HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Cowboys’ Ronald Leary Requests Trade

May 24th, 2016 at 3:34pm CST by Zachary Links

Ronald Leary has requested a trade from the Cowboys, according to sources who spoke with ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. The veteran has been a no-show for the offseason program, including the start of today’s organized team activities. "<strong

[RELATED: Ex-Cowboys DE Greg Hardy Lobbying For NFL Opportunity]

During the draft, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged that the team had gotten some trade inquiries on Leary, though he said the team was not inclined to give him away for an underwhelming return.Leary inked his restricted free-agent tender worth $2.553MM before the draft, but he was hoping that the Cowboys would deal him elsewhere. As it stands, Leary is slated to hit the open market after the 2016 season without any restrictions.

The Titans are one team potentially in need of a lineman after losing versatile veteran Byron Bell for the season. Archer notes that Leary helped new Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray run for an league-high 1,845 yards in 2014.

Leary started at left guard for Dallas in 2013 and 2014 and opened the 2015 season in the same capacity. However, he was eventually leapfrogged by rookie La’el Collins.

Leary was on the field for 137 pass snaps and 84 run snaps in 2015, according to the stats compiled by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Although he did not qualify to be ranked based on that limited sample size, Leary was given an overall grade of 72.2, which would have placed him near the backend of the top 30.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Titans’ Byron Bell Out For Season

May 24th, 2016 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Bad news for the Titans as offensive lineman Byron Bell has suffered a dislocated ankle that will sideline him for the entire 2016 season, coach Mike Mularkey tells reporters (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online). Byron Bell (vertical)

Bell was expected to “be in the mix” for the right tackle job in 2016 prior to the draft, though the selection of Jack Conklin probably put him in line for a key spot in the offensive line rotation instead. Last year, Bell started eight games at right tackle, seven games at left guard, and then started the season finale at left tackle when Taylor Lewan was sidelined.

“Since I’ve been in the league, I have played four positions,’’ Bell said at the end of the season. “I am blessed to still be playing ball. I just want to be a guy who is dependable, and be a guy a team can count on.”

Bell, 27, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Panthers, starting 56 of the 62 regular season contests he played for the club since 2011. In 2014, the New Mexico product was handed the reins at left tackle for the first time, and the results were not pretty. Bell graded out as the second-worst offensive tackle in football out of 84 qualified players, with a -33.4 overall rating, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Only Jake Matthews of the Falcons (-36.8) finished lower. Last year, he restored his value by moving across the O-Line across a full 16 game season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Unsigned Rookies From The 2016 Draft Class

May 24th, 2016 at 12:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Remember rookie holdouts? Those have largely gone the way of the dodo bird thanks to draft slotting. These days, rookie contracts are mostly boiler plate deals with salaries and structures that are pre-determined based on where a player is selected. Jared Goff

As a result, we are now seeing the majority of rookies sign on the dotted line within a week or two of the draft. Still, as we approach June, we have a handful of stragglers. These deals will likely be wrapped up in short order, but holdups are still possible. Last year, No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota did not formally sign with the Titans until July 21st as the two sides could not come to terms on offset language. Eventually, the Titans and the QB’s agents at Rep 1 Sports worked out a compromise, but it took months of haggling.

Here’s a full rundown of the rookies who have yet to formally sign with their respective teams:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

  • 3-74: KeiVarae Russell, DB (Notre Dame)
  • 5-165: Tyreek Hill, RB/WR (West Alabama)

Los Angeles Rams

  • 1-1: Jared Goff, QB (California)
  • 4-110: Tyler Higbee, TE (Western Kentucky)
  • 4-117: Pharoh Cooper, WR (South Carolina)
  • 6-177: Temarrick Hemingway, TE (South Carolina State)
  • 6-190: Josh Forrest, LB (Kentucky)
  • 6-206: Mike Thomas, WR (Southern Mississippi)
  • [NOTE: The Rams typically sign their rookie class all at once in the month of June.]

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Diego Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Photo from Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Redskins Notes: DJax, Garcon, Galette

May 24th, 2016 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the Redskins:

Jalen Ramsey Expected Back By Training Camp

May 24th, 2016 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

Jalen Ramsey underwent successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee and he is expected to return by training camp, the Jaguars have announced. The Jaguars were hoping that the No. 4 overall pick would be back on a 4-6 week timeline but there was a possibility of a longer recovery depending on the severity of the injury. Now, barring any unforeseen setbacks or complications, the defensive back should be on the field Week 1 for Jacksonville. Doctors told Ramsey that this surgery on his right knee is expected to sideline him six weeks in all, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Jalen Ramsey (vertical)

Last week’s news came as a big scare for Jaguars fans as this marks the second straight year in which a Jaguars’ first-round pick suffered an injury before taking the field. Now, the Jags should be able to trot out the FSU product alongside pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr., who missed all of the 2015 season after tearing his ACL in a minicamp practice.

