HEADLINES

Stephen Hill

Extra Points: Sam, Boone, Burleson

August 26th, 2014 at 10:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Vikings star Adrian Peterson is approaching 30 but the running back says he’s far from done, writes Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune. “I work with the mind-set of being the best ever,” he said. “That, and my approach, set me apart. I have it in my mind that I’m doing things that nobody else is doing. You’re not just saying you’re going to be the best ever, you’re putting in the work to accomplish that.” More from around the NFL..

  • Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter) believes that Michael Sam will wind up making the Rams‘ roster. Garafolo adds that Sam can clinch his spot with a strong performance on Thursday night.
  • Before acquiring Logan Mankins from the Patriots, the Bucs inquired on 49ers guard Alex Boone, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Meanwhile, the 49ers and Boone’s representatives still have not spoken or exchanged proposals since the opening of training camp, according to a source. Multiple teams are calling on Boone but San Francisco is asking for a first- or second-round pick, a price that is probably too high for a guard, even one as talented as Boone.
  • Browns wide receiver Nate Burleson knows that his resume alone won’t keep him safe from roster cuts, write George M. Thomas and Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. “This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league,” he said. “So I can watch as many YouTube highlights of myself, but what I did today and what I do tomorrow is going to have a more profound effect than my resume.”

East Notes: Sanchez, Hill, Schwartz, Cowboys

August 26th, 2014 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

As one of the league’s premier backups, Eagles signal-caller Mark Sanchez figures to be the subject of trade rumors when starting QBs like Sam Bradford go down for the season. However, as he tells Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sanchez isn’t interested in listening to that sort of speculation.

“I’m an Eagle. I love being an Eagle,” Sanchez said. “There’s a ton of quarterbacks. Talk about someone else.”

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • With final cuts approaching, some trade chatter is starting to surround Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter) notes that the team has already tried to move Hill this summer, with no takers so far, while Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter) is skeptical that the Jets could get anything for the wideout. On the other hand, one AFC exec tells Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com that he thinks there’d be some interest, since the free agent market for receivers is thin.
  • The Giants received some good news on Geoff Schwartz’s foot injury, announcing today in a press release that the guard will be in a walking boot for the next seven to 10 days, then will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The timetable suggests that Schwartz will avoid hitting any sort of PUP or IR list.
  • Cowboys linebacker DeVonte Holloman tells Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that it was an “easy decision” to retire after sustaining his latest neck injury, though he admitted it’ll be “tough not to be out there” on the field with the team.
  • As Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram outlines, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones weighed in on position battles at a few key positions in Dallas as the team prepares to cut its roster down to 53 players.

AFC Notes: Gilbert, Hill, White, Bills

August 2nd, 2014 at 12:56pm CST by Matt Feminis

Buried underneath the news of Shaun Suisham‘s contract extension, Triblive.com’s Mark Kaboly notes the Steelers have been talking with agent Drew Rosenhaus about a contract extension for offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, who is in the final year of his rookie deal. Gilbert “always possessed the natural talent to excel in the NFL,” writes Ray Fittipaldo in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Now, he believes he has developed the off-field habits that will help him take the next step in his career.”

Read on for several more AFC news and notes:

  • Texans No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney caused a minor stir when he left practice early and spent time icing his leg on the trainer’s table, but the Houston Chronicle’s Brian T. Smith caught up with head coach Bill O’Brien, who said the team is just managing the rookie’s “pitch count.
  • The Jets traded up to draft Stephen Hill 43rd overall (two spots ahead of Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery), but the talented wide out’s first two seasons have been plagued by inconsistency and injury, writes the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta, who calls Hill an “enigma who leaves you wanting more every time you see him.”
  • Status quo for Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno, which means continued uncertainty, writes Adam Beasley in the Miami Herald.
  • ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss relayed Bill Belichick quotes from an interview the Patriots head coach did with Sirius XM NFL Radio, and NESN’s Doug Kyed quoted quarterback Tom Brady. Both men were speaking about rookie running back James White, is making a strong first impression thanks to his versatility and maturity, seemingly earning trust as a three-down back.
  • In a preview of the Browns, CBS’ Pat Kirwan says he wouldn’t be surprised if four rookies start — including third-round linebacker Christian Kirksey, who is already getting some first-team reps — and two more (running back Terrence West and cornerback Pierre Desir) play important roles.
  • Bengals stalwart left tackle Andrew Whitworth is nursing a strained calf muscle, but he’s being patient, writes Cincinnati.com’s Paul Dehner.
  • “The sale of the Buffalo Bills has evolved into an event Ringling Bros and Barnum & Baily would have been proud of,” in the opinion of Forbes’ Mike Ozanian.

East Notes: Pats, Beckham, Beatty

June 16th, 2014 at 10:41pm CST by Rory Parks

There were a great deal of notes from the league’s east divisions today. Our Luke Adams and Dallas Robinson rounded up some of those notes earlier this evening, and we will close out the night by emptying out our east notebook.

  • The Patriots appear to be playing musical chairs with Kyle Auffray and Derrick Johnson. The team cut Auffray earlier today after signing him last week, and Johnson was the player the Pats released to make room for Auffray. Now, however, Johnson may be back in the fold. Mike Lowe of the Portland Press Herald reports that Johnson was told by the club that he would be re-signed once he recovered from a sprained left knee that caused him to miss a week of practices. The former University of Maine receiver hopes to be ready for New England’s three-day minicamp that opens tomorrow (or at least by training camp in July).
  • Brian Costello of the New York Post outlines the Jets‘ search for a No. 2 receiver to play opposite major free agent acquisition Eric Decker. Stephen Hill and David Nelson took the most reps at that spot during the portion of the team’s OTAs that were open to the media, and though Nelson is probably the favorite, wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal seems to believe Hill may finally begin to live up to his still-significant potential.
  • In the same piece, Costello looks at other major storylines surrounding the Jets this summer, including the injury status of Dee Milliner and Willie Colon and the progress of rookie tight end Jace Amaro.
  • Paul Schwartz of the New York Post examines the injury status of Giants left tackle Will Beatty. Although Beatty stills hopes to be ready for the start of training camp on July 21, there is no guarantee he will even be given clearance to play in the season opener on September 8. Even if he is ready, his poor play in 2013 and the fact that the team did not make any meaningful moves to address the left tackle position in the offseason leaves plenty of room for concern.
  • In the same piece, Schwartz writes that the Giants may hold first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. out of minicamp as a result of his hamstring injury. Although Beckham insists the injury is minor, the team will undoubtedly want to play it safe with him.
  • Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com shares some of his notes on what he has seen from the Eagles thus far this offseason. He writes that the struggles of Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley have been overblown, as have the Jordan Matthews–Terrell Owens comparisons. He adds that, outside of kicker, there are no real position battles to watch out for at this point.
  • James Walker of ESPN.com gives a list of top storylines to look out for during the Dolphins‘ three-day mandatory minicamp that begins Tuesday, including the development of Bill Lazor‘s offense and the position battles at left guard, running back, slot receiver, and cornerback.

Jets Notes: Dowling, Sudfeld, Cunningham

June 14th, 2014 at 6:32pm CST by Peter Sowards

It’s always more intriguing when a released player ends up with a division rival. Can the new team untap the talents that the old team couldn’t? Will he be that much more motivated, potentially facing his old team twice a year?

The already potent Jets/Patriots rivalry got even more compelling when three former Pats — cornerback Ras-I Dowling, tight end Zach Sudfeld and outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham — signed with Gang Green this offseason. Dowling and Cunningham were both second-round picks originally by New England, but ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini says the undrafted Sudfeld has the best shot of making the 53-man roster based on the team’s lack of depth at the position.

  • Cimini envisions four running backs on the roster — including fullback Tommy Bohanon — with Daryl Richardson and Mike Goodson on the outside looking in.
  • Signing a veteran offensive lineman for insurance would be a sound move for the team, per Cimini, who notes that none of the backups have any meaningful professional experience.
  • Don’t be surprised if Stephen Hill emerges as the Jets’ No. 2 wide receiver opposite Eric Decker, writes Cimini. Hill has struggled making the transition to professional from collegiate after a nice career at Georgia Tech, and he’s battling savvy veteran David Nelson for the coveted starting spot.
  • Neither Cunningham nor Dowling found success with the Patriots, but Jets‘ head coach Rex Ryan is not concerned with his rival’s opinion of those players, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

AFC East Notes: Bills, Pouncey, Pats, Jets

June 12th, 2014 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

Another potential suitor for the Bills has entered the mix, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News, who reports that C. Dean Metropoulos, the owner of the Pabst Brewing Company, has interest in owning the franchise. After finishing as a runner-up to Shad Khan for the Jaguars three years ago, Metropoulos and his family have “a continued interest in acquiring an NFL franchise and [expect] to review any such opportunity,” a spokesman told Graham.

