Extra Points: Pats, Julio, Fluker, Cooper
The DeflateGate scandal reentered the news Thursday when Mark Baltz, the NFL’s head linesman from 1989-2013, voiced his suspicion regarding recently reinstated Patriots employee Jim McNally. In response, Jim Daopoulos – the league’s ex-supervisor of officials and one of Baltz’s former bosses – defended McNally.
“In all my years working with locker-room attendants, Jim McNally, without a doubt, is probably one of the most professional of all the locker-room attendants in the National Football League,” Daopoulos said, according to CSNNE.com. “And that can be attested by all the officials working in the National Football League.”
“I really don’t know what Mark’s agenda is right here,” Daopoulos added.
Other news from around the league:
- Although Falcons star receiver Julio Jones has been limited this week with a hamstring injury, head coach Dan Quinn says there’s “zero” chance he’ll miss their game Sunday, per The Associated Press. Jones lit up the Eagles for nine catches, 141 yards and two touchdowns in Monday’s win. He’ll look to do something similar against the Giants this week.
- Chargers guard D.J. Fluker was carted off the field with an ankle injury during the team’s Week 1 win over Detroit, and there was concern that he’d miss anywhere from four to six weeks. Instead, Fluker will only miss a couple weeks, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. In the meantime, Chris Hairston will take his spot as the starting right guard.
- Raiders receiver Amari Cooper harbors no ill will toward Bengals cornerback Adam Jones, who avoided a suspension after ripping Cooper’s helmet off his head and slamming his head against the ground in Cincy’s win last week. “I didn’t want him to get suspended,” Cooper said, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “He was just playing football and playing physical like you’re supposed to. I’m past all that now. I’m trying to focus on the Ravens.” (Twitter links: 1; 2).
- Seahawks rookie defensive end Frank Clark is a situation player – for now, anyway – and using Richard Sherman in the slot enables the team to get its three best cornerbacks on the field, D-coordinator Kris Richard said (Twitter link via The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta).
- The Colts’ decision to waive/injured running back Vick Ballard prior to Week 1 remains a curious one, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. They did it to open up a spot for inside linebacker Josh McNary, but they have a logjam of ILBs. On the other hand, they’re lacking at running back behind starter Frank Gore.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/15
Here are Thursday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB David Fales (via Brad Biggs on Twitter)
Dallas Cowboys
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (via Todd Archer on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- To be cut: WR Saalim Hakim (via Dave Birkett on Twitter)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- To be signed: CB Rashaad Reynolds (via Ryan O’Halloran on Twitter)
- Placed on PS IR: LB Todd Thomas (link)
New England Patriots
- To be signed: WR Chris Harper (via Jeff Howe on Twitter)
Oakland Raiders
- Cut: OT Dan Kistler (via John Dickinson on Twitter)
- Signed: TE Gabe Holmes
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: CB Brandon McGee (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner)
- Signed: CB Melvin White
Contract Details: Wilson, Mays, Long
The details on some recently signed contracts across the NFL:
- C.J. Wilson‘s deal with the Raiders is worth $2.8MM over two years, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. The defensive lineman’s agreement doesn’t contain any guaranteed money, however.
- Safety Taylor Mays‘ deal with the Raiders is a one-year pact worth $745K, Williamson writes.
- Jake Long‘s one-year accord with the Falcons will pay him roughly $1.17MM, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. The former No. 1 overall pick started practicing with Atlanta on Wednesday.
Extra Points: Pats, Cofield, Raiders, Solomon
Another DeflateGate loose end was tied off earlier today, when the NFL announced that Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally have been reinstated from their suspensions. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) notes, the NFL said the Pats “satisfied the league’s requirements” for the staffers’ returns, but Jastremski is prohibited from handling footballs and McNally is barred from handling equipment going forward.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Defensive tackle Barry Cofield, viewed by many NFL people as the best defensive free agent available, will likely sign with a contending team in October when he recovers from hip surgery, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole cites the Colts and Packers as a couple teams that would interest Cofield and that may have a need on the defensive line.
- The Raiders did not come close to signing safety Stevie Brown this week even though there’s a clear need at the position, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com writes.
- Browns outside linebacker Scott Solomon will miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury suffered early in the season opener, a source told ESPN’s Adam Caplan. The Browns had high hopes for Solomon, who made his mark after being signed to the practice squad in November. Cleveland will likely add an outside linebacker to replenish its depth.
- Eric Grubman, the NFL’s point man on Los Angeles, said this week that San Diego and St. Louis reps won’t get the opportunity to make presentations on their stadium plans at the league’s October owner meetings, according to Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press. Grubman suggested that another time and place would allow for a more in-depth presentation, since there’s already a “full agenda” for next month’s meetings.
