HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Workout Notes: Phillips, McClain, Still

September 15th, 2015 at 7:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens worked out veteran outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Of course, after the Ravens reached agreement with Jason Babin earlier this evening, there might not be a spot for Phillips in Baltimore.

Phillips, 34, played nine seasons for the Chargers before joining the Broncos in 2013 and then signing with the Titans last March. The veteran inked a two-year, $5MM contract with Tennessee, but wasn’t overly effective in a part-time role, recording just a pair of sacks after reaching double-digits in 2013. With the Colts in 2014, Phillips made even less of an impact, recording seven tackles and no sacks in his five regular-season contests with the team.

Here are more notable NFL workouts from today..

  • We learned earlier today that Terrelle Pryor worked out for the Patriots. Pryor, making the transition from quarterback to wide receiver this summer, impressed Browns coaches in training camp. However, after the team set its 53-man roster prior to Week 1, Pryor was essentially the 53rd man, making him expendable when other holes needed to be filled.
  • Former Patriots cornerback Robert McClain was one of three cornerbacks who worked out for the Rams today, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Colts worked out former Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Jets worked out a number of outside linebackers today, including former Falcon Jonathan Massaquoi, Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. Massaquoi, 26, was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, and has since played 40 games for the team, starting seven of them.
  • The Patriots had wide receiver Evan Spencer in for a tryout on Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.

Saints Place Rafael Bush On IR

September 15th, 2015 at 7:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have placed safety Rafael Bush on IR with a torn pectoral muscle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Saints have also terminated the contract of running back Tim Hightower, who was just re-added to roster yesterday, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets.

Bush, 28, was acquired by the Saints in 2012 when he was claimed off waivers from the Broncos. He played in ten games in 2014 (seven starts) before his season ended with a fractured tibia.

The good news with Hightower is that Woodbery (Twitter link) hears that this won’t be the end of the road for his comeback. The running back apparently suffered a minor injury and he plans to be back soon. Woodbery adds that he hopes to return to the Saints.

Latest On Jason Pierre-Paul

September 15th, 2015 at 7:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Jason Pierre-Paul had a procedure performed on his right middle finger three days before the Giants examined his hand last week, sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano. The defensive end is also missing the tip of his thumb and his entire index finger and there is now increased pessimism among team decision-makers about his prognosis, Graziano hears.

JPP remains convinced that he will play again this year, sources with knowledge of his thinking have told Graziano, and he thinks he’ll be back on the field relatively soon. But, another source said the Giants don’t plan to see Pierre-Paul again for another five or six weeks. If the hand isn’t healed to their satisfaction by then, the Giants will consider rescinding his $14.81MM franchise tender, per Graziano’s report.

One has to imagine that the Giants are less-than-thrilled with the situation, not only because of JPP’s medical condition, but because the star defensive end has largely been out of the loop this offseason. Big Blue offered to pay Pierre-Paul part of his $14.81MM salary to go on the NFI list prior to the 53-man cutdown, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. That would have allowed Pierre-Paul to rehab his hand, improve his conditioning, and learn Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Pierre-Paul, of course, declined.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/15/15

September 15th, 2015 at 7:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Jets waived Oday Aboushi, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. Aboushi was suspended without pay for the first game of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
  • The Bears cut quarterback David Fales, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Patriots cut undrafted rookie wide receiver Chris Harper, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter).
  • The Chargers signed offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins and dropped tight end Kyle Miller, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
  • The Eagles placed center David Molk on IR, according to the team transactions page.
  • The Cowboys officially signed Charles Brown and waived Darrion Weems, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer writes. Brown went to training camp with the Jets and was a former second round pick of the Saints.
  • The Buccaneers announced today that they have waived (injured) linebacker James-Michael Johnson.
  • The Texans placed tight end Ryan Griffin on IR-DTR with a sprained medial collateral ligament, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Titans reached injury settlements with Zaviar Gooden and Yawin Smallwood, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
  • The Colts signed Josh McNary to the active roster, Mike Wells of ESPN.com writes.
  • The Raiders will release tight end Gabe Holmes but they’ll try to re-sign him to the taxi squad, Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports tweets.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/15

September 15th, 2015 at 7:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: RB Zurlon Tipton and OL Robert Myers (via press release)

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: OT Patrick Miller (via Mike DiRocco on Twitter)
  • Cut: DT Toby Johnson (via press release)

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

    • To be signed: RB Kevin Monangai and NT Travis Raciti (via team website)
    • To be cut: TE Andrew Gleichert

St. Louis Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington

Cowboys Acquire Brice Butler From Raiders

September 15th, 2015 at 5:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys acquired receiver Brice Butler from the Raiders, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. If Butler is on the Cowboys’ 53-player roster for six games, Dallas will swap its fifth-round pick for the Raiders’ sixth-rounder in 2016, according to a source who spoke with Williams.

If Butler is on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster for six games, then the Cowboys will give up their fifth-round pick in 2016 but get the Raiders’ sixth-round pick next year in return as well, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. With a bye week on the horizon, the Cowboys have seven weeks to make a judgment on whether to keep him.

Butler, 25, was a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2013. The 6’3″, 210-pounder has shown flashes in the 25 games he’s played and also has a few impressive practice highlights floating around online. Butler has 30 compiled catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns over the course of his career.

Of course, the Cowboys are in need of wide receiver depth after losing star Dez Bryant to a foot injury. Butler now becomes the fifth active receiver on Dallas’ roster next to Terrance Williams, Devin Street, Cole Beasley, and Lucky Whitehead.

Raiders To Sign C.J. Wilson

September 15th, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have signed defensive lineman C.J. Wilson, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Wilson was among the final cuts in Oakland before the season started.

Wilson, 28, accrued 23 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (seven starts) with the Raiders in 2014. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Wilson 27th out of 57 qualifying 4-3 defensive ends for his work, and he recently drew interest from the Seahawks. Now, with Justin Ellis sidelined, the Raiders are hoping they can get some quality production out of Wilson in 2015.

The five-year veteran entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2010 and spent his first four seasons in Green Bay. With the Packers, he appeared in 50 games and made 11 starts.

Packers’ Sam Barrington Done For Season?

September 15th, 2015 at 4:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Unfortunately, it sounds like linebacker Sam Barrington‘s season already is over. The Packers believe that his foot injury is serious enough to rule him out until 2016, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. An Instagram post from the linebacker earlier today appears to confirm the speculation:

“[sic] sometimes we encounter those humbling moments in life when the first thing we want to do is ask why….feel sorry for ourselves…expect sympathy. This is not one of those times. Going to hurt like hell to not be out there in that Green and Yellow with my teammates. But this is my destiny. It’s still my job, to be a leader, a teammate, a brother. This is where I’m supposed to be. It’s life. It’s football. Thank you for the support guys. 2015 is our year. I’ll be back to tear [expletive] up next year. That’s a promise. Write that down. #AllLove”

Barrington, 25 in early October, emerged as a regular for Green Bay in 2014, appearing in 14 games with seven starts. In total, the former seventh-round pick racked up 66 tackles, two pass deflections, and one sack.

Colts Waive Vick Ballard

September 15th, 2015 at 4:34pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have waived running back Vick Ballard with an injured designation, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

After consecutive years of tearing his ACL, Ballard’s status with the Colts was said to be on the rocks this summer thanks to a hamstring injury. Ballard was unable to make an impression on the coaching staff and front office in the offseason and now, the injury bug has him jettisoned from the Colts’ roster.

Ballard, 25, broke out in 2012, his rookie season with the Colts. The fifth-round draft pick ran for 814 yards off of 211 carries, good for an average of 3.9 yards per attempt. However, he has yet to do much ever since thanks to the aforementioned ACL problems.

Raiders To Place Nate Allen On IR-DTR

September 15th, 2015 at 4:26pm CST by Zachary Links

4:26pm: Allen is actually being placed on IR-DTR, meaning that he can return to action later this season, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets.

4:21pm: The Raiders will place safety Nate Allen on IR, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The news is somewhat surprising since it was reported on Monday night that Allen’s MRI indicated that he avoided a torn ACL. However, the scan did reveal a torn MCL and lots of swelling. It’s not immediately clear what Allen’s main injury is at this time.

Allen, 27, started 15 games for the Eagles last season at safety, racking up 62 tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, five pass deflections, and a sack. Allen had a pretty solid year in 2014, finishing out with a 3.9 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), good for 28th out of 87 qualified safeties. This offseason, Allen inked a four-year deal with Oakland with a $23MM base value and $6.9MM fully guaranteed.

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