2019 August - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins Cut Jordan Mills, Clive Walford

August 27th, 2019 at 10:51am CST by Zachary Links

The 53-man roster deadline isn’t until Saturday, but the Dolphins are getting ahead of the game. On Tuesday, the Dolphins released tackle Jordan Mills and tight end Clive Walford with injury settlements. The club also cut defensive tackle Akeem Spence and waived/injured linebacker Chase Allen.

Mills, a free agent acquisition, was disappointing in minicamp and was leapfrogged at right tackle by Jesse Davis. The Dolphins gave him a shot at redemption in training camp, but he was unable to regain his footing.

Walford was most recently with the Jets, but New York decided to non-tender him earlier this month, leading him to the Fins. He had two stints with the Jets and one stint with the Colts in 2018, appearing in only a single game. Walford showed some promise during his first two years in the league, hauling in 61 receptions for 688 yards and six scores across the 2015-16 seasons with the Raiders.

Rob Gronkowski Leaves Door Open For Return

August 27th, 2019 at 9:01am CST by Zachary Links

When Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski retired from the NFL this year, few believed that he would stay off the field. Now, Gronk personally admits that a return to football could be in his future.

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At a press conference to promote his new partnership with a CBD company, Gronk said that he’ll play football again if he’s feeling better and recovered from his injuries at some point (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN). That could be the case in six months, or two years, he says, though he can’t envision an NFL return in the next week or month.

Gronkowski went on to say that he “didn’t retire from life” and could consider suiting up again if he finds that he has that fire “week-in and week-out,” (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). At the same time, Gronk suggested that he would be alright with never stepping on the gridiron again.

“Physically, I could do it. But mentally, it’s not there. … If I’m just enjoying my life… maybe never,” Gronk said.

With enough cash to support generations of Gronkowskis and opportunities to make money elsewhere, the game’s most talented tight end has plenty of options. Still, he’s not ready to rule out a second act with the Patriots.

Patriots Notes: Andrews, Thomas, Harris, Roberts

August 26th, 2019 at 9:55pm CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier this evening that Patriots center David Andrews was hospitalized due to blood clots in his lungs. Fortunately, there’s some good news on that front, as Jim McBride of the Boston Globe tweets that the lineman has been released from the hospital.

Andrews is expected to miss a significant amount of time, with the initial report indicating that the lineman’s season is in jeopardy. This would be a significant loss to the Patriots’ line, as the 27-year-old has been the team’s primary center since 2015.

Some more notes out of New England…

Wideout Demaryius Thomas told reporters (including ESPN’s Mike Reiss) that the Patriots were the only team to express interest in him this past offseason. After tearing his Achilles following a trade to the Texans, the 31-year-old ended up inking a one-year deal with New England this offseason. He finished last season with 59 receptions for 677 yards and five touchdowns.
The Patriots waived both DE Keionta Davis and WR Maurice Harris this past weekend, and veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets that the duo were cut with the injury designation. The two ended up clearing waivers are have now been placed on the injured reserve. Harris initially seemed like a lock to make the Patriots roster, but the team’s sudden receiver depth left him without a spot.
Rookie running back Damien Harris was injured during the Patriots preseason win on Thursday, and the team is apparently eyeing some reinforcement at the position. NESN.com’s Doug Kyed tweets that the team worked out former Washington State running back James Williams today. The undrafted free agent has already had stints with the Chiefs and Colts.
Reiss points to linebacker Elandon Roberts as a potential trade chip, noting that the fourth-year player has only played 14 defensive snaps this preseason. While the 25-year-old normally doesn’t cover kickoffs, the team may show him off for potential suitors during the team’s preseason finale. Reiss wonders if the Lions and former Pats defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could be a fit.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Packers, Reed, Hughes

August 26th, 2019 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Cowboys Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones participated in his first practice of the offseason today after being activated from the physically unable to perform list. While the 26-year-old will be a welcome addition to the secondary, head coach Jason Garrett said the team will bring Jones along slowly.

“He’s going to slowly get back into it and just kind of see where he is,” Garrett said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “He’s been working really well on the side. It’s time for him to get going again, so he’ll be out there for part of practice.”

Meanwhile, offensive guard Zack Martin and offensive tackle Tyron Smith are not expected to practice this week, but the duo should be good to go for the regular season opener. The same goes for wideout Amari Cooper, who has been dealing with a heel injury.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…

Packers starting linebacker Oren Burks isn’t expected to miss an extended amount of time due to a pec injury, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The 24-year-old won’t require surgery and should be back this season, and there’s even optimism that he’ll be able to avoid the injured reserve. The 2018 third-rounder had 23 tackles during his rookie campaign.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden said he expects tight end Jordan Reed to be available for the season opener at Philadelphia (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim). Reed entered the concussion protocol after a hit in Thursday’s preseason win at Atlanta. “We’re quite confident that Jordan will be fine,” Gruden said. That’s good news for a team whose passing game revolves largely around Reed.
The Vikings have removed cornerback Mike Hughes from the PUP list, according to a team announcement. That’s big news for Minnesota, especially with supporting cornerback Holton Hill suspended for the first half of the season. The 2018 first-round pick appeared in six games (two starts) before tearing his ACL in October. He ultimately finished his rookie campaign having compiled 22 tackles, three passes defended, a pick-six, and a forced fumble.
The Cowboys worked out a pair of tight ends today in Tyrone Swoopes and Zach Conque, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News (via Twitter). Swoopes spent the first two seasons of his career in Seattle, appearing in two games. The 24-year-old was let go by the team earlier this month. Conque, 25, has had stints with the Texans, Jets, Jaguars, and Colts since 2017. While the team’s depth chart at tight end is pretty much set, both Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz have dealt with recent injuries.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Reshad Jones In Dolphins’ 2019 Plans

August 26th, 2019 at 8:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Many key Dolphins from the recent past are no longer in Miami. Cameron Wake, Ryan Tannehill and Ja’Wuan James were among the many veterans the Dolphins jettisoned. The rebuilding team is also believed to be shopping Kenny Stills and Kiko Alonso, and Reshad Jones has been a potential departure candidate throughout the offseason.

But the high-priced safety said recently he will be a Dolphin this season. The Dolphins informed Jones, per Jones (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson), he will not be traded. Jones’ willingness to accept any role, including potentially reduced playing time, has impressed the team, according to Jackson.

The 10th-year safety has been dangled in trade talks, Jackson reported over the weekend. But the Dolphins were not interested in the offers they received, Jackson adds, pointing them toward keeping their longest-tenured defender for another year. Jones’ contract, which calls for a $17.1MM cap number this season (by far the most among safeties in 2019), will be prohibitive in any trade talks. It should not be surprising the Dolphins are abandoning the idea of dealing the 31-year-old safety at this point. Were they to move on in 2020, $7.5MM in additional cap space would be created.

The Dolphins released T.J. McDonald on Sunday night, clearing a path for more Jones playing time. He has two Pro Bowls and 21 career interceptions, including three last season, on his resume. Jones (109 career starts) is one start away from the most by a safety in Dolphins history, trailing only Tim Foley.

Cardinals To Release DL Terrell McClain

August 26th, 2019 at 7:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Terrell McClain‘s bid to be part of the 2019 Cardinals did not last past the preseason. The Cards will release the veteran defensive lineman, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.

A journeyman who spent 2018 with the Falcons, McClain signed with the Cardinals in May. The team, however, signed Clinton McDonald recently and traded for Bruce Hector last week. McClain joins Andre Branch in Cardinals front-seven pieces released in the past two days. Arizona also parted ways with former first-round lineman Robert Nkemdiche this summer.

The Cardinals used a third-round pick on defensive end Zach Allen and a seventh-rounder on end Michael Dogbe but return starters Rodney Gunter and Corey Peters. McClain, 31, was expected to be part of Arizona’s rotation up front. Hector and McDonald look to be new solution efforts for the Cardinals, who have added several depth pieces to their roster this offseason.

McClain played in 12 games for the Falcons last season but is better known for his three-year run with the Cowboys. He started 15 games for the 2016 Cowboys, who claimed the NFC’s No. 1 seed, before migrating to Washington for a 12-game stretch with the Redskins in 2017. The Cardinals would have been the former third-round pick’s seventh team.

Browns To Cut WR Jaelen Strong

August 26th, 2019 at 7:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jaelen Strong‘s Browns tenure looks like it will be limited to one offseason. The wideout tweeted a farewell message to Cleveland, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot confirmed (via Twitter) the former third-round pick will be cut.

