NFL Workout Updates: 10/24/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- WR Rod Streater; TE Jason Croom (link)
Carolina Panthers
- Ks Roberto Aguayo, Mike Meyer, Younghoe Koo (link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com)
Dallas Cowboys
- LS Trent Gow (link)
Detroit Lions
- WR Jake Kumerow (link)
Green Bay Packers
- FB Joe Kerridge; DL Paul Boyette, Casey Sayles; CBs Jeremy Boykins, Jarnor Jones; S Orion Stewart (Twitter links)
Houston Texans
- DEs Sterling Bailey, Patrick Gamble; DT Mike Purcell; LBs Akeem Ayers, Jelani Jenkins (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- WRs Anthony Nash, Francis Owusu, Domonique Young; DE Armonty Bryant; CB Jeremy Boykins (link)
New Orleans Saints
- RBs Malcolm Johnson, Marquez Williams; OL Jake Eldrenkamp, Storm Norton, Nate Theaker (link)
Oakland Raiders
- QB Joel Stave; WRs Devin Lucien, Jordan Payton; TEs Brandon Barnes, Eric Wallace; LBs Jeremy Cash, Jayson DiManche, Jason Thompson; CB Jarnor Jones; DBs Jordan Moore, James Sample, Orion Stewart (Twitter links)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: T Givens Price
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Taniela Tupou
- Released: DL Jonathan Woodard
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Kenny Bell
- Released: TE Gabe Holmes
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Kyle Peko, LB Kevin Snyder
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Max McCaffrey
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Jarrod Clements
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR K.J. Brent, S Ronald Martin
- Released: RB Marcus Murphy
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Brandon Thomas
- Released: OL Norman Price
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: T Nick Becton
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Jeremy Cash, RB Akeem Judd
- Released: S Harold Jones-Quartey
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Tevin Mitchel
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: DE Alex McCalister
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: S Tyvis Powell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: DE Larry Webster
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DL Julius Warmsley
- Released: QB Tyler Ferguson
Lynch Appeals One Game Suspension
After being suspended for one game for contact with a referee, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch made his case during his appeal of the punishment to league officials. The 32-year-old former All-star reportedly had Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters testify in his defense during the appeal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Schefter further pointed out that Lynch made his entire argument and will likely hear whether or not the suspension has been lifted at some point tomorrow.
- Schefter also reported an interesting argument that Lynch made to the NFL today regarding his situation. The insider tweets that the Raiders back and his reps made the point that, “9 players, including Aaron Donald and Taylor Lewan last season, made contact with an official; none suspended.” While it appears that Lynch makes a pretty solid case, it still remains to be seen whether the league will ease his punishment and allow him to play next week vs. the Bills.
NFL Won't Fine Marshawn Lynch
- The NFL revealed Friday it planned to explore fines and a suspension for Marshawn Lynch, and it came forth with a one-game ban for the Raiders running back. However, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the league will not impose any additional fines on Lynch — other than the docked game check he’ll miss if this suspension is upheld. Lynch stands to lose $110K, from a portion of his base salary and $500K roster bonus. The maximum fine he was facing, if the NFL didn’t go through with the suspension, was $60K.
Marshawn Lynch Suspended One Game
The NFL has suspended Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch one game for making contact with an official in Thursday night’s game, the league announced. Lynch will appeal the ban, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
League spokesman Joe Lockhart said earlier today that the NFL was exploring all its options with regard to Lynch’s punishment, and they’ve now decided on a single-game ban. Lynch has three days to appeal the suspension, but if no further action is taken, he’ll miss Oakland’s Week 8 contest against the Bills. The Raiders will be granted a roster exemption, meaning they’ll be allowed to add another player to their roster in place of Lynch.
Without Lynch available, Oakland will turn to Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington to man its backfield. Richard and Washington each handled nine carries and played roughly 30% of the Raiders’ offensive snaps after Lynch was ejected last night. While Oakland doesn’t currently have a fourth running back on its 53-man roster, it could promote seventh-round rookie Elijah Hood from the practice squad to cover for Lynch’s one-game absence.
