HEADLINES

T.J. Yates

Falcons To Re-Sign T.J. Yates

March 9th, 2015 at 9:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons will keep a familiar face as the No. 2 quarterback behind Matt Ryan, as the club has re-signed backup QB T.J. Yates, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). Yates will earn $1.5MM on a one-year deal, per Caplan.

Earlier this week, we heard that four teams (in addition to Atlanta) were expressing interest in the 27-year-old Yates, but he’ll return to the place where he spent the entire 2014 season after being traded by the Texans. Yates, a former fifth-round pick, started five games during his rookie season in 2011, and even lead Houston to a playoff victory over the Bengals. Playing behind Ryan last season, though, he received next to no playing time, attempting just four passes.

In the final season of his rookie deal, Yates earned a base salary of only $645K, so he’ll receive a raise of more than 100%.

Extra Points: Yates, Titans, NFLPA, Pats, Rams

March 5th, 2015 at 10:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Four teams are expressing interest in free agent quarterback T.J. Yates, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Yates did start five games during his rookie season in Houston, but none since, and he attempted just four passes for the Falcons last year. Even with a weak crop of free agent QBs, Yates is likely only receiving inquiries that involve backup jobs.

Let’s look at some more items from around the league…

  • Despite many denials on the part of the team, the Titans could still be for sale in 2015, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). La Canfora reported the same in December, but club CEO Tommy Smith has insisted the Titans are not for sale.
  • Another candidate has emerged in the race for NFLPA executive director, as senior director of the players’ union Jason Belser announced that he’ll be running against incumbent DeMaurice Smith, tweets Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
  • The Vikings are close to a new deal with long snapper Cullen Loeffler, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Another long snapper, Denver’s Aaron Brewer, received a new contract earlier today.
  • Appearing on CSN New England, NFL.com’s Albert Breer said he’d be surprised if the Patriots lose both Darrelle Revis and Devin McCourty, adding that Revis is the favorite of the two to return to New England.
  • After acquiring a pack of picks for giving up the right to draft Robert Griffin III, the Rams should now reverse themselves and surrender whatever is needed to move up and select Marcus Mariota in next month’s draft, argues La Canfora in a separate piece.
  • Jets receiver Percy Harvin is due a $10.5MM salary next season, and if he’s still on the roster as of March 19, New York’s draft-pick compensation to Seattle increases from a sixth-rounder to a fourth-rounder. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com runs through Gang Green’s options with its mercurial pass-catcher.

AFC Mailbags: Jags, McFadden, Chiefs, Jets

January 24th, 2015 at 8:58am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start off the morning by checking out some notes from the AFC…

NFC Notes: Gabbert, Cromartie, Peterson

June 21st, 2014 at 4:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 49ers acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars earlier this offseason, with the hopes that he could become the backup to Colin Kaepernick. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman had good early impressions of Gabbert, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “(I’m) excited about Blaine,” said Roman. “He asks all the right questions.”

Gabbert appears humbled in his time with Jacksonville, and is ready to make a new start. “I just came in here and tried to put my best foot forward every day and really enjoy the process and get better on a consistent basis,” Gabbert said. “That’s what you look for in the spring — just consistent improvement and getting comfortable in the offense and with the new surroundings and the new guys you’re working with.”

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • While Cardinals‘ superstar Patrick Peterson has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, but his new teammate Antonio Cromartie is not sold on his skills, writes Nate Davis of USAToday.com. “You got three young guys that are up and coming, but right now it’s either me or (Revis) when we’re healthy. … We have zero help at all; we tell the safety to roll up to the other side. So we know what we can do,” said Cromartie. “I want these guys (Sherman, Peterson and Haden) to be on an island by themselves and play zero coverage (no safety help) – they (haven’t done) it yet. They haven’t done anything that me and Revis have done in a Rex Ryan defense.”
  • As new offensive coordinator Norv Turner implements his offense on the Vikings, one key aspect he would like is increasing Adrian Peterson‘s role in the passing game, writes Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com. “A big part of that is finding ways for Adrian to not have to run in such crowded areas all the time. He’s going to have to do that, that’s part of his job, he’s the best in the league at it.,” said Turner. “But if we can get him more space we can take advantage of his great abilities.”
  • The Packers have an open starting job at tight end with Jermichael Finley not re-signed, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Andrew Quarless filled in well for Finley last season, but has not reported for OTAs this season as he looks for a new contract. In his absence, rookie Richard Rogers has emerged as a possible frontrunner for the starting job.
  • T.J. Yates, who was traded from the Texans to the Falcons on Wednesday night, tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he couldn’t be happier with his change of scenery.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Falcons Acquire T.J. Yates 

June 18th, 2014 at 9:50pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have acquired quarterback T.J. Yates from the Texans in exchange for linebacker Akeem Dent, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The Texans decided to waive Yates yesterday but it appears that the transaction wasn’t made official. Therefore, Yates remained on the Texans’ roster and they were able to ship him to Atlanta.

