Derrell Johnson

East Notes: Dolphins, Pats, Giants, Redskins

While most teams around the NFL have set their 53-man rosters and 10-man practice squads for the season, we shouldn’t expect those clubs to just sit on their hands going forward. Many clubs have been auditioning players this week for potential spots on the active roster or practice squad, including several teams from the NFL’s two East divisions. Via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who passes along the latest updates in a series of tweets, here are the latest items out of the AFC and NFC East:

Extra Points: Vickerson, Cardinals, Bengals

Former Broncos defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson was brought into Cincy to take a physical for the Bengals but he won’t be signing with them this week, a source tells Mike Klis of the Denver Post (on Twitter). Here’s more from around the league..

  • The Cardinals were busy looking at linebackers today, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter): James Anderson, Zac Diles, Moise Fokou, and Yawin Smallwood all worked out for them, according to the source.
  • The Bengals worked out tight ends Kevin Greene and Ryan Otten this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • The Redskins worked out Chaz Sutton and Derrell Johnson, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • In addition to signing Colton Schmidt, the Bills also worked out fellow punters Bobby Cowan and Drew Butler, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Cardinals Release Jay Feely, Max Starks, 11 Others

12:13pm: In addition to Feely, the Cardinals have cut 12 other players, trimming their roster to the required 75-man limit, per a press release:

Starks is 10-year veteran who has spent most of his career with the Steelers, while Lindley started four games for the Cards in 2012.

11:35am: The Cardinals have released veteran kicker Jay Feely, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Feely, a 13-year veteran, had been with Arizona since 2010.

Feely, 38, thanked the franchise on Twitter: “It’s been an honor to play for the [Cardinals and owner] Michael Bidwill, thank you for your leadership and friendship. AZ will still be home!” The former Michigan Wolverine has lived a kicker’s nomadic life, spending time with the Falcons, Giants, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Jets. For his career, Feely has converted 82.7% of his field goals (329-for-398).

The Cardinals save $635K against the cap with this move, but money probably wasn’t Arizona’s prime motivation. 23-year-old Chandler Cantanzaro, the only other PK on the Cards’ roster, will presumably become the starting kicker. He was an undrafted free agent out of Clemson.

It’s just my speculation, but I wonder if the Broncos would be interested in bringing Feely aboard. Matt Prater was recently suspended for the first four games of the season, and Feely could add some stability to the kicking position until Prater is ready to return.

Minor Moves: Friday

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here..

  • The Seahawks removed Taylor Price from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Wilson tweets. The Seahawks put the wide receiver on the IR earlier this week.
  • The Chiefs cut linebacker Ben Johnson and the Giants waived-injured defensive back Travis Howard, Wilson tweets.
  • The Dolphins announced that they have signed linebacker Ryan Rau, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. To make room for Rau on the 90-man roster, Miami waived/injured Tariq Edwards, tweets Bryan McIntyre.
  • Former Buccaneers running back Michael Smith is signing with the Jets today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • The Cardinals signed linebacker Derrell Johnson, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). Johnson, a UDFA out of East Carolina, was cut by the Dolphins just days ago.
  • The Giants signed cornerback Chandler Fenner, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter). Fenner was waived by the Seahawks when they signed ex-Giants corner Terrell Thomas.
  • The Cowboys signed defensive end Kenneth Boatright to a two-year contract this afternoon, according to agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter). Boatright was previously a member of the Seahawks.
  • The Falcons signed defensive tackle Theo Agnew, tweets Wilson.
  • After practice today, Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell announced that the team has released Trevardo Williams, according to ESPN.com’s Tania Gangull. Williams, a fourth-round outside linebacker from last season, never saw a regular season snap.
  • The Chargers have signed cornerback Lowell Rose, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Jets cut Rose late last month when they signed free agent Jason Babin.
  • The Giants signed rookie free agent Adam Gress after placing tackle Troy Kropog on injured reserve, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
  • The Seahawks announced that they have released wide receiver Randall Carroll and signed linebacker Marcus Dowtin, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (on Twitter). Dowtin saw three games of action with the Giants in 2013 before being released in March.
  • The Cardinals announced that they have signed offensive tackle Max Starks, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The 6’8″, 345 lineman spent time with the Rams and Chargers in 2013 after playing for Pittsburgh from 2004-2012. To make room for Starks, the Cardinals cut tackle Cory Brandon and kicker Danny Hrapmann, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. 
  • The Texans signed wide receiver Joe Adams and offensive tackle Brice Schwab, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Adams, 24, played at Arkansas and was drafted in the fourth round by Carolina in 2012. Schwab, 24, played at Arizona State. He signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent last year. The Texans waived-injured Bryan Witzmann to make room for Adams, Wilson tweets.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

As August approaches, teams continue to shuffle around their 90-man rosters, making minor signings and cuts. We’ll round up Tuesday’s minor transactions right here, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Bears signed wide receiver Dale Moss to fill out their roster, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). Moss spent part of 2012 on the Bears’ practice squad and the early part of the 2013 offseason on Chicago’s roster.
  • Brian McIntyre (Twitter links) passes along word of a pair of waiver claims, reporting that the 49ers claimed offensive tackle Michael Philipp from the Dolphins, while the Lions were awarded wideout Quintin Payton from the Bucs. Detroit had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move was necessary to claim Payton — San Francisco has waived quarterback Kory Faulkner to make room for Philipp.
  • The Steelers have waived-injured offensive lineman David Snow, replacing him on the roster with running back Josh Harris, the team announced today (Twitter link via PR man Burt Lauten).

Earlier updates:

  • After suffering a couple injuries in the secondary recently, the Ravens have brought in a free agent defensive back, signing former Arena Leaguer Marrio Norman to a contract, the team announced today. To make room on the roster, Baltimore has cut wide receiver Gerrard Sheppard, who spent most of last season on the club’s practice squad.
  • In order to make room for the newly-signed Alfonso Smith, the 49ers have waived-injured rookie guard Fouimalo Fonoti, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).
  • The Dolphins have made a series of moves this morning, signing tight end Brett Brackett, quarterback Seth Lobato and defensive end D’Aundre Reed, and waiving quarterback Brock Jensen and linebacker Derrell Johnson. Miami also waived-injured guard Davonte Wallace, according to the team (TwitLonger link). Of the six players, only Reed has seen regular-season NFL action, and his experience is limited to six active games in 2012. The release of Jensen is also notable, since he was one of the club’s more highly-touted undrafted free agents this spring.
  • Former Jets linebacker Ricky Sapp has been cut by the Texans, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who tweets that the team signed running back Tim Cornett and offensive tackle Mike Farrell. Sapp, a former fifth-round pick who was active in 10 total games last year for the Jets and Texans, will have to clear waivers before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Dolphins Sign 21 Undrafted Free Agents

THURSDAY, 4:25pm: Add one more player to the Dolphins’ undrafted free agent class, as USC safety Demetrius Wright showed up on today’s transaction wire, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 10:44am: The Dolphins have signed two more undrafted free agents, bringing their total to 20. Former Arizona State defensive end Gannon Conway and Tulane running back Orleans Darkwa have also showed up on the league’s transaction wire for the Dolphins, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

MONDAY, 6:06pm: The Dolphins have made their undrafted free agent signings official today announcing their 18 new players via their official Twitter account.

Here are all the Dolphins’ signings:

  • Deion Belue, DB, Alabama
  • Steven Clarke, DB, Vanderbilt
  • Tariq Edwards, LB, Virginia Tech
  • Evan Finkenberg, OL, Arizona State
  • Harold Hoskins, TE, Marshall
  • David Hurd, OL, Arkansas
  • Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU
  • Derrell Johnson, LB, East Carolina
  • Kamal Johnson, DT, Temple
  • Ryan Lankford, WR, Illinois
  • Tyler Larsen, OL, Utah St.
  • Tevin Mims, DE, South Florida
  • Garrison Smith, DT, Georgia
  • Marcus Thompson, LB, Rutgers
  • Davonte Wallace, OL, New Mexico State
  • Damien Williams, RB, Oklahoma
  • Andrew Wilson, LB, Missouri
  • Rantavious Wooten, WR, Georgia