Patriots Notes: B. Brown, Workouts, Martin
With a showdown against the Bills in Buffalo around the corner, the Patriots engaged in the usual gamesmanship, bringing in a pair of former Bills for workouts this week. According to Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link), running back Bryce Brown and quarterback Alex Tanney were among the players to get auditions from New England this week.
Brown has showed flashes of promise in the past, and Tanney has spent time on multiple NFL rosters, so the Pats were likely assessing both players as potential options in case of injuries throughout the season. But it probably didn’t hurt that Brown and Tanney were with the Bills in camp, and could provide some info on the opposition.
Here’s more out of New England:
- In addition to trying out Brown and Tanney, the Patriots also took a look at fullback Henry Hynoski, quarterback Dustin Vaughan, and wide receivers Jarrett Boykin and Austin Pettis, per Kyed.
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the latest details on the NFL’s appeal of Judge Richard Berman’s Deflategate ruling, as the case figures to drag on for at least the next several months.
- Head coach Bill Belichick hinted today that newly-acquired wide receiver and return man Keshawn Martin will be more of a factor as a kickoff returner than as a punt returner, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Pats made a practice squad change today, cutting wide receiver Nathan Palmer and replacing him with defensive lineman Jimmy Staten, tweets Reiss.
Extra Points: Pats, Julio, Fluker, Cooper
The DeflateGate scandal reentered the news Thursday when Mark Baltz, the NFL’s head linesman from 1989-2013, voiced his suspicion regarding recently reinstated Patriots employee Jim McNally. In response, Jim Daopoulos – the league’s ex-supervisor of officials and one of Baltz’s former bosses – defended McNally.
“In all my years working with locker-room attendants, Jim McNally, without a doubt, is probably one of the most professional of all the locker-room attendants in the National Football League,” Daopoulos said, according to CSNNE.com. “And that can be attested by all the officials working in the National Football League.”
“I really don’t know what Mark’s agenda is right here,” Daopoulos added.
Other news from around the league:
- Although Falcons star receiver Julio Jones has been limited this week with a hamstring injury, head coach Dan Quinn says there’s “zero” chance he’ll miss their game Sunday, per The Associated Press. Jones lit up the Eagles for nine catches, 141 yards and two touchdowns in Monday’s win. He’ll look to do something similar against the Giants this week.
- Chargers guard D.J. Fluker was carted off the field with an ankle injury during the team’s Week 1 win over Detroit, and there was concern that he’d miss anywhere from four to six weeks. Instead, Fluker will only miss a couple weeks, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. In the meantime, Chris Hairston will take his spot as the starting right guard.
- Raiders receiver Amari Cooper harbors no ill will toward Bengals cornerback Adam Jones, who avoided a suspension after ripping Cooper’s helmet off his head and slamming his head against the ground in Cincy’s win last week. “I didn’t want him to get suspended,” Cooper said, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “He was just playing football and playing physical like you’re supposed to. I’m past all that now. I’m trying to focus on the Ravens.” (Twitter links: 1; 2).
- Seahawks rookie defensive end Frank Clark is a situation player – for now, anyway – and using Richard Sherman in the slot enables the team to get its three best cornerbacks on the field, D-coordinator Kris Richard said (Twitter link via The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta).
- The Colts’ decision to waive/injured running back Vick Ballard prior to Week 1 remains a curious one, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. They did it to open up a spot for inside linebacker Josh McNary, but they have a logjam of ILBs. On the other hand, they’re lacking at running back behind starter Frank Gore.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/17/15
Today’s minor moves across the NFL…
- The Cowboys released offensive tackle R.J. Dill from the reserve-suspended list with an injury settlement, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter). The league suspended Dill last month for four games because of a violation of its policy on performance-enhancing substances. Dill has been a member of three different organizations since 2013, never appearing in a regular-season game.
- The Patriots waived defensive tackle Khyri Thornton, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). The Pats claimed Thornton on waivers earlier this month. Green Bay used a third-round pick on Thornton in 2014. He’s yet to play in a regular-season game.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/15
Here are Thursday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB David Fales (via Brad Biggs on Twitter)
Dallas Cowboys
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (via Todd Archer on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- To be cut: WR Saalim Hakim (via Dave Birkett on Twitter)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- To be signed: CB Rashaad Reynolds (via Ryan O’Halloran on Twitter)
- Placed on PS IR: LB Todd Thomas (link)
New England Patriots
- To be signed: WR Chris Harper (via Jeff Howe on Twitter)
Oakland Raiders
- Cut: OT Dan Kistler (via John Dickinson on Twitter)
- Signed: TE Gabe Holmes
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: CB Brandon McGee (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner)
- Signed: CB Melvin White
AFC Notes: Pats, Hilton, Rice, Manziel
Earlier this week, the NFL reinstated Patriots employee Jim McNally from suspension for his role in the DeflateGate scandal. McNally may not be totally out of the woods yet, though, as new allegations against him have come to light. Former official Mark Baltz, the league’s head linesman from 1989-2013, told WTHR.com that he was always suspicious of McNally, according to John Breech of CBSSports.com.
