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Ricky Jean-Francois

Patriots Sign Ricky Jean-Francois

November 7th, 2017 at 12:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jean-Francois became a free agent last week when he was released by the Packers for the second time in 2017. Ricky Jean-Francois (vertical)

Jean-Francois didn’t see a lot of burn in his six Packers games this year and recorded only two tackles. Last year, however, he was a seven-game starter for the Redskins and he was a full-time starter during his time with the Colts.

The Patriots, who have been working to fortify their front seven for months, could have a larger role in line for Jean-Francois. He’ll look to get some playing time on Sunday when the Pats face the Broncos in Denver.

In 2016, Jean-Francois saw action on roughly 40% of Washington’s defensive snaps, racking up 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks in that span.

Packers Release Ricky Jean-Francois

November 1st, 2017 at 6:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time this season, the Packers jettisoned Ricky Jean-Francois, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Green Bay released the defensive lineman after Week 1 before bringing him back later in September, and he kept a roster spot through Week 8. However, the 30-year-old interior defender will be a free agent again as of Wednesday.

Demovsky notes this clears up a roster spot that could be used for rookie linebacker Vince Biegel, who’s spent the season on the PUP list thus far after suffering a summer injury. Biegel returned to Packers practice on October 18. Biegel’s undergone two foot surgeries since his 2016 football season, but Demovsky notes he appears ready to return and make his NFL debut.

Jean-Francois has played sparingly in six Packers games this season. The ninth-year veteran has recorded just two tackles in those contests. He served as a seven-game starter for the Redskins last season and was a full-time first-unit performer with the Colts in 2013-14.

Extra Points: Colts, Pack, Steelers, Falcons

September 25th, 2017 at 9:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Following a report that quarterback Andrew Luck could return to practice this week, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano gave reporters, including Mike Wells of ESPN.com, a clouded answer regarding his signal-caller’s health. “Andrew is progressing well, getting stronger and there might be chance,” Pagano said. “He might be able to start some practice this week, but I’m not guaranteeing nothing, so don’t write anything. There’s a possibility. When our doctors and our trainers tell me that he’s at a point where he can get back out there to begin to practice then I’ll be able to tell you for sure.” Luck is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, but has no restrictions on his timetable given that Indianapolis did not place him on the physically unable to perform list to begin the season.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Packers re-signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois to the same one-year deal that he originally agreed to in March, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Jean-Francois was released by Green Bay just after the start of the season, only to re-sign eight days later. The veteran defender may not have missed a game check, which would mean he’s not eligible to receive termination pay (and double-dip on his contract from the Packers). Jean-Francois will earn $2MM for the 2017 campaign.
  • Speaking of contractual intricacies, tight end Ladarius Green picked up $1.15MM in injury protection from the Steelers, tweets salary cap guru Ian Whetstone, who adds Pittsburgh could also be on the hook for another $550K to Green in 2018. Green lasted only one season with the Steelers after inking a four-year, $20MM last spring, as concussions and a surgically-repaired ankle ultimately led to his release. He hasn’t garnered any known interest since hitting the free agent market.
  • The Falcons worked out linebackers Kennan Gilchrist, Kenneth Olugbode, and Kache Palacio, plus RB Josh Rounds, on Monday, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. None of that foursome has any NFL experience, so Atlanta is likely looking at options to develop on its practice squad, as McClure notes.

Packers Re-Sign Ricky Jean-Francois

September 20th, 2017 at 4:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have re-signed defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The 30-year-old was released on Sept. 12, but he’ll rejoin the team eight days later. Ricky Jean-Francois (vertical)

Jean-Francois played only six snaps against the Seahawks in Green Bay’s season opener. His release came as a bit of a surprise after the team gave him a one-year, $2MM deal in the offseason, a pact that included a $250K signing bonus. The Packers were eyeing him for years before finally signing him in March.

The defensive tackle started seven games for the Redskins last season. Last year, he saw action on roughly 40% of Washington’s defensive snaps, racking up 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks in that span.

To date, he has appeared in games for four different NFL teams.

Saints Work Out Will Beatty, Jaye Howard

September 19th, 2017 at 8:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints auditioned edge rusher Lamarr Houston earlier today, but he wasn’t the only notable NFL veteran to work out for New Orleans today. Here’s who the Saints looked at on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (all Twitter links), Adam Caplan (Twitter links), and Howard Balzer (all Twitter links):

Beatty is perhaps the most high-profile name of the bunch, as the veteran offensive tackle 63 career starts under his belt (all for the Giants). Having served as a backup last season, Beatty would presumably play right tackle for the Saints, who are down to Senio Kelemete on the right side following starter Zach Strief‘s MCL sprain. Ola, too, would give New Orleans depth along their front five, although he doesn’t offer nearly the experience that does Beatty (only 19 starts).Ricky Jean-Francois (Vertical)

As Caplan noted, the Saints essentially worked out the majority of the top free agents on the defensive side of the ball, and that comes as no surprise. Despite throwing free agent funds and draft picks at its defense, New Orleans ranks dead last in yards, 31st in scoring, and 31st in DVOA through two weeks.

