HEADLINES

Kiko Alonso

Dolphins Acquire Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso

March 9th, 2016 at 3:10pm CST by Luke Adams

3:10pm: The Eagles have confirmed the trade on Twitter. Maxwell, Alonso and the 13th pick in the draft will go to Miami for the eighth selection.

10:33am: Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) confirms that the deal, as currently constructed, would send Maxwell, Alonso, and the 13th overall pick to the Dolphins in exchange for the eighth overall pick. We’ll have to wait until the deal becomes official sometime after 3:00pm CT today, but it doesn’t appear any other picks will be involved.Byron Maxwell

9:50am: Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (Twitter link) is one of a handful of writers to report that the Eagles/Dolphins trade will once again move forward as planned.

9:41am: Maxwell’s shoulder has been cleared by the Dolphins’ medical staff, according to his agent Alvin Keels (Twitter link). As such, the trade between Miami and Philadelphia should be back on.

7:36am: Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald stresses (via Twitter) that the trade is “not off” yet. The Dolphins are continuing to gather more information to determine their comfort level going forward, says Salguero.

7:06am: According to Werder (via Twitter), the trade would have seen the Dolphins and Eagles swap first-round picks, with Philadelphia moving up from No. 13 to No. 8. Werder adds, however, that the deal can be considered “dead” for the time being.

7:00am: The agreed-upon trade between the Dolphins and Eagles that will send Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso to Miami is in limbo, as the new league year approaches, according to multiple reports.

A source initially told Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the trade may be off due to concerns from the Dolphins’ side about Maxwell’s shoulder, which he injured at the end of last season. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) indicates that, while the deal is “held up” as the Dolphins take a closer look at Maxwell’s shoulder, it’s not off yet. Rapoport describes Miami’s examination Maxwell’s health as “concerning, but not abnormal.”

On Monday, the Dolphins and Eagles reached an agreement on a trade involving Maxwell and Alonso, but that agreement was pending physicals. Since no trade can be finalized until the new league year begins at 3:00pm central time today, neither team is necessarily locked into it quite yet.

Still, with both clubs having been pursuing other moves that are somewhat dependent on this trade going through, it would be a major upset if it fell apart — the Dolphins’ concerns about Maxwell’s shoulder would have to be pretty serious.

While we haven’t yet heard what sort of compensation the Eagles will be getting in the deal, it’s worth considering that perhaps news of the Dolphins’ apprehensions has leaked in an effort to encourage Philadelphia to agree to a lesser draft pick in the trade in order to get it done.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on this deal as the day progresses.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Agree To Acquire Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso

March 7th, 2016 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

3:15pm: The Dolphins will be taking on Maxwell’s full contract for 2016, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links), who adds that the cornerback’s deal will be reworked for 2017.

2:25pm: Maxwell and Alonso have both been informed that they’re being dealt to the Dolphins, pending physicals, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Contract work between the Dolphins and Maxwell is being finalized, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. The deal can’t become official until the start of the new league year.

2:02pm: The Dolphins and Eagles are attempting to finalize a trade that would send Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso – another Kelly acquisition – to Miami in exchange for draft-pick compensation, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

10:49am: The Dolphins and Eagles are discussing a trade that would send cornerback Byron Maxwell to Miami, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that it’s “in the works.”Byron Maxwell

Less than a year ago, Maxwell signed a six-year, $63MM contract to join the Eagles as a free agent. With Chip Kelly no longer making personnel decisions in Philadelphia this offseason, it seems the club is interested in moving on from the former head coach’s most expensive addition.

Maxwell’s contract would leave $4.8MM in dead money on the Eagles’ cap if they were to move him in a trade. For the Dolphins, it would mean taking on a fully guaranteed $8.5MM base salary for 2016, plus a partially guaranteed $10MM base salary ($3MM guaranteed) for 2017. Maxwell’s salaries for 2018 to 2020 are fully non-guaranteed.

In his first season in Philadelphia, Maxwell was underwhelming, though that impression can be attributed to the increased expectations that his huge contract brought with him. Prior to 2015, Maxwell had only made 17 career starts, and the fact that the Seahawks’ secondary also featured Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas certainly helped him look better. As the top option in a weak free agent class of corners, Maxwell got paid more than he should have.

