AFC Notes: Ryan, Revis, Thompkins, Harbaugh
The Jets were on the wrong side of a 31-0 beat down earlier today, and head coach Rex Ryan has his work cut out for him if the team is going to turn the season around. Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report doesn’t see the Jets improving, and believes Ryan will be fired because the roster isn’t up to par.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC:
- Darrelle Revis is showing he is at his best during Sunday Night Football by harrassing A.J. Green, but even if he plays at this level all year the Patriots will not be able to pick up the $20MM option, writes Andrew Brandt of MMQB.com (via Twitter). This will serve as a contract year for the star cornerback.
- Since Kenbrell Thompkins was released by the Patriots, he is looking for a new job. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald sees the Steelers as a potential fit (via Twitter). In addition to the fit on the field, he is the cousin of superstar receiver Antonio Brown.
- The rumors of a potential trade between the Browns and 49ers that would have sent Jim Harbaugh to coach Cleveland could have been for as little as two third-round draft picks, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Harbaugh’s wife was reluctant to leave the Bay Area, which strengthens rumors that he could be interested in the Raiders’ vacancy.
Patriots Notes: Brady, Thompkins, Mankins
Cardinals defensive tackle Tommy Kelly was cut by the Patriots in late August, but the veteran doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings. In fact, he actually sounds like he’s happier not playing in New England, and the 33-year-old questioned the team’s motivation in an interview with Darren Urban on the Cardinals website:
“I couldn’t take busting my tail every day getting to a game and them taking me out of the game for someone who I know isn’t better than me, because he’s a cheaper option. Are we worried about money here? Or are we worried about winning?”
Kelly isn’t the only player reportedly questioning the Patriots decision-making. Read below to find out who else may have issues with Bill Belichick and company…
- According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com), quarterback Tom Brady is “uncomfortable” with some of the Patriots’ personnel and coaching changes.
- If the Patriots continue to scuttle, the team will have an interesting decision to make with their franchise quarterback, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. If Brady is on the roster for the last game of this season, the final three years of his contract become fully guaranteed. When that inevitably happens, the Patriots will have to decide how much longer they want to roll with the future Hall of Famer.
- According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the Patriots asked Logan Mankins to take a pay cut not long before ultimately trading the Pro Bowler. The writer questions whether Belichick was “exacting a measure of payback” for Mankins’ 2010 holdout.
- The decision to cut Kenbrell Thompkins was less about the player’s talent and more about flexibility for the Patriots, writes CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran.
Extra Points: Vikings, Pats, Manziel
It seems that anyone can be an NFL running back these days, writes Dave Skretta of The Associated Press. For example, the Vikings have gotten by with a combo of Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon with Adrian Peterson out of action. “Every team is different. And some of the guys you’re talking about are No. 1 guys who’ve played or they’re pretty darn talented guys,” Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner said. “That’s what we’re hoping, that we come out of this over the next period and say, ‘Hey, these backs are really good and they really contribute and are doing a good job.’ We need to find that out.” More from around the NFL..
- The Patriots‘ decision to cut ties with Kenbrell Tompkins is another signal that the revolving door at wide receiver will keep spinning in New England, writes Christopher Price of WEEI.com. Tom Brady heaped praise upon him and coach Bill Belichick termed him as a “hard worker,” but for one reason or another, things didn’t work out for Tompkins in New England. As we heard earlier tonight, however, he could be back before long on the Pats’ taxi squad.
- From the outside, it looks like rookie Johnny Manziel could be a huge locker room distraction in Cleveland. However, Browns veteran wide receiver Nate Burleson tells SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that it was never a circus from the player’s point of view.
- The outside world isn’t super supportive of commissioner Roger Goodell, but Jets owner Woody Johnson is fairly confident that his fellow owners support him, writes Kristian Dyer of Yahoo Sports. “I haven’t talked to the league owners recently, we have a meeting next week so I’ll get to see them all,” Johnson said. “I think the general opinion is that Roger has over the last 15 (years) that I’ve known Roger and as commissioner for the last number of years – is that he’s an honest person, trying to do a good job. Normally very good judgment. I think the owners are going to be supportive.”
Patriots Notes: Thompkins, Browner, Tyms
The Patriots made some waves earlier today with a surprising roster move. Here’s more on that and the dominoes that could fall as a result as New England gets set to take on the Bengals tomorrow at Gillette Stadium..
- Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter) hears that Kenbrell Thompkins could circle back to New England rather quickly after he was released earlier today by the Patriots. Unless he’s claimed off waivers, Thompkins could be re-signed to the practice squad.
- A source tells Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald (Twitter link) that the Patriots informed Thompkins that his release was due to a numbers crunch on the depth chart. The Pats let him know that they needed a linebacker on the active roster, forcing them to release him and activate Ja’Gared Davis from the practice squad. So, despite what some may have first thought, Thompkins isn’t out a job due to any sort of disciplinary issue.
- Meanwhile, the Patriots will have a decision to make on cornerback Brandon Browner and wide receiver Brian Tyms. Both players are coming off of four-game bans and have received roster exemptions through October 6th. With a clear need for a deep threat, one would think that the Pats would try and find room for Tyms after tomorrow’s game. Same goes for Browner, who signed a three-year deal with the Pats this offseason. Both players would receive a good deal of interest if they hit the open market next week, especially the 6’4″ Browner.
Patriots To Waive Kenbrell Thompkins
The Patriots have placed second year wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins on waivers today, reports Brian McIntyre of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Thompkins stuck on the team in 2013 after being signed as an undrafted free agent, impressing at times during his rookie campaign. He caught 32 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns in eight starts last season.
The team was expecting him to make an improvement coming into his sophomore season, but has only caught six passes through four games. Thompkins did not play against the Vikings or Chiefs.
If Thompkins clears waivers, he could return to the team as soon as next week, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter).
Minor Moves: Saturday
Today’s minor moves, with recent updates added to the top of the list…
- The Giants have signed cornerback Chandler Fenner off of their practice squad, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The team has waived linebacker Dan Fox to make room for Fenner.
- The Patriots have promoted linebacker Ja’Gared Davis from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Davis, 24, went undrafted out of SMU in 2013. New England claimed him off waivers from the Texans on August 28. The Pats will need to make a roster move to clear a spot for Davis.
Earlier updates:
- The Cowboys have promoted linebacker Keith Smith to take Morris Claiborne‘s spot on the roster, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
- The Jaguars have activated wide receiver Ace Sanders and waived tight end Mickey Shuler, tweets the Florida-Times Union’s Ryan O’Halloran. The writer also tweets that Schuler could catch on with the team’s practice squad.
- The Vikings announced that they have signed fullback Zach Line from their practice squad. To make room, the team waived quarterback Chandler Harnish.
AFC Links: Ayers, Bengals, Jets, Revis
Expectations were relatively high for Titans linebacker Akeem Ayers entering the season, but the former second-rounder has been a healthy scratch in three of the first four games. Instead of causing a disruption, the 25-year-old is quietly trying to reassert himself into the team’s defensive rotation. However, that doesn’t mean the entire situation is sitting well with him (via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean)…
“Just because I am not walking around here ticked off and tearing everything up doesn’t mean I am comfortable with my situation,” Ayers said. “I am not comfortable with not playing. I want to play. I am a competitor, and I want to compete. So just because I am not carrying myself a certain way doesn’t mean I don’t care.
“But there is a way to handle everything, and I’m trying to handle things the right way.”
“Me being around here being a bad teammate and cursing coaches out, that is not going to help anybody and it is definitely not going to help me,” Ayers said. “I am always going to work on myself, whether they play me this year or not. I want to play football again. So I am going to help my teammates … and work on myself. Of course there is frustration there, but there is a certain way to handle situations.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC…
- Four former “Ben-Gals” cheerleaders are joining their peers’ lawsuit against the Bengals, claiming a “violation of federal wage laws,” writes Mark Gokavi of the Dayton Daily News.
- Jets general manager John Idzik is hoping to become “the next” Ted Thompson (Packers general manager), writes ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. This means building through the draft, investing in his own guys and occasionally signing outside free agents.
- According to the NFLPA (via Twitter of NFL.com’s Albert Breer), Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis has been named an alternate player representative.
Workout Notes: Webster, Colts, Patriots
The Broncos had former Purdue punter Cody Webster this week, reports Jeff Legwold of ESPN (via Twitter). The team also worked out Chase Tenpenny last month. Legwold credits the reports to Field Yates of ESPN.
Brian McIntyre of NFL.com notes that this is the second time they have worked out a left-footed punter this season, both times doing so before playing one (via Twitter). Tenpenny was brought in before playing Dustin Colquitt and the Chiefs, and the team will face lefty Dave Zastudil of the Cardinals this weekend.
Here are some other workout notes from around the NFL:
- The Colts worked out a number of players this week, notably two safeties in Winston Guy and Ray Ventrone, reports Yates (via Twitter). The team also brought in linebacker Victor Butler.
- The Patriots also had a number of players in for their late week workout. Outside linebackers Lawrence Sidbury and Jamaal Westerman, defensive end Gerald Rivers, and quarterback Brad Sorensen came in to workout for the team, according to Yates (via Twitter).
- The Bills already made a change at quarterback, and they brought in some tall receivers to see if they could find a diamond in the rough. L’Damian Washington and Ryan Spadola worked out for the team, reports Mike Rodak (via Twitter). He also credited the report to Yates.
AFC Notes: Ravens, Dobson, Raiders
New Ravens receiver Steve Smith Sr. is leading the Ravens in receptions and receiving yards and he’s happy to see fellow 35-year-old Reggie Wayne doing the same with the Colts, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. “Yeah, I love that,” Smith said. “Reggie’s doing his thing, we’re from the same class. I think it’s awesome, man. I think it’s unbelievable and I think also when he went down with the knee injury, he comes back. You know, this is a young man’s game and you’ve got two older guys playing well. That’s great.” More from the AFC..
- Former judge Barbara S. Jones appears to be an ideal choice to serve as the hearing officer in the appeal of former Ravens running back Ray Rice, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. In fact, Florio writes that she’s so ideal for the assignment that she probably should have been hired to be the independent investigator instead of Robert Mueller whose impartiality has been questioned.
- The usually guarded Bill Belichick promised comment on the reports that Aaron Dobson mouthed off to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and he delivered one early this afternoon via the Patriots‘ website. “In my year and a half with Aaron Dobson, he has always been respectful to me and to the rest of the coaching staff. He has never once been argumentative or confrontational. The suggestion and reporting that his playing time was in any way the result of a ‘loud disagreement’ with a coach is completely false,” Belichick said in the statement.
- Dobson told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter links) that he went to Belichick when he heard about the report and the coach promised to release a statement and “kill the story.”
- In a perfect world, Raiders owner Mark Davis would be able to bring back Jon Gruden, but that doesn’t appear likely at this juncture. Oakland needs a seasoned, offensive-minded coach (the inverse of Dennis Allen) and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com suggests Darrell Bevell or Pat Shurmur as possible fits. Still, landing Gruden would be the crown achievement.
- The Ravens are devoting over 30 percent of their salary-cap toward their front seven, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Wilson gives the full breakdown of the salary cap by position and notes that they have $6.434MM available in salary cap space.
AFC East Notes: Dobson, Jets, Ryan, Dolphins
Second-year wide receiver Aaron Dobson has suited up just once for the Patriots this season and reports indicated that his benching stemmed from a run-in with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. When asked today if the decision to bench Dobson was football or disciplinary, coach Bill Belichick said it was the former, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. When asked specifically if there was a confrontation between McDaniels and Dobson (link) he said, “No, and I’ll have a comment on that later.” Breer actually believes that the relationship between McDaniels and Dobson has been generally good for the last two years (link), so it’ll be interesting to find out what actually happened in New England. More out of the AFC East..
- The Jets have the second-largest salary-cap surplus in the league at $24.3MM and the lowest total cash spending at $95.14MM, curious numbers given all their personnel needs this offseason, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Their lack of spending has left them embarrassingly thin in the secondary, but owner Woody Johnson claims that he doesn’t regret the team’s lowball offer to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie that led him to the Meadowlands’ other team.
- Johnson’s frugal approach can work, but only if Jets GM John Idzik delivers, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Cimini points out that the slow and steady approach isn’t Johnson’s but rather Idzik’s. After former GM Mike Tannenbaum spent big and didn’t give Johnson a return on his investment, Idzik pitched himself to Johnson as someone who has the opposite philosophy.
- Rex Ryan could conceivably miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season and still keep his job, writes Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. “We don’t look at it that way,” Johnson said of whether the Jets had to make the postseason in order for the outspoken coach to stay on board.
- New Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was brought to Miami primarily to fix the passing game but, somewhat surprisingly, it’s the rushing attack that has improved, writes ESPN.com’s James Walker. Miami is currently ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing at 142.3 yards per game.