Stedman Bailey - Pro Football Rumors

West Rumors: L.A., Irvin, Bailey, Morgan

February 11th, 2016 at 10:22am CST by Luke Adams

In a terrific piece for ESPN The Magazine and Outside The Lines, Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. provide an in-depth timeline for how the Rams‘ move to Los Angeles played out, describing the process as having turned into an “open war” among NFL owners, many of whom would have preferred to see the Chargers‘ and Raiders‘ Carson plan approved.

The story is chock-full of fascinating details, and is worth reading in its entirety. However, one of the most intriguing items relates to the Raiders — according to the ESPN duo, most team owners wanted to avoid having the Raiders return to Los Angeles, in part because there were concerns about Al Davis‘ burned bridges, and local gangs co-opting team apparel. Those reservations ran so deep, the report suggests, that some owners wouldn’t even consider the Carson proposal.

If that’s true, one has to wonder if the league will allow the Raiders to make the move to Los Angeles a year from now, if the Chargers are ultimately able to work out a deal to remain in San Diego, passing their L.A. option onto Mark Davis and the Raiders. It’s believed that the same deal agreed to by the Chargers would be on the table for the Raiders, but we’ll have to wait to see if that’s indeed the case.

Here’s more out of the NFL’s West divisions:

It is believed to be “highly unlikely” that the Seahawks will re-sign or franchise Bruce Irvin before he becomes a free agent next month, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Assuming he does, in fact, reach the open market, Irvin is on track for a big payday, according to Florio, who suggests that the linebacker should easily surpass $10MM as teams prioritize pass rushers.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said in December that wide receiver Stedman Bailey, who was shot in the head twice last fall, likely wouldn’t play football again. However, Bailey isn’t willing to call it a career quite yet. Although he acknowledges the health risks and says that he doesn’t want to risk further serious injury to his head, Bailey will try to “continue to live out my dream,” he says in a YouTube video (link via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).
Former NFL wide receiver Josh Morgan accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun and was charged with misdemeanor reckless use of a firearm, according to TMZ Sports. Morgan, who was selected by the 49ers in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, spent seven seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFC West Notes: Mathieu, Rams, 49ers, Lynch

December 24th, 2015 at 10:35am CST by Sam Robinson

Tyrann Mathieu‘s season-ending ACL tear did come with some positive news. Bruce Arians informed media the standout defender’s tear is “clean,” unlike the ACL and LCL tear the Cardinals‘ third-year dynamo suffered in Dec. 2013, NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling reports.

Arians hopes Mathieu will be ready for OTAs, as Carson Palmer was following his late-season tear in 2014.

The former LSU star boasted a brace on his right knee and was instructing Arizona defensive backs on the practice field Wednesday.

Here is some more from the NFC West.

Rams starters Robert Quinn and T.J. McDonald went on injured reserve just before Mathieu, and both St. Louis defenders underwent successful surgeries this week, Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Both Quinn (back) and McDonald (shoulder) should be back for OTAs in April, Lyons adds. “From a timing standpoint, we needed to do it, just so we could get (McDonald) in the offseason program. Both of them will be fine early in the offseason,” Jeff Fisher told media, including Lyons.
Although Fisher noted Stedman Bailey‘s injuries were severe enough to end his NFL career, the third-year Rams wideout returned home from the hospital a month after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports.
Marshawn Lynch will return to an altered Seahawks offense now that Russell Wilson‘s taken his game to a higher level. A faster Seahawks tempo will be an adjustment for the Pro Bowl running back, offensive line coach Tom Cable told media (including Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree). “We’re counting on him to get healthy whenever that is and then once that happens, it’s for him to come back in and be able to adapt to this football team and the way it acts and the way it’s moving right now collectively,” Cable said. “That will be his challenge, but right now his number one thing is getting healthy.” Pete Carroll remains iffy on when the 29-year-old bruiser will return, noting there’s “a chance” he’s back by the time Seattle plays its wild card game in just more than two weeks. PFT’s Mike Florio continues to opine that Lynch, due to occupy an $11.5MM cap number in 2016, will not be back with the Seahawks next season.
49ers GM Trent Baalke has been out on the practice field instructing defenders, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, despite his only coaching experience coming as the defensive line/strength and conditioning coach at South Dakota in the early 1990s. Although it’s unlikely 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini would tell one of his bosses to step off here, the former Jets head coach said Baalke hasn’t been shy about helping out on the field. “I haven’t been everywhere, but there are some GMs who might not be as present and maybe that works for their style,” Mangini told media. “For these guys it’s a little bit different and Trent has always been on the field at different points.”
The 49ers’ No. 1 need going into 2016 will be on their offensive front, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes. Although Barrows offers recently retired right tackle Anthony Davis could well return for his age-26 season, the Northern California scribe obviously notes the team cannot count on him. Both starting guards, Alex Boone and Andrew Tiller, are due to be free agents.
Jarryd Hayne remains in the 49ers’ plans going forward despite being passed over for a late-season promotion onto the active roster, 49ers OC Geep Chryst told media (including Maiocco). The former rugby star not being as likely to be active on game day as newly signed DuJuan Harris led to the 49ers leaving Hayne on the practice squad.

NFC Notes: Gabbert, Levy, Rams, Vikings

December 19th, 2015 at 2:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

A first-round bust label notwithstanding, Blaine Gabbert will likely be the 49ers‘ starter to open the 2016 season, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.

Colin Kaepernick‘s tenure with the team will have probably concluded by then, and San Francisco will be a candidate to draft underclassmen Paxton Lynch or Jared Goff, should they decide as expected to declare, with its first-round pick. The team, however, may opt for a more pro-ready quarterback like Connor Cook soon after, Maiocco offers.

The 26-year-old Gabbert is far ahead of his former pace with the Jaguars from an accuracy standpoint, completing 63.2% of his passes. The former No. 11 overall pick finished his Jags seasons at 50, 58 and 49% connect rates from 2011-13. Kaepernick finished this season with a 59.0% completion rate.

Here are some other NFC items on the eve of Week 15 Sunday.

Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy resumed running and lifting after undergoing hip surgery and anticipates an offseason return, Mike Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. The recently extended outside backer said being placed on injured reserve was the right thing for him after injuring his hip during the preseason and re-aggravating it in a 17-snap cameo in Week 5. Levy will be 29 in March.
Friday’s approval of new stadium financing by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen didn’t necessarily save football in St. Louis, but the proposal not passing may have ended it, Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. The stadium financing package gives the city a boost in adding a replacement if the Rams indeed trek to Los Angeles.
Stedman Bailey addressed the Rams before their defeat of the Bucs in what could be their St. Louis finale, the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Lyons reports. The 25-year-old receiver talked to teammates, many for the first time since being shot in the head twice Nov. 24, via FaceTime. Jeff Fisher told media, including Lyons, the team’s 2013 third-round pick is making steady progress.
The Vikings will now contribute $50MM more to their new stadium after winning approval to do so, according to an Associated Press report. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority approved the new funding. An initial contribution of $477MM, with the city then tabbed for $498MM, for the $1 billion+ U.S. Bank Stadium represented the Vikings’ original cost. But since, their bill has gone up by 31%, and the Vikings portion of the cost could hit $631MM by summer, when the stadium is set for completion.

Stedman Bailey’s Career Likely Finished

December 7th, 2015 at 6:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL lifted Stedman Bailey‘s four-game drug suspension, but according to Rams coach Jeff Fisher (via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Twitter) the embattled wideout probably won’t play football again.

The Rams will place the third-year receiver on the non-football injury list, Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk reports.

Bailey sustained two gunshot wounds to the head last month and underwent more than six hours of surgery as a result. Fisher said his assessment of the fourth-year receiver’s future was related to the shooting, but the fourth-year Rams coach did not elaborate further.

The 25-year-old Bailey caught 12 passes and one touchdown this season in eight games (three starts). He caught 45 passes for a career-best 430 yards last season. Bailey made eight career starts in St. Louis.

Chosen in the third round of the 2013 draft, Bailey has one more year left on his Rams contract.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Seahawks, Panthers

December 1st, 2015 at 10:02am CST by Luke Adams

In an appearance today on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he thinks Tony Romo has another four or five years left in him, but stressed the importance of having both a veteran backup and a young quarterback to groom behind Romo (Twitter links via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Matt Cassel isn’t under contract for the 2016 season at this point, but he looks like a candidate to return as that veteran backup, depending on how he plays down the stretch. It also sounds as if the Cowboys will likely target a QB at some point in the ’16 draft, if the team wants to get that young QB in the mix sooner rather than later.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Having lost Jimmy Graham for the rest of the season, the Seahawks will likely add a tight end to the roster, per head coach Pete Carroll (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Seattle doesn’t currently have a tight end on its practice squad, but could target a player who has been with the team somewhat recently, like Rashaun Allen or Anthony McCoy.
The Panthers‘ signing of cornerback Cortland Finnegan on Monday was motivated by growing concern about the lack of progress Charles Tillman has made in recovering from his knee injury, a source tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott figure to be head coaching candidates for other NFL teams at season’s end, but both assistants say they aren’t thinking about that possibility for now, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Eagles head coach Chip Kelly may be irked by the college speculation and rumors that have followed him around, but skepticism for his denials is warranted, says Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said wide receiver Stedman Bailey – who underwent surgery after being shot in the head – continues to improve, as Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details. “He’s still in intensive care recovering,” Fisher said.

NFC West Notes: Bailey, Tomsula, Kaepernick

November 25th, 2015 at 6:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the NFC West:

Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey is out of surgery after several hours of extensive work, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The wide receiver will be in the ICU for 3-5 days and doctors are hopeful about his recovery. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) heard from another person that Bailey’s surgery lasted close to nine hours. Overall, the news is positive given the situation.

49ers coach Jim Tomsula says that he isn’t concerned about his job security, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. “No, we haven’t had conversations about any of that,” Tomsula said. “Just to your point right there – we’re in a performance-based business. And all of us in it get it. So I don’t think or work that way. Just keep on moving. (My) long-term goal is Sunday. That’s just where I stay.” The remaining six games of the season could have an impact on Tomsula’s future in SF, but the organization seems likely to keep him, so long as the team doesn’t totally fall apart.

Cardinals defensive back Tryann Mathieu strongly feels that the 49ers offense is better with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback instead of Colin Kaepernick. “Not to take anything away from Kaepernick, but it seems like Gabbert has a little better grip on what’s going on,” Mathieu said, according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News. “If he gets in a situation, he knows where the ball needs to go. He’s a hell of a passer. He’s underrated when you talk about how well he can throw the football.” Mathieu accounted for two of the four interceptions the Cardinals had against Kaepernick in a 47-7 rout back in September.

Rams’ Stedman Bailey Shot In Head

November 25th, 2015 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

3:28pm: According to Rapoport (via Twitter), Bailey continued to have “extensive surgery” this afternoon. The procedure was slated to be done about three hours ago, but doctors are continuing to try to help him recover.

WEDNESDAY, 12:43am: The Rams have issued a statement on Bailey, announcing that they have spoken the wideout, who is “in the hospital in critical, but stable, condition.” The club continues to gather facts about the situation and will provide further updates as they become available.

TUESDAY, 11:48pm: According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Stedman was shot twice in the head while sitting in a car with two young relatives and his cousin. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports adds (via Twitter) that Bailey is conscious and will undergo “what could be extensive surgery.”

11:43pm: Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey has been involved in a shooting incident and sustained a head wound, reports Michael Silver of NFL.com (Twitter links). According to Silver, the injury is not believed to be life-threatening, but Bailey will undergo surgery on Wednesday morning.

Details on the incident are still unclear, but multiple players around the NFL have published tweets passing along their thoughts and prayers to Bailey, and the shooting has been confirmed by multiple outlets. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links) says Bailey was shot in the hip as well as in the head, adding that the incident took place in South Florida, where the 25-year-old is from. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Rams are expected to release a statement soon.

Bailey, who turned 25 earlier this month, has been with the Rams since being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft. While he hasn’t played a huge role in the team’s offense, Bailey has been targeted 25 times this season, catching 12 balls for 182 yards and a touchdown. He is currently halfway through serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Rams’ Stedman Bailey Suspended Four Games

November 9th, 2015 at 3:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey has been suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s the second suspension in the last 14 months or so for Bailey, who missed the first two games of the 2014 season after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Bailey, who turns 25 this Wednesday, has been with the Rams since being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft. While he hasn’t played a huge role in the team’s offense, Bailey has been targeted 25 times this season, catching 12 balls for 182 yards and a touchdown. So his loss will be felt by Nick Foles and company in the coming weeks.

