AFC Notes: Mallett, Jets, Luck
Tonight’s look at the AFC:
- Speaking today to reporters, including John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien downplayed the idea that he and GM Rick Smith had a confrontation over Ryan Mallett‘s place on the team this week. Acknowledging that there are occasional disagreements between the two men, O’Brien said that “the majority of the time we agree,” adding that he and Smith “work together and communicate every day,” and aren’t engaged in any sort of power struggle.
- Jets first-round pick Leonard Williams wasn’t shocked when the Raiders selected Amari Cooper instead of him at No. 3 in this year’s draft. “I wasn’t too surprised,” Williams said, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. “Everyone watches those pre-draft analysis and stuff like that, but it’s never completely accurate. I did think I was going to go top three or something like that, but I think it worked out pretty well that I came to the Jets. I’m under a lot of great players to learn from Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, those guys have been able to take me under their wing and show me a lot of stuff.”
- Some have speculated that Andrew Luck returned to Stanford for a fourth year to avoid going to the Panthers with the first pick of the 2011 draft. On Wednesday, the Colts quarterback shot that theory down, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. “Absolutely not,” the first pick of the 2012 draft said. “And I hope people don’t think that.”
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Workout Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Jaguars
Today’s workouts from around the NFL..
- The Jets worked out defensive end Lawrence Okoye, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Okoye, a former University of Kentucky discus hurler, had previous stops with the 49ers and Cardinals.
Earlier updates:
- The Saints tried out John Conner and Henry Hynoski, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. New Orleans already has a fullback on the roster in Austin Johnson, but he was a surprise scratch on Sunday and he may have fallen out of favor with coaches. Conner, nicknamed the Terminator, was a favorite of Rex Ryan while with the Jets. Conner followed Ryan to Buffalo in 2015, but he was let go before the start of the season. Hynoski, a four-year veteran, spent his full career with the Giants and appeared in every game last year.
- The Seahawks had ten players in for tryouts on Monday, including running back Isaiah Pead and defensive end Lawrence Okoye, a source tells Florio. Linebacker John Lotulelei, tackle Jesse Davis, guard Taylor Boggs, defensive end Keith Browner, guard Kadeem Edwards, defensive end Efe Obada, and defensive end DeAngelo Tyson were also showing their stuff for Seattle.
- The Jaguars brought in kickers Zach Hocker and Randy Bullock for a workout on Wednesday, but Josh Scobee was not among those in attendance, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- In addition to their previously reported look at Jeff Demps, the Jets tried out running back Akeem Hunt on Tuesday, a league source tells Florio. Wide receiver Larry Pinkard also got a look from Gang Green. Chris Ivory is dealing with tightness in his quad, so the Jets might opt to add a running back if he needs to sit out for a while.
- The Browns recently worked out cornerbacks Bill Bentley, Chase Casey, Al Louis-Jean, and Robert Steeples, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Cardinals worked out Emmanuel Acho, James Anderson and Ja’Gared Davis, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Falcons worked out Mike Gillislee and Devin Wylie, Wilson tweets.
- The Panthers worked out Andrew Miller, Wilson tweets.
- The Jets worked out wide receiver Larry Pinkard, Wilson tweets.
- The Steelers worked out Dwight Bentley and Montell Garner, Wilson tweets.
- The Raiders worked out Dyshawn Davis, Wilson tweets.
- The Saints worked out Jeff Luc, Patrick Scales, Jason Williams, and Christian Yount, Wilson tweets.
- The Packers worked out Justin Anderson, Curtis Grant, and Ronald Powell, Wilson tweets.
- The Colts worked out Sean Baker, Matt Daniels, outside linebacker Mike McAdoo, and Dreamius Smith, Wilson tweets.
West Notes: Raiders, Cardinals, Broncos
After enduring three years of losing, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie is finally starting to see his rebuilding plan pay off a little, writes Josh Dubow of The Associated Press. With young players like Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Khalil Mack contributing significantly to an improved Raiders team, McKenzie suggests that he and the club has to “take the punches” for a few years.
