Uncategorized - Pro Football Rumors

Free $100K Customer Appreciation NFL Contest At DraftKings

September 17th, 2015 at 9:47pm CST by Zachary Links

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The one-week contest for Week 2’s slate of NFL games gets underway on Sunday, September 20th at 1:00 PM EST, so you have plenty of time to set – and tweak – your lineup. It’s a salary cap style contest, meaning that you’ll get a budget of $50K to put your team together. You’ll be choosing for nine spots in total: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex and 1 Defense. Here’s what my current Week 2 roster looks like, for example:

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This is a sponsored post from DraftKings.

NFC Notes: Saints, Novak, Bowers, Panthers

September 7th, 2015 at 9:45pm CST by Zachary Links

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.

Extra Points: Browns, Seahawks, Eagles, Bucs

September 5th, 2015 at 11:35am CST by Ben Levine

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.

Extra Points: Hardy, Asamoah, Falcons

September 3rd, 2015 at 10:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Greg Hardy is waiting for a final recommendation from the NFL Players Association before deciding on whether to make a legal challenge on his four-game suspension, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Even if he does, Florio writes that it’s hard to see the Cowboys star getting that four-game ban cut down based on the timing of everything. If Hardy files something now, he won’t get a final ruling before Monday, September 21st. There’s also the possibility of a PR backlash against Hardy, who has already had his suspension stemming from domestic violence reduced significantly.

Here’s more from around the NFL..

Falcons guard Jon Asamoah wasn’t seen with the team tonight during its preseason game and that led some, including ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (on Twitter) to speculate that he could be involved in a trade. However, the Falcons quickly took to Twitter to declare that Asamoah is not being traded. Still, Chris Chester has taken the spot of the former third-round draft choice and it’s conceivable that he might not survive the cutdown to a 53-man roster. Prior to the 2014 season, Asamoah inked a five-year, $22.5MM deal including $8MM guaranteed with Atlanta. After the game, coach Dan Quinn told reporters, including McClure (link), that Asamoah and Jake Matthews were excused from the game with injuries.
The Falcons announced linebacker Brooks Reed underwent groin surgery, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport hears that Reed will be out for six weeks and that is a tough blow for the Falcons’ front seven.
Bills coach Rex Ryan is less-than-pleased with kicker Dan Carpenter. “I’m tired of seeing us miss a field goal. We’ll certainly be looking. Nobody earns this job by default,” Ryan said, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (on Twitter). If the Bills cut Carpenter, they would save $1.3MM this season and $1.75MM next season.
The Vikings have added a veteran lineman after final cuts the last two years and Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (on Twitter) would not be surprised at all to see them do the same thing again this year.

AFC Notes: Patriots, Steelers, Pouncey, Vick

August 27th, 2015 at 9:44pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s not immediately clear whether Micahel Williams, acquired by the Patriots in a Tuesday trade, will be playing tight end or tackle, Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. Williams came on to the practice field wearing a No. 74 jersey but later changed into No. 85 and could be seen working out with the tight end group. The 6’6″ athlete first came into the NFL as a tight end but was moved to tackle by the Lions in 2014 after their selection of Eric Ebron. Here’s more from the AFC..

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says center Maurkice Pouncey, who fractured his left fibula Sunday against the Packers, has a chance to return this season, as Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. However, he did not offer a timetable on when that might be. Pouncey has told teammates he would like to play this season and it sounds like he’s a candidate for the IR-DTR list.
Michael Vick‘s one-year contract with the Steelers calls for a base salary of $970K, the veteran’s minimum, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The deal has no injury split and zero guaranteed money.
Bills receiver Chris Hogan has had an up-and-down summer and is battling a knee injury, but he doesn’t believe his roster spot is in jeopardy, as he tells Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News. A handful of Bills wideouts, including Deonte Thompson and Andre Davis, have had strong preseasons, which could make for a difficult decision or two in Buffalo.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

NFC Notes: Giants, Cowboys, Lions, Saints

August 26th, 2015 at 10:53am CST by Luke Adams

The Giants were the NFL’s most-injured team in 2013 and 2014, and the club has already had 22 players sidelined by injury this summer, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, who suggests Tom Coughlin‘s job could ultimately be in jeopardy if the team’s health issues lead to another underwhelming season.

One key Giants player who missed most of last season due to injury is currently on the shelf this year as well, and Coughlin acknowledges that he’s starting to worry about Victor Cruz‘s availability for Week 1. The receiver is battling a calf issue.

“I’m concerned, yeah, I am” Coughlin said, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. “But I would like to see him get out there, and be able to stay out there. That’s what our real intent is. As soon as that can be done, that’s possible, then that’s what will happen.”

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Following Orlando Scandrick‘s season-ending ACL injury, the Cowboys are in the market for cornerbacks, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Per Cole, the team isn’t necessarily looking for a starter, but would like to add depth to an increasingly thin position.
Before trading him to the Patriots, the Lions actually heard from four teams that were interested in offensive tackle Michael Williams, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com observes, the Williams deal continues a trend for GM Martin Mayhew, who has acquired late-round draft compensation for a handful of players within the last few months.
The Saints will have some decisions to make when it comes to their defensive line, and Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune examines some of the players who are on the roster bubble and who could hit waivers next week.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC East Notes: J. Taylor, McCourty, Dareus

August 23rd, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Rory Parks

We learned earlier today that the Giants suffered yet another blow to their secondary last night, and as Adam H. Beasley of The Miami Herald writes, the Dolphins‘ secondary is also growing thin due to injury. After losing Louis Delmas to a torn ACL last week, Miami saw Jamar Taylor leave last night’s preseason game to a quadriceps injury. Taylor, fighting for a starting cornerback spot opposite Brent Grimes, dealt with a sports hernia in his rookie campaign in 2013, and last year he was placed on IR with a shoulder injury. The severity of Taylor’s latest ailment is unknown at this time.

