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Michael Hall

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/24

November 16th, 2024 at 8:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturday’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Toney is set to make his debut for the regular season. The former first-round pick out of Florida has had a rocky first four years in the league, despite coming away with two Super Bowl rings in Kansas City. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad just after the season opener and will be eligible to see game action with Cleveland in Week 11.

O’Donnell was added to the 49ers’ practice squad earlier this week given the chance of Mitch Wishnowsky missing time. The latter is now on injured reserve, ensuring at least a four-game absence. O’Donnell, 32, is a veteran of 145 games but Week 11 will mark his first regular season action since 2022.

Browns Activate DL Mike Hall Jr.

October 12th, 2024 at 11:44am CST by Ben Levine

Mike Hall Jr. is set to make his NFL debut. The Browns announced a series of roster moves this morning, including activating their rookie defensive tackle from the commissioner’s exempt list.

[RELATED: Browns’ James Hudson Undergoes Shoulder Surgery]

The 54th-overall pick in this year’s draft, Hall was hit with a suspension to begin his NFL career following his arrest on domestic violence charges. The player ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and was subsequently handed a one-game suspension that was tacked on to the four games he already missed. The Ohio State product may have a tough time carving out a role, with Shelby Harris, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Quinton Jefferson dominating the snaps at defensive tackle this season.

The Browns will also be adding another defensive tackle to the mix in Maurice Hurst II, who has been activated from injured reserve. Hurst suffered an ankle injury during the season opener that required a stint on IR. The DT mixed in with his three aforementioned healthy position mates during Week 1, and there’s a chance the Browns go back to a similar arrangement tomorrow against the Eagles.

The Browns weren’t done adding to their defense, as the team also activated outside linebacker Mohamoud Diabate from IR. Diabate was knocked out of the season opener with a hip injury that required him to miss the next four games. The Browns have been mixing and matching their edge depth behind Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, and Diabate may have to temporarily settle for a special teams role before returning to the defense.

The team made a handful of additional moves this morning, placing offensive tackle James Hudson III on injured reserve, releasing wideout James Proche II, and promoting safety Christopher Edmonds and wide receiver Jaelon Darden from the practice squad. Hudson underwent shoulder surgery this week that could knock him out for the rest of the season. Proche earned his walking papers after serving as the team’s primary punt returner for the first chunk of the season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/24

October 7th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are the minor moves made around the NFL on Monday:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Received one-game roster exemption: WR Zay Jones

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Received one-game roster exemption: DT Mike Hall

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Both Jones and Hall were issued suspensions under the personal conduct policy leaving them sidelined for the first five weeks of the season. Their roster exemptions will allow them to make their debuts in Week 6, but after that point a corresponding move will be needed for them to be permanently activated to their respective 53-man rosters.

Lemieux served as New Orleans’ starting center in Week 4 after being promoted from the practice squad. He stepped into a first-team role in place of Erik McCoy, who is dealing with a groin injury. Losing Lemieux for at least the next four games will deal another blow to the Saints’ O-line. Connor McGovern was added to the mix recently, but Lucas Patrick has received the nod at center to begin the team’s Week 5 matchup.

Browns DT Mike Hall Receives Suspension

October 1st, 2024 at 4:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Hall started the 2024 season on the commissioner’s exempt list while a league investigation into a domestic violence incident took place. That process has now concluded.

The Browns rookie received a five-game suspension on Tuesday for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, however, games spent on the exempt list count toward any suspensions levied by the league. For all intents and purposes, therefore, today’s news constitutes a one-game ban.

Hall was arrested in August on domestic violence charges. The NFL typically places players in that situation on the exempt list before a final decision with respect to discipline is made. Hall’s legal situation was resolved in September; the 21-year-old entered a no contest plea to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. His fiancée (the victim of the incident) had a protective order against Hall removed.

The Ohio State product was sidelined for Cleveland’s first four contests, and that will remain the case for the team’s upcoming game. After that point, though, he will be eligible for reinstatement. Hall could make his debut in Week 6 against the Eagles. When he is back in the fold, he will aim to provide depth along the Browns’ defensive interior.

The team’s top choice in April’s draft (No. 54 overall), Hall established himself as one of the top D-line prospects in the 2024 class. He could carve out a rotational role early in his rookie season as the 1-3 Browns look to rebound from an underwhelming start in a number of categories. The team ranks 19th against the run, an area in which Hall could provide reinforcements upon being reinstated.

Browns DT Mike Hall Pleads No Contest To Disorderly Conduct

September 19th, 2024 at 10:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Hall‘s legal situation reached a conclusion on Thursday, paving the way for NFL discipline under the personal conduct policy. The Browns rookie entered a plea of no contest to disorderly conduct in the Avon Lake Municipal Court, per court records.

That fourth-degree misdemeanor represents a lower charge than the ones Hall was originally facing. The 21-year-old was arrested in August on domestic violence charges. An incident involving Hall and his fiancée led to the arrest, although the victim has since filed a motion for a protective order against Hall to be removed. That motion was granted.

Hall’s legal resolution includes a suspended 30-day sentence, a $250 fine and a placement on two-year monitor time, as detailed by Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. His original court date was scheduled for September 10, but it was moved back to Thursday. That day was meant to be the start of a pre-trial hearing, but today’s news brings a close to the case.

