Trevone Boykin

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Redskins, Rush

August 27th, 2017 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

During Friday’s preseason game, Austin Davis outplayed Trevone Boykin as the pair of Seahawks quarterbacks battled for the backup gig behind Russell Wilson. While Davis finished with a perfect quarterback rating, Boykin went 0-for-6 while tossing an interception. Despite the clear disparity in their performance, coach Pete Carroll was adamant that the organization won’t be basing their final decision on one game.

“I really think that we were just out of sync so much for the first 10, 12 plays there that Boykin just couldn’t get rolling,” Carroll said (via Stefanie Loh of the Seattle Times). “It just felt like we were out of whack for a bit. Austin came right in we kind of fit together very nicely.

“Trevone has had a really good preseason so far. I don’t think five to six passes he threw in this game should be in the final decision. I think he’s done very well.”

Of course, the team could decide to hang on to three quarterbacks, and Carroll seemingly left that possibility open.

“It’s a good idea if you can do it,” Carroll said. “They’re so important. It just depends on the rest of the roster.”

The Redskins could potentially trade a tight end before the regular season gets underway, opines John Keim of ESPN.com. Rookie fifth-round pick Jeremy Sprinkle looks poised to serve as Washington’s third tight end behind Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis, meaning the club’s final slot at the position will be filled by either Derek Carrier or Niles Paul. The one who doesn’t earn a roster spot could be dealt for either a reserve offensive lineman or a draft choice, per Keim, who adds that both Carrier and Paul would “hold value” to other NFL teams.
Cooper Rush will earn a place on the Cowboys‘ roster as a backup quarterback, as owner Jerry Jones says Dallas will not try to sneak Rush through waivers in order to stash him on the practice squad (link via Rob Phillips of DallasCowboys.com). Rush, an undrafted rookie out of Central Michigan, is still in contention for the Cowboys’ No. 2 quarterback job behind Dak Prescott, although he’s competing with veteran Kellen Moore for that role. While Rush has completed 75% of his preseason passes for six touchdowns and no interceptions, Moore has posted a 54% completion rate, one touchdown, and one pick.
Just months after being selected in the fifth round of the draft, running back Jeremy McNichols is not a roster lock for the Buccaneers, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. “He’s gonna get one final chance to show what he can do,” said head coach Dirk Koetter, referring to Tampa Bay’s final preseason game on Thursday. McNichols, who’s been shown having a hard time grasping the Buccaneers’ offense on Hard Knocks, only saw two plays on Saturday (including a failed blitz pickup) before being yanked, per Laine. While Doug Martin will miss the first three games of the season while on suspension, Tampa Bay has other backs to replace him, including Jacquizz Rodgers, Charles Sims, and Peyton Barber.
49ers defensive end Tank Carradine has played sparingly since being selected in the second-round of the 2013 draft. With only 36 games and 57 tackles over four seasons, some wondered whether Carradine could be looking for a new gig following the preseason. However, based on an evaluation from defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, it sounds like the 28-year-old is a lock to make the roster. “With Tank, when I say ‘elite,’ I’m talking as a run-down, six-technique, someone who just can really dominate his edge and own the line of scrimmage,” Saleh said on NBC Sports Bay Area (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com).

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

NFC Notes: Cards, Falcons, Panthers, Hawks

July 20th, 2017 at 5:58pm CST by Zachary Links

If Carson Palmer retires after the 2017 season, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter) could see a scenario in which the Cardinals make a run at Kirk Cousins or perhaps Sam Bradford. Both players would be a schematic fit for the Cardinals and there won’t be a ton of other established quarterbacks available. If Cousins is an unrestricted free agent, the Cardinals could have a hard time bidding against the rival 49ers as they will be loaded with cap space.

A few more items from the NFC:

The popular belief for the past several months is that Falcons running back Devonta Freeman will sign a contract extension prior to the season, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk isn’t so sure anymore. Evidenced by the fact that Freeman still isn’t under contract past 2017, Florio observes that it hasn’t been an easy negotiation between the two sides, and he wonders if the 25-year-old will roll the dice and go without a new deal this season in hopes of upping his stock even more. As such, the Falcons might have to decide next offseason whether to place the franchise tag on Freeman for $12.1MM – a marked increase over his $1.8MM salary for this year – or let him hit the open market.
Panthers kicker Graham Gano is on the bubble thanks to the addition of seventh-round pick Harrison Butker, David Newton of ESPN.com writes. The selection of the Georgia Tech product was the first time the Panthers have ever drafted a place kicker and it’s a sign that they could be moving on from the veteran. Gano missed several big kicks last season and converted on just 78.9% of his attempts.
Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin still has to appear in front of a judge in August for his March arrest, but he has some good news on another front. Boykin has skirted jail time for a separate potential parole violation, as Gregg Bell of The News Tribune writes. Boykin was facing up to a year in jail for that charge, but he’ll pay a small fine instead. The Seahawks reportedly are not expecting Boykin to be disciplined by the league for his actions, so his off-the-field missteps shouldn’t impact his job security as Russell Wilson‘s backup.
It was a busy afternoon in Carolina, which signed guard Trai Turner to a big-money extension and said goodbye to offensive tackle Michael Oher.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Bell, Steelers, Hawks, Broncos

