AFC South Notes: Titans, Colts, Hilton
While the Titans had planned to hire a new president/CEO, that search has been put on hold, and interim president Steve Underwood will continue to hold the position through the 2015 season, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
“We had applications from a number of people that I have known for many years who have been presidents of NFL clubs, who were highly qualified, and they’d be good leaders,” Underwood said. “But we didn’t interview any of them; we never got that far along in the process. I just think our ownership group, as the weeks went by, they got a better and better comfort level in the direction we’re heading and they decided they’d rather put that off if I would decide to stay and get us through the season.“
As the Titans’ ownership group and front office has done repeatedly in recent months and years, Underwood also reiterated today that the franchise is not for sale, according to Wyatt.
“There is no talk of selling. The owners haven’t entertained it,” Underwood said. “The people who suggest a sale are guessing and I don’t have to guess — I know there is not a sale underway. They are not entertaining offers for a sale. There is no ‘for sale’ sign in our yard.“
Here’s more from out of the AFC South:
- Shonn Greene wasn’t cut today by the Titans because he was out of shape or injured — according to head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the running back passed a physical before he was released, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- The Colts aren’t pursuing Evan Mathis, and it appears unlikely that the team will reconsider that stance, a source tells Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
- Mike Chappell of Indy Sports Central looks at T.Y. Hilton‘s resume in an attempt to assess his value, noting that it’s far from a given that Hilton will get an extension. Colts owner Jim Irsay has rarely signed any player to an extension, including Peyton Manning, who played out his contracts before signing new ones. The Colts also have rookie Phillip Dorsett in the fold, which could give them a fallback option if Hilton is not retained in the long term.
- Trent Cole‘s best years are almost certainly behind him, but he told reporters this week, including Mike Wells of ESPN.com, that he feels “rejuvenated” after joining the Colts this offseason.
Titans Release Shonn Greene
9:12am: The Titans have officially released Greene, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).
8:26am: The Titans intend to release veteran running back Shonn Greene from their roster this morning, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Because Greene is a vested veteran, he won’t have to pass through waivers, and will immediately become a free agent when the move is official.
Greene, who will turn 30 in August, joined the Titans in 2013 on the heels of a pair of 1,000-yard seasons with the Jets. However, the former third-round pick never matched the success he had in New York during his two seasons with the Titans. As a part-time contributor, Greene totaled 687 yards and six touchdowns over the course of the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
Heading into the final year of his contract, Greene didn’t report to the Titans’ offseason program until very recently, according to Wyatt (via Twitter). Given his minor role in Tennessee’s offense over the last two years, it’s somewhat surprising Greene was even still on the roster at this point. He had been scheduled to earn a salary of $3.25MM in 2015, and the Titans will reduce his cap hit from about $4.183MM to $833K by cutting him.
With Greene out of the picture, 2014 second-rounder Bishop Sankey appears poised to handle the majority of the load in the Tennessee backfield. David Cobb and Antonio Andrews should also get the opportunity to compete for touches, with Dexter McCluster acting as an all-purpose weapon.
AFC Mailbags: Browns, Titans, Raiders
Here are some points from some of the AFC mailbags emerging on Sunday.
- Tashaun Gipson‘s signing of his second-round restricted free agent tender could help expedite the Browns‘ Pro Bowl safety in his push for a long-term deal, writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The longtime Browns beat reporter expects the team to make him a lucrative offer to Gipson in the near future. He’ll play for just more than $2MM this season, which will be his age-25 campaign.
- Cabot expects either Isaiah Crowell or Terrance West to rush for 1,000 yards this season and sees rookie Duke Johnson mixing in, probably on third downs, but not usurping the team’s second-year duo just yet. Although Crowell ended up being the go-to back by season’s end in 2014 despite being regarded as the third choice to start at this point last year.
- ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky views the Titans‘ latest Pac-12 top-10 quarterback as a far better product than their last, with Marcus Mariota‘s leadership skills and pro-ready ability dwarfing recently retired Jake Locker‘s.
