HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Jaguars Meet With RB Terrance West

May 16th, 2018 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

Terrance West‘s free agent tour will continue in the AFC South. The former Ravens running back will meet with the Jaguars on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

West met with the Colts on Tuesday and also sat down with the Eagles earlier this month. The running back is likely looking for a shot at playing time on a one-year deal, which would give him the opportunity to potentially do better in free agency next year.

West’s 2017 season was cut short due to a calf injury suffered in October. He didn’t do much in his 39 rushing attempts last year, but he did average a respectable 4.0 yards per carry as the Ravens’ leading ball carrier in 2016.

The Jaguars have Leonard Fournette as their primary running back with T.J. Yeldon and Corey Grant in support, but things are fairly open after that. Three players who entered the league as UDFAs – Brandon Wilds, Tim Cook, and Lamar Atkins – are in the running for the final spots on the RB depth chart. West could help fortify that group with his powerful running style and pass-catching acumen.

Bryant: No Regrets On Turning Down Ravens

May 16th, 2018 at 9:48am CST by Zachary Links

After being released by the Cowboys, wide receiver Dez Bryant turned down a reported three-year deal worth roughly $21MM from the Ravens, choosing instead to wait for a similarly lucrative one-year offer. So far, that offer hasn’t come through, but Bryant claims that he doesn’t regret that decision “one bit” (Twitter link). 

Bryant may not see it this way, but it sure looks like he missed the boat on his best possible deal. While the Ravens were willing to give him an average annual value of $7MM to match free agent acquisition Michael Crabtree, many teams are unwilling to consider him for even the league minimum.

It’s anyone’s guess as to where Bryant will land at this point in the offseason. As recently noted by our own Dallas Robinson, the Cardinals, Packers, Patriots, Redskins, and Seahawks would all make varying degrees of sense for the multiple time Pro Bowler. However, we’ve heard no real news of Bryant being connected to any club since his talks with the Ravens and the Packers are not engaged with him at this time.

Last year, Bryant recorded just 838 yards and six touchdowns off of 69 catches, a far cry from his average of 91 catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2012-14. His dip in production and perceived locker room issues have been serious barriers towards his pursuit of a platform contract, but he says that he will suit up for a team no matter what.

“No, I’m not retiring,” Bryant wrote on Twitter. “For the record, me not being signed to a team yet has a lot to do with my personal decisions. This media [sic] is a joke.”

Panthers Announce Sale To David Tepper

May 16th, 2018 at 9:15am CST by Zachary Links

It’s a done deal. On Wednesday morning, the Panthers officially announced the sale of the team to hedge fund manager David Tepper. Tepper will pay $2.2 billion in cash for the team plus $75MM down the line, pushing the total purchase price to $2.275 billion (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

“Bringing the Panthers and the NFL to the Carolinas in 1993 was enormously fulfilling for Rosalind and me and all of our partners,” club founder Jerry Richardson said in a press release. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support over the last 25 years. You have taken the Panthers into your hearts and made them part of this warm and supportive community. We want to thank all of our past and present players, coaches and staff for their hard work in making the Panthers a great success both on the field and in the community. The personal relationships we have enjoyed have been very meaningful to us. I look forward to turning the stewardship of the Panthers over to David Tepper. I have enjoyed getting to know him in this process and am confident that he will provide the organization with great leadership in both its football and community initiatives.”

Given that he has been a minority owner of the Steelers since 2009, it is expected that the NFL will quickly approve the transaction during the spring league meeting later this mont in Atlanta. The business end of the deal should be finalized by July, per the team’s announcement.

“I am thrilled to have been selected to be the next owner of the Carolina Panthers,” Tepper said. “I have learned a great deal about the community and the team over the past several months and look forward to becoming part of the Carolinas. I want to thank Jerry Richardson and the other Panthers partners for all they have done to establish and develop the NFL in the Carolinas. It has been a remarkable 25-year journey and I promise to build upon the Panthers’ success on the field and in the community.”

