2016 August - Pro Football Rumors

The Beat: Will Leitch On The Cardinals

August 23rd, 2016 at 11:40am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with writers and columnists from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Cardinals with Will Leitch. Will is a senior writer for Sports on Earth, a contributing editor for New York Magazine, and hosts the daily podcast “The Will Leitch Experience.” You can follow Will on Twitter @WilliamFLeitch.

Zach Links: Like many Cardinals fans, you were puzzled by Carson Palmer‘s collapse in last season’s playoffs. This offseason, the Cardinals tied themselves to the veteran through 2018 with an extension. How do you feel about Palmer as the Cards’ QB heading into this season?

Will Leitch: Yeah, he was a nightmare in the playoffs, like he’d forgotten everything that had made him and the team great throughout the season. You’d actually seen that in the Packers game, some dunderheaded mistakes that weren’t indicative of how he played in the regular season, but I thought it was attributable to him still not having that playoff-victory monkey off his back. And then he was ten times worse against Carolina. So, yeah, it’s worrisome, but not NEARLY as worrisome as it would have been if Palmer hadn’t have come back, or if he gets hurt. Palmer is the perfect fit for this offense — the only thing that isn’t perfect is that he isn’t 27 — but more to the point, he’s the only available fit for this offense. As bad as the playoffs were, the team would be completely lost without him. I’m terrified that he goes down in Week Two and the whole team implodes. The Cardinals have had some truly awful quarterbacking over the last decade; I’m twitching just thinking about it. No offense to Drew Stanton, but yes: Palmer is the whole sandwich here.

Continue reading our Q&A with Will Leitch..

Four New Teams Interested In Keenan Lewis

August 23rd, 2016 at 11:23am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions, Jets, Cardinals and an unidentified NFC South team have made preliminary inquiries on Keenan Lewis, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Earlier today, we learned that at least six teams have shown interest in Lewis, including the Steelers who will be hosting Lewis on a visit.

The Lions are quite young at cornerback with 25-year-olds Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson in starting roles. Behind them are Quandre Diggs (24), Alex Carter (22), Darrin Walls (28), and Crezdon Butler (29). The 30-year-old Lewis could bring some veteran experience to a group that lost Rashean Mathis to retirement in the offseason.

Lewis says that he is particularly intrigued by the possibility of joining the Jets or Cardinals (link):

“I wouldn’t mind playing with (Darrelle) Revis. Bruce Arians was also coaching with the Steelers when I was there. I wouldn’t mind playing with Patrick Peterson too. Those teams are only getting stronger. I just want to put myself in the best situation. I want to play two to three more years and my goal is to win a Super Bowl.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Eagles Sign Stephen Tulloch

August 23rd, 2016 at 10:23am CST by Dallas Robinson

TUESDAY, 10:23am: The deal is now official.

SUNDAY, 5:05pm: The Eagles have reached an agreement with free agent linebacker Stephen Tulloch, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter links). The deal is worth up to $3MM, and contains $1.75MM in guaranteed money, per Florio.

Tulloch, 31, had long been connected to Philadelphia given the presence of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was Tulloch’s head coach in Detroit. The Eagles were said to be in “heavy negotiations” with Tulloch more than two weeks ago, but a contract apparently took awhile to hammer out.

Philadelphia has been on the lookout for help at linebacker, as multiple reports have indicated that the club wanted to add more talent to their front seven, a need that became even more pressing when seventh-round rookie Joe Walker went down with a torn ACL. Moving back to a 4-3 defense following three years playing a 3-4 front, the Eagles are projected to start Jordan Hicks at middle linebacker, with Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks flanking him on either side

In his fifth year in Detroit, Tulloch started all 16 games, racking up 108 total tackles, one sack, and two fumble recoveries. However, he wasn’t quite an every-down player, as he saw time on less than 70% of the Lions’ defensive plays. Tulloch also graded out relatively poorly in Pro Football Focus’ rankings, placing as the No. 54 inside linebacker among 97 qualifiers.

