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Bradley Roby

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Hughlett, Chargers

October 18th, 2014 at 2:03pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Broncos were expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL coming into the season after winning the AFC in 2013. They brought back most key components of a record-breaking offense, but the difference this year is on the defensive side of the ball, writes ESPN Insider Aaron Schatz.

The newfound strength of the defense has been with a few offseason additions. The team signed Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, and DeMarcus Ware, and selected Bradley Roby in the first round of the NFL Draft. The defense has been far improved with these new players.

Here are some other words from around the AFC West:

  • The Broncos have a big list of impending free agents, leading to questions about how long their window to win a championship will be open. Mike Klis of the Denver Post is not overly worried, noting that a number of the free agents are restricted and that the teams will be able to lock up the big pieces like Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas.
  • The Chiefs tried out long snapper Charley Hughlett yesterday, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The Chargers are favored to beat the Chiefs this weekend, and part of the reason they have been able to succeed is the improvements they made on defense. Two additions in the secondary are big reason for that. First-round pick Jason Verrett has been phenomenal, and former Chief Brandon Flowers has had a career resurgence in San Diego, as Joel Thorman and John Gennaro noted in a Q&A on ArrowPride.com. “The biggest difference between last year’s team and this year’s Chargers is that the secondary went from atrocious to above-average with the additions of Brandon Flowers and Verrett,” said Gennaro.

Broncos Sign First-Rounder Bradley Roby

June 10th, 2014 at 2:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos have signed first-round cornerback Bradley Roby to his rookie contract, the team announced today in a press release. The move ensures that Denver has now locked up its entire 2014 draft class, as Roby was the last of the club’s six selections to put pen to paper.

“When we looked at the board, No. 1, he was the top guy on our board,” GM John Elway said of Roby during the draft. “When we talked about immediate help and a talented guy like that, he’s the guy that would have the biggest impact on us. So that even made it more of a thrill for us that he was still there.”

The 31st overall pick last month, Roby is in line for a signing bonus worth about $3.376MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com. The overall four-year value of the contract for the Ohio State product will be in the neighborhood of $6.953MM, and the deal will include a fifth-year club option for 2018.

As our draft pick signing tracker shows, with Roby now under contract, only 12 first-round picks remain unsigned.

Broncos Sign Cody Latimer, Two Others

June 2nd, 2014 at 3:50pm CST by Luke Adams

3:50pm: Paradis has also signed his four-year deal, the team announced in a press release. The offensive lineman is the 200th of 256 total draftees to reach an agreement.

3:38pm: One of the NFL’s two teams that had yet to sign any draftees coming into the day, the Broncos have sprung into action, locking up a pair of picks and working on deals with two more. Second-round receiver Cody Latimer announced on Twitter that he has signed his rookie contract with Denver, and the club confirmed in a press release that seventh-round linebacker Corey Nelson has also inked his deal.

In addition to the pair of draftees who already signed, the Broncos are also closing in on agreements with fifth-round linebacker Lamin Barrow and sixth-round center Matt Paradis, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Klis adds that the club’s other two drafted players – first-round cornerback Bradley Roby and third-round tackle Michael Schofield – are expected to complete their respective deals within the next 10 days or so.

Latimer will be in line for a signing bonus worth about $1.017MM, while Nelson’s will be a more modest $48.6K, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. Now that Denver has secured two of its draftees, the Rams are the league’s only club without any draft picks under contract. As our tracker shows, only 57 players remain unsigned, and 11 of those are St. Louis’ picks.

AFC West Notes: Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos

May 11th, 2014 at 10:17am CST by Peter Sowards

With only six draft choices after the trade for quarterback Alex Smith, the Chiefs had limited resources with which to augment the roster. But, general manager John Dorsey felt fortunate to grab the players available, writes Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star.

“That board, it falls in unique ways if you have a degree of patience,” Dorsey said. “I thought today we were very lucky because each one of these guys fell in their respective rounds, and each time they fell and each time we selected them, the more we got excited.” 

One of those players was Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, whom the team selected in the fifth round, No. 163 overall. It’s an interesting selection, especially with incumbent starter Smith in contract negotiations with the team, and rumors that the talks aren’t going so well.

“This time, you’re excited about all the guys we’ve got, all the additions to the team,” Smith said, per Randy Covitz of The Kansas City Star. “Time will only tell, It’s time to get to work and get those guys in and see.”

