HEADLINES

Quentin Groves

AFC Notes: CJ2K, Steelers, Yates, Titans

June 18th, 2014 at 12:55pm CST by Luke Adams

New Jets running back Chris Johnson is now five years removed from a 2009 season in which he eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards with the Titans. He’ll turn 29 this fall, and is coming off a knee injury, but Johnson still believes he has enough left in the tank to make another run at that mark, as he tells Seth Walder of the New York Daily News.

“I’d just retire and not play anymore if I didn’t feel like I was still capable of being a 2,000-yard back,” Johnson said. “I know I have the ability.”

Another run at 2,000 yards may be aiming a little high for the former Titan, but the fact that Johnson feels as if he hasn’t lost a step should be encouraging for Jets fans hoping he’ll make an impact this season. Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Steelers have swapped one undrafted free agent for another, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed running back Jordan Hall and waived cornerback Deion Belue. Belue signed with the Dolphins as a rookie free agent last month, then was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh after being cut by Miami.
  • Although the Ravens have been “monitoring” T.J. Yates‘ situation for some time, there’s no guarantee that Baltimore will pursue the quarterback now that he’s been cut by the Texans, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Of the two linebackers who worked out for the Titans earlier this week, Quentin Groves is viewed as a better fit than Marvin Mitchell, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • Wide receiver Greg Little, who joined the Raiders after being cut by the Browns, was surprised that Cleveland waived him, since he had a “tremendous relationship” with the new coaches, he tells Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Of course, as Little acknowledges, the decision ultimately wasn’t in the hands of the coaching staff (Twitter links).

AFC Notes: Titans, Vick, Ravens, Chiefs, Bills

June 17th, 2014 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

According to recent reports, the Broncos may or may not have offered Demaryius Thomas a five-year contract extension, but there’s no doubt that discussions are open between the two sides, prompting Joel Corry of the National Football Post to examine what a new deal for the star wideout might look like. Corry points out that matching the massive contracts signed by Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald probably isn’t likely for Thomas and other standout receivers approaching free agency. But as I suggested last week, the five-year, $60MM+ deals signed by Mike Wallace and Percy Harvin in recent years could be used as benchmarks in negotiations between Thomas and the Broncos.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Titans worked out a pair of linebackers, Quentin Groves and Marvin Mitchell, on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Neither player received a contract from the club right away, however. Per Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter), the Titans are also auditioning WR/FB Dorin Dickerson this week at their minicamp.
  • Michael Vick is on a one-year contract with the Jets, but the signal-caller feels like he has about three years left at his “current level,” as he tells Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (Twitter link). Although the “current level” qualifier makes it unclear whether Vick plans to continue his playing career beyond that point, it sounds like he hopes to play for at least a couple more seasons after his current deal expires.
  • Asked today about a potential contract extension with Baltimore, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata told reporters that he’d “love to be a Raven for life” (Twitter link).
  • We heard yesterday that several veteran cornerbacks would be trying out for the Ravens at their minicamp this week, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds one more name to the list of participants today: Kevin Thomas, a Colts third-round pick in 2010 who hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since 2011. Wilson adds in a pair of tweets that cornerback Bobby Felder, linebacker Austin Spitler and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe are also trying out for the Ravens.
  • Former Missouri defensive back Kip Edwards was one of four non-roster players to audition for the Chiefs at the club’s minicamp today, tweets Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link) provides the other three names: Cornerback Quinton Byrd, and wide receivers Mark Harrison and Cole Stanford.
  • In a series of three tweets, Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 AM and Mike Rodak of ESPN.com report that wide receiver Tori Gurley, cornerback Kamaal McIlwain, and cornerback Sam Miller are auditioning for the Bills at their minicamp.

AFC East Notes: Pats, Groves, Keller

June 11th, 2014 at 7:46pm CST by Zachary Links

With the NFL unveiling the first member of the Patriots on their Top 100 for 2014 list tonight, Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com looked back at the Pats players who have made the list in previous years. Tom Brady, unsurprisingly, has been a mainstay in the top 5, being named No. 1 in 2011 and No. 4 in 2012 and 2013. Aaron Hernandez made his first top 100 in 2013, but it’s a pretty safe bet that he won’t be featured in this year’s edition. Here’s more out of the AFC East..