Here’s more on the Bills’ sale and some other items from around the AFC East:

  • Graham also has an update on another possible buyer for the Bills, writing for the Buffalo News that Terry Pegula, owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, recently sold 75,000 acres of Utica and Marcellus Shale leases in West Virginia and Ohio for $1.75 billion. While it’s still not clear how much – if any – interest Pegula has in buying the Bills, the recent sales by his East Resources Inc. and another undisclosed company will make him a “much more formidable bidder” if he decides to enter the mix.
  • As both Joel Corry of CBSSports.com and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald observe (via Twitter), Dolphins center Mike Pouncey shares an agent with his brother, so matching or topping Maurkice Pouncey‘s extension figures to be a goal for Mike when the time comes.
  • After waiving R.J. Mattes yesterday to clear a roster spot, the Patriots have signed wide receiver Jeremy Johnson, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Johnson, who went undrafted out of SMU, participated in the Ravens’ rookie minicamp last month.
  • Within a roundup of Jets notes, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes that head coach Rex Ryan initially wasn’t sold on drafting Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle, but that others in the organization – such as defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman – eased his concerns. McDougle is the only one of 12 Jets draftees who remains unsigned.
  • Jets wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News he believes it’s still too early to conclude that former second-round wideout Stephen Hill is a bust. “I have a hard time labeling a guy a bust when he’s done everything in his power,” Lal said. “Luck in terms of injuries hasn’t been on his side. Therefore, he hasn’t produced consistently. And he’s still only 23 years old.”

AFC Notes: Pryor, Hill, Bills

April 19th, 2014 at 1:05pm CST by Matt Feminis

The Raiders will cut Terrelle Pryor if they can’t find a trade partner by Monday, reports Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (via Twitter). The news portends an inevitable conclusion to Pryor’s time in Oakland, as the writing has been on the wall since the team traded for Matt Schaub and declared confidence in Matt McGloin as the backup.

Here’s a handful more AFC notes:

  • The Broncos are nearing decision time on Von Miller, who is eligible for a fifth-year option, and ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold details the figures, options and factors involved. Even if the team decides against the fifth-year option in the short-term, franchising Miller next year is a realistic possibility assuming he returns healthy from his ACL injury and gets back to his impact form (30 sacks between 2011 and 2012).
  • In a mailbag, ESPNNewYork.com’s Jane McManus shares her opinion that, in theory, the Jets “have already moved on” from 2012 second-rounder Stephen Hill, who has been a bust through two seasons.
  • The Bills are set at one safety spot with Aaron Williams, who is locked up until 2018. However, despite an uninspiring trio of competitors for the other starting position (Da’Norris Searcy, Duke Williams and Jonathan Meeks), the team does not seem motivated to pluck one of the top-rated safety prospects, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Rodak speculates the Bills likely won’t address safety in the draft until the middle or late rounds if at all, saying, “They could also wait another year, see what they have in those two second-year players, and re-assess the position after this season.”

AFC Notes: Jets, Titans, Raiders

April 13th, 2014 at 7:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets haven’t selected an offensive player in the first round since Mark Sanchez in 2009, but Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com doesn’t think its farfetched for the team to select a defender for the fifth-straight year. While the team has a need at wide receiver, Cimini believes cornerback should be the priority. The writer suggests Darqueze Dennard as a possible fit.

Let’s take a look at more notes from Cimini and fellow AFC writers…

  • If the Jets do select a wide receiver, Cimini doesn’t think that signals the end of the line for Stephen Hill. Cimini does acknowledge that the team’s patience is wearing thin on the former second-round pick, though.
  • The Titans could go a number of different ways in the draft, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com mentioned in a recent mailbag. The only positions Kuharsky can’t see the team selecting with their first pick would be quarterback or running back.
  • Continuing with the draft, Kuharsky believes the Titans will draft a receiver at some point after the first round. Additionally, a Titans deal to move up in the first round would be “huge surprise” to the writer.
  • If the Raiders could have traded Terrelle Pryor for fair value, a deal would have already happened, says Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Gutierrez points out the team’s clear desire to have more of a traditional pocket passer, making Pryor expendable.
  • In the same article, Gutierrez expresses his belief that if Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins are off the board by the time it gets to the Raiders at pick number-five, the team should trade down. As an alternative, the team could select an offensive lineman like Jake Matthews or Greg Robinson.