Week In Review News & Rumors

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Headlines:

• After a disappointing 1-3 start, the Dolphins fired head coach Joe Philbin, promoting tight ends coach Dan Campbell to interim head coach. Miami also fired defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, and promoted defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo to DC. Additionally, the Dolphins made several changes to their offensive coaching staff.
• Three teams have inquired on Falcons receiver Roddy White, who has expressed his discontent with his role in Atlanta’s offense.
• Multiple teams are expected to pursue Saints head coach Sean Payton during the offseason (Payton is signed through the 2017 season, however).
• The NFL extended the international series of games through the 2025 season.

Extended:

• Patriots – Dion Lewis, RB (through 2017)

Trade:

• 49ers – acquired LB Gerald Hodges from the Vikings in exchange for C Nick Easton and and a 2015 sixth-round pick.

Signed/Re-Signed:

• Bears – Sherrod Martin, DB (link)
• Bills – Billy Cundiff, K (link), Boom Herron, RB (link), and Denarius Moore, WR (link)
• Chargers – Donald Brown, RB (link)
• Lions – Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, DT (link)

Released:

• 49ers – Shareece Wright, CB (link)
• Broncos – James Casey, TE (link)
• Patriots – Bradley Fletcher, CB (link)
• Raiders – Taylor Mays, S (link)
• Saints – Kenny Phillips, S (link)

Injuries:

• Bears – Will Montgomery, C (IR)
• Cowboys – Lance Dunbar, RB (IR)
• Falcons – Devin Hester, WR (IR-DTR)
• Jaguars – Brandon Linder, G (link)
• Lions – Tyrunn Walker, DT (IR)
• Seahawks – Tharold Simon, CB (IR)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will miss four-to-six-weeks after spraining his MCL.
• The Bills will be without RB LeSean McCoy, who will miss about a month with a hamstring injury.
• The Panthers acquired DE Jared Allen from the Bears in exchange for a conditional 2016 sixth-round pick.
• DE Jason Pierre-Paul will report to the Giants within two weeks.

Trades:

• Patriots – acquired LB Jon Bostic from the Bears in exchange for a 2016 sixth-round pick.
• Ravens – acquired WR Chris Givens from the Rams in exchange for a 2018 seventh-round pick.
• Saints – acquired TE Michael Hoomanawanui from the Patriots in exchange for DE Akiem Hicks.

Injuries:

• Chargers – Johnnie Troutman, G (IR)
• Chiefs – Phillip Gaines, CB (IR)
• Eagles – Andrew Gardner, G (IR)
• Packers – Andrew Quarless, TE (IR-DTR)
• Panthers – Charles Johnson, DE (IR-DTR)
• Washington – Shawn Lauvao, G (IR)

Extended:

• Browns – Austin Davis, QB (through 2017)

Signed:

• Broncos – Tyler Polumbus, T (link)
• Colts – Josh Johnson, QB (link)
• Eagles – Caleb Sturgis, K (link)
• Steelers – Chris Boswell, K (link)
• Texans – Nick Novak, K (link)
• Washington – Mason Foster, LB (link)

Released/Waived:

• Bears – Brock Vereen, S (link)
• Chargers – Donald Brown, RB (link)
• Rams – Isaiah Pead, RB (link)
• Steelers – Josh Scobee, K (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• Safety Kam Chancellor ended his holdout after two weeks and returned to the Seahawks.
• The Cowboys placed Tony Romo on injured reserve/designated to return after he fractured his clavicle.

Trades:

• Cowboys – acquired QB Matt Cassel and a 2017 seventh-round pick from the Bills in exchange for a 2017 fifth-round pick.
• Ravens – acquired CB Will Davis from the Dolphins for a 2016 seventh-round pick.

Extended:

• Bengals – Andrew Whitworth, T: through 2016.
• Patriots – Jonathan Freeny, LB: through 2016.

