HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Browns’ Josh Gordon Did Not Fail Drug Test

August 16th, 2018 at 12:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon did not fail a drug test this offseason, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. There were previous rumblings that Gordon did not directly violate the league’s substance abuse policy, but this is the first confirmation that we have heard. 

Because Gordon didn’t fail a test, no suspension is anticipated once he returns. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be in uniform for Week 1. Gordon is still in Florida as he works on his mental and physical health, Cabot writes, so he’ll need the go-ahead from his NFL-sanctioned medical team before getting back to football.

Still, the Browns remain optimistic about Gordon’s future and they plan to stick with him as he works towards a full recovery. The club is keeping in contact with Gordon, but at the same time, they’re considering Dez Bryant as insurance.

Over the course of his up-and-down career, Gordon has appeared in 40 games and recorded 179 receptions for 3,089 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2013, he led the league with 1,646 receiving yards.

Poll: Should The Browns Sign Dez Bryant?

August 16th, 2018 at 12:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns and Dez Bryant are meeting today, but each side has reservations about a potential union. Bryant ducked the Browns’ phone calls for a while and only got in touch with the Browns after GM John Dorsey disclosed that to the public. The Browns, meanwhile, aren’t completely sold on Bryant being a good fit for them. 

The Browns’ internal conflict is understandable as Bryant’s star has faded considerably in recent years. After averaging 91 catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns between 2012 and 2014, his averages plummeted to 50 catches for 678 yards and 6 TDs over the last three years. He also missed ten games due to injury between 2015 and 2016, and some say he wasn’t giving 100% towards the end of his run in Dallas.

Will Bryant be motivated by his release from the Cowboys? It stands to reason that he will, but one can’t help but wonder how Bryant would react to a sharp decrease in targets. Bryant would be in line for plenty of looks if Josh Gordon misses time, but the Browns are hopeful that the troubled star will be ready to go in Week 1. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario in which Bryant is relegated to being the third wide receiver behind Landry and Gordon, and there’s also a group of talented young receivers to consider, including rookie Antonio Callaway.

With reservations and interest on both sides, we want to know what you think. Should the Browns sign Bryant? Click below to cast your vote.

Raiders Place Ahtyba Rubin On IR

August 16th, 2018 at 10:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have placed defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin on injured reserve. Rubin suffered a torn biceps during last week’s joint practice with the Lions, as Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. 

Rubin was set to enter the final year of a three-year, $12MM deal with the Seahawks in 2017. Instead, he was cut in early September. The Broncos signed him later on that month, but he was cut loose after dressing for two games. In October, he hooked on with the Falcons and went on to appear in ten games as a reserve. In June, the Raiders inked him to a one-year deal.

In his first Seahawks season (2015), Rubin amassed 36 tackles, two sacks, and finished fourth among the team’s defensive linemen in snaps. In 2016, he once again had a perfect attendance record in the regular season as he racked up 39 tackles, one sack, and three forced fumbles. However, he wasn’t quite living up to the standards of his deal in Seattle. Then, in his ten games for the Falcons last year, Rubin amassed 15 total tackles and zero sacks.

The Raiders claimed defensive lineman Gabe Wright off waivers from the Dolphins this week, so he’ll now compete for a spot behind Justin Ellis, Eddie Vanderdoes, and others.

Texans Waive QB Stephen Morris

August 16th, 2018 at 8:20am CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have waived quarterback Stephen Morris, according to a team announcement. The move will make room for the signing of Nick Rose. 

Morris, who turns 27 in less than two weeks, became the fourth quarterback on Houston’s roster when he was signed in May. He was hoping to make a case for being the team’s No. 3 QB, but he has lost out to backups Brandon Weeden and Joe Webb for a place behind starter Deshaun Watson.

Initially, it seemed as though Morris had a chance at making the team since Weeden’s one-year deal has just $230K in guaranteed cash while Webb’s only guarantee is his $90K signing bonus. However, it didn’t work out that way.

Morris has been with six different teams – the Jaguars, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, Seahawks, and Texans – since entering the league as a UDFA in 2014. While his jersey collection is extensive, he has yet to throw an NFL pass.

Chiefs Release Robert Golden

August 15th, 2018 at 10:00pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chiefs released safety Robert Golden today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). 

Golden’s agent told Rapoport that the release was at Golden’s request. He also said Golden “didn’t feel like he was getting the opportunity to contribute the way he wanted to.” Golden signed a one-year deal with the team back in April.

Golden came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Steelers back in 2012, and spent the first six years of his career in Pittsburgh. Across 92 games with the Steelers, he racked up 125 tackles, seven passes defended, and two interceptions.

Golden appeared to break the news himself, tweeting earlier that he was “no longer a Kansas City Chief”. Golden’s agent added that “he’s hoping to catch on with another team soon” although it will be difficult for him to make a team this late in camp.

NFC North Notes: Blount, Lions, Rudock

August 15th, 2018 at 9:54pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

When LeGarette Blount starts the 2018 season with the Lions, it will be his third team in as many years. Blount has won the past two Super Bowls, first with the Patriots then with the Eagles. Blount rushed 766 yards and two touchdowns last season in Philadelphia, but wasn’t offered a contract by the team after the season.

