Seahawks Notes: Bevell, Lynch, Coyle, Hill
Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell won’t be a candidate for the BYU head coaching position, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (in several Twitter links). Carroll relayed that he had spoken with BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe, but told the AD that the timing isn’t right for Bevell to leave his current post. Bevell himself also confirmed to Condotta that he is not interested in the job.
Let’s dive into some more notes on the Seahawks, with all links courtesy of Condotta…
- Running back Marshawn Lynch has returned to the Seahawks’ practice facility, two weeks to the day after he underwent abdominal surgery, writes Condotta, but the club still isn’t certain as to when he’ll return. “He’s rehabbing,” said Carroll. “And when he’s ready to start working with us we’ll get him going. Not quite yet.” Undrafted rookie free agent Thomas Rawls has usurped the starting running back gig during Lynch’s three-game absence, rushing for almost 400 yards in that span.
- The Seahawks placed second-year linebacker Brock Coyle on injured reserve/designated to return in late October, meaning he’s eligible to return to game action in Week 15. And according to Carroll, Coyle will do just that, as he’s apparently fully healthy and ready to contribute (Twitter link).
- In other injury news, it’s possible that defensive tackle Jordan Hill will return this week, tweets Condotta. Hill suffered a ankle injury in Week 12 and didn’t play against the Vikings on Sunday. The 24-year-old dealt with a similar injury earlier this season, so it’s possible Seattle will be cautious.
- Condotta also rounds up the rest of Carroll’s media comments today, including notes on why Seattle released receiver Chris Matthews, and the difficulty of sustaining a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
Raiders Extend Michael Crabtree
The Raiders have signed Michael Crabtree to extension that will keep the receiver in Oakland through the 2019 season, the club announced. Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link) was the first to break news of the deal, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) had the specifics: four years, $35MM, with nearly $19MM guaranteed.
The $8.75MM average annual value would rank 13th among receivers, while that $19MM in guarantees would place 10th, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap notes (Twitter link). Of course, we’ll have to wait and see if that’s a full guarantee, and whether the reported total value contains any inflating incentives.
The 28-year-old Crabtree has been a revelation for Oakland since joining the club on a one-year deal this offeason, posting 760 yards on 66 receptions to go along with seven touchdowns. He’s actually out-targeted first-round rookie Amari Cooper (115-105), and he’s helped the Raiders offense make the leap from 30th in offensive DVOA in 2014 to ninth this season, per Football Outsiders. On a personal level, Crabtree is in the midst of his best season to date, as he’s on pace to set career bests for both receptions and touchdowns.
Signing a one-year pillow contract, as he did last offseason, would have seemed implausible for Crabtree just a few seasons ago, as the former first-round pick started his career with four solid years with the 49ers. But a lost 2013 season, and a 2014 which saw him fail to surpass 700 yards receiving, forced his market to plummet, a fall only ended by his one-year, $3.2MM agreement with Oakland. For what’s it worth, Crabtree will likely reach his lowest level of incentive-based pay this week, and has an outside chance to reach his maximum incentive level of $1.4MM.
According to Caplan (Twitter links), the Raiders had been having internal discussions about extending Crabtree for some time, noting that team officials were impressed with the veteran receiver’s attitude and leadership abilities from the get-go. Crabtree’s teammates also seemed to enjoy his presence, as quarterback Derek Carr indicated in November that he’d love to see Crabtree extended.
Oakland has now locked up one its most important offensive pieces, and the club now has a solid core — Carr, Cooper, running back Latavius Murray, and tight end Clive Walford — around which to build, along with an offensive line that’s played much better than expected. A key piece of that offensive line — left tackle Donald Penn — is (like Crabtree was) a pending free agent, so perhaps he’ll be the next item on the docket as general manager Reggie McKenzie continues his rebuild in the Bay Area. The Raiders can certainly afford to spend, as Over the Cap lists the club as No. 1 in 2016 cap space, with more than $72MM available (not counting the Crabtree extension, obviously).
For Crabtree’s part, he could be passing up a nice sum of money on the open market, as he wouldn’t have faced much in the way of positional competition next spring. Bears pass-catcher Alshon Jeffery is only pass-catcher who surely would have secured a larger contract, and Jeffery is a candidate for the franchise tag. For as good a season as he’s having, Crabtree still wouldn’t have been worth a franchise tag, meaning he could have entered the open market unfettered, and with Jeffery out of the way, as potentially the top receiver option available.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Workout Notes: Steelers, Bucs, Colts, Browns
British rugby player Tom Burgess has continued his wave of tryouts for NFL clubs, per Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link), who reports that Burgess worked out for the Steelers today. Burgess, who’s also auditioned for the Giants, Jets, and Bills, could be line for a futures contract at the end of the season, following in the footsteps of fellow international star Jarryd Hayne.