More from the AFC West below…

  • Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie strayed from his usual ways and took players with character risks, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Utah cornerback Keith McGill, a fourth-round selection, was arrested in 2012 on suspicion of DUI and possession of stolen property. Seventh-round pick Shelby Harris has been dismissed from two schools and hasn’t played a game since 2012. “It’s twofold,” McKenzie said of the reasoning for drafting players with questionable backgrounds. “One, the selection is always a chance for a player to redeem himself. When we get a situation where you give a player an opportunity, a second chance, especially when, as of late, the issues have not been like it was in the past for them.” 
  • In a separate article, Bair writes that the McKenzie and the Raiders hoped to trade down throughout the draft but were unable to find willing partners.
  • Not wanting to reach for need, the Raiders didn’t take a receiver in the draft, Bair notes. “The receivers at that time (No. 5 and 36 overall) were not high on the board,” McKenzie said. “We’re not going to reach down and take a receiver. I would have liked to (draft) a receiver. I would have. It just didn’t fall that way.”
  • All five picks on day 3 of the draft for the Raiders were defensive players, Associated Press writer Josh Dubow scribed.
  • New Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer is among the best blocking receivers the team has ever evaluated, Denver GM John Elway said via Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post.
  • First-round pick Bradley Roby should expect to play a key role in the Broncos‘ efforts to return to the Super Bowl, Mike Klis of The Denver Post writes.
  • The Chargers finally drafted a receiver, Baylor’s Tevin Reese, with the team’s final pick in the draft, No. 240 overall, per the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic.

Prospect Bradley Roby Resolves Case

April 29th, 2014 at 10:57am CST by Zachary Links

TUESDAY, 10:57am: Roby has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, resolving his case, as Austin Ward of ESPN.com details.

FRIDAY, 10:53am: Roby took to Twitter to defend himself against this week’s report: “I was not driving. I did not get arrested. [I was] not in a cell. No finger prints. No mugshot.” Roby also posted a picture of his breathalyzer test, showing that he was not drunk at the time of the incident.

THURSDAY, 8:52pm: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby has been arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired, tweets Rob Kunz of WBNS-10TV. The cornerback, who is widely projected as a late first-round pick, is due in court tomorrow.

The cornerback was found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday. This is especially poor timing for Roby and it’s not his first run-in with the law. The Buckeyes standout was also arrested for a bar related incident last summer in Bloomington, Indiana. While the charges related to the incident were later reduced, Roby was still suspended for the first game of the 2013 season.

For Roby, the incident is yet another red flag for a prospect who is coming off of a so-so 2013 campaign. Given the gravity of the situation, it seems likely that the error in judgement will send Roby out of the first round.

NFC Notes: Orton, Draft Visits, Bears

April 25th, 2014 at 10:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Assuming Kyle Orton plans on playing out the final year of his contract in 2014, his salary will be decreased by $75K as a result of his missing the Cowboys‘ offseason workouts, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Taking into account Dallas’ recent additions of Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie, the offseason rumors about Orton’s potential retirement, and his absence from the workout program, the 31-year-old’s NFL future seems somewhat uncertain.

Here are a few more leftover Friday links from around the NFC:

  • Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) adds offensive lineman Joel Bitonio to the list of players who visited the Giants this week. We heard yesterday that the Dolphins, Panthers, and Buccaneers were among the teams who might be eyeing the Nevada lineman.
  • The Lions hosted their final three prospects today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who has details on today’s visitors: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik Lora, and Kent State running back Dri Archer.
  • In addition to having pre-draft visits with the Lions, Buccaneers, and Cardinals, as we heard last month, Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster worked out for the Cowboys, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune fields a slew of Bears-related questions on the team’s draft needs and Alshon Jeffery‘s contract situation, among other topics.
  • North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, a potential late-round pick, visited the Vikings last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).
  • In a series of tweets, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides the full list of seven prospects who participated in the Rams‘ local prospect day on Friday.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Panthers, Cards, Saints

April 15th, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

After hosting prospects such as defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Kony Ealy on Monday, the Cowboys are being visited by the likes of Florida State’s Timmy Jernigan, UCLA’s Anthony Barr, and Boise State’s Demarcus Lawrence today, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com adds (via Twitter) that Northwest Missouri State cornerback Brandon Dixon is also visiting the club today.

Here’s more out of the NFC:

  • A player like Donald may not be available at No. 16, but there’s no guarantee the Cowboys will be keeping that pick, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who points out that in the 25 drafts Jerry Jones has overseen, the team has traded up or down 20 times.
  • The Panthers worked out LSU receivers Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry today in Baton Rouge, according to David Newton of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) provides the specifics on Thomas DeCoud‘s two-year contract with the Panthers, which has a base value of $3.525MM. That includes a $500K signing bonus and base salaries of $900K (2014) and $1.675MM (2015). Meanwhile, Alex Hall‘s one-year deal with the Panthers is for the minimum, but included a modest $10K signing bonus, tweets Wilson.
  • Colorado State center Weston Richburg visited with the Cardinals on Monday, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
  • Ohio State’s Bradley Roby and Lindenwood’s Pierre Desir are among the five cornerbacks visiting the Saints today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The other three – Justin Gilbert, Aaron Colvin, and Demetri Goodson – had been previously reported.
  • Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports (via Twitter) that Stanford offensive tackle Cameron Fleming visited the Redskins today, while ESPN.com’s John Keim tweets that Demarcus Lawrence is also scheduled to visit Washington.
  • D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution lists more than a dozen players who worked out at the Falcons‘ local prospect day today, including Tennessee running back Rajion Neal and Georgia Tech safety Jemea Thomas, among others.

North Notes: Coleman, Vikings, Lions, Steelers

April 11th, 2014 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

After hosting Kurt Coleman for a visit this week, the Vikings offered the free agent safety a contract, but it wasn’t enough to get him to pull the trigger, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Although the two sides may revisit talks at a later time, Coleman appears to still be exploring all his options.

Here are a few more notes from the NFL’s two North divisions, with a focus on pre-draft visits:

  • The Vikings are conducting a private workout today with Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
  • We know the Lions have real interest in receiver Sammy Watkins, but apparently he’s not the only member of the family drawing attention from the club. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that the Lions also had a private workout for Florida defensive back Jaylen Watkins, Sammy’s brother.
  • Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Boston College linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Arizona State linebacker Carl Bradford are visiting the Steelers today, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Ravens recently met with Virginia Tech signal-caller Logan Thomas, who has also met with the Bengals, according to Wilson. As Wilson details, in addition to those AFC North teams, Thomas has also worked out for or met with the Patriots, Cardinals, and Texans.

Extra Points: Roby, Knott, Freeman, Jones

April 4th, 2014 at 11:05pm CST by Peter Sowards

In this thorough write-up, the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken looks at Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby‘s upcoming visit with the Chargers, scheduled for later this month. Roby’s collegiate career featured a plethora of ups and downs, the majority of a non-positive nature.

“I think I had obvious shortcomings, on and off the field,” Roby told Gehlken in a phone interview. “It’s not about what happens to you. It’s all about how you respond and if you really learned. If you don’t learn, then it’s going to keep happening over and over again. I believe in karma. I believe in learning from mistakes; that’s what they’re there for.”

Roby is projected by some experts as a first-round pick. The Chargers own the No. 25 overall pick and last selected a defensive back in the first round in 2008, when they drafted Arizona’s Antoine Cason 27th overall.

Other news and notes from Friday night…

  • Eagles linebacker Jake Knott has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2014 season, the team announced today. Knott violated the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances and is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. “We’re very disappointed to learn of his suspension,” the team said in a statement. “We have spoken to Jake and he is fully aware of the mistake he made and owned it. The key for him, however, is to learn from that mistake and move forward with his preparation for the 2014 season.”
  • Receiver James Jones moved on from the Packers earlier this offseason, signing a three-year, $11.3MM deal with the Raiders. Another former Packers receiver, Antonio Freeman, shared his thoughts with Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, saying he wasn’t surprised with the move: “This game is about dollars and cents,” Freeman said. “It’s about cap value. That’s what these decisions come down to. It doesn’t come down to if James was a nice guy or a great locker room guy. He was a great guy. I met him a few times. I’ve heard great things about him. But it doesn’t come down to how nice of a guy you are. This is a business. This is Wall Street. This is Saks Fifth Avenue.”

Draft Updates: Clowney, Bortles, Robinson

April 2nd, 2014 at 2:02pm CST by Luke Adams

With no throws to make or brooms to evade, Jadeveon Clowney‘s Pro Day may not have had the fanfare of Johnny Manziel‘s event at Texas A&M, but plenty of coaches and executives showed up to watch Clowney at South Carolina today. Following his Pro Day, Clowney will make visits to work out for the Rams and Falcons, he confirmed today, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).

Here’s more on May’s draft and the 2014 class of prospects:

  • The Browns are conducting their private workout with Blake Bortles today, a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
  • Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson is visiting the Rams in St. Louis today, tweets Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
  • Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link) hears from several sources that Clemson cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had dinner with GM Trent Baalke following his Pro Day, is drawing “heavy interest” from the 49ers.
  • The Panthers worked out Wyoming defensive back Marqueston Huff today and will do the same for Wyoming wideout Robert Herron and quarterback Brett Smith on Thursday, says Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter links).
  • According to Brandt (via Twitter), Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning has nine workouts lined up with nine NFL teams, including the Jaguars, Browns, and Patriots.
  • Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (all Twitter links) passes along details on three prospects visiting the Titans: Auburn running back Tre Mason, who left Nashville today; West Virginia running back Charles Sims, who will visit later this week; and UCLA edge defender Anthony Barr, who will be in town next Tuesday.
  • The Bills hosted Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk, and Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier today, according to the team.
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