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Dion Jordan

AFC East Notes: Jets, Dolphins, James

September 16th, 2014 at 5:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets were busy working out a number of players today, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). Rex Ryan & Co. auditioned linebackers Pat Angerer and Desmond Bishop, wide receivers Tiquan Underwood and David Gettis, and quarterback Pat Devlin. Here’s more out of the AFC East…

  • The Dolphins worked out former 49ers running back LaMichael James, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). James was unhappy with his situation in San Francisco, asked for his release, and secured it earlier this month. Miami, obviously, could use some help at RB. The former Oregon star wasn’t signed after the workout but it’s still a possibility and the sides have discussed a deal, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
  • Former Mizzou tight end Eric Waters also worked out for the Dolphins today, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch (on Twitter). The 6’5″, 245 pound tight end was cut loose by the Steelers in advance of their cutdown to a 75-man roster.
  • The Dolphins may not benefit from the new drug policy, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Safety Reshad Jones and defensive end Dion Jordan are both suspended, but multiple sources say the new rules won’t get Jordan’s suspension revoked. The same sources were not in agreement whether Jones would be returned to the Dolphins’ active roster.

Drug Suspension Not Lifted In Time For Week 2

September 13th, 2014 at 3:23pm CST by Rob DiRe

The deadline to activate players for Sunday action was 4 P.M. ET today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Without a new deal agreed to, teams will not have a chance to activate players who had suspensions about to be reduced in time for the games this weekend.

Those players will not have been reinstated into the NFL in time to play, and will now have to wait until next week to see their suspension lifted, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

The player representatives approved the new deal, but it has not yet been made official.

Some players, such as Wes Welker, Orlando Scandrick, Reshad Jones, and Dion Jordan have each been suspended four games, but could have those suspensions thrown out under the new policy.

Josh Gordon, who was suspended for the entire season, could see his ban reduced to only 10 games.

The entire group will have to wait until next week for these changes to take effect, reports Mike Garafalo of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter).

Josh Gordon To Be Suspended 10 Games

September 12th, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Zachary Links

3:56pm: Once the player reps vote within the next hour, the names of those reinstated players will be made public, tweets Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. That tally should be in the double digits, but is not expected to exceed 20.

3:28pm: Under the new policy, Gordon’s suspension will be 10 games, a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The new policy calls for a 10-game suspension for a fourth violation.

2:23pm: A source with knowledge of the situation gave Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk a detailed rundown of what the new policy will look like if it is approved by the NFLPA. The NFL and NFLPA will jointly select, approve, and pay for a pool of three-to-five independent arbitrators to deal with appeals. Also, testing for HGH will also get underway this year without a population study.

9:20am: When a new drug policy is approved as early as this afternoon, Josh Gordon‘s suspension is expected to be reduced to eight games, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As expected, the new policy would also mean the reinstatement of Wes Welker, Orlando Scandrick, Dion Jordan, and others, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

If the new policy is finally approved today, it will bring weeks of back-and-forth negotiations and outside speculation to a close. According to a report frm Rapoport and Albert Breer last night, the new deal will have two-game suspensions for DUI convictions but won’t include the mandatory one-game suspension for a DUI arrest that the league was looking for. Additionally, the THC threshold is expected to move from 15 nanograms/milliliter to 35 ng/ml, which is still less than the standards of MLB (50 ng/ml) or the Olympics (150 ng/ml), but a significant change nonetheless. Had Gordon been tested with the new threshold in mind, he would have passed comfortably.

An eight game suspension for Gordon would be a split-down-the-middle compromise between the two sides as he was initially slated to miss the entire 2014 season. Welker, Scandrick, and Jordan all failed their tests inside of the 2014 league year while Gordon’s came before the official start on March 11th.

Jones, Jordan Could Have Suspensions Lifted

September 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm CST by Rob DiRe

With the league talking with the player’s union about a new drug policy, some NFL players could potentially see their recent drug suspensions reduced or eliminated. As part of the negotiations, the union is seeking to reverse the suspensions that have been handed out this offseason, and two players who could immediately return to action are Dolphins’ defensive pieces Dion Jordan and Reshad Jones, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

The second-year player Jordan was suspended for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. Jones was also suspended four games for violating the same policy. It would depend on what substances these players tested positive for, but if a new agreement is reached, it’s possible that a first offense would no longer warrant a suspension.

Both players would still likely be enrolled in the league’s substance abuse program regardless of whether or not their suspensions are upheld.

AFC East Notes: Decker, Easley, Odrick, Bills

August 3rd, 2014 at 8:42pm CST by Ben Levine

Jets wideout Eric Decker is focused on contributing to his new team and is hoping to establish himself as a bona fide number-one receiver. That may be tough without Peyton Manning throwing to him, but the 27-year-old wants to prove that his success shouldn’t be completely attributed to the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

“From Year One to Year Five now, I’ve gotten better at my craft,” Decker told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “I’ve become a better receiver. I’m not going to make assumptions because assuming doesn’t really do anything. In this league, you’re only as good as your last play. That’s what people remember. Numbers and statistics come and go away. And then you start over.”

Teammate Sheldon Richardson certainly envisions Decker as a premier wide receiver.

“People want to knock him for the Super Bowl or hate on him a little bit,” Richardson said, “but truth be told, that whole offense disappeared, even Peyton Manning.

But I see a No. 1 receiver in him.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…

  • ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini confirms that Jets linebacker Jermaine Cunningham has torn his ACL and is expected to miss the regular season.
  • Cimini also explores whether the Jets would benefit from playing both Geno Smith and Michael Vick at quarterback. He acknowledges that having the players platoon could throw Smith off of his rhythm, but he also notes that a weapon like Vick shouldn’t be warming the bench.
  • Patriots first-round pick Dominique Easley still hasn’t been cleared to practice and will not travel with the team to Richmond, sources tell The Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe. The defensive tackle, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL, is at least a week away from returning to practice.
  • Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan will be suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season, but that hasn’t prevented the player from making an impact. In fact, ESPN.com’s James Walker says the former first-rounder has been one of the team’s best defensive players in training camp. “He’s anxious to continue to develop,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said. “He knows he’s got a lot of work. He’s been getting a lot of work here. We’ll continue to try to get a lot of players in the preseason games knowing that we’re going to miss him for a bit, but we envision his role is going to be extensive when he comes back and we know he’s going to be a great player for us.”
  • Entering the final year of his contract, Dolphins defensive end Jared Odrick admitted that a future deal is certainly on his mind. However, he’s trying his best to focus on just football. “There’s no time where it’s (a season) not a big deal,” Odrick said (via David J. Neal of the Miami Herald). “But in terms of my situation with me being five years in, it would be a mistake if I didn’t stay focused on my duties as a football player and what I have to do physically and mentally every day. I try to focus on that more than anything else.”
  • The Bills are crowded at wide receiver, but NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal tweets that Marcus Easley “should be a lock” considering his contributions on special teams.

East Notes: Redskins, Bills, Bryant, Jordan

July 10th, 2014 at 1:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Tanard Jackson wasn’t a lock to make the Redskins‘ roster before word of his second indefinite suspension broke, so his absence from training camp doesn’t figure to have a huge effect on the secondary. A source tells Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link) that the club is unlikely to bring in another safety to fill Jackson’s roster spot, and John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that as of this morning, Washington had not reached out to free agent safety Reed Doughty, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the team.

Here’s more out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • Jeffrey Gundlach, CEO of Los Angeles-based investment firm DoubleLine Capital, still has interest in making a bid for the Bills, reports Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. Gundlach has previously expressed interest in purchasing the franchise and keeping it in Western New York, and appears to have rebounded from a financial perspective after an “ugly courtroom divorce”
  • In a conversation with Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com (video link), star wideout Dez Bryant admitted it was hard for him to hear that the Cowboys cut Miles Austin this offseason. Bryant, entering the final year of his rookie deal, also downplayed his contract situation, suggesting he intends to focus on football. “When it’s time to talk about it, that’s when I’ll talk about it. I’m gonna let that stuff take care of itself,” Bryant said.
  • Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com notes that the worst-case scenario for Bryant this year would involve those extension talks becoming a distraction and having an effect on his on-field performance.
  • Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan has no plans to appeal his four-game suspension and will serve it at the start of the 2014 season, according to James Walker of ESPN.com (Twitter link). That’s no surprise, since the NFL typically doesn’t announce a suspension until it has already gone through the appeal process.

NFL Suspends Jordan, Watkins, Brazill

July 3rd, 2014 at 3:35pm CST by Luke Adams

3:35pm: Colts wideout LaVon Brazill has also been suspended and will be facing an even lengthier ban, according to Rapoport, who tweets that Brazill has been suspeneded for at least a year without pay for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy.

3:14pm: Two more NFL players will face four-game suspensions during the 2014 season for breaking league rules, according to multiple reports. Per James Walker of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan has been suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that Chiefs offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins faces a suspension for a violation of the league’s policy on substances of abuse.

Jordan represents the more significant loss for his team, as last year’s third overall pick looked poised to compete for a larger role on defense in training camp this season. It’s the second sizable blow sustained by the Dolphins recently, as Miami is also expected to be without a key piece of its offensive line to start the regular season, after Mike Pouncey underwent hip surgery. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter), Jordan admitted in a statement that he tested positive for “stimulants” and says he’s “very sorry” about the impact the suspension will have on the team.

As for Watkins, he started one game for the Chiefs last season and may have been competing for an increased role this year, due to a free agent exodus of key offensive linemen. However, now that he won’t be available for the first month of the season, Watkins isn’t necessarily a lock to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster. The Chiefs would be on the hook for just $60K in dead money if they were to cut him.

Both players will forfeit four games worth of salary due to their suspensions.

Extra Points: Davis, Hankins, Vernon, Brown

June 27th, 2014 at 12:00pm CST by Matt Feminis

“Vernon Davis sounds resigned as if he’ll report to 49ers training camp in 26 days without a new contract,” writes Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, and the tight end does not sound stressed about it.

Here’s more lunchtime links:

  • Giants 2013 second-round pick Johnathan Hankins came on strong down the stretch last season and is poised to inherit the nose tackle position vacated by Linval Joseph, who signed a free-agent deal with the Vikings, writes NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan.
  • Eagles defensive end Cedric Thornton was terrific against the run last season, but he’s making a concerted effort to improve his hand use and pass-rushing ability. In a story by CSNPhilly.com’s Geoff Mosher, Thornton says part of his motivation came from his wife telling him, “You only had one sack.”
  • Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon‘s stock is on the rise, says ESPN’s James Walker: “The former third-round pick exploded on the scene and led the Dolphins with 11.5 sacks…Vernon had another strong offseason, capped by his 2 1/2 sacks in Miami’s team scrimmage last week. Not only that, Vernon beat Dolphins Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert for two of his sacks…Vernon looks poised to hold onto his starting job and keep former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan on the bench.”
  • Tarell Brown‘s one-year, $3.5MM deal is the Raiders’ best contract, while Sebastian Janikowski‘s four-year, $15.1MM deal — which “ranks in the top 10 of the Raiders annual salary structure, top 3 in total value for the team among veterans, and first overall among kickers in the NFL” — is the worst, in the opinion of OverTheCap.com’s Jason Fitzgerald.
  • Chiefs injury plagued tight end Tony Moeaki is on the bubble, explains ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
  • Same goes for Jaguars safety Josh Evans, thinks ESPN’s Michael DiRocco: “Evans will have to prove early in camp that he’s completely healthy and is more consistent than he was as a rookie. If he doesn’t, he’ll lose reps and could end up being the first David Caldwell draft pick who gets cut.”

AFC Notes: Carr, Sheard, Canty, Williams

June 14th, 2014 at 10:52am CST by Matt Feminis

Since being drafted last month, Raiders second-round quarterback Derek Carr has drawn continued praise. Now, offensive coordinator Greg Olson says the rookie might not need to “redshirt.” Olson spoke to Vic Tafur at sfgate.com, saying, “We are accelerating the learning curve of Derek Carr.”

Here’s some more AFC news and notes:

  • Earlier this week, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweeted that the Browns and 2015 free agent Jabaal Sheard have had preliminary talks on a long-term contract extension, then elaborated in article form. Entering the final year of his four-year, $5.1MM rookie deal, the 2011 second-rounder is poised for an impact (Read: productive) season and lucrative payday thanks to his projected role as the team’s primary pass rusher in Mike Pettine’s hybrid, attacking scheme.
  • Prompted by a fan question as part of a mailbag chat, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley addresses the possibility of Ravens veteran defensive lineman Chris Canty being cut at the end of training camp. “There’s no guarantee that defensive end Chris Canty makes this team,” says Hensley. “He was a disappointment last year, and the Ravens can create cap room by cutting him ($2 million this year and $2.6 million in 2015). The Ravens, though, need to make sure someone is ready to step up in his spot. Kapron Lewis-Moore and rookie Brent Urban are the ones who play Canty’s position, so they have to convince the Ravens in the preseason that they’re ready.”
  • Bills receiver Mike Williams, acquired from Tampa Bay for a sixth-round pick, does not have a “particular skill that he brings to the table that is different from the rest of the receiver group” and is not a lock to make the roster in the eyes of ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
  • Despite struggling last season, Derek Newton is the Texans’ starting right tackle, per Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
  • The odds of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger starting all 16 games for the second consecutive season “aren’t good,” says Triblive.com’s Mark Kaboly, who examines the competition for the backup job between veteran Bruce Gradkowski and second-year pro Landry Jones.
  • Previewing the Dolphins upcoming minicamp, the Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly hits on several roster notes, including competition for slot receiver reps, Koa Misi transitioning to inside linebacker and Dion Jordan‘s increased bulk and strength.

Extra Points: Dolphins, Olson, Jets

June 1st, 2014 at 10:03pm CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins selected four players in the first three rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft. The rookies had underwhelming seasons to say the least, and the Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins takes a look at the group. Third-overall pick Dion Jordan contributed mostly as a third-down pass rusher in a season riddled by injuries. Cornerback Jamar Taylor and guard Dallas Thomas also suffered through injures while cornerback Will Davis struggled to crack the defensive back rotation.

In spite of the player’s issues, the sophomores are confident they will rebound.

“I feel like it was a learning experience for all of us,” said Taylor. “We all came here on our high horse and we got humbled real quick… There’s no doubt in my mind the Dolphins drafted the right players last year.

“I’ve got high expectations on myself. I can’t really worry about what everybody else thinks. As long as I get the respect of my teammates and the coaches and myself, and just prove myself right, that I know I can do it, that’s all I worry about.”

Thomas is now the team’s starting left guard, but as Perkins points out, none of the other players are starters. It will be difficult for Jordan, Taylor and Davis to dethrone the veterans ahead of them on the depth chart.

Let’s see what else is going on around the NFL…

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