Dezman Moses

AFC Notes: Bills, Browns, Jags, Bengals, Colts

Rex Ryan was a beloved players’ coach with the Jets from 2009-14, but it doesn’t seem that was fully the case during his nearly two-year run in Buffalo. Reacting to the Bills’ Tuesday decision to fire Ryan, one defensive player informed Bleacher Report’s Tyler Dunne, “That was music to my ears.” Similarly, some other Bills never bought into Ryan and felt he tore down the elite defense he inherited in 2015, according to Dunne (Twitter links). On the other side of the ball, wide receiver Sammy Watkins told the team’s official website that a “culture change” will be in order with Ryan’s successor. “Change the culture, change the mindset and get players on board,” he said. “If they’re not listening, cut them, kick them out, whatever. Sit them on the bench. I think that will help us move forward.”

More from the AFC:

  • Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown and vice president Andrew Berry were in attendance at Wednesday’s Houston Bowl to scout Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This isn’t the first connection between Cleveland and Garrett, who could go No. 1 overall in next spring’s draft. The 1-14 Browns will lock up that selection with a loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
  • Impending free agent cornerback Prince Amukamara would like to re-sign with the Jaguars on a multiyear deal, but he admitted Thursday that the team has bigger issues on its plate at the moment. “Right now the front office priority is probably finding a head coach and stuff like that, but I would hope to be a priority to them [after the hire],” he told Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com. Amukamara, who inked a one-year deal with the Jags last March, has appeared in 13 games and made 11 starts – his highest totals in those categories since 2012. Despite being in danger of posting his first interception-less season, the 27-year-old ranks a respectable 51st among 119 corners at Pro Football Focus. “I think it was huge to just be able to show that I am durable and I can play this game if I’m healthy,” added the former Giant.
  • Like Amukamara, Bengals corner Dre Kirkpatrick doesn’t want to leave his current setting. “I love this organization,” the soon-to-be free agent told Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. Kirkpatrick, a 2012 first-round pick who’s currently in his fifth-year option season, is second among Bengals corners in snaps (906). He has also picked off exactly three passes for the third time in his career and is set for his second straight year with at least 14 starts. PFF isn’t overly bullish, however, as it ranks Kirkpatrick as this season’s 74th-best corner.
  • The Colts worked out linebacker Dezman Moses and safety L.J. McCray on Thursday, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter links). Moses is easily the more experienced of the pair, having appeared in 46 games to McCray’s 22, and has been available since the Chiefs cut him Oct. 7. McCray hasn’t caught on anywhere since the 49ers waived him Sept. 5.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFL Workout Updates: 10/26/16

Tuesday is workout day in the NFL, and today was no different. Due to the sheer volume of today’s auditions, we’ll split up the reports by conference:

AFC

NFC

Saints Work Out Handful Of LB/DEs

The Saints auditioned a crop of front seven players today, including one — former first-round pick Bjoern Werner — that was already reported earlier today. The full list is below, all courtesy of Mike Triplett and Field Yates of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted:Danny Lansanah (vertical)

Lansanah, 31, had spent the last two seasons and change with Tampa Bay before spending a week with the Dolphins in August. Over the last two years, Lansanah appeared in every regular season game for the Bucs, making 22 total starts. In 2014, Lansanah recorded three interceptions, eight pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, and 81 total tackles. His production tailed off last season, though he still notched 47 tackles, one sack, and four pass breakups.

Horton, Lotulelei, Moses, and Mulamba also have prior NFL experience, and Moses leads the pack, as he’s appeared in 45 games with the Packers and Chiefs (mostly on special teams duty). Horton, meanwhile, started 15 games for the Panthers as recently as 2014.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Chiefs Sign LB Sio Moore

The Chiefs have signed linebacker Sio Moore, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Moore was cut by the Colts earlier this week. Sio Moore (vertical)

Moore suffered a significant hamstring injury this summer which held him back in practice. He healed up from that injury, but he was unable to impress in the first month of this season with Indianapolis. He was cut on Tuesday after amassing 25 total tackles and five assisted tackles.

In two seasons with the Raiders and one season and change with the Colts, Moore has appeared in 42 games with 26 starts. He had 4.5 sacks as a rookie and 3.0 sacks in his sophomore year, but he has been unable to replicate those numbers in the past couple of years.

To make room, KC cut linebacker Dezman Moses.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/16

Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:

  • The Packers have cut running back Jhurell Pressley, per a team announcement. Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (on Twitter). There are indications Pressley that could return to the next next week, however, as Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette tweets.
  • The Buccaneers have reached an injury settlement with running back Mike James, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
  • The Dolphins waived quarterback Brandon Doughty, as Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets.
  • The Chiefs re-signed outside linebacker Dezman Moses, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
  • The Cardinals have waived/injured linebacker Louis Lamar, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (via Twitter).

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/16

Here are today’s minor moves:

  • The Seahawks have removed linebacker Eric Pinkins from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Pinkins, 25, appeared in six games for Seattle last season.
  • The Seahawks have also made a swap on their practice squad, signing wide receiver Antwan Goodley and cutting offensive tackle Takoby Cofield, tweets Condotta.
  • The Buccaneers have cut linebacker Micah Awe from their practice squad, reports Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Awe’s removal opens a spot for fullback Dan Vitale, who was added to the taxi squad yesterday.

Earlier updates:

  • The Raiders waived defensive end James Cowser off their IR list with an injury settlement, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
  • The Buccaneers promoted linebacker Josh Keyes to their 53-man roster, Roy Cummings of FanRag Sports reports (on Twitter). Keyes played in seven games last season for the Bucs. To make room for Keyes, the Bucs waived tight end Alan Cross, per Cummings (Twitter link).
  • Although he enjoyed a productive preseason, Dezman Moses saw the Chiefs cut him to make room for Eric Berry, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports (on Twitter). Moses spent the past three seasons with the Chiefs, serving as a backup outside linebacker and playing in 26 games for the franchise. Moses made four sacks for the Packers as a rookie but has been used mostly in a special teams capacity with the Chiefs.
  • The Lions released linebacker Josh Bynes from their IR list, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/7/16

The NFL saw quite a few minor moves today, and we’ll round them up here:

  • The Browns announced the signing of third-round offensive tackle Shon Coleman. Coleman, selected with the No. 76 overall pick, was a two-year starter at Auburn. Cleveland have now signed 11 of their 14 rookies from this year’s enormous class.
  • The Chiefs announced that they have signed outside linebacker Dezman Moses and safety Peni Vea. To make room, Kansas City has waived defensive back Keith Lewis and linebacker Efe Obada. Moses, a key special-teamer, has appeared in 29 games over the past two seasons for the Chiefs.
  • The Steelers waived former University of Miami linebacker Tyriq McCord, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. McCord initially joined Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent. The Steelers also signed TE Paul Lang and LB Kevin Anderson while releasing tight end Jay Rome, reports Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link)
  • The Falcons announced that they have signed defensive end Nordly Capi and guard Michael Huey, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes. Atlanta also waived defensive end Josh Dawson. Huey, who spent time with an Diego and Green Bay last season, played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and was a three-time AFL champ.
  • The Cardinals signed wide receiver Rico Richardson and waived fellow receiver Jeff Beathard, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets.
  • The Saints waived LB Dominique Tovell, who signed with the team as a UDFA in May, according to Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (Twitter link). New Orleans also placed defensive end Mitchell Loewen on the Reserve/NFI list today after he cleared waivers, Woodbery tweets.
  • The Lions announced they’ve signed wide receiver Damian Copeland and cut guard Andrew Zeller, Dave Birkett of The Detroit Press tweets.
  • Colts guard Isiah Cage reverted to the IR after being waived-injured and clearing waivers, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

FA Rumors: Vinatieri, Gates, Hayes, Moses

The Colts are working on a new contract for future Hall-of-Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that this was an “open secret” at the combine in Indianapolis. A report last month indicated that the team wanted to bring back Vinatieri, who expressed a desire to continue playing — perhaps for multiple years.

Not only a season, but Lord willing, a couple of years,” Vinatieri said at the time. “There will come a time when it’s over for me. I don’t think that time is yet. I enjoy playing. I enjoy doing my thing.”

As we wait to see if the Colts and Vinatieri can hammer something out within the next few days, let’s round up several more notes and rumors on free-agents-to-be….

  • The meeting at the combine between Antonio Gates and the Chargers went well, reaffirming the mutual interest between the two sides for a new deal, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. According to Gehlken, it’s likely just a matter of time until the veteran tight end finalizes a new contract with the Chargers.
  • If another team signs Olivier Vernon to an offer sheet that the Dolphins decide not to match, expect the team to pursue a lower-priced defensive end like William Hayes, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Per Salguero, Hayes is a player Miami likes “very much.”
  • The Chiefs have expressed interest in bringing back free agent linebacker Dezman Moses, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Moses is one of several Kansas City defensive players eligible for free agency, though he’ll probably come cheaper than most, since he’s primarily a special teams contributor.
  • The Saints would like to re-sign UFA kicker Kai Forbath, a source tells Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate. If Forbath does sign a new deal with New Orleans, I imagine it would be a modest one that wouldn’t preclude the team from bringing in competition.
  • Rams safety Rodney McLeod is one free agent who will be “in demand” next week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who tweets that plenty of NFL people like McLeod.

Chiefs Place Paul Fanaika On IR

The Chiefs’ offensive line depth took a hit today, as the team announced (via Twitter) it has placed veteran guard Paul Fanaika on the injured reserve list. To replace Fanaika on the roster, the club re-signed linebacker Dezman Moses.

Fanaika, 29, emerged as a starter in Arizona in 2013, and ultimately started 30 games at right guard for the Cardinals over the last two seasons. After signing with the Chiefs back in March, Fanaika earned a spot on the 53-man roster as a reserve offensive lineman, and likely would’ve been relied upon at guard or tackle if he was needed.

Instead, he’ll spend the year on injured reserve, or at least will remain on IR until he and Kansas City reach an injury settlement. The nature and severity of Fanaika’s injury isn’t yet known.

As for Moses, he returns to the Chiefs after spending the 2014 season on injured reserve. He was a special teams contributor for the club in 2013, playing just 59 defensive snaps that year.

Minor Moves: Thursday

With this year’s NCAA basketball tournament underway, the Colts‘ latest signing is a topical one. According to a team release, Indianapolis has signed Demarco Cox, a 6’8″, 294-pound basketball center who played his college ball at Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. Cox played football in high school before choosing basketball in college, and will be joining the Colts as an offensive tackle. While he may not be a good bet to make the team’s regular season roster, Cox should get a look from the Colts’ coaching staff this summer.

Here are the rest of Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • Restricted free agent Dezman Moses re-signed with the Chiefs, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweeted. Kansas City Star reporter Terez Paylor noted Moses’ one-year agreement earlier this month, according to a source (Twitter link). Moses played for the Chiefs in 2013 as a backup linebacker after starting six games for the Packers in 2012. The Chiefs waived Moses during training camp last season after he underwent elbow surgery, and the former undrafted free agent spent 2014 on injured reserve. This marks the second reserve backer Kansas City brought back this offseason after inking Josh Mauga to a new deal earlier this month.
  • The Seahawks have brought back defensive lineman D’Anthony Smith, a former third-round pick who was with the team last season, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The ex-Jaguar, who has played 28 regular season NFL games, spent 2014 on Seattle’s injured reserve list.
  • Linebacker Reggie Walker has moved from one AFC West team to another, according to agent David Canter, who tweets that the former Charger has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Broncos. After playing a career-high 549 defensive snaps in 2013, Walker returned to a much smaller role for San Diego in 2014, recording 12 total tackles and 0.5 sacks while playing 150 defensive snaps and contributing on special teams.

Earlier updates:

  • Former Packers running back DuJuan Harris has signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, according to agent Andy Simms (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Harris, who played sparingly for Green Bay in 2014, was non-tendered by the club earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
  • Free agent offensive tackle Byron Stingily has agreed to terms with the Titans on a multiyear contract that will keep him in Tennessee, the club announced today in a press release. According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (via Twitter), it’s a two-year contract worth $2.5MM, and it features an additional $800K in incentives. Stingily, who started at right tackle down the stretch for the Titans in 2014, could have an opportunity to claim the starting job in 2015 with Michael Roos and Michael Oher no longer on the roster.
  • The Jets have signed free agent tackle James Brewer, the team announced today in a press release. Brewer, who spent his first four years with the Giants, will be making the move from one New York team to the other, and figures to provide depth on the offensive line for the Jets. Brian Costello of the New York Post first reported (via Twitter) that the team had agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Brewer, who started eight games in 2013 but didn’t play much last season.