July 18th, 2017 at 9:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Using three-year cash value as a baseline metric, Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com examines the most above-market deals in the NFL at the moment. While some contracts listed — such as those signed by Kevin Zeitler, Kawann Short, or Marcell Dareus — aren’t surprising, the No. 1 slot is, as it went to 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, whose pact is more than 200% above the baseline for his position. The entire article is well worth a read, both for its interesting metric and Barnwell’s analysis.

Here’s more from around the league:

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap offer competing views on the Steelers‘ reported offer to running back Le’Veon Bell, some of the details of which were leaked earlier today. Pittsburgh apparently offered Bell a $12MM annual salary over a five-year term, with $30MM coming in the first two years of pact, but as Florio notes, it’s difficult to completely evaluate the proposal without knowing its exact specifics. But Fitzgerald writes the Steelers typically offer large signing bonuses and honor the entirety of contracts, meaning Bell may have passed up quite a commitment on Pittsburgh’s part.
Seahawks backup quarterback Trevone Boykin‘s court date has been rescheduled, meaning he now won’t appear until August 22, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes. That date will come amid Seattle’s preseason schedule, but it shouldn’t affect Boykin as he is required to attend the hearing. This court date is related to Boykin’s March arrest, while the fallout from his April arrest is still up in the air. As Condotta noted in May, the Seahawks aren’t expecting Boykin to be disciplined by the league.
As he continues to recover from a torn ACL, Broncos rookie tight end Jake Butt will “almost certainly” begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. If he remains on PUP for the duration of camp, Butt could be transferred to the reserve/PUP list, which would force him to miss the first six weeks of the 2017 campaign. When does regain full health, Butt should be able to contribute, but he’s currently near the bottom of Denver’s tight end depth chart, which also includes Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, A.J. Derby, and Henry Krieger-Coble.

Seahawks’ Trevone Boykin Arrested Again

April 6th, 2017 at 8:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time in 11 days, Seahawks backup quarterback Trevone Boykin found himself under arrest. After a March 27 arrest for suspicion of public intoxication and marijuana possession, authorities picked up Boykin on a possible parole violation today in Texas, TMZ reports.

He was reportedly on probation at the time of last month’s arrest. The parole stems from his guilty plea to a 2015 resisting-arrest charge. He was released on $2,500 bond. Boykin, 23, awaits a May 3 arraignment and faces up to a year in jail, per TMZ.

While this is not as serious as the other arrests, it adds to a growing list of off-the-field trouble for the former TCU standout. Boykin worked as Russell Wilson‘s backup last season, and Pete Carroll said “early indications” pointed to Boykin having another chance in Seattle despite the March arrest. Carroll added the caveat of “we’ll see what happens,” however, and this latest incident won’t help matters.

Latest On Seahawks QB Trevone Boykin

March 31st, 2017 at 5:36pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Seahawks backup quarterback Trevone Boykin is facing misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and public intoxication stemming from a weekend arrest, but it won’t cost him his roster spot. Not yet, anyway.

“Early indications are that we’ll give him an opportunity to be back with us,” head coach Pete Carroll told John Clayton of ESPN (via Michael Gehlken of Pro Football Talk). “We’ll see what happens though.”

That doesn’t come off as a strong endorsement of Boykin, who was already on probation for allegedly striking a police officer while with TCU in 2015. That incident cost Boykin a chance to play in the Alamo Bowl for TCU, which suspended him, and may have hurt his draft stock. Boykin ended up going unpicked before signing with Seattle. He ultimately earned a roster spot behind star Russell Wilson and appeared in six games as a rookie, completing 13 of 18 passes for 145 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

If the Seahawks were to look for another backup, it’s certainly worth noting that Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned, though they’re not inclined to spend much on a No. 2 QB. Nevertheless, Kaepernick thinks highly of Carroll, and the feeling seems to be mutual. Carroll told Tom Pelissero of USA Today earlier this week that a Kaepernick revival is “there to be had,” adding, “I hope the guy gets a chance to play.”