Here’s at look at the rest of today’s workouts as clubs seek to get a feel for available free agents and update their emergency lists:
- The Buccaneers worked out several players today, including linebacker Willie Jefferson, cornerback Garry Peters, defensive end Nordly Capi, and cornerback De’Vante Bausby, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Peters, a Clemson alum, was a favorite UDFA of several draftniks this spring.
- Running back Daniel Thomas is searching for new opportunity after being released by the Bears earlier in the year, and he earned a tryout with the Colts today, per Wilson (on Twitter). Thomas, whose most notable time came with the Dolphins, could be an option for Indianapolis, who is looking to replace the injured Ahmad Bradshaw.
- The Browns brought in three players for an audition, says Wilson (via Twitter), who reports that receivers R.J. Harris and Marcus Lucas, plus safety Phillip Thomas, worked out for Cleveland. A fourth player involved in the tryout — defensive back Tim Scott — was signed to the club’s practice squad yesterday.
- A large group of receivers worked out for the Seahawks, including Rashaad Carter, Desmond Lawrence, Jordan Leslie, Colin Lockett, and Larry Pinkard, in addition to quarterback Dustin Vaughan, per Wilson (Twitter link).
- The Bears visited with receiver Kyle Prater, who was a Saints UDFA out of Northwestern earlier this year, according to Wilson (Twitter link). Prater, 23, was named the No. 1 receiver of the 2010 recruiting class.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/15
We’ll track the day’s minor transactions here, with the newest updates appearing at the top of the list:
- In need of secondary help while T.J. Ward deals with a high ankle sprain, the Broncos have signed safety Shiloh Keo, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Keo, 27, played under Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips when both were with the Texans, and actually contacted the coach last week via Twitter in the hopes of landing a job.
- As expected, the Patriots have signed cornerback Leonard Johnson, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, who reported this morning that Johnson was expected to land on New England’s roster following a Monday workout. Johnson offers experience — 17 starts for the Buccaneers from 2012-14 — but he hasn’t played in 2015.
- The Buccaneers have an open roster spot due to Kwon Alexander‘s four-game suspension, and they’ve filled by signing fellow linebacker Orie Lemon, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Lemon has had a few stints on Tampa’s roster this season, logging 100 snaps (all on special teams).
- The Seahawks have brought back a familiar face in signing Anthony McCoy, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Seattle, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). McCoy, who was released by Washington earlier this year, auditioned for the Seahawks last week. Seattle also signed safety Akeem Davis, Condotta adds.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/9/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Bryn Renner (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)
- Cut: S Nick Perry
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Marcel Jensen, C Ronald Patrick (Twitter links via Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Jahwan Edwards (Twitter link via team)
- Cut: QB Jeff Tuel
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Eric Martin (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: TE Tim Semisch (press release via team)
- Placed on PS-IR: TE Alex Bayer
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Douglas McNeil (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Ronnie Stanley, Shaq Lawson To Enter Draft
Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is entering the 2016 NFL draft, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). Stanley will forgo his senior season with the Fighting Irish to begin his NFL career next year.
The left tackle for Notre Dame, Stanley projects as one of the top offensive linemen available in this year’s draft. Miller has Stanley ranked fifth overall, and first among offensive linemen, on his most recent big board, while CBSSports.com places him 11th overall, and second among linemen.
Here are a few more Wednesday draft rumors and notes:
- Another projected first-round pick, Clemson edge defender Shaq Lawson, told Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston that he’ll forgo his final year of college eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL draft. “It was a tough decision,” Lawson said. “I sat down with my family, sat down with the support staff at Clemson. I enjoyed being at Clemson, but it’s time. I’m ready for the next level.” Lawson ranks among the top 25 prospects for 2016, according the previously-linked big boards by Miller and CBSSports.com.
- While there’s no official word yet, the expectation from some in the scouting community is that Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch will declare for the 2016 draft, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. In Matt Miller’s latest mock draft, Lynch is projected to come off the board first overall, to the Browns.
- Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith and Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander are leaning toward entering the 2016 draft, reports Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter links).
Saints Place Mark Ingram On IR
4:01pm: The Saints have filled Ingram’s roster spot by promoting fullback Austin Johnson from their practice squad, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
3:59pm: As feared, Mark Ingram‘s shoulder injury is serious enough to prematurely bring his 2015 season to an end. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Saints have placed Ingram on injured reserve, officially ruling him out for the rest of the year.
