2014 September - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Extend Cortez Allen Through 2018

September 10th, 2014 at 10:25am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 10:25am: Allen received a $6.75MM signing bonus, with an overall value of $24.5MM on the four new years, says Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (Twitter links). Fitzgerald adds that the deal includes a $3MM roster bonus in 2015.

SATURDAY, 7:48pm: Allen’s reported $26MM figure will apply to the five total years he’ll be under contract rather than just the four new years, says Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter).

7:18pm: The Steelers and cornerback Cortez Allen have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension worth more than $26MM, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Considering Pittsburgh generally doesn’t negotiate in-season extensions, the two sides took talks down to the wire, with news of a new deal breaking less than 24 hours before the team’s first game of the 2014 season.

Allen, a fourth-round pick in 2011, has steadily become a more important part of the Steelers’ defense during his first three NFL seasons, making eight starts for the club last year and recording 51 tackles, 13 passes defended, and a pair of interceptions. Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required) liked his play too, grading him as an above-average corner and ranking him 36th out of 110 qualified players at the position.

Allen’s extension is the latest in a string of new deals between the Steelers and their key players this offseason. Offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert also agreed to extensions, and the team secured kicker Shaun Suisham to a long-term pact as well. Ben Roethlisberger is the one notable extension candidate not to receive a new contract from the team thus far, but both parties intend to revisit that topic after the season.

We’ll have to wait for the full details on exactly how much of Allen’s new money is guaranteed, and what the year-by-year breakdown looks like, but based on the numbers reported so far, it looks a little richer than Alterraun Verner‘s four-year, $25.5MM deal with the Buccaneers. A handful of corners, including Sam Shields, Aqib Talib, Vontae Davis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Brent Grimes, inked contracts with larger annual average values than Allen’s $6.5MM, but considering the Steeler only has 11 career starts on his résumé, that’s not all that surprising.

The 25-year-old Allen had been set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, which paid him a $1.431MM base salary for 2014. Assuming that figure remains unchanged, Allen’s next five years should be worth over $27MM, with the new deal keeping him under team control through the 2018 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bucs Cut Scott Solomon; Mike Jenkins To IR

September 10th, 2014 at 10:20am CST by Luke Adams

Yesterday, we heard that the Buccaneers had signed cornerback Crezdon Butler and claimed defensive end Jacquies Smith off waivers, and now the team has announced the corresponding roster moves for those additions. According to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter), the team has waived defensive end Scott Solomon and placed Mike Jenkins on injured reserve with a season-ending pectoral injury.

While Alterraun Verner was Tampa Bay’s major offseason addition at cornerback, Jenkins was expected to play a key role in the secondary as well, so losing him will be a blow for the Bucs’ defense. While the team only signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason, his entire $1.5MM salary was fully guaranteed. Now, he’ll spend that one year on injured reserve in the hopes of getting healthy for 2015’s free agent period.

Solomon, a former seventh-round pick by the Titans, wasn’t expected to play a significant role on the Buccaneers’ defensive line, though he did see 31 defensive snaps in the team’s opener, logging three tackles.

In addition to tweaking their 53-man roster, the Buccaneers filled the 10th and final opening on their practice squad by adding defensive end Adrian Robinson, according to Smith (via Twitter).

Vikings, Brandon Fusco Agree To Extension

September 10th, 2014 at 9:54am CST by Rob DiRe

WEDNESDAY, 9:54am: Fusco’s deal includes $24.25MM in new money, $6MM in guarantees, and has a maximum value of $27MM, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).

SATURDAY, 1:15pm: The Vikings have agreed with guard Brandon Fusco on a five-year extension worth $25MM, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). The deal will include $6MM in guaranteed money.

Fusco was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft out of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He has started in 31 games over the last two seasons, and showed significant signs of improvement last year. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Fusco ranked among the bottom 10 qualified guards in the NFL during the 2012 season, but was a top-10 option last season, posting a grade of +15.7.

As a sixth-rounder, Fusco didn’t have a fifth-year option on his rookie contract, so he would’ve been eligible for free agency in March if the Vikings hadn’t locked him up.

Injury Notes: Lions, Raiders, Browns, Cowboys

September 10th, 2014 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

We don’t cover every single injury here at Pro Football Rumors, but we’ll always keep tabs on the more significant ones that may force a team to make a roster move or two to add reinforcements. Let’s round up the latest injury news that falls into that category…

Lions offensive lineman Corey Hilliard is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season with a foot injury, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). That helps to explain why the club re-signed Garrett Reynolds this morning, and it means Hilliard will likely head to IR. Having already added a lineman to the 53-man roster today, the Lions could fill Hilliard’s roster spot by signing a cornerback, since the secondary is a little short-handed as well.
Raiders special teams ace Taiwan Jones became the first 2011 draftee to sign a contract extension earlier this offseason, but now he’s set to miss a month or two of action. According to Bill Williamson and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, the recovery timeline for Jones’ foot injury will be about four to eight weeks. If Oakland believes the timeline will be closer to eight weeks than four, Jones could be a candidate for the team’s IR-DTR spot.
The Browns expect running back Ben Tate to be out for two to four weeks with a knee sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Cleveland might add another back to the active roster or practice squad for depth purposes, but I doubt any major move is coming, since Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell played well after Tate left Sunday’s game.
Having already lost Sean Lee for the season, the Cowboys saw another linebacker go down on Sunday, as Justin Durant figures to miss the next three or four weeks with a groin injury, a source tells David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. An outside addition is possible for Dallas, though the club could also turn to in-house options like Kyle Wilber or the recently-claimed Korey Toomer.

