teams in the past month, for now the 27-year-old Fowler is again unattached.
This Date In Transactions History: Laurence Maroney Trade
September trades are pretty rare in the NFL, but we got one eight years ago today. On this date in 2010, the Patriots traded running back Laurence Maroney (along with a 2011 sixth-round pick) to the Broncos in exchange for a 2011 fourth-round pick.
When the Patriots selected Maroney in the first round of the 2006 draft, they were hoping to get some longterm stability at the position. The Minnesota product certainly looked the part of a three-down back during his rookie campaign. While splitting time with veteran Corey Dillon, Maroney still managed to compile 745 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 175 carries (he also hauled in 22 catches for 194 yards and one score). He became the starting running back during his sophomore campaign, and he took on an ever bigger role during the playoffs.
However, Maroney only appeared in three games during the 2008 season after suffering a shoulder injury, and he struggled with fumbles following his return in 2009. By the time the 2010 season came around, he was buried on the depth chart behind Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk. With BenJarvus Green-Ellis contributing on special teams, the Patriots decided to shop their former first-rounder.
In came the Broncos, who were dealing with a number of running back injuries. Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter were both hobbled, and their replacement, LenDale White, had already torn his Achilles. The team moved down two rounds in the 2011 draft in order to acquire Maroney, who was set to hit free agency following the season. The then-25-year-old ended up starting three of his four games for Denver, compiling only 74 yards on 36 carries. He was later arrested on weapons charges, and the team chose not to re-sign him following the campaign. Maroney’s stint with the Broncos was his last NFL action.
The Patriots ended up trading their acquired pick to the Seahawks for wideout Deion Branch, and Seattle used that pick to select linebacker K.J. Wright. The Broncos used their acquired pick (which was originally owned by the Saints) to select linebacker Mike Mohamed.
The Broncos were presumably hoping for a bit more when they acquired Maroney. Fortunately for the organization, the offense continued to improve over the next few years. Of course, a certain Hall of Famer probably helped with that.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/12/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Prince Charles Iworah
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Houston Texans
- Signed: T David Sharpe
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenneth Farrow
- Released: WR Jace Billingsley
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Frank Stephens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: T Jarron Jones
Patriots Audition RBs Orleans Darkwa, Charles Sims
The Patriots worked out free agent running backs Orleans Darkwa and Charles Sims, as well as receiver/returner Brandon Tate, on Tuesday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
New England placed running back Jeremy Hill on injured reserve earlier today, but they also signed Kenjon Barner, so it’s unclear if the club is still interested in adding another runner. Barner is more a returner than a true back, so it’s possible the Patriots want to bring in another back to complement Rex Burkhead, James White, and Sony Michel, the latter of whom was inactive on Sunday.
Playing for the Giants in 2017, Darkwa posted the best campaign of his NFL tenure in by setting career-highs in starts (11), rushes (171), yards (751), and touchdowns (five). Football Outsiders ranked Darkwa as a top-25 running back in both DYAR and DVOA (meaning he was both effective overall and efficient on a per-play basis), while Pro Football Focus noted his ability to create his own yardage. Darkwa previously met with the Patriots back in April.
Sims, meanwhile, has shown flashes of ability during his run in the NFL, especially during a 2015 campaign in which he caught 51 passes for the Buccaneers. While he’s never been much of a ball-carrier (he handled a career-high 107 carries in that 2015 season), Sims is a viable pass-catcher, but he doesn’t contribute on special teams.
Patriots Expected To Sign RB Kenjon Barner
The Patriots will attempt to fill the void Jeremy Hill‘s injury created in their backfield by signing Kenjon Barner, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
Barner worked out for the Patriots last week. The sixth-year running back’s spent his NFL days with the Panthers and Eagles. He and Hill’s skill sets don’t exactly overlap, however, with the 28-year-old soon-to-be Patriot known mostly for his return acumen.
Barner could well replace Riley McCarron as the Pats’ punt returner. The Patriots waived McCarron after a game that featured a fumbled punt. Barner served as the Eagles’ kick- and punt-return specialist last season, marking his first season of sustained punt-return work. He returned 27 punts in 2017, averaging 8.9 yards per return. Cordarrelle Patterson is a two-time All-Pro return man, but he’s been strictly a kick returner in his NFL career.
The Panthers released Barner after the preseason, despite signing him in May. The former sixth-round draft pick began his career with the Panthers before spending four seasons with the Eagles.
Patriots’ Jason McCourty Restructures Deal
Jason McCourty represents a versatile part of the Patriots’ secondary, having added safety work to his usual cornerback preparation responsibilities during the preseason. He made another change just before the start of the regular season as well.
