NFC Notes: Eli, C. Jordan, Saints, Ellis
Reports this week have indicated that Eli Manning and the Giants are making progress toward a new contract extension, and it looks increasingly possible that a deal could be reached before New York’s Week 1 opener against the Cowboys. Adam Schefter of ESPN is the latest to express optimism, suggesting today on NFL Live that Manning will likely have an extension in place by Sunday that pays him north of $20MM annually (Twitter link).
As we wait to see whether the Giants and Manning can get something finalized this week, let’s round up a few more NFC items….
- Not long after parting ways with their top pass rusher, Junior Galette, due to ongoing off-field incidents, the Saints are potentially dealing with another legal situation involving a key defensive player. As Mike Triplett of ESPN.com details, New Orleans police are investigating a nightclub altercation from his past weekend that allegedly involves Cameron Jordan. So far, no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made, and Jordan’s attorneys call the allegations “ridiculous,” as Jonathan Bullington of the Times-Picayune writes. Still, it’s the last thing the Saints wanted to be dealing with as the regular season gets underway.
- Former Jets and Giants defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis was in Carolina today to pay a visit to the Panthers, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Saints are bringing in former Dolphins guard Mike Liedtke for a look on Monday, per agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). After being cut by Miami, Liedtke visited the Jets on Tuesday.
- Addressing the Kam Chancellor holdout in Seattle, Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports notes (via Twitter) that it would send the wrong message for the Seahawks to meet Chancellor’s demands when Michael Bennett, who is also unhappy with his contract, was in attendance for the team’s entire training camp.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap and Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News weigh in with some thoughts on Jason Pierre-Paul‘s situation, with Vacchiano writing that the Giants can’t count on JPP being a real contributor this year.
Workout Notes: 9/9/15
Former Falcons center Joe Hawley is visiting the Buccaneers today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Hawley could be a fit with Tampa Bay as he has a history with offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter from their time together in Atlanta. Hawley, 27 in October, was on his way to returning from the ACL surgery that ended his 2014 season prematurely when he was cut loose by the Falcons earlier this week.
Here are more of the latest workouts and free agent meetings (All links are from Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle via Twitter, unless noted otherwise)..
- The Vikings auditioned defensive backs Ri’Shard Anderson and C.J. Roberts, tight end Brian Leonhardt, and linebacker Jordan Tripp, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys tried out offensive tackle Charles Brown today, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Current Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith backed up Brown when both players attended USC.
- The Titans worked out safety Shaquille Richardson (link).
- Keavon Milton visited the Panthers (link). The offensive lineman spent time on the Seahawks’ taxi squad in 2014 before being promoted to the 53-man roster in December.
- Former Arena Football League wide receiver Lonnie Outlaw visited the Lions (link).
- The Buccaneers worked out linebacker Julian Stanford and linebacker Tyrell Adams (link).
- The Giants auditioned safety Shiloh Keo, linebacker Nico Johnson, cornerback Tramain Jacobs, ex-Jets wide receiver Shaq Evans, safety Durell Eskridge, and cornerback Dwight Bentley (link). The Giants also tried out Joe Looney, Nick Moody, Henoc Muamba, Quayshawn Nealy, Xavier Proctor, and Alameda Ta’amu (link).
- The Colts tried out offensive lineman Travis Bond, wide receiver Marquez Clark, linebacker Edwin Jackson, and defensive tackle Derrick Lott (link).
- The Jaguars tried out Rasheed Bailey, Matt Blanchard, and Cody Fajardo (link).
Giants Sign Louis Nix, Drop Asa Jackson
WEDNESDAY, 4:55pm: It turns out that the Giants will sign Nix after all, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets.
TUESDAY, 3:59pm: A pair of recent Giants pickups have been shown the door just days after being claimed off waivers. Cornerback Asa Jackson has been cut loose two days after signing, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Louis Nix has failed his physical, which means that he’ll be exposed to waivers once more.
Jackson, 25, saw his first stretch of extended playing time on defense last season in Baltimore, when the Ravens’ secondary was decimated by injuries. Jackson started six games and allowed a quarterback rating of 106.6 on passes thrown into his coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
As for Nix, he was selected in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Texans, but never saw regular season action for the team, having spent the majority of his rookie campaign on injured reserve. In the opinion of the Giants, he’s not 100% healthy at this time either.
