HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Extra Points: Jets, Baldwin, Boone, Packers

September 26th, 2017 at 9:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Former Jets linebacker Erin Henderson was placed on the team’s non-football injury list last season, and the player is now suing the organization, citing “wrongful termination and disability discrimination.” According to Connor Hughes of NJ.com, Henderson is seeking $3.3MM in compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages, using his remaining 2016 and hypothetical 2017 salary as a guideline.

The lawsuit does acknowledge that the 31-year-old suffers from bipolar disorder, but it also notes that the organization was never accommodating before they “wrongfully terminated his employment.” The team ultimately said Henderson “was not fit” to play football, a revelation that the player didn’t learn about until the NFLPA grievance hearing in June.

The 2008 undrafted free agent out of Maryland spent the first six years of his career with the Vikings before spending the 2015 and 2016 campaign in New York. During his Jets tenure, Henderson appeared in 21 games (including four starts during his “injury-shortened” 2016 season), compiling 66 tackles and one forced fumble.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFL…

  • Seahawks wideout Doug Baldwin is currently day-to-day with a groin injury, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The reporter notes that there’s optimism that the Pro Bowler could even play this weekend. The 29-year-old had his best game of the season this past weekend, and he’s already hauled in 20 catches for 212 yards and one touchdown this season.
  • Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told 98.7FM in Arizona that offensive guard Alex Boone has an injured pectoral muscle (via Kent Somers of AZCentral.com on Twitter). The veteran had an MRI today, and the team is hopeful that he can play through it. After refusing to take a pay cut from the Vikings, the 30-year-old ultimately joined Arizona this offseason, and he’s started two of the team’s first three games.
  • The Packers placed long snapper Brett Goode on the injured reserve yesterday, and ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports that the player has now reached an injury settlement with the organization. This means the Packers can sign him later this season without making him one of the two players the team can return from the IR.

Seahawks Work Out Trio Of Defenders

September 26th, 2017 at 8:44pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks were reportedly busy today, working out a trio of defenders. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), the team auditioned linebackers Akeem Ayers and Jayrone Elliott and defensive end Branden Jackson.

Akeem Ayers (vertical)Ayers is the most notable of the defenders, as the former second-round pick has started 57 games since 2011. The 28-year-old spent the 2016 season with the Colts, compiling 21 tackles, two sacks, and one interception in 16 games. He was ultimately cut by Indy in early September. Ayers has also had stints with the Titans, Patriots, and Rams.

Elliott, a former undrafted free agent out of Toledo, spent the first three seasons of his career in Green Bay, where he collected 48 tackles and four sacks in 38 games. He was traded to the Cowboys in early September, but the team ended up waiving him last week. Meanwhile, Jackson spent his entire rookie campaign with the Raiders in 2016, collecting a single tackle in three games.

The Seahawks could use some reinforcement at defensive end, especially with Dion Jordan and Malik McDowell sitting on the NFI list. Their need for a linebacker is a bit more questionable, as the team is currently rostering four backups in Marcus Smith, Dewey McDonald, D.J. Alexander, and Michael Wilhoite.

NFL Workout Updates: 9/26/17

September 26th, 2017 at 7:41pm CST by Ben Levine

Tuesday’s workout updates (links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle or ESPN’s Adam Caplan):

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Dolphins’ Jarvis Landry Won’t Face Charges

September 26th, 2017 at 7:12pm CST by Ben Levine

After being accused of battery in early August, it sounds like Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry won’t face charges. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport passes along (via Twitter) that the Florida State attorney will not file charges of domestic violence.

Jarvis Landry (vertical)“I am very thankful that this matter is over and my family and I can put this behind us now,” Landry said in a statement (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “I greatly respect and appreciate the Broward County State Attorney’s Office for their hard work and thorough investigation into this matter and I am thankful that they were able to come to a conclusion that reaffirms the true facts that no crime was committed. My daughter’s mother and I will continue to co-parent to raise our child in a happy and healthy environment. I would like to thank my family and friends for their continued support throughout this process.”

=While Landry won’t be charged with a crime, he may still face discipline from the NFL, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the case still “remains under conduct policy review.” The initial incident took place earlier this year and involved the mother of Landry’s child. The player has maintained his innocence, according to Beasley.

In the unlikely event that Landry was suspended, it’s be quite the blow to the Dolphins offense. Through two games, the receiver has already hauled in 19 receptions for 126 yards. The 2014 second-rounder has been a standout in Miami over the past two seasons, averaging 102 receptions, 1146 yards, and four touchdowns over that span. Landry has recently been pursuing a contract extension, although the team has yet to make him an offer. Coach Adam Gase was previously adamant that the ongoing legal issue had no impact on negotiations.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/17

September 26th, 2017 at 6:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Promoted to active roster: WR Krishawn Hogan

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

Jets Work Out RB Knile Davis

September 26th, 2017 at 5:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Travaris Cadet wasn’t the only running back to work out for the Jets today. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), the team also auditioned Knile Davis.

Knile DavisThe former Chiefs third-round pick has bounced around the league a bit since he was traded to the Packers last season. He ultimately appeared in two games for Green Bay (compiling only nine total yards) before being waived. He was subsequently claimed and waived by the Jets, and he landed back with the Chiefs later in the season, making brief appearances in the run and return game. He joined the Steelers this past offseason, but he was cut by the organization in early September.

Prior to his tumultuous 2016 campaign, Davis was plenty productive. 2014 was arguably his best NFL season, as the 25-year-old finished with 463 rushing yards and 147 receiving yards for seven total touchdowns. Since then, the running back has only collected 46 carries and seven receptions. Davis has also proven to be a weapon in the return game, as he’s averaged 26.8 yards and scored two touchdowns on 73 career kick returns.

Jets running backs have collected 267 yards through the first three weeks of the season, placing them in the bottom-10 of the NFL. However, it’s unlikely that Davis or Cadet would be able to displace the team’s current duo of Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. Besides the two veterans, the Jets are also rostering sixth-rounder Elijah McGuire.

Eagles Sign RB Kenjon Barner

September 26th, 2017 at 4:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Following Darren Sproles‘ season-ending injury, we heard that the Eagles were in the market for a running back. Well, it sounds like the team has targeted a familiar face. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), the Eagles are expected to sign running back Kenjon Barner. ESPN’s Field Yates reported (via Twitter) earlier today that Barner was auditioning for the team. It’s a one-year contract for Barner, according to Philly.com’s Jeff McLane (via Twitter).

Kenjon Barner (vertical)Barner, a 2013 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, spent two seasons in Philly, appearing in 23 total games between 2015 and 2016. The running back was productive despite limited snaps, compiling 253 rushing yards on only 55 carries (4.6 yards per attempt) during his Eagles tenure. Following a season-ending injury last season, Barner signed a one-year deal with the Chargers this past offseason, but he was ultimately cut by the team in early September.

During his brief career, Barner had also proved to be useful in the passing game, which could be especially important to the Eagles during Sproles’ absence. Including his time in Carolina, the 27-year-old has hauled in 16 career receptions for 71 yards. The Oregon product also has experience on special teams, having returned 12 kicks (with a 25.3-yard average) and three punts.

After Sproles collected 15 carries and seven receptions through two-plus games, Wendell Smallwood and LeGarrette Blount picked up the slack for their injured teammate during Sunday’s win over the Giants. The duo combined for 24 carries, with Smallwood hauling in one of his two targets. Even if the Eagles are content with the duo, it was assumed that they’d be in the market for some reinforcement. Besides Blount, Smallwood, and (presumably) Barner, undrafted rookie Corey Clement is the only other healthy running back on the roster.

Dolphins Reinstate LB Lawrence Timmons

September 26th, 2017 at 2:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons has been reinstated by the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) has learned. With his suspension lifted, he will play on Sunday versus the Saints. Lawrence Timmons (vertical)

Timmons went AWOL prior to Miami’s Week 2 contest and was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. At the time of the ban, the Dolphins gave little indication as to whether Timmons would ever be able to rejoin the squad. We later learned that Timmons left the team in L.A. to visit the mother of his child in Pennsylvania. He did not notify the team of his plans beforehand.

Timmons reportedly visited the Steelers (his former team) during Miami’s Week 1 bye and watched the club practice. We don’t know exactly what is going on with the veteran, but it sounds like homesickness is at least part of it.

The Dolphins managed to beat the Chargers without Timmons in Week 2, but they lost to the Jets on Sunday. Miami will look to get back on the right track this weekend against the Saints in London, England.

Miami signed Timmons to a two-year, $12MM deal in the offseason. In 2016, he racked up 114 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions for the Steelers. When he went AWOL in Week 2, he missed his first game since 2009.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/17

September 26th, 2017 at 2:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: LB Tre’von Johnson

Indianapolis Colts

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Trent Richardson Signs With CFL Team

September 26th, 2017 at 1:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed running back Trent Richardson, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The former first-round pick has not played in an NFL game since 2014. Trent Richardson (vertical)

Last summer, Richardson vowed to turn over a new leaf and embark on an unprecedented comeback path that would end with his induction in the Hall of Fame. Those plans hit a snag when Richardson was released by the Ravens in August and arrested in February of this year.

The CFL’s league office reportedly blocked teams from pursuing Greg Hardy due to his history of domestic violence. They have not gotten in the way of the Roughriders signing Richardson, though the allegations against him were also ugly. Richardson’s victim was found with scratches and bruises on her face when Alabama cops responded to a 911 call. Apparently, the pair started arguing in an Alabama Walmart before things turned physical in their hotel room.

Richardson, the former No. 3 pick in the 2012 draft, has never done much at the NFL level. He appeared in 46 games for the Browns and Colts and averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.

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