2015 September - Pro Football Rumors

Chiefs Sign Jah Reid, Cut Josh Martin

September 7th, 2015 at 3:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 3:46pm: The Chiefs have confirmed the signing of Reid, announcing that they’ve cut linebacker Josh Martin in the corresponding roster move.

SUNDAY, 6:55pm: The Chiefs have made a move to bolster their offensive line depth, as they’ve agreed to sign offensive lineman Jah Reid, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Reid was cut by the Ravens yesterday, but since he wasn’t a vested veteran, he had to pass through waivers before finding a new home.

The 27-year-old Reid was selected by Baltimore in the third round of the 2011 draft, but despite his draft pedigree, he never became a full-time starter along the Ravens’ offensive line. In his four seasons with the club, he started only seven contests, all of which came during the 2012 season. Last season, Reid appeared in only four games, seeing time on just 10 offensive snaps.

Reid is capable of playing tackle and guard, so he’ll act as a depth piece behind Donald Stephenson, Ben Grubbs, Eric Fisher, and others in Kansas City. The Chiefs will have to make a corresponding move to clear a roster spot for Reid.

Falcons Claim Gino Gradkowski Off Waivers

September 7th, 2015 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to expressing interest in one of the two players cut by the Broncos yesterday, the Falcons have claimed the other player off waivers. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), center Gino Gradkowski has been awarded to Atlanta, via waiver claim.

Gradkowski, along with Montee Ball, was waived by the Broncos when Denver claimed a pair of players off waivers on Sunday. A Delaware product, Gradkowski has appeared in 40 games during the course of his three-year career, and was a full-time starter for the Ravens during the 2013 season. He wasn’t very productive that year, grading as the worst center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Gradkowski is the second veteran interior lineman added by the Falcons this week, as Atlanta also sent a sixth-round pick and a future conditional pick to the Titans to land guard Andy Levitre. The additions suggest that Dan Quinn and the Falcons aren’t satisfied with the offensive line play to date.

Falcons Express Interest In Montee Ball

September 7th, 2015 at 3:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons are among the teams that have expressed interest in running back Montee Ball, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Ball, who was cut by the Broncos yesterday, is set to become a free agent today if he clears waivers.

A Hesiman finalist while at Wisconsin in 2011, Ball was selected by Denver in the 2013 draft, and was expected to be inserted as the starting running back in the Broncos’ high-powered offense. But over the course of two seasons, Ball was never able to secure a role as the No. 1 back, losing the job to Knowshon Moreno in ’13 and C.J. Anderson in ’14. All told, Ball saw less than 200 carries during his time with the Broncos, and totaled less than 800 yards on the ground.

Still, Ball is just 24 years old, and has some upside. Teams with unsettled running back situations, such as the Titans, Browns, or Cowboys could kick the tires on the ex-Bronco even if they don’t place waiver claims.

As for the Falcons, it looks like they could head into the season with rookies Tevin Coleman and Terron Ward as their only healthy backs, with Devonta Freeman said to be still nursing a hamstring injury.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/7/15

September 7th, 2015 at 3:18pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Monday’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves that affect teams’ 53-man rosters:

The Bills have filled the final opening on their 53-man roster by signing defensive tackle Andre Fluellen, the team announced today in a press release. Fluellen, who has been a part-time contributor for the Lions for most of his NFL career, was cut by Buffalo on Friday, so his time away from the team didn’t last long.

Earlier updates:

A day after cutting him, the Titans have re-signed tight end Chase Coffman, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online (Twitter link). It appears Coffman’s release was procedural, so he’s back on the team now that Tennessee has officially placed running back David Cobb on the IR with the designation to return.
Washington has also added a tight end to its active roster, signing Anthony McCoy and waiving cornerback Deshazor Everett in a corresponding move, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times.
The Texans have removed safety Terrance Parks from their injured reserve list, giving him an injury settlement, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Jason Pierre-Paul Reporting To Giants

September 7th, 2015 at 2:02pm CST by Luke Adams

2:02pm: Pierre-Paul is in New York for his physical, and while his hand is wrapped for protection, he has no broken bones, per Rapoport and Albert Breer (all Twitter links). The Giants plan to have Tom Coughlin, John Mara, and Jerry Reese meet with JPP when he’s ready.

Rapoport and Breer also note that Pierre-Paul and the Giants will likely rework his contract before he signs, since the team will want to reduce his salary and JPP will want to avoid being placed on the NFI list.

