Could Chris Long Stay In New England Longer Than One Season?
- Chris Long‘s tenure with the Patriots doesn’t need to be a “one-year fling,” writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Of course, the defensive end gave a very Belichickian response when discussing his future with the franchise. “One way to get yourself in trouble as a football player is to think past this week or today,” Long said. “You can’t take anything for granted as far as going out and practicing, going to play on Sundays. If you keep things one day at a time and you keep it narrow, I mean, there’s nowhere I’d rather be today. That’s the way I come to work every day.” Long will be earning $2.37MM this season.
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Patriots Notes: Free Agents, Brady, Ninkovich
The Patriots have seven defensive starters hitting the free agent market at once, but coach Bill Belichick claims he isn’t worried, as Doug Kyed of NESN.com writes.
As the Patriots gear up for an interesting offseason, here’s more from the AFC East:
- On Monday, the Patriots are expected to activate quarterback Tom Brady and defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald expects tight end A.J. Derby and LaAdrian Waddle to be on the chopping block, though placing Eric Rowe on IR is also an option. Derby has been passed by Clay Harbor on the depth chart and likely could pass waivers and be placed on the practice squad. Waddle, meanwhile, is the fourth tackle on the depth chart and has been leapfrogged by Cameron Fleming.
- In case you missed it, the Patriots worked out former Raiders fullback Marcel Reece today.
Patriots Audition Marcel Reece, Four Others
The Patriots brought in former Raiders fullback Marcel Reece for a workout today, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Oakland released Reece earlier this week.
[RELATED: Latest On Patriots’ QBs]
Reece, 31, had been with Oakland since since 2009. He violated the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs last December, and the ensuing multi-game ban cost him a trip to the Pro Bowl and, apparently, led the Raiders to finding his full-time replacement. Reece was scheduled to play out the 2016 season at a cap number of $3.53MM, but Oakland has opted against taking on that cap hit.
In 2015, Reece caught 30 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns and also added 36 rushing yards. A versatile back who can play a variety of roles, Reece averaged 34 receptions per season from 2010-15, and he’d likely assume the role of pass-catching back in New England if signed. With Dion Lewis sidelined through at least Week 6, James White has been absorbing most of the running back looks in the Patriots’ passing game.
As Reiss notes, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been extremely complementary of Reece in the past. “You put a big guy on him, he’s probably going to have a hard time matching up with Reece’s speed and quickness,” Belichick said in 2014. “Put a smaller guy on him, he might match up with his speed and quickness, but it would be hard to match up with his size. I’d say that’s a dilemma. Who do you have that has the same skill set as Reece?”
In addition to Reece, the Patriots also worked out guards Jake Bernstein and Chase Farris, center Robert Kugler, and tight end Greg Scruggs.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Details On John Hughes' Deal
- Defensive tackle John Hughes‘ deal with the Patriots is a one-year, $760K deal, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. He gets a $428K injury split but no signing bonus or guaranteed money.
Who Will Pats Drop For Brady, Ninkovich?
- The Patriots have to drop two players from the roster in order to make room for Tom Brady and Rob Ninkovich, and Doug Kyed of NESN.com suggests a handful of candidates. Linebacker Elandon Roberts and tight end A.J. Derby are candidates to be waived and put on the practice squad. Kyed also suggests that New England can get creative by placing quarterback Jacoby Brissett and/or cornerback Eric Rowe on injured reserve even though their conditions are far from season-enders. An added benefit to putting Rowe on IR is that the Pats would decrease their chances of having to give up a third-round pick to Philadelphia instead of a fourth-rounder.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/28/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Jonathan Anderson (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OT Clay DeBord
- Cut: DE Chris McCain
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Zaviar Gooden (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Daniel Munyer
- Cut: WR Seantavius Jones (via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey (via Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com)
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Anthony Johnson (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN)
- Cut: OT Ian Silberman (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Jon Halapio (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jonathan Krause (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Cam Johnson
- Cut: LB Shaq Riddick
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Ed Eagan, C Terran Vaughn
- Cut: LB Carlos Fields, S Damian Parms
Green Bay Packers
- Cut: CB Robertson Daniel (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Adam Redmond
- Cut: S Lee Hightower
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OT Rashod Hill (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Daniel Munyer
- Cut: WR Seantavius Jones (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Lynden Trail (Twitter link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
New England Patriots
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Doran Grant
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Julian Stanford
- Cut: WR Wendall Williams
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DL Demetrius Cherry (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
- Cut: LB Korey Toomer (Twitter link via Tafur)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia)
- Cut: WR Antwan Goodley (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: CB JaCorey Shepherd (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Jacob Hagen (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Jordan Leslie
- Cut: NT Antwaun Woods
Washington Redskins
- Signed: CB Lloyd Carrington (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post), CB Tye Smith (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post)
- Cut: LB Amarlo Herrera
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2016 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Titans enjoyed top priority thanks to their 3-13 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week:
1. Jaguars
2. Saints
3. Bears
4. Browns
5. Chargers
6. Lions
7. Jets
8. Cardinals
9. Bills
10. Colts
11. Dolphins
12. 49ers
13. Buccaneers
14. Bengals
15. Titans
16. Redskins
17. Panthers
18. Falcons
19. Cowboys
20. Giants
21. Raiders
22. Packers
23. Chiefs
24. Rams
25. Seahawks
26. Texans
27. Steelers
28. Ravens
29. Eagles
30. Broncos
31. Vikings
32. Patriots
Patriots To Sign DL John Hughes
The Patriots are signing free agent defensive lineman John Hughes, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). New England created a roster spot earlier today by waiving defensive tackle Anthony Johnson.
[RELATED: New England Patriots Depth Chart]
Hughes, a 2012 draftee, started just seven games in his first three seasons with the Browns and landed on IR in 2014 after suffering an MCL injury. The former third-round pick appeared in all 16 regular season games in 2015 and made three starts, totaling 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Cleveland cut him last week in order to create a roster spot for quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.
A report earlier today suggested that the Patriots wanted to “bulk up” their defensive line, and Hughes — who stands 6’2″, 320 pounds — will certainly help them do that. Notably, New England won’t use the roster spot created by Johnson’s vacancy to add a free agent quarterback, lending more credence to the notion that at least one of Jimmy Garoppolo or Jacoby Brissett will be ready for Week 4.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots To Cut DT Anthony Johnson
The Patriots will cut defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Given that he’s not a vested veteran, Johnson will need to pass through waives before entering free agency.
[RELATED: New England Patriots Depth Chart]
New England could use its newly-created roster spot in a variety of ways, including to sign a free agent quarterback if needed. T.J. Yates is reportedly the club’s “free agent of choice,” but the Patriots haven’t made an attempt to add him as of yet, which indicates a certain level of optimism regarding Jimmy Garoppolo and/or Jacoby Brissett‘s health. New England is more interested in “bulking up” its defensive line than adding another QB right now, tweets Dianna Russini of ESPN.com, so the team could simply swap out Johnson for another DL.
Johnson, 23, signed with the Patriots in May, and despite his limited track record, lasted through final cuts to make the club’s 53-man roster. But he hasn’t contributed much in 2016, managing only 20 snaps on defense. Johnson’s only other NFL experience came with the Vikings, for whom he played seven games in 2014.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.