HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

49ers Cut Jerome Simpson, Eight Others, Place Eric Rogers On IR

August 27th, 2016 at 5:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers released Jerome Simpson and waived eight other players, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports (on Twitter). They also placed coveted ex-CFL wide receiver Eric Rogers on IR after he tore his ACL earlier this month.

Here are the other players San Francisco cut today:

Originally a Bengals second-round pick in 2008, Simpson has seen action in seven seasons — with Cincinnati from 2008-11, Minnesota from 2012-13 and with the 49ers last year — but saw a suspension derail his most recent one. The 30-year-old wideout signed a two-year, $1.73MM deal with San Francisco before last season but saw a substance-abuse policy suspension shelve him for six games. Simpson, who recorded 700-yard+ seasons with the Bengals and Vikings, made just five receptions for 54 yards in 2015.

The 49ers, who have to make four cuts to get to the 75-man limit by the Tuesday-afternoon deadline, do not owe Simpson any guaranteed money.

Rogers, who chose to sign with the 49ers because of Chip Kelly‘s presence, received the most lucrative deal for a CFL refugee since Cameron Wake in 2009. He fielded offers from nearly half the league after re-establishing his stock, one that didn’t initially attract much NFL interest after signing with the Cowboys as a UDFA in 2013.

Gaskins played in nine games for the Niners last season, receiving 16 carries and gaining 38 yards as a rookie.

Bears’ Connor Shaw Breaks Leg

August 27th, 2016 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Connor Shaw left Soldier Field in an ambulance today after breaking his right leg, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Shaw suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Bears-Chiefs game.

Vying for the Bears’ third-string quarterback job behind Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer, Shaw could now be an IR candidate. Although, Rapoport notes Shaw suffered the break above the ankle and did not sustain any ligament damage, so he could return this season if Chicago saw him as valuable enough to keep on the active roster.

But Shaw missed all of the 2015 season with a thumb injury and spent the year on the Browns’ IR. This latest development certainly points to another lost season for the former South Carolina passer whom the Bears claimed on waivers from the Browns last month.

Chicago has 2014 sixth-round pick David Fales on its roster, so keeping him as the third-stringer would be logical despite the third-year passer not having any game experience. The team also houses 27-year-old backup Matt Blanchard, who has also never played in a regular-season game.

The 24-year-old Shaw came to Cleveland as a UDFA in 2014 and started a game that season for the Browns. Despite cutting Johnny Manziel as well this offseason, the Hue Jackson-led team parted ways with Shaw as well, leading him to Chicago. The Seahawks also tried to claim Shaw this summer but sat behind the Bears in the waiver-priority hierarchy.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cowboys Back In Veteran QB Market

August 27th, 2016 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys have seen enough from Dak Prescott this preseason to determine he will be their starter while Tony Romo rehabs from his latest injury.

Instead of bringing in a veteran with an eye on inserting some experience into their starting lineup, the Cowboys are searching for one who will back up the fourth-round rookie, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports (on Twitter).

Both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones said the team they will look for a backup signal-caller, per Moore. The Cowboys pursued Nick Foles, with Stephen Jones announcing the team was engaged briefly in dialogue with him before he agreed to become Alex Smith‘s backup with the Chiefs. Dallas kept its top two from 2015 intact coming into camp, with Kellen Moore entering as Romo’s backup. But injuries to both have hijacked the team’s plans.

The Cowboys attempted to trade up to No. 26 to acquire Paxton Lynch, but when the Seahawks accepted the Broncos’ offer to do so instead, Jerry Jones lamented not offering more soon after. They drafted Prescott in the fourth round, and he’s shown quick competency this preseason by throwing for five touchdown passes and rushing for two more scores, but don’t have much healthy behind him. 2015 UDFA Jameill Stowers sits behind Prescott presently.

The team also discussed Josh McCown with the Browns briefly but found Cleveland’s asking price to be too high. Now that the Chiefs have acquired Foles, they will have to part ways with one of the five quarterbacks they have in camp — probably two — but the bottom three haven’t attempted a regular-season pass. The Jets have three draft picks behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wonders if Geno Smith could be available (Twitter link). Of course, then the Jets would be bereft of experience behind their starter.

Tarvaris Jackson and Jimmy Clausen are available in free agency, with Charlie Whitehurst and T.J. Yates currently unemployed as well.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Chiefs Acquire Kenneth Acker From 49ers

August 27th, 2016 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Being set to enter the season without a proven starter opposite Marcus Peters, the Chiefs made a move to acquire some veteran help at cornerback.

Andy Reid announced the team traded a draft pick for 49ers corner Kenneth Acker, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. Acker will join a cornerback corps full of young players like himself, with the Chiefs’ top in-house options being homegrown talents drafted in the past three seasons.

