HEADLINES

Tom Savage

49ers Cut Tom Savage

October 20th, 2018 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Savage‘s San Francisco stay may end up being brief. The 49ers announced Saturday they’ve waived the former Texans quarterback.

The team brought in Savage on Tuesday and does not have a veteran presence on its roster, with second-year man C.J. Beathard starting and rookie Nick Mullens backing him up. But the 49ers will move on without Savage for now and promote defensive back Tyvis Powell.

This is the second time Savage has been cut this year. The Saints parted ways with him prior to the season, acquiring Teddy Bridgewater to back up Drew Brees and keeping versatile QB Taysom Hill as well.

This separation may not last long, though. Savage looks to have a chance to return to the team soon, with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco tweeting the 49ers will probably bring him back in the coming days. A need for DB depth resulted in this transaction, but should that situation clear up in the near future, Savage may return. Still, his stock’s taken a noticeable dive since being named Houston’s Week 1 starter last season.

Powell has bounced on and off the 49ers’ active roster this year. He’s up with the 53-man unit now because of injuries. Jimmie Ward is doubtful to play Sunday against the Rams, and Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon are questionable.

49ers Sign QB Tom Savage

October 16th, 2018 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have signed quarterback Tom Savage, per a club announcement. To make room, tight end Cole Wick has been released. 

The Niners have been seeking a third quarterback since losing Jimmy Garoppolo in September. They finally have one in Savage, though he’s a long way from seeing the field. For now, Savage is penciled in as the third-string signal caller behind C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens.

Savage was part of a QB contingent that worked out for the 49ers late last month, auditioning alongside Landry Jones, EJ Manuel, Kellen Clemens, T.J. Yates, Matt Simms, and Kyle Allen. Weeks later, he has landed a deal from SF.

Savage inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Saints earlier this year, and appeared to be the favorite to serve as Drew Brees‘ top backup, but he was cut after Teddy Bridgewater was acquired via trade. A fourth-round pick in 2014, Savage appeared in 13 games and made nine starts over four seasons with the Texans.

Tom Savage To Eventually Sign With 49ers?

September 27th, 2018 at 7:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although the 49ers don’t plan to sign a quarterback this week after losing starter Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn ACL, veteran Tom Savage appears to be the favorite to eventually land in San Francisco, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Savage was part of a signal-caller contingent that worked out for the 49ers this week, as he joined Landry Jones, EJ Manuel, Kellen Clemens, T.J. Yates, Matt Simms, and Kyle Allen in auditioning for San Francisco. But the 49ers can’t afford to use an extra roster spot on quarterback this week, per Garafolo, so the club will hold off on adding a passer for now. Nick Mullens, a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss, was promoted from San Francisco’s practice squad to serve as depth behind new starter C.J. Beathard.

Savage, 28, inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Saints earlier this year, and appeared to be the favorite to serve as Drew Brees‘ top backup. However, Savage was deemed expendable after New Orleans acquired fellow quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the Jets, and Savage was subsequently released. A fourth-round pick in 2014, Savage appeared in 13 games and made nine starts over four seasons with the Texans.

49ers Hosting Group Of Veteran QB’s

September 24th, 2018 at 6:18pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

In the wake of Jimmy Garoppolo‘s ACL tear that will sideline him for the rest of the 2018 season, the 49ers are making moves to bolster their quarterback room, as the team will host a group of veteran signal callers according to head coach Kyle Shanahan (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN).

The quarterbacks coming in for workouts tomorrow include Tom Savage, T.J. Yates, and Kellen Clemens. Wagoner adds that Shanahan said Matt Moore is “another possibility” and that Nick Mullens would likely be activated from the practice squad. Shanahan has already said that the team won’t bring in any competition for C.J. Beathard, so any quarterback signed would be added solely as a backup to Beathard.

Savage started seven games for the Texans last year, but found himself released by the Saints at final cuts after New Orleans traded for Teddy Bridgewater. Yates also most recently spent time with the Texans, starting three games for them last year. He’s bounced around the league as a spot starter, and even won a playoff game for the Texans a few years back. Clemens just recently saw his long tenure as backup to Philip Rivers come to an end when the Chargers decided not to re-sign him after the 2017 season. Clemens hasn’t seen meaningful action in a long time, as Rivers never missed a start during Clemens’ run with the Chargers.

Overall, it’s not exactly an inspiring group. Beathard should have no trouble keeping the starting job the rest of the way assuming he can stay healthy, and it’s possible the team opts to just stick with Mullens as their backup. Mullens was an undrafted free agent in 2017 who has stuck around on San Francisco’s practice squad.

Saints Announce Roster Moves

September 1st, 2018 at 5:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have made the following transactions as they move their roster to 53 players:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Released:

Placed on injured reserve:

Placed on suspended list:

Glennon, Other QBs Drawing Trade Interest

August 29th, 2018 at 2:09pm CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday morning, the Packers traded Brett Hundley to the Seahawks. That deal is unlikely to be the last trade involving a backup quarterback, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Mike Glennon of the Cardinals, Tom Savage of the Saints, and Joshua Dobbs are the Steelers are among the QBs being discussed by teams of need, Rapoport hears. 

The Cardinals signed both Sam Bradford and Glennon in March, but the QB room changed dramatically in April when they drafted UCLA star Josh Rosen. Rosen may not be ready for primetime, but the Cardinals may feel that he is ready to be a capable No. 2 QB. Glennon flamed out in his one month as the Bears’ starter last year, but he would represent a QB2 upgrade for many teams around the league.

Savage has been long rumored to be on the bubble, but he is now firmly on the trade block following the Saints’ acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater. The Saints project to move ahead with Bridgewater and Taysom Hill as the backups to Drew Brees, leaving Savage without a spot in New Orleans. Savage, a former fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, entered the 2017 season as Houston’s starter, but he lost the job to rookie Deshaun Watson rather quickly. He finished the year with 1,412 yards and five touchdowns against six interceptions.

The writing has been on the wall for Dobbs ever since the Steelers used a third-round pick on Mason Rudolph in this year’s draft. Landry Jones is locked in as the backup quarterback and Rudolph is locked in as the No. 3, so Dobbs is clearly on the block.

Extra Points: Pack, Ravens, Saints, Conley

May 5th, 2018 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Gutekunst remains confident the Packers will sign Aaron Rodgers to an extension this offseason, telling Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk he expects an agreement “soon.” The first-year GM said both sides continue to work on a pact. Although, the negotiations likely just saw the price rise since Matt Ryan‘s five-year, $150MM extension raised the ceiling for quarterback contracts. However, Gutekunst told Florio before Ryan’s Falcons agreement was finalized that both the Packers and Rodgers may be waiting to see if any other quarterback deals are completed this offseason. With Kirk Cousins signed and Ryan now locked up through 2023, Rodgers’ deal is likely next on the QB docket. Although, it’s still possible the Patriots and Tom Brady revise the reigning MVP’s contract. With two years remaining on Rodgers’ deal, Florio estimates the final result will be a contract closer to Ryan’s through-2023 deal than Cousins’ three-year accord. He also expects Rodgers’ new deal to further raise the quarterback ceiling, one that’s climbed considerably since Derek Carr became the league’s first $25MM-AAV player less than a year ago.

Here’s the latest from around the league:

  • Two rookies the Ravens may well have hoped to land went to AFC North rivals. Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun notes the Ravens were eyeing Miami running back Mark Walton with their fourth-round pick, but the Bengals ended up selecting him six spots before Baltimore’s next pick — one that went to Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett. The other player they may well have wanted ended up in Pittsburgh. Zreibec adds the Ravens most likely sought James Washington, who went to the Steelers late in the second round. Eric DeCosta said a few times during this draft he became “angrier than usual” because of a player going off the board just prior to a Ravens selection window, and Zreibec assumes the Oklahoma State wide receiver was the source of one of these agitation bouts.
  • Brandon Coleman‘s Saints contract is worth a maximum of $1MM, Larry Holder of NOLA.com reports. Coleman re-signed with New Orleans after not being tendered as a restricted free agent. Had the Saints applied the low-end tender to Coleman, he would have made $1.9MM this season. After the Saints selected Tre’Quan Smith in the third round, Coleman and return specialist Tommylee Lewis could be battling for a roster spot, Nick Underhill of The Advocate writes.
  • On the subject of Saints position battles, Underhill notes the Saints are high enough on Taysom Hill that they might be ready to cut Tom Savage and carry just two quarterbacks if Hill beats him out for the backup job. They also brought in J.T. Barrett this month. Hill served as the Saints’ third-string quarterback last season behind Drew Brees and Chase Daniel. It would cost the Saints just $100K if they released Savage.
  • Gareon Conley has yet to receive full clearance to return to Raiders workouts, but Jon Gruden said that appears imminent, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. Conley underwent shin surgery last year after missing almost his entire rookie season. Gruden indicated the 2017 first-round pick is running with teammates and participating in walkthroughs but hasn’t been given a full green light yet.
  • Both of Eric Berry‘s twin younger brothers are with teams this weekend. One will have a chance to join the All-Pro safety with the Chiefs. Elliott Berry is in Kansas City working as a tryout player, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, Evan Berry signed with the Browns as a UDFA on Friday. Both of twins played at Tennessee, as Eric did.

NFC Notes: Bulaga, Foles, Cowboys

April 29th, 2018 at 12:24pm CST by Rory Parks

Given that the Packers could save nearly $5MM by releasing RT Bryan Bulaga, and given Bulaga’s recent injury history, there was some chatter that Green Bay could part ways with the ninth-year pro (especially since Bulaga is not even guaranteed to be ready for the start of the 2018 season after tearing his ACL on November 6). But we recently heard that Bulaga remains in the team’s 2018 plans, and head coach Mike McCarthy said Bulaga’s rehab is ahead of schedule (per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com). Therefore, it certainly sounds as if Bulaga will be back for the fourth year of the five-year pact he signed prior to the 2015 season.

  • In a series of tweets, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com passes along more details on Nick Foles‘ reworked deal. Foles’ cap number is now $9.6MM, fourth-highest on the Eagles, but if the team were to trade him after June 1, it would save $7MM in cap space, more than it would have saved prior to the restructure. As such, the restructure looks like a win-win in that Foles gets more money and incentives and it’s easier for the Eagles to deal him if someone comes along with a great offer. Shorr-Parks, though, still does not expect Foles to be traded.
  • The Cowboys selected Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White in the fifth round of this year’s draft, which marked just the sixth time Dallas has drafted a QB since Jerry Jones purchased the franchise in 1989. White is expected to compete with Cooper Rush for the backup job, though Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News writes that executive vice president Stephen Jones is open to carrying three signal-callers in 2018.
  • Per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Saints head coach Sean Payton does not know if the team will bring in a fourth QB to compete with Tom Savage and Taysom Hill. Payton said the Saints considered drafting a signal-caller this weekend, but they are anxious to see what Savage and Hill can do.
  • Brady Henderson of ESPN.com says the Seahawks see Shaquem Griffin, whom they selected in the fifth round of this weekend’s draft, as a weak-side LB at the next level, and he also reports that Seattle viewed fourth-round pick Will Dissly as the best blocking tight end in the class (Twitter links).
  • The Lions apparently disappointed at least a couple of teams in this weekend’s draft. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Detroit selected Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson one pick before the Redskins were prepared to take him, and the Panthers were going to take UL-Lafayette CB Tracy Walker with the No. 85 overall pick, but the Lions nabbed him with their No. 82 pick.

Saints Sign QB Tom Savage

March 14th, 2018 at 4:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have a new backup quarterback. New Orleans has signed former Texans signal caller Tom Savage, according to his agents (on Twitter). Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that it’s a one-year deal worth $1.5MM.

The Saints re-signed their starter, Drew Brees, but they lost their No. 2 QB when Chase Daniel left in free agency to join up with the Bears. Savage provides starting experience – and far more on-field experience than Daniel.

Savage, a former fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, entered the season as Houston’s starter. He wound up losing the job to rookie Deshaun Watson rather quickly.

Savage finished the year with 1,412 yards and five touchdowns against six interceptions. He also completed just 56% of his passes.

Saints Interested In QB Tom Savage

March 14th, 2018 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

After losing Chase Daniel to the Bears, the Saints are in the market for a backup quarterback. That search could lead them to Tom Savage, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets. 

Savage, our 15th ranked QB in free agency, began the season as the Texans’ starting quarterback but got the hook in favor of Deshaun Watson in the early in the year. When Watson was lost to a torn ACL, Savage regained the starting job only to suffer a season-ending concussion in Week 14. All in all, Savage played in eight games and started seven, going 1-6 in those starts.

Savage, a former fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, finished the year with 1,412 yards and five touchdowns against six interceptions. He also completed just 56% of his passes.

The Saints and other interested teams will want to take a close look at Savage’s medicals in the wake of his scary concussion last year which left him shaking on the field. Savage, somehow, was allowed to re-enter the game afterwards.

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