The Dolphins had also recently expressed interest in Tulloch, and had discussed having him in for a workout. However, the club made it clear that it would only consider a cheap deal, which Tulloch apparently wasn’t willing to settle for.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC North Notes: Foster, Steelers, Browns

August 23rd, 2016 at 10:02am CST by Dallas Robinson

Steelers player rep Ramon Foster is prepared for a tussle over the collective bargaining agreement in 2020 and says players should be prepared to sit out games, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Because the league could be headed towards a strike or lockout, Foster is hoping players will save up now. “Hit them in the pocket,” said Foster of the league. “Money always talks.”

Let’s take a look at the latest out of the AFC North:

The Browns are shuffling their defensive backfield, as the club plans to move Jamar Taylor — acquired from the Dolphins in exchange for a 27-spot drop in the draft — to the outside, meaning veteran Tramon Williams will play the slot in sub packages, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. The shift was somewhat necessitated by the ongoing saga of usual slot corner K’Waun Williams, who has been suspended by Cleveland and may not be long for the roster. The Browns, who finished just 27th in pass defense DVOA, also boast Pro Bowler Joe Haden, Justin Gilbert, Trey Caldwell, and Charles Gaines at cornerback, per Roster Resource.
Some of the Ravens‘ roster decisions have been made easier thanks to various suspensions and injuries, as Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun details, but the club’s choice at backup quarterback could still be up in the air. Free agent addition Josh Johnson has played well over the summer, and head coach John Harbaugh said the veteran quarterback is in the competition to be Baltimore’s No. 2 signal-caller. But as Zriebec notes, Ryan Mallett is still the favorite to be the direct reserve to Joe Flacco, especially given that he has more recent starting experience and has also been productive during the preseason.
Earlier today, we heard that while clubs are expressing interest in trading for Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, Cleveland is likely to hold onto the dynamic pass-catcher.
Recently-released cornerback Keenan Lewis will head to Pittsburgh tonight for a visit with the Steelers, for whom he played from 2009-12.

Chargers Preparing To Be Without Joey Bosa

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers are preparing as if No. 3 overall Joey Bosa won’t be with the club when the regular season begins, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. San Diego opens the season against the division rival Chiefs on September 11.

“We’ll have a plan for him whenever he’s here,” head coach Mike McCoy said of Bosa. “We’ve talked about it over time, from the very beginning of camp. So we’ve got a plan for when he’s in the building. But I’m very pleased with the other 89 guys in camp at this point in time.”

According to Williams, second-year pro Darius Philon figures to see the most snaps in place of Bosa. Philon, a 2015 sixth-round pick, appeared in eight games for the Bolts last year, playing on about 14% of the club’s defensive plays. McCoy also praised the performance of backup Tenny Palepoi, while Zamir Carlis, who was signed two weeks ago, could also factor into a rotation.

The Chargers, who began talking with Bosa’s camp again last week, have been insistent on Bosa accepting offset language in his deal that would take them off the hook in the event that he would be released before the scheduled conclusion of the deal. The Bolts are also pushing for part of Bosa’s signing bonus to be deferred. Bosa’s reps say that they will not accept both of those terms, particularly since four of the players to go in the top 10 of this year’s draft will receive most or all of their signing bonuses in 2016.

In order for Bosa to agree to offset language, agent Todd France reportedly wants the Chargers to pay all ~$17MM) of his bonus this year. San Diego, meanwhile, would rather wait until next March to dole out a “significant portion” of the bonus. At last check, the Chargers want to give Bosa roughly 61 percent of his signing bonus during this calendar year, which is the same payout schedule the Cowboys agreed to with fourth overall selection Ezekiel Elliott, who was Bosa’s teammate at Ohio State and went one pick after him.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Keenan Lewis To Visit Steelers

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:21am CST by Zachary Links

Former Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis is going to Pittsburgh tonight for a visit with the Steelers, a source tells Josh Katzenstein of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Lewis has drawn interest from at least six teams, Katzenstein adds. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter) also hears that the Steelers have interest in Lewis, though he says that his hip injury is a concern.

Lewis, 30, was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2009 draft. He went on to spent the first four seasons of his career in Pittsburgh before signing a five-year, $26.3MM deal with his native New Orleans in March 2013. The ex-Oregon State standout started in all 16 of the Saints’ regular-season games in both 2013 and 2014, something he had also done in his final year with the Steelers, before injuries held him to a mere six contests in 2015.

