HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Raiders’ Daryl Worley Facing 4-Game Ban

August 31st, 2018 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the Raiders’ many offseason acquisitions at cornerback doesn’t stand to be available in September.

Daryl Worley is facing a four-game suspension stemming from his offseason arrest, ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson reports (on Twitter). He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, resisting arrest and carrying firearms in public. He’s been on three teams this offseason.

Worley’s suspension may explain why the Raiders, who obviously have not been shy about diving into free agency this year, added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie earlier this month. Worley and DRC join Shareece Wright, Leon Hall and Rashaan Melvin as corners Oakland added in free agency. Not all are a lock to make the 53-man roster, and Worley’s status may not be secure, but the Raiders’ corner corps will look vastly different this season.

A 2016 Panthers third-round pick, Worley was sent to the Eagles in exchange for Torrey Smith but waived after the arrest in April. He started 25 games with Carolina during his two seasons there.

Saints To Place Shane Vereen On IR

August 31st, 2018 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both of the veteran running backs the Saints added to potentially fill the void created by Mark Ingram‘s four-game suspension will not factor into the equation while he’s out.

The Saints will place Shane Vereen on IR, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. Vereen and Terrance West signed with New Orleans earlier this offseason but will see the team go with younger backs while Ingram’s sidelined.

It’s unclear what Vereen’s injury is, but he won’t be playing for the Saints this season. An injury settlement is possible, but did not receive much interest on the market this year after his Giants contract expired. The Saints were the only team to whom the former Patriots and Giants passing-down back was connected this year.

Vereen, 29, totaled a career-best 1,076 yards from scrimmage for the 2015 Giants but did not factor in nearly as often to Big Blue’s offense in his subsequent two seasons in New York. Behind Alvin Kamara, the Saints have Trey Edmunds, former Bills draft choice Jonathan Williams and rookie sixth-rounder Boston Scott as of Friday afternoon.

Saints Cut WR Michael Floyd, Others

August 31st, 2018 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michael Floyd and Brandon Tate both signed with the Saints late in the offseason. Each received notice of a Friday release.

The Saints cut Floyd, along with offensive linemen Don Barclay and Andrew Tiller and former second-round linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha (all Twitter links via Nick Underhill of The Advocate). They are also parting ways with edge defender Jayrone Elliott, per Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com (on Twitter).

Floyd has not been able to recapture his Cardinals form. After three straight 800-plus-yard receiving seasons, he’s combined for barely 100 away from Arizona. He caught 10 passes for 78 yards with the 2017 Vikings.

Tiller started 14 games for the 49ers from 2016-17, and Barclay joined him in signing with the Saints this offseason. Both players came into the league in 2012, Barclay being a former Packers starter.

The longest-tenured Saints linebacker going into Friday, Kikaha came off the 2015 draft board at No. 44 but saw the team revamp its linebacker room via free agency over the past few years. They signed Demario Davis this offseason. The Saints, who deployed Kikaha as an 11-game starter in 2015, have now parted ways with two of their top three 2015 picks — Stephone Anthony and Kikaha. New Orleans picked up 2015 first-rounder Andrus Peat‘s fifth-year option earlier this year.

 

49ers To Release WR Aldrick Robinson

August 31st, 2018 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

A player who’s been with Kyle Shanahan in three cities will not be making the 49ers’ 53-man roster.

The 49ers will release Aldrick Robinson on Friday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports (on Twitter). Robinson played for Shanahan in Washington and Atlanta before trekking to San Francisco last year.

Two rookie wideouts headed to San Francisco after 2018 draft picks, with the arrivals of second-rounder Dante Pettis and seventh-rounder Richie James potentially having an impact on the 29-year-old Robinson’s roster status. The 49ers didn’t add any veteran UFAs this year but return their top three in Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor.

Robinson caught 19 passes for 260 yards last season. He’s served mostly as a backup in his seven-year career, which began as a 2011 Redskins sixth-round selection.

Colts To Cut DB T.J. Green

August 31st, 2018 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

A former second-round pick who’s made 11 starts in his two NFL seasons, T.J. Green posted on social media the Colts are cutting him.

Chuck Pagano pushed hard for Ryan Grigson to draft Green in 2016, per Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). Green suffered a hamstring injury and will be waived with an injury designation, per Stephen Holder of The Athletic (via Twitter), adding an injury settlement may be in the cards if Green goes unclaimed on waivers.

Behind Malik Hooker and Matthias Farley, Indianapolis employs Clayton Geathers, former trade acquisition Ronald Martin and 2018 free agent addition Robinson Therezie. Green started seven games last season and made 42 tackles.

