HEADLINES

Matt Slauson

NFC Notes: Jones, Chancellor, Bears

September 13th, 2015 at 8:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFC…

  • The Giants had talked with several teams about trading receiver James Jones prior to the veteran’s release, reports ESPN’s Ed Werder (via Twitter). The team was reportedtly eyeing conditional draft picks. The Packers were among the teams that spoke with New York, but they decided to wait for Jones’ release.
  • Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett didn’t want to attribute his team’s loss on Sunday to the absence of safety Kam Chancellor, who continues to hold out for a new contract. “Whenever you lose everyone is going to turn around saying this and that, Kam Chancellor this,” Bennett said (via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times on Twitter), “but we were still in the game. Regardless of what the situation was we had more opportunities during the game.”
  • Despite dropping Sunday’s game to the Packers, several members of the Bears still took shots at their former coaching staff following the contest. “The mentality of this offense, which I’m proud of, is nobody had that stupid look on their face [when down 31-16] like before,” running back Matt Forte said (via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times on Twitter). “Before when something would happen, kind of saying that the game is lost already when there’s time left. We kept fighting.”
  • Offensive lineman Matt Slauson echoed that sentiment (via Potash). “Had this been the past, we would have packed it in,” he said. “That just goes to show the mentality this staff is instilling in us.” The guard noted that it was nice “to have a coordinator that actually trusts us to run, because we have the best back in the game.”

Minor Moves: Saturday

November 8th, 2014 at 3:34pm CST by Rob DiRe

Here are Saturday’s minor moves that affect teams’ 53-man rosters around the league:

  • The Packers have signed offensive tackle Jamon Meredith, reports Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter). The team placed wide receiver Kevin Dorsey on the IR to make room on the roster. Meredith was the Packers’ 2009 fifth-round draft choice, and spent time with the Bills, Colts, Lions, and Buccaneers before returning, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • The 49ers have promoted linebacker Chase Thomas to their active roster, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Thomas will slide into the roster spot left open when the team released Demarcus Dobbs earlier this week.
  • The Bears have placed guard Matt Slauson on the IR, replacing him on the roster with tight end Blake Annen, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Annen was promoted from the practice squad.

Bears Lose Matt Slauson For Year

October 27th, 2014 at 12:52pm CST by Zachary Links

In addition to losing a key defensive lineman, the Bears have lost a starter on the offensive line as well. Guard Matt Slauson tore his pectoral and is out for the year, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

It’s more bad news for the Bears, who also lost defensive end Lamarr Houston in yesterday’s blowout loss to the Pats. Slauson came to the Bears on a one-year deal in March of 2013. Over the winter, the former Jets guard inked a new four-year deal to stay in Chicago for the long-term. Slauson’s deal gave him a yearly salary of $3.2MM per year with $3.9MM essentially guaranteed at signing. If the Bears decide to release Slauson this winter, they’d save roughly $2MM in cap room for 2015.

Slauson started 16 games in each of his previous seasons, three with the Jets and one with the Bears.

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.

Free Agent Notes: Pierre Thomas, Ravens, Bears, Giants

March 8th, 2014 at 10:41am CST by Matt Feminis

Miscellaneous news and notes, including free agent primers for the Bears and Giants:

  • Malcolm Jenkins‘ tweet indicates Pierre Thomas won’t be back with the Saints, points out NOLA.com’s Larry Holder (via Twitter).
  • The Ravens have made an offer to retain free agent receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, according to team insider Aaron Wilson (per Twitter).
  • Ravens free agent cornerback Corey Graham “should have a healthy market,” according to Wilson (via Twitter). Graham, a 2007 fifth-rounder, broke in with the Bears, made a name for himself as a Pro Bowl special teams player and earned a two-year, $3.95MM deal with the Ravens in 2012. He played a more prominent role in Baltimore, where he started 13 games over two seasons and contributed as a productive sub-package defender, tallying 74 tackles, 12 passes defended and four interceptions. The team wants Graham back, but will be unable to compete if another team is willing to pay him like a starter, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The Bears will target defensive ends in free agency, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, who breaks down four groups of free agents the Bears will sift through: big-ticket targets (such as Michael Bennett or Everson Griffen); “budget buys” (similar to Matt Slauson, who signed an inexpensive one-year deal last year, started all 16 games and earned a four-year extension); cap casualties (veterans with “a little juice left,” as Biggs puts it); and the club’s own (most notably, Henry Melton, Charles Tillman and D.J. Williams).
  • Expect the Giants to act quickly in free agency, says NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, who predicts the team will land a priority free agent, likely an offensive lineman, in a matter of days. Raanan cites recent history as an indicator, reminding the team signed Antrel Rolle on the first day of free agency in 2010, signed David Baas in two days in 2011 and added Martellus Bennett three days into the 2012 signing period.