Ingram, who turns 26 later this month, posted career numbers in 2014, earning a Pro Bowl berth and a new four-year contract from New Orleans. Through 12 games, Ingram was on track for another productive year, with 769 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 405 yards through the air.
In Ingram’s absence, Tim Hightower and C.J. Spiller figure to shoulder the load, with rookie Marcus Murphy potentially in the mix as well. The Saints have an open roster spot now that Ingram is on IR, though the team may not use it on a running back, with three other viable options still on the 53-man squad.
East Notes: Kelly, Bills, McCoy, Murray
We touched on some Eagles and Bills news items this morning, with a focus on the two teams’ highly-paid running backs. Since then though, those clubs – and running backs – have continued to be hot topics, creating a few headlines throughout the day. So let’s round up the latest out of Philadelphia and Buffalo, as the two East clubs prepare for a big Week 14 matchup.
- In a conference call today with Buffalo reporters, including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said it’s a “false assumption” to call him the team’s general manager. “I just have final say over the roster,” Kelly said. While he may not officially hold the GM title, Kelly is clearly the one making personnel decisions in Philadelphia, so his objections seem to be over a matter of semantics.
- Kelly also said earlier today that he regretted not getting a chance to talk to LeSean McCoy before word of the trade that sent to the running back to Buffalo broke, adding that he’d like to shake McCoy’s hand. Shady wasn’t having any of that though, telling Bills reporters, including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, that Kelly “can’t shake s—.” McCoy continued: “We’re not enemies. I won’t say anything wrong to him. But there’s nothing for us to talk about, at all.”
- The Bills‘ offseason acquisition of McCoy was a factor in Tyrod Taylor‘s decision to sign with Buffalo, the quarterback said today, noting that he wanted to be around playmakers (Twitter link via Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News). For his part, Bills head coach Rex Ryan said his team “couldn’t be happier” with the McCoy/Kiko Alonso swap, as Dunne details.
- While McCoy was making headlines with his comments today, it was Eagles running back DeMarco Murray that was in the news yesterday, following a report that he spoke to team owner Jeffrey Lurie about his unhappiness with his role. According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), Kelly said that Murray has expressed those frustrations to him as well. The head coach also suggested that Murray’s conversation with Lurie was happenstance, though he couldn’t explain how it leaked to ESPN (Twitter link via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News).
NFC South Notes: Ingram, Reed, Allen
It’s a big week in the NFC South, where the Buccaneers will try to continue pushing for a playoff spot against the Saints, while the Falcons will look to hand the Panthers their first loss of the season. Earlier today, we asked you whether Carolina will finish the season with a 16-0 record. Now, we’re checking in on some more NFC South notes. Let’s dive in…
- Saints running back Mark Ingram is battling a serious shoulder injury, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who tweets that it could be a season-ender. Ingram is undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com.
- After signing a five-year, $22.5MM contract that featured $9MM in guaranteed money, linebacker Brooks Reed hasn’t been able to make a major impact for the Falcons this season, and he knows it, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “All I can say is I’m working to be a better football player,” Reed said. “It’s going to take just a lot of hard at work. All I can say is that I’m working at it and it’s going to come. I promise that.”
- Panthers defensive end Jared Allen remains under contract for next season, but he may have to undergo back surgery in the offseason, and says he’s taking every year as it comes, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). While Allen may very well continue his playing career in 2016, there’s not much chance he’ll do so on his current deal, which calls for a non-guaranteed $8.5MM salary next year.
Chargers Sign Vincent Brown
WEDNESDAY, 12:54pm: The Chargers have officially signed Brown, cutting safety Adrian Phillips to make room on their 53-man roster, the team announced today in a press release.
TUESDAY, 2:38pm: In need of a healthy wide receiver, the Chargers are signing a familiar face, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, who reports (via Twitter) that Vincent Brown is rejoining the club.
Brown, who turns 27 next month, was part of a group of a wideouts that worked out for the Chargers today, after Dontrelle Inman and Steve Johnson left Sunday’s loss with injuries. Austin Pettis, another former Charger, was among the other free agents involved in the audition, according to Gehlken.
Having been selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2011 draft out of nearby San Diego State, Brown was never able to deliver on the promise he once had. In his three years with the Chargers, he caught 60 balls in 30 games, with his best run coming in 2013. Brown played for the Raiders last season, and spent time with the Colts this summer before being released during preseason cutdowns. He earned a look from the Rams last month, but ultimately didn’t get another shot until now.
Brown will join a depleted receiving corps that also lost Keenan Allen earlier this season, and currently features Malcom Floyd, Javontee Herndon, and Tyrell Williams.