Dominique Easley - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Wilkerson, Jack, Fuller, K. White

April 16th, 2016 at 9:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Unsigned franchise player Muhammad Wilkerson is not expected to attend the Jets‘ voluntary workouts, according Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Wilkerson will follow the same pattern as fellow franchise players Josh Norman (link) and Von Miller (link), who also won’t participate in their respective team’s offseason program.

Let’s take a look at a few more notes from around the NFL…

The Cowboys are unlikely to use the No. 4 pick on UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, reports Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. Jack, who underwent knee surgery last fall, said his medical recheck earlier this week went smoothly, but other sources say that some clubs are concerned.
Like Jack, Virginia Tech corner Kendall Fuller underwent a medical recheck on his knee this week, and he received positive reports, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Fuller, who is expected to be selected on Day 2 of the draft, should be ready by training camp, per Rapoport.
After missing his entire rookie season with a shin injury, Bears receiver Kevin White — the No. 7 overall pick in 2015 — is now expected to be ready for Chicago’s offseason program. Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune has the details on White’s arduous recovery.
Elsewhere in the NFC North, Mike Spofford of Packers.com examines Green Bay’s running back situation, noting that Eddie Lacy is not guaranteed to be a member of the Packers beyond 2016. Lacy’s rookie contract expires after this season, and it’s not clear if Green Bay has plans of extending him.
Though an immature attitude was reportedly one factor in defensive tackle Dominique Easley‘s release from the Patriots, at least one New England veteran has spoken up on Easley’s behalf. “I loved Easley, especially his work ethic,” the unnamed player told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “I hope he gets a second chance. . . . He’s a great (guy) and teammate in my eyes.”

East Rumors: McCoy, Fins, Pats, Jets, Cowboys

April 16th, 2016 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although LeSean McCoy was cleared of wrongdoing from the alleged brawl that took place involving the Bills running back and off-duty Philadelphia police officers, the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office will review the Philadelphia district attorney’s decision not to charge McCoy for the Feb. 7 incident, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

State Solicitor General Bruce Castor said McCoy and others possibly involved in the fight “are not totally cleared” of charges despite Philadelphia DA Seth Williams’ decision earlier this month not to charge the former Eagles ball-carrier. If the Pennsylvania DA’s office determines McCoy should have been charged for his role in the melee, Rodak reports it could ask a court to overturn Williams’ decision.

Citing insufficient evidence, Williams cleared McCoy of potential charges. Although we heard earlier this week McCoy is unlikely to face an NFL suspension despite the league conducting its own investigation, an overturn of Williams’ decision would increase the likelihood the Bills’ starting running back would miss time this season.

Here’s more from the Eastern divisions.

Ezekiel Elliott will visit the Dolphins on Monday and Tuesday, James Walker of ESPN.com reports. Miami having lost Lamar Miller and missed out on signing C.J. Anderson and Chris Johnson makes the team’s interest in backfield help fairly clear. “They do have a hole at running back, and they do have some good people around on offense,” Elliott said. “It seems like the running back is the spot that they’re missing out on. So I think it would be a pretty good fit.”
The Patriots do not treat their 30 allotted pre-draft visits like recruiting trips as some of their NFL brethren do, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports, with the six-time 21st-century AFC champions devoting an entire work day (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) to meeting with the prospect(s) in their facility rather than taking the player(s) to dinner. The secretive organization also prefers the players it’s serious about drafting not to leak word of the visit. The Pats abruptly cancelled Nate Solder‘s 2011 meeting when details of the summit surfaced, but New England drafted the tackle anyway.
Recently released defensive tackle Dominique Easley sent out an Instagram post thanking the Patriots for his time there, Volin relays. The Globe reporter notes upon Easley being drafted in the first round two years ago, he soon wanted nothing to do with the organization, refusing to listen to the team regarding his knee rehab process.
Former Patriots practice squad quarterback Garrett Gilbert will count $9K toward New England’s 2016 salary cap after winning a grievance related to a roster bonus that the team didn’t pay when the Lions claimed him last June, Volin reports. Gilbert has yet to throw a regular-season pass but did collect a Super Bowl ring from his work with the 2014 Patriots.
A Manhattan federal judge ordered the video from a 2012 incident involving Brandon Marshall to be made public, Kimberley Martin of Newsday reports. A federal jury last week found the Jets wideout not liable for one count of assault and one count of battery in the civil case in which a woman claimed the then-Dolphins wideout punched her in the face.
Tony Romo said Saturday he’s resumed throwing and has been delivering passes using his full throwing motion for nearly two weeks, per the Cowboys website. Recovery time from the Mumford procedure Romo underwent for his troublesome collarbone issues March 8 was slated at six-to-eight weeks.
Cowboys personnel worked out Jared Goff on Saturday morning in Berkley, Calif. Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones were among the team’s representatives there, and Jones, per Peter King (on Twitter), loved what he saw from the Cal quarterback. The Cowboys pick fourth, and after the Rams’ trade that allowed them to vault from No. 15 to No. 1, and may not be in position to take Goff any longer.