Ravens’ Terrell Suggs To Play Beyond ’18

May 16th, 2018 at 8:48am CST by Zachary Links

Jason Witten, one of the standout talents to come from the 2003 NFL Draft, retired this spring in order to jumpstart his career in broadcasting. Around the same time, cornerback Terence Newman announced that his one-year contract with the Vikings will be his last. Meanwhile, Terrell Suggs says retirement can wait. 

“I don’t plan on going nowhere,” Suggs said before adding that he plans to play for multiple seasons in a Ravens uniform.

Suggs will turn 36 in October, but is coming off of a Pro Bowl season in which he recorded eleven sacks, four forced fumbles, and graded out as one of the 20 best edge rushers in the league, per Pro Football Focus. That’s not too shabby for an old guy in the NFL.

“To be totally honest with you, I don’t see my peak in my near future,” Suggs said. “The answer to your question is yes. [Joe Flacco and I] definitely going to be two major, key parts of the leadership on this team. We also have other leaders, but from an offensive and defensive standpoint, absolutely. We take that very seriously. We take pride in that. We’re looking forward to doing some special things this year. I’ve said this before: It’s a trip to get to do it all again. I love playing ball. I love being Sizzle. When the time comes for me to just be a full-time dad, a full-time actor, writer, director, producer, I will do all that. But right now, it’s flock. Go flock, Ravens nation.”

Suggs has one season left on his deal with the Ravens, so the two sides will have to hammer out a new contract in order to see his plan through. He’ll carry a cap number of $6.95MM in 2018 as he rounds out his four-year, $20MM deal.

Free Agent CB Adam Jones Expects To Sign Soon

May 15th, 2018 at 9:47pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent cornerback Adam Jones hasn’t drawn known interest since the Bengals declined his option earlier this year, but the veteran defensive back says he’s now fully healthy and hopes to sign with a new club in the near future.

“I had groin surgery the week after the Super Bowl,” Jones told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter links). “I’m finally 100 percent from that, just got cleared by the doctors. Running full speed. Have been in contact with several teams, I expect it to pick up in the coming weeks.”

Jones, 34, also indicated that a return to Cincinnati was a “definite possibility,” although there are certainly hurdles that could preclude Jones from heading back to the Queen City. The Bengals opted to not pay Jones nearly $6MM (base salary, roster bonus, and workout bonus) for the 2018 campaign, so any new deal would likely need to come in at a cheaper rate. Additionally, Cincinnati is largely set at corner with a starting package of William Jackson III, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Darqueze Dennard, so Jones would be returning in a limited role.

Jones was limited to just nine games with the Bengals a season ago, and didn’t fare particularly well in 299 defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus assigned Jones the worst mark (47.1) of his entire career, although he’d performed relatively better in recent years. Aside from his work on defense, Jones can also be a factor in the kicking game, as he’s posted more than 300 combined kick and punt returns during his NFL tenure.

Seahawks Sign Two Draft Picks

May 15th, 2018 at 8:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have signed fifth-round offensive tackle Jamarco Jones and seventh-round quarterback Alex McGough, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link).

Jones was widely viewed as a third- or fourth-round pick, so the Seahawks scored solid value by picking up the Ohio State product in the fifth. While Seattle’s offensive line has been (rightly) maligned, the club actually appears relatively set up front. Jones could conceivably compete with former first-rounder Germain Ifedi for right tackle duties, but he’s more likely to open the season as a reserve.

McGough, meanwhile, was deemed the “surprise” of rookie minicamp by Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, tweets Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. Seattle recently waived quarterback Stephen Morris, leaving only McGough and veteran Austin Davis behind starter Russell Wilson. If he shows well during training camp, McGough could emerge as Wilson’s backup during his rookie campaign.

With Jones and McGough under contract, Seattle has signed five picks from its nine-man draft class. Selections that remain unsigned include first-round running back Rashaad Penny, third-round defensive end Rasheem Green, fifth-round defensive end Shaquem Griffin, and fifth-round defensive back Tre Flowers.

Latest On Chargers OL Forrest Lamp

May 15th, 2018 at 8:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Forrest Lamp missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn ACL, but the Chargers guard is also recovering from a second knee operation, according to Steve Wyche of NFL.com (Twitter link). While details on the second procedure are slim, it did prevent Lamp from being medically cleared from football activity.

