HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

West Notes: Jenkins, 49ers, Chargers

October 29th, 2015 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

After suggesting earlier in the season that he’d likely play out the final year of his rookie contract without a new extension in place, Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins confirmed as much this week, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. As Jenkins explains, once the team’s bye week passed without an agreement, he made the decision to shelve contract discussions.

“They knew what was going on,” Jenkins said. “I told them anything after the bye week, I ain’t listening, I don’t want to hear it. I want to focus on football. The bye week is gone, so I just want to play football.”

As Jenkins continues to improve his free agent stock with an impressive season, let’s check out a few more notes from around the NFL’s West divisions….

  • Following up on an earlier report about a heated players-only meeting, Kyle McLorg of BayAreaSportsGuy.com identified 49ers tight end Vernon Davis as the player who called out quarterback Colin Kaepernick during that meeting, while offensive tackle Joe Staley stepped up to defend the QB.
  • The 49ers have failed Kaepernick more than he has failed the team, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who points out that other teams have performed well despite getting subpar quarterback play. Barrows also notes that the Niners haven’t made good on the promise they made to Kaepernick when he signed his deal, about using their cap flexibility to lock up key players to extensions.
  • The Chargers took a look at a pair of free agent safeties this week, working out former Giants safety Stevie Brown, along with Brandian Ross, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link).
  • Speaking to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com, NFL executive Eric Grubman confirmed that the league feels the city of San Diego has made some progress on a stadium proposal. Whether or not that progress is enough to save the Chargers remains to be seen — as Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets, the league’s Los Angeles committee will meet on November 11-12 in New York to discuss relocation, and we’re moving closer and closer to possible resolution.

Contract Details For Jason Pierre-Paul

October 29th, 2015 at 11:37am CST by Luke Adams

After a lengthy saga that involved a franchise tag, a fireworks accident, and a series of physical exams, Jason Pierre-Paul officially signed a contract this week with the Giants, aiming to return to the team for the second half of the 2015 season.

Pierre-Paul’s franchise tag was initially worth $14.13MM, but after missing seven weeks, the standout defensive end would’ve only been eligible to earn up to about $8.71MM, the prorated portion of that season-long figure. With the Giants reluctant to guarantee that full amount, and Pierre-Paul not wanting to risk being placed on the non-football injury list, the two sides worked out a compromise.

Here are all the details on JPP’s new one-year contract with the Giants:

  • Perhaps most importantly, the Giants agreed not to place Pierre-Paul on the NFI list as part of their agreement, meaning the veteran pass rusher will once again be eligible for free agency at season’s end (Twitter links via Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com). If the Giants had placed JPP on NFI, they may have been able to bring him back at the same price as his 2015 franchise tag.
  • Pierre-Paul receives $1.5MM in guaranteed base salary, and can earn up to $1.5MM in per-game roster bonuses, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. The Giants have a roster exemption for JPP for the next two weeks, which means he’d only have to play in the club’s final seven games to max out his per-game bonuses — he’ll earn about $214K for each game he spends on the active roster.
  • According to Garafolo, Pierre-Paul can earn up to another $5.71MM or so, via playing-time and sack incentives. Rand Getlin of the NFL Network confirms (via Twitter) that the one-year deal is worth a maximum of $8,713,530 — the prorated franchise tag figure for 10 weeks.
  • La Canfora provides the specifics on those incentives, which are fairly convoluted. Essentially, if Pierre-Paul plays in at least 80% of the team’s defensive snaps over the final seven games, he’d earn a max of $3.85MM in playing-time incentives (Twitter link). If he records 10 or more sacks, JPP would max out both his sack and playing-time incentives, and earn his full $8.71MM salary (Twitter links). Of course, racking up 10 sacks in seven games is a tall order for even a fully healthy star, so the 26-year-old’s earnings for the season will very likely fall below that $8.71MM figure.

Joseph Randle Facing Potential Suspension

October 29th, 2015 at 10:26am CST by Luke Adams

Cowboys running back Joseph Randle is making plenty of headlines this week. Shortly after word broke that Randle left the team facility and missed a treatment session on his injured oblique, Adam Schefter and Todd Archer of ESPN report that the back is facing discipline from the NFL for an offseason incident.