With two players off of their roster, the Giants could fill one of the spots with a tight end of note. Earlier today, Big Blue hosted ex-Lions tight end Joseph Fauria on a visit, per Yates.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Ben Garland (press release)
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Nick O’Leary (via Mike Rodak on Twitter)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: C Shane McDermott (Twitter link via Joseph Person)
- Cut: CB Carrington Byndom (Twitter link via Person)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill (Twitter link)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Kendrick Ings (Twitter link via Dave Birkett)
- Cut: WR Andrew Peacock (Twitter link via Birkett)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Jonathan Dowling (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
- Cut: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via Caplan); RB Rajion Neal (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB G.J. Kinne; LB Gerald Rivers (press release), WR Myles White (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: T Martin Wallace (press release)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Jason Ankrah; LB Justin Staples (Twitter link via Terry McCormick)
Extension Rumors: Bradford, Eli, Dareus
The Patriots locked up left tackle Nate Solder to an extension earlier today, but Solder is unlikely to be the last notable player to sign a new contract this week. With regular season openers right around the corner, teams will be looking to wrap up negotiations with key extension candidates, getting something done with them before the real games begin, since many of those players won’t want to continue talks during the season.
Here’s the latest on a few noteworthy extension candidates:
- The Eagles are no longer engaged in discussions regarding a short-term extension for Sam Bradford, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The two sides were exploring a bridge deal that would give the former first overall pick some security while still allowing him to hit free agency in a couple years. However, it appears Bradford’s preseason success has made him less enthused about signing a below-market deal at this point.
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reported earlier this week that the Giants and Eli Manning were making progress on an extension, and Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News hears the same thing, writing that there’s optimism a deal can be reached “relatively quickly,” though there’s still some work to be done.
- Contract talks between the Bills and defensive lineman Marcell Dareus have continued, a league source tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). There were indications in August that Dareus and the Bills were far apart in negotiations, but the team still hopes to get something done by Sunday.
- The Jets would like to get their own standout defensive lineman, Muhammad Wilkerson, locked up to an extension, but it’s unclear whether something will happen this week, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. A July report indicated that Wilkerson would play out the final year of his current contract if he and the Jets can’t finalize an agreement by the start of the regular season.
Giants Sign Jasper Brinkley
WEDNESDAY, 9:49am: The Giants have officially signed Brinkley, the team announced today in a press release.
TUESDAY, 2:54pm: A day after being released by the Cowboys, linebacker Jasper Brinkley has found a new NFL home with Dallas’ division rivals. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Brinkley has agreed to terms with the Giants, and will join New York’s 53-man roster.
Brinkley, 30, signed a two-year deal with the Cowboys this summer and he said that he was partially motivated by the chance to reunite with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. However, despite the fact that Dallas guaranteed him $2MM as part of the two-year pact, Brinkley failed to earn a spot on the club’s 53-man roster this weekend.
A former fifth-round pick, Brinkley started 11 games for Minnesota last season, compiling 75 tackles and a sack. As the newest member of the Giants’ linebacking corps, the South Carolina product figures to provide some veteran depth behind middle linebacker Jon Beason, who appears to be on track for Week 1 after sustaining a knee injury. Brinkley could also provide a scouting report on his old team, with the Giants set to face the Cowboys on Sunday night.
Workout Notes: Eagles, Giants, Jets, Saints
The Eagles, who parted ways with the polarizing Tim Tebow last week, auditioned a pair of quarterbacks on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Josh Johnson and Thad Lewis, who were both let go by their respective teams on September 5th, both worked out for Chip Kelly & Co. Johnson, 29, made an appearance during the Jets’ final preseason game, passing for 82 yards while adding 76 yards on the ground. Lewis, a 27-year-old signal caller recently released by the Browns, didn’t appear in a game with the Texans in 2014, but he did start in five games for the Bills in 2013.
Here are the latest auditions from around the NFL..
- The Giants worked out former Eagles quarterback/wide receiver/running back G.J. Kinne on Tuesday, according to Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. The Giants also worked out punters Brandon Fields and Kasey Redfern.
- The Jets had former Giants safety Stevie Brown in for a tryout today, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).
- Field Yates of ESPN.com reports that the Saints worked out tight ends Bear Pascoe and Gerell Robinson and wide receiver Austin Pettis (via Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune on Twitter).
- Ross Scheuerman worked out for Buccaneers today, according to a league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Patriots auditioned two players today: defensive back Floyd Raven (formerly of Texas A&M and the Bengals) and linebacker Alex Singleton (formerly of Montana State and the Seahawks), according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss (on Twitter).
Jason Pierre-Paul To Miss Another Month?
3:36pm: Per Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), now that 53-man rosters have been set, Pierre-Paul can’t be placed on the Giants’ non-football injury list without ending his season, which is another reason why JPP won’t sign his contract yet.
3:30pm: The Giants haven’t rescinded Pierre-Paul’s franchise tag, but he won’t sign it until he’s healthy, at which point he’ll get a prorated portion of $14.813MM, tweets Rapoport. For now, JPP is heading back home.
