HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

Steelers To Work Out David Cobb

September 5th, 2016 at 7:55pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Steelers will work out free agent running back David Cobb on Tuesday, tweets Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Pittsburgh will become the fourth team to audition Cobb, who visited with the Patriots, Chiefs, and Jets after the Titans waived him last week.

David Cobb (vertical)

Cobb, 23, was a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft. The ex-Minnesota Golden Gopher picked up 146 yards on 52 carries, good for a paltry 2.7 YPC, in seven games as a rookie.

With star Le’Veon Bell set to miss the first three games of the season because of a suspension, the Steelers are in search of backfield depth to work behind DeAngelo Williams. As of now, Fitzgerald Toussaint and former Ram Daryl Richardson are their top options behind Williams. Toussaint only has 24 carries to his name, though, and Richardson – the more experienced of the two – hasn’t appeared in a game since 2013.

Pittsburgh previously worked out Karlos Williams, though he’s suspended for the season’s first four games and wouldn’t be able to help fill Bell’s void.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Five-Plus Teams Interested In Cecil Shorts III

September 5th, 2016 at 7:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Texans cut wide receiver Cecil Shorts III over the weekend, but he might not be out of work for long. At least five teams are interested in Shorts, the 28-year-old told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Cecil Shorts III (vertical)

“We have a lot of interest. I’m trying to figure out the best fit for me and figure out what’s next,” Shorts said. “We’re going to take our time and make a good decision.”

Shorts, a 2011 fourth-round pick, has spent his entire career in the AFC South thus far. Before joining the Texans on a two-year, $6MM deal in March 2015, he played four seasons with the Jaguars. From 2012-15, Shorts appeared in 51 games (38 starts) and combined for 216 catches, 13 touchdowns, and a 13.0 yards-per-reception average. The 6-foot, 200-pounder missed five games and only logged four starts last year while dealing with multiple injuries, but he did rack up 42 catches – nearly four per contest – and is now healthy.

Shorts agreed to a pay cut in June to remain in Houston, though he ultimately wasn’t able to crack the club’s roster. However, based on what he told Wilson, another opportunity should come soon.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Drew Brees Seeking $100MM Deal

September 5th, 2016 at 7:24pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Saints and quarterback Drew Brees have restarted contract extension talks over the past week and will make a push to reach a deal before Sunday’s opener, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Brees, who has made it known that he doesn’t want to discuss his contract during the season, is seeking a four-year, $100MM pact, according to La Canfora (Twitter links).

Drew Brees

Brees’ asking price is a lofty one for a 37-year-old, especially considering no other NFLer averages $25MM per annum. However, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer hasn’t shown serious signs of aging to this point. Brees, a 16th-year man, is coming off his eighth straight season with at least 30 touchdown passes. He also eclipsed the 4,800-yard mark for the fifth consecutive year.

If the Saints and Brees aren’t able to find common ground by Sunday, the odds of this being his final season in New Orleans would seem to increase significantly. Applying the franchise tag to Brees next offseason would cost the Saints $43.2MM, which is certainly an unpalatable figure. As of now, Brees is set to count a quarterback-leading $30MM against the Saints’ cap and rake in $19.75MM – the second-highest base salary for a signal-caller – to conclude the five-year, $100MM contract he inked with the Saints in 2012. That deal made Brees the highest-paid player in league history, but several others have since passed him.

During his 10-year run in New Orleans, the ex-Charger has missed just two games, led the Saints to a 94-64 regular-season record, five playoff appearances, and a Super Bowl title to cap off the 2009-10 campaign. Along the way, Brees has thrown 348 touchdowns, recorded three 5,000-yard seasons, made eight Pro Bowls, and established himself as the Saints’ all-time best player.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/5/16

September 5th, 2016 at 6:55pm CST by Ben Levine

It’s been a busy Monday around the NFL. Let’s check out some moves that may have flown under the radar…

  • The Seahawks have signed fullback Tani Tupou, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Tupou also played defensive tackle earlier this summer with the Seahawks, who cut him over the weekend. Now that he’s back on their roster, he’ll stay on the offensive side of the ball.
  • In addition to signing Tupou, the Seahawks waived defensive ends Josh Shirley and David Parkins from injured reserve, per Condotta (Twitter link). Shirley logged five appearances with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie last year.

Earlier updates:

  • The Saints waived defensive tackle Ashaad Mabry, tweets Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate. Mabry also made the Saints initial roster in 2015, but was waived days later. The former UTSA standout spent last season on New Orleans’ practice squad.
  • The Bears swapped long snappers this morning, cutting Aaron Brewer and signing Patrick Scales (via ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson on Twitter). Brewer joined Chicago this offseason after having spent the past four seasons with the Broncos. Scales, 28, played in a career-high five games for the Bears in 2015.
  • To make room for guard Josh Sitton, the Bears released offensive guard Amini Silatolu (via Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs on Twitter). The 27-year-old lineman started three games for the Panthers last season. ESPN’s Adam Caplan notes that Silatolu signed a one-year, $840K deal ($100K guaranteed) with the Bears this offseason.
  • The Packers signed long snapper Brett Goode, according to Jason Wilde (via Twitter). The 31-year-old, who made 14 appearance last season, has been on the Packers since 2008. To make room, the team released undrafted free agent defensive back Makinton Dorleant.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/16

September 5th, 2016 at 6:37pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here are Monday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: CB Trey Caldwell, P Michael Palardy, RB Terrell Watson (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com)
  • Cut: OL Kaleb Johnson

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: DB Julian Wilson (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: CB C.J. Smith, WR Paul Turner (Twitter link via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com)
  • Cut: Quentin Gause

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)

Workout Notes: Ravens, Lions, Chiefs, Bills

September 5th, 2016 at 6:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest workouts from around the NFL:

  • Quarterback David Fales visited the Ravens on Monday, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley). Fales spent the first two years of his career in Chicago after it selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. The former San Jose State signal-caller worked under then-head coach Marc Trestman as a rookie. Trestman is now the Ravens’ offensive coordinator.
  • The Lions tried out tight ends Nic Jacobs and Marcel Johnson on Monday, per Yates. Both Jacobs and Jensen were previously with Jacksonville. They have four career catches between them.
  • The Chiefs auditioned cornerback Robertson Daniel on Monday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Daniel, a former BYU Cougar, has spent time with Oakland and Green Bay since going undrafted last year.
  • The Bills tried out tight end Rory “Busta” Anderson, a source told Yates. Anderson was a seventh-round pick of the 49ers last year. He didn’t see any game action as a rookie.
  • Linebacker Luke Rhodes has a Tuesday workout with the Jaguars, according to Draft Diamonds (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times). Rhodes went undrafted out of William & Mary before hooking on with the Buccaneers, who waived him Friday.
  • The Packers took a look at tight end Steven Scheu, relays Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Patriots cut Scheu, undrafted from Vanderbilt, in camp.

49ers Claim Taylor Hart From Eagles, Waive L.J. McCray

September 5th, 2016 at 5:49pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The 49ers have claimed defensive tackle Taylor Hart off waivers from the Eagles, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area (Twitter link). Additionally, San Francisco has waived safety L.J. McCray.

Taylor Hart

Hart joins Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner as the third 49ers defensive lineman who attended Oregon, where new head coach Chip Kelly was at the helm from 2009-12. Hart played under Kelly during the latter’s final three seasons with the Ducks and then reunited with Kelly in Philadelphia. The Eagles chose Hart in the fifth round of the 2014 draft, but he didn’t debut until last season. In 14 games (one start), Hart tallied 27 tackles.

San Francisco had a deal in place over the weekend to send McCray to the NFC West rival Seahawks for a late-round pick in 2018, but it fell through after he failed a physical. As a result, the 49ers won’t get anything for McCray, an undrafted free agent in 2014 who appeared in 22 games with the club.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Raiders Place Mario Edwards On IR

September 5th, 2016 at 5:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Raiders have placed defensive lineman Mario Edwards on injured reserve, Adam Caplan of ESPN was among those to report (Twitter link). Edwards suffered a hip injury during the team’s exhibition opener last month and will now miss at least the first eight games of the regular season.

Mario Edwards Jr.

Injuries have been a common theme in the brief NFL career of Edwards, whom the Raiders chose in the second round of last year’s draft. The ex-Florida State Seminole suffered a mysterious neck injury that prematurely ended his rookie season, and he didn’t receive medical clearance to return until May.

When healthy, Edwards served as a bright spot for the Raiders last year, racking up 42 tackles, three forced fumbles and two sacks in 14 games. He worked at both end and tackle along the way and rated as one of Pro Football Focus’ best run-stoppers among edge defenders. Edwards figured to complement superstar Khalil Mack and new acquisition Bruce Irvin in an improved Raiders pass rush this year, but the club will have to wait until at least November to see the trio in action at the same time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints Sign Darryl Tapp, Travaris Cadet

September 5th, 2016 at 5:03pm CST by Ben Levine

After being cut this weekend, a pair of Saints are returning to the active roster. Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate tweets that the Saints have signed defensive end Darryl Tapp and running back Travaris Cadet. The team has also placed defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on the injured reserve.

Travaris Cadet (vertical)Tapp joined the Saints in July after having played the past two seasons with the Lions. The 31-year-old, who has been in the league since 2006, has never missed more than five games in a season, and he’s compiled 27.5 career sacks in ten NFL seasons. Tapp played in all 16 games with Detroit in 2015, finishing with 19 tackles and two sacks.

Cadet re-signed with the Saints in March. The 27-year-old spent the 2015 season with the Patriots, 49ers, and Saints, finishing with 28 yards on 11 attempts. He also hauled in 16 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown.

Rankins, a defensive tackle out of Louisville, was the Saints first-round selection in this past year’s draft. The rookie was expected to compete with Nick Fairley, Tyeler Davison, and John Jenkins for playing time.

Saints To Sign Paul Kruger

September 5th, 2016 at 4:30pm CST by Zachary Links

TODAY, 4:30pm: Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate has the details on Kruger’s deal with the Saints.

While the deal is for three years and is accompanied by a $2.1MM signing bonus, the final two years of the contract can be voided. Therefore, in reality, the deal is really for one season.

Kruger will make a base salary of $900K in 2016, and (if he sticks around) will see that salary increase to $1MM in 2017 and 2018. The signing bonus will remain $700K through each of the three years, and the cap hit will decrease from $1.6MM in 2016 to $700K in 2017 and 2018.

AUGUST 31, 8:05am: Former Browns pass-rusher Paul Kruger is signing with the Saints, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Kruger visited with New Orleans and Kansas City this week but ultimately chose to join up with Sean Payton & Co. Paul Kruger (vertical)

A few years ago, Kruger was a top target of the Saints in free agency. However, they were outbid by the Browns who gave him a five-year free agent deal worth $40.5MM, including $13MM guaranteed. Years later, they have acquired Kruger at a much lower price.

After notching 11.0 sacks in 2014, Kruger only had 2.5 sacks in 2015. Apparently, he struggled on the practice field this summer, prompting Cleveland to release him. Still, the Saints are hoping that Kruger can get back to his 2013/2014 form as they deal with injuries in the front seven.

“He still affects the passer,” Payton said on a teleconference Tuesday when asked about Kruger visiting (via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune). “You see a pressure player. He rushes with power. I think you see a high motor and a guy that plays extremely strong.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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