HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Bills Cut Bryce Brown

September 15th, 2015 at 3:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced that they have released running back Bryce Brown, as Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets. The release of Brown will make room for the return of Marcell Dareus.

The Bills traded a 2015 fourth-round pick to the Eagles to acquire Brown before the start of the 2014 season and that’s a deal that GM Doug Whaley probably wouldn’t make again. Brown was inactive for the season opener against the Colts and he watched Karlos Williams and Bobbie Dixon both find paydirt from the sidelines. In 2014, Brown ran for a grand total of 126 yards off of 36 carries.

Washington Signs CB Will Blackmon

September 15th, 2015 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Washington has announced the signing of cornerback Will Blackmon, as Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets. Blackmon will take the roster spot formerly held by safety Duke Ihenacho, who is being placed on IR.

The Jaguars released the 30-year-old in late February and he hooked on with the Seahawks in March. However, on September 5th, Seattle sent him packing too. Blackmon spent the last two seasons with the Jaguars and was one of the top three cornerbacks for the team during his time there, starting 12 of 23 games. His 2014 campaign was cut short by a broken finger, which landed him on the injured reserve list with about two months left in the season. In 2013, Blackmon graded out as the 22nd best cornerback in the league according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Ihenacho’s season ended early when he dislocated and fractured his left wrist in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins.

Justin Hunter Found Not Guilty Of Assault

September 15th, 2015 at 2:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Appearing in a Virginia courtroom today, Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter was found not guilty on charges of assault and battery, according to Gabriella DeLuca of NewsChannel 3 (via Twitter).

Hunter, 24, originally faced a felony charge for an incident that took place in a Virginia Beach bar on the Fourth of July weekend. During a July arraignment, prosecutors said that Hunter started a bar fight on by punching a man in the face twice. According to prosecutors, after the bar was cleared, Hunter punched the man again while he was bent over spitting out blood on the sidewalk.

The man allegedly had a broken jaw as a result of the assault, and the Titans wideout faced a felony charge of malicious wounding. However, per an AP report, there were several people involved in the brawl, and the victim said Hunter didn’t land the most serious blow. The receiver’s attorneys argued that Hunter felt threatened, which is why he began throwing punches.

That original felonious charge was reduced to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge a few weeks ago, and today Hunter was found not guilty in court. While he’s in the clear from a legal standpoint, the NFL figures to complete its own investigation, and the former 34th overall pick could still face discipline from the league. Still, Hunter’s odds of serving a multi-game suspension due to the incident appear to have been significantly reduced as a result of the not guilty ruling.

Hunter, who has continued to play for the Titans while his legal situation plays out, was targeted just twice during Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay, catching one ball for 11 yards.

Falcons Sign Jake Long

September 15th, 2015 at 1:34pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 1:34pm: Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed today that the Falcons have signed Long, and Charles Godfrey is being cut to clear room on the roster, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter links).

MONDAY, 7:58pm: Matt Ryan and the Falcons have had an impressive showing so far against the Eagles tonight, and the team may soon add another former first overall pick to its roster. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Atlanta is expected to sign offensive tackle Jake Long later this week.

Long, 30, saw time in just seven games for the Rams last season due to a torn ACL. The former No. 1 overall pick had been in St. Louis for the past two years after spending the first five years of his career with the Dolphins, but tore his ACL in each of those two seasons, playing in just 22 games during that stretch.

However, Long received the go-ahead for Dr. James Andrews, who medically cleared him last week, and the veteran offensive lineman paid a second visit to Atlanta upon being cleared. The Giants also had kicked the tires on Long, but it appeared there was more mutual interest between him and the Falcons.

Last season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Long as just the No. 36 tackle out of 84 qualified players. In 2013, however, Long graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the league with a strong 22.5 overall score, based on PFF’s advanced metrics. Those numbers suggest that Long could still be a productive player if he’s back to full health.

AFC Notes: Kitchen, Texans, Workouts, Fluker

September 15th, 2015 at 12:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Browns nose tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, who was cut by Cleveland earlier this month, will pay a visit to the Texans this week, a source tells Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk. With 2014 third-rounder Louis Nix no longer on their roster, and sixth-round rookie Christian Covington backing up Vince Wilfork, the Texans may be seeking some veteran depth to help complement J.J. Watt on their defensive line.