“[McNally] was always worried about the footballs. Always,” Baltz stated. “It was very odd. I reported him to the league, but never got any reaction from them. I don’t think they thought it was a big deal at the time. But [McNally] did things that 31 other locker room attendants don’t do.”
Baltz said he reported McNally to the league six to eight years ago.
“All I know is, when he got [the footballs], he would run. He would take off,” Baltz added. “Whether he was going somewhere and letting air out, I’m definitely suspicious, but I don’t know for sure.”
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Colts No. 1 receiver T.Y. Hilton caught seven passes for 88 yards before suffering a knee injury that caused him to leave the team’s 27-14 loss to Buffalo last Sunday. Afterward, there was fear that he’d be out for a solid chunk of time. However, Hilton and head coach Chuck Pagano think he could be ready to go in time for Monday’s game against the Jets. “A game-time decision depending on how I feel,” Hilton said Thursday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Pagano said he has “a lot” of optimism that Hilton will play this week.
- With LeSean McCoy‘s hamstring injury continuing to be an issue, the Bills suddenly look thin at running back. However, don’t expect them to sign free agent Ray Rice, according to Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). Instead, look for rookie Karlos Williams‘ workload to increase. Williams rushed for a team-high 55 yards and a touchdown on just six carries in the Bills’ win over Indianapolis.
- There aren’t many believers left when it comes to Johnny Manziel, but Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo is one of them. “Johnny has tremendous physical attributes — tremendous physical attributes,” DeFilippo said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “We just have to keep grooming him and keep teaching him situational football and when to take chances and when not to.”
- The Ravens got just 190 total yards from their offense in their 19-13 opening week loss to Denver. New offensive coordinator Marc Trestman took the blame, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Trestman said his offense has to find ways to get the ball downfield. That should be easier this week against a thin Oakland secondary.
East Notes: JPP, Giants, DeflateGate
Here’s a look at the latest out of the East Divisions..
- The New York Daily News has obtained pictures of Jason Pierre-Paul‘s injured hand and the photos indicate that his condition could be worse than his camp has been letting on. The Giants defensive end is missing an index finger and his middle finger is heavily bandaged. Perhaps the most notable part of the photo is that JPP is without a good chunk of his thumb. Previously, JPP’s people said that missing a piece from his thumb, but that it was just the tip of the digit.
- This week, the Giants auditioned LB Khairi Fortt, DT Kwame Geathers, LB Adrian Hubbard, TE Nick Kasa, WR Josh Lenz, TE Jake Murphy, and LB Jordan Tripp, according to Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. The Giants also worked out LB James Morris and G Vinston Painter before signing them to the practice squad.
- In an interview with WEEI, Peter King said that even with everything that has happened between Roger Goodell and the Patriots, he doesn’t think that Robert Kraft wants the commissioner fired because of the business man that he is.
Texans Claim Oday Aboushi, Trade Keshawn Martin To Pats
THURSDAY, 2:18pm: The Texans will receive a fifth-round pick from the Patriots and the Texans gave the Patriots a sixth-round choice, Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets.
WEDNESDAY, 4:00pm: A day after he was cut by the Jets, offensive lineman Oday Aboushi has been claimed off waivers by the Texans, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Texans had an open roster spot after placing tight end Ryan Griffin on IR-DTR, so Aboushi slides into that opening.
Aboushi, 24, was suspended for the first game of the 2015 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and when it came time to reinstate him this week, the Jets opted to simply waive him instead. A year ago, Aboushi started 10 games at left guard for New York and held his own — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former fifth-round pick as the 43rd-best guard out of 78 qualified players, giving him an above-average grade as a run blocker.
In Houston, Aboushi reunites with Mike Devlin, who served as the Jets’ offensive line coach in 2013 and 2014. Devlin now holds the same position for the Texans, who could be without starting left tackle Duane Brown this Sunday.
As Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported earlier today (via Twitter), the Texans are also promoting WR/KR Chandler Worthy from the practice squad. In order to accommodate Worthy, Houston has traded WR/KR Keshawn Martin to the Patriots, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
Martin, 25, acted as Houston’s primary kick and punt returner and caught 32 balls in his first two years with the Texans, but had just six receptions in 2014 and didn’t play in the team’s opener this year. It’s not clear yet what sort of compensation Houston got from New England for Martin, but I can’t imagine it was more than a late-round draft pick, perhaps a conditional one.