- As Howard Belzer of The SportsXchange tweets, many NFL team owners want to have serious discussions at those October meetings about Roger Goodell’s disciplinary power, which is one reason why there isn’t room for stadium presentations. Steelers president Art Rooney II indicated this week that “informal discussions” on that issue have already begun, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/15
We’ll keep track of today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves here…
- According to Steve Corkan of RaiderBeat.com (Twitter link), the Raiders have promoted safety Tevin McDonald from their practice squad, giving the team some extra depth with Nate Allen sidelined and Charles Woodson also ailing.
- The Patriots have added some depth at linebacker and on special teams by re-signing veteran LB Dekoda Watson, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Watson was with the Pats in camp before being cut at the end of August.
- With the 53rd and final spot on their roster, the Buccaneers have re-signed linebacker Orie Lemon, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter). Like Watson with the Pats, Lemon was with Tampa Bay in camp before being waived near the end of the preseason.
Earlier updates:
- The Eagles have signed defensive lineman Brandon Bair to a one-year extension through 2016, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Bair, who will receive a $100K signing bonus, a $50K workout bonus, and a $675K base salary, mostly makes his mark on special teams and appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles last season.
- On Wednesday morning, the Eagles signed center/guard Julian Vandervelde to the team’s 53-man roster, according to a team announcement. A fifth-round pick in 2011, Vandervelde has bounced around between the Eagles’ active roster and practice squad over the past four seasons. His ability to play both guard and center has made Vandervelde a valuable piece of the offensive line depth, as he appeared in 14 games in 2013.
- The Jets announced that they released defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson (hamstring) off of the IR, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
- The Texans are signing KR-WR Chandler Worthy to the active roster from the practice squad, according to sources who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Houston is now at the 53-man limit again after previously placing Ryan Griffin on IR-DTR.
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)
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/15/15
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..
- The Jets waived Oday Aboushi, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. Aboushi was suspended without pay for the first game of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
- The Bears cut quarterback David Fales, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Patriots cut undrafted rookie wide receiver Chris Harper, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter).
- The Chargers signed offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins and dropped tight end Kyle Miller, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
- The Eagles placed center David Molk on IR, according to the team transactions page.
- The Cowboys officially signed Charles Brown and waived Darrion Weems, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer writes. Brown went to training camp with the Jets and was a former second round pick of the Saints.
- The Buccaneers announced today that they have waived (injured) linebacker James-Michael Johnson.
- The Texans placed tight end Ryan Griffin on IR-DTR with a sprained medial collateral ligament, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Titans reached injury settlements with Zaviar Gooden and Yawin Smallwood, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
- The Colts signed Josh McNary to the active roster, Mike Wells of ESPN.com writes.
- The Raiders will release tight end Gabe Holmes but they’ll try to re-sign him to the taxi squad, Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports tweets.
Cowboys Acquire Brice Butler From Raiders
The Cowboys acquired receiver Brice Butler from the Raiders, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. If Butler is on the Cowboys’ 53-player roster for six games, Dallas will swap its fifth-round pick for the Raiders’ sixth-rounder in 2016, according to a source who spoke with Williams.
If Butler is on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster for six games, then the Cowboys will give up their fifth-round pick in 2016 but get the Raiders sixth-round pick next year in return as well, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. With a bye week on the horizon, the Cowboys have seven weeks to make a judgment on whether to keep him.
Butler, 25, was a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2013. The 6’3″, 210-pounder has shown flashes in the 25 games he’s played and also has a few impressive practice highlights floating around online. Butler has 30 compiled catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns over the course of his career.
Of course, the Cowboys are in need of wide receiver depth after losing star Dez Bryant to a foot injury. Butler now becomes the fifth active receiver on Dallas’ roster next to Terrance Williams, Devin Street, Cole Beasley, and Lucky Whitehead.
Raiders To Sign C.J. Wilson
The Raiders have signed defensive lineman C.J. Wilson, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Wilson was among the final cuts in Oakland before the season started.
Wilson, 28, accrued 23 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (seven starts) with the Raiders in 2014. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Wilson 27th out of 57 qualifying 4-3 defensive ends for his work, and he recently drew interest from the Seahawks. Now, with Justin Ellis sidelined, the Raiders are hoping they can get some quality production out of Wilson in 2015.
The five-year veteran entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2010 and spent his first four seasons in Green Bay. With the Packers, he appeared in 50 games and made 11 starts.
Raiders To Place Nate Allen On IR-DTR
4:26pm: Allen is actually being placed on IR-DTR, meaning that he can return to action later this season, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets.
4:21pm: The Raiders will place safety Nate Allen on IR, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The news is somewhat surprising since it was reported on Monday night that Allen’s MRI indicated that he avoided a torn ACL. However, the scan did reveal a torn MCL and lots of swelling. It’s not immediately clear what Allen’s main injury is at this time.
Allen, 27, started 15 games for the Eagles last season at safety, racking up 62 tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, five pass deflections, and a sack. Allen had a pretty solid year in 2014, finishing out with a 3.9 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), good for 28th out of 87 qualified safeties. This offseason, Allen inked a four-year deal with Oakland with a $23MM base value and $6.9MM fully guaranteed.