Recent Signings Facing Former Teams In 2014
The 2014 NFL schedule has been released, and it gives us an interesting chance to see some players face their former teammates for the first time. Some of these players were traded or otherwise unwanted by their former teams, and others spurned their hometown fans for greener pastures elsewhere. In all cases, there are some fans or players who must be licking their chops to finally treat these players in their new colors as enemies for the first time.
The following players will get the chance to play against their former teams in 2014:
- Matt Schaub will either get a chance to show up his replacement in Week 2, or possibly hope to avoid getting tormented by Jadeveon Clowney when the Texans visit the Raiders on September 14th (4:25 EST, CBS).
- DeSean Jackson would love a chance to show the world the Eagles made a mistake, and he will return to Philadelphia for Week 3 on September 21st (1:00 EST, FOX). Jackson will get a second chance on Saturday, December 20th (4:30 EST, NFL Network/CBS).
- Branden Albert got see Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in practice for years. He will get them in a game for the first time when the Dolphins host the Chiefs on September 21st (4:25 EST, CBS).
- Julius Peppers can wreak some havoc in a new system in his former stadium when the Packers visit the Bears on September 28th (1:00 EST, FOX). Peppers will get a second chance in Green Bay on November 9th in primetime (8:30 EST, NBC).
- Steve Smith told the fans to “Put your goggles on cause there’s going to be blood and guts everywhere,” when he signed with the Ravens. Well have your goggles ready for Week 4, when the Ravens host the Panthers on September 28th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Alex Smith didn’t get to see Jim Harbaugh last year, but will finally get his shot to go after his former coach when the Chiefs travel to face the 49ers on October 5th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Eric Decker will get to watch Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ offense churn on without him when the Broncos play the Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 12th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Brandon Spikes will have to be prepared for the Patriots after a contentious offseason, as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have been known to pick on players before. The Bills host the Patriots on October 12th (1:00 EST, CBS) and travel to New England on December 28th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Darrelle Revis will get to feast on a passing offense that struggled in 2013, and will likely invite Eric Decker to Revis Island when the Patriots host the Jets on Thursday Night Football on October 16th (8:25 EST, CBS/NFL Network). Revis will then get to return to a stadium filled with jeering fans on December 21st (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Jared Veldheer seemingly couldn’t leave Oakland quick enough, and the Raiders will host his Cardinals on October 19th (4:25 EST, FOX).
- Jason Hatcher had a career season with the Cowboys in 2013, and now returns to a 3-4 defense hoping to build upon his great season against his former team when the Redskins head to Dallas for Monday Night Football on October 27th (8:30 EST, ESPN). His second meeting with the Cowboys will be in Week 17, when the Redskins host their rivals on December 28th (1:00 EST, FOX).
- Aqib Talib took the money to switch from the AFC runner up to the AFC champion, and he will take part in his third Brady-Manning matchup, his first as a Bronco, on November 2nd (4:25 EST, CBS).
- Hakeem Nicks looked like he hated playing with the Giants in 2013, and this is his chance at revenge after feeling mistreated by the Giants organization and fans when the Colts visit MetLife Stadium for Monday Night Football on November 3rd (8:30 EST, ESPN).
- Jared Allen gets to tee off against the Vikings offensive line he has been practicing against for the past six years, and for the first time since 2007 will finally get to share the field with Adrian Peterson on November 16th when the Bears host the Vikings (1:00 EST, FOX). Allen will head back to Minnesota on December 28th (1:00, FOX).
- Lovie Smith gets his shot to beat the team that fired him, and will bring former Bear Josh McCown with him to move the football against a no longer feared Bears defense on November 9th (1:00 EST, FOX).
- Mike Pettine left the Bills to coach the Browns, and will have to return to Buffalo on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Michael Johnson left the Bengals to be the featured pass rusher for the Buccaneers, and he will get his chance to beat Andrew Whitworth and the Bengals offensive line to get a hit on Andy Dalton on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Rodger Saffold can show the Raiders exactly how healthy he is after the team signed him to a huge money deal and subsequently failed him on his physical, voiding the deal. The Rams host the Raiders on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
- Henry Melton got hurt after receiving the franchise tag by the Bears, and will get a chance to prove he is still an effective player when the Cowboys visit the Bears for Thursday Night Football on December 4th (8:25 EST, NFL Network).
- Chris Johnson will get to face the Titans for the first time, as he tries to show the team he still has some miles left on his tires when the Jets go to Tennessee on December 14th (4:05 EST, CBS).
Patriots Exercise Nate Solder’s Option
The Patriots have officially exercised their fifth-year option on Nate Solder, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). As our tracker shows, it’ll be worth about $7.438MM.
The 26-year old Solder has started 31 of 32 games at left tackle for the Patriots over the past two seasons. The option will most likely keep Solder with the team for at least the next two seasons. While the team will most likely prefer to negotiate a long-term contract extension before or during the option year, they will still be able to exercise the franchise tag on Solder should they fail to secure a long-term deal.
Pro Football Focus graded Solder is the eighth best left tackle in 2013, and the ninth best tackle overall (subscription required).
