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Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

Workout Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Raiders, Bucs

By | at September 8, 2015 9:06 am

With 53-man rosters set, teams around the NFL will start to frequently bring in players for workouts and auditions, keeping up-to-date on which free agents are out there, in case injury replacements or practice squad fill-ins are required.

Here are a few of the latest updates on teams working out players, or bringing them in for visits:

  • The Bills, who are exploring other possible options at kicker after an underwhelming preseason from Dan Carpenter, worked out Alex Henery, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Henery’s last game in the NFL, the one that cost him his job, came last October, when he missed three field goals for the Lions against Buffalo.
  • Before they signed linebacker Adrian Hubbard, the Dolphins worked out Hubbard and several other players, according to Wilson (Twitter link). The players who earned an audition with Miami included former Raiders safety Jonathan Dowling, ex-Cardinals linebacker Glenn Carson, former Bengals linebacker Nico Johnson, ex-Cowboys cornerback Robert Steeples, and former Eagles safety Chris Prosinski.
  • The Raiders brought in a number of players for workouts, with a focus on wide receivers, quarterbacks, and defensive backs. According to Wilson (Twitter links), wideouts Phil Bates, John Harris, DeAndre Carter, and T.J. Graham, quarterbacks Jeff Tuel and Phillip Sims, and defensive backs Tommie Campbell, Phillip Thomas, B.W. Webb, and Ty Zimmerman auditioned for the club. Offensive lineman Dillon Farrell also had a tryout with Oakland.
  • Offensive lineman Austin Reiter, a 2015 seventh-rounder waived by Washington over the weekend, is working out for the Buccaneers this morning, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
  • After being waived by the Chargers last week, wide receiver Titus Davis paid a visit to the Lions, tweets Wilson.
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NFC Notes: Saints, Novak, Bowers, Panthers

By | at September 7, 2015 9:45 pm

The Saints are set to audition former Chargers kicker Nick Novak, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). As La Canfora notes, the Saints could use a veteran kicker and the 34-year-old would fit the bill for them. Novak made 22-of-26 field goals last year and is only two years removed from his best campaign, making 34-of-37 kicks in 2013. He also hasn’t missed more than four kicks in a season since his first in San Diego.

  • Former Buccaneers defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers will work out for the Panthers, according to a source who spoke with Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. Bowers, a second-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, was released by the Buccaneers over the weekend. In his four seasons with the Bucs, Bowers has totaled just seven sacks. Last year he had one sack in 11 games, including two starts.
  • In order for the Seahawks to get the Cowboys’ seventh-round pick in 2016, Christine Michael will have to be on the 46-man gameday roster three times this season, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. Michael came to the Cowboys over the weekend in a deal that will help strengthen up a group of running backs that includes Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar.
  • If quarterback Ryan Griffin wasn’t claimed by the Buccaneers this week, he would have wound up joining the Browns, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Browns were the only other team to put a claim in on Griffin.
  • Lions GM Martin Mayhew said that he plans on signing a quarterback to the practice squad, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets. A signing could happen as soon as Tuesday.
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NFC Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/15

By | at September 7, 2015 7:10 pm

While many teams filled up their 10-man practice squads on Sunday, plenty of teams didn’t confirm their moves right away, or kept a few spots open on those units. On top of that, at least one club that signed 10 players to its taxi squad on Sunday has already made several changes, bringing in new players and jettisoning players who didn’t even spend 24 hours on the squad.

We’ll have updates on Monday’s NFC practice squad signings and cuts in this space, with teams listed in alphabetical order. When new moves occur, we’ll bump this post back to the top of the page. Here’s a round-up of today’s moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed (link via Josh Weinfuss):
    • CB Cariel Brooks
    • T Rob Crisp
    • LB Gabe Martin
    • G Antoine McClain
    • WR Jaxon Shipley
    • RB Kerwynn Williams
    • CB Leon McFadden

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed (press release):
    • LB Derek Akunne
    • T Pierce Burton
    • CB Akeem King
    • QB Matt Simms
    • LB Tyler Starr

