Bills Sign Brandon Tate
Brandon Tate has found a new NFL home. The Bills announced moments ago that they have signed the former Bengals kick returner. The Bills had a spot open on the 53-man roster, so they will not have to release anyone to clear a place for the veteran.
Tate, 28, was on Cincinnati’s roster since the 2011 season, but most of his contributions came on special teams rather than on offense. He’s returned more than 350 kicks and punts during his time with the Bengals, averaging 9.6 yards per return on kickoffs and 24.6 yards on punts. Highly-respected by the Cincinnati coaching staff and front office, Tate was released in advance of the 75-man deadline so that he might be able to latch on with another club.
Tate caught 17 passes for 193 yards in 2014, but recorded only two receptions in 2015. He may see some time on offense, but you shouldn’t expect to see him featured often as a wide receiver in Buffalo.
The kick return specialist worked out for the Broncos late last week but left Denver without a deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Workout Notes: Pats, Chiefs, Broncos, Jets
Now that cutdowns are completed, teams have begun auditioning players that are still on the free agent market, either in an effort to upgrade their current roster or to update their emergency free agent lists. Let’s take a look at the workouts that have been reported today:
- Over the last day or so, the Patriots have auditioned offensive tackle Clay DeBord, tight end Nic Jacobs, wide receiver Mitch Mathews, wide receiver K.J. Maye, defensive back Tyler Patmon, and running back David Cobb, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Chiefs also worked out Cobb, and also took a look at running back Zac Brooks, who was waived by the Seahawks this week, tweets Howard Balzer. Kansas City also worked out offensive lineman Anthony Fabiano, defensive lineman David Moala, guard Ian Silberman, and defensive end Quanterus Smith, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- The Broncos auditioned wide receiver/return specialist Brandon Tate, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tate was released by the Bengals last week after several years with the club.
- The Jets worked out cornerbacks Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Patmon, as well as guard Kristjan Sokoli and tight end Brian Leonardt, report Yates and Balzer (Twitter links). Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, New York also looked at tight ends Nic Jacobs and Steven Scheu.
- Long snapper Brett Goode worked out for the Packers today, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Goode, who had been with Green Bay since 2008, is expected to sign tomorrow if he checks out medically. The Packers don’t currently have a long snapper on their roster.
- The Seahawks also auditioned long snappers, according to Balzer (Twitter link), who says Seattle looked at Tyler Ott, John DePalma, Reid Ferguson, and Jeff Overbaugh.
- Tight end RaShaun Allen took a visit with the Steelers, per Wilson (Twitter link).
Bengals Cut Brandon Tate, Roster At 75
The Bengals have released wide receiver Brandon Tate, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), and they’ve also waived fellow WR Mario Alford with an injury designation, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). Additionally, Cincinnati has placed rookie defensive tackle Andrew Billings on injured reserve and fellow DT Brandon Thompson on PUP. The club’s roster is now at 75.
[RELATED: Cedric Peerman Fractures Arm]
Tate, 28, has been on Cincinnati’s roster since the 2011 season, but most of his contributions have come on special teams rather than on offense. He’s returned more than 350 kicks and punts during his time with the Bengals, averaging 9.6 yards per return on kickoffs and 24.6 yards on punts. Tate is highly-respected by the Cincinnati coaching staff and front office, and Rapoport notes that the club released him now so that he might be able to latch on with another club.
Alford, meanwhile, was thought to be contending for both returner jobs, but injuries have kept him off the field. The former sixth-round pick will revert to the Bengals’ injured reserve list if he clears waivers.
The Bengals also released kicker Jon Brown from the injured reserve list, presumably with an injury settlement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/4/16
In addition to today’s notable roster moves and RFA/ERFA tender decisions, we’ve got some minor transactions to pass along, so let’s dive right in….
- The Bengals re-signed a free agent wide receiver today, but it wasn’t Marvin Jones or Mohamed Sanu. Instead, it was fellow UFA Brandon Tate, who has spent the last five seasons in Cincinnati (Twitter link). Tate has primarily been a return man and special-teamer during his time with the Bengals — though he occasionally contributes on offense, he caught just two passes in 2015. He signed a one-year contract, per Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link).
