Workout Notes: Bears, Broncos, Packers
Here’s a roundup of today’s auditions from around the NFL. All links go to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle on Twitter), unless noted otherwise..
- The Lions worked out nose tackle Kenrick Ellis, nose tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, and defensive end Jerel Worthy, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes.
-
The Seahawks worked out cornerbacks Crezdon Butler and Chimdi Chekwa, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.
- The Bears worked out wide receivers Marcus Lucas and Nathan Palmer, guard Cole Manhart, and tackles Tyler Moore and Byron Stingily (link).
- The Broncos worked out punter Kasey Redfern (link).
- The Packers worked out running back Akeem Hunt, wide receiver Donatella Luckett, quarterback Phillip Sims, wide receiver Tyler Slavin, running back Dreamius Smith, linebacker Colton Underwood, and linebacker Matthew Wells (link).
- The Dolphins worked out wide receivers Isaiah Burse and Rannell Hall, defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, guards Vinston Painter and Anthony Steen, defensive tackle Olsen Pierre, linebacker Mike Reilly, strong safety Brandian Ross, and defensive end Quanterus Smith (link + link).
- The Saints worked out punter Steven Clark, guard Travis Bond, punter Robert Malone, guard Jacques McClendon, and punter Brian Moorman (link).
- The Giants worked out defensive end Jake Bequette, tight end Cameron Clear, quarterback Cody Fajardo, and tight end Brian Leonhardt (link).
- The Jets worked out defensive end DeAngelo Tyson (link).
- The Bucs worked out linebacker Ronald Powell (link).
- The Titans worked out David Arkin, James Brewer, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Alex Kupper, Joe Looney, and Cody White (link).
- Defensive tackle Joe Vellano worked out for the Lions today (link).
West Links: Seahawks, Raiders, Chargers
Following coach Gary Anderson‘s departure to Oregon State, a head coaching job at Wisconsin suddenly opened up. Both Albert Breer and ProFootballTalk (via Twitter) suggested that Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell would be a worthy candidate for the job.
The former Badgers quarterback was asked about the coaching vacancy following Seattle’s practice (via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times):
“Being a head coach someday is of interest to me. I would say I have thought about college. I don’t know exactly at this point where it would be or what it would be. But I do feel like I want to be a head coach someday.”
Bevell was the Badgers quarterback from 1992-1995, when he set several single-game and career passing records.
Let’s check out some more notes from the NFL’s western divisions…
- Bill Williamson of ESPN.com writes that Jack Del Rio could be included in the Raiders inevitable head coaching search. “He has experience, he is doing well in his current job, he is from the East Bay Area and he is highly respected around the league,” Williamson says of the Broncos‘ defensive coordinator.
- Williamson adds in a tweet that Jim Harbaugh would be the Raiders top choice for the job, noting that the 49ers coach is a more realistic target than Jon Gruden. However, the writer warns that securing Harbaugh’s services “may not be easy.”
- The Chargers signed Mat McBriar yesterday, but that wasn’t the only punter the team looked at. According to Howard Balzer (on Twitter), the team also worked out Robert Malone, Zoltan Mesko and Brian Moorman.
Workout Notes: Chargers, Texans, Lions, Jets
The Chargers are on the lookout for a running back after losing Danny Woodhead to a season-ending injury, and it looks like the team is close to adding one. A number of free agents auditioned for the club today, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter), while Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) identifies D.J. Adams as one of the participants. Adams, who was most recently with the Cowboys, spent a month with the Chargers earlier in the offseason.
As we wait to see which player takes Woodhead’s roster spot in San Diego, let’s round up a few more updates on workouts around the league….
- As first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Texans took a look at a handful of free agent punters today in case Shane Lechler misses any time. Lechler is day to day with a hip flexor, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), who also has the list of players who worked out for the club. According to McClain, the Texans brought in Mat McBriar, Zoltan Mesko, Brian Moorman, and Kasey Redfern.
- Wilson reports (via Twitter) that veteran linebacker Pat Angerer auditioned today for the Lions, who are eyeing linebacker help after losing Stephen Tulloch for the season. Angerer has worked out for the Jets, Saints, and Rams since being released at the end of August by the Falcons.
- Safety Jamarca Sanford, who was placed on injured reserve and then cut by the Vikings earlier this month, worked out today for the Jets, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Giants tried out about six players today, including safety Jawanza Starling, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
Extra Points: Giants, Patriots, Hardy, Rice
Steve Weatherford was out punting during the portion of Giants practice that was open to the media on Friday, writes Brian Lewis of the New York Post. The veteran had suffered a high left ankle sprain during Big Blue’s 35-14 Monday Night season-opening loss in Detroit and said that he wanted to test things out on Friday. He’s still listed as questionable, but today’s session is probably a good sign.