AFC Notes: Browns, Landry, Peterman

August 31st, 2018 at 3:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

On the eve of roster cutdown day, here’s the latest out of the AFC:

  • The Browns have turned to multiple players this offseason in search of Joe Thomas‘ replacement, but after moving well-regarded left guard Joel Bitonio to left tackle, it doesn’t appear the team is ready to slot him there in Week 1. Hue Jackson said Bitonio might be moving back to guard and has declined to say who will be his left tackle starter against the Steelers, per Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland (on Twitter). Austin Corbett‘s left guard job is also not certain, per Jackson (via Jeff Schudel of the Lorain Morning Journal, on Twitter). Rookie UDFA Desmond Harrison may be the latest name to get a crack at left tackle, which would be an interesting move for a team with Shon Coleman and Greg Robinson still on the roster.
  • It appears the Titans may be without two of their top edge rushers when they suit up for Week 1. With Derrick Morgan already expected to be out because of meniscus surgery, Harold Landry suffered a sprained ankle — a second opinion revealing that this could be a high ankle sprain, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter) — is uncertain for Tennessee’s opener. No joint damage occurred, but the Titans may opt to play it safe with their second-rounder.
  • Working as both a camp kicker and punter with the Ravens, rookie UDFA Kaare Vedvik has drawn attention around the league this month. Teams are monitoring this situation, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), since Vedvik will not be beating out Justin Tucker or Sam Koch.
  • Nathan Peterman has a real shot to be the Bills‘ Week 1 starter, despite having made one of the worst starts in modern NFL history last season. Signs are pointing to Peterman to begin the year as the Bills’ starter, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic writes. The 2017 fifth-round pick completed 80 percent of his preseason passes and watched the Bills deploy A.J. McCarron instead of him in Thursday night’s preseason finale, a game usually reserved for backups or players set to be cut. McCarron signed for two years and $8MM this offseason. Josh Allen is obviously the long-term option, but while he learns, Peterman may be the Bills’ guy.

Saints To Release WR Brandon Tate

August 31st, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon Tate‘s bid for a 10th NFL season may have to commence elsewhere after the Saints made the decision to release him Friday, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com tweets.

The former Patriots third-round pick established a niche for himself as a backup and special-teamer with the Bengals and Bills over the past several seasons, but the Saints did not view the 30-year-old performer as vital enough to retain — at least not at the moment.

Tate signed with the Saints late in the offseason, joining Michael Floyd in that regard. The Saints drafted Tre’Quan Smith in the third round and added Cameron Meredith and Tanner McEvoy, making room in their receiver room scarce. They cut ties with Brandon Coleman earlier this offseason as well.

Serving primarily as a return specialist, Tate’s logged 126 NFL games. He served as Buffalo’s primary kick- and punt-return specialist for the past two seasons.

Cowboys To Cut Kony Ealy

August 31st, 2018 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kony Ealy‘s stay in Dallas did not last long. Added earlier this offseason, the former Panthers second-round pick will not make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster after the team made the decision to cut him Friday, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).

A 2014 second-round pick, Ealy is a vested veteran and will not have to pass through waivers. He’s a free agent after failing to make the Cowboys.

This marks the second straight cut-weekend transaction for the once-highly regarded defensive lineman. The Patriots waived him last year, leading to a Jets claim and 15 games of regular-season action for Gang Green. With the Cowboys, however, he was on the bubble. Dallas tried him at defensive tackle as well but will cut the experiment short.

The Cowboys, who have Randy Gregory back in the fold, are a bit deeper on their defensive line than in the recent past. Former second-rounder Jihad Ward is also on their roster bubble.

Browns Release Jeff Janis

August 31st, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns did not deem former Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis as worthy of their 53-man roster. They released the fifth-year veteran on Friday, along with a host of other moves.

Janis was in the mix for one of Cleveland’s backup jobs but couldn’t impress enough to beat out some younger competitors. Known best for his heroics in a Packers-Cardinals divisional-round game, Janis will avoid outright waivers due to his vested-veteran status. The other players the Browns are parting with Friday will head to waivers.

Here’s the full list:

The Browns also waived three players with injury designations.

Cardinals To Place LB Arthur Moats On IR

August 31st, 2018 at 1:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Arthur Moats will not be seeing any action for the Cardinals this season. The veteran linebacker will head to IR, according to Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).

Moats suffered a knee injury in Arizona’s third preseason game last weekend. Steve Wilks said this week the recently added linebacker suffered a sprained MCL, which is not an injury that usually requires an IR stay. Moats could conceivably join another team and see action this season, if he and the Cardinals are able to reach an injury settlement that would lead to his release from IR.

By virtue of being placed on IR now, Moats would not be able to return this season. Only players who are carried through to 53-man rosters this weekend can return from IR during the season.

The Cards signed the 30-year-old defender in July after a four-season run with the Steelers. He’s started 45 games in an eight-year career thus far. Arizona also signed outside linebacker Gerald Hodges this offseason and has 2017 first-rounder Haason Reddick as well. Ex-Broncos UDFA Vontarrius Dora has also had a strong preseason and may have made enough of a case to stick around after this weekend.

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