Falcons Considering Vonta Leach
The Falcons have discussed signing free agent fullback Vonta Leach, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Leach could be brought in to help block for starter Steven Jackson and the rest of Atlanta’s talented supporting cast at running back.
Leach, who has long been renowned for his blocking ability, spent the last three seasons with the Ravens and earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors from 2010-2012. Despite his body of work and name value, the 32-year-old (33 in November) wasn’t a significant part of the Ravens’ offense in 2013, seeing action in just 230 snaps, including nine in the last three weeks of the regular season. Baltimore cut Leach in late February in order to save $1.75MM on the salary cap. Leach told Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post late last month that he had no intention of retiring and was waiting on an NFL call.
As it stands, the Falcons are set to carry Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers, Antone Smith, and Devonta Freeman on their 53-man roster. Fullback Patrick DiMarco will be blocking for them if Atlanta doesn’t go out-of-house, but Leach could fill that role instead.
AFC North Notes: Gordon, Urban, Leach
Harold Henderson will be the hearing officer for Josh Gordon‘s suspension appeal tomorrow, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link), and that may not be good news for the Browns wideout. Cabot says the argument that Gordon’s failed test was a result of second-hand smoke “won’t fly” with Henderson, and Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report echoes that sentiment (via Twitter).
- Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters today, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), that fourth-round defensive lineman Brent Urban suffered a torn ACL this week in practice and will be sidelined for the 2014 season.
- Following Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods in 2011 and 2012, Ravens fullback Vonta Leach played a reduced role in 2013, and was ultimately cut by the team in February. However, as he tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, Leach isn’t retiring, and hopes to catch on with an NFL club. “A lot of teams and coaches have sent text message to make sure that I’m staying in shape,” Leach said. “You never know when you might get that call. I’m played in this league a long time. I know how this business works. You’ve got to be ready.”
- After breaking down the extensions signed by Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Joe Haden this year, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap concludes that Haden’s deal with the Browns is the strongest and the most protected upon signing.
- I rounded up a few Bengals rumors earlier this morning.
Maryland Notes: Canty, Leach, Roberts
Ravens defensive end Chris Canty isn’t too worried about the NFL ban on “non-standard and overbuilt face masks,” writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Canty is required to wear a special facemask following a 2005 bar fight that resulted in a detached retina. The veteran will be allowed to apply for medical approval to wear “The Big Grille” (as it’s affectionately called).
“Not sure what the memo or new policy is, but it’s simple for me,” Canty said. “No eye shield and custom mask means I can’t play. Eye would be at risk.
“I invented it. It’s that simple. I can’t play without it. I can’t help it that other guys think it’s cool and they want to wear it, too. It’s a necessity for me.”
Let’s check out some more Ravens news, as well as some tidbits from the other team that plays in Maryland…
- Former Ravens fullback Vonta Leach is hoping to catch on somewhere during training camp, writes Caleb Burggraaf of Robesonian.com. “It’s never easy going through free agency,” Leach said. “It’s just a waiting game. I probably won’t sign with a team until training camp.”
- The Ravens may need to rely on a running back by committee approach if starter Ray Rice is suspended, says Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. Bernard Pierce would likely share a bulk of the carries with veteran Justin Forsett and fourth-rounder Lorenzo Taliaferro. The team also has Cierre Wood and Fitz Toussaint, and Zrebiec opines that “it would be foolish to completely dismiss their chances to make the team.”
- Redskins wideout Andre Roberts told SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter) that his decision to sign with Washington may have been different had he known DeSean Jackson was going to be on the team.
- Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com examined whether the Redskins would carry a fullback on their 53-man roster. Tandler writes that incumbent Darrel Young could be left off, being replaced by tight ends Logan Paulsen and Niles Paul. El-Bashir has a tough time seeing Young not making the roster, especially considering his role in Alfred Morris‘s success.
- Mike Jones of The Washington Post isn’t very confident in the Redskins secondary. The team has question marks at cornerback beyond DeAngelo Hall and David Amerson, with Tracy Porter and E.J. Biggers competing for the nickel back spot. At safety, the team has Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark playing on one-year deals, and the writer isn’t too optimistic about the young options behind them.
Ravens Cut Vonta Leach, Jameel McClain
3:00pm: The Ravens have officially released Leach and McClain, according to the team (Twitter link). GM Ozzie Newsome left the door open for their potential returns, calling Leach and McClain “our types of players” (Twitter link).
1:59pm: In a cap-clearing move, the Ravens will release fullback Vonta Leach and linebacker Jameel McClain, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). According to Zrebiec, the cuts aren’t official yet, but should be soon.
Both players had been entering the final year of their respective contracts in 2014. Leach’s cap number of $2.33MM will become $580K in dead money, creating $1.75MM in cap savings for the club. The room created by cutting McClain will be even more significant — the Ravens will turn his $4.4MM cap hit into $1.2MM in dead money, for $3.2MM in savings.
Leach wasn’t a significant part of the Ravens’ offense in 2013, seeing action in just 230 snaps, including nine in the last three weeks of the regular season. McClain, who renegotiated his contract last August, missed the first few weeks of 2013 while recovering from a spinal injury, then saw part-time action in 10 games. The longtime Raven’s performance over the course of 376 snaps ranked him 34th among 55 qualified inside linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). Baltimore has interest in re-signing McClain at a lower rate, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
The cuts will create a little more wiggle room as the Ravens attempt to re-sign high-priority free agents, such as tight end Dennis Pitta and left tackle Eugene Monroe.