Extra Points: Los Angeles, Raiders, Wilkerson
As the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers jockey to get into Los Angeles, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter links) hears that the NFL could look to put one team in L.A. in 2016 and another in 2017 and delay the opening of new stadium to 2019 so that the second team has sufficient time to market. Meanwhile, if the Raiders are the team that gets squeezed out, some have floated the idea of them relocating to San Diego while the Bolts and Rams to go Inglewood.
Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter) hears that there is no Sunday deadline for the Jets and Muhammad Wilkerson to hammer out a contract. If necessary, he hears that the Jets and Wilkerson will continue discussions into the season. On Thursday, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported that the two sides are “nowhere close on a deal.” He also heard from a source that Wilkerson will not negotiate during the season.
- The Panthers will work out former Giants defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Ellis, who was released on Sunday in favor of Louis Nix, spent four seasons with the Jets before signing with Big Blue in March.
- Texans starting inside linebacker Mike Mohamed is out two to four weeks with a calf injury, according to sources who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
Extra Points: Los Angeles, Moeller, Catapano
If two teams are to wind up in Los Angeles, it could happen by commissioner Roger Goodell locking Rams owner Stan Kroenke and Chargers owner Dean Spanos in a room and demanding that they work it out, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times writes. However, if the Rams, Chargers, and Raiders all continue to insist on moving to L.A., then things could get ugly in a hurry. In that scenario, the Rams would push the Inglewood project and the Chargers and Raiders would push their joint venture in Carson in an all-or-nothing vote. These types of NFL decisions require a three-quarters majority (meaning the support of 24 of 32 owners) and it’s generally believed that the Rams and Chargers-Raiders have the requisite nine votes to block the other. If both plans are voted down, that means no one will be moving to Los Angeles for the 2016 season.
Here’s more from around the league..
- The woman who accused Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller of assaulting her said he “tried to strangle me and beat me up” in her 911 call, as Evan MacDonald of the Northeast Ohio Media Group writes. The woman also said that Moeller might have been drinking that night. Moeller has been suspended indefinetly by the Browns and he may face assault charges based off of these allegations.
- Prior to signing with the Jets‘ taxi squad, defensive end Mike Catapano had workouts scheduled with the Bears, Packers, and Vikings, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. The Long Island native was in heavy demand, according to Wilson.
- A federal judge has dismissed the NFL Players Association’s claim that the NFL engaged in illegal collusion to hold down player salaries during the uncapped 2010 season, as Michael David Smith of PFT writes. The union had claimed that teams broke labor laws by agreeing to effectively have a cap even though it was an uncapped year, but the judge said that any such claim from the NFLPA was nullified by the fact that both sides signed the 2011 CBA.
Workout Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Raiders, Bucs
With 53-man rosters set, teams around the NFL will start to frequently bring in players for workouts and auditions, keeping up-to-date on which free agents are out there, in case injury replacements or practice squad fill-ins are required.
Here are a few of the latest updates on teams working out players, or bringing them in for visits:
- The Bills, who are exploring other possible options at kicker after an underwhelming preseason from Dan Carpenter, worked out Alex Henery, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Henery’s last game in the NFL, the one that cost him his job, came last October, when he missed three field goals for the Lions against Buffalo.
- Before they signed linebacker Adrian Hubbard, the Dolphins worked out Hubbard and several other players, according to Wilson (Twitter link). The players who earned an audition with Miami included former Raiders safety Jonathan Dowling, ex-Cardinals linebacker Glenn Carson, former Bengals linebacker Nico Johnson, ex-Cowboys cornerback Robert Steeples, and former Eagles safety Chris Prosinski.
- The Raiders brought in a number of players for workouts, with a focus on wide receivers, quarterbacks, and defensive backs. According to Wilson (Twitter links), wideouts Phil Bates, John Harris, DeAndre Carter, and T.J. Graham, quarterbacks Jeff Tuel and Phillip Sims, and defensive backs Tommie Campbell, Phillip Thomas, B.W. Webb, and Ty Zimmerman auditioned for the club. Offensive lineman Dillon Farrell also had a tryout with Oakland.
- Offensive lineman Austin Reiter, a 2015 seventh-rounder waived by Washington over the weekend, is working out for the Buccaneers this morning, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
- After being waived by the Chargers last week, wide receiver Titus Davis paid a visit to the Lions, tweets Wilson.
Raiders Claim Lavar Edwards From Cowboys
The Raiders have claimed defensive end Lavar Edwards off waivers, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Edwards was bumped off the Cowboys’ roster over the weekend.
Edwards, 25, appeared in four games for the Cowboys in 2014 and spent the bulk of the season on the taxi squad. In the year prior, he saw seven games with the Titans including one start. A product of powerhouse program LSU, Edwards was taken in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by Tennessee.
Del Rio: Sio Moore “Wasn’t Going To Make Our Team”
Before being traded to the Colts, Sio Moore was expected to start at weakside linebacker for the Raiders. However, he had reportedly fallen out of favor with new head coach Jack Del Rio, which is why he became expendable, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com.
“He wasn’t going to make our team,” Del Rio said. “We had depth there that we’re really happy about.”
That depth he is talking about comes with free agent pickups Malcolm Smith, Curtis Lofton, and Lorenzo Alexander, as well as Ray Ray Armstrong and draft picks Ben Heeney and Neiron Ball.
“We brought in two free agent linebackers that are both playing really well. We brought in two draft picks that are both playing pretty well. We developed a guy at the position that’s returning in Ray-Ray and we added a guy that we think is a real core difference maker on special teams,” said Del Rio. “We’ve got a full group. It was an opportunity to acquire a pick for a guy that somebody else may want to have.”
