Marcell Dareus

WR Geronimo Allison, DT Marcell Dareus Trying Out For Ravens

The Ravens will have two notable names among the tryout players at rookie minicamp. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley (on Twitter), wide receiver Geronimo Allison and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus are among those competing for a potential contract.

Allison made a name for himself while paired with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. The 28-year-old ended up spending four seasons with the Packers, collecting 1,052 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. He signed with the Lions back in 2020 but ended up opting out of that season.

He was released by Detroit at the end of the 2021 preseason, but he eventually caught on with their practice squad. He ended up seeing time in three games with Detroit last season.

Dareus was the third-overall pick back in 2011. He’d spend six-plus years in Buffalo, earning one All-Pro nod and two Pro Bowl appearances while collecting 35 sacks in 91 games. He was traded to the Jaguars during the 2017 season and spend two-plus seasons with the team, starting 22 of his 30 appearances. He sat out most of the 2020 season while recovering from core muscle surgery, and he didn’t find a gig for the 2020 or 2021 seasons.

This Date In Transactions History: NFL Suspends Marcell Dareus

Five years ago today, Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was handed his second suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The ban ruled Dareus out for the first four games of the season and marked the beginning of the end of his time in Buffalo.

Dareus reportedly tested positive for marijuana use, which probably wasn’t a deal-breaker in and of itself. It was, however, enough to void a portion of his guarantees. It also didn’t sit well with Bills management, considering that Dareus knew the consequences of a positive test.

Roughly one year prior, the Bills furnished Dareus with a six-year, $95.1MM contract. He showed that he was worth the money in his early years, recording 28.5 sacks from the interior. That included a stellar 2014 with ten sacks – enough to match defensive end Jerry Hughes. In 2015, they asked him to play nose tackle in Rex Ryan‘s 3-4 scheme – he did a decent job of stopping the run, but he garnered just two sacks. They hoped he could build off of that in 2016. Instead, Dareus failed to keep up with his conditioning during the suspension. Between the ban and injuries, he was limited to just eight games that year.

Ryan would go on to lose his job in December of 2016. The Bills tried to send Dareus elsewhere too, but they were unable to find any takers for his contract. Finally, just before the 2017 deadline, they shipped Dareus to the Jaguars for a 2018 Day 3 draft pick. It was an unceremonious end to what could have been a longstanding and productive career in Buffalo.

Even when reunited with old pal Doug Marrone, things just weren’t the same. The Jaguars declined the final year of Dareus’ deal before the start of 2020 and he hasn’t played in the NFL ever since. Dareus is still only 31, but it’s not clear if he’ll ever return to the game.

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, 49ers

The Seahawks waived undrafted free agent rookie cornerback Kemah Siverand earlier this week after he attempted to sneak a woman into Seattle’s team hotel, a violation of COVID-19 protocols, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Siverand reportedly tried to disguise the woman as a Seahawks player by having her dress in Seattle apparel, per Pelissero. While the situation could be viewed with levity in normal circumstances, Siverand’s decision — and subsequent release — reinforce how seriously NFL teams are (and should be) taking the prospect of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

  • Robert Woods has become of the NFL’s most consistent wideouts since joining the Rams in 2017, and with two years remaining on his current contract, it’s possible he could be looking for a new deal. The 28-year-old had “talks early on” this year and is now looking to “get paid,” as Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times writes. Woods, who has topped 85 receptions and 1,110 yards in each of the past two seasons, is only earning $6.8MM annually. He’s due to count for $8.175MM on the Rams’ 2020 cap.
  • After serving as a consultant last season, Chris Foerster has been hired as the 49ers‘ assistant offensive line coach, per Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports. Foerster, of course, resigned as the Dolphins’ OL coach in 2017 after a video surfaced showing him snorting a white substance. The 58-year-old, who was San Francisco’s offensive line coach in 2015, has been sober since that time, per Chan, who adds Foerster signed a two-year deal with the 49ers this time around.
  • The 49ers are searching for defensive tackle depth, and free agent Marcell Dareus is a “name to watch,” tweets Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio. San Francisco traded away DeForest Buckner during the offseason, and while the team replaced him with first-round pick Javon Kinlaw, it could still use depth. Dareus, the No. 3 overall pick in 2011, spent most of the past three years with the Jaguars. He missed most of last season with a core muscle injury, and Jacksonville subsequently declined his 2020 option.
  • Wide receiver Aleva Hifo is scheduled to work out for the Cardinals, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Hifo signed with the Chiefs after going undrafted earlier this year, but was cut in July.

