HEADLINES

Keenan Reynolds

Policy Change For Armed Forces Prospects

July 13th, 2016 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

The road to the NFL hasn’t always been easy for players coming out of the service academies for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Now, things should be a little easier for those talented players going forward. Brent Briggeman of the Colorado Springs Gazette obtained an updated copy of the Department of Defense Pro Sports Policy, which now stipulates that players can serve in reserves, rather than active duty. Keenan Reynolds (vertical)

Graduates can now apply to serve on reserve status instead of active duty, though the Air Force says that they will be making those decisions on a case-by-case basis and one would assume the same applies for the Army and Navy. The new policy also requires a “secured contract or binding commitment” from a professional sports team, so only players who have legitimate pro prospects will be allowed to exercise this option. It remains to be seen whether this exception will be extended to players who are offered contracts from smaller professional football leagues, such as the Arena Football League and the CFL.

This year, an exception was made for versatile Navy prospect Keenan Reynolds after he was selected No. 182 overall by the Ravens. Reynolds – who can be used as a wide receiver, kick returner, or even a quarterback – was told that he would be allowed to defer his service obligation. Now, it sounds like the exception made for Reynolds can be made for other exceptional athletes down the line. In the long run, these rule changes could also give a major boost to both Army and Navy as they look to recruit top prospects.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/16

May 27th, 2016 at 5:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Ravens have signed sixth-round wide receiver/return man Keenan Reynolds, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Earlier today, United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter gave Reynolds permission to defer his obligations with the Navy to play in the NFL in 2016. Reynolds had a stellar four-year playing career at Navy, where he served as a dual-threat quarterback and accounted for 119 touchdowns (88 rushing, 31 passing).
  • The Browns announced the signing of fourth-round defensive back Derrick Kindred. Kindred played in 50 games during his time at TCU, including 30 starts. In that span, Kindred recorded 235 tackles, 15 passes defensed, eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. With Kindred in the fold, the Browns have now signed eight of their 14 draft picks.

Navy Permits Keenan Reynolds To Play In 2016

May 27th, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has cleared Ravens rookie and Navy product Keenan Reynolds to play in the NFL in 2016, the Ravens announced on Friday. Reynolds, who was listed as a return specialist in addition to wide receiver, issued the following statement: Keenan Reynolds (vertical)

“It is a blessing to hear the news from Defense Secretary Carter today,” Reynolds said. “I am truly excited to proudly serve my country while having the ability fulfill my dream of playing for the best organization in the NFL. I would like to thank the Navy for allowing me to represent them while taking advantage of this unique opportunity. I would also like to thank Mr. Bisciotti and the Ravens organization for believing in me and giving me this chance.”

Reynolds is obligated to serve in the military as per his agreement with the United States Naval Academy, but he has received special clearance to defer his service. The Navy likely sees tremendous upside in the good PR that will come from Reynolds playing in the NFL.

Leading up to the draft, the Patriots were heavily connected to Reynolds. The Ravens reportedly had what they considered “reliable information” that the Patriots would try to draft Reynolds in the sixth round. With that in mind, Baltimore beat New England to the punch by nabbing Reynolds with the 182nd overall selection. New England has shown an affinity for Navy alums in the past and Reynolds’ ability to be used as a wide receiver, kick returner, or even a quarterback appealed to coach Bill Belichick.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

North Rumors: Kuhn, Lions, Browns, Bears

May 13th, 2016 at 1:16pm CST by Luke Adams

As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk points out, there have been conflicting reports lately about the possibility of fullback John Kuhn returning to the Packers for another season, with one outlet suggesting the team has moved on, while another says there’s “mutual interest” between the two sides. Kuhn has been a Packer since 2007 and has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two years, but he’s no lock to be on Green Bay’s roster in 2016.

Let’s check in on a few more odds and ends from around the NFL’s North divisions…

  • Former Saints scout and Jets pro personnel director Brendan Prophett is joining the Lions as their new director of pro scouting, according to Neil Stratton of Inside The League (Twitter link). The move isn’t official yet, but it appears to be the latest change that new GM Bob Quinn is making to Detroit’s personnel department.
  • The Browns agreed to terms with 11 undrafted free agents last week, but only 10 ultimately signed deals, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, who tweets that the club’s agreement with Missouri defensive back Kenya Dennis fell through. In addition to the 32 players on Cleveland’s roster who will participate in the team’s rookie minicamp, the Browns are also bringing in 14 tryout players — one of those players is former fifth-round quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
  • The Bears have also brought in several veteran free agents to participate in their weekend minicamp, including four offensive lineman, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (all Twitter links). Veteran offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach, who has started 36 career games in Indianapolis and Kansas City, is the most notable name of the group.
  • Former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who expects to play wide receiver in the NFL, will receive permission from the Navy to join the Ravens this season, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com details.
  • Western Kentucky defensive tackle Jontavius Morris worked out for the Lions on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.

