Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Patriots released cornerback Rashaan Melvin and linebacker James Vaughters, according to Christopher Price of WEEI (on Twitter).
- The Seahawks have signed quarterback Jake Heaps, as ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia writes. The signing of the 25-year-old now gives Seattle three QBs on the roster.
- The Browns released linebacker Scott Solomon, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Solomon was a restricted free agent this offseason, one that Cleveland re-signed less than a month ago. Solomon was slated to earn $1.671MM in 2016.
- The Lions announced the signing of linebacker Zaviar Gooden. Gooden joins the Lions after spending the 2013-14 seasons with Tennessee, where he appeared in 24 games (three starts).
- The Eagles (on Twitter) announced the release of safety Jerome Couplin. Ditto for wide receiver Freddie Martino (link).
- Washington announced that defensive linemen Christo Bilukidi, Anthony Johnson, and Kamal Johnson, linebackers Desmond Bishop and Derrick Mathews, wide receiver LaRon Byrd, and cornerback Al Louis-Jean have all been released.
- The Broncos cut safety Ryan Murphy and punter Will Johnson, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Murphy has the unfortunate distinction of having been sent home from the Super Bowl.
- The Bears cut defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith, Wilson tweets.
- The Cardinals cut cornerback Kevin White and center Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, Wilson tweets.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/26/16
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL, including the Cardinals signing their entire practice squad to new deals for 2016:
Arizona Cardinals
- Carrington Byndom, CB (press release via team)
- Rob Crisp, T
- Durell Eskridge, S
- Marion Grice, RB
- Robert Hughes, RB
- Antoine McClain, G
- Quayshawn Nealy, LB
- Olsen Pierre, DT
- Jaxon Shipley, WR
- John Wetzel, T
- Kevin White, CB
Carolina Panthers
- Donald Hawkins, T (press release via team)
New England Patriots
- James Vaughters, LB (press release via team)
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/21/16
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Terrell Watson, RB (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Detroit Lions
- Austin Willis, WR (via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- James Vaughters, LB (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Twitter)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Ross Scheuerman, RB (Twitter link via Eagles)
East Notes: McAdoo, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots
New Giants head coach Ben McAdoo still isn’t sure whether he’ll call offensive plays in 2016, he told SiriusXM NFL Radio today (link via Tom Rock of Newsday). Mike Sullivan, who is expected to be promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, does have experience calling plays (with Tampa Bay from 2012-13). But McAdoo plans to speak with his old boss, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy — who reclaimed play-calling duties midway through the season — before he makes a final decision.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- The Jets were major players during last’s year free agent period, but with only about $10MM in cap space to work with this offseason, their plan might have to change, as GM Mike Maccagnan tells Brian Costello of the New York Post. “It’s kind of a little different scenario from last year to this year,” Maccagnan said last week. “We’ll still have money to be active and do things with, but it ends up being like a puzzle and it’s not only trying to put all the pieces in different scenarios.” New York should be able to clear out about $20MM more in room, figures Costello, and it can start by releasing (or lowering the cap figures of) cornerback Antonio Cromartie and left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
- If the best player available when the Dolphins are on the clock in this year’s draft is a quarterback, then the club needs to select him, regardless of Ryan Tannehill‘s presence, opines Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miami — and new head coach Adam Gase — can’t win unless the club finds a long-term answer at signal-caller, and until Tannehill proves he is that, the Dolphins need to keep taking swings at finding one.
- Washington worked out defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). A former first-round pick, Hood spent about two months with the Bears during the 2015 season.
- The Giants also tried out several players recently, including receiver Eric Rogers, running back Cameron Marshall, and defensive end Euclid Cummings, reports Wilson (Twitter link).
- The Patriots visited with linebacker James Vaughters, per Wilson (Twitter link). Vaughters, a Stanford alum, was placed on the Packers’ practice squad injured reserve in September.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/15
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the most active time during the NFL season for teams to make changes to their practice squads, so we should expect another busy day today. Here are the latest practice squad signings and cuts from around the league:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Blake Annen (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- Placed on PS-IR: LB James Vaughters
Houston Texans
- Signed: QB Zac Dysert (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Jimmy Staten (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Brock Vereen (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
New England Patriots
- Cut: WR Kenbrell Thompkins, DT Joe Vellano, OL Chris Barker (Twitter link via Ben Volin of The Boston Globe)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB/S G.J. Kinne (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of NJ.com)
- Cut: WR Julian Talley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: G Antoine Everett, TE Tevin Westbrook (press release)
Washington:
- Signed: OLB Sage Harold (Twitter link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post)
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers:
- G Patrick Omameh (link via Pro Football Talk)
- DB Harold Jones-Quartey (link via Pro Football Talk)
- Cut:
- S Sherrod Martin (Twitter link via Brad Biggs)
- T Jordan Mills (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk)
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Jonathan Anderson (Twitter link via Biggs)
- RB Paul Lasike (Twitter link via Kevin Fishbain)
- TE Gannon Sinclair (Twitter link via Biggs)
- WR Ify Umodu (Twitter link via Biggs)
- DT Terry Williams (Twitter link via Biggs)
Detroit Lions
- Signed to practice squad:
- C Braxton Cave (link via Tim Twentyman)
- DT Kerry Hyder (link via Tim Twentyman)
- CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport)
- S Isaiah Johnson (link via Tim Twentyman)
- WR Andrew Peacock (link via Tim Twentyman)
- TE Casey Pierce (link via Tim Twentyman)
- DE Larry Webster (link via Tim Twentyman)
- RB George Winn (link via Tim Twentyman)
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Jared Abrederis (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky)
- LB Carl Bradford (Twitter link via Ryan Wood)
- TE Justin Perillo (Twitter link via Tony Pauline)
- G Matt Rotheram (Twitter link via Demovsky)
- LB James Vaughters (Twitter link via Tom Silverstein)
- T Jeremy Vujnovich (Twitter link via Demovsky)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE B.J. DuBose (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson)
- G Isame Faciane (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- WR Isaac Fruechte (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- S Anthony Harris (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- DE Zach Moore (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
- LB Brian Peters (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- FB Blake Renaud (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- LB Brandon Watts (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- RB Dominique Williams (Twitter link via Tomasson)
- G David Yankey (Twitter link via Tomasson)
Packers Cut 20, Settle On 53-Man Roster
In addition to placing Letroy Guion and Datone Jones on the reserve/suspended list, the Packers cut 18 players and waived two injured performers.
Green Bay parted ways with running backs Rajion Neal and John Crockett, leaving undrafted rookie Alonzo Harris as the third running back behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks.
The reigning NFC North champions’ additional departures are as follows:
- Jared Abbrederis, WR
- Carl Bradford, LB
- John Fanor, S
- Garth Gerhart, C
- Tay Glover-Wright, CB
- Mitchell Henry, TE
- Justin Perillo, TE
- Andy Phillips, C/G
- Larry Pickard, WR (Waived/injured)
- Jermaria Rasco, LB (Waived/injured)
- Christian Ringo, DT
- Matt Rotheram, G
- Joe Thomas, LB
- Khyri Thornton, DT
- James Vaughters, LB
- Jeremy Vujnovich, T
- Ryan White, CB
- Ed Williams, WR