HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Patriots Host Group Workout

September 21st, 2019 at 9:59pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots hosted a group of lesser-known players for workouts yesterday. The team had defensive back Jordan Brown, tight end C.J. Conrad, defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett, quarterback T.J. Linta, and receiver Sean Modster tryout, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Modster is an undrafted rookie from Boise State. He spent training camp with the Ravens, and signed with Baltimore’s practice squad after getting cut. He didn’t last too long, getting released from the practice squad on September 10th. Linta is a rookie passer from Wagner who spent some time with the Chiefs this offseason before being waived with an injury designation.

Conrad, from Kentucky, was just released from the Giants’ practice squad earlier this week. Brown was drafted by the Bengals in the seventh-round back in April, but failed to make the team or practice squad. A South Dakota State product, he’s had workouts with the Jets and Dolphins recently, so he’s making the rounds in the AFC East. Hoyett is a rookie from Mississippi State who was waived by the Titans at final cuts.

A Few Teams Interested In Antonio Brown?

September 21st, 2019 at 8:01pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It’s been assumed that after Antonio Brown was released by the Patriots, he’d have a hard time finding a new home. It’s certainly understandable that most teams wouldn’t want to touch him right now, but a few clubs are apparently sniffing around.

“A few teams” are interested in his client, Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Rosenhaus said the teams “want information regarding his legal situation and the NFL investigation.” The league has said they won’t stop him from playing as they continue to investigate allegations of sexual assault, but we haven’t heard of any real interest before now.

Despite Rosenhaus’ claims, Schefter wrote in a follow-up tweet that people around the league believe a signing is “not likely to happen” until the investigation is fully resolved. Since there’s no timeline for the league’s investigation wrapping up, it certainly seems quite possible that Brown sits out at least the rest of the season.

Brown is likely set for a battle with the Patriots over his signing bonus money, and any deal he signed with a new team would surely include very little guaranteed cash. There are plenty of teams that could use Brown’s talents, but to say they’d be taking a risk is a massive understatement. Brown’s off-field behavior has been erratic to say the least, and although he says he wants to play right away, it wouldn’t be shocking if he’s played his last down of NFL football.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/21/19

September 21st, 2019 at 7:51pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We’ve got a couple of practice squad updates for you on a slow Saturday night.

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Stallworth made the Saints’ initial 53-man roster as they were missing defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata, but got the axe earlier this week. Wright, the former Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year with Arizona, was a seventh-round pick of Arizona’s back in 2016. After a stint in the AAF, he spent training camp with New England.

Latest On Jaguars, Jalen Ramsey

September 21st, 2019 at 5:56pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

When it was announced that Jalen Ramsey would play Thursday’s game with the Jaguars, the initial word was that he’d likely be moved the following day on Friday. Obviously Friday came and went, and Ramsey is still with Jacksonville.

Don’t expect a deal to get done anytime soon either. There is “no deal in the works,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). A source told Rapoport that “the longer this goes on, the more likely it is he stays,” although Rapsheet notes that Ramsey hasn’t changed his stance and his trade demand still stands.

In a follow-up tweet, Rapoport’s NFL Network colleague Mike Garafolo notes that the “asking price is too high” and that it “doesn’t look like anyone is going to match it right now.” He also reports that it doesn’t look like the Jags plan on lowering their asking price, and that there’s “nothing percolating” on the trade front. As has been previously reported, it looks like the Jaguars are looking for multiple early picks, and likely multiple first-rounders.

Jacksonville appears to be hoping that their Thursday night win over the Titans will convince Ramsey to change his mind about a trade. The Jaguars appear rejuvenated with Gardner Minshew under center, so maybe their plan will be successful. We heard recently that Ramsey’s issue is with the front office and Tom Coughlin rather than with Doug Marrone and the coaching staff, making things somewhat more tenable for the time being. The Chiefs, Ravens, Vikings, Raiders, Eagles, and Seahawks have all reportedly made “substantive inquiries” on the young corner.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/21/19

September 21st, 2019 at 4:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: G Blake Blackmar

Detroit Lions

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Promoted from practice squad: WR Greg Ward
  • Placed on IR: T Jordan Mailata

AFC Notes: McLaurin, Bolts, Steelers, Roby

September 21st, 2019 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Had the Raiders not traded for Antonio Brown (or had they known he wouldn’t last the summer with them), Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes they would have “definitely” drafted a wide receiver early (subscription required). The Raiders did not take a wideout until Hunter Renfrow in Round 5, but Tafur adds they were “in love” with Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin. Washington nabbed McLaurin in Round 3, and he’s quickly risen to the role of the team’s top aerial threat. In adding Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson and Ryan Grant, Oakland went the veteran route to patch up its receiver needs. It seems a good bet the Raiders will look to bring more rookie help at this position in 2020.

Here is the latest from the AFC:

  • It looks like the Chargers will be without their kicker for a third straight week. Los Angeles has listed Michael Badgley as doubtful to face the Texans. This will point to a third Ty Long kicking assignment. After being named AFC special teams player of the week in Week 1, the Bolts’ punter missed two field goals in their loss to the Lions.
  • When the Chargers face the Texans, they will see a reconfigured cornerback corps. After spending five years as a boundary corner with the Broncos, Bradley Roby is now the Texans’ slot defender. The Texans cut slot incumbent Aaron Colvin after Week 1 and have moved second-round pick Lonnie Johnson into the starting lineup at outside corner, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes. Houston gave Roby a one-year, $10MM deal. This slot assignment now serves as a critical component in another Roby contract year.
  • As Mason Rudolph makes his first start, the Steelers are going with their younger receivers. Pittsburgh’s Week 2 benching of Donte Moncrief will continue into Week 3, with Mark Kaboly of The Athletic indicating James Washington and rookie Diontae Johnson will play ahead of the underperforming veteran against the 49ers (subscription required). Washington and Johnson will primarily play on the outside, with JuJu Smith-Schuster manning the slot. Given a two-year, $9MM deal, Moncrief has dropped five passes through two games.

