HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Bears Host P.J. Hall

August 9th, 2021 at 7:51pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

For the first time since his arrest in June, free agent defensive tackle P.J. Hall is drawing some interest. The Bears hosted Hall for a work out, veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets.

The charges of misdemeanor assault never seemed to serious or like something that would preclude him from getting another job. Hall finished last season with the Texans and originally received a tender as a restricted free agent, but that tender was rescinded. Originally a second-round pick of the Raiders in 2018, it didn’t take long for hall to find himself in Jon Gruden’s doghouse.

He made 18 starts across his first two pro seasons, but was dealt to the Vikings right before the start of the 2020 season. He failed his physical with Minnesota, reverted back to the Raiders, and was later waived. That’s when he latched on with Houston, and the Sam Houston State product started nine games for the Texans last year.

The 57th pick of the 2018 draft, Hall turned 26 back in April. In 40 career games and 27 starts, he has 82 tackles, 10 for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.

Giants Cut Ryan Anderson

August 9th, 2021 at 7:34pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Ryan Anderson won’t be playing for the Giants in 2021 after all. The outside linebacker signed with New York in the second wave of free agency, but was cut on Monday, the team announced.

Anderson signed a one-year deal worth $1.125MM, only slightly above the $990K minimum for a player with his service time, back in March. The 49th overall pick of Washington back in 2017, Anderson never really lived up to his draft status. The Alabama product was mostly a reserve during his four years in Washington, but he did make a big impact in 2019.

That season he appeared in all 16 games with four starts, finishing with 44 tackles, four sacks, and five forced fumbles. In 2020, he played in only nine games and had just nine total tackles. Anderson “was expected to compete for a role on the edge,” previously, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets, while noting that he “missed the first two weeks of camp with a back injury.”

When he gets healthy he should be able to latch on elsewhere. Anderson will turn 27 later this week.

Lions To Sign CB Nickell Robey-Coleman

August 9th, 2021 at 4:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

After Monday’s workout, the Lions are signing Nickell Robey-Coleman, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This will reunite the veteran slot cornerback with new Lions front office bosses Brad Holmes and Ray Agnew.

The new Lions GM and assistant GM were with the Rams during Robey-Coleman’s three-year Los Angeles stay, with Agnew serving as the team’s director of pro personnel when Robey-Coleman signed there in 2017. The Lions were the only team connected to Robey-Coleman this offseason, and the 28-year-old cover man will attempt to stick with a fourth NFL franchise.

Robey-Coleman played last season with the Eagles, and while he did not fare as well in Philly as he did in L.A., the Lions will pair him with 2020 No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah and recently added vet Quinton Dunbar. Detroit dismantled its 2020 cornerback crew, cutting Desmond Trufant and slot defender Justin Coleman this offseason. The Lions have now added two ex-Rams defensive regulars this year, with Robey-Coleman following Michael Brockers to the Motor City.

Pro Football Focus ranked Robey-Coleman as a top-20 overall corner from 2017-19, when he manned the slot for Wade Phillips-led Rams defenses. The eight-year veteran will transition to first-year DC Aaron Glenn‘s unit in Detroit.

Robey-Coleman began his NFL career with four Bills seasons, arriving in Buffalo as a UDFA. He has done well to beat the odds and stick around in the league, and the rebuilding Lions will provide another opportunity.

Saints To Sign K Brett Maher

August 9th, 2021 at 4:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints have moved quickly to land a Wil Lutz replacement. After their kicker suffered a groin injury, the Saints agreed to terms with Brett Maher, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.

Maher worked out for the Saints on Monday. He will have the opportunity to relaunch a career that paused when the Cowboys cut him late in the 2019 season. Maher, 31, did not kick in 2020.

A two-year Dallas kicker, Maher spent time with four franchises since. He went to camp with the Jets last year but bounced to Washington, Houston and Arizona. The Cardinals retained Maher via reserve/futures contract in January but cut him in March.

While the Cowboys parted ways with Maher late in 2019, moving to Greg Zuerlein the following offseason, he displayed historic long-range accuracy during his short stint in Dallas. Maher became the first kicker in NFL history to make three 60-plus-yard field goals, accomplishing this feat during the 2018 and ’19 seasons. However, after he made more than 80% of his field goals in 2018, Maher was just 20-for-30 a year later. Maher first broke into the NFL as a UDFA in 2013, but after failing to secure a role, he moved to the CFL for a four-season run.

Lutz has been New Orleans’ kicker for the past five seasons. He is likely to undergo core muscle surgery, and the procedure would sideline him for a few months. An IR move before the season starts would knock Lutz out for the year. If the Saints want to use Lutz this season, they would need to carry him onto their 53-man roster before placing him on IR ahead of Week 1.

Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley Returns To Practice

August 9th, 2021 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time since suffering a season-ending ankle injury Nov. 1, Ronnie Stanley was a Ravens practice participant. Baltimore’s left tackle passed a physical and is now off the team’s active/PUP list.

Stanley’s rehab process ended up being extended due to a second ankle surgery earlier this year, but the Ravens’ O-line anchor returned to work Monday. As could be expected, John Harbaugh declared Stanley “right on schedule.”

This return puts Stanley on track to be ready by Baltimore’s Week 1 outing Sept. 13. The Ravens’ offensive line has undergone some changes since Stanley last suited up. After Orlando Brown Jr. replaced Stanley at left tackle, he lobbied to play that position full-time. The Ravens dealt Brown to the Chiefs and signed longtime Steeler left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to replace him on the right side. Baltimore also added veteran guard Kevin Zeitler and will move Bradley Bozeman from guard to center, with Matt Skura signing with the Dolphins.

Stanley signed his lucrative extension just before going down last year. While subsequent deals for David Bakhtiari and Trent Williams bumped Stanley’s $19.75MM AAV to fourth among left tackles, he remains one of the NFL’s best at the position. At 27, Stanley figures to have several good years ahead — provided he successfully returns from this significant setback.

This will be the Notre Dame product’s sixth season with the Ravens, and his health will obviously be critical to the team’s prospects in a deep AFC.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/21

August 9th, 2021 at 3:40pm CST by Zachary Links

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

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

  • Waived: LS Rex Sunahara

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Waived: QB Jake Dolegala
  • Signed: LS Brian Khoury

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

  • Signed: C Jon Toth

Joe Haden Seeking Steelers Extension

August 9th, 2021 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ Joe Haden partnership has worked out remarkably well. The Pro Bowl cornerback has signed two contracts with the team and has played a key role in Pittsburgh’s defensive re-emergence over the past two seasons.

Haden is going into a contract year, however, with his two-year, $22MM agreement expiring after the 2021 season. The 12th-year veteran would prefer not to test free agency, instead seeking to sign a third Steelers pact and retire with the franchise.

“I would rather have a contract more than this year because I want to end my career here,” Haden said, via The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly (subscription required). “We will see what happens, but we want to get T.J. Watt signed first, obviously. He’s the main priority.”

[RELATED: T.J. Watt Staging Hold-In]

Haden’s age (32) will complicate matters, and the Steelers do have Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick due for monster extensions. The latter is under contract through 2022, however, via the fifth-year option the Steelers exercised in May. The team, which parted ways with several veteran starters this offseason, is due to carry more than $70MM in cap space come 2022. And the perennial contenders are fond of moving money onto future caps to increase flexibility. If the Steelers want to keep Haden, they could.

This will be Haden’s fifth season with the Steelers, and the team will count on him after making big changes at corner. Pittsburgh moved on from its other two primary corners — Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson — in March and did not acquire notable replacements. The Steelers did re-sign Cameron Sutton, but they will count on at least one unproven player to log a major workload in a Haden-led position group this year.

