HEADLINES

Matt Barkley

Patriots Audition QB Matt Barkley

September 8th, 2017 at 2:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots worked out quarterbacks Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin, and David Fales on Friday, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).Matt Barkley (Vertical)

New England only has two quarterbacks on its roster after trading third-stringer Jacoby Brissett for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett last week, so the club is likely searching for depth. Of course, the Patriots’ top two signal-callers are Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo, so while they don’t need an immediate arm, the team is simply keeping its options open.

All three of Barkley (49ers), McGloin (Eagles), and Fales (Dolphins) were released by their respective clubs during final cutdowns. Barkley and McGloin are far more experienced than Fales, as both have started at least six career games and attempted at least 250 passes. Fales, on the other hand, has tossed only five passes in his career, all of which came in 2016 with the Bears.

Quarterback wasn’t the only position New England addressed in today’s workouts — the Patriots also took a look at former Browns receiver Jordan Payton, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com doesn’t expect the club to add an outside pass-catcher, even given the injuries to Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, and Danny Amendola.

49ers To Release QB Matt Barkley

September 1st, 2017 at 1:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers will release quarterback Matt Barkley, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).Matt Barkley (Vertical)

While Barkley was never in contention for San Francisco’s starting quarterback job given that the club also inked Brian Hoyer this spring, he was thought to be assured of the 49ers’ backup position. The 26-year-old started six games for the Bears last season, but completed only 59.7% of his passes and tossed 14 interceptions. Barkley’s two-year, $4MM deal with the Niners included $500K in guarantees, so the team will incur $250K in dead money over the next two seasons.

San Francisco will now presumably use third-round rookie C.J. Beathard as its backup signal-caller. Beathard, an Iowa product, was thought to be an overdraft on Day 2, but he’s showed relatively well during camp and the preseason. Of course, the 49ers could also look to find another quarterback via trade or waiver claim in the coming days.

49ers Sign QB Matt Barkley

March 9th, 2017 at 10:53pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers are signing quarterback Matt Barkley, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). There hadn’t been any whispers regarding the 26-year-old since free agency started. Matt Barkley (Vertical)

The 2013 fourth-round pick will now be playing for the fourth team of his soon-to-be five-year career. After having played in only four game through his first three seasons in the league, Barkley got an opportunity filling if for an injured Jay Cutler on the Bears last season. The team went 1-5 in the quarterback’s six starts, and he finished the campaign having completed 59.7-percent of his passes for eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

This is the second quarterback the 49ers have signed this week, as they previously added veteran Brian Hoyer. Currently, Hoyer and Barkley are the only two quarterbacks on SF’s roster.

Bears Promote Matt Barkley To Active Roster

September 22nd, 2016 at 9:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears announced that they have elevated quarterback Matt Barkley from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Barkley will give the team additional depth while Jay Cutler is sidelined with a sprained thumb. Brian Hoyer is expected to start in the interim. Matt Barkley (vertical)

[RELATED: Bears’ Jay Cutler To Miss 2 Or 3 Weeks]

Barkley was with the Cardinals this offseason but missed the 53-man cut. Soon after, he signed on with Chicago’s taxi squad. Barkley, 26, was a fourth-round pick of Chip Kelly’s Eagles in 2013. In two seasons with Philly, Barkley attempted 50 passes with four interceptions and zero touchdowns.

In related moves, fullback Paul Lasike was re-signed to the practice squad and outside linebacker Lamarr Houston was officially placed on IR. We learned earlier this week that Houston is done for the season after suffering a torn ACL.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC North

September 4th, 2016 at 6:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC North 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 for the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. 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 NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

Cardinals’ Roster Now At 53

September 3rd, 2016 at 6:14pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Cardinals will release defensive lineman Red Bryant, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (on Twitter). The 32-year-old Bryant, who was previously a starter in Seattle and Jacksonville, played sparingly in six games with the Cardinals last season. The club brought him back on a one-year deal in March, but he wasn’t able to crack its roster.

Arizona will also cut receiver Brittan Golden, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), and waive/injured pass rusher Tristan Okpalaugo, according to his agent, Brett Tessler (Twitter link).

The club’s full list of cuts is as follows:

Cardinals Acquire Matt Barkley From Eagles

September 4th, 2015 at 2:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cardinals have agreed to a trade with the Eagles, acquiring quarterback Matt Barkley, in exchange for a conditional late-round pick, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), it’s a seventh-rounder, and Philadelphia will only get the pick if Barkley remains on Arizona’s roster for at least six games.

Barkley, who turns 25 next week, was drafted 98th overall in 2013 by the Eagles, a fourth-round pick out of USC. He has mostly been stuck on the team’s bench since then, completing 30 of his 50 career attempts for 300 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions.

After the Eagles acquired Sam Bradford this offseason, Barkley was poised to enter the year as no better than the third quarterback on Philadelphia’s depth chart, behind Bradford and Mark Sanchez. With Tim Tebow gaining momentum in the preseason and poised to earn a roster spot as well, Barkley was the odd man out.

In Arizona, Barkley will join a group of quarterbacks that includes Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, and Logan Thomas. The deal looks like bad news for Thomas, whose roster spot was already in jeopardy when Bruce Arians suggested last week that the team might just keep two quarterbacks (Twitter link).

NFC Notes: Barkley, Mays, Seahawks, Falcons

August 22nd, 2015 at 5:43pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A look at the latest from the NFC:

  • Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley is available “for the right deal,” a source told ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini (Twitter link). Barkley, a fourth-round pick out of USC in 2013, could be the odd man out in Philly with Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow also on the team’s QB depth chart.
  • The Seahawks may have a hole at safety with Kam Chancellor holding out, but don’t expect them to sign free agent Taylor Mays, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweeted. Mays, whom Detroit officially released earlier today, played for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll while the two were at USC. Mays’ successful college career hasn’t translated to the pros, though, as he’s already been a member of four organizations since San Francisco chose him in the second round of the 2010 draft.
  • Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has started 87 straight games, the fifth-longest streak among NFL passers, and that’s especially fortunate for Atlanta, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Falcons might have the worst No. 2 QB in the league in T.J. Yates, per Cunningham, who bolsters his opinion with some help from PredictionMachine.com. According to the website, the Falcons’ playoff chances would decrease by a league-high 85.3 percent if they played with Yates instead of Ryan for a full 16-game season.
  • Vikings receivers coach George Stewart offered effusive praise for veteran wideout Mike Wallace, whom the team acquired from Miami during the offseason. Wallace is the fastest receiver Stewart has coached during his 27-year career, he told Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Stewart also expressed excitement over the impact Wallace will make as a blocker. “Excellent toughness,” Stewart said. “He’s not afraid of contact. He’s going to block (cornerbacks) corners, he’s going to block safeties. You have some receivers who are kind of shy when it comes down to that moment of truth hitting the defensive back. He’s not shy.

NFC East Notes: Giants, Cowboys, Barkley, Eagles

August 22nd, 2015 at 10:46am CST by Ben Levine

A year ago, Newberry College standout Corey Washington was a standout during Giants training camp. The undrafted wideout went from having practically no chance at making the roster to suddenly being a reserve receiver.

However, the player hasn’t been turning heads during this summer’s camp, and the 23-year-old understands he has to contribute in other areas to make the team.

“I’m still considered a special-teams player,” Washington told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “So I have to perform on offense and special teams, and hopefully be able to make the team again.

“With the three receivers we’ve got in front of me — Odell and Rueben and Vic — I’m pretty sure the fourth receiver has to be a special teamer. That’s what I’m aiming for, to be the fourth receiver. So, we’ll see.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC East…

  • Although cornerback Byron Jones, defensive end Randy Gregory and guard La’el Collins will steal most of the headlines among Cowboys rookies, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram believes a number of other first-year players are primed to make an impact for Dallas. In particular, the writer points to linebacker Damien Wilson (fourth round) and wideout Lucky Whitehead (undrafted).
  • With Tim Tebow‘s apparent emergence on the Eagles, Garry Cobb of GCobb.com believes Matt Barkley could be on the outside looking in. Still, the former USC standout has impressed during camp, leading the writer to believe that the team could get a draft pick for the quarterback.
  • Former Rutgers safety Jeremy Deering will audition for the Eagles on Sunday, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The writer notes that six teams are interested in the 2014 undrafted free agent.

NFC East Notes: Kelly, Hardy, Barkley

May 28th, 2015 at 7:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this offseason, former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy accused Chip Kelly of racial bias, stating that he got rid of “the good black players.” Safety Malcolm Jenkins, still with the team, doesn’t see it that way, as John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com writes.

“Chip has been very, very transparent on what he’s evaluating us on,” Jenkins said. “That’s not only what we do on the field, but what we do in our assessments and how disciplined we are with our nutrition and all the sports science stuff. I haven’t seen him make a move outside of those parameters. I don’t think anybody in the locker room now thinks we have an issue with race. I don’t see that being a problem in the future. I don’t think there’s any need for Chip to address it.”

Here’s more from the NFC East..

  • Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has not signed his franchise-tag tender but he did take part in a portion of Thursday’s OTAs, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. Unless Bryant signs the tender, he is not obligated to show up for the minicamp, but it sounds like he wanted to get on the same page with his teammates. When and if Bryant signs his tender, he’ll be guaranteed a $12.823MM salary. The deadline to hammer out a long-term pact is July 15th.
  • Greg Hardy‘s arbitration appeal of his 10-game suspension before arbitrator Harold Henderson has wrapped, according to Andrew Brandt (via Twitter). No date has been given for a decision on the Cowboys defensive end just yet.
  • Matt Barkley‘s name was thrown about in trade rumors a bit this offseason, but if you ask the quarterback, there was nothing to them, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. “I had intel on what was going on, and there was nothing going to happen,” said Barkley, who shares an agent with coach Chip Kelly.
  • Kelly told reporters that Walter Thurmond was the first Eagles cornerback to get a crack at the safety position since he has experience as a nickel back and always seems to be around the ball, according to the Eagles’ Twitter account.
  • The Eagles have moved quarterback G.J. Kinne over to wide receiver, according to the team’s official Twitter page.
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