Free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers, released by the Chiefs on June 13, is expected to sign with a new team by the middle of the week, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link). We heard similar news a few days ago, so it appears that Flowers, whom La Canfora notes has “plenty of suitors,” has at least narrowed down his possible destinations. Our own Luke Adams mentioned the Lions as a landing spot for Flowers, given that Detroit has not downplayed its interest in the 2013 Pro Bowler. I would posit that the Chargers, who are in desperate need of secondary help, and the Ravens, who have a history of signing high-level players who have been cut, could also be options for the 28-year-old Flowers.
More from around the AFC:
- Yesterday, we passed along several tweets from the Houston Chronicle’s Brian T. Smith regarding Ryan Fitzpatrick, with some analysts opining that the quarterback is “too much of a gunslinger with not enough of an arm.” In a new article, Smith fleshes out more opinions on Fitzpatrick, and wonders if he is capable of leading the Texans in the right direction. For his part, head coach Bill O’Brien has expressed confidence in his starter. “Ryan has come in here and learned well,” said O’Brien. “He’s a good guy. He’s a fun guy to coach. He works extremely hard. He’s thrown the ball accurately in these practices that we’ve had. He’s picked up the system well.”
- Jacoby Jones and Gary Kubiak worked together with the Texans, and now that two are reunited on the Ravens, Jones is excited about the prospects of working in a Kubiak-run offense again, writes Ray Frager of CSNBaltimore.com. “Don’t sleep on [the deep pass], but the way he is, he’s going to take what you give us,” said Jones. “If you’re going to sit there and play that all game — you’re going to give it to us — why not? Just chip away and throw it down the field. It’s football. It’s a chess match.”
- Some executives thought Dolphins first-rounder Ju’Waun James, who signed his rookie contract on Thursday, was a reach at pick No. 19, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “We had James as a late-first rounder,” said an NFC scout. “He has first-round talent but you want more of a finisher, more production for a player with his size and skill level. He’s a quiet country kid. I’m not sure he wants to lead a unit.”
- Within the same piece, Jackson spoke with an NFC executive who said that veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan could rebound with the Dolphins this season, and pointed to the failures of ex-Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton as the reason for Finnegan’s 2013 struggles. Finnegan overwhelmingly agreed with that assessment, saying Walton’s scheme was “atrocious. From the game plan to technique to fundamentals, they weren’t in line with a defensive coordinator who knew what he was doing. He was a great defensive backs coach, but when you’re in over your head, it’s kind of tough.”