- The Patriots cut linebacker Darius Fleming today, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who passes along a farewell message from Fleming’s Instagram. Fleming made headlines in January when he sustained a calf injury rescuing a driver from her car at the scene of an accident. He’ll pass through waivers before becoming a free agent.
Bengals Re-Sign Brandon Tate
The Bengals have re-signed wide receiver and return man Brandon Tate, the team announced today (via Twitter). Terms of the agreement weren’t immediately disclosed.
Tate, 27, was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2009 draft, but only lasted two seasons in New England. The North Carolina product has spent the last four years in Cincinnati, returning kicks and punts for the club and occasionally contributing on offense as well.
Tate didn’t have much of an impact in the return game in 2014, averaging 9.7 yards per punt return and a career-low 22.1 yards per kick return; he hasn’t had a return touchdown since 2011. With the Bengals dealing with multiple injuries to pass-catchers, Tate played more on offense than he had in the previous two seasons, grabbing 17 balls for 193 yards and a TD.
Although he’s back on the roster, Tate isn’t necessarily guaranteed a role as the team’s primary returner, or even a spot on the roster. Coley Harvey of ESPN.com and Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer both tweet that they still expect the Bengals to draft a return-type receiver in a few weeks, with Tate providing insurance and competition.
Tate previously paid a visit to the Chiefs.
West Notes: D. Thomas, Wheeler, Tate
Here are a few Monday afternoon updates from out of the AFC and NFC West divisions….
- Demaryius Thomas, who has yet to sign his franchise tender, won’t take part in Peyton Manning‘s annual workouts at Duke or attend the Broncos‘ offseason program, the star wideout said today, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. It’s not unusual for a player who receives the franchise tag to skip his team’s spring workouts, and Thomas is still hoping that he and the team can work out a longer-term deal. “My agent is dealing with that right now,” Thomas said. “I’m in the loop, but I’m letting [GM John] Elway and my agent handle that, come up with something.”
- Former Dolphins linebacker Philip Wheeler is visiting the 49ers today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Wheeler saw most of his 384 defensive snaps last season as an outside linebacker in Miami’s 4-3 scheme, but presumably the Niners are viewing him as an inside linebacker, after Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retired.
- Rapoport also passes along word of another visit, tweeting that former Bengals receiver and return man Brandon Tate visited the Chiefs. Tate caught just 31 passes during his four years in Cincinnati, but returned more than 250 combined punts and kicks during that stretch.
AFC North Notes: Tate, Jones, Cameron, Hoyer
Wide receiver Brandon Tate is entering his fourth season with the Bengals, but he understand that he is not a shoo-in for a spot on the final roster. After all, he hasn’t provided much offensively for the team, compiling 217 yards and one touchdown in three seasons. He’s made the majority of his impact on special teams, but he’s now battling younger players who could contribute in the return game and in the passing game.
Having been in the league for five seasons, Tate knows that competition is just part of the job. Via ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey…
“We’ve got a new O-coordinator (Hugh Jackson) and the one thing he stressed is that everything is open,” Tate said. “He doesn’t want nobody to be comfortable.”
Special teams coach Darrin Simmons agreed with the sentiment…
“That’s what you always try to create in training camp. You try to create competition,” Simmons said. “Everybody should feel heat because there’s always somebody right behind you nipping at your tail.”
Still, the coaches are confident that Tate can rise above the rest…
“He’s got a lot of fight this camp; there’s no doubt about it,” receivers coach James Urban said. “But I’ve always felt that way with him. Brandon is a proud man. So he knows if he has any sense of feeling that he’s fighting for a job, then he’s going to come out there every day and fight for his job.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC North…
- We learned earlier today that Bengals receiver Marvin Jones will miss “a few weeks.” Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets that the team is hoping Jones can return following their bye week, which would be against the Patriots on October 5th.
- Browns tight end Jordan Cameron indicated to August Fagerstrom of the Akron Beacon Journal that extension talks are going well. “Yeah, it’s positive,” Cameron said. “The whole process has been positive. I’ll leave it at that. It’s ongoing and it’s going well.”
- While there may be a lot of hype surrounding Browns rookie Johnny Manziel, quarterback Brian Hoyer made it clear that the starting gig belongs to the veteran. “To me, this is my team until someone else tells me otherwise,” Hoyer told Vic Carucci of ClevelandBrowns.com.
