HEADLINES

Stephone Anthony

Saints Sign Stephone Anthony

May 12th, 2015 at 5:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints announced that they have signed linebacker Stephone Anthony. The No. 31 overall pick was one of the last holdouts for New Orleans in this year’s draft class.

Anthony, 22, was widely projected as a second round pick but found his way into the first round after impressing New Orleans brass throughout the draft process. In 2014, the Clemson star was a consensus first-team All-ACC selection as he recorded a team-high 90 tackles (61 solo), 10.5 stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles in 13 games with 12 starts. Anthony also led the Tigers with 131 tackles in 2013 as a junior.

With Anthony under contract, the Saints have now inked all of their picks with the exception of first-round tackle Andrus Peat.

Dolphins Notes: Thomas, Draft, Trusnik

April 1st, 2015 at 9:24am CST by Luke Adams

Dolphins safety and special-teamer Michael Thomas met with coaches and formally signed his contract tender with the team this morning, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). There was no doubt that Thomas would be back, since he was an exclusive rights free agent and couldn’t negotiate with other teams, but he’s now officially under contract, and the club expects “big things” from him in 2015, says Beasley.

Here’s more on the Dolphins, courtesy of Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:

  • A team source tells Jackson that Auburn receiver Sammie Coates and USC wideout George Farmer are among the prospects being flown in to meet with Dolphins coaches and executives this month. Miami acquired Kenny Stills in a trade with the Saints last month, but Stills alone won’t replace Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson, so the team remains in the market for receiving help.
  • Clemson outside linebacker Vic Beasley doesn’t look like a good bet to fall to the No. 14 pick, but the Dolphins have scheduled a visit with him anyway, says Jackson.
  • Miami’s Phillip Dorsett and Florida State’s Rashad Greene are among the receivers the Dolphins have invited to audition for them on their local day on April 10. According to Jackson, FSU tight end Nick O’Leary won’t be in attendance that day due to a scheduling conflict, but he’ll meet with team execs and coaches on April 9 instead.
  • Louisville cornerback Charles Gaines and Minnesota safety Cedric Thompson are among the defensive backs slated to visit the Dolphins, per Jackson. The club also intends to audition Miami middle linebacker Denzel Perryman, and sent linebackers coach Mark Duffner to Clemson to work out potential second-round pick Stephone Anthony.
  • According to Jackson, the Dolphins didn’t show any interest in retaining linebacker and special-teamer Jason Trusnik, who signed yesterday with the Panthers.

Draft Notes: Rowe, Carter, Anthony

March 20th, 2015 at 7:41pm CST by Rob DiRe

As teams are setting up their draft boards, many are meeting with prospects to try to learn as much as they can as they prepare for the 2015 NFL Draft.

Here are a few prospects that have visited with organizations, with new updates added to the top:

  • The Dolphins will host Utah defensive back Eric Rowe, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Rowe projects as either a cornerback or a safety depending on which team drafts him, and with good size and speed he could be a impact player later in the draft. Wilson also writes that Rowe will meet with the Ravens, Lions, Buccaneers, and Texans.
  • The Ravens met with Sacramento State receiver DeAndre Carter, writes Wilson. Carter was the top receiver in FCS competition last year, catching 99 passes for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns on his way to becoming a first-team All American selection.
  • The Saints worked out Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony, writes Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, linebackers coach Joe Vitt, and assistant general manager Jeff Ireland met with Anthony.

Pauline’s Latest: Falcons, Jets, Packers, Chiefs

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:32pm CST by Luke Adams

With the 2015 scouting combine winding down in Indianapolis, draft guru Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net has several tidbits to pass along, having spoken to a number of league insiders over the past week. While most of Pauline’s updates relate to the draft, he also has some info on the upcoming free agent period. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights from his latest report….

  • It’s no secret that the Falcons will be targeting a pass rusher in the first round of this year’s draft, and while there are a few players who could fit that bill in the top 10, Pauline writes that Shane Ray‘s name was “constantly associated” with the team as the leading choice.
  • The Jets spent a significant amount of time in Indianapolis with speedy Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who also drew interest from the Packers. According to Pauline, Green Bay is also “very high on” Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony, who is a favorite of Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
  • The Jets are expected to be very active in free agency, as GM Mike Maccagnan has suggested, and Pauline hears that the team will target outside linebackers and defensive line depth in addition to cornerbacks. New York would also like to add a mid-value guard, though the belief is that they won’t spend big on a player like Mike Iupati.
  • Per Pauline, the Chiefs are eyeing Benardrick McKinney as a potential replacement for Justin Houston, if they lose Houston in free agency. While Kansas City may like McKinney, I’m skeptical that the club would let Houston get away, as he seems like a logical franchise tag candidate.
  • Echoing what we’ve already heard this offseason, Pauline writes that it doesn’t sound as if the Browns‘ front office is working in harmony these days. Sources familiar with the situation compared Cleveland’s situation to the one that has played out in San Francisco in recent years, and Pauline hears there’s a good deal of dissension within the organization.

Draft Notes: QBs, Colts, Browns, Chiefs

January 22nd, 2015 at 7:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Every NFL team hopes to find its franchise quarterback in the draft, but there’s also a risk that comes with selecting a high-profile signal-caller, as Connor Orr of NFL.com explains. “Everyone is fearful,” one NFC coach said of picking a QB high. “When they draft one, what if they make a mistake? It’s not going to work out too well. The GM, the coach and the quarterback are tied together.” Orr points to Geno Smith, whose failure, along with other mistakes, lead to ex-Jets general manager John Idzik’s firing. But regardless of the risk, the draft offers more promise than does the free agent QB market, where the top options are Mark Sanchez and Brian Hoyer, so clubs will presumably keep trying to hit on college quarterbacks. Here’s more news from the draft arena…

  •  The Colts spent a lot of time with Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony at the Senior Bowl, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. CBSSports.com ranks Anthony as the eighth-best inside linebacker available.
  • The Browns seem to be set on improving their blocking up front, according to Pauline, who reports that Cleveland met with both Hobart offensive lineman Ali Marpet (link) and Delaware tight end Nick Boyle (link) at the Senior Bowl.
  • Miami receiver Phillip Dorsett interviewed with the Chiefs, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). As Paylor adds, Dorsett excels at separating from defensive backs, a skill Kansas City could surely utilize.
  • New Washington general manager Scot McCloughan says he’s interviewed “a ton” of NCAA prospects this week, and though he wouldn’t give an exact number, he did say that the staff spoke to prospects projected to go in the sixth round or higher, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (on Twitter).