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Khairi Fortt

Extra Points: Peterson, Patriots, Fortt

October 16th, 2014 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson said he still texts Adrian Peterson once a week to let him know he’s thinking about him, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. The Vikings are using a combination of Matt Asiata and the more athletic Jerick McKinnon in the backfield, but it’s not quite the same. “You’re not going to have the dynamic, explosive, spectacular runs and plays that you get out of a player of [Peterson’s] magnitude,” Wilson said. “We definitely miss that element, but we’ve moved on to a certain degree.” More from around the NFL..

  • The Patriots have had better luck with unheralded waiver wire pickups like Brian Tyms and Jonas Gray than high draft picks like wide receiver Aaron Dobson and running back James White, notes Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter).
  • The Saints are being vague about why rookie linebacker Khairi Fortt was released, but team captain Curtis Lofton seems to think the team was justified in their decision, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. “I just know that the Saints have a standard around here, and you gotta live up to that. If everybody else is doing it right, then you gotta do it right. And if you don’t, then you won’t be here,” Lofton said. “He was definitely treated fairly. You can’t have how many people on a team, 64 guys or whatever, doing it right, and you’re the one guy doing it wrong.”
  • Steelers rookie Stephon Tuitt is getting ready for a big role, as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes.

Minor Moves: Thursday

October 16th, 2014 at 5:19pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll keep tabs on today’s minor transactions right here, including practice squad signings and cuts, and moves at the back end of 53-man rosters. Here’s the latest:

  • The Bears announced that they have waived center/guard Taylor Boggs off of injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
  • The Patriots are promoting running back Jonas Gray from their practice squad to their 53-man roster today to replace Stevan Ridley, who is heading to injured reserve, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald adds that offensive lineman Chris Barker will also be promoted to the roster to replace injured linebacker Jerod Mayo. New England had been expected to make a move or two this afternoon, in advance of tonight’s game against the Jets.

Earlier updates:

  • After waiving him earlier this week, the Bengals have re-signed linebacker Khairi Fortt to their practice squad, the team announced today (Twitter link). Fortt, a 2014 fourth-rounder, was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return by the Saints, but was cut before he was eligible to begin practicing again. In order to clear room for him on their taxi squad, Cincinnati has cut guard Jeff Baca.

South Notes: Gruden, Titans, Saints, Bucs

October 15th, 2014 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Before Jay Gruden signed on to coach the Redskins, he had a very positive interview with the Titans, writes Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “It was a good visit,” Gruden said. “I was very interested in the job, but Washington called me I guess the night after the interview and had me fly up here and they offered me the job right away.” Gruden says he was never offered the Tennessee job and soon after, the Titans hired Ken Whisenhunt as their head coach.

Here’s more from out of the league’s two South divisions:

  • Titans tight end Craig Stevens underwent surgery today to repair a torn quadriceps tendon, and will be sidelined for the season, writes Terry McCormick of 247Sports.com.
  • The Saints‘ reasons for releasing fourth-round linebacker Khairi Fortt were never made entirely clear, and head coach Sean Payton declined to elaborate today on the team’s thinking, indicating that the move was in the club’s best interest, tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. Fortt was claimed off waivers by the Bengals and has since been cut by Cincinnati as well.
  • The Buccaneers, who signed corner Isaiah Frey earlier today, are clearly toying with their nickel back spot, tweets Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune. Keith Tandy worked in that role last week and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has said that the team needs better play out of that position.
  • The Buccaneers likely re-signed Lonnie Pryor to their practice squad in anticipation of Jorvorskie Lane‘s suspension, Cummings tweets.
  • Bears cornerback Charles Tillman told Robert Klemko of The MMQB that he “maybe” has two years left in the tank. Tillman also says that divine intervention led him to sign with Chicago this offseason rather than join Lovie Smith with the Buccaneers.
  • In an investigative piece for ESPN The Magazine, Shaun Assael takes a look at the addiction issues battled by Colts owner Jim Irsay.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Bengals Sign Greg Little, Put Jones On IR

October 14th, 2014 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

2:06pm: The Bengals have announced a series of roster moves, including the signing of Greg Little. According to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the club also moved Marvin Jones to injured reserve, cut linebacker Khairi Fortt, and signed wide receiver Cobi Hamilton to replace Colin Lockett on the practice squad.

1:19pm: The Bengals have made a move to help fortify their ailing receiving corps, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed free agent wideout Greg Little. Little had been on the open market since being waived by the Raiders during roster cutdowns at the end of August.

Little hauled in 61 passes for 709 receiving yards in his rookie season, but has seen his totals in both categories decline in each year since then. In 2013, he grabbed just 41 passes for 465 yards, leading to his release by the Browns. The Raiders claimed Little off waivers at that point, but also cut him later in the offseason, and no workouts have been reported for the 25-year-old since then.

