HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Saints CB P.J. Williams Pleads Guilty To Lesser Charge

August 27th, 2019 at 9:20pm CST by Rory Parks

Saints cornerback P.J. Williams pleaded guilty today to a reduced charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle following a drunk driving arrest in January, as Ramon Antonio Vargas of NOLA.com reports. Williams will be required to pay a $340 fine but will not face any other legal consequences. All related charges were dismissed.

Of course, the resolution of Williams’ legal issues is just one hurdle. The NFL can still impose discipline, and given the circumstances of the arrest, Williams may very well face a suspension. Before effecting the traffic stop, officers say they observed Williams driving 80 mph in a 50-mph zone and weaving across lanes without using his turn signals. Williams subsequently refused a Breathalyzer test, leading to his arrest.

The Saints selected Williams in the third round of the 2015 draft, and he may have lasted until the third round because of a previous DUI arrest in early April 2015. Those charges were dropped just before the draft.

New Orleans re-signed the Florida State product to a one-year, $5MM pact in April, and he is slated to once again have a significant role in the Saints’ secondary. Though he finished as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-worst CB in 2018, he played 810 snaps for the NFC’s No. 1 seed last year, and he remains near the top of the club’s cornerback depth chart.

Packers DT Kenny Clark Hires Doug Hendrickson

August 27th, 2019 at 8:57pm CST by Rory Parks

As he gears up for what promises to be a highly-lucrative contract extension, Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark has hired veteran NFL agent Doug Hendrickson, as Liz Mullen of SportsBusinessJournal.com reports (via Twitter). Clark will be represented by Hendrickson and his Wasserman colleague, CJ LaBoy.

Green Bay exercised Clark’s fifth-year option a few months ago, so they have him under club control through the 2020 campaign. However, the 2016 first-rounder has established himself as a very good interior defender, and Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, echoing reports we heard earlier this year, suggests that player and team could work out a long-term deal before Clark becomes a free agent (Twitter link).

Last year, the 23-year-old (24 in October) put up a career-high six sacks and matched his 2017 tackles total with 55. Unfortunately, his season was halted by an elbow injury in December, but he was Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 ranked interior lineman in the NFL when he was placed on IR. GM Brian Gutekunst recently called Clark a “dominant player,” and he will be paid accordingly.

Currently, Lions DT Damon Harrison is pacing the 3-4 defensive tackle market with an average annual value of $11.25MM, but Clark’s play thus far suggests that he offers more as a pass rusher than Snacks. Excluding Jets rookie Quinnen Williams, who received a fully-guaranteed pact as a result of his status as the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, the $25MM in guaranteed money that the Bears gave to Eddie Goldman last September is currently the highest guaranteed payout for a 3-4 DT.

Another season like his 2018 campaign would likely allow Clark to top Harrison’s AAV and Goldman’s guarantees. It would not be surprising to see him land a contract paying him $12-13MM per year with $35MM or so in guaranteed money.

Bears OL T.J. Clemmings Out For Season

August 27th, 2019 at 8:03pm CST by Rory Parks

The Bears’ offensive line depth took a hit today, as the team placed T.J. Clemmings on IR with a quad injury, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Chicago signed Clemmings back in May with the idea that he could serve as a solid swing tackle, but now the club will have to turn to someone else to fill that role.

The Bears liked Clemmings coming out of college in 2015, though he was ultimately drafted by the division-rival Vikings. He spent the first two years of his career in Minnesota, starting 30 of his 31 games. He was waived prior to the 2017 season and caught on with the Redskins, ultimately appearing in six games (two starts) for Washington. The Redskins waived Clemmings prior to last season, but he was quickly claimed by the Raiders. The 27-year-old appeared in four games for Oakland in 2018 before succumbing to a season-ending knee injury.

Now, a quad ailment to his other leg has ended his 2019 campaign before it could start. Cam Ellis of NBC Sports Chicago says the Pittsburgh product suffered the injury during the Bears’ preseason game against the Colts on Saturday.

The Bears may now turn to UDFA Alex Bars to serve as their primary backup at offensive tackle.

Ziggy Ansah Returns To Practice

August 27th, 2019 at 7:40pm CST by Rory Parks

Despite earlier reports suggesting that he could miss at least a month of the regular season, we heard a few weeks ago that new Seahawks defensive end Ziggy Ansah was expected to be ready for Week 1.

And that timeline still seems accurate, as Brady Henderson of ESPN.com writes that Ansah practiced for the first time with his Seattle teammates today. Henderson says that Ansah, who had been limited to training on side fields, was seen taking part in warmups and positional drills. The longtime Lion is trying to rebuild strength in his surgically-repaired shoulder and to recover from a more recent groin injury.

Since Seattle likes to have players returning from long, injury-related absences to practice for at least two weeks prior to suiting up for game action, it’s significant that Ansah returned to the practice field 12 days before the team’s September 8 opener against Cincinnati. Head coach Pete Carroll said, “[j]ust to get the newness out of him and have a couple days to get back to practice again, I think will be really important to him … He has worked really hard on the outside, he’s been doing all kinds of drills and movement stuff and throwing heavy things and butting into stuff and all that to get ready and we feel very secure that he’s ready to go now.”

Ansah will not play in the team’s preseason finale, but his presence should be a boost to a Seattle pass rush that lost Frank Clark and will be without Jarran Reed for the first six games of the season.

