HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

WFT Cuts Lamar Miller, Kelvin Harmon

August 15th, 2021 at 9:15am CST by Rory Parks

The Washington Football Team has cut RB Lamar Miller and WR Kelvin Harmon, the team announced. Washington has also cut DB Chris Miller and activated WR Curtis Samuel off the PUP list.

L. Miller is the most recognizable member of the trio of players now seeking new employment. The 2018 Pro Bowler, who has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his resume, suffered a torn ACL during the 2019 preseason and missed all of the 2019 campaign as a result. He hooked on with the Patriots last August but did not survive final cutdowns. He ultimately wound up on the Bears’ practice squad and appeared in one game for Chicago before being poached by WFT. Washington re-signed him to a one-year pact in March and has now cut him loose after one preseason game.

L. Miller, 30, actually had a fair showing in that preseason contest against New England on Thursday evening. He had three carries for 14 yards and three receptions for 10 yards and a TD. WFT, however, has elected to move on with the likes of J.D. McKissic, Peyton Barber, and Jonathan Williams behind Antonio Gibson on its RB depth chart.

Harmon, a 2019 sixth-rounder, at one time looked like he might have a real future with Washington. His collegiate resume, size, and upside suggested he could have been a much higher draft choice, and he showed some flashes towards the tail end of his rookie season, finishing with 30 catches for 365 yards. Unfortunately, a torn ACL last July wiped out his entire 2020 season, and the club added Samuel and Adam Humphries in free agency this offseason while using a third-round pick on Dyami Brown. John Keim of ESPN.com classifies Harmon’s departure as a bit of a surprise but notes that the team is comfortable with its other options (Twitter link). 

WFT will certainly be happy to have Samuel, who was dealing with a groin issue, back on the field. Samuel landed a three-year, $34.5MM contract from Washington in March, and his speed and abilities as a receiver and runner should complement WR1 Terry McLaurin nicely.

C. Miller, meanwhile, signed as a UDFA with the Seahawks last year and also spent some time on the taxi squads of the Titans and Cardinals. Arizona waived him in May, and WFT liked him enough to claim him off waivers, but not enough to keep him on the roster at this stage of the summer.

Bears, OT Jason Peters Agree To Deal

August 14th, 2021 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jason Peters will have a chance to play an 18th NFL season. The longtime Eagles left tackle agreed to terms with the Bears, according to his agency (on Twitter). Peters will join the Bears on a one-year deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

The nine-time Pro Bowler will join a Bears team that is transitioning at tackle. Chicago parted ways with both Charles Leno and Bobby Massie, its starting tackle tandem of the past five years, and has much younger cogs in place at those posts. A 39-year-old blocker will now be in this mix, with Matt Nagy confirming Saturday (via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, on Twitter) that Peters will vie for the team’s left tackle job.

Peters said in January he planned to play in 2021, and he waited patiently as an opportunity came seven months later. The acclaimed tackle spent the past 12 seasons in Philadelphia, beginning his tenure blocking for Donovan McNabb and ending it with Carson Wentz. The Eagles have embarked on an interesting retooling effort, with a new coaching staff now in place.

While Peters re-signed with Philly last summer, he was not connected to another reunion with the team. This signing will, however, reunite Peters and Bears O-line coach Juan Castillo, who was Peters’ position coach in his first two seasons in Philly.

The Bears drafted Teven Jenkins in this year’s second round and signed former Broncos swing tackle/injury replacement Elijah Wilkinson this offseason. Jenkins is currently sidelined with a back injury. Peters obviously resides several tiers above each for accomplishments, though he certainly brings age- and injury-related questions. He suffered season-ending injuries midway through the 2017 and 2020 seasons, with a toe injury sidelining him last season. Peters last played 16 games in 2018.

That said, Pro Football Focus graded Peters as its No. 6 overall tackle in 2019. The former Bills UDFA has made 203 starts and made the Pro Bowl with both Buffalo and Philadelphia. The Bears, who now have a high-end quarterback investment to protect in Justin Fields, appear to be somewhat concerned about their tackle situation. They will see how much Peters has left in the tank.

Chicago’s Peters move carrying him into his 18th season will place the Hall of Fame candidate in rarefied air. Among non-quarterbacks and specialists, the Rams’ Andrew Whitworth is the NFL’s only other 39-year-old player on a roster. Only one player has started more than eight games at tackle at age 39 or older — Ray Brown, 2004 — so the two veterans will aim to further distinguish their careers this season.

Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore To Miss Time

August 14th, 2021 at 2:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Neville Gallimore left the Cowboys’ second preseason game early with what looked like a significant injury. While the second-year defensive tackle will be out for a while, it looks like he will have a chance to return early in the regular season.

The Dallas starter is expected to be out four to six weeks after suffering a dislocated elbow Friday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. No tear took place, though ESPN.com’s Todd Archer notes this injury could sideline Gallimore for up to two months (Twitter link). The structural damage to Gallimore’s elbow being minimal will increase his chances of coming back at some point in September.

The Cowboys used Gallimore as a nine-game starter last season, turning to the rookie inside during a brutal defensive season for the team. Despite Dallas changing defensive coordinators, the Oklahoma product is still expected to start upon returning from this setback. However, Gallimore’s injury may well create a need at this position for the time being.

Dallas used a third-round pick to acquire him last year and also bolstered the position in this year’s third round, selecting Osa Odighizuwa. Fellow D-tackle Trysten Hill, a 2019 second-round pick who started five games in 2020, remains on the team’s active/PUP list due to the ACL tear he suffered against the Giants last October.

This Date In Transactions History: Washington Releases Orlando Scandrick

August 14th, 2021 at 11:41am CST by Ben Levine

It’s never a good sign when a free agent acquisition is cut before the end of the preseason. However, after Orlando Scandrick was cut by Washington on this date in 2018, the cornerback managed to put up one more good season before later calling it a career.

Prior to joining Washington, the 2008 fifth-round pick had spent his entire 10-year career with the Cowboys. However, he only had one 16-game campaign between 2011 and 2017, thanks in part to a suspension and various injuries (including a torn ACL and MCL that wiped out his 2015 season). Following a 2017 campaign that saw him grade out as one of the league’s 15-worst cornerbacks (per Pro Football Focus), Dallas decided to pivot towards a youth movement, leading to Scandrick’s release.

It didn’t take long for the veteran to catch on with Jay Gruden and Washington, as Scandrick inked a two-year pact that could have been worth up to $10MM. However, before he even got to step foot on the field for a regular season game, the organization cut the cornerback. On August 14, 2018, Scandrick earned his walking papers from Washington, with the cornerback earning $1MM during his brief stay. Gruden wouldn’t attribute the move to anything that Scandrick did, instead noting that the move was made thanks to the development of some younger cornerbacks.

“It has nothing to do with his play. It was really the emergence of the rookies and [we] wanted Orlando to latch on to another team,” Gruden said “No one could have predicted [the emergence of] [Ranthony] Texada or Danny Johnson.”

However, it didn’t take long for Scandrick to generate some interest from rival clubs. The same day he was released, we learned that the defensive back was generating some interest from the Chiefs, and less than a week later, he officially signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal with Kansas City. During his age-31 season, Scandrick was a productive member of the Chiefs’ secondary, finishing the season with 44 tackles and one interception in 15 games (seven starts). Scandrick fell out of the rotation late in the season, seeing only 12 combined snaps between Kansas City’s final two regular season games and two postseason contests.

Scandrick ended up getting one last NFL gig with the Eagles, and he bounced on and off their roster during the 2019 campaign. He ultimately saw time in three games (one start) for Philly, collecting seven tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

It was a bit of an underwhelming end to Scandrick’s career, but many thought his career was finished on this date in 2018. Instead, the cornerback ended up having another productive season.

Latest On Saints WR Michael Thomas

August 14th, 2021 at 9:46am CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like tensions between Michael Thomas and the Saints are continuing to cool off. Following a meeting between the wideout and coach Sean Payton earlier this week, Thomas is expected to be in attendance for tonight’s preseason opener, reports Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com.

The writer notes that “Thomas’ attendance came at the request of Payton,” and Duncan wouldn’t be surprised if the two are seen standing together “in a show of solidarity.” Of course, while both sides could put on a fake smile for the press, this seems to be a positive development as the organization looks to overcome their recent fallout.

To review: Thomas is expected to miss a chunk of the Saints’ 2021 campaign due to a late-offseason ankle surgery, and Payton revealed that he would have preferred the receiver underwent the procedure earlier in the offseason in order to be ready for the upcoming campaign. Thomas later fired back at his coach’s comments, leading to the face-to-face meeting earlier this week. According to Duncan, the two sides had a “productive talk,” and everyone left the meeting “feeling positive about the interaction.”

From the organization’s perspective, it always made more sense to resolve the issues vs. trading Thomas elsewhere. For starters, the receiver’s trade value has plummeted; since he shattered the NFL single-season reception record, with 149 in 2019, the Ohio State product has run into injury issues on multiple fronts and was suspended for a game for fighting with teammate Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. The past year has affected Thomas’ standing around the league, with two GMs telling Yahoo’s Charles Robinson that the receiver’s trade value has fallen to the point no first-round pick could be attached in a deal without protections.

Of course, Thomas is also out for a while, so no trade would be imminent, regardless. Further, if Thomas does make a full recovery, it makes sense for the Saints to keep him as they look to kick off the post-Drew Brees era with either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill.

