HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Jaguars Interview Brayden Coombs For ST Coordinator

May 25th, 2021 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars have a sudden vacancy at special teams coordinator, and they’re considering candidates from outside the organization to fill the role. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that former Lions special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs is interviewing for the same job in Jacksonville.

[RELATED: Jaguars ST Coordinator Brian Schneider Stepping Away]

Coombs has a few connections to the Jaguars organization. He’s the son of current Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, who worked alongside current Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer during their time with the Buckeyes. Coombs also worked under current Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell when the latter was the Lions interim head coach; Coombs was fired from that position after going rogue on a fake punt, an action that predictably drew the ire of Bevell.

Other than that hiccup with the Lions, Coombs has rocketed up the coaching ranks in recent years. Only 34 years old, Coombs spent more than 10 years with the Bengals before moving to Detroit in 2020.

The Jaguars have an opening at special teams coordinator after Brian Schneider stepped away from the position last week. Former Chargers special teams ace Carlos Polk is currently the Jaguars assistant ST coach, and there’s a good probability that the Jaguars are considering him for the job, as well.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/25/21

May 25th, 2021 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep tabs on today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived: Kamaal Seymour

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: TE Cam Sutton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

49ers C Weston Richburg To Retire

May 25th, 2021 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Injuries will end up ending Weston Richburg‘s career after just five seasons and change. The former 49ers big-ticket free agency addition will not return for the 2021 season. Kyle Shanahan confirmed Richburg intends to retire, via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch (on Twitter).

Richburg, 29, missed all of 2020 with injuries, including a torn patellar tendon, and was set to undergo hip surgery earlier this offseason. The former Giants second-round pick last played in December 2019.

The 49ers gave Richburg a five-year, $47.5MM contract in 2018, and the Colorado State alum started 28 games with the team. He fared well as San Francisco’s center, and his injury threw the team off course. The 49ers used Ben Garland for the 2019 stretch run, which ended in a Super Bowl LIV berth, and re-signed him for last season. But the veteran backup/spot starter was one of many 49ers to land on IR early last season. San Francisco added Alex Mack, who played for Shanahan in Atlanta, early in free agency this year.

After Super Bowl LIV, Richburg was targeting a return for the 49ers’ 2020 training camp. Those goal posts eventually moved, and the veteran blocker wound up on the 49ers’ reserve/PUP list. Torn patellar tendons are among the most severe injuries on the NFL spectrum; Richburg becomes the latest to see his career end because of one.

For his career, Richburg started 78 of the 79 games he played. A concussion ended his 2017 season early, and the Giants ended up going in a different direction. Big Blue has yet to find a surefire long-term replacement. The 49ers have Mack in place as a stopgap. The 49ers will be hit with nearly $7MM in dead money, stemming from the prorated bonuses on Richburg’s deal.

Bears Interested In Bashaud Breeland

May 25th, 2021 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

After two seasons with the Chiefs, Bashaud Breeland has resided on the free agent market for more than two months. A landing spot appears to have emerged for the longtime starter, however.

The Bears are interested in the seven-year veteran, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Chicago cut both Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine this offseason and could potentially use another experienced cover man, having not addressed the position in the draft until Round 6.

Varying messages have come out of Bears headquarters about their cornerback position. They have been linked to interest in fellow ex-Chief Steven Nelson, who played with Kansas City during Matt Nagy‘s time there, while new DC Sean Desai said the team would not necessarily need to add any additional help at the position. With multiple corners on the radar, however, it does appear the Bears are looking for more coverage aid.

A former Washington second-round pick, Breeland started for both the Chiefs’ AFC champion teams. He played 16 games in 2019 and returned from a September suspension to reclaim his starting role last season. The 29-year-old corner has intercepted two passes in each of the past three seasons; he spent 2018 in Green Bay.

Despite being first eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2018, Breeland has yet to land a long-term deal. He agreed to terms with the Panthers on a three-year deal in 2018, but a failed physical led Carolina to nix the pact. But Breeland has remained a first-stringer on this year-to-year career track, having started 88 career games. Pro Football Focus graded the veteran as a midlevel corner in 2020, slotting him 57th at the position.

Chicago did add Desmond Trufant this offseason, but the former Atlanta No. 1 corner has missed 17 games over the past two seasons. Breeland would profile as competition and a potential upgrade opposite Jaylon Johnson. The Bears would need to free up some cap room, perhaps via the restructure route, to sign Breeland. The team has barely $200K in cap space and has not completed its draft class signings.

Steelers Sign Round 2 TE Pat Freiermuth

May 25th, 2021 at 3:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers are nearly done signing their 2021 draft picks. Shortly after they agreed to terms with first-rounder Najee Harris, the Steelers announced second-round selection Pat Freiermuth signed his rookie deal.

Freiermuth played three seasons at Penn State and declared for the draft after his junior year. Staying in Pennsylvania to start his pro career, Freiermuth profiles as Pittsburgh’s long-term tight end hopeful. Eric Ebron remains on the Steelers’ roster, but he is under contract through the end of the 2021 season only. Feiermuth is set to earn $6MM over four years, with a $1.74MM signing bonus.

Penn State used Freiermuth frequently in the red zone; the 6-foot-5 tight end totaled 15 touchdown receptions between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Freiermuth topped out at 507 receiving yards as a sophomore but still managed north of 300 in a four-game 2020 slate. He suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery last November. Even playing just three seasons, one of which abbreviated by injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Freiermuth totaled 16 career touchdown catches — a Penn State tight end record.

Despite glaring offensive line needs, the Steelers went with Freiermuth with the No. 55 overall pick. That certainly reveals confidence he could become their sought-after Heath Miller replacement as a long-term option at the position. Of the Steelers’ draftees, only third-rounder Kendrick Green is unsigned.

Washington To Sign TE Ricky Seals-Jones

May 25th, 2021 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Logan Thomas‘ productive season lessened Washington’s need at tight end, but the team will still add some depth to the position. The defending NFC East champions are signing Ricky Seals-Jones, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Seals-Jones spent last season with the Chiefs but did not factor into the AFC champions’ offense much. He played in just two games and wound up on the waiver wire in January. While the Chiefs brought the young tight end back to their active roster, he did not catch a pass in 2020. Washington also signed recent Chiefs tight end Deon Yelder earlier this month.

The team still figures to rely on Thomas as its starter, but it did use a fourth-round pick on Boise State’s John Bates this year. Washington entered the 2020 season with a gaping hole at tight end, having Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis‘ tenures end in the same offseason, but Thomas’ 72-reception, 670-yard season established the ex-quarterback as a viable starter going into 2021.

Originally a Cardinals UDFA who converted to tight end after playing wide receiver at Texas A&M, Seals-Jones served as a part-time starter in Arizona in two seasons with the team. He totaled 46 catches for 544 yards and four touchdowns as a Cardinal and played a role for a 2019 Browns team that was without David Njoku for most of that season. Seals-Jones added four TD grabs that year and averaged 16.4 yards per catch. The 26-year-old pass catcher figures to vie for a depth role in Washington.

Steelers Sign First-Round Pick Najee Harris

May 25th, 2021 at 1:32pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Steelers have their guy. Pittsburgh has officially signed first-round pick running back Najee Harris to his rookie contract, the team announced Tuesday.

It’ll be a four-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $13.1MM for the 24th overall pick. Harris will collect a signing bonus of $6.85MM. Harris to the Steelers was one of the most buzzed about connections leading up to the draft, and the rumors turned out to be accurate. He was the first running back off the board, taken one pick before Clemson’s Travis Etienne.

Pittsburgh was widely expected to draft a runner early, as they’ve emphasized the need for a revamped ground game after they got nothing from their rushing attack in 2020. They let James Conner walk in free agency, and opted for the former Alabama star to replace him.

Harris will slot in as the team’s immediate starter, and the Steelers are reportedly planning on having him play a big role as a pass-catcher. The California native rushed for a ridiculous 26 touchdowns last season, and averaged at least 5.8 yards per carry in all four of his college seasons.

He’ll now be lining up behind and next to Ben Roethlisberger, at least for one season. Harris has the talent to be a top back in the league, the question now is how the Steelers’ new-look offensive line will perform.

Joe Burrow At Bengals OTAs

May 25th, 2021 at 12:51pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

With each piece of good news, Bengals fans can continue to breathe a little easier. Last week we heard Joe Burrow was on track for Week 1, and now the second-year quarterback has taken another step in the right direction.

Burrow participated in the teams OTAs on Tuesday, as Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic tweets. You can check out a video of Burrow throwing a few passes and looking fairly strong on his surgically repaired knee courtesy of this tweet from James Rapien of SI Now. Burrow, of course, is coming off a significant injury that included ACL and MCL tears as well as some other damage.

Cincy is going to be cautious with their expected savior of the franchise, so the fact that he’s doing any work at all in May is a good sign that his recovery has gone as well as could be hoped for. After practice head coach Zac Taylor said “we are not pushing the envelope,” which means nobody is allowed within ten feet of Burrow, Dehner tweets.

Seriously. Any running backs running routes are motioned out wide to end up as far from Burrow as possible. No word yet on if the team will be layering him in bubble wrap for minicamp. For his part, Burrow said his knee is at “80-85 percent.”

As for his first Bengals passes to former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who Burrow reportedly had a role in drafting, he said “it was a little rusty at first but we got it back pretty quick.” The former Heisman winner also said he’d be wearing a knee brace, something he’s not a fan of, calling the process of picking one finding the “lesser of the evils.”

Latest On Falcons, Julio Jones

May 25th, 2021 at 11:52am CST by Zachary Links

It might not have been intentional, but Julio Jones told the world that he’s basically done with the Falcons. Meanwhile, head coach Arthur Smith is keeping mum on the matter. 

[RELATED: Julio Jones Says “I’m Out Of There”]

“[Players] should speak for themselves,” Smith said (Twitter link via Zach Klein of WSB). “I’m not going to comment, it doesn’t change anything for us. We understand what our plan is moving forward. We have multiple private conversations with our players and those are conversations that are going to stay private on my end.”

Apparently, those conversations have been going on for some time. Jones requested a trade a few months ago and the Falcons agreed to listen. Reportedly, they want a first-rounder for the multiple-time Pro Bowler, but they’ve had no takers so far. Jones has been one of the game’s most dominant wide receivers for years. But, at the age of 32, few teams want to cough up that kind of draft capital and pay out the remainder of his contract.

That’s not to say that the Falcons haven’t gotten some decent offers. Before the draft, the Falcons had the opportunity to trade Jones, and shed his contract, for a second-round pick (via PFT). Now, most of the potential suitors have addressed their needs, which means even longer odds of the Falcons securing the first-round pick they want.

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