News of Bailey’s suspension also helps explain why the Rams were working out a handful of free agent receivers today, including Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks, and Vincent Brown. At the time, I speculated that the team may be considering adding some veteran depth to an underwhelming receiving corps — with Bailey out for the next four weeks, Foles will have one fewer weapon on offense, increasing the need for depth at the position.

Bailey will miss games against the Bears, Ravens, Bengals, and Cardinals, and will be eligible to return to action for the Rams’ Week 14 tilt with the Lions.

NFL, NFLPA Announce New PED, Drug Policies

September 17th, 2014 at 10:55pm CST by Luke Adams

10:55pm: Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) has the breakdown of the new substance abuse policy.

A player will enter a program after one failed test and face a two game fine for a second failed test. From there it’s a four game fine for a third failed test, a four game suspension for a fourth flunked test, a ten game suspension for a fifth violation, and a one-year ban for a sixth failed test.

9:48am: The NFL and NFLPA have released a joint statement announcing changes to the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The press release doesn’t include details on the NFL’s new substance-abuse policy, but notes that those changes are expected to be announced soon as well, once the two sides finalize their agreement.

The new agreement on performance-enhancing drugs will allow Broncos wideout Wes Welker, Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick, and Rams receiver Stedman Bailey to return to their respective teams this week. The agreement was expected to make a few more players eligible for immediate reinstatement, but those three names are the only ones mentioned in the release, so presumably other suspended players will have to wait a little longer, or serve their full suspensions. Additionally, when the substance-abuse policy changes are finalized, several more players could be reinstated.

Here are some other highlights of the new policy, per the release:

HGH testing will be fully implemented this season.
Appeals of positive tests in the performance enhancing drug programs (including HGH) will be heard by third-party arbitrators jointly selected and retained by the NFL and NFLPA.
Discipline for violations of the performance enhancing drug policy (including for HGH) will be modified.
A first violation will result in a suspension without pay of up to six games depending on the nature of the violation. Use of a diuretic or masking agent will result in a suspension without pay of two games. Use of a steroid, stimulant, HGH or other banned substance will result in a suspension without pay of four games. Evidence of an attempt to manipulate a test will result in a suspension without pay of six games.
A second violation of the steroid policy will result in a suspension without pay of 10 games.
A third violation will result in banishment for a minimum of two years.
Players who test positive for banned stimulants in the offseason will no longer be suspended. Instead, the player will be referred to the substance abuse program. Players who test positive for banned stimulants during the season will continue to be suspended without pay for four games.

Minor Moves: Wednesday

September 17th, 2014 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll round up Wednesday’s minor transactions right here, with additional moves listed at the top of the page throughout the rest of the day:

Rams wideout Stedman Bailey has formally been reinstated to the team’s roster and practiced today, according to Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange (via Twitter). Bailey, whose penalty was reduced as part of the league’s new PED policy, takes the lone opening on St. Louis’ roster.
The Giants have officially received the roster exemption for Eric Herman that we made note of below. As Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets, the club will have until Friday afternoon to either cut Herman or someone else in order to get down to 53 players.

Earlier updates:

The Broncos officially announced Wes Welker‘s reinstatement today, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Denver had previously been carrying just 52 players, so no exemption or corresponding cut was necessary to slide Welker back onto the 53-man roster.
Chris Lewis-Harris‘ roster exemption has expired and the Bengals have re-added the cornerback to their active roster, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. Like Denver, Cincinnati also had an open spot on their 53-man squad, so now that Lewis-Harris is back on board, the roster is once again full.
Although his name wasn’t mentioned in the press release issued today by the NFL and NFLPA, the league’s new PED policy has allowed Giants guard Eric Herman to return early from his suspension, writes Conor Orr of NJ.com. The team has applied for a roster exemption for Herman in order to get him back on the practice field without immediately cutting anyone, and is waiting to hear back from the league.