Lions Re-Sign Garrett Reynolds

September 10th, 2014 at 8:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Lions have re-signed offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds to the fill the final opening on their 53-man roster, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). That open spot was created when the team placed injured cornerback Bill Bentley on injured reserve. ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan first reported (via Twitter) that Reynolds would rejoin the Lions.

Reynolds, who started 10 games for the Falcons in 2013, lost his starting job late in the 2013 season, despite grading as Pro Football Focus’ 32nd overall guard (subscription required). The 27-year-old was subsequently cut by Atlanta and picked up by the Lions, but failed to earn a spot on the club’s regular season roster during the cut down to 53 players. He’ll provide depth and insurance on the interior of Detroit’s offensive line.

As for Bentley, there was speculation that his season-ending ACL injury would prompt the Lions to add more help in the secondary, and that could still happen, though for now his roster spot has been taken by an offensive lineman. The team worked out Champ Bailey, Chris Clemons, and several other veteran defensive backs last week, and could revisit those options before too long.

Eagles Sign Wade Smith

September 10th, 2014 at 7:59am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 7:59am: In addition to confirming the signing of Smith, the Eagles also announced that offensive lineman Kevin Graf and linebacker Emmanuel Acho have been promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad (Twitter links). Evan Mathis, Allen Barbre, and Najee Goode head to injured reserve to make room on the roster, with Mathis designated to return.

TUESDAY, 3:16pm: The Eagles have begun attempting to repair an offensive line that has been decimated in the early going by injuries and a suspension. According to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the team has agreed to terms with veteran guard Wade Smith, who was recently cut by the Seahawks.

Smith, 33, was among the players who visited the Eagles today, along with tackle Eric Winston, who left Philadelphia without a deal. Smith has appeared in 138 games over the course of his 11-year NFL career for the Dolphins, Jets, Chiefs, and Texans, starting 98 of those contests. Most recently, he spent several seasons in Houston as the club’s full-time left guard, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2012.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Smith earn some playing time right away with the Eagles, who were already without the suspended Lane Johnson for four weeks coming into the season and have since seen Evan Mathis and Allen Barbre go down with potentially significant injuries.

The Eagles will have to make a corresponding roster move before the signing of Smith can become official. With reports this afternoon suggesting that Barbre’s ankle injury could be season-ending, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the club places him on the injured reserve list.

Player Auditions: Tuesday

September 9th, 2014 at 11:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs had inside linebackers Desmond Bishop, Marvin Mitchell, and Nick Barnett in for workouts, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Here’s the latest news on player workouts from around the NFL..

The Redskins worked out former Patriots wide receiver Mark Harrison today, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
The Patriots tried out former Falcons linebacker Yawin Smallwood today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
Former Rams safety Matt Daniels visited the Dolphins yesterday, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch (on Twitter).
In the wake of an injury that starting tight end Jordan Cameron suffered in the season opener, the Browns brought in tight end Kellen Davis for a workout on Tuesday, a league source told Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports. Last season, Davis played in 15 games for the Seahawks in a No. 3 tight end role. He finished with three receptions for 32 yards and, most importantly, a Super Bowl ring.
The Browns also worked out tight end Chase Coffman today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer (on Twitter).
The Jets worked out several players, including guards Doug Legursky and Jeff Baca, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). They also worked out some punters and a long snapper.
The Bills worked out former Cumberlands running back Terrance Cobb, who was among their 29 pre-draft visits this spring, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In total, the Bills worked out 14 players (link).
The Redskins auditioned quarterbacks Pat Devlin, B.J. Coleman, and Ricky Stanzi, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter). They also auditioned four tight ends in total.
Tight end Chase Harper worked out for the Titans today, Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean tweets.
The Buccaneers worked out long snapper Brandon Hartson today, a source tells Wilson (on Twitter).

Bucs Sign Crezdon Butler

September 9th, 2014 at 10:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers have signed cornerback Crezdon Butler to their active roster on a one-year deal, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).

Butler, who spent last year with the Chargers, visited with the Titans last week. Tampa Bay has been extremely active recently and they’ve already cut five players who made their initial 53-man roster just ten short days ago. Butler, 27, saw time in a dozen games for the Bolts in 2013 and recorded three tackles with one forced fumble.