Latest On Dominique Easley

April 14th, 2016 at 1:52pm CST by Luke Adams

When news broke on Wednesday that the Patriots had decided to waive defensive tackle Dominique Easley, it came as a surprise — although Easley had been plagued by injuries during his first two years in the NFL, his stock certainly hadn’t fallen as far as that of Johnny Manziel, the only other 2014 first-rounder to be cut by his team already.

[RELATED: Patriots waive Dominique Easley]

According to Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com (Twitter link), there wasn’t one incident that led to Easley’s release. However, it does seem as if there were a few factors beyond the lineman’s play on the field that played a part in the decision.

Curran alludes to “philosophical differences on following injury programs,” while Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (all Twitter links) notes that Easley is facing a lawsuit in Palm Beach County from a man alleging that he was bit by Easley’s dog. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe hears that Easley – who has a fondness for pit bulls and other aggressive dogs – may be bracing for two more similar lawsuits.

Meanwhile, multiple sources tell Volin that the 24-year-old is “unreliable and immature,” and an unnamed former teammate referred to him as a “locker room cancer.” Said one source to Volin: “I think he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. He comes across as an entitled kid. He reneges on everything. He thinks he’s invincible.”

Despite whispers about possible poor off-field behavior, Easley remains a talented contributor on the field when he’s healthy. He didn’t see enough snaps to earn a spot on Pro Football Focus’ rankings for interior defensive linemen last season, but his +81.5 grade would have placed him 24th at the position if he had played a little more.

New agent Drew Rosenhaus, who admits he was surprised by the move, said on Wednesday that he expects Easley to be on another team soon, per Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link). It’s possible that the former first-rounder won’t even reach free agency — teams have the opportunity to place a waiver claim on him, to assume the final two years of his rookie contract from the Pats.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Waive Dominique Easley

April 13th, 2016 at 3:11pm CST by Luke Adams

3:11pm: Easley’s knees are in “pretty bad shape,” a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com adds (via Twitter) that off-field issues factored into the Patriots’ decision to part ways with Easley.

2:57pm: As the Patriots prepare to enter the 2016 draft as the only NFL team without a first-round pick, the Pats have removed their 2014 first-round pick from their roster. According to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com, defensive lineman Dominique Easley has been waived by New England.

Easley, 24, was selected 29th overall in the 2014 draft by the Patriots, despite the fact that he was recovering from a torn ACL at the time. Although he made it back to the field for his rookie season, he was limited to just 11 games, and played in only 11 more in 2015, having been plagued by hip, knee, and ankle issues.

Before he landed on injured reserve in December of 2015, Easley picked up 15 tackles and two sacks in his sophomore NFL season, and received a solid Pro Football Focus grade. Given his decent play when he was healthy, his first-round pedigree, and the fact that he still has guaranteed money remaining on his contract, Easley’s release comes as a bit of a surprise, despite his injury woes.

Teams will have the opportunity to roll the dice on Easley and place a waiver claim on him before he becomes a free agent — a club that claims him off waivers would assume the final two years of his rookie contract. If Easley goes unclaimed, he would count for about $2.9MM against the Patriots’ cap in 2016, which is about $900K more than his cap hit would have been if he had remained on the team’s roster.

A Monday report indicated that Easley had hired agents Drew Rosenhaus and Michael Katz of Rosenhaus Sports for representation, so it’s possible that he was aware of the Patriots’ decision well before today and was preparing for the possibility of hitting the open market.

Easley is the second 2014 first-rounder to be cut by his team this offseason. The other, of course, was former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Rumors: Steelers, Patriots, Easley, Texans

April 11th, 2016 at 7:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have used the majority of their pre-draft visits within the last week, and announced several more today. As Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes, the following players were in Pittsburgh today to meet with the club: Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones, West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, Virginia Tech linebacker Dadi Nicolas, Colorado cornerback Ken Crawley, Maryland safety Sean Davis, and Boston College safety Justin Simmons.

Here’s more from the AFC:

Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams is visiting with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium today, sources tell Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter). The Pats previously met with the tailback at the combine. Williams, 22, missed the 2015 regular season after undergoing foot surgery. In 2014, he racked up 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground despite splitting carries.
Patriots defensive lineman Dominique Easley has hired agents Drew Rosenhaus and Michael Katz of Rosenhaus Sports for representation, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. Easley, 23, has been plagued by injuries since being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. In December of last season, he was placed on IR with a leg injury. In his injury-shortened sophomore year, Easley totaled 15 tackles and two sacks as a part-time player.
Texas Tech’s Jakeem Grant is visiting the Texans, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. The wide receiver/kick returner has also worked out for the Dolphins, Colts, and Jets. Grant returned four kicks for touchdowns over the course of his collegiate career with the Red Raiders and caught 90 passes for 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Patriots To Place Dominique Easley On IR

December 15th, 2015 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

One of the key members of the Patriots’ defensive line rotation is headed to the injured reserve list, according to Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com. Curran reports (via Twitter) that the team is placing defensive tackle Dominique Easley on IR, ending his season.

Easley, 23, has been plagued by injuries since being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. After recovering from an ankle injury, Easley went down with another leg injury on Sunday against the Texans, and it appears his latest ailment is a season-ender.

Easley’s numbers as a second-year player were modest – 15 tackles and two sacks – but he has been one of the Patriots’ more effective defensive linemen in his part-time role. Pro Football Focus ranks Easley 26th out of 128 qualified interior defenders this season, which easily places him first among New England players at the position.

Extra Points: McCoy, Pats, Sherman, 49ers

September 19th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest from around the NFL as Sunday’s Week 2 action draws closer:

A hamstring injury has hampered Bills running back LeSean McCoy since August, and it showed in a 17-carry, 41-yard performance last week in the team’s 27-14 win over Indianapolis. There’s been some question this week as to whether McCoy will play Sunday against AFC East rival New England, but the three-time Pro Bowler is expected to go, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
On the other hand, Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley – who suffered a hip injury early in a Week 1 win versus Pittsburgh – won’t be available to help stop McCoy, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter).
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman‘s transition from the outside to the slot could clamp down Packers No. 1 wideout Randall Cobb this week, writes Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today. The Packers have avoided testing Seattle’s all-world corner in the past. If they do again, it could go a long way toward a bounce-back performance from the Seahawks, who are coming off a 34-31 loss in St. Louis.
Running back Carlos Hyde was so effective in the 49ers’ 20-3 defeat of Minnesota on Monday that coordinator Geep Chryst suggested it allowed him to keep other aspects of his offense under wraps, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. If Pittsburgh slows down Hyde this week, the onus will be on quarterback Colin Kaepernick to make more plays. Hyde ran over Minnesota for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 26 rushes, while Kaepernick threw for fewer yards (165) on the same amount of attempts (26). To his credit, Kaepernick also added 41 yards on just seven carries.
The Steelers are cognizant of Kaepernick’s ability to run, and they’re hoping to force the 27-year-old to beat them with his arm. “Obviously, the plan is not let (Kaepernick) get out in the open field,” said safety Michael Mitchell, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “They have a scrambling quarterback and a downhill running back, but we always have to account for Kaepernick.” Added linebacker Ryan Shazier, “We have to make him throw the ball.”