Latest On Potential Minkah Fitzpatrick Extension

August 14th, 2021 at 9:21am CST by Ben Levine

Minkah Fitzpatrick won’t be getting an extension any time soon. Since the Steelers recently picked up the safety’s fifth-year option, the team “won’t extend” the player’s contract, per Ed Bouchette of The Athletic.

The fifth-year option locks in Fitzpatrick through the 2022 season, so there’s no urgency on the front office’s part to lock the player in to a long-term pact. After Fitzpatrick plays out the fourth year of his rookie pact in 2021, the defensive back will earn a fully guaranteed $10.612MM in 2022. Of course, this number could end up being irrelevant if Fitzpatrick and the organization agree to an extension next offseason.

Considering the haul Pittsburgh traded to Miami for Fitzpatrick (first-, fifth-, and sixth-round picks), the front office would surely want him in uniform for the foreseeable future. Fitzpatrick has also looked the part of a top safety during his stint in Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old earned his second-straight All-Pro nod in 2021 after tallying four interceptions, 79 total stops, and eleven passes defensed in 16 games. He also took one of those interceptions back for a pick six, giving him four career defensive TDs.

Fitzpatrick isn’t the only Steelers defensive back who’s up for an extension. We learned recently that Joe Haden was pushing for a new deal.

Urban Meyer Not Committing To Trevor Lawrence As Jaguars’ Week 1 Starter

August 13th, 2021 at 5:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Even as the Jaguars suggested in June they would hold a quarterback competition, such a plan seemed difficult to believe. The Jags drafted Trevor Lawrence, the most celebrated QB prospect since at least Andrew Luck, and went through three starters last season.

Jacksonville securing the No. 1 overall pick undoubtedly influenced Urban Meyer to make the jump to the NFL. Two months later, however, the first-year Jags HC is sticking to his guns on refusing to turn the keys over to Lawrence. Meyer did not say if either Lawrence or Gardner Minshew would start in Jacksonville’s preseason opener Saturday in Cleveland.

Regarding the chance Lawrence does not start in Week 1, Meyer said, “I think we’ll answer that as we get closer.” It would be stunning if the top quarterback investment in Jaguars history does not take over from the jump, but Minshew has won Meyer over during camp.

“He’s earned my respect. I love that guy,” Meyer said, via NFL.com. “He’s a warrior, competitor. He’s a fighter. I told him that. I just got great respect for Minshew. He brings it every day, every day.”

This praise may not translate to the former sixth-round afterthought keeping Lawrence out of the lineup, but it is rather interesting this remains a question. Meyer said following the Jags’ minicamp Lawrence was not ready to take over yet but acknowledged the prized prospect certainly could prove himself worthy in camp. Although Minshew was benched last season, as the Jags’ losing streak brought Lawrence into the equation, he raised his completion percentage by six points and finished the year at 66%. This came with a similar yards-per-attempt figure (6.9) compared to his rookie-year number (7.0). Minshew has a 37-11 career TD-INT ratio.

Even if Lawrence takes over as planned, Minshew would profile as one of the NFL’s better backups. The Washington State alum came up in trade rumors earlier this offseason, with the Jags signing C.J. Beathard. But Meyer shot down the notion Minshew was available. And the third-year passer has remained a factor in the Jaguars’ decision-making into training camp.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/21

August 13th, 2021 at 4:54pm CST by Zachary Links

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

Chicago Bears

  • Waived: WR Thomas Ives

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Giants Sign OL Ted Larsen

August 13th, 2021 at 4:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ted Larsen will receive an opportunity to join a new team and potentially play an 11th season. Following a Friday workout, the Giants signed the veteran offensive lineman.

Larsen joins the Giants after making a late-season cameo with the Buccaneers. The longtime guard’s second Tampa Bay stint did not involve similar responsibilities, with the Bucs using him as a depth piece rather than a starter, but he collected a Super Bowl ring despite not playing in the regular season. Larsen was on Tampa Bay’s active roster during the playoffs and logged 38 offensive snaps in the team’s wild-card win in Washington.

Prior to that second Tampa Bay stay, Larsen played spent time in Miami and Chicago. The Dolphins used Larsen as a regular guard starter from 2017-18, though they cut him during their 2019 rebuilding project. The former Patriots sixth-round pick did not stick in New England but has made 88 starts with the Bucs, Dolphins, Cardinals and Bears. While Larsen has been a starting center, most of his NFL experience has come at guard.

The Giants survived an early-camp scare, when starter Shane Lemieux managed to return to practice days after being carted off. Lemieux and Will Hernandez are in position to be Big Blue’s guard starters. Larsen, who is now 34, would profile as insurance.

In other Giants roster moves Friday, the team waived running back Mike Weber and defensive back Jordyn Peters.

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