8:37am: Jason Pierre-Paul is set to fly in to reunite with the Giants today, and an all-important physical examination is on the schedule for the veteran defensive end, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Pierre-Paul is still recovering from a hand injury that he sustained on the July 4th weekend in a fireworks accident. JPP, who lost a finger in the mishap, has yet to report to the Giants, so the team is unsure about how the pass rusher’s rehab has progressed. That makes today’s physical an important stepping stone for franchise-tag recipient, as he looks to get back on the field.

For now, Pierre-Paul also technically remains a free agent, having not signed his franchise tender from the Giants. Not signing that one-year deal gave the 26-year-old leeway to miss training camp and the preseason without being fined, and allows him to avoid being placed on New York’s non-football injury list for the first six weeks. When a team places a player on the NFI list, it can also elect to not pay him.

Of course, JPP also won’t get paid as long as he’s not under contract, but if he doesn’t sign his deal before the season gets underway, he’ll only forfeit salary a week at a time, rather than risking losing a six-week chunk at once.

The Giants’ defense has been somewhat banged up so far this summer, particularly in the secondary, so if Pierre-Paul is close to being able to return to the field and get some pressure on opposing passers, it would be a significant boon for that unit.

Seahawks Sign Fred Jackson

September 7th, 2015 at 1:13pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

MONDAY, 1:13pm: The Seahawks have officially signed Jackson, according to the club’s website.

FRIDAY, 6:29pm: The Seahawks and free agent running back Fred Jackson have agreed to a one-year contract, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Financial details of the deal are not yet available.

Jackson, whom the Bills released earlier this week, visited the Seahawks on Tuesday. They were just one of several playoff teams that expressed interest in Jackson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Seahawks head coach Pete Caroll was excited about Jackson after his visit with the team, saying, “I really, really like the kid. We all did,” per The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta.

Despite being the oldest running back in the NFL, Jackson, 34, was in high demand after a terrific eight-year tenure in Buffalo. He totaled 5,646 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground as a Bill after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent out of Division III Coe College. In addition to his prowess as a runner, Jackson was also a quality blocking back and receiving option for the Bills, catching 322 passes (including a career-best 66 last year) and seven more scores.

In Seattle, Jackson will reunite with ex-Bills teammate Marshawn Lynch to once again form a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield and further beef up the league’s reigning top-ranked ground attack. The two played together in Buffalo from 2007-10 and combined for three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported earlier this week that the friendship between Jackson and Lynch was the primary reason for the interest Jackson and the Seahawks had in each other.

Jackson is expected to supplant Robert Turbin, who’s currently felled by a high ankle sprain, and Christine Michael as the Seahawks’ primary backup to Lynch.

Photo Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Browns Sign Austin Davis, Put Charles Gaines On IR-DTR

September 7th, 2015 at 12:12pm CST by Rob DiRe

MONDAY, 12:12pm: The Browns have officially announced their signing of Davis. To make room on the roster, the club used its injured reserve slot with the designation to return on rookie cornerback Charles Gaines. The sixth-rounder will now miss at least the first eight weeks of the club’s season.

SUNDAY, 10:10pm: Earlier today, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN opined that he would not be surprised if the Browns put in a waiver claim for recently released quarterback Austin Davis, given their current trouble at the position (via Twitter).

Fowler looks pretty smart now, as Davis is flying to Cleveland tonight to have a physical with the Browns sometime tomorrow (via Twitter). He is expected to sign with the Browns, assuming the team has an open roster spot for him.

Josh McCown is set to start the opener, but backup Johnny Manziel has experienced soreness in his elbow that has left the team uncertain about his health for the beginning of the season.

The team also just cut both players battling for the third-string role, in Pat Devlin and Thad Lewis. This was viewed as a sign Manziel would be healthy in time for the opener, but bringing in Davis throws even more uncertainty into his arm health.

Former quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who made the Browns as a wide receiver, could always be turned to in emergency situations if both McCown and Manziel become unavailable during a game.

Davis was the 29th ranked quarterback in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus, despite only throwing a pass in nine games last year. For the season he completed over 63% of his passes, with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions, amassing over 2,000 yards in the process. Respectable numbers for a little more than a half season with a weak Rams’ offense.

Davis could serve as the backup to McCown while Manziel gets healthy, and if he master’s the offensive scheme could definitely challange McCown for starting snaps. With two healthy quarterbacks, he would be a candidate to remain with the team on their practice squad is he isn’t claimed before passing through waivers.

The once undrafted Davis is in his third NFL season, after working his way up the roster for the Rams. His experience starting eight games makes him an ideal candidate for the depth chart, even if he is not active for games with a healthy Manziel.

He will have to pass his physical, and hope the team still has a roster spot open for him tomorrow.