Waivers:

• Raiders – claimed CB David Amerson from Washington (link)

Signed:

• Bears – Mitch Unrein, DL (link)
• Eagles – Thaddeus Lewis, QB
• Giants – Kenrick Ellis, DT (link)

Other:

• Jaguars placed WR Rashad Greene on IR-DTR (link)
• Chuck Pagano doubts he’ll return to Indianapolis in 2016 (link)
• Cowboys restructure Jason Witten‘s contract (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Extended:

• Bengals – A.J. Green, WR (Four years, $60MM)
• Bills – Marcell Dareus, DT (Six years, $100M)
• Colts – Anthony Castonzo, T (Four years, $42MM)
• Cowboys – Tyrone Crawford, DE (five years, $45MM)
• Eagles – Andrew Gardner, G (three years, $4.7MM)
• Giants – Eli Manning, QB (four years, $84MM)
• Panthers – Luke Kuechly, LB (five years, $62MM)
• Patriots – Nate Solder, T (two years, $20.062MM)
• Vikings – Jarius Wright, WR (four years, $14.8MM)

Signed/Re-Signed:

• Bills – Matt Cassel, QB (link) and Andre Fluellen, DT (link)
• Cardinals – Joseph Fauria, TE (link)
• Giants – Jasper Brinkley, LB (link)
• Packers – James Jones, WR (link)
• Raiders – Aldon Smith, LB (link)

Trade:

• Colts – acquired DE Billy Winn from the Browns in exchange for a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.

Released:

• Bears – Sam Acho, LB (link)
• Falcons – Joe Hawley, C (link)

Placed on IR-DTR:

• Browns – Charles Gaines, CB (link)
• Patriots – Bryan Stork, C (link)
• Ravens – Brent Urban, DE (link)
• Vikings – John Sullivan, C (link)

Other:

• Giants fear Jason Pierre-Paul could miss the season (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Extended:

• Eagles – Mychal Kendricks, LB (four years, $29MM)
• Falcons – Julio Jones, WR (five years, $71.25MM)
• Ravens – Will Hill, S (two years, $7MM)
• Washington – Trent Williams, T (five years, $66MM)

Key Injuries:

• Cowboys – Orlando Scandrick, CB (link)
• Packers – Jordy Nelson, WR (link)
• Patriots – James Develin, FB (link) and Brandon Gibson, WR (link)
• Steelers – Bruce Gradkowski, QB (link) and Maurkice Pouncey, C (link)
• Washington – Junior Galette, LB (link)

Signed:

• Broncos – Evan Mathis, G (link)
• Buccaneers – Connor Barth, K (link)
• Falcons – Rex Grossman, QB (link)
• Jets – Josh Johnson, QB (link)
• Patriots – Reggie Wayne, WR (link)
• Raiders – Taylor Mays, S (link)
• Steelers – Doug Legursky, C (link) and Michael Vick, QB (link)

Released:

• Jaguars – Tommie Campbell, CB (link)

Trade:

• Patriots – acquired T Mike Williams from the Lions in exchange for a 2016 seventh-round pick.

Suspended:

• Bears – Jeremiah Ratliff, DT (three games)
• Steelers – Martavis Bryant, WR (four games)

Retired:

• Chris Myers, C (link)
• Rob Sims, G (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Trades:

• Patriots – acquired TE Asante Cleveland from the 49ers in exchange for OL Jordan Devey.
• Washington – acquired TE Derek Carrier from the 49ers in exchange for a 2017 fifth-round pick.

Signed:

• Bills – Red Bryant, DL (link), Quentin Groves, LB (link), and Ellis Lankster, CB (link)
• Buccaneers – Gosder Cherilus, T (link)
• Cardinals – Chris Johnson, RB (link)
• Jets – Matt Flynn, QB (link)
• Giants – Brandon Meriweather, S (link)
• Texans – Quintin Demps, S and Fili Moala, DL (link)
• Titans – Andy Studebaker, LB (link)

Released:

• Cardinals – Darryl Sharpton, LB (link)
• Dolphins – Louis Delmas, S (link)
• Lions – Taylor Mays, S (link)

Injuries:

• Cardinals – Mike Iupati, G (link) and Corey Peters, DT (link)
• Panthers – Kelvin Benjamin, WR (link)

Suspended:

• 49ers – Jerome Simpson, WR: six games
• Buccaneers – Akeem Spence, DT: one game
• FA Jarret Bush, S: 10 games (in addition to existing four-game ban)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• The 49ers released linebacker Aldon Smith after he was arrested on Friday.
• Texans running back Arian Foster underwent groin surgery, and is candidate for the club’s injured reserve/designated to return spot. Searching for a replacement, Houston nearly came to an agreement with Pierre Thomas, but the deal fell through.

Extended:

• Bills – Nickell Robey, CB: Through 2017.
• Lions – DeAndre Levy, LB: Through 2019. Four years, $33.74MM. $13MM guaranteed.
• Rams – Nick Foles, QB: Through 2017.

