HEADLINES

Taylor Mays

NFL Suspends Taylor Mays, Nick Moody

March 14th, 2016 at 4:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent safety Taylor Mays has been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Linebacker Nick Moody has also been suspended for the first four games, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mays’ suspension is for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy (Twitter link via Rapoport).

Moody was a restricted free agent this offseason, but the Seahawks declined to issue him a tender. Since that decision, we have not heard much with regards to free agent interest for Moody. In 2015, Moody only saw time in three games for Seattle after spending much of the year on the team’s taxi squad. In 2014, he appeared in every regular season contest for the 49ers and even made two starts. In total, he notched 21 tackles with San Francisco in ’14.

Mays bounced all around the NFL last year and was yo-yo’ed on and off of the Raiders’ roster multiple times. The 28-year-old recorded 23 tackles and 5 passes defensed in his 14 Raiders games. Mays, who hopes to enter his seventh-year in the NFL, was selected in the second round of the 2010 draft by the 49ers. Needless to say, the USC product has not exactly fulfilled his expectations.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/15

October 20th, 2015 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..

Earlier today:

  • The Browns are signing linebacker Jayson DiManche off the Chiefs‘ taxi squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. DiManche will take the roster spot previously filled by running back Shaun Draughn, who has been waived, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound DiManche has appeared in 28 regular-season games with one start, all with the Bengals. Draughn appeared in five games this season for Cleveland with two carries for 10 yards.
  • The Falcons signed linebacker Philip Wheeler and released safety Charles Godfrey, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Lions have claimed guard/tackle Michael Ola off waivers from the Chargers, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Ola has yo-yo’d between the Chargers’ 53-man roster and the taxi squad all season long.
  • The Colts promoted safety Dewey McDonald from the practice squad, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. The Colts also cut Amarlo Herrera and cornerback Shaun Prater, Wilson tweets.
  • The Seahawks signed Lemuel Jeanpierre and cut Crezdon Butler, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
  • The Seahawks also placed linebacker Brock Coyle on IR-DTR, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune tweets.
  • The Chargers will sign safety Adrian Phillips from the practice squad as early as today, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
  • The Raiders re-signed strong safety Taylor Mays, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Saints have signed wide receiver T.J. Graham, according to a source who spoke with Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Vikings signed Kenrick Ellis and placed Shamar Stephen on IR, Wilson tweets.
  • The Jaguars moved wide receiver Neal Sterling to the active roster and signed safety Craig Loston, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.

Raiders Release Taylor Mays

October 10th, 2015 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Taylor Mays‘ nomadic journey throughout 2015 may be nearing an end after the Raiders became the third team to release the safety and the fourth to deem him unworthy of further employment this year.

In a corresponding move, the Raiders promoted safety Tevin McDonald from their practice squad, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com reports.

Mays hadn’t played much safety since re-signing with the Raiders after Nate Allen was designated for a short-term IR stay after Week 1. The Raiders initially signed Mays in late August but cut him as they minced their roster to 53 players.

The sixth-year veteran out of USC played mostly special teams in Oakland the past three weeks. He was questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the Broncos with an ankle injury.

After the Bengals didn’t re-sign him, the Lions and Vikings parted ways with Mays this offseason, and this latest transaction further puts the former second-round pick’s career in jeopardy.

Oakland signed McDonald originally as an undrafted free agent this spring but cut the rookie safety on the same day they axed Mays in September. He’s floated on and off the active roster throughout this season, being involved in several promotions and demotions.

Contract Details: Wilson, Mays, Long

September 17th, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The details on some recently signed contracts across the NFL:

Raiders To Re-Sign Taylor Mays

September 14th, 2015 at 7:14pm CST by Luke Adams

Safety Taylor Mays continues to bounce around from one NFL team to another, and this time, he’s going to a familiar club. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Mays is re-signing with the Raiders, after also considering the Seahawks.

In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, the former second-round pick is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason.

Since he became a free agent in the winter, Mays has signed with the Vikings, Lions, and Raiders, but was cut by all three times. Most recently, Oakland parted ways with Mays during the cutdown to 53 players.

Now, with Charles Woodson ailing and Nate Allen having suffered an injury that could potentially put his season in jeopardy, it makes sense that the Raiders would bring back a familiar face and a veteran to provide some depth at safety.

Raiders Release Taylor Mays

September 5th, 2015 at 8:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Taylor Mays‘ journeyman 2015 will continue after he once again saw his contract terminated by a team.

The Raiders joined the Vikings and Lions in releasing the safety this year. Oakland signed the sixth-year veteran last week, and Mays played in two preseason games with his new team after suiting up for one with the Lions.

Only listing three safeties on its 53-man roster, Oakland opted to go with Larry Asante as its primary backup safety behind Nate Allen and Charles Woodson.

Mays played four seasons with the Bengals prior to embarking on this complex search for a new home.

AFC West Notes: Mathis, Helu, Raiders

August 26th, 2015 at 5:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC West..

  • There was a lot of speculation about where guard Evan Mathis would wind up but, at the end of the day, his aim was to sign with a winner, Mike Klis of 9NEWS writes. “The No. 1 priority in finding a new place to play was playing for a contender,” Mathis said. “The Broncos weren’t in the mix early on. They were kind of the darkhorse in the race. They emerged here late and I just couldn’t turn down that opportunity.”
  • Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters that Roy Helu is “running short of time” to earn his role on the team, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets. It would be surprising if Helu didn’t make the Raiders’ 53-man roster, but his spot might not be a sure thing at this stage. Helu signed a a two-year, $4MM pact with Oakland this offseason. That deal includes $1MM fully guaranteed.
  • Del Rio said the Raiders think that new addition Taylor Mays could fit in well in a safety-in-box role, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. The Raiders signed the former second-round pick to a no-risk deal earlier this week. In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles.

Raiders Sign Taylor Mays

August 26th, 2015 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 12:14pm: Mays has officially signed with the Raiders, who confirmed the deal and announced that they’ve cut linebacker Chase Williams to create room on the roster for Mays.

TUESDAY, 8:52pm: The Raiders have reached agreement on a deal with safety Taylor Mays, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal reunited Mays, a USC product, with Ken Norton Jr., who is now Oakland’s defensive coordinator.

Last week, Mays asked the Lions for his release after he didn’t receive any playing time in the team’s preseason contest against Washington. That marked the second time this year that Mays was released by an NFC North team — the veteran safety and special-teamer signed with the Vikings earlier in the year, and was cut by Minnesota back in June.

In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, the former second-round pick is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason.

Lions Release Taylor Mays

August 22nd, 2015 at 5:03pm CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 5:03pm: The Lions have officially released Mays, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).

FRIDAY, 4:04pm: After not playing in last night’s preseason game against Washington, safety Taylor Mays has asked the Lions for his release, and it appears the team will grant his request, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Mays will become an unrestricted free agent when Detroit makes the move official.

It’s already the second time this year that Mays has been released by an NFC North team — the veteran safety and special-teamer signed with the Vikings earlier in the year, and was cut by Minnesota back in June. Mays signed with the Lions less than a week later, so we’ll see if he finds a new job as quickly now that he’s becoming available again.

In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, Mays is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason. Teams hit hard by secondary injuries this preseason could be potential suitors for Mays this time around.

NFC Notes: Manning, Smith, Lions, Spadola

August 21st, 2015 at 8:35pm CST by Rob DiRe

Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been making headlines recently, as he has allegedly demanded and then refuted reports that he demanded to be the highest-paid player in the NFL. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com writes that all this could be the “storm before the calm” as was the case with Philip Rivers’ contract, noting that there is a reason all the top quarterbacks have received long-term extensions.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • With a need at safety, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com was asked if the Giants might be interested in the recently released Taylor Mays (via Twitter). Raanan opines that the team would not be interested, noting that perception around Mays isn’t positive.
  • Eagles’ 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smith will miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It was not as bad as I thought it was,” said Smith. “Three weeks is probably the most. I’ll definitely be ready for the Falcons game. Try to be ready for the last preseason game.”
  • The Lions have a pair of key starters dealing with high ankle sprains, in offensive guard Larry Warford and defensive tackle Caraun Reid, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. It is uncertain when they will be able to return to the field, and head coach Jim Caldwell would not put a timetable on their recovery.
  • Cardinals receiver Ryan Spadola is considering a career as a ref after his football career comes to an end, writes Bob McManamoan of AZCentral.com. Spadola has been a practice squad player bouncing around the league for two seasons, and is competing for a spot on the Cardinals’ roster.
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