2018 August - Pro Football Rumors

Buccaneers Audition Three Kickers

August 10th, 2018 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers brought Nick Rose in for a workout, but he’s not the only kicker on their radar. The Bucs are also auditioning Joey Slye and Drew Brown on Friday, according to Greg Auman and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter links).

The good news for Chandler Catanzaro is that the workouts are not tied to his two missed field goals on Thursday night, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. The Bucs actually scheduled the workouts earlier this week, after the team waived No. 2 kicker Trevor Moore. In theory, one kicker from this trio may have a shot at the job, but it sounds like they would be brought in as camp competition more than anything.

Slye, a Virginia Tech product, was invited to join the Bucs for their rookie minicamp this year, but opted to go to attend other minicamps instead. Brown, who played at Nebraska, is the younger brother of former NFL kicker Kris Brown, who had a 12-year career with the Steelers, Texans and Chargers.

Catanzaro’s three-year deal includes $3.75MM in guarantees, so it would take a heck of a performance from another kicker plus a serious cold streak from Catanzaro for the Bucs to make a change.

Bucs To Work Out Nick Rose

August 10th, 2018 at 11:19am CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers will work out kicker Nick Rose on Friday, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Rose could be competition for Chandler Catanzaro, who had an iffy night on Thursday.

In the Bucs’ preseason opener against the Dolphins, Catanzaro missed an extra point attempt and a 53-yard field goal try. That may have been cause for concern for the Bucs after they signed him to a three-year, $9.75MM deal this offseason.

Rose sank 10-of-11 field goals and 18-of-20 extra points in eight games for the Redskins last year before he was dropped for the returning Dustin Hopkins. Later, Rose hooked on with the Chargers, where he went 1-for-3 on field goal tries and made 5-of-6 extra points in two games. In total, Rose made 78.6% of his field goal attempts. Catanzaro, meanwhile, converted 25-of-30 field goal tries (83.3%) and converted on all of his XPs for the Jets.

The decision to try out Rose after one so-so preseason game from Catanzaro may seem like an overreaction, but the Bucs are paying special attention to the place kicker position because of their history. Over the last two years, Roberto Aguayo, Nick Folk, and Patrick Murray all struggled to hold down the role. Football Outsiders ranked the Bucs 30th in the NFL last year with -13.2 points created on field goals and extra points.

Browns To Meet With Dez Bryant

August 10th, 2018 at 11:01am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are expecting a visit from free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant during the middle of next week, likely Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport notes that Bryant has been waiting for the right fit, so Bryant’s sense of how well he meshes with the personnel in Cleveland could be as important as whatever contract offer they make.

On Thursday, GM John Dorsey told reporters that Bryant would not return his phone calls. The unorthodox decision to make that news public appears to have paid off. On Thursday night, Bryant tweeted that he would in fact be meeting with the Browns.

Bryant’s willingness to play for Cleveland had been in doubt, but it sounds like he’s at least open to the possibility. And, without a clear group of suitors here in August, Bryant may not have a ton of options left. That’s not to say that landing with the Browns would be a bad outcome for Bryant – this year’s Browns are clearly a more talented bunch than last year’s, and he will have extra opportunities to shine if star Josh Gordon misses regular season games. Even if Gordon is good to go, there should be plenty of deep ball opportunities for him, and he can take advantage of softer coverage as teams focus Gordon and slot star Jarvis Landry.

Titans To Sign S Steven Terrell

August 10th, 2018 at 10:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans are adding another safety. On Friday, the Titans agreed to sign Stephen Terrell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Terrell was one of several safeties to audition for the Titans late last week. He now joins the club following the signing of Kenny Vaccaro. Vaccaro will likely start in place of the injured Johnathan Cyprien, but Terrell may find a role as a backup.

Terrell spent the first three seasons of his career with the Seahawks and enjoyed a bit of a breakout season in 2016. After having appeared in 16 games between 2014 and 2015, the safety appeared in 16 games (five starts) in 2016, finishing with a career-high in tackles (27). Last year, he hooked on with the Chiefs and appeared in ten contests.

Latest On Raiders’ Khalil Mack

August 10th, 2018 at 8:09am CST by Zachary Links

There’s no end in sight for Khalil Mack‘s holdout. The defensive end won’t report to camp in advance of the Raiders’ preseason game on Friday night, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). By staying away, Mack will be fined $814K, per the terms of the CBA.

While fellow elite defender Aaron Donald has been in active negotiations with the Rams, the Raiders yet to present Mack with an offer. As important as Mack is to the Raiders’ front seven, the team has not given any indication that a new deal is on the horizon.

