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AFC East Links: Gronk, Dolphins, Saunders

June 28th, 2014 at 9:15am CST by Matt Feminis

Rob Gronkowski‘s impact on the Patriots’ offense is undeniable, but ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wonders, “Are we obsessing over the right issue? Rather than trying to pinpoint Gronkowski’s return to full strength, perhaps it would be more productive (and realistic) to gauge whether the Patriots are any better equipped to play without him than they were last season.” Seifert spoke to colleague Matt Williamson, who is optimistic the Pats are better prepared this year if/when they’re without a healthy Gronk.

Here’s a handful more AFC East links:

  • Dolphins defensive tackle Jared Odrick is a bargain, says ESPN’s James Wilder, but it doesn’t appear the fifth-year defensive tackle should expect a contract extension this season.
  • Rookie defensive tackle Anthony Johnson hopes to be a teammate of Odrick. While the undrafted free agent faces an uphill battle to secure a roster spot, MiamiDolphins.com’s Alain Poupart profiles Johnson and calls him one of team’s most intriguing rookies. A highly coveted recruit out of high school, Johnson looked like a budding star as a sophomore at LSU, but he did not have a strong junior season. Additionally, concerns about his character and work ethic contributed to him tumbling out of the draft despite being considered a second- or third-round talent by some evaluators. If there’s a silver lining for Johnson’s outlook, by virtue of his status as an undrafted free agent, the “boom-or-bust” prospect now becomes a low-risk, high-reward proposition for the Dolphins.
  • The Jets are hoping fourth-round receiver Jalen Saunders establishes himself as a dangerous punt returner, writes ESPN’s Rich Cimini. A smallish, underpowered slot receiver/punt returner, Saunders flashed speed and quickness to flip the field in college. However, Cimini cautions fans there’s no guarantee Saunders’ skills will translate: “I remember when Aaron Glenn came out in 1994 and everybody was raving about his punt-returning prowess in college. Well, he was a bust as a returner.” While Glenn, a first-round pick, was a much more ballyhooed draftee, the Jets will be satisfied if Saunders can provide a spark on special teams and allow Jeremy Kerley to focus on his slot receiver duties.
  • On the Bills website, A.J. Devine looks at five training camp position battles to watch, including the offensive line, where “An influx of young, powerful linemen was one of the highlights of the Bills offseason. It seems as though head coach Doug Marrone has left every position along the line open for competition and will give everyone the opportunity to fight for a starting spot.”

Dolphins Notes: Pouncey, Moreno, Finley

June 23rd, 2014 at 4:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins’ offensive line, which underwent a massive overhaul following last year’s bullying scandal and general poor performance, took another hit today, and are now expected to open the 2014 season with five new starters along the line. Here’s the latest on that story, as well as a few more Dolphins-related notes:

  • Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey underwent hip surgery today and is expected to be sidelined for about three months, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. As Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports clarifies (via Twitter), the procedure was a labrum repair, and figures to keep Pouncey out for the early part of the regular season. The standout center had also been a candidate to sign a contract extension this summer, but perhaps now the two sides will wait for him to get healthy — there’s no real rush, since the Dolphins exercised their 2015 team option on Pouncey earlier this spring.
  • Pouncey isn’t the only Dolphin to undergo a surgical procedure this week. Schefter also reports within the same story that running back Knowshon Moreno, who signed with the club in March, will have arthroscopic surgery performed on his knee and will miss four or five weeks.
  • Third-round offensive lineman Billy Turner is one of just five draftees who has yet to sign his rookie contract, but the unresolved issues aren’t significant, and the signing should become official by mid-July, says Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
  • Within Jackson’s piece, the Herald scribe also notes that the Dolphins were among the teams to inquire on Jermichael Finley, though it sounds like the club hasn’t seriously pursued the free agent tight end.
  • Former LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, who will head to training camp with the Dolphins, has switched agencies from ProSource Sports to Rosenhaus Sports, tweets Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal.

AFC East Notes: Wilkerson, Tuel, Moreno

June 22nd, 2014 at 11:34am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a swing around the AFC East on this Sunday afternoon:

  • There are a number of Patriots items today. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes that, with all the attention being directed towards Dominique Easley and Jimmy Garoppolo, fourth-round running back James White–whom coach Bill Belichick has compared to Shane Vereen–has quietly put together a very impressive spring.
  • Christopher Price of WEEI.com writes that the Patriots made eight personnel moves between the end of minicamp and the beginning of training camp last year, and similar roster tweaks could be on the way this season. For instance, a veteran tight end like Jermichael Finley or Dustin Keller might be added to the roster, and there has been some speculation as to the team’s interest in recently-released players like Jason Babin and Brandon Flowers (though Price sees New England as something of an unlikely destination for Babin and Flowers).
  • Eric Frenz of Boston.com looks at a number of Patriots-related topics, including his opinion on what he believes to be the team’s strongest position (cornerback), and weakest (tight end).
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com expects the Jets to make a run at signing Muhammad Wilkerson to an extension before training camp, and he advises fans to keep an eye on the J.J. Watt situation in Houston as a measuring stick for Wilkerson negotiations.
  • In the same piece, Cimini adds that the Jets are unlikely to add a veteran corner, and that Jalen Saunders was the rookie wideout that most impressed in minicamp.
  • Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com writes that Bills‘ quarterback Jeff Tuel has made significant strides and will push Thaddeus Lewis for the backup quarterback spot.
  • Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post writes that Dolphins‘ running back Knowshon Moreno has a knee injury that could require arthroscopic surgery, but he would be expected to heal in time for the regular season, if not training camp.
  • Christopher L. Shelton of The Sun-Sentinel describes the path that undrafted defensive tackle Anthony Johnson has taken to the Dolphins’ roster. Shelton believes Johnson, who has impressed this spring, could make the club as a reserve behind Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, and Earl Mitchell.

Dolphins Sign 21 Undrafted Free Agents

May 15th, 2014 at 4:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

THURSDAY, 4:25pm: Add one more player to the Dolphins’ undrafted free agent class, as USC safety Demetrius Wright showed up on today’s transaction wire, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 10:44am: The Dolphins have signed two more undrafted free agents, bringing their total to 20. Former Arizona State defensive end Gannon Conway and Tulane running back Orleans Darkwa have also showed up on the league’s transaction wire for the Dolphins, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

MONDAY, 6:06pm: The Dolphins have made their undrafted free agent signings official today announcing their 18 new players via their official Twitter account.

Here are all the Dolphins’ signings:

  • Deion Belue, DB, Alabama
  • Steven Clarke, DB, Vanderbilt
  • Tariq Edwards, LB, Virginia Tech
  • Evan Finkenberg, OL, Arizona State
  • Harold Hoskins, TE, Marshall
  • David Hurd, OL, Arkansas
  • Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU
  • Derrell Johnson, LB, East Carolina
  • Kamal Johnson, DT, Temple
  • Ryan Lankford, WR, Illinois
  • Tyler Larsen, OL, Utah St.
  • Tevin Mims, DE, South Florida
  • Garrison Smith, DT, Georgia
  • Marcus Thompson, LB, Rutgers
  • Davonte Wallace, OL, New Mexico State
  • Damien Williams, RB, Oklahoma
  • Andrew Wilson, LB, Missouri
  • Rantavious Wooten, WR, Georgia

Ten Players Failed Combine Drug Test

May 5th, 2014 at 5:46pm CST by Rob DiRe

Ten players were flagged for their drug test at the scouting combine, reports Jay Glazer of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Among the biggest names that were reported by Glazer were Timmy Jernigan of Florida State University, Zach Mettenberger, and Anthony Johnson, both of Louisiana State University.

It was announced earlier today that Seantrel Henderson of Miami also was flagged on his drug test.

Jernigan was considered a possible first-round pick at times during the draft process, and still was thought of as a possible late-first, early-second round pick. This news could push him further down day two and possibly into a day three pick.

Mettenberger was one of the fastest rising quarterback prospects in the draft. He was coming off an ACL injury, but his workouts were reportedly impressive and he was beginning to challenge other quarterbacks in the second tier that could have possibly found themselves being selected at the beginning of the second round. If a team was sold on him, there was a chance someone would trade into the back end of the first round to select him.

Johnson was a projected mid-round pick. The defensive tackle was a huge load at LSU, taking on blocks in the middle of the defense.

Mettenberger’s physical therapist chalks up the failed test to a diluted urine sample due to efforts to combat dehydration, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Jernigan and his representatives have declined to comment, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter).