HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Patriots FB Danny Vitale To Opt Out

July 27th, 2020 at 4:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

A fourth player has decided to opt out this afternoon. Patriots fullback Danny Vitale informed the team of his intentions to bypass the 2020 season, Jarrett Bell of USA Today reports.

Thus far, Vitale is the fifth overall player to opt out. He follows Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Ravens wideout De’Anthony Thomas, Seahawks guard Chance Warmack and Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady.

Vitale has played four NFL seasons — two with the Browns, two with the Packers — and signed with the Pats this offseason. The Patriots lost longtime fullback James Develin to retirement earlier this offseason.

Vitale played 170 snaps last season with Green Bay, catching 12 passes for 97 yards. His one-year Patriots contract will toll to 2021. Since he is not believed to be at increased risk for COVID-19 complications, Vitale is set to receive a $150K stipend — rather than his $1MM base salary — and see his contract toll to 2021.

Cowboys CB Maurice Canady Will Opt Out

July 27th, 2020 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

A fourth player has decided not to play in 2020. Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady will opt out, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

The Cowboys signed Canady earlier this year. He will fall into the voluntary opt-out category, not residing as a high-risk player. Canady, who played with the Jets and Ravens last season, will receive a $150K stipend and have his contract toll to 2021.

Dallas signed Canady to a one-year deal on free agency’s first day, doing so shortly after seeing Byron Jones defect to Miami. The Cowboys added Daryl Worley later in free agency and drafted multiple corners — second-rounder Trevon Diggs and fourth-rounder Reggie Robinson.

The Ravens drafted Canady in the 2016 sixth round. He worked primarily as a backup during his Baltimore stay, starting two games in four seasons. With the Jets last year, he started twice after arriving midseason. Canady, however, fared well in New York. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 25-ranked corner last year.

Vikings Place WR Justin Jefferson, Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List

July 27th, 2020 at 4:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Vikings first-round pick Justin Jefferson has landed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Rookies Brian Cole, Blake Brandel and Tyler Higby are also now on this newly created list.

Minnesota’s rookie contingent reported to camp recently. Players must test negative for the coronavirus three times before entering teams’ facilities. During an offseason that has already featured major developmental hurdles placed in rookies’ paths, Jefferson and Co. will now see their timetables pushed back.

The reserve/COVID-19 designation is for players who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are in quarantine for potential exposure. In turn, these players are removed from the roster and allowed to return after three weeks.

It is not certain if Jefferson and the three other rookies have contracted the virus. Players must be placed on the COVID-19/reserve list if they test positive or have come in contact with an infected person. The Vikings announced earlier Monday their infection control officer, Eric Sugarman, tested positive for the coronavirus. Members of Sugarman’s family did as well.

The Vikings used one of their two first-round picks on Jefferson, who will be expected to fill the role Stefon Diggs occupied for years opposite Adam Thielen. Jefferson is coming off a dominant senior season at LSU, when he caught 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Minnesota used a sixth-round pick on Brandel, a tackle out of Oregon State, and a seventh-round choice on Cole — a safety out of Mississippi State. Higby, a guard from Michigan State, arrived as part of the Vikes’ most recent UDFA class.

DeMarcus Lawrence To Report To Cowboys Camp

July 27th, 2020 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

DeMarcus Lawrence considered opting out due to COVID-19 concerns. It is not known if the Pro Bowl Cowboys defensive end has decided to play, but he will report to Cowboys camp.

The seventh-year defender will report to camp Tuesday for coronavirus testing, Jane Slater of NFL.com and Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News report (Twitter links). Lawrence still has time to determine he will not play this season, with players not required to inform teams of their opt-out plans until August 3.

Lawrence’s wife is pregnant with their second child, and the acclaimed pass rusher revealed some hesitancy regarding a return to action under the circumstances.

“Shoot, I love to ride with my brothers and play the game of football. When I have to take that away from myself, it’s hard and I don’t want to make a decision like that,” Lawrence said. “But I also have to make sure I’m taking care of my family. Family is No. 1. After the game of football is done, that’s the only thing I have to depend on, so I’ve got to take care of them.”

Although Dallas added a host of veteran pass rushers — including Aldon Smith and Gerald McCoy — this offseason, Lawrence once again resides as the Cowboys’ top pressure artist. He is signed to a long-term contract that runs through the 2023 season.

Seahawks OL Chance Warmack To Opt Out

July 27th, 2020 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

A third player will opt out of the 2020 season. Seahawks offensive lineman Chance Warmack, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), will join Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and De’Anthony Thomas in doing so.

Although not a high-risk player, Warmack has seen people close to him contract the coronavirus, according to the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta (on Twitter). He stands to receive a $150K stipend. His contract will toll to 2021.

This represents more change for the Seahawks’ offensive line, but Warmack was set to compete for a spot on Seattle’s roster after signing with the team this offseason. The Seahawks signed the former top-10 pick in March. He did not play last season. This would have been Warmack’s seventh NFL campaign. The former Titans draft choice played four seasons with the Titans and two with the Eagles.

The 28-year-old guard has been a starter for much of his career, opening with the Tennessee or Philadelphia first-string lines in 51 games. He was likely set to be a depth piece for the Seahawks, who have made several changes to their offensive front over the past several months. Warmack was part of this equation, but he will miss the season — one that promises to be overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like Thomas, Warmack runs the risk of seeing his career end as a result of this decision. Backup-level players will obviously have narrower paths back to teams next year. It stands to be easier for Duvernay-Tardif, a longtime Chiefs guard starter, to reclaim his job than it will be for marginal players to return. But Warmack will be under Seahawks contract for 2021, thanks to this decision.

15 NFL Players Land On NFL’s Reserve/COVID-19 List

July 27th, 2020 at 3:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins, Browns, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Jaguars, Chiefs, Cowboys and Buccaneers have placed players on the newly created reserve/COVID-19 list. Here’s the full rundown, per the league’s transactions wire:

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The reserve/COVID-19 designation is for players who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are in quarantine for potential exposure. In turn, these players are removed from the roster and allowed to return after three weeks.

Ravens’ De’Anthony Thomas Opts Out Of 2020 Season

July 27th, 2020 at 3:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

A second player plans to opt out of the 2020 season. Following former Chiefs teammate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Ravens wide receiver/return man De’Anthony Thomas has expressed his intention to opt out, the team announced.

This will be a voluntary opt-out for Thomas, who re-signed with the Ravens in March. This would have been the wideout’s seventh NFL season.

Because this is a voluntary opt-out, and not a high-risk player choosing to bypass the COVID-19-clouded season, Thomas is set to receive a $150K stipend. He will not receive an accrued season toward free agency. His new deal was a one-year pact for the league minimum.

Players have only a handful of days to determine whether they will play in 2020, with August 3 serving as the deadline. Thomas operated as Baltimore’s primary punt returner last season, averaging 7.2 yards per return for his second NFL team. The Ravens, however, believe sixth-round rookie James Proche can fill Thomas’ shoes, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes (via Twitter).

Thomas, 27, spent five full seasons with the Chiefs. He worked as Kansas City’s primary kick returner for much of his stay, while also playing an auxiliary role as a wide receiver in K.C.’s Alex Smith-piloted offenses. Though, Thomas has never posted a 200-yard season and last caught double-digit passes in 2017. The eventual Super Bowl champions cut him last year, leading him to Baltimore. The former Oregon standout’s contract will toll to 2021.

Giants, First-Round Pick Andrew Thomas Agree To Deal

July 27th, 2020 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants have finalized an agreement with first-round pick Andrew Thomas on his rookie contract, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY tweets. Thomas will receive a fully guaranteed $32.4MM, and the fifth-year option included in his deal would tether him to the Giants through 2024.

Of the several high-end tackle prospects this year, Thomas went off the board first. The Giants using the No. 4 overall pick on a tackle, despite deploying the No. 31-ranked DVOA pass defense last season, illustrates their need for a long-term piece at this position. New York has struggled to fill its tackle spots for several years.

Thomas declared for the draft after his junior season at Georgia. He started for the Bulldogs as a true freshman, protecting fellow 2020 draftee Jake Fromm for the past three seasons. Thomas is expected to start his career at right tackle, replacing Mike Remmers, before being projected to move over to the left side after Nate Solder‘s Giants tenure ends — likely after the 2020 season.

Here is the Giants’ 2020 draft class:

1-4: Andrew Thomas, T (Georgia): Signed
2-36: Xavier McKinney, S (Alabama)
3-99: Matt Peart, OT (Connecticut): Signed
4-110: Darnay Holmes, CB (UCLA)
5-150: Shane Lemieux, G (Oregon)
6-183: Cameron Brown, LB (Penn State)
7-218: Carter Coughlin, LB (Minnesota)
7-238: T.J. Brunson LB (South Carolina)
7-247: Chris Williamson, CB (Minnesota)
7-255: Tae Crowder, LB (Georgia): Signed

Mutual Interest Between Packers, Everson Griffen

July 27th, 2020 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite having made two big signings to fortify their edge rusher positions last year, the Packers are interested another impact pass-rushing talent.

The Packers are among the teams to express interest in free agent edge defender Everson Griffen, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The longtime Vikings defensive end is interested in a Green Bay deal as well, per Rapoport. This marks the second team Griffen has identified as a preferred landing spot. He pegged Seattle as a potential destination months ago.

This news comes shortly after Mike Zimmer indicated he would love to have Griffen back for an 11th season in Minnesota. The seventh-year Vikings HC, however, was not sure where that process stood.

“I know that he texted me the other day telling me congratulations and things like that,” Zimmer said regarding his recent contract extension. “I’d love to have him back. He’s always been one of my guys, so if that happens that’d be great. I don’t know where that’s at right now.”

The Vikings have been believed set to move on from Griffen this offseason, but they did not make a notable investment to replace the Pro Bowl pass rusher. The Packers, however, already have Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, along with 2019 first-round pick Rashan Gary. Adding Griffen at this juncture would not cost Green Bay the kind of money it shelled out for the Smiths — $16.5MM and $13MM on average, respectively — and it would certainly bolster one of the league’s best pass-rushing groups. Though, Griffen — Minnesota’s No. 4 all-time sack leader — would seemingly have a better chance to see significant playing time elsewhere. The Packers hold nearly $12MM in cap space; the Vikings have almost $10MM.

Latest On Deandre Baker, Quinton Dunbar

July 27th, 2020 at 2:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Giants cornerback Deandre Baker has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Baker, of course, is facing several charges for his alleged role in an armed robbery. Dunbar has landed on the list as well, Rapoport adds (via Twitter). Both players will appeal this placement, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post and Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter links).

The Exempt list means that Baker and Dunbar will be barred from playing or practicing, though they will be paid while they wait in limbo with the league office. Effectively, the Exempt list is used to give the NFL time to wait things out while legal matters and the league’s own investigation plays out. Earlier this year, the Giants asked Baker to stay home and focus on his off-the-field matters. The Seahawks, however, were including Dunbar in their virtual offseason.

Baker is facing eight felony charges stemming from his alleged involvement in an armed robbery that took place in May. Dunbar faces four. Last month, Baker was reported to be involved in an attempt to pay off witnesses to recant their statements related to the robbery. Dunbar’s former attorney, Michael Grieco, was allegedly involved in this scheme as well. Baker’s attorney denies this occurred and said his client has passed a lie detector test.

Prior to Monday’s news, the Giants had not informed Baker to stay away from camp. The second-year cornerback was planning on attending, per Schwartz. The Giants traded back into the first round to draft Baker in 2019. He represents their biggest draft investment in a cornerback since they used a top-10 pick on Eli Apple four years ago. Baker struggled in coverage as a rookie but was expected to remain a starter under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham this season. Monday’s news will stall such plans and may well force the Giants to look at possible replacement options — at least for the time being.

Seattle sent a fifth-round pick to Washington for Dunbar, whom Pro Football Focus graded as one of the NFL’s best corners in a breakout, four-interception 2019 season. The sixth-year defender landing on the Exempt list, however, will force the Seahawks to play other corners in his place. Seattle’s 2019 starters, Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers, remain on the roster.

Load More Posts