NFL Workout Updates: 12/14/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Green Bay Packers
- DB Alex Carter (link)
Minnesota Vikings
- TEs Sam Cotton, Steve Donatell (link)
New England Patriots
- LB Kacy Rodgers; DBs Chandler Fenner, Jonathon Mincy (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
Oakland Raiders
- DEs Johnny Maxey, Arthur Miley; DT Toby Johnson (link)
Patriots Interested In Fadol Brown
The Browns‘ previous regime wasn’t the only target for new general manager John Dorsey today, as he also added some pointed words for wide receiver Kenny Britt — whom Dorsey waived earlier this week — on Thursday morning. “I have no problem making that decision,” Dorsey told reporters, including Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “From a cultural standpoint I don’t think he fits in the prototypical character point of what I’m looking for in terms of a leader. He did not live up to his expectations as a player.” Dorsey went on to say Britt “may have a higher opinion of himself than I have of him as a player, so I thought that was easy.” Britt, who signed a four-year, $32.5MM deal with Cleveland in March, is now with the Patriots on a cheap two-year contract.
- The Browns, Patriots, and Texans have all expressed interest in Raiders practice squad offensive lineman Fadol Brown, per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, who first reported Wednesday that numerous clubs were reaching out to Brown. “I don’t think I’m going to be here next week, to be honest,” Brown said. An undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, Brown has spent the entirety of the 2017 campaign on Oakland’s practice squad. In a predraft profile, Lance Zierlein of NFL.comsaid Brown “sets a strong edge” in the run game but is a poor pass rusher due to “lazy” hands.
Saints Claim LB Jonathan Freeny
The Saints have claimed linebacker Jonathan Freeny off of waivers from the Patriots, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, cornerback Sterling Moore has been released. 
The Patriots released Freeny on Wednesday as part of a series of roster moves that included the signing of Kenny Britt and defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. His 2017 return to New England lasted only one week. Freeny will provide the Saints with some depth in their injury-ravaged front seven. Recently, Alex Okafor became the latest addition to the reserve list, joining Nathan Stupar, Alex Anzalone, Mitchell Loewen, and Nick Fairley.
Moore was cut by the Saints in October but circled back to the team in November. All in all, he appeared in five games for New Orleans with five tackles, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble. If he clears waivers, he’ll be free to sign with any team on Friday.
Details On Kenny Britt’s Contract
In the spring, the Browns signed Kenny Britt to a four-year deal with more than $10MM guaranteed. After he was cut in December, the Patriots landed him for significantly less. 
[RELATED: Patriots Sign WR Kenny Britt]
The Patriots are paying wide Britt a prorated portion of the veteran minimum ($900K) in the first year of his deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. After that, he’ll earn $1.5MM in 2018 year with a chance to reach to $2MM through incentives. However, the second year of the deal is a team option. If Britt does not perform, the Patriots can put him back out on the curb before next season.
Britt’s attitude and work ethic were an issue in Cleveland, but his contract with the Patriots is about as low-risk as it gets. If Britt can play up to even half of his potential without causing a locker room disturbance, he’ll be retained for next year on the cheap. If he causes headaches, then the Patriots can move on without any financial penalty. There’s always the chance that the temperamental wide receiver could mess with the team’s culture, but the Patriots had no such issues when they claimed Michael Floyd off of waivers nearly one year ago today.
Britt’s first opportunity to suit up for the Pats could come this Sunday against the Steelers.
Patriots Notes: Mitchell, Britt
- Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell is not expected to return to the Patriots‘ active roster this year, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, which could have led to New England signing free agent pass-catcher Kenny Britt, opines Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Mitchell, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, has been on injured reserve for the duration of this season while dealing with a knee injury. Britt, meanwhile, stands 6’3″, 223 pounds, meaning he’ll give the Patriots a larger presence on the outside. As Reiss notes, New England made a similar late-season addition a year ago, claiming physical wideout Michael Floyd off waivers for the stretch run.
