HEADLINES

Asante Cleveland

Patriots To Host LB Jonathan Casillas, TE Asante Cleveland

March 15th, 2018 at 11:24am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots are hosting linebacker Jonathan Casillas and tight end Asante Cleveland today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter link), respectively.

Casillas should be familiar to New England’s decision-makers, as the Patriots acquired him from the Buccaneers at the 2014 trade deadline. He played in eight games for the Pats that season before agreeing to a three-year, $10.5MM deal with the Giants the following offseason. New York is not expected to re-sign the 30-year-old Casillas, who finished the year on injured reserve, so he could help fill out a New England linebacker corps that also includes Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, and Elandon Roberts.

Cleveland, meanwhile, was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this offseason, but the Chargers opted not to tender him a contract. While he’s never topped 12% playing time on offense and only has one career reception, Cleveland would be a candidate for special teams and reserve duty behind Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots are expected to release fellow tight end Dwayne Allen at some point, but given that he doesn’t have any guarantees due in the near future, Allen could stick on the New England roster throughout the summer.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/17

August 7th, 2017 at 9:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

  • Waived: TE Zach Conque

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

  • Waived: DE Arthur Miley

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Redskins

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/10/17

March 10th, 2017 at 11:30am CST by Ben Levine

Rounding up some of this week’s tender decisions:

RFAs:

Tendered:

Non-Tendered: 

ERFAs:

Tendered:

Chargers Waive Andre Williams

September 24th, 2016 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver‘s injuries and the team’s apparent need for running backs notwithstanding, the Chargers waived Andre Williams, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter).

The Chargers addressed another area of need with the roster spot, promoting Asante Cleveland from their practice squad. Antonio Gates is doubtful to play on Sunday with a hamstring injury.

Williams, who will return to waivers, arrived in San Diego after the Chargers submitted a successful waiver claim for him after the Giants cut him before the season. Considering the Bolts stood third in the waiver-priority hierarchy, Williams could generate some interest from teams stationed further down the line in that pecking order. If he passes through waivers, the third-year running back will become a free agent for the first time.

Gehlken points out (Twitter link) Williams will still receive Week 3 regular-season pay and posits the Chargers could bring him back Monday if he clears waivers.

The former Giants fourth-round pick did not play in a game for the Chargers, and the team’s decision to jettison him leaves just Melvin Gordon, rookie UDFA Kenneth Farrow and recently signed Dexter McCluster as the Bolts’ healthy ball-carrying contingent. Oliver and Woodhead are out for the season with injuries, and McCluster has split time at running back and wide receiver in his career. Gordon’s health continues to be paramount for the 1-1 team.

Williams has a 700-plus-yard rushing season to his credit, in 2014, but the physical runner hasn’t shown much in terms of elusiveness. The former Boston College standout holds a 3.2 yards-per-carry figure for his career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West

September 4th, 2016 at 6:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/15

December 29th, 2015 at 11:42am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves:

  • The Patriots announced that they have released running back Joey Iosefa. Iosefa lasted only two weeks on the club’s active roster. He saw 14 carries against the Titans in Week 15 and ran for only 51 yards. His spot has ostensibly been usurped by the recently-added Steven Jackson.
  • The Giants announced that they have placed 2014 fifth-rounder Devon Kennard on injured reserve. Kennard, who also missed four games last season, has 58 tackles to his credit for Big Blue.
  • The Steelers placed fullback Roosevelt Nix on injured reserve, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. The Steelers also announced that they have promoted linebacker L.J. Fort to the active roster.
  • The Bills placed Marcus Easley on IR, as Wilson tweets. Back in March of 2015, the special teamer inked a four-year pact worth $7MM with the Bills. A sizable chunk of that money – $2.2MM – was guaranteed.
  • Texans cornerback Charles James will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending foot injury, Wilson tweets.
  • The Chargers announced that they have claimed tight end Asante Cleveland off waivers from the Patriots.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/25/15

December 25th, 2015 at 4:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

Christmas isn’t the most exciting day for big roster decisions, but here are the transactions that filtered through today, with updates added to the top as the night progresses:

  • The Patriots have claimed defensive back Troy Hill off waivers from the Bengals, reports Field Yates of ESPN (via Twitter). The team waived tight end Asante Cleveland to make room for Hill.
  • The Giants have placed two players on season-ending IR today, in defensive tackle Markus Kuhn and linebacker James Morris, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (via Twitter). They then signed tight end Matt LaCosse and defensive end Brad Bars off the practice squad to take their spots (via Twitter).

