Ray McDonald - Pro Football Rumors

Bears Notes: McDonald, Forte, Cutler

April 28th, 2015 at 5:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Bears defensive end Ray McDonald hasn’t been charged despite a sexual assault allegation in December, and said Tuesday he’s “extremely confident” he will not be, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. “I had two incidences as to where I feel like I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “But, still, it’s in the spotlight. It was in the national spotlight for quite some time. I’m just trying to move forward from it. I’m a Bear now. I’m just trying to help this team win football games.” More from Chicago..

When asked about the whereabouts of running back Matt Forte, John Fox replied: “I prefer he’d be here,” according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter). Forte has been absent from the team’s voluntary workouts and, ostensibly, is looking for a contract extension.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler acknowledged that his relationship with former teammate Brandon Marshall wasn’t the best. “We’ve had our ups and downs and back-and-forths,” the quarterback said of the wide receiver (via Jahns on Twitter).
TE Gator Hoskins, G/C Ronald Patrick, NT Derrick Hopkins, OLB Rakim Cox, S Malcolm Bronson are all tryout players at the Bears’ minicamp, Jahns tweets.

NFL Clears Ray McDonald

April 26th, 2015 at 12:00pm CST by Rory Parks

Former 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald, who signed a modest one-year deal with the Bears this offseason, has been cleared of any violation of the league’s personal conduct policy for the domestic violence incident that landed him in jail last year, according to Adam Jahns of The Chicago Sun Times. McDonald was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence on August 31, 2014, but due to insufficient evidence, no charges were filed. As Jahns writes, the league completed its investigation of the incident on Friday, and NFL general counsel Jeff Pash released the following statement:

“We have completed that [domestic-violence] investigation. [Special counsel for investigations] Lisa [Friel] and her team completed that investigation [and] did not establish a violation of the personal-conduct policy. We informed the player and the [NFL] Players Association.’’

However, the league continues to investigate an alleged sexual assault that involves McDonald. Again, no charges have been filed in that matter, but the incident did prompt the 49ers to release the 29-year-old in December despite his promising 2014 campaign. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McDonald was the league’s 12th-best 3-4 defensive end in 2014, grading well both against the run and as a pass rusher.

It is unclear when the second investigation will conclude, though as Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk wrote last month, McDonald has announced his intention to sue the woman who accused him of sexual assault.

Bears Notes: J. Rodgers, Ball, McDonald

March 31st, 2015 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

The Bears were one of the league’s most active teams in free agency a year ago, and while they likely won’t earn that somewhat dubious honor again in 2015, the team added Pernell McPhee early and has continued to sign players since then, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Our latest round of Bears notes includes details on a couple contracts for those free agent signees, as well as an update on another potential target….

Free agent running back Jacquizz Rodgers is visiting the Bears, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Running back is one position where the team certainly doesn’t need a starting lineup upgrade, but Rodgers, a former Falcon, is a versatile back who could be a nice backup for Matt Forte. During his four years in Atlanta, the 25-year-old carried the ball 305 times and added 155 receptions.
Alan Ball‘s one-year deal with the Bears is worth $3MM, including a $1MM signing bonus and a $1.95MM base salary, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The Panthers’ offer to Ball had a base value of $2MM, so it’s no surprise that the cornerback turned it down in favor of the Bears’ proposal.
The Bears received some criticism when they signed Ray McDonald, who was the subject of domestic violence allegations last year. However, the team certainly didn’t invest heavily in the defensive lineman. Per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links), McDonald’s one-year deal with Chicago is worth $1.05MM, with no guaranteed money. The former Niner can earn up to $1.5MM with incentives.
Bleacher Report draft guru Matt Miller tweets that he doesn’t think the Bears need to draft a defensive player with the seventh overall pick, suggesting that taking the best player available would be the team’s best move.

North Notes: Greenway, Browns, Bears, Rice

March 24th, 2015 at 9:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that the club is trying to work through a contract restructure with linebacker Chad Greenway, adding that the team wants him to retire as a Viking. As a declining player set to count more than $7MM against the cap, Greenway will probably have to accept a straight pay cut to remain on the roster.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions…

Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings’ vice president of football operations, met with agent Ben Dogra last night, but Dogra’s client Adrian Peterson didn’t come up in conversation, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter). Dogra also represents free agent corner Terence Newman, whom the Vikes are rumored to be interested in, leading Wolfson to speculate that he was the topic of the meeting.
As was widely rumored, it was the Browns that offered a first-round pick to the Rams in exchange for Sam Bradford, St. Louis GM Les Snead confirmed to Sal Palantonio of ESPN (Twitter link via John Middlekauf of 95.7 The Game).
Bears chairman George McCaskey initially told GM Ryan Pace that he could not sign embattled defensive end Ray McDonald, noting that the “pattern” and “frequency” of McDonald’s off-the-field trouble worried him, per Adam Jahns of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter links).
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wonders why former Raven Ray Rice is still a “pariah” in the eyes of the NFL, especially given that players with similar incidents (such as Greg Hardy) have been signed by other clubs.
Texas A&M-Commerce receiver Ricky Collins has a visit lined up with the Browns, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.

Bears To Sign Ray McDonald

March 24th, 2015 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

3:12pm: McDonald’s contract is a one-year, prove-it deal, according to Bears GM Ryan Pace (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times).

12:55pm: After agreeing to terms with Jarvis Jenkins earlier today, the Bears are poised to bring aboard another free agent defensive lineman, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team is signing former 49er Ray McDonald.

McDonald, 30, was released by the Niners prior to the conclusion of the 2014 season due to what general manager Trent Baalke called a “pattern of poor decision-making.” The veteran defensive lineman never faced legal charges, but was the subject of multiple allegations in apparent domestic violence incidents.

The Santa Clara district attorney’s office decided in November not to file charges against McDonald in his first alleged domestic violence case due to insufficient evidence. The 49ers allowed McDonald to continue to play following that earlier incident, citing due process, and the former third-round pick played well — according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McDonald was the league’s 12th-best 3-4 defensive end in 2014, grading well both against the run and as a pass rusher.

After McDonald’s second incident, during which he was identified as a suspect in a possible sexual assault investigation, the Niners had simply had enough, and made the decision to cut ties with him. According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter), that investigation is ongoing, though McDonald’s agent has told teams his client will be cleared.

By signing with Chicago, McDonald will reunite with his old defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who made the move from the 49ers to the Bears this offseason. Having played a 4-3 defense last year, the Bears are transitioning to a 3-4 system under Fangio, and are in the process of adding players who will fit that scheme. Both McDonald, who previously played under Fangio, and Jenkins, who played for a 3-4 defense in Washington, fit that bill.

While there’s no doubt that McDonald can make an impact on the field, his off-field issues figure to be a concern for the Bears. The former Florida Gator may not face any charges for last year’s incidents, but the league could still complete its own investigation and decide to suspend him. Presumably, John Fox and the Bears are confident they can keep McDonald out of trouble going forward.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC FA Rumors: Cole, Hardy, McDonald, Hawk

March 5th, 2015 at 12:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles officially announced on Wednesday that they’ve released Trent Cole from his contract, and the veteran edge defender didn’t waste much time in scheduling his first free agent visit. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Cole is meeting with the Buccaneers, a team that runs a 4-3 system. Having played in the Eagles’ 3-4 scheme for the last two years, Cole is viewed as a better fit as a defensive end for a 4-3 club, and Tampa Bay is certainly in need of an outside pass rusher.

As we wait to see if anything comes of Cole’s visit with the Bucs, let’s check in on a few more free agent updates from around the NFC….

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says there’s nothing stopping a player on the exempt list from signing a new contract, which is good news for Panthers defensive Greg Hardy (link via ESPN.com). The league has yet to announce its decision on whether or not Hardy will face discipline for alleged off-field conduct, which could diminish enthusiasm for the defensive end on the open market, but he’ll still be able to negotiate with teams and accept an offer next week.
In other legal news, agent Tom Condon has informed teams that the Santa Clara District Attorney won’t be pursuing charges against free agent defensive lineman Ray McDonald, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). According to Condon, the Santa Clara DA hasn’t fully completed the release, but McDonald’s counsel has been informed of the decision. Since McDonald was cut by the Niners in December, he’s eligible to sign a new contract anytime.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk may not be totally out of the picture in Green Bay, according to Bob McGinn and Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who report that the Packers left the door open for the linebacker’s possible return.
In addition to hosting Ted Ginn Jr. for a visit this week, the 49ers also met with former Vikings wideout Jerome Simpson, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Simpson, who was suspended at the start of the 2014 season, was cut by Minnesota and hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since 2013. The Niners, meanwhile, are on the lookout for receivers, since they could part ways with Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, and Stevie Johnson this month.
Appearing on SportsCenter today, cornerback Byron Maxwell suggested he would like to sign with a team that plays a Cover 3 scheme like the Seahawks do, tweets Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate. Of course, if a team running another coverage scheme makes Maxwell a big offer, I would guess he’d be willing to compromise that stance.
Lions offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds is expected to test the free agent market next week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.

49ers Release Ray McDonald

December 17th, 2014 at 2:37pm CST by Luke Adams

With Ray McDonald being investigated following accusations of sexual assault, the 49ers have elected to release the veteran defensive lineman, general manager Trent Baalke told reporters today (Twitter link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). According to Baalke, McDonald – who was investigated earlier in the year for an alleged domestic violence incident – is being cut without due process this time because of a “pattern of poor decision-making” (Twitter link).

A search warrant for McDonald’s home was served on Tuesday, the same day that San Jose police received a call from a hospital to report a possible sexual assault victim, writes Robert Salonga of the San Jose Mercury News. The woman told police investigators that she had been assaulted on Monday, and a police spokeswoman confirmed that McDonald is the suspect in the investigation.

The Santa Clara district attorney’s office decided last month not to file charges against McDonald in a domestic violence case due to insufficient evidence, and the defensive lineman has yet to be charged in this instance either. However, the police investigation is ongoing, and the NFL figures to perform its own investigation into the incident, under the terms of the new personal conduct policy. If McDonald is charged, or if the league determines that he has violated the conduct policy, he could be placed on paid leave and/or suspended.

The 49ers allowed McDonald to continue to play during the earlier domestic violence incident, citing due process, and the 30-year-old played well — according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McDonald has been the league’s 11th-best 3-4 defensive end this season, grading well both against the run and as a pass-rusher. Despite the former third-round pick’s strong play on the field though, the team appears to have tired of his off-field run-ins, which drew negative attention to the franchise.

McDonald had been on the 49ers’ books for a cap number of about $6.476MM in 2015. The team will create a little cap room by cutting him, but will still carry a little over $4.6MM in dead money for next year. As for McDonald, if he clears waivers, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team. However, it’s hard to imagine a contending club trying to sign him for the playoffs while the sexual assault investigation is ongoing.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Extra Points: Sanchez, Palmer, Cofield, 49ers

November 10th, 2014 at 10:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As the Eagles and new starting quarterback Mark Sanchez continue to dominate Cam Newton and the Panthers, let’s look at some notes from around the NFL…

The NFL is considering pushing back the window for franchises to apply for relocation, reports Daniel Kaplan of Sports Business Journal (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). The current period begins on January 1, but the league may want to move it back to February 2 (the day after the Super Bowl) so that news of potential relocations doesn’t overshadow the playoffs. If the Raiders or Rams want to to move to Los Angeles, the process will likely be delayed until the postseason is complete.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines what Sanchez’s half-season tenure as the Eagles’ QB will mean for his future earnings, noting that the ex-Jet is capable of producing similar statistics to Andy Dalton, who earns $16MM annually. Additionally, Fitzgerald looks at Sanchez’s potential effect on Nick Foles‘ future, Jeremy Maclin‘s free agency prospects, and Rex Ryan, John Idzik, and Chip Kelly’s reputations.
In a separate piece, Fitzgerald breaks down Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer‘s three-year, $50MM extension, explaining that after 2015, the contract enables Arizona to decide yearly if they want to retain Palmer. Though he’s posted better numbers than either Jay Cutler or Alex Smith, Palmer’s two-year cash value is lower than either of those QBs, but Fitzgerald attributes that fact to Palmer’s age.
Washington defensive tackle Barry Cofield will be activated from IR-DTR this week, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Therefore, the club will need to make a roster move by Wednesday in order to clear a space.
We learned earlier today that the Santa Clara County DA’s office won’t file domestic violence charges against 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald, and as expected, the NFL doesn’t believe it has a basis to punish McDonald, either, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).

DA Won’t File Charges Against Ray McDonald

November 10th, 2014 at 11:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Santa Clara District Attorney’s office has elected not to file domestic violence charges against 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald due to insufficient evidence, reports Shelley Smith of ESPN.com (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Reports at the end of October had indicated that McDonald was unlikely to face charges.

Earlier this year, when Adrian Peterson, and Greg Hardy agreed to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while their legal cases played out, the 49ers faced increased scrutiny for allowing McDonald to continue playing. However, as the team pointed out at the time, while an incident involving the 30-year-old was being investigated, no formal charges had been made. McDonald was initially arrested on August 31 on suspicion of domestic violence.

While the 49ers’ defensive line is undergoing some changes, McDonald’s role figures to remain the same now that it appears he won’t face any sort of discipline from the league. Nose tackle Ian Williams suffered a fracture in his leg during yesterday’s game against the Saints, but the Niners figure to replace him with backup Quinton Dial or Glenn Dorsey, who is now eligible to come off the injured reserve list. McDonald is expected to continue on in his role at defensive end in San Francisco’s 3-4 scheme.

NFC Notes: Vikes, McDonald, Sims, Schwartz

October 31st, 2014 at 3:24pm CST by Luke Adams

As we wait to see whether or not Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will be available this weekend for a showdown between two of the NFC’s top teams – Dallas and Arizona – let’s check out a few Friday afternoon items from across the conference….

Since Vikings practice squad Chandler Harnish was injured in practice this week, the team has been on the lookout for a replacement. According to head coach Mike Zimmer, three signal-callers worked out for the club today, though he didn’t identify the players by name, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links).
Tracey Kaplan of the San Jose Mercury News was among those reporting that Santa Clara County prosecutors are leaning against charging 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald with domestic violence. However, while the District Attorney’s office may be leaning that way, the DA announced today that no decision has been made yet, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
Players who went on the IR list with the designation to return prior to Week 1 are eligible to be activated for this weekend’s contests, and while Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that Buccaneers running back Charles Sims figures to come off IR tomorrow, Giants guard Geoff Schwartz won’t be activated for at least one more week, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Caplan adds (via Twitter) that the Bucs appear likely to promote defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo from their practice squad as well.
While it doesn’t appear likely to happen, head coach Ron Rivera believes Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy should be reinstated by the NFL if his trial is postponed until after the season, as ESPN.com’s David Newton details.
Given the multiple ACL injuries suffered by quarterback Sam Bradford and tackle Jake Long, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wonders whether the Rams will be able to count on either player for the 2015 season.