Latest On Nate Allen, Charles Woodson
9:34pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has updates on both Allen and Woodson, and it’s mostly positive news for the Raiders. According to Rapoport (Twitter links), Allen’s MRI showed a torn MCL and lots of swelling, meaning he’ll likely miss several weeks, but he may have avoided a torn ACL.
As for Woodson, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) first reported, he has sustained a dislocated shoulder. However, per Rapoport, while the veteran safety may be forced to sit a week or more, he’s already campaigning to play in Week 2.
11:59am: The Raiders fear that safety Nate Allen has torn his ACL, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. That would be awful news for the Raiders, who also saw Charles Woodson suffer a shoulder injury. Woodson is undergoing an MRI today to assess the damage, Schefter adds.
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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/15
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves…
- The Packers have removed wide receiver Larry Pinkard from their IR with an injury settlement, and the Chiefs have done the same with tight end Richard Gordon, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links).
Earlier updates:
- Not long after claiming him off waivers from the Bears, the Cowboys have cut offensive tackle Jordan Mills, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter). Per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), taking Mills’ spot on the roster is another offensive tackle, Charles Brown, who worked out for Dallas last week.
- The Bears have made a change on defense, re-signing outside linebacker Sam Acho and placing defensive end Cornelius Washington on injured reserve, according to Caplan (Twitter links). Acho was cut by Chicago on Saturday with a non-football illness designation, but it didn’t take him long to make his way back to the roster.
- The Saints are signing safety Kenny Phillips, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Phillips was with New Orleans all summer before being released last week as a late cut. After free safety Rafael Bush suffered a chest injury on Sunday, Phillips will help provide New Orleans with additional depth.
- The Saints have also re-signed two players they cut on Saturday, adding running back Tim Hightower and offensive lineman Mike McGlynn back to their roster, tweets Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune. New Orleans waived fullback Toben Opurum and wide receiver Seantavius Jones to accommodate the returning players.
- In a reversal of the team’s weekend transactions, Washington signed defensive end Frank Kearse and cut linebacker Houston Bates, as John Keim of ESPN.com writes.
- The Jets have officially activated backup offensive lineman Oday Aboushi from their reserve/suspended list after he missed Week 1 due to a substance abuse violation, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. For now, the Jets have a roster exemption for Aboushi, but they’ll have to decide this week whether to cut him or to move him to their 53-man roster, removing someone else.
- According to Caplan (Twitter links), the Raiders have released safety Brandian Ross off their injured reserve list, and the Lions have done the same with wide receiver Greg Salas, giving him an injury settlement.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Raiders To Re-Sign Taylor Mays
Safety Taylor Mays continues to bounce around from one NFL team to another, and this time, he’s going to a familiar club. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Mays is re-signing with the Raiders, after also considering the Seahawks.
In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, the former second-round pick is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason.
Since he became a free agent in the winter, Mays has signed with the Vikings, Lions, and Raiders, but was cut by all three times. Most recently, Oakland parted ways with Mays during the cutdown to 53 players.
Now, with Charles Woodson ailing and Nate Allen having suffered an injury that could potentially put his season in jeopardy, it makes sense that the Raiders would bring back a familiar face and a veteran to provide some depth at safety.
Raiders Reached Out To Christian Ponder
3:50pm: The Raiders got positive news on Carr’s thumb and he could conceivably play on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. If Carr is good to go, that could put plans for signing Ponder on hold.
2:55pm: Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will have an MRI on his injured hand today and the team doesn’t expect him to play Sunday, sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. With Carr potentially sidelined, the Raiders have reached out to quarterback Christian Ponder to express their interest.
Ponder was in camp with the Raiders this summer but he was a roster casualty when Oakland reduced its roster to 53. The Eagles were quick to express their interest in the former No. 12 overall pick, but he declined to work out for them, citing family reasons, according to Mortensen.
Ponder, 27, started 36 games during his four years with the Vikings, though he was essentially the team’s No. 3 signal-caller in 2014, behind Teddy Bridgewater and Matt Cassel on the depth chart. With a career 59.8% completion rate and 75.9 passer rating, Ponder didn’t find a very active market when he hit free agency this offseason. His best season came in 2012, when he threw 18 TDs and 12 picks for a playoff-bound team.
Extra Points: Smith, Preseason, Patriots, Steelers
The Raiders signing of Aldon Smith isn’t an indication that the linebacker will avoid punishment for his arrest in August, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. According to the writer, the NFL is currently “reviewing Smith’s case under the substance-abuse policy,” with the DUI charge being the main focus.
While he could be considered a repeat offender, Florio notes that the vandalism and hit-and-run charges “won’t create any significant problems” since they don’t involve violence against another person.
