Branden Albert - Pro Football Rumors

Branden Albert Arrested

March 2nd, 2018 at 10:07am CST by Zachary Links

Left tackle Branden Albert was arrested on Wednesday in Atlanta, according to TMZ Sports. The two-time Pro Bowler was cuffed for second degree criminal damages and willful obstruction of a law officer, according to jail records.

Police say that Albert went to a jewelry store with friends and repeatedly tried to access an area that was not open to customers. When asked to leave the area, Albert allegedly “punched a jewelry cabinet which left a very large hole” and threatened to “kill” the owner. Albert went on to push the security guard, who is an off-duty Atlanta police officer, and was tased. The 6’4″, 315-pound lineman pulled the taser prongs from his body and then got physical with the security guard. The guard suffered minor injuries and Albert was arrested shortly thereafter.

Albert got into an offseason spat with the Jaguars last year that included retirement, un-retirement, and ultimately ended with his release. After being traded from the Dolphins, Albert was hoping to have his contract re-worked to include guaranteed money. The Jaguars were not only unwilling to rework his contract, but they also asked that he play guard with Cam Robinson starting at left tackle. Once Albert hit the open market, he didn’t find the kind of lucrative offers that he was expecting. The Seahawks tried to get him on board, but he turned down a contract in October.

With upwards of $50MM in career earnings, it remains to be seen whether Albert will look to play in 2018. If he does want to return to the NFL, he may have to answer for his run-in with the law this week.

AFC Notes: Steelers, Bryant, Patriots, Belichick, Jaguars, Albert

October 25th, 2017 at 4:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant says that he wants to be traded if he doesn’t get targeted more. It sounds like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has gotten the message.

“Hopefully, it’s lots of touchdown passes,” Roethlisberger said (according to Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). “We need to get the ball to him, to everybody, we all need to score points. There are opportunities there. That’s why I told him to come talk to me. We’ve had opportunities with deep balls that were just missed whether it was me overthrowing him or it’s the Chicago game where he slows down a little bit or this last game where he doesn’t see the ball coming out of my hand. There are plays to be had. We just have to make them.”

However, Roethlisberger will have to wait a while before lobbing passes in Bryant’s direction. On Wednesday, the Steelers informed the wide receiver that he will not be active for Sunday’s game against Detroit. After that, the Steelers have their bye week, so Bryant’s next opportunity to play will not come until Sunday Nov. 12 against Indianapolis.

The trade deadline is right around the corner and Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he’s not afraid to deal. “The thing about us, other teams in the league know that we’re open for business,” Belichick told WEEI. “We’re not afraid to make a trade. If they are interested in trading somebody, we are usually a team that gets called because people think and know we’re open on those discussions. If we’re not interested we will tell them we’re not interested. Again, there’s no book on that. Every situation is different. Every trade is different. Every exchange is different, so you just have to take them as they come and if the two sides can agree, great. Sometimes one side wants something and the other side is just not ready to get to the same point.” Teams have until Oct. 31 to make trades.
Before he was released by the Jaguars, Branden Albert was asked to play guard since he was not going to win the left tackle job, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM tweets. When he declined, Albert was shown the door. Presumably, his contract demands and flip-flopping on retirement did not help his case.
On Wednesday, the Chargers shipped wide receiver Dontrelle Inman to the Bears.

Branden Albert Declines Seahawks’ Offer

October 16th, 2017 at 4:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks tried to sign Branden Albert, but they apparently did not put enough money on the table. Despite receiving an offer, the tackle has left the Seattle area without a deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Over the weekend, Albert postponed a scheduled meeting with the Giants since he was close to signing with Seattle. Now that he’s not joining up with the Seahawks, it’s possible that he will circle back to the G-Men.

Albert’s asking price may have been to high, but the Seahawks’ best and only alternative right now is to move forward with Rees Odhiambo, who ranks as the worst tackle in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the shaky offensive line, the Seahawks are 3-2 as they come off of their bye week. Strangely enough, the Giants are next up on the schedule.

Extra Points: Seahawks, Vikings, Lions, Pats

October 13th, 2017 at 9:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent offensive tackle Branden Albert is still in the Seattle area after working out for the Seahawks on Monday, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Albert, 32, had reportedly been set to meet with the Giants at some point this week, but as of last night, he hadn’t yet left for New York. Whether that means he’s close to a contract with the Seahawks is unclear, but Albert would almost certainly be an improvement over Seattle blindside protector Rees Odhiambo, who currently ranks as the worst tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus. The Giants, too, could use help along the offensive line, as Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart have posted below-average results through five games. Albert, of course, had an eventful offseason that included a “retirement” after being traded from the Dolphins to the Jaguars.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

The Vikings should offer an extension to backup quarterback Case Keenum, opines Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Keenum has been called on to appear in four games (three starts) in relief of Sam Bradford, who is still dealing with knee complications. He’s performed well, completing 64.5% of his passes for four touchdowns and zero interceptions, but his contract — like those of Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater — expires after the 2017 season. An extension would allow Minnesota to lock in a quality reserve for another year or two, while giving Keenum more cash and the possibility of competing for a starting job in 2018. Bradford has already been ruled out for Sunday’s contest against the Packers, so Keenum will earn a fourth start.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will require a four-month recovery period after undergoing surgery on a torn bicep Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As had already been reported, Ngata won’t be able to return to the Lions this season, but that injury timeline means he should be fully healthy by the time free agency opens in 2018. Ngata isn’t under contract for next year, and the soon-to-be 34-year-old interior defender has flirted with retirement in the past. It’s unclear whether he intends to continue his career for another season.
Given his lengthy injury history, it would be “shocking” to see Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert garner a long-term contract like Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, or Jordan Reed, all of whom earn more than $8.5MM annually, opines Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Eifert, who was placed on injured reserve on Thursday, has only appeared in 39 games over four-plus seasons in the NFL. While his talent is immense (13 touchdowns in 2015), Eifert simply can’t stay on the field, a fact which makes the franchise tag — at a cost north of $10MM — an unlikely option for Cincinnati in 2018. Instead, a one-year, “prove-it” deal for the 27-year-old pass-catcher could conceivably make more sense for both sides.
The Patriots currently have three rookies on the various NFL reserve lists, but only one will be able to return in 2017, as Doug Kyed of NESN tweets. Offensive lineman Andrew Jelks, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt who is currently on the non-football injury list, can come back under PUP rules, meaning he must miss six weeks of the season. After that, New England has a five-week window during which it can activate Jelks. Tackle Antonio Garcia, a third-rounder from Troy who’s on the non-football illness list, and defensive lineman Keionta Davis, a UDFA on non-football injury, aren’t eligible to return this season, per Kyed.

Giants To Meet With Branden Albert

October 10th, 2017 at 3:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants will meet with offensive tackle Branden Albert later this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Albert worked out for the Seahawks on Monday, but he left Seattle without a deal.

Albert was upset about his contract this summer and unsure about whether he wanted to play at all in 2017. It was said that he had “no desire” to play in late August, but he apparently had a change of heart this fall.

The 32-year-old (33 in November) was once among the league’s better tackles, but it’s fair to wonder what he has left in the tank at this stage. The Seahawks are in dire need of tackle help, so it’s perhaps telling that he did not sign with them after his audition. Then again, given his contractual demands over the summer, it’s possible that the two sides were just too far apart on Monday.

The jinxed Giants – who are without both Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the remainder of the season – head to Denver on Sunday in search of their first win.

Seahawks Work Out Branden Albert

October 9th, 2017 at 4:52pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like Branden Albert could play football this year after all. The offensive tackle worked out for the Seahawks on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Albert, a former Pro Bowler, dominated headlines in the offseason. On paper, he was slated to start at left tackle for the Jaguars after they acquired him via trade with the Dolphins. After unsuccessfully pushing Jacksonville for a revised contract, Albert retired and then tried to flip-flop only to have the door slammed in his face. Albert has been free to sign with any team since August, but this marks the first mention of him we’ve heard this fall.

The Seahawks have had glaring holes on the offensive line for some time and Albert could help to improve the unit. Per the metrics at Football Outsiders, Seattle has just the 23rd ranked O-Line in the NFL. Left side starter Rees Odhiambo is the lowest ranked qualified tackle in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, and starting right tackle Germain Ifedi isn’t rated much better.

Albert missed one-quarter of last season due to injury and registered a career-worst 42.2 overall score on PFF. However, he’s been strong in the past, including 2013 and 2015 campaigns which resulted in Pro Bowl nods.

Branden Albert Has “No Desire” For NFL Return

August 27th, 2017 at 12:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Branden Albert has already retired and un-retired once this offseason, but that course of events likely won’t repeat in the coming weeks. Albert has “no desire” to play football again and is content with his retirement, sources tell Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.

Albert, of course, has been the focus of scrutiny in recent months as he seemingly vacillated between an interest in NFL employment and hanging up his cleats. Shipped from Miami to Jacksonville in the spring for a late-round pick, Albert first held out for a new contract, then shockingly announced his retirement. A week later, Albert attempted to report to Jaguars training camp, but the club’s decision-makers had apparently seen enough — Jacksonville placed Albert on the reserve/retired list and subsequently released him.

Because the Jaguars cut ties, Albert is free to sign with any club immediately, but clubs that could use offensive line help — such as the Dolphins, who employed Albert from 2014-16 — are under the impression that he’s completely retired, per Beasley. If he did opt to return to the NFL, Albert could probably find work, as he offers 118 games of quality starting experience and can play both tackle and guard.

Jaguars Release Branden Albert

August 11th, 2017 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars’ Branden Albert saga is officially over. The team announced on Friday that he has been released.

The Jaguars acquired Albert via trade from the Dolphins earlier this year. The tackle stayed away from the team for much of the offseason as he tried to talk the Jags into revising his contract. When the Jaguars refused to play ball, Albert took his and went home. Days later, Albert flip-flopped and asked to rejoin the team, but the Jaguars responded by placing him on the reserve/retired list, keeping him off the roster.

If Albert is still serious about playing football, he can now sign with any team of his choosing. He might not be able to deliver the kind of Pro Bowl caliber football that he used to, but he would still hold interest for teams with needs on the offensive line.

In 2016, Albert missed one-quarter of the season due to injury and registered a career-worst 42.2 overall score on Pro Football Focus. He’s been well above average in other seasons, however, including his 2013 and 2015 campaigns which resulted in Pro Bowl nods.

Albert was scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed base salary of $8.875MM this season. If he wants to continue playing, he might have to do it at a lower price point. At the same time, he should be able to get some amount of guaranteed cash for the 2017 season.

Jaguars Put Branden Albert On Retired List

August 8th, 2017 at 9:32am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars are placing offensive tackle Branden Albert on the reserve/retired list. Albert, who flip-flopped on retiring this week, was previously on the “left team” list.

The change in designation theoretically allows Albert to play for the Jaguars, but that’s not what the team has in mind. The move essentially means that the Jaguars are not interested in his services right now and, barring something unforeseen, we won’t see him suit up for Jacksonville.

After Albert informed the Jaguars of his retirement on July 31st and had a change of heart on August 7th, there was some question as to whether he would be welcomed back. It seems that the Jags are moving on rather than carrying out a deal that had non-guaranteed base salaries of $8.9MM in 2017 and $9.6MM in 2018.

If Albert stayed retired, the Jaguars reserved the right to recoup $3.4MM in signing bonus money from him. It’s not immediately clear what the Jaguars can do in that regard or whether they’ll come after those dollars.

In 2016, Albert registered a career-worst 42.2 overall score on Pro Football Focus. He also missed four games due to injury. In his healthier years, however, he vacillated between above average to very good.

If Albert is out of the picture, we’re likely to see rookie Cam Robinson at left tackle.

Branden Albert To Un-Retire, Report To Jags

August 7th, 2017 at 8:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Offensive tackle Branden Albert has informed the Jaguars he will reverse his decision to retire and instead report to camp, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). However, there are many “moving parts,” and Albert is not yet officially a member of Jacksonville’s roster, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s unclear if the Jaguars are interested in welcoming Albert back to the club, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Albert, 32, originally announced his retirement a week ago today, a decision that leave Jacksonville with something of a void at left tackle. Second-round rookie Cam Robinson had been set to protect quarterback Blake Bortles‘ blindside, but he now figures to shift back to left guard, with Albert taking over tackle once again. Overall, it’s a marked improvement for a Jaguars offensive line that will be essential to the club’s success in 2016.

Jacksonville acquired Albert from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2018 seventh-round pick earlier this year, and the veteran offensive lineman requested a new contract almost immediately upon becoming a Jaguar. General manager Dave Caldwell & Co. refused to rework Albert’s pact, and could have sought to recoup $3.4MM in signing bonus money had Albert stayed retired. While entirely speculative, its possible the idea of losing those funds led Albert to report to camp.

Albert, who met with the Jaguars over the weekend (Twitter link via Garafolo), will enter his 10th NFL campaign if his decision to return sticks. Miami will also see a small benefit from Albert’s resolution, as the club should acquire that aforementioned 2018 draft choice if Albert says on Jacksonville’s roster for at least three games.

At present, Albert is scheduled to earn non-guaranteed base salaries of $8.9MM in 2017 and $9.6MM in 2018.