HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Titans, Matthews Agree To Extension

August 21st, 2018 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans and wide receiver Rishard Matthews have agreed to an unusual extension. Matthews now has a team option tacked onto his deal for 2019 with a base value of $7.75MM, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Matthews fired his agent and negotiated the deal himself, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That would explain this arrangement, which is unusual to say the least. It’s not clear what the wide receiver is getting in exchange for giving up his right to enter the free agent market next year, especially since there is no guaranteed money in the deal.

Prior to the extension, Matthews was set to enter the final year of a three-year free agent deal signed in 2016. He’ll make $5MM in the final year of that original contract.

Matthews led all Titans receivers last season with 795 yards off of 53 receptions and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, he has been unable to practice this summer due to an undisclosed injury. If he can get back in time for the opener, he’ll be a part of an intriguing Titans receiving group.

Extra Points: Brissett, Hackenberg, Cowboys, Seahawks, Bears

August 20th, 2018 at 9:50pm CST by Ben Levine

We heard yesterday that the Colts‘ had rejected the Seahawks offer of a second-round pick for quarterback Jacoby Brissett. However, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is saying the front office never talked trade with Seattle. The executive told ESPN’s Booger McFarland that the two sides had never discussed a trade for the 24-year-old (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com).

We learned back in March that the Colts had rejected a pair of trade offers for Brissett, who they acquired from the Patriots last year. Colts owner Jim Irsay recently said that his club wouldn’t trade Brissett for a first-round pick, so it sounds like the organization is content with the quarterback as their potential longterm backup to Andrew Luck. Brissett was solid as a starter last season, compiling 3,098 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for an additional 260 yards and four scores.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFL…

  • After being released by the Raiders and before joining the Eagles, we had heard quarterback Christian Hackenberg had worked out with the Patriots. Well, it sounds like another team expressed interest in the former second-rounder, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that Hackenberg had worked out for the Texans. Houston’s interest in the quarterback could indicate that the team isn’t happy with the current backups to Deshaun Watson, a grouping that includes Brandon Weeden and Joe Webb.
  • The Cowboys added one safety today when they signed Dominick Sanders. However, it sounds like the team is still seeking some reinforcement at the position, as Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets that the team will audition Jeron Johnson tomorrow. The former undrafted free agent out of Boise State has managed to appear in 64 games since entering the league in 2011, but he’s only appeared in four games over the past two years. His best season came in 2015 with the Redskins, when he compiled 27 tackles.
  • While the Cowboys continue to seek safety help, there apparently hasn’t been any progress with the Seahawks in regards to an Earl Thomas trade. Watkins tweets that “nothing new is happening” with Seattle, meaning there may not be an end in sight when it comes to the ongoing Thomas saga. The veteran Pro Bowler has sat out the first part of the preseason, and he’s requested a new contract or a trade.
  • The Bears announced (via Twitter) that cornerback Deiondre’ Hall has been suspended for the first game of the upcoming season for violating the NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. The 2016 fourth-rounder has appeared in 10 games through two seasons with Chicago, collecting nine tackles, three passes defended, and one interception. He was already on the roster bubble for the Bears, and his suspension might improve Doran Grant or Jonathon Mincy‘s chances of making the roster.

Reactions To Adrian Peterson Signing

August 20th, 2018 at 8:37pm CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier today the Redskins were signing running back Adrian Peterson, and the team officially announced the transaction this evening. The future Hall of Famer struggled to gain much interest from NFL teams this offseason, so he’s naturally looking forward to returning to the field.

“I’m excited,” Peterson told Jake Kring-Schreifels of Redskins.com. “It’s been a long offseason but I’ve been keeping my body in shape and [I’m] ready for this opportunity. So when this opportunity presented itself, I was just excited.”

The 33-year-old also acknowledged it was difficult waiting around for a team to sign him, as the veteran had failed to generate any reported interest after being released by the Cardinals.