“The key was really looking at the big picture, not get so down on myself and the team at that point knowing what was ahead of me,” McKenzie said. “It wasn’t easy. I’m used to being in the playoffs. I haven’t been since I’ve been here. That’s the goal.”
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s West divisions:
- Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes a look at how the Raiders‘ roster and cap management got the team to this spot, and speculates on what the next move is for Oakland.
- Cardinals GM Steve Keim told Arizona Sports 98.7 that he’s gearing up to speak to agents about contract extensions, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Keim didn’t specify which players he’ll be targeting, but one can speculate that veterans like Chris Johnson and Jermaine Gresham – both on one-year deals – are candidates. Defensive backs Justin Bethel, Rashad Johnson, and Jerraud Powers are also potentially heading toward the open market.
- Asked in a mailbag about the possibility of the Broncos and Bears working out a trade, perhaps for a player like running back Matt Forte, Mike Klis of 9News says he can’t see John Fox and Adam Gase wanting to do a deal that would help the Broncos win a Super Bowl. Fox and Gase, of course, are in their first year with the Bears, having left Denver last offseason.
- According to NFL executive Eric Grubman, the league as a whole is negotiating with the St. Louis task force about its stadium plan for the Rams, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details. Grubman on the NFL’s response to the task force’s term sheet: “We have some questions about the term sheet which we hope to get answered over the course of the next couple of days or week, and I think probably next week and the weeks after, we’ll be in discussions with the task force.”
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Raiders Hope To Re-Sign Aldon Smith
Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie says that he plans to sign Aldon Smith long term, as Vic Tafur of The San Francisco Chronicle tweets. McKenzie added that the team did a lot of research on Smith before letting “him become member of our family” and, clearly, they’re happy with what they’ve seen so far.
Smith, 26, has appeared in six games and made four starts for the Raiders this season, racking up 18 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three pass deflections. Some teams steered clear of the troubled Smith after he was let go by the 49ers this offseason, but the Raiders gambled on him and so far that has paid off.
When healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, the linebacker recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 as a starter in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team.
However, Smith’s off-field issues have limited his production in 2013 and 2014 — he missed nearly half the Niners’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014. Most recently, Smith was arrested by Santa Clara police on hit and run, DUI, and vandalism charges, though when he was released from jail, the outside linebacker disputed the fact that he had been driving under the influence.
The Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Rams also made contract offers to Smith, and reportedly offered more money, but Smith chose to sign with Oakland partially because of its proximity to his Bay Area home.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/15
Today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), WR Devon Wylie (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
- Cut: RB Juhwan Edwards, LB Derek Akunne (link)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Reese Dismukes (Twitter link via Panthers)
- Cut: C Eric Kush
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Blake Renaud (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), LB Terrance Plummer (Twitter link via Andrew Krammer of 1500 ESPN)
- Cut: WR Donte Foster (link)
New Orleans Saints
- To be signed: CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune)
- Signed: LB Henry Coley (via Woodbery)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Korey Toomer, DB Tevin McDonald (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Frey (Twitter link via Steelers PR spokesman Burt Lauten)
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: DE Gerald Rivers, LB/DE Zach Hodges (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Andre Davis (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune)
- Cut: CB Keon Lyn, CB Dax Swanson, T Martin Wallace (press release)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Rico Richardson (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online)
West Notes: Kaepernick, Raiders, LA
About four weeks ago, there was a heated exchange between 49ers players regarding Colin Kaepernick in a players-only meeting, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. One teammate called out the QB and another stepped up in a show of support. That exchange became heated, but the two players ultimately hashed things out. While there is a level of divide in the locker room, Kaepernick has received clear support from some of the team’s most-respected players, Maiocco writes.
Here’s more from the West divisions:
- Raiders owner Mark Davis told Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. Daily News that there haven’t been any official talks with Oakland leaders in more than two months. “We’ve gotten to the point now, unless you have something to offer, something different, there is no reason to talk,” Davis said. Davis expressed confidence that he’ll get his team to Los Angeles and he also confirmed that he’s talking to a potential investor about coming aboard.
- Chargers guard Orlando Franklin has only a slight MCL sprain and is day-to-day, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It was previously believed that Franklin might have suffered a more serious injury.
- Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson, who has spent the year on the PUP list so far, officially returned to practice today, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, Richardson is still on the PUP list as of this writing — the club will have three weeks to move him to its 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/24/15
Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts and other moves:
- The Chargers added quarterback Brad Sorensen to their practice squad and jettisoned center/guard Michael Huey from the 10-man outfit to make room, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter). The 27-year-old Sorensen’s spent time with the Chargers and Titans since 2013.
- To help their thinning cornerback depth, the Saints signed corners Akeem Davis and Sammy Seamster from their practice squad and cut receivers Joe Morgan and T.J. Graham to make room, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. No. 1 Keenan Lewis will miss another game due to a hip injury, along with an illness, and Damian Swann is also out. In parts of five seasons with the Saints, Morgan has 471 career receiving yards and three TDs. The 2011 undrafted free agent made five starts for the Saints in 2012. Active for two games for New Orleans this season, starting one, Morgan’s been cut three times this year, but Evan Woodberry of NOLA.com notes he or Graham could be brought back next week. The 25-year-old Davis played in 13 games for Washington last season, and the 24-year-old Seamster participated in two for the Dolphins in 2014. Both are set for special teams duty Sunday, Woodberry reports.
- The Raiders brought up Shelby Harris from their practice squad to bolster defensive line depth, waiving safety Tevin McDonald in a corresponding maneuver, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com reports. A 2014 seventh-round pick of the Raiders’, Harris has experience at defensive tackle and end and played in one game last season. Oakland defensive fronters Denico Autry and Justin Ellis are out and doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Chargers, respectively, creating the opportunity for Harris. A frequent inhabitant of this space, McDonald will likely return to the Raiders’ practice squad if he clears waivers, Bair reports.
- Ben Roethlisberger‘s status for Week 7 is leaning more toward out than questionable, with the Steelers promoting quarterback Tyler Murphy from their practice squad, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Roethlisberger’s missed three straight games after going down in Week 3 with a knee injury and enters Sunday’s game against the Chiefs with a questionable designation. Murphy, a 23-year-old undrafted quarterback/wide receiver hybrid out of Boston College who’s been active in two games in 2015, took the scout-team snaps on offense for the Steelers this week and has one catch for 16 yards this season. In the event Roethlisbeger is held out again, Landry Jones will start, per La Canfora, with Michael Vick and Murphy backing him up.
- In a corresponding move to make room for Murphy, the Steelers placed cornerback Cortez Allen on injured reserve, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Allen’s been inactive for the Steelers since Week 2 with a knee injury. The 27-year-old ex-fourth-round pick started seven games for Pittsburgh last season and has six career interceptions for the team that drafted him.
- Brandon LaFell looks set to make his 2015 debut with the Patriots; the team plans to activate the wideout from the PUP list, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). LaFell missed the Pats’ first five games with a lingering foot injury. LaFell recorded 953 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions in his New England debut last season.
- The Titans promoted wide receiver Rico Richardson from their practice squad and released veteran backup tight end Chase Coffman to make room, Jim Wyatt of Titans Online reports (on Twitter). Richardson represents the Titans’ fifth wideout, while the team previously was carrying more tight ends — Coffman, Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Phillip Supernaw and Craig Stevens — than receivers. With Harry Douglas out for Week 7 with sore ribs, Tennessee had a need for a healthy receiver, tweets Wyatt. A former Bengals third-round pick, Coffman’s caught just 14 passes in six seasons. The 24-year-old Richardson’s played in just one game — in 2014 with Tennessee.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/15
Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..
- The Colts have signed free agent cornerback Tony Carter, reports Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Carter had previous experience with the Broncos.
- The Saints released Anthony Spencer from IR, reports Eric Woodbery of the Times-Picayune (via Twitter).
- The Chiefs have re-signed receiver Fred Williams, according to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). The team has also released receiver Kenny Cook.
- The Jaguars have cut Ziggy Hood from IR, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The team has also placed Tony Washington and Corey Grant on IR (via Twitter).
- The Titans have signed former 49ers offensive lineman Joe Looney, per Wilson (via Twitter). The team also cut Connor Neighbors from IR (via Twitter).