For the Bengals, the move comes on the heels of A.J. Green missing Sunday’s game with a toe injury. While Green isn’t likely to miss an extended stretch of games, teammate Marvin Jones is also dealing with a health issue. Coley Harvey of ESPN.com indicated earlier today that Jones is heading to North Carolina to have his troublesome right ankle examined by a foot specialist.

Cincinnati will need to make a corresponding move to open up a spot for Little on the 53-man roster.

NFC South Notes: Saints, Newton, Bucs

October 8th, 2014 at 6:14pm CST by Zachary Links

After missing two meetings and subsequently being waived, former Saints linebacker Khairi Fortt is going to be evaluated for the sleep problems that he suspects he has, according to Ramon Antonio Vargas of The Advocate (via Twitter). Is it too late for Geno Smith to change excuses? Here’s tonight’s look at the NFC South..

Bengals Claim Khairi Fortt From Saints

October 7th, 2014 at 3:41pm CST by Luke Adams

A day after he was cut by the Saints, linebacker Khairi Fortt has been claimed off waivers by the Bengals, according to the team (Twitter link). To make room for the incoming rookie, Cincinnati has placed linebacker Sean Porter on injured reserve with a knee injury.

The Saints’ decision to cut Fortt was an odd one, particularly because of the timing. New Orleans drafted the linebacker out of California in the fourth round back in May, and used its lone IR/designated to return spot on him at the start of the season after he suffered a leg injury. However, with Fortt just a week away from being eligible to return to practice, he was waived by the Saints, allowing him to catch on with the Bengals.

While the Saints must have some reason for parting ways with Fortt, it looks like an odd use of both a fourth-round draft pick and their IR-DTR slot. According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com (via Twitter), the ex-Saint is expected to pass his physical with his new team, so it seems as if there’s a chance he’ll see the field for the Bengals within the next few weeks.

Minor Moves: Monday

October 6th, 2014 at 6:35pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here….

  • The Packers will welcome back offensive lineman Jordan McCray on their practice squad, according to the FXFL’s Twitter account. Wes Hodkiewicz of the Press Gazette (on Twitter) notes that the Packers had a spot open on the practice squad, so no corresponding move is necessary.
  • The Giants have promoted running back Michael Cox from their practice squad to their 53-man roster, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The move provides some backfield insurance, with Rashad Jennings expected to be sidelined through the team’s Week 8 bye.
  • After seeing another center go down with an injury, the Chargers are set to sign center Trevor Robinson off the Bengals’ practice squad, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). San Diego opened up a roster spot today by placing Doug Legursky on the injured reserve list, as noted below.
  • The Rams have waived linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong, who had been a key contributor on the special teams unit, tweets Brian McIntyre.

Earlier updates:

  • Wideout Kevin Dorsey has been promoted to the Packers‘ 53-man roster from their practice squad, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Former Utah State defensive back Tay Glover-Wright is taking Dorsey’s spot on the taxi squad, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
  • The Saints have waived 2014 fourth-round pick Khairi Fortt, a source tells Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link). It’s a somewhat surprising move, since Fortt hasn’t really had an opportunity to play yet, and his release won’t open up a roster spot, since the club had used its injured reserve/designated to return spot on him.
  • Safety Jakar Hamilton was activated today by the Cowboys, who waived linebacker Keith Smith to make room on the 53-man roster, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. The team previously had a roster exemption for Hamilton, who missed the season’s first four weeks due to a suspension.
  • The Dolphins have made a series of moves, signing wide receiver Damian Williams to their 53-man roster and waiving running back Orleans Darkwa to make room (Twitter link). The team also announced that the roster exemption for previously-suspended safety Reshad Jones has been lifted, meaning he’s now officially a part of the 53-man roster (Twitter link).
  • Linebacker Marcus Benard has re-signed with the Cardinals, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Benard was initially signed during John Abraham‘s absence from the team, and now takes the place of Matt Shaughnessy, who was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return today.
  • In a surprising transaction, the Packers have parted ways with tight end Ryan Taylor, who hasn’t been a huge part of the club’s passing game since being drafted in the seventh round in 2011, but has been with the team since then and contributed on special teams. Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has the details on the move, which brings the Packers’ roster count down to 52.
  • The Chargers have lost another center, announcing today (via Twitter) that Doug Legursky is heading to injured reserve with a knee injury. Longtime San Diego center Nick Hardwick was previously placed on IR with an injury of his own.
  • Cornerback Brandon Browner and wideout Brian Tyms are both being formally activated by the Patriots, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). To make room for the duo, whose roster exemptions expire today, the Pats had to cut a pair of players — Shalisa Manza Young of the Boston Globe initially reported that defensive lineman Joe Vellano would be one of the two to go (Twitter link), and the team has since announced that defensive lineman Michael Buchanan is the other. Vellano has been waived, while Buchanan was placed on IR.
  • The Eagles have made a change to their practice squad, cutting wide receiver Cobi Hamilton and replacing him with safety Jordan Kovacs, the team announced today (Twitter link).
  • The Giants are releasing Trindon Holliday from IR, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The veteran kick returner was placed on IR in August with a hamstring injury.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Saints Re-Sign Robert Meachem

September 3rd, 2014 at 2:05pm CST by Luke Adams

After releasing several notable players during their cutdown to 53 players, the Saints have now brought a couple of those veterans back into the fold. According to head coach Sean Payton (Twitter link), in addition to re-signing kicker Shayne Graham, the club has also inked wideout Robert Meachem to a new deal. In a corresponding roster move, linebacker Khairi Fortt has been placed on injured reserve with the designation to return.

Meachem, 29, was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2007 draft and spent five seasons with the team before playing in San Diego during the 2012 season. The Tennessee product returned to the Saints last season in a reduced role — after averaging 43 catches per season in New Orleans from 2009 to 2011, Meachem hauled in just 16 passes last season for 324 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The departure of veterans Darren Sproles and Lance Moore could mean a few more balls to go around for the team’s receivers this season, but second-year wideout Kenny Stills and rookie Brandin Cooks will likely grab a good chunk of those targets, so I’d expect Meachem to see limited action once again in 2014.

Fortt, a fourth-round pick this year, will be eligible to return to practice after Week 6 and can play in games after Week 8.

Extra Points: Irsay, Super Bowl, Minor Moves

May 19th, 2014 at 10:43pm CST by Rob DiRe

Colts’ owner Jim Irsay spoke publicly for the first time since being entered into rehab, and Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star noted some of the highlights in a series of tweets. Holder writes that Irsay has been aware of the Colts dealings, and has been following the team through the offseason. This includes conversations with head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson.

Here are some other notes from around the NFL:

  • Former Colts’ center Jeff Saturday is prepared to make a pitch for Indianapolis to host the Super Bowl in 2018, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. “I’m excited to get in front of the owners and present for our city,” Saturday said. “It’s not about what we did in 2012. I look forward to Super Bowl 52 being in Indianapolis. I think it’ll be a great day for all of us.”
  • The Saints are also vying for the 2018 Super Bowl, led by Jay Cicero of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, writes Larry Holder of NOLA.com. “I just know from the 20-something years we’ve been doing this, this is the most creative, thorough (bid). … We’ve put everything on the table. Everything. It’s the most use of our resources,” Cicero said. “Things we’ve never done and things the NFL has never seen before.”
  • The Saints have signed fourth-round pick Khairi Fortt, the team announced on their website NewOrleansSaints.com. Fortt, an outside linebacker out of California, is the final draft pick to sign with the team.
  • The Panthers have signed linebacker Billy Boyko to a two-year deal, reports Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). Boyko was made available after being cut by the Raiders.
  • The Titans have signed five players from their rookie minicamp, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. The team signed running Waymon James of TCU, receiver Julian Horton of Arkansas, offensive lineman Viondy Merisma, cornerback Winston Wright and linebacker David Gilbert. The Titans released fullback Quinn Johnson, cornerback George Baker, linebacker Jamal Merrell and receiver Eric Ward (who was waived/injured) to make room on the roster.

Lions Notes: Suh, Lora, Fortt, Couplin

April 23rd, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

A few hours before the NFL officially announcing its 2014 schedule, New York radio station WFAN broke news of the Giants’ slate for the coming season. According to the report, the Giants’ ’14 season starts off with a Monday night matchup in Detroit against the Lions. Here are a few more Wednesday updates on those Lions:

  • Citing a source, Scott Bischoff of New Era Scouting reported earlier this afternoon (via Twitter) that the Lions are open to the idea of trading Ndamukong Suh as a way of moving up as far as possible in the 2014 draft. I’m a little skeptical about how hard Detroit would push for a deal like that, even if the team could find a taker, and Bischoff himself notes that there’d be plenty of roadblocks (Twitter link).
  • In response to Bischoff’s report, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at how a hypothetical trade of Suh would work, exploring some reasons why it could make sense for the Lions.
  • Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik Lora will be paying a visit to Detroit to meet with the Lions on Friday, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • The Lions also hosted Cal linebacker Khairi Fortt and William & Mary safety Jerome Couplin for pre-draft visits today, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
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