Antonio Brown Rumors: Kraft, Suitors, Cap

September 21st, 2019 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Antonio Brown‘s latest stay in free agency is, as expected, lasting longer than his brief unattached period between his Raiders and Patriots stints. He remains unemployed as Week 3 Sunday nears. Here is the latest from the Brown rumor mill, beginning with more on the Patriots’ decision to cut him:

  • Robert Kraft became “enraged” while learning the details of Brown sending texts to a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (subscription required) he and Bill Belichick then spoke of the receiver’s status in New England. The two Pats power brokers agreed Brown had to go, after only 11 days with the team. The report from SI.com’s Robert Klemko about the messages broke late Thursday night, and barely 12 hours later, Brown had seen a third team part ways with him in less than seven months.
  • While the Patriots are expected to have an avenue to avoid paying Brown anything beyond his Week 2 and Week 3 base salaries, Field Yates of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) the receiver is still counting $4.5MM on New England’s cap. As it stands currently, Brown represents a $4.5MM cap hold on the Pats’ 2019 and ’20 cap sheets.
  • If and when a Brown grievance comes regarding his $9MM signing bonus — which was set to be paid in two installments, Monday and then in early 2020 — Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap writes a Patriots victory in that setting would give them more than $5MM in 2020 cap credits.
  • The Seahawks have already come out and said they are not interested in Brown this time around. Another suitor who was interested earlier this month is bowing out this time, too, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (video link). This may be a common refrain, as Brown is dealing with far more troublesome issues than he was when the Raiders cut the cord.
  • It would be hard to imagine the Redskins pursuing Brown, considering what Jay Gruden saw his brother go through over the summer in trying to manage the mercurial talent, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes the NFC East franchise should not be ruled out. This is the team that placed a waiver claim on Reuben Foster when no one else did, and Florio adds this could be more of a Dan Snyder–Bruce Allen decision. Foster had been arrested on multiple occasions when Washington claimed him, and it does not appear an arrest is in the cards for Brown. The Redskins are also 0-2 and thin on skill-position talent. For now, the 31-year-old superstar is in the clear to seek NFL employment, though a commissioner’s exempt list stay may be on the horizon if he signs anywhere. That will hurt his chances of playing for another team in 2019.

Patriots Promote FB Jakob Johnson

September 21st, 2019 at 12:42pm CST by Ben Levine

With James Develin set to miss tomorrow’s division matchup against the Jets, the Patriots have promoted another fullback. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com writes that New England has elevated Jakob Johnson to the active roster. The team had an open roster spot following yesterday’s release of Antonio Brown.

Hailing from Stuttgart, Germany, Johnson spent two years on the U19 team for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League. He moved to Florida for his senior year of high school, and he later played several seasons for the Tennessee Volunteers football program. He decided to return to the Scorpions for the 2018 campaign.

This past offseason, Johnson was signed as an undrafted free agent via the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He was released at the end of the preseason, but he quickly joined the Patriots practice squad.

Develin sat out three practices this week as he dealt with an upper back and neck injury. He’s currently considered week-to-week.

Packers Place OL Lane Taylor On IR

September 21st, 2019 at 11:45am CST by Ben Levine

Lane Taylor is out for at least the next eight games. The Packers announced that they have placed the starting offensive guard on the injured reserve with a biceps injury.

Taylor, a former undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State, started 45 games for the Packers between the 2016 and 2018 seasons. He started the first two games of 2019 at left guard before suffering the biceps injury during last weekend’s win over the Vikings. The 29-year-old will be eligible to return to the field in late November.

With Taylor sidelined, the Packers will now turn to rookie Elgton Jenkins. The rookie second-rounder out of Mississippi State saw only a pair of snaps during the season opener, but he garnered 21 snaps in Week 2. If the rookie struggles, the Packers could also turn to versatile lineman Alex Light.

In a corresponding move, the Packers signed offensive lineman Adam Pankey off the Titans practice squad. The 6-foot-5, 313-pound was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He appeared in one game as a rookie before moving on to the Titans practice squad.

Browns Place LB Christian Kirksey On IR

September 21st, 2019 at 10:39am CST by Ben Levine

Browns captain Christian Kirksey is heading to the injured reserve. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports (via Twitter) that the starting linebacker will be placed on the IR with a chest injury. The team has promoted linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. in a corresponding move.

We learned earlier today that Kirksey was seeking opinions on his chest injury. Cabot writes that the 27-year-old was hurt during Monday night’s win over the Jets. The ailment will keep Kirksey sidelined for at least eight games, although Cabot writes that if the torn pectoral muscle requires surgery, he could be done for the season.

The 2014 third-round has spent his entire career with the Browns, and he averaged 143 tackles per season between 2016 and 2017 (leading to a four-year, $38MM extension). Kirksey was limited to only seven games in 2018 as he dealt with a hamstring injury. In two games this season, he’s compiled 11 total tackles.

Fifth-round rookie Mack Wilson will likely slide into the starting lineup in place of Kirksey. The team could also turn to backups Malik Jefferson, Sione Takitaki, or Harvey Jr..

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