HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Eagles Expect TE Zach Ertz On Roster To Start Season

July 28th, 2021 at 10:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Zach Ertz may continue to push for a trade out of Philadelphia, but the organization is expecting him to play for the Eagles…at least for Week 1. GM Howie Roseman told reporters that he anticipates the veteran tight end being on the Eagles roster for the start of the 2021 season.

“When you talk about Zach, it doesn’t take a lot to get him here. He cares so much about this team and this city. Just really good to see him out there,” Roseman said (via ESPN’s Tim McManus). “When you talk about the guys that are here and the kind of player that he is and you think about our young skill position group and having a Pro Bowl player like that on your roster players can learn from, it’s huge for us.”

Ertz reported to training camp yesterday, but the veteran still wants to be traded. The three-time Pro Bowler reportedly hasn’t “forgotten or forgiven” the Birds for their apparent disagreements, and his decision to attend camp was presumably about avoiding fines. Of course, the Eagles would have to find a taker for Ertz, and while they’ve gotten a few bites, the organization still hasn’t found an offer to their liking.

Ertz will turn 31 in November and he’s coming off of a down year. With one season left on his five-year, $42.5MM deal, it’s hard to say whether Roseman will get what he wants. Of course, Ertz’s issues with the Eagles have been extremely public, so teams are willing to wait things out until the price comes down. Roseman’s comments from today could simply be posturing as he continues to find a suitor.

Titans Sign DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun

July 28th, 2021 at 7:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Briean Boddy-Calhoun has joined his sixth NFL team. The veteran defensive back is signing with the Titans, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).

After appearing in 43 games through his first three seasons in the NFL, the cornerback has been limited to only four games over the past two seasons. He stayed unsigned for most of the 2020 campaign, but after joining San Francisco’s practice squad in December, he managed to get into one game for the 49ers, appearing exclusively on special teams.

While Boddy-Calhoun‘s recent inability to stick around the league is worrying, the former undrafted free agent showed enough to stick around the NFL during his stint with the Browns. In total, the 28-year-old has seen time in 47 games (22 starts), collecting 151 tackles, three interceptions, and three sacks. The cornerback has spent time with the Jaguars, Browns, Texans, Colts, and 49ers.

This transaction follows the Titans placement of defensive back Chris Jones on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Boddy-Calhoun‘s ability to play both cornerback and safety provides him a better opportunity at a roster spot, and he could provide some experience to a team that added three defensive backs in this year’s draft (Caleb Farley, Elijah Molden, and Brady Breeze).

Colts Sign DE Damontre Moore

July 28th, 2021 at 7:33pm CST by Ben Levine

The Colts auditioned a handful of pass rushers today, and one player emerged with a contract. Aaron Wilson tweets that Indy has signed Damontre Moore.

The 2013 third-round pick has truly settled into journeyman status after spending the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Giants. Since leaving New York, the defensive lineman has spent time with the Dolphins, Raiders, Seahawks, Cowboys, Raiders (again), the 49ers, and the Seahawks (again). He also had a brief cameo in the AAF during the 2019 campaign.

The 28-year-old spent the 2020 campaign with the Seahawks. He saw time in 10 games (his highest total since 2015), finishing with nine tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He also sat out six games thanks to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. In total, Moore has seen time in 66 games, collecting 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, 12 tackles for loss, and 36 QB hits.

The Colts were apparently sniffing around for defensive lineman, as the team also hosted Nick Coe and Davin Bellamy today. Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so the organization could simply be looking for some reinforcement. Moore will be joining a depth chart that features Tyquan Lewis, Kwity Paye, Kemoko Turay, Isaac Rochell, Dayo Odeyingbo, Ben Banogu, Kameron Cline, and Muhammad.

Patriots Claim QB Jake Dolegala

July 28th, 2021 at 6:54pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots have added another quarterback. The team announced today that they’ve claimed quarterback Jake Dolegala off waivers from the Packers. The 24-year-old was waived by Green Bay yesterday.