Signed/Re-Signed:

• Cardinals – Lyle Sendlein, C (link)

Released/Waived:

• 49ers – Chris Cook, CB (link)
• Jets – Antonio Allen, S (with injury designation)

Suspended:

• Bills – OL coach Aaron Kromer: six games
• Ace Sanders, WR: 10 games (substance abuse)

Retired:

• Chris Houston, CB (link)

Other:

• Justin Blackmon not expected to return to NFL (link)
• Ravens S Matt Elam done for season (link)
• Chargers, Philip Rivers set deadline for extension (link)
• Sam Bradford, Eagles talking short-term deal (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Extensions:

• The Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson agreed to a four-year, $87.6MM extension. The deal, which keeps Wilson under contract through 2019, includes $31.7MM in full guarantees.
• The Seahawks also extended linebacker Bobby Wagner, inking him to a four-year deal that will keep him in Seattle through 2019. The pact is worth $43MM in total, and contains $22MM in guarantees.
• Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan signed a five-year extension with Washington that is worth $57.5MM.
• The Vikings inked kicker Blair Walsh to a four-year deal, agreeing to a pact that will pay him $14MM through 2019.

Suspension News:

• The NFL upheld Patriots quarterback Tom Brady‘s four-game suspension, arguing that Brady destroyed his cell phone, which may have contained evidence that he was complicit in the DeflateGate scandal. Brady will challenge the decision in federal court.
• The league reduced Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell‘s suspension from three games to two.

Signed/Re-Signed:

• Bengals – Greg Little, WR (link)
• Buccaneers – Da’Quan Bowers, DE (link)
• Giants – James Jones, WR (link)
• Lions – R.J. Stanford, CB (link)
• Titans – Chase Coffman, TE (link)
• Washington – Junior Galette, LB (link)

Released/Waived:

• Bills – Chris Williams, G (link)
• Cardinals – Alfonzo Dennard, CB (link)
• Patriots – Derek Cox, CB (link)
• Saints – Brodrick Bunkley, DT (link)
• Seahawks – Tony McDaniel, DT (link)

Trades:

• Seahawks – acquired CB Mohammed Seisay from the Lions in exchange for a 2016 sixth-round pick (link)
• Steelers – acquired CB Brandon Boykin from the Eagles in exchange for a conditional 2016 fifth-round pick (link)
  • Pick will increase to a fourth-rounder if Boykin plays 60% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps.

Suspended:

• Washington – Bashaud Breeland, CB: One game (personal conduct)

Holdouts:

• Cowboys – Jeremy Mincey, DE (link)
• Seahawks – Kam Chancellor, S (link)

Retired:

• Jonathan Martin, T (link)
• Keith Rivers, LB (link)
• Osi Umenyiora, DE (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• The Saints released linebacker Junior Galette , who had just signed a four-year extension last September.
• The Vikings and running back Adrian Peterson agreed to a restructured contract, the details of which can be found here.
• Quarterback Marcus Mariota became the final first-round pick to sign, agreeing to a deal with the Titans that includes partial offset language.

Contracts:

• Seahawks reportedly offer Russell Wilson $21MM per season (link)
• Bengals want to extend A.J. Green in 2015 (link)
• Sam Bradford to play out final year of contract with Eagles (link)
• Seahawks tackle Russell Okung will negotiate own deal without agent (link)

Extended:

• Patriots – Ryan Allen, P (through 2018)
• Steelers – Kevin Colbert, GM (through 2018 draft) and Mike Tomlin, HC (through 2018)
• Vikings – Blair Walsh, K (through 2018)

Signed:

• Cardinals – Jermaine Gresham, TE (link)
• Patriots – Tarell Brown, CB (link)
• Vikings – Josh Thomas, CB (link)

Released:

• Colts – Gosder Cherilus, T (link)
• Dolphins – Josh Freeman, QB (link)

Suspended:

• Broncos – Derek Wolfe, DE: four games (PEDs)
• Chiefs – Sean Smith, CB: three games (personal conduct)
• Packers – DT Letroy Guion: three games (personal conduct)
• Vikings – Jabari Price, DB: two games (substance abuse)

Retired:

• Wayne Hunter, T (link)

Other:

• Titans WR Justin Hunter arrested (link)
• Chris Cooley contemplating comeback (link)