HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Poll: Will The Buccaneers Regret Signing Antonio Brown?

October 29th, 2020 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

Bruce Arians said it would never happen. Tom Brady never stopped pushing. Ultimately, the future Hall of Famer got his way — the Buccaneers inked Antonio Brown to a one-year deal this week, equipping Brady with the most talented group of targets he’s ever had.

“He looks fantastic,” Arians said of Brown, following his first practice in Tampa (via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine). “I think we had really good conversations today, he and I. He was in the meetings and everything. And he’s working with…the strength staff. He looks in great shape. Yeah, [he’ll be] ready to go next week.”

The Bucs are hoping that Brown can quickly shed the rust as Chris Godwin recovers from finger surgery. Godwin might not be available for their Week 9 contest against the Saints, setting the stage for Brown to make an impact in his return game.

At the same time, many feel that Brown’s volatility will ultimately backfire on the Buccaneers, who currently lead the NFC South with a 5-2 record.

“Mark my words, it’s going to be a problem,” said one anonymous executive who has worked with Brown. “You have no idea the stories we could tell you about this guy. Everything is a struggle. … There were plenty of valid reasons why [Arians] didn’t want anything to do with him a year ago. Unless this guy has completely reinvented himself, and done a complete turnaround, this is going to get ugly.”

Will Brown’s baggage ultimately outweigh his upside? Vote in PFR’s latest poll (link for app users) and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Packers Inquire On Texans’ Will Fuller

October 29th, 2020 at 8:51am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers are among the clubs showing interest in Texans wide receiver Will Fuller, according to Aaron Reiss of The Athletic (on Twitter). Nothing is imminent at the moment, but things could pick up between now and Tuesday’s trade deadline.

[RELATED: Teams Calling Texans On Fuller, Cobb]

Reiss also hears that the Texans are not interested in a full-on fire sale, though many observers are skeptical. Their firing of head coach/GM Bill O’Brien seemed to signal the start of a revamp, and they’re not playing for much this year with a record of 1-6. They’re also in the midst of their bye week, which would give them extra time to acclimate post-trade.

Fuller, who is playing on a $10.16MM fifth-year option salary, profiles as an interesting rental option for contenders. Through seven games, he’s been Deshaun Watson‘s favorite target, catching 31 passes for a team-high 490 yards and five touchdowns. The Texans could parlay Fuller into draft capital, but they seem to be telling teams that they’d rather keep him (and Brandin Cooks) for the long haul. For what it’s worth, interim head coach Romeo Crennel has been telling players not to worry about getting traded.

“With this situation, it might be more on their mind this year,” Crennel said when asked if the issue is a potential distraction. “I’ve talked to them and tried to reassure them that I’m not looking to trade guys.”

49ers Rumors: Pettis, Samuel, RBs, Reed

October 28th, 2020 at 6:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the latest out of San Francisco. More injuries have cropped up for the 49ers, causing them to alter a previous strategy. But the 4-3 team received good news on the health front as well.

  • Dante Pettis looks to be off the trade block. The 49ers lost Deebo Samuel and Richie James to injuries during their win against the Patriots, and Kyle Shanahan said the team is now no longer likely to trade Pettis, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter). Shanahan previously confirmed the team was trying to deal the 2018 second-round wideout, who has fallen out of favor after showing flashes as a rookie. Pettis may receive another chance soon. The ex-Washington Husky standout has played sparingly on offense and special teams this season but has not caught a pass in nearly a year.
  • As for Samuel, he is set for another multiweek absence. The second-year receiver suffered a hamstring strain that will keep him out of Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. Shanahan expects his No. 1 wideout to miss San Francisco’s Week 9 game against Green Bay as well. Samuel has not enjoyed much time to build on his strong rookie season, with this hamstring setback coming after he missed a few months because of a foot fracture.
  • While Jeff Wilson became the latest 49ers running back to go down, the team received good news regarding one member of its backfield. The 49ers designated Tevin Coleman to return from IR Wednesday, opening the door to the veteran back playing in Seattle after a six-week absence. Should Coleman return, the 49ers will only be down two backs — Wilson and Raheem Mostert. The 49ers also designated Jordan Reed and K’Waun Williams to come off IR. The team has three weeks to activate its IR-DTR players.
  • The fifth of San Francisco’s running backs to see time this season, JaMycal Hasty, opted to stay in San Francisco despite offers to leave. Three teams expressed interest in poaching Hasty off the 49ers’ practice squad, per agent Scott Casterline, but the rookie UDFA preferred to stay and wait for an opportunity with a team that has been known to use running back committees under Shanahan, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. Hasty, now on the team’s 53-man roster, has averaged 5.2 yards per carry in three games.
  • Before signing offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom to their practice squad, the 49ers also brought former Bears starter Ted Larsen and ex-Dolphins first-stringer Evan Boehm for workouts. The 49ers, who are expected to be without starting center Weston Richburg until perhaps Week 12, lost replacement Ben Garland recently.

Cardinals Bring Back DL Josh Mauro

October 28th, 2020 at 6:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Plenty has changed since the Cardinals last employed Josh Mauro, but the journeyman defensive lineman is headed back to Arizona to play for Kliff Kingsbury‘s staff.

The Cardinals signed Mauro off the Jaguars’ practice squad Wednesday, bringing the former Bruce Arians-era cog back to the desert. Mauro has not played yet this season, with a five-game suspension shelving him.

Mauro initially arrived in Arizona in 2014, signing with the Cards after a stay on the Steelers’ practice squad. Similar circumstances will lead him back to Arizona. The Cardinals, who let Mauro walk in free agency in 2018, placed starting defensive end Zach Allen on IR this week.

A run-stopping defensive end, Mauro was with the Cards from 2014-17. He made 26 starts under then-DC James Bettcher and followed him to New York for a one-season Giants stay in 2018. Mauro, 29, landed with the Raiders and Jaguars in the years since. Mauro has now twice been suspended for PEDs, with his first such ban coming in 2018.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/20

October 28th, 2020 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

  • Activated from IR: WR Isaiah Coulter

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Bengals Expected To Sign G Quinton Spain

October 28th, 2020 at 5:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals’ visit with Quinton Spain will likely lead to a signing. The veteran guard has been going through coronavirus testing protocols and is on track to sign with the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This marks a key week for Cincinnati’s offensive line. The Bengals will soon have Spain and B.J. Finney on their roster. They acquired Finney, a former Steelers center, from the Seahawks in Wednesday’s Carlos Dunlap deal.

Spain started every game for the Bills last season, helping their run game transform from one of the NFL’s worst in 2018 to a top-10 attack. The Bills cut Spain this year, however, turning to new guards. Spain has started 66 career games, working as a first-stringer for the Titans and Bills since 2015.

The Bengals have seen Joe Burrow pressured constantly this season. He has taken an NFL-high 28 sacks. Left tackle Jonah Williams, right tackle Bobby Hart and center Trey Hopkins did not practice Wednesday due to injury, creating an even bigger need for the rebuilding team.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/28/20

October 28th, 2020 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

NFC East Notes: McCarthy, Eagles, Barkley

October 28th, 2020 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys have spent this week clearing out some 2020 acquisitions, trading Everson Griffen and cutting Dontari Poe and Daryl Worley. Mike McCarthy does not currently have to worry about being a one-and-done coach. Jerry Jones expressed support for his 2020 HC hire, despite the team’s disappointing start.

“One of the, without a question, reasons Mike McCarthy is the coach is because he’s been through it,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via the Dallas Morning News). “… Certainly, we couldn’t have anticipated being at this stage with our team this year. But if I were going to hire for a head coach, that we’re going to be at this stage this year and work through this for the betterment of what’s in store for us for the rest of the year and for what’s for us in the future, I got my man.”

McCarthy has kept Kellen Moore as his play-caller and hired Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator. While the Cowboys’ offense was surging with Dak Prescott, it has cratered without him. Dallas’ defense ranks 30th in DVOA. Jones retained Jason Garrett for nearly 10 full seasons and has given all but one coach (Chan Gailey) at least three full seasons. Considering McCarthy’s Super Bowl-winning pedigree, it would be shocking if Jones ousts him after one season.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • The Eagles are currently down four offensive linemen, each of their three top receivers, their top two tight ends and Miles Sanders. But they are, despite being 2-4-1, in first place in the NFC East. A Jay Glazer report prior to the Eagles’ Week 7 win indicated they told teams they would listen to offers for their best players, but ex-Eagles president Joe Banner said (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Paul Domowitch) Philly is interested in acquiring offensive line and linebacker help. The Eagles have been buyers in trades for years, and Ertz’s ankle injury halted trade talks. Despite the Eagles projected to be nearly $70MM over the 2021 cap, they may again be ready to acquire veterans.
  • On the subject of Eagles veterans, the news is not good for DeSean Jackson. Calling it a similar injury to Dallas Goedert‘s, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo said Jackson suffered a non-displaced ankle fracture and is expected to miss between six and eight weeks (video link). The 33-year-old deep threat has missed 16 games since returning to Philadelphia and looms as a near-certain 2021 cap cut, but Garafolo adds D-Jax does not intend to retire after this season.
  • Saquon Barkley‘s ACL reconstructive surgery is set for Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Interestingly, the World Series delayed the Giants running back’s procedure. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the operation, but since he is also the Dodgers’ team doctor, he was in the final MLB bubble and off-limits until the Series’ conclusion, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. No word has emerged regarding if Barkley’s surgery will need to be further tabled because of Justin Turner’s positive COVID-19 test. Barkley suffered the injury Sept. 20. Despite this delay, doctors are hopeful he will be ready for training camp, NFL.com’s Andrea Kremer tweets.
  • Washington first-year HC Ron Rivera finished up his chemotherapy and proton therapy treatments Monday. While he still has follow-up appointments on tap, per ESPN.com’s John Keim, this marks a major development in the veteran coach’s recovery from lymph node cancer.

Cowboys To Bring Back QB Cooper Rush

October 28th, 2020 at 3:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

After cutting Cooper Rush in May, the Cowboys have seen their quarterback situation change considerably. As a result, they are bringing back Dak Prescott‘s previous backup.

Rush is on tap to join the Cowboys’ practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). COVID-19 testing protocols will prevent Rush from practicing with the Cowboys ahead of their Week 8 game against the Eagles.

The Cowboys tendered Rush as a restricted free agent in March but waived him after signing Andy Dalton. With Dalton having suffered a concussion, the Cowboys would be down to third-stringer Ben DiNucci if the veteran passer cannot clear concussion protocol this week. Garrett Gilbert would reside as DiNucci’s backup were that to be the case.

Previously, the Cowboys were thought to not be on the lookout for an outside quarterback, per Rapoport (on Twitter). But Rush is not exactly an outsider, even though he has yet to play in Mike McCarthy‘s system. With Kellen Moore still in place as offensive coordinator, Rush’s acclimation process will not take nearly as long as it would had he signed elsewhere.

A former UDFA out of Central Michigan, Rush spent three seasons with the Cowboys. He landed with the Giants via waiver claim but was cut in late September. Rush played in five games for the Cowboys, exclusively in a mop-up role, but will be back to help the franchise out in a dire time for its quarterback depth chart.

Texans Close Facility After COVID-19 Positive

October 28th, 2020 at 3:35pm CST by Zachary Links

3:35pm: Guard Max Scharping tested positive for the coronavirus, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. The Texans placed him on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A 2019 second-round pick, Scharping worked as a starter for most of last season and in this season’s first three games. He has since played as a backup.

10:15am: The Texans will close their team facility following a player’s positive test for COVID-19, per a club announcement. The Texans are currently on their bye week, but they’ll be closely monitoring test results between now and their Week 9 contest against the Jaguars.

[RELATED: Texans’ Romeo Crennel On Trade Speculation]

“Late last night, we received notice that a Texans player tested positive for COVID-19,” said the Texans in a statement. “In accordance with NFL protocols, the player immediately self-isolated and our Infection Control Officer and other members of the Infection Response Team began working with the NFL to perform contact tracing. Our facility will be closed today to players for deep cleaning. We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled bye week operations. The health and safety of our team, as well as our entire staff, are of highest priority.”

The Texans fell to 1-6 with their loss to the Packers on Sunday in Houston. As of this writing, the Packers have not received word of any positive tests.

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