NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/27/16
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- CB Cariel Brooks (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
Miami Dolphins
- WR Tyler Murphy (Twitter link via Dov Kleiman of RantSports)
New England Patriots
- DL Joe Vellano (Twitter link via Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald)
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/26/16
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL, including the Cardinals signing their entire practice squad to new deals for 2016:
Arizona Cardinals
- Carrington Byndom, CB (press release via team)
- Rob Crisp, T
- Durell Eskridge, S
- Marion Grice, RB
- Robert Hughes, RB
- Antoine McClain, G
- Quayshawn Nealy, LB
- Olsen Pierre, DT
- Jaxon Shipley, WR
- John Wetzel, T
- Kevin White, CB
Carolina Panthers
- Donald Hawkins, T (press release via team)
New England Patriots
- James Vaughters, LB (press release via team)
Extra Points: Alonso, LA, Draft Prospects, Pats
Linebacker Kiko Alonso is coming off his first season with the Eagles, one in which the 2013 PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year was a non-factor. Alonso expects better things in 2016 with recently hired defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz at the helm, writes Paul Domowitch of Philly.com.
Alonso’s agent, Steve Karic, says the 25-year-old is “very excited” to play for Schwartz, who coordinated Buffalo’s defense to a fourth-place ranking in 2014. Alonso was also a Bill then, but he missed the season because of a torn ACL and didn’t play a down under Schwartz. Still, he’s familiar with Schwartz’s defense.
“He spent the offseason in Buffalo that year playing in this defense. He went through OTAs and minicamp in this defense. He was in the meeting rooms all season long,” Karic stated.
Karic then added that Alonso “definitely can play” the Mike (middle) or Will (weakside) LB role in Schwartz’s scheme. Prior to Alonso’s injury in 2014, Schwartz planned to use him as a Will ‘backer in Buffalo. Alonso played on the inside under former Eagles D-coordinator Billy Davis in 2015-16 and totaled just 43 tackles in 11 games, rating an ugly 92nd of 97 qualifying LBs by Pro Football Focus’ standards (subscription required).
Elsewhere around the NFL. . .
- Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News believes the Chargers will end up in LA next season (Twitter link). He also shot down the notion (via Twitter) that talks between the Chargers and Rams have stalled. This comes on the heels of a Monday night report from CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora that the two sides are “making progress.”
- North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz – who’s gaining steam as a possible first-round pick in the 2016 draft – has already met with nearly half of the league’s 32 teams at the Senior Bowl, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. Two of those clubs are the Dolphins and Texans, Wentz told Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, respectively (Twitter links: 1, 2). With Ryan Tannehill in the fold, Beasley doesn’t expect the Dolphins to use the eighth overall pick on Wentz. However, if available, he could be a fit for QB-needy Houston at No. 22.
- Alabama MLB Reggie Ragland, one of Wentz’s fellow Senior Bowl participants, has spoken to the Ravens, Chiefs and Raiders so far, and he’ll also meet with the Packers (Twitter links via Wilson and Chase Goodbread of NFL.com). The probable first-rounder will play some OLB this week as a way to show off his versatility to prospective employers, reports Wilson (on Twitter).
- Foxborough, Mass., police arrested Patriots practice squad receiver J.J. Worton on Saturday and charged him with two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person aged 14 and over and one count of assault and battery, per ESPN.com. The Patriots didn’t comment on Worton’s arrest, tweets the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, who adds that the 24-year-old is unlikely to remain with the team. Worton, who signed with the Pats earlier this month, has an expiring contract.
Coaching Notes: Pats, Browns, Giants, Lions
The latest NFL coaching updates:
- One day after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady absorbed 20-plus hits in a 20-18 AFC title game loss to Denver, the Pats are parting ways with offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). DeGuglielmo, who had been New England’s O-line coach since 2014, was aware he was on the hot seat, adds Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link).
- Former NFL running back Rock Cartwright is the newest addition to the Browns’ Hue Jackson-led coaching staff. Cartwright will work as an offensive quality control coach, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
- The Giants have interviewed Paul Pasqualoni about their defensive line coach vacancy, per Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (Twitter link). Pasqualoni held the same position with the Texans last season.
- Marvez reported Saturday that David Walker was set to become the Lions’ running backs coach. That hiring is now official, writes Tim Twentyman of the team’s website. Walker coached Indy’s RBs from 2011-14, including one season under Jim Caldwell.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/25/16
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL, including reserve/futures signings and practice squad moves:
- Having been eliminated from the postseason, the Patriots began signing their practice squad players to reserve/futures contracts today. Per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the following players inked futures deals with New England:
- Chris Barker, G
- DeAndre Carter, WR
- Joey Iosefa, FB
- Rashaan Melvin, CB
- Keavon Milton, OL
- Cedric Thompson, S
- Brock Vereen, S
- The Broncos have the flexibility to continue to make changes to their practice squad since they’re still alive in the playoffs, and apparently did so today by releasing tight end Dan Light from their 10-man unit. Light himself tweeted word of the move this afternoon. To replace Light on their practice squad, the Broncos signed fellow TE Nick Kasa, according to Mike Klis of 9News (via Twitter).
Extra Points: 49ers, Pats, Cowboys, Jags
The latest from around the NFL as the countdown to a Super Bowl 50 matchup between the Panthers and Broncos begins:
- After appearing in and starting in 71 games from 2010-14, 49ers offensive tackle Anthony Davis decided last June to take a hiatus from football, announcing that he’d “be back in a year or so.” Earlier this month, the 26-year-old added fuel to the fire when he tweeted an intention to return to the 49ers. However, Davis – who’s under 49ers control through 2019 – hasn’t yet set the wheels fully in motion on a comeback. “As of right now, I’ve got no notification from the league to say that he has [filed for reinstatement],” general manager Trent Baalke told 95.7 The Game, per CSNBayArea.com. “But that period is still open.”
- In other 49ers news, they’ve hired Jeff Hafley to coach their defensive backs, Alex Marvez of Fox Sports reports (on Twitter). Hafley was in charge of Cleveland’s secondary the past two seasons.
- The Patriots need to invest significant resources this offseason in the offensive line – whether through free agency, the draft or both – in order to keep Tom Brady playing at a high level, writes Christopher Price of WEEI.com. Given the beating Brady took Sunday in the Pats’ 20-18 AFC championship game loss in Denver, Price’s suggestion comes as no surprise. The Broncos hit Brady 20 times, four of which were sacks, and kept him under extreme duress throughout the game.
- The Cowboys will need a new defensive backs coach to replace Jerome Henderson, who took a job in Atlanta. A successor to Henderson in Dallas is unlikely to come from within the organization, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer (via Twitter). That runs contrary to Ian Rapoport’s declaration (via Twitter) earlier Sunday that Cowboys safeties coach Jim Baker will take over for Henderson.
- Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley has promoted three members of his staff, according to Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union: Tony Sorrentino has gone from offensive quality control coach to assistant receivers coach; Aaron Whitecotton, who was assistant to the defense, is now the assistant D-line coach; and Mike Rutenberg has shifted from assistant defensive backs coach to defensive assistant.
AFC Notes: Brady, Broncos, Jaguars
Tom Brady‘s season ended on a sour note Sunday when the Patriots dropped a 20-18 decision to Denver in the AFC title game. Now the 38-year-old will once again turn his focus to the Deflategate scandal that dominated headlines last offseason. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes, the NFL’s appeal regarding Judge Richard Berman’s Sept. 3 reversal of Brady’s four-game suspension will take place on March 3. If the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rules in favor of the league, Brady might have to sit out the early portion of the 2016 season.
More from the AFC, including a note on the conference champions:
- Broncos safety Darian Stewart suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday, reports Troy Renck of The Denver Post (Twitter link). Stewart says he’s fine, though. “Hell yeah I will be ready for the Super Bowl,” he told Renck.
- Despite signing a contract extension through 2017 this week, Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley is facing a make-or-break 2016 campaign, opines Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union. Jags players and prospective free agents are aware that Bradley is on the hot seat, according to Frenette, who believes the 49-year-old must win at least eight games next season in order to return in ’17. The Bradley-led Jags have gone 12-36 in three years. Despite only winning five games this season, a career best for Bradley, the team does finally appear to be trending upward.
- Before Bradley promoted ex-defensive line coach Todd Wash to D-coordinator this week, Wash had to sit in on interviews Bradley conducted with other candidates. That made Wash “uncomfortable,” he told reporters (link via Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union). “In the back of your mind, it’s human nature, you want to be the defensive coordinator,” he added.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/22/16
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league.
- The Steelers signed cornerback Ross Cockrell to a one-year extension, Teresa Varley of Steelers.com reports. An exclusive-rights free agent, Cockrell will return to the Steelers for a second season after signing in Pittsburgh in 2015. The 24-year-old corner started in seven Steelers games this season after the 2014 fourth-round pick was a non-factor with the Bills as a rookie. Cockrell snared two interceptions and deflected 11 passes this season.
- The Patriots promoted linebacker Kevin Snyder to their active roster, Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal tweets. The 23-year-old UDFA hasn’t played in an NFL game yet. Jerod Mayo landed on IR earlier this week, and Snyder’s promotion fills that roster spot. New England also listed 16 players — including linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Jonathan Freeny and Darius Fleming — as questionable for its AFC championship matchup in Denver this week.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/21/16
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Terrell Watson, RB (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Detroit Lions
- Austin Willis, WR (via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- James Vaughters, LB (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Twitter)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Ross Scheuerman, RB (Twitter link via Eagles)
East Notes: McAdoo, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots
New Giants head coach Ben McAdoo still isn’t sure whether he’ll call offensive plays in 2016, he told SiriusXM NFL Radio today (link via Tom Rock of Newsday). Mike Sullivan, who is expected to be promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, does have experience calling plays (with Tampa Bay from 2012-13). But McAdoo plans to speak with his old boss, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy — who reclaimed play-calling duties midway through the season — before he makes a final decision.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- The Jets were major players during last’s year free agent period, but with only about $10MM in cap space to work with this offseason, their plan might have to change, as GM Mike Maccagnan tells Brian Costello of the New York Post. “It’s kind of a little different scenario from last year to this year,” Maccagnan said last week. “We’ll still have money to be active and do things with, but it ends up being like a puzzle and it’s not only trying to put all the pieces in different scenarios.” New York should be able to clear out about $20MM more in room, figures Costello, and it can start by releasing (or lowering the cap figures of) cornerback Antonio Cromartie and left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
- If the best player available when the Dolphins are on the clock in this year’s draft is a quarterback, then the club needs to select him, regardless of Ryan Tannehill‘s presence, opines Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miami — and new head coach Adam Gase — can’t win unless the club finds a long-term answer at signal-caller, and until Tannehill proves he is that, the Dolphins need to keep taking swings at finding one.
- Washington worked out defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). A former first-round pick, Hood spent about two months with the Bears during the 2015 season.
- The Giants also tried out several players recently, including receiver Eric Rogers, running back Cameron Marshall, and defensive end Euclid Cummings, reports Wilson (Twitter link).
- The Patriots visited with linebacker James Vaughters, per Wilson (Twitter link). Vaughters, a Stanford alum, was placed on the Packers’ practice squad injured reserve in September.