LaMichael James Goes Unclaimed On Waivers
In a mild surprise, the 49ers announced that running back LaMichael James went unclaimed on waivers, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes. Now, the 2012 second-round pick is a free agent and can sign with any team in the NFL.
The Oregon product was once viewed as someone who could eventually carry the torch for Frank Gore but things did not work out that way. James’ frustrations with the team became public this offseason when word got out that he was on track to be the fourth tailback on the depth chart behind Gore, Kendall Hunter, and possibly Marcus Lattimore. Since then, Lattimore has gone down with a knee injury and Hunter was waived-injured, but talented rookie Carlos Hyde still leapfrogged him for the No. 2 job. Yesterday, James requested his release and his wish was granted by San Francisco.
Meanwhile, James sent out a tweet this afternoon that could be hinting at his football future, or perhaps his desire to move beyond the sport. “Football is a sport I love but it definitely doesn’t define me as a person I have so many things in life to be thankful for,” James wrote.
NFC Notes: Redskins, Lions, 49ers, Boykin
Following Jordan Reed‘s injury on Sunday, the Redskins auditioned a few tight ends today, including Michael Higgins, Kevin Brock, and Tony Scheffler, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. Scheffler is the most interesting name in the group — the last we heard from him, he was announcing his retirement after sustaining three concussions in the last four years. Apparently he hasn’t decided to move entirely away from the NFL quite yet though.
- The Lions were already on the lookout for secondary help, having worked out Champ Bailey and other veteran defensive backs last week. Now, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes, the team will have to deal with a season-ending ACL injury for cornerback Bill Bentley, meaning some sort of roster addition appears likely.
- Having recently rejoined the 49ers, special-teams ace Kassim Osgood tells Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link) that he hopes to play in the NFL at least another three years — that would give him 15 total seasons in the league, at age 37.
- 49ers CEO Jed York reiterated today that he and head coach Jim Harbaugh will sit down and discuss Harbaugh’s contract, which runs through next year, at the end of the 2014 season, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- In a look at Brandon Boykin, who is playing the nickel role in Philadelphia, Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com examines the cornerback’s contract situation. Boykin is eligible for a new deal at year’s end, and McManus points out that it will be interesting to see if the 24-year-old is content with re-signing in the same role with the Eagles or wants the opportunity to be a starting outside corner elsewhere.
- Michael Rand of the Star Tribune thinks it makes sense for the Rams to work out a trade with the Vikings for Christian Ponder.
49ers Re-Sign Kassim Osgood
For the third time this calendar year, the 49ers have signed wide receiver and special-teamer Kassim Osgood to a contract, per Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Osgood was just released by the team on Saturday, so it didn’t take long for him to make it back onto the roster.
Osgood, 34, was released by San Francisco during the team’s cutdown to 53 players, re-signed days later, and then cut again before the team’s first game. Because he wasn’t on the club’s Week 1 roster, Osgood’s full-season salary won’t be guaranteed, which gives the Niners some added flexibility, as I explained over the weekend.
In his first year with the Niners, Osgood appeared in only 45 offensive snaps and snagged just one reception during the regular season. However, he was a key contributor in kick and punt coverage, compiling an impressive 13 special teams tackles.
The Niners won’t need to make a corresponding cut, since the team waived LaMichael James earlier today.
49ers Waive LaMichael James
LaMichael James has asked for and been granted his release from the 49ers, according to agent Jeff Sperbeck (via Twitter). Sperbeck writes that he and his client appreciate San Francisco’s willingness to allow James “to pursue his career elsewhere” and tells Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle that there have been talks with the Niners about a potential release for “the last few weeks” (Twitter link).
James, who turns 25 next month, entered the season third on the Niners’ depth chart at running back, behind starter Frank Gore and rookie Carlos Hyde. While he has contributed on special teams, James’ offensive snaps have been limited in his first two seasons in the NFL, as he has accumulated just 41 carries for 184 yards since entering the league.
James was mentioned in trade rumors earlier this year, with reports at the time suggesting the 2012 second-rounder would welcome a trade if it meant a chance to get more playing time. He could get that opportunity now, depending on which team decides to claim him off waivers or – if he clears waivers – to sign him.