As is common in instances of domestic violence, Hall was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. That move prevented him from taking part in the Browns’ regular season opener and had him set to remain away from the team until his legal process played out. Now that it has, the NFL can proceed with an investigation in advance of a fine and/or suspension being issued for a personal conduct violation. A league statement confirms Hall remains on the exempt list for the time being (h/t Easterling).

During his final two years at Ohio State, Hall collected six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. That production made him one of the top defensive linemen in the 2024 draft class, and upon being selected with the No. 54 pick he was the Browns’ top choice in April. Expectations are high based on his potential, but it remains to be seen when he will be cleared to make his NFL debut.

Browns DT Mike Hall Expected To Land On Commissioner’s Exempt List

August 26th, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Sam Robinson

The disturbing allegations against Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall are expected to lead him off the team’s roster for an undetermined period. The NFL is expected to place Hall on the commissioner’s exempt list, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports.

Hall was arrested earlier this month after an alleged domestic violence incident. The exempt list amounts to paid leave while cases are adjudicated. This will remove the team’s second-round pick from the equation for the foreseeable future.

The NFL does not use the exempt list often, but it is not too surprising the league plans to shelve Hall. The Ohio State product allegedly engaged in a violent confrontation with his fiancée which, per a police report, included him pointing a handgun at the woman’s head and saying, “I will f—ing end it all. I don’t care.”

This did not deter the Browns from using Hall in their second and third preseason games, which occurred after the arrest. Teams do not commonly suspend players for involvement in domestic violence incidents, waiting for the league to do so. The NFL will indeed intervene here, changing Cleveland’s defensive tackle depth chart.

Chosen 54th overall, Hall returned to his hometown as a long-term DT hopeful for the Browns. Cleveland went through training camp with Dalvin Tomlinson rehabbing an injury. While Tomlinson is coming back to practice this week, Hall’s NFL future is cloudy. His legal proceedings will take precedence, and the NFL will prevent the Browns from deploying him again while this matter plays out.

Browns DT Mike Hall Jr. Arrested

August 13th, 2024 at 12:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:40pm: A follow-up report from Oyefusi provides further details on the incident. The police report alleges Hall engaged in a violent confrontation with his fiancée which included pointing a handgun at the woman’s head and saying, “I will f—ing end it all. I don’t care.”

Hall’s bond has been set at $10K. He has a court hearing scheduled for September 10, two days after Cleveland’s regular season opener. The Browns and the NFL will have a short period to issue any discipline before that time; the parties could, alternatively, allow Hall’s legal process to play out before making a final decision.

10:00am: The first draft pick the Browns made this year, Mike Hall Jr. has run into legal trouble early in his Cleveland tenure. The rookie defensive lineman was arrested Tuesday morning, according to ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi.

A domestic violence charge is likely. The Athletic’s Zac Jackson and Jason Lloyd reported earlier Tuesday that Hall was expected to be booked after a domestic dispute occurred Monday night. This incident is believed to have occurred in Avon, Ohio, a West Cleveland suburb.

Lacking a first-round pick for a third straight year (due to the Deshaun Watson trade), the Browns led off their draft by choosing Hall at No. 54. The Ohio State product has impressed during Browns training camp. This arrest certainly represents a key deterrent early in the early-round draftee’s career.

“We are aware of the incident involving Mike Hall Jr. last night,” a Browns statement read. “Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time.”

Although the exact charge(s) are not known, Hall would be subject to a suspension — even if no conviction ends up coming to pass — under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. It should not be considered a lock Hall will be banned, as facts are not yet public, and no suspension is guaranteed to occur this season.

The Browns have big plans for the in-state product, who played at nearby Streetsboro High School. The team has Dalvin Tomlinson on a four-year, $57MM deal but has not seen him practice during training camp. Tomlinson is one of a few Cleveland starters on the active/PUP list. The Browns also re-signed Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst Jr., adding veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson to the mix as well. Through a long-term lens, however, Hall joins Tomlinson as centerpiece DTs in Jim Schwartz’s defense. The Browns will wait on more information coming out about their top 2024 prospect.

Browns Sign Round 2 DT Michael Hall, Wrap Draft Class

June 7th, 2024 at 1:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns signed second-round selection Michael Hall to his rookie contract on Friday, per a team announcement. As a result, each member of Cleveland’s draft class is on the books.

Owing to the Deshaun Watson trade, the Browns were without a first-round pick once again in 2024. Hall was the team’s top draft choice at No. 54 overall, and the Jerry Jeudy acquisition left Cleveland short on overall capital to make a move up the board. Still, Hall will face notable expectations at the NFL level.

The Ohio State product spent three seasons in college, playing a key role during his sophomore and junior campaigns. In 2022, he tied for the team lead in sacks (4.5) while posting 7.5 tackles for loss. The Streetsboro, Ohio native did not have as large of an impact in the pass-rush department last year, but he did set a new career high with 24 tackles. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023.

The Browns’ defensive front has remained largely intact this offseason compared to 2023. Jordan Elliott departed in free agency, but veteran Quinton Jefferson was added. The likes of Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst and Sam Kamara were each retained. That group, coupled with former free agent signing Dalvin Tomlinson and 2023 third-rounder Siaki Ika, will carry much of the load along the D-line in 2024.

Hall should nevertheless be able to land a rotational role during his rookie season. The Browns attempted to add youth and a pass-rushing element to their defensive interior in 2022 with Perrion Winfrey, but he was cut last summer. Team and player will of course be hoping for a better outcome in the short- and intermediate-term future in Hall’s case.

Here is the final breakdown of Cleveland’s draft class: