HEADLINES

Colt Lyerla

NFC North Notes: Marshall, Lions, Packers

May 29th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

Although Brandon Marshall‘s new extension with the Bears was originally reported as containing $22.3MM in guaranteed money, not all of that money is fully guaranteed, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Only Marshall’s $7.5MM signing bonus and $7.3MM base salary are fully guaranteed, whereas the other $7.5MM – his 2015 base salary – is guaranteed for injury only at this point. In total then, Marshall’s new deal contains $14.8MM in fully guaranteed money.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

  • Following the team’s OTAs on Wednesday, the Lions hosted free agent defensive back Terrell Thomas for a visit, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News. Thomas, who also visited recently with the Patriots, posted solid numbers for the Giants in 588 defensive snaps last year, ranking 52nd out of 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). He also accumulated 67 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble.
  • A contract extension for Ndamukong Suh would seem to be a win-win scenario for the defensive tackle and the Lions, since it would mean a payday for Suh and increased cap room for the team, which would allow Detroit to sign its top draft picks. The fact that a new deal hasn’t been struck yet has Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press questioning Suh’s “supposedly full-throated commitment to the Lions and doing whatever necessary to help them win.”
  • While the Packers may be rolling the dice by signing troubled tight end Colt Lyerla, the club did its due diligence before making the move, says Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report. According to Pompei, three Green Bay front office executives interviewed Lyerla in person, and GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy both spent time with the tight end at the team’s rookie minicamp.
  • Insider linebacker is the Packers‘ biggest remaining need, as Rob Demovsky writes at ESPN.com, citing Rivers McCown’s Insider-only piece.

NFC North Moves: Lyerla, Vikings, Lions

May 19th, 2014 at 6:15pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Packers have signed three players out of their rookie minicamp, most notably Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN (via Twitter).

The team will take on chance with the shaky character of Lyerla, according to Demovsky. “Every case is an individual case. We have always believed that, or I have always believed that there are certain things that people can atone for, acknowledge their mistakes and get on with their lives,” said general manager Ted Thompson. “And I am a proponent of those kind of people that try to do that. And that’s where we’re at with Colt.”

Lyerla posted his reaction to being signed on his official twitter account. “I am honored to be a part of such a legendary organization. Proud to be a Green Bay Packer ! #GoPackGo”

The team also signed defensive back Charles Clay out of Hawaii and defensive end Luther Robinson out of Miami.

  • The Packers have signed third-round pick Khyri Thornton, reports Demovsky (via Twitter). Thornton, a defensive tackle out of Southern Miss, is the team’s sixth rookie to sign, leaving only three players left unsigned.
  • The Vikings have signed linebacker Dom DeCicco, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team released guard Conor Boffeli and quarterback Travis Partridge.
  • The Lions have signed defensive tackle Greg Hickman who was part of their rookie minicamp, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). The team has released defensive tackle Corey Irvin to make room.

Packers Notes: Lyerla, Adams, Clinton-Dix

May 17th, 2014 at 5:52pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Packers are leaning toward signing former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports.

Lyerla, in Green Bay at rookie orientation camp on a tryout basis after going undrafted, can be argued as the most talented rookie at his position. He stands 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, and he ran 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. But, Lyerla left the Ducks program his junior season and was subsequently arrested for cocaine possession and feeling from the police.

“We did a lot of work on Colt,” general manager Ted Thompson said. “He’s a very talented athlete. We interviewed him at the combine. We went through all those procedures, talked to a lot of people. He’s a young man that made some mistakes, and we feel like he was worth bringing in and taking a look at.” 

Without Jermichael Finley in the fold, the tight end position in Green Bay is relatively thin. Fifth-year pro Andrew Quarless was re-signed this offseason and figures to be the team’s opening-day starter, and the team used a third-round pick at the position on Cal product Richard Rogers.

More news and notes from Titletown…

  • Wide receiver Davante Adams, the Packers’ second-round pick from Fresno State, is one of three rookies leading a youth infusion at the position, Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press Gazette writes. Green Bay added two more receivers on the third day of the draft with Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis (fifth found) and Saginaw Valley’s Jeff Janis (seventh round).
  • In a video posted on packersnews.com, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix said he is honored and happy to be wearing No. 21, which was recently occupied by Charles Woodson, now with the Raiders.
  • The Packers drafted for defense with four of their nine picks, and Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said those rookies have a good chance to earn playing time on a unit that’s been struggling as of late.
  • Despite a contract that is set to expire after the 2016 draft, Thompson — in his 10th year as GM of the Pack — said he’s just getting started and can’t anticipate himself doing anything different, writes Dunne.

Extra Points: Johnson, Williams, Green, Mack

May 16th, 2014 at 10:02pm CST by Rob DiRe

Texans‘ star receiver Andre Johnson and head coach Bill O’Brien have spoken this offseason, writes Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. “We’re going to continue to communicate and we’ve had good discussions, we’ve had good talks,” O’Brien said. “We’ve spoken quite a bit and will continue to do that.”

Johnson has voiced his frustration with the team’s direction. Despite his comments, O’Brien spoke highly of the franchise’s career leader in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Andre and his career here in Houston. The conversations that Andre and I have had have been very positive about what we’re doing here as a team and, obviously offensively, what we’re doing here,” said O’Brien. “As far as what Andre said, I’ll let him speak for himself. I can only tell you from my end we’ve had good, positive communication.”

Here are a few more notes to round out the day in the NFL:

  • The Cowboys brought in former Cardinals‘ running back Ryan Williams for a workout, reports Carlos Mendez of the Star-Telegram.com. Williams was cut by the Cardinals after the draft. He was a second-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2011, after being one of the top collegiate running backs in the nation. The Cowboys did not draft a running back in this past draft, but have two veterans on the roster behind starter DeMarco Murray, and brought in two undrafted free agent options to compete as well.
  • Jets‘ running back Alex Green finds himself the odd man out in the team’s backfield, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). The Jets claimed and were awarded Daryl Richardson after he was cut from the Rams. Green tweeted “Time to officially move on, life goes on regardless. #blessed.”
  • Raiders‘ first-round pick Khalil Mack wanted to sign his rookie contract as quickly as possible so he could focus on football, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. With the new rookie scale basically setting the terms in stone, Mack saw no reason to wait. “I’m only focused on football and being the best player I can be,” Mack said. “I’m glad that process is done, and I’m ready to go play football.” 
  • Embattled Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla has a tryout with the Packers, reports Chase Goodbread of NFL.com. He will be one of 58 rookie players that will be competing at the team’s rookie training camp this weekend. Lyerla fell off draft boards after a litany of off-the-field incidents, including a cocaine-related offense.

Minicamp Notes: Jets, Packers, Bears, Colts

May 16th, 2014 at 12:27pm CST by Luke Adams

Most of the NFL’s 32 teams will be conducting rookie minicamps this weekend, where clubs will get a first look at their draftees, and undrafted prospects and unsigned free agents will have a chance to make their case for a roster spot. Let’s check in on the latest links related to these rookie camps:

  • The Jets‘ rookie minicamp is underway and the team has announced that 37 players are in attendance on a tryout basis, vying for spots on the roster. Former Buccaneers defensive back Ahmad Black is among the notable names on the list.
  • Tight end Colt Lyerla, who was plagued by off-field issues at Oregon, is among the free agents getting a chance to audition for a roster spot at the Packers‘ rookie minicamp this week. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (via Twitter) shares a photo of Green Bay’s full minicamp roster.
  • Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter) provides a PDF link to the Bears‘ rookie minicamp roster, which includes 38 invitees auditioning for a spot on the team.
  • In a series of four tweets, Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star lists the unsigned players brought in by the Colts to participate in the club’s rookie minicamp.
  • The Buccaneers‘ rookie minicamp roster includes five players from the University of South Florida, as Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune notes before listing the participants.
  • Don’t expect to hear any updates about a Giants‘ rookie minicamp. The club is one of two teams – the Bengals are the other – that elected to bypass the rookie minicamp this year, as head coach Tom Coughlin explains to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The Giants opted to immediately mix its new additions in with the veteran players instead.