Dolphins Notes: Clowney, Grant, Alonso

August 27th, 2019 at 7:15pm CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins believe they are the favorites to land Texans star Jadeveon Clowney, but Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com believes that Miami would have to increase Clowney’s tag number (currently just under $16MM) to something in the $20MM+ range to land the former No. 1 overall pick (Twitter link). Fitzgerald suggests that the Dolphins may not be interested in giving Clowney the long-term deal he wants and could be looking to trade a second-round pick for Clowney this year and flipping him for a first-rounder next year.

Let’s take a quick swing around South Beach:

  • Wide receiver Jakeem Grant‘s extension was reported as a four-year, $24MM pact, but NFL Insider Adam Caplan says the base value is actually $19.7MM (Twitter link). The total value could increase to $24MM with Pro Bowl incentives. The contract includes $7.5MM in guaranteed money, only $3.72MM of which is fully guaranteed.
  • The Dolphins are said to be shopping linebacker Kiko Alonso, though rival teams expect him to be cut. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that head coach Brian Flores was non-committal when asked about the status of Alonso and tight end Dwayne Allen, both of whom have battled injuries this summer. Alonso returned to practice on a limited basis Sunday, and while Jackson says Miami could very well keep him around in 2019, it would not be surprising if both Alonso and Allen were released.
  • More from Jackson, who suggests that edge rusher Nate Orchard is on the roster bubble. Though Flores didn’t elaborate, he said “this will be a big week” for Orchard. It sounds as if one of last year’s “Hard Knocks” stars could find his way onto the 53-man roster with a strong performance in Miami’s last preseason game.
  • The Dolphins’ QB competition between Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick remains open.

Dolphins Consider Themselves Favorites For Jadeveon Clowney

August 27th, 2019 at 6:49pm CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins believe they are the leaders to land Texans star Jadeveon Clowney, as Armando Salguero and Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald write. We learned earlier today that Clowney has met in person with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and other members of Miami’s brass, and the team thinks that meeting helped sway Clowney towards South Beach.

As Clowney has not yet signed his franchise tender, he does have some say as to where he gets traded. Sources suggest that Clowney was not initially in love with the idea of coming to the Dolphins, and indeed, today’s report suggested that Clowney prefers the Seahawks or Eagles.

However, the Dolphins believe Clowney is now on board if they can swing a deal with the Texans. Salguero and Beasley say that a potential trade between the two teams would not include a first-round pick heading to Houston, though Miami is also refusing to give up offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.

In addition to offensive line help, the Texans are in need of a running back, and the Dolphins could package Kenyan Drake or Kalen Ballage along with some draft capital to make a trade work.

49ers DL Kentavius Street Likely To Miss Season

August 27th, 2019 at 6:27pm CST by Rory Parks

Another tough break for 49ers defensive lineman Kentavius Street. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Street will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, and he is likely headed for season-ending IR.

Street suffered a torn ACL during a pre-draft workout with the Giants in 2018, but the 49ers still took a chance on the NC State product and nabbed him with a fourth-round pick last year. Though he was cleared for practice near the end of his rookie campaign, he ultimately did not see any game action.

He showed some flashes in the preseason this year, and in San Francisco’s preseason tilt against the Broncos on August 19, Street posted five tackles and 1.5 sacks in 43 snaps. Unfortunately, his regular season debut will have to wait at least another year.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “[h]e’s battled through his knee all year. He’s had some knee tendinitis throughout camp – a little similar to Dee Ford. He’s been trying to battle through it and get a spot here. We decided (Monday) that he can’t do it any more.”

Jason Pierre-Paul Cleared For Rehab Activites

August 27th, 2019 at 5:36pm CST by Rory Parks

Buccaneers DE Jason Pierre-Paul has been cleared by team and independent doctors to resume rehab activities, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets. JPP still has a ways to go before he’s cleared to play, but this is obviously great news.

Pierre-Paul was involved in a one-car accident in early May and suffered a fractured vertebra. The fact that he was able to avoid surgery left open the possibility that he could play in 2019, though it sounded as if October would be the earliest he could see the field, and a November or December return seemed more likely.

That still may be the case, but at least things are trending in the right direction. As Jenna Laine of ESPN.com observes (via Twitter), JPP was on the practice field today and was not in the bulky neck brace that he had been in.

The Bucs are not a favorite to make the playoffs, and if Tampa Bay is out of contention by the time Pierre-Paul is ready to return, the club may elect to keep him sidelined for the whole year. But if there is even a glimmer of hope, adding the two-time Pro Bowler would be a major boost to the Bucs’ defensive front.

Pierre-Paul notched 12.5 sacks in 2018, his first season in Tampa Bay, and reestablished himself as a legitimate force to be reckoned with coming off the edge.

Seahawks WR David Moore To Avoid IR

August 27th, 2019 at 4:39pm CST by Rory Parks

Seahawks wideout David Moore has received a second opinion on his shoulder injury, and the opinion is favorable. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Moore will not be placed on IR and is expected to be back sooner rather than later (Twitter link). RapSheet characterizes the development as “surprisingly positive news.”

Indeed, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that Moore would open the season on the 53-man roster, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. Moore will still miss the start of the regular season, but his absence will be shorter than was initially expected.

Moore, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his humerus, is slated to play a key role for Seattle as it ushers in the post-Doug Baldwin era. Moore, whom the Seahawks selected in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, posted 26 catches for 445 yards and five touchdowns last season. He started seven games for the club and should serve as a solid option for Russell Wilson.

The news on Moore is especially welcome since rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf recently underwent knee surgery and is uncertain for Week 1.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/19

August 27th, 2019 at 3:58pm CST by Zachary Links

It was a busy day in the NFL as teams made early cuts in advance of the 53-man deadline. We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: OL Jacob Ohnesorge

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

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