“I would be lying to you if I said [the offseason] wasn’t tough, because you’re human,” Peterson said. “I’ve seen guys come through that door and guys go through this process. I had a great appreciation for it. But me knowing what I had left in the tank, that was the only thing bothering me. But I knew in due time the opportunity would present itself.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes following Peterson’s signing…

  • ESPN.com’s John Keim writes that rookie Derrius Guice‘s injury wasn’t what led to Peterson’s signing. Rather, it was recent injuries to Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall that necessitated the move. Head coach Jay Gruden had previously stated that he wasn’t searching for a starting running back following Guice’s season-ending injury, and Keim believes the Peterson signing was simply the team’s attempt to be “proactive and aggressive when it comes to replacing injured players.” Of course, on the flip side, Keim also opines that the team wouldn’t have signed a player of Peterson’s caliber if they weren’t going to give him a crack at the starting gig.
  • Peterson is best when running in a gap scheme, allowing him to draw lineman to the middle before running to the outside. However, Mark Bullock of the Washinton Post opines that Peterson won’t be as successful when operating in the Redskins’ scheme, which relies on inside and outside zone running plays. Quarterback Alex Smith is also expected to function out of the shotgun formation, and Peterson hasn’t been as successful with these plays. Factor in Peterson’s lack of production in the passing game, and Bullock believes the running back may not be the best fit for Washington.
  • Even with Peterson joining the Redskins, Rob Kelley is expected to sit atop the running depth chart, writes Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. Gruden has only indicated that third-down back Chris Thompson will have a definitive role, meaning Kelley, Peterson, or any of the other healthy backs could end up playing a major role in the running game. For what it’s worth, Kelley is ready for the competition. “There’s competition whether you think it or not,” Kelley said. “I just make sure I go out there and I make a few plays that the catch the coaches’ eyes and stuff like that and put myself in a great position.”

Ravens CB Jimmy Smith Facing Suspension

August 20th, 2018 at 7:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens are preparing for cornerback Jimmy Smith to receive a multi-game suspension for violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, sources tell Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The 30-year-old is appealing the punishment, and after leaving the team this weekend, he isn’t expected to play during Monday’s game against the Colts. The organization had known about the impending suspension for some time, and Smith was set to meet with league officials today.

Specifics of Smith’s violation aren’t clear, but Zrebiec reports that the league had been monitoring a child custody case between the player and his first child’s mother. Last year, the woman had accused Smith of domestic violence and drug use, allegations that the cornerback denied.

The seven-year veteran has missed plenty of time since entering the league, and his 2017 campaign ended with a torn Achilles’ tendon. The NFL suspended Smith soon after for performance-enhancing drugs. The cornerback was banned for four games, but he was allowed to serve the suspension while he recovered from his injury. The cornerback ultimately finished the campaign having compiled 28 tackles, nine passes defended, and three interceptions.

The Ravens had worked out cornerback Bashaud Breeland back in July, and they could reconsider signing the free agent if Smith is indeed suspended. The Ravens could also roll with their current crop of cornerbacks, a grouping that includes Brandon Carr, former first-rounder Marlon Humphrey, and rookie fourth-rounder Anthony Averett.

AJ McCarron Didn’t Fracture Collarbone

August 20th, 2018 at 6:15pm CST by Ben Levine

AJ McCarron‘s injury was not as serious as originally thought. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Bills quarterback did not suffer a fracture in his collarbone, as was reported following the team’s preseason game on Friday. While McCarron was expected to miss “several weeks,” NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the quarterback is now day-to-day. McCarron is expected to return to practice once his shoulder pain subsides.

This is surely welcome news to the Bills, who inked the quarterback to a two-year, $8.1MM deal this offseason. However, the team has already decided to roll with first-rounder Josh Allen as their starter for this weekend’s game against the Bengals (Twitter link). The rookie quarterback has the most passing attempts through Buffalo’s first two games, completing 18 of his 32 passes for 176 yards and two scores. For comparison’s sake, McCarron has completed 10-of-16 for 128 yards and no touchdowns, while Nathan Peterman has gone 17-of-20 for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

McCarron’s only relevant NFL work came as a replacement to an injured Andy Dalton during the 2015 campaign. The former Alabama star had been in the rumor mill through much of his tenure in Cincinnati, including a reported trade to the Browns that ultimately fell through. In 11 career games (three starts), the 27-year-old has completed 64.7-percent of his passes for 920 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also started the Bengals’ 2015 playoff loss to the Steelers, throwing a touchdown and a pick.

Cowboys Sign DT Caraun Reid

August 20th, 2018 at 5:15pm CST by Ben Levine

It didn’t take long for Caraun Reid to find a new job. Jon Machota of the Dallas News reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys will be signing the defensive tackle. Dallas is expected to waive/injured Richard Ash in order to open a roster spot. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that the Cowboys will also be signing safety Dominick Sanders, and the team is expected to place Jameill Showers on the IR.

The 26-year-old Reid had been battling a hamstring issue throughout training camp, but reports indicate that he’s now healthy. With the Colts rostering plenty of depth at the position, the organization decided to release Reid over the weekend so he could quickly find his next gig. The 2014 fifth-round pick out of Princeton contributed during his first two years in the league, including a 2015 campaign with the Lions where he compiled 29 tackles and two sacks in 14 games (12 starts). After playing in seven games with the Chargers in 2016, Reid tore his ACL, and he’s proceeded to play in only one game since that time.

In Dallas, Reid will be replacing Ash, who compiled 15 tackles in 10 games (two starts) for the Cowboys last season. The 26-year-old had suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s preseason game. Reid will presumably slide into the open spot on the depth chart, and he’ll compete with Jihad Ward, Datone Jones, and Lewis Neal to be the primary backup behind Brian Price and Maliek Collins.

Sanders worked out for the Cowboys last week. The Georgia product set a school-record with 16 interceptions, and he briefly caught on with the Eagles after going undrafted in this year’s draft. He’ll be replacing Showers, who tore his ACL this past weekend.

FA QB Trevone Boykin Suspended One Game

August 20th, 2018 at 4:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Trevone Boykin‘s chances of joining an NFL team took a hit today. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the NFL has suspended the quarterback for one game. Boykin had tweeted the news yesterday.

Of course, considering the 24-year-old’s tumultuous offseason, it’s unlikely a team’s going to want to add the quarterback to their roster. The Seahawks released Boykin back in March following accusations of domestic abuse from his girlfriend. While the quarterback denied the allegations, he was subsequently arrested on charges of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury.

Shabrika Bailey claims Boykin caused her to suffer a broken jaw and a constricted airway, leading to a lengthy hospital stay. She also says that this was not a one-time event. During the investigation, detectives found that cameras from inside the residence may have captured the assault. After obtaining a search warrant to view the footage, Boykin was arrested.

Of course, off-field conduct aside, Boykin hadn’t done a whole lot to prove he deserves a spot on an NFL roster. The quarterback had standout junior and senior seasons at TCU, but he still went undrafted during the 2016 draft. He ended up catching on with the Seahawks, where he appeared in five games as a rookie. That season, Boykin completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts for 145 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He didn’t make a single appearance during the 2017 campaign.

Seahawks Release K Jason Myers

August 20th, 2018 at 3:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks released kicker Jason Myers, according to a team announcement. The move signals that Sebastian Janikowski has won the club’s kicking competition.

Myers was with the Jaguars from 2015 through the first six games of the 2017 season. He was released after missing three pivotal field goals, though they were all from 52 yards or longer. All in all, he connected on 64-of-79 field goal attempts (81%) and 76-of-88 extra points (86.4%) in 38 games with the Jags.

Myers inked a futures deal with the Seahawks in January and was pushing to take over for Blair Walsh‘s post. Months later, the Seahawks inked Sebastian Janikowski to a one-year deal, putting the 40-year-old in the catbird seat.

In related moves, the Seahawks signed cornerback Elijah Battle and wide receiver Marvin Bracy to the 90-man roster.

Rams Activate Dominique Easley

August 20th, 2018 at 3:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive tackle Dominique Easley passed his physical and has been removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, the Rams announced on Monday. It’s a tremendous development for Easley, who has suffered three torn ACLs since 2011 and has not seen the field since the 2016 season. 

When healthy, Easley has been extremely effective. He earned positive marks from Pro Football Focus in both 2015 and 2016, and was expected to see an uptick in playing time last year. In 2016, his last NFL season, he played in all 16 games and recorded 24 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Easley figures to serve as one of the first defensive linemen off of the bench behind starters Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, and Aaron Donald. Between those three, Easley, and Ethan Westbrooks, the Rams may boast the league’s most fearsome group at defensive line.

Had Easley remained on the PUP list to start the season, he would have been barred from playing in the first six games of the regular season.

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