  • Former Browns linebacker Quentin Groves visited the Patriots today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter). The Redskins are up next for the former Auburn standout and he’ll visit Washington D.C. tomorrow. The 29-year-old was expected to be a menacing pass rusher when he was taken with the 52nd overall pick in the 2008 draft, but he has yet to realize his potential. In six NFL seasons, Groves has recorded just 8.5 sacks for the Jaguars, Raiders, Cardinals, and Browns.
  • The Patriots are keeping in touch with tight end Dustin Keller, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Keller suffered a major knee injury during the 2013 preseason with the Dolphins and is still working his way back to football shape. Keller caught 241 passes for 2,876 yards and 17 touchdowns in five seasons with the Jets, including career highs of 65 receptions for 815 yards and five touchdowns in 2011 when he last played a full 16-game season.
  • The Bills are working out former Kansas receiver and special-teamer Josh Ford, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Ford recorded 14 special-teams tackles and blocked three kicks during his senior season with the Jayhawks.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Fitzpatrick, Jernigan, Pats, Titans

June 8th, 2014 at 4:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Texans waited until the fourth round of last month’s draft to add a quarterback (Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage), so it appears that they will head into the 2014 season with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting signal-caller. As Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle writes, many members of the Texans coaching staff have previously worked with Fitzpatrick, whom the Texans signed to a two-year, $7.25MM deal. Houston’s defensive unit is expected to be the team’s strength, but new head coach Bill O’Brien is confident in Fitzpatrick to lead the offensive side of the ball. “It’s about decision-making,” said O’Brien. “Not forcing the ball and understanding that you have a really good back out of the backfield in [Arian] Foster that you can always check it down to. … We believe in our system. But at the end of the day, Ryan, he needs to go out there and make good decisions and make sure he is doing what is best for the team.”

More from around the AFC:

  • Ravens rookie Timmy Jernigan, who is competing for the left defensive end spot in Baltimore’s defense, is off to a good start, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “…[H]e’s flashing a lot,” said offensive guard Kelechi Osemele. “He’s playing fast, especially for being a young guy, and being thrown in there with the [first-teamers] every now and then and it being a new system and everything. He’s coming along really well.”
  • The Ravens might be set at right tackle with Ricky Wagner and Ryan Jensen, per Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Osemele is probably going to stay at left guard, so barring a veteran addition, the two second-year players will battle it out for the starting position.
  • Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis will be playing more man coverage after failing to get comfortable in the Buccaneers’ zone scheme last season, and his presence will allow safety Devin McCourty (who is engaged in extension talks) to roam the defensive backfield, according to ESPN.com’s Jeffri Chadiha.
  • Following Alterraun Verner‘s departure, the Titans will hold a competition between 2013 third-rounder Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Coty Sensabaugh, a 2012 fourth-round pick, for the starting cornerback position opposite Jason McCourty, reports the staff of the Daily News Journal.
  • Browns head coach Mike Pettine didn’t list a particular reason for releasing linebacker Quentin Groves, writes Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “…[W]hen you have situations like that with a veteran player you are better off doing it sooner rather than later to give them an opportunity to catch on somewhere else,” said Pettine. My guess is the Browns, who are stacked at outside linebacker with the likes of Paul Kruger, Jabaal Sheard, and Barkevious Mingo, simply weren’t keen on paying Groves’ $1MM base salary.

Browns Release Quentin Groves

June 6th, 2014 at 7:15am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns have released linebacker Quentin Groves, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The former Auburn standout finished the 2013 year on the injured reserve.

Groves was sidelined with ankle problems for much of last season but is doing better after undergoing surgery in November. The 29-year-old was expected to be a menacing pass rusher when he was taken with the 52nd overall pick in the 2008 draft, but he has yet to realize his potential. In six NFL seasons, Groves has recorded just 8.5 sacks for the Jaguars, Raiders, Cardinals, and Browns.

The linebacker came to the Browns over the offseason on a two-year, $2.28MM deal after he played for former Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton in Arizona. Horton, of course, has moved on, and it’s apparent that the new regime doesn’t see Groves in the same light as Horton did.