The Steelers, meanwhile, could use some help at cornerback after learning that Senquez Golson has suffered yet another setback.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Lions’ Eric Ebron Expected Back For Week 1

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:16am CST by Zachary Links

Barring a setback, Lions tight end Eric Ebron is on track to play in Week 1 against the Colts, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In fact, the source says that Ebron even has an outside chance at playing in the team’s fourth and final preseason game.

Earlier this month, Ebron gave a scare to Lions fans everywhere when he was carted off the field after suffering an injury. The early fear was that Ebron tore his Achilles, but it was apparently just an ankle injury of a lesser variety.

An Ebron absence of any length would have been unfortunate for Detroit as he is one of the team’s most dangerous receiving weapons. It also doesn’t help that backup tight end Brandon Pettigrew is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season and new acquisition Andrew Quarless is suspended for the first two weeks of the season. Beyond them, Detroit’s tight ends are Cole Wick, Matthew Mulligan and Orson Charles.

Ebron finished last season with 47 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns — all career highs for a tight end expected to play a larger role for a Lions offense without Calvin Johnson this season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Release Donald Brown

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have released running back Donald Brown with an injury settlement, according to a source who spoke with Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Brown hasn’t practiced for three weeks due to an undisclosed injury.

As Howe notes, Brown was working with first team earlier this summer and he figured to be a big part of the Pats’ plans. Instead, he’ll be looking for employment elsewhere once he resumes being healthy. The Pats are now left with LeGarrette Blount, James White, Brandon Bolden, Tyler Gaffney, D.J. Foster, and Joey Iosefa at running back. Blount, White, and Bolden are expected to make the roster while Gaffney is probably the frontrunner for the fourth RB spot.

Although he made a handful of starts during his two years with the Chargers, particularly when the club’s backfield was hit hard by injuries, Brown never made a significant impact. In total, he accumulated 452 rushing yards on 144 attempts (3.1 ypc), and added 299 receiving yards on 37 catches.

The Patriots also released defensive tackle Frank Kearse.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Release E.J. Biggers

August 23rd, 2016 at 8:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have released cornerback E.J. Biggers, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Biggers signed a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract with the Pats in March. The deal featured just $25K in guaranteed money, in the form of a signing bonus.

Biggers, 28, spent three seasons in Tampa Bay and two in Washington before joining the Eagles for the 2015 campaign. Outside of the 2012 season, when he started 12 games for the Bucs, he has been a part-time contributor for most of his NFL career, playing in nickel or dime packages on defense and contributing on special teams as well. In 2015, he recorded 39 tackles and seven passes defended.

Biggers was expected to serve as one of the Pats’ primary backups for corners Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan. Instead, the Pats will use second-round pick Cyrus Jones as the first cornerback off of the bench. Justin Coleman, Jonathan Jones, and Darryl Roberts are jostling for spots on the roster behind Jones and their odds all just improved today.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Teams Inquiring On Josh Gordon

August 23rd, 2016 at 8:20am CST by Zachary Links

Multiple teams have reached out to the Browns to inquire about the availability of wide receiver Josh Gordon, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Facebook link). However, a Browns team source tells Schefter that the team is not looking to trade Gordon.

This offseason, the Browns have worked to establish an environment in which Gordon could thrive, and many around league believe Hue Jackson is the right coach to get him back on track. It remains to be seen whether a team will offer up enough to make the Browns interested in parting with Gordon, but Schefter says it is a situation keeping an eye on.

In late July, Gordon was reinstated by the NFL with certain conditions. The wide receiver will be suspended for the first four games of the season and his return will be conditional. If he does not stay on course with his treatment plan, then his return date in October is not guaranteed.

In 2013, despite missing the first two games due to a suspension, Gordon led the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. Thanks to his off-the-field issues, the 25-year-old played in five games in 2014 and missed the entire 2015 season. Obviously, the talent is there for Gordon to be one of the league’s very best wide receivers. There is also a chance that he doesn’t stick to his treatment plan, which may allow for another team to talk the Browns into parting with him.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.