HEADLINES

Kona Schwenke

AFC Links: Gordon, Patriots, Moreno, Bortles

September 13th, 2014 at 9:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If Josh Gordon is allowed to play this season (as expected), he will then only be under contract through 2015, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (Twitter link). Had Gordon’s suspension been upheld, and he had been forced to sit out the entire year, his contract would have tolled, meaning the Browns would have controlled his rights through the 2016 season. Instead, Gordon will earn $1.068MM in 2015 and then hit free agency unless an extension is worked out. If his 2014 ban is reduced to ten games as reported, he will earn 7/17 of that salary (~$440K) in base salary this season. Here’s more from around the AFC.

  • Defensive lineman Kona Schwenke, who was waived from the Chiefs’ practice squad on Thursday, worked out for the Patriots today, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter). At 6’4″, 303 pounds, the 22-year-old Schweneke has the size required to play in New England’s multiple defensive fronts.
  • Patriots offensive lineman Ryan Wendell has $200K in gameday active roster bonuses included in his contract — he’s already been ruled out for tomorrow’s game, meaning he will miss out on $12,500K, per Reiss (on Twitter).
  • In a piece for Athlon Sports, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News examines 10 offseason moves that look regrettable following Week 1. Atop the scribe’s list is the Broncos’ decision to let Knowshon Moreno defect to the Dolphins. Moreno reportedly didn’t receive interest from any other team besides Miami, so it’s hard to quibble with Denver’s lack of interest in retaining the veteran running back. Still, Moreno did perform well on Sunday, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots.
  • Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union wonders when the Jaguars should transition to rookie quarterback Blake Bortles, arguing that it should be after Jacksonville wins it first game, so that the pressure on Bortles isn’t as extreme.

Practice Squad Updates: Thursday

September 11th, 2014 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll round up Thursday’s news related to teams adding and removing players from their practice squads in this post, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day….

  • With Chris Long having been placed on the injured reserve list with the designation to return, the Rams filled his 53-man roster spot by promoting defensive tackle Matt Conrath from their practice squad, according to his agency Eastern Athletics (Twitter link). Defensive end Kourtnei Brown has been added to the team’s practice squad in Conrath’s place, per agency ARN Sports and Entertainment (Twitter link).
  • After cutting him from their active roster, the Broncos have re-added wideout Nathan Palmer to their practice squad, the club announced today (Twitter link).
  • The Bears have signed wide receiver and kick returner Chris Williams to their practice squad, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Williams, the fourth receiver on Chicago’s practice squad, will take the place of linebacker DeDe Lattimore, who has been cut.
  • Defensive lineman Kona Schwenke has been removed from the Chiefs‘ practice squad to make room for newly-added safety Daniel Sorensen, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Sorensen has cut from the club’s 53-man roster earlier in the week.

Sunday Transactions: AFC West

August 31st, 2014 at 7:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Denver Broncos:

Kansas City Chiefs:

Oakland Raiders:

San Diego Chargers:

  • Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Chas Alecxih, DL; Torrence Allen, WR; Greg Ducre, CB; Javontee Herndon, WR; Cordarro Law, OLB; Ryan Lindley, QB; Adrian Phillips, S; Jeremiah Sirles, T; Craig Watts, G

Chiefs Announce Cuts, Down To 53 Players

August 30th, 2014 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs have announced 22 roster moves, taking their player count from 75 to the required 53-man limit. Via a press release, here’s the full list of players who were removed from the team’s active roster:

Cut:

Placed on injured reserve:

Placed on reserve/non-football injury list:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

Chiefs Sign Three Players, Cut Two

May 20th, 2014 at 1:24pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs have made a handful of roster moves on the defensive side of the ball, officially signing three defensive linemen and waiving a defensive tackle and linebacker. The team announced today (via Twitter) that it has signed former Ram Jermelle Cudjo and undrafted free agent Kona Schwenke, along with Kyle Love, whose agreement was previously reported. Meanwhile, Cory Grissom and Ridge Wilson have been cut (Twitter link).

Love, a former starter in New England, is the most notable name among Kansas City’s new additions, though Cudjo also has a few starts under his belt from his time in St. Louis. Cudjo saw part-time action over the last four years as a reserve on the Rams’ defensive line before he was released last week, while Love started 25 games in three seasons for the Patriots before spending time with the Jaguars and Chiefs in 2013.

As for the cuts, both Grissom and Wilson were signed by the Chiefs following the season — Wilson came from the club’s practice squad, while Grissom spent last season on injured reserve with the Patriots.

Draft Updates: Lions, Texans, Watkins

May 7th, 2014 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

While the ability to contribute on special teams may not be the deciding factor when the Lions decide which players to draft this week, it certainly doesn’t hurt, as GM Martin Mayhew tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

“It factors in,” Mayhew said. “It factors in more when you don’t have a competent returner, which we do. But it’s certainly something you take into consideration. If somebody can be a backup punt returner, he has more versatility.”

The Lions GM went on to point out that special teams contributions are something the club considers more and more as the draft goes on. In the sixth or seventh round, or even when pursuing undrafted free agents, having the input of area scouts on which players they think could become strong special-teamers is a key factor, according to Mayhew.

More on the draft from around the NFL:

  • Asked about the possibility of being drafted first overall, Johnny Manziel said the Texans are “holding their cards close” and that he hasn’t been told anything, while Jadeveon Clowney told reporters with a smile that he doesn’t think Houston will pass on him. Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle has the quotes from Manziel and Clowney.
  • Meanwhile, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com says (via Twitter) “no one is buying” that the Texans are locked in on a specific player at No. 1, adding that he believes the asking price for that first overall pick will drop tomorrow.
  • Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk passes along word that NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said on the NFL Network this morning that the Lions have told Sammy Watkins they’re considering trading into the top three to draft him.
  • Former agent Joel Corry and ex-Packers executive Andrew Brandt each provide articles detailing some of their experiences in past drafts, which are illuminating and worth reading. You can find Corry’s piece at CBSSports.com and Brandt’s at TheMMQB.com.
  • Notre Dame defensive tackle Kona Schwenke visited the 49ers and Chiefs in the weeks leading up to the draft, and also had a private workout and meeting with the Niners prior to his Pro Day, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.