HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Cowboys’ Rico Gathers Arrested

September 1st, 2018 at 11:57am CST by Ben Levine

Rico Gathers hasn’t helped his case to make the Cowboys roster. The tight end was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana last night, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Police say they found Gathers in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. The 24-year-old was released from jail this morning after posting bond. Marijuana possession is a violation in Texas (where Gathers was arrested), and he could be subject to the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Despite not having played football since the eighth grade, the Cowboys selected the 6-foot-8 Gathers in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. The Baylor basketball player has the athleticism to play football, but he hasn’t been able to put it together during his tenure in Dallas. The tight end has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game.

Gathers was already going to have a tough time making the Cowboys roster. He hauled in 10 passes during the preseason, but he was still listed behind behind Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin and rookie Dalton Schultz on the depth chart.

Broncos To Release Clinton McDonald

September 1st, 2018 at 11:55am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being one of the Broncos’ first free agent additions this offseason, Clinton McDonald will not be part of the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

They’ve released the former Seahawks and Buccaneers defensive lineman, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets.

McDonald signed a two-year, $7MM deal with Denver but restructured it because of an injury he was recovering from at the time. By converting $3MM in salary into per-game bonuses, McDonald did not receive any guaranteed money. It won’t cost the Broncos anything in dead money to part with the veteran defender.

Denver has slowly built some depth on its defensive line, with players like Shelby Harris and Zach Kerr in line to see time as second-stringers ahead of McDonald. The 31-year-old interior defender started for the 2014 NFC champion Seahawks and 2016 Buccaneers but otherwise has mostly functioned as an NFL reserve.

The Raiders, who have signed an NFL-high number of players in their 30s this offseason, were previously interested in McDonald, Mike Klis of 9News notes (on Twitter).

Vikings’ Pat Elflein To Miss Week 1

September 1st, 2018 at 11:49am CST by Sam Robinson

Shelved on the Vikings’ PUP list throughout training camp and during the preseason slate, Pat Elflein will make his way back to practice on Sunday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

However, Minnesota will not have its starting center back in Week 1. He’s spent the offseason recovering from shoulder and ankle injuries and will not be ready by the time the Vikings play the 49ers next week, Tomasson adds.

Although the Vikings traded for former Giants starter Brett Jones, Tomasson points to Cornelius Edison being Minnesota’s Week 1 center. The Vikes are already without guard starter Nick Easton, who is out for the season.

It’s unknown if Elflein will be back for Week 2, but his return to practice suggests that will be in play.

Panthers Reduce Roster To 53

September 1st, 2018 at 11:45am CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers have finalized their team, trimming their roster to 53 players. The team’s moves are below:

Waived:

Waived/reserve:

Waived/injured:

Terminated vested veteran:

The Panthers also acquired offensive lineman Corey Robinson from the Lions earlier today. The 26-year-old had spent his entire three-year career in Detroit, starting eighth of his 23 games. Carolina sent Detroit a conditional 2020 seventh-rounder in the deal.

Latest On Khalil Mack Trade

September 1st, 2018 at 11:36am CST by Sam Robinson

One of this decade’s biggest blockbuster NFL trades came together in part because of something another team accomplished Friday.

Aaron Donald‘s $22.5MM-AAV Rams extension helped set up the Raiders’ choice to trade Khalil Mack to the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link).

The Raiders spent recent weeks and months pondering what Mack’s contract would ultimately cost them at least that, with Rapoport reporting Mack was not going to take anything less than what Donald received. Once the Donald deal occurred, the Raiders “certainly” knew they weren’t going to be able to authorize that kind of contract, per Rapoport. No progress had occurred on this front for months.

Teams then began contacting the Raiders about Mack again, despite previously being told he was not available. Upon receiving a Bears offer that included “at least” two first-rounders, the Raiders believed they “had to” accept it, Rapoport reports.

A two-first-rounder offer occurred within the past 24 hours, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (video link). Another offer involving a first- and third-round pick, and one including a player, occurred earlier this week. But once teams heard the Raiders received a proposal including two first-rounders, other teams dropped out, per Pelissero.