As we wait to see if anything materializes between Kitchen and the Texans, let’s check in on a few other items from across the AFC….

  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along some workout updates, reporting (via Twitter) that the Jets are auditioning former Broncos defensive end Quanterus Smith today, and that linebackers Troy Davis, Quayshawn Nealy, and Nick Moody recently worked out for the Chiefs. Moody has since signed to Seattle’s practice squad.
  • Chargers offensive lineman D.J. Fluker is expected to miss “considerable time” due to an ankle injury, writes Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press. Johnnie Troutman would likely be the next man up to replace Fluker as San Diego’s right guard.
  • The trial for Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter, who was charged with assault and battery following a July bar brawl, is set to begin today in Virginia Beach, according to an Associated Press report.
  • Examining A.J. Green‘s new extension with the Bengals, Bryce Johnston of Over the Cap observes that even though Green’s second-year base salary isn’t fully guaranteed at the time of his signing and he trails other star wideouts in terms of fully guaranteed money, his contract looks just as strong as those other deals.

Terrelle Pryor Worked Out For Patriots

September 15th, 2015 at 11:19am CST by Luke Adams

Terrelle Pryor, who was cut by the Browns before the team’s Week 1 loss to the Jets, worked out for the Patriots on Monday, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who tweets that no signing is imminent. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report first reported Pryor’s workout with the Pats (via Twitter).

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.

When word of the Browns waiving Pryor broke, the former Raiders quarterback said that it would be “a mistake” by the team. Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine acknowledged that possibility, but explained last week that the fact that Pryor was slowed in camp by a hamstring injury also contributed to the Browns’ decision to cut him.

“The fact is that [Pryor] wasn’t [healthy] and that he was not prepared at this point to be a viable productive member,” Pettine said, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I’m not saying that he never will be. I’m very confident that he will be knowing his work ethic. Knowing his skill set, he will be. Like I said, it’s timing and it’s circumstances.”

It sounds like New England may not be the only stop this week for Pryor — a report over the weekend indicated that the ex-Brown would be auditioning for two teams in the coming days.

Cowboys Working Out Hakeem Nicks, Others

September 15th, 2015 at 10:20am CST by Luke Adams

With Dez Bryant sidelined for at least the next month, the Cowboys are considering adding some extra roster depth at wide receiver, and the team is bringing in several free agents today for workouts. According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, the Cowboys are taking a look at Hakeem Nicks, Nick Toon, Austin Pettis, and Clyde Gates.

Nicks, who spent his first five years with the Giants, posting multiple 1,000-yard seasons in New York, caught just 38 balls for 405 yards and four touchdowns last year in Indianapolis. He found a new home in free agency when he signed with the Titans earlier in the year, but Tennessee opted to keep just four wideouts on the roster to start the season, cutting Nicks earlier this month. The veteran wideout has since worked out for the Saints as well.

While Nicks is obviously the biggest name in the group, all four wideouts have NFL experience, and each has at least one season with double-digit receptions on his résumé. Outside of Nicks, Pettis has the most career catches (95), including 38 for the Rams in 2013.

If the Cowboys do add a veteran free agent to their wide receiving corps, I wouldn’t expect the new player to have a major role in the offense during Bryant’s absence. Instead, players like Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Devin Street, and Jason Witten figure to get a few more looks until the club’s No. 1 receiver returns.

NFC East Notes: Dez, Washington, Eagles

September 15th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys are hoping Dez Bryant returns in four to six week after undergoing foot surgery, but ESPN’s Dr. Mark Adickes thinks eight to 12 weeks might be a more realistic recovery time frame for the star wideout (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). For now, the Cowboys have no plans to use their IR/designated to return slot on Bryant — such a move would sideline him for at least eight weeks.

Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFC East….

  • With starting cornerback Chris Culliver set to miss Washington‘s Week 2 contest due to a one-game suspension, the club is bringing in free agent corner Will Blackmon for a visit today, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Blackmon, who was cut by the Jaguars earlier in 2015, signed with the Seahawks in March but was released by Seattle during the cutdown to 53 players.
  • Before Washington signed free agent kicker Dustin Hopkins yesterday, the team also worked out former Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis, along with punter Brandon Fields, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
  • The Eagles auditioned tight ends Connor Hamlett, Brian Leonhardt, and Jacob Maxwell, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Presumably, those workouts took place before the club was certain that Zach Ertz – coming off groin surgery – would be ready for such a significant role on Monday night.
  • Cornerback Byron Maxwell, the Eagles‘ biggest free agent addition of the winter, was also the team’s biggest disappointment in Week 1, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. McLane also notes that the offensive line – featuring Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardner in starting roles – was overmatched by Atlanta’s defensive front, which could raise questions about Philadelphia’s decision to cut both Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans in the offseason.