AFC East Notes: Geno Smith, Babin, Patriots
Its been more than a month since Geno Smith‘s season was derailed by a locker room punch and he’s still pretty mad about it.
“I’m extremely (angry),” said the Jets quarterback, according to Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday. “But I have to keep my temper down. I can’t exhibit that in the locker room, I can’t exhibit that on a daily basis. I just feel for my family more because they enjoy seeing me out there.”
As Smith is on the mend, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll have the starting job upon his return. Right now, the Jets appear to have found a suitable replacement after Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 31-10 win over the Browns. Here’s more from the AFC East..
- New Ravens linebacker Jason Babin is still perplexed by the Jets‘ decision to release him and he decided to take a couple shots at Gang Green, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. “Obviously, it was a surprise,” Babin said. “I think the coach said they want to win. But then in hindsight … the general manager talked about building. Who knows what is exactly going on?” Babin, 35, notched two sacks and 27 quarterback hurries in 2014, which was his first season of a three-year, $8.275MM contract with the Jets. New York saved $1.5MM against the cap by releasing him. Babin, meanwhile, is expected to help Baltimore’s front seven, which is now without Terrell Suggs.
- New acquisition Keshawn Martin will bring speed and return experience to the Patriots, things that New England needs, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Reiss senses that the Patriots probably feel a bit more comfortable with his experience as a returner than someone like rookie Chris Harper.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap (on Twitter) wonders if there’s any kind of market for Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. In retrospect, Fitzgerald writes that Kerley’s deal just seems like a mistake. The wide receiver played just one snap in the team’s opener against the Browns.
Extra Points: Pats, Cofield, Raiders, Solomon
Another DeflateGate loose end was tied off earlier today, when the NFL announced that Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally have been reinstated from their suspensions. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) notes, the NFL said the Pats “satisfied the league’s requirements” for the staffers’ returns, but Jastremski is prohibited from handling footballs and McNally is barred from handling equipment going forward.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Defensive tackle Barry Cofield, viewed by many NFL people as the best defensive free agent available, will likely sign with a contending team in October when he recovers from hip surgery, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole cites the Colts and Packers as a couple teams that would interest Cofield and that may have a need on the defensive line.
- The Raiders did not come close to signing safety Stevie Brown this week even though there’s a clear need at the position, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com writes.
- Browns outside linebacker Scott Solomon will miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury suffered early in the season opener, a source told ESPN’s Adam Caplan. The Browns had high hopes for Solomon, who made his mark after being signed to the practice squad in November. Cleveland will likely add an outside linebacker to replenish its depth.
- Eric Grubman, the NFL’s point man on Los Angeles, said this week that San Diego and St. Louis reps won’t get the opportunity to make presentations on their stadium plans at the league’s October owner meetings, according to Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press. Grubman suggested that another time and place would allow for a more in-depth presentation, since there’s already a “full agenda” for next month’s meetings.
- As Howard Belzer of The SportsXchange tweets, many NFL team owners want to have serious discussions at those October meetings about Roger Goodell’s disciplinary power, which is one reason why there isn’t room for stadium presentations. Steelers president Art Rooney II indicated this week that “informal discussions” on that issue have already begun, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/15
We’ll keep track of today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves here…
- According to Steve Corkan of RaiderBeat.com (Twitter link), the Raiders have promoted safety Tevin McDonald from their practice squad, giving the team some extra depth with Nate Allen sidelined and Charles Woodson also ailing.
- The Patriots have added some depth at linebacker and on special teams by re-signing veteran LB Dekoda Watson, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Watson was with the Pats in camp before being cut at the end of August.
- With the 53rd and final spot on their roster, the Buccaneers have re-signed linebacker Orie Lemon, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter). Like Watson with the Pats, Lemon was with Tampa Bay in camp before being waived near the end of the preseason.
Earlier updates:
- The Eagles have signed defensive lineman Brandon Bair to a one-year extension through 2016, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Bair, who will receive a $100K signing bonus, a $50K workout bonus, and a $675K base salary, mostly makes his mark on special teams and appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles last season.
- On Wednesday morning, the Eagles signed center/guard Julian Vandervelde to the team’s 53-man roster, according to a team announcement. A fifth-round pick in 2011, Vandervelde has bounced around between the Eagles’ active roster and practice squad over the past four seasons. His ability to play both guard and center has made Vandervelde a valuable piece of the offensive line depth, as he appeared in 14 games in 2013.
- The Jets announced that they released defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson (hamstring) off of the IR, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
- The Texans are signing KR-WR Chandler Worthy to the active roster from the practice squad, according to sources who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Houston is now at the 53-man limit again after previously placing Ryan Griffin on IR-DTR.