HEADLINES

Prince Amukamara

East Notes: Amukamara, Williams, Dolphins

October 15th, 2015 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara has a partial tear in his pectoral area, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link). Amukamara shouldn’t miss a huge chunk of time, but he may be sidelined for at least three or four weeks, so we’ll see if the Giants make any roster moves to add depth to the secondary. For what it’s worth, New York still has its IR-DTR slot available, but it doesn’t sounds as if Amukamara will be a candidate for it.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams was considered the most talented player in this year’s draft class, so it came as a bit of a surprise when Washington passed on him with the fifth overall pick. However, as Brian Costello of the New York Post writes, Williams and Jets coach Todd Bowles are happy the rookie defender didn’t end up in Washington. “I think this was the best place I could have landed out of all the top teams,” Williams said. “I’m just fortunate to be here. I’m glad they picked me even though they had a stout D-line. It paid off just because I could learn from all these guys.”
  • For all the hype and coverage the Dolphins‘ free agent signing of Ndamukong Suh received last March, there have been no real winners in that saga, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. As Rothstein observes, with the Dolphins and Lions having combined for a single victory through five weeks, the only real winner of the blockbuster move so far is Suh’s bank account.
  • Speaking of the Dolphins, only one team – New Orleans – has more dead money on its 2015 salary cap than Miami, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com outlines. Corry points out that the teams with the most sunk costs on their caps this year are, for the most part, among the league’s worst this season — the seven clubs with the most 2015 dead money have a combined 9-25 record.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Amukamara, Giants

June 18th, 2015 at 9:04am CST by Zachary Links

Kenrick Ellis, 27, is in the midst of his first minicamp with the Giants after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Jets. He’s already noticing some differences in the two teams, including their quarterback situation.

“It’s a different feeling, man,’’ Ellis told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “I notice in practice having a franchise quarterback of Eli Manning’s caliber is a lot different in practice than when I was with the Jets. Those guys are good quarterbacks, but having a franchise, Super Bowl-winning quarterback, practice is a lot different. The feel of it is a lot different. The way it’s run is different, and it’s a beautiful thing. I really like it.’’

Here’s more from the NFC East..

  • Ever since DeMarco Murray signed with the Eagles, the Cowboys‘ running back situation has become a popular topic of discussion. While many have been waiting for the Cowboys to upgrade over their current stable of backs, owner Jerry Jones says that he’s “very comfortable” with the group he has, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News writes. If the season started tomorrow, the Cowboys would likely split carries between Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar. Based on Jones’ comments, Machota gathers that if the Cowboys were to add a veteran back, it probably wouldn’t happen until at least late August.
  • Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara is entering his walk year but he’s not overly concerned about his next deal, as Steve Serby of the New York Post writes. The 26-year-old also knows that he’s not exactly “indispensable” for the Giants since he has yet to be approached about a new contract.
  • With safety Antrel Rolle out of the picture, the Giants are now left with a young and inexperienced group of defensive backs, as Tom Canavan of The Associated Press writes.

Prince Amukamara Done For Season

November 4th, 2014 at 8:52am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants will need to replace one of their key defenders, as head coach Tom Coughlin told reporters, including Nick Powell of the Star-Ledger, that cornerback Prince Amukamara suffered a torn biceps during last night’s game. The 25-year-old will require surgery, meaning his 2014 season is over. “We’ve lost a player or two in each game, it seems like,” said Coughlin. “That’s not a good one. Prince was playing well. He did a very nice job tonight and that was a blow to lose him.”

Amukara, a 2011 first-round pick, was in the middle of what was probably his best season to date. He’s started all eight games for New York, registering 37 tackles and three interceptions. The Nebraska product graded as the 20th-best cornerback in the league among 109 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and he’s allowed the sixth-best passer rating against (58.2). The Giants picked up Amukara’s fifth-year option for 2015, which entitles him to $6.898MM in injury-guaranteed base salary; if he can’t pass a physical due to his injury when the new league year begins, he’ll be locked into that money.

Fellow defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is also dealing with injuries, and though he can still play, the Giants will need Zackary Bowman, Jayron Hosley, and Chandler Fenner to step up in Amukamara’s absence. The club will have an open roster spot once Amumakara is placed on IR, and one would guess that practice squad CB Bennett Jackson is a candidate for promotion given the health concerns in New York’s secondary.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Cousins, Giants

May 14th, 2014 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

Although the Cowboys had one of the more defense-heavy drafts in the NFL, the team waited until the seventh round to address its safety position, which was viewed as a weakness heading into the draft. That doesn’t bother executive VP Stephen Jones, however. On a conference call with season ticketholders, Jones indicated that the team doesn’t view safety as a significant area of need, as some observers do. Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk has the quotes from Jones, who praised the Cowboys’ current crop of safeties along with seventh-round pick Ahmad Dixon.

Here are a few more updates from around the NFC East:

  • Appearing on 106.7 The Fan in Washington yesterday, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported that the Browns offered the Redskins a fourth-round pick for Kirk Cousins during the draft, an offer Washington turned down (Twitter link). Cleveland ultimately used its fourth-rounder to select Lindenwood cornerback Pierre Desir.
  • Since exercising his fifth-year option, the Giants have yet to engage in any talks with cornerback Prince Amukamara about a long-term deal, which Amukamara is fine with, as Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger writes. “I don’t expect them to [work on an extension now],” Amukamara said. “I don’t think I really gave them a return on their investment yet. And with that being said, I plan on this year being a huge year for me. I’m just focused on playing ball.”
  • Although he admits that he hates the draft, Giants receiver Victor Cruz – a former undrafted free agent – was pleased with the team’s addition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Cruz had previously suggested he wanted the Giants to draft a wideout to help make up for the loss of Hakeem Nicks, who signed with the Colts in free agency.