Forbes Releases NFL Franchise Valuations

September 14th, 2015 at 10:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Forbes has unveiled its annual franchise valuations for all 32 NFL teams, with the Dallas Cowboys once again sitting atop the list. According to Forbes, the Cowboys are worth a staggering $4 billion, unseating soccer’s Real Madrid ($3.26 billion) as the world’s most valuable sports franchise. Overall, the average NFL team is worth $1.97 billion, per Forbes — that’s a 38% increase over last year’s $1.43 billion average, which itself represented a 23% increase over 2013’s figures.

All 32 teams saw their values rise this year, and each team’s valuation is now well over $1 billion — a year ago, seven teams fell short of that mark, but this time around, the Bills’ $1.4 billion figure ranks last in the NFL. Of course, that was the exact amount Terry and Kim Pegula paid for the franchise when they bought it in 2014.

While Forbes’ figures shouldn’t be taken as gospel, they at least provide a general idea of the league’s most valuable and least valuable franchises, as well as a baseline for the sort of money owners would be seeking if they decided to sell their teams. Here’s the complete list of Forbes’ franchise values:

  1. Dallas Cowboys: $4 billion
  2. New England Patriots: $3.2 billion
  3. Washington: $2.85 billion
  4. New York Giants: $2.8 billion
  5. San Francisco 49ers: $2.7 billion
  6. New York Jets: $2.6 billion
  7. Houston Texans: $2.5 billion
  8. Chicago Bears: $2.45 billion
  9. Philadelphia Eagles: $2.4 billion
  10. Green Bay Packers: $1.95 billion
  11. Denver Broncos: $1.94 billion
  12. Baltimore Ravens: $1.93 billion
  13. Pittsburgh Steelers: $1.9 billion
  14. Indianapolis Colts: $1.88 billion
  15. Seattle Seahawks: $1.87 billion
  16. Miami Dolphins: $1.85 billion
  17. Atlanta Falcons: $1.67 billion
  18. Minnesota Vikings: $1.59 billion
  19. Carolina Panthers: $1.56 billion
  20. Arizona Cardinals: $1.54 billion
  21. Kansas City Chiefs: $1.53 billion
  22. San Diego Chargers: $1.525 billion
  23. New Orleans Saints: $1.52 billion
  24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $1.51 billion
  25. Cleveland Browns: $1.5 billion
  26. Tennessee Titans: $1.49 billion
  27. Jacksonville Jaguars: $1.48 billion
  28. St. Louis Rams: $1.45 billion
  29. Cincinnati Bengals: $1.445 billion
  30. Detroit Lions: $1.44 billion
  31. Oakland Raiders: $1.43 billion
  32. Buffalo Bills: $1.4 billion

Extra Points: Ravens, Patriots, Clay, Bush

September 14th, 2015 at 10:05pm CST by Luke Adams

With Terrell Suggs lost for the season, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh believes his team has the internal options to fill the void. However, he acknowledges that the club is also looking at external options and could add somebody soon (Twitter links via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun). Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com scans the free agent market and identifies a few possible targets for Baltimore.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally won’t face further discipline from the NFL for their possible involvement in DeflateGate, and will meet with the league soon to discuss new roles with the team, writes Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Neither Jastremski nor McNally will be involved in the preparation, handling, or supervision of game balls going forward.
  • According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, new Bills tight end Charles Clay had his knee drained at least a half-dozen times last season while he was a Dolphin. Clay’s knees were a source of concern for suitors in free agency, and specifically for the Dolphins, who declined to match Buffalo’s huge offer sheet to Clay back in March. As Schefter explains, there are some who wonder how much longer Clay will be able to play.
  • The Saints received some bad news on the injury front, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that safety Rafael Bush tore his pectoral muscle during Sunday’s loss in Arizona.
  • Elsewhere in the NFC South, the Panthers will be without offensive tackle Daryl Williams for two to four weeks after he sprained his right MCL, as David Newton of ESPN.com details.
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