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Month: January 2025

NFC North Moves: Lyerla, Vikings, Lions

May 19th, 2014 at 6:15pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Packers have signed three players out of their rookie minicamp, most notably Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN (via Twitter).

The team will take on chance with the shaky character of Lyerla, according to Demovsky. “Every case is an individual case. We have always believed that, or I have always believed that there are certain things that people can atone for, acknowledge their mistakes and get on with their lives,” said general manager Ted Thompson. “And I am a proponent of those kind of people that try to do that. And that’s where we’re at with Colt.”

Lyerla posted his reaction to being signed on his official twitter account. “I am honored to be a part of such a legendary organization. Proud to be a Green Bay Packer ! #GoPackGo”

The team also signed defensive back Charles Clay out of Hawaii and defensive end Luther Robinson out of Miami.

  • The Packers have signed third-round pick Khyri Thornton, reports Demovsky (via Twitter). Thornton, a defensive tackle out of Southern Miss, is the team’s sixth rookie to sign, leaving only three players left unsigned.
  • The Vikings have signed linebacker Dom DeCicco, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team released guard Conor Boffeli and quarterback Travis Partridge.
  • The Lions have signed defensive tackle Greg Hickman who was part of their rookie minicamp, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). The team has released defensive tackle Corey Irvin to make room.

Giants Sign Beckham Jr., Three Others

May 19th, 2014 at 5:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Giants have signed four more of their draft picks, most notably Odell Beckham Jr., reports Greg Salamone of Giants.com. Beckham was the team’s first-round selection, a receiver out of LSU.

The team also signed, second-round center Weston Richburg of Colorado State, fifth-round linebacker Devon Kennard of USC, and sixth-round cornerback Bennett Jackson of Notre Dame.

The only Giants’ rookie still unsigned is defensive tackle Jay Bromley out of Syracuse. The Queens, New York native Bromley was drafted in the third round.

Minor Moves: Browns, Jets, Raiders

May 19th, 2014 at 4:37pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve already taken a look today at some minor moves from around the NFL. Let’s take a look at some more transactions from the AFC…

  • The Browns have signed receiver Anthony Armstrong, reports ProFootballTalk.com (via Twitter). The 31-year-old has 54 catches for 986 yards and five touchdowns over 34 career games.
  • Running back Jourdan Brooks has signed with the Browns, announced agent Scott Bergman (via Twitter). Brooks spent last season with the Bengals.
  • The Browns also announced the signings (on Twitter) of receiver Taylor Gabriel, offensive lineman Randall Harris, defensive lineman Jacobbi McDaniel, defensive back Robert Nelson and tight end James Oboh.
  • The Browns announced that they have waived running back Jamaine Cook, receivers Josh Cooper and Tori Gurley, offensive lineman Anthony Dima, fullback Chris Pressley, tight end Andre Smith and defensive lineman Elhadji Ndiaye.
  • The Jets have signed linebacker A.J. Edds and offensive lineman Markus Zusevics, reports Randy Lange on NewYorkJets.com. To make room on the roster, the team cut receiver Dwight Jones and offensive lineman Jacolby Ashworth.
  • The Raiders have signed linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu and cornerback Jansen Watson, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The team added wideout Greg Little earlier today.
  • The Raiders also waived receiver D.J. Coles and cornerbacks Johnny Adams and Frank Beltre, reports Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune (via Twitter).
  • The Texans made an assortment of moves (via Aaron Wilson’s Twitter): they added receiver Lacoltan Bester and defensive tackle Julius Warmsley, cut defensive lineman Tyrone Ezell and receivers Nathan Slaughter and Andy Cruse, and waived injured offensive tackle Chris Martin.
  • The Dolphins added former North Dakota State quarterback Brock Jensen, the team announced on Twitter. Miami also inked linebacker Chris McCain.

Raiders Claim Greg Little

May 19th, 2014 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Monday, 4:21pm: The Raiders have claimed Little off waivers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Little will join James Jones, Denarius Moore and Rod Streater on Oakland’s depth chart.

Friday, 10:01am: The Browns’ overhaul of their wide receiving corps continues, as the team has made another move just one day after bringing aboard veterans Miles Austin and Earl Bennett. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Cleveland has cut former second-round pick Greg Little.

Little, 24, hauled in 61 passes for 709 receiving yards in his rookie season, but has seen his totals in both categories decline in each year since then. In 2013, he grabbed just 41 passes for 465 yards. The former North Carolina standout was viewed as a lock to be waived by the previous Browns regime, but when Ray Farmer took over as general manager amidst other changes to the Cleveland front office, Little’s future became more uncertain.

With just $230K in dead money on Little’s deal, the move will create more than $800K in cap savings for the Browns. Meanwhile, with Little out of the picture and Josh Gordon facing a lengthy suspension, Cleveland appears poised to go into the season with an all-new group of wideouts leading the way. In addition to Austin and Bennett, free agent additions Andrew Hawkins and Nate Burleson figure to vie for targets.

Rookie Notes: Titans, Saints, Packers

May 19th, 2014 at 3:12pm CST by Ben Levine

It hasn’t been the best couple of days for two Titans rookies. Sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger had his first practice since tearing his ACL in November and admitted that his leg wasn’t close to 100 percent.

“I am not moving as fluidly as I have in the past but I am working hard to get back there,” the rookie told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “Being in the brace for two months, trying to learn how to walk, you lose a lot of muscle. … I just have to keep working.”

Meanwhile, first-round pick Taylor Lewan had his court case adjourned for four weeks, according to ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein. The 11th-overall pick requested more time to investigate the report that charges him with one count of misdemeanor aggravated assault and two counts of assault and battery. The hearing is scheduled for June 16th, the day before the Titans’ first minicamp.