If the Dolphins acquire Maxwell, the team will likely either rework his contract or make additional roster moves to help accommodate the deal. Miami is in the market for help at cornerback, with Brice McCain released and Brent Grimes and Jamar Taylor coming off unspectacular 2015 campaigns. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets, Grimes – whose cap hit is $9.5MM in 2016 – could be affected by a Maxwell trade.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Alonso, LA, Draft Prospects, Pats

January 25th, 2016 at 9:14pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Linebacker Kiko Alonso is coming off his first season with the Eagles, one in which the 2013 PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year was a non-factor. Alonso expects better things in 2016 with recently hired defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz at the helm, writes Paul Domowitch of Philly.com.

Alonso’s agent, Steve Karic, says the 25-year-old is “very excited” to play for Schwartz, who coordinated Buffalo’s defense to a fourth-place ranking in 2014. Alonso was also a Bill then, but he missed the season because of a torn ACL and didn’t play a down under Schwartz. Still, he’s familiar with Schwartz’s defense.

“He spent the offseason in Buffalo that year playing in this defense. He went through OTAs and minicamp in this defense. He was in the meeting rooms all season long,” Karic stated.

Karic then added that Alonso “definitely can play” the Mike (middle) or Will (weakside) LB role in Schwartz’s scheme. Prior to Alonso’s injury in 2014, Schwartz planned to use him as a Will ‘backer in Buffalo. Alonso played on the inside under former Eagles D-coordinator Billy Davis in 2015-16 and totaled just 43 tackles in 11 games, rating an ugly 92nd of 97 qualifying LBs by Pro Football Focus’ standards (subscription required).

Elsewhere around the NFL. . .

  • Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News believes the Chargers will end up in LA next season (Twitter link). He also shot down the notion (via Twitter) that talks between the Chargers and Rams have stalled. This comes on the heels of a Monday night report from CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora that the two sides are “making progress.”
  • North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz – who’s gaining steam as a possible first-round pick in the 2016 draft – has already met with nearly half of the league’s 32 teams at the Senior Bowl, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. Two of those clubs are the Dolphins and Texans, Wentz told Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, respectively (Twitter links: 1, 2). With Ryan Tannehill in the fold, Beasley doesn’t expect the Dolphins to use the eighth overall pick on Wentz. However, if available, he could be a fit for QB-needy Houston at No. 22.
  • Alabama MLB Reggie Ragland, one of Wentz’s fellow Senior Bowl participants, has spoken to the Ravens, Chiefs and Raiders so far, and he’ll also meet with the Packers (Twitter links via Wilson and Chase Goodbread of NFL.com). The probable first-rounder will play some OLB this week as a way to show off his versatility to prospective employers, reports Wilson (on Twitter).
  • Foxborough, Mass., police arrested Patriots practice squad receiver J.J. Worton on Saturday and charged him with two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person aged 14 and over and one count of assault and battery, per ESPN.com. The Patriots didn’t comment on Worton’s arrest, tweets the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, who adds that the 24-year-old is unlikely to remain with the team. Worton, who signed with the Pats earlier this month, has an expiring contract.

East Notes: Coples, Lewis, Cruz, Alonso

October 8th, 2015 at 9:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples played only 15 of 64 defensive snaps in the Sunday win over the Dolphins and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com wonders if that could be a bad sign for his future in New York. The Jets have exercised the fifth-year option for 2016 at $7.8MM, but the salary is guaranteed for injury only. Through four games, Coples is at 53% of the snaps, down from his 2014 share, 68%.

Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

  • The Patriots signed Dion Lewis this offseason when few teams were even looking at him and that helps explain why he was willing to sign a contract extension this week, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Lewis, who has stepped into Shane Vereen‘s former role as the team’s top “passing” back, opted for security over a potentially larger payday in free agency. Lewis’ deal features base salaries of $800K (2016) and $1.2MM (2017) along with a signing bonus of $600K and if he continues to produce at this pace, he’ll be one heck of a bargain for New England. Through three games, Lewis has tallied 146 yards on the ground and another 179 through the air, with a pair of touchdowns.
  • Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz told reporters (including Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger via Twitter) that he’s “thoroughly convinced” that he’ll be back on the field at some point “playing at a high level.” Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter) says that the IR is not being discussed for Cruz, who has yet to see the field in 2015.
  • Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso confirmed that his ACL was not injured in Week 3, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Alonso, who has thus far avoided the IR in 2015, doesn’t have a timetable for his return just yet.

