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Jordan Pugh

East Notes: Dolphins, Suh, Dez, Maclin, McCoy

March 4th, 2015 at 10:23am CST by Luke Adams

The Giants are right to consider making a run at Ndamukong Suh, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News writes. The Giants aren’t well-positioned to outbid anyone, but if they were able to pull it off, the team could have a pass rush to rival what they had in 2007 with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two East divisions, including one more item on Suh:

  • We heard the Dolphins mentioned as a possible suitor for Suh earlier this week, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk lays out the reasons why Miami actually may emerge as the favorites to land the star defensive tackle, with teams like the Raiders, Jaguars, Buccaneers being floated for potential leverage rather than as legit bidders.
  • Last week, former Dallas County DA Craig Watkins indicated that he had “no knowledge” of any 2011 Wal-Mart incident involving Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, but a report of the incident did, in fact, make its way to his office about a year after the fact, as Florio explains at PFT.
  • It looked for a little while as if the Eagles and Jeremy Maclin were getting close to a new deal, but the two sides are farther apart now, and the wideout is starting to get “nibbles,” tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports backs up this assessment, tweeting that there’s “work to be done” on the Maclin front for the Eagles.
  • While running back LeSean McCoy initially wasn’t thrilled about the trade that will send him to the Bills, a source tells McLane (Twitter link) that the veteran back is “ready to move on.” We rounded up several more updates on the reported swap between the Eagles and Bills earlier this morning.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap previews the Patriots‘ offseason, suggesting that it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team lets both of its free agent running backs – Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley – sign elsewhere.
  • Veteran safety Jordan Pugh, who last appeared in a regular season game for Washington in 2013, recently worked out for the Jets, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFC Links: Falcons, 49ers, Cassel, Hester

August 3rd, 2014 at 4:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Six years ago on this date, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Packers quarterback Brett Favre from the reserve/retired list (h/t: Packerpedia on Twitter). Of course, this move would set off a series of transactions — Favre was traded to the Jets before “retiring” again, then subsequently signed with the Vikings before calling it quits for good following the 2011 season. Let’s look at some news from the NFC:

  •  The Falcons signed safety Tyrell Johnson following his workout today, and according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link), Atlanta also tried out fellow S Jordan Pugh. Pugh, a sixth-round pick by the Panthers in 2010, had previously tried out for the Broncos, Colts, and Bears.
  • Following Glenn Dorsey‘s potentially season-ending injury, and considering the murky injury status of Dorsey’s direct backup, Ian Williams, the 49ers will turn to a triumvirate of Quinton Dial, Tony Jerod-Eddie, and Demarcus Dobbs to fill in at nose tackle, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.
  • The 49ers have seen most of their injuries afflict the running back and defensive line position groups, which, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee tweets, is fortuitous, as those are perhaps San Francisco’s deepest units.
  • Matt Cassel is confident he’ll be the Vikings Week 1 starter, and isn’t worried that rookie Teddy Bridgewater is receiving practice snaps, as he tells Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “The No. 2 guy, you have to get him ready to play at any point,” said Cassel. “The fact of the matter is he’s going to get reps with the one’s and this is the time of year to do it. it’s also a situation where they’re preaching competition. I think competition makes all of us better…”
  • New Falcon Devin Hester is always a threat on punt and kick returns, but even a special teams ace needs to learn to adjust to new blockers, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

Extra Points: Colts, Houston, Chiefs, Ryans

June 16th, 2014 at 7:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In his latest mailbag, John Clayton of ESPN.com writes that sub defensive packages are now the new normal in the NFL, as teams continue to add more versatile defenders on passing downs in an effort to stop high-powered offenses. Clayton labels the Seahawks as the “gold standard” in the sub department, pointing out that defensive linemen Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, paid $6.5MM and $4.8MM respectively in 2013, only “started” a combined five games, yet were key cogs on the league’s most dominant defense. He lists the Buccaneers, who added Michael Johnson in free agency, and the Texans, who drafted Jadeveon Clowney, as teams who could vastly improve in nickel and dime situations in 2014.

