HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Randy Gregory To Enter Draft

December 30th, 2014 at 7:40am CST by Luke Adams

Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory has formally announced his plans to enter the 2015 NFL draft, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (TwitLonger link). In a statement declaring his intent, Gregory thanked his coaches at Nebraska for helping him take his game to “another level.”

“As I declare for this year’s NFL draft, I’m ready for the next challenge in my life,” Gregory said. “I look forward to the coaching I will receive and the chance to push myself alongside the best players in the world. Thank you to my coaches from all levels, the Nebraska fans, my teammates, and my family who have supported me from the start.”

A junior with the Cornhuskers, Gregory recorded 54 tackles and seven sacks in 10 games for the club in 2014, a year after logging 9.5 sacks as a sophomore. The 22-year-old is viewed as one of the best pass-rushing prospects in the nation, ranking behind only USC’s Leonard Williams among defensive linemen on CBSSports.com’s big board. In Todd McShay’s first mock draft at ESPN.com, McShay had Gregory going fourth overall to the Raiders.

You can find our full list of early entrants for the 2015 draft right here.

Extra Points: Suh, David, Accorsi, Draft

December 29th, 2014 at 10:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Lions star Ndamukong Suh has a chance of winning the appeal of his suspension, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes. If Suh can win the appeal, he’ll be in action for Sunday’s playoff game against the Cowboys. While we wait to see how that plays out, let’s take a look at more news from around the NFL..

  • Discussing linebacker Lavonte David, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht said the team would “like to lock him up now,” tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, adding that negotiations on a new deal are underway. The 2012 second-round pick becomes extension-eligible this offseason for the first time.
  • The Bears announced today that they’ve hired former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi as a consultant as the team searches for a new GM and head coach, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Meanwhile, team president and CEO Ted Phillips confirmed today that besides offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, whose contract was terminated, all of the other Bears assistants are still with the team (Twitter link). That includes defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.
  • Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown and Arkansas defensive tackle Darius Philon may be playing their final college games tonight, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link), who says both players are leaning toward entering the 2015 draft. The two players’ teams square off in the Texas Bowl.
  • Former star NFL wideout Cris Carter indicated today (via Twitter) that his son, CFL receiver Duron Carter, will visit the Colts on January 5 and the Vikings on January 9.
  • According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (all Twitter links), Carter isn’t the only notable CFL player drawing significant NFL attention. Caplan reports that Hamilton Tiger-Cats cornerback Delvin Breaux has 18 teams interested in bringing him in for a visit and/or a workout, including the Eagles, Patriots, Texans, Jaguars, Dolphins, Cardinals, Steelers, Lions, 49ers, and Broncos.
  • Utah offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi announced that he will enter the 2015 draft, as Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Poutasi projects as a mid-round prospect.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

49ers Notes: Beckham, Tomsula, Harbaugh

December 29th, 2014 at 10:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers liked Odell Beckham Jr. quite a bit in the 2014 draft, but GM Trent Baalke says the price was just too rich for his blood, as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. “He’s a heck of talent,” Baalke said. “He was graded as a heck of a talent by our scouts, by our coaches, by all parties. But what it would have taken to make that move would have cost us our first-, our second- and one of our third-round picks and maybe something on top of that. So, in essence, you would have been giving up (cornerback) Jimmie Ward, you would have been giving up (center) Marcus Martin or (linebacker) Chris Borland and you would have given up (running back) Carlos Hyde, plus somebody else. So you would have given up three young quality players to get one. And that was decision that collectively we weren’t willing to make.” Tonight’s look at the Niners..

  • The 49ers will be interviewing their defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula, for the head coaching opening, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
  • Baalke said the 49ers will spend “seven to ten days interviewing” candidates to be team’s next head coach, tweets Lindsay Jones of USA Today.
  • Baalke says he will have control of the 53-man roster with the new head coach, according to Christian Gin of Examiner (on Twitter). He went on to say that at least one NFL team contacted him about some possible trade for Jim Harbaugh.

Reserve/Futures Contracts: Monday

December 29th, 2014 at 10:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Teams have been announcing their reserve/futures deals all day long, but not every club has made those pacts official. Here are the odds and ends from today as we await the full slate:

49ers

Bears

Broncos

Buccaneeers

Eagles

Falcons

Saints

Washington

  • Lakendrick Ross, DL (via ESPN 980 on Twitter)

Jets To Sign Six To Futures Contracts

December 29th, 2014 at 9:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have reportedly signed six players to reserve/futures contracts, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello (Twitter link) and Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter):

Schum was a free agent prior to agreeing to his futures deal with the Jets while Harvey, Lewis, Phillips, and Qvale were on Gang Green’s taxi squad. There’s no word yet on whether the Jets’ other practice squad members – defensive linemen Tevita Finau, Kerry Hyder, and Kona Schwenke, and running back Daryl Richardson – will be added on futures contracts.

