Andre Brown - Pro Football Rumors

Workout Notes: Tuesday

November 11th, 2014 at 6:13pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s workouts and visits here..

The Colts worked out notable kick returner Josh Cribbs, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Cribbs is the NFL’s all-time co-leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns with eight.
The Titans worked out former Packers first round pick Derek Sherrod, Yates tweets. The offensive tackle was cut by the Packers late last month.
The Panthers also auditioned Sherrod and Kevin Greene, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets.
Defensive tackle Fred Evans tried out for the Seahawks, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today (on Twitter).
The Saints tried out safeties M.D. Jennings and Kenny Phillips, according to Balzer (on Twitter). Jamarca Sanford was signed earlier today, so Jennings and Phillips probably won’t be coming to New Orleans.
The Saints also auditioned running backs Andre Brown, Tim Hightower, Mikel LeShoure, and Rutgers alum Brian Leonard, according to Yates (via Mike Triplett on Twitter).
The Packers looked at defensive tackle Kenny Horsley, safety Kimario McFadden, and linebacker Chaz Sutton, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets.
The Falcons are working out former Utah State center Tyler Larsen today, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
The Dolphins worked out Jonte Green, Wilson tweets.
The Seahawks worked out running backs Johri Fogerson, Stanley Havili, and Karl Williams, Wilson tweets.
The Titans worked out tight end Dorin Dickerson today, Wilson tweets. The Titans removed him from the IR with an injury settlement in August.

Extra Points: Bradshaw, Brown, Cameron, Smith

October 29th, 2014 at 11:16pm CST by Rob DiRe

Colts‘ running back Ahmad Bradshaw is in his second season with the team, but still feels the pain after being released from the Giants after the 2012 season, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. “It didn’t take me long to get over it,” said Bradshaw. “But it hurt me because I felt that was my family, that I was a big part of that time and I still felt I had a lot of football left.” Bradshaw, along with Hakeem Nicks, will return to MetLife Stadium for the first time since leaving the team.

The NFL has lifted the suspension of another former Giant, free agent running back Andre Brown, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Brown received an eight-game ban prior to the season, so even though he hasn’t been on a roster since then, he has been reinstated after eight weeks.
The Browns are planning to be without star tight end Jordan Cameron for a while, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. With three concussions in a two-year span, the team expects him to miss at least two games.
Jets‘ quarterback Geno Smith might have lost his starting job, but he will not be content being regulated to the bench permanently, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. “I don’t think this is the last of me playing,” Smith said. Cimini writes that the best way to salvage the season would be to salvage Smith.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com wrote that while Jeremy Maclin has already proven to teams he is worth a big contract in free agency, there are a number of players who need a strong second half to justify a high level deal. Among the players at the top of that list are Ravens‘ receiver Torrey Smith, 49ers‘ receiver Michael Crabtree, and Giants‘ defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Gordon, Leshoure, Brown, Reed

September 4th, 2014 at 8:47pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Amid reports that Josh Gordon‘s suspension could possibly be reduced pending a new drug policy agreement, the Browns receiver has found new employment that has nothing to do with the NFL. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN (via TwitLonger), Gordon has accepted a position with the Sarchione Auto Group in northeast Ohio. He’ll act as both an on-floor salesman and as head of the group’s local outreach projects. While it’s nice to hear that the troubled 23-year-old has found some form of structure, I’m sure Gordon is hoping he can return to the field before 2015. Let’s look at some more news from the AFC.

The Lions released 2011 second-rounder Mikel Leshoure over the weekend, but the 24-year-old running back could soon find a new team, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free-Press reports (on Twitter) that Leshoure has scheduled a visit with the Colts. Given Trent Richardson‘s 2013 struggles and Ahmad Bradshaw‘s injury history, Indianapolis would do well to add a player with Leshoure’s pedigree.
After the league announced Andre Brown‘s eight-game suspension today, our Luke Adams wondered if the Texans had known the ban was coming, and if that knowledge precipitated the running back’s release earlier this month. According to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Houston was aware of Brown’s impending suspension — in fact, the Texans thought he might be suspended for even longer than a half-season.
Texans linebacker Brooks Reed, entering the final year of his contract, worked out with teammate J.J. Watt during the offseason, and he’s hoping the extra effort will lead to a new deal with the club, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “Yeah, I better get 20 sacks,” said Reed, laughing. “It’s my last year, and I expect — as do my coaches — to improve on the years I’ve had here. I put a lot into the offseason. I trained very hard. Hopefully, it’ll work out for the best.”
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap breaks down the full details of Alex Smith‘s contract extension with the Chiefs.
The Raiders have reached a $1.25MM settlement with 90 cheerleaders who argued that the team violated labor laws by refusing to pay minimum wage and failing to pay for business expenses, according to Robin Abcarian of the Los Angeles Times.