The former Browns first-round pick signed a three-year, $27MM deal to join the Steelers in 2017, and he returned to the Pro Bowl in 2019 — months after signing his second contract with the team. After being largely an offense-oriented team during their “Killer B’s” run, the Steelers have ranked third and first in defensive DVOA over the past two seasons. The team now faces some decisions involving the key principals from this ascent.

Saints Pursuing CBs, Interested In Jaguars’ C.J. Henderson

August 9th, 2021 at 2:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

After their efforts to trade up for a cornerback in the first round failed, the Saints are trying another upgrade avenue months later. They are exploring trade options at corner, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com tweets.

This includes C.J. Henderson, whom the Jaguars may well be dangling in trades. The Jags are believed to be open to moving last year’s No. 9 overall pick, and Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed adds that Jacksonville’s new Urban Meyer-led regime is not as high on the Florida alum (Twitter link).

New Orleans returns Marshon Lattimore, but previous starter Janoris Jenkins became one of the team’s cap casualties this offseason. Interestingly, the Saints did acquire multiple corners — in third-rounder Paulson Adebo and veteran slot defender Brian Poole — this year. Adding Henderson or someone else on this level would certainly change the equation for the reigning NFC South champs, who made efforts to trade up for Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II this year.

Lattimore is under contract for just one more season, but the Saints are believed to prioritize the former first-round pick over franchise-tagged safety Marcus Williams. A trade for Henderson would be pricey; the Jags are likely making him available only for a major return. But, like Minkah Fitzpatrick at the time he was dealt, Henderson would be attached to three more seasons of rookie-deal money. With Lattimore perhaps on the cusp of securing a top-market cornerback contract, a high-end rookie-deal complementary piece would make sense.

Giants Remove Saquon Barkley From PUP List

August 9th, 2021 at 2:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Saquon Barkley‘s long path back toward his starring role in the Giants’ offense featured a key step Monday. The fourth-year running back is now off the Giants’ PUP list, returning to practice for the first time since his September 2020 knee injury.

The Giants have taken it slow with Barkley this year, and clarity from either side in this rehab process has been rare. But this marks an important designation. Barkley will not begin the season on the PUP list, which would have shelved him for six games.

Monday’s status change means the Pro Bowler will be eligible to suit up in Week 1, though it is uncertain if he will. Barkley again declined to confirm he will be in uniform when the Giants begin their regular season, staying on message.

Joe Judge said Barkley will be eased into practice action, indicating a return to 11-on-11 or even 7-on-7 work will not happen just yet. The second-year HC has said the team is taking a long-lens view at Barkley’s return from ACL and MCL tears. Barkley suffered the injury Sept. 18 but did not undergo surgery until Oct. 29. While many players have been full-go quicker in their respective returns from ACL tears, the Giants have stayed patient here.

The team has Devontae Booker in place as its top Barkley insurance option, and the former Broncos and Raiders back likely will see more time early in the season — as the Giants gradually reintegrate their starter. The team also has Corey Clement and the recently re-signed Alfred Morris on its roster.

Latest On Texans’ Deshaun Watson

August 9th, 2021 at 11:30am CST by Zachary Links

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson returned to practice on Monday (Twitter link via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com). Still, it’s not clear whether Watson has a future in Houston.

[RELATED: Texans Pause Deshaun Watson Trade Talks?]

Watson will never play another down for the Texans, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) hears that the Texans haven’t ruled out keeping him. The front office may seek an “Aaron Rodgers type of solution,” according to Robinson. Of course, Watson’s situation is far different from Rodgers’ contract dispute.

The Texans’ position on trading Watson is still unclear. Over the weekend we heard that the Texans are not returning calls on the embattled QB. At the same time, they’ve yet to back down from their sky high asking price of five high draft picks plus quality players. Meanwhile, Watson is still facing 22 civil suits, potential discipline from the league office, and an ongoing legal investigation.

Despite it all, the Panthers continue to monitor Watson and “several” other teams have contacted the Texans about the four-year starter. If Watson is traded/suspended/parked on the exempt list, the Texans will move forward with Tyrod Taylor and third-round pick Davis Mills as their top QBs.

Load More Posts