Cardinals Release Malcolm Butler From Reserve/Retired List; CB Considering Comeback
Malcolm Butler did not play in 2021, informing the Cardinals of a retirement decision just before the season began. While the Cards previously held Butler’s rights, the former Super Bowl hero is unattached again.
The Cardinals released Butler from their reserve-retired list Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This might not be a formality, with Rapoport adding the veteran cover man is considering a comeback. Butler has been working out regularly in preparation for a likely return, per NFL.com’s Mike Giardi (on Twitter).
Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said just before last season a Butler comeback remained in play, but he stayed retired. Butler will turn 32 in two weeks. His retirement decision left the Cardinals shorthanded on the outside last season, though Robert Alford‘s return after two injury-nixed years helped the playoff-qualifying team’s cause. Alford is now on track for free agency.
Prior to the late-summer retirement, Butler logged seven NFL seasons and did well for himself financially despite arriving in the league as a UDFA. The Patriots slapped a first-round RFA tender on Butler in 2017, and the Titans gave him a five-year, $61.25MM deal in 2018 as a free agent. Tennessee bailed on that contract last March. Arizona signed Butler to a one-year, $3.25MM accord weeks later.
Lions Re-Sign FB Jason Cabinda
The Lions are keeping fullback Jason Cabinda in place for the near future. Per a team announcement, he has signed an extension that runs through the 2023 season, preventing him from becoming a restricted free agent in March.
The 25-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State with the Raiders in 2018. At that point, he was a linebacker, and made 21 tackles across ten games as a rookie. He signed on to the Lions’ practice squad at the start of the following season, however, which started his process of transitioning to the offensive side of the ball.
A core special teamer, Cabinda didn’t see notable offensive playing time until 2020. He logged 130 snaps that season, and another 141 in 2021, totalling 10 touches and 47 scrimmage yards between the two campaigns. 2021 also included his first career touchdown.
Cabinda also made his presence felt off the field, as he was the Lions’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award this past season. That’s part of the reason he became one of head coach Dan Campbell‘s favorite players, earning him a new contract to stay in place as the team attempts to turn around from having the NFC’s worst record from last year.
Panthers Re-Sign LB Frankie Luvu
The Panthers are bringing back one of their pending free agents. Linebacker Frankie Luvu has agreed to a two-year deal with Carolina, per ESPN’s David Newton (Twitter link). Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network adds that the contract is worth $9MM.
Luvu, 25, signed with the Panthers last offseason. That came after three years to start his career with the Jets, where he flashed potential as at least an effective rotational player. While he had the second-lowest sack total of his career in 2021 with 1.5, he set a new mark with 43 total tackles (including eight for a loss) in 16 games. He also collected one pass breakup, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
While Luvu, who went undrafted in 2018, saw almost exactly as many snaps on defense as he did in his final campaign with the Jets, he continued an upward trend of playing time on special teams, reaching a new career high of 71% of snaps. PFF’s Doug Kyed tweets that he “was expected to draw significant interest as a free agent”.
Luvu will now remain on a Panthers defense that ranked second in the league in yards allowed in 2021. With a front seven including the likes of Derrick Brown, Brian Burns and fellow linebacker Shaq Thompson, he seems to have carved out a useful role on the team which has earned him some short-term stability.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/16/22
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Released from reserve-retired list: WR Derrick Willies
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Donell Stanley
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/16/22
Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures deals:
Chicago Bears
- LS Beau Brinkley, P Ryan Winslow
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- T Brandon Walton
Falcons Release OLB Dante Fowler
Because of a 2021 restructure, Dante Fowler was set to be a free agent at the start of the new league year in March. The Falcons moved up that timetable, making the veteran edge defender available now.
Atlanta moved Fowler’s contract off its books Wednesday, releasing him a month before the start of the 2022 league year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Because of the bonus proration, this move still tags the Falcons with more than $4MM in dead money. For Fowler, this separation is a chance for him to catch on with a team before free agency opens.
