HEADLINES

Chris Baker

NFC Notes: Baker, Washington, Panthers

April 12th, 2016 at 10:12am CST by Luke Adams

Washington defensive end Chris Baker is entering the final year of his contract and is extension-eligible, but he’s not clamoring for a new deal, as he tells John Keim of ESPN.com. As Keim details, Baker also hopes to stick at left end rather than sliding over to nose tackle for just 10 plays per game.

“I’ve solidified myself as a good left end,” Baker said. “So I’d like to stay at my position and use my athleticism to make plays. I’m willing to do what it takes to make sure the team wins, but hopefully they leave me at left end and use the other noses we have or some of the younger guys we’re going to draft.”

Washington saw last year’s starting nose tackle, Terrance Knighton, depart in free agency, signing a new deal with the Patriots, so the club will likely look to address the position in the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Even though they hold the 30th overall pick in this year’s draft, the Panthers are more likely to move out of the first round than they are to trade up, writes David Newton of ESPN.com.
  • Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez visited with the Panthers on Monday, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Sanchez, a two-time All-Big 12 selection, has started 37 games over the past three seasons. In 2015, Sanchez hauled in seven interceptions, 45 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, and seven pass breakups. Last month it was reported that Sanchez was moving up draft boards around the league, potentially putting him in position to be a late first-round pick.
  • Florida State linebacker Reggie Northrup traveled to D.C. to meet with Washington on Monday, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
  • Defensive back Blake Countess, who played his final college season at Auburn after several years at Michigan, has a visit on tap with the Giants, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • The 49ers have done their homework on defensive lineman Vernon Butler, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. The former Louisiana Tech standout measured in with the fourth-highest arm length and hand size of any defensive lineman in this year’s class. Branch notes that head coach Chip Kelly and GM Trent Baalke are both fans of bigger defensive linemen, and Butler fits the bill at 323 pounds.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/15

September 7th, 2015 at 6:54pm CST by Luke Adams

While many teams filled up their 10-man practice squads on Sunday, plenty of teams didn’t confirm their moves right away, or kept a few spots open on those units. On top of that, at least one club that signed 10 players to its taxi squad on Sunday has already made several changes, bringing in new players and jettisoning players who didn’t even spend 24 hours on the squad.

We’ll have updates on Monday’s AFC practice squad signings and cuts in this space, with teams listed in alphabetical order. When new moves occur, we’ll bump this post back to the top of the page. Here’s a round-up of today’s moves:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed (press release):

    • WR Daniel Brown
    • TE Dominique Jones
    • WR Jeremy Ross

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed (press release):
    • OLB IK Enemkpali
    • T Chris Martin
    • DE Cedric Reed
    • QB Alex Tanney

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed (press release):
    • RB Kapri Bibbs
    • TE Arthur Lynch
    • T Kyle Roberts
    • DE George Uko

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed:

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed (press release):
    • DT Hebron Fangupo
    • T Laurence Gibson
    • CB Jeremy Harris
    • DL David Irving
    • TE Ross Travis
    • FB Spencer Ware

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

  • Signed (Twitter links):
    • OL Chris Barker
    • T Blaine Clausell
    • OL Cameron Fleming (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
    • LB Darius Fleming
    • LB Brandon King
    • WR Nathan Palmer
    • DB Daxton Swanson
    • DT Jimmy Staten
  • Signed and subsequently released:

New York Jets

  • To be signed:

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed:
    • George Atkinson III, RB
    • Mitch Bell, G
    • SaQwan Edwards, CB
    • Shelby Harris, DE
    • Dan Kistler, T
    • Tevin McDonald, S
    • Josh Shirley, LB

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed (Twitter link via Burt Lauten + team transactions page):
    • WR Isaiah Burse
    • LB Anthony Chickillo
    • T Matt Feiler
    • CB Doran Grant
    • TE Xavier Grimble
    • OL Barrett Jones
    • RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
  • Released:
    • RB Dominique Brown
    • OL Reese Dismukes
    • LB Shayon Green
    • DE Ethan Hemer
    • OL Antonio Johnson
    • TE Harold Spears
    • WR Jarrod West

San Diego Chargers

  • Signed:
    • OL Michael Ola (link via Michael Gehlken)

Tennessee Titans

Redskins Notes: Jackson, Hocker, Minnifield

June 27th, 2014 at 2:22pm CST by Ben Levine

Rumors of gang connections surrounded DeSean Jackson following his release from the Eagles. The current Redskins wideout previously distanced himself from the accusations, and Jackson again hushed the gossip in an interview with ESPN The Magazine’s Cord Jefferson.

Jackson said that he knows people in gangs, but has never been affiliated. Furthermore, the alleged gang signals the wideout has displayed in games were purely shoutouts to his friends.

“If I score a touchdown or make a play and my boys at home can see me throwing up the area we’re from, that’s me showing them love,” Jackson said. “They weren’t fortunate enough to make it where I’m at. All my friends wanted to be in the NFL growing up, but they weren’t able to do that, and I was. That doesn’t mean I forgot about them. They’re my boys, I grew up with them, and I’m going to give them love.”

Gayle Jackson, DeSean’s mother, weighed in on the outside influences.

“Those guys gravitated toward him because he had structure in his life,” she said. “A lot of time I was trying to chase these cats away. I told him it would catch up with him and that people don’t understand, so he should leave those guys alone. He told me, ‘Mom, you can’t treat people like that.'”

Let’s check out some more Redskins notes, all via the mailbag of ESPN.com’s John Keim…

  • If the Redskins decide to roll the dice with rookie kicker Zach Hocker, Keim believes it will be a gamble. However, Hocker’s main opponent, Kai Forbath, had never attempted a kick in the NFL prior to signing with the team in 2012.
  • Keim says Chase Minnifield‘s chances of making the Redskins will come down to whether the team decides to keep six cornerbacks. Of course, injuries could help his chances. Reversely, the presence of Richard Crawford could hurt those chances.
  • In regards to backups on the offensive line, Keim sides with Mike McGlynn, Morgan Moses, Spencer Long and Josh LeRibeus. If the team carries an additional lineman, Tom Compton could also make the roster.
  • Assuming the defensive line starters are Chris Baker, Barry Cofield and Jason Hatcher, Keim chooses Jarvis Jenkins, Stephen Bowen and Kedric Golston as the three backups.

NFC East Notes: Giants, Benn, Roberts

June 14th, 2014 at 3:08pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Giants‘ wideouts will have some adjustments to make as they adapt to new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s offensive system, writes Kieran Darcy of ESPNNewYork.com. The group is optimistic about how they will fit in to the new scheme.

“I’m liking it, it’s going to be pretty exciting,” said Rueben Randle. “Coach [Ben] McAdoo has done a great job putting us in positions to make plays and using our abilities. We still have a lot of work to put in out there on the field, but as far as now, we’re in a good spot.” 

“I think it’s an offense that fits my game,” Jerrel Jernigan said, “And also spreads the ball out to everyone and gives everybody the chance to make plays.” 

“It’s actually not that bad once you get into it and you break it down by formation and things like that,” said first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. “It’s really not that bad. It’s just a lot of memorization.” 

Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:

  • On the Eagles‘ depth chart, veterans have the slight edge over their younger teammates, writes Matt Giraldi of InsideTheIggles.com. Former Jet Mark Sanchez has the inside track to the backup quarterback job over fellow USC Trojan Matt Barkley, and although the team has promising young players in the secondary and at receiver, those players will have to prove themselves before they see significant playing time.
  • New Eagles‘ receiver Arrelious Benn is looking to bounce back from a torn ACL, writes Chris McPherson of PhiladelphiaEagles.com. McPherson says that Benn knows he is going to have to compete for a roster spot, but that the receiver is ready to work for his job.  “I embraced it. You’ve got to embrace that type of stuff,” said Benn. “I’m not one to shy away from competition. I love competition. My life has been competition. I compete in everything that I do. The thing for me, when these younger guys come in, I want to help them out. If there’s any way to teach them so they can learn from my mistakes, something I could have done better, should have done better, I definitely tell them. The biggest thing for me honestly is I’m competing against myself.”
  • While star pass rusher Brian Orakpo and new addition Jason Hatcher will be hogging the attention for the Redskins’ defense this season, head coach Jay Gruden sees importance in the performance of two other defensive linemen, reports Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. Chris Baker and Jarvis Jenkins still figure to play key roles in the team’s defense this season. “We expect big things out of Chris and Jarvis,” Gruden said. “Baker’s going to be a major part of our nickel pass rush also, as is Jarvis Jenkins at some point.”
  • The Redskins are looking for help returning both punts and kickoffs, and new receiver Andre Roberts wants to fill both positions, writes Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com. “I feel like I’m one of those players who when he gets the ball in his hands he can make some big plays,” said Roberts. “That’s what I want to bring to this team as well, not just as a receiver but also on special teams.”
  • If Tony Romo continues to play at a high level, the Cowboys will not prioritize quarterback until the 2016 NFL Draft, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. However, if Romo struggles with performance or health this year, the team could target someone early in the upcoming draft.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Redskins, Ware

February 28th, 2014 at 8:48am CST by Luke Adams

While Eagles general manager Howie Roseman didn’t want to specifically address reports that his team met with Johnny Manziel at the combine in Indianapolis, the GM’s comments to Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com at least indirectly explained why Philadelphia might want to talk to a top prospect like Manziel.

“You never know when the opportunity is going to come to get a player,” Roseman said. “It may be now in the draft, it may be in free agency, it may be via trade. If you look at your notes and you haven’t met the guy and the head coach is coming down the hallway and he’s going, ‘Hey, how was this guy when he came out?’ – and you’re kind of going, ‘Help.'”

Here’s more on the Eagles and a couple of their NFC East rivals:

Redskins Re-Sign Chris Baker

February 27th, 2014 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins have re-signed defensive lineman Chris Baker, the team announced today (Twitter link). Baker was set to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time this offseason after playing on his one-year restricted tender of $1.323MM in 2013. His new deal is a three-year pact worth $12MM overall, with $4MM of that amount guaranteed, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter).

In his second year with the Redskins, Baker earned three starts at the end of the regular season, recording a career-high seven tackles in the team’s Week 17 game against the Giants. The 26-year-old lineman, who saw 418 snaps in 2013, could earn a larger role in 2014, depending on what other additions and subtractions the team makes on defense.

Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett mentioned Baker along with DeAngelo Hall, Brian Orakpo, and Perry Riley last month when asked about which defensive free agents the club hoped to retain. With Hall and Baker now back in the fold, the team figures to focus on its two free agent linebackers, in an attempt to keep them off the open market.

Chris Baker, Redskins Discussing Contract

February 5th, 2014 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins have opened up contract discussions with free-agent-to-be Chris Baker, reports Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. According to El-Bashir’s source, the team met on Tuesday with Baker’s rep to discuss a new deal for the defensive lineman, who is coming off a $1.3MM salary in 2013.

In his second year with the Redskins, Baker earned three starts at the end of the regular season, recording a career-high seven tackles in the team’s Week 17 game against the Giants. While re-signing Baker may not be as high a priority on Washington’s offseason to-do list as bringing back defensive players like DeAngelo Hall, Brian Orakpo, and Perry Riley, the 26-year-old lineman appears poised to earn a larger role next season if he returns to the club. As El-Bashir notes, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett mentioned Baker along with those other three players when asked last month about which defenders the team hoped to bring back.

Armed with more cap flexibility than they they’ve had in recent years, the Redskins appear committed to reaching deals with all or most of their key defensive free-agents-to-be. Yesterday, GM Bruce Allen confirmed that the team is in the early stages of negotiations with Hall, Orakpo, and Riley.