Jaguars To Decline Marcell Dareus’ Option

The Jaguars will decline Marcell Dareus‘ option, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The option would have locked in roughly $20MM in salary for the defensive tackle. Instead, the Jaguars will officially turn it down before the Tuesday deadline.

[RELATED: Looking Back At Blake Bortles’ Extension]

Dareus missed the bulk of the 2019 season thanks to a core muscle injury. In six games, he notched 13 tackles and half of a sack.

The news doesn’t come as a real surprise – the multiple-time Pro Bowler is coming up on his 30th birthday and the Jaguars have a number of needs to address this offseason. By moving on, they’ll clear the bulk of his would-be ~$20MM in earnings; they’ll be left with just $2.5MM in dead money.

The Jaguars acquired Dareus from the Bills midway through the 2017 season, taking on the remainder of his six-year, $95.1MM contract. At that point, Dareus had worn out his welcome with Buffalo coaches and the trade was pretty much a cap dump for Buffalo. The Jags only gave up a late-round draft pick for him.

Unless he’s brought back on a cheaper deal, Dareus will leave the Jaguars after appearing in 30 games (22 starts). Dareus might not have been worth the sizable paycheck for 2020, but that’s not to say that he didn’t deliver at times. In 2018, Dareus’ only full season with the Jaguars that wasn’t compromised by injury, his advanced metrics were roughly in line with his best work in Buffalo. If he’s healthy, he can still be a difference-maker and a quality run-stuffer for some team out there, but he’ll have to sign for something less than ~$20MM per annum.

With Dareus’ salary off of the books, the Jaguars can turn their attention to higher priorities, including a new deal for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Jaguars Send Marcell Dareus To IR, Sign Akeem Spence

Marcell Dareus underwent core-muscle surgery earlier this week and he was expected to miss four-to-six weeks as a result. Now, it’s clear that the defensive tackle will be out longer, as the team has placed him on injured reserve.

Dareus will be eligible to return in eight weeks, which brings a probable return date of Week 15. However, if Jacksonville is out of the playoff picture by then, there may not be an incentive to active the veteran.

The Jaguars have signed Akeem Spence to take the roster spot vacated by Dareus. Spence was recently waived by the Eagles.

AFC Notes: Dareus, Broncos, Green, Chiefs, Darnold

Marcell Dareus will undergo surgery today to repair a core muscle injury, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The defensive lineman is expected to miss 4-6 weeks for Jaguars.

Here’s more around the AFC:

  • Broncos coach Vic Fangio said it was “possible” that CB Bryce Callahan will miss the rest of the season, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets. Callaham underwent stem cell treatment on his foot last month and the original projection was 4-to-6 weeks.
  • A.J. Green did not practice today for the Bengals and isn’t expected to play against the Rams in London, Ben Baby of ESPN.com tweets. LT Cordy Glenn will also not play in the contest.
  • DE Frank Clark (neck), DT Chris Jones (groin), LB Darron Lee (illness) and CB Kendall Fuller (thumb) all missed practice for the Chiefs today, Herbie Teope of Kansas City.com tweets. Patrick Mahomes is practicing again for the second-straight day.
  • Sam Darnold was limited in practice today, Brian Costello of the New York Post relays (Twitter link). Darnold was a non-participant for the Jets on Wednesday because of a toe ailment.

Jaguars Could Lose DT Marcell Dareus For 4-6 Weeks

Marcell Dareus is currently on his way to Philadelphia to visit Dr. William Meyers to receive a second opinion on a core muscle injury that could cause the defensive tackle to miss 4-6 weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Dareus has been a key cog in the Jacksonville defensive line, but has struggled with injuries throughout the year.

Dareus missed the Jaguars first game of the season with an elbow injury and the defense was scorched for 40 points, albeit by the high-flying Chiefs offense. Since returning to action in week two, Dareus seemed to provide a stabilizing presence for Jacksonville’s unit, having fared noticeably better, especially against the run.