  • Safety Jordan Pugh tried out for the Colts today, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The 26-year-old was a 2010 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, and spent the past two seasons with the Redskins.
  • Justin Houston is looking for a contract extension with the Chiefs, and as such, head coach Andy Reid isn’t sure if the pass rusher will be attending minicamp, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I don’t know that,” said Reid. “I expect them all to be here and then whoever is here, we’re going to coach them. If they don’t show up, I understand the profession. I’ve been around it a long time and I just move on. That’s how it works. You coach who you have, and you coach them like crazy.”
  • Speaking of the Chiefs, Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com examines the team’s defense in the wake of Brandon Flowers‘ release, and writes that defensive coordinator Bob Sutton might be part of the reason for Kansas City defensive woes. Sutton, whose scheme might have expedited Flowers’ departure, seemed unwilling to make adjustments in 2013 even when it was apparent his defense was flailing.
  • Eagles middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans played 96% of the team’s defensive snaps last season, and defensive coordinator Billy Davis intends to reduce that number, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “We want DeMeco for the long haul this season, and so many times when you overwork a veteran — and he takes great care of his body — but it’s a lot of games,” said Davis. “I think we have more depth than we had and more experience and more people who can play versatile roles in the defense. I think it’ll help.”
  • We learned earlier today that the Cowboys don’t expect Kyle Orton to show up for the team’s minicamp this week, and ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins says a team source has confirmed that view (via Twitter).

Extra Points: RGIII, Baldwin, Borland, Pugh

May 29th, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III says he’s already developed a rapport with newcomer DeSean Jackson, writes CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir. “It’s there,” Griffin said, asked about finding chemistry with Jackson. “We’ve been throwing a lot and he’s been here for the majority of the offseason program. I know there was the big splash about him not being here at the beginning, but he’s been here since then.” More from around the league..

  • Wide receiver Doug Baldwin has a new deal that can keep him with the Seahawks through 2016, but he says the contract won’t change much for him, writes Todd Dybas of the News Tribune. Baldwin agreed to a two-year extension and although he didn’t address a report from ESPN’s John Clayton that he turned down a four-year, $20MM offer, he acknowledged that he enjoys the flexibility of his new pact.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap has the details on third-round linebacker Chris Borland‘s deal with the 49ers.
  • Saints unrestricted free agent Jordan Pugh had a tryout with the Bears, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports.
  • Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com looks at the undrafted Titans rookies who received bonus money.

FA Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Ihedigbo, Underwood

March 20th, 2014 at 3:27pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Titans released Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, there was an expectation that it wouldn’t take long for the veteran quarterback to find work. Fitzpatrick remains on the market, but at least one potential suitor has emerged. According to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link), Tennessee’s division rivals, the Texans, are hosting Fitzpatrick for a visit today.

Let’s round up a few more Thursday odds and ends related to the free agents still available….

  • According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter), center Brian De La Puente finished his visit in Washington and is still considering multiple options, including the Redskins and Saints.
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that safety James Ihedigbo, repped by a new agent, has at least two other teams in the mix for him besides the Lions, who seemed to be close to signing him earlier this week. The Ravens appear to be one of those two, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter).
  • Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood is visiting the Panthers today, says Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). The receiver-thin Panthers already signed Jerricho Cotchery today, and it “looks promising” that they could add Underwood as well.
  • Richie Incognito, who is aiming to return to the NFL in 2014, believes the Raiders make “a lot of sense” as a possible destination, writes Michael Silver of NFL.com.
  • Free agent defensive back Chris Owens had a visit this week with the Steelers, tweets Aaron Wilson.
  • Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that the Broncos tried out free agent safety Jordan Pugh.
  • The Bengals have confirmed (via Twitter) that Louis Murphy visited the club today, which means the wide receiver left the meeting without a deal in place.