Despite the Browns losing Breshad Perriman in free agency, they have a deep receiver corps. Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins headline the group. Cleveland, though, will be shorthanded — from a depth standpoint — in September. A suspension will cost Callaway four games.

Strong has not played in a regular-season game since 2017. He tore an ACL in December of 2017, but he’d caught just three passes leading up to that. The former Arizona State standout caught 14 passes in each of his first two seasons, with the Texans, before being cut in September of 2017.

Patriots C David Andrews Hospitalized

August 26th, 2019 at 6:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Patriots center David Andrews was hospitalized due to blood clots in his lungs, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (subscription required). He is expected to miss a significant amount of time, with Howe adding the fifth-year blocker’s season is in jeopardy.

It is unclear at this point how much time Andrews will miss, but due to the nature of the hospitalization, the 27-year-old center may not play football again for a while. Andrews has been New England’s primary center since 2015, going from UDFA to Tom Brady‘s snapper in four AFC championship games and three Super Bowls.

The Patriots struck quickly to re-sign Andrews, inking a new deal with their snapper in early 2017. He is attached to a team-friendly pact, worth $9MM over three years. Two seasons remain on that contract. Andrews allowed only four quarterback pressures last season, fewest among Patriots linemen. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7 center in 2018.

In Andrews’ absence, the Patriots are expected to turn to Ted Karras, Howe adds. The 2016 sixth-round pick has been with the Patriots throughout his career and has played in 45 games (five starts). The Pats return three other O-line starters — guards Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason and right tackle Marcus Cannon — but are breaking in left tackle Isaiah Wynn, who only recently resumed practicing after a torn Achilles erased his rookie season.

While the team has consistently deploys top-flight offensive lines, due in no small part to highly regarded position coach Dante Scarnecchia, this will obviously be a setback for the defending Super Bowl champions.

NFL, NFLPA Schedule More CBA Talks

August 26th, 2019 at 6:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another round of collective bargaining agreement talks will transpire this week. The NFL and NFLPA will meet on Monday night and into Tuesday in Chicago for what will be the seventh round of discussions regarding the league’s next CBA, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

While the talks are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, it is not a guarantee this will be a two-day event. Earlier this summer, the parties ended a round of negotiations scheduled for three days after one.

These talks have all taken place over the past few months, and they are believed to be less contentious than those that led up to the 2011 CBA’s completion. Neither side anticipates a 2021 work stoppage, though the NFLPA has consistently attempted to prepare players for that reality.

The frequent meetings represent progress, but we have not heard much in the way of actual steps being taken toward a new agreement. The sides’ pre-Week 1 goal no longer appears to be in the picture, and while the league initially did not want CBA talks interfering with its 100th season, that looks almost certain to happen.

The current agreement expires after the 2020 season. However, if the NFL enters the 2020 offseason without a new CBA, uncapped rules — like teams being able to use both the franchise and transition tags — would be in place next year.

Latest On Falcons, Julio Jones

August 26th, 2019 at 5:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite the Saints striking first with their Michael Thomas extension nearly a month ago, the Falcons and their No. 1 wide receiver remain in talks. Jones has been unhappy with his deal for many months, missing workouts in the 2018 and ’19 offseasons. While he is tethered to the extension he signed in 2015 — now 13th in AAV — Jones reported to camp and continues to be Atlanta’s top priority.

The Falcons, who extended Deion Jones and Grady Jarrett in July, want to have their 30-year-old superstar signed by Week 1. But Arthur Blank is not certain that will happen.

“I would hope so, but I don’t know that,” Blank said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, of an extension being finalized within the next two weeks. “We’ll have to let things take their course. I know that we are definitely in serious negotiations. It’s our goal and their goal as well to get it done before the start of the season.”

Jones’ agent, Jimmy Sexton, met with Falcons brass last week. Despite Jones’ production and Hall of Fame trajectory, this process may be a bit more complicated because of where the 2011 first-rounder is in his career. This will be Jones’ age-30 season; he is older than all but two of the wideouts (Antonio Brown and A.J. Green) who currently out-earn him. Jones is almost certain not to sign for anything less than Thomas received.

“The negotiations continue to move along in a positive way,” Blank said, reiterating he wants Jones to finish his career in Atlanta. “It’s a big contract and it’s complex and what have you. It takes a little more time than we’d like. Probably a little more time than he would like, but I know we are in a good place.”