Andre Brown, Erin Henderson Suspended

September 4th, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

Three more suspensions have been announced today by the NFL, but unlike Wes Welker‘s four-game penalty, these late-minute bans won’t have an adverse effect on any teams around the league, since the players being disciplined are all free agents. According to Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange (via Twitter), quarterback Dominique Davis has received a one-game suspension, linebacker Erin Henderson has been suspended for four games, and running back Andre Brown has been banned for eight games.

Brown, whose penalty is the most severe, signed with the Texans earlier in the offseason, but was let go by the team in mid-August, well before roster cutdowns. Reports at the time suggested that Brown’s performance during training camp was underwhelming and that he was slipping down the depth chart, so it’s not clear if Houston knew a suspension was coming when the team decided to cut him. If the club didn’t learn about the suspension until after the fact, the decision was a fortuitous one.

The NFL suspended Brown back in 2012 for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, but that penalty was overturned since Brown tested positive for Adderall, a drug for which he had a prescription. As Adam Caplan of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter), the reason for this suspension has yet to be specified, so it’s not clear what rules Brown violated. The ban certainly doesn’t help his chances of finding NFL work this season though.

It’s also not clear why Davis was suspended for a game, though in Henderson’s case, presumably the four-game ban is related to violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy — the ex-Vikings linebacker was arrested twice in the last year on suspicion of DUI.

NFC East Notes: Scandrick, Giants, Redskins

August 12th, 2014 at 11:26am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of the four-game suspension handed out to his client, Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick, agent Ron Slavin of BTI Sports Advisors issued a statement suggesting that if the proposed agreement related to HGH testing had been instituted by now, it would significantly reduce the number of PED suspensions (Twitter link via Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports). A number of drugs that currently fall under the PED umbrella would instead be tested under the substance abuse policy under that proposal, and first-time substance-abuse violations typically result in counselling and treatment rather than immediate suspensions.

Let’s round up a few more items on Scandrick and on some other NFC East clubs and players….

Scandrick’s positive test came as a result of the recreational drug MDMA being found in his system following a vacation to Mexico, a source tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Jay Glazer of FOX Sports adds (via Twitter) that MDMA on its own should be subject to the substance abuse policy, but the drug can sometimes be laced with amphetamines, which likely resulted in the PED classification.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap notes that the timing of the suspension was actually somewhat fortuitous for Scandrick, since he restructured his contract with the Cowboys in the offseason to reduce his base salary. By converting a portion of his 2014 salary to a signing bonus, Scandrick will only lose out on about $847K in salary, rather than around $1.55MM.
With David Wilson forced into retirement and Andre Brown back on the free agent market, a reunion between Brown and the Giants may seem logical, but Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets that the Giants seem comfortable with the running backs on their roster, and don’t appear to have interest in Brown at this point.
Redskins GM Bruce Allen confirmed today to reporters, including Jason Reid of the Washington Post (Twitter link), that his team only has about $2MM in cap space. Cap-clearing moves will likely be necessary for the club before the start of the regular season, writes Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com.
Mike Jones of the Washington Post fields a few Redskins-related questions in his latest mailbag.

Texans Release Andre Brown

August 11th, 2014 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans have released running back Andre Brown, reports ProFootballTalk.com (via Twitter).The former Giants draft pick signed with Houston in April and was hoping to earn a backup role behind Arian Foster. However, that seemed unlikely when he didn’t play a single snap during the team’s first preseason game.

Brown was selected in the fourth-round of the 2009 draft, but he didn’t make a big impact until 2012. He ran for 385 yards on only 73 carries that season, but he also scored eight touchdowns. He appeared in eight games last season, compiling 492 yards and three scores.

The 27-year-old has battled injury problems throughout his career. He broke his fibula in 2012, forcing him to miss the final six games. A preseason leg injury in 2013 kept him out of the lineup until mid-November. He also tore an ACL during his rookie season.

Brown briefly spoke to ESPN’s Josina Anderson about the release (via Twitter): “It is what it is. That is the life of the business. I have no idea.”

