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Phillip Sims

Workout Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Raiders, Bucs

September 8th, 2015 at 9:06am CST by Luke Adams

With 53-man rosters set, teams around the NFL will start to frequently bring in players for workouts and auditions, keeping up-to-date on which free agents are out there, in case injury replacements or practice squad fill-ins are required.

Here are a few of the latest updates on teams working out players, or bringing them in for visits:

  • The Bills, who are exploring other possible options at kicker after an underwhelming preseason from Dan Carpenter, worked out Alex Henery, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Henery’s last game in the NFL, the one that cost him his job, came last October, when he missed three field goals for the Lions against Buffalo.
  • Before they signed linebacker Adrian Hubbard, the Dolphins worked out Hubbard and several other players, according to Wilson (Twitter link). The players who earned an audition with Miami included former Raiders safety Jonathan Dowling, ex-Cardinals linebacker Glenn Carson, former Bengals linebacker Nico Johnson, ex-Cowboys cornerback Robert Steeples, and former Eagles safety Chris Prosinski.
  • The Raiders brought in a number of players for workouts, with a focus on wide receivers, quarterbacks, and defensive backs. According to Wilson (Twitter links), wideouts Phil Bates, John Harris, DeAndre Carter, and T.J. Graham, quarterbacks Jeff Tuel and Phillip Sims, and defensive backs Tommie Campbell, Phillip Thomas, B.W. Webb, and Ty Zimmerman auditioned for the club. Offensive lineman Dillon Farrell also had a tryout with Oakland.
  • Offensive lineman Austin Reiter, a 2015 seventh-rounder waived by Washington over the weekend, is working out for the Buccaneers this morning, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
  • After being waived by the Chargers last week, wide receiver Titus Davis paid a visit to the Lions, tweets Wilson.

FA Notes: Bradshaw, Jeanpierre, Sims

September 6th, 2015 at 6:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Most of today’s news is related to cuts, waiver claims, and practice squad signings, but let’s take a look at a few notes concerning some unsigned free agents…

  • Running back Ahmad Bradshaw‘s broken leg is completely healed, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com, meaning that the veteran back could find work soon. The 29-year-old is suspended for the first week of the NFL season due to a marijuana arrest, but Bradshaw could still help a club in need of running back help. In 10 games with the Colts last season, Bradshaw ran for more than 400 yards and posted 38 receptions.
  • After being released by the Seahawks last week, center Lemuel Jeanpierre will take a meeting with the Bills, reports ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak. Jeanpierre appeared in 53 games (11 starts) during the past four years with Seattle. Buffalo did claim center Gabe Ikard off waivers from the Titans earlier today, so its interest might have waned.
  • Quarterback Phillip Sims, an undrafted free agent who was recently released by the Cardinals, will work out for both the Raiders and the Titans this week, per Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter links).

Cardinals Cut Down To 53

September 5th, 2015 at 6:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joining the Saturday deadline craze, the Cardinals cut their roster down to 53 players.

Among those waived or released was quarterback Logan Thomas, a second-year quarterback who became expendable once the Cardinals traded for Matt Barkley on Friday.

The remainder of Arizona’s cuts are as follows:

  • Cameron Bradfield, T
  • Cariel Brooks, CB
  • Jonte Green, CB
  • Marion Grice, RB (Waived/injured)
  • Jon Halapio, G
  • Trevor Harman, WR
  • Robert Hughes, RB
  • Harold Jones-Quartey, S
  • Paul Lasike, RB
  • Jimmy Legree, CB (Waived/injured)
  • Gabe Martin, ILB
  • Antoine McClain, G
  • C.J. Roberts, CB
  • Jaxon Shipley, WR
  • Phillip Sims, QB
  • Anthony Steen, G
  • Alameda Te’Amu, NT
  • Anthony Walters, S
  • Kerwynn Williams, RB

NFC Notes: Cards, Cowboys, Washington

May 13th, 2015 at 9:28am CST by Zachary Links

Claimed off waivers by the Cardinals last week, Alfonzo Dennard says he was surprised that the Patriots let him go, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Still, he’s not upset about how things turned out.

“It was shocking, because I thought I did everything right,” Dennard said. “I guess they had other plans and I wasn’t in it. But I’m happy to be here with the Cardinals.”

Dennard, 25, was limited to just six games in 2014, having been plagued by shoulder and hamstring issues. He also saw his role reduced with the arrivals of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, and played in just 241 regular season snaps before landing on injured reserve.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Quarterback Phillip Sims, who was signed by the Cardinals on Monday, is there to be more than just a camp arm, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic tweets. Cards coaches are impressed with his arm and brain and he could compete for the No. 3 job in Arizona.
  • Last week, La’el Collins got the first round draft pick treatment from the media after he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys. That was just fine with the Cowboys’ actual first round pick, Byron Jones, who was happy to fly under the radar. “For me it didn’t really matter where I go or where anybody else goes,” Jones said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. “I’m just here to work, here to do my job and that’s play cornerback for the Cowboys.“
  • Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is taking on a larger leadership role with the team as he looks to sign an extension with the team, Mike Jones of the Washington Post writes. “I’m kind of the elder statesman in the room now, as weird as it is to say,” said the two-time Pro Bowler selection. “It’s kind of my role now. … I enjoyed that role as a senior at Purdue when we had a lot of young guys, so I kind of embrace that.” Kerrigan, who is coming off of a career-best 13.5-sack season, is entering the final year of his deal but indicated on Monday that contract talks between his agent and the team are “progressing well.” General manager Scot McCloughan also expressed optimism that a deal would get done.
  • Former Washington tackle Tyler Polumbus recently had a tryout with the Falcons, Howard Balzer of USA Today tweets. Polumbus had been Washington’s primary right tackle for the last three seasons, but his services likely won’t be required in D.C. this year with No. 5 overall pick Brandon Scherff taking over at the RT position.

Minor Moves: Monday

May 11th, 2015 at 3:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here are Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest minor moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Lions signed three tryout players – safety Nathan Lindsey and receivers Erik Lora and Jarred Haggins – and released wideout Desmond Lawrence, Tim Twentyman of the team’s website writes.
  • Washington has signed undrafted receiver Quinton Dunbar, formerly of Florida, tweets Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com.
  • The Dolphins signed one tight end – Tim Semisch, undrafted out of Northern Illinois – and released another in Ryan Taylor, writes Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk. Taylor, a Packers seventh-round pick in 2011, has eight career catches.
  • The Cardinals have signed three tryout players – a quarterback (Phillip Sims) and two safeties (Brandon Person and Harold Jones-Quartey) – per their official website. To make room, they released tackle Kelvin Palmer, wide receiver Travis Harvey, and cornerback Ross Weaver.
  • The Bears signed quarterback Pat Devlin, defensive tackle Terry Williams, and linebacker Kyle Woestmann, tweets Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. They also waived linebacker Khaseem Greene and cut fellow LB Austen Lane.
  • The Buccaneers have cut safety Shelton Johnson, wide receivers Chandler Jones and Josh Reese, offensive lineman Matt Patchan, and linebacker Michael Reynolds (Twitter: Roy Cummings, Tampa Tribune).
  • The Packers will release defensive lineman Luther Robinson, according to Bill Huber of Packer Report. Robinson appeared in five games last year.
  • The Bills signed undrafted free agent safety Wes Miller, formerly of UTEP, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter link).
  • The Raiders signed ex-Auburn running back Michael Dyer, who tried out for them over the weekend, tweets Richard Davenport of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Twitter link). They also signed Emporia state wideout Austin Willis, the player told Rick Peterson Jr. of the Topeka Capital-Journal. Additionally, running back Terrance Cobb wrote on Instagram that the team released him.
  • The Vikings waived wide receiver Kain Colter and guard Jesse Somsel, writes Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. Colter was on the Vikings’ practice squad last year, while they recently signed Somsel as an undrafted free agent.
  • The Giants released three players – running back Chris Ogbonnaya, linebacker James Davidson, and defensive back Thomas Gordon – according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano (Twitter link).
  • The Buccaneers signed linebacker Jared Koster, who tried out at their rookie minicamp, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
  • The Steelers signed tryout players Cameron Stingily (running back) and Mike Thornton (defensive line) to their 90-man roster, reports Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link). To make room, they cut punter Richie Leone, defensive tackle Nigel Crawford-Kinney, defensive end Brandon Prate, long snapper Brandon Hartson, wide receiver Brelan Chancellor, and guard Collin Rahrig (Twitter).
  • The Broncos waived guard Jon Halapio, whom they signed to their practice squad last December, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. Additionally, the team waived wide receiver Matt Miller after signing him as an undrafted free agent earlier this month (Twitter link via Troy Renck of the Denver Post).
  • The Buccaneers have signed three tryout players from rookie camp, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. The team agreed to deals with wide receivers Donteea Dye and Adam Humphries and offensive tackle Edawn Coughman.
  • Offensive tackle Antonio Richardson, whom the Vikings waived last week, has retired because of knee issues, per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Richardson signed with the Vikings last year as an undrafted free agent from Tennessee and saw some action in the preseason.
  • The Panthers have cut defensive tackle Darious Cummings, reports ESPN’s Joe Person (via Twitter). Cummings signed with the Panthers last week as an undrafted free agent from Florida.
  • The Buccaneers will cut return man Solomon Patton today, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Patton, who went undrafted out of Florida last year, appeared in seven games for the Bucs as a rookie. He has had two stints with Tampa and one with the Cardinals during his short career.
  • Former Wisconsin offensive lineman Andy Phillips signed with the Packers, the player tweeted. Phillips earned a spot with the Pack after impressing team brass as a tryout player at rookie minicamp over the weekend.

Minor Moves: Sunday

May 10th, 2015 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves…

  • Former Alabama and Winston-Salem State quarterback Phillip Sims has agreed to a deal with the Cardinals after he participated in the club’s rookie tryout, according to Matt Zenitz of the Alabama Media Group (Twitter link).
  • After working out with the Raiders over the weekend, Emporia State receiver Austin Willis has signed a contract with the team, tweets Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com. Emporia State, a Division II school located in Kansas, also produced former Cowboy Leon Lett.

Earlier updates:

  • After holding their rookie minicamp this weekend, the Lions have decided to offer three players contracts, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (all Twitter links). Safety Nathan Lindsey (Fort Hays State), receiver Erik Lora (Eastern Illinois), and receiver Jarred Haggins (Florida State) all scored deals with Detroit.
  • The Colts have signed running back Abou Toure, reports Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (via Twitter). The Tennessee-Martin (and Utah State) product had previously been signed to a tryout contract. As a senior, Toure ran for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns.
  • The Colts have also waived outside linebacker Terrell Hartsfield, reports Holder. The rookie was signed as an undrafted free agent last week. The former Cincinnati Bearcat compiled nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season.
  • The Giants have signed running back Kenny Harper, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The Temple product ran for 1,113 yards and 17 touchdowns on 269 attempts during his four-year career.
  • The Falcons offered a contract to offensive tackle Matt Huffer, Wilson reports (via Twitter). The former South Dakota Coyote tried out for Atlanta last week.