Douzable, Howard, Jean-Francois, Johnson, and Langford have all served as quality starters in the very recent future, and Douzable (49ers), Howard (Bears), and Jean-Francois (Packers) have each signed contracts earlier this offseason only to be released later. Wilson, meanwhile, repeatedly bounced on-and-off the Bears’ roster a year ago, and also has a previous stint in New Orleans.

Per Pelissero, the Saints’ Week 4 contest in London is a factor in the club working out such a long list of players right now. Given that New Orleans won’t have much time to audition veterans in the coming weeks, the team will likely update its emergency list now before heading across the pond.

Packers To Release Ricky Jean-Francois

September 12th, 2017 at 3:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers evidently have not preferred the work Ricky Jean-Francois gave them during his 2017 stay in Green Bay. The team released the veteran defensive lineman, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Jean-Francois played only six snaps Sunday against the Seahawks. The Packers signed Jean-Francois to a one-year, $2MM deal and gave the veteran defensive end a $250K signing bonus. The 30-year-old interior defender is a vested veteran and will become a free agent.

Green Bay becomes the second franchise to release Jean-Francois this year, with Washington doing the same during the offseason. He caught on with the Packers, who had reportedly eyed him for years, after visiting the Bears and Seahawks.

The Packers were without rookie third-rounder Montravius Adams, sidelined with a foot injury, in Week 1. This could be an indication the Auburn product will be ready to play soon. Jean-Francois served as a backup last week behind Mike Daniels and Dean Lowry.

Jean-Francois began his ninth NFL season on Sunday, doing so with a fourth team. The former 49ers, Colts and Redskins cog vacillated between starter and backup status throughout his career. He started seven games for the Redskins last season.

NFC Notes: Packers, Vikings, Falcons, Cards

July 23rd, 2017 at 8:53pm CST by Rory Parks

After taking a swing around the AFC earlier today, let’s take a look at a few NFC notes:

  • Teddy Bridgewater is likely to begin camp on the Active/PUP list, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) the rehabbing quarterback has enjoyed some productive training sessions in Florida recently. The 24-year-old passer has not been cleared to practice but did do some throwing while at Vikings OTAs in May. Apparently, Bridgewater’s progressed further in between minicamp and training camp. But he’s still less than a year removed from the gruesome knee injury that changed the course of his career.
  • The Packers added defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois earlier this year to bolster a defensive line that badly needed reinforcements, and as Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com writes, Green Bay has been interested in the LSU product for years. The club wanted to sign him after the 2012 season, but Jean-Francois joined the Colts instead before moving on to Washington. The Redskins released him in March, clearing the way for his one-year pact with the Packers.
  • Patrick Peterson‘s running mate at corner has served as one of the main discussion items of the Cardinals‘ offseason. Bruce Arians said Sunday (via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com) the position remains open and likely won’t be decided until the regular season begins. Arians, though, praised the work of Justin Bethel (Twitter link, via Urban) — less than a year after the coach labeled the corner a “failure in progress.” The Cardinals could still be in the market for a veteran corner, Urban writes, but as of now the battle is between Bethel and second-year man Brandon Williams.
  • Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Raheem Morris have been close for years, and Quinn believes Morris will get another head coaching job in the NFL, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes. Morris, of course, coached the division-rival Buccaneers from 2009-11 and compiled a disappointing 17-31 record. Nonetheless, Quinn said Morris is more than equipped to handle a head coaching position and hopes he will get his next chance in the near future. Morris declined to talk about his head coaching ambitions out of respect for Quinn and the team.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report

Extra Points: Pack, Favre, Jags, Steelers

June 29th, 2017 at 9:00pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois signed with the Packers in March, and he spoke about that decision Thursday, telling Stu Courney of PackersNews.com: “To get that phone call that the Green Bay Packers want you is rare. It’s rare that you see them go outside and pick guys up and if they do, it’s for a reason.” Jean-Francois is right that the Packers typically aren’t the most aggressive team in free agency. They aren’t averse to signing released players, however, because adding them doesn’t cost compensatory draft picks. That was the case with the 30-year-old Jean-Francois, whom the Redskins cut loose a week before he caught on with Green Bay for $3MM. His decision came down to the Packers and Seahawks, and it seems Aaron Rodgers‘ presence tipped the scales in the former’s favor. “Just seeing a quarterback like him year in and year out be so successful … he’s been so consistent getting to the playoffs,” commented Jean-Francois.

