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Chris Snee

NFC East Rumors: Rush, Smith, Golladay, Giants

September 3rd, 2022 at 4:51pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys were extremely relieved to see quarterback Dak Prescott return for a full season last year after only playing five games in 2020. Still, the 29-year-old’s prolonged absence two years ago instilled a sense of importance in the backup quarterback job for Dallas. This year, the No. 2 passer for the Cowboys will be Cooper Rush, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Dallas made a puzzling move by only leaving one quarterback on the team’s initial 53-man roster last Tuesday. When the Cowboys’ practice squad was announced the next day, it was seen that the other quarterbacks from the roster, Rush and Will Grier, were signed to the practice squad. As of the writing of this post, Rush remains a member of the practice squad.

Head coach Mike McCarthy is the person who broke the news to the media, so the Cowboys must have some intention of using Rush from the practice squad. Due to COVID-19, a rule was established allowing teams to promote practice squad players to the active roster for gamedays. Unless McCarthy and the Cowboys plan on elevating Rush to the active roster sometime before the season starts, they may just intend on fully dedicating one of the those weekly promotion spots to Rush or Grier to serve as a gameday backup.

Here are a few other rumors from around the NFC East, starting with another rumor from the Lone Star state:

  • We wrote recently about the recently extended timeline for the recovery of Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith. With Smith sidelined, Dallas will turn to rookie first-round pick Tyler Smith to start at left tackle. Dallas drafted the younger Smith to start alongside the older Smith on the offensive line, but owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones seems content with the current situation, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “Do I wish we had Tyron?” Jones posed to the media. “Yes. Will we get Tyron back? Likely. But, in the meantime, (Tyler is) going to come in and get a Harvard Doctor’s degree in playing left tackle between now and then. Will we pay some price with it? Yes. Can we win with him paying the price? I think so, yes.”
  • While talking to the media on Friday, Giants general manager Joe Schoen revealed a tidbit about wide receiver Kenny Golladay. Golladay apparently missed most of the spring after undergoing a “procedure,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Golladay didn’t ever provide any specifics about a procedure and was a full participant through camp, so, whatever the procedure was, it must’ve been minor.
  • New York was looking to bring back a former player in their scouting department this offseason in Chris Snee, but it appears that he will be working elsewhere this season, according to Duggan. When Snee was with New York, he served as an All-Pro guard and won a Super Bowl. Instead of joining the staff in New York, Snee accepted a role at his alma mater as an analyst for Boston College.

Extra Points: Sproles, Patriots, Browns, Snee

June 5th, 2017 at 9:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Darren Sproles may now be reconsidering retirement. The 13th-year passing-down back said in December that this season was likely going to be his last, but on Monday, the soon-to-be 34-year-old Eagles running back wasn’t quite ready to go that far. “We’re going to see,” Sproles said about retirement (via Zach Berman of Philly.com), adding “right after we make the playoffs, come back and ask me.” Sproles totaled the most carries of his career last year with 94, and he caught 52 passes. The 965 yards were the diminutive runner’s third-most in his career. Philadelphia drafted 2016 Division I-FBS rushing leader Donnel Pumphrey in the fourth round and signed LeGarrette Blount, but the team is likely to cut Ryan Mathews. Berman notes Sproles is still expected to play a big role for the Eagles this season, which is the last year of his contract.

Here’s more from around the league.

  • Vance Walker is expected to be medically cleared by next week and ready for training camp after tearing an ACL during his most recent camp experience, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Walker remains a free agent, but a cleaner bill of health should bring back interest in the 30-year-old interior defender. His last healthy season involved a role as a rotational defensive end on 2015’s Super Bowl champion Broncos defense.
  • Former All-Pro guard Chris Snee will be working with his father-in-law again, with the Jaguars hiring the ex-Giants guard as an area scout, Neil Stratton of Inside the League reports (on Twitter). Snee was Tom Coughlin‘s first Giants draft pick that actually played for the team, with Philip Rivers being the then-coach’s first selection in New York, and the four-time Pro Bowler played 10 years with the Giants. The 35-year-old Snee’s been out of the league since 2014 but will work with the Jags, who hired Coughlin as their executive VP of football operations in January.
  • Desmond Bryant returned to the practice field for the Browns last week after missing the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle sustained away from the team’s facilities. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes the veteran defensive lineman, who also played for Hue Jackson on the 2011 Raiders, will stay at defensive end in Gregg Williams‘ 4-3 after playing end in the Browns’ 3-4 looks previously. The 2017 Browns are in position to have Bryant and Myles Garrett at end, joining 2016 Day 2 picks Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib.
  • Stedman Bailey will undergo an upcoming procedure he believes can increase his chances of returning to football, the former wide receiver told TMZ. The website does not specify what type of procedure the former Rams wideout will undergo, but the 26-year-old Bailey said if it doctors tell him after it’s over that he shouldn’t play football again he will move on in a quest to return to the sport. Sustaining two gunshot wounds to the head in December of 2015 ended Bailey’s Rams run. Bailey returned to his alma mater, West Virginia, as a student assistant in 2016. The Rams officially waived Bailey in April.
  • Bill Belichick will have both of his sons coaching under him this season. The Patriots coach’s youngest son, Brian Belichick, is set to rise from scouting assistant to coaching assistant, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter). A 2016 college graduate, Brian Belichick will join older brother — the Patriots’ second-year safeties coach — on the sideline in an as-of-yet unspecified capacity.

Chris Snee Announces Retirement

July 21st, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Luke Adams

12:33pm: The Giants and Snee have officially announced his retirement in a press release.

“Chris is a pro’s pro,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “He played the game right. He was as tough and prideful as they come. We will miss him.”

11:11am: After we heard yesterday that veteran offensive lineman Chris Snee was considering the possibility of retirement, it appears he has made his decision, opting to end his playing career. A tweet from his agency and an Instagram update from teammate Antrel Rolle both indicate that Snee has decided to retire.

Snee, 32, was a second-round pick in 2004, and has spent his entire career in New York. The longtime Giant started a total of 141 games over his 10-year career, earning four Pro Bowl berths and being named an All-Pro following the 2008 season. Snee also won two Super Bowls with the club.

Hip injuries sidelined Snee for a good chunk of the 2013 season, and although he agreed to take a pay cut for the 2014 season in the hopes of returning to the field, he has been unable to get healthy. The guard has also been dealing with complications to his surgically-repaired elbow, which caused him to miss spring practices.

With Snee no longer in the mix, John Jerry and Brandon Mosley are candidates to play right guard on an offensive line that will feature multiple new starters in 2014. The club could also consider moving J.D. Walton or second-round pick Weston Richburg over from center.

Chris Snee Mulls Retirement

July 20th, 2014 at 9:47pm CST by Dallas Robinson

9:47pm: Several team sources expect Snee to make his retirement official tomorrow, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News. A source tells Vacchiano that a final decision has yet to be made, but Dan Graziano of ESPN.com hears that he’ll retire.

5:30pm: Giants guard Chris Snee will meet with the Giants’ staff tomorrow, and retirement is a possibility, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1. Some reports had indicated the Snee was definitely going to hang up his cleats, but apparently his consultation with team brass will help him make his decision.

Snee has been dealing with complications to his surgically-repaired elbow, which caused him to miss spring practices. According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Post (on Twitter), Snee’s elbow is “not good.” After undergoing hip surgery last year, he was only able to play in three games, so perhaps the continuously mounting injuries have caught up with Snee.

Snee, 32, was a second-round pick in 2004, and has spent his entire career in New York. He has started a total of 141 games over his 10-year career. If he opts to retire, the Giants would likely to turn to either veteran John Jerry (who is also injured) or 2012 fourth-rounder Brandon Mosley to man right guard.

East Notes: Wilkerson, Snee, Ertz

July 19th, 2014 at 9:00am CST by Matt Feminis

Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson will make a “ridiculously low” $1.2MM this season, writes ESPNNewYork’s Rich Cimini: “[Wilkerson] won’t become a Darrelle Revis-type distraction — Wilkerson vowed not to stage a holdout — but the topic is bound to come up in his dealings with the media. He has two years remaining on his deal…The Jets have time (and leverage) on their side, so they won’t do a deal unless it makes sense for them. With more than $20 million in cap room, why not do it now? It would send a positive message, showing the organization is committed to keeping its own. That hasn’t always been the case. See: Revis.”

Here’s some more AFC and NFC East reading:

  • Center Nick Mangold carries the second-highest cap hit on the Jets, and while his play has slipped a bit, he remains invaluable, says Brian Costello in the New York Post.
  • The rookie season of Bills first-round quarterback EJ Manuel was scrutinized by Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo. The results? Manuel struggled with deep passing, but perhaps more worrisome is that Manual struggled with a clean pocket.
  • The Bills are unlikely to keep two fullbacks, meaning bubble players Frank Summers and Evan Rodriguez will compete for the job. ESPN’s Mike Rodak makes the case for both players, saying Summers “contributed on both offense and special teams and remains the Bills’ best option as a lead blocker in goal line situations,” while Rodriguez “offers more of that ‘triple threat.'”
  • Veteran Chris Snee will be the Giants’ right guard if he’s healthy enough to handle the job, but his elbow injury prevented him from getting through OTAs and minicamp. Accordingly, NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan views Brandon Mosely as the “healthiest and strongest candidate heading into camp.”
  • The Eagles are anticipating a breakout season from second-year tight end Zach Ertz, who produced 36 receptions for 469 yards and four touchdowns in 450 snaps last season.
  • Redskins safety Bacarri Rambo started three games as a rookie last season, but he sounds like a player on the bubble in the eyes of ESPN’s John Keim: “Rambo did such a poor job in this area last year and there’s no way you can be a backup safety and not contribute on special teams. He will not bump Ryan Clark from the starting job so Rambo had better improve on special teams.”

East Links: Pats, Bills, Eagles, Giants

July 16th, 2014 at 1:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The NFL may have a reason to look into the reported 33 pages of text messages (via Jenny Wilson of the Hartford Courant) between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and former tight end Aaron Hernandez. As ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio writes, the league’s recent labor deal limits the amount of interaction between coaches and players during the offseason. The text messages, which were sent between February and May 2013, suggests some kind of communication.

However, the rule, which states “players’ activities may not be directed or supervised by any coaches,” can be interpreted very broadly and might not suggest a violation. Furthermore, the previous Peyton Manning/Adam Gase controversy proved that the league is willing to ignore some transgressions.

Let’s see what else is happening in the NFL’s East divisions…

Contract Details: Weatherford, Snee, Shields

March 11th, 2014 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

Giants punter Steve Weatherford accepted a pay cut to reduce his $2.025MM base salary for 2014, and Tom Pelissero of USA Today says (via Twitter) it was a $950K cut. However, Weatherford can make some of that money back, as he now has $350K available through incentives, rather than an initial $50K. Here are a few more details on contracts recently signed or restructured around the league:

  • Weatherford’s new deal includes $1.1MM in compensation for 2014 with $150K in new guarantees, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSports.com. His cap number is $1.9MM.
  • Chris Snee’s restructured deal with the Giants isn’t quite what was initially reported, according to Pelissero, who says the new contract features a $2MM base, $500K in per-game roster bonuses, and a $50K roster bonus (Twitter link).
  • Pelissero has the specifics on Sam Shields’ four-year deal with the Packers, which includes a $2.5MM roster bonus next March (Twitter links).
  • Darrin Walls avoided restricted free agency by re-signing with the Jets last week, and his two-year deal is worth $1.9MM, including a $350K roster bonus, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
  • The new two-year deal for Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan includes a $400K signing bonus, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Chris Snee Restructures Contract

March 10th, 2014 at 6:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Giants guard Chris Snee has agreed to restructure his contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It appears to be a straight pay cut, as Schefter reports that Snee’s base salary will lower from $7.2MM to just $1.1MM, with another $1MM available through incentives. The move allows to keep a stalwart of their offensive line on the same day that they released center David Baas.

Snee, 32, was a fourth-round-pick of the Giants in 2004, and has spent his entire career in New York. He was entering the final year of a six-year extension he signed in 2008. He played in only three games in 2013 due to hip injuries.

Giants Notes: Beason, Snee, D’Amato

March 6th, 2014 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few quick items on the Giants, as free agency inches closer….

  • Linebacker Jon Beason, who is said to be the Giants’ top free agent priority, has been emailing teams to let them know he’s representing himself, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. As Schefter notes, the clubs can’t reply yet due to tampering rules. Beason also won’t be able to talk to any teams besides the Giants until Tuesday, since the three-day negotiating window that opens Saturday only applies to player agents talking to rival suitors on behalf of their clients.
  • Kimberley Jones of NFL Network hears from a source that a contract agreement between the Giants and offensive lineman Chris Snee “will get done” (Twitter link). Snee and the Giants have mutual interest in the veteran’s return to the team for next season, but are working to reduce his $11.3MM cap number for 2014.
  • The Giants have interest in Cal kicker Vincenzo D’Amato, who worked out for the Patriots today, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (link via National Football Post).

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Bryant, Rice, Harbaugh

March 3rd, 2014 at 9:44pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Super Bowl champion Seahawks debuted their season highlights tonight, and coach Pete Carroll left the door open on a possible return of two recently released players, defensive lineman Red Bryant and receiver Sidney Rice.

“Maybe we have a chance to get them back,” Carroll said via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. “Maybe we don’t. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The two were slated to earn a combined $17MM in 2014 before receiving the ax.

Other notes from the NFC…

  • 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh addressed rumors he will leave the team after next season. “No,” Harbaugh told SI.com’s Michael Rosenberg. “Zero opportunity or chance of that in my mind.” Harbaugh flatly denied the assertions that he wants more money and power, and he spoke of the respect shared between himself and GM Trent Baalke.
  • Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton is set to earn $3.25MM in 2014, but the team still doesn’t if he plans on playing, according to ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer. Orton would have to repay $3MM of the $5MM signing bonus he received in 2012, so signs point to his return, but no declarative statement has been made.
  • Attempting to ease cap woes, the Cowboys converted base salary to bonus money for cornerback Orlando Scandrick and Sean Lee, per FOX Sports 1 NFL insider Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). This type of conversion lowers a cap number by spreading the hit over the length of the contract. Garafolo continued, saying the team will continue to rework contracts, and that Scandrick had $3.75MM converted. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that Dallas created $4.75MM in space with Lee and $8.5MM total.
  • With a $6.75MM salary and $11.3MM cap number in 2014, Giants offensive lineman Chris Snee reiterated his willingness to take a pay cut and “mentor the young guys,” from ESPN Giants reporter Dan Graziano.
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