HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Peterson, Giants

September 20th, 2017 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles‘ running game has been dreadful through two games but Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com thinks the team could swing a trade to turn things around.

His list of prospective trade targets starts with dissatisfied Saints running back Adrian Peterson, though he doesn’t envision the veteran having a much bigger role in Philly than he currently does in New Orleans. A return of LeSean McCoy, on the other hand, makes more sense in the writer’s mind. The Bills have repeatedly denied that McCoy is on the block, but Buffalo is clearly rebuilding and it would make sense for them to trade him if the right offer comes along. Vikings running back Latavius Murray also makes the list after he signed on to be Minnesota’s top rusher but lost the gig to rookie Dalvin Cook.

One way or another, the Eagles have to get their running game going in Week 3 and beyond. The Eagles had just 52 total rushing yards from their running backs on Sunday and offseason pickup LeGarrette Blount wound up getting benched against the Chiefs.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

  • Expecting the Giants to look out-of-house at left tackle? It’s not happening anytime soon, based on what coach Ben McAdoo told reporters. “Ereck ]Flowers] is a young player, he did some good things in the ballgame,’’ McAdoo said (via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post). “He gets singled out. That’s the way it goes in this league. Again, the breakdowns are spread out. It’s not just one player making breakdowns. The breakdowns are spread out. And I’m included. Throw me in there…He gave up a couple sacks, had some pressures in there, but it’s not all Ereck, you can’t put it all on one guy. We need to play better as an offensive unit.’’
  • McAdoo has been calling the Giants‘ offensive plays, but is not dismissing the idea of ceding that responsibility, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (on Twitter).
  • The fight between Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott and the league office continues. We’re keeping track of today’s latest news here.
  • Redskins players were not happy with Su’a Cravens‘ unexpected departure, and that may have played a role in the team closing the door on him this week.

Latest On NFLPA Chief DeMaurice Smith

September 20th, 2017 at 11:22am CST by Zachary Links

DeMaurice Smith has been re-elected as executive director of the NFLPA, but the length of his term has yet to be determined, NFLPA president Eric Winston tells PFT. It was initially reported that Smith’s deal would automatically go through 2021 if re-elected. Instead, it could be a three-year extension. DeMaurice Smith (vertical)

[RELATED: NFLPA Re-Elects DeMaurice Smith]

The league’s current labor deal goes through March 2021, meaning that a three-year deal would have him exiting at the same time. That’s probably not a practical scenario, so a term taking him through 2023 probably makes more sense. The union plans to decide on Smith’s contract by March 2018.

Now that Smith has defeated lawyer Cyrus Mehri to retain his position, the NFL says it’s eager to get going on CBA talks.

“This is something we think is in both parties’ interest,” league spokesman Joe Lockhart said (link). “It’s certainly not our view that a work stoppage is inevitable. There’s no reason for that. It’s not in the interests of the game.”

In the past, Smith has indicated that a work stoppage at the end of the current CBA is something of an inevitability. Hopefully, both sides will be able to get what they want without a strike or lockout.

Ezekiel Elliott Rumors: Wednesday

September 20th, 2017 at 10:35am CST by Zachary Links

Before the start of the season, Ezekiel Elliott‘s legal team won a preliminary injunction against the league, allowing the running back to play while things get hashed out in the courts. The NFL moved for a stay of that injunction with the same judge, but they were denied, allowing Elliott to take the field again in Week 2. The league hasn’t stopped its fight, however, and they’ve advanced the battle to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

What does this all mean for Elliott’ status on Monday night against the Cardinals and beyond? Here’s the latest on Zeke:

  • The NFL says that if a stay is granted on the Elliott suspension, and it came late in week, commissioner Roger Goodell would decide when the suspension starts, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. We have two-and-a-half business days to go in the week, but still there’s no guarantee that CA5 will reach a decision in that timeframe. If they do, it will be up to Goodell as to when the six-game ban begins. Given the protracted nature of this struggle between the league office and Elliott, it wouldn’t be surprising if Goodell moved to start the suspension right away if the stay is granted.
  • The fact that the Fifth Circuit didn’t feel the need to rule on Tuesday is a good sign for Elliott, one source close to the situation (presumably, on Elliott’s side) tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). At minimum, it seems that the court is not taking the league’s urgent language to heart.

NFL Workout Updates: 9/19/17

September 19th, 2017 at 9:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Saints Work Out Will Beatty, Jaye Howard

September 19th, 2017 at 8:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints auditioned edge rusher Lamarr Houston earlier today, but he wasn’t the only notable NFL veteran to work out for New Orleans today. Here’s who the Saints looked at on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (all Twitter links), Adam Caplan (Twitter links), and Howard Balzer (all Twitter links):

Beatty is perhaps the most high-profile name of the bunch, as the veteran offensive tackle 63 career starts under his belt (all for the Giants). Having served as a backup last season, Beatty would presumably play right tackle for the Saints, who are down to Senio Kelemete on the right side following starter Zach Strief‘s MCL sprain. Ola, too, would give New Orleans depth along their front five, although he doesn’t offer nearly the experience that does Beatty (only 19 starts).Ricky Jean-Francois (Vertical)

As Caplan noted, the Saints essentially worked out the majority of the top free agents on the defensive side of the ball, and that comes as no surprise. Despite throwing free agent funds and draft picks at its defense, New Orleans ranks dead last in yards, 31st in scoring, and 31st in DVOA through two weeks.