AFC South Notes: Blackmon, Jackson, Texans

June 3rd, 2014 at 1:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up the latest items out of the AFC South….

The Jaguars don’t know when – or even if – wide receiver Justin Blackmon will be reinstated from his indefinite suspension for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, but the club doesn’t intend to cut him, says Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Although Jacksonville doesn’t anticipate having Blackmon at all during the 2014 season, it sounds like there’s still a chance he could play for the team down the road.
Speaking to reporters today, Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson said his reps haven’t had any contact with the team about a new contract, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com. Jackson, a 2010 first-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March if he doesn’t have a new deal in place.
Running back Andre Brown, who signed with the Texans this offseason, has struggled with injury problems so far in his career, but is determined to stay healthy and prove his worth to his new team this season, writes Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
After weeks of engaging in mock negotiations on a contract extension for J.J. Watt and the Texans, former agent Joel Corry and former Jets executive Ari Nissim provide their concluding thoughts on the series at the National Football Post.

Texans Sign Andre Brown

April 7th, 2014 at 3:09pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans have agreed to terms with running back Andre Brown, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. McClain adds the deal is for one-year worth $645K (via Twitter).

The team lost backup running back Ben Tate earlier this offseason, and considering Arian Foster‘s inability to stay healthy, it was only a matter of time before the Texans added a veteran back. The other running backs currently on Houston’s roster (Dennis Johnson, Deji Karim and Jonathan Grimes) ran for only 264 yards last season.

Brown broke onto the scene with the Giants in 2012, rushing for 385 yards and eight touchdowns. He broke his fibula in late November that year, ending his season. He injured his leg during the 2013 preseason and ran for 492 yards this past season. Brown has also shown an ability to catch the ball, grabbing 20 receptions in 2013.

AFC Notes: Mack, Wimbley, Brown, Steelers

April 7th, 2014 at 9:16am CST by Matt Feminis

It was reported that the Browns wouldn’t hesitate to match an offer sheet for Alex Mack containing $22M guaranteed, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union gives reasons why the Jaguars can afford to overspend for Mack if they so desire.

Here’s a handful of other AFC notes:

Jets GM John Idzik, on the job 15 months, has cut ties with three of his predecessor Mike Tannenbaum’s nine first-round picks (Darrelle Revis, Dustin Keller and Mark Sanchez). Cornerback Kyle Wilson could be next out the door, writes ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini, who cites Wilson’s unimpactful play as the reason he’s on the hot seat. In 2,195 defensive snaps over four seasons, Wilson has managed just six impact plays. Says Cimini: “Clearly, the organization has added competition, so Wilson will have to raise his game if he wants to play out his contract in New York.” Wilson has one year remaining on his rookie deal.
The Steelers “have been able to reshape their roster despite the constraints of the salary cap,” writes ESPN.com’s Scott Brown, who details how the team took advantage of a rule in the CBA that allows teams to hand out veteran minimum contracts and get a cap discount. In that that type of contract, the max signing bonus allowed is $65k, and the Steelers have done three such deals this offseason.
The Steelers’ website posted a free agent update, listing key additions and subtractions for all four teams in the AFC North.
The Titans and Kamerion Wimbley are still trying to work out a restructured contract, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter).
Free agent running back Andre Brown, previously of the Giants, will visit the Texans today, reports Pro Football Talk.

FA Rumors: Steve Smith, Andre Brown, Hatcher

March 13th, 2014 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens will be in hot pursuit of Steve Smith when he’s officially released by the Panthers, and a deal could end up materializing quickly, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Here’s more:

It sounds like there’s a decent chance free agent running back Andre Brown could end up signing with the Raiders, continuing the offseason’s apparent free agent swap between Oakland and the Giants, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
Assuming Jason Hatcher doesn’t sign with the Raiders, the defensive lineman will visit the Redskins, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Cornerback Brandon Browner will visit with the Redskins tonight, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
The Panthers have interest in bringing back free agent receiver Brandon LaFell, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Although fullback Henry Hynoski is visiting the Lions today, he has remained in contact with the Giants, tweets Rapoport.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter links) has the details on the Titans‘ upcoming free agent visits: LaMarr Woodley intends to visit Friday if he doesn’t sign with the Raiders, while Pat Sims and Antonio Smith will visit today.
The Vikings have made a call inquiring on free agent guard Daryn Colledge, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Colledge, who will visit the Rams today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), was recently cut loose by the Cardinals for cap savings.