HEADLINES

Brandon Coleman

Saints Cut Shayne Graham, Others

August 30th, 2014 at 5:30pm CST by Luke Adams

5:30pm: The Saints have been busy this afternoon, notably letting go of veterans Champ Bailey and Robert Meachem. The team officially announced their moves via a press release, and the team’s transactions that were not previously reported are below:

Waived:

  • Matt Armstrong, C
  • Todd Davis, ILB
  • Derek Dimke, K
  • Nic Jacobs, TE
  • Tavon Rooks, OT
  • Pierre Warren, S

Released:

2:00pm: The Saints began the process of cutting their roster down to 53 players yesterday when they released fullback Greg Jones, and the team has made plenty more moves today. Here’s the list of players no longer on New Orleans’ active roster:

NFC South Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Saints

August 2nd, 2014 at 8:49am CST by Matt Feminis

A head injury to veteran Dwight Lowery once again shifts attention to the Falcons’ group of inexperienced safeties, including Kemal Ishmael. He’s ready for the opportunity, writes ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.

Here’s a few more NFC South links:

  • After struggling mightily to stop the run last season, the Falcons made a concerted effort to get bigger in the defensive interior, and the increased bulk is noticeable, says AP writer Charles Odum.
  • Panthers rookie cornerback Bene Benwikere, who is competing with Charles Godfrey for the nickel back job, has stood out in camp because of his ball skills and playmaking, writes Jonathan Jones in the Charlotte Observer. Head coach Ron Rivera compared Benwikere to former Bears Pro Bowler, Nathan Vasher, who had a reputation as a ballhawk.
  • Kenjon Barner, a Panthers sixth-rounder in 2013, was a non-factor as a rookie. However, he’s bulked up nearly 15 pounds and improved in pass protection in an effort to hold down a roster spot behind DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, according to Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer.
  • Saints undrafted free agent receiver Brandon Coleman “has easily been the Saints’ most improved player since OTAs,” writes ESPN’s Mike Triplett.

Saints Sign 20 Undrafted Free Agents

May 18th, 2014 at 7:57pm CST by Luke Adams

7:57pm: In addition to Hull, the Saints have signed former Tulane defensive back Derrick Strozier, according to Strozier’s Twitter. Per Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune, Strozier, who also played a little offense in college, tried out for New Orleans as a running back.

SUNDAY, 4:43pm: The Saints have also signed former Illinois receiver Steve Hull, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

WEDNESDAY, 4:24pm: The Saints added one more undrafted free agent to their haul, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who tweets that Akron DT Moses McCray signed with the club.

MONDAY, 11:53am: The Saints have become the latest club to formally announce their undrafted free agent class, confirming in a press release that they’ve agreed to terms with 17 new players. Here’s the complete list:

  • Matthew Armstrong, OL, Grand Valley State
  • Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers
  • Brian Dixon, DB, Northwest Missouri State
  • Kasim Edebali, OLB, Boston College
  • Tim Flanders, RB, Sam Houston State
  • Spencer Hadley, LB, Brigham Young
  • Je’Ron Hamm, TE, Louisiana-Monroe
  • Nic Jacobs, TE, McNeese State
  • Seantavius Jones, WR, Valdosta State
  • Logan Kilgore, QB, Middle Tennessee State State
  • Brandon McCray, DL, Louisiana-Lafayette
  • Micajah Reynolds, OL, Michigan State
  • George Uko, DL, USC
  • Chidera Uzo-Diribe, OLB, Colorado
  • Lawrence Virgil, DL, Valdosta State
  • Pierre Warren, S, Jacksonville State
  • Ty Zimmerman, S, Kansas State

Pauline’s Draft Notes: Latimer, Johnson, West

April 7th, 2014 at 9:54pm CST by Peter Sowards

In this nugget-filled piece on draftinsider.net, NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline drops some knowledge on the latest workouts and visits from eligible prospects around the league. Here are a few of the notes PFR has yet to touch on:

  • The Eagles hosted Indiana receiver Cody Latimer for an official visit today in addition to Brandon Coleman, Quron Pratt and Kelvin Benjamin.
  • The Chargers and Saints will host New Mexico offensive lineman Darryl Johnson, whom Pauline describes as a practice squad developmental prospect who projects to guard in the NFL.
  • Terrance West has already worked out for the Falcons and has made an official visit to see the Titans. At least 22 teams were represented at the Towson running back’s pro-day today.
  • Georgia State offensive tackle John Ulrich has trips scheduled to visit the Falcons and Seahawks.
  • Sources tell Pauline to expect the Seahawks to target offensive tackles in the upcoming draft.
  • Pauline hears that the Buccaneers hope to draft at least one tackle and/or guard with starting potential.
  • South Carolina edge rusher Chaz Sutton recently met with the Texans and Raiders.

 

Draft Notes: Manziel, Matthews, Mettenberger

April 7th, 2014 at 7:31pm CST by Ben Levine

As the NFL Draft quickly approaches, Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review takes a look at five players the Steelers could draft in the first round. The list includes receivers Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin, cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert and defensive lineman Louis Nix. Robinson also brings up Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald, but believes that the defender is not a good fit for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has the 15th pick in the first-round of this year’s draft.

Here are some more prospect notes…

  • Johnny Manziel will begin meeting with the Jaguars tomorrow, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Manziel spent that last two days with the Raiders.
  • Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews will visit with the Bills tomorrow, tweets Joe Buscaglia of WGR Sports Radio.
  • While the team will meet with the quarterback, the Titans have no intention of working out Zach Mettenberger, according to Jim Wyatt of Tennessean (via Twitter).
  • University of Tennessee offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James is scheduled to visit the Titans this week, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
  • Running back De’Anthony Thomas will visit with the Bears, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
  • Scouts for the Bills and Saints were at Terrance West‘s pro day, Wilson tweets. The Bengals also met with the Towson running back (via Twitter). West ran for 2295 yards last season.
  • Center Bryan Stork will visit the Saints this week, according to Larry Holder of NOLA.com (via Twitter). The Florida State alumni won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center.
  • Former Boise State defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe met with the Chargers, reports Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (via Twitter). According to Gehlken, the Amsterdam-native is relatively new to the sport.
  • Eagles coach Bob Bicknell worked out Rutgers receivers Quron Pratt and Brandon Coleman, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
  • The Dolphins hosted offensive tackle Garrett Scott, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. The team has already added linemen Shelley Smith, Branden Albert and Jason Fox during free agency.

Extra Points: Titans, Roos, Harbaugh, Browns

February 24th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Although the Titans are currently prioritizing this year’s pending free agents and potential cap casualties, the team shouldn’t forget about players like left tackle Michael Roos and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, whose contracts are up after the 2014 season, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. In Wyatt’s view, Tennessee can afford to wait to see how Casey fits in a changing defense, but the team would be wise to try to lock up Roos to an extension as soon as possible.

Here are a few more miscellaneous Monday links from around the NFL:

  • Former Octagon agents Doug Hendrickson and C.J. LaBoy have joined Relativity Sports, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (via Twitter). Mullen adds in a second tweet that the duo will work with and report to Relativity’s football CEO, Eugene Parker.
  • If Jim Harbaugh doesn’t receive a contract extension this offseason and the 49ers don’t win the Super Bowl next season, expect the Dolphins to be among the teams pursing the head coach next year, tweets Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports.
  • Before he was removed from his role as CEO of the team, Joe Banner had the Browns‘ offensive and defensive coordinators reporting directly to him, reports Pat Kirwan of CBSSports.com. As agent Mike McCartney observes (via Twitter), if Kirwan’s report is accurate, it’s not hard to understand why head coaching candidates would’ve been reluctant to accept the Cleveland job.
  • Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who had a stellar performance at the combine, met with nine teams, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link): The Cowboys, Ravens, Bears, Bengals, Vikings, Texans, Lions, Buccaneers, and Rams.
  • The Packers, Patriots, and Seahawks met with Rutgers receiver Brandon Coleman, who also had an informal meeting with the Redskins, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.