The compensation will be for a seventh-round pick in 2018, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Acker has started more games than any of Kansas City’s other right cornerback options. Opposite the reigning defensive rookie of the year, who plays primarily on the left side, the Chiefs’ options weren’t exactly proven talents. Third-rounders Steven Nelson and Phillip Gaines represent the NFL experience, but Nelson barely played last season and Gaines — a 2014 starter — is returning from a torn ACL. Rookies KeiVarae Russell and D.J. White joined the fray this April as well.

Acker came to the 49ers as a sixth-round pick in 2014 and started 13 games last season. He intercepted three passes, deflected eight and made 63 tackles for the rebuilding team in 2015. He’ll now join one with playoff aspirations.

However, Acker is also coming off a season he finished on IR. A stress fracture in his foot ended his ’15 season, although the former SMU talent still managed to get in 15 games.

Acker was a primary starter for the Jim Tomsula-led Niners, but under new DC Jim O’Neil, his star has fallen a bit. The 6-foot corner came into the weekend behind not only starters Jimmie Ward and Tramaine Brock, but the 24-year-old relocating performer also sat behind rookies Will Redmond and Rashard Robinson — taken in the third and fourth rounds this year, respectively. Per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, Keith Reaser and Chris Davis are expected to join the rookie corners as the 49ers’ primary backups this season.

This is the third trade in the past four years between these franchises. The 49ers sent Alex Smith to Kansas City in 2013, and the teams exchanged disappointing first-round receivers A.J. Jenkins and Jonathan Baldwin later that year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Tony Romo Suffers Broken Bone In Back

August 27th, 2016 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:26pm: Romo’s path back to the field will be a longer process compared to when he played through broken bones in his back. Whereas that injury featured two fractured transverse process, this one involves an actual fractured vertebra, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports (on Twitter).

3:22pm: A return date for the injured passer could loom Oct. 30, which features a Sunday-night game between the Cowboys and Eagles. A source informs Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Week 8 likely will be Romo’s season debut. Dallas’ bye comes in Week 7.

1:49pm: The Cowboys once again are looking at the prospect of Tony Romo missing potentially significant time this season. The team announced today, via Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the 14th-year quarterback suffered broken bone in his back during the Cowboys’ third preseason game on Thursday night.

Dallas expects Romo to miss between six and 10 weeks, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Although Jason Garrett isn’t prepared to rule out the franchise quarterback for Week 1, La Canfora reports (via Twitter) Romo will likely be out beyond that date.

Romo suffered two broken bones in his back in 2014 but played anyway that season and underwent back surgery in 2013. The Cowboys are not revealing a timetable on Romo after his latest setback, only saying he’s not out for the season, per Schefter (Twitter link).

An MRI Friday revealed the diagnosis, one that could well turn Dak Prescott from preseason wonder to opening-day starter. The Cowboys looked into backup quarterbacks this offseason and discussed signing Nick Foles but opted to go with Prescott after news of Kellen Moore‘s broken ankle surfaced earlier this month.

A Cliff Avril hit forced Romo out of the Cowboys-Seahawks game Thursday after three plays, but the signal-caller walked off under his own power, threw passes on the sideline and lobbied to return to the game. Jerry Jones said on Thursday night Romo would be fine for Week 1. The latest revelations here appear to have adjusted that timeline.

The 36-year-old passer underwent collarbone surgery this offseason after seeing his 2015 season defined by collarbone maladies. This one could well be defined by a play that occurred before the regular season began. A return between Weeks 5-9 looks probable, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.

The Cowboys’ starter since October of 2006, Romo is signed through 2019. The four-time Pro Bowler inked a six-year extension in March of 2013 and has cap numbers of $20.8MM and $24.7MM in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Jones has previously stated he envisions Romo playing a few more years with the Cowboys, but the owner did publicly lament not doing enough to trade up to acquire Paxton Lynch in the first round this April.

Romo guided the Cowboys to the playoffs in 2007, ’09 and ’14, but the team slunk to last in the NFC East without him for most of last season. Dallas, of course, waited to address the position until the fourth round by taking Prescott. The Mississippi State breakout star has accounted himself well this preseason, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for two without throwing an interception, but was viewed as a developmental prospect coming out of school.

If the Cowboys now at long last want to acquire a veteran backup, Jimmy Clausen and Tarvaris Jackson remain on the market. The team did not express interest in Michael Vick despite his interest following the Moore injury.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills’ Chris Gragg Out For Season

August 27th, 2016 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chris Gragg will miss the season due to the knee injury he suffered Friday night, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. The fourth-year Bills tight end announced he would be out for the duration of the 2016 campaign in an Instagram post.

Rex Ryan said earlier today the injury looked like a torn ACL, via Rodak (on Twitter), so the news isn’t surprising. For the Bills, it’s yet another unavailable talent during a summer that’s deprived Buffalo of several cogs.

A seventh-round Bills selection in 2013, Gragg has started 10 games over the past three seasons with Buffalo. After making 12 catches for 150 yards last season, Gragg was set to be Charles Clay‘s backup again as he entered his contract year.