Mack’s fifth-year option salary of $13MM-plus is now off the books, and the Bears have a lead pass rusher to anchor a Leonard Floyd-fronted supporting cast. As for the Raiders, their prized 2014 draft class splinters. They agreed to a then-record deal with Derek Carr and signed Gabe Jackson for eight figures per year in June 2017, but because of Mack’s fifth-year option, they waited on an extension for the 2016 defensive player of the year. And they ultimately decided they were better off with the draft picks and cap space than paying Mack.

Vikings Release DE Brian Robison

September 1st, 2018 at 11:28am CST by Ben Levine

Another veteran defender is set to look for a new gig. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Vikings are releasing defensive end Brian Robison.

The 2007 fourth-round pick had spent his entire career in Minnesota, missing only a pair of regular season games during his 11 years in the NFL. After having been a starter from 2011 through 2016, Robison was demoted to a backup role last season.

In 15 games (one start), the 35-year-old compiled only 20 tackles, his lowest total since 2010. However, despite his limited snaps, the veteran still managed to get at the quarterback, as he finished the year with four sacks. Robison will finish his career in Minnesota tied for fifth in franchise history with 60 career sacks.

With Robison out of the picture, the team will now presumably turn to fourth-round rookie Jalyn Holmes as the primary backup to Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen.

Colts To Release RB Branden Oliver

September 1st, 2018 at 11:15am CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts’ running back room will not feature Branden Oliver. Despite the team bringing in the former Chargers backup this offseason, Oliver will not be a part of its 53-man roster, Stephen Holder of The Athletic tweets.

Indianapolis may or may not have projected starter Marlon Mack for Week 1 because of a hamstring injury but appears to be going with a much younger running back contingent nonetheless.

Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines joined the Colts as rookies, and the team has Christine Michael as well. Robert Turbin is also a factor, although he’s suspended for four games.

Oliver hasn’t surpassed 100 rushing yards in a season since his 2014 rookie year, when the Chargers called upon him to start seven games.

 

Giants Release LB Mark Herzlich

September 1st, 2018 at 11:09am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants are moving on from one of their longest-tenured players. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the organization is releasing linebacker Mark Herzlich.

The 31-year-old joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent out of Boston College back in 2011, and he’s spent the past eight seasons with the organization. Serving mostly as a backup linebacker and special teamer, Herzlich has managed to put up some solid numbers throughout his career, including a 52-tackle campaign back in 2014.

However, the veteran spent the entire 2017 campaign on the injured reserve. During his last healthy season in 2016, he saw a reduced role, compiling only seven tackles in 14 games. It’s uncertain if another team will be willing to take a gamble on the linebacker at this stage of his career.

With the move, the Giants now have only three inside linebackers on their roster: B.J. Goodson, Alec Ogletree, and Ray-Ray Armstrong.

Ravens Release LB Albert McClellan

September 1st, 2018 at 10:56am CST by Ben Levine

After nine years in Baltimore, Albert McClellan will be looking for a new home. Jeff Zrebiec of The Atlantic reports (via Twitter) that the Ravens have released the veteran linebacker.

The move is a bit surprising considering McClellan’s tenure with the team, but the move seems to make sense for the Ravens. The 32-year-old is getting up there in age, and he missed the entire 2017 campaign due to a torn ACL. However, he arguably had his mostly productive NFL season in 2016, when he finished with a career-high 55 tackles in 16 games (11 starts). The 2010 undrafted free agent out of Marshall will now have to find another gig if he hopes to play this upcoming season.

With the release, undrafted rookie linebacker Chris Board seems to have a good chance of making the team. Otherwise, the team would only have three inside linebackers in C.J. Mosley, Patrick Onwuasor, and Kenny Young. The team is also rostering Bam Bradley, who is on the PUP.

Falcons Reduce Roster To 52

September 1st, 2018 at 10:40am CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons have trimmed down their roster. The team announced that they’ve reduced their roster to 52 players, meaning they’re leaving one spot open for a potential free agent addition.

We learned yesterday that the organization was moving on from defensive back Ron Parker and offensive lineman Austin Pasztor. The rest of the team’s moves are below:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

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