Ramsey was highly coveted by the Cowboys who were selecting at No. 4, but they opted instead to take Ohio State product Ezekiel Elliott. The Ravens, who held the No. 6 overall selection in the draft, also tried to nab Ramsey by swapping picks with Dallas, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. Once things fell into place, the Jaguars pounced on the opportunity to grab the top defensive back in this year’s draft at No. 5. At least one team, the Dolphins, had Ramsey rated as the best player in the draft. Ramsey has a sky-high ceiling and his ability to play either safety or cornerback makes him even more valuable.

Ramsey received considerable hype prior to the draft, with the only real knock on his game being a general lack of playmaking statistics. In his time at FSU, Ramsey racked up only three interceptions, although that could be explained by the fact that opposing quarterbacks simply did not throw in his direction that often. Overall, Ramsey allowed a completion rate of just 38.5%.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Extra Points: Mathieu, Bears, Steelers, 49ers

May 23rd, 2016 at 8:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A report last Monday indicated that the Cardinals were nearing an extension with defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, and today Mathieu himself told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com that the negotiations have been “smooth.” However, neither Mathieu nor general manager Steve Keim offered any sort of timeline for when a deal might finally be hammered out. Regardless, Mathieu isn’t concerning himself with positional designation as he awaits his payday.

“I just want to get paid as a top defender,” said Mathieu. “I don’t want to be slotted as a corner or a safety, because I’m not Patrick Peterson and I’m not Earl Thomas. I’m kind of different than both of those guys, but I still have the same type of impact on the game as those guys do. I just want to be paid as a top defender, and however that looks on paper, that’s what I want.”

Let’s take a look at a few more items from around the NFL…

  • Given that the Bears have signed Pernell McPhee and drafted Leonard Floyd and Jonathan Bullard over the past two seasons, it was fair to wonder if Willie Young and Lamarr Houston were going to survive for the 2016 season. Young, of course, looks to be a roster lock at this point, as he’s reportedly been offered an extension by Chicago. But Houston now seems likely to make the final 53 as well, as John Mullin of CSNChicago.com writes.
  • The Steelers have begun to resist the urge to restructure contracts in order to create cap space, as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune details. After redoing 24 deals over the past five seasons, Pittsburgh hasn’t reworked a single contract this offseason, as GM Kevin Colbert & Co. have decided to stop kicking the can down the road.
  • With Martavis Bryant suspended for entire 2016 campaign, the Steelers are going to have to turn to other weapons to make up for his production. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com examines which pass-catchers might be asked to step up, including Ladarius Green, Sammie Coates, Markus Wheaton, and others.
  • In something of an upset, Colin Kaepernick is still on the 49ers‘ roster, and if he wants to earn the starting quarterback job, he’ll have to defeat favorite Blaine Gabbert to do so. As Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com writes, that level of competition could end up being a positive for Kaepernick.
  • Though the Raiders‘ efforts to relocate to Las Vegas appear to be growing more earnest, the proposed move won’t be on the docket at the next owner’s meetings, according to Peter King of TheMMQB.com.

East Notes: Eagles, DRC, Giants, Bills, Norman

May 23rd, 2016 at 8:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Only the Vikings and the Raiders will devote more cap space to their respective offensive lines than the Eagles, as Paul Domovitch of Philly.com details. Philadelphia has clearly made the decision to reinvest in its front five after a 2015 season that saw the club rank 20th in pass protection and 30th in adjusted line yards, both of which are Football Outsiders metrics. Guard, specifically, has been addressed, as former Texan Brandon Brooks scored a $40MM deal with the Eagles, while Stefen Wisniewski will compete to start on the interior, and will at worst act as a top reserve.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions…

  • Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie missed the Giants‘ voluntary workouts today while attending to a personal matter, but he’s expected to return to OTAs on Tuesday, a source tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. On its face, the item isn’t all that newsworthy, but DRC’s absence did give first-round cornerback Eli Apple the opportunity to take reps with the first-team defense.
  • The Bills could be a suitor for the recently-released Brian Hartline, opines Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (Twitter link). Hartline was cut loose by Cleveland on Monday in an effort to save roughly $3MM against the 2016 cap. Buffalo is in need of wide receiver depth, and recently met with free agent pass-catcher Andre Roberts. Hartline might come with an even more affordable price tag than Roberts, and would presumably act as the Bills’ No. 3 behind Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods.
  • The Redskins have a history of free agent flops, and Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com fears that high-priced newcomer Josh Norman will be the next in that long line. Norman isn’t a true shutdown corner who can take the opposing team’s receiver out of the game, says Tandler, adding that Norman hasn’t posted a ton of interceptions in the past. Even though Norman can contribute, Tandler doesn’t see him putting up the kind of production that some fans are expecting.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/23/16

May 23rd, 2016 at 8:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Colts announced that they’ve signed second-round safety T.J. Green. Green, a Clemson product, was selected 57th overall in last month’s draft, and while he played safety in college, there’s been some chatter that he could be moved to corner in the NFL.

Earlier updates:

  • The Vikings have signed defensive tackle Travis Raciti and waived running back Brandon Ross, Matt Vensel of the Star-Tribune tweets. Raciti spent his first NFL season in Philadelphia on the club’s practice squad. The former San Jose State Spartan played in 49 games (45 starts) as a defensive tackle and twice earned all-conference honors.
  • The Eagles have signed defensive tackle Derrick Lott and released punter Ryan Quigley, as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. With Quigley out of the picture, it would appear that Donnie Jones has won the team’s punter job. Lott was on Tampa Bay’s taxi squad in 2015 and will try to make the cut in Philly.
  • The Saints have waived long-snapper Chris Highland, who joined the team for his second stint earlier this month (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of The Times Picayune).
  • Panthers tight end Jake McGee has reverted to injured reserve after being waived-injured, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. McGee began his career at Virginia but, thanks to graduate transfer rules, was able to finish up at Florida. In what would have been his first year at UF, he broke his left leg and spent the year rehabbing instead of playing. Last year, McGee caught 41 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns.

South Notes: Woodard, Collins, Colts, Brees

May 23rd, 2016 at 7:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The injury bug continues to bite the Jaguars, as 2016 seventh-round defensive end Jonathan Woodard will now miss the entirety of the season after tearing his Achilles, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Woodard probably wasn’t going to play a significant role in a Jacksonville edge rotation that includes Malik Jackson and Dante Fowler Jr., but the injury will obviously set him back in his development. The Jaguars, of course, are waiting for a status update on fifth overall pick Jalen Ramsey‘s knee, while last year, the club missed out on Fowler’s rookie season after he tore his ACL in camp.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two South divisions…

  • Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins told reporters that he “made a mistake” which led to his four-game suspension for PEDs (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). However, he did not indicate whether he will file an appeal. Atlanta had hoped the Collins would be able to become a starter on the outside, allowing fellow corner Robert Alford to move into the slot full-time. That transition can still happen, of course, but now the club will have to make do without Collins for a quarter of the season — a realization which may have precipitated today’s workout of nickel corner Brandon Boykin.
  • Given that the Colts are on the lookout for veteran depth at wide receiver, the recently-released Brian Hartline could hold some intrigue for the club, as Mike Chappell of CBS4 tweets. Indianapolis currently projects to start T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief at wideout, with the second-year Phillip Dorsett behind them. The Colts’ depth chart behind that trio is perilously thin, however, so Hartline could make some sense for the team.
  • Drew Brees is capable of becoming the league’s highest-paid player even at age 37, writes Jason Fitzgerald of the Sporting News. Entering the final year of his deal, and playing under a $30MM cap hit in 2016, Brees holds all the leverage in talks with the Saints. Fitzgerald details exactly how Brees can use New Orleans’ poor salary management against them as he seeks one more mega-deal.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Johnny Manziel Being Investigated By NFL

May 23rd, 2016 at 6:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is the subject of an NFL investigation, as TMZ reports. The owner of a rental car agency contacted the league after Manziel failed to pay for $90K in damages to a rental vehicle, and was ultimately sought out by NFL investigators. League sources tell TMZ that the car crash inquiry is part of a “larger Manziel investigation which is ongoing.”Johnny Manziel

Although the TMZ article hints that Manziel is not subject to league discipline given that he’s not currently on an NFL roster, that is actually not the case. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the NFL has time and again suspended players who were at the time unemployed. With Manziel’s litany of incidents — both before and after he was released by Cleveland — it stands to figure that he’ll be served with a ban at some point, especially if he begins to seriously consider an NFL comeback.

Manziel, 23, was indicted in April after a domestic violence involving his girlfriend — the NFL was said to be ramping up its own investigation of Manziel during that time, but the league hasn’t announced any sort of punishment and/or resolution. Meanwhile, Manziel himself has reportedly expressed a desire to play in the NFL during the 2016 season, but given his seemingly endless streak of poor decisions, it’s hard to believe that any club would take such a chance.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Load More Posts