Seahawks QB Trevone Boykin Arrested

March 27th, 2017 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin was arrested early Monday morning after a car crash left eight people with injuries (via ESPN.com). Boykin was a passenger in the car, not the driver, but he is facing misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and public intoxication.

The driver, Shabrika Bailey, reversed her car at a high speed at around 2:00 am, hitting pedestrians on the sidewalk and crashing into a bar. Bailey was hit with a host of charges, including a felony. For Boykin, the legal trouble is not quite as serious, but he is on probation stemming from a late 2015 incident in which he allegedly struck a police officer.

Boykin, a TCU product, went undrafted in 2016 but was scooped up by the Seahawks soon after. Serving as a backup to starter Russell Wilson, Boykin completed 13 of 18 passes with one touchdown and one interception.

Extra Points: Bosa, Chargers, Hawks, Falcons

August 8th, 2016 at 8:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Since the first full year of the new CBA, no rookie has remained unsigned at a later date than Chargers first-round choice Joey Bosa, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. On Monday, Bosa shot past Justin Blackmon, who held out from Jaguars camp until August 7, 2012. Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick, is still haggling with San Diego over offset language and the payment schedule of his signing bonus, and hasn’t spoken with Chargers’ management since July 28. Because he comes from a wealthy household, Bosa has no fiscal motive to give in during negotiations with the Bolts.

Let’s take a look at a few more notes from around the league:

The Seahawks worked out quarterback Brad Sorensen today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Sorensen, 28, has spent time with both the Chargers and Titans, but has never attempted an NFL pass. Seattle is still in the market for a veteran quarterback, but it’s not clear if Sorensen fits that definition, and as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes, head coach Pete Carroll today praised undrafted free agent Trevone Boykin, who is competing to act as the club’s backup QB.
Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis says that he also drew interest the Falcons after the draft, as Kristian Garic of WWL tweets. Lewis, who posted 398 yards receiving during his senior season at Northen Illinois, might have had a better chance to earn a roster spot in Atlanta, as New Orleans is well-stocked at receiver position. As Roster Resource indicates, the Saints boast Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, Michael Thomas, and Brandon Coleman at wideout, and released another option — veteran Hakeem Nicks — earlier today.
The NFLPA has lowered the default agent fee from 3% to 1.5%, according to Liz Mullen of the SportsBusiness Journal (Twitter link). Agents can still negotiate a fee of 3%, but it’s an extra layer of work for the representatives. As such, agents tell Mullen that it wouldn’t be surprising if reps begin leaving NFL players for other leagues such as MLB or the NBA, which not only feature higher minimums, but boast fully guaranteed contracts.
After being fired as the Chargers‘ wide receivers coach earlier this year, Fred Graves is back with San Diego as a senior offensive assistant, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Graves had been an NFL wideouts coach dating back to 2001.

Extra Points: Clear, Jones, Hughes, Cowboys

June 30th, 2016 at 9:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

A teammate of Johnny Manziel‘s at Texas A&M, tight end Cameron Clear joined the embattled quarterback among those suspended on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Like Manziel, Clear is also a free agent suspended for four games. The Colts signed him to a reserve/futures contract after the 2015 season but cut him in May.

A 6-foot-5 tight end who would be a second-year player if given another chance after this suspension, Clear spent time with the Steelers last season but did not see any game action.

Sheldon Richardson and Rolando McClain were also suspended on a news-dump Thursday before the July 4 weekend, with Demarcus Lawrence‘s four-game ban being upheld as well.

Here’s the latest from around the league.

