HEADLINES

Kiko Alonso

East Notes: Pats, Cowboys, Bills, Giants

July 2nd, 2014 at 10:42am CST by Luke Adams

The hearing for Jimmy Graham‘s franchise tag positional designation took place in June and a decision is expected from arbitrator Stephen Burbank this week, but another key arbitration hearing – for Aaron Hernandez and the Patriots – has no set date yet, according to Albert Breer of NFL Network (Twitter link).

As Breer details in a pair of tweets, the two sides are at odds over the tight end’s $12.5MM signing bonus. The Pats have already made $9.25MM in bonus payments, but didn’t pay the remaining $3.25MM this March. Hernandez’s camp figures to try to recover that last $3.25MM, which could end up going to the victims’ families, while the Pats may look to recoup a portion of the bonus that they already paid.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • After signing free agent guard Uche Nwaneri and acquiring linebacker Rolando McClain, the Cowboys may also look to add a veteran at tight end, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, who suggests the team could use a blocker behind Jason Witten.
  • Since Kiko Alonso‘s ACL injury will technically be considered a non-football injury, the Bills could elect not to pay him for the 2014 season. However, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, because Alonso’s injury was sustained while he was working out, not paying him his ’14 salary could send a bad message, suggesting players are better off not working out when camp isn’t in session. As ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak notes (via Twitter), Alonso wouldn’t earn an accrued season if the Bills placed him on the non-football-injury list, meaning he’d become a restricted free agent after 2016 rather than an unrestricted free agent.
  • After signing John Jerry as a free agent this offseason, the Giants would look to see the veteran guard make a run at a starting spot, writes Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger.
  • Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com takes a look at the Eagles‘ depth chart on the defensive side of the ball.

Kiko Alonso Tears ACL, Will Miss 2014 Season

July 1st, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

8:48pm: Alonso has in fact torn his ACL, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). He will miss the 2014 season, and is facing a seven-to-nine month recovery.

8:45pm: Alonso will likely undergo an MRI tomorrow, tweets Albert Breer of NFL.com, who reiterates that “every indication” points toward a torn ACL.

8:28pm: The fear is that Alonso has torn his ACL, a team source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

8:12pm: Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso has injured his knee while working out in Oregon, according to a team statement. Per Buffalo general manager Doug Whaley, while the details of the injury are not yet known, “early indications are that it may be significant.” While an MRI has yet to be performed, the team probably wouldn’t feel comfortable releasing a statement on the matter if the injury wasn’t severe. In fact, a team source tells ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter) that it would be an upset if the Bills did receive good news on Alonso’s knee.

After being selected in the second round of the 2013 draft, Alonso went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year after totaling 87 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks. The 23-year-old was one of only three linebackers to play 100% of his team’s snaps, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. Though he played middle linebacker in Mike Pettine’s 3-4 defense last season, Alonso was being moved to the weak side in 2014, where he might’ve fit better in Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 scheme.

According to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link), third-year player Nigel Bradham is next up on the depth chart at the WILL position; he started 11 games in 2012 but only three last year. Preston Brown, the Bills’ third-round pick, is also an option, though he mostly played in the middle during college. Among unsigned players, our free agent tracker shows that Will Witherspoon and Michael Boley might be Buffalo’s best external options.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Pats, Bills, Dolphins

May 24th, 2014 at 9:46am CST by Matt Feminis

When asked about the Jets’ perceived weakness at cornerback, ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini provided a blunt response: “I think fans need to come to grips with this sobering reality: The Jets believe they’re set at cornerback. I don’t agree with it, and I’m not sure [head coach] Rex Ryan does either, but [GM] John Idzik is done making significant moves at cornerback. He thinks Dee Milliner is a No. 1 corner, he invested $3 million in Dimitri Patterson and he drafted Dexter McDougle in the third round. Unless there’s a key injury, I can’t see Idzik importing a big name…”

Here’s some more AFC East notes:

  • The Patriots’ top four or five receivers appear to be set, but Masslive.com’s Nick Underhill takes a look at the competitors for the remaining roster spots. Among those on the bubble are second-year players Josh Boyce and Kenbrell Thompkins (who disappointed last season after being the talk of training camp), seventh-rounder Jeremy Gallon and size-speed prospect Mark Harrison. Underhill says, “There has been some speculation that Harrison could be tried out at tight end, and while he didn’t close the door on the notion, head coach Bill Belichick said it is unlikely Harrison will see time at that spot this season.”
  • In a Bills off-season wrap-up, ESPN’s Mike Rodak praised the signing of linebacker Brandon Spikes, who, teamed with Defensive Rookie of the Year Kiko Alonso, should improve the team’s run defense which ranked near the bottom of the league.
  • The Dolphins plucked offensive coordinator Bill Lazor from Chip Kelly’s staff in Philadelphia, and Lazor has total control of the offense, writes Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald. Based on early indications, Dolphins players are excited about the possibilities and say the new system is reminiscent of the Eagles’.