AFC East Notes: Jets, Aikens, Lawrence
University of Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins is visiting Jets tomorrow, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The team is in desperate need of a playmaker at the position, as Jeff Cumberland and Kellen Winslow struggled to provide a consistent option at tight end in 2013.
- Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo visited the Jets today, reports Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). The team could be interested in the signal-caller, should he be available in the second round.
- Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will be visiting the Jets tomorrow, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Clinton-Dix has visited the Pats and Eagles earlier this offseason.
- The Dolphins are interested in Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens, writes Kevin Lerner of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The Dolphins need to add to their secondary, and were impressed by Aikens during Senior Bowl practices.
- The Patriots had a pre-draft visit lined up for Demarcus Lawrence, but decided to cancel it, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The defensive end/outside linebacker could go off the board within the top 50 picks.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
AFC East Rumors: Watkins, Bills, Pats
Could the Bills be thinking about trading up? The Bills are hosting star Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter). Buffalo currently holds the No. 9 pick and, like the Lions behind them at No. 10, they’ll have to vault up to the top if they want to get this year’s top receiver. Earlier today, I profiled the dynamic playmaker and some of his possible fits. Here’s the latest from the AFC East…
- Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net goes deeper into the Patriots‘ infatuation with Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage, who is being referred to by some in the organization as “Tom No. 2” for his similarities to Tom Brady. Savage impressed the franchise during combine interviews, especially when former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano was on hand. In that meeting, Savage took responsibility for the 2011 situation when he left the Rutgers football program, which was then headed by Schiano.
- If the Patriots need a reminder of late-round value, they can turn to special teamer Matthew Slater, writes Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, the UCLA product has been a mainstay on the Pats’ special teams units and has held the title of team captain for the past three seasons. He’s also contributed as a wide receiver, and he chipped in as a safety in 2011 when he started three games in the defensive backfield.
- Offensive tackle would make sense for the Dolphins at No. 19 but if all of their targets are already off the board, GM Dennis Hickey might just go with the best player available, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. We heard last night that the Dolphins are high on Tennessee’s Ja’Wuan James, who might be an option for them at No. 50.
- ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini (video link) says the Jets will put prized offseason pickup Chris Johnson in a position to succeed. Johnson’s speed, he feels, will bring a different dimension to the offense.
NFC South Rumors: Bailey, Falcons, Panthers, Boyd
New Saints cornerback Champ Bailey says he’s not motivated by doubters, but by the desire to win, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. “Well, that comes with the business,” Bailey said of the skeptics. “People are always gonna doubt you. You have one hiccup, and you know, you’re just not the same. My thing is just to go out there and play the best I can.” Bailey struggled last season with the Broncos, largely due to a foot injury that sidelined him for eleven games. More out of the NFC South..
- There’s been a lot of talk about how the Falcons will fill the void left by the retirement of Tony Gonzalez, but Matt Ryan says he has lots of confidence in second-year tight end Levine Toilolo, writes ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Toilolo, a former fourth-round pick from Stanford, had just 11 catches for 55 yards with two touchdowns as a rookie in spot duty behind Gonzalez. But Gonzalez’s limited practice time during the 2013 campaign allowed Toilolo to get plenty of first-team reps in practice.
- The Panthers have worked out Fresno State cornerback L.J. Jones, a source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). The 5’10”, 201-pound senior saw his final season cut short by a knee injury. Jones figures to be a late-round prospect.
- Former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd has had private workouts with the Panthers, a source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Boyd has also auditioned for the Buccaneers, Rams, Patriots, and Jets.
Draft Visits: Matthews, Colts, Aikens, Bills
The Texans continue to do their due diligence on every player near the top of the draft board, as they’re set to host Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews for a visit this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests that the Texans’ myriad pre-draft visits with top prospects could be designed to keep teams guessing about which player Houston actually wants, laying the groundwork to potentially trade down from No. 1. Meanwhile, Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that Matthews will visit the Falcons before heading to Houston later in the week for his Texans visit.
Here are a few more miscellaneous draft notes, as we inch a little closer to May 8:
- After meeting with the Dolphins on Monday, Clemson wideout Martavis Bryant is visiting the Colts today, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson also adds the Panthers and Steelers to the list of clubs that have hosted Bryant for visits so far.
- In a separate NFP report, Wilson provides an update on Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens, who is visiting the Colts, Packers, and Bengals this week. According to Wilson, in addition to previously reported visits and workouts, Aikens has also visited the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Buccaneers, and worked out for Cowboys and Jaguars.
- According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago (via Twitter), the Bears traveled to Los Angeles late last month to conduct a private workout with UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.
- The Bills hosted Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans, USC offensive lineman Marcus Martin and Georgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon today, says Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton has visited with a long list of teams, including the Patriots, Cardinals, Rams, and Lions, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan.
- Auburn cornerback Chris Davis worked out for the Falcons, Colts, and Patriots, among other clubs, according to Caplan (via Twitter).