AFC North Links: Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Steelers
When Anquan Boldin left the Ravens last offseason, it looked like former undrafted rookie Deonte Thompson could potentially step up and fill the void. However, the former Florida Gator struggled during his sophomore season. The wideout missed the first three games with a foot injury and was reportedly arrested in February (the case was dropped).
As a result, Thompson is trying to make up for lost time. With the odds stacked against him, the 25-year-old is hoping for a breakout season. Via Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com…
“It’s a big year,” Thompson said. “I’m motivated, man. I’m so motivated. You can’t take anything for granted out here. You have to give it your all.
“It’s going to be a great competition, man. No doubt. The cream always rises to the top, so the best will definitely stick out.”
Thompson also touched on his disappointing 2013 season…
“Everything was going good and I felt like the sky was going to be the limit, then bam, I get hurt.
“When I got back, just catching back up and trying to get back in, the season’s already rolling and guys are plugged in. That really set me back.”
Thompson certainly has some competition for a roster spot. Besides shoo-ins Torrey Smith, Steve Smith, Marlon Brown and Jacoby Jones, he’ll also have to compete with Jeremy Butler, Michael Campanaro and LaQuan Williams.
Let’s check out some more news from the AFC North…
- If Ray Rice is suspended, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley thinks that would “increase the chances” of veteran running back Justin Forsett making the Ravens.
- Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and safety Taylor Mays are among the roster “bubble” players heading into Bengals training camp, writes ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey.
- If the Bengals decide to keep Green-Ellis, Harvey could see the team keeping James Wilder Jr. as a possible replacement. By redshirting Wilder, the team could then turn to the bruising running back when Green-Ellis’s contract expires at the end of 2014.
- Brandon Tate could be a notable cut by the Bengals, Harvey writes in his roster prediction. Adam Jones is expected to be more involved in the return game while Dane Sanzenbacher appears to be a better option at wideout. The presence of that duo could make Tate expendable.
- The Browns‘ 2013 third-round pick might not stick around for a second year. Leon McFadden could be the odd man out in the cornerback rotation, and ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon omits him from his theoretical roster.
- Depending on fourth-round pick Martavis Bryant‘s ability to contribute, Scott Brown of ESPN.com says that the Steelers could potentially hold on to six receivers. That final spot would likely go to veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey, who Brown currently has as the odd man out.
AFC Links: Chiefs, Bengals, Bills
Former Jets running back Mike Goodson was a no-show at his scheduled court appearance on Thursday. Goodson was set to appear at Morris County Superior Court in New Jersey on drug and weapon charges.
As Darryl Slater of The Star-Ledger reports, the player’s attorney, Alfred Gellene, said that Smart was unable to land a flight from Texas because of financial difficulties. ESPNNewYork.com’s Jane McManus adds that Goodson faces up to ten years in prison if found guilty on the weapon charges and could also be arrested if he fails to attend his July 24th hearing.
About a week ago, some of Goodson’s former Jets teammates expressed their concern for the player’s well-being. No one in the organization had heard from the 27-year-old throughout minicamp.
Let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…
- The Chiefs have claimed defensive back Brandon Jones from the Chargers, the team announced (via Twitter). San Diego waived Jones on Wednesday.
- Bengals wideout Cobi Hamilton has a good chance of making the final roster, opines ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey. The former sixth-round pick will likely be competing with veteran Brandon Tate and rookies James Wright and Colin Lockett.
- ESPN.com’s Bills writer Mike Rodak gives quarterback Jeff Tuel an 80 percent chance of making the team. Tuel showed some talent in minicamp while his main challenge for the third quarterback spot, veteran Dennis Dixon, did not.
Bengals Re-Sign Brandon Tate
Brandon Tate has re-signed with the Bengals, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). With the signing, Cincinnati has locked up their return man before he could be poached by another club. Terms of the deal are not yet known.
Tate, 26, had just one catch for six yards last season but he made his presence known on special teams. The 6’1″, 195 pound return man averaged 9.3 yards per punt return while averaging a solid 26.1 yards per kick return. Tate broke out for a 43 yard punt return for the Colts in December and torched the Jets for a 71 yard kick return earlier in the season.