HEADLINES

Duron Carter

Extra Points: Browns, Carter, Cobb

January 19th, 2015 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some assorted notes from around the league as we wrap up this Monday evening…

  • Jets assistant head coach/running backs coach Anthony Lynn will interview for the Browns offensive coordinator opening tomorrow, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • CFL wideout Duron Carter is likely finished with workouts, tweets ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling. The writer notes that the player’s agent is currently talking with the Vikings, Colts and Browns.
  • While Sunday’s crushing loss could be Randall Cobb‘s last game with the Packers, the potential free agent made it clear after the game that his first choice is to return to Green Bay, writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.
  • Former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi is currently a consultant for the Bears, but Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets that the executive’s last day with the organization is Tuesday.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Audition Notes: Friday

January 16th, 2015 at 6:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Duron Carter is among the busier men in the NFL right now, as the CFL receiver has worked out for a litany of teams over recent weeks in an effort to secure a contract for 2015. According to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Carter has is likely finished with the audition circuit after visiting with the Browns earlier today. And despite earlier reports that the Vikings, home to Duron’s father Cris Carter for much of his career, were the favorites to land the young receiver, Goessling reports that Minnesota is the not high bidder for Carter at the moment. Here’s more workout news from around the league…

  • Carter isn’t the only CFL player making the NFL rounds, as defensive back Delvin Breaux met with both the Steelers (Twitter link via Howard Balzer) and the Jaguars (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN). Per Caplan (on Twitter), Breaux has several more visits lined up, and is scheduled to meet with the Browns, Dolphins, Falcons, and Saints, while the Eagles and Jets also maintain interest.
  • The Panthers brought in quarterback Dominique Davis for a workout, tweets Caplan. Davis, 25, was a reserve for the Falcons from 2012-13, and spent time with the Titans and Colts last season.
  • The Titans, like all teams, are aiming to fill out their offseason roster, and worked out the following players today in that vein, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link): LaVon Brazill, David Fluellen, Jacoby Ford, Clyde Gates, Phillip Hunt, Shawn Lemon, Joe Morgan, Keith Price, and Chase Rettig. Brazill is probably the most notable name among the list, as he was set to play a meaningful role in the Colts’ offense before being suspended and migrating to the CFL.
  • Before signing Mitchell Van Dyk yesterday, the Steelers also worked out fellow punters Tom Hornsey and Richie Leone, in addition to defensive tackle Kheeston Randall, per Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Bills auditioned offensive lineman Matt Armstrong today, tweets Wilson.

Extra Points: Peterson, Broncos, Fox, Tryouts

January 14th, 2015 at 10:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman made it clear earlier today that he wants Adrian Peterson on his squad next season, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.

“I don’t know if there’s a team in the NFL that wouldn’t want Adrian Peterson on the football team. If you can name me one. And I don’t want to speak for other teams. I’m being a little sarcastic with that. But I know he’s a pretty good football player.”

However, as the writer points out, Spielman did not specify what would happen to the star running back when he’s eligible to be reinstated in April…

“I’ve known Adrian his whole career and what type of person Adrian is. But I also know that we have to follow everything that’s put in place for us. Is there a resolution? Not right now. All I know is where we stand today. Does that change? I’m sure it’s going to change. Until those things change and get resolved, right now, we have Adrian Peterson, who is under contract for next year, who is currently suspended by the NFL. That’s pretty much all I can go into right now.”

Let’s take a look at some assorted notes as we wrap up this Wednesday evening…

  • Gary Kubiak is the wrong choice if Broncos GM John Elway wants a strong coach, writes Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post.
  • Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports believes if John Fox gets the head coaching job with the Bears, he’d bring along Dennis Allen and Kyle Shanahan as his coordinators (Twitter link).
  • CFL defensive back Delvin Breaux worked out for the Buccaneers and Jaguars this week, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today (via Twitter). Breaux has been a popular name in NFL circles and seems to have drawn some degree of interest from more than half the league.
  • Duron Carter met with the Panthers on Wednesday and will visit with the Browns on Thursday, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • Following his workout with the Giants last week, outside linebacker Phillip Hunt worked out for the Titans recently, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Workout Notes: Tuesday

January 13th, 2015 at 10:08pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s the offseason for most of football and teams are working out intriguing young players in advance of next season. Here are today’s workouts and auditons..

  • Duron Carter worked out for the Vikings, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). The Vikings are said to be the frontrunners for the wide receiver’s services.
  • The Browns tried out fullbacks Zach Boren and Shaun Chapas, according to Wilson (on Twitter). Boren was with the Chargers in preseason. Chapas was in camp with the Ravens but was ultimately let go with an injury settlement.
  • Steelers tried out fullback Lonnie Pryor and quarterback Chase Rettig, Wilson tweets. Pryor, 25 in February, was on the Buccaneers for a bit in 2014. Rettig was cut in late August by the Packers.

Panthers Notes: FAs, Newton, Hardy, Carter

January 13th, 2015 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to the media today, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman indicated that his team will have a little more flexibility to spend in free agency this offseason, likening last year’s approach to FAs to shopping “in the dollar store,” writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. However, while the GM said Carolina may “move up in class” in 2015’s free agent market, that came with a caveat: “I said we’re going to move up in class, I didn’t say we’re going to go out and spend big money on a player.”

Let’s round up a few more Panthers-related items…

  • According to Person, Gettleman didn’t sound particularly enamored of Byron Bell‘s play at left tackle in 2014, suggesting that could be a position the team looks to improve: “Byron showed flashes. It’s about consistency. I give him a little bit of the benefit of the doubt, it was his first year playing there. But I think we’ve shown if a player shows up that we think is going to make us better, we’re going to go get him.”
  • Gettleman referred to Cam Newton as the Panthers’ franchise quarterback and wants to lock him up with a long-term contract, but declined to go into any details on extension discussions between the two sides, says Person.
  • Gettlemen also shot down any speculation on Greg Hardy‘s situation, saying there’s nothing to discuss until his domestic violence trial is adjudicated. Asked whether a player’s history of domestic violence would dissuade the Panthers from signing him, Gettleman conceded, “It would be something that you’d have to really think about.”
  • CFL receiver Duron Carter has a visit to the Panthers on his schedule for Wednesday, and could still visit the 49ers, Browns, and Titans after that, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. We heard last week that the Vikings are the frontrunners for Cris Carter’s son, with the Colts strongly in the mix as well.

 

Workout Notes: Saturday

January 10th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

We’ll keep track of today’s workout information right here, as well as a couple of notes from the past couple of days. All of the information below is via the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter…

  • The Chiefs worked out wide receivers John Chiles and Cordell Roberson, cornerback Aaron Hester and defensive lineman Shawn Lemon.
  • The Chiefs also brought in defensive back Jalil Carter and wide receivers LaVon Brazill, Duron Carter and Joe Morgan. Brazill, a former sixth-round pick by the Colts, showed some flashes playing with Andrew Luck early in his career. Morgan was released by the Saints earlier this season, while Carter appears to have numerous suitors (with the Vikings seen as the favorite to sign him).
  • The Seahawks also brought in Lemon for a workout, and he joined quarterback Dominique Davis and cornerback Keon Lyn at the tryout. Wilson notes that defensive back Delvin Breaux was also brought in “for a visit.”
  • The Packers worked out CFL defensive back Jalil Carter. The former Akron standout briefly spend time with the Rams and in the AFL.
  • The Giants brought in five players for workouts: linebackers Terrance Bullitt and Phillip Hunt, safety Mistral Raymond, fullback Collin Mooney and tight end Michael Flacco.
  • The Steelers worked out a trio of offensive weapons: quarterback Aaron Smetanka, running back David Fluellen and wideout L’Damian Washington.

Vikings Frontrunners For Duron Carter

January 9th, 2015 at 10:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Former NFL wideout Cris Carter spent more than a decade of his Hall of Fame career in Minnesota, and there’s a chance his son could wear a Vikings jersey this year as well. After working out for the Vikes today, CFL receiver Duron Carter told reporters, including Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, that he’d love to land in Minnesota.

“I like Minnesota, I like the facilities, I like the coaches and everything,” Carter said. “It seems like things are looking up. I would say Minnesota is probably my frontrunner right now…. The Vikings are No. 1, but I might as well go around and see what everybody is talking about. I can’t sign anyway.”

Because he was on a CFL contract this year, Carter can’t officially sign an NFL contract until February 10, which is why he’s in no hurry to make any decisions. The 23-year-old, who put up 1,030 yards and seven TDs on 75 catches in 2014 for the Montreal Alouettes, has also visited the Buccaneers, Colts, and Chiefs so far, and intends to make his way to Cleveland, Carolina, San Francisco, and Washington as well. Per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, Carter cited the Colts as another top contender for his services, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets that the Panthers could be a strong sleeper for the young wideout.

Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson, who played with Carter in Montreal this past season, told Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) earlier this week that his CFL teammate is “easily a number one NFL receiver right now.” That may be setting the bar a little high, but Goessling hears that Carter could get a signing bonus in the $100K range, which would be a significant sum for an undrafted free agent.

Browns Notes: Shanahan, Manziel, Carter

January 8th, 2015 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The big news out of Cleveland today is the departure of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who reportedly asked to be released from his contract. With quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains also leaving the Browns, the team will revamp its coaching staff yet again heading into the 2015 season. Here are the latest updates on Shanahan, the newly-opened OC job, and other Browns-related topics:

  • According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links), it’s not a surprise that Shanahan and the Browns decided to part ways, since he has heard there’s been “major friction” between the two sides. Per La Canfora, last Friday, after Shanahan approached the club about his issues and concerns, the team granted him permission to leave, even if it was a lateral move to another offensive coordinator position.
  • A source tells Pat McManamon of ESPN.com that the split between Shanahan (and Loggains) and the team was caused by the fact that the offensive coaches didn’t see eye to eye with the front office on Johnny Manziel. According to McManamon, the front office wants Manziel to be the starter, and Shanahan and Loggains weren’t convinced the club could win with him. Said one source: “They are both smart to get out now.”
  • Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com counters that report, tweeting that Shanahan “really liked” Manziel, and didn’t depart because of the rookie signal-caller.
  • Cabot adds (via Twitter) that as of a couple days ago, the Browns hadn’t contacted Charlie Weis about their offensive coordinator job, but she acknowledged that could change soon. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported earlier this week that Cleveland had “reached out to guys like” Weis.
  • Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) adds the Browns to the list of teams planning to work out CFL wideout Duron Carter, the son of longtime Vikings star Cris Carter.

NFC Notes: Cruz, Bradford, Carter, Harbaugh

December 30th, 2014 at 10:07pm CST by Zachary Links

Uh oh. “You’ve got to prepare as if, ‘What if Victor Cruz doesn’t come back?’ ’’ Giants GM Jerry Reese said Tuesday when looking ahead to 2015, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “If you are a personnel guy, or a general manager, that is always in the back of your head. What if this guy doesn’t come back and be the player that we think he is?’’ While the Giants ponder the possibility of a season without a healthy Victor Cruz, let’s take a look around the NFC..

  • Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters, including Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (via Twitter) that there will be a quarterback competition next year. A quarterback from outside the building will compete with the talented but oft-injured Sam Bradford for the top job.
  • Duron Carter, the son of Hall of Famer Cris Carter, had his first NFL visit today when met with the Buccaneers, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. Carter is also scheduled to visit the Vikings, Chiefs, and Colts on the first leg of the tour. If he does not sign this week, a second leg of visits could include visits with the Ravens, Seahawks, 49ers, and Cardinals (link). La Canfora adds that there’s lots of interest in the wide receiver.
  • Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee gives the University of Michigan some operating instructions for their brand new coach, Jim Harbaugh. The polarizing 49ers coach left to join up with his alma mater this week.
  • While the Lions waited to hear about Ndamukong Suh‘s fate, they worked out defensive tackles Jermelle Cudjo and Ogemdi Nwagbuo on Tuesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. Fortunately for Detroit, Suh won his appeal and will be in the lineup on Sunday against Dallas.
  • Sid Hartman of the Star-Tribune believes that former first-round pick Christian Ponder will start once again the NFL. Ponder was once the main guy for the Vikings but it seems unlikely that he will return to them in free agency this offseason.

Extra Points: Suh, David, Accorsi, Draft

December 29th, 2014 at 10:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Lions star Ndamukong Suh has a chance of winning the appeal of his suspension, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes. If Suh can win the appeal, he’ll be in action for Sunday’s playoff game against the Cowboys. While we wait to see how that plays out, let’s take a look at more news from around the NFL..

  • Discussing linebacker Lavonte David, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht said the team would “like to lock him up now,” tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, adding that negotiations on a new deal are underway. The 2012 second-round pick becomes extension-eligible this offseason for the first time.
  • The Bears announced today that they’ve hired former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi as a consultant as the team searches for a new GM and head coach, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Meanwhile, team president and CEO Ted Phillips confirmed today that besides offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, whose contract was terminated, all of the other Bears assistants are still with the team (Twitter link). That includes defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.
  • Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown and Arkansas defensive tackle Darius Philon may be playing their final college games tonight, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link), who says both players are leaning toward entering the 2015 draft. The two players’ teams square off in the Texas Bowl.
  • Former star NFL wideout Cris Carter indicated today (via Twitter) that his son, CFL receiver Duron Carter, will visit the Colts on January 5 and the Vikings on January 9.
  • According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (all Twitter links), Carter isn’t the only notable CFL player drawing significant NFL attention. Caplan reports that Hamilton Tiger-Cats cornerback Delvin Breaux has 18 teams interested in bringing him in for a visit and/or a workout, including the Eagles, Patriots, Texans, Jaguars, Dolphins, Cardinals, Steelers, Lions, 49ers, and Broncos.
  • Utah offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi announced that he will enter the 2015 draft, as Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Poutasi projects as a mid-round prospect.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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