NFC East Notes: Murray, Maxwell, JPP
Now that the Cowboys and DeMarco Murray have gone their separate ways, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News isn’t sure if either side is better off. On Sunday, Dallas rushed for 80 yards, 12 fewer than its lowest total last season. The following night, Murray gained 20 yards from scrimmage in his debut with the Eagles. While many view both rushing performances as anomalies, Sabin seems concerned that it’ll be a pattern. Here’s more from the NFC East as the Cowboys gear up for an awkward interaction with their ex..
- Some believe that the Cowboys let Murray go because they chalked his production up to the play of their offensive line more than the running back himself. Coach Jason Garrett says that the real reason for not matching the Eagles‘ offer was simply about money, as Ed Barkowitz of the Philadelphia Daily News writes. “We had a situation where we had a few different guys [whose contracts were up], who hit free agency at the same time,” Garrett said. “In a salary-cap era, unfortunately, you can’t keep everybody.”
- Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell hasn’t been living up to the fat contract he signed in free agency but he’s confident that he can “fix” the problems he had in Week 1, as Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. “I understand that’s what it’s going to be,” the $63MM corner said of the criticism he’s received. “They’re going to react like that. They’re going to love you when you do well and hate you when it goes the other way. That’s part of the business that we’re in. You’ve got to take one on the chin and keep moving. Keep going. You can’t let it bother you too much.”
- Will Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul be the same player going forward after his fireworks accident? He sure seems to think so, based on a tweet he sent out Thursday morning. “I can’t think of the last time my index finger got me a sack ;),” JPP wrote.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR LaRon Byrd (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- Cut: T Pierce Burton
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: T Tony Hills (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
- Cut: QB Bryn Renner
Dallas Cowboys
- To be signed: C/G Ronald Patrick , T Darrion Weems (via Josina Anderson on Twitter + Wilson on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: T Jordan Mills (press release)
Houston Texans
- To be signed: T Joe Treadwell (via Wilson on Twitter)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Jonas Gray, C Sam Brenner, QB Logan Thomas, DE Emmanuel Dieke (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter + Twitter link via James Walker)
- Cut: DT DeAndre Coleman, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Eric Martin (via Mike Reiss on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Alex Singleton and DL Jimmy Staten
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Cameron Brate, S Alden Darby, WR Seantavius Jones, FB Toben Opurum, T Bryan Witzmann (via Mike Triplett on Twitter)
New York Giants
- To be signed: LB James Morris, G Vinston Painter (via James Kratch on Twitter)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR DeAndre Carter (via Vic Tafur on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Josh Shirley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Connor Hamlett (via press release)
- Cut: DE Brian Mihalik
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Frey, DT Derrick Lott (via Greg Auman on Twitter)
Washington
- Signed: LB Houston Bates (via John Keim on Twitter)
NFC Notes: JPP, Giants, Vikings, Cardinals
A report on Tuesday indicated that Jason Pierre-Paul‘s hand is in worse shape than the Giants expected, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) has some encouraging news on that front. The defensive end is in fact missing a piece from his thumb, but a source says that it’s far above the joint and just the tip of the digit. Pierre-Paul also has no more surgeries after last week’s skin graft and it’s all about healing at this stage.
Here’s more on JPP, along with a few more NFC notes:
- Pierre-Paul took to Instagram with a video of him training and vowed that he would soon join the Giants on the field, as Avery Stone of USA Today writes. “God can turn any situation around for the better,” the defensive end wrote. “Your hard times will lead to the best times of your life. Don’t believe the hype … Be back soon! #90PC #ImAFighter #PutMeInCoach.”
- Eli Manning‘s new contract with the Giants includes $5MM roster bonuses in both 2018 and 2019, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets.
- When asked if he would bring in another kicker to compete with Blair Walsh, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, “No. I’m bringing in consideration for him to pull out of this thing and start kicking like he’s capable of kicking,” according to Chris Miller of the Star Tribune. Walsh missed a 44-yard field goal on the team’s opening drive against the 49ers and went just 5-11 in preseason. Last year, he posted a league-worst 74.3% mark.
- The Cardinals are not interested in adding a veteran running back because they’re confident that Andre Ellington‘s injury is a short-term issue, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.
- Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has no hard feelings about being passed over for the Bears‘ head coaching job, John Mullin of CSNChicago.com writes. Arians was a finalist for the gig after Lovie Smith was fired in 2013. Ultimately, the team hired Marc Trestman, who has since been replaced.
- The Bears‘ release of linebacker Sam Acho over the weekend was one of example of how teams sometimes get around the 53-man roster limits, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Foster, Kitchen, Gregory
Texans running back Arian Foster said Tuesday while promoting a charity fundraiser that he’d like to finish his career in Houston, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links). “I don’t want to put on another uniform,” Foster said. “It’s a business though. I’m a cog in a wheel.” The 29-year-old’s current contract expires after next season, so he’d have to re-sign with the Texans if he plans to play beyond age 30 in Houston.
Here’s more from around the NFL..
- After bringing him in on Tuesday for a visit, the Texans aren’t immediately signing former Browns defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Wilson adds that Kitchen had a strong workout and that the team could always revisit the possibility of signing him.
- While Dez Bryant‘s foot injury is dominating the headlines in Dallas this week, the Cowboys received more bad news on the injury front, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, who tweets that promising rookie pass rusher Randy Gregory sustained a high ankle sprain and will be sidelined for four to six weeks.
- Former Cleveland wide receiver Josh Lenz, who was waived during the Browns’ cutdown to 53 players this month, worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys liked what they saw in workouts with Nick Toon and Clyde Gates, but the staff felt better about going after Brice Butler, Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram tweets. Dallas acquired Butler from Oakland on Tuesday.
Latest On Jason Pierre-Paul
Jason Pierre-Paul had a procedure performed on his right middle finger three days before the Giants examined his hand last week, sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano. The defensive end is also missing the tip of his thumb and his entire index finger and there is now increased pessimism among team decision-makers about his prognosis, Graziano hears.
JPP remains convinced that he will play again this year, sources with knowledge of his thinking have told Graziano, and he thinks he’ll be back on the field relatively soon. But, another source said the Giants don’t plan to see Pierre-Paul again for another five or six weeks. If the hand isn’t healed to their satisfaction by then, the Giants will consider rescinding his $14.81MM franchise tender, per Graziano’s report.
One has to imagine that the Giants are less-than-thrilled with the situation, not only because of JPP’s medical condition, but because the star defensive end has largely been out of the loop this offseason. Big Blue offered to pay Pierre-Paul part of his $14.81MM salary to go on the NFI list prior to the 53-man cutdown, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. That would have allowed Pierre-Paul to rehab his hand, improve his conditioning, and learn Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Pierre-Paul, of course, declined.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- To be signed: C Eric Kush (via Greg Auman on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: QB Matt Blanchard (via press release)
- Cut: OL Erle Ladson (via press release)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Zurlon Tipton and OL Robert Myers (via press release)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OT Patrick Miller (via Mike DiRocco on Twitter)
- Cut: DT Toby Johnson (via press release)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Deon Long (via Jason La Canfora on Twitter), QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
New England Patriots
- To be signed: LB Eric Martin (Twitter link via Mike Reiss)
New Orleans Saints
- To be signed: OT Sean Hickey, WR R.J. Harris and TE Blake Annen (Twitter link via Mike Triplett)
New York Giants
- To be signed: CB Tramain Jacobs (via transactions wire)
- To be cut: QB G.J. Kinne (link via Jordan Raanan)
Philadelphia Eagles
- To be signed: RB Kevin Monangai and NT Travis Raciti (via team website)
- To be cut: TE Andrew Gleichert
St. Louis Rams
- To be signed: CB Brandon McGee (via Howard Balzer on Twitter)
- To be cut: S Jacob Hagen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- To be signed: LB Julian Stanford
- To be cut: TE Cameron Brate, WR Kaelin Clay, G Martin Wallace (via press release)
Washington
- To be signed: CB Dashaun Phillips (Twitter link via Mike Jones)
- To be cut: FB Ray Agnew
NFC Notes: Jones, Chancellor, Bears
Some assorted notes from around the NFC…
- The Giants had talked with several teams about trading receiver James Jones prior to the veteran’s release, reports ESPN’s Ed Werder (via Twitter). The team was reportedtly eyeing conditional draft picks. The Packers were among the teams that spoke with New York, but they decided to wait for Jones’ release.
- Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett didn’t want to attribute his team’s loss on Sunday to the absence of safety Kam Chancellor, who continues to hold out for a new contract. “Whenever you lose everyone is going to turn around saying this and that, Kam Chancellor this,” Bennett said (via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times on Twitter), “but we were still in the game. Regardless of what the situation was we had more opportunities during the game.”
- Despite dropping Sunday’s game to the Packers, several members of the Bears still took shots at their former coaching staff following the contest. “The mentality of this offense, which I’m proud of, is nobody had that stupid look on their face [when down 31-16] like before,” running back Matt Forte said (via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times on Twitter). “Before when something would happen, kind of saying that the game is lost already when there’s time left. We kept fighting.”
- Offensive lineman Matt Slauson echoed that sentiment (via Potash). “Had this been the past, we would have packed it in,” he said. “That just goes to show the mentality this staff is instilling in us.” The guard noted that it was nice “to have a coordinator that actually trusts us to run, because we have the best back in the game.”
Giants Fear JPP Could Miss Season?
SUNDAY, 11:54am: Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk has once again cast a black cloud on the JPP story. Citing Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, Smith writes that Pierre-Paul has lost a great deal of weight because he has been unable to work out. Glazer adds that JPP has severe injuries to three fingers and had a skin graft within the last week. Between Glazer’s report and a pair of tweets from Jordan Raanan of NFL.com this morning, it appears that, if JPP returns in 2015, it will not be until the second half of the season. As his franchise tender would have paid him $14.8MM this year, each week that Pierre-Paul misses will cost him roughly $870,000.
SUNDAY, 9:07am: Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports puts a more positive slant on this development. La Canfora writes that the Giants are “very comfortable” with the plan that Pierre-Paul has been following in Florida and are pleased with the progress he has made. La Canfora says nothing is imminent, and it will be several weeks before New York reassesses JPP physically and settles his contract, but the Giants are not unhappy with what they saw; on the contrary, they are “very enthused.” Although it may be a bit optimistic at this point, La Canfora says an early October return is not out of the question.
SATURDAY, 9:36pm: The right hand injury defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul suffered in a July 4 fireworks accident is worse than the Giants have been led to believe, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Further, there are some within the organization who fear that Pierre-Paul could miss the 2015 season.
The Giants don’t yet plan to rescind Pierre-Paul’s unsigned franchise tender, per Graziano, who notes that – in addition to his missing right index finger, fractured thumb and skin grafts – JPP is without a portion of another finger on his right hand. If the Giants don’t rescind the tender, he could sign it in an effort to get back on the field and collect a prorated amount of the $14.813MM sum. However, the Giants could subsequently place Pierre-Paul on the non-football injury list and end his season. The team would then be able to avoid paying him. Graziano writes that the odds of Pierre-Paul winning a potential appeal are low, given how he sustained the injury.
JPP has been working out on his own and will continue to do so, but it appears the chances of him returning to the field in the near future are slim. While he told the Giants last week that he’d be able to play if outfitted with a protective device for his hand, the team doesn’t want to risk deploying him at less than 100 percent, according to Graziano.
Pierre-Paul has been an important piece for the Giants during his five-year career, collecting 42 sacks – including 12.5 last season – since they used a first-round pick on him in 2010. The Giants had the NFL’s 29th-ranked defense last year even with Pierre-Paul, so it stands to reason that the unit could be in for worse trouble this season without him.
Giants, Eli Manning Agree To Extension
SATURDAY, 9:02am: The deal is official, the team announced on their website. A couple of notable quotes from the release:
“It wasn’t something that I worried about getting done,” Manning said. “In the last couple of weeks, when it was close to getting done, there were a few little things that held it up a little bit. It’s not a distraction, but it’s something that has to be dealt with. I’m excited that I can start thinking about football completely.
“Once the talks got going and we were very close, I definitely wanted to try to get it done before the season, so I could just think about football. Even though I tried not to make it a distraction, it’s still around. You have to talk to your agent, and you’re getting updates and you’re dealing with the media.”
The quarterback wasn’t the only one relieved to have completed the deal.
“I’m glad we were able to get this done, so we all can focus on winning football games,” general manager Jerry Reese said.
“I think that there would be no doubt for all of us to have that behind us,” said head coach Tom Coughlin, “particularly Eli and his family, to have that behind them and no longer have questions about that every day or every time he appears. I think that’s a good thing.”
FRIDAY, 10:06am: The Giants and Manning have reached an agreement, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Mortensen, the team agreed to include a no-trade clause, while Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets that the deal features a $31MM signing bonus.. Manning will sign the contract today, per Rapoport (via Twitter).
THURSDAY, 4:46pm: Manning’s deal will be four years, $84MM with $65MM guaranteed, but specifics still need to be worked out between both sides, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. It is expected that the extension will include a no-trade clause, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The last major holdup is whether Manning’s guaranteed money will have offset language, Mike Florio of PFT tweets.
4:05pm: The Giants and Eli Manning are finalizing a four-year, $84MM extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal could be signed tomorrow as there are just a few details to be ironed out.
Previous reports have indicated that the two sides were likely to get something done before the official start of the Giants’ season. Earlier today, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that a new deal for Eli would likely net him north of $20MM. Now, it sounds like he’ll be taking in a healthy AAV of $21MM.
For his part, Manning has mostly avoided discussing his contract, which expires at season’s end, suggesting that his focus is on football. But the two-time Super Bowl MVP recently addressed the issue on New York radio.
“I’m not a big fan of negotiations going on during the season,” Manning said. “I’m hoping if this thing is going to get done, it’s going to get done very quickly … and not have these talks continue on.”
Last month, a report suggested that Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, was seeking to make the Giants signal caller the highest-paid player in the NFL. Days later, Manning vehemently denied making any such demand and his soon-to-be-signed extension might be a sign of that.
Rather than the $22MM AAV that Aaron Rodgers has, this reported deal would put him shoulder-to-shoulder with Philip Rivers, who inked a four-year, $84MM extension this summer. In addition to Rivers, Ryan Tannehill, Cam Newton, and Ben Roethlisberger are among the signal-callers who have signed new deals in 2015 averaging between $19-22MM per year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/10/15
Here are Thursday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Anthony Steen (via Darren Urban on Twitter)
- Placed on PS-IR: T Rob Crisp
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Asa Jackson (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec)
- Cut: WR Daniel Brown
Buffalo Bills
- Cut: DE Cedric Reed (via Vic Carucci on Twitter)
New York Giants
- Cut: LB Cole Farrand (via Ralph Vacchiano on Twitter)