- He of six sacks in three seasons as mostly a Falcons reserve, Jonathan Massaquoi should be the Titans’ third edge-rushing talent behind Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo, notes Kuharsky. Although he wouldn’t characterize the corps as injury-prone despite Morgan’s past ACL tear and Orakpo’s two season-ending chest injuries, Kuharsky views Tennessee’s pass-rushing contingent as thin.
- Sio Moore should be ready to start the regular season after major offseason hip surgery, notes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com, but the Raiders scribe notes it’s not a lock and that Malcolm Smith is the just-in-case option.
- The 25-year-old Moore’s health will go a ways to helping a pass rush that Williamson doesn’t believe was appropriately bolstered in the offseason. Khalil Mack remains a potential superstar and was Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 4-3 outside linebacker last year, but Justin Tuck‘s five sacks still led the team last year and second-rounder Mario Edwards Jr. (eight sacks in his college career at Florida State) looks in line to start at end.
AFC South Notes: Orakpo, Luck, Hilton
Prized Titans offseason acquisition Brian Orakpo is still being held out of practice, but Whisenhunt says it’s more precautionary than anything, as Glennon writes.
“I think probably right know he could go,” the coach said. “But we’re holding him back, just because we want to make sure we don’t do anything now and we’ve got him when we get rolling in (training) camp.”
While we wait for Orakpo’s practice debut, here’s more out of the AFC South..
- Colts owner Jim Irsay told reporters, including Mike Chappell of the Indy Star (on Twitter), that quarterback Andrew Luck will be in Indianapolis “for a very long time.” Irsay has repeatedly expressed confidence that he will eventually lock his franchise QB up for the long term.
- After listening to Colts GM Ryan Grigson talk today, Mike Chappell of CBS4 (on Twitter) is convinced that T.Y. Hilton will wait until the end of the season for a new deal. On Wednesday, Irsay gave reporters the impression that he could get a new pact done with Hilton before the start of the year.
- The Colts would be smart to make Luck a big offer now, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk opines. Waiting to get a deal done with Luck, he argues, will only increase the quarterback’s leverage. The odds of Luck suffering a career-threatening injury that would diminish his value go down the closer he gets to completing his contract. The Colts could capitalize on that fear now and convince Luck to take a deal that will give him security against something catastrophic, just as the Dolphins did with Ryan Tannehill.
South Notes: Bucs, Glennon, Martin
Titans receivers coach Shawn Jefferson sees big things in rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota‘s future, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com writes.
“He is deadly accurate,” Jefferson said. “I am just giddy about his future going forward …He’s the real deal. A couple years ago I was back in Detroit and when Matthew Stafford stepped into the huddle the first time, once I heard his voice and the way he called a play, I said, ‘OK, that’s a real one right there.’ Same way with this one. He’s real. He’s got the goods.”
Here’s tonight’s look at the South divisions..
- The Buccaneers gave some thought to trading Mike Glennon this offseason, but GM Jason Licht pulled back when he found how many teams were interested in the young QB, Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com writes. Ultimately, the Bucs felt they were better off with Glennon for at least one more season in case of injury or ineffectiveness from No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.
- More from Reynolds, who writes that the hire of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter extended Doug Martin‘s stay with the Buccaneers. “Dirk Koetter, once he started watching tape of all our players, he came away impressed with Doug,” Licht said. “You saw the tape when he’s healthy, he’s still a very effective runner.” The Muscle Hamster is in Tampa Bay for 2015, but they declined his fifth-year option, putting Martin in a “prove it” situation. In his rookie year, Martin made a heck of an impact by running for 1,454 yards off of 319 carries with 11 touchdowns while catching 49 passes for 472 yards and a TD.
- Eighth overall pick Vic Beasley is expected to sign his rookie contract with the Falcons “soon,” tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Beasley is in line for a signing bonus worth $8.8MM+, with an overall four-year contract value of about $14.495MM.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Titans Sign Fernando Velasco
The Titans have added some veteran depth to their offensive line, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed free agent center Fernando Velasco to a contract. To make room on the roster, the Titans placed cornerback Brandon Harris, who tore his ACL last week, on injured reserve.
While the Titans list Velasco as a center, he spent most of last season at guard for the Panthers, playing 407 overall offensive snaps. The 30-year-old wasn’t a core piece of Carolina’s offensive line, but he was a useful part-time player, appearing in multiple games at both right guard and left guard, and not allowing a quarterback sack all year.
In Tennessee, Velasco may challenge for playing time at center, where Brian Schwenke is the favorite to start. Schenke, a 2013 fourth-round pick, has started 20 games at the position for the Titans over the last two seasons, but has ranked among the bottom 10 players at the position in each of those years, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He and backup center Andy Gallik are also both dealing with hamstring injuries, so Velasco may ultimately just provide offseason depth.
Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but I’d anticipate a minimum salary pact for Velasco, who won’t be guaranteed a regular season roster spot. As for Harris, he had been playing out the final year of his contract with the Titans, so he appears likely to spend the season on IR, then become a free agent next winter.
AFC Rumors: McCourty, Browns, Jaguars
The free agency defections of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, coupled with the release of Kyle Arrington, have the Patriots with a thin cornerback crop. One solution thrown around is moving Devin McCourty back to corner from the safety spot where he’s become an impact talent, but the recently re-signed McCourty has little interest in moving back outside, per the Boston Globe’s Steve Silva.
“I want to play safety, but it’s out of my control so whatever the coaches decide is what it will have to be,” McCourty said to reporters after an OTA session Friday.
Relocating McCourty would leave New England thin on its back line as well, although Tavon Wilson and Nate Ebner are entering their fourth seasons with the team — profiles that generally depict starting-capable players in the era of four-year rookie deals. The 2012 draft picks have combined for just four starts, however. Doubting the Patriots’ ability to make a patchwork secondary productive would be foolhardy at this point, though, given their track record.
Let’s look at some additional points from around the AFC.
- The Browns‘ special teams makeover now includes punter, kicker and long snapper, after acquiring Andy Lee, cutting Billy Cundiff and Garrett Hartley and releasing snapper Christian Yount, notes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. 2014 rookies Travis Coons and Carey Spear are vying to take over at kicker in Cleveland, and rookie Duke Johnson is expected to become the team’s new kick returner, though Justin Gilbert will likely be given a chance to do so as well, Cabot reports.
- Fourth-round free safety James Sample will miss at least part of training camp after fracturing his arm in a Jaguars OTA session Thursday, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Sample underwent surgery on Friday. Expected to battle Sergio Brown for a starting position, Sample joins Dante Fowler Jr. as Jags rookies who’ve sustained serious injuries before shoulder pads enter the equation.
- Steelers veteran nose tackle Steve McLendon said he played through a significant shoulder injury last season and after an offseason surgery is in better position to help out and push for a third contract with the team, reports Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The third-year starter is one of three Steelers starting defenders, along with Cameron Heyward and William Gay, entering a contract season. The 29-year-old who has missed six games the past two years is in the final year of a three-year, $7.25MM deal that represents the eighth-highest pact among nose tackles.
- Third-round rookie John Miller is the frontrunner to start at left guard for the Bills this season, offers Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Chris Williams, who started three games last year for the Bills, hasn’t shown up to minicamp yet, and Rex Ryan told Maiorana he hasn’t spoken to the absent veteran. The Bills scribe doesn’t expect the former Bears flameout to be on the team much longer, especially if he doesn’t appear at mandatory minicamp next month.
- Titans rookie Dorial Green-Beckham is seeking to trim down to 225 pounds by the time training camp begins. The mercurial specimen who hasn’t played in a game since 2013 is hovering in the high 230s now, notes The Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt.
- Speaking of weight fluctuations, Melvin Ingram has slashed 20 pounds off his frame and sits at 245 this summer as he makes an attempt at a healthy campaign entering his fourth season with the Chargers, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken. Ingram hasn’t played in more than nine games since his rookie campaign in 2012.
Colin McCarthy Announces Retirement
Veteran linebacker Colin McCarthy announced today on Twitter that he is retiring from the NFL. While his Twitter message didn’t explicitly mention retirement, the former Miami Hurricane confirmed in a message to Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald that he is “officially retiring today.”
“Truly blessed to have played the game as long as I have!!” McCarthy wrote on Twitter. “To my family, friends, teammates and fans, Thank You!!”
