HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Latest On Cowboys’ Randy Gregory

March 28th, 2018 at 4:37pm CST by Zachary Links

Randy Gregory has been laying the groundwork for his return to football, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News writes. Representatives of the defensive end are “in the process of doing the work necessary to apply for reinstatement,” Moore adds. 

Gregory has not seen the field since the 2016 season due to multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. However, the latest word on him is positive and he passed drug tests in the fall. Once the right paperwork is in place, it is expected that Gregory will meet with commissioner Roger Goodell. Based on Goodell’s previous handling of players in similar situations, it seems as though Gregory could be allowed back on the field if he can demonstrate that he is drug free.

The former second-round pick out of Nebraska has notched just 15 career tackles. He has one sack to his credit, which came in Dallas’ 2016 season finale.

Jets Sign LB Neville Hewitt

March 28th, 2018 at 4:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent linebacker Neville Hewitt signed a one-year contract with the Jets, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Hewitt met with the Jets on Wednesday and it did not take long for a deal to come together.

Hewitt, 24, spent most of 2017 on the Dolphins’ practice squad, but was promoted for the last six games of the regular season. He played only eleven snaps, but saw 66.5% playtime on special teams.

The Dolphins non-tendered Hewitt in March, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. He projects as a special teams player for the Jets, but their lack of quality options at outside linebacker could net him some time on defense.

As shown on Roster Resource, the Jets currently project to start Josh Martin and Jordan Jenkins at outside linebacker with Avery Williamson and Darron Lee in between. Meanwhile, edge rushers David Bass and Bruce Carter remain in free agency limbo. The Jets are expected to bolster the group in next month’s draft, though not with their No. 3 overall selection.

Extra Points: Bucs, Hargreaves, Seahawks

March 28th, 2018 at 4:13pm CST by Zachary Links

A video of Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves smoking a cigarette containing an unknown substance surfaced on Instagram this week, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times details. Hargreaves, a University of Florida product, has struggled in the first two years of his young career. Last year, the Bucs tried employing Hargreaves as their nickel cornerback before a hamstring injury ended his season after nine games.

The video alone is unlikely to get Hargreaves into trouble with the law or the NFL, but a positive test for a banned substance such as marijuana would violate the league’s substance abuse policy. All in all, it’s simply not a good look for a player who has failed to make good on his first-round status.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • At the owners’ meetings, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link) heard Mark Sanchez‘s name “as a possibility” for the Seahawks. Someone like Sanchez could serve as a veteran backup to Russell Wilson now that Trevone Boykin is out of the picture.
  • The “Josh McDaniels rule” which would have allowed assistant coaches to sign on as head coaches elsewhere during the playoffs did not pass at this week’s owners’ meetings. Surprisingly, Colts GM Chris Ballard was not among those in support of the rule. “When you’re a playoff team, you’re trying to eliminate all the distractions that you can. And we’re going to be a playoff team and we’re going to have these issues,” Ballard said (via Stephen Holder of the Indy Star). “It becomes a slippery slope. We have rules in place for a reason. I think they’re good rules. It gives you a chance to interview and then, after the season, whatever happens, happens. In our case, he changed his mind and we moved on.”
  • New Broncos defender Su’a Cravens has the ability to play both safety and linebacker, but the team views him strictly as a safety, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Broncos acquired Cravens from Washington on Wednesday in a deal that will net the Redskins a fifth-round pick plus upgraded picks in the fourth and fifth round and a conditional sixth-round choice in 2020.

Latest On Giants, Odell Beckham Jr.

March 28th, 2018 at 4:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are seeking at least two first round picks for Odell Beckham Jr., but right now it doesn’t look like any team will meet that price. Other teams around the NFL believe that GM Dave Gettleman might have to settle for “a couple second-round picks, [or] something in that neighborhood,” according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Meanwhile, Pelissero (Twitter link) hears that the Rams rumored interest in OBJ is real. There are a few complications, however, including his contract. Beckham Jr. is under contract for this season for about $8.5MM. He could be kept under control through 2020 (and, theoretically, even 2021) through the franchise tag, but Beckham is insistent on getting a contract extension this offseason. Apparently, Beckham is prepared to sit out this year if he doesn’t get the high-priced long-term deal that he is after.

Even beyond the contract, there are concerns about Beckham’s health and off-field behavior. Acquiring teams are well aware of the potential headaches involved here and the Giants’ potential return may be limited by those issues. Still, considering the remarkable performances the LSU product put up before last year’s ankle injury, there will be a market for him.

OBJ’s name started making the rounds in trade rumors in recent days, but this isn’t the first time it has became a topic for the Giants. The G-Men got their first trade offer for the wide receiver right after the viral pizza video surfaced, Rapoport tweets, and it was a lowball offer that was quickly rejected.

Publicly, the Giants insist that they are not shopping the young phenom.

Seahawks Meet With CB Kenneth Acker

March 28th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are still looking to add to their revamped secondary. On Wednesday, they hosted former Chiefs cornerback Kenneth Acker for a free agent visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Acker, 26, spent the first two years of his career with the Niners before being traded to the Chiefs in 2016. Although he was a starter in ’15 with San Francisco, he has not been a first string player since. Acker appeared in just nine games with KC in 2016 but saw time in each of the Chiefs’ 16 regular season games in 2017, as well as their Wild Card round loss to the Titans.

Last year, Acker recorded 19 total tackles and one interception. His 210 snaps were not enough to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ rankings, but with a larger sample size, he would have ranked 91st in the NFL. Needless to say, Acker would not be in the mix for a starting job in Seattle, but he could offer help off of the bench.

As of this writing, the Seahawks’ top corners are Justin Coleman (who will likely remain with the team following a second-round tender) and Shaquil Griffin. Free agent Byron Maxwell, who quietly had a solid season in seven games with Seattle, remains unsigned.

Lions Host Jets OL Wesley Johnson

March 28th, 2018 at 3:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Jets center/guard Wesley Johnson is on a free agent visit with the Lions, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Johnson, a fifth round pick in 2014, has 24 starts and 41 games in total to his credit. 

All of Johnson’s starts came at center, but his ability to play guard gives him additional value. Last year’s starting center, Travis Swanson, remains in free agent limbo, so that top role could be filled by Johnson.

For what it’s worth, the advanced metrics are not high on the Jets free agent. Last year, Johnson graded out as the second-worst qualified center in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Swanson didn’t fare much better, placing fifth from the bottom.

Browns Trade QB Cody Kessler To Jaguars

March 28th, 2018 at 1:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns have traded quarterback Cody Kessler to the Jaguars, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The Browns have acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick in the deal. 

The Browns have now traded two quarterbacks this offseason after also sending quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Packers. Tyrod Taylor, who was acquired in a March trade with the Bills, profiles as their starter and the recently signed Drew Stanton will take one of the backup spots. The Browns are expected to take a quarterback with the first overall pick, so there was no room left for Kessler.

Cleveland didn’t get much in this trade, but Kessler didn’t have much value given his iffy performance in eight starts in 2016. The Jaguars, meanwhile, believe that Kessler has some potential, so he could be a candidate to take over for Chad Henne as Blake Bortles‘ backup. If Kessler doesn’t impress this summer, the Jaguars could release him without having to forfeit the draft pick to the Browns.

Lions To Sign TE Levine Toilolo

March 28th, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed veteran tight end Levine Toilolo to one-year deal, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Toilolo spent the last five years with Falcons. 

The Lions have reinforced their tight end group after releasing starting tight end Eric Ebron earlier this month and allowing blocking specialist Darren Fells to leave in free agency. Toilolo and fellow free agent addition Luke Willson now lead the way at tight end for Detroit. 2017 draft pick Michael Roberts projects as their top TE in support.

The Lions also met with free agent tight ends Ed Dickson, Brent Celek, and Logan Paulsen this offseason, but Dickson and Paulsen have since signed elsewhere. Celek remains in free agency limbo, but it seems unlikely that Detroit will sign him after adding two other veteran TEs.

Vikings Re-Sign CB/PR Marcus Sherels

March 28th, 2018 at 1:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Marcus Sherels has re-signed with the Vikings on a one-year contract, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. Sherels is expected to return in his role as the Vikings’ primary punt returner with some kick returns as well. The Vikings officially announced the deal on Thursday afternoon. 

Last year, Sherels returned a league-high 39 punts for Minnesota. He averaged 9.5 yards per attempt with a long of 46 coming against the Ravens in an October win.

The Vikings are also considering a reunion with cornerback Terence Newman, but money may be a factor in those talks. Newman will be 40 years old when the 2018 season begins, but he stayed healthy for the entire 16-game slate last year as well as the playoffs.

For now, the Vikings have a cornerback group headlined by Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes with Mackensie Alexander, Jack Tocho, Horace Richardson, and Sherels in support.

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