2014 June - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Winston, Flowers, CJ2K, 49ers

June 19th, 2014 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Jameis Winston‘s father, Antonor Winston, believes his son plans to play two more seasons at Florida State, writes Jeff Sentell of The Birmingham News. The quarterback is slated to graduate in December of 2015 but if he jumps early, he’ll likely find himself as a top 10 pick in next year’s draft. Winston is also a promising baseball prospect and has been projected by some to be a first round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. Tonight’s glance around the NFL..

Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune (via Twitter) heard this morning from a league source that free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers is not expected to visit the Vikings. Flowers, who was cut loose by the Chiefs last week, is visiting with the Chargers before potentially taking visits elsewhere, but it sounds like Minnesota is not on the docket.
Jets tailback Chris Johnson is upset with the Titans for cutting him so late in the offseason and former NFLPA president Kevin Mawae is on his side. “I’ve got to give some credit to Chris,” Mawae said on 102.5 The Game, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. “There are some times when the business side of it is done wrong and if the team knew they were gonna cut him or whatever, then I’m in agreement with Chris that they should have done it earlier. There’s no sour grapes about it. You just don’t do business that way, is what I think Chris is trying to say and I would agree with that.”
Tight end Vernon Davis and guard Alex Boone want new contracts from the 49ers and are holding out from practice until they get them. Unfortunately for them, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com explains, the club has a history of not caving into such holdouts. San Francisco set an important precedent in 2011 with running back Frank Gore and it’s hard to see them going against that now with Davis and Boone.
Although some have hammered Colin Kaepernick for signing a team-friendly deal with the 49ers, he says the contract is an all-around win, writes Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today Sports. “You can skew things anyway you want,” Kaepernick said. “At the end of the day, a lot of the way the contract is set up is the way every other quarterback’s contract is set up. The things that aren’t set up like those contracts are because we wanted them that way, so we could sign other players.“
Brandon Pettigrew has been a scapegoat for the Lions‘ struggles during his five years in Detroit, but he says he didn’t let that cloud his judgement before deciding to re-sign with the club, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. This season, Pettigrew will share playing time with first-round pick Eric Ebron and second-year pro Joseph Fauria.

AFC Notes: Jets, Flowers, Chiefs, Ravens

June 19th, 2014 at 8:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets didn’t sign an impact cornerback in free agency to help replace Antonio Cromartie, but defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman is confident that they are set in the secondary with what they have. “The lack of experience shows up at time, but the talent is there,” Thurman said, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. “We know that we have guys that can play. We just make sure we communicate, do the things that we’re supposed to do. If we do that, I think we’ll be fine.” The Jets hope that first-round strong safety Calvin Pryor will be able to hit the ground running and they’ll also keep their fingers crossed on third-round cornerback Dexter McDougle. Here’s more from the AFC..

Brandon Flowers‘ visit with the Chargers appears to have gone well, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter). The Bolts appear to have the inside track on Flowers as San Diego was his first trip after being cut by Kansas City and he has not formally scheduled visits with other clubs yet.
Look for former Patriots wide receiver Mark Harrison to resurface with the Chiefs, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. The Rutgers product has visited Kansas City and a signing is likely.
The Ravens auditioned former Florida State tight end Shayne Broxsie, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 6’2″, 255 pound athlete was working with Baltimore’s running backs and fullbacks, so a position change could be in his future if he winds up with the Ravens.

Bears Sign Jamil Merrell, Conor O’Neill

June 19th, 2014 at 7:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have signed former Rutgers defensive lineman Jamil Merrell who was in on a tryout during minicamp, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears will also sign Wisconsin linebacker Conor O’Neill to a contract, Biggs tweets. To make room for the duo, the Bears released defensive lineman Israel Idonije and quarterback Jerrod Johnson (link).

The release of Idonije, 33, is probably the most notable of all the moves. The 6’7″ defensive tackle has spent nine of his ten career seasons playing for the Bears, save for a one-year tour with the Lions last season. Idonije has 149 games of NFL experience to his credit, including 50 starts for Chicago. His best season came in 2010 when he lined up at left defensive end for the Bears and racked up eight sacks and 33 tackles.

Johnson, 25, was fighting for a spot on the depth chart to backup starter Jay Cutler. His odds got a little bit tougher, however, when the club signed Jimmy Clausen earlier this month.

Ravens To Sign Aaron Ross, Dominique Franks

June 19th, 2014 at 5:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens have decided to sign cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Dominique Franks after both men had strong performances at their mini-camp, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Ross, he adds, had the very best tryout of any free agent corner that auditioned for Baltimore this week (link).