The most recent surgery shouldn’t limit Lamp going forward or place any restrictions on his sophomore campaign, however. Los Angeles had coach Anthony Lynn tells Wyche that Lamp should be medically cleared “soon,” at which point the former second-round pick will likely be installed as a starter. Lamp is expected to line up at right guard opposite fellow 2017 rookie Dan Feeney, who made nine starts a season ago.

Lamp, 24, was widely viewed as a first-round pick coming out of Western Kentucky last year, but he eventually slipped to 38th overall. A versatile athlete capable of playing all over the offensive line, Lamp spent his collegiate career at tackle before shifting to guard in the NFL. In his pre-draft profile of Lamp, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com labelled the 6’4″, 309-pounder an “effective counter-puncher” who “processes quickly when [the] defense runs games up front.”

While the Chargers have expressed optimism regarding Lamp’s health issues, knee injuries are never a cut-and-dry affair. Los Angeles has several options along the interior if Lamp isn’t ready to go for Week 1, including Spencer Pulley, Michael Schofield, and fifth-round rookie Scott Quessenberry.

Reuben Foster’s Ex-Girlfriend To Testify Thursday

May 15th, 2018 at 7:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Reuben Foster‘s ex-girlfriend is prepared to recant her allegations against the 49ers linebacker in court on Thursday, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Elissa Ennis had previously maintained that Foster hit her 10 times and dragged her down stairs, but changed her story in late April, indicating that her injuries were the result of a fight with another woman. Ennis suffered a swollen lip and ruptured eardrum as a result of said fight, and Foster was subsequently charged with three felonies. Foster pleaded not guilty to all charges, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

The Santa Clara Count District Attorney’s office had previously vowed to forge ahead with its original charges, but that course of action would presumably become much more difficult if its victim publicly retracts her claims against Foster. The 49ers, for their part, have been adamant that if the allegations are proven true, Foster will be quickly released.

Per Barrows, Foster could still be in hot water in given that he was in possession of an assault rifle, and prosecutors could choose to go forward with gun charges even if the domestic violence charges are dismissed. However, a judge may also choose to reduce those gun charges from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Lions Sign Rookie S Tracy Walker

May 15th, 2018 at 6:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions announced that they’ve signed third-round safety Tracy Walker, and in doing so have now inked their entire 2018 draft class.

It’s not clear exactly how quickly Walker will see the field in Detroit’s starting lineup, as the Lions already have Glover Quin and Tavon Wilson in place as starters at safety. Quandre Diggs, meanwhile, is capable of playing both nickel corner and safety, further pushing Walker down the depth chart.

Many draft analysts had Walker pegged as a late-round selection, but the Lions weren’t the only club that was targeting the Louisiana product on Day 3. Following the draft, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported the Panthers were prepared to take Walker at pick No. 85 before Detroit scooped him up three slots earlier.

Walker’s four-year rookie pact will be worth roughly $3.3MM and comes with an $847K signing bonus, per Over the Cap. During his rookie campaign, Walker will count for just $691K on the Lions’ salary cap.

Here’s the entire Lions crop of rookies:

New Panthers Owner Unlikely To Alter Football Ops

May 15th, 2018 at 6:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Minority Steelers owner David Tepper was expected to formally purchase the Panthers today, and while he’ll assume control of the franchise in the near future, Tepper isn’t planning to overhaul Carolina’s front office or coaching staff, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

General manager Marty Hurney and head coach Ron Rivera are each under contract through the 2020 campaign, and given that Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported earlier today Tepper wants to bring the “Steeler Way” to Carolina, it’s no surprise he’s unwilling to make major changes upon takeover. Indeed, “continuity, stability, [and] progressive thinking on player contract extensions” are said to be Tepper’s initial goals, so keeping incumbent staff in place seems like an obvious strategy.

Rivera, of course, has enjoyed immense success as the Panthers’ head coach, but Hurney’s status as general manager seemed a bit more tenuous. Hurney, now in his second stint leading Carolina’s front office, only recently had the interim label removed from his title, and it was unclear whether new ownership would seek to retain him.

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