HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

49ers Cut James Burgess

August 16th, 2021 at 2:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As teams trim down to 85 players, it’s mostly been smaller-name UDFA types getting let go so far. But some relatively well known veterans are also getting the boot, including James Burgess.

The 49ers announced they were cutting the linebacker on Monday. Burgess signed with the team back in May, but the addition over the weekend of fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks made him expendable. A 2016 UDFA from Louisville, Burgess became a nine-game starter for the Browns in 2017.

He eventually latched on with the Jets as a waiver claim, and started 10 games in New York in 2019. Let go again at final cuts in 2020, he spent some time on the Falcons’ practice squad and played in a few games with the Packers. Despite having already been on the roster for nine different NFL teams, Burgess is still only 27.

He’s always managed to resurface quickly in the past, so don’t be surprised if he does again this season.

Texans To Trade Keion Crossen To Giants

August 16th, 2021 at 1:58pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

A trade! On a day where a bunch of bottom of the roster guys are getting let go as NFL teams trim their rosters to 85 players, the Texans and Giants made time to work out a deal.

Houston is sending cornerback Keion Crossen to New York, a source told Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus (Twitter link). In exchange the Giants will send back a 2023 sixth-round pick, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets. Crossen originally entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Patriots in 2018. He won Super Bowl LIII with the team, but was traded to the Texans the following August.

Although he’s a cornerback and actually started four games on defense for Houston this past year, he’s mostly known as a special teams standout. As many were quick to point out, Giants head coach Joe Judge was Crossen’s special teams coordinator his rookie season in New England.

His first two years as a pro he was almost exclusively a special teams guy, but last season he was pressed into some action for an undermanned Houston defense and finished with 46 tackles and five passes defended.

Cardinals Cut RB Ito Smith, 3 Others

August 16th, 2021 at 1:35pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As teams are required to cut their rosters down to 85 players by tomorrow, more guys are getting shown the door. Veteran running back Ito Smith was one of the latest casualties as the Cardinals announced his release on Monday.

Arizona also cut receivers Aleva Hifo and JoJo Ward, and defensive tackle Darius Kilgo. Smith was released by the Falcons back in April, and only latched on with the Cardinals last week. He had previously worked out for the Giants. The 2018 fourth-round pick spent his first four professional seasons in Atlanta, and operated as their lead back for stretches during the 2018 and 2020 seasons.

As a rookie he got his most extensive run, carrying the ball 90 times for 315 yards and four touchdowns, adding 27 receptions for another 152 yards. This past season he rushed 63 times for 268 yards and one touchdown, with 17 catches for 75 yards. Hifo and Ward are both 2020 UDFAs, from BYU and Hawaii respectively.

Kilgo is a 2015 sixth-round pick of the Broncos who is notable for winning back to back rings in Super Bowl 50 and then LI with the Broncos and Patriots. He also just signed in the desert last week.

Chargers Cut P Lachlan Edwards, 2 Others

August 16th, 2021 at 12:29pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chargers trimmed down the roster a bit on Monday, making a couple of special teams moves. Los Angeles has cut punter Lachlan Edwards, kicker Alex Kessman, and receiver Michael Bandy, the team announced.

Edwards was drafted by the Jets in the seventh round in 2016, and spent the next four seasons as New York’s punter. He wasn’t re-signed after the 2019 season, and after a short stint with Buffalo landed on the Chargers’ practice squad late last year. His release means that Los Angeles will be rolling with Ty Long as their punter for the third straight season.

Meanwhile, the release of Kessman doesn’t ensure Michael Badgley has won the kicking job, because he still has Tristan Vizcaino to compete with. Kessman was a rookie UDFA from Pitt.

Bandy played college ball at the University of San Diego, but then began a career in rugby after finding no pro opportunities. Time in The Spring League earned him the opportunity with the Chargers.

Seahawks’ Jamal Adams To Seek LB Designation?

August 16th, 2021 at 11:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks can franchise tag Jamal Adams next year for an estimated $13-14MM. At least, that’s the case if Adams is considered a safety. If there’s no deal in place between now and next spring, Adams will argue that he should be classified as a linebacker (via PFT). 

There is precedent for this sort of thing — multiple linebackers have managed to get classified as defensive ends, adding millions to their franchise tag salaries. Adams’ odds will largely hinge on how the Seahawks use him in 2021. If he sees more snaps at safety than linebacker, then he’ll be fighting an uphill battle. But, if it’s the other way around, Adams could see a tag worth nearly $18MM in 2022, perhaps $4MM more than the safety tag.

Beyond that, Adams would increase his leverage significantly. A 20% bump in 2023 ~would put him at about $21.5MM, giving him $10MM more in total between ’22 and ’23. That’d be a much stronger starting point for negotiations for Adams’ camp.

At last check, the Seahawks offered Adams a four-year, $70MM deal with $38MM guaranteed. That’d keep Bobby Wagner as Seattle’s highest-paid defender while making Adams the NFL’s highest-paid safety by a healthy margin — about $2MM/year over Justin Simmons. Adams’ camp, meanwhile, wants $40MM guaranteed with all of the bonus money paid out in the first three years, rather than across all four.

Seahawks Won’t Negotiate With Jamal Adams

August 16th, 2021 at 8:44am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are “truly done” negotiating with Jamal Adams, according to a league source who spoke with PFT. After their latest offer, the Seahawks are fully prepared to let Adams play out his option year. 

[RELATED: Latest On Seahawks, Brown]

After that, the Seahawks can franchise tag him twice to keep him under club control through 2023. (Technically, they could franchise tag him three times, but the rate for the 2024 season would be a cap killer.) As it stands, Adams is slated to make $9.86MM in 2021 — an absolute steal for a safety of his caliber. We won’t know the 2022 franchise tag numbers until next spring, but it’d likely cost the Seahawks under $14MM to cuff Adams for next year. Beyond that, they’d be looking at a 20% increase — somewhere in the $16MM neighborhood — for 2023. Those figures would be costly, but still favorable for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks have reportedly offered Adams a four-year, $70MM deal with $38MM guaranteed. That’d keep Bobby Wagner as Seattle’s highest-paid defender while making Adams the NFL’s highest-paid safety by a healthy margin — about $2MM/year over Landon Collins. Adams’ camp countered with $40MM guaranteed and bonus money to be paid out in the deal’s first three years, rather than across all four.

The gap between the two sides is slimmer than its ever been, but the Seahawks say they won’t budge any furhter.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/21

August 16th, 2021 at 8:32am CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Waived: OL Bryce Hargrove, LB George Obinna
  • Reverted to IR: WR J’Mon Moore

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

  • Waived: OL Gage Cervenka, DB Dionte Ruffin, WR Jester Weah

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: WR Reece Horn, WR Riley Lees

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Waived: K Austin MacGinnis, LB Derrick Moncrief, T Ryan Pope, OLB Max Roberts, DL George Silvanic
  • Released from IR: DB Dayan Lake

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Waived/injured: K Riley Patterson, WR Blake Proehl

New York Giants

  • Signed: QB Brian Lewerke
  • Waived/injured: QB Clayton Thorson
  • Placed on IR: LB TJ Brunson, OL Kyle Murphy, S Joshua Kalu

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Saints Cut Prince Amukamara

August 16th, 2021 at 8:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have released cornerback Prince Amukamara, as ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett tweets. The cornerback joins defensive end Noah Spence and a handful of other ex-Saints in free agency. 

Amukamara was the No. 19 overall pick in 2011 but he’s been inconsistent throughout his career. He was originally drafted by the Giants and won Super Bowl XLVI with the team as a rookie. After five up-and-down years, he moved on to the Jaguars and the Bears. He spent three years as a full-time starter in Chicago and earned a $27MM extension along the way, but didn’t make it to the end of the deal.

The corner spent 2020 with the Cardinals’ practice squad last year but didn’t appear in a game. The Saints gave him a shot a few weeks ago, but he didn’t quite impress on the practice field. Now, the Saints will continue to look for cornerback help with a possible suspension looming for star Marshon Lattimore.

The Saints may pursue Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson in the coming days. But, for now, they’re banking on third-round corner Paulson Adebo, slot corner Brian Poole, and Lattimore’s continued availability.

Sean Payton: Saints Likely To Add CB Help

August 15th, 2021 at 7:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Patrick Robinson did not play a big role with the Saints upon returning to the team that drafted him, the since-retired cornerback was receiving extensive work in training camp and on track to play a big role. Robinson’s retirement has left the Saints even thinner at cornerback.

Marshon Lattimore faces a possible suspension for his March arrest. That prospect would leave New Orleans extremely vulnerable at corner. Sean Payton said in April cornerback was a position the team must upgrade. Following Robinson’s retirement nearly four months later, Payton called corner a “must” position and said a notable acquisition at this spot will likely take place ahead of the season.

“Yeah, we’re paying close attention to that,” Payton said of cornerbacks potentially available (via ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano). “And I would say there’s a good chance for us maybe that player may or may not be in the building right now.”

Certainly not shy about taking big swings in trades, the Saints are believed to be one of the teams interested in Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson. New Orleans tried to trade up for Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II in the first round but could not find a team willing to accept its offer to move into the top 10. The team did draft Stanford’s Paulson Adebo in Round 3, but after releasing previous starter Janoris Jenkins and seeing Robinson retire, the Saints are light on proven options opposite Lattimore.

The Saints signed slot corner Brian Poole and Prince Amukamara, but the veteran boundary defender did not play last season. Prior to Richard Sherman‘s arrest last month, the Saints were linked to the outside corner in free agency. Sherman remains available, though the 33-year-old defender faces legal issues presently. Josh Norman, Dre Kirkpatrick and now Quinton Dunbar are also available. The Saints met with Kirkpatrick in June.

Former Jets Head Coach Joe Walton Dies

August 15th, 2021 at 7:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Jets head coach and longtime Robert Morris leader Joe Walton died Sunday. He was 85. Walton spent 20 years coaching at Robert Morris, launching the Division I-FCS school’s football program after a decades-long stay as an NFL head coach and assistant.

Walton will be best known for his time with the Jets in the 1980s. He spent nine seasons with the Jets during the decade, taking over as Gang Green’s offensive coordinator in 1981 and rising to their head coach post in 1983. Walton coached the Jets for seven seasons.

After his playing career concluded, Walton moved into scouting and then coaching. He worked as a Giants scout or assistant for nine years and moved to Washington as an assistant later in 1974. Walton worked under both George Allen and Jack Pardee in Washington, becoming the team’s offensive coordinator in 1978 — when the franchise was breaking in new starting quarterback Joe Theismann — before moving to New York.

Walton went 53-57-1 as Jets head coach. Only Weeb Ewbank won more games with the Jets. The Jets, who advanced to the 1982 AFC championship game with Walton as OC, made the playoffs in 1985 and ’86. While the the Jets of this period were known more for their pass rush, they ranked seventh on offense in 1985 and went 11-5. In 1986, they went 10-6, had two 1,000-yard receivers (Al Toon and Wesley Walker) and nearly upset the Browns in a double-overtime divisional-round defeat.

After Walton’s Jets run ended, the Beaver Falls, Pa., native concluded his NFL coaching tenure as the Steelers’ OC in Chuck Noll‘s final two seasons. Walton stepped down from his Robert Morris post after the 2013 season. The Colonials now play at Joe Walton Stadium.

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