The issue surrounding Smith could be the potential violation of his treatment plan stemming from his previous substance-abuse punishment. If the linebacker is in Stage 3 of the program, Florio says he could be subject to a one-year suspension.
Let’s check out some more notes from around the league…
- Florio reports that the NFL is currently reviewing how revenue would be lost by reducing the preseason by “as many” as two games. If the schedule is cut down, the NFL would look to recover their lost money via an extended regular season or expanded playoffs.
- ESPN’s Field Yates passes along a pair of roster bonuses that were earned today (via Twitter): Colts linebacker Robert Mathis ($1MM) and Rams wideout Kenny Britt ($500K).
- The Patriots asked for the league to reinstate their two suspended staffers, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says that Troy Vincent, the league’s Executive VP of Football Operations, has formally requested to meet with the duo prior to any decision. Equipment staffer John Jastremski and locker room attendant Jim McNally were suspended indefinitely in May following the release of the Wells Report.
- The Steelers released a statement regarding tight end coach James Daniel‘s interaction with Patriots fans following his team’s opening-night loss. “We have conducted an internal inquiry into the alleged incident involving Assistant Coach James Daniel at the Patriots stadium Thursday night. After interviews with Coach Daniel as well as other personnel who witnessed the alleged encounter, we find no corroboration that Coach Daniel was involved in any physical altercation with a fan,” the organization said (via Conor Orr of NFL.com). “Coach Daniel has worked as an assistant coach for the Steelers for the past 12 seasons. We have a high level of confidence in his character and are confident that any further investigation of this incident will reveal he was not part of any assault or misconduct involving a Patriots fan.”
Raiders Sign Aldon Smith
SUNDAY, 8:11am: The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passes along a bit of news on the Smith signing this morning (via Twitter). We already knew that Smith chose the Raiders’ offer over competing contracts from the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Rams, and Rapoport says those other clubs actually offered more money than Oakland. Smith, however, wanted to stay close to his support system in the Bay Area. Rapoport also reports that the Raiders are confident in the information they have on Smith’s criminal charges, which suggests that Smith may not be facing significant punishment from the judicial system or, consequently, from the league.
SATURDAY, 11:25am: ESPN’s Field Yates has slightly different contract numbers for Smith (Twitter link), reporting that the base salary is worth $1.25MM. He also notes that there is $2.75MM in sack incentives and $4MM in per-game bonuses, both of which differ from Rapoport’s tweet.
FRIDAY, 5:06 pm: Smith’s deal with the Raiders is worth up to $8MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It includes a $1MM base salary, $5MM in 53-man roster bonuses, and $2MM in sack incentives.
12:47pm: The Raiders have officially signed Smith, cutting defensive end Lavar Edwards to create a spot on the roster, according to a team release.
11:16am: After being released last month by the 49ers, outside linebacker Aldon Smith has found a new home across the bay. According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), the Raiders have agreed to sign Smith to a one-year contract.
When he’s 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 since then — 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 incident is the latest in a series of off-field run-ins for Smith, who has had DUI arrests in the past, and it was the last straw for the 49ers. The team parted ways with him in early August, with GM Trent Baalke issuing the following statement: “This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue.”
Cole reported earlier this week that at least four teams had interest in signing Smith, but things were still in a holding pattern at that point, since the NFL had yet to make a decision on possible discipline after his latest legal situation. As Cole noted, if Smith were to sign with a club and then received a year-long suspension, that would be a PR embarrassment for both the team and the league.
The fact that the Raiders are willing to bring Smith aboard suggests that the club either has an idea of what his potential suspension might look like or is simply willing to roll the dice on a talented but troubled player. It’s also not clear how long the NFL’s investigation will take, so Smith could potentially play until the league announces its decision. If he’s able to stay on the field for the majority of the 2015 season, the Raiders should have a very strong pass rush this year, with the ex-Niner joining Khalil Mack and Justin Tuck in Oakland.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Smith chose the Raiders over the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Rams.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Notes: Wilkerson, Aldon, Turbin
The Jets and standout defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson are far apart on contract talks as Sunday’s opener draws ever closer, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. It’s unlikely the two will continue negotiating when the season begins, according to La Canfora, which means the 25-year-old could be on the eve of beginning his final season with the Jets. La Canfora writes that the Jets haven’t been willing to give Wilkerson similar guaranteed money to what Cameron Jordan ($23.96MM) and Cameron Heyward ($15MM) received from New Orleans and Pittsburgh, respectively. Further, given the massive extension AFC East rival Buffalo signed Marcell Dareus to earlier this week, the Jets’ offers to Wilkerson look even less appealing to the defender. The team’s latest offer to Wilkerson is far lower than what Dareus received from the Bills, per La Canfora, even though Wilkerson – like Dareus – has established himself as one of the NFL’s best D-linemen.
While Wilkerson is displeased with the Jets’ negotiating tactics, his agent, Chad Wiesteling, says it won’t affect his on-field performance.
“Mo loves being a Jet, and nothing less than a Super Bowl for New York will satisfy him this season. He will play his heart out for this team regardless of his contract situation.”
More from around the AFC:
- Newly signed Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith‘s on-field dominance has been overshadowed by off-field issues throughout his four-year career, but his Oakland teammates are excited to have him, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “The only thing we expect is that he comes in and works hard,” 18th-year man Charles Woodson said. “We’ve been working hard all offseason. He needs to contribute and help make this team great. That’s what we want. I’m sure he wants the same thing.”
- Running back Robert Turbin‘s injury settlement with Seattle was for five weeks. That means he could debut with his new team – the Browns – around mid-October (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates).
- Chargers tight end John Phillips will be on the roster Sunday against Detroit, so he’ll be guaranteed his full 2015 salary of $745k. His cap hit will be $585k (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aldon Smith’s Week 1 Role Coming Into Focus
The Raiders are sticking to their word of intending to play Aldon Smith two days after signing him to a one-year deal.
The mercurial pass-rusher will play in Raiders sub-packages, doing so mostly on third downs, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports.
Oakland is anxious to use Smith, who was released by the 49ers after his latest arrest, alongside emerging star Khalil Mack, La Canfora notes. The CBS-based scribe reports Smith’s snap count will depend on his physical readiness, with his array of speed-centric moves not requiring much scheming, hence the Raiders’ insistence on putting the former All-Pro into action immediately.
This could mean Smith at one edge spot and Mack at another in passing-down packages, with Justin Tuck sliding to the inside, as he did with the Giants. But this Mack-Smith pass-rushing union could also be shortlived and will almost certainly be interrupted this season.
Smith’s suspected suspension, which La Canfora categorizes as one that could be lengthy, is not expected to affect his playing status in Week 1. But a suspension appears likely to deter his path at some point this fall.
Raiders’ Aldon Smith Likely To Play Week 1
The Raiders plan to play newly signed outside linebacker Aldon Smith in Sunday’s season opener against Cincinnati, according to Ed Werder of ESPN (Twitter link). The 25-year-old practiced with the Raiders and impressed their coaching staff, per Werder.
Prior to Werder’s report, there was question as to whether Smith would play this week – not only because he’s new to the Raiders’ roster, but because of a looming suspension regarding his most recent off-field troubles. Earlier Friday, the Santa Clara County DA filed three misdemeanor charges against Smith – DUI with prior conviction, hit and run with property damage, and vandalism – stemming from an August incident. An arraignment date for the ex-49er is set for Oct. 6, and the NFL is conducting its own investigation into the incident. Thus, a suspension figures to be coming for Smith, who has already faced multiple penalties for past legal run-ins.
However, barring something unforeseen happening before Sunday, it appears the Raiders’ defense will be bolstered (at least temporarily) by one of the league’s premier pass rushers. Smith has been a dominant force throughout his career, tallying 44 sacks in 50 regular-season games, and should aid an Oakland team that took down opposing quarterbacks just 22 times last season – the second fewest in the league.
Misdemeanor Charges Filed Against Aldon Smith
Aldon Smith has a new NFL team, signing a one-year contract to join the Raiders today, and while he’s eligible to play on Sunday for now, the latest developments in his legal situation signal that NFL discipline will be coming sooner or later.
According to Matt Keller of ABC7 News (Twitter links), the Santa Clara County DA has filed three misdemeanor charges against Smith, stemming from an August incident — DUI with prior conviction, hit and run with property damage, and vandalism. Keller adds that an arraignment date of October 6 has been set for Smith.
The NFL is conducting its own investigation into Smith’s latest off-field incident, and a suspension figures to be coming sooner or later for the ex-Niner, who has already faced multiple penalties for his legal run-ins. If the league takes its time with the investigation, Smith may be able to play in the interim — if the investigation wraps up quickly, he may be forced off the field in the near future. There’s also a possibility that the 25-year-old could land on the commissioner’s exempt list while the NFL finishes its investigation, though there’s no indication yet that that will happen.
According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), Smith’s one-year pact with the Raiders can be worth up to $8MM for the year, with roster incentives. It sounds like the deal might be similar to the one Greg Hardy signed with the Cowboys, before Dallas knew how long he’d be suspended. When a player’s salary relies heavily on per-game roster bonuses, a team can protect itself against a suspension or injury.
For his part, Smith thought it was wise to stay near his therapists, counselors, and the support network he has built in the Bay Area, according to Cole (via Twitter).