Earlier today, the Bucs re-signed defensive end Larry English and waived defensive end Steven Means to open up a spot for him. Tampa Bay also picked up former Bills defensive end Jacquies Smith. Head coach Lovie Smith demands a lot from his defense and he’s determined to have the best personnel possible to see it through.

NFLPA Doesn’t Vote On New Drug Policy

September 9th, 2014 at 9:45pm CST by Luke Adams

9:45pm: The saga continues. NFL player reps could vote on a new drug policy soon as tomorrow and suspended players expecting their reinstatement believe that a quick return to the field is possible, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.

9:20pm: In the new proposed program, players who test positive for marijuana will have a few extra stages and the second offense will drop from a four-game suspension to two games, tweets Glazer.

9:06pm: There are still five issues at hand for the NFLPA and the NFL to iron out, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The union is hoping to have an update for players within the next 24 hours.

8:56pm: The conference call is ongoing but the sense amongst the NFLPA is still that the proposal isn’t good enough to vote on, Breer tweets.

8:44pm: It doesn’t sound like there will be a vote anytime soon either, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

8:38pm: NFL player reps will not vote on the new policy tonight, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The two sides were hung up on the issue of DUI punishment, says Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

Sources tell Albert Breer of the NFL Network (on Twitter) that there were so many issues with the proposal that the NFL put in front of the players tonight that it just wasn’t worth voting on. On top of that, the NFL didn’t get their latest proposal to the NFLPA until very late in the day, Getlin tweets.

10:46am: The NFLPA has informed the player reps that a conference call to discuss the drug policy will be held at 8:00pm central time tonight, reports Breer (via Twitter). According to Breer, that discussion could ultimately result in a vote on the new policy.

10:05am: As we heard last night, the NFLPA’s 32 team player reps are set to vote today on whether or not to accept a new drug policy proposed by the NFL. However, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, that vote isn’t necessarily guaranteed to take place. Florio reports that there’s no tentative agreement in place at this point, and that the NFLPA has asked the league to make a proposal on which the players could decide. If union leadership decides that proposal is worth voting on, then the vote will take place.

As Florio suggests, that “somewhat unorthodox protocol” suggests that the NFLPA’s leadership – including executive director DeMaurice Smith – is facing pressure from players to get something finalized, perhaps because an agreement could mean that several suspended players, such as Josh Gordon and Wes Welker, would have the opportunity to be reinstated. Retroactively evaluating those penalties based on a new drug policy has been one of the key points for a new agreement, and both sides seem to be in agreement on that issue.

However, as Albert Breer of the NFL Network writes, the two sides remain apart on some issues, most notably how to handle DUI arrests. According to Breer, who hears that the DUI issue is “by far” the biggest sticking point, the players are unlikely to approve any proposal which involves immediate suspensions upon a DUI arrest, without due process. A one-game deactivation without pay upon a DUI arrest seems like the most logical compromise.

Still, while the DUI rules need to be ironed out, there is agreement in many other areas, per Breer. A few other terms that could be part of the new agreement are as follows:

An increased threshold for positive marijuana tests.
Offseason positive tests for amphetamines falling under the substance of abuse policy rather than the performance enhancing drug policy.
Immediate implementation of HGH testing.

Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday

September 9th, 2014 at 9:24pm CST by Luke Adams

With Week 2 of the NFL season underway, teams have begun to again modify their 10-man practice squads. We’ll have Tuesday’s updates right here, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

The Eagles signed linebacker Brandon Hepburn and offensive lineman Tyler Hoover to the practice squad, writes Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, they released linebacker Colton Underwood, who was signed to the practice squad last week.
Running back Chris Rainey and cornerback Teddy Williams have joined the Cardinals‘ practice squad, taking the spots of receiver Kevin Cone and running back Dominique Williams, who was placed on the PS-injured list, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.
The Redskins have made a couple more changes to their practice squad. According to Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (via Twitter), former Virginia Tech defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins has been added, while Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that cornerback Richard Crawford has been cut.
In order to make room for the previously-reported practice squad addition of wideout Greg Herd, the Bears have terminated the contract of defensive tackle Roy Philon, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Linebacker Josh Kaddu has filled the final opening on the Vikings‘ practice squad, the club announced (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

Tight end Michael Egnew, a former third-round pick, has signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad, replacing offensive tackle Cody Booth, the club announced today in a press release. Tight end Reggie Jordan was also removed from Jacksonville’s injured reserve list.
The Chiefs will sign tight end Adam Schiltz to their practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). We heard yesterday that wideout Armon Binns would also join Kansas City’s practice squad, so the club will have to cut two players from the unit to make the additions official.
With an opening on their practice squad, the Broncos have filled it by signing tight end Dominique Jones, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
The Redskins have cut wide receiver Nick Williams from their practice squad, a source tells Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (Twitter link).