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Demetri Goodson

Extra Points: Texans, RG3, Chiefs, Patriots

November 15th, 2017 at 9:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Texans haven’t tried to hit a home run after losing quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season, as they’ve re-inserted Tom Savage as the starter while signing T.J. Yates, Josh Johnson, and Matt McGloin (since released). While Colin Kaepernick stands out as one signal-caller who could potentially aid Houston, there’s another free agent quarterback who could also make sense for the Texans: former Redskins/Browns passer Robert Griffin III.

“Deshaun’s an incredible player with a really bright future,” Griffin told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “I feel like I could help him after my experiences with Washington and Cleveland. I feel like I could help the team. I know a lot of their guys. I think I can do a lot of things they’ve been doing offensively. Texas is home, and I’ve always got a soft spot in my heart for Texas.”

Kaepernick, who notably starred collegiately in Texas at Baylor University, has been linked to a number of clubs this offseason — including the Seahawks, Chargers, and Ravens — but has yet to land a contract. While he’s certainly struggled in recent campaigns, he could theoretically offer upside that Savage, Yates, and Johnson do not. However, the Texans haven’t shown any indication that they plan to move away from Savage in the near future.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is considered a “hot name” in NFL circles and could be a head coaching candidate in 2018, according to Michael Lombardi of the Ringer (Twitter link). Nagy doesn’t call plays in Kansas City (head coach Andy Reid handles that duty), but the 39-year-old has helped orchestrate an exotic offense that’s featured career-best performance from quarterback Alex Smith and excellent contributions from young players such as Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill. At present, the Chiefs ranks third in offensive DVOA, fifth in yards, and fifth in scoring.
  • Special-teamer Matthew Slater suffered a “serious” hamstring injury in the Patriots‘ Week 10 victory over the Broncos and could now be sidelined for multiple games, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. A wide receiver in name only, Slater also missed the first four games of the season with a hamstring issue. He’s played only eight offensive snaps this year, but has seen time on a quarter of New England’s special teams plays. The Patriots are a top-five special teams unit in DVOA, as they have been in six of the past seven seasons.
  • Linebacker Dadi Nicolas (Chiefs) and cornerback Demetri Goodson (Packers) have both begun practicing and now have a 21-day window during which they can be activated from the physically unable to perform list, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter links). As Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes, the Chiefs are dealing with a number of injuries at linebacker, meaning Nicolas — who appeared in 11 games a season ago — could provide depth. Goodson made three starts for Green Bay in 2016 before going down with a torn ACL.
  • The Packers worked out running back Dare Ogunbowale on Wednesday while the Giants took a look at kicker Marshall Koehn, tweets Balzer. Green Bay is dealing with injuries to both Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery, so the club is looking for backfield options. New York, meanwhile, has now auditioned kickers in two consecutive days, a sign the team could be frustrated with incumbent Aldrick Rosas‘ 66.7% field goal conversion rate.

Packers Down To 53

September 2nd, 2017 at 5:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers’ 53-man roster is set…for now. Here’s a look at the players that were cut to allow the team to get down to the limit.

Cut:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Placed on reserve/Injured

The Packers surprised some by releasing Yancey, a fifth-round pick, and Dupre, a seventh-round pick. Both could be candidates for the practice squad if they clear waivers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/3/16

December 3rd, 2016 at 4:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • Jerry Attaochu underwent surgery this week, and the Chargers made the customary move of placing the third-year pass-rusher on IR. Nose tackle Ryan Carrethers will take Attaochu’s roster spot, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter). A former fifth-round Chargers pick in 2014, Carrethers already has 20 games of NFL experience — three starts — on which to draw after his latest promotion from the practice squad.
  • Demetri Goodson‘s third NFL season will conclude after the Packers placed the cornerback on IR and signed fellow corner Makinton Dorleant off their practice squad, Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (on Twitter). Goodson played in six games for the Packers this year and started three for a team that’s struggled to keep its cornerbacks healthy. A rookie UDFA, Dorleant has not played in an NFL game yet. He’ll likely contribute on special teams, per Cohen.
  • The Bills have promoted tight end Gerald Christian from the practice squad, reports Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). Starter Charles Clay missed the team’s flight to Oakland due to the birth of his child, so Christian, the Mr. Irrelevent from the 2015 draft, will provide some depth at tight end. To make room on the roster, the team released kickoff specialist Jordan Gay.
  • The Chiefs have promoted defensive tackle T.J. Barnes to the active roster, reports Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star (via Twitter). If Dontari Poe is unable to play, Barnes could slide into the backup nose tackle role behind Jarvis Jenkins.
  • The Giants have signed linebacker Deontae Skinner to the active roster and waived center Shane McDermott, reports James Kratch of NJ.com (via Twitter). This is a flip-flop from the maneuver the Giants made last weekend, indicating some improved health for their offensive front.

Packers Activate Pennel, Goodson

October 15th, 2016 at 2:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers will be without James Starks against the Cowboys but did not promote a running back from the practice squad to help their backfield’s depth. Instead, the team activated defensive lineman Mike Pennel and cornerback Demetri Goodson, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Granted one-game roster exemptions for both players coming off four-game suspensions, Green Bay waited a week to activate each backup contributor. The Packers’ cutting quarterback Joe Callahan earlier this week left them with an empty roster spot, and they waived defensive tackle Brian Price to clear another space, per Demovsky.

A third-year player coming off a substance-abuse suspension, Pennel made five starts for the Packers last season. He’s played in 29 games over the past two years after joining the Packers as a UDFA in 2014. The former Colorado State-Pueblo performer registered a sack, forced a fumble and made 24 tackles last season. He’s expected to join Christian Ringo and Dean Lowry among the Packers’ backups up front.

Goodson has also been a backup for the past two seasons, playing in 20 games since being taken in the sixth round last year. The former Gonzaga point guard served a four-game PED ban and will help a depleted Packers cornerback corps that’s still without Sam Shields. Opposite starter Damarious Randall is questionable, with nickel man Quinten Rollins potentially out for Week 6 as well. Both are battling groin injuries. So, Goodson could be called upon in the event the duo is unable to go.

Starks suffered a meniscus injury this week and could be out for multiple games, according to Demovsky, so Green Bay’s backfield could take on an interesting dynamic considering no other backup running back resides on the active roster. Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery could be called upon for spot-duty carries behind Eddie Lacy, Jason Wilde of ESPN.com tweets. Fullback Aaron Ripkowski is the only other active-roster ball-carrier.

Extra Points: Garoppolo, Cards, Packers

October 10th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Zachary Links

What would it take for the Patriots to trade Jimmy Garoppolo? ESPN.com’s Mike Sando (Insider sub. req’d) asked around the NFL to try and figure out where the QB’s market might be. “You get a first and a second in a heartbeat, but you ask for two firsts,” one executive said. “That is where the divide is. And the middle ground might be a first and two seconds. San Francisco got two seconds for Alex Smith, but he had already failed.” A better question might be: Would the Patriots trade Garoppolo?Given his strong play to start the season and Tom Brady‘s age, it’s possible that the Patriots would not entertain offers at all.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Cardinals GM Steve Keim told 98.7 FM in Arizona (Twitter link) that guard Evan Mathis could potentially return from IR this year. Of course, Mathis could only return after eight weeks on IR and the team can only activate one player from IR this year. That means that even if Mathis is healthy enough, the Cardinals might opt to promote a healthy Chris Johnson or Tyvon Branch instead. Mathis sustained a bad ankle injury against San Francisco on Thursday, prompting the team to put him on the shelf. Over the weekend, Mathis hinted that he is planning on retiring after the 2016 season, so it is possible that he has played his last down of football.
  • The Packers have been granted one-week roster exemptions for defensive tackle Mike Pennel and defensive back Demetri Goodson, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Pennel (substance abuse) and Goodson (PED) are both coming off four-games suspensions. The exemptions expire on Monday, so if Green Bay wants either of the two to play on Sunday, the club will have to make a transaction.
  • After promoting quarterbacks coach Marty Mornhinweg to replace fired offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, the Ravens don’t plan to hire a new QBs coach, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Instead, longtime coach Craig Ver Steeg — listed as a senior offensive assistant in the club’s media guide — will assist in quarterback meetings.
  • A botched hold cost the Chargers a chance at overtime on Sunday, and San Diego will “explore options” at holder, according to head coach Mike McCoy (Twitter link via Eric Williams of ESPN.com). Drew Kasar, the man who mishandled the snap in question, will remain the club’s punter, however.

Packers Bring Roster Down To 53

September 3rd, 2016 at 6:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have announced the cuts that will bring their roster down to 53. The club has made the following moves:

Cut:

Placed On IR:

  • C Kyle Steuck
  • DT Tyler Kuder

Reserve/Suspended:

Aaron Colvin, Others Suspended Four Games

April 8th, 2016 at 3:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Friday afternoons in the NFL offseason are often when the league announces suspensions for the coming season, and today is no exception. After the Falcons confirmed today that cornerback Jalen Collins has been banned four games for violating the league’s PED policy, several other suspensions were announced as well. Here’s the breakdown:Aaron Colvin

Of those three players, Colvin is the most notable — he started 15 games for the Jaguars last season, compiling 73 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and seven passes defended. With the 24-year-old out to open the season, the Jaguars will be leaning heavily on newly-signed CB Prince Amukamara.

Goodson was primarily a special-teamer for the Packers in 2015, while Turzili caught just two balls in three games for the Titans.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Signings: Vikings, Giants, Packers, Pats

May 16th, 2014 at 1:50pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re continuing to track which draft picks have signed their rookie contracts with their new NFL clubs. Here are the latest transactions:

  • The Vikings have officially confirmed the signings of three draft picks, announcing the moves in a press release. While we’d already heard that the club locked up offensive lineman David Yankey, we can add cornerbacks Kendall James and Jabari Price, the 184th and 225th overall picks, to the list of Minnesota draftees who have signed.
  • Two Giants draft picks have officially signed with the club, according to a team release. Fourth-round running back Andre Williams and fifth-round safety Nat Berhe have inked their rookie deals, which should put them in line for respective signing bonuses of about $454K and $193K, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.
  • The Packers have agreed to terms with sixth-round cornerback Demetri Goodson, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan. Green Bay has now secured its final five draftees, though it still needs to sign the first four, including first-rounder Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun passes along a pair of signings, via Twitter: The Patriots have agreed to terms with fourth-round offensive tackle Cameron Fleming on a four-year, $2.52MM deal (Twitter link), while the Saints and sixth-round tackle Tavon Rooks reached an agreement on a four-year, $2.317MM pact (Twitter link).

Draft Notes: Caplan, Safeties, Beckham

May 5th, 2014 at 8:59pm CST by Rory Parks

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan held a Q&A on Twitter Monday evening, and that session contained a few interesting nuggets. All links, of course, go to Twitter:

  • Caplan does not believe Johnny Manziel will make it past pick No. 7, but his absolute floor is No. 13.
  • He also does not think Manziel’s former teammate, Mike Evans, will make it out of the top 10.
  • Caplan tweets that TE Jace Amaro could go in the first round, but is more likely a 2nd-round prospect, along with Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
  • Caplan believes another high-riser, DT Aaron Donald, has turned himself into a top-10 selection.
  • As he has been saying all offseason, Caplan thinks the Vikings will bolster their defense with the No. 8 overall selection.

And as beat writers and national analysts continue to churn out draft tidbits like so much butter, let’s dive into some more draft-related links:

  • Barring a trade, the Colts will not pick until deep into Day 2, as their first selection is No. 59 overall. When they finally do send a draft card to the podium, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star writes that the team will take a “long look” at safeties. Which is understandable given how thin they currently are at the position.
  • However, this year’s safety class is fairly weak, and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the Eagles, another team that needs safety help, will find slim pickings even in the first round. As Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman says, “I don’t think it’s a good group overall.“
  • ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini tweets that if the Jets really want LSU wideout Odell Beckham, Jr., they will have to trade up to get him. At least one team above the Jet’s No. 18 overall selection is said to be in love with Beckham.
  • Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle tweets that seven teams called Baylor CB Demetri Goodson today, and that the Titans expressed strong interest.
  • The Bears and Ravens both have mid-first round picks, and both are set at the quarterback position. As such, a run on QBs early in the first would benefit both teams by allowing talent at other positions to fall, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune and Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Biggs believe that such a run will, in fact, happen.
  • In the same piece, Brown writes that the Ravens could also stand to benefit even if there is no early run on quarterbacks, as their No. 17 overall selection would be more appealing to teams in search of a top QB prospect. Although Baltimore has been widely expected to take an offensive lineman or wide receiver in the first round, Brown believes they could “pull a surprise” and take a cornerback first if someone like Justin Gilbert or Darqueze Dennard should fall.

Extra Points: Dansby, Seahawks, Texans

April 24th, 2014 at 6:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL believes the Eagles released DeSean Jackson based on football reasons and not due to alleged gang connections, according to NFL senior vice president of law and labor policy Adolpho Birch. “I think we are comfortable that the decisions that were made on both ends were football decisions,” Birch told reporters, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Both sides, the objective that they sought from a football perspective, they got, whether that be the Eagles or the Redskins. I think the player’s going to be in a good position. I think at the end of the day, everyone was comfortable with that.”

  • Cardinals veteran Darnell Dockett was sad to see Karlos Dansby go to the Browns this offseason, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “I’ve got a lot of respect for our guy that left, I love him like a brother but we were one or two pieces away from making a lot of noise,” Dockett said. “But we are going to regroup. Our GM, coaches, owner will get someone to fill that role and we’ve got guys with enthusiasm of getting that opportunity for that role. They know they have big shoes to fill.“
  • Former Vikings and Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson worked out for the Seahawks today, a source told Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The 26-year-old saw action in ten games last season for Minnesota.
  • Wide receiver Armanti Edwards is also working out for the Seahawks, a source tells Caplan (on Twitter). The wide receiver/special teamer split time between the Panthers and Browns last season. His campaign ended in November when he suffered an ankle injury in Cleveland.
  • Former Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson had a very positive visit with the Texans today, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Getlin adds (link) that Robinson’s agent, Eric Metz, has been good friends with Houston offensive line coach Paul Dunn since college. If the Texans are really high on Robinson, they can likely move down a few spots and walk away with additional picks.
  • Sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com that if the Texans take a defensive player first overall and draft a quarterback atop the second round, Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr, if available, would be Houston’s top two targets.
  • Baylor’s Demetri Goodson is scheduled to meet with the Texans on Saturday, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. The Cowboys, Dolphins, Saints and Eagles have also shown interest in the former Gonzaga point guard turned cornerback.
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