Kiko Alonso Won’t Miss Entire Season

September 30th, 2015 at 1:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, a Philadelphia Daily News report indicated that Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso would have his troublesome left knee scoped to determine the extent of the damage to his ACL graft. Alonso, who tore his ACL in 2014, sustained a partial tear of the ligament this year, and if the damage was significant, season-ending surgery was a possibility.

However, according to Ian Rapoport and Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, today’s scope, performed by Dr. James Andrews, determined that the damage is minimal, and another procedure won’t be necessary. Alonso will still be sidelined for about four weeks as he rehabs the knee, but he’s expected to return to the Eagles’ lineup for the second half of the season.

The diagnosis is great news for Alonso and the Eagles, and the fact that the linebacker should only require about a month of recovery time before he returns means that he’s probably not a candidate for the injured reserve list with the designation to return. Philadelphia is one of 16 NFL teams that has yet to use its IR-DTR slot.

DeMeco Ryans, Jordan Hicks, and Mychal Kendricks, who is expected to play in Week 4, figure to share the Eagles’ snaps at inside linebacker until Alonso gets back on the field.

NFC Notes: Alonso, Niners, Clausen

September 30th, 2015 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

Four NFC teams remain undefeated, and two of those are NFC South squads, which is surprising, considering no team in that division posted a .500 record in 2014. As the Falcons, Panthers, Packers, and Cardinals prepare to put their 3-0 records on the line this weekend, let’s check in on the latest out of the conference….

East Notes: Dolphins, Eagles, Alonso, Jets

September 28th, 2015 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

With Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season nearly complete, only one division has three teams over .500 — the AFC East currently features the 3-0 Patriots, the 2-1 Bills, and the 2-1 Jets. Of course, there’s plenty of concern about the one sub-.500 club in the division, so let’s round up the latest out of Miami, along with a few more notes from around the league’s two East divisions….

  • In the view of Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Sunday’s loss to Buffalo was the worst of the Joe Philbin era for the Dolphins, and it put the entire coaching staff on the hot seat. In a second piece, Salguero writes that the Dolphins have issues on multiple levels, pointing to ownership, coaching, and the team’s offseason personnel decisions as potential causes for concern.
  • If Dolphins owner Stephen Ross isn’t wondering what he’ll get out of the $210MM he committed to Ryan Tannehill and Ndamukong Suh this offseason, he should be, writes John Kryk of the Toronto Sun.
  • Eagles kicker Cody Parkey aggravated a preseason groin injury against the Jets, so the Eagles will bring in free agent kickers for workouts today, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports.
  • Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso today is in Florida today, visiting Dr. James Andrews to get a second opinion on his knee injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As Schefter notes, Dr. Andrews’ diagnosis will help to determine whether or not Alonso will require surgery on the troublesome knee.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick had his first bad game of the season on Sunday, throwing three interceptions in the Jets‘ loss to the Eagles. But even with Geno Smith on the way back, head coach Todd Bowles reiterated that Fitzpatrick is the team’s starter, and Newsday’s Bob Glauber says that’s the right call.

Eagles Notes: Bradford, O-line, Alonso

September 27th, 2015 at 11:10am CST by Rory Parks

The Eagles will look to avoid an 0-3 start when they square off this afternoon against the Jets, who are looking to open the season 3-0. Much has been made of the Eagles’ disappointing start to the 2015 campaign, and Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer points to the run game as the biggest culprit. Head coach Chip Kelly‘s play designs are not nearly as effective without a “read” option–i.e., a quarterback who can run the ball–and Sam Bradford is not a threat to run. The offense has also lost some of its unpredictability, as package plays, which involve run and pass options that are decided post-snap, have been limited due to Bradford’s immobility. Bradford remains the starter for now, but one has to wonder how much longer he will last under center in Philadelphia if the team’s allegedly high-powered offense continues to struggle.

Now let’s have a look at a few more Eagles links:

  • Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer examines another flaw in Bradford’s game, which was well-publicized during his time in St. Louis: his inability to throw the deep ball. The Eagles continue to insist the problem is not Bradford, but the running game, but as McLane pointed out above, the running game is struggling at least in part because of Bradford. When combined with the tendency of teams quarterbacked by Bradford to fall behind early in games, Philadelphia may be privately grateful that Bradford was unwilling to engage in serious talks about a long-term deal this offseason.
  • Of course, not all of the Eagles’ offensive woes can be pinned on its quarterback. As Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes, the offensive line deserves its share of the blame. Kelly, who let go of two longtime starters along the O-line and did little to add depth during the offseason, is not making any lineup changes, so the unit will be given the opportunity to prove that it can produce. Through two games, Philadelphia has gained just 70 yards on the ground, the fewest in the league.
  • Kiko Alonso is expected to see Dr. James Andrews this week to get a second opinion on his torn ACL, according to Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Daily News (via Twitter). That visit will likely entail a second MRI.
  • All is not lost for the Eagles, says Bob Brookover of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The NFC East is up for grabs this year, so if Philadelphia can sort out its run game, there is no reason the team cannot still emerge with the division crown in 2015.

NFC Notes: Graham, Alonso, Norman

September 23rd, 2015 at 11:33am CST by Luke Adams

The biggest news out of the NFC today is Kam Chancellor‘s decision to end his holdout and report to the Seahawks, but we’ve got several more items to round up from around the conference, including a couple more updates out of Seattle. Let’s dive in…

  • Tight end Jimmy Graham isn’t happy with the role he has had in Seattle’s offense during the season’s first two weeks, and has questioned why the Seahawks would trade for him if they intended to use him like this, says Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (video link). Freeman expects the team to tweak its offensive approach to get Graham more involved, but if that doesn’t happen, the Pro Bowl tight end could express his unhappiness publicly.
  • According to Danny O’Neil of 710 ESPN Seattle, the Seahawks would have released veteran center Max Unger even if he hadn’t been involved in the trade that sent Graham from New Orleans to Seattle.
  • Evaluations on whether or not Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso will be able to play through his knee injury are ongoing, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Head coach Chip Kelly said today that Alonso has a sprained knee, which doesn’t contradict a previous report indicating that it’s a partial tear of the linebacker’s ACL.
  • Cornerback Josh Norman has been one of the most impressive players on the Panthers in the early part of the 2015 season, and the team may regret not locking him up in the offseason when he was extension-eligible, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. Norman’s price tag is on the rise as he nears the end of his contract, which expires in 2016.
  • The lucrative new extension Julio Jones signed with the Falcons in the preseason is paying early dividends for the Falcons, as Orlando D. Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution details.

Eagles’ Kiko Alonso Has Partial ACL Tear

September 22nd, 2015 at 8:19am CST by Zachary Links

TUESDAY, 8:19am: After his 2014 season ended due a torn left ACL, Alonso has torn that same ACL, but it’s not as serious this time around — the tear is only partial, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), Alonso will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, who will help decide if and when the linebacker will be able to return this season.

MONDAY, 7:32pm: Following tests today, there’s a possibility that Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso will be lost for the season with a knee injury, sources tell Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). It was reported on Monday that Alonso doesn’t believe he has an ACL injury, but it’ll be the doctor’s opinion that matters most. Alonso also suffered a left knee injury in 2014 which wiped out his season.

Alonso, of course, came to the Eagles in the offseason blockbuster that shipped LeSean McCoy to the Bills. For Philly, Alonso’s appeal went beyond his Oregon pedigree and low salary cap number, though those things didn’t hurt his cause, either. Alonso was being counted on to give the Eagles’ front seven some major production, but it now appears that his 2015 season could be in jeopardy.

Alonso, 25, didn’t see the field in 2014 after tearing his ACL in July of 2014. After being selected in the second round of the 2013 draft, Alonso finished second in voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year after totaling 87 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks. At the time, he was one of only three linebackers to play 100% of his team’s snaps and many thought he should have been the choice for DROY over Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. PFF (subscription required) rated Alonso as the ninth-best inside linebacker in the NFL in his rookie season. Because Alonso spent 2014 on the NFI (non-football injury) list, he’s slated to be a restricted free agent after 2016.

 

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