HEADLINES

Blair Brown

Extra Points: Jets, Snacks, Anderson

October 20th, 2020 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Linebacker Blair Brown had domestic battery charges dropped in July and has since been informed that he’ll face no discipline from the NFL, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (via Twitter). The 26-year-old was cut by the Jaguars following his arrest in May of 2019.

The Ohio University product was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft by Jacksonville. He proceeded to appear in 28 games through two seasons with the team, compiling 17 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one fumble recovered. He also appeared in three postseason games during the Jaguars run in 2017, collecting six tackles.

Last week, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle had reported that the linebacker worked out for the Texans. Brown ultimately left Houston without a contract.

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

  • Adam Gase may still be employed, but ESPN’s Rich Cimini is skeptical that the Jets head coach will keep his job for the entire season. The reporter describes the head coach’s firing as “inevitable,” and he writes that it wouldn’t be a surprise if CEO Christopher Johnson “pulls the plug now.” Following their shutout loss to the Dolphins this past weekend, the Jets have dropped to 7-15 during Gase’s tenure with the organization.
  • The Buccaneers weren’t the only team to express interest in Snacks. Pelissero tweets that the Dolphins recently made a run at defensive tackle Damon Harrison. However, just like he did with Tampa Bay, the veteran rejected Miami in order to stick with Seattle’s practice squad. Fortunately, it sounds like his opportunity with the Seahawks is coming, as the reporter adds that Harrison is “ramping up towards joining Seattle’s active roster.” Snacks, 31, has operated as a nose tackle starter since his second season (2013), playing that role for the Jets, Giants and Lions.
  • Former NFL running back C.J. Anderson is currently serving as a volunteer offensive coach at Cal, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The 31-year-old was a standout during his time with the Golden Bears, and despite going undrafted in 2013, Anderson managed to put together a seven-year NFL career. Following a 2019 campaign that saw him appear in a pair of games for the Lions, Anderson announced his retirement back in September.

Latest On LB Blair Brown Arrest

May 31st, 2019 at 7:58pm CST by Micah Powell

Earlier this week it was reported former Jaguars linebacker Blair Brown was arrested on charges of domestic violence. He is being accused of pointing a gun at a women and threatening to kill her, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco writes. 

In the report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the woman said Brown pushed her to the ground, kicked her in the abdomen and punched her in the face during an argument in late April. A warrant was issued on May 23 for his arrest and he turned himself into the sheriff’s office on Wednesday.

The argument reportedly started at a local bar and continued once they arrived home separately. After kicking and punching her, Brown, according to the report, removed two guns from a safe in the garage before she locked the door behind him. Brown later threatened to kill her and another person in the house.

The other person in the house said they did not see any physical altercation because they were in another room, but later saw the woman with blood on her mouth and a cut on Brown’s hand. The witness did not see Brown point the gun at the victor and did not hear him say he was going to kill her. That person did say, Brown responded with, “I wish I could,” when asked if he was going to kill her.

Earlier this month, the Jaguars released Brown, who was drafted by the team in the fifth round in 2017. In two years with the team, the Ohio University product appeared in 28 games, starting two, and registered 12 tackles and 0.5 sack.

Extra Points: Vikings, Dolphins, Bills, Jags

May 29th, 2019 at 9:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Vikings have added former NFL kicker Nate Kaeding as a kicking consultant, according to Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune (Twitter link). The hire is expected to be formally announced in the near future. Earlier this offseason, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer spoke about adding another special teams coach to his staff, and Kaeding has been working with Minnesota’s kickers a few times per week. Now 37 years old, Kaeding was a third-round draft choice of the Chargers in 2004, and went on to spend nine years with the club. Kaeding, who also spent late-career time with the Dolphins and Buccaneers, posted a career field goal conversion rate of 86.2%.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Bobby McCain has played cornerback in each of his four seasons with the Dolphins, but Miami’s new staff has him working at free safety, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Nominally, the Dolphins already have two starting safeties in Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald, but Jones hasn’t been participating in organized team activities. Reports have varied as to whether Jones is on the trade/cut block, but if McCain is on the field as a safety, there wouldn’t seem to be room for Jones. 2018 first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick can also play safety in addition to nickel corner, and he’s also being worked in as a linebacker, per Salguero.
  • New Bills guard Quinton Spain recently underwent surgery on his thumb, as Joe Buscaglia of WKBW writes. It doesn’t sound like the issue is all too serious, so Spain should be back to practice in short order. Before his injury, Spain was working as Buffalo’s starting right guard. The Bills made offensive line improvement a point of emphasis this offseason by signing Spain, Ty Nsekhe, Mitch Morse, Spencer Long, LaAdrian Waddle and Jon Feliciano before adding Oklahoma’s Cody Ford in the second round of the draft. Spain, Long, Feliciano, Ford, and Wyatt Teller are all competing for time at guard.
  • Former Jaguars linebacker Blair Brown was arrested this week on charges of domestic battery, reports Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. Brown was a fifth-round pick in 2016, and made 28 appearances for Jacksonville over the past two seasons. The Ohio product was cut earlier this month, and his arrest could potentially end his NFL career.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/19

May 9th, 2019 at 8:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/16/17

May 16th, 2017 at 7:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s draft pick signings:

  • The Titans have signed third-round tight end Jonnu Smith, the club announced today. Tennessee has now signed five of its nine-man draft class. Heading into the draft, Smith was often compared to the tight end he’ll now be playing behind with the Titans, veteran Delanie Walker. Smith, who should earn roughly $3.1MM over the life of his four-year rookie deal, has a clear path to playing time in Tennessee, as the only other tight ends on the roster aside from Walker are Jace Amaro and Phillip Supernaw.
  • The Jets announced that they’ve signed fourth-round wide receiver Chad Hansen. A Cal product, Hansen is now the fourth Jets rookie to ink a contract. After posting more than 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior campaign, Hansen joins a wide open Gang Green depth chart at wideout. With Eric Decker coming off injury and still a release candidate, and Robby Anderson facing legal trouble, Hansen could contribute early in his rookie season.
  • The Jaguars have agreed to terms with fifth-round linebacker Blair Brown, the club announced today. While Jacksonville already boasts three starting linebackers in Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, and Telvin Smith, the latter two are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next spring. Brown, then, gives the Jaguars insurance at the position, and will likely serve as a high-end reserve in 2017. Heading into the draft, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com praised Brown’s “short area burst” and ability to “drop into space.”
  • The Dolphins announced that they’ve signed fifth-round defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. Miami was known to be searching for a rotational tackle to play behind Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips, and Goxchaux now figures to play that role. Godchaux, an LSU product, is the sixth member of the Dolphins’ draft class to get under contract — only first-rounder Charles Harris remains unsigned.
  • The Seahawks have signed sixth-round defensive back Mike Tyson, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Tyson, a Cincinnati product, is expected to be used as a cornerback in Seattle after playing safety at the collegiate level.