The Jaguars originally reported that Dareus had to leave Sunday’s game against the Bengals with an abdomen injury. However, he later returned to action, quelling fear of something substantial. It seems that upon further review, the training staff has found more reason for concern.

Originally selected with the third overall pick by the Bills in the 2011 draft out of Alabama, Dareus has been a productive defensive lineman over the past eight seasons. In Buffalo, Dareus earned all-pro honors in 2014 and was selected to two pro bowls. His sustained success earned a six-year, $108m contract extension four years ago.

Buffalo, eventually felt they could utilize their salary cap better elsewhere and traded Dareus to the Jaguars in 2017 for a sixth round pick. Since joining Jacksonville, Dareus has appeared in nearly every game and started all but two games over the past two seasons. Depending on the outcome of his visit with Dr. Meyers, the organization may need to prepare to replace him for an extended period of time.

 

Jaguars DT Marcell Dareus Cited For Marijuana Possession

Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was cited for possession of marijuana on Wednesday, reports Justin Barney of News4Jax.com (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com).

“The Jaguars are aware of a citation involving DT Marcell Dareus,” the team said (via David Smith). “The matter will be handled internally.

According to the report, Dareus was pulled over around 2 a.m. for speeding, at which time the officer smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle. Two joints and a grinder were found following a search, and none of the passengers would say who the marijuana belonged to. Dareus was ultimately slapped with “a citation for misdemeanor marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia,” and he also receiver a warning for speeding.

Dareus will naturally be investigated by the NFL, and his past run-in’s with the league will likely work against him. The 29-year-old was hit with a one-game ban in 2015 after violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He was later handed a four-game suspension in 2016 for the same offense.

The two-time Pro Bowler spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the Bills before being traded to Jacksonville in 2017. He started all 15 of his appearances last season, compiling 32 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He has six tackles and 0.5 sacks in three starts this year.

Jaguars, Marcell Dareus Restructure Deal

The Jaguars and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus agreed to a restructuring of his contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The new deal will allow Dareus to remain in Jacksonville for at least one more year. 

Initially, was set to make $8.335MM in base salary, but the new deal will call for a base of just $2.835MM. Instead, he’ll get a $5MM bonus up front with a revised deal that eliminates the 2021 season. The Jaguars will save $5MM against the cap and Dareus will be eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.

Dareus, 29 in March, came to the Jaguars in a midseason trade with the Bills in 2017. For a late draft pick, the Jaguars acquired Dareus and the remainder of his whopping six-year, $95.1MM contract.

Unfortunately, the former No. 3 overall pick hasn’t quite lived up to that contract. Dareus compiled ten sacks en route to a Pro Bowl nod and a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2014, but he has just 8.5 sacks over the last four seasons. Last year, Dareus had only one sack and a forced fumble, though he earned a solid 80.9 score from Pro Football Focus for his solid run defense.

Marcell Dareus Facing Second Lawsuit

On Wednesday night, we learned that Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is being sued by a Texas woman who is accusing him of sexual assault and the transmission of an STD. In addition to that, Dareus is also being sued for a separate incident in January of 2017, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times writes. 

Dareus rented a mansion in Florida on the week of the college football national championship game. The defensive tackle invited the accuser to an afterparty at his place, where she alleges that he groped her against her wishes. The woman says she “blacked out” from drinking and woke up next to an unclothed Dareus. Realizing that there had been “sexual physical acts upon her person,” she left to go back to her hotel.

No criminal charges were filed after the alleged event and the accuser says that she initially kept the details of the incident private, “due to embarrassment and self-guilt.” In a court date on August 9, Dareus will move to have the lawsuit dismissed.

Regardless of how either case turns out, Dareus could be subject to NFL discipline following an investigation from the league office. The league’s conduct policy calls for a baseline six-game ban for sexual assault offenses.

Dareus, 28, came to the Jaguars in a midseason trade from the Bills. Dareus wound up playing in nine regular season games for the Jags as well as their three-game playoff run. Overall, Dareus graded out as the No. 51 ranked defensive tackle in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus. It wasn’t his best season, but the Jaguars were hopeful that Dareus could get back to his old form this year. In 2014, he managed ten sacks from the interior.