Let’s take a look at some more rookie notes from around the NFL…

  • Undrafted rookie Tim Flanders had good reason to want to join the Saints, writes Terrance Harris of NOLA.com. Not only is the team seeking a fifth running back who can contribute on special teams, but coach Sean Payton has proven that he won’t write off undrafted backs. Flanders refers to Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson.
  • ESPN’s Packers reporter Rob Demovsky says an undrafted rookie’s signing bonus may indicate who sticks around for the regular season. The writer points to Lane Taylor, who made the team last season after inking the largest signing bonus among the Packers undrafted signees. The team signed five players to a team-high, $5K signing bonus: linebackers Jake Doughty, Jayrone Elliott, Adrian Hubbard and Joe Thomas and guard John Fullington.
  • Despite tearing an abdominal muscle that required sports hernia surgery last month, Jaguars‘ undrafted tight end Marcel Jensen has a good chance of making the team, writes Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. His size and production at Fresno State, combined with the lack of tight end talent currently on the roster, gives the rookie a chance.
  • Of the four tryout players the Bills brought in, receiver Caleb Holley is the most likely to stick around, opines Joe Buscaglia of WGR550.com. Meanwhile, considering the presence of Jeff Tuel and Dennis Dixon, quarterback Kenny Guiton likely won’t be signed.

Ravens Sign Will Rackley, Two Others

May 19th, 2014 at 2:06pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens have signed guard Will Rackley, fullback Shaun Chapas and tight end Phillip Supernaw, reports Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The team also cut tight end Matt Furstenburg, linebacker D.J. Bryant and offensive-defensive lineman Cody Larsen.

Rackley, a third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2011, has started 25 career games, including 11 last season. He’s also missed 22 games due to injury. The 22-year-old was released by the Jaguars last week.

Chapas was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh-round of the 2011 Draft. Chapas made a handful of starts for Dallas that season before being cut prior the 2012 season. The 26-year-old spent 2012 with the Lions before spending last season on the Jaguars’ practice squad. He was also cut by the Jaguars last week.

Supernaw spent three years with the Texans where he played under current Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. He appeared in one game last season.

The Ravens cut Bryant with a failed physical designation, tweets Wilson. He spent 2013 on the injured reserve with a torn ACL. Furstenburg and Larsen spent last season on the team’s practice squad.

 

NFC Notes: Marshall, Packers, 49ers

May 19th, 2014 at 1:43pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings will have the first opportunity to pitch their city as the host of Super Bowl LII in 2018, according to the team’s Twitter account. As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport points out (via Twitter), that is exactly what the team was hoping for. Minneapolis hasn’t hosted a championship since 1992 and the construction of a new stadium may be enough to bring the game back to Minnesota. The Saints and Colts are also finalists for the bid.

Now, for more notes from around the NFC…

Minor Moves: Bowanko, Broncos, Rice Jr.

May 19th, 2014 at 12:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are an assortment of moves on this Monday afternoon…

J’Marcus Webb To Sign With Chiefs

May 19th, 2014 at 11:03am CST by Matt Feminis

11:03am: Webb’s deal is for one year at the veteran minimum ($730k), per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter).

8:44am: After visiting a few teams this offseason, offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb has decided to sign with the Chiefs, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter). Webb, who will be 26 this August, has 45 career starts under his belt and will likely vie for a role as a swing backup tackle behind starters Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson. The Chiefs lost offenisve linemen Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz — who combined for 28 starts in 2013 — before adding a pair of late-round, developmental prospects in Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Zach Fulton.

NFC Rookie Minicamp Notes: Jones, Lucas, Starr, Moses, Norwood

May 19th, 2014 at 10:54am CST by Matt Feminis

Bears undrafted free agent Christian Jones worked at strong-side linebacker during the team’s rookie minicamp, according to Adam Hoge of 670 AM/CBSChicago.com. Jones, a physically gifted linebacker, played a prominent role for national champion Florida State, seeing snaps at all three linebacker spots as well as rushing the passer. He was projected as a third-round pick based on talent evaluation, but a failed drug test caused him to tumble out of the draft entirely. Thin at linebacker, the Bears pounced on Jones, who says he stands to benefit from focusing on one position. He also revealed what gave the Bears the edge when it came time to choose a team: Jones’ father played with Bears linebackers coach Reggie Herring at FSU.

In other news from various NFC minicamps. . .

    • The Lions see big upside in 6-9, 328-pound undrafted free agent offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas, writes Carlos Monarrrez in the Detroit Free Press. Lucas, a two-year starter at Kansas State, suffered a stress fracture in his left foot two weeks before the combine, but his rare size and eye-popping 88-inch wing span piqued the interest of the Lions, who “did show the most interest in him and began contacting him when the fourth round of the draft began as they attempted to land a steal in the priority free-agent market.” As ESPN’s Michael Rothstein points out, Lucas’ developmental value is noteworthy considering defensive line coach Jim Washburn was able to turn undrafted free agent LaAdrian Waddle into an eight-game starter.
    • Falcons seventh-rounder Tyler Starr is a longshot worth keeping an eye on, writes ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, who says Starr “has a quick first step and plays with some power. He even beat first-round pick Jake Matthews around the edge on Sunday while showing a burst not typical of a late-round pick.” Starr lacks ideal speed and power, but the Missouri Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year is a high-motor defender whose 6.64-second three-cone drill bested all pass rushers at the combine.
    • Cowboys assistant director of player personnel Will McClay spoke with Dallas Morning News’ Jon Machota and said the team had a third/fourth-round grade on seventh-rounder Terrance Mitchell, a cornerback out of Oregon.
    • ESPN’s John Keim took in Redskins minicamp and gave brief thoughts on the team’s draft picks, including third-round tackle Morgan Moses, who could require some patience.
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