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Jarryd Hayne

NFC Notes: 49ers, Breaux, Seahawks, Packers

December 18th, 2015 at 7:39pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Rookie 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula is at the helm of a 4-9 team and certainly not a lock to return for a second season, but two of the club’s respected veterans spoke out Friday in support of the 47-year-old, according to Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle.

“Yeah, I love Tomsula,” linebacker NaVorro Bowman said. “I’ve been with him for a long time. He knows me. I know him. It’s always been a good relationship.”

Tomsula has been with the 49ers since taking over as their defensive line coach in 2007, so he and Bowman – drafted in 2010 – are well-acquainted.

Receiver Torrey Smith, on the other hand, signed with the 49ers last offseason and obviously hasn’t spent nearly the amount of time with Tomsula that Bowman has. That didn’t stop Smith from endorsing Tomsula.

“He’s been one of my favorite coaches I’ve ever had,” Smith said. “I think he’s a great man. It sucks that we haven’t had the results that we need, but I think he’s a great guy. So I want the best for him.”

More on the Niners and a few of their NFC counterparts:

  • The Lions missed a golden opportunity last offseason to sign standout cornerback Delvin Breaux, who was unable to pass a team physical, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Breaux, formerly of the CFL, went on to sign with the Saints and has been a bright spot on a porous defense. The 26-year-old has 38 tackles and two interceptions in 13 games, and currently ranks as Pro Football Focus’ 13th-best corner (subscription required).
  • Running back Christine Michael‘s recently signed deal with the Seahawks expires at the end of the season, but he’ll be still be under team control as a restricted free agent, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). With fellow RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson potentially out of Seahawks uniforms in 2016, Michael could stick around as Thomas Rawls‘ backup. He’ll have a chance to impress the organization in the coming weeks with both Lynch and Rawls injured.
  • 49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne is encouraged by his progress and plans to return to the NFL next season, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes. “To come this far in seven months, give me 12, 14 (and) it’s going to be completely different. And I think anyone who’s seen my growth will tell you how much I’ve changed and developed,” the 27-year-old said. The native of Australia and former professional rugby player signed with the Niners as a running back/return specialist last offseason. He appeared in six games for the team this year before it cut him and brought him back as a member of its practice squad last month.
  • The Packers spent Friday looking at free agent special teamers, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports. The Pack worked out two punters – Will Johnson and Kasey Redfern – a pair of long snappers in Rick Lovato and Sam Rodgers, and kicker Andy Wilder.

NFC Notes: Cruz, Hayne, Wilson, Ramirez

November 20th, 2015 at 8:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Victor Cruz‘s uncertain future with the Giants received some press this month when he landed on injured reserve, ending his season, but he won’t be the only difficult roster decision facing the Giants in the offseason. As Bob Glauber of Newsday details, the team will also have tough calls to make on players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Prince Amukamara, and Jon Beason.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Jarryd Hayne admitted today that he has received offers to return to Australia’s National Rugby League since he was moved from the 49ers‘ 53-man roster to their practice squad, but he’s committed to NFL, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The former rugby star saw some action earlier this season as a running back and return man for San Francisco.
  • Despite an up-and-down performance so far this season, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says the lucrative new contract he signed prior to the season isn’t playing any part in his – or the team’s – struggles, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes. “People want to make it something else but for me I love the game of football and I love coming to work, I love getting here early and leaving late and that’s what it’s about,” Wilson said. “Nothing’s changed. The biggest thing is we’ve just got to find ways to win.”
  • Having been benched by the Lions, veteran guard Manny Ramirez is unlikely to reach several playing-time incentives in his contract, and he hopes that’s not the motive for his reduced role. “I hope not,” Ramirez said Thursday, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But I can’t worry about that. I can only worry about the things that I’m in control of, which is, every time I step on the field, that I’m ready to go. That’s all I can do.”

Reggie Bush Suffers Major Knee Injury

November 2nd, 2015 at 8:29pm CST by Rob DiRe

MONDAY, 8:29pm: Bush is done for the year, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Bush will undergo surgery on his torn MCL that will shut him down for the year. His ACL, however, turned out to be okay.

SUNDAY, 6:18pm: 49ers running back Reggie Bush hurt his knee against the Rams, and the team believes it could be a substantial injury, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

It is believed that he has a torn ACL, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). A torn ACL would end his season, and Bush will have an MRI Monday to confirm the diagnosis.

Bush had only eight carries for 28 yards this season, but was in line for a bigger role in the 49ers offense with starter Carlos Hyde dealing with his own injury issues. The team had waived backup running back Jarryd Hayne earlier this week, promoting Kendall Gaskins from the practice squad to the active roster.

Other than Gaskins and the injured Hyde, Mike Davis is the only other back on the 49ers’ active roster.

