NFL Workout Updates: 9/29/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Carolina Panthers
- QB Marcus McDade; WRs C.J. Board and Germone Hopper (link via Howard Balzer)
Cleveland Browns
- P Brock Miller (link via Howard Balzer)
Dallas Cowboys
- LBs Richie Brown and Kenneth Olugbode (story via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Marcus Lucas (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
New England Patriots
- C Anthony Fabiano; OTs Jake Rodgers and Victor Salako; LBs Austin Calitro and Cam Johnson (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- RBs William Stanback and James Summers (link via Art Stapleton of the Record)
New York Jets
- LB Jayrone Elliott (link via Howard Balzer)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Bryan Braman (original story) (link via Balzer)
Washington Redskins
- WR Rashard Davis (link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Hardy Nickerson
- Released: G Cole Toner
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey
- Released: Troymaine Pope
New York Giants
- Signed: FB Shane Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Keith Kelsey
- Placed on injured list: LB Matt Galambos
Giants Place LB J.T. Thomas On IR
For the second straight season, J.T. Thomas won’t make it out of September because of an injury. The Giants placed the veteran linebacker on IR, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter), potentially ending his season.
The Giants also waived fullback Shane Smith. Linebacker Deontae Skinner and defensive end Nordly Capi will replace the duo on the 53-man roster, per Schwartz (on Twitter).
Thomas signed a three-year, $12MM deal in 2015 but did not live up to it largely because of lack of availability. The former Jaguars linebacker started 11 games that season but has played in just three since.
His deal expiring after this season, the 29-year-old second-level defender won’t have the same kind of free agent market he did when he inked the Giants accord. He accepted a significant pay cut before the season, reducing his 2017 salary from $2.96MM to $775K. He was set to receive a $400K bonus if he participated in 70 percent of the Giants’ snaps, which looked like a long shot at the time.
Skinner played in four games with the Giants last season.
Poll: Will The Giants Make The Playoffs?
The Giants are off to an 0-3 start and the odds of a huge turnaround are not mathematically in their favor. As Tom Canavan of The Associated Press points out, only five teams that started the season 0-3 since 1980 have managed to reach the playoffs. It’s a feat that has not been pulled off since 1998 when the Bills went winless through the first three weeks of the regular season but managed to reach the postseason. There’s also this to consider: the Giants entered the year tied for the league’s eighth highest strength of schedule. It doesn’t necessarily get easier from here. 
The Giants were not everyone’s pick to win the NFC East, but few expected them to be this putrid. Last year, their spending spree gave their defense a major boost and they finished out with the second best defensive DVOA in the league. And, on the other side of the ball, the G-Men went out and got Brandon Marshall to help keep defenders off of star Odell Beckham Jr. So far, that hasn’t gotten them in the win column.
“We need to keep fighting through,” said coach Ben McAdoo after Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. “I believe in this team. I believe in the potential of this team. It starts with me and we need to keep fighting to get better and we need to keep fighting to get the win. Got to get that first one.”
The Giants may also have to shake things up, though their out-of-house options are limited at this juncture. The offensive line continues to be an issue for them and that’s a situation that could be best remedied by moving Ereck Flowers out of the starting left tackle spot, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. Instead, Justin Pugh or undrafted rookie Chad Wheeler could get an opportunity to serve as one of Eli Manning‘s top protectors while Flowers competes with Bobby Hart for the starting job on the right side instead. If that sounds like an uninspiring option, that’s because it is an uninspiring option. The reality is that the Giants blew their wad in the 2016 offseason, leaving little room for much-needed upgrades this year, such as improvements on the O-Line.
Now 0-3 and 0-2 within the division, do you see the Giants rallying to make the postseason? Cast your vote here:
Will The Giants Make The Playoffs?
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No 88% (1,462)
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Yes 12% (198)
Total votes: 1,660
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2017 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):
T-1. Bengals
T-1. Browns
T-1. 49ers
4. Giants
5. Chargers
6. Colts
T-7. Texans
T-7. Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Jets
11. Saints
12. Bears
13. Dolphins
14. Buccaneers
15. Ravens
T-16. Panthers
T-16. Cowboys
T-16. Rams
T-16. Steelers
T-20. Broncos
T-20. Lions
T-20. Packers
23. Vikings
T-24. Bills
T-24. Jaguars
T-24. Patriots
T-24. Raiders
T-24. Eagles
T-24. Titans
30. Redskins
31. Chiefs
32. Falcons
Ben McAdoo To Continue Offensive Play-Calling
- Head coach Ben McAdoo intends to retain control of the Giants‘ offensive play-calling, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Of course, that report was filed before New York fell to 0-3 with a loss to the Eagles today, but Big Blue’s offense played well in the second half, as Eli Manning completed three touchdown passes (two to Odell Beckham Jr. and one to Sterling Shepard). However, the Giants coaching staff is “turning up the temperature” on the New York players, and that intensity only figures to increase now that the club remained winless today.
Justin Pugh To Stay At Right Tackle
Justin Pugh‘s contract year could well include a lengthy stay at right tackle. The Giants‘ starting left guard slid to his original position on Monday night and will do the same Sunday against the Eagles. Big Blue plans to start Brett Jones at left guard and does not plan on ditching Ereck Flowers at left tackle, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes. Pugh’s versatility will allow the Giants, per Ben McAdoo, to keep the “best five” on the field rather than the team having to use a swing tackle. Usual right tackle Bobby Hart will miss Week 3, and D.J. Fluker — a four-year Chargers starter — is apparently the Giants’ seventh offensive lineman. He’ll profile as the backup guard behind Jones and John Jerry, Raanan writes.
Kratch: "Inexcusable Mistake" For Giants To Pass On Whitworth
- The Giants unwillingness to pursue Rams (and former Bengals) offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth in free agency was an “inexplicable, inexcusable mistake,” writes James Kratch of NJ.com. The writer dismisses the notion that the organization couldn’t have afforded Jason Pierre-Paul had they inked Whitworth to a lucrative contract. Rather, the Giants could have moved on from some of their veterans, including Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Alternatively, they could have passed on free agent wideout Brandon Marshall and invested that money towards the offensive line.
[SOURCE LINK]
Vacchiano: Ben McAdoo Not Eager To Cede Play-Calling Reins
Demarcus Lawrence has won matchups with Giants right tackle Bobby Hart and Broncos right-edge protector Menelik Watson en route to 3.5 sacks in the Cowboys‘ first two games. However, the fourth-year defensive end is not big on attributing his early run of success to being in a contract year. And the former second-round pick wants to impress Cowboys management rather than pursue a UFA path.
- Ben McAdoo is not dismissing the idea of ceding the Giants‘ play-calling reins, but it doesn’t sound like he wants to give them up, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv notes, adding it might take a front office direction to get the second-year coach to give up that responsibility. While writing OC Mike Sullivan suddenly calling plays wouldn’t be a cure-all, Vacchiano opines that McAdoo is occasionally “lost” trying to manage the game and call plays.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/20/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Josh Thornton
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Tanner Gentry, T D.J. Tialavea
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: T Jarron Jones
- Released: OL Dan Skipper
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DT Marcus Hardison
- Released: T Jeremiah Poutasi
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Jack Tocho
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jason King
- Released: DB Jomal Wiltz
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Ed Eagan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OL Jake Rodgers
- Released: WR Justin Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Brad Seaton, LB Tony Washington