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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Extra Points: Brown, Wilkerson, Raiders

May 19th, 2015 at 9:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL and NFLPA recently reached a settlement that capped the number of unsigned veterans who can participate in tryouts at rookie minicamp to five players, sources tell Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. The financial compensation for participating veterans was one of the NFLPA’s concerns, and that apparently outweighed the upside of deals coming together for players like Josh Morgan, who signed with the Saints after an impressive tryout during rookie minicamp. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • The Patriots had free agent cornerback Tarell Brown in for a visit today, a team source tells Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). This is the second time that the Pats have hosted Brown for a visit.
  • Jets owner Woody Johnson didn’t make it sound like a new deal for Muhammad Wilkerson is coming anytime soon, as Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post writes. “We’re continuing to have dialogue sporadically, but it’s got to be something that works for both sides,” Johnson said.
  • The Raiders are open to selling a minority stake in the team to a Bay Area company if that company can help fill the $400MM stadium financing gap that currently exists, Peter Schrager of FOX Sports tweets.
  • Washington proposed that roster cuts should go from a 90-man roster to a 53-man roster, but that idea was voted down, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • With 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith retiring in May, he has more than $2.1MM in unearned signing bonus money, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. The 49ers could try and recoup that money, but they might feel indebted to Smith after he restructured his deal in 2013. Meanwhile, the former defensive end known as Cowboy says he checked out 49ers rookie minicamp and he might want to “dip my toe into coaching” after a couple years, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets.
  • Saints receivers coach John Morton probably had some input in the signing of wide receiver Lance Lewis, who spent last year under Morton on the 49ers’ practice squad, Evan Woodbery of The Times Picayune tweets. Earlier today, New Orleans signed Lewis and dropped kicker Shayne Graham.
  • The release of Graham leaves the Saints on the hook for his $10K signing bonus, Woodbery notes (on Twitter). The team’s dead money total has now risen a tad, from $21.67MM to $21.68MM.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

May 19th, 2015 at 8:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with any additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Colts have waived wide receiver Josh Lenz, who has spent a good chunk of the last two seasons on Indianapolis’ practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. Lenz had signed a reserve/futures contract with the Colts following the club’s elimination from the postseason back in January.
  • The Steelers have claimed former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Gardner was previously attempting to hook on with the Pats as a wide receiver before his release on Monday. To make room, the Steelers waived wide receiver L’Damian Washington, according to Steelers PR man Burt Lauten (on Twitter).
  • The Chargers waived tackle Bryce Quigley, a San Diego State product, to create roster room for Joe Barksdale, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
  • Another player who signed a reserve/futures deal with his team this past winter, running back Demitrius Bronson has been waived by the Seahawks with an injured designation, writes Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. Bronson, who was on Seattle’s taxi squad for most of the 2014 campaign, suffered a hamstring injury earlier in the offseason.
  • The Buccaneers have signed UDFA Antoine Everett, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (on Twitter). To make room for the former McNeese St. guard, tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi was waived with an injured designation.
  • Wide receiver Malcome Kennedy cleared waivers and was placed on the Saints‘ IR, Evan Woodbery of The Times Picayune tweets.
  • The Chiefs signed running back Keshawn Hill, guard Melvin Meggs, center Dan Munye, and tackle Kelvin Palmer, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. To make room, KC cut fullback Manasseh Garner, tight end Earnest Pettway, and tackle Charles Sweeton.

Saints Release Shayne Graham

May 19th, 2015 at 2:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints announced that they have released kicker Shayne Graham. In a related move, wide receiver Lance Lewis has been added to the roster.

Graham is a 15-year NFL veteran who first joined New Orleans as a UDFA in 2000. The 37-year-old, who has played for nine clubs in total, ranks seventh in NFL record books in field goal accuracy (85.5%), having nailed 266-of-311 career attempts. Overall, in 173 games, he has scored 1,219 points, tied for 35th in NFL history. Last year, Graham connected on 19-of-22 field goal attempts and finished as the club’s leading scorer with 103 points.

Lewis, 27 in November, spent all of last season on the 49ers’ taxi squad. Originally signed by Washington as a UDFA in 2012, the East Carolina product appeared in three games for the club in 2013.

South Notes: Mettenberger, Luck, Newton

May 19th, 2015 at 9:01am CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after the Titans used the second overall pick in this year’s draft on quarterback Marcus Mariota, a report surfaced suggesting that incumbent signal-caller Zach Mettenberger wanted to be traded out of Tennessee. Mettenberger and the Titans quickly denied that claim, and now the second-year QB has taken a more significant step to show that he’s happy in Tennessee.

According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter links), Mettenberger has changed agents, going from Joe Linta to CAA’s Tom Condon and Jimmy Sexton. Although Mettenberger hasn’t explicitly stated his motivation for the change, McCormick notes that the post-draft trade talk was pinned on Linta, while Sexton also represents Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two South divisions:

  • Ryan Tannehill belongs to the same draft class as Andrew Luck, but yesterday’s contract extension for the Dolphins quarterback means nothing for the former No. 1 pick, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. As Wells observes, Luck is in a “different bracket” than Tannehill, meaning their contracts almost certainly look all that similar when all is said and done.
  • Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer believes the Tannehill extension doesn’t mean much for Cam Newton‘s next contract either, though Person notes that it increases the floor for QBs around the league.
  • Zach Strief doesn’t have any misconceptions about Andrus Peat‘s future role with the Saints, telling Mike Triplett of ESPN.com that the 13th overall pick is going to be “taking my job eventually.” With Peat preparing to play right tackle, Strief also shot down the idea that he could transition to left guard. “[Tim Lelito and Senio Kelemete] are two excellent football players, and two guys I’m never gonna beat out as a guard,” Strief said. “So it’ll be one of those two.”
  • The Titans are looking for their rookie running backs to lose some weight and get in better shape, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.

Minor Moves: Monday

May 18th, 2015 at 5:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Buccaneers have signed safety Derrick Wells, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (on Twitter). The Lehigh, Florida native was one of the players in attendance for the team’s rookie mini-camp.
  • The Cowboys welcomed back fullback Tyler Clutts on a one-year deal and cut Jed Collins, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Clutts joined the Cowboys late in 2013 and played in every game last season, helping DeMarco Murray to an NFL-high 1,845 yards.
  • The Giants removed Thomas Gordon from their injured reserve with an injury settlement, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
  • The Patriots have said goodbye to Cameron Gordon and Devin Gardner, Wilson tweets. Gardner was a former quarterback at Michigan and was looking to transition to wide receiver in the NFL.
  • Washington signed linebacker Alonzo Highsmith while waiving Brey Cook, James Gayle, LaKendrick Ross, wide receiver Tyler Rutenbeck, and quarterback Connor Halliday, as John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. Halliday’s release was just formality after he abruptly announced his retirement from football.
  • The Saints announced the signings of linebacker Henry Coley, kicker Zach Hocker, offensive lineman Antonio Johnson, wide receiver Josh Morgan, and wide receiver Kyle Prater, as Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune tweets. To make room, offensive lineman Doniel Gambrell, guard Andrew Miller, and linebacker Stephon Sanders were shown the door while New Orleans waived/injured receiver Malcolme Kennedy (link).
  • The Titans announced (on Twitter) that they have agreed to terms with tight end Tevin Westbrook and outside linebacker Dezmond Johnson. Running back Lache Seastrunk and outside linebacker Dontay Moch were waived.
  • The Toronto Argonauts signed former NFL linebacker Brian Rolle, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Rolle, 27 in November, was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. His last NFL gig was with the Steelers, who signed him on a futures/reserve contract in 2013. Meanwhile, the Argos said goodbye to wide receiver Mike Thomas and safety David Sims, who both have had multiple stops in the NFL (link).
  • Wide receiver/kick returner DeShon Foxx has agreed to terms with the Seahawks, accoridng to Wilson (on Twitter).
  • The 49ers signed Mylan Hicks and Justin Renfrow, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
  • The Seahawks signed Earnest Pettway and Charles Tuauu, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
  • The Chiefs cut Curtis Feigt with a non-football injury designation, Wilson tweets.