Now that Ray Rice is no longer in the picture in Baltimore, the Ravens may be one team that considers placing a waiver claim on James. As for the Niners, with Kendall Hunter on injured reserve and James on waivers, the club may add another running back before Week 2’s contest against the Bears.
Browns Owner Vetoed Gordon Trade In 2013
With all the news surrounding Josh Gordon, it’s easy to forget the trade rumors that swirled regarding the troubled Browns receiver last season. Today, we have a little more specification on one such proposed deal courtesy of Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, who reports that the 49ers were highly interested in acquiring Gordon in the midst of last season.
Per La Canfora, San Francisco was willing to part with a second-round pick in “addition to other players” in order to add Gordon to what at the time was a struggling offense. However, Cleveland’s decision-makers were split on the idea of dealing their young star — while team president Joe Banner was “very open” to trading Gordon, head coach Rob Chudzinski, who had developed a personal relationship with the receiver, was less willing to deal him. Ultimately, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stepped in and nixed any tentative deal, and requested any further Gordon trade discussions be tabled.
While neither Banner nor Chudzinski remains in the Cleveland organization, it’s worth wondering whether Haslam regrets his decision. Gordon’s status is still very much in the air, and while he’s certainly talented, garnering a second-round pick and transferring his risk to another team could have been viewed as a win for the Browns. The 49ers, of course, eventually reached the NFC Championship game even without Gordon — they acquired another receiver, ex-Bill Stevie Johnson, over the offseason.
La Canfora’s report could also give us some clarity as to Gordon’s current trade value. Though the Browns have denied any interest in waiving Gordon, it wouldn’t be out of the question for them to look to move him (especially if his one-year suspension is reversed, or lessened). Cleveland wouldn’t get more than the 49ers offered given Gordon’s current concerns, but a team desperate for a playmaker could propose some sort of package for the young receiver. Setting a second-rounder as the ceiling, and assuming his suspension is overturned or reduced, I could perhaps see a team sending a fourth-round pick to the Browns in order to acquire Gordon.
However, if Haslam’s view on dealing Gordon hasn’t wavered, any further trade discussions would be moot. Additionally, La Canfora writes that the Browns went to great lengths to help Gordon last season, working with the Cleveland Clinic to find sports psychologists who could assist him in his personal life. The Browns clearly have a lot invested in Gordon, and given that they’ve stuck by him through his latest episodes, I doubt they’d look to get rid of him now.
Sunday Roundup: Harbaugh, Gordon, Manuel
After Michigan’s embarrassing loss to Notre Dame on Saturday evening, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wondered if Michigan fans would begin to dream of 49ers‘ head coach Jim Harbaugh‘s return to Ann Arbor to coach his alma mater. We detailed Harbaugh’s contract situation last month, and as Florio writes, “with no new contract in place and no plan to try to work one out until after the season, Michigan could opt to chase Harbaugh.”
In a series of tweets, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that some 49ers sources believe that Harbaugh is already losing his locker room as the club’s veterans are wondering if their coach is really “all in.” Rapoport adds that some veterans were annoyed that Harbaugh took the team to Baltimore for a few days to hold joint practices with his brother, John, head coach of the Ravens. Between those rumblings and the fact that an extension was not reached in the offseason, Rapoport wonders if this will be Jim Harbaugh’s final season in San Francisco.
Now for some more notes from around the league as the season gets underway in full force:
- Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports tweets that the 49ers will re-sign special teams standout Kassim Osgood tomorrow. Joel Corry notes (via Twitter) that the team did the same thing with Osgood last season (release him at the end of camp only to re-sign him after Week 1) and will get termination pay relief again.
- Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer writes that, under the terms of the new drug policy being discussed by the league and the player’s union, Josh Gordon could be reinstated and back on the field for the Browns as early as next week, though he might still be suspended two games in November for his pending DWI charge.
- ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that there are some within the Bills organization who are skeptical of EJ Manuel‘s ability to succeed, and the team is not afraid to make a switch to Kyle Orton.
49ers Release Kassim Osgood
The 49ers have released special teams ace Kassim Osgood, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
They used the roster space in order to take Alex Boone off the exempt list following his holdout and return him to the active roster.
Osgood made a name for himself with the Chargers, making three Pro Bowls as a special teams player. He also spent time with the Jaguars and Lions, though he never developed into a receiving threat.