When asked if he carried a grudge due to the snub, Blount replied “I’m past that”, according to Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. Blount emphasized that he’s looking forward to playing for the Lions and coach Matt Patricia, saying “fortunately, it worked out for me to wind up here with somebody that I’m familiar with, and like a lot.” Although the move means Blount is unlikely to win a third straight Super Bowl, it doesn’t sound like he’s losing too much sleep over the divorce.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

 

AFC West Notes: Henderson, Broncos, Penn

August 15th, 2018 at 8:31pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Carlos Henderson has had a tough time so far in the NFL. After being taken with the 82nd overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Broncos, Henderson is yet to make his NFL debut. A hand injury cost him his entire rookie season, and he’s been away from the team this training camp for undisclosed reasons.

The team took Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton in the draft this year, making the receivers room very crowded with no clear spot for Henderson. To make matters even worse, Henderson was suspended for the first week of the season for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy reports Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (Twitter link).

It likely stems from his arrest back in January on marijuana charges. Given that Henderson was already being projected by many as a roster cut and still hasn’t reported to the team, at this point it would be surprising if the former third round pick remains in Denver much longer.

Here’s more from the AFC West:

  • The details are in on Donald Penn‘s contract restructuring with the Raiders. His cap number in 2018 has been reduced to $4.975MM (down from $8.38MM0, and he’ll get $2.75MM in extra guaranteed money on his deal for 2019, a source told Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link).
  • The reason for Martavis Bryant‘s absence from the last couple of Raiders practices is migraines, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (Twitter link). Tafur adds that migraines have “plagued him for years.”
  • The Raiders placed veteran defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin on injured reserve with a biceps tear, according to Michael Gehlken of Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). To make up for the loss of Rubin, the team claimed defensive tackle Gabe Wright off waivers today.

Extra Points: Salary Cap, Kaepernick, Texans, Watt, Eagles

August 15th, 2018 at 7:10pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The NFL salary cap is an extremely complex system to navigate. It’s unlike anything else in professional sports and it can cripple a franchise for years if it isn’t wise with its spending. Front offices have whole teams of executives who work to maneuver through cap issues.

It’s notoriously hard to construct a balanced roster while staying under the cap, so Bill Barnwell of ESPN took a stab at creating the perfect NFL roster while staying under the $177MM cap. He wisely went with quarterbacks still on their rookie deals, Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, and had some other relative steals like David Johnson and Alvin Kamara. Overall, it’s a pretty fun read with an interesting set of rules, and definitely worth checking out.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The decision of whether or not to dismiss Colin Kaepernick‘s collusion claim against the NFL is currently being mulled over by an arbitrator, per ProFootballTalk.com. The NFL is hoping to avoid the case going to trial.
  • Texans defensive end J.J. Watt says there is “no doubt” he’ll be ready for Week 1, according to Herbie Teope of NFL.com. His return will be a huge boost to the Texans’ injury plagued defense. Over the last two seasons, Watt has appeared in just eight games.
  • Here’s a recent projection of the Eagles’ 53-man roster including a full breakdown of long-shots, bubble players, and potential trade candidates courtesy of Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com.

Texans To Sign Kicker Nick Rose

August 15th, 2018 at 6:05pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

After working him out earlier today, the Texans are signing kicker Nick Rose a source told Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). 

The Texans’ kicker from last season, Ka’imi Fairbairn, is currently sidelined with a minor injury, Wilson reported earlier today. It’s unclear whether Rose is just being brought in as a short-term placeholder or to potentially take over starting kicking duties.

Rose spent time with both the Redskins and Chargers last year. He was the Redskins’ kicker for eight weeks last season, converting 10 of 11 field goal tries and going 18 for 20 on extra points. After being let go by the Redskins, he was picked up by the Chargers for the final two games of the season. He went one for three on field goals during his brief stay in Los Angeles.

Rose was cut by the Chargers in April, and hasn’t garnered much interest since. He worked out for the Buccaneers last week, but that’s been it. If a team with a kicking situation as dire as the Chargers’ was willing to give up on Rose so easily that’s not a good sign, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him push Fairbairn for the starting job.

 

Charges Dropped For Adam Gotsis

August 15th, 2018 at 5:12pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Prosecutors have dropped rape charges against Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis, as Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets.

Gotsis was arrested back in March on the allegations that date back to 2013, and it was reported back in May the district attorney handling his case was still mulling whether to proceed to trial. Ultimately, it seems there wasn’t enough there to move forward.

“The evidence presented does not warrant any further action in this case” the statement from the district attorney’s office read. Gotsis has been practicing with the team, and the Broncos have apparently believed in his innocence all along. Although the charges have been dropped, he’s still not completely out of the woods. While today’s news “increases the chances he will not” face punishment from the NFL, “he could still face league discipline” writes Troy Renck of Denver 7 (Twitter link).

Assuming he isn’t hit with a suspension, Gotsis should play a big role for Denver in 2018. The 63rd overall pick of the 2016 draft, Gotsis started 13 games for the Broncos last season. He racked up 41 tackles, with two sacks and four pass breakups.

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