More notably, it sounds like today’s transaction was insurance for another QB on the roster. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (via Twitter), backup Jarrett Stidham “isn’t expected back in the near future.” The quarterback landed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week, and Howe writes that the player is battling a shoulder injury that could ultimately lead to surgery.

At one time, it was believed that Stidham could be the heir apparent to Tom Brady. Instead, the 2019 fourth-round pick barely played during his sophomore season, and he fell further down the depth chart when the team added Mac Jones this offseason. The Auburn product will be 25 by the start of the next season, and despite collecting only 48 attempts through two seasons, it’s unlikely his NFL career is in danger. However, it’s looking like he doesn’t have much of a future in New England.

Dolegala actually spent most of his rookie season on the Patriots practice squad, and after earning a reserve/future contract in January, he was waived by the team in April. His best chance of sticking with the Patriots is probably via the practice squad; even with Stidham temporarily out of the picture, the team is still rostering Jones, Cam Newton, and Brian Hoyer.

Bears TE Jake Butt Retires

July 28th, 2021 at 6:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Jake Butt is calling it career. The Bears placed the veteran tight end on the reserve-retired list today (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter).

Butt had a standout collegiate career at Michigan, earning a first-team All-American nod and a pair of first-team All-Big Ten honors. However, he also suffered a pair of torn ACLs during his time in college, and that led to him sliding to the fifth round of the 2017 draft.

Unfortunately for the tight end, it was more of the same in the NFL. Thanks mostly to continued injuries, the six-foot-six target was limited to only eight games in four seasons. After returning from his college ACL tear in 2018, Butt sustained another torn ACL, ending that season prematurely. Complications from his injury forced him to sit out the 2019 campaign, and his 2020 season was cut short thanks to a hamstring injury.

In total, the 25-year-old finished his career having hauled in 10 receptions for 90 yards in eight games (four starts). Five of those games came in 2020, with Butt appearing in 11-percent of Denver’s offensive snaps.

It was only last month that the 26-year-old caught on with the Bears. The organization may have had an inkling that this decision was coming; the team signed tight end Jesse James earlier this week. The new addition will join a depth chart that also includes Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, and fellow newcomers J.P. Holtz.

Davante Adams Wants To Be Highest-Paid WR

July 28th, 2021 at 5:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Packers receiver Davante Adams is willing to restart extension talks with the Packers, but the wideout made it clear that he won’t be giving the team a discount on his next deal. The receiver told reporters today that he’s “earned the right to be paid the highest” among NFL receivers.

“I’m not gonna too far into details about the numbers and all of that stuff, but I like to say that I’ve outperformed my last contract or my current contract,” Adams said (via NFL.com). “I’m going to keep elevating. At the end of the day, however it pans out, it pans out that way and I’m going to think long and hard about how everything goes. At this point, like I said, I’m here for my teammates and I’m really excited to be back. I told you guys before — I’m a man of my word and I’m ready to play.”

Adams is set to earn $16.8MM next season, and he currently has the third highest cap hit at the position (behind Amari Cooper and Allen Robinson). However, Adams’ earned around $14.5MM per year throughout his current contract, and that AAV ranks 18th among all wideouts. The veteran will surely rise on that AAV list over the next year, whether it be via an extension with the Packers or a free agent contract elsewhere. If Adams truly wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid wideout, he’ll likely be demanding an AAV that rivals DeAndre Hopkins‘ position-leading mark of $27MM+.

Just a few days ago NFL Network was saying things were “now in a bad place” between Adams and the franchise. Apparently news of Aaron Rodgers’ impending return has changed those circumstances, even though it seems like Rodgers could still be on his way out the door in 2022. Rodgers’ agreement with the Packers will apparently give them some extra cap space for this season, potentially making it easier to iron something out with Adams. However, the receiver’s demands are lofty, and it remains to be seen if the organization will dish out that kind of money to retain the wideout.