NFC Notes: Tate, Ellington, Boone
New Lions receiver Golden Tate is enjoying the offense in Detroit, writes Robert Klemko of the MMQB. “The offense is kind of a feel offense. You feel your way around. Obviously there are rules and depths, but at the end of the day you’ve got to play football and just be an athlete…Coach Lombardi’s thing is to just put guys in different places and let them make plays. In Seattle we might have thrown 15-20 times a game so it made it hard to get off there. I prefer what we have in Detroit,” Tate said.
- Good news for Cardinals fans: the first prognosis on running back Andre Ellington‘s foot injury is that it’s a muscle injury, tweets Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. The team is still waiting on MRI results and a diagnosis from a foot specialist, however. If Ellington is sidelined, Jonathan Dwyer will presumably take the starting role with Stepfan Taylor and Robert Hughes in support.
- During last night’s pregame show, NBC’s Cris Collinsworth said that Julius Peppers was prepared to return to the Panthers before Packers came along with an offer he couldn’t refuse, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. “He was getting ready to go to Carolina, thinking he’d just go home and finish his career there,” Collinsworth said. “Then the Green Bay Packers called and said, ‘How’d you like to be a stand-up, 3-4 outside linebacker?’ And he said, ‘I’ve been waiting my whole life to do that.’” Retaining Peppers became quite the longshot for Carolina once Green Bay offered up a three-year, $26MM deal.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap has the specifics on Alex Boone‘s new deal with the 49ers. The total contract value is $6MM over two years with another $2MM available in incentives. Those incentives are tied to being selected to the Pro Bowl and named first team All-NFL.
West Notes: Sherman, Miller, Harvin, 49ers
The Packers didn’t throw the ball in Richard Sherman‘s direction last night and, after the game, the Seahawks star cornerback had a few quick words with Aaron Rodgers, writes Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead. “You avoided me, didn’t you?” Sherman appeared to ask. Pausing for a second, Rodgers responded, “Yup.” Here’s more out of the AFC and NFC West..
- After Broncos linebacker Von Miller commented that J.J. Watt is still underpaid in his new deal with the Texans, former agent Joel Corry (on Twitter) believes that Miller will target more than $18MM per year when his contract talks begin. Watt netted a six-year extension worth $100MM with $51.876MM in guaranteed money but its hard to say what Denver will be willing to give Miller when considering his off-field trouble.
- The Seahawks expected big things from Percy Harvin after acquiring him from the Vikings for a first-round pick and signing him to a six-year, $67MM extension. However, his hip problem limited him to playing in just two games before last year’s Super Bowl. Now, between that Super Bowl performance and last night’s romp over the Packers, Seattle is starting to get what they paid for, writes Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com.
- The 49ers tried out punter Chase Tenpenny, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Tenpenny was waived by the Chargers in late August.
Extra Points: HGH, Thompson, Raiders
Reports today, including one from ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, have suggested that talks between the NFL and the NFLPA have intensified, as the two sides attempt to implement HGH testing and revamp the league’s current drug policy. However, NFLPA president Eric Winston has issued a statement cautioning that there’s still work to be done.
“Players who have been to any collective bargaining negotiation understand that we never describe them as ‘very close,'” Winston said. “We look at every issue we can to improve the rights and benefits of players. This process takes time, it takes creativity and it is never easy. We want to get a new agreement in place but we understand the responsibility we have to the players and to the game. It is critical that we get this right.”
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Ted Thompson’s new contract with the Packers should keep him with the team well into his mid-60s. Rapoport reports that the deal, which was signed in July, is a three-year pact that runs through 2018.
- Meanwhile, Peter King takes an in-depth look at Thompson in a piece for TheMMQB.com, which includes the Packers GM discussing the team’s signing of Julius Peppers.
- Although a report on Wednesday suggested that the City of Oakland is closing in on an agreement for a new stadium for the Raiders, San Antonio is “still in conversations” to move the Raiders to Texas, city manager Sheryl Sculley tells Josh Baugh and Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
- During the 48-hour window between when the Saints cut him and re-signed him, Robert Meachem received inquiries from other teams, but he says he knew the call from New Orleans was coming, tweets Sean Fazende of FOX 8 Sports.
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com explains why the 49ers saw $8MM in cap space disappear this week, as the cap calculations for the 2014 season started taking into account teams’ full rosters rather than just their top 51 highest-paid players.