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Minor NFL Transactions: 10/14/15

October 14th, 2015 at 6:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Cowboys claimed running back Rod Smith off waivers from the Seahawks, according to Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan (on Twitter). After previously trading for Christine Michael, it appears that the Cowboys are fans of Seattle running backs.
  • The Broncos announced that they have signed tight end Richard Gordon while waiving fellow tight end Mitchell Henry. This will be Gordon’s third AFC West team, after stints with the Chiefs and Raiders, who selected Gordon in the sixth round (No. 181 overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft from the University of Miami.
  • The Browns have been awarded defensive back Don Jones off waivers from the Saints, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. In a related move, outside linebacker Scott Solomon was placed on injured reserve with a sprained knee. Solomon’s injury certainly won’t help the Browns’ poor results against the run.
  • Mike Chappell of FOX59 (on Twitter) reports that the Colts have placed Tyler Varga on IR following his concussion. That move will help make room for the newly-signed Ahmad Bradshaw.
  • The Dolphins signed safety Jonathan Dowling off the team’s practice squad, as Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. Dowling was a 2014 seventh-round pick of the Raiders.
  • The Buccaneers cut Josh Martin from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Wilson tweets.
  • The Seahawks signed linebacker Nick Moody to their active roster, Wilson tweets.
  • The Bears announced (on Twitter) that they have promoted linebacker Jonathan Anderson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
  • The Packers announced that they have signed tight end Justin Perillo to the active roster while placing safety Sean Richardson on IR. Coach Mike McCarthy wouldn’t comment on Richardson’s future when asked about it on Monday, but his playing career could be in jeopardy, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. The Packers brought back Richardson this year as an restricted free agent when they matched the one-year, $2.55MM offer sheet he signed with the Raiders.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/15

October 13th, 2015 at 4:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL..

  • The Dolphins released RB/KR Raheem Mostert off their roster, according to agent Brett Tessler (Twitter links). Mostert led the entire NFL in yardage this preseason while with the Eagles. If he passes through waivers, Tessler adds that he’ll be added to Miami’s taxi squad.
  • The Texans signed defensive tackle Brandon Dunn to active roster off the Bears‘ practice squad, a source tells Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). In a related move, the Texans cut wide receiver Chandler Worthy from active roster (Twitter links). If Worthy clears waivers, Houston would like to sign him to the taxi squad.
  • The Saints re-signed wide receiver Joe Morgan, as Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets. To make room, the defensive backs waived defensive back Don Jones (link).
  • The Eagles (via Twitter) announced that they signed offensive lineman Tanner Hawkinson off the 49ers‘ practice squad and released center/guard Julian Vandervelde.
  • The Chiefs signed running back Darrin Reaves to their practice squad, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com writes. The former Panthers tailback was in camp with Kansas City this past offseason.
  • The Steelers released kicker Garrett Hartley off of IR, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Lions released cornerback Chris Owens off of the IR, Caplan tweets.
  • The Cowboys waived wide receiver Vince Mayle, Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. The Washington State product was moved from the practice squad to the active roster last week to give Dallas additional depth at the position.
  • The Bears waived quarterback David Fales, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
  • The Cardinals placed defensive back Chris Clemons on injured reserve, Wilson tweets.
  • The Dolphins cut Damarr Aultman, Wilson tweets.
  • The Colts cut Jalil Brown from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Wilson tweets.
  • The Seahawks waived UDFA running back Rod Smith and quarterback B.J. Daniels, Caplan tweets.
  • The Lions waived linebacker Kevin Snyder from the IR, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.

NFC Notes: Cards, Payton, Giants, Lions

October 13th, 2015 at 8:24am CST by Luke Adams

While initial estimates suggested Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor would miss two to four weeks, it’s now believed his calf injury will sideline him for up to six weeks, tweets Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.

Okafor’s extended recovery timetable, along with Kenny Demens‘ season-ending ACL injury, makes Arizona’s signing of Dwight Freeney even more important. And speaking of Freeney, Ed Werder of ESPN.com provides a few more details on his contract with the Cards, tweeting that the veteran pass rusher can earn up to $1MM in sack incentives — $200K for four sacks, then another $100K for each one after that, up to 12 ($1MM).

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Saints head coach Sean Payton addressed the annual rumors about his potential departure from New Orleans on Monday, suggesting that he has no plans to go anywhere in the near future: “I’ll say what I said before. This is where I see myself. And I’ve said that now, for however many years.” Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune noted (via Twitter) that he can’t picture the Saints firing Payton.
  • After Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle got banged up in Sunday night’s game against the Niners, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin acknowledged that the team may have to look at adding a receiver this week, though he’s optimistic his players will be ready to go next week (Twitter link via Kimberly Jones of the NFL Network). Jordan Raanan of NJ.com examines some potential outside options for the team in the event that a free agent signing becomes necessary.
  • Lions head coach Jim Caldwell admitted on Monday that team owner Martha Firestone Ford isn’t happy with Detroit’s play so far this season, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. For now, the Lions don’t intend to make any coaching changes, but we’ll see if that changes in the coming weeks.
  • Eagles head coach Chip Kelly praised the job Caleb Sturgis did for the team on Sunday, telling reporters on Monday that Philadelphia won’t have any kicker tryouts this week (Twitter link via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News). Sturgis missed another extra point in his second game for the Eagles, but made seven other kicks, including four field goals.
  • Although Sunday’s loss was a tough one for Washington, there have been signs that the team’s culture is changing, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNMidAtlantic.com, who identifies Terrance Knighton, Chris Culliver, and Dashon Goldson as newcomers who are helping to change the attitude in the locker room.

Extra Points: Freeney, Dolphins, Harbaugh

October 12th, 2015 at 9:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals had interest in Dwight Freeney since late July, a source tells Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). However, Freeney was looking for too much money. Needless to say, the price has come down. Arizona reportedly has agreed to sign Freeney, though head coach Bruce Arians claimed that there is no deal yet, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets.

Here’s more from around the league..

  • The Dolphins won’t make another run at coach Jim Harbaugh, according to Peter King of The MMQB.com (via PFT). Harbaugh, now the head coach at Michigan, was a target for the Dolphins years ago, but the club apparently isn’t interested in circling back. There’s a connection between the ex-49ers coach and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross because Ross is a Michigan alum and has been a major booster for the school. However, for that exact reason, Ross might be hesitant to take the coach away from Ann Arbor.
  • Saints wide receiver Marques Colston suffered a separated shoulder on Sunday at the least, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). There could also be some structural damage for the veteran receiver.
  • By trading Gerald Hodges to the 49ers, the Vikings changed everything for their linebackers, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes.

Cole’s Latest: Payton, Fells, Lions, Cowboys

October 12th, 2015 at 12:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Saints head coach Sean Payton is “intrigued” by the idea that teams like the Dolphins and Colts could pursue him after the 2015 season, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).

That doesn’t mean Payton would leave New Orleans, or that he’d be able to get out of his contract even if he wanted to. However, Cole notes that there are some questions surrounding the ownership situation in New Orleans – presumably a reference to the Benson family’s legal drama – and Payton also may not be able to rebuild the Saints around Drew Brees quickly enough to compete again before Brees reaches the end of his career.

Payton’s situation will be one worth keeping an eye on over the next few weeks and months, as we wait to see how the season plays out in New Orleans, Miami, Indianapolis, and elsewhere. In the meantime, Cole has published several more video reports on noteworthy topics, so let’s dive in and round up the highlights…

  • A weekend report indicated that Giants tight end Daniel Fells was at risk of losing his foot due to an MRSA infection, and Cole suggests that the issue has been even more serious than that, calling it “life-threatening.” While Fells is in good shape for the time being, he has undergone several procedures and had parts of his foot removed already, according to Cole, who says the tight end’s playing career is over.
  • After a blowout home loss to the Cardinals, several Lions players expressed concern about the relationship between the team and head coach Jim Caldwell, says Cole. Per Cole, some Lions players were dissatisfied with the way Caldwell handled the aftermath of last Monday night’s loss to the Seahawks, when he didn’t appear to fight hard over the fumble call that cost the team the game. For what it’s worth, Caldwell said today that the club isn’t making changes to its coaching staff this week (Twitter link via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com).
  • Citing two sources, Cole reports that Matt Cassel is “highly likely” to be the Cowboys‘ starting quarterback in Week 7, following the team’s bye.
  • The Chiefs are split on whether Knile Davis or Charcandrick West will be Jamaal Charles‘ primary replacement going forward, assuming the star running back is indeed out for the season. According to Cole, head coach Andy Reid prefers West, since his running style is similar to Charles’, but Davis has plenty of support within the organization from those who believe he’s a better overall back than West. We heard this morning that Kansas City is also bringing in veteran back Ben Tate for a workout tomorrow.

NFC Notes: Kaepernick, Saints, Eagles

October 11th, 2015 at 6:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Colin Kaepernick‘s days in a 49ers uniform could soon be coming to an end. The struggling quarterback’s contract gives the 49ers a chance to jettison him by April 1 before his salaries from 2016-18 become guaranteed, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Kaepernick is scheduled to make $11.9MM next year, $14.5MM in 2017 and $4.5MM in 2018. The only way that money would be guaranteed to Kaepernick before April 1 is if he suffers a career-ending injury this season. Given that, Florio believes the 49ers could bench the 27-year-old to preserve his health and prevent themselves from owing him big money going forward.

With the way his contract is structured, if the 49ers ride out this year with Kaepernick and his horrific play continues (6.27 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, five interceptions, 67.7 passer rating), the chances they’ll move on from him during the offseason appear good.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Despite the Saints’ ugly showing in a 39-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday, quarterback Drew Brees is optimistic the team will get on the right track. “We feel like we have the right pieces in place,” Brees said, according to Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com. “It hasn’t come together yet, but it will.” Time is running out for things to “come together” for the Saints, whose latest defeat dropped them to 1-4. Their next opponent is the NFC South rival Falcons, who are 5-0 and have left the Saints in the dust as far as the division race is concerned.
  • Speaking of the Saints, their days of having a high-flying offensive attack are over, writes Larry Holder of NOLA.com. Holder believes that the Saints lack weapons both through the air on the ground.
  • By knocking off New Orleans on Sunday, the Eagles at least temporarily saved their season, opines Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly moved to 2-3 and next faces the Giants, who currently sit atop the eminently winnable NFC East at 2-2. Everyone else in the division is 2-3.

Multiple Teams To Pursue Sean Payton

October 11th, 2015 at 9:55am CST by Rory Parks

Multiple teams are expected to inquire about Saints head coach Sean Payton at the end of the season, per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Schefter mentions the Dolphins as one of those teams, and the Colts are a possibility as well. Payton is signed through the 2017 season, but that does not mean that clubs with a head coaching vacancy will not pursue a trade for Payton, who has been with New Orleans for 10 years and who may not want to oversee the rebuilding process that the Saints appear to be headed for.

As Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter) and Schefter point out, however, Payton was the subject of similar rumors last year, and he has repeatedly shot them down. He was even mentioned as a possible candidate for the University of Michigan post last December, but his response has always been that he is not interested in any other position and that he is not, like his mentor Bill Parcells, beginning to feel the stirrings of wanderlust. Payton is 81-51 during his tenure with the Saints, and he has captured a Super Bowl championship during that time.

Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune speculates (via Twitter) that the Giants and a franchise that moves to Los Angeles could join the Dolphins and Colts as potential suitors for Payton’s services. The Dolphins, having just fired Joe Philbin, will be in the market for a head coach, and they have pursued big-name candidates in the past, including Jeff Fisher, Jon Gruden, and Jim Harbaugh. The Colts, meanwhile, are not expected to bring back Chuck Pagano, and it has been rumored that owner Jim Irsay could go “big-game hunting” at the end of the 2015 season.

Nonetheless, given Payton’s unwavering stance on the matter and what it would cost to trade for him–multiple draft picks, including at least one first-rounder, would certainly be involved–it is unlikely that he finds himself on another sideline in 2016. That is not to mention, of course, Payton’s contract: he earns $8MM per year, making him the highest-paid head coach in the league. As Adam Beasley of The Miami Herald simply tweets, “He won’t come cheap.”

Miami would likely be the most aggressive suitor, and Payton does have ties to the club. Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell was a tight end for the Cowboys when Payton served as Dallas’ offensive coordinator, and Campbell ended his career playing for Payton in New Orleans. Plus, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, “[t]he influence of Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells remains significant within Miami’s organization and Payton is one of his prized pupils.”

But it is that familiarity with the Dolphins that could harm, rather than help, Miami’s pursuit of Payton. As Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets, Payton now works with Jeff Ireland, who is currently a college scout for the Saints’ after serving as the general manger of the Dolphins from 2008 through 2013. Payton also remains close with Parcells, so he is intimately familiar with all of the Dolphins’ internal issues that have hindered the club in recent seasons. Salguero adds in a separate tweet that if Payton should leave New Orleans in the future, it will be for a team that would give him control over football operations. The Dolphins currently have Mike Tannenbaum in that role, and Salguero says that is unlikely to change.

However, it only makes sense that Miami, along with a number of other teams in the league, would make a run at Payton, whose tenure with the Saints has been a largely successful one and who could bring the type of schematic and cultural change that teams crave. As of now, though, unless the Saints receive an offer too good to turn down, Payton and New Orleans appear to be in it for the long haul.

 

 

 

Extra Points: Palmer, Seahawks, Spiller, McCoy, Bengals

October 9th, 2015 at 9:21pm CST by Zachary Links

At the age of 35, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer isn’t committing to anything beyond this season, Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report writes. However, he is committing entirely to this season.

“I think my realization that the window is closing and my career is not going to go on for a long time, that has changed a little of my approach,” he said. “I’ve always been pretty intense, but I think everybody gets to that point where you realize, man, I only have a couple left. That definitely has changed me a little bit.”

  • The Seahawks have injury issues with Marshawn Lynch ruled out for this Sunday’s game against the Bengals, but Fred Jackson is likely to play, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). They also have Rod Smith on the practice squad, and could move him to the active roster for depth (via Twitter). The team is considering moving Tharold Simon to injured reserve to make room (via Twitter).
  • The Saints offense took a hit in terms of explosiveness when they traded Darren Sproles to the Eagles, but they have a new playmaker in the backfield with free agent pickup C.J. Spiller, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. The team is hoping he keeps the threat of the big play alive when he is on the field.
  • Although he has been trying to play each week so far, Bills running back LeSean McCoy could miss an additional three games with a hamstring injury he described as a “grade-two pull,” according to CSNPhilly.com.
  • The Bengals earned a reputation as a cheap operation over the years but they have turned things around in a major way. CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry looked at the changes made in Cincinnati that have turned the franchise around, leading to their 4-0 start. The Bengals are built primarily with homegrown talent as 47 of the 58 players on the current roster. Only the Packers, another top team, have a higher percentage of homegrown talent.

NFC South Notes: Falcons, White, Saints

October 9th, 2015 at 9:43am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the NFC South..

  • Falcons wide receiver Roddy White says that he just has to be patient and his opportunities will come, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes. He added that his talk with Dan Quinn went well and that he’ll do whatever is best for the team in his role. On Wednesday, Quinn stressed that White is an important part of the team moving forward, despite his lack of touches in 2015.
  • The Saints are auditioning kickers but Zach Hocker understands that it’s just part of the business, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes. “I was one of those guys last year that when guys struggled I was bouncing around the country doing the exact same thing,” Hocker said. Hocker missed a potential game-winning field goal on Sunday night against the Cowboys before New Orleans won in overtime and missed a field goal and an extra point in the team’s Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay.
  • First-year Falcons quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur sat down with D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to discuss the team’s new offense under Quinn and how Matt Ryan has adjusted.

    • NFC Notes: Saints, 49ers, Barth, Eagles

    October 8th, 2015 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

    The Saints won’t displace Zach Hocker right now, even after auditioning several kickers, as Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets. Hocker missed a potential game-winning field goal on Sunday night against the Cowboys before New Orleans won in overtime, and missed a field goal and an extra point in the team’s Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay. However, he’ll get at least one more opportunity to hang onto the job going forward.

    In yesterday’s workout for the Saints, Randy Bullock hit all of his field goal attempts, while Kai Forbath missed a 53-yarder but made up for it with a 55-yard make, per Garafolo. Kyle Brindza, recently released by the Bucs, also got a look from the Saints, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

    Here’s more from around the NFC:

    • Head coach Jim Tomsula disputed the notion that the 49ers added inside linebacker Gerald Hodges because they’re unhappy with the way starter Michael Wilhoite has played. “There’s nothing there,” Tomsula said, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Tomsula went on to explain that the 49ers have liked Hodges since he came out in the 2013 draft. On Tuesday, San Francisco sent center Nick Easton and a sixth-round draft choice to the Vikings for Hodges.
    • Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth is happy to return to Tampa Bay, telling Fred Goodall of The Associated Press that the winding road he took back to the Bucs isn’t unusual for someone who plays his position. “You’ve got to look at as a business, and you’re kind of a consultant,” Barth said. “There are 32 jobs. It’s just a blessing to play and be one of 32 guys.” Barth was the club’s full-time kicker from 2009 to 2012.
    • According to Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, Drew Brees was a key point of reference when Philadelphia decided this offseason to acquire Sam Bradford, an oft-injured quarterback with significant potential. Brees had been considered an injury risk due to a shoulder issue when the Saints first acquired him. Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the details on Kelly’s Bradford/Brees comparison, along with the quotes from the head coach.
    • After signing a five-year deal worth nearly $39MM in the offseason, Bears pass rusher Pernell McPhee is off to a hot start, and joked that he wants J.J. Watt money now, as Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com writes.

    Zach Links contributed to this post.

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