Nonetheless, the Giants seem to be preparing a backup plan just in case Weatherford is unable to go on Sunday. Per Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the team has worked out punters Zoltan Mesko, Brian Moorman, and Kasey Redfern.
- The Patriots worked out defensive tackle Fred Evans this week, as well as a handful of offensive linemen, including Conor Boffeli, Caylin Hauptmann, and Martin Wallace, according to Yates (Twitter link).
- Despite a rumor to the contrary, coach Ron Rivera says the Panthers plan to let the legal process play out with Greg Hardy and he will not be released before there’s a resolution in the courts, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
- Roger Goodell made a serious error in how he handled the Ray Rice case, but Panthers owner Jerry Richardson still has time to get it right when it comes to Hardy, writes Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer. For now the NFL and the Panthers are respecting the legal process, but they have the right to punish Hardy before things get underway in court, and Fowler thinks they should take advantage.
- There’s a strong possibility that the NFLPA will file a grievance on behalf of Rice even without his approval, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec and Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
- With Josh Gordon‘s suspension set to be reduced to 10 games, it could “open a can of worms” with others who tested positive in 2013 fighting for a revised suspension, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Bills Cut Brian Moorman, Jordan Palmer, Others
The Bills have announced the first wave of their final roster cuts, and the list of released players includes some familiar names, including punter Brian Moorman, who has been with the team for nearly his entire career since 2001 and wrote an open letter to Bills fans following his release. Via Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 (Twitter link), here’s the list of Bills moves:
Waived/released:
- Xavius Boyd (LB)
- Landon Cohen (DT)
- Dominique Jones (TE)
- Kamaal McIlwain (CB)
- Sam Miller (CB)
- Brian Moorman (P)
- Jordan Palmer (QB)
- Evan Rodriguez (FB)
- Naaman Roosevelt (WR)
- Jared Wheeler (C)
Placed on injured reserve:
- Mario Butler (CB)
- Bobby Felder (CB)
- Tony Moeaki (TE)
AFC East Notes: Williams, Thomas, Johnson, Kelly
Bills newcomer Mike Williams sat out portions of minicamp to rest his troubled hamstring, but the veteran wideout has no worries heading into training camp.
“I’m fully ready to go,” Williams told Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. “I trained this whole offseason. There was really no offseason for me. I kinda had to get my leg better. I had to get back to feeling like Mike again, like my mom always tells me. Today running that conditioning test made me feel like I was Mike again.
“At the start of camp, just did the conditioning test and I feel real good. I feel great. I feel I got an A-plus, if there was a grade for it. I feel I’m ready to go.”
Williams finished 2013 with 22 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns – all career lows. The Buccaneers traded the wideout to the Bills in early April for a sixth-round pick.
Let’s look at some more notes from the AFC East…
- Mike Rodak of ESPN.com gives Bills wideout Marcus Easley an 80 percent chance of making the team, especially considering the 26-year-old’s contributions on special teams. Easley could potentially be squeezed out by receivers Chris Hogan and T.J. Graham or fullback Evan Rodriguez.
- Graham, tight end Chris Gragg and punter Brian Moorman are notable omissions from Rodak’s projected Bills roster. In his scenario, offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio would beat veteran Erik Pears for a starting gig, resulting in the 32-year-old’s release.
- The Dolphins would like somebody to challenge running back Daniel Thomas for a roster spot, and ESPN.com’s James Walker thinks that player could be undrafted rookie Damien Williams.
- If Jets running back Chris Johnson proves that his surgically repaired knee is not 100 percent, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini says it may be in the team’s best interest to carry a fifth running back. The competition for that final spot would likely include Daryl Richardson and Alex Green.
- If there were to be a surprise cut on the Patriots defense, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss thinks it could be defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. The 33-year-old is coming off an ACL injury and recently restructured his contract, leading the writer to say that Kelly is “anything but a sure-fire lock to stick.”
- Safety Patrick Chung and offensive guard Dan Connolly were notable snubs on Reiss’s projected Patriots roster.
Extra Points: Bills, Cowboys, Minor League
Here are a handful of extra notes to end your weekend…
- Bills punter Jake Dombrowski will give veteran Brian Moorman some serious competition, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak. The decision will likely come down to whether the team prefers “fresh blood” or the reliable (but inconsistent) Moorman.
- The Cowboys hiring of passing coordinator Scott Linehan still puzzles the Dallas Morning News’ Gerry Fraley, the writer said on Fox Sports Southwest’s SportsDay OnAir (via DallasNews.com). Fraley questions why the team would want to throw more when they have three first-rounders on the offensive line to protect DeMarco Murray.
- The NFL is working on a minor league and the owners are aware that investors are “willing to put together developmental leagues for them,” writes ESPN.com’s John Clayton. The writer adds that the league will eventually develop something, but he isn’t sure when.