HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFC South Notes: Saints, Aguayo, Panthers

August 23rd, 2016 at 8:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints released Keenan Lewis last week, and the veteran cornerback thinks his relationship with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen led to his ousting, as he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Facebook link) that he and the New Orleans DC never got along. Allen, for his part, denies any rift with Lewis, and head coach Sean Payton says other issues went into the decision to cut Lewis. “He’s 52 weeks post-surgery…Just availability, ultimately. We wish him well,” Payton told Joel Erickson of the Advocate. “I think ultimately, it was just trying to get him on the field. It’s just been, it seems like, a long time.”

Let’s check out the latest from the NFC South:

  • When asked about bringing in a second kicker, Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said “I wouldn’t think that’s an option,” though he said that is a better question for GM Jason Licht (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times). So far, second-round selection Roberto Aguayo has been struggling, which has led to even more scrutiny on the team’s unorthodox pick.
  • Former Duke linebacker Jeremy Cash had a fairly quiet training camp, but he helped his cause for making the team in the preseason game against the Titans on Saturday, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. The 6’0″, 215-pound athlete is fighting to make the Panthers with a sizable group of linebackers in front of him on the depth chart.
  • While the two sides in the Saints‘ ownership spat want until October to decide to on the terms of the settlement that was agreed to earlier this year, the judge in charge of the case has not yet granted that request, writes Ramon Antonio Vargas of the Advocate. Instead, the parties will come together for a conference on the issue tomorrow.
  • Earlier this week, we learned that wide receiver Brandon Coleman is not a lock for the Saints‘ roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/16

August 23rd, 2016 at 7:16pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Lions waived cornerback Keith Lewis and signed fellow corner Brandon McGee, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
  • The Jaguars signed running back Cameron Marshall and waived quarterback Max Wittek, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys are signing offensive lineman Dan Buchholz, a UDFA out of Duquesne, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Dallas also announced that they’ve waived/injured guard Jared Smith.
  • The 49ers announced that they have waived/injured safety Jered Bell and signed wide receiver Ryan Whalen. Whalen should give SF some additional depth at wide receiver in the wake of recent injuries.
  • The Texans waived/injured defensive lineman Alex Carrington, who was signed only a week ago, tweets Wilson.
  • The Packers reached an injury settlement with tackle Josh James, according to Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Dolphins removed defensive lineman Farrington Huguenin from injured reserve with an injury settlement, per Wilson (Twitter link).

NFL To Interview James Harrison On Thursday

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While a prior report indicated the NFL would meet with Steelers linebacker James Harrison next Tuesday regarding recent PED allegations, the league will instead come to Pittsburgh this Thursday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. the NFL had always wanted to talk this week — and in fact set a August 25 deadline — but Harrison wanted to speak next week, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).James Harrison

Last week, the NFL stated that the four players involved in the PED scandal — Harrsion, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and Mike Neal — would be required to submit to interviews by Thursday or face suspension. The NFL received written statements from the four players in question at the end of last month, and the NFLPA is of the opinion that those affadavits qualify as “cooperation.” The league disagrees, and is still requiring the individuals to partake in in-person interviews.

Harrison, for his part, has said he never denied any interview, but claimed he’d like for the meeting to be televised (and also referred to commissioner Roger Goodell as a “crook”). He, Matthews, and Peppers agreed to sit-downs, but Neal was of a different mind, at least originally. One report indicated that Neal had no intention of meeting with the NFL given that he’s considering retirement, but that notion was quickly disputed, and Neal will interview with the league.

Matthews and Peppers will meet with NFL officials in Green Bay tomorrow, while Neal is scheduled to sit down with the league in Chicago on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Karlos Williams Visits Jets

August 23rd, 2016 at 5:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Bills running back Karlos Williams surprisingly went unclaimed on waivers after being cut loose over the weekend, but he’s already garnering interest from another AFC East club. Williams met with the Jets today, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 (Twitter link). However, “no deal is imminent” between the two sides, a source tells Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.Karlos Williams (Vertical)

[RELATED: New York Jets Depth Chart]

The Jets would seem to be an odd fit for Williams given that they already boast a significant amount of talent in their backfield. New York agreed to a three-year deal with former Bears back Matt Forte over the offseason, and also re-signed Bilal Powell on a three-year pact that contained $6MM in guarantees. In addition to its top two backs, the Jets also have Khiry Robinson on the roster (though he’s admittedly still recovering from a broken leg) along with former Falcons RB Antone Smith, who was just signed last week.

