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Asa Watson

NFC Notes: Hester, Sproles, Graham, Bears

September 19th, 2014 at 12:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Devin Hester was one of many Falcons to reach the end zone last night, scoring on a record-setting punt return and a running play. However, it’s his role as a wide receiver that has him more happy with the Falcons than he was in his last few seasons with the Bears.

“I wasn’t happy the last three or four years in Chicago because things wasn’t going the way I expect,” Hester said yesterday, according to Adam Hoge of WGN Radio (Twitter link). “I would always have a great camp, have all the receivers saying and coaches saying I had the best camp of all the receivers. And once the season start off, I’m not there.”

As Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets, there were a few teams eyeing Hester in free agency that felt the veteran wasn’t worth the $10MM contract he signed with Atlanta, but it’s looking like a good investment for the Falcons so far. Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • So far, the deal that saw Darren Sproles land with Philadelphia in exchange for a fifth-round pick looks like a steal for the Eagles, and the veteran running back is happy with his situation. As he told reporters on Thursday, including Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, Sproles wasn’t initially informed of his impending release by the Saints, but when it turned out that the Eagles were one of a handful of teams interested in trading for him, he told his agent to “make that happen.” Per Sproles, five teams explored acquiring him, and the Eagles were one of the three with serious interest.
  • Within the same piece, McManus takes a look at the unusual case of Eagles linebacker Brandon Graham, who has a chance to make $2.5MM in not likely to be earned incentives, but will need to see a few more snaps to have a chance at that money.
  • The Bears worked out a long list of free agents this week, and Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com passes along the names in a pair of tweets: Blake Annen (TE), Derek Cox (CB), Brandon Ghee (CB), Mike Harris (CB), Lavelle Hawkins (WR), Kendall James (CB), Derrick Martin (S), David Paulson (TE), Brad Sorensen (QB), Jordan Sullen (CB), Asa Watson (TE), Damian Williams (WR), and Kyle Williams (WR).
  • Linebacker Jamar Chaney tried out for the Saints this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). We heard yesterday that New Orleans also took a look at veteran linebacker Pat Angerer.

Cowboys Make Cuts, Reduce Roster To 53

August 30th, 2014 at 4:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Only two Cowboys’ cuts surfaced yesterday, and the team added Lavar Edwards in a trade with the Titans earlier today, meaning 21 players had to be removed from the team’s active roster today. Among those roster casualties were a few notable names, including veteran guard Uche Nwaneri and running backs Phillip Tanner and Ryan Williams. Here’s the complete list of Cowboys roster moves, via a press release:

Released:

Waived:

Waived-injured:

Placed on reserve-suspended list:

Minor Moves: Thursday

August 14th, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll use this post to round up Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, adding the latest moves to the top of the page throughout the day as they’re reported or announced….

  • The Steelers have signed long snapper Luke Ingram, the team announced (Twitter link via Scott Brown of ESPN.com). Ingram was a 2013 undrafted free agent out of Hawaii, and spent time in Pittsburgh’s camp last summer.

Earlier updates:

  • The Cowboys have officially added tight end Asa Watson, and in order to clear a roster spot, waived tight end Dallas Walker, whom Dallas added just under a month ago, per Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
  • The following players were released from their respective teams’ injured reserve lists with injury settlements, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links): running back Ben Malena (Cowboys), defensive end Shelton Johnson (Raiders), and linebacker Marshall McFadden (Raiders).
  • Raiders cornerback Jansen Watson is back on Oakland’s 90-man roster, as his exempt-left squad designation period expired, tweets Wilson.
  • The Browns have filled an open roster spot, announcing today that they’ve signed linebacker Caleb McSurdy (Twitter link). A former seventh-round pick, McSurdy has yet to appear in a regular season game since being selected by the Cowboys 222nd overall in 2012.
  • The Patriots‘ tight end carousel continues, with the team announcing in a press release that Ben Hartsock has been released. Hartsock was one of three tight ends signed by New England on Sunday, and of the three, only Steve Maneri remains on the roster.
  • Free agent tight end Matt Veldman has signed with the Redskins, according to the team (Twitter link). Defensive end Doug Worthington is the roster casualty, having been waived to clear a spot for the newcomer.
  • The Cowboys have signed defensive tackle Zach Minter and cut cornerback Korey Lindsey, per Wilson (via Twitter). Wilson adds that the team is still expected to sign tight end Asa Watson, as we heard yesterday, though a corresponding roster move will be required.

Minor Moves: Wednesday

August 13th, 2014 at 4:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with any additional moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • In order to make room for incoming defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, the Patriots will waive tight end Terrence Miller with an injured designation, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys are expected to sign tight end Asa Watson, who was recently cut by the Patriots, but Dallas will still have to clear a roster spot on the 90-man roster, tweets Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com.

Earlier updates:

  • After signing with the 49ers as a free agent this offseason, linebacker and special teams contributor Blake Costanzo has been placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, the team announced in a press release. San Francisco signed linebacker Kion Wilson to replace Costanzo, who didn’t have to pass through waivers before hitting IR since he has more than four years of NFL experience.
  • The Saints have signed former Giants tight end Travis Beckum to a one-year deal, a source told Ramon Antonio Vargas and Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate today. A third-round draft choice in 2009, Beckum has not played since suffering a knee injury in New York’s Super Bowl win after the 2011 season. He was on injured reserve for the duration of 2012 and out of the league in 2013.
  • Using the open roster spot they created after shuffling various running backs in and out earlier in the week, the Texans have added cornerback Junior Mertile to their roster, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link). An ex-Giant, Mertile has been a free agent since he was cut by New York in May, though he auditioned for the Jags in the interim.
  • Running back Stephen Houston has signed with the Steelers, according to the team’s PR man Burt Lauten (Twitter link). The former Indiana rusher got a partially guaranteed contract from the Patriots after the draft, but was waived by the team over the weekend.
  • According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com (via Twitter), the Jaguars have replaced one center with another, signing Antoine Caldwell and waiving Matt Stankiewitch, who sustained a wrist injury.

Minor Moves: Sunday

August 10th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Rory Parks

We’ll round up Sunday’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Vikings have signed TE Kory Sperry, the team announced on Twitter. VikingUpdate.com (Twitter link) was the first to report that Sperry was on the Minnesota practice field. Sperry, entering his sixth season, has spent time with the Dolphins, Chargers, and, most recently, the Cardinals.
  • The following players have been removed from their respective team’s injured reserve list with an injury settlement, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter): FS Dion Bailey (Seahawks), LB Jeremy Grable (Buccaneers), and WR David Gettis (Buccaneers).

Earlier Updates

  • The Buccaneers have waived safety Mark Joyce, tweets Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
  • The Seahawks have re-signed DB Trey Wolfe and have waived LB Mike Taylor (Twitter links).
  • In addition to releasing Watson, the Patriots have also released tight end Justin Jones, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Volin adds that New England has signed TE Ben Hartsock. ESPN Insider Field Yates tweets that the team has also waived running back Stephen Houston and has signed tight ends Steve Maneri and Terrence Miller.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets that the Bills have signed CB Sam Miller and have waived CB Michael Carter.
  • Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that the Patriots have released tight end Asa Watson. In a separate tweet, Volin notes that the Pats are clearly unhappy with their tight end depth and it appears as though they will be bringing in some “new blood” behind Rob Gronkowski and Michael Hoomanawanui.

Patriots Sign 13 Undrafted FAs

May 18th, 2014 at 4:55pm CST by Luke Adams

SUNDAY, 4:55pm: The Patriots have added one more undrafted free agent in the form of Maine receiver Derrick Johnson, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com. The Pats roster now stands at 87, three shy of the 90-player maximum.

FRIDAY, 4:17pm: The Pats have added three more undrafted free agents, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, who tweets that the club has officially signed Rutgers defensive back Jeremy Deering, Iowa linebacker James Morris, and Harvard long snapper Tyler Ott.

MONDAY, 3:17pm: The Patriots have signed nine rookie free agents, according to a team release. Here’s the full list of the undrafted free agents who will be heading to New England:

  • Tyler Beck, TE, Bowling Green ($1.5K bonus, per Mike Reiss)
  • Roy Finch, RB, Oklahoma ($5K bonus and $5K in other guarantees)
  • Shamiel Gary, S, Oklahoma State ($5K bonus and $5K in other guarantees)
  • Cameron Gordon, LB, Michigan ($15K bonus and $20K in other guarantees)
  • Travis Hawkins, DB, Delaware ($5K bonus and $5K in other guarantees)
  • Stephen Houston, RB, Indiana ($7.5K bonus and $15K in other guarantees)
  • Justin Jones, TE, East Carolina ($5K bonus and $10K in other guarantees)
  • Deontae Skinner, LB, Mississippi State ($5K bonus)
  • Asa Watson, TE, North Carolina State ($3K bonus and $17K in other guarantees)

Draft Updates: WRs, Martin, Gilbert, Savage

May 2nd, 2014 at 1:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to make a minor change to the CBA related to rookie contracts, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, once a player is drafted, he will automatically be deemed to have received a four-year contract offer worth the minimum salary. Previously, clubs were required to submit written notice of that tender offer before or immediately after the draft, so the change will remove a simple piece of bookkeeping, simplifying the draft process.

Here are a few more draft-related items, with less than a week remaining until the first round gets underway:

  • In a separate PFT piece, Florio reads between the lines of recent comments by the Browns‘ and Raiders‘ general managers, and suggests that perhaps those teams are trying to push another club to jump up ahead of them to grab a wide receiver like Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans.
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com isn’t so sure there will be a big run on wide receivers in the first round, tweeting that he has heard from many teams that intend to wait until the second or third to snag a wideout.
  • USC center Marcus Martin has been added to the list of players attending the draft next week, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today, noting that Martin worked out for the Saints this week.
  • Within a profile of SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert, Pelissero adds the Bengals, Panthers, and Buccaneers to the list of clubs who had Gilbert in for a pre-draft visit.
  • Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage has been one of the draft’s notable risers in recent weeks, so Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com explores why that has been the case.
  • More than ever, NFL franchises are investing time and effort into making sure they identify potential character flaws that could dissuade them from drafting a prospect, as Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report details. Teams’ approaches include everything from psychological testing to combing through all of a player’s tweets.
  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post has a few updates on prospects, writing that N.C. State tight end Asa Watson (Ben Watson‘s brother) has visited the Giants, and tweeting that a couple of NFL head coaches have called Old Dominion offensive lineman Jack Lowney within the last few days. Wilson also reports that Rutgers wide receiver Quron Pratt visited the Patriots and Dolphins and worked out for the Jets and Giants.
  • The Jets worked out Adams State kicker David Van Voris today, according to Wilson (via Twitter).