Saints Sign Four Players, Waive One

May 17th, 2015 at 4:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

4:42pm: The Saints have also signed linebacker Henry Coley, a UDFA from Virginia, tweets Woodbery.

3:47pm: Following the conclusion of their rookie minicamp, the Saints have made several transactions to the offseason roster, according to Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune (unless otherwise noted):

Signed:

Waived:

  • LB Stephon Sanders (link)

The 23-year-old Hocker is the only player listed with any sort of NFL history; he was drafted in the seventh round by Washington in 2014, and has since spent time on the Dolphins’ offseason roster before being waived last week. The other three players are 2015 UDFAs.

As Woodbery notes, the Saints’ roster now sits at 91, one more than the maximum allowed. As such, another transaction (either a waiving or a release) should be in the works.

Saints Sign Josh Morgan

May 17th, 2015 at 4:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After signing three players earlier today who tried out at their weekend rookie minicamp, the Saints have also added a veteran, agreeing to terms with receiver Josh Morgan, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Though he’s seen action in seven NFL seasons, Morgan was also auditioning at New Orleans’ rookie camp.

Morgan, who turns 30 years old next month, spent 2014 with the Bears, where he split third receiver snaps with Marquess Wilson. He was targeted only 19 times, catching 10 for 70 yards and one touchdown. The 2008 sixth-round draft pick didn’t play on special teams last season, so he’ll probably try to make the Saints’ roster based on his offensive ability alone. Morgan, who’s also spent time with the 49ers and Washington, will compete with Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, and Nick Toon, among others, for playing time.

The signing of Morgan puts, along with this afternoon’s additions, means New Orleans’ roster sits at 92. The club will need to make two roster moves soon in order to comply with the offseason maximum of 90.

South Notes: Gore, Titans, Saints

May 16th, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Mike Wells of ESPN.com is excited about what offseason addition Frank Gore can bring to the Colts. Of course, the Colts’ offense has been very pass-heavy in recent years, but Gore’s presence will keep defenses honest against Andrew Luck‘s arm. More from the South divisions..

  • The Titans should be wary of Zach Mettenberger‘s assertion that he will “fight to the death” to keep Marcus Mariota from being the Titans’ starting quarterback in 2015, Jarrett Bell of USA Today writes. As the Titans look to groom Mariota into a star quarterback, Bell feels that it makes little sense for them to subject him to the pressure of a quarterback battle.
  • Recently appointed Saints senior defensive assistant Dennis Allen made it known to reporters, including Garland Gillen of FOX 8 (on Twitter) that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is still running the show on defense.
  • Saints head coach Sean Payton went out of his way to mention Damian Swann when asked about fellow rookie P.J. Williams and the team’s other nickel cornerback candidates, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.

NFC South Notes: Winston, Newton, Coffman

May 16th, 2015 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

In today’s mailbag, a reader asks ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas if he feels the Buccaneers will bring in a veteran quarterback to support Jameis Winston. Of course, Mike Glennon is also on hand, and every indication Yasinskas has received is that the Bucs are content to roll with him as the backup to Winston. They also believe that he’s enough of a team player to embrace a backup role. Here’s today’s look at the NFC South..

Kevin Williams Pushing For Seahawks Return

May 14th, 2015 at 5:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent defensive tackle Kevin Williams visited the Saints, but his preference remains returning to the Seahawks, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Williams, 34, says he wants to play at least one more NFL season.

“I want to go back to Seattle, but this is a business,’’ Williams said. “They’re still evaluating their roster. I guess there’s not that many 12-year veterans that everyone wants. Everyone wants to go younger.”

Williams went on to say that he had a good visit with the Saints but nothing is close yet with New Orleans. The veteran is no stranger to signing late in free agency – last season he signed with the Seahawks on June 12th. The six-time Pro Bowler had a solid season for Seattle in 2014 and became the starting nose tackle after Brandon Mebane was knocked out for the season with a hamstring injury in the ninth game.

Williams graded out as being very slightly below average in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He earned a -0.3 overall grade, a slight drop from 2013’s 0.9 mark. In 16 games last season, Williams recorded 38 total tackles with three sacks.

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