HEADLINES

Steven Means

Ravens Claim Ryan Taylor Off Waivers

October 7th, 2014 at 4:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens have claimed tight end Ryan Taylor off waivers from Green Bay, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who reports (via Twitter) that the team cut fellow tight end Phillip Supernaw in order to make room for the incoming ex-Packers. Wilson adds (via Twitter) that the club also filled out its practice squad by adding defensive end Steven Means.

Taylor, who turns 27 next month, wasn’t been a huge part of the Packers’ passing game since being drafted in the seventh round in 2011, but he had been with the team since then and contributed on special teams, so his release was somewhat surprising. Tight end looked like an area of strength for the Ravens heading into the season, but Dennis Pitta‘s season-ending injury left the depth chart looking much thinner. Supernaw was originally added to the active roster when Pitta went down, but it’ll now be Taylor providing depth alongside Owen Daniels and Crockett Gillmore.

As for Means, the spot on the practice squad opened up for him earlier today, when the Texans signed John Simon away from the Ravens’ squad, leaving the team one player under the 10-man limit.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Dolphins, Brady

October 1st, 2014 at 12:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few Wednesday updates from around the AFC East, where every team except the 1-3 Jets is tied for first place at 2-2….

  • In addition to working out fullback John Conner, who signed with the club, the Jets auditioned center Thomas Austin, tackle Michael Bamiro, and center Lemuel Jeanpierre this week, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds (via Twitter) that the club also tried out linebacker Chris Young.
  • The Dolphins worked out several players as well this week, according to Wilson, who tweets that linebackers Kaelin Burnett, Uani Unga, and Paul Hazel, along with defensive end Steven Means, were among the participants.
  • While Tom Brady‘s subpar September is hardly a reason for the Patriots to panic, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (writing for The Sporting News) outlines possible strategies for the club if Brady’s struggles continue. The former MVP’s contract ensures that his salaries for 2015, 2016, and 2017 will become fully guaranteed if he’s still on New England’s roster at the end of the 2014 season.
  • As Albert Breer of the NFL Network notes (via Twitter), Brady provided an interesting answer today when asked whether he felt the Patriots have the offensive weapons he needs to win: “We’ll see. We’ll see here in a couple months.”
  • Tight end Brandon Barden tried out this week for the Bills, tweets Wilson.

AFC Notes: Ravens, Jets, Pats, Chargers

September 23rd, 2014 at 10:39am CST by Luke Adams

A year ago, the Patriots began the 2013 season by winning their first four games, the Broncos came out of the gates by winning six consecutive contests, and the Chiefs started 9-0 before being dealt their first loss. In 2014, however, we’re through just three weeks and only one AFC team remains unbeaten.

The 3-0 Bengals have the conference’s best point differential by far at +47, and with a bye week coming up, their loss column will remain unblemished for at least one more week. Starting in Week 5 though, the Bengals will play games against the Patriots, Panthers, Colts, and Ravens, meaning there’s a good chance their winning streak will be halted well before they have the opportunity to match last year’s Chiefs’ start.

As we look forward to seeing how long the Bengals can continue their winning ways, let’s round up a few items from around the AFC….

Late Week Workouts: Patriots, Cardinals

September 19th, 2014 at 6:36pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Patriots worked out four players on Friday, reports Mike Reiss and Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

They are likely only looking at these players as practice squad candidates, but the team has made a habit of bringing in these players each week.

The team worked out former Falcons’ receiver and special teamer Kevin Cone, former Buccaneers’ defensive end Steven Means, undrafted free agent running back Rajion Neal, and linebacker D.J. Smith. Smith, a former Packer, also spent time with the Texans and Panthers.

The Cardinals also brought in a semi-big name in the recently released offensive tackle Cameron Bradfield, according to Yates (via Twitter). Bradfield started the first two games of this season for the Jaguars, but struggled mightily to protect Chad Henne. The team gave up ten sacks to the Redskins’ defense this past Sunday.

None of these players were signed as of Friday evening.

NFC East Notes: Jackson, Giants, Cowboys

September 17th, 2014 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

With the Eagles and Redskins set to meet for the first time this season in Week 3, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer revisits the Eagles’ decision to cut wideout DeSean Jackson in the offseason. As McLane writes, Jackson’s former Philadelphia teammates still aren’t entirely sure why the explosive receiver was cut.

“I didn’t see it coming at all,” linebacker Mychal Kendricks said last week. “It’s really none of my business, but I still ask the same question a lot – ‘Why? Why would that happen?'”

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • Several linebackers auditioned for the Giants this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), who identifies Stephen Nicholas, Kion Wilson, Moise Fokou, and James Davidson as free agents to work out for the club.
  • The Cowboys are also eyeing free agent options on the defensive side of the ball, having worked out linebacker Paul Hazel this week, along with defensive ends Steven Means and T.J. Fatinikun, tweets Wilson.
  • Offensive tackle Chris Faulk tried out for the Redskins this week, per Wilson (via Twitter).

Bucs Re-Sign Larry English, Cut Steven Means

September 9th, 2014 at 10:40am CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers have done a little Tuesday roster shuffling, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com, who tweets that the team has re-signed defensive end Larry English, waiving defensive end Steven Means to open up a roster spot. According to Smith (via Twitter), the club also filled one of the two openings on its practice squad by adding cornerback C.J. Wilson.

English, a former first-rounder who was drafted with the 16th overall pick in 2009, appeared in 52 games for the Chargers during his five years with the team, struggling with injuries in recent years and never establishing himself as a consistent performer. He started five of nine games for San Diego in 2013, recording 2.5 sacks, before a pectoral injury sidelined him for the season. After signing with Tampa Bay in mid-August, English was cut just a couple weeks later as the club reduced its roster to 53 players.

A fifth-round pick in 2013, Means played a limited role for the Bucs in his rookie season, and saw the field for just four defensive snaps during the team’s Week 1 lost to Carolina, despite receiving some offseason praise from new head coach Lovie Smith. Since Means received a signing bonus of only about $192K on his rookie contract, Tampa Bay will carry a small amount of dead money on its cap this year and next, after cutting him.