3:14pm: When Jason Pierre-Paul reported to the Giants yesterday, sources from his camp expressed optimism about his physical condition, suggesting that he could be ready to play in Week 1. However, a Newsday report this afternoon threw cold water on the notion that Pierre-Paul would return to the field immediately, and it sounds like the Giants are a little less bullish on his recovery timetable.
According to Ian Rapoport and Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter links), Pierre-Paul won’t sign his franchise tag with the Giants today or anytime in the immediate future. The NFL.com duo suggests that JPP’s hand isn’t quite ready, and that he could be out for another month — and even that might be an optimistic timetable.
Pierre-Paul is still recovering from a hand injury that he sustained on the July 4th weekend in a fireworks accident. JPP, who lost a finger in the mishap, hadn’t reported to the Giants or taken a physical with the team until yesterday, so the glowing reports about his recovery were presumably all coming from his camp.
Having not yet signed his franchise tender from the Giants, JPP now appears very unlikely to earn the full $14.813MM value of the tag. Still, not signing that one-year deal gave the 26-year-old leeway to miss training camp and the preseason without being fined, and allows him to avoid being placed on New York’s non-football injury list. When a team places a player on the NFI list, he’s automatically ruled out for the season’s first six weeks, and the club can elect not to pay the player’s salary.
We’ll have to wait and see how the JPP situation plays out in the coming days and weeks, but for now it looks like Tony Romo won’t have to worry about the veteran pass rusher chasing him around the field this Sunday night.
Extra Points: JPP, Chancellor, Colts, Saints
In the wake of Judge Richard Berman’s Deflategate ruling, Steelers linebacker James Harrison suggested he might try to recoup the salary he lost in fines over the years, and his agent, William Parise, tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com that his client wasn’t joking.
“Certainly there’s an open door because of the courts overturning the commissioner’s ability to hear his own appeals,” Parise said, adding that he has discussed the issue with Harrison and with the NFLPA.
Of course, it’s not likely that Harrison gets that fine money back, but as Fowler notes, the fact that anyone’s even talking about such a possibility is a signal of what a big impact Judge Berman’s decision could have on the league going forward.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:
- While Jason Pierre-Paul‘s camp has been optimistic about the Giants defensive end getting back on the field soon, a league source tells Tom Rock and Bob Glauber of Newsday that it’s unlikely to happen right away. Pierre-Paul and the Giants still need to work out a contract agreement before JPP can play in a game for the team.
- Seahawks players are planning for Week 1 as if safety Kam Chancellor will continue his holdout and won’t play in the game, with one telling Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), “I don’t think we’re going to have him at all this season.”
- In the wake of recent reports about tension between the Colts‘ head coach and GM, Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson predictably dismissed the idea of a rift, suggesting that they’ll work together and always do what’s best for the team. However, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star hears that Grigson has a tendency to make decisions that run counter to Pagano’s wishes, including lineup decisions. While Holder stops short of calling it a “rift” between the two decision-makers, he acknowledges that there are issues.
- In addition to working out Nick Novak today, the Saints are also bringing in Caleb Sturgis for a look, says Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. However, Triplett and Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link) both agree that Zach Hocker‘s job is probably safe for now, with New Orleans simply building a list of potential options.
- Despite being demoted to third on the Bills‘ quarterback depth chart, E.J. Manuel isn’t seeking a release or trade, sources close to the QB tell Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (Twitter link).
Jake Long Medically Cleared, Visiting Falcons
Former first overall pick Jake Long has been medically cleared for football by Dr. James Andrews, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter links). With the go-ahead from Dr. Andrews, Long is paying a visit to Atlanta and will work out for the Falcons on Thursday, reports Schefter.
For Long, it’s his second visit of the summer to Atlanta, but the fact that he has been cleared this time means that there’s a better chance this trip could end with a contract agreement. The Falcons have been linked to Long throughout the offseason, with head coach Dan Quinn suggesting last week that the veteran lineman is a player “we have lots of regard for.”
Long, 30, saw time in just seven games for the Rams last season, thanks to a torn ACL. The former No. 1 overall pick had been in St. Louis for the past two years after spending the first five years of his career with the Dolphins, but tore his ACL in each of those two seasons, playing in just 22 games during that stretch.
Last season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Long as just the No. 36 tackle out of 84 qualified players. In 2013, however, Long graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the league with a strong 22.5 overall score, based on PFF’s advanced metrics. Still, with the Rams going younger and cheaper on their offensive line, the team elected to part ways with Long earlier in the year.
If Long and the Falcons don’t agree to a deal, the Giants remain interested, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.