HEADLINES

Jamon Brown

Four Teams Tried To Claim Jamon Brown

November 1st, 2018 at 10:46am CST by Zachary Links

New Giants guard Jamon Brown was a popular target on the NFL waiver wire, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Bears, Packers, Ravens, and Titans all tried to put in a claim for him, Yates hears. Those clubs were unable to land him, however, as the Giants had top priority.

Brown served as the Rams’ starting right guard in 2017 slate and the former third-round pick started 30 games for the team dating back to the 2015 season. However, a suspension sidetracked his run in Los Angeles. With this kind of interest from at least five different clubs, it’s a bit surprising that the Rams were unable to find a suitable trade for Brown and recoup a future seventh-round pick, at minimum.

The Ravens, in particular, could use the offensive line help. Currently, they list four offensive linemen on their injury report, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets: left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot/ankle), right tackle James Hurst (back), left guard Alex Lewis (neck), and reserve guard/center Bradley Bozeman (calf).

The guard has a reasonable cap number of $1.871MM on his expiring contract, so the Giants are on the hook for less than $1MM for the rest of the year. Of course, the 1-7 Giants aren’t playing for much at this point, but Brown could help in run protection for sensational rookie Saquon Barkley and audition his way on to the 2019 roster.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, all players who are released will be subject to waivers for the rest of the season, even if they are vested veterans with more than four years of experience.

Giants Claim G Jamon Brown Off Waivers

October 31st, 2018 at 3:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

A full-time starter for the 2017 Rams, Jamon Brown received notice on Tuesday he was being waived. He will not pass through waivers to free agency and didn’t advance far through the claim hierarchy.

The Giants claimed Brown on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The offensive line-needy team is 1-7 and getting a player in a contract year, but Brown figures to see action soon in the Big Apple.

Brown served as the Rams’ starting right guard during their playoff drought-snapping 2017 slate, and the former third-round pick had started 30 games since the 2015 season. But a suspension sidetracked his run in Los Angeles. Austin Blythe took over because of Brown receiving a two-game substance-abuse ban. Brown worked as a backup in five games this season before the Rams waived him to make roster room for Dante Fowler.

This season has obviously not gone well for the Giants. They made multiple sellers’ trades, in shipping out two defensive starters, and have struggled in many areas. Their most key problem, though, is still their offensive line. Eli Manning‘s taken 31 sacks, despite Nate Solder and Will Hernandez now being in the fold. That matches his 15-game total from 2017 and is on pace to be well north of the 15th-year veteran’s previous career high. Big Blue also recently benched Patrick Omameh, opening a spot at right guard.

Brown’s contract-year status doesn’t make much sense for the 2018 Giants, but they’re in need of blockers regardless. With answers long-term answers needed, it’s probable the Giants are ready to evaluate the longtime starter to see if he’s a candidate for an extension.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/18

October 30th, 2018 at 7:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/18

September 19th, 2018 at 8:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from suspension: G Jamon Brown
  • Promoted from practice squad: WR KhaDarel Hodge
  • Placed on injured reserve: WR Mike Thomas

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Rams Announce Roster Cuts

September 1st, 2018 at 3:28pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams have become the latest team to trim their roster to 53 by making the following transactions:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on PUP:

Placed on suspended list:

NFC Notes: Rodgers, Elflein, Bradham, Rams, Bears

July 26th, 2018 at 9:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers may be far apart when it comes to an extension, but the franchise quarterback doesn’t sound like he’s all that bothered by the lack of progress. Talking to Genaro C. Armas of the Associated Press, Rodgers said he never planned on holding out as he pursued a new deal.

“I don’t really operate like that. I have two years left on my deal,” Rodgers said. “They’re obviously more than willing to talk about an extension. There wasn’t any animosity on either side.”

The 34-year-old is set to earn an average annual salary of $19.9MM in the final two years of his deal. Once the contract expires, the Packers would seemingly be in the driver’s seat when it comes to negotiations. As our own Zach Links explained, the organization could franchise him in 2021 and 2022, bumping that average annual salary to $25MM per season.

Let’s take a look at more notes from around the NFC…

  • Vikings center Pat Elflein was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list yesterday, and Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune says that was due to a pair of offseason shoulders. It was previously announced that the 24-year-old would undergo surgery to repair his fractured left ankle, but the Elflein also underwent a procedure to fix a lingering shoulder injury. Goessling tweets that while the offensive lineman wouldn’t commit to a return date, his health isn’t expected to be a major concern. ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin adds (via Twitter) that former third-rounder is simply “waiting for medical clearance” before he returns to the field.
  • Last month, Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham was slapped with a one-game suspension stemming from his 2016 involvement in an alleged assault incident. While the 28-year-old is set to miss the team’s season-opener, it sounds like he could have been out a whole lot longer. Bradham told John McMullen of 97.3 ESPN that he was originally facing a six-game suspension (via Les Bowen of Philly.com). His side ultimately appealed and got the suspension reduced to a single game.
  • Rams offensive guard Jamon Brown was suspended for the first two games of next season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The former third-rounder told Rich Hammond of Orange County Register that the suspension was related to a speeding violation and marijuana possession (Twitter link). As Hammond points out, the 25-year-old was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence.
  • The Bears worked out former Assumption wideout Ashton Grant today, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The six-foot-two receiver set a number of school records during his four years with the program, including receiving yards (3,204) and receiving touchdowns (36). Chicago is currently rostering 10 receivers, including rookies Anthony Miller and Javon Wims.
  • Speaking of Bears rookies, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wonders why Bears first-round pick Roquan Smith remains unsigned more than a week after the team’s training camp started. Florio cites PFT’s previous report that “then-unsigned players at the bottom of the top 10 were being delayed both by roster bonuses structure and by language that would void the guarantees in the fully-guaranteed four-year contracts.” What does this mean? If the linebacker is suspended for violating the league’s helmet-related tackling rules, the contract’s guaranteed money would “go away.” This would make it considerably easier for the Bears to move on from Smith down the road. Of course, neither side is hoping it’d ever get to that point, as the organization clearly has high hopes for the eighth-overall pick. However, as Florio explains, it’d make sense for the rookie’s camp to stand firm in removing this language from the rookie contract.