- The Eagles have cut B.J. McBryde from IR with a non-football injury designation, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Giants have cut safety Cooper Taylor, per Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Lions cut Taylor Boggs, writes Wilson (via Twitter).
Earlier today:
- The Browns are signing linebacker Jayson DiManche off the Chiefs‘ taxi squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. DiManche will take the roster spot previously filled by running back Shaun Draughn, who has been waived, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound DiManche has appeared in 28 regular-season games with one start, all with the Bengals. Draughn appeared in five games this season for Cleveland with two carries for 10 yards.
- The Falcons signed linebacker Philip Wheeler and released safety Charles Godfrey, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Lions have claimed guard/tackle Michael Ola off waivers from the Chargers, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Ola has yo-yo’d between the Chargers’ 53-man roster and the taxi squad all season long.
- The Colts promoted safety Dewey McDonald from the practice squad, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. The Colts also cut Amarlo Herrera and cornerback Shaun Prater, Wilson tweets.
- The Seahawks signed Lemuel Jeanpierre and cut Crezdon Butler, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
- The Seahawks also placed linebacker Brock Coyle on IR-DTR, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune tweets.
- The Chargers will sign safety Adrian Phillips from the practice squad as early as today, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
- The Raiders re-signed strong safety Taylor Mays, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Saints have signed wide receiver T.J. Graham, according to a source who spoke with Wilson (Twitter link).
- The Vikings signed Kenrick Ellis and placed Shamar Stephen on IR, Wilson tweets.
- The Jaguars moved wide receiver Neal Sterling to the active roster and signed safety Craig Loston, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.
Extra Points: Relocation, Mariota, Hartley
With the race to Los Angeles heating up, the NFL announced today that the league will conduct public hearings later this month in St. Louis, San Diego, and Oakland to discuss possible relocation (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). The town hall meetings are meant to provide fans and community members in those cities an opportunity to ask questions and express views directly to the NFL before any decisions on relocation are made, according to the league’s press release.
As we wait to see how those meetings play out, let’s round up a few Monday odds and ends from across the NFL….
- Speaking to reporters, Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt confirmed today that quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday. However, Whisenhunt said that Mariota is walking fine, and the team will determine later this week whether or not he’ll have to miss any games (Twitter links via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com).
- Former Saints and Steelers kicker Garrett Hartley is fully recovered from his hamstring injury and is receiving some interest, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. New Orleans made a kicking change, but the team opted for another free agent – Kai Forbath – rather than Hartley.
- If Colts owner Jim Irsay decides he wants to replace head coach Chuck Pagano, Peter King of TheMMQB.com expects Irsay to have interest in Sean Payton in the offseason, and adds that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get in touch with Jim Harbaugh as well. King doesn’t expect Harbaugh to leave Michigan, but thinks it would be worth seeing what his price would be.
- Per ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Browns cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu received $3MM today from his loss-of-value insurance policy. It’s the largest amount of money that a player has ever been paid on such a policy, which the former Oregon defensive back was able to collect because his draft stock was significantly hurt by an ACL injury he suffered in college.
Extra Points: Palmer, Lions, Raiders
Let’s close out Saturday night by taking one final look around the NFL…
- The Lions are still sorting our their right tackle situation, as neither LaAdrian Waddle nor Cornelius Lucas has emerged as a solid starting option, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. Lucas started the first three games of the season while Waddle recovered from an injury; Waddle took the lead during Week 4, but the two rotated in something of a platoon during Week 5. The club hasn’t announced the plan for tomorrow’s contest, but the lack of continuity can only be seen as a detriment for the winless Lions.
- Carson Palmer is playing some of the best football of his career, and Chris Wesseling of NFL.com looks at how much Palmer has meant to the Cardinals — enough, in fact, to warrant general manager Steve Keim labeling Palmer as a “godsend” to the organization. Arizona ranks third in Football Outsiders’ offensive DVOA metric, while Palmer is tied for first with 13 touchdown passes.
- Despite rumors to the contrary, the Raiders will not sign a two-year lease to remain in Oakland, a team source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Additionally, the concept of signing a short-term agreement doesn’t make much sense, per Cole.