The Ravens inquired on Brandon Flowers earlier this week but it appears, at least for the time being, that they’ve satisfied their cornerback needs elsewhere. Free agent veteran Drayton Florence was also a consideration, but Ross and Franks won out over him and former Jet and Patriot Marquise Cole .

Ross, 32 in September, tried out for the Lions back in April but came away without a deal. The 20th overall pick in the 2007 draft saw just four games on the field for the Giants last season due to a back injury. He has spent his entire NFL career to date with Big Blue, with the exception of his 2012 campaign with Jacksonville.

AFC East Notes: Bills, Wilfork, Jets

June 19th, 2014 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bills franchise is officially on the market, writes John Kryk of QMI Agency, who reports that the club has mailed a non-disclosure agreement from law firm Proskauer Rose and a teaser sale document to prospective bidders. According to Kryk, potential buyers must sign the non-disclosure agreement in order to receive the “offering memorandum,” or sale book, which will contain confidential information regarding the Bills, including financial details such as revenues, assets, and operational costs.

Here’s more on the Bills, and a couple of their AFC East rivals:

In the aforementioned piece, Kryk goes on to explain that the NFL would like the Bills‘ eventual buyer to be “financially liquid to the extent of possessing at least $200MM in available cash over and above his or her portion of the sale price.” Additionally, financial firm Morgan Stanley will vet prospective buyers before the NFL does, since the firm is familiar with what the NFL accepts and what it doesn’t.
Speaking today to reporters, including Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe (Twitter link), Vince Wilfork said that any issue he may have had with the Patriots and his contract in the offseason has been laid to rest, and that there are no lingering grudges. The veteran defensive tackle reportedly requested his release at one point, but ultimately worked out a new agreement to remain in New England.
Like coach Rex Ryan, Jets GM John Idzik is feeling playoff pressure this season, writes Gary Myers of the New York Daily News. Other Jets general managers have enjoyed playoff success relatively early in their tenures, which might put the squeeze on Idzik to deliver.
Jets owner Woody Johnson isn’t concerned about his club’s relatively cost-conscious offseason, writes Kimberly A. Martin of Newsday. “John is picking (players) using the cash that he has,” Johnson told reporters. “Number one, he has some obligations that he has going forward, as you guys know. But it’s really trying to find the best value and best fit for the team and not just wantonly spending in free agency.”

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Ravens To Sign Austin Spitler

June 19th, 2014 at 4:29pm CST by Luke Adams

4:29pm: The Ravens will also sign edge defender Nick DiMarco, who was among the players to try out for the club this week, tweets Wilson.

4:01pm: On the heels of a successful audition at their minicamp, the Ravens will sign free agent linebacker Austin Spitler to a contract, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The signing hasn’t been officially announced yet, and details of the agreement aren’t yet known, but it will likely be a one-year pact for the former Dolphin.

Spitler, who will turn 28 this fall, played nearly exclusively on special teams during his four years in Miami, playing only 15 total defensive snaps during his stint with the Dolphins, according to Pro Football Focus’ data. In kick and punt coverage, the former seventh-round pick out of Ohio State logged eight tackles in 2013.

Spitler was one of several players the Ravens tried out this week at their minicamp, and as Wilson notes, the team is expected to add at least one or two more of those non-roster players. Veteran cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Dominique Franks are considered “likely additions,” says Wilson. Besides those players, the Ravens also took a look at defensive tackle Daniel Muir, cornerbacks Drayton Florence, Marquice Cole, Kevin Thomas, and Bobby Felder, and wideouts Mike Willie and Dezmon Briscoe.

Minor Moves: Jets, Dolphins, Falcons, Giants

June 19th, 2014 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Plenty of teams around the league are making transactions today as minicamps wrap up and clubs look to finalize their rosters in advance of next month’s training camp. Let’s dive right in and check out the latest minor roster moves, with any additional transactions added to the top of the page throughout the afternoon and evening….

Undrafted rookie tight end Terrence Miller has been cut by the Jets, creating a second available roster spot after yesterday’s release of Mike Goodson. As the team reveals in a press release, kicker Andrew Furney and punter Jacob Schum will fill those openings.
The Dolphins have replaced one defensive back with another, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed Kevin Fogg and parted ways with Anthony Gaitor.

Earlier updates:

The Falcons have waived quarterback Dominique Davis, the team announced today (via Twitter). Davis saw a little playing time last season in relief of starter Matt Ryan, but his grip on a roster spot was tenuous after Atlanta acquired T.J. Yates in a trade with the Texans yesterday. Davis will have to clear waivers before officially becoming a free agent.
In a series of three tweets, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News passes along word of a series of signings and cuts for the Giants, who have added offensive tackle Demarcus Love and defensive lineman Everett Dawkins, parting ways with defensive tackle Eathyn Manumaleuna and offensive lineman Steven Baker to make room on the 90-man roster.
Long snapper Charley Hughlett, punter Kasey Redfern, and wide receiver Nathan Slaughter, who auditioned for the Jaguars earlier this week, have been signed by the club, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. In addition to Jason Babin, wide receivers Kevin Smith and Brandon Wimberly were cut by Jacksonville to create roster space.
The Chiefs have waived defensive lineman Chas Alecxih, according to the club (Twitter link).
For the third straight summer, defensive lineman Brandon McKinney will try to earn a roster spot with the Colts, who inked him to a deal today, tweets Craig Kelley of Colts.com.
The Bears have informed tight end Fendi Onobun of his release, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
The Patriots have cut wide receiver Reggie Dunn, the team confirmed in a press release.

Dolphins Sign Ju’Wuan James

June 19th, 2014 at 2:41pm CST by Luke Adams

One of eight 2014 draftees who had yet to officially sign his rookie contract has done so today. First-round offensive tackle Ju’Wuan James tweeted out a photo that shows him inking his deal with the Dolphins, accompanied by the caption “Happy to officially be apart of the @MiamiDolphins for many years to come #FinsUp.”

James, the 19th overall selection in last month’s draft, will be in line for a signing bonus worth nearly $4.45MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com. The four-year contract, which will include a fifth-year team option for the 2018 season, will have an overall value in the neighborhood of $8.428MM, and that total is fully guaranteed, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

With James locked up, the Dolphins have one unsigned pick remaining, in third-round tackle Billy Turner. I wouldn’t be surprised if the club was working on finalizing that deal as well, with the intention of formally announcing both signings at once. Besides the two Dolphins linemen, six other draftees have yet to put pen to paper, including three first-rounders. You can check out our tracker for all the updates.

Chargers Waive Brandon Taylor

June 19th, 2014 at 1:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers have waived former third-round pick Brandon Taylor, the team announced today in a press release. The 73rd overall selection out of LSU in 2012, Taylor couldn’t stay healthy during his two seasons in San Diego, appearing in just four regular-season contests for the club.

“We’d like to thank Brandon for his work and contributions to the Chargers the last three years, and wish him the best as he continues his career,” said GM Tom Telesco in a statement.

Taylor, 24, tore his ACL in December of 2012, and was activated from the Chargers’ PUP list in August, but didn’t play a snap all year, and underwent another procedure on his knee at season’s end. Given his injury problems, Taylor will likely go unclaimed on waivers, but if he’s healthy enough to take the field next month, the safety could draw interest on the open market as teams prepare for training camp.

The Chargers now have an opening on their 90-man roster, so it will likely just be a matter of time before we hear about a corresponding move to fill that spot. While the team won’t necessarily sign anyone immediately, it’s worth noting that free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers was in town for a visit yesterday and is expected to make a decision on his next destination within the next few days.

South Notes: Jags, Babin, Bucs, Falcons

June 19th, 2014 at 12:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jaguars are being smart by taking a slow, deliberate approach with Blake Bortles, writes Jim Corbett of USA Today. The rookie quarterback has stumbled at times in practice, but GM Dave Caldwell is focusing on the positives and not stressing the mistakes. Here’s more on the Jags and a few other teams in the NFL’s two South divisions:

The Jaguars‘ decision to release veteran defensive end Jason Babin today wasn’t an easy one, according to Caldwell, who spoke to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union about the move. “It was something that we met about until last night with the coaching staff,” Caldwell said. “Jason’s been great for us. But it was something we felt would be better now than the first, second or third week of training camp.”
Now that Babin is a free agent, the Buccaneers and Falcons could be two potential suitors to watch, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. According to Garafolo, both NFC South teams have been kicking the tires on veteran pass rushers who may be available via trade.
Even after the Texans parted ways with T.J. Yates, sending him to Atlanta, Case Keenum isn’t taking his spot on Houston’s roster for granted, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Keenum is expected to battle rookie signal-caller Tom Savage for the No. 2 job behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Zach Links contributed to this post.