The Raiders are taking a hardline stance with Mack, but the motivation for that isn’t exactly clear. Perhaps Jon Gruden, who is taking an old-school approach to the on-field product, has similar views when it comes to the business side. Their reluctance to give Mack an extension has also opened up speculation about the team’s finances and their ability to give the three-time Pro Bowler the heavily-guaranteed deal he deserves.

The Raiders, in theory, can control Mack via the franchise tag in 2019 and again in 2020, but it’s a costly proposition that would put them at odds with the defensive end. The club’s preference is to negotiate after the 2018 season, but that’s not what Mack wants, and he may be willing to miss regular season games to express his dissatisfaction.

Extra Points: Pats, Browns, Bucs, Vikings

August 9th, 2018 at 9:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Patriots edge rusher Harvey Langi is expected to miss at least four weeks after suffering an internal laceration caused by a hit during practice, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (Twitter link). While the issue certainly seems serious, a source tells Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) that the injury is relatively minor, and Langi is simply being sidelined for “precautionary reasons.” This isn’t the first time Langi has been hurt by a freak injury, as he and his wife were involved in a serious car crash last October that ultimately landed him on the non-football injury list. An undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2017, Langi was a hot commodity as a UDFA and was reportedly impressing in camp. While this latest health issue may not affect him for the long-term, Langi will lose valuable reps as the preseason continues.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

After being cited for marijuana possession over the weekend, Browns receiver Antonio Callaway intends to fight the charge by arguing the drugs weren’t his, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Cleveland management wasn’t made aware of Callaway’s arrest until media reports surfaced, and the club made it clear to Callaway that his actions were unacceptable, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. However, general manager John Dorsey believes Callaway did not actually smoke marijuana on the night he was cited, and indicated the Browns have a “low tolerance” policy — in contrast to a “zero tolerance” approach — for minor transgressions. Callaway, a fourth-round rookie out of Florida, is already impressing in his first NFL action tonight as Cleveland faces the Giants.
The Buccaneers view second-year wideout Chris Godwin as a starter, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Head coach Dirk Koetter says Tampa Bay essentially has four starting receivers, pointing to Godwin, Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and Adam Humphries as players deserving of playing time. How exactly snaps will shake out once the regular season gets underway is unclear, but Jackson or Humphries, the latter of whom is a slot-only weapon, could be demoted to create space for Godwin. While playing roughly 40% of the the Buccaneers’ snaps in 2017, Godwin managed 34 catches and 525 yards.
While Godwin looks to be in line for an expanded role, the same can’t be said for Vikings free agent acquisition Kendall Wright. Because Wright, who signed a one-year deal with Minnesota after spending the 2017 season in Chicago, doesn’t play special teams, he’s shaping up as a weekly inactive, tweets Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Wright, 28, posted 58 receptions in a poor Bears passing offense a year ago, and had been expected to see time as the Vikings’ slot receiver. Instead, other options such as Laquon Treadwell, Tavarres King, or Brandon Zylstra may see more action.

AFC Notes: Dolphins, Carroo, Ravens, Pats

August 9th, 2018 at 8:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins‘ interest in adding cornerback help led them to consider supplemental prospect Sam Beal, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. However, Miami didn’t hold Beal in as high regard as did the Giants, who sacrificed a third-round pick in order to land the Western Michigan product. Beal, of course, suffered a season-ending injury upon landing in New York, but he could have provided depth to a Dolphins defensive back depth chart currently led by Xavien Howard, Cordrea Tankersley, and Bobby McCain. Given that Miami is still searching for cornerback reinforcements, Jackson speculates the club could be interested in a trade in the coming weeks, but notes the Dolphins are loathe to sacrifice high draft picks.

Here’s more from the AFC:

More from Jackson, who adds that former third-round pick Leonte Carroo is not a lock to make the Dolphins‘ roster, especially given the team’s other options at wide receiver. Miami gave up a haul of draft picks for the right to select Carroo in the 2016, but he’s managed only 10 receptions and 98 yards over two seasons. The Dolphins now have the option to deploy DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola, and Albert Wilson, so Carroo — who Jackson notes hasn’t always been in the best shape and has trouble separating from opposing corners — could be a roster casualty. For what it’s worth, Caroo was also considered to be on the Dolphins’ roster bubble in 2017.
While the Ravens‘ recent meeting with free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland “went well,” the ex-Redskins defensive back is apparently looking for a larger contract than Baltimore is comfortable with, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Breeland, whose three-year, $24MM deal with the Panthers was voided this spring after he failed a physical, has drawn the interest of the Patriots, Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Browns, and Colts. Clearly, something is preventing clubs from pulling the lever on Breeland, and financial demands or health concerns are both viable options. Baltimore, notably, seemingly has plenty of corner depth with Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Tavon Young, Anthony Averett, and others in tow.
After being waived earlier this week, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell is an unlikely candidate to return to the Patriots, according to Doug Kyed of NESN. Mitchell, a third-round pick in the 2016 draft, has struggled with injuries for much of the past two seasons, and Kyed indicates New England was simply tired of waiting for Mitchell to get healthy. The 25-year-old Mitchell passed through waivers unclaimed after being cut, so it’s clear the rest of the NFL is weary of Mitchell’s health issues, as well.