King’s Latest: Cowboys, Lynch, Ravens, Pats

May 2nd, 2016 at 8:54am CST by Luke Adams

Peter King of TheMMQB.com spent time last week in the Cowboys‘ draft room as Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones mulled over potential franchise-altering decisions, and King’s latest MMQB column features plenty of tidbits related to the Cowboys’ draft. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights…

  • Jerry Jones badly wanted Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in the first round, but the Cowboys‘ offer of a second-round pick (No. 34), a fourth-round pick (No. 101), and a sixth-rounder (No. 189) for the Seahawks‘ first-round pick (No. 26) and a seventh-rounder (No. 247) wasn’t enough. Seattle wanted a second- and third-rounder (No. 67) from Dallas, and ultimately went with Denver’s offer instead.
  • The Cowboys had been willing to offer their second- and third-round picks for a selection in the teens or early-20s, but decided not to pull the trigger on that offer for the No. 26 pick. If the target was always Lynch (who was 12th on the Cowboys’ board, per King), it seems odd that Dallas would balk at that asking price at No. 26, since the team would have made the same pick and gotten the QB at a lower salary slot.
  • The Ravens offered their 104th overall pick, a fourth-rounder, in an attempt to move up to No. 4 from No. 6. The Cowboys wanted Baltimore’s third-rounder (No. 70) instead, and ultimately decided to stand pat when the Ravens didn’t increase their offer. Dallas didn’t want to risk missing out on both Ezekiel Elliott and Jalen Ramsey — pass rusher Leonard Floyd would have been the Cowboys’ pick at No. 6 in that scenario, and while they liked Floyd, he wasn’t graded as highly as Elliott and Ramsey.
  • After missing out on Lynch, the Cowboys also made an effort to move up for Connor Cook in round four — the team offered its sixth-round pick to the Browns, along with No. 101, for No. 100, but Cleveland chose Oakland’s offer instead, and Dallas ultimately drafted Dak Prescott instead of Lynch or Cook.
  • In non-Cowboys news, King writes that the Ravens had what they considered “reliable information” that the Patriots would try to draft Navy’s Keenan Reynolds in the sixth round. Baltimore beat New England to the punch by nabbing Reynolds with the 182nd overall selection.

AFC Notes: Jets, Broncos, Lewis, Jackson, Pats

April 10th, 2016 at 6:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here is the latest from around the AFC, starting with the conference’s latest trade partners.

  • Following D’Brickashaw Ferguson‘s retirement and the acquisition of Ryan Clady, the Jets have a little more cap space to work with as they try to re-sign quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. But according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, the talks between New York and Fitzpatrick aren’t being hampered by cap room — instead, the two sides merely have a difference of opinion on what Fitzpatrick is worth. Per Cimini, the Jets are actually offering more than the commonly reported $7-8MM average annual value.
  • Earlier today, Paxton Lynch‘s planned trip to the Jets’ facilities surfaced. The Memphis quarterback who’s regarded as the No. 3 passing prospect in this year’s draft is also expected to visit the Broncos this week, according to a Denver Post report. The Super Bowl champions hold pick No. 31 and would likely have to move up to acquire Lynch. Denver did pick up an additional fifth-round pick, giving the team two third-rounders and two fifths in addition to its usual allotment.
  • We first heard back in January that Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis had approached former offensive coordinator Hue Jackson with a plan to succeed him — and thus, retain him as play-caller, and Mike Silver of NFL.com (video link) provides a bit more detail on the proposal. Lewis and Jackson discussed a scenario where Lewis would agree to step down as head coach after two more seasons, allowing Jackson to take over. The duo presented the plan to Bengals owner Mike Brown, who wasn’t comfortable locking up such a proposition in writing. Jackson, of course, went on to accept the Browns’ head-coaching job, while Lewis was recently extended through 2017.
  • Former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds‘ visit with the Patriots has already been reported, but Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald dives deep into New England’s interest in the former Midshipman. The Patriots have apparently met with Reynolds several times, and worked him out multiple times in Annapolis. As Howe explores, New England has shown an affinity for Navy alums in the past.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report

Draft Rumors: Robinson, Panthers, Jets

April 7th, 2016 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson will visit the Lions, Panthers, and Jets in the coming days, Eddie Borsilli of SiriusXM tweets. Robinson, who likely projects as a defensive tackle for a team running a 4-3 scheme or a defensive end for a 3-4 defense, is considered one of the top defensive linemen available this spring. A Consensus All-American in his junior year, Robinson recorded 46 tackles (7.5 for a loss) to go along with his 3.5 sacks. After helping his team win a National Championship this past season, Robinson seems poised to enter the league as a first-round draft pick.

The latest draft rumors:

  • Multiple teams have taken Bowling Green wide receiver Roger Lewis and Arizona wide receiver Cayleb Jones off their boards due to off-field issues, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets.
  • UCLA offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch is set to visit the Titans and Texans, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The athletic offensive lineman is widely viewed as a second-round prospect.
  • Stanford tight end Austin Hooper visited the Titans and Bears earlier this week, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. The 6’4″, 254-pound athlete is a likely top-50 pick, Getlin adds.
  • So far, Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds has had workouts with the Ravens, Patriots, and Titans, according to freelance reporter Jenna Laine (via Twitter).
  • Ohio State safety Vonn Bell has (or has had) meetings, workouts and/or visits with the Falcons, Steelers, and Titans, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.
  • Houston corner William Jackson III visited the Ravens last week and will meet with the Raiders on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • Norfolk State linebacker Deon King has worked out privately for the Broncos, Raiders, 49ers, Colts, and Washington and will visit with the Cowboys, according to Wilson. King finished his collegiate career with 372 tackles, 52.5 tackles for losses, 22 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. King was an All-American selection and a three-time all-conference selection.

AFC Rumors: Foster, Raiders, Brown, Lynch

March 28th, 2016 at 8:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Arian Foster won’t be signing with anyone, anytime soon, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears. The veteran tailback is looking to get completely healthy before he signs, which could mean late May or June. Foster will visit the Dolphins on Tuesday, but it’ll be a while before he puts pen to paper with the Fins or any other squad.

Here’s a look at the AFC:

  • The Raiders probably won’t make any more major expenditures, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. “I’m never done,” Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said last week on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “With all that money, we’re probably done with that big spending, yes, but there’s always ways to improve your roster. It doesn’t have to be a whole lot of big money players.”
  • The Browns visited today with Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch & Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Titans are set to host Florida safety Keanu Neal on a visit, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. Neal, who averaged nearly nine tackles per contest in 2015, could be in consideration for the team’s pick at No. 33 overall.
  • The Broncos are hosting LSU cornerback Rashard Robinson and Vanderbilt linebacker Stephen Weatherly on visits today, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS (on Twitter).
  • Illinois State running back Marshaun Coprich worked out privately for the Colts on Monday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Patriots have gathered a ton of intel on Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com writes. The Annapolis star set the NCAA record for touchdowns with 88 and has drawn comparisons to Julian Edelman.

Draft Notes: Tunsil, No. 1 Pick, Reynolds

January 22nd, 2016 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ole Miss early-entry tackle Laremy Tunsil‘s drawn comparisons to Tyron Smith from NFL scouts, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. Miller projects the three-year Rebels starter to go No. 1 overall to the Titans if they keep the selection.

“He’s Tyron 2.0. Big, mean, athletic. The total package,” an NFC scout told Miller.

Mel Kiper Jr. still has Ohio State’s Joey Bosa going No. 1, with Tunsil slotted in at No. 3. Both draft analysts also have Bosa, Cal quarterback Jared Goff and Florida State corner Jalen Ramsey in their respective top 5s. But Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner resides in Kiper’s premier quintet, while UCLA linebacker Myles Jack lands in Miller’s.

Here’s the latest about the 2016 draft.

  • Miller hears the from multiple GMs the Titans do intend to unload their pick for a team that needs a quarterback. A “flat” draft class similar to the one that led the Chiefs to take underwhelming left tackle Eric Fisher at No. 1 in 2013 is pushing the Titans to dangle the pick for the chance at acquiring multiple starters in a draft where a single can’t miss difference-maker doesn’t appear to reside.
  • Scouts at the East-West Shrine Game do, however, expect a trade to occur and a quarterback to be the first pick. The primary answer on who the Titans will receive a picks bounty for has been Goff, whom Miller has going off the board to the Browns at No. 2.
  • NFL scouts are viewing Navy yardage machine Keenan Reynolds as a slot receiver, Albert Breer of NFL.com reports. The East team has the FBS all-time quarterback rushing leader playing at running back, however. Like many former run-first collegiate QBs, Reynolds will have to answer questions about his pro position, according to evaluators. “He’d be a slot receiver or running back in the pros. Very productive college player, but he’s different than [former Indiana quarterback Antwaan] Randle-El or [ex-Penn State signal-caller Michael] Robinson,” an AFC scouting director told Breer.
  • Nate Sudfeld‘s generated some buzz at the Shrine Game, and Breer’s getting the impression a good performance in Saturday’s game will result in the Indiana quarterback being a middle-round pick. At 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, Sudfeld has the experience as a three-year Hoosiers starter and the pedigree in having older brother Zach Sudfeld in the NFL. An AFC scouting director pegged him as a “Day 3 type” of player due to sub-optimal arm strength to go with solid accuracy on short- and mid-range throws. “He makes quick decisions, but he’s got an average arm — he’s not strong down the field. He’s accurate on short and intermediate throws and he took care of the ball at Indiana,” the evaluator told Breer.