Randle was arrested in February in Wichita, Kansas for unlawful possession of marijuana after police received a call for an alleged domestic incident involving Randle and the mother of his son. Charges against the 23-year-old were dropped in April, but the NFL continued its own investigation, meeting with Randle over the summer, and within the past week, according to the ESPN report.

It’s not known yet if Randle will receive a suspension or merely a fine for the incident, but it appears he’ll be disciplined by the league in some form. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com – who notes that the NFL is applying the personal conduct policy, rather than the domestic conduct policy, in its investigation – tweets that Randle will likely face a one- or two-game suspension.

In light of this new information, it seems that the NFL’s investigation may have played a part in Randle’s absence earlier this week, but that’s still not entirely clear. For what it’s worth, Archer and Schefter hear from sources that his absence from the Cowboys’ facility was “about more than just losing his starting job” to Darren McFadden. Randle is expected to meet with Dallas coaches on Thursday.

NFC East Notes: Randle, Cousins, JPP

October 29th, 2015 at 9:02am CST by Luke Adams

According to reports from Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys running back Joseph Randle – upset with his demotion – left the team’s facility on Wednesday, skipping a treatment session for a strained oblique. It sounds as if Randle will return to the team on Thursday, and Hill’s sources downplay the notion that the running back left the team because he was upset about being surpassed on the depth chart by Darren McFadden.

Still, Randle’s decision to go AWOL frustrated some members of the Cowboys staff, and isn’t a great look for a player who has had his share of off-field issues in the past — as Hill notes, Randle has been arrested twice since last October, and “drew the ire” of the Cowboys when he made comments in the offseason about DeMarco Murray leaving “meat on the bone” last season.

We’ll have to wait and see if there’s any fallout to Randle’s absence, but if the Cowboys’ public support of Greg Hardy is any indication, it might just be a matter of time until Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones are issuing votes of confidence for Randle.

Here’s more from out of the NFC East:

  • It seems as if there has been more discussion and speculation about Robert Griffin III‘s contract situation beyond 2015 than Kirk Cousins‘ situation, but Washington‘s current starting quarterback is eligible for free agency this winter. Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com examines the possible scenarios for Cousins, suggesting that he thinks a short-term deal with Washington is the most likely outcome.
  • The Giants will have a roster exemption for Jason Pierre-Paul until November 9, meaning the team won’t have to officially move the recovering defensive end to its 53-man roster until then, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • Newsday’s Bob Glauber takes a look at Pierre-Paul’s return to the Giants, writing that it’s worth rooting for JPP to make good on his second chance.

Extra Points: Manziel, Pryor, Ratliff

October 28th, 2015 at 9:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The next round of CBA discussions could include some talks on a revamp of team practices, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes. In the last Collective Bargaining Agreement, there was a reduction in the number of practices and changes as to how teams practice and coaches have been fighting for more teaching opportunities for young players who are still learning. Ultimately, one of the key changes could see the size of the practice squad roster – currently at 10 – increase.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • At this point it would be a surprise if Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is found culpable and faced discipline for his incident, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Either way, we should all know for sure this week. The NFL is interviewing Manziel tonight about his role in the incident and they’ve already interviewed several of the parties involved (link).
  • Terrelle Pryor continues to work out in the hopes that a team will take a shot on him as a receiver, writes ESPN’s Ashley Fox. Pryor’s lack of practice squad eligibility has perhaps discouraged clubs from rolling the dice on him, but agent Drew Rosenhaus says his client’s workouts have all gone well: “We’re confident that it’s just a matter of time until one of these teams decides to make the move.”
  • The Bears notified the Cowboys of Jeremiah Ratliff’s release as a security precaution, sources tell David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. The Bears cut Ratliff last week after an incident at their practice facility and it sounds like things got fairly hostile. Ratliff has not attempted to come by the Cowboys facility in the past week, but due to the acrimonious nature of their split, the Bears felt compelled to give them a heads up.
  • Calvin Johnson to the Panthers? Tamba Hali to the Falcons? Those trade ideas may be far-fetched, but they’re two of eight deals that Gil Brandt of NFL.com would like to see happen by next Tuesday’s deadline.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Mallett, Jets, Luck

October 28th, 2015 at 9:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Tonight’s look at the AFC:

  • Speaking today to reporters, including John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien downplayed the idea that he and GM Rick Smith had a confrontation over Ryan Mallett‘s place on the team this week. Acknowledging that there are occasional disagreements between the two men, O’Brien said that “the majority of the time we agree,” adding that he and Smith “work together and communicate every day,” and aren’t engaged in any sort of power struggle.
  • Jets first-round pick Leonard Williams wasn’t shocked when the Raiders selected Amari Cooper instead of him at No. 3 in this year’s draft. “I wasn’t too surprised,” Williams said, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. “Everyone watches those pre-draft analysis and stuff like that, but it’s never completely accurate. I did think I was going to go top three or something like that, but I think it worked out pretty well that I came to the Jets. I’m under a lot of great players to learn from Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, those guys have been able to take me under their wing and show me a lot of stuff.”
  • Some have speculated that Andrew Luck returned to Stanford for a fourth year to avoid going to the Panthers with the first pick of the 2011 draft. On Wednesday, the Colts quarterback shot that theory down, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. “Absolutely not,” the first pick of the 2012 draft said. “And I hope people don’t think that.”

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Latest On Colin Kaepernick, 49ers

October 28th, 2015 at 8:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s the latest on the 49ers and their starting QB..

  • With reports of discord in the 49ers’ locker room regarding Colin Kaepernick, wide receiver Torrey Smith went public over the weekend with his support of the quarterback, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. “We’re still together,” 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith said. “It’s tough. It’s frustrating, but it’s not dividing the team at all. It’s not separating Kap. Kap isn’t on a damn island. We’re here together. We’re trying to win together.”
  • 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula doesn’t believe that the anti-Kaepernick leaks came from the locker room or the front office, but he did call them “an absolute concern,” as Cam Inman of the Mercury News tweets.
  • Tim Kawakami of The Mercury News (Twitter links) thinks it’s “beyond obvious” that the recent Kaepernick stories are coming from 49ers management, though Tomsula can’t come out and say that. Kawakami’s reasoning? The stories are developing with the same pattern as last season with ex-coach Jim Harbaugh and they’re primarily coming from the same two national reporters.

Titans Work Out Devon Still

October 28th, 2015 at 6:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans worked out several veteran defensive linemen on Wednesday, including former Bengal Devon Still, as Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets. Da’Quan Bowers, Josh Chapman, Kelcy Quarles, Terry Redden, and Christo Bilukidi rounded out the group of defensive linemen auditioning for Tennessee.

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.”

Still has yo-yo’d between the Bengals 53-man roster and practice squad in the past, but he is out of p-squad eligibility, so that was not an option when Cincinnati cut him loose in September. On the field, Still saw a career-high 237 defensive snaps as a part-time player for Cincinnati last season, recording 19 tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries.

Workout Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Jaguars

October 28th, 2015 at 5:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s workouts from around the NFL..

  • The Jets worked out defensive end Lawrence Okoye, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Okoye, a former University of Kentucky discus hurler, had previous stops with the 49ers and Cardinals.

Earlier updates:

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/15

October 28th, 2015 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

With Week 8’s slate of games around the corner, NFL teams are getting their rosters ready for their upcoming contests. Here are Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the league:

  • The Texans cut Mike McFarland from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Wilson tweets.
  • A day after being cut by the Colts, safety and special-teamer Dewey McDonald has been claimed off waivers by the Patriots, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, adding that New England will need to open a roster spot to make it official.

Earlier updates:

  • The Ravens have placed rookie receiver Darren Waller on injured reserve, ending his season, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). Offensive tackle De’Ondre Wesley has been promoted to the active roster to give the team some depth, as Eugene Monroe battles a shoulder injury.
  • The Jets have also made a move to provide insurance for a banged-up offensive lineman, elevating Wesley Johnson to their active roster, according to the team (Twitter link). Veteran center Nick Mangold suffered a neck injury against the Patriots, though he may not have to miss much – if any – time.
  • As expected, the Buccaneers – who will be without Louis Murphy for the rest of the season and Vincent Jackson in the short term – have promoted wide receiver Adam Humphries from their practice squad, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
  • The Jaguars have signed linebacker Hayes Pullard from off the Browns’ practice squad, waiving linebacker James-Michael Johnson to clear a space on their roster, according to John Oehser of Jaguars.com (Twitter link).
  • Having been cut from the 53-man roster on Saturday, wide receiver T.J. Graham re-signed with the Saints today, per Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune. Graham takes the roster spot that opened up when New Orleans waived cornerback Sammy Seamster.
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