Yates, a fifth-round pick in 2011, has spent the last three seasons with the Texans, most notably starting five games for the club in his rookie year and winning a playoff game in that season. Since then, he has seen limited action, completing 19 of 32 attempts in the last two years, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Ravens were linked to Yates but he’ll instead head to the NFC where he’ll look to find a role in support of starter Matt Ryan.

Yates started in place of Matt Schaub in 2011, helping to guide the Texans to their first franchise playoff victory. His career hasn’t exactly taken off since then, however, and last season he was supplanted on the depth chart by rookie QB Case Keenum. With Ryan Fitzpatrick anointed as the starter in Houston, Yates became expendable. The club initially planned on cutting him, but the phones started ringing once word of that got out. Now, the Texans won’t lose him for nothing. He’ll battle it out with Dominique Davis, Jeff Mathews, and Sean Renfree this offseason for a spot on the roster.

Dent, 26, was selected in the third round by Atlanta in the 2011 draft. In three seasons, Dent has seen the field in 47 games and racked up a total of 81 tackles and four pass deflections. Like Yates, Dent is entering the final season of his rookie deal.

AFC Notes: CJ2K, Steelers, Yates, Titans

June 18th, 2014 at 12:55pm CST by Luke Adams

New Jets running back Chris Johnson is now five years removed from a 2009 season in which he eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards with the Titans. He’ll turn 29 this fall, and is coming off a knee injury, but Johnson still believes he has enough left in the tank to make another run at that mark, as he tells Seth Walder of the New York Daily News.

“I’d just retire and not play anymore if I didn’t feel like I was still capable of being a 2,000-yard back,” Johnson said. “I know I have the ability.”

Another run at 2,000 yards may be aiming a little high for the former Titan, but the fact that Johnson feels as if he hasn’t lost a step should be encouraging for Jets fans hoping he’ll make an impact this season. Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Steelers have swapped one undrafted free agent for another, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed running back Jordan Hall and waived cornerback Deion Belue. Belue signed with the Dolphins as a rookie free agent last month, then was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh after being cut by Miami.
  • Although the Ravens have been “monitoring” T.J. Yates‘ situation for some time, there’s no guarantee that Baltimore will pursue the quarterback now that he’s been cut by the Texans, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Of the two linebackers who worked out for the Titans earlier this week, Quentin Groves is viewed as a better fit than Marvin Mitchell, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • Wide receiver Greg Little, who joined the Raiders after being cut by the Browns, was surprised that Cleveland waived him, since he had a “tremendous relationship” with the new coaches, he tells Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Of course, as Little acknowledges, the decision ultimately wasn’t in the hands of the coaching staff (Twitter links).

Texans Waive T.J. Yates

June 17th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after naming Ryan Fitzpatrick their starting signal-caller heading into training camp, the Texans have trimmed their depth chart at the position. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Houston has released quarterback T.J. Yates.

Yates, a fifth-round pick in 2011, has spent the last three seasons with the Texans, most notably starting five games for the club in his rookie year and winning a playoff game in that season. Since then, he has seen limited action, completing 19 of 32 attempts in the last two years, with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

A report last week suggested the Texans may release a quarterback before training camp, and considering Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage were locks to make the roster, the choice essentially came down to Yates and Case Keenum. With Yates out of the picture in Houston, Keenum and Savage figure to compete for the backup job behind Fitzpatrick.

Because he’s only in his fourth NFL season, Yates will have to clear waivers before he’s free to sign with any other team. As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter), the Ravens are worth keeping an eye on, since former Houston coach Gary Kubiak is now the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, and the club doesn’t have a clear-cut No. 2 option behind Joe Flacco.

AFC South Notes: Texans, Hilton, Jaguars

June 9th, 2014 at 1:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Like Eric Fisher a year ago, No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney will have offsets in his rookie contract with the Texans, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). Draft picks are typically agreeing to terms quicker than ever because the new CBA doesn’t leave much room for negotiations, but the presence of offsets in deals for first-round picks was one possible point of contention. Still, with offsets in the deals for Clowney and No. 4 pick Sammy Watkins, the Rams and Jaguars should be able to push for similar contracts for Greg Robinson and Blake Bortles, as Breer notes (via Twitter).

Here’s more from out of the AFC South:

  • