HEADLINES

Michael Palardy

West Notes: L.A., Kaepernick, Workouts

December 9th, 2014 at 3:48pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Broncos could clinch the AFC West with a victory in San Diego this weekend, the race over in the NFC West is getting more interesting by the week. The 10-3 Cardinals head to St. Louis this Thursday as underdogs against the 6-7 Rams, and an Arizona loss, combined with a Seahawks win over the reeling 49ers, would set up a huge Week 16 battle between the two division leaders in Arizona.

As we look forward to seeing how this week’s games play out, let’s round up a few items out of the NFL’s two West divisions….

  • No major developments involving Los Angeles are expected at this week’s NFL owner meetings, and a source tells Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) that the league isn’t anticipating movement on the L.A. front until the new year.
  • In an Insider-only piece, Mike Sando of ESPN.com takes a closer look at Colin Kaepernick‘s future in San Francisco. Sando notes that moving away from Kaepernick quickly likely isn’t an option for the 49ers, but suggests making changes to the club’s coaching staff and offensive system could help get the young QB back on the right track.
  • The Broncos tried out former Dolphins quarterback Seth Lobato today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The club is likely considering him for a potential reserve/futures contract at season’s end.
  • The Rams, who recently extended punter Johnny Hekker, also recently worked out punter Michael Palardy, tweets Wilson. Of course, with Hekker – one of the league’s best specialists – locked up for several seasons, the Rams were likely looking at Palardy because he’s a left-footed kicker, rather than because they have interest in signing him.

AFC Notes: Rice, Colts, Broncos, Gipson

October 31st, 2014 at 6:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

There’s been no indication that a settlement is close in Ray Rice‘s appeal of his indefinite suspension, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The appeal hearing, set to get underway on November 5, will involve the interrogation of commissioner Roger Goodell, so a settlement could give the appearance that Goodell is wary of answering questions under oath, surmises Florio. Additionally, even if Rice is reinstated, the ex-Raven would likely want to compensated for the income he lost during his ban. Ultimately, a settlement appears unlikely, per Florio, though it would be the best outcome for both parties involved. Here’s more from the AFC.

  • The Colts held a workout for linebacker Carlos Fields, according to Aaron Wilson of Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Fields, 24, was cut from the Giants’ practice squad three days ago, and given that New York and Indianapolis play on Sunday, it’s possible the Colts attempted to glean some strategical information from Fields. Additionally, Indianapolis listed three LBs on its latest injury report, so Fields could add some depth to a banged up position if signed.
  • The Broncos’ next opponent, the Patriots, feature a left-footed punter in Ryan Allen. As such, in what was likely an attempt to practice against a lefty in advance of Sunday’s game, Denver auditioned fellow left-footed punter Michael Palardy, per Wilson (via Twitter).
  • Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, the NFL’s current interception leader, is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and as he tells Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, he’d like to remain with in Cleveland.” I’d love to finish my career playing in this city,” said Gipson. “This is the first organization to give me my opportunity, the first one that took a chance on me, an unheralded guy coming out of Wyoming that nobody wanted to take a chance on.”

AFC East Notes: Jets, Bills, Dolphins

October 21st, 2014 at 8:48am CST by Luke Adams

Through seven weeks, the Patriots have assumed their usual spot at the top of the AFC East standings, but the Bills and Dolphins remain within striking distance of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and company. This weekend, both East runners-up will visit 1-6 teams, with the Bills facing the Jets and the Dolphins traveling to Jacksonville. As we look forward to seeing if they can keep pace with the Pats, let’s check in on a few Tuesday notes from around the division….

  • While the financial burden the Jets are assuming by acquiring Percy Harvin may not be exorbitant, the team is risking stunting Geno Smith‘s development, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. If Harvin’s transition is smooth, he’ll act as another playmaker for Smith to utilize, but Mehta hears from multiple sources that Harvin resented Russell Wilson for “myriad reasons” in Seattle, and believes that the wideout could do more harm than good for Smith.
  • Ian Connor of ESPNNewYork.com takes Jets general manager John Idzik to task for his roster decisions over the last couple years, arguing that the GM is in over his head and overmatched in his current role.
  • According to reports from Adam Caplan of ESPN.com and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), the Jets recently worked out fullback Tony Fiammetta, safety Chris Prosinski, and cornerbacks Johnny Adams and Marcus Cromartie.
  • In addition to the auditions reported yesterday, the Dolphins also tried out defensive backs Tommie Campbell and T.J. Heath, as well as wide receiver Derek Moye, tweets Wilson.
  • Former Troy wide receiver Eric Thomas is working out for the Bills today, according to Wilson, who adds (via Twitter) that the team also recently tried out punter Michael Palardy.

Workout Notes: Eagles, Browns

October 11th, 2014 at 8:50am CST by Ben Levine

The Eagles hosted former Oregon running back Kenjon Barner on Friday, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of The National Football Post. Barner spent all of 2013 with the Panthers, compiling six rush attempts in eight games.

The 25-year-old has a pair of connections to the team. First, he played for head coach Chip Kelly while the two were at Oregon. Second, he was acquired by Philadelphia earlier this year for a conditional seventh-rounder. He was ultimately cut with an injury settlement by the Eagles.

Let’s check out some more workout notes from around the league…

  • The Browns worked out punter Michael Palardy, tweets Wilson. This may be an indication by the team that they’re not happy with current punter Spencer Lanning, who ProFootballFocus ranks as the third-worst at the position this season (subscription required).

Minor Moves: Thursday

August 7th, 2014 at 5:53pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here..

  • Quarterback Tyler Wilson and wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin passed through waivers unclaimed, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Baldwin, soon-to-be 25, was waived by the Lions with a failed physical designation yesterday. Wilson, selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the Raiders, was waived-injured by the Titans.
  • With three tight ends unavailable to practice today, the Jaguars addressed the position by signing Fendi Onobun and waiving injured rookie Reggie Jordan, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Onobun, who played one game for Jacksonville in 2011, was one of three tight ends who worked out for the Jaguars after their walk-through. Jordan, an undrafted free agent from Missouri Western, was injured in practice earlier this week.
  • The Raiders announced on Twitter that they have inked free agent kicker Kevin Goessling and waived punter/kicker Michael Palardy to make space. Like longtime Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, Palardy is a lefty, and played as both a kicker and punter at the University of Tennessee before going undrafted last month. He won’t have an opportunity to follow in his footsteps, however.

Raiders Sign Three Players, Cut Three

June 5th, 2014 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders have made a handful of roster moves today, signing three players and cutting three to make room, the team announced in a press release. The new additions are wide receiver David Gilreath, whose signing was reported earlier today, as well as wide receiver Rahsaan Vaughn and kicker/punter Michael Palardy. To clear spots on the roster, Oakland waived wide receivers Jared Green and Noel Grigsby, along with punter Daniel Zychlinski.

Like the Raiders’ longtime kicker Sebastian Janikowski, Palardy is a lefty, and played as both a kicker and punter at the University of Tennessee before going undrafted last month. Meanwhile, Vaughn signed as a rookie free agent with the Jets in 2013 out of Oregon, and spent a little time on the club’s practice squad during the season.

All three players cut by the Raiders will have to pass unclaimed through waivers before becoming unrestricted free agents.