2017 August - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Ezekiel Elliott’s Suspension Appeal

August 30th, 2017 at 2:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Ezekiel Elliott‘s appeal of his six-game suspension will last through Thursday as the Cowboys running back fights a ban stemming from domestic violence allegations. Elliott could still suit up for Week 1 if he files a lawsuit against the NFL, but for now, the appeal hearing will proceed.

Here’s the latest on Elliott and the proceedings:

Tuesday’s session was spent sorting through the evidence relating to the domestic violence claims and listening to investigators, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Elliott himself will speak on Wednesday, and it appears most of today will be dedicated to hearing from the Cowboys back. Thursday, meanwhile, will witness a doctor analyzing photos of the alleged victim’s injuries.
If Elliott and his team believed arbitrator Harold Henderson were truly a neutral judge, they’d have “incredible optimism” about what occurred at Tuesday’s hearing, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter links). However, Henderson was hired by the NFL, so Elliott has understandable skepticism regarding Henderson’s motives. A source tells Anderson that “things happened that were amazingly good for [Elliott’s] side,” although that report should be taken with a grain of salt given that it’s coming from Elliott’s camp.
“Enormous inconsistencies” emerged on Tuesday regarding the NFL’s investigative process, adds Anderson (Twitter links). On the other side of the hearing, Anderson questioned while Elliott didn’t make a definitive denial through his attorneys or via his own statement, and was told Elliott has “said it enough before.”
While the hearing was originally scheduled for only two days, it’s been extended because the NFL will allow a witness that was initially rebuffed to testify by phone, reports Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The NFLPA requested that witness be allowed to communicate via phone, although the identity of said witness is unclear at present.

Steelers To Host CB Joe Haden Tonight

August 30th, 2017 at 1:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers are already considered the frontrunners for cornerback Joe Haden, and they’ll meet with the free agent himself tonight, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Pittsburgh isn’t the only NFL club eyeing Haden, who was released by the Browns this morning, as the Chiefs, Saints, Eagles, 49ers, and Dolphins are also interested in adding the 28-year-old. Cleveland is already paying Haden a guaranteed $4MM for the 2017 season, meaning any that signs the veteran defensive back will only be responsible for the minimum. However, given the level of interest that Haden has already generated, it’s possible that he could garner a hefty deal. He’s reportedly open to both single-season and multi-year pacts.

The Steelers are currently slated to start Ross Cockrell and Artie Burns at cornerback, with William Gay, Senquez Golson, Cameron Sutton, Coty Sensabaugh, and others vying for time as depth options. That group is without a clear-cut No. 1 cornerback, although it’s not apparent that Haden fits that definition anymore, as he graded as the No. 88 corner among 110 qualifiers in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. And if Pittsburgh is looking for reliability, it may not get it with Haden, who’s missed 14 games over the past two seasons.

Technically, Haden can’t speak or meet with any other clubs until he’s officially released by the Browns at 4pm ET today.

AFC Notes: Brock, Ware, Bell, Raiders, Colts

August 30th, 2017 at 1:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The odds of the Browns releasing quarterback Brock Osweiler and eating his fully guaranteed $16MM salary have seemingly increased in recent days, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk contends. Cleveland saved $15.25MM – nearly the sum of Osweiler’s salary – by releasing defensive lineman Desmond Bryant and cornerback Joe Haden in the past week-plus, which could make it easier to part with the QB now that he won’t be its starter, Florio posits. Osweiler is unlikely to garner any trade interest, so cutting the 26-year-old would enable the Browns to recoup a bit of his salary ($775K) if he signs elsewhere for the league minimum.

Chiefs Acquire Cameron Erving

August 30th, 2017 at 12:51pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Browns have traded offensive lineman Cameron Erving to the Chiefs for a fifth-round pick in 2018, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cleveland placed Erving on the block after he lost the starting right tackle job to second-year man Shon Coleman.

Erving goes down as a failed first-round pick for the Browns, who selected the former Florida State standout 19th overall in 2015. He was unable to establish himself either at tackle or along the interior of the line in Cleveland, which tried Erving at both guard and center. To his credit, the 25-year-old Erving has been durable to this point, having appeared in 29 of a possible 32 regular-season games. He started in all 13 of his appearances last season, though Pro Football Focus ranked him among the game’s worst centers.

For the Chiefs, who acquired another recent high pick – 2016 second-round linebacker Reggie Ragland – in a deal with the Bills earlier this week, Erving represents a talented reclamation project. If he breaks out over the next two seasons, the Chiefs will have the ability to control Erving through 2019 by way of a fifth-year option.

In the near term, playing time looks as if it will be difficult to come by for Erving in Kansas City. The Chiefs have five set starters along the line in tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, guards Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Bryan Witzmann and center Mitch Morse, though injuries during the season should create opportunities for the team to plug in Erving.

Packers To Sign Ahmad Brooks

August 30th, 2017 at 12:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Packers have agreed to a one-year, $3.5MM deal with linebacker Ahmad Brooks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The pact could be worth up to $5MM. Brooks visited with the Pack shortly after the 49ers released him Aug. 25.

Green Bay will be the third NFL destination for Brooks, who spent the first two years of his career in Cincinnati before joining San Francisco in 2009. He became one of the most accomplished pass rushers in 49ers history during his eight-year tenure in San Fran, where he racked up 51.5 sacks and never finished with fewer than five in an individual season. Brooks was also quite durable as a member of the 49ers, with whom he appeared in at least 13 games in each year.

Most recently, Brooks totaled six sacks during a 16-game, 15-start slate last season, indicating that the 33-year-old still has plenty to offer. While Pro Football Focus wasn’t enamored of Brooks’ work, ranking him just 87th in performance among 110 qualified edge rushers, he still figures to help a Green Bay defense that lost prolific rusher Julius Peppers to Carolina in free agency. Brooks’ presence on the outside could lead the Packers to move Clay Matthews inside, where he’d potentially be an upgrade over Jake Ryan and/or Blake Martinez in nickel packages, as PFR’s Dallas Robinson noted this week. Regardless, Brooks adds a third proven edge rusher behind the Matthews-Nick Perry duo, giving the Packers a trio that combined for 22 sacks in 2016.

Latest On Joe Haden

August 30th, 2017 at 12:19pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Before the Browns released cornerback Joe Haden on Wednesday, they were attempting to trade him for a fourth-round pick that could have become a third-rounder based on playing time, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (Twitter links). The Browns were also willing to eat $4MM of Haden’s salary, but they were still unable to find a taker for the two-time Pro Bowler.

Now that Haden’s on the open market won’t cost a team draft-pick compensation to acquire, interest is pouring in for the 28-year-old. Twelve to 13 clubs are in on Haden, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes, and La Canfora adds that he’s likely to land somewhere within the next 24 hours. Along with the previously reported Steelers, Dolphins, Saints and Chiefs, the Eagles and 49ers are chasing Haden, who’s currently weighing offers for one year and multiple seasons, according to La Canfora.

Haden would be the third notable addition at corner in recent weeks for the Eagles, who picked up Ronald Darby in a trade with the Bills and Dexter McDougle in a deal with the Jets earlier this month. The team is still relatively thin at the position even with those two in the fold, though, especially after releasing Ron Brooks on Wednesday.

The 49ers are the only club in on Haden without a realistic playoff shot this season, and it seems unlikely Haden would sign with a non-contender after spending the first seven years of his career with bottom-feeding Cleveland. Indeed, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets that it would be shocking if Haden chose the Niners. Unsurprisingly, Haden would be far and away the most accomplished corner on a San Francisco team that has another ex-Brown, K’Waun Williams, as well as Dontae Johnson, Rashard Robinson and Keith Reaser among its top four options. Those CBs have combined for just 22 NFL starts, while Haden has 81 to his name.

Redskins Shopping TE Derek Carrier

August 30th, 2017 at 11:42am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins have discussed tight end Derek Carrier with multiple teams interested in trading for him, sources tell John Keim of ESPN.com.

Washington currently has a surplus of tight ends, as Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Niles Paul, rookie Jeremy Sprinkle, and Carrier are all vying for roster spots. While Carrier has been a productive camp and is viewed in a positive light by Redskins management, the club simply has too many bodies at the position, and only plans to keep four tight ends on the roster, per Keim.

The Redskins originally acquired Carrier from the 49ers prior to the 2015 season in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick. His stint in Washington has mostly been marred by injury, as a torn ACL prematurely ended his 2015 campaign and delayed the start of his 2016 season. All told, the 27-year-old Carrier has managed 19 receptions in 20 games in the nation’s capital.

Carrier has one year left on his contract, and will become an unrestricted free agent next spring. An acquiring club would take Carrier’s 2017 cap charge of roughly $1MM.

Johnny Manziel Auditioned For CFL Team

August 30th, 2017 at 11:17am CST by Dallas Robinson

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel worked out for the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Buffalo last week, according to Farhan Lalji and Dave Naylor of TSN.

Manziel won’t be heading north of the border, however, as the audition reportedly didn’t go well, as the Tiger-Cats don’t believe Manziel is in the correct game shape nor mental state. “Too many red flags,” one source told the TSN scribes. While that should perhaps come as no surprise given Manziel’s history of off-field incidents, he’d apparently been generating real NFL interest this year, and had talked to several clubs as of July.

However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk offers a slightly different account of Manziel’s workout: per Florio, the Tiger-Cats are still “extremely” interested in signing Manziel, and adds that there’s “much more” to the story. Hamilton has a “positive attitude” towards Manziel, meaning a deal could still come together.

Hamilton still holds Manziel’s CFL rights, meaning it would have the exclusive ability to sign him to a contract. If Manziel decides he’s ready to join the CFL, the Tiger-Cats would be allowed 10 days to either ink him to a contract or trade his rights to another club. New Hamilton head coach June Jones is reportedly the driving force behind the team’s Manziel interest, according to TSN.

Manziel is still only 24 years old, but he hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2015 campaign. In eight career starts for the Browns, the former first-round choice completed 57% of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Panthers Shopping Punter Andy Lee

August 30th, 2017 at 10:59am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers are gauging trade interest in a pair of specialists, punter Andy Lee and kicker Harrison Butker, sources tell Jourdan Rodrigue and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

Carolina acquired Lee and a seventh-round pick from the Browns prior to last season in exchange for a fourth-rounder and fellow punter Kasey Redfern. Lee, 35, appeared in nine games for the Panthers before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. That health issue allowed Michael Palardy — now Lee’s primary competition — to punt for Carolina over the season’s final seven contests. Prior to going down, Lee averaged 49.1 yards per punt on 39 attempts.

Lee agreed to a pay reduction earlier this year, per the Observer scribes. Originally scheduled to earn $3.43MM and $4.13MM over the next two seasons, Lee will now bring in just $1MM in 2017 and $1.1MM in 2018. That could make Lee relatively attractive on the trade market, especially for clubs in need of specialist but are strapped for cap space.

Butker, meanwhile, is also part of an open competition, as he’s vying to become the Panthers’ placekicker alongside veteran Graham Gano. A seventh-round pick this spring, Butker has only attempted one field goal this preseason, a 51-yarder that he converted successfully. He’s also made both of his extra point tries. For his part, Gano is three-for-four on preseason field goals, and made only 78.9% of his attempts during the 2017 campaign.

Dolphins In On CB Joe Haden

August 30th, 2017 at 10:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins are the latest club to express interest in free agent cornerback Joe Haden, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

Miami has been researching Haden in recent days, but had no interest in trading for the former Browns defensive back, per Salguero. With fewer than $9MM in available cap space, the Dolphins are searching for a discount cornerback. Haden could fit that bill given that his contract with Cleveland has offset language, meaning Miami or another team could sign Haden for the minimum salary and force the Browns to foot the rest of the cost.

While that’s a viable option in theory, Haden has already drawn quite a bit of interest since being released this morning. The Cowboys, Chiefs, Saints, and Steelers have all been mentioned as possible landing spots for Haden, so the 28-year-old could potentially start a bidding war that drives up his price. Haden’s agent Drew Rosenhaus predicted his client will have a new contract by Thursday.

The Dolphins have already lost cornerback Tony Lippett for the season due to an Achilles injury, so the club is looking for depth in the secondary. Miami currently projects to start Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard on the outside, although Maxwell is reportedly fighting off competition for free agent acquisition Alterraun Verner. Other corners on the Dolphins’ roster include third-round rookie Cordrea Tankersley, Bobby McCain, and Walt Aikens.

Haden isn’t the most reliable defender, as he’s missed 14 games over the past two seasons. But if healthy, there’s a chance he could rebound to his previous levels of production: from 2010-14, Haden was a solid starter, starting 63 games during that time. While Pro Football Focus has ranked Haden poorly over the past two years, the Dolphins don’t put much stock in PFF’s grades, per Salguero.