2016 September - Pro Football Rumors

Josh Kline No Longer Part Of Eric Rowe Trade

September 6th, 2016 at 5:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Offensive lineman Josh Kline was thought to be part of the Eagles’ return for cornerback Eric Rowe, but Kline will instead be sticking with the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Rowe is still heading to New England, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), and it’s possible that New England cuts Kline, per Schefter.

Kline, 26, joined the Patriots in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State. After getting four starts in his first two seasons, Kline became a full-time starter last year. In November, the Pats extended the guard through the 2017 season, but he was beat out for a starting job this offseason by trade acquisition Jonathan Cooper and rookie Joe Thuney.

Had he gone to the Eagles, Kline would have been immediately shopped, as reports this morning indicated that Philadelphia was looking to trade the offensive line mere minutes after acquiring him. The Eagles were apparently in “deep discussions” about a trade that would have sent Kline elsewhere, but that clearly won’t happen now.

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Saints To Sign Sterling Moore

September 6th, 2016 at 5:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After working him out earlier today, the Saints have agreed to sign cornerback Sterling Moore, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com (Twitter links). Per Katzenstein, it’s a one-year deal.

New Orleans released another veteran corner who excels in the slot just hours ago, as they cut Cortland Finnegan, so Moore-for-Finnegan is essentially a one-for-one switch. And the Saints need all the help they can get in the back end, as after ranking as a historically poor defense in 2015, the club doesn’t have much depth in the secondary. Delvin Breaux had a nice season last year, but fellow starter P.J. Williams has never played in a NFL game. Moore, then, will add some experience while contributing in sub package situations.

Moore, 26, starting nine games at nickel for the Buccaneers in 2015. In total, Moore racked up 45 tackles, six pass breakups, an interception and three forced fumbles. Moore first broke into the league as a UDFA out of SMU in 2011 with the Raiders. However, he did not see regular burn until the 2014 season. In 2014, Moore ranked 22nd out of 108 qualified cornerbacks during his time at the position, per Pro Football Focus. Last year, Moore placed 64th out of 111 qualified corners, per PFF (sub. req’d).

After signing with the Bills over the offseason, Moore was released at final cutdowns.

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Jets Sign Antonio Allen

September 6th, 2016 at 5:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets announced that they’ve reached an agreement with free agent safety Antonio Allen.

Allen missed the entire 2015 campaign with an Achilles injury. Prior to that, the 27-year-old (28 later this month) made 18 starts in the Jets’ secondary from 2012 to 2014. The former seventh-round pick assumed a major role for the team in 2013, starting nine games at safety and accumulating 60 tackles. In 2014, he saw some time at cornerback when New York’s depth chart at the position thinned out.

Allen signed a one-year deal with the Texans earlier this offseason, but was released this weekend during final cuts. Back in New York, he’ll add depth at safety behind starters Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor, joining Rontez Miles among the Jets’ defensive back reserves. Allen will likely also contribute on special teams.

Allen was the last Jets draft pick from 2012 to still be on Gang Green’s roster.

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Jahri Evans Visits Saints

September 6th, 2016 at 5:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran guard Jahri Evans visited with the only club with which he’s ever seen regular season action, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link) that Evans had a meeting with the Saints today.

The 33-year-old Evans was released by the Seahawks over the weekend after losing out in a battle to become one of the club’s starting guards. New Orleans had previously cut him earlier this offseason, given that the team is considering moving former first-round pick Andrus Peat to left guard, Evans could make sense on the right side. Seattle signed Evans for the minimum salary benefit with $80K guaranteed, so he should be pretty cheap if the Saints are interested in a reunion.

Evans appeared in and started 153 games with the Saints from 2006-15. The 316-pounder racked up four first-team All-Pro nods in New Orleans, but he only logged 11 appearances last year as a result of arthroscopic knee surgery. However, Evans’ performance during an abbreviated campaign earned him plaudits from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 27th among 81 qualifying guards.

Saints Audition Rueben Randle, Others

September 6th, 2016 at 4:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints auditioned a small army’s worth of players today. Among the notable players to work out for New Orleans were wide receivers Rueben Randle, Greg Little, and Andre Caldwell (Twitter links via Nick Underhill of The Advocate).

Offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, long snapper Aaron Brewer, long snapper Andrew East, long snapper Thomas Gafford, offensive tackle Bryce Harris, tight end Nic Jacobs, tight end Jake Stoneburner, guard/center Mike Liedtke, cornerback Sterling Moore, cornerback Darrin Walls, cornerback B.W. Webb, and wide receiver Nate Washington also auditioned for the Saints. Liedtke’s visit “went well” and “there’s a good chance something may happen soon,” according to agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link).

Randle, 25, joined the Eagles this offseason after averaging 56 receptions, 782 yards, and six touchdowns over the past three seasons with the Giants. However, he was cut loose before the 75-man deadline. Randle is known to be a talented receiver but there were serious questions about his work ethic while he was in East Rutherford.

Caldwell, 31, appeared in 14 games for the Broncos last season, catching 10 passes (22 targets) for 72 yards. While he wasn’t one of the primary targets in Denver, he did also have two touchdowns on the year. In the spring he signed on with Detroit and before he was cut by the Lions in August, it was said that he suffered a “season-ending” hand injury. It seems that Caldwell’s injury might not be as bad as once feared.

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Buccaneers To Sign Cecil Shorts

September 6th, 2016 at 4:43pm CST by Zachary Links

4:43pm: The Bucs have confirmed the signing via Twitter. To make room for Shorts, the team waived fellow receiver Evan Spencer.

4:13pm: Cecil Shorts‘ free agent tour didn’t last long. Hours after visiting with the Buccaneers, the two sides shook hands on a deal, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. It’s a one-year deal for Shorts, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) adds that it is a “prove it” deal.

Shorts previously played under coach Dirk Koetter when both were in Jacksonville in 2011, so there is history there. And with injuries at wide receiver, it only makes sense that the Bucs would have interest in one of the biggest names out there. Shorts became a roster casualty a few days ago when the Texans dropped him on their way to a 53-man roster.

Last year was Shorts’ first season in Houston and he compiled 42 catches for 484 yards and two touchdowns. Shorts also returned 11 punts, his first special teams action since 2011. For his efforts last season, Pro Football Focus ranked him 90th among 121 eligible receivers.

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Colts Sign Akeem Ayers

September 6th, 2016 at 4:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have signed outside linebacker Akeem Ayers, as Mike Chappell of CBS4 tweets. In related moves, the team has waived cornerback Neiko Thorpe and added cornerback Frankie Williams to the practice squad. The team has confirmed the moves via press release.

Ayers, a second-round pick of the Titans in 2011, was cut by the Rams over the weekend. That move surprised a lot of people since Ayers started eleven games for the club last season. Los Angeles cleared his entire $3.3MM of his cap charge from the books by dropping him and they hoped to re-sign him to a cheaper deal after the 53-man cutdowns were through. Unfortunately, for L.A. the Colts have spoiled those plans.

The release of Thorpe could mean that Darius Butler will be ready to go for Week 1. The Colts, of course, are thin at CB following Vontae Davis‘ injury.

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Saints Cut Kai Forbath

September 6th, 2016 at 4:08pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have cut kicker Kai Forbath, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The writing was on the wall for Forbath after the team signed fellow kicker Wil Lutz earlier today.

The Saints signed Forbath in October of 2015 after the Redskins released him a month earlier. Forbath went on to make 9-of-13 field goal attempts — including a 57-yarder — and 33-of-34 extra points. In March, the Saints re-upped him. Now, he’s on the open market once again.

Forbath was locked in what was said to be a tight kicking battle with Connor Barth all summer. Barth was cut days ago, but the team has decided to overhaul the position entirely for reasons that are not quite clear.

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Lions Place Jon Bostic On IR

September 6th, 2016 at 3:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have placed linebacker Jon Bostic on IR, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). Bostic, who had surgery last month, was previously given a timetable that could allow him to return as early as October and as late as December. Depending on how his recovery goes, he could be a candidate to return from IR.

Bostic, a former second-round pick, represented the first deal between Lions general manager Bob Quinn and his former team, as Detroit acquired Bostic from the Patriots in May. The former Florida Gator is no stranger to being traded after a September swap shipped him from the Bears to the Pats. In 2015, he appeared in eleven games (one start) for New England, recording two tackles.

As a rookie with the Bears, Bostic played in all 16 games with nine starts on the year. In total, he notched 57 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in 2013. He followed that up in 2014 with a career high of 83 tackles. If Bostic doesn’t take the field this year, then the Lions will not have to send a seventh-round pick to New England for him. If he does play and reach a certain playtime threshold, then the Lions will still be on the hook.

Moving Bostic to IR will create a roster spot for tight end Khari Lee, who was claimed off waivers earlier today.

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Lions Claim Khari Lee Off Waivers

September 6th, 2016 at 3:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have claimed tight end Khari Lee off waivers from the Bears, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Lee, 24, was waived by the Bears on Sunday to make room for fellow tight end Logan Paulsen. Last year, Lee appeared in all 16 regular season games for the Bears and even logged seven starts, though his role didn’t involve a ton of pass-catching. On the year, he was targeted just three times and had only one reception for seven yards. However, Lee is known as a strong in-line blocker.

To make room for Lee, the Lions will have to bump one player from the roster. Currently, the Lions have Eric Ebron, Orson Charles, and Cole Wick at tight end on the depth chart.

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