East Rumors: Manziel, Pats, Jets, Eagles

May 7th, 2014 at 9:21am CST by Luke Adams

Within his latest article for Bleacher Report, Mike Freeman drops a few nuggets relating to NFC and AFC East clubs, writing that the Cowboys and Eagles both definitely have interest in Johnny Manziel, but are very unlikely to land him. Meanwhile, one scout tells Freeman he thinks there’s a “90% chance” the Patriots draft a quarterback this week, since New England knows the Tom Brady era will end within the next few years.

Let’s round up several more items from out of the NFL’s East divisions….

  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported previously that the Jets are trying to move up in the first round, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News is hearing similar rumblings. A source tells Mehta that the Jets have been telling other teams they’re interested in trading up.
  • The Patriots hosted free agent guard Davin Joseph for a visit, according to Field Yates and Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. New England’s current projected starting guards, Logan Mankins and Dan Connolly, are both entering their age-32 seasons, so having a veteran like Joseph around for insurance purposes could be beneficial for the club.
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) keeps hearing that the Eagles really love Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, who probably won’t still be on the board at No. 22. If Philadelphia decides to move up in the first round, Fuller could be the team’s target, though Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that the Steelers, who pick several spots ahead of the Eagles, are also high on the young corner.
  • Cornerback Prince Amukamara said he was “definitely relieved” that the Giants decided to pick up their fifth-year option on his rookie contract last week, as Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News details.

Giants Pick Up Prince Amukamara’s Option

May 1st, 2014 at 11:06am CST by Luke Adams

The Giants have exercised their fifth-year option on Prince Amukamara‘s rookie deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The move ensures that the cornerback remains under contract with the team through the 2015 season.

Amukamara, 24, has steadily assumed a larger role in the Giants’ secondary in recent years, starting all 16 games for the club in 2013 and playing over 1,100 defensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 2011 first-rounder played well as a full-time starter last season, ranking 34th among 110 qualified cornerbacks, with excellent grades against the run.

Still, the Giants’ decision on Amukamara wasn’t viewed as a slam dunk. The team added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond to shore up the cornerback position this offseason, and there are some lingering questions about Amukamara’s durability. When Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com broke down the 32 decisions in April, he predicted that the Giants wouldn’t exercise their option on the former 19th overall pick.

Now that it has been picked up though, that 2015 option will be worth $6.898MM. For now, it’s guaranteed for injury only, though it will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the 2015 league year. You can keep tabs on all of this year’s fifth-year option decisions with our tracker.

Giants Notes: Amukamara, Freeman, Beason

April 22nd, 2014 at 2:17pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning a Super Bowl earlier this year on a Seahawks squad that featured arguably the NFL’s best secondary, Walter Thurmond thinks he may take that title with him to New York, telling reporters today that he feels like the Giants could have the league’s best secondary in 2014 (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News). As Vacchiano tweets, Thurmond also thinks he’s the best slot corner in the NFL.

While the Giants’ secondary may not reach the heights that Thurmond envisions, the group definitely looks stronger than it did in 2013, with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie having arrived along with Thurmond in free agency. As the former Seahawk prepares to back up his comments, let’s check in on a few more Giants notes:

  • Cornerback Prince Amukamara is hoping the Giants pick up his fifth-year option for 2015, and admits he might feel a little insulted if the club turns it down, tweets Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. A team source tells Vacchiano (Twitter link) that the Giants remain undecided on the option, and likely won’t announce anything until next week.
  • Josh Freeman‘s new contract with the Giants is a minimum salary benefit deal with a $55K signing bonus and a $10K workout bonus, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). Assuming he plays out the season, Freeman will earn $795K, while the cap hit for the team will be $635K.
  • Jon Beason, who represented himself in contract negotiations this offseason, said today that the Giants called him eight minutes before free agency opened in March (Twitter link via Vacchiano).
  • Earlier today, we heard that Will Hill‘s time with the Giants may be over, as the safety faces another drug-related suspension.

NFC Notes: Amukamara, Bears, Bucs

April 19th, 2014 at 9:00am CST by Matt Feminis

Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara, the 19th pick in the 2011 draft, is a candidate for a fifth-year option, but the team has “not made a decision about Amukamara’s option, and it’s not a slam-dunk decision,” says ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano: “The Giants like Amukamara. He plays hard, is a sound technician, keeps himself in shape and pays attention to detail.” However, the team could balk at paying a No. 2 cornerback $7.13MM.

In other NFC notes. . .

  • In a mailbag, ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright points out the Bears have just two running backs on the roster, but second-year man Michael Ford will not be handed the No. 2 job behind Matt Forte. Additionally, Wright doesn’t think Shea McClellin will beat out Jon Bostic for a starting linebacker spot, which would relegate the 2012 first-rounder to a sub-package, pass-rush role.
  • The Bears are expected to draft a starter-caliber safety, and who they tab will be telling in terms of which positional traits the team prioritizes, speculates Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune.
  • Thanks to a “pay-as-you-go” method of operation, the Vikings sit with $30MM in cap space for 2015, notes ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.
  • The Buccaneers have done their due diligence on the top quarterback prospects and would be ready to pounce if one slipped to No. 7, writes Josh Sanchez at NFL.SI.com, who relays a report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.