HEADLINES

Alan Branch

Bills Cut Alan Branch

August 24th, 2014 at 1:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills have released defensive tackle Alan Branch, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Branch did not play in last night’s preseason game against the Buccaneers after being arrested for DUI.

Bracnh, 29, was a second-round pick by the Cardinals in 2007. After his stay in Arizona, he spent time with the Seahawks before joining the Bills in April 2013. Just last December, Buffalo signed him to a three-year, $9.1MM extension, which included a $3.1MM signing bonus. Branch was set to earn $1.85MM in base salary in 2014, $875K of which was guaranteed for injury only, per Brian McIntyre (on Twitter). Buffalo saves just $350K in cap space by releasing the veteran defensive lineman.

It’s rare to see a recently-extended player cut so quickly, but in the case of Branch, it’s not completely unexpected. Even before Branch’s arrest, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com was speculating that the former Michigan Wolverine could be released.

Branch started 13 games for the Bills last season, and has started 47 during his career, accruing 112 tackles and eight sacks. As far as Branch’s prospects in free agency, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News tweets that the 49ers could show interest in the DT, especially since San Francisco nose tackle Glenn Dorsey figures to miss the entire season with a torn bicep. Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that Branch would be an upgrade at nose tackle in the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme.

East Notes: Griffin, Brent, Branch

August 24th, 2014 at 12:20pm CST by Rory Parks

Robert Griffin III struggled in the Redskins‘ third preseason game against the Ravens on Saturday night, and that has led to a great deal of chatter as to whether he or backup Kirk Cousins represents the team’s best option under center. Redskins’ legend Joe Theismann weighed in on the conversation in the fourth quarter of last night’s game (as transcribed by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post) stating:

“Let’s stop beating around the bush. Kirk Cousins has played much better at the quarterback position than Robert Griffin III has…Now, if there was a quarterback competition, it wouldn’t be a competition. Kirk Cousins would be the man I believe [head coach Jay Gruden] would have to go to.”

Theismann continued to sing Cousins’ praises after the game ended. Former Redskin Brian Mitchell, an analyst on the team’s post game show, disagreed with Theismann’s assessment, stating that Griffin, not Cousins, gives Washington the best chance of winning. For what it’s worth, Liz Clarke of the Washington Post writes that Griffin rejects the belief that he has regressed this preseason.

Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:

  • Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com points out the obvious flaw in Theismann’s analysis, writing that, since there never was a quarterback competition in Redskins camp–Griffin entered the offseason as the undisputed starter–there is no way to determine whether Griffin or Cousins would have won such a competition. If the starting job was up for grabs, Cousins would have had a chance to work with the first team offense against the Ravens’ first-team defense, and no one can say how that would have altered the evaluation.
  • Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com reports that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expects a decision from the league regarding a potential suspension for DT Josh Brent “imminently.” Jones has previously stated that the team will have a roster spot for Brent if the NFL allows him to play.
  • Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News writes that undrafted free agent wideout Corey Washington has had a monster preseason for the Giants and has thrust himself into serious consideration for a roster spot.
  • Jordan Ranaan of NJ.com tweets that it will be a few days before a final diagnosis is made on Geoff Schwartz, and in a full-length piece Ranaan describes how the Giants might go about replacing him.
  • In a pair of articles, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post offers a little more on Schwartz, some Giants‘ roster machinations, and he describes the quality performances displayed by a few of the Giants’ younger players.
  • I rounded up a few Eagles links here.
  • In the wake of Alan Branch‘s recent arrest, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reexamines the financial ramifications the Bills would face if they were to release Branch.
  • Marc Sessler of NFL.com writes that Bills coach Doug Marrone is open to shopping for a new backup quarterback. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wonders (via Twitter) if the team would consider Luke McCown if he is cut by New Orleans, as the Saints and the Bills have a similar offensive system.
  • Ben Volin of the Boston Globe describes how the new practice squad rules could impact several players on the Patriots‘ roster bubble.
  • Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe provides a closer look on how the Patriots will pare their roster down to 75 players by Tuesday’s deadline.
  • The Jets released six players earlier today.

 

Alan Branch Arrested

August 23rd, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Bills defensive tackle Alan Branch did not play in his team’s preseason loss to the Buccaneers earlier this evening. After the game, head coach Doug Marrone revealed the reason, stating that the 29-year-old had been arrested. He declined to discuss the specifics, but sources tell Tim Graham of the Buffalo News that the player was arrested for drunk-driving. WGR’s Joe Buscaglia confirms that report (via Twitter). Graham adds some context in a tweet, stating that New York State Police out of Clarence arrested Branch at about 2:30 a.m.

Marone spoke briefly on the subject in his postgame news conference (via Graham):

“It was reported to me that he was arrested,” Marrone said. “I’m going to meet with him tomorrow. I found out somewhere around noontime, midday. I just had too much on my mind.

“I tried to call him, couldn’t get ahold of him. But I wanted to get ahold of him some other way, so I got ahold of him through other people and just said, ‘Hey, I’ll meet with you tomorrow.

“But that’s all I know for a fact. I can’t say anything else.”

Things started well for Branch and the Bills. The team signed him to a one-year deal last offseason, and they soon extended him in December.

The relationship eventually soured between the two sides, as Graham notes. The player didn’t attend the voluntary offseason workouts and failed conditioning test during training camp. We heard last week that the team could consider moving the lineman.

He started 13 of his 16 games last season, compiling 39 tackles. He began his career with the Cardinals before spending two seasons with the Seahawks. Over his career, Branch has 170 tackles and eight sacks.

East Notes: Eagles, Cousins, Branch

August 17th, 2014 at 11:34am CST by Rory Parks

Although there was a great deal of cyberspace dedicated to the Jets this morning, there are also a few relevant notes to pass along from some of the league’s other east division teams. Let’s have a look:

  • Despite Eagles kicker Alex Henery‘s missed 47-yard field goal attempt in last night’s preseason game, Kelly affirmed that Henery is in no immediate danger of losing his job to Carey Spear, tweets Mosher.
  • In reference to the Eagles‘ kicking competition, Kelly stated, “It’s clear in our mind Alex is number one over Carey.” Henery has performed well in training camp, but as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets, if Kelly is convinced that Henery is the guy–and apparently he is, since Spear has not even had a kick in a preseason game–why is Spear still on the roster?
  • In a separate piece, McLane notes that Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry got a few reps with the starters on Friday against the Patriots and that he acquitted himself well. McLane believes that, despite speculation that Curry may be traded since he is not a perfect fit in Philadelphia’s defensive scheme, the Eagles are unlikely to deal the player who may be the team’s best pass rusher, particularly since they did little to address their pass rushing group in the offseason.
  • Jordan Raanan of NJ.com writes that the Giants‘ offensive line did nothing to assuage concerns during its lackluster showing against the Colts on Saturday night.
  • Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes that one of the few bright spots for the Giants yesterday was the performance of tight end Adrien Robinson.
  • Mike Jones of the Washington Post writes that Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins has continued to be a “good soldier” as he awaits an opportunity to start in the NFL. Cousins, of course, was the subject of trade rumors this offseason and will probably get a legitimate chance to establish himself as a starter at some point in his career.
  • James Walker of ESPN.com writes that Dolphins guard Dallas Thomas is now on the hot seat after his weak performance against the Buccaneers on Saturday.
  • Two Bills players who were seemingly roster locks several months ago–Thad Lewis and Alan Branch–are now in danger of being cut, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Rodak elaborates in a separate post.