2019 July - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins Fire Pat Flaherty

July 29th, 2019 at 2:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins have fired offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, according to a team announcement. To take his place, the team has promoted analyst Dave DeGuglielmo.

It’s a surprising twist for a number of reasons, including timing. Flaherty was set to implement a new blocking system, but the Dolphins were unwilling to give him the length of training camp to get results.

DeGuglielmo and Flaherty worked together while with the Giants, but DeGuglielmo is now supplanting Flaherty as the ‘Fins OL guru. DeGuglielmo, 51, offers vast experience as an offensive line coach at both the collegiate and NFL level. He’s worked for Miami before, as he was the club’s line coach from 2009-11. Last year, he helped transform the Colts’ offensive line into one of the NFL’s best before his surprise ouster in January.

Saints To Meet With Alfred Morris

July 29th, 2019 at 1:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Alfred Morris is set to meet with the Saints, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Rapoport also hears that Morris has received interest from two other NFL teams.

The Saints have been in the market for a running back and Morris would bring experience to their already talented group. At present, they have Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, one-time Ravens standout Buck Allen, and a couple of other RBs behind star Alvin Kamara.

Morris, 30, signed with SF last year for the veteran’s minimum. He went on to appear in 12 games and averaged 3.9 yards per carry in a limited sample of 111 totes. For his career, Morris has averaged 4.3 yards per attempt, including three high-usage years with the Redskins in which he topped 1,000 yards rushing.

Ravens To Sign QB Joe Callahan

July 29th, 2019 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are expected to sign quarterback Joe Callahan, a source tells NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). Callahan may face long odds of making the roster, but he has familiarity with offensive coordinator Greg Roman thanks to their time together at Holy Spirit High School in 2008.

[RELATED: RG3 Suffers Injury]

With RG3 sidelined, the Ravens needed another quarterback to move them through camp. The hope is that Griffin will be ready for Week 1, but it’s possible that he’ll need extra time to recover. In either event, the Ravens will have Callahan to support Lamar Jackson and rookie Trace McSorely.

Prior to signing Callahan, veteran Josh Johnson rejected an offer from the Ravens.

Josh Johnson Turns Down Ravens

July 29th, 2019 at 11:13am CST by Zachary Links

It wasn’t meant to be. Quarterback Josh Johnson has turned down a contract offer from the Ravens, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Johnson would have been a logical fit for the Ravens given his history with the club and the team’s need for another arm in camp. However, RGIII will likely return when the season begins, so Johnson didn’t feel it was the right opportunity. Instead, he’ll presumably wait for another camp injury and a better opportunity to make someone’s 53-man cut.

Johnson has toured much of the NFL over the course of his career, but went many years without actually taking a snap. At the age of 33, Johnson is probably tired of the add/drop game and is looking for something stable. This season will mark Johnson’s 12th in professional football.

Ravens To Work Out QB Josh Johnson

July 29th, 2019 at 10:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are set to work out quarterback Josh Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Johnson could provide depth in Baltimore following the injury to RGIII.

Griffin will miss four to eight weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his right thumb Saturday night and there’s some fear that he could miss regular season time. Johnson, meanwhile, could backstop the QB room behind starter Lamar Jackson and sixth-round Penn State product Trace McSorely.

Last year, Johnson made three starts for the Redskins and finished out three touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 1-2 record. Prior to that, he hadn’t thrown a regular season pass since 2011.

Saints Release WR Cameron Meredith

July 29th, 2019 at 9:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints released wide receiver Cameron Meredith, according to Herbie Teope of The Times-Picayune (on Twitter). The Saints receiver previously reduced his base salary from $3.4MM to $1.3MM, but it wasn’t enough to save his job.

It’s been a tough couple of years for Meredith since his breakout 2016 season, when he racked up 888 yards in just 14 games with the Bears. Meredith was supposed to be Chicago’s top receiver in 2017, but he suffered a devastating injury in the preseason which included a torn ACL and additional damage to his knee. After missing the entire year, he signed a two-year offer sheet worth $9.6MM with the Saints as a restricted free agent.

He never really recovered while with the Saints, and he was placed on IR after just six games with last year due to issues with the same knee. He finished with only nine catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in his first (and only) season on the field in New Orleans.

Meredith has yet to participate in any offseason practices and had to undergo a knee scope earlier this year. Still, he’s only 26 and offers potential, so he should find his way back to the NFL once he’s healthy.

Broncos To Meet With Theo Riddick

July 29th, 2019 at 8:36am CST by Zachary Links

Former Lions running back Theo Riddick is scheduled to visit the Broncos, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). This marks the second visit on Riddick’s free agency tour after he huddled up with the Saints on Sunday.

The pass-catching specialist had some excellent years in Detroit, but the rise of Kerryon Johnson lessened his importance with the Lions. When the club signed C.J. Anderson this offseason, it was yet another indication that they could move on from the 28-year-old.