More from Green Bay and two other NFL cities:

  • After Branden Albert ended his holdout and reported to Jaguars minicamp earlier this month, vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin told the left tackle that he looked heavier than before, according to Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders. Moreover, the out-of-shape Albert failed to impress the team’s coaches on the field, per Cummings, who notes that he’s far from a lock to start. Albert, whom the Jaguars acquired via trade from the Dolphins over the winter, will have to beat out second-rounder Cam Robinson. For now, Robinson is the front-runner for the job, suggests Cummings. At right tackle, Jacksonville has Jermey Parnell – a 16-game starter last year who ranked 31st among Pro Football Focus’ 78 qualified tackles (Albert was 65th).
  • We may not have seen the last of Brett Favre in a notable NFL role. The Hall of Fame quarterback told ESPN Wisconsin’s Wilde & Tausch on Thursday that he’s interested in working as a coach or a general manager down the line (via Richard Ryman of PackersNews.com). “I would say I’d never say never,” Favre said. “I believe that would be a dream job, working as a coach there or in some form of administration.” Favre would prefer to serve in some capacity with the Packers, with whom he starred from 1992-2007.
  • One of Arthur Moats or Anthony Chickillo could be in jeopardy of losing his roster spot with the Steelers, writes Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. With those two, T.J. Watt, James Harrison, Bud Dupree and seventh-rounder Keion Adams, the Steelers will enter training camp with six outside linebackers and only four or five spots. Watt, Harrison and Dupree are shoo-ins to make the roster, and whether both Moats and Chickillo will join them will come down to if the Steelers decide to deploy a five-OLB rotation. Meanwhile, Adams will likely head to the practice squad. Moats and Chickillo were both somewhat prominent members of Pittsburgh’s defense last year. Moats played 396 snaps, started in five of 16 appearances and picked up 3.5 sacks, while Chickillo amassed 316 snaps and 2.5 sacks in 15 games (seven starts).

Packers To Sign DT Ricky Jean-Francois

March 23rd, 2017 at 3:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have signed defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a one-year, $3MM deal. Ricky Jean-Francois (Vertical)

Jean-Francois was released by the Redskins earlier this month, giving him the opportunity to go elsewhere. He also had visits with the Seahawks and Bears, but he ultimately landed in Green Bay. Now, he’ll help offset the Packers’ loss of Datone Jones after he left for the Vikings. He’ll also come in handy for the first month of the season while Letroy Guion serves his suspension.

Jean-Francois ranks as PFR’s No. 5 free agent interior defender still on the board. Since being released by Washington, Jean-Francois has visited the Seahawks and Bears.

Jean-Francois, 30, played in 32 games (eight starts) with Washington over the past two seasons. Last year, he saw action on roughly 40% of the club’s defensive snaps, racking up 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks in that span. Heading into Thursday, we had RJ-F ranked as the No. 5 free agent interior defender still on the board.

Latest On Dolphins’ Free Agent Targets

March 22nd, 2017 at 6:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins still want to sign free agent linebacker Zach Brown, but Brown is likely looking for a multi-year pact in the range of $6MM annually, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miami, meanwhile, would be more comfortable paying $3-4MM per year. Brown, who’s been linked to the Bills, Raiders, and Colts in addition to the Dolphins, is “exploring all options” at the moment, as his agents tell Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.Zach Brown (vertical)

Miami has also inquired on defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, and have in fact called on him “a half dozen times,” reports Salguero, but Hankins is still looking for more money than the Dolphins are willing to expend. Hankins, 25, is hoping to reel in $10MM annually on a multi-year contract, an asking price that appears unlikely to be met at this juncture. The Giants want to re-sign Hankins, but are reportedly hoping for a quick response on their outstanding offer.

Clearly, the Dolphins are searching for a defensive tackle to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips, but former Miami defender Jared Odrick won’t be returning to town. While Odrick would like to reunite the Dolphins, the club won’t be placing a call to Odrick for “multiple reasons,” per Salguero, who doesn’t specify what those reasons may be. The Patriots worked out Odrick last month, but Odrick isn’t interested in playing for New England, says Salguero.

Finally, free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois won’t be on the Dolphins’ radar as the team doesn’t view him as a scheme fit, according to Salguero. Jean-Francois has visited the Packers, Seahawks, and Bears since being released by the Redskins.

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