Douzable, Howard, Jean-Francois, Johnson, and Langford have all served as quality starters in the very recent future, and Douzable (49ers), Howard (Bears), and Jean-Francois (Packers) have each signed contracts earlier this offseason only to be released later. Wilson, meanwhile, repeatedly bounced on-and-off the Bears’ roster a year ago, and also has a previous stint in New Orleans.

Per Pelissero, the Saints’ Week 4 contest in London is a factor in the club working out such a long list of players right now. Given that New Orleans won’t have much time to audition veterans in the coming weeks, the team will likely update its emergency list now before heading across the pond.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/17

September 19th, 2017 at 8:26pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: S Jameill Showers
  • Released: G Nate Theaker

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
  • Released: WR Fred Brown

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFLPA Re-Elects DeMaurice Smith

September 19th, 2017 at 7:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFLPA has re-elected DeMaurice Smith as executive director by a 14-0 vote, according to Jim Trotter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Smith’s new term runs thorough 2021 and is concurrent with the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement.DeMaurice Smith (vertical)

Civil rights lawyer Cyrus Mehri had been expected to contend for the top union job, but Smith easily won re-election with an uncontested vote. As such, Smith will lead negotiations as the NFL and the NFLPA attempt to hammer out a new agreement when the current CBA expires in three-plus years.

Smith’s re-election doesn’t necessarily mean labor peace is on the horizon, however. Indeed, reports have indicated the union is preparing for some sort of work stoppage (either via a lockout or strike), while Smith himself has indicated that he’s not willing to extend the CBA.

“I don’t know what [Roger Goodell is] thinking when he says extension,” said Smith. “But there’s not gonna be an extension of the CBA. If the owners are interested in talking about issues that are currently covered by the CBA or issues that aren’t currently covered by the CBA and they want to have a renegotiation on some of those issues, we’ll have a renegotiation of those issues. But there’s not going to be a 2025 [or] 2027 addendum to the CBA that says, ‘We’re good with this.’”

Smith, who was also a unanimous selection in 2009, reportedly benefited from a revamped selection process that prevented a multitude of candidates from joining the race.

Latest On Packers WR Jordy Nelson

September 19th, 2017 at 7:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson is “50-50” to play in the Packers’ Week 3 game against the Bengals as he deals with a quad strain, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reported Monday, Green Bay doesn’t believe Nelson’s injury is serious, but the veteran pass-catcher could still be sidelined for at least one week.Jordy Nelson

Fellow wideout pass-catcher Randall Cobb is expected to be available on Sunday after suffering a minor shoulder injury last week, but the Packers may still need to find another receiving option if Nelson can’t go. In Week 2, that receiver was Geronimo Allison, who played 80% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps and posted three receptions for 24 yards in Nelson’s absence. Trevor Davis also saw an increase in playtime (22% of snaps) and managed one catch for nine yards.

The Packers currently have six receivers on their roster, so even if Nelson is out for Week 3, the club probably won’t need to add another pass-catcher (although practice squaders Michael Clark and DeAngelo Yancey could be candidates for promotion). Cobb, Davante Adams, Allison, Davis, and Jeff Janis will likely comprise Aaron Rodgers‘ weapons on Sunday if Nelson cannot play.

Titans Working Out DE Howard Jones

September 19th, 2017 at 7:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Titans worked out free agent defensive end Howard Jones on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).Howard Jones

Jones, 27, hasn’t drawn much interest since being non-tendered by the Buccaneers earlier this year, although the Jets have auditioned him twice, including once last week. That’s perhaps unsurprising given that Jones is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November of 2016. Jones wasn’t a major contributor in eight games last season before going down, but he did manage five sacks in a rotational role for Tampa Bay in 2015.

Given that both the Titans and Jets run 3-4 schemes, Jones may be viewed primarily as a outside linebacker around the NFL. Tennessee currently boasts two excellent starting edge rushers in Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, while Erik Walden and Aaron Wallace are the club’s top reserves. Former second-round pick Kevin Dodd and rookie Josh Carraway are also on the Titans’ roster, but both have been inactive for Tennessee’s first two games.

In addition to Jones, the Titans also auditioned linebackers worked out for Titans today along with Frank Beltre, Ken Ekanem, Tony Washington, and defensive end Praise Martin-Oguike, tweets Wilson.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/17

September 19th, 2017 at 6:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Seattle Seahawks

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