The Broncos already have a No. 1 running back in Phillip Lindsay, but Riddick’s soft hands could make him a strong No. 2 companion. Last year, Lindsay caught 35 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield. Riddick, meanwhile, has averaged a 62/474/2.5 stat line over the last four years, including a showing of 80/697/3 in 2015.

In addition to the Broncos and Saints, the Vikings are said to have some level of interest in the veteran.

Extra Points: Gurley, Longacre, CBA

July 28th, 2019 at 9:46pm CST by Micah Powell

In his first day on the field at Rams training camp, Todd Gurley looked like vintage Gurley, The Athletic’s Vincent Bonsignore writes.

The All-Pro back looked like his old self early, showing an ability put plenty of weight on his knee and cut without any apparent issue. That knee, of course, underwent reconstructive surgery in college and gave him issues down the stretch in 2018, leading to C.J. Anderson‘s breakout stint in the playoffs.

As Bonsignore writes, that he looked good doesn’t mean much at this point. It’s all about getting him on the field and keeping him there over the course of a 16-game season. The Rams will be sure to take it easy with Gurley, but this is a great first step for one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.

A healthy Gurley, who led the league in rushing touchdowns for a second consecutive season in 2018, would make the reigning NFC champions the conference’s favorites once again thanks to its loaded offense and talent-rich defense.

Here’s more from around the league:

Buccaneers safety Orion Stewart was carted off the field on Sunday with an apparent serious right knee injury, Eduardo Encina of the Tampa Bay Times writes. The safety was covering Cameron Brate when their legs tangled, leading Stewart to come down awkwardly. A free agent acquisition in 2019, Stewart was working with the Bucs’ second unit.
Colts defensive end Jabaal Sheard suffered a knee injury in training camp and is expected to “miss some time,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes. Just how long that “some time” is remains unclear, but the defensive end didn’t return to practice on Friday due to swelling and soreness. Colts head coach Frank Reich said the injury isn’t season-ending.
Just four days after the Cardinals signed linebacker Matt Longacre, the team released him on Sunday, Florio writes. The move comes just a day after the team activated Brooks Reed from the physically unable to perform list. In 2018, Longacre appeared in 13 games with the Rams, recording one sack and 17 tackles.
Lions defensive lineman Mike Daniels said he received interest from 13 teams but decided to join Detroit because he wanted to play for head coach Matt Patricia, Florio writes. Though the pair have never worked together before, Daniels called the coach “a genius.”
Originally, a meeting was to be held on Monday to discuss the Collective Bargaining Agreement between owners and the NFLPA. That will no longer take place, as the meeting has been rescheduled for early August, Florio writes.

AFC South Notes: Henry, Lewan, Jags, Texans

July 28th, 2019 at 8:57pm CST by Micah Powell

Mystery still surrounds the extent of Titans running back Derrick Henry‘s leg injury, but as of now, there is no official timetable for when to expect the bruising back to return to the field, Titans online’s Jim Wyatt tweets.

The big back has missed a few days of training camp with the injury and was seen in a walking boot. Many do not expect the injury to be a serious one, but it does have an ominous feel to it after the team announced him as day-to-day on Saturday.

After taking over down the stretch in 2018, the former Alabama running back was expected to enter 2019 as the unquestioned workhorse. We will see if those plans are affected by the latest injury, but Tennessee has the likes of Dion Lewis waiting in the wings.

Here’s more from around the AFC South:

Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan‘s four-game suspension will cost him $3.4MM in base salary, Paul Kuharsky writes. In addition to the base salary, the Titans also be able recoup part of his signing bonus. Lewan was suspension earlier this week for violated the league’s PED policy.
Since Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has held out of camp for four days, he’s currently facing a fine of $160,000, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco tweets. That brings his total fine to $248,650 due to him missing mandatory minicamp. The fourth-year defensive end is expected to report back to the team in early August as he looks for a long-term deal.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien confirmed Lamar Miller is the team’s lead back but the other spots behind him are wide open, ESPN’s Sarah Barshop tweets. Behind Miller, Houston boasts a large collection of unproven backs looking to make an impact, led by D’Onta Foreman.

Saints Sign Patrick Omameh

July 28th, 2019 at 8:23pm CST by Micah Powell

Earlier today, it was reported the Saints were hosting free agent offensive lineman Patrick Omameh. That meeting apparently went well, as New Orleans signed the veteran on Sunday night, the player’s agent reports [Twitter link].

Since entering the league as UDFA in 2013, Omameh has racked up 56 games in his career and serves as valuable depth on a loaded New Orleans’ offensive attack.

He started all 16 games for the Buccaneers in 2014, and played 14 games for the Bears in 2015. He suited up for the Jaguars in the next two two seasons before inking a three-year, $15MM contract with the Giants last March. Omameh didn’t even last a full season with the Giants, who benched him in October and cut him in November after an underwhelming showing.

After being cut by the Giants, Omameh returned to the Jaguars and started six games down the stretch. After opening the year at right guard with the Giants, he finished the campaign largely on the left side of the Jacksonville line.