HEADLINES

Steve Maneri

Patriots Cut Boyce, Worthy, Others

August 30th, 2014 at 4:03pm CST by Ben Levine

4:03pm: The Pats have announced three more cuts, in a press release:

The team’s official website now lists the team’s active roster at 55 players, so we’ll have to wait and see if there are another pair of announcements today. Presumably, the last two players removed from the roster will be Brandon Browner and Brian Tyms, who will be placed on the reserve-suspended list.

1:50pm: The Patriots continue to make moves, as they’ve cut three more players:

  • James Morris (LB) (via Young on Twitter): Placed on injured reserve
  • Eathyn Manumaleuna (DL) (via Young on Twitter)
  • Chris Martin (OL) (via Young on Twitter)

11:42am: The Patriots have released 14 players this afternoon, including a player they acquired only two weeks and a fourth-rounder from 2013. The list is below:

Minor Moves: Sunday

August 10th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Rory Parks

We’ll round up Sunday’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Vikings have signed TE Kory Sperry, the team announced on Twitter. VikingUpdate.com (Twitter link) was the first to report that Sperry was on the Minnesota practice field. Sperry, entering his sixth season, has spent time with the Dolphins, Chargers, and, most recently, the Cardinals.
  • The following players have been removed from their respective team’s injured reserve list with an injury settlement, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter): FS Dion Bailey (Seahawks), LB Jeremy Grable (Buccaneers), and WR David Gettis (Buccaneers).

Earlier Updates

  • The Buccaneers have waived safety Mark Joyce, tweets Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
  • The Seahawks have re-signed DB Trey Wolfe and have waived LB Mike Taylor (Twitter links).
  • In addition to releasing Watson, the Patriots have also released tight end Justin Jones, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Volin adds that New England has signed TE Ben Hartsock. ESPN Insider Field Yates tweets that the team has also waived running back Stephen Houston and has signed tight ends Steve Maneri and Terrence Miller.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets that the Bills have signed CB Sam Miller and have waived CB Michael Carter.
  • Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that the Patriots have released tight end Asa Watson. In a separate tweet, Volin notes that the Pats are clearly unhappy with their tight end depth and it appears as though they will be bringing in some “new blood” behind Rob Gronkowski and Michael Hoomanawanui.

AFC East Notes: Revis, Jets, Dolphins

August 5th, 2014 at 8:37pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, it was reported that the Patriots are interested in extending cornerback Darrelle Revis, even though he has yet to appear in a preseason game for New England. Given the big money thrown around for CBs so far this offseason, Revis may be inclined to hit the open market in March instead. Still, it’s conceivable that Revis could opt for financial security over the potential of a larger payday. More on Revis and other notes out of the AFC East..

  • It would be interesting if the Patriots actually do pick up Darrelle Revis‘ $12MM option in April, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. Such a move would work like a franchise tag and keep the elite corner off the open market. Revis has a $12MM option bonus in April and $7.5MM base salary in 2015. His cap number would be $25MM, but the Pats could renegotiate that after April.
  • Rookie wide receiver Shaq Evans, one of three fourth-round picks by the Jets, could be lost for the season after suffering a shoulder injury Thursday in practice, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Coach Rex Ryan called it a significant injury, indicating Evans might end up on season-ending injured reserve. “That shoulder looks pretty bad,” Ryan said. “We’ll see how that goes, but it doesn’t look good right now. We talked to him about it, too. He had the other shoulder [injury] before. But this one seems to be bothering him a lot more. This looks like a severe injury.”
  • After trying out for the Ravens on Saturday, tight end/tackle Steve Maneri tried out for the Dolphins today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 6’6″, 275 pound tight end saw four games of action last season for the Bears. He was in camp with the Bucs this offseason before getting cut on May 13th.

Extra Points: Trump, Ravens, Manziel, Eagles, 49ers

August 3rd, 2014 at 10:23pm CST by Ben Levine

Al Michaels spoke to Donald Trump prior to NBC’s Sunday Night Football and the commentator revealed that the business magnate made a substantial bid to purchase the Bills. How substantial?

“He said he offered $1 billion. All cash, no contingencies, immediate closing. He’d have the check in one hour,” Michaels said (via ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio). “He was a little miffed that it went out for bid again.”

We previously heard that Buffalo Sabers owner Terry Pegula bid a reported $1.3 billion while the Toronto-based group led by Jon Bon Jovi bid an estimated $1.2 billion.

With that, that’s take a look at some more NFL notes…

  • The Ravens worked out free agent tight end Steve Maneri, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson notes that the team auditioned Maneri as an offensive tackle.
  • ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon believes that Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel “took advantage” of his opportunities during Saturday’s practice. While Brian Hoyer has been “steady and solid” in camp, McManamon opines that he hasn’t improved much since the second day. As a result, the writer believes the rookie has changed the Browns quarterback conversation.
  • On Friday, Eagles cornerback Cary Williams expressed his displeasure about practicing with the Patriots during the preseason because “they are cheaters” (via CSNPhilly.com’s Geoff Mosher). On Sunday, Williams was missing from practice, but he made sure to emphasize that his absence had nothing to do with his comments. “[I]t had nothing to do with that,” Williams said (again, via Mosher).  “I haven’t even discussed anything with Chip (Kelly). I don’t think he’s trying any type of. . . . I’m sure maybe we’ll have a conversation, but I don’t know.”
  • Meanwhile, there were no question about 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh‘s intent when he sent a duo of starters to the locker room. As CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco writes, wideout Anquan Boldin was booted from practice on Friday following a scuffle. On Sunday, cornerback Chris Culliver was sent off the field following a rough hit on David Reed.

West Notes: MJD, Lynch, 49ers, Schaub

August 1st, 2014 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew thinks it’s “hilarious” that some people don’t think he has what it takes to carry the load in the Raiders’ offense. “I know what I have left,” Jones-Drew said according to Steve Corkran of the San Jose Mercury-News. “I know the work I put in this offseason to get to where I need to get to be able to play at a high level. I stopped worrying about what people were saying.” More out of the AFC and NFC West..

  • Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch wanted $5MM more than he got out of his reworked deal this week, a source tells Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Ultimately, however, he took the deal that was first offered to him back in May when he first expressed dissatisfaction with his contract.
  • After placing tight end Anthony McCoy on injured reserve yesterday, the Seahawks brought in former Pats, Buccaneers, and Chiefs tight end Steve Maneri for a workout, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The 6’6″, 275 pound tight end saw four games of action last season for the Bears.
  • The 49ers are taking some risks by tabling contract extension talks with Jim Harbaugh until after the 2014 season, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. Williamson understands San Francisco’s desire to avoid additional distractions during the season, but fears that teams will start trolling around Harbaugh in an attempt to pry him away next offseason.
  • After taking a good amount of criticism for a down season with the Texans, quarterback Matt Schaub is eager for a fresh start with the Raiders, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The 33-year-old took a $3MM pay cut to help facilitate the trade that brought him to Oakland.

Bucs Sign 12 UDFAs, Cut Three Players

May 13th, 2014 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 4:56pm: Undrafted Texas A&M linebacker Steven Jenkins has also signed with the Buccaneers, the team announced today in a press release.

MONDAY, 2:52pm: The Buccaneers have announced 11 undrafted free agent signings, and Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune passes along the names in a series of tweets. To clear room on the 90-man roster, the club has also cut three players, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link): Tight end Steve Maneri, tight end and fullback Josh Baker, and cornerback Bobby Felder. None of the three players played for the Bucs last season.

Here’s the full list of the Bucs’ UDFA additions:

  • Josh Allen, C Louisiana-Monroe ($5K bonus, per Pat Yasinskas)
  • Nate Askew, LB, Texas A&M ($7.5K bonus)
  • Aaron Burks, WR, Boise State ($5K bonus)
  • Euclid Cummings, DT, Georgia Tech ($10K bonus)
  • Keith Lewis, CB, Virginia-Lynchburg ($3K bonus)
  • Andrew Miller, G, Virginia Tech ($5K bonus)
  • Matt Patchan, OT, Boston College ($14.85K bonus)
  • Solomon Patton, WR, Florida ($9K bonus)
  • Brett Smith, QB, Wyoming ($3K bonus)
  • Chaz Sutton, DE, South Carolina ($15K bonus)
  • Mycal Swaim, S, Eastern Michigan ($3K bonus)

Buccaneers Sign Steve Maneri, D.J. Moore

February 14th, 2014 at 3:13pm CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers added two more players to their 2014 roster today, signing tight end Steve Maneri and cornerback D.J. Moore, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. While both players were on NFL clubs in 2013, neither player finished the season on a team’s active roster, making them eligible to sign before the free agent period begins on March 11.

It’s worth noting that Maneri and Moore both have experience with the Bears, though only Moore played under current Bucs head coach Lovie Smith in Chicago. A fourth-round draft pick in 2009, Moore racked up 10 interceptions for the Bears in three seasons from 2010 to 2012, playing primarily as a nickelback. The Vanderbilt product, who turns 27 next month, signed a one-year deal with the Panthers for the 2013 season, but was released by the club in October after missing multiple games with knee issues.

As for Maneri, his most significant playing time came in 2012 when he started eight games and caught five passes for the Chiefs. The 25-year-old is a converted offensive tackle, so if he makes the Bucs’ regular season roster, he figures to see the brunt of his playing time as a blocker in sets featuring multiple tight ends.

Terms of the contracts weren’t released, but I’d guess both players will be in line for minimum base salaries, perhaps with modest signing bonuses.