The Raiders will receive a 2016 sixth-round pick in exchange for Moore.
FA Notes: Bradshaw, Jeanpierre, Sims
Most of today’s news is related to cuts, waiver claims, and practice squad signings, but let’s take a look at a few notes concerning some unsigned free agents…
- Running back Ahmad Bradshaw‘s broken leg is completely healed, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com, meaning that the veteran back could find work soon. The 29-year-old is suspended for the first week of the NFL season due to a marijuana arrest, but Bradshaw could still help a club in need of running back help. In 10 games with the Colts last season, Bradshaw ran for more than 400 yards and posted 38 receptions.
- After being released by the Seahawks last week, center Lemuel Jeanpierre will take a meeting with the Bills, reports ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak. Jeanpierre appeared in 53 games (11 starts) during the past four years with Seattle. Buffalo did claim center Gabe Ikard off waivers from the Titans earlier today, so its interest might have waned.
- Quarterback Phillip Sims, an undrafted free agent who was recently released by the Cardinals, will work out for both the Raiders and the Titans this week, per Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter links).
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Denver Broncos
- Claimed off waivers:
- C James Ferentz (via press release)
- TE Mitchell Henry (via press release)
- Cut:
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Zaire Anderson (press release)
- C Dillon Day (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
- TE Arthur Lynch (Twitter link via Tony Pauline)
- LB Danny Mason (press release)
- CB Taurean Nixon (press release)
- DL Chuka Ndulue (press release)
- WR Jordan Taylor (press release)
- DT George Uko (Twitter link via Wilson)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed:
- OL Jah Reid (link)
- Claimed off waivers:
- TE Brian Parker (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut:
- WR Dezman Moses (Twitter link via Terez Paylor)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Da’Ron Brown (Twitter link via Wilson)
- OL Daniel Munyer (Twitter link via Paylor)
- T Jarrod Pughsley (link via Paylor)
- WR Fred Williams (link via Paylor)
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed off waivers:
- S Keenan Lambert (Twitter link via Vic Tafur)
- Cut:
- CB SaQwan Edwards (Twitter link via Bill Williamson)
- Signed to practice squad:
- QB Garrett Gilbert (Twitter link via Wilson)
- S Tevin McDonald (link via Scott Bair)
- DT Leon Orr (link via Bair)
- DE Max Valles (Twitter link via Bair)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed to practice squad (press release):
- TE Alex Bayer (Twitter link via Jim Thomas)
- CB Greg Ducre
- WR Javontee Herndon
- G Michael Huey
- LB Ryan Mueller
- S Adrian Phillips
- QB Brad Sorensen (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken)
- RB Dreamius Smith
- DT Damion Square
Bears Set 53-Man Roster
John Fox‘s first roster with the Bears will include three quarterbacks, but the third isn’t the one he oversaw in Denver. The Bears sent Zac Dysert back to waivers after picking up the ex-Broncos quarterback last week.
Instead, David Fales will back up Jay Cutler and Jimmy Clausen, as the Bears made their cuts to slash their roster to 53 players, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Also among the cuts was third-year defensive end/linebacker David Bass, who played in 20 games the past two seasons. A former seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2013 with a pick-six to his credit as a rookie in Chicago, Bass has interested suitors and will land somewhere soon, per Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei (on Twitter).
Here are the rest of Chicago’s final cuts:
- Jonathan Anderson, ILB
- Qumain Black, WR
- Conor Boffeli, OL
- A.J. Cruz, WR (Waived/injured)
- Jacoby Glenn, CB
- Anthony Jefferson, DB (Injured reserve)
- Rashad Lawrence, WR
- Tyler Moore, OL
- Michael Ola, OL
- Ify Umodu, WR
- Gannon Sinclair, TE
- Matthew Wells, ILB
- Terry Williams, DT
- Kyle Woestmann, OLB
Raiders’ Roster Takes Shape
Despite surpassing Trent Richardson on the depth chart, Michael Dyer couldn’t complete his ascent into regular-season action with the Raiders.
Instead, Oakland rejiggered its depth chart by bringing Taiwan Jones, a former running back, back to his original spot from corner, where he played previously. Jones now occupies the third-string spot behind Latavius Murray and Roy Helu, as the Raiders announced the waiving of Dyer and others in order to dice their roster down to 53.
In addition to severing ties with Christian Ponder, Oakland released Kris Durham and defensive lineman C.J. Wilson.
Here are the rest of Oakland’s cut-day casualties:
- George Atkinson III, RB
- Mitch Bell, G
- Spencer Hadley, LB
- Shelby Harris, DE
- Dan Kistler, T
- Brian Leonhardt, TE
- Ricky Lumpkin, DT
- Tevin McDonald, CB
- Anthony Morris, T (Waived/injured)
- Leon Orr, DT
- Brandian Ross, S (IR)
- Josh Shirley, LB
- Georgio Tavecchio, K
- Max Valles, DE
- Gary Wilkins, DE
- Devon Wylie, WR
Raiders Release Taylor Mays
Taylor Mays‘ journeyman 2015 will continue after he once again saw his contract terminated by a team.
The Raiders joined the Vikings and Lions in releasing the safety this year. Oakland signed the sixth-year veteran last week, and Mays played in two preseason games with his new team after suiting up for one with the Lions.
Only listing three safeties on its 53-man roster, Oakland opted to go with Larry Asante as its primary backup safety behind Nate Allen and Charles Woodson.
Mays played four seasons with the Bengals prior to embarking on this complex search for a new home.