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Ryan Spadola

Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday

November 25th, 2014 at 5:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Already today, we’ve passed along word on practice squad signings and cuts made by the Buccaneers and Lions. Here are the rest of Tuesday’s practice squad transactions from around the NFL, with the latest updates added to the list throughout the day:

  • According to the NFL transaction report, the Chargers added cornerback Richard Crawford to their practice squad, according to Eric Williams of ESPN.com (on Twitter). San Diego waived Crawford from the active roster late last week.
  • The Colts have signed defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles to their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Quarles, 22, was released by the Colts yesterday to make room for linebacker Victor Butler. The Colts’ practice squad is currently full, so another move should be on the way.
  • Although he auditioned for the Cardinals today, running back Kapri Bibbs will return to Denver and be added to the Broncos‘ practice squad, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
  • Linebacker Keith Pough, who was released to make room for Josh Gordon the Browns‘ roster, has been re-signed to the club’s practice squad, replacing wide receiver L’Damian Washington, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Cardinals released tackle Kelvin Palmer from their practice squad today, creating an opening on the unit, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • The Texans cut a tackle of their own, removing Chris Martin from their taxi squad, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
  • After being released from the Falcons‘ active roster, receiver Freddie Martino cleared waivers and joined the team’s practice squad, replacing wideout Ryan Spadola, per ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (via Twitter).

Earlier updates:

  • Former Patriots linebacker Ja’Gared Davis has signed with the Chiefs‘ practice squad, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Kansas City had been carrying nine players on its squad, so Davis fills that 10th and final spot, and no corresponding move is necessary.
  • In addition to confirming the addition of wide receiver and return man Griff Whalen to their practice squad, the Colts announced today that they’ve signed Jeff Demps to the unit, releasing running back Michael Hill to make room. Demps, a former Olympic sprinter, is also listed as a running back by Indianapolis.
  • You can find the up-to-date list of all 32 practice squad rosters right here.

Practice Squad Updates: Thursday

October 9th, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Luke Adams

As this weekend’s slate of games nears, teams around the NFL continue to add and subtract players from their respective practice squads. Here are Thursday’s practice squad transactions:

  • Using one of the openings on their practice squad, the Cowboys have signed wide receiver Kerry Taylor, who was just waived by the Jaguars this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Taylor himself tweeted earlier today that he was joining the Cowboys. Meanwhile, Wilson adds (via Twitter) that Dallas has reached an injury settlement with wideout LaRon Byrd, who had also been on the team’s practice squad.

Earlier updates:

  • After waiving him from their active roster, the Redskins have brought safety Akeem Davis back into the fold on their practice squad, according to the team (via Twitter). Washington now has a full 10-man taxi squad.
  • The Falcons have filled the final opening on their practice squad by signing wide receiver Ryan Spadola, the team announced today in a press release.
  • According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Chiefs have signed former Ravens cornerback Deji Olatoye to their practice squad. Kansas City already had a full 10-man unit, so we’ll have to wait for the corresponding cut before the addition of Olatoye becomes official.
  • We heard yesterday that tight end Phillip Supernaw had rejoined the Ravens‘ practice squad, and now the team has announced the corresponding move, confirming that cornerback Lou Young has been cut (Twitter link).

Workout Notes: Webster, Colts, Patriots

October 3rd, 2014 at 5:49pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Broncos had former Purdue punter Cody Webster this week, reports Jeff Legwold of ESPN (via Twitter). The team also worked out Chase Tenpenny last month. Legwold credits the reports to Field Yates of ESPN.

Brian McIntyre of NFL.com notes that this is the second time they have worked out a left-footed punter this season, both times doing so before playing one (via Twitter). Tenpenny was brought in before playing Dustin Colquitt and the Chiefs, and the team will face lefty Dave Zastudil of the Cardinals this weekend.

Here are some other workout notes from around the NFL:

  • The Colts worked out a number of players this week, notably two safeties in Winston Guy and Ray Ventrone, reports Yates (via Twitter). The team also brought in linebacker Victor Butler.
  • The Patriots also had a number of players in for their late week workout. Outside linebackers Lawrence Sidbury and Jamaal Westerman, defensive end Gerald Rivers, and quarterback Brad Sorensen came in to workout for the team, according to Yates (via Twitter).
  • The Bills already made a change at quarterback, and they brought in some tall receivers to see if they could find a diamond in the rough. L’Damian Washington and Ryan Spadola worked out for the team, reports Mike Rodak (via Twitter). He also credited the report to Yates.