Clearly, there are reasons to be concerned about Williams’ future. He’ll be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and he’s struggled with his weight throughout the offseason. At one point, Williams was up 261 pounds, and after losing some of that heft, he’d reportedly begun to balloon once again, leaving the Bills to wonder if he was serious about football.

But Williams also flashed dynamic ability during his rookie season, finishing with 613 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs on just 104 touches while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The 23-year-old also became one of just two players in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first six games in the league. All in all, Williams seemingly defines an old adage: high risk, high reward.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jeremy Mincey To Retire

August 23rd, 2016 at 5:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran defensive end Jeremy Mincey announced his retirement on Instagram, posting a picture of hung-up cleats along with a detailed message thanking his previous teams and supporters.Jeremy Mincey (Vertical)

“I just want you all to know: family, fans, and supporters gave me the hope to make it this far, to inspire those who will come behind me,” said Mincey. “I played the game with love, passion and relentlessly (sic) to prove to people your heart will take you as far as you want it to go. Trust me. I had half the talent a lot of guys had in this league.What separated me from the others was my will for victory.”

Mincey had free agent offers on the table, but is instead opting to follow through with retirement, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s not surprising that Mincey had generated interest, as even in his age-32 season he was productive, appearing in 14 games for the Cowboys (six starts) and grading as the No. 61 edge defender in the league, with exceptionally high marks against the run, according to Pro Football Focus. Dallas, however, was not open to a reunion with Mincey, whom PFR recently ranked as the 10th-best free agent defender.

Just a year ago, Mincey posted even better results, managing six sacks for the Cowboys while starting all 16 games. In eight NFL seasons, Mincey, a former sixth-round draft selection, appeared in 96 games and put up 26 sacks, eight fumble recoveries, and 158 tackles. The Florida alum spent time with the Patriots, Jaguars, and Broncos before signing with Dallas prior to the 2014 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Steelers Extend LB Vince Williams

August 23rd, 2016 at 5:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers announced that they’ve reached a three-year extension with linebacker Vince Williams. The new deal will begin this season, meaning Williams is now locked up through the 2018 campaign.Vince Williams (Vertical)

[RELATED: CB Keenan Lewis to visit Steelers]

Williams, 26, started 11 games during his rookie season in 2013, but has since been relegated to a backup role — he’s appeared in all 32 contests over the past two years, but has started only two games during that time. Given the presence of Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons at inside ‘backer, Williams doesn’t figure to see much action with Pittsburgh during the upcoming season, but that’s not to say he isn’t a valuable commodity.

Though he played only 192 defensive snaps in 2015, Willams saw time on 300 special teams plays, meaning he was on the field for more than two-thirds of the Steelers’ ST snaps. The former Florida State Seminole picked up 25 tackles a year ago, adding a half-sack and two fumble recoveries for good measure. And, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, Williams might boast the league’s best bio picture on NFL.com.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Titans TE Craig Stevens Retires

August 23rd, 2016 at 4:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Titans tight end Craig Stevens is calling it a career. After eight NFL seasons, Stevens is walking away from the game, a source tells Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Craig Stevens

Stevens, 32 in September, appeared in all 16 games for the Titans last season. He caught 12 passes for 121 and 2 touchdowns. The pair of scores matched a previous career high set in 2010. Stevens, a blocking specialist, has been a member of the Titans since being selected in the third round of the 2008 draft. With eight straight years in Tennessee, he was one of the longest tenured members of the Titans.