The Patriots and McCourty agreed to a restructured deal that will see the veteran defender’s base salary drop but his 2018 cap number increase. McCourty will trim his 2018 base from $2.375MM to $1.6MM in exchange for up to $1MM in playing-time incentives and $400K in per-game roster bonuses, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
McCourty’s playing-time incentives are broken up into $200K increments. Seeing 40 percent of New England’s defensive snaps will net the 10th-year veteran $200K, while playing in half of the Pats’ snaps will net McCourty an additional $200K. Sixty percent, 70 percent and 80 percent represent the ensuing benchmarks, with 80 percent meaning McCourty — who played six snaps in Week 1 — would collect $1MM total of this incentive package.
A $150K increase to McCourty’s roster bonus also comes as part of this adjustment, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. McCourty’s cap number will because of this restructure, with Volin noting (via Twitter) the 31-year-old defensive back’s number now represents $3.382MM after previously residing at $2.975MM on the Patriots’ cap sheet.
New England lost second-round pick Duke Dawson to an injury that relegated him to IR, opening possible snaps for McCourty. But he’s a backup for the time being, despite having started 104 career games and being a full-time first-stringer from 2011-17.
Patriots Sign Receivers Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler
The Patriots are adding some help to their depleted receiving corp, signing Corey Coleman according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). They are also adding receiver Bennie Fowler, Field Yates posted in a follow up tweet. 
Coleman, a first round pick of the Browns back in 2016, had been looking for a new home since the Bills released him at final cuts. The Browns had traded him to Buffalo earlier this offseason for a conditional seventh round pick.
Coleman was always high on talent, but fell out of favor quickly with the coaching staff and new front office regime in Cleveland. The speedster flashed at times, but struggled with hand injuries during both of his seasons with the Browns. He only had a couple of weeks to practice with the Bills, and couldn’t make an impression quick enough to crack the team even on a squad with one of the league’s weakest receiving corps.
The Patriots are very thing at wide receiver, with few proven options behind Chris Hogan while they await Julian Edelman’s return from suspension. It’s a smart, no risk move for New England who will get a chance to develop the first round talent. He’ll slide in behind Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarelle Patterson on the depth chart for now.
Fowler came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2014. He signed with the Bears in April, but didn’t make their initial 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Keith Tandy
- Waived: LS Jeff Overbaugh, CB Deante Burton
Denver Broncos
- Waived: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: CB Quinten Rollins, RB Devante Mays
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Jace Amaro
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OL Jamil Demby
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: TE Gavin Escobar
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Bryan Witzmann
- Placed on IR: OT Aviante Collins
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Riley McCarron, WR Chad Hansen
- Placed on IR: RB Jeremy Hill (full story)
NFL Workout Updates: 9/10/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- QB Josh Woodrum; WRs Montay Crockett, Isaac Whitney; P Jeff Locke (link)
Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears
- Ss L.J. McCray, Kai Nacua
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
- DE Daeshon Hall (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- OGs Sean Harlow, Will Holden; LBs Nigel Harris, Jacob Pugh, Emmanuel Smith; CBs Tarvarus McFadden, Kalan Reed, Herb Waters; WR Korey Robertson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CBs Breon Borders, Linden Stephens (link); TEs Blake Bell, John Phillips, Clive Walford
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
- Gs Tony Adams, Spencer Drango; C Jake Eldrenkamp; CBs Kalan Reed, Josh Robinson (link); WRs Bennie Fowler, Greg Ward; LB Ufomba Kamalu
New Orleans Saints
- LBs Nigel Harris, Corey Nelson (link)
New York Jets
- FB Jay Prosch; G Sean Harlow; T Jylan Ware; LBs Zaire Anderson, Ufomba Kamalu; CB Herb Waters (link)
Oakland Raiders
- CBs Breon Borders, Makinton Dorleant; Ss Elijah Campbell, Nick Orr; LBs Cayson Collins, Naashon Hughes
San Francisco 49ers
- DE Daeshon Hall (link)
Tennessee Titans
- TE Nick O’Leary
Corey Coleman To Audition For Pats, Eagles
Unattached despite being the first wide receiver taken in the 2016 draft, Corey Coleman‘s generating interest from some successful teams after both the Browns and Bills severed ties with him this summer.
Coleman’s working out for the Patriots on Monday and has a visit scheduled with the Eagles for Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
The former Baylor standout already worked out for the Cardinals prior to Week 1. After seeing two injury-plagued years, the Browns traded Coleman to the Bills for a conditional 2020 draft choice. The Bills didn’t see enough from Coleman to give him a spot on their 53-man roster.
New England is thin at wide receiver but received a quality performance from scrutinized 2015 first-round wideout Phillip Dorsett on Sunday. Philadelphia is without Alshon Jeffery and Mack Hollins, with the latter residing on IR. The Eagles also worked out Kamar Aiken and Breshad Perriman on Monday, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Aiken was with Philly during camp but did not make the team.