Lynch’s impending fine wouldn’t be his only financial consequence now that he’s been suspended. Lynch will lose $79,412 in weekly base salary, plus an extra $31,250 in gameday active roster bonus money, as a result of his one-game ban.
NFL Exploring Marshawn Lynch Punishment
The NFL is currently exploring its options to punish Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch for making contact with an official on Thursday night, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Lynch, of course, was ejected from last night’s contest following the incident.
“There’s a schedule for fines for offenses,” said league spokesman Joe Lockhart. “There’s physical contact with an official — which is in excess of $30K — unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessarily entering the fight area. Each (has) a schedule of what the fine would be. In some cases, a suspension is in order. All of this is being reviewed now at the league offices.”
There’s no question Lynch will subject to hefty fines, but whether or not he earns a ban is still up in the air. If Lynch is forced to miss Oakland’s Week 8 contest against the Bills, the Raiders would turn to the same two-headed backfield they deployed last night when facing the Chiefs. DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard split time to perfection on Thursday, as each played roughly 30% of Oakland’s snaps and handled nine carries.
As Gehlken notes, Lynch’s impending fine wouldn’t be his only financial consequence if he is indeed suspended. Lynch would lose $79,412 in weekly base salary, plus an extra $31,250 in gameday active roster bonus money, if he’s handed a one-game ban.
Details on NaVorro Bowman's Contract
- We have details on NaVorro Bowman‘s one-year deal with the Raiders, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link): $880K base salary, $120K signing bonus, $100K per game active bonus, $1MM in NLTBE (Not Likely To Be Earned) incentives. All in all, the deal can max out at $3MM.
[SOURCE LINK]
Raiders Designate Obi Melifonwu For Return
When the Raiders put Obi Melifonwu on injured reserve to start the year, they did so with the hope that he could return mid-season. His recovery went according to schedule, and the second-round safety has been designated to return from IR two weeks from now, as Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. 
Melifonwu, the 56th pick in this year’s draft, wowed Raiders scouts in workouts after a strong four-year stretch at UConn. On campus, he tallied eight career interceptions with four of those picks coming in his final season. Melifonwu also notched a personal-best 118 tackles as a senior. Before the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to the George Iloka of the Bengals.
Bair writes that Melifonwu’s primary task will be to cover tight ends and running backs in sub packages. Down the line, the team is hoping that he can step into a starting role.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/17
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted to active roster: QB Garrett Gilbert
- Waived: DB Dezmen Southward
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted to active roster: LB Hardy Nickerson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: WR Marcus Kemp
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Josh Keyes
- Waived: LB Nigel Harris
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT John Hughes
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: LB Tyrell Adams
Raiders To Sign NaVorro Bowman
NaVorro Bowman is already off of the market. The linebacker has agreed to a one-year, $3MM deal with the Raiders, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Bowman seemed to have a free agent tour set up for this week, including a scheduled visit with the Cowboys. However, the Raiders did not let him leave without a deal. Currently in a four-game skid, the veteran Mike linebacker could help to fortify the front seven and turn their season around. Bowman, apparently, was not deterred by their recent slump.
Bowman was considered to be a world-class player not long ago and he was understandably frustrated by the Niners’ decision to rotate him with other middle linebackers this season. The team also drafted his eventual replacement in Reuben Foster, so it was clear that the two would be parting ways at some point. The Niners tried to trade Bowman and even had a potential deal lined up with the Saints, but they granted him his release when he requested that he be able to test free agency instead.
Leaving San Francisco was bittersweet for Bowman, but the lack of offset language in his contract probably made it a bit easier to swallow. Had their been offset language in his contract, the Niners would have been able to collect on whatever new salary Bowman signed for. In those cases, veteran players often wind up settling for the minimum salary (and, in a sense, playing for free) since the money just goes to the old team. However, Bowman was able to double-dip here, meaning that he has tacked $3MM on to his base pay for 2017. If he performs at a high level the rest of the way, he could collect on a lucrative free agent deal after the season.
The Raiders, currently at 2-4, have the second worst defensive DVOA in the league. They have allowed 117.2 rushing yards per contest and 233 passing yards per game.