Former Chargers, 49ers and Cowboys special teams contributor C.J. Spillman was convicted of sexual assault Thursday, Claire Z. Cardona of the Dallas Morning News reports. The 30-year-old spent most of his six-year career with the 49ers but last played as a Cowboys reserve defensive back in 2014. The incident that prompted the conviction, which carries a two- to 20-year prison sentence, occurred Sept. 20, 2014. Spillman played for the Cowboys for the rest of that season.
McClain’s suspensions in Dallas now total 14 games after the middle linebacker began the 2015 season with a four-game ban. Todd Archer of ESPN.com advocates the Cowboys cut ties with him despite re-signing the soon-to-be 27-year-old this offseason. McClain is signed to a one-year, $3.375MM deal as a stopgap until Jaylon Smith proves ready. The latter does not look like he’ll be ready to play this season, and the Cowboys now have three of their starting front seven — McClain, Lawrence and Randy Gregory — set to begin 2016 suspended.
After a potential felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor for resisting arrest, Seahawks reserve quarterback Trevone Boykin received probation on Thursday, Austin Knoblauch of NFL.com reports. The rookie UDFA incurred this charge after a Dec. 31, 2015 incident before TCU’s Alamo Bowl, a game for which Boykin did not dress.
Datone Jones will shift to a stand-up, edge-defending position after he relocated there late last season, Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com reports. The Packers plan to play their 2013 first-round pick at outside linebacker in a 3-4 set and on the outside in passing-down sets, which he did beginning with a two-sack game against the Vikings last November. Given the team’s depth at each position, Jones’ role adjustment is interesting. As Roster resource shows, the Packers are more stocked on the edge than they are inside in their 3-4 set. Julius Peppers, Nick Perry and a recently relocated Clay Matthews reside at outside linebacker.
The Bills will also look to move Jerry Hughes into more of a stand-up outside-linebacking role, Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports. Hughes had his best seasons as a 4-3 end in 2013-14, when he notched 10 sacks in each slate en route to signing a five-year, $45MM contract.

Extra Points: PEDs, Manziel, Seahawks, Rams

June 28th, 2016 at 8:46pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The NFL Players’ Association doesn’t believe the league is right to investigate the players named in a 2015 Al Jazeera documentary on performance-enhancing drugs, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

“The NFL has chosen to initiate an investigation of these players based upon now-recanted statements that appeared in an Al Jazeera report,” stated the NFLPA, which added that the league “has decided to publicly pressure the players into submission. We will continue to advise our players about their rights and hold the NFL accountable.”

As the union alluded to, ex-Guyer Institute pharmacist Charlie Sly went back on claims that the institute supplied PEDs and-or painkillers to now-retired quarterback Peyton Manning, Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, Steelers linebacker James Harrison and former Packer and current free agent linebacker Mike Neal, but the league still plans to interview each of those individuals in the coming weeks. Harrison, for his part, isn’t exactly thrilled about it.

The league is likely to have difficulty finding “credible evidence” to punish anyone implicated in the documentary, as Florio details.

West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, Raiders, Bolts

June 28th, 2016 at 5:07pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Seahawks rookie quarterback Trevone Boykin is facing a year in jail on one count of misdemeanor assault stemming from a New Year’s Eve fight in San Antonio, writes Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk (via TMZ). The ex-TCU standout – who signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent and is a candidate to back up Russell Wilson (depth chart) – was initially charged with a felony count of assaulting a public servant, public intoxication and resisting arrest. Boykin is alleged to have struck an officer who was trying to take him into custody after staff members removed him from a bar. As a result, TCU suspended him for its victory over Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2.

As we learned Saturday, longtime Seahawks backup and current free agent Tarvaris Jackson is facing a charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly pulled a gun on his wife Saturday. The Seahawks were interested in re-signing Jackson as of April, though that was obviously before his legal issues and prior to the team signing Boykin and Jake Heaps. Given their lack of an established option behind Wilson, PFR’s Dallas Robinson listed the Seahawks as a possible fit via trade for soon-to-be ex-Ram Nick Foles on Sunday.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:

Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary is returning to coaching this year in an advisory role for the Rams, he told WSCR-AM in Chicago on Tuesday (link via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). Singletary previously served as a linebackers assistant for the Vikings from 2011-13. He was the 49ers’ head coach before that, of course, with the team compiling an 18-22 record under him from 2008-10. The 57-year-old stated in January that he was aiming to at least become a coordinator, but that obviously wasn’t in the cards this season.
The Raiders have sent out an 83-question survey through the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce to 10,000-plus addresses in the chamber’s database, reports Richard N. Velotta of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Subjects center on such matters as interest in the team and stadium seating preferences, writes Velotta, who adds that stadium financing questions aren’t included. The proposed 65,000-seat, $1.45 billion domed stadium in Las Vegas calls for $750MM in taxpayer money, a record amount.
The Chargers are likely to run fewer three-receiver sets under offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt this year than they did last season when Frank Reich was at the helm, but they won’t phase veteran Stevie Johnson out of their attack, per Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. In his first year with the Bolts, Johnson battled injuries and posted respectable production in 10 games, racking up 45 catches on 65 targets for 497 yards and three touchdowns. As San Diego’s depth chart shows, the 30-year-old is behind Keenan Allen and offseason pickup Travis Benjamin in the club’s wideout pecking order. He’ll also have to compete with tight end Antonio Gates for targets.