HEADLINES

Ryan Williams (RB)

Cowboys Notes: Claiborne, Lawrence, Orton

May 17th, 2014 at 9:35pm CST by Peter Sowards

When the Cowboys traded up for LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne in the 2012 NFL Draft, high expectations landed squarely on his 5-foot-11 frame. When you go No. 6 overall — to America’s Team, no less — coaches want instant impact.

But, it’s hard to make an impact when you can’t stay on the field, as Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News notes. Claiborne has missed seven games with a variety of knee, hamstring and shoulder injuries, and he lost his starting job last season to veteran nickel cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

“He’s played well for stretches and then he gets dinged up and then he misses a stretch and then he has to get back,” secondary coach Jerome Henderson said. “You want him to just be able to ascend from preseason and keep getting better and better and better throughout a season. He just hasn’t been able to do that thus far.” 

Dallas’ defense allowed 4,589 yards through the air and 33 passing touchdowns in 2013, so improved play from the defensive backfield is a must if the team hopes to contend for the NFC East title.

More news and notes from Big D below…

  • Second-round pick DeMarcus Lawrence has had a busy seven days, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. The Boise State defensive end witnessed his son’s birth on an iPhone while in Texas on Thursday. He flew home to Boise that day to see his son, Damari, in person, then flew back to Texas on Saturday. “It motivates me a lot knowing I got a mouth to feed,” Lawrence said. “It’s not just about me anymore. I got a little son now so really it all about him, how I raise him and how I put food on the table for him.” 
  • With veteran Kyle Orton still weighing his options, quarterback coach Wade Wilson showed frustration with the indecision, telling DallasCowboys.com’s Nick Eatman he wished the backup quarterback would be at voluntary workouts. Orton has a financial decision to make — he would owe about $3MM to the Cowboys if he decides to call it a career.
  • AZcentral.com’s Paola Boivin says goodbye to former Cardinals running back Ryan Williams, signed earlier today by the Cowboys.
  • Scott Linehan, Dallas’ new offensive play-caller, said the language will pretty much stay the same way it’s been, writes Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News.
  • Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli wants linebacker Bruce Carter to play the game the right way, said The DMN’s Jon Machota.
  • Deion Sanders was in attendance at Valley Ranch for the second day of Cowboys minicamp, George reports.

Cowboys Sign Ryan Williams

May 17th, 2014 at 3:44pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cowboys have officially signed former Cardinal’s running back Ryan Williams, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Pro Football Rumors has been following Williams since he was released from the Cardinals, throughout the Cowboys interest in him.

Williams was said to have had an impressive workout with the team, and was expected to sign sometime today.

Williams will likely be the backup to starter DeMarco Murray. Terms of the deal were not announced, but it can be expected to be close to a minimum deal for veterans.

NFC East Notes: Williams, Orton, Boone

May 17th, 2014 at 3:11pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cowboys worked out former Cardinals’ running back Ryan Williams, and are now in a position to sign the player, reports Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com (via Twitter). Watkins expects that signing to become official soon, after a roster move is made to clear room for Williams.

Here are some more notes from around the NFC East:

  • Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett expects backup quarterback Kyle Orton to be back with the team this coming season, reports Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter). The team anticipates his return after having conversations with Orton.
  • Former LSU receiver Kadron Boone was buried on the depth chart in college, behind first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. and second-round pick Jarvis Landry. Even still, he has been impressive and he has a great chance to make the Eagles according to one AFC personnel man, writes Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. “He’s gonna make that team. He’s not a bad receiver; he’s a pretty good receiver,” the scout said. “He just got caught up in a place that has two pretty good receivers. He’s going to be fine.”
  • After Beckham, the Giants drafted a lot of players who have limited ceilings in terms of potential, writes Dan Graziano of ESPNNewYork.com. He attributes this to the need for a group that needs a quick learning curve in order to make an immediate impact. The team was valuing on the short term over seeking long-term help.

Extra Points: Motta, Williams, West, Lewis-Moore, Steen

May 17th, 2014 at 12:53pm CST by Matt Feminis

“There appears to be some doubt about Atlanta Falcons safety Zeke Motta‘s playing status this season as he continues to recover from neck surgery,” writes ESPN’s Vaughn McClure. Motta underwent surgery in December to repair a cervical fracture, but he hasn’t been medically cleared and won’t be participating in the team’s offseason program. William Moore is entrenched at one safety spot, but with Motta out of the picture, that leaves Dwight Lowery, Kemal Ishmael and rookie fifth-rounder Dez Southward battling for the other position.

More from around the league. . .

  • Tom Crabtree has been released by the Buccaneers, as reported by. . .Tom Crabtree, formerly of the Buccaneers (via Twitter).
  • Ryan Williams‘ workout for the Cowboys wasn’t your run-of-the-mill look-see, tweets Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram, as 24 scouts, coaches and staff were watching.
  • Browns rookie running back Terrance West confirmed what most suspected immediately following his third-round selection (94th overall) — the Ravens texted his agent their intention to draft him 99th overall. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shared the information (via Twitter).
  • Ravens 2013 sixth-rounder Kapron Lewis-Moore, who missed last season while recovering from a torn ACL, is participating in the team’s rookie minicamp, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the big defensive lineman looks impressive.
  • Undrafted free agent guard Anthony Steen of Alabama has a realistic chance of making the Cardinals, believes Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.
  • Offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb tried out for the Panthers, but was not immediately extended a contract, according to Aaron Wilson at National Football Post. Webb was a much-maligned three-year starter for the Bears (2010-12) before appearing in eight games (one start) for the Vikings last year.
  • Draftees are signing sooner than ever, writes BuffaloBills.com’s Chris Brown, who explains why: “Even though the salary cap went up more than eight percent, there is a freeze on signing bonuses so all this year’s picks will get the same signing bonus as the players did last year who were taken in their draft slot. . .The reason why bonuses are staying flat is because teams borrowed money from future rookie pools (2012, 2013) after the lockout in 2011 to make sure that rookies that year wouldn’t be paid less than the rookies from 2010 prior to the readjustment in salary cap and the rookie wage scale. . .So essentially the only increases the 2014 draft class is seeing is in their base salaries.”

 

Extra Points: Johnson, Williams, Green, Mack

May 16th, 2014 at 10:02pm CST by Rob DiRe

Texans‘ star receiver Andre Johnson and head coach Bill O’Brien have spoken this offseason, writes Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. “We’re going to continue to communicate and we’ve had good discussions, we’ve had good talks,” O’Brien said. “We’ve spoken quite a bit and will continue to do that.”

Johnson has voiced his frustration with the team’s direction. Despite his comments, O’Brien spoke highly of the franchise’s career leader in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Andre and his career here in Houston. The conversations that Andre and I have had have been very positive about what we’re doing here as a team and, obviously offensively, what we’re doing here,” said O’Brien. “As far as what Andre said, I’ll let him speak for himself. I can only tell you from my end we’ve had good, positive communication.”

Here are a few more notes to round out the day in the NFL:

  • The Cowboys brought in former Cardinals‘ running back Ryan Williams for a workout, reports Carlos Mendez of the Star-Telegram.com. Williams was cut by the Cardinals after the draft. He was a second-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2011, after being one of the top collegiate running backs in the nation. The Cowboys did not draft a running back in this past draft, but have two veterans on the roster behind starter DeMarco Murray, and brought in two undrafted free agent options to compete as well.
  • Jets‘ running back Alex Green finds himself the odd man out in the team’s backfield, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). The Jets claimed and were awarded Daryl Richardson after he was cut from the Rams. Green tweeted “Time to officially move on, life goes on regardless. #blessed.”
  • Raiders‘ first-round pick Khalil Mack wanted to sign his rookie contract as quickly as possible so he could focus on football, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. With the new rookie scale basically setting the terms in stone, Mack saw no reason to wait. “I’m only focused on football and being the best player I can be,” Mack said. “I’m glad that process is done, and I’m ready to go play football.” 
  • Embattled Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla has a tryout with the Packers, reports Chase Goodbread of NFL.com. He will be one of 58 rookie players that will be competing at the team’s rookie training camp this weekend. Lyerla fell off draft boards after a litany of off-the-field incidents, including a cocaine-related offense.

Cardinals Cut Ryan Williams, Three Others

May 12th, 2014 at 3:09pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cardinals have parted ways with 2011 second-round pick Ryan Williams, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Williams is one of four players let go today by the Cardinals, who also cut center John Estes, linebacker Kenny Rowe, and tight end Brett Brackett, according to Urban (Twitter link).

Williams, 24, was selected 38th overall in 2011, but could never get healthy enough to become a contributor for the Cardinals. After missing his rookie season, Williams accumulated 164 yards on 58 carries in 2012, then was injured for the entire 2013 season as well. Arizona creates a little over $1MM in cap savings by letting go of the young running back.