NFC South Notes: Panthers, Falcons, Bucs

October 1st, 2014 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Steve Smith didn’t make many waves in the days leading up to Baltimore’s game against the Panthers this past weekend, but the veteran wideout had some things to say about his former team today. Appearing on WFNZ in Charlotte, Smith criticized Panthers GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Ron Rivera for the way they handled his release in Carolina, suggesting that it became “personal” for Gettleman, and accusing Rivera of hiding in his office rather than talking to Smith face-to-face when he was cut. The Ravens‘ No. 1 receiver also refuted Ian Rapoport’s report that indicated he had asked for his release from the Panthers, suggesting that he simply “wanted to play ball” in Carolina.

Here’s more from around the NFC South:

  • In addition to signing linebacker Horace Miller to their practice squad after working him out this week, the Panthers also took a look at linebacker Marshall McFadden, who was cut by the Raiders during the preseason, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Several of the players who tried out for the Falcons this week have been previously reported, but Wilson adds a couple of new names to that list (via Twitter). Linebackers Zac Diles and Moise Fokou also auditioned for the team, says Wilson.
  • Quarterback Ricky Stanzi, wideout Ryan Spadola, and defensive tackles George Uko and Zach Minter were among the group of players that worked out for the Buccaneers this week, says Wilson (via Twitter).

AFC West Notes: Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers

September 25th, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Luke Adams

As I noted in a poll yesterday, there are only three unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL — at the other end of the spectrum, only three clubs are still looking for their first win of the season. Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap examines those three franchises in his latest piece for The Sporting News, writing of the Raiders that they’ve “built one of the strangest rosters in recent memory.”

As Fitzgerald notes, Oakland added a number of aging veterans in free agency on its way to compiling the oldest roster in the NFL, and the team handed the quarterbacking reins to rookie Derek Carr shortly after trading for high-priced veteran Matt Schaub. The Raiders figure to win some games at some point this season, but it’s hard to imagine GM Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen still having their jobs a year from now unless things turn around quickly, writes Fitzgerald.

Here’s more from around the AFC West:

  • Although Bill Williamson of ESPN.com has received many inquiries from Raiders fans on whether or not the team has interest in free agent defensive back Champ Bailey, Williamson says the team isn’t considering the veteran at this point (Twitter link).
  • Before they signed with the Packers’ and Lions’ practice squads, respectively, offensive lineman Josh Walker and defensive back Josh Victorian worked out for the Chiefs, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), who says Kansas City team also auditioned wideout Ryan Spadola.
  • In addition to the players who signed to their roster or practice squad, or those whose workouts have been previously reported, the Chargers tried out the following players, according to Wilson (via Twitter): Offensive linemen Michael Bamiro, Travis Bond, and Bryce Quigley, linebacker Yawin Smallwood, and tight end Brian Wozniak.

Dolphins Cut Brady Quinn, Seven Others

August 26th, 2014 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

3:30pm: The Dolphins have formally announced their other nine roster moves (Twitter link). The following players have been removed from the active roster:

Waived:

Placed on injured reserve:

3:11pm: The Dolphins must officially remove 11 players from their active roster today, and while the team has yet to announce those moves, a pair of cuts have been reported so far. Veteran quarterback Brady Quinn passed along word of his own release, tweeting that his time with the team was “short-lived,” but that he “enjoyed every second.” Besides Quinn, wide receiver Armon Binns will also be one of Miami’s roster casualties, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Quinn, who spent time in 2013 with the Seahawks, Jets and Rams, didn’t see any action during the regular season, and didn’t join a new team this year until about two weeks ago, when he signed with Miami. Viewed as a stopgap signing for a team in need of healthy camp arms, Quinn was never a threat to unseat backup signal-caller Matt Moore, let alone starter Ryan Tannehill. Perhaps now if the team has injuries problems in the regular season though, Quinn will get a look.

As for Binns, his best NFL season came in 2012, when he caught 24 total balls during his time with the Bengals and Dolphins. After missing the 2013 campaign, he didn’t appear to be in Miami’s plans for 2014.

Dolphins Sign Seven To Reserve Contracts

February 7th, 2014 at 12:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins have officially signed seven players to reserve/futures contracts, the team announced today (Twitter link). Defensive tackle Isaako Aaitui, running back Cameron Marshall, wide receiver Ryan Spadola, tight ends Kyle Miller and Emmanuel Ogbuehi, and offensive tackles Jason Weaver and Michael Ola have all inked deals with the club.

Of those seven players, six finished the 2013 seasons as members of the Dolphins’ practice squad. Ola, who tweeted last month that he’d reached an agreement with Miami, spent the last two years playing for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.