Extra Points: Orton, Roos, Savage
Today marked the first day of voluntary offseason workouts for the Cowboys, and backup QB Kyle Orton was absent, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Given conflicting reports earlier this offseason concerning whether Orton wanted to retire from the game, Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com writes that it is a “strange absence.”
However, Watkins points to earlier statements made by Orton’s agent, David Dunn, who said retirement was not an option for his client. And, as Williams points out, these are voluntary workouts, and the Cowboys remain hopeful that Orton will return (Twitter link). Nonetheless, this will be an interesting story to keep an eye on in the coming days, much more interesting than most stories involving backup signal-callers.
Now for some some quick notes from around the league to close out the evening:
- In the midst of their respective legal concerns, 49ers stars Colin Kaepernick and Aldon Smith were present for the team’s first day of offseason workouts, according to Cam Inman of InsideBayArea.com.
- Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweets that there have been no extension talks between the Titans and LT Michael Roos, who is entering the final year of his contract.
- The Bears are open to drafting a QB that head coach Marc Trestman can groom behind Jay Cutler and current backup Jordan Palmer, writes Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets that the Patriots are “very high” on Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage and that some refer to him as “Tom #2.”
Brandt’s Latest: Fuller, Moncrief, Archer
Draft expert and former Cowboys VP of player personnel Gil Brandt shared a few draft updates this afternoon, via Twitter, so let’s jump in and briefly round up the highlights from the NFL.com veteran….
- Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, who paid a visit to the Bills today, has had 15 visits or workouts with NFL teams so far, and has four more lined up this week with the Rams, Jets, Steelers, and Broncos.
- Brandt adds a slew of teams to the list of those who have worked out or hosted Ole Miss receiver Donte Moncrief so far, tweeting that Moncrief has visited the Buccaneers, Cardinals, and Panthers, and has worked out for the Bucs, Panthers, Colts, and Falcons.
- Having already visited the Dolphins, Patriots, Cardinals, and Colts, Kent State running back Dri Archer, is on to the Buccaneers and Jets this week.
- Colorado wideout Paul Richardson, who has put on a few pounds since the draft combine, has workouts or visits with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, 49ers, and Seahawks. It’s not entirely clear if those visits and workouts are still on Richardson’s schedule, or if they’ve already happened.
NFC Notes: Clayborn, Falcons, Vikings, Lions
Although a number of teams exercised fifth-year options on 2011 first-rounders today, one player who doesn’t appear likely to have his option picked up is Adrian Clayborn of the Buccaneers, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. A source tells Florio that the Bucs aren’t expected to exercise the defensive end’s option, and also aren’t considering trading him to another team that would pick up the option. As such, it looks like the former 20th overall pick will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2014 season.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Jadeveon Clowney‘s visit with the Falcons will happen on Wednesday, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, running back Carlos Hyde will pay a visit to Atlanta on Wednesday as well, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Hyde has also visited the Titans and Patriots, adds Pelissero (via Twitter).
- Kurt Coleman‘s new one-year contract with the Vikings is worth $900K, but none of that total is guaranteed, says Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
- The Vikings hosted North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin for a pre-draft visit last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Tomasson’s source suggests that Martin, who figures to be a second- or third-round pick, would be a nice fit in Minnesota.
- USC center Marcus Martin and Nebraska cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste both visited the Lions today, and Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com has details on the pair of prospects.
- The Seahawks also hosted a couple of prospects today — Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post says Washington State safety Deone Bucannon has a two-day visit with the club, while Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets that Fresno State wideout Davante Adams was also in Seattle.
Extra Points: Options, Rice, Keller, Visits
As our fifth-year option tracker shows, we’re still waiting on many teams to make their official decisions on 2015 options for players who were drafted in the first round in 2011. The deadline arrives on May 3, so we still have nearly two more weeks before all those contract situations are resolved, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has decided to take his best guess at the upcoming decisions. In La Canfora’s view, 17 options are “no-brainers” to be exercised, while 10 are virtually certain to be declined — the remaining five, including Aldon Smith‘s and Mark Ingram‘s, among others, are still up in the air.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- The Jets offered Sidney Rice a larger contract than the Seahawks did, but the receiver wanted to return to the Super Bowl champs, he said today on 710 ESPN in Seattle (Twitter link).
- Tight end Dustin Keller remains unsigned, but the agent for Keller says his client is “good to go” after missing the 2013 season with a serious knee injury, tweets Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
- After visiting the Jets today, TCU cornerback Jason Verrett will move on to the Rams on Tuesday and the Texans on Wednesday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
- Rapoport passes along a couple more draft updates on Twitter, writing that LSU running back Jeremy Hill is visiting the Bengals today and previously visited the Titans. Rapoport adds that Florida offensive lineman Jon Halapio has worked out for the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Browns, and Colts.
- Boston College defensive end Kaleb Ramsey will work out for NFL scouts on campus this Wednesday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- According to reports from Wilson, Gil Brandt of NFL.com, and Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley is visiting the Rams, Patriots, Browns, and Cowboys this week.
- We heard last week that Nebraska guard Spencer Long has visits lined up with the Eagles, Chargers, Dolphins, and Falcons, and Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net says (via Twitter) Long will also visit three other clubs.