Free Agent Notes: Gray, Coxson, Workouts

September 7th, 2015 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Patriots running back Jonas Gray was one of the more notable offensive players to hit the waiver wire this weekend, as his time in New England came to an end. Now that he’s a free agent, Gray is drawing interest from several teams, as we heard yesterday, and he’ll pay a visit to one of those teams on Tuesday.

Gray’s agent, Sean Stellato, tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that his client has a workout scheduled for tomorrow with the Titans. Tennessee also acquired Terrance West from the Browns in a weekend trade, so the club is clearly looking for other options to complement Bishop Sankey, after having placed David Cobb on injured reserve with the designation to return.

Here are a few more notes on free agents, or players who figure to become available soon:

Wide receiver Adrian Coxson, who signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in May and was let go by the team in August, is retiring from the NFL due to ongoing concussion symptoms, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. “It’s been recommended to me by two neurologists and two doctors to retire from football,” Coxson told Wilson. “The next hit to my head could possibly kill me or be life damaging.”
The Dolphins are trying out former Falcons linebacker Marquis Spruill today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
Linebacker Nick Moody, cut by the 49ers yesterday, is headed to New York for a workout with the Giants, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link).
Agent Brett Tessler says (via Twitter) that his client, guard Mike Liedtke, formerly of the Dolphins, is visiting the Jets today. Caplan notes (via Twitter) that the Jets also worked out wide receiver Shane Wynn, who will audition for the Titans this week as well.
Veteran offensive lineman Ben Garland, who has spent time with the Broncos in some capacity – either on the team’s roster or practice squad – for the last four seasons, was cut during Denver’s cutdown to 53 players this week. However, he’s drawing around interest around the league, according to Mike Klis of 9 News (Twitter link).
Running back Daniel “Boom” Herron was waived/injured by the Colts on the weekend, and isn’t a free agent quite yet. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Herron suffered a sprained AC joint, which isn’t considered a serious injury. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, Herron will work out an injury settlement with the Colts and become a free agent.

Packers Sign James Jones

September 7th, 2015 at 11:18am CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 11:18am: The Packers are cutting wide receiver Myles White to open a spot on the roster for Jones, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

SUNDAY, 4:49pm: Jones has signed a one-year deal with the Packers, according to Silverstein (Twitter link).

4:10pm: The Packers and Jones have agreed to a deal that will bring the wideout back to Green Bay, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. It’s not clear yet where Jones will fit in on the team’s depth chart, since the Packers have several young receivers they like, but it shouldn’t take long for him to build a rapport with his old quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

2:05pm: The Packers have interest in a reunion with free agent receiver James Jones, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Twitter link), who reports that the two sides have had discussions. Jones’ agent tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Jones will take a visit with Green Bay on Sunday, and a deal could follow if the meeting goes well.

Following Jordy Nelson‘s ACL tear, a return to Green Bay has always made sense for Jones, and once he was released by the Giants yesterday, it seemed likely that the Packers would at least explore the possibility. The 31-year-old Jones spent the first seven seasons of his career with Green Bay, and posted his best campaign in 2012, catching a league-leading 14 touchdowns. His scoring totals have regressed to the mean in the years since, but he’s still a solid pass-catcher who could add depth to the Packers’ arsenal.

The fact that Jones didn’t land a contract with the Giants until July means he probably signed a minimum salary benefit contract. If the Packers want to add Jones, then, he shouldn’t be a costly option.

Buccaneers Sign Tim Jennings

September 7th, 2015 at 11:14am CST by Zachary Links

MONDAY, 11:14am: The Buccaneers have made their deal with Jennings official, placing Demar Dotson on IR-DTR to make room on the roster, the team announced today. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the deal is believed to be a minimum salary contract, since Jennings’ old deal with the Bears included offsets. A minimum salary pact leaves the Bears on the hook for more money.

THURSDAY, 8:36pm: The Buccaneers announced (via Twitter) that they have agreed to terms with cornerback Tim Jennings. Jennings met with Tampa Bay on Tuesday and two days later, he has a deal with the team.

Jennings signing with the Bucs isn’t a real surprise, considering his connection to Lovie Smith. Smith, the current head coach in Tampa Bay, was coaching in Chicago when the team brought Jennings aboard in 2010, and oversaw the cornerback’s first Pro Bowl season in 2012. The Bears released Jennings on Sunday.

A nine-year vet, Jennings signed with the Bears back in ’10 after spending the first four years of his career with the Colts. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Jennings posted a successful 2014 season, grading as the league’s No. 28 corner while playing more than 1,000 snaps. During his time in Chicago, Jennings, a Georgia alum, started all but six games, posting 16 interceptions during that span.

Jennings now joins a group of cornerbacks that includes Alterraun Verner, Johnthan Banks, Mike Jenkins, and Sterling Moore.