Dez Bryant Says He’ll Visit Browns

August 9th, 2018 at 7:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Browns general manager John Dorsey said earlier today that he can’t reach Dez Bryant in order to set up a visit, but the veteran wideout is now indicating he will in fact meet with Cleveland. “Starting my visits next week…I’m coming to the Land to see you Mr Dorsey,” Bryant tweeted on Thursday night.

While the Browns have been intrigued by Bryant for some time, Bryant’s willingness to play for Cleveland had been in doubt. Bryant simply tweeting that he’ll meet with the Browns next week certainly doesn’t make the prospective visit official, but if he’s willing to sit down with Dorsey & Co., there’s no real reason why a meeting wouldn’t occur.

Cleveland is in need of help at the wide receiver position: not only is the club waiting for Josh Gordon to return to practice (he’s currently dealing with off-field issues), but it just traded presumptive starter Corey Coleman to the Bills on Sunday. At this point, the Browns are planning to start Jarvis Landry and rookie wideout Antonio Callaway in two-wide sets.

Bryant, 29, certainly comes with risk, as he hasn’t topped 1,000 yards receiving since 2014, while his 12.1 yards per reception in 2017 was the lowest average of his career. But he can still post up opposing defensive backs near the end zone, and would be a tantalizing option for most quarterbacks. Recently, Bryant has expressed interest in signing with the 49ers, while Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report indicated that league insiders’ “best guess” is that Bryant will land with San Francisco.

Raiders Could Trade LT Donald Penn

August 9th, 2018 at 7:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders are reportedly asking left tackle Donald Penn to accept a pay cut in advance of the 2018 season, and it’s possible Oakland could trade the veteran offensive lineman if he declines the request, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link).

That the Raiders would be open to dealing Penn shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as the club is likely attempting to generate trade interest in lieu of a release. If Penn refuses to lower his 2018 base salary, Oakland will consider cutting him, but a trade would be preferential on two fronts.

First, the Raiders would pick up some sort of compensation in exchange for Penn, something they wouldn’t do in the event of a release. And an acquiring club would take on Penn’s 2018 base salary (which includes $3MM in full guarantees), freeing up more cap space for Oakland.

Penn, 35, is scheduled to earn a $6MM salary in 2018, and is also eligible to collect up to $1.75MM in per-game roster bonuses. Those figures are the result of Penn’s 2017 training camp holdout, which ended when he agreed to a two-year, $21MM extension that runs through the 2019 campaign.

Last year, Penn started 14 games for the Raiders, grading as the NFL’s No. 12 offensive tackle per Pro Football Focus before being placed on injured reserve with a foot issue. 2017, notably, marked the first season of Penn’s career in which he failed to appear in all 16 games. If Penn is traded or released, Oakland would deploy rookie first-round pick Kolton Miller on Derek Carr‘s blindside.

Carson Wentz Unlikely To Play In Preseason

August 9th, 2018 at 6:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The general feeling in Philadelphia is that Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz will not appear in any preseason games as he recovers from a torn ACL, according to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia and Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. However, Wentz is still expected to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.

“I don’t think it’s a big hurdle for me,” Wentz said of not playing in any exhibition contests. “Would I love to be out there on Thursday? Absolutely. I’d love to be out there every day. But I think for me personally, I think I’ll be fine if I don’t get out there for preseason.”

Wentz has been a limited participant in Eagles’ training camp, per Berman, as he’s performed in seven-on-seven drills but hasn’t practiced in full-team workouts. That regimen will continue until Wentz is given a full medical clearance, something that should be on the horizon. Until then, Philadelphia won’t place Wentz in any situation where could collide with other players.

“It can be a rhythm game, you kind of get in a groove and everything,” Wentz said. “But that’s kind of the challenge I have right now. It’s kind of like being on the sideline for a long period time in a game, a long drive from the other team or something like that. Sometimes it just helps to find the rhythm, and right now I’ve got to get the most of it.”

Missing the majority or the entirety of the preseason shouldn’t be much of a problem for Wentz, as he likely would have sparingly played even if he’d been at full health. The Eagles could use exhibition season to get extra repetitions for fellow quarterbacks Nick Foles (who could be called on in the event Wentz misses regular season action) and Nate Sudfeld.