Texans Trade Randall Cobb To Packers

July 28th, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Zachary Links

He’s back. On Wednesday, the Texans agreed to send veteran wide receiver Randall Cobb back to Green Bay (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The deal will see the Packers send a 2022 sixth-round pick to the Texans, who will also pick up $3MM of Cobb’s salary in 2021.

The trade came at the request/demand of MVP Aaron Rodgers, who agreed to return to the Packers earlier this week. Without Rodgers’ insistence, it’s unlikely that this trade would have ever materialized. Cobb never played for Matt LaFleur and third-round wide receiver Amari Rodgers was already ticketed for much of the team’s slot work. Still, Rodgers wanted his old pal back and the Packers weren’t about to say no to him, or Cobb’s wealth of experience. Now, Cobb will join Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, and the other A. Rodgers on the WR depth chart.

Cobb played eight seasons with the Packers, totaling 41 receiving touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards. He secured a $10MM-per-year extension in 2015 — a decent sum at the time — but the Packers let him walk in 2019. Cobb signed with the Cowboys and performed better than anyone else left in Wisconsin.

The 5’10” receiver parlayed that success into a three-year, $27MM contract with the Texans, but that deal was authorized by since-fired HC/GM Bill O’Brien. Cobb was also limited to just ten games. Now that they have slot receiver Anthony Miller, the new administration was willing to part with him.

Cobb, 31 in August, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $8.25MM in 2021 — partially paid by Houston.

Teams Calling On Dolphins’ Xavien Howard

July 28th, 2021 at 3:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Xavien Howard wants out and plenty of teams are willing to help. Two playoff teams have called the Dolphins the cornerback following his latest trade request (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Other clubs have called too, setting the stage for a summer blockbuster.

Howard skipped mandatory minicamp in an effort to get a new deal from the Dolphins. That hasn’t worked — at least not yet. The All-Pro cornerback still has multiple seasons to go on his contract and the Dolphins want him to stick to the current agreement.

“[The] business side of the NFL proves organizations don’t always have a player’s best interest at heart,” Howard said on social media this week, adding that he didn’t “feel comfortable” with the extension he inked just a few years ago.

“We wanted things to work out with the Dolphins, and brought solutions to the table – like guaranteeing more money – that we felt were win-wins for both sides,” Howard continued. “These were proposal of adjustments that wouldn’t just make me feel more respected, but were also cap friendly. But the Dolphins refused everything we proposed…That is why I don’t feel the organization has dealt with me in good faith.”

Howard notched ten interceptions last year to lead the NFL. That marked the second time he’s led the way in just three years. He also graded out as the second-best corner in the league, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. Meanwhile, his current $15MM AAV has him ranked sixth at the position. Teammate Byron Jones is No. 5 on that list — another reason why Howard is frustrated.

It’s not clear who these “playoff teams” are, but we do know that the Cowboys and Saints have previously inquired on Howard.

Giants To Cut Kelvin Benjamin

July 28th, 2021 at 12:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are done with Kelvin Benjamin. The wide receiver-turned-tight end will be released following a Wednesday blowup with team officials (Twitter link via NJ.com’s Steve Politi). 

Benjamin was seen jawing with head coach Joe Judge and GM Dave Gettleman before storming off of the practice field. Now, he’s off the team.

Benjamin joined up with the G-Men earlier this year in an effort to reboot his career at a new position. Gettleman drafted him in 2014 — as a receiver — but he hadn’t shown his first-round potential in years. At 6’5″ and 245 pounds, Benjamin has the bulk to play TE. However, he’ll have to try his hand somewhere else now.

In his first pro season, Benjamin had 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. After missing 2015 with a torn ACL, he had 941 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016. He was traded to the Bills midway through the 2017 season, and his career went downhill quickly after that.

With Evan Engram and free agent acquisition Kyle Rudolph, the Giants don’t necessarily need Benjamin or the drama.

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