East Notes: McDaniels, Jets, Giants

December 29th, 2014 at 8:57pm CST by Zachary Links

A look at the AFC and NFC East..

  • Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is a popular man. A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) that the Falcons and 49ers have asked for permission to chat with him.
  • The Jets will interview Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in Seattle on Saturday, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter). Even though they’ll chat with him about their coaching vacancy, the organization’s preference is to get a GM in place first.
  • The Jets have requested to interview Seahawks director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Kirchner is GM John Schneider‘s right-hand man and has been mentioned as a possibility for the Jets in the past.
  • Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that Steve Spagnuolo is a possibility for the Giants‘ defensive coordinator job if Perry Fewell is let go. However, it’s not a certainty that Fewell will be fired.

Ereck Flowers To Enter Draft

December 29th, 2014 at 8:22pm CST by Zachary Links

University of Miami junior offensive tackle Ereck Flowers will enter the NFL draft, as Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com writes. Flowers projects as a first-round pick and ESPN’s Todd McShay has him going No. 12 overall in his latest mock.

“I could not be happier for Ereck and his family as he prepares to live out his life-long dream of playing in the National Football League,” Miami coach Al Golden said in a press release. “Ereck has made a lot of sacrifices to put himself in this position. He loves football and the competition. I am really proud of him for the maturity and professionalism he displayed throughout this entire process — he is truly making an educated decision and one that is best for he and his family.”

The 6-6, 330-pound tackle started eleven games for the Hurricanes this season, leading an offensive line that helped pave the way for school all-time leading rusher Duke Johnson, who has also declared for the 2015 draft. Flowers spoke with Larry Blustein of the Miami Herald about what went into his decision to go pro.

“I have done everything that I can in college as a football player, and now it’s time to take that next step,” Flowers said. “I believe this is the best for my family and myself. They had told me I had a second-round grade, but I will really look to raise that bar over the next few months. I am very excited about this next challenge in my life and career.”

AFC South Notes: Posluszny, Jags, Titans

December 29th, 2014 at 8:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Paul Posluszny is currently on the Jaguars‘ books for a team-high $9.5MM cap hit for 2015, but would “absolutely” be open to reducing that number in exchange for an extra year added to his contract, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). Posluszny, whose 2014 season ended prematurely due to a torn pectoral muscle, is currently under team control for two more years. More from the AFC South..

  • Michael Griffin told reporters, including Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (via Twitter), that if the Titans came to him and said they wanted him back for less money, it would come down to a family decision and what is best for them.
  • Titans offensive tackle Michael Roos says the odds are over 50% that he will retire this offseason, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean (via Twitter).
  • Wyatt (Twitter link) says the Titans will do their due diligence on guys like Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, but can’t see them taking either with the No.2 pick. Ultimately, he envisions Zach Mettenberger as the leading candidate to start in 2015 with added quarterback competition (link).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Minor Moves: Monday

December 29th, 2014 at 5:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Lions waived Darren Keyton to make room for the return of Dominic Raiola, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
  • The Patriots announced that they have signed linebacker Eric Martin to the practice squad. Martin played 13 games for Cleveland this past season and was released late last week. The 23-year-old has played in 29 games with one start and has registered 14 total tackles.

Browns Notes: Gordon, Manziel, Gilbert

December 29th, 2014 at 5:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says he won’t tolerate bad behavior or poor effort from any of his players, including young stars Johnny Manziel, Justin Gilbert, or Josh Gordon. “I think this is the ultimate team game, and I think a player who can’t show up for meetings, can’t make practice, can’t make weight lifting, disrespects himself,” said Haslam after the Browns’ 20-10 loss to the Ravens, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. More out of Cleveland..

  • Browns safety Donte Whitner is all for getting rid of players who can’t comply with team rules, Cabot writes.
  • For his part, Manziel denies reports that he threw a party last Friday in Cleveland and says he was just out with some friends, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Brian Hoyer said he hasn’t heard anything from the team about wanting to retain him, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron-Beacon Journal (via Twitter). Meanwhile, coach Mike Pettine says that the quarterback situation is “very much a question mark,” as Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald tweets.
  • Pettine says that Gordon is now at a crossroads with the team: he wants him to remain with the club but also wants him to be accountable for his actions (via Ulrich on Twitter).
  • Pettine says that he has a good relationship with Hoyer, but he isn’t sure if the stars will align for a reunion, Ulrich tweets.
  • The Browns should back up their talk by releasing Manziel and Gordon, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com writes.
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