McCarthy, a fourth-round pick in 2011 by the Titans, is just 27 years old, so it seems fair to speculate that health concerns are largely responsible for his early retirement, given his injury history. Prior to spending the 2014 season on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery, McCarthy also battled a concussion and ankle and hamstring problems earlier in his career.
When he did see the field in Tennessee, McCarthy started 19 of his 36 games, recording 161 career tackles, forcing three fumbles, and snagging three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. McCarthy reportedly paid a free agent visit to the Patriots this offseason, but nothing came of that meeting.
Extra Points: Winston, Liuget, Harris
Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is high on rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, as Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida writes. However, he says the real test of his abilities is yet to come. “He’s a first-overall pick. Of course you see the talent,” McCoy said of Winston. “You’ve got to give it some time, guys. Everything is real basic right now. Until we put on pads and I can actually chase him, then I’ll tell you how good he is.”
- There has been a lot of positive momentum in the Chargers‘ efforts to sign defensive end Corey Liuget to a contract extension, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. The two sides are getting closer, according to a source that spoke with Gehlken.
- Titans cornerback Brandon Harris suffered a torn ACL during today’s practice, according to a source that spoke with Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (on Twitter). Harris, who signed a one-year deal with the Titans during the offseason, now faces a lengthy rehab process. The 25-year-old earned 112 defensive snaps for the Titans in 2014, recording 11 tackles and three passes defended. He was selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2011 draft and although he wasn’t expected to play a starring role this year, he was being counted upon for depth at the cornerback position.
- Falcons coach Dan Quinn supported the team’s quick decision to release linebacker Prince Shembo, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes. Naturally, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who went through the Michael Vick federal dog fighting investigation of 2007, was involved in the decision to release Shembo.
- The Ravens were glad to snag cornerback Tray Walker in the fourth round of this year’s draft, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes. The Ravens knew that the Texas Southern product was drawing widespread interest, so they were over the moon to get him at No. 136. “He’s a guy that we had targeted,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “We really hoped to get him in the draft. He’s a guy that we wanted to get in the mid-rounds. We were looking to try to draft him, and we were able to do it.“
- The Dolphins should be happy that they got Ryan Tannehill‘s deal done before Cam Newton‘s new pact with the Panthers, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. The total money given to Tannehill may not have changed, but the contract security likely would have been different.
- The Chargers and mayor Kevin Faulconer met to discuss the possibility of a new stadium on Tuesday, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com writes. “Today we and our negotiating team met with Chargers chairman Dean Spanos and his adviser Mark Fabiani for more than an hour,” Faulconer’s spokesperson Craig Gustafson said in a prepared statement. “It was a productive discussion on a variety of issues, and both parties agreed to meet again within the next several days.”
Minor Moves: Tuesday Night
This afternoon, Luke Adams rounded up the minor transactions of the day. Here’s a look at the latest moves to come to light this evening..
- Nose tackle Brandon Deaderick, a former member of the Saints, was signed by the Texans, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports (via Twitter). The Texans also signed defensive end Jasper Coleman and waived running back Mack Brown, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter).
- The Browns were awarded defensive lineman Tory Slater off waivers from the Seahawks, according to a source that spoke with Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). To make room, linebacker Rodman Noel has been waived, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter).
- The Lions will re-sign UDFA running back Rasheed Williams, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). Williams, who was released not long ago, will be back at OTAs on Wednesday with Detroit.
- Washington announced that it has re-signed tackle Willie Smith. Smith, 28, originally entered the NFL as a college free agent July 28, 2011, and has since appeared in 29 career games with 11 starts with the Raiders, Chargers, and Washington. To make room, fellow tackle Tovar Allen was let go.
- The Rams signed sixth-round wide receiver Bud Sasser, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
- No surprise here, but Prince Shembo went unclaimed off waivers from the Falcons, as Wilson tweets. Wilson is facing animal cruelty chargers for allegedly killing a dog.
- The Cowboys cut safety Keelan Johnson, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
- Former Chiefs tight end Sean McGrath, who recently un-retired, has signed with the Colts, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). To make room on the roster, former tight end Jean Sifrin was waived, according to Wilson (link).
- Former Missouri defensive tackle Lucas Vincent was waived by the Titans today, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports (on Twitter).