Pats’ Dominique Easley Has Hip Pointer

September 11th, 2015 at 6:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Patriots’ defense may have avoided a significant blow in Thursday’s 28-21 win over the Steelers. The injury which caused lineman Dominique Easley to exit in the first quarter is a hip pointer that should only keep him out a week or two, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

New England is counting on Easley, a second-year man, to help replace longtime run-stopping stalwart Vince Wilfork – who signed with the Texans in the offseason. The Patriots struggled to slow down the Steelers’ ground attack with and without Easley on Thursday, allowing 134 yards on just 25 carries. Nearly all of those yards – 127, to be exact – were accumulated by DeAngelo Williams, who amassed 21 carries.

Injuries have long been an issue for Easley, who tore the ACL in both of his knees during his college career at Florida (in 2011 and ’13, respectively). Nonetheless, the Patriots used a first-round pick in the 2014 draft on Easley, whose rookie season was subsequently cut short because of yet another knee injury. He ended up playing in 11 games, totaling 10 tackles and a sack. So far, his attempt to stay healthy and fill a bigger role with the 2015 Pats isn’t off to an auspicious start.

AFC Notes: Revis, Steelers, Bell, Easley

July 25th, 2015 at 8:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Darrelle Revis is back with the Jets after a two-year hiatus, and as he tells it, he never wanted to leave — it was club management, the veteran corner tells Brian Costello of the New York Post, who saw to his departure.

“It wasn’t [owner Woody Johnson],” Revis said . “He’s a businessman and he’s going to make the best decisions he can and bring the best players in here or bring the right players in here to contend. It wasn’t him. It was the general manager. What I was told by [John] Idzik wasn’t accurate. But that’s a whole other story.”

Let’s look at more from the AFC:

Steelers swing tackle Mike Adams is likely to miss all of training camp while dealing with a back injury, and as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets, Adams’ absence eliminates any leverage the Steelers may have had as they try to negotiate an extension with starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum. Pittsburgh, who has recently agreed to multi-year deals with general manager Kevin Colbert, head coach Mike Tomlin, and defensive end Cameron Heyward, have reportedly opened talks with Beachum, but not much progress has been made.
More on the Steelers, as running back Le’Veon Bell tells Kaboly (via Twitter) that his hyperextended right knee is still bothering him, but he’s getting close to 100 percent. Bell is currently suspended for the first three games of the 2015 season due to his 2014 arrest, and although he has appealed, we heard earlier today that no date for the hearing is set.
Defensive tackle Dominique Easley, the Patriots‘ first-round pick in 2014, has switched agents, signing with Sean Stellato of SES Sports, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. As Volin correctly notes, it’s a little odd for Easley to change agencies at this point in his career, as he isn’t eligible to renegotiate his contract for two more years. Easley played just 270 snaps during his rookie season while still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college, but he should see a larger role in 2015.

Pats Place Dominique Easley On IR

December 17th, 2014 at 12:39pm CST by Luke Adams

12:39pm: The Patriots have signed tight end Steve Maneri using the roster spot vacated by Easley, according to Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).

11:20am: Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley will see his rookie season come to an early end, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team is placing Easley on the injured reserve list.

Easley, 22, underwent ACL surgery before the 2014 draft, which may have caused him to slip a little further down the board than he otherwise would have. New England snagged him at the end of the first round, and while the rookie appeared in 11 games this season, he dealt with nagging knee issues throughout the year. The Pats told Easley last week to begin preparing for the 2015 campaign, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.

When Easley officially lands on IR, the Pats will either open up a spot on their 53-man roster, or announce a corresponding move to immediately fill that opening.