Stevens leaves the game with 60 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns in his career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Hackenberg, Sheard, Patriots

August 23rd, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Can the Jets bend league rules and keep all four of their quarterbacks by stashing Christian Hackenberg on IR? Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News thinks it’s a good idea. Technically, teams are prohibited from putting healthy players on injured reserve, but the rules for that are rarely enforced and just about every NFL player has a lingering injury. There is precedent for such a move and Mehta notes that Charley Casserly – mentor to GM Mike Maccagnan – has fudged injuries to rookie quarterbacks multiple times throughout his career as an exec.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Tim Tebow To Hold MLB Audition Next Week

August 23rd, 2016 at 1:40pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll soon find out exactly where Tim Tebow stands as a baseball player. The former Florida standout and NFL quarterback will work out for major league scouts on August 30th in Los Angeles, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. Tim Tebow (vertical)

Tebow is slated to “run a 60-yard dash, catch fly balls with throws to the bases, take live batting practice, and then take batting practice against more advanced pitchers who will not tell him what is coming and will be trying to get him out.” The 29-year-old insists that he is serious about his move to baseball and his representatives say that this is not a publicity stunt. Tebow is hoping to play as a major league outfielder despite not having played the sport full-time in more than ten years.

Tebow has been working with Chad Moeller to make the transition and the former MLB catcher believes that he can pull it off, despite the long odds.

“I am beyond impressed with Tim’s athleticism and swing, and it goes without saying that he has shown a high level of discipline and strong work ethic,” Moeller said earlier this month. “I see bat speed and power and real baseball talent. I truly believe Tim has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the Major Leagues, and based on what I have seen over the past two months, it could happen relatively quickly.”

The Florida product hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2012, when he was a backup signal-caller with the Jets. Last offseason, he tried to make the Eagles’ roster but Chip Kelly released him prior to the start of the season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC West Notes: Rams, Keenum, Cards

August 23rd, 2016 at 12:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Case Keenum has performed well enough during the preseason to earn the Rams‘ starting quarterback job over No. 1 pick Jared Goff, argues Vincent Bosnignore of the Los Angeles Daily News. The duo’s stats aren’t all the different — Keenum has 10 of 13 attempts for 111 yards and a touchdown, while Goff is 12 of 21 for 121 yards, one score, and one interception — but Goff has struggled with snaps and penalties while Keenum has shown a command of the Los Angeles offense. Additionally, says Bonsignore in a few follow-up tweets, the Rams could be competitive in 2016 thanks to their defense and running game, so Keenum makes more sense for the club right now rather than Goff, who will need some time to develop.

Let’s check out a few more notes from the NFC West:

  • Cardinals linebacker Shaq Riddick has a torn oblique and is facing an uncertain timetable, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. Riddick didn’t play a single snap after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2015 draft, and wasn’t even on the gameday active roster until December. However, Arizona has expressed faith in Riddick (and the club’s other young edge rushers), and had refrained from re-signing Dwight Freeney in the hopes of handing more snaps to its more youthful players. Riddick isn’t the only Cards defender dealing with an injury, as fellow linebacker Alex Okafor is set to play through a biceps tear.
  • Once roster cutdowns begin over the course of the next few weeks, the Cardinals could be looking for help at cornerback, offensive tackle, and linebacker, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link). Linebacker is an obvious area of need given the injuries to Riddick and Okafor, and Arizona’s depth at corner is depleted, even when counting its recent signings of Mike Jenkins (who is hurt) and Alan Ball. Swing tackle is another area of concern, and the Cards have been linked to free agent Will Beatty.
  • Former first-round pick Jimmie Ward, who spent his first two seasons with the 49ers as a reserve safety and nickel corner, is likely to be San Francisco’s starting outside corner opposite Tramaine Brock, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “It’s looking that way right now,” said 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil. “He hasn’t really been tested in a game, yet. But he’s done a great job in the three practices we’ve had with other teams and the two preseason games.” Ward played on roughly 65% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps a year ago, and should see that percentage rise as he takes on a larger role.
  • In case you missed it, PFR spoke with Will Leitch about the Cardinals‘ offseason and the season ahead.
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