Kameron Kelly

Extra Points: Falcons, Fontenot, Broncos

One of four teams who fired their GM in-season, the Falcons have been looking into Saints assistant GM Terry Fontenot, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. However, the NFL’s new minority hiring rule may complicate matters. Were the Falcons to hire Fontenot, who is Black, the Saints would receive two third-round picks. Fontenot has been with the Saints longer than Sean Payton and rose from pro scouting director to assistant GM this year.

How many teams would trade two third-round picks for an unproven GM?” a source familiar with this situation informed La Canfora. “… Is it worth (the Saints) getting two straight extra third-round picks — possible 10-year starters — just to hire their assistant general manager? They like Terry a lot, but I’m telling you, that’s a very real factor in the discussion. I’d be shocked if they (hired Fontenot) based on what I’ve heard.”

This would fall into the “unintended consequences” category for the new rule. However, the recently passed rule that will award teams two third-rounders if another franchise hires a minority head coach or GM from their organization has bothered some around the league. Multiple NFL voices of color expressed concerns, via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, about this initiative passing so quickly and without much notice. These sources also expressed curiosity about potential intradivisional hirings and how teams (such as the Falcons) will proceed when third-round draft choices are now part of the equation, Schefter adds.

Here is the latest from around the league:

  • Going forward, Roger Goodell will be able to fine teams that fail to comply with an NFL rule mandating franchises have one person in ownership holding final say — particularly on league voting matters, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. Bengals owner Mike Brown proposed stripping teams that violate this rule of their vote on league issues, but Florio adds the owners voted to keep fines (up to $10MM) in place rather than see teams have their respective votes stripped. Neither the Broncos nor Titans have a primary owner. The Broncos’ squabble involving multiple children of late owner Pat Bowlen will result in the team paying steep fines until the issue is resolved. One source told Florio that, rather than seeing older Bowlen children stand down for top successor candidate Brittany Bowlen, the Broncos will end up being sold. Pat Bowlen bought the team in 1984.
  • With the salary cap expected to fall by a record number in 2021, franchise and transition tag figures will drop from their 2020 places. Using the 2021 cap floor ($175MM) to calculate tag figures, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry expects the running back tag to drop by a staggering 19% — from $10.3MM (on this year’s $198.2MM cap) to $8.3MM — and every position’s franchise tag price to drop by at least 10%. While this would factor into situations like the Packers’ with Aaron Jones or the Steelers’ with James Conner, both those teams are projected to be well over the 2021 cap (as of Dec. 4). That will make using a tag incredibly difficult.
  • Authorities dropped all charges against free agent defensive back Kameron Kelly, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The Steelers waived the defender after he was arrested for disorderly conduct and making terroristic threats last year. The NFL has since closed its review on the matter as well. Kelly, who played in 14 Steelers games in 2019 after arriving in Pittsburgh as a UDFA, is a free agent who may attract interest after playing well in The Spring League this year.

Steelers Waive DB Kameron Kelly

The Steelers have waived defensive back Kameron Kelly, the team announced. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reported earlier today that Kelly was arrested in the early morning hours on Friday on two counts of terroristic threats and one count of resisting arrest.

Per the criminal complaint, police were called to Mario’s South Side Saloon in Pittsburgh when a man, identified as Kelly, was being disorderly. Police told him he had to leave, and he then became confrontational (he had already physically threatened an employee when his music choice was skipped over on the jukebox). Outside the venue, the arresting officer accidentally stepped on the foot of a woman, which angered Kelly. Kelly said the woman was “his girl” and pushed his chest against the officer’s and threatened him. Kelly then resisted arrest and was punched in the face several times by an officer. He was treated for a busted lip at a nearby hospital and then taken to jail.

Kelly, 23, signed with the Cowboys as a UDFA following the 2018 draft. The San Diego State product was cut prior to the start of training camp and later caught on with the San Diego Fleet of the now-defunct AAF. Kelly signed with the Steelers in April, shortly after the AAF shut down.

He played in every defensive snap for Pittsburgh in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Patriots, but he has only been used on special teams since the middle of the season (though he did record the first interception of his career against Lamar Jackson in the Steelers’ Week 5 loss to the Ravens).

In a corresponding move, the Steelers have promoted safety Marcus Allen from the practice squad.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/8/19

Here are Monday’s minor moves, with more Alliance of American Football players finding NFL homes:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: DE Karter Schult (AAF)

New York Jets

  • Signed: WR/KR Valentine Holmes (International Player Pathway Program signee)

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: QB Luis Perez (AAF)

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: DT Winston Craig (AAF), LB J.T. Jones (AAF), CB Kameron Kelly (AAF)

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: G Salesi Uhatafe (AAF)