Beyond Gragg, the Bills, as Roster Resource shows, have seventh-year veteran Jim Dray — whom they signed this offseason — and 2015 sixth-rounder Nick O’Leary. Dray caught 43 passes for 457 yards between 2013-14 for the Cardinals and Browns, respectively.

The Bills’ defense has endured the brunt of the offseason blows, having lost Reggie Ragland for the season and Shaq Lawson for an undetermined portion of it. Marcell Dareus faces a four-game suspension, and IK Enemkpali tore an ACL that led to a waived/injured transaction. However, the offense has endured damage as well. Buffalo cut Karlos Williams and saw Sammy Watkins miss several weeks this year with a foot injury. Gragg just represents the latest setback.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Release Brandon Harris, Waive 10 Others

August 27th, 2016 at 1:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins have pared their roster down to 78 players today, moving closer to the first-cut deadline of 75. They waived 10 players (Twitter link) and released cornerback Brandon Harris, who has sufficient service time to avoid waivers.

A former Texans second-round pick out of the University of Miami in 2011, Harris has played in 42 games but has yet to start one. His service time runs from 2011-14, with the ex-Hurricane seeing action for three years in Houston and one, 2014, in Tennessee. A torn ACL sustained last summer while employed by the Titans stalled Harris’ career, one that saw him land with the Dolphins late last month.

Miami’s Chris Culliver signing pushed Harris further on the bubble, and he’ll now attempt to find a new home.

Hazel landed with the Dolphins as a sixth-rounder in 2014 and played in five games last season, starting one. This leaves seven wideouts still on the Fins’ roster, with Griff Whalen and UDFA Rashawn Scott potentially battling for a roster spot.

DiSalvo lost the long-snapping battle to longtime Dolphin John Denney, and Koehn couldn’t beat out Andrew Franks for the kicker job.

Painter was a Broncos sixth-rounder in 2013 who’s played in three games — all with the Browns in 2014.

Patriots Extend Jonathan Freeny

August 27th, 2016 at 12:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots have a number of notable defenders who are in line for extensions, but the team decided to lock up one of their more unheralded linebackers this afternoon. According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter), the Patriots have extended linebacker Jonathan Freeny. The reporter adds that the extension is for two years, keeping Freeny on the squad through the 2018 season.

Jonathan FreenyFreeny, a 2011 undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, joined the Patriots last offseason following several seasons with the Dolphins. The 27-year-old ultimately played a significant role for New England, starting seven games and compiling a career-high 50 tackles. Considering the Patriots defensive depth, it’s unlikely that Freeny will play as significant role in 2016. Roster Resource projects that the defender will be the team’s first linebacker off the bench. Of course, Freeny also plays a large role on the Patriots’ special teams unit.

The Patriots will have some difficult decisions as they look to extend several of their big-name defenders. Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Jabaal Sheard are all set to hit free agency following the season.

Falcons To Work Out Dashon Goldson

August 27th, 2016 at 12:20pm CST by Ben Levine

12:20pm: General manager Thomas Dimitroff told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the team is working to sign Goldson to a contract (Twitter link). The reporter notes that coach Dan Quinn is still leaning towards starting Ishmael in Neal’s absence, even if the team does add Goldson.

10:05am: With the Falcons seeking some reinforcement in their defensive backfield, the team will be bringing in a veteran safety for a workout. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Dashon Goldson will be trying out for the Falcons today. The team was seeking depth at the position following a knee injury to first-rounder Keanu Neal.

Dashon Goldson (vertical)After having played for the 49ers for six seasons, Goldson has bounced around a bit recently. The 31-year-old has played for three teams over the past four seasons, but he’s only missed six games during that span. The veteran actually had one of his most productive seasons in 2015 with the Redskins, compiling a career-high 110 tackles. The two-time Pro Bowler has averaged nearly two interceptions and one forced fumble a season throughout his nine-year career. Goldson was released by Washington in March, and he garnered some interest from the Rams.

Neal, a first-round pick out of Florida, was projected to be the Falcons’ starting safety. However, knee surgery is expected to sideline the rookie for about a month. Long-time Falcons safety William Moore was pushing for a return to Atlanta, but recent reports indicated that the organization has little interest in a reunion. Current backup safety Kemal Ishmael is battling a shoulder injury, and the team recently added veteran Sergio Brown for some additional depth.

Falcons Cut Ties With Renfree, Brown, Seven Others

August 27th, 2016 at 12:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons have trimmed their roster to 75 after having cut ties with nine players today (via ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure on Twitter):

Sergio BrownRenfree may be one of the more notable moves, if only because the transaction provides some clarity on the team’s quarterback depth chart. With Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub having a solid hold on the starter and back-up gig, it looks like veteran Matt Simms will ultimately make the team as the Falcons’ number-three signal-caller.

Brown is another notable subtraction, as the safety has played in at least ten games in each of his six seasons. The 28-year-old actually had one of his best seasons in 2015 with the Jaguars, compiling 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The veteran’s tenure in Atlanta was short, as he was signed by the team last week.

Load More Posts