Jordan Matthews News & Rumors

Extra Points: McRath, Price, Hoyer, Taylor

It’s been a relatively slow Sunday around the league, but there are still plenty of worthwhile stories to read. We’ve parsed through an assortment of them and bring you the most pertinent bits:

  • Linebacker Gerald McRath, who played 40 games for the Titans from 2009 through 2011, has been signed by the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Winnipeg Free Press reports.
  • Former University of Washington quarterback Keith Price wrote in this first-person piece for USA Today Sports he will make “close to 60 throws” in his upcoming pro day on Wednesday.
  • The Titans will welcome former Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews on Monday for a pre-draft visit, The Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt reports (via Twitter).
  • Brian Hoyer is eager for the upcoming quarterback competition in Browns training camp, he told Daryl Ruiter of CBS Cleveland.
  • USA Today Sports’ Jim Corbett tackles the issue of finding the right fit for a team in Los Angeles.
  • Former general manager Phil Savage, now the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, spoke with Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and talked about the evolution of the tight end position: “In the classic sense of the term ‘tight end,’ you’re not going to see as many of them in college football now as you would have 15 years ago,” Savage said. “You don’t see the Mark Bavaros in the college game as much as you did 25 years ago. But I do think that teams in the NFL are looking for these guys who can play in space and give you a threat down the middle of the field.”
  • Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor knows his standing on the depth chart and understands he’ll have to compete for the backup job, writes The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson.

Extra Points: Hali, Penn, Prospect Visits

Chiefs‘ pass rusher Tamba Hali received a $2MM roster bonus on Thursday, assuring his place on the team in 2014, reports Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). He credits Joel Corry of the National Football Post with first noticing. Hali was one half of the terrorizing pair of quarterback killers that helped get the Chiefs’ defense off to such a hot start (the other half being Justin Houston). He would have been tough to replace, and it would have been somewhat of a surprise had he been released for cap space.

Here are a few other notes from around the NFL:

  • New Raider Donald Penn went on SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss his tumultuous offseason, writes Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “The way Tampa did me kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I kind of wish they were on the schedule, but they’re not,” said Penn. “I built a great relationship there. But the way they did it at the end, it wasn’t right in my book. I’m a grown man and they could have treated me like a grown man.”
  • Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans is taking an official visit with the Jets, reports Tony Pauline of Draftinsider.net (via Twitter). Evans is considered the second best receiver in the draft, and a potential top-ten pick.
  • The Jets will also work out offensive tackle Kadeem Williams out of Albany, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Williams will also work out for the Giants.
  • Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews went on SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss teams interested in the wide receiving talent, reports Alex Marvez of Fox Sports 1. Matthews announced he will have pre-draft visits with both the Titans and Panthers.

Combine Updates: Clowney, Ford, Tuitt, Mason

Jadeveon Clowney is the talk of the NFL combine on Monday morning, running an unofficial time of 4.47 in the 40-yard dash today. The time is easily the best among defensive linemen, and in fact surpassed the times of most of the running backs and receivers that ran the 40 yesterday. Clowney won’t participate in all of today’s on-field drills, citing a hip flexor, but there are still plenty of combine updates to pass along from Indianapolis:

  • Auburn defensive end Dee Ford was medically flagged due to a 2011 procedure on a herniated disc in his lower back and won’t work out today at the combine. Scott Hanson of NFL Red Zone first reported (via Twitter) that Ford would sit out, while Steve Wyche of NFL Network passed along the specifics (Twitter link).
  • Like Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt was diagnosed with a fractured foot by doctors at the combine, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who says Tuitt will undergo surgery in about a week, with a full recovery expected in six to eight weeks. Ford and Tuitt are viewed as two of the top non-Clowney DEs available in the draft.
  • The Titans, Dolphins, Rams, and Cardinals are among the teams that have met with Auburn running back Tre Mason at the combine, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • The Ravens have met with Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland, as well as wide receivers Brandin Cooks (Oregon State) and Jordan Matthews (Vanderbilt), Aaron Wilson writes in separate pieces for the Baltimore Sun. Wilson also says the team will meet with LSU receiver Jarvis Landry.
  • Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle won’t participate in drills at the combine due to health concerns, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • For a complete list of combine results, including scores in the 40-yard dash, bench press, and broad jump, be sure to check out NFL.com’s tracker.