If Bush does miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, it would put a lot of pressure on the 30-year-old runner, who signed with the 49ers after being released from the Lions who are in need of backfield help themselves. Despite getting heavy run as the lead back in Miami and Detroit between 2011 and 2013, he more likely would only carry value as a third-down specialty back if he comes back healthy next season.

The 49ers will likely look to add another running back to the mix this week, either by trade or through free agency. They could also consider bringing Hayne back into the mix.

Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/15

November 2nd, 2015 at 4:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Miami Dolphins

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers

West Notes: Manning, Cards RBs, Hayne

October 31st, 2015 at 8:42pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Surprisingly, the success of the 6-0 Broncos this season has come more in spite of future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning than because of him. The 39-year-old is having his worst statistical season since his rookie campaign, 1998, when he threw more interceptions (28) than touchdowns (26), averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt and put up a 71.2 passer rating. In 2015, he has also tossed more picks than scores (10 to seven), posted a subpar YPA (6.43) and a poor rating (72.5). Nevertheless, he has a defender in AZCentral.com’s Bob McManaman, who writes that it’s too soon to jump off the Manning bandwagon as he and the Broncos get ready for a clash with 6-0 Green Bay on Sunday.

McManaman believes a change in offensive scheme (from Adam Gase‘s to Gary Kubiak‘s), a lesser O-line, and the offseason loss of touchdown-catching tight end Julius Thomas have hindered Manning in his 18th season and made him look worse than he really is. Whether McManaman is right is debatable. What isn’t debatable is that Manning has the worst rating in the league among qualified starters.

Now to the NFC West:

  • After signing an inexpensive deal for one year with the Cardinals during the summer, running back Chris Johnson has revitalized his career as a key part of an elite team. The 30-year-old currently has the second-highest yards-per-carry average of his career (5.1) to go along with three touchdowns. While Johnson could stand to cash in during the offseason as a result of his renaissance this year, that isn’t on his mind. “I’m not even thinking about my contract,” he said, per Dan Bickley of AZCentral.com. “At the end of the day, I’m just happy to be playing football again. At one point, I thought that would never happen.”
  • Thanks to Johnson’s excellent play, fellow Cardinals runner Andre Ellington has barely figured into their offensive game plan this season. Ellington has 90 fewer carries than Johnson (21 compared to 111), but the Cards will look to get the third-year man more involved this week against the Browns’ last-ranked run defense, writes Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “I think BA (head coach Bruce Arians) has stuff for him and he didn’t get to it, but I’m sure he’ll get to it this week,” said offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin.
  • The reasons the 49ers cut Jarryd Hayne on Saturday, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter): 1. They didn’t trust him to pick up blitzes as a running back. 2. He had major issues with ball security as a return man. Despite those flaws, the 49ers will try to sign Hayne to their practice squad Monday, per Branch.

49ers Cut Jarryd Hayne

October 31st, 2015 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the more interesting stories this year underwent a revision when the 49ers cut rugby sensation-turned-backup running back Jarryd Hayne, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

The 27-year-old cross-sport prospect played in seven games with the 49ers, receiving eight carries and rushing for 25 yards. In his place, the team brought up Kendall Gaskins from the practice squad.

San Francisco hopes Hayne clears waivers and thus can be re-signed to the 49ers’ practice squad on Monday, per Maiocco, but Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee can see the non-traditional player being picked up by the Seahawks before then (Twitter link).

The move stems from Carlos Hyde being ruled out for Week 8, and possibly needing multiple weeks of rest, and the 49ers likely needing running backs with more experience playing the position. Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk notes the rugby standout struggled to get up to speed in the return game and run game but also doesn’t doubt some team will take a chance on him via waiver claim.

Behind Hyde, only Reggie Bush, Mike Davis and now Gaskins remain, making this now probably the thinnest backfield situation in the league during Hyde’s absence. Bush only has eight carries for 28 yards this season.

Gaskins is a 24-year-old undrafted free agent who’s played on three teams — the Giants, Titans and 49ers — since 2013 but has no NFL carries.

Sunday Roundup: NFC North, ‘Fins, 49ers

April 12th, 2015 at 12:49pm CST by Rory Parks

Golf takes its yearly ascent to the forefront of many sports fans’ minds today, but before the battle for the Green Jacket begins, let’s take a look at some links from around the NFL:

  • The Packers are one of the teams that do not announce which prospects they will bring in for their allotted 30 pre-draft visits, but Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com provides a list of players–compiled by ESPN and other outlets–that have visited, or will visit, with Green Bay.
  • The Lions need a new tailback after losing Reggie Bush to free agency, but Kyle Meinke of MLive.com says the team is not targeting a specific type of runner; speed, power, and hybrid backs are all on the table.
  • Dan Wiederer of The Chicago Tribune examines the pros and cons of drafting one of this year’s elite wide receiver prospects, which the Bears have the opportunity to do with the No. 7 overall selection.
  • There is a deep class of cornerbacks for the Ravens to choose from in this year’s draft, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. In addition to wide receiver, the secondary is a major area of concern for Baltimore.
  • James Walker of ESPN.com wonders if the Dolphins should trade up from their No. 14 overall pick in the draft to land one of this year’s elite receivers or linebackers, and he lists the costs and benefits of such a move. Walker ultimately notes (via Twitter) that Miami has too many holes and too few draft picks to consider trading into the top 10.
  • After acquiring Jeron Johnson and Dashon Goldson over the past couple of weeks, Tarik El-Bashir and Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com wonder if Washington should nonetheless invest an early-round pick in a safety, which has been a weakness for the team in recent seasons.
  • The Eagles brought in Penn State offensive tackle Donovan Smith for a visit, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
  • Despite losing Frank Gore to free agency, the 49ers have a talented pair of running backs in Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush, and as Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News observes, Kendall Hunter will return to the field following an ACL tear that ended his 2014 season before it started. San Francisco’s roster also includes Jarryd Hayne, a former Australian rugby star who is trying to “convert” to American football and is expected to compete as a return specialist and possibly a backup running back. As Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes, all of the team’s rushing talent suggests that the 49ers will continue to be among the league leaders in rushing attempts, as they have been in each of the past four seasons.

Extra Points: Tillman, Talib, Los Angeles, Peterson

April 8th, 2015 at 10:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s take a look at some assorted notes from around the league as we wrap up this Wednesday night…

  • Former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman visited the Panthers earlier this evening, reports ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson (via Twitter). The reporter notes that the two sides have yet to discuss a contract.
  • Rebecca Lopez of WFAA-TV in Dallas reports (via Twitter) that Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib is being investigated for aggravated assault earlier this morning. The 29-year-old’s brother, Yaqub, is also being investigated by police. According to ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold, the pair were questioned by police early Wednesday, but no one was arrested.
  • Addressing a rumor going around, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) dismisses the notion that the Eagles have any real interest in acquiring Johnny Manziel. According to Cole, the Browns tossed out the idea in a conversation with Philadelphia, but it didn’t gain any traction. Of course, Cleveland also reportedly offered the Eagles a first-round pick for Sam Bradford.
  • In an extensive and interesting piece, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times examines nine potential outcomes for an NFL move to Los Angeles, including scenarios in which multiple teams relocate and scenarios in which just one of the Rams, Chargers, or Raiders makes the move.
  • The NFL submitted it’s appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court regarding Adrian Peterson, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). Once it’s filed, the NFL Player’s Association will have 14 days to respond. As Pelissero notes (via Twitter), the appeal “has more to do with precedent than Peterson,” adding that the running back could realistically be reinstated regardless of the outcome.
  • Count Reggie Bush among those who are rooting for Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne to make the 49ers. The running back expressed his confidence to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “I’m sure he’ll make it, I don’t think there’s any doubt in anybody’s mind he’ll make the roster,” Bush said. “He has all the talents and athleticism to be able to play in this league and to be able to play at a high level in this league…I think making the team is actually the least of his worries.”

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Minor Moves: Saturday

March 7th, 2015 at 1:44pm CST by Rob DiRe

With free agency fast approaching, teams are doing their best to take care of the small but necessary moves as they prepare for a hectic market. Here are a number of minor moves and updates from around the league:

  • The Chiefs have also come to terms on a new one-year deal with outside linebacker Dezman Moses, who was set to be a restricted free agent, according to Paylor (via Twitter).
  • Packers linebacker Josh Francis signed a three-year contract for the league minimum, writes Wes Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com (via Twitter).
  • The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with tight end Luke Stocker, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Stocker was expected to reach unrestricted free agency before this deal.
  • Details from Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne’s contract with the 49ers have come out, and it is a three-year deal worth $1.583MM and $115,100 in guaranteed money, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter).
  • The Titans are working on signing long snapper Beau Brinkley to a multi-year contract, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter). Brinkley was set to be a restricted free agent.

49ers Sign Jarryd Hayne

March 4th, 2015 at 4:13pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 4:13pm: Hayne’s signing has been made official, and the NFL’s transaction wire lists him as a kick returner, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

MONDAY, 10:01pm: Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne announced on Monday night that he will sign with the 49ers, as Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post writes. Hayne received a $100K guarantee from San Francisco, an impressive sum considering that he’s never played American football before in his life.

“I’m going to be a San Francisco 49er,” Hayne said before putting on a 49ers hat.

49ers coach Jim Tomsula has a background in NFL Europe developing Europeans into NFL players, which helped push Hayne towards choosing SF. Agent Jack Bechta noted that his client also visited with the Seahawks and Lions and indicated that they also had a lot to offer in terms of their plan for developing him. Hayne’s game plan will be to contribute as a return specialist while also trying to make it as a running back. Despite his star status down under, Hayne is prepared to fight for a job and start out on special teams.

The Saints, Vikings, Broncos, Titans, Buccaneers, and Jets also showed interest in the 6-foot-2, 226 pounder.

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