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Lamarr Houston

Extra Points: Vernon, Crosby, Bears, Draft

February 29th, 2016 at 10:10pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The fate of defensive end Olivier Vernon will shape how the Dolphins approach their offseason, writes Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. The Dolphins have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to place the franchise tag ($15.7MM) or transition tag ($12.7MM) on Vernon. But doing either of those things would make it especially difficult for them to keep fellow pass rusher Cameron Wake and running back Lamar Miller, which they want to do. If he hits the open market, Vernon could end up with a long-term deal in the range of $12MM to $14MM annually, per Beasley, who adds there’s an outside possibility Miami will slap the franchise tag on the 25-year-old and then trade him.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • The Packers are unlikely to use the $4.572MM franchise tag on longtime kicker Mason Crosby, reports Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. As of last week, there was optimism the Packers and Crosby would agree on a contract and render the tag unnecessary. If that doesn’t happen by March 7, Crosby will be free to start negotiating with other teams.
  • Even though he’s coming off a personal-best eight-sack season, the Bears could release edge rusher Lamarr Houston, one well-placed AFC executive told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Cutting Houston would open up over $4MM of cap space for the Bears this year. When PFR’s Dallas Robinson previewed the Bears’ offseason earlier this month, he named Houston as a possibility for the chopping block.
  • Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche has visits with 19 teams set up, according to Tony Pauline of WalterFootall.com. That number has increased from the 15 Pauline reported Sunday.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Kaepernick, Bears, Vikings

November 2nd, 2015 at 9:23pm CST by Zachary Links

49ers coach Jim Tomsula declined to give embattled quarterback Colin Kaepernick a vote of confidence on Monday, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. In past weeks, Tomsula has shot down speculation that there could be a QB controversy in SF. He didn’t do that this time around.

“We’re evaluating everything right now,” Tomsula said when asked about his team’s quarterback situation. “We’re in the middle of it right now and I don’t have any comments on any position on our field right now. We’re evaluating everyone.”

Kaepernick has completed just 59.3 percent of his pass attempts for 1,615 yards in eight games and he has six touchdown passes against five interceptions.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • 49ers running back Mike Davis will have surgery on Tuesday on his broken hand, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. After surgery, Davis be given an idea of how long he’ll be sidelined.
  • Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders if Bears outside linebackers Lamarr Houston and Willie Young are on their way out of Chicago after playing a combined 11 defensive snaps on Sunday. One could point to their lack of usage as a sign that they’ll be traded, but I would argue that the Bears would have been better off auditioning them to interested teams if that is their intention.
  • Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press wonders if the Vikings might dangle tight end Chase Ford prior to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Ford started five games last season and caught 23 passes for 258 yards in 11 games overall. However, he hasn’t taken a single snap this season and “some believe” that he could be worth a late-round pick, Tomasson writes. Ford is the team’s No. 4 tight end behind Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, and rookie MyCole Pruitt.

NFC Notes: Lynch, Sherman, Lions, Houston

February 3rd, 2015 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

On a radio appearance, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said that the team has been “in the midst” of contract talks with running back Marshawn Lynch for a while now, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (via Twitter). Earlier this week it was reported that Seattle made a “huge” offer to the Skittles-loving tailback that would likely keep him with the team for the remainder of his career. The 28-year-old running back is set to make $5MM next year, but that offer would reportedly give him $10MM in 2015 alone.

Let’s round up a few more items from across the NFC….

  • Carroll also admitted today that he “might have been misled” regarding Richard Sherman‘s injury situation, suggesting that the Seahawks cornerback may not need to undergo Tommy John surgery after all. “He’s not a pitcher, and he’s not a left-hander,” Carroll said, per ESPN.com. “Sherm might not have to have that kind of surgery. If he was a thrower he would.”
  • Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com takes a look at the free agent decisions facing the Lions on their defensive line, where Ndamukong Suh is far from the only player with an expiring contract. Twentyman figures that if the team can get a deal done with Suh, it figures to be worth around $100MM, with $50MM+ in guarantees.
  • Lamarr Houston‘s $5.9MM base salary for 2015 with the Bears will now be fully guaranteed, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Houston’s contract called for his salary to be locked in on the second day of the 2015 waiver period, which is today. The defensive end’s season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL while celebrating a sack in October. It wasn’t exactly a banner year for Houston, as that sack was his very first of the 2014 campaign.
  • Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff says he has no problem with the way the team’s front office is set up, with new head coach Dan Quinn having final say on Atlanta’s 53-man roster — in fact, according to Dimitroff, he encouraged that. “It’s not about who has final 53 or who has authority over one thing or another,” Dimitroff said (link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution). “It’s about working together. It’s about nice equal footing and a partnership.”
  • The St. Louis group attempting to build a new stadium for the Rams has hired John Lloyd, who has “extensive experience” in the field, as a consultant on the project, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Bears Place Willie Young On IR

December 23rd, 2014 at 5:08pm CST by Rob DiRe

TUESDAY, 5:08pm: The Bears have officially ended Young’s season, placing him on injured reserve, per the team (Twitter link). Defensive end Austen Lane, who spent the preseason with the club, has been signed to fill the newly-opened roster spot.

MONDAY, 12:01pm: Bears defensive end Willie Young didn’t arrive in Chicago with the fanfare of fellow free agent signings Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston, but the fifth-year pro has outshone his counterparts along the defensive line in 2014. He has ten sacks this season, the first of a three-year deal signed this past offseason.

Young seemed like a lock to be a star again in 2015, but an injury to his Achilles tendon could jeopardize at least the beginning of next year. It will certainly keep him out of the season finale this Sunday, reports Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun Times.

“It’s an injury that’s going to take some time,” head coach Marc Trestman said. “I don’t know many that aren’t [serious].”

The Achilles injury is a difficult one to come back from. Another pass rusher recently came back from a similar injury in incredible time, as Terrell Suggs returned in time for the team’s Super Bowl run only five months and six days after the injury.

Of course, that case is the exception, as nine months to twelve months is a more common timetable for return.

In addition to Young, kicker Robbie Gould has missed the last three games with a quadriceps injury, and will also not be back in time for the Week 17 matchup, reports Dan Weiderer of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Gould made additional waves this morning when he went on the radio and criticized Trestman and the coaching staff’s decision to bench Jay Cutler, writes Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune.

“You could bench the whole team,” said Gould. “It’s not like anybody has really played fantastic or great. I mean, we’re 5-10 now. So … Jay is not the problem. Jay is not the issue. It’s just unfortunate. This is, honestly, it’s not the Bear way. I mean, this whole season is not the Bear way. Pointing fingers, things getting out of the locker room — that’s not the Chicago Bear way.”

Bears Place Lamarr Houston On IR

November 3rd, 2014 at 12:54pm CST by Luke Adams

A week after a sack celebration gone wrong resulted in a torn ACL, defensive end Lamarr Houston has been placed on injured reserve by the Bears, the club announced today (Twitter link). The Bears have promoted defensive end David Bass from their practice squad to replace Houston the 53-man roster, signing tackle Jason Weaver to fill the newly-opened spot on the taxi squad.

Houston, one of the offseason’s most notable free agent signees, is in the first season of a five-year pact with the Bears, and has a sizable chunk of guaranteed money owed to him for next season, so he’ll be back with Chicago in 2015. Still, it was a disappointing first year in Chicago for Houston, who was brought in to help replace departing defensive end Julius Peppers — the sack Houston was celebrating when he tore his ACL was only his first of the season.

Only three Bears defensive ends – Houston, Jared Allen, and Willie Young – had logged more than eight defensive snaps this season. Allen and Young figure to continue seeing plenty of action, particularly as pass rushers, but Bass and fellow reserves Cornelius Washington and Trevor Scott could have their roles expanded in Houston’s absence.

Bears’ Lamarr Houston Done For Year

October 27th, 2014 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston is done for the year with a torn ACL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Houston suffered the injury while celebrating a sack in the midst of the Bears’ blowout loss at the hands of the Patriots.

The Bears were trailing 48-23 when Houston brought down Pats backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Houston leaped in the air to celebrate and came down awkwardly on his leg, causing the injury that will keep him sidelined until training camp in 2015.

Houston is earning $9MM this season and his base salary of $5.95MM is guaranteed for 2015. The Bears brought the 27-year-old aboard as a replacement for veteran Julius Peppers, who was released on the same day. In total, Houston’s deal is for five years with a total value that can be as high as $35MM.

NFC Notes: Jake Long, Bucs, Bears, Lions

October 26th, 2014 at 4:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams fear that left tackle Jake Long has torn his ACL, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Long, the first overall pick in 2008, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Dolphins before signing a four-year, $34MM contract with St. Louis prior to last season. If the diagnosis is correct, Long would be the second notable Rams player, along with quarterback Sam Bradford, to have his season cut short by an ACL injury. Long also missed the final game of last season after tearing his ACL. Greg Robinson, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, will presumably take over at left tackle. He had been playing left guard, and given that Rodger Saffold also suffered an injury today, the Rams will have to do some maneuvering along their offensive line. Veteran guard Davin Joseph is a candidate to be re-inserted into the starting lineup.

  • We’ve heard rumors that the Buccaneers could look to move Vincent Jackson and/or Doug Martin, and following today’s overtime loss to the Vikings, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com opines (Twitter links) that Tampa Bay should look to deal the two, in addition to safety Dashon Goldson, at all costs. The Bucs generally don’t offer signing bonuses, so no money would accelerate onto their cap if Goldson was dealt. The acquiring team would be responsible for 9/17 of Goldon’s 2014 base salary, plus all of his 2015 guarantee — in total, about $7.18MM. Given that he rates 74th out of 82 qualified safeties per Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), I’d wager that no team would be interested in taking on his salary, and even less inclined to give up a draft pick.
  • On the subject of Buccaneers trade rumors, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines what a Jackson deal would look like, noting that because an acquiring team would need at least $5.1MM in cap space in order to take on his contract, the pool of suitors is limited. Fitzgerald lists the Browns, Eagles, and Patriots among the clubs that have both the requisite cap space and the motivation to trade for a receiver upgrade.
  • Bears defensive lineman Lamarr Houston will undergo an MRI tomorrow, but the club fears the worst, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Mike Garafolo adds (via Twitter) Chicago believes Houston, a key free agent addition over the offeseason, suffered a season-ending knee injury.
  • Another NFC North lineman, the Lions’ Nick Fairley, suffered a knee injury today, and head coach Jim Caldwell isn’t optimistic about Fairley’s status. “I’m not quite certain where he is right now,” Caldwell told reporters, including Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “But obviously, when you’re carried off the field, it’s not the greatest news. We’ll see what the doctors say about him.”

Injury Updates: Sunday

October 26th, 2014 at 3:46pm CST by Rory Parks

We will keep you informed of any major injuries that arise throughout the course of today’s games.

  • In addition to suffering an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Patriots, the Bears may have lost one key contributor on each side of the all. Guard Matt Slauson left the game with a pectoral injury (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune), and as we saw with Brian Orakpo, a torn pectoral will likely force a player to miss the remainder of the season. Campbell’s Tribune colleague, Brad Biggs, tweets that defensive lineman Lamarr Houston had to be carted off the field after suffering an injury while celebrating a sack of Tom Brady.
  • Rams receiver Brian Quick suffered an arm injury in today’s game against the Chiefs, and had to be carted off the field, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Dispatch (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that Ravens CB Jimmy Smith has been carted off the field with a left leg injury.
  • Lions DT Nick Fairley suffered a right knee injury and has already been declared out for the rest of today’s game in London, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • Texans rookie Jadeveon Clowney is expected to suit up for the first time since Week 1, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Clowney is expected to contribute primarily in obvious passing situations.
  • Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that Bengals WR A.J. Green, who was listed as doubtful for today’s divisional tilt against Baltimore, will not play. He hopes to return next week, but how he feels on Wednesday will be a major part of that decision.
  • NFL.com’s Kevin Patra confirms that Lions star wideout Calvin Johnson will not play in today’s game against the Falcons in London.

NFC North Links: Packers, Vikings, Bears

September 26th, 2014 at 11:10pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Lions have a lot going on as they prepare to face the Jets this Sunday, but the rest of the NFC North teams are not just waiting for their games. The Packers and Bears have a huge divisional matchup coming up, and the Vikings are ready to usher in a new era, with Teddy Bridgewater‘s first start against the Falcons.

Here are some links to some stories from NFC North teams:

Monday Roundup: Gaffney, Suh, Bills

July 28th, 2014 at 10:58pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s round up some links from around the league to close out this Monday night:

  • The Panthers waived-injured sixth-round draft pick Tyler Gaffney on Sunday, hoping they could sneak him past waivers and put him on IR after he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Friday. However, the Patriots thwarted those hopes by claiming Gaffney earlier today. Of course, the Panthers could have kept Gaffney on the 90-man camp roster, but, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes, Carolina GM Dave Gettleman noted that the team needed that roster spot for another running back (who turned out to be Fozzy Whittaker). In response to the Patriots’ acquiring Gaffney, a move that breaks one of the league’s many “unwritten rules,” Gettleman replied, “It’s business.”
  • During a brief, almost impromptu session with the media earlier today, Lions‘ defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh did not offer any real explanation as to why extension talks with the team have been tabled, nor did he say much about his long-term plans, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Suh merely reiterated yet again that he wants to remain a Lion. See Birkett’s article and our own Luke Adams’ post from earlier this afternoon for more details on the Suh dilemma.
  • Mike Sando of ESPN.com (subscription required) offers his thoughts as to how the Seahawks can keep their title window open once quarterback Russell Wilson inevitably gets a new deal that will pay him many times what he currently earns.
  • Albert Breer of NFL.com writes that the Saints are entering 2014 with tremendous confidence, despite their jettisoning of veteran stalwarts like Roman Harper and Will Smith and their increased reliance on their young talent on both sides of the football.
  • Tim Graham of the Buffalo News writes that the bidding process to buy the Bills begins Tuesday.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes that Donald Trump will bid on the Bills, but Trump says his chances of becoming the franchise’s next owner are “very, very unlikely.”
  • Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets that Raiders‘ receiver Rod Streater has been diagnosed with a concussion.
  • Matt Bowen of the Chicago Tribune gives the early edge in the Bears‘ backup quarterback battle to Jimmy Clausen. He also notes that defensive tackle Lamarr Houston and wideout Marquess Wilson have been impressive in camp thus far.
  • Liz Mullen of SportsBusinessJournal.com tweets that NFL agents Michael Perrett and Kevin McGuire have left SportsTrust Advisors to form their own firm.
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