Chicago Bears

  • Signed (Twitter links):
    • LB Lamin Barrow
    • T Nick Becton
    • DL Brandon Dunn
    • CB Jacoby Glenn
    • WR Jalen Saunders

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed (Twitter link via Todd Archer):
    • OT John Wetzel
    • S Tim Scott
    • LB Dakorey Johnson
  • To be signed:

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed (press release):
    • RB John Crockett
    • CB Robertson Daniel
    • DT Christian Ringo

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed (via Evan Woodbery on Twitter):
    • TE Blake Annen
    • CB Don Jones

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed:

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed (press release):
    • T Edawn Coughman
    • T Terren Jones
    • WR Rannell Hall
    • TE Cameron Brate

Washington:

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Buccaneers Sign Tim Jennings

By | at September 7, 2015 11:14 am

MONDAY, 11:14am: The Buccaneers have made their deal with Jennings official, placing Demar Dotson on IR-DTR to make room on the roster, the team announced today. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the deal is believed to be a minimum salary contract, since Jennings’ old deal with the Bears included offsets. A minimum salary pact leaves the Bears on the hook for more money.

THURSDAY, 8:36pm: The Buccaneers announced (via Twitter) that they have agreed to terms with cornerback Tim Jennings. Jennings met with Tampa Bay on Tuesday and two days later, he has a deal with the team.

Jennings signing with the Bucs isn’t a real surprise, considering his connection to Lovie Smith. Smith, the current head coach in Tampa Bay, was coaching in Chicago when the team brought Jennings aboard in 2010, and oversaw the cornerback’s first Pro Bowl season in 2012. The Bears released Jennings on Sunday.

A nine-year vet, Jennings signed with the Bears back in ’10 after spending the first four years of his career with the Colts. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Jennings posted a successful 2014 season, grading as the league’s No. 28 corner while playing more than 1,000 snaps. During his time in Chicago, Jennings, a Georgia alum, started all but six games, posting 16 interceptions during that span.

Jennings now joins a group of cornerbacks that includes Alterraun Verner, Johnthan Banks, Mike Jenkins, and Sterling Moore.

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Buccaneers Place Demar Dotson On IR-DTR

By | at September 7, 2015 11:12 am

MONDAY, 11:12am: The Bucs have officially placed Dotson on IR, with the designation to return, according to a team release.

SUNDAY, 2:30pm: The Buccaneers will place offensive tackle Demar Dotson on the IR/designated list, reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Dotson will miss at least the first eight games of the season as a result, according to Greg Auman of the Times (Twitter link). This move will free up a spot on the team’s 53-man roster for newly signed cornerback Tim Jennings.

Dotson, who suffered a sprained MCL last month, has been a steady presence on the right side of Tampa Bay’s line, starting all but one of the team’s regular-season games since 2012. The 29-year-old has recorded a positive grade in each of the last three seasons, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), and he ranked 28th out of 84 qualified tackles last year.

With Dotson down, fellow veteran Gosder Cherilus will start at right tackle for Tampa. The Bucs signed Cherilus after Dotson got hurt last month.

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Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South

By | at September 6, 2015 5:52 pm

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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NFC Notes: Bucs, Byrd, Brooks

By | at September 6, 2015 10:07 am

After taking a peek at a few AFC notes this morning, let’s have a look at some NFC links in advance of today’s flurry of waiver claims and practice squad news:

  • The Buccaneers are first in line to claim players waived by the 31 other teams in the league, and Greg Auman of The Tampa Bay Times says one position where the Bucs will likely add a player is defensive end. After placing Larry English on injured reserve and cutting backups Lawrence Sidbury and rookie Ryan Delaire, Tampa Bay currently has only three defensive ends on its roster.
  • We learned yesterday that Saints safety Jairus Byrd had avoided the regular season PUP list, meaning that he is eligible to play immediately when he is medically ready. As Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune observes, it is still unclear as to exactly when Byrd will be back, but the fact that he is on the 53-man roster indicates that he could be ready to go soon.
  • Ahmad Brooks will remain on the 49ers‘ 53-man roster as the league continues to monitor his criminal case, per Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle. Head coach Jim Tomsula said he expects Brooks to play next week’s season opener, and the NFL issued a statement stating that it was not appropriate to place Brooks on the Commissioner’s Exempt List at this time.
  • John Keim of ESPN.com takes a closer look at some of the fallout from the Robert Griffin III drama in Washington. Keim notes that not everyone in the organization believes in Kirk Cousins, and Griffin’s biggest fan is team owner Dan Snyder. If Cousins gives Snyder a reason to believe in him, then Griffin may be traded or released. But if Cousins struggles, and there is plenty of reason to believe he will, the possible tension between ownership and the rest of Washington’s brass may be further illuminated.
  • Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com looks at five Washington starting jobs that could change hands this season, including quarterback (obviously), left guard, and strong safety.
  • If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the Eagles will definitely sign RB Raheem Mostert to their practice squad, according to Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Daily News (Twitter link).
  • The Lions, meanwhile, plan to sign Andrew Peacock to their practice squad today, according to a tweet from Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. Peacock cleared waivers last week.
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Bucs Announce Remaining Cuts, Down To 53

By | at September 5, 2015 6:12 pm

The Buccaneers have confirmed a number of previously-reported transactions, including the release of kicker Connor Barth and defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, and have announced the rest of their moves to get their roster down to 53 players.

Here’s the full list of Tampa Bay’s transactions that weren’t included in our story from this morning, as announced by the team in a press release.

Placed on injured reserve:

  • DE Larry English

Released:

  • DE Lawrence Sidbury

Waived:

  • CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
  • WR Kaelin Clay
  • T Edawn Coughman
  • DE Ryan Delaire
  • WR Donteea Dye
  • LB Josh Keyes
  • DT Caushaud Lyons

Waived/injured:

  • OL Garrett Gilkey
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Extra Points: Browns, Seahawks, Eagles, Bucs

By | at September 5, 2015 11:35 am

Some assorted notes from around the NFL…

  • The Browns are focused on adding a veteran running back via trade, waiver claim, or signing, reports Zac Jackson of ProFootballTalk.com. Besides the uncertainty surrounding the team’s current depth at the position, the team’s veterans have also told the coaching staff that an older player could be a good influence on the group.
  • Browns coach Mike Pettine told Jeff Schudel of The Morning Journal that it would require a “leap of faith” for former quarterback Terrelle Pryor to stick around. Pryor, who is attempting to make the squad as a wideout, has battled hamstring tightness through most of the preseason. “It’s a project to take a guy who’s played quarterback for the vast majority of his football career (and try to change his position),” Pettine said. “Even if he had stayed completely healthy, I don’t know if we would have all the results in, if we would feel 100 percent comfortable even if he had gone the whole time and not gotten injured. So certainly it would be a leap of faith.”
  • The Seahawks are exploring trades for veteran safeties, reports Conor Orr of NFL.com. Kam Chancellor is currently holding out for a new contract, and Earl Thomas is just returning from injury, so the club could use some depth at the position.
  • Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com says he’d be “really surprised” if the Eagles were finished making moves (Twitter link). He passes along that they’re “open for business” when it comes to discussing trades at “numerous” positions.
  • Buccaneers defensive end Larry English suffered a “significant” knee injury during the team’s preseason finale, and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times says the team will be eyeing the waiver wire for defensive line reinforcement. Jacquies Smith and T.J. Fatinikun are also currently struggling with injuries.
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Buccaneers Waive Patrick Omameh, Eight Others

By | at September 5, 2015 9:42 am

9:42am: The Buccaneers have made another notable cut, parting ways with cornerback Isaiah Frey, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Frey started six games for the Bears in 2013 and saw part-time action for Chicago and Tampa Bay in 2014.

9:22am: The Buccaneers were busy yesterday, parting ways with kicker Connor Barth and defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers. They also added cornerback Tim Jennings, but they lost wideout Kenny Bell for the season.

The organization continued being active today, as Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com passes along some other cuts by Tampa Bay:

Omameh may be the most notable name on this list, as the former Michigan standout started all 16 games for the Bucs in 2014. Greene started six games for Tampa Bay during his two-year career, compiling 44 tackles and an interception.

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