2015 September - Pro Football Rumors

Bengals Waive Devon Still

September 5th, 2015 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

As part of their cutdown to 53 players, the Bengals have waived defensive tackle Devon Still, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Still will become a free agent if he goes unclaimed tomorrow.

It’s not the first time the Bengals have cut Still from their active roster. However, in the past, the Penn State product has found a spot on the team’s practice squad. Heading into the 2015 season, Still no longer has practice squad eligibility, so if Cincinnati doesn’t intent to bring him back, he’ll have to try to find a spot on another club’s 53-man roster.

Still, who hasn’t made a start in his three-year NFL career since being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, has nonetheless become a fan favorite in Cincinnati and around the league as his young daughter, Leah Still, has battled cancer. Leah went into remission from neuroblastoma in March, and Still said in July that she’s “almost back to her normal self.”

Eagles Cut Tim Tebow

September 5th, 2015 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

After trading Matt Barkley to the Cardinals, the Eagles have parted ways with another backup quarterback, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team has cut Tim Tebow. Howard Eskin of FOX 29 tweeted earlier today that he was getting indications Tebow would be let go, with Chip Kelly looking for help at quarterback and possibly on the offensive line.

Assuming the Eagles have no plans to bring Tebow back to their roster in the coming weeks, this could be the last shot the former Florida Gator gets in the NFL. There was a belief that he had a decent chance to make Philadelphia’s roster this season, since Kelly and the team reportedly liked his potential to contribute on short-yardage and two-point plays.

With Tebow – and Barkley – no longer in the mix, Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez are the only quarterbacks remaining on the Eagles’ roster. While many teams carry just two signal-callers, Philadelphia will likely want to add a third QB as insurance, either to the practice squad or the active roster, given Bradford’s injury history.

Bears’ Willie Young On Trade Block

September 5th, 2015 at 11:12am CST by Luke Adams

Bears edge defender Willie Young is on the trade block, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). It’s not clear whether teams are calling Chicago about Young, or whether the Bears are shopping him, but perhaps it’s some combination of the two.

Young, who will turn 30 later this month, had a career year in 2014, his first with the Bears. After arriving in Chicago following four seasons with the Lions, Young racked up 10 sacks, recording 40 tackles and forcing a fumble as well.

However, Young’s season ended with a torn Achilles in December, an injury that isn’t easy to come back from. While the veteran pass rusher avoided the PUP list this summer, he’s had some trouble adjusting to the Bears’ 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Young is lining up as an outside linebacker, rather than a defensive end, in the new look.

The Saints “may be looking in [the] direction” of Young, according to Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (via Twitter). The Saints, of course, lost their top pass rusher when they cut Junior Galette.

Jets Release Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson

September 5th, 2015 at 11:05am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have released a pair of quarterbacks this afternoon, parting ways with Matt Flynn (via player’s tweet, confirmed by NFL Network’s Albert Breer) and Josh Johnson (via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News on Twitter). That leaves the team with three quarterbacks on their roster: veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, rookie Bryce Petty, and Geno Smith, who is recovering from a broken jaw.

The Jets inked Flynn to a deal in August following his release from the Patriots. The 30-year-old never saw the field with New England, but he did throw for 136 yards and two scores during Thursday night’s preseason game. The former Packers draft pick has bounced around a bit since leaving Green Bay in 2011, having also spent time with the Seahawks, Raiders and Bills.

The team also added Johnson in late August following his release from the Bengals. The 29-year-old made an appearance during the Jets’ final preseason game, passing for 82 yards while adding 76 yards on the ground. Johnson has only appeared in three games since 2012.

ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets that Flynn’s entire salary would not have been guaranteed had he been on the roster for Week 1, noting the previously claimed termination pay. The reporter notes that this wasn’t the case for Johnson.

Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com wonders (via Twitter) if the Jets may take a week-by-week approach for their veteran third-stringer. By taking this approach, they could avoid paying guaranteed money to a player who will likely be gone once Smith returns.

Panthers To Put Arthur Miley On Short-Term IR

September 5th, 2015 at 10:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers will use their short-term injured reserve designation on defensive end Arthur Miley, reports Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). The undrafted rookie out of Southern University is set to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery.

Miley inked a three-year, $1.59MM deal with Carolina back in May, including a $15K signing bonus. The senior finished last season with 59 tackles and seven sacks.

Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez tweets that the team was “really impressed” with how Miley could “sense where a play is going,” noting that the player has a “really good feel for the game.”

