Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are some minor transactions from around the NFL on Saturday:
- The Rams have waived wideout Jamaine Sherman from injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports.
- The Seahawks have waived defensive tackle Jesse Williams with the injured designation, tweets The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. The player has cleared waived and will be placed on the team’s injured reserve.
Earlier updates:
- To make room for new addition Samson Satele, the Dolphins have waived rookie lineman Samuel Longo, the team announced on Twitter.
- The Seahawks have indeed claimed Cory Brandon off of waivers from the Cardinals, tweets Field Yates. Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reported that the move was likely following the release of Michael Bowie.
- The Texans have released tight end Chris Coyle to make room for Irwin, tweets James Palmer of Comcast Sportsnets Houston. Houston added the rookie tight end in late July.
- Josh Hull‘s contract with the Jaguars will be a two-year deal, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Hull signed earlier today, along with Kenny Shaw and David Carter. The team waived three players to make room for the signings.
- The Patriots have released rookie wide receiver Cole Stanford, according to the team’s official website.
- The Texans have signed offensive guard Bronson Irwin, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. He was recently released by the Seahawks.
- The Cardinals were awarded linebacker Trevardo Williams off waivers from the Texans, reports Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (via Twitter). The team released cornerback Todd Washington to make room for Williams.
Matt Feminis and Ben Levine contributed to this post.
AFC East Notes: Patriots, Satele, Jackson
With all of the Patriots additions to their defensive back core, it’s certainly going to be tough for a player like Dax Swanson to make the final roster. However, the player has already faced plenty of adversity in his life, including switching colleges and going undrafted in 2013. Swanson uses all of these experiences as motivation (via Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal)…
“Yes, it motivates me a lot,” Swanson said. “Expecting to get drafted, still happy to have this opportunity and still got to where I needed to be, that was one of my goals. Me being me, I expect the best of myself. Not being drafted was very disappointing, but I had an injury and that’s kind of what happened. I just use that as motivation. It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finished. That’s my mentality.”
Swanson faced more adversity in July, when his father Henry died after suffering a stroke. The death adds fuel to the player’s fire, and he hopes that the memory of his father will guide him towards his ultimate goal.
“Yeah, it definitely does. It motivates me more,” Swanson said. “I just want him to know he’s in my heart and my thoughts all the time. He loved for me to have this opportunity and is excited for me to be in the NFL. I just want to make him proud, even though he’s no longer here. He’ll know I’m doing the best for him.”
While Swanson will have to compete with former Pro-Bowlers Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner for playing time, he’s certainly overcome tougher battles in his life.
“I’ve faced all sorts of adversity,” Swanson said. “Being on different teams, injuries — it just made me more mentally tough and hungrier to come out here and perform well and do my job, on the field and off the field.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the AFC East…
- The Dolphins had discussed a contract with recently-signed offensive lineman Samson Satele ten days ago but the veteran wanted to see if the team would offer more money, tweets the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. The team ultimately upped their offer to the veteran.
- The Dolphins will work out kicker Brandon Bogotay on Sunday, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The former Georgia Bulldog was signed by the Browns last year but was released before the season.
- Former seventh-round pick Rishard Matthews is “without a doubt” having a good training camp, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin told Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel.
- It was reported that Bills running back Fred Jackson could earn $1MM in incentives as a part of his new contract, and ESPN.com’s Field Yates details how the veteran could earn that money.
AFC Notes: Gilbert, Hill, White, Bills
Buried underneath the news of Shaun Suisham‘s contract extension, Triblive.com’s Mark Kaboly notes the Steelers have been talking with agent Drew Rosenhaus about a contract extension for offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, who is in the final year of his rookie deal. Gilbert “always possessed the natural talent to excel in the NFL,” writes Ray Fittipaldo in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Now, he believes he has developed the off-field habits that will help him take the next step in his career.”
Read on for several more AFC news and notes:
- Texans No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney caused a minor stir when he left practice early and spent time icing his leg on the trainer’s table, but the Houston Chronicle’s Brian T. Smith caught up with head coach Bill O’Brien, who said the team is just managing the rookie’s “pitch count.
- The Jets traded up to draft Stephen Hill 43rd overall (two spots ahead of Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery), but the talented wide out’s first two seasons have been plagued by inconsistency and injury, writes the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta, who calls Hill an “enigma who leaves you wanting more every time you see him.”
- Status quo for Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno, which means continued uncertainty, writes Adam Beasley in the Miami Herald.
- ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss relayed Bill Belichick quotes from an interview the Patriots head coach did with Sirius XM NFL Radio, and NESN’s Doug Kyed quoted quarterback Tom Brady. Both men were speaking about rookie running back James White, is making a strong first impression thanks to his versatility and maturity, seemingly earning trust as a three-down back.
- In a preview of the Browns, CBS’ Pat Kirwan says he wouldn’t be surprised if four rookies start — including third-round linebacker Christian Kirksey, who is already getting some first-team reps — and two more (running back Terrence West and cornerback Pierre Desir) play important roles.
- Bengals stalwart left tackle Andrew Whitworth is nursing a strained calf muscle, but he’s being patient, writes Cincinnati.com’s Paul Dehner.
- “The sale of the Buffalo Bills has evolved into an event Ringling Bros and Barnum & Baily would have been proud of,” in the opinion of Forbes’ Mike Ozanian.
Brady Quinn Worked Out For Patriots
1:08pm: Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) confirms that Quinn worked out for the Patriots.
11:40am: Brady Quinn has signed on with FOX Sports as an analyst but he hasn’t given up on playing in the NFL Earlier today on The Dan Patrick Show Friday, the Notre Dame QB said he had a workout with an unnamed club on Monday.
“It went well,” Quinn said, according to Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk. “In this particular situation, though, they need something to happen in order for me to possibly be there.”
Quinn went on to say FOX would be “flexible” in allowing him to continue to stay ready for another opportunity to play while also working for the network. And while the 29-year-old declined to identify the team in question, Andrew Perloff of Sports Illustrated (on Twitter) hears that Quinn’s audition was for the Patriots. Quinn said that “something needs to happen” for him to sign with the unnamed team in reference and Perloff wonders aloud if that could be in reference to a trade of Ryan Mallett. Mallett, drafted in 2011, is now coming to the end of his rookie contract, and will be a free agent after this coming season. However, Coach Bill Belichick indicated back in May that he wasn’t “that interested” in trading the 26-year-old.
The former first-round pick had stints with the Seahawks, Jets, and Rams in 2013. In 2012, Quinn started eight games for the Chiefs.
AFC Notes: Gordon, Hoyer, Broncos, Bills
Josh Gordon‘s appeal hearing is scheduled to take place this Friday, and the Browns receiver appears to have a pretty decent case for having his suspension reduced from the looming one-year penalty, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. Florio goes into detail on Gordon’s failed test, which only constituted a failure by the narrowest of margins, and which the wideout would have passed had the “A” and “B” labels on his two urine samples been flipped.
It’ll be interesting to see what the NFL decides on Gordon, especially after Roger Goodell and the league came under so much scrutiny for what was viewed as a light punishment for Ray Rice. As we wait to see how the case plays out, let’s check in on a few items from across the AFC, including one more note out of Cleveland….
- The Browns and quarterback Brian Hoyer haven’t had any discussions about a contract extension since exchanging numbers earlier in the offseason, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). La Canfora adds (via Twitter) that perhaps if Cleveland were to include bonuses or incentives based on team or individual performance, something could get done, but that’s not all that likely. Hoyer’s agent suggested a month ago that he and his client would probably wait to see how the season played out, perhaps re-assessing the situation in November or later.
- While an incumbent option like Ronnie Hillman or C.J. Anderson might win the No. 2 running back job for the Broncos behind starter Montee Ball, that role could ultimately be assumed by a player plucked off waivers before the season starts, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
- Donald Trump will submit a bid in an attempt to purchase the Bills, but he doesn’t expect his bid to be the winner, as he tells Fox News. Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi isn’t making many friends in Buffalo by having aligned himself with Toronto-based investors, writes Eric Edelson of Yahoo! Sports.
- With this afternoon’s deadline for initial bids on the Bills approaching, New York Senator Charles E. Schumer said today in a statement that he has spoken to several prospective owners who would be committed to keeping the team in Western New York. Jerry Zremski of the Buffalo News has the details and quotes.
- Asked by Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe (TwitLonger link) about the pay cut he took this offseason, Patriots defensive lineman Tommy Kelly said he didn’t mind reworking his deal, since the changes weren’t too drastic. “Coach asked me for a favor and I obliged,” Kelly said. “I didn’t have no problem with it. At this point in my career, I’ve made a whole lot of money. Money ain’t the problem.”
Patriots Claim Tyler Gaffney, Cut Josh Hull
4:39pm: In order to make room for Gaffney, the Patriots have cut linebacker Josh Hull, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Hull, primarily a special-teamer over the last few seasons, had signed with New England back in April.