Giants Eyeing Eliot Wolf, Nick Caserio For GM
Although former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman is considered the favorite for the Giants’ GM position, the club also has other candidates in mind. Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Patriots vice president of player personnel Nick Caserio are on New York’s radar as it seeks to replace Jerry Reese, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
[RELATED: Giants To Begin GM Interviews Next Week]
Wolf, 35, has long been considered a future general manager, but never actually interviewed for an opening until this year (partially because Green Bay denied permission for him to meet with Philadelphia and Detroit in recent hiring cycles). Although he was viewed as a strong contender for the 49ers’ GM job this offseason, Wolf ultimately accepted a new contract with the Packers. He subsequently interviewed with the Colts.
Caserio, who has spent the entirety of his 17-year NFL career in New England, has been linked to other vacancies in the past, but has never shown much willingness to leave Foxborough. Since 2014, he’s declined an offer from the Dolphins and an interview from the 49ers in order to remain with the Patriots. However, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com recently indicated Caserio is “willing to listen” to general manager proposals, and noted the Giants job could hold particular interest.
Each of the candidates for the New York gig could have potential head coaches in mind: a source tells Florio that Gettleman or Wolf could attempt to hire Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, while Caserio could unsurprisingly look at Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Patriots' Malcolm Mitchell Unlikely To Return
- The Patriots are not expecting wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell to return from IR in time for the end of the regular season or the playoffs (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald).
Patriots Sign Kenny Britt
The Patriots have signed former Browns wide receiver Kenny Britt to a two-year deal, as first reported by Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The team confirmed the move in a press release on Wednesday.
Britt visited the Pats on Tuesday and it didn’t take long for the two sides to get down to brass tacks. Rapoport hears that New England was Britt’s preferred landing spot. 
The Patriots stood out as a strong contender to land Britt after he cleared waivers. After all, the Patriots have an affinity for ex-Rutgers players (likely fueled by their connection to former RU head coach Greg Schiano) and they have a clear need at receiver with multiple injuries in that unit.
Bill Belichick also has a track record for getting the most out of players with perceived attitude problems. Back in 2007, many in the football world figured that Randy Moss‘ best days were behind him after a rocky stint in Oakland. For the low price of a fourth-round pick, the Patriots wound up with one of the game’s most lethal offensive weapons. Britt does not have the talent of Moss in his prime, but he has demonstrated game-breaking ability in the past. Britt was an abject bust for the Browns, and an expensive one at that. Still, he’s just one year removed from a 1,000+ yard campaign with the Rams.
If he can quickly familiarize himself with the playbook, Britt could be in for a prominent role right off of the bat. Top targets Malcolm Mitchell and Julian Edelman have been parked on IR, leaving Britt an opportunity to crack the rotation. Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Phillip Dorsett, and Matt Slater currently stand as the team’s top five receivers.
The Patriots, who fell to 10-3 after being upset by Miami, are seeking to lock down a first-round bye in the final three games of the season. Meanwhile, Britt’s former team continues to look for its first win of the 2017 season.
In related moves, the Pats signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois and cut wide receiver Bernard Reedy. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Marcus Cannon has been placed on IR.
Patriots Cut Jonathan Freeny
The Patriots are releasing linebacker/defensive end Jonathan Freeny, as first reported by Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal (Twitter link). The move will create room for the team to formally sign Freeny’s former Rutgers teammate Kenny Britt.
[RELATED: Patriots To Sign Kenny Britt]
Freeny, 28, did his most notable NFL work with the Patriots in 2015 and 2016. His latest stint in New England lasted only a week, however.
Because the trade deadline has come and gone, Freeny will hit the waiver wire. If he is not claimed by a team in the next 24 hours, he will be free to sign with any club of his choosing.
In ’15 and ’16, Freeney has recorded 60 tackles and one sack for the Patriots. He appeared in only 18 games during that span due to injury.
Could Patriots Be A Fit For Kenny Britt?
- The waiver period for claiming the contract of former Browns wide receiver Kenny Britt ends tomorrow at 4pm, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes. While Cleveland would love for someone to claim Britt off waivers, thereby absolving the Browns of the balance of his salary, that seems unlikely at this point. Florio writes that Britt wants to sign with a playoff contender if he clears waivers, and that the Patriots could be a team to watch in that scenario.