Steelers Trim Roster To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 10:21am CST by Luke Adams

The Steelers have become the NFL’s first team to formally announce its roster moves to get down to 53 players in advance of this afternoon’s deadline. According to a team release, Pittsburgh has made the following moves:

Cut:

RB Jawon Chisholm
DL Matt Conrath
S Jordan Dangerfield
S Alden Darby
OL Reese Dismukes
OL B.J. Finney
CB Kevin Fogg
LB L.J. Fort
LB Shayon Green
RB Josh Harris
DL Ethan Hemer
S Gerod Holliman
LB Howard Jones
OL Doug Legursky
WR Shakim Phillips
DL Mike Thornton
CB B.W. Webb
WR Jarrod West

Waived/injured:

OL Kelvin Palmer
OL Mitchell Van Dyk

Those 20 cuts would get the Steelers down to 54 players from 75, since the team also traded punter Brad Wing yesterday. The club has also officially signed cornerback Ross Cockrell, bringing the roster count to 55. The final two moves will be to add running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the reserve/suspended list to start the year.

Jets Cut Jason Babin

September 5th, 2015 at 10:12am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have released veteran linebacker Jason Babin, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The Western Michigan product was competing with Trevor Reilly and Lorenzo Mauldin to be Quinton Coples primary backup.

The 35-year-old signed a two-year, $3.25MM deal with the team last offseason. Cutting Babin will save the organization $1.5MM, with $125K in dead money.

A first-round pick in 2004, Babin has played with seven teams during his 12-year career. The two-time Pro Bowler made 16 appearances (four starts) with the Jets last season, compiling 25 tackles and two sacks. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) actually rated Babin as the third-most valuable defender on the Jets, and he was ranked as the league’s ninth-best 3-4 outside linebacker.

The veteran has experience in 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, meaning he’s not a one-trick pony. While his skills have certainly declined, it wouldn’t be a shock if Babin caught on with another squad. The linebacker certainly sounded confident about his skills when discussing his role with Darryl Slater of NJ.com.

“I don’t worry about what I don’t control,” he said. “But I am not at all concerned about my abilities to rush the passer or do any other things they need me to do. I can get the job done in a very effective way. So I’m not concerned, either way.”

Giants’ Nat Berhe Done For Season

September 5th, 2015 at 10:03am CST by Zachary Links

SEPTEMBER 5: Berhe has confirmed on Twitter that his season is over and that he’ll be heading to injured reserve.

AUGUST 27: The Giants’ secondary just can’t catch a break. Nat Berhe is expected to become the fourth Giants safety to have his season end prematurely when he undergoes calf surgery on Friday, two sources tell Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. Berhe took to Twitter earlier this evening to add that the procedure will remove a hardened blood clot from his calf.

Berhe joins Bennett Jackson, Mykkele Thompson, and Justin Currie as Giants safeties whose seasons have ended before they really started. Cooper Taylor now stands as the lone holdover from last season. The Giants added veteran Jeromy Miles before the start of camp and Brandon Meriweather, Justin Halley and C.J. Conway in the past few weeks to beef up the safety position alongside rookie Landon Collins.

Unfortunately for the Giants, there are not a lot of quality outside options at safety. However, safety Jeremy Deering is on the workout trail and one has to wonder if the Giants could schedule an audition with the Rutgers product.

Falcons, Antone Smith Working On Injury Settlement

September 5th, 2015 at 9:55am CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons are working on an injury settlement with running back Antone Smith, reports Zach Klein of WSB (ABC-TV) in Atlanta (via Twitter). If the sides can’t come to an agreement, Smith will be placed on the injured reserve.

The former undrafted rookie out of Florida State has bounced around a bit since entering the league in 2009, spending time with the Lions, Vikings, Texans and Falcons. The 29-year-old has 29 career carries for 286 yards and four touchdowns. He also has 15 receptions for 232 yards and three scores.

The speedy back inked a one-year, $1.4MM deal with Atlanta back in March. He was expected to contribute this season with the Falcons, but a hamstring injury limited him throughout the preseason. In addition to Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, the Falcons also have running backs Terron Ward and Jerome Smith under contract.

Giants Cut James Jones, Ashlee Palmer

September 5th, 2015 at 9:51am CST by Luke Adams

After cutting longtime punter Steve Weatherford earlier this week, the Giants have decided to release a couple more notable veterans. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), New York is parting ways with wide receiver James Jones and linebacker Ashlee Palmer.

Jones, who confirmed the move in a text message to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter links), added: “I’m good at this point. I don’t know who wants me. I’ll be playing somewhere though hopefully.” One potential destination for the veteran receiver could be Green Bay, where the Packers have seen Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb get injured this preseason. While Cobb is expected to be back for Week 1 or shortly thereafter, Nelson is done for the year.

As for Palmer, his stint with the Giants didn’t last long. The veteran linebacker, who started 15 games for the Lions over the last two seasons, just signed with New York on August 24.

The Giants also cut fullback Henry Hynoski earlier today.