Fowler did well on the 2020 market, signing a three-year deal worth $48MM. The Falcons did not receive especially good value on the contract. The former Jaguars and Rams pass rusher registered just 7.5 sacks in 28 games with the Falcons, totaling 16 quarterback hits in that span. Fowler finished with 11.5 sacks and 16 QB hits during his Rams contract year in 2019. Fowler redoing his deal last March voided the final year of his contract.
Because of his past two seasons, it should not be expected Fowler will do nearly as well as a free agent this year. However, the former top-five pick is just 27 and has a couple of strong seasons on his resume. He recorded eight sacks with the Jags back in 2017, helping the team to the AFC championship game as a rotational rusher.
Most of the high-end edge rushers on this year’s market are older than Fowler, with the likes of Von Miller, Chandler Jones, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jadeveon Clowney and Mario Addison being among the biggest names set to be available. Fowler will have the advantage of being able to sign earlier, and it will be interesting how teams value him ahead of free agency.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/15/22
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: TE Ryan Becker
Washington Commanders
- Waived: TE Tyrone Swoopes, G Najee Toran
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/15/22
Today’s Reserve/Futures deals signed in the NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB John Brannon, QB Jake Browning, C Lamont Gaillard, S Trayvon Henderson, RB Elijah Holyfield, TE Thaddeus Moss, DE Noah Spence, TE Scotty Washington, WR Pooka Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Landen Akers, T Chandler Brewer, DB Antoine Brooks Jr., DE Earnest Brown IV, DB Tyler Hall, RB Javian Hawkins, G Jeremiah Kolone, WR J.J. Koski, TE Kyle Markway, DB Kareem Orr, T Max Pircher, DE Jonah Williams
New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/14/22
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Claimed off waivers: DB Essang Bassey (from Chargers), P Corliss Waitman (from Steelers)
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers: DB Juju Hughes (from Rams)
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers: DL Kingsley Keke (from Packers)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Da’Shawn Hand
Per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Broncos (with Bassey and Waitman), Lions (with Hughes), and Texans (with Keke) placed their respective claims earlier in their offseasons. Since these players were on playoff teams, they weren’t immediately assigned. Instead, the teams needed to wait for the league year to switch over to 2022, allowing the players to join their new squads.
S Eric Weddle Re-Retiring
The Beard is hanging up the cleats…again. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rams’ safety Eric Weddle told reporters after their Super Bowl LVI victory, that “yes, (he’s) re-retiring.” Weddle is making good on a promise he made shortly after the Rams’ NFC Championship victory over the 49ers. 
“It’s amazing to be able to understand that and know that I don’t have to save myself for next season, I don’t have to save myself for the offseason, I didn’t have to save myself for the Super Bowl last week knowing it wasn’t guaranteed, so I was throwing it in there, giving it everything I got,” Weddle had said. “After this Super Bowl, I move on and go back to my old life and there will be no comebacks.”
Weddle originally announced his retirement shortly following the conclusion of his 2019 NFL season with the Rams. In that lone year in Los Angeles, Weddle was a team captain and defensive-signal caller, a role he reprised tonight, wearing the green sticker for the Rams’ defense.
Weddle was coaxed out of retirement as a bandage for a Rams’ secondary that was without Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp at safety to start the playoffs. His impact over the four-game playoff run wasn’t flashy, but he provided impactful leadership and sure tackling en route to his first Super Bowl ring. A member of the All-Decade Team for the 2010s, the only thing missing in Weddle’s illustrious career was that elusive ring. He’ll get fitted for it now and be invited to the White House with the rest of the team.
In tonight’s Super Bowl LVI victory, Weddle appeared to injure himself early in the game while making a tackle. He left the game momentarily before coming back to finish out the victory continuing to make tackles along the way. He told reporters after the game that he suffered a torn pec and will require surgery soon. He’ll have a lifetime to recover with no rush.
Weddle had a well-known tradition after winning football games. Upon returning home, Weddle and his family would enjoy a victory-bowl of ice cream. While in Baltimore, Weddle once agreed he would host an ice cream party at M&T Bank Stadium if they won the big game. While he may not have the same plans for SoFi Stadium, I hope Weddle and his family get to enjoy a “super bowl” of ice cream that fits the entire carton.