As the Giants and Dolphins fret over their secondaries, let’s take a look at a few more links from the AFC East:

Devin McCourty played cornerback for the Patriots in their preseason contest against New Orleans last night, and he did not like it one bit. McCourty said, via Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com, “I hope it’s not permanent. It didn’t feel great, and I don’t think it looked great so we’ll see.” McCourty, of course, transitioned to safety from corner in 2012, and has thrived as a safety in the past couple of seasons. But with the exodus of starting-caliber corners from New England this offseason, the team may be forced to utilize McCourty’s versatility more than he would like.
In a separate piece, Curran discusses the status of the Patriots‘ running back battle in light of the impressive performances from James White and Dion Lewis last night.
PFR’s Sam Robinson wrote yesterday that Marcell Dareus has softened his public stance towards his contract negotiations with the Bills, and as Jerry Sullivan of The Buffalo News opines, it’s the right move. Sullivan writes that Dareus may be an excellent player, but he is surrounded by other terrific players on the defensive line, and he is not nearly the run defender that Ndamukong Suh is. Those facts, combined with Dareus’ past indiscretions, suggest that Dareus should not be paid like Suh, regardless of what Dareus himself thinks. In the end, the Bills will likely bend a bit, Dareus will bend a bit, and Dareus will remain in Buffalo for the foreseeable future.
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com says Jets‘ tight end Jace Amaro, a holdover from the John Idzik regime, is on the “moderate” hot seat. Amaro was listed as the third tight end on the team’s first official depth chart, and the team has mixed feelings about him. Cimini adds that wide receiver Jeremy Kerley is in a similar situation, especially given the strong training camp of Quincy Enunwa.

NFL Millionaire Maker Contest At DraftKings

August 20th, 2015 at 10:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Take your shot this NFL season at turning $20 into $2,000,000 in the NFL $10MM Millionaire Maker contest at DraftKings! The first-place finisher in the Week 1 contest will win an incredible $2MM and the top 125,700 entrants will be paid out of a guaranteed $10MM prize pool. It’s the biggest fantasy football contest of all time, and the entry fee is just $20!

The one-week contest for Week 1’s slate of NFL games gets underway on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00pm eastern time, so you have plenty of time to set – and tweak – your lineup. It’s a salary cap style contest, meaning you’ll have a budget of $50K with which to fill nine roster spots — one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one Flex, and one Team Defense. Here’s what my current Week 1 roster looks like, for example:

Sign up today for the DraftKings $10MM Millionaire Maker contest today for your chance to win $2,000,000!

This is a sponsored post from DraftKings.

North Notes: Benjamin, Vikings, Packers

August 18th, 2015 at 3:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, recognizes that it’s a “big, big year” for him, as he tells Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Still, he’s not looking ahead to signing an extension or a free agent contract, suggesting that if he plays well, things will take care of themselves.

“I’m playing for now. I don’t look far into the future,” Benjamin said. “I’m just playing for the Browns right now, and hopefully, if things work out, I’ll be here for another couple more years.”

As Benjamin looks to surpass his career high of 18 receptions this year, let’s check out some more notes from out of the NFL’s two Central divisions….

Head coach Mike Zimmer said earlier in camp that it’s not essential to keep a true fullback on the Vikings‘ roster this season, but you should still bet on the club hanging onto one, says Mark Craig of the Star Tribune, suggesting that Zach Line is a strong bet to make the team.
Jared Abbrederis, selected by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2014 draft, isn’t giving up on his NFL career, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. The former Wisconsin wideout missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, and has yet to be cleared this year due to a concussion, but Green Bay isn’t giving up on him, as Demovsky details.
Yesterday, we heard that wide receiver Adrian Coxson had been cut by the Packers outright, and that Coxson would be seeking an injury settlement from the team. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post clarifies (via Twitter) that Green Bay waived Coxson with a “failure to disclose physical condition” designation, suggesting he didn’t inform the team of concussion symptoms.

NFC East Notes: Ertz, Cowboys, Redd

August 14th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though Washington will miss Niles Paul for the entire season after he suffered an ankle injury, the club doesn’t intend to make a major move for a new tight end, tweets Albert Breer of NFL.com. Not only will the team not attempt to swing a trade, but they aren’t interested in Chris Cooley, who is attempting to make an NFL comeback. Earlier today, PFR’s Luke Adams went over Washington’s options as it attempts to replace Paul.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

Washington isn’t the only team with tight end troubles, as Eagles TE Zach Ertz underwent surgery to replace a core muscle injury, the team confirmed (via Twitter), and Chip Kelly told Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Ertz is expected to miss the entire preseason. Ertz should be ready for Week 1, however.
Washington running back Silas Redd suffered a knee injury during yesterday’s preseason game, and his teammate DeSean Jackson says (via Instagram) that Redd’s injury is season-ending. A source confirms to Mike Jones of the Washington Post that Redd tore both his ACL and MCL last night. Redd appeared in 15 games in 2014, his rookie season.
The Cowboys will be looking for a running back, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link), but Dallas won’t be signing any of the familiar names often linked to the club, so players like Chris Johnson and Ray Rice can probably be crossed off the list. Undrafted rookie Gus Johnson suffered a shoulder injury in last night’s game, and although Johnson is considered day-to-day, the Cowboys were probably looking for additional depth at the position even before the rookie’s injury.

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