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/15

November 28th, 2015 at 4:06pm CST by Luke Adams

As teams finalize their rosters for Week 12 games, we’ll round up Saturday’s latest minor transactions from around the NFL right here:

  • In addition to making the promotion of tight end Asante Cleveland (reported yesterday) official, the Patriots have also moved linebacker Darius Fleming from their practice squad to the 53-man roster, cutting safety Dewey McDonald to make room, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. McDonald’s stint on the active roster didn’t last long — he was just signed two days ago.

Earlier updates:

  • The Chiefs have promoted wide receiver Frankie Hammond to the 53-man roster, waiving cornerback Saalim Hakim in a corresponding move, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Hammond returned 15 punts for the Chiefs in 2014, so he may get a shot at that job this weekend with De’Anthony Thomas sidelined.
  • The Dolphins have made a change on defense, cutting linebacker Mike Hull and replacing him on the 53-man roster with safety Shamiel Gary, who received a promotion from the practice squad (Twitter link). If he’s active on Sunday, Gary would get the opportunity to appear in his first regular season NFL game.
  • As expected, the Titans have elevated outside linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil to their active roster, waiving wide receiver Rico Richardson to create an opening, tweets Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. Head coach Mike Mularkey had indicated on Friday that Cudjoe-Virgil was in line for a promotion from the practice squad.
  • The Bears have swapped one long snapper for another, signing Patrick Scales and waiving Thomas Gafford, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Having been with the team all season, Gafford is eligible to collect the rest of his 2015 salary in termination pay.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/15

November 27th, 2015 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor transactions, including signings and cuts, from around the NFL:

  • The Steelers have released veteran running back Isaiah Pead and elevated running back Fitzgerald Toussaint from their practice squad, tweets Missi Matthews of Steelers.com. Pead, who started the season with the Rams, was cut and then signed with Pittsburgh earlier this month when Le’Veon Bell was placed on IR. However, the 25-year-old didn’t see any action for the Steelers.
  • The Patriots opened up a spot on their 53-man roster today by waiving linebacker Eric Martin, says Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Pats are adding tight end Asante Cleveland to their active roster from the practice squad, though that move might not become official until Saturday.
  • Having officially placed cornerback Chris Culliver to the injured reserve list today due to his torn ACL/MCL, Washington has promoted another cornerback, Dashaun Phillips, to its 53-man roster, the team announced in a press release.
  • Prior to Thursday’s game against the Cowboys, the Panthers signed long snapper Danny Aiken as an insurance policy in case starter J.J. Jansen was unable to go. Jansen played against Dallas, and Carolina cut Aiken today, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Lions, Patriots, Jets

November 14th, 2015 at 12:20pm CST by Ben Levine

Lions owner Martha Ford sent a letter to season-ticker holders yesterday, assuring the fans that the organization is focused on improving the team.

“You have done your part,” the letter read (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “You deserve a Lions football team that is a consistent winner and one that competes for championships.

“In order to achieve this, we will conduct a thorough and exhaustive national search for the best people to lead our organization.”

The team already made a series of moves, having let go of general manager Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand. Ford attributed those moves to the Lions’ disappointing season, but she also acknowledged that the firings underscored ownerships commitment to the fans.

“You deserve much better,” Ford wrote. “You deserve a Lions football team that is a consistent winner and one that competes for championships.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFL…

  • Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Lions have not hired an independent search firm to help pursue a new president and/or general manager.
  • A trio of Patriots practice squads players will see their pay bumped from $6,000 a week to $10,000 a week (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Twitter): linebacker Darius Fleming, tight end Asante Cleveland and receiver Chris Harper. As the reporter notes, many teams often increase practice squad player’s salaries as a “reward for their behind-the-scenes work.”
  • Since the Jets played on Thursday night, wideout Quincy Enunwa‘s suspension has ended, tweets Howard Balzer of FoxSportsMidwest.com. The second-year player’s roster exemption expires on November 23rd.
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