4:20pm: Former Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney has become the first 2014 draftee to switch teams, having been claimed by the Patriots a day after the Panthers waived-injured him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). After Gaffney suffered a season-ending knee injury, Carolina had hoped to sneak him through waivers and move him to the injured reserve list, but the Pats stepped in to prevent that.
Prior to the final cutdown date in training camp, injured players with fewer than four years of service time cannot be placed on injured reserve until they pass through waivers, so the Panthers either had to hold onto Gaffney for a few more weeks or hope that he went unclaimed.
As Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk observes, the league’s so-called unwritten rules dictate that this type of waiver claim doesn’t occur often, but Bill Belichick and the Pats are no strangers to such a move. Two years ago, the club did the same thing when the Giants waived-injured tight end Jake Ballard, snatching him off waivers, much to the chagrin of Tom Coughlin. At the time, the Pats head coach dismissed the idea that there was anything wrong with the practice:
“I don’t know what unwrittens you’re talking about,” Belichick said. “Any time you put a player on waivers, you know there are 31 teams out there that can take him if they want him. We all know that. There is no secret about that.”
Extra Points: Ridley, Cameron, Freeney, Irsay
It’s been an up-and-down three years in New England for running back Stevan Ridley, who followed up a breakout 2012 season with a 2013 campaign in which he struggled with fumbles and ceded carries to LeGarrette Blount, among others. As he enters a contract year though, Ridley recognizes that he controls his fate and is looking forward to rebuilding his stock on the field, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Per Howe, no negotiations have taken place between Ridley and the Patriots, so the 25-year-old back appears likely to reach free agency in 2015 — how much he earns on his next deal will depend in large part on how he performs this year.
Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from across the NFL:
- The Browns and tight end Jordan Cameron have discussed a possible contract extension, but aren’t close to getting anything done, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. As La Canfora observes, Kyle Rudolph‘s agreement with the Vikings could help bolster Cameron’s negotiating position.
- As Alex Marvez details in a piece for FOX Sports, Dwight Freeney’s Chargers teammates weren’t sure he’d be back in 2014 after tearing his quadriceps last year, but the veteran pass rusher is healthy and ready to contribute in the last year of his contract.
- Based on the buzz he’s hearing, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole (video link) expects Colts owner Jim Irsay to receive a longer suspension than the one doled out to Ray Rice, as well as a hefty fine.
- Retirement decisions like Sidney Rice’s and Travelle Wharton’s carry a bit more weight this year, since the NFL likely won’t fight the inclusion of recently-retired players in the pending concussion settlement, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
- There aren’t many team-friendly veteran contracts on the Panthers’ books, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, who reluctantly picks Nate Chandler as the club’s best deal, for its upside. Fitzgerald identifies Jonathan Stewart’s contract as Carolina’s worst.
Minor Moves: Sunday
We will post any and all “minor moves” right here over the course of the day:
- The Colts have signed undrafted rookie tackle Matt Hall, the team announced. Hall originally signed with the Vikings in May, but was cut by the team on Friday.
- The Redskins have waived 2013 fifth-round draft pick Brandon Jenkins, and activated Mo Hurt after he passed his physical, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter). Moving on from Jenkins was not a surprise, as John Keim of ESPN.com, Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington, and Jones all took to Twitter to comment on the player’s struggles and inability to contribute.
- The Panthers have signed former Brown Fozzy Whittaker to replace the injured Tyler Gaffney, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Whitaker can contribute both as a tailback and kick returner.
- The Bears have waived guard James Dunbar out of TCU, reports Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (via Twitter).
- The Dolphins have signed offensive tackle Steven Baker, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Earlier updates
- The Colts have waived tackle Jack Breckner, tweets Craig Kelley of Colts.com.
- The Panthers have signed safety Tom Nelson, tweets David Newton of ESPN.com. Newton adds that the club still has a roster spot to replace injured RB Tyler Gaffney.
- The Patriots have waived wide receiver Greg Orton, tweets Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald. Howe adds that Orton will revert to IR once he clears waivers. Shalize Manza Young of The Boston Glove tweets that the team has signed wideouts Cole Stanford and Brian Tyms and that the 90-man roster is once again full.
- The Colts have signed running back Davin Meggett, tweets Matt Zenitz of The Baltimore Sun. Meggett, who has spent time on the practice squads of four different NFL clubs since leaving the University of Maryland in 2011, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in June but was released by the team earlier this month. Meggett provides backfield depth in the wake of Vick Ballard‘s season-ending injury. Prior to the signing, Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star examined the different options the Colts might pursue to replace Ballard, options that still may be on the table after acquiring the unproven Meggett.
- In a corresponding move, the Colts have place LB Aaron Morgan on IR, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
Rob DiRe and Ben Levine contributed to this post.
AFC East Notes: Ridley, Bills, Vick
Patriots running back Stevan Ridley should have plenty of motivation heading into the season. After struggling with fumble issues for much of last year, the former third-rounder was replaced by veteran LeGarrette Blount towards the end of the regular season and playoffs. With Blount gone, Ridley has a great opportunity to reestablish himself as a premier back. The opportunity to regain his starting gig isn’t the 25-year-old’s only motivation, however – Ridley is also entering the final year of his contract.
The fourth-year player addressed the situation and acknowledged that a future contract is certainly on his mind (via Phil Perry of CSNNE.com)…
“I have to be honest about it, it’s there,” Ridley said. “But it’s not my first concern. My first concern is going out there and being the best player for this team. If I go out there and have a productive year and do what I need to do, the contract will take care of itself.
“I’m not really gonna put too much thought into it. As you guys know, if I start thinking about that, it can easily be a distraction. I can’t worry about that. I’m gonna have some good days, have some bad days, I’m just gonna keep working, keep grinding, keep my head in the dirt and keep grinding it out.”
As the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe tweets, the Patriots haven’t had any discussion with Ridley’s camp regarding a new contract. Howe doesn’t expect any type of action until after the season, “if at all.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…
- The Bills lost another tight end to injury as starter Scott Chandler left the field on Sunday with a groin injury, writes Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550. The team was already without Tony Moeaki and Chris Gragg, but coach Doug Marrone indicated that the Bills would rely on their own players to fill the void. The only healthy tight ends on the roster are Lee Smith and Dominique Jones, and Buscaglia suggests that fullback Evan Rodriguez could get some reps.
- Michael Vick had an impressive weekend at Jets training camp, but the veteran quarterback is aware of his position on the depth chart behind Geno Smith. “It’s a very fine line,” he said (via USA Today Sports’ Jarrett Bell). “I accept this role and I embrace it and I appreciate it. But I know this is not my football team. So that’s why I’m able to deal with it. At the same time, I feel like I’m one of the best quarterbacks in the league. That’s the way I feel.”
- During the 2013 season, only one Jets starter (Demario Davis) played more than 29 percent of the team’s snaps on special teams. As Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes, that will certainly change in 2014 as the team looks to improve a lackluster unit. “We’re going to use a bunch of those guys on all of our special teams,” said head coach Rex Ryan. “We think we have to get better on ‘teams.’ We want to be one of the best special teams units in the league. It’s really all hands on deck, especially the punt team. We want to have a great punt team.”
East Notes: Barbre, Pryor, Colon
We learned yesterday in a series of Twitter posts that Eagles‘ offensive lineman Allen Barbre would be given the first opportunity to replace suspended right tackle Lane Johnson but that Barbre would be pushing for more playing time even if Johnson had never been suspended. Today, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com and Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer flesh out those thoughts in full articles, noting that Barbre’s strong performance as a reserve in 2013 and the three-year extension he signed last month suggest that he may remain a starter somewhere on the line–he has more experience on the left side than the right–even when Johnson returns.
Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the only real positional battle in Eagles‘ camp this year is between Nate Allen and Earl Wolff at strong safety.
- John Keim of ESPN.com writes that former Redskins running back Tim Hightower was in attendance at Redskins practice on Saturday and would like to return to the league.
- We also learned yesterday that Jets‘ rookie Calvin Pryor suffered a head injury and possible concussion during practice. Although Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes that it was a good sign that Pryor returned to the field on Saturday to watch the remainder of practice, Brian Costello of The New York Post tweets that there was no sign of him when practice began this morning. Costello also tweeted that, since the team will not hold practice tomorrow, it makes senses to give Pryor two consecutive days of rest as a precaution.
- In better news for the Jets, Costello tweets that Willie Colon is in full pads and appears to be ready to play.
- Ben Volin of The Boston Globe writes that, despite all the hype that comes with every training camp, the only real goal for the Patriots this summer is to stay healthy.
- Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News writes that the battle between Chris Hairston and Kraig Urbik for the Bills’ starting right guard spot will be an intriguing one to keep an eye on as training camp unfolds.