Rams’ Jamon Brown Suspended By NFL

July 3rd, 2018 at 2:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Rams offensive guard Jamon Brown has been suspended without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He’ll be barred from playing against the Raiders and Cardinals before being eligible to return in Week 3 against the Chargers. 

[RELATED: Latest On Aaron Donald, Rams Extension Talks]

Brown, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL, was projected to open the year as the team’s starting right guard. For the first two weeks of the season, the Rams could plug interior lineman Austin Blythe as the starter. Alternatively, they could explore veteran options on the open market.

Last year, Pro Football Focus rated Brown as the 38th best guard in the NFL with an uninspiring 52.1 overall score. He did, however, do a respectable job of run blocking, per the advanced metrics.

Between now and the start of the season, Brown remains eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

2018 Proven Performance Escalators

January 31st, 2018 at 10:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.Jay Ajayi (Vertical)

If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $1.908MM in 2018. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2018 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:

49ers: Trent Brown, T; Eli Harold, LB

Bears: Adrian Amos, S

Bengals: Tyler Kroft, TE; Josh Shaw, DB

Bills: John Miller, G

Broncos: Max Garcia, G; Trevor Siemian, QB

Browns: Duke Johnson, RB

Buccaneers: Kwon Alexander, LB

Cardinals: David Johnson, RB; J.J. Nelson, WR

Chargers: Kyle Emanuel, LB

Chiefs: Chris Conley, WR; Steven Nelson, CB

Colts: Henry Anderson, DE; Mark Glowinski, G; Denzelle Good, OL

Dolphins: Bobby McCain, CB

Eagles: Jay Ajayi, RB; Jordan Hicks, LB

Falcons: Grady Jarrett, DT

Jaguars: A.J. Cann, OL

Lions: Quandre Diggs, CB

Packers: Jake Ryan, LB

Panthers: Daryl Williams, T

Patriots: Trey Flowers, DE; Shaq Mason, G

Raiders: Clive Walford, TE

Rams: Jamon Brown, G

Ravens: Za’Darius Smith, LB

Redskins: T.J. Clemmings, OL; Jamison Crowder, WR

Saints: Tyeler Davison, DT

Seahawks: Tyler Lockett, WR

Steelers: Jesse James, TE

Vikings: Stefon Diggs, WR; Danielle Hunter, DE

OverTheCap.com was essential in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. 

Rams Promote OT Isaiah Battle

November 17th, 2015 at 3:45pm CST by Zachary Links

TUESDAY, 3:45pm: The Rams have made several moves to their roster, including promoting Battle, and Nick Wagoner of ESPN (Twitter link) has the breakdown. Here are the details:

Added to 53-man roster:

Waived:

Placed on injured reserve:

MONDAY, 7:14pm: In the wake of injuries to the offensive line, the Rams will promote supplemental draft pick Isaiah Battle to the active roster, coach Jeff Fisher told reporters (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Battle will help bolster the offensive line now that rookie offensive linemen Jamon Brown and Darrell Williams are done for the year with injuries, as Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com tweets. Brown will undergo leg surgery while Williams will have his wrist treated.

Fisher added that in addition to promoting Battle, the Rams will look for outside offensive line help. Of course, with the trade deadline in the rear view mirror, the Rams can only find out-of-house solutions via free agency or the waiver system.

Battle, who had been penciled in as Clemson’s starting left tackle for 2015, decided to enter the supplemental draft instead, citing “family” reasons, including a forthcoming child. Earlier in the year, Mike Huguenin of NFL.com had identified Battle as a candidate to play in next year’s Senior Bowl, writing that the Clemson lineman “remains somewhat raw, [but] is a good athlete who plays with some nastiness.”

Of the seven prospects eligible for the supplemental draft, Battle was considered the one most likely to be picked, with some pundits suggesting that a team could go as high as a third-rounder for the lineman. However, teams were reportedly wary of Battle due to possible off-the-field concerns, so he ultimately cost the Rams only a fifth-rounder. As it turns out, Battle was the only player taken in this year’s supplemental draft.

Extra Points: Saints, Ryan, Brown, Raiders

November 15th, 2015 at 4:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As the second slate of today’s games head to halftime, here’s a look at a few notes from around the league…

  • The Saints‘ 47-14 loss to Washington today was the largest of the Sean Payton era, leading Mike Triplett of ESPN.com to wonder if New Orleans will consider firing defensive coordinator Rob Ryan during the club’s upcoming bye. Payton has never fired an assistant during a bye week, per Triplett, and he told Larry Holder of NOLA.com (Twitter link) that he didn’t want to address such changes after the game. Drew Brees feels the same way, telling Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (Twitter link) that the team simply needs to get healthy, not dismiss staff.
  • Rams rookie right guard Jamon Brown has a fractured leg and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Brown, a third-round pick out of Louisville this spring, has played on nearly every Rams offensive snap this season.
  • A report earlier today stated that former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. was interested in joining the Raiders‘ ownership group, with the idea that his inclusion in the team’s hierarchy, along with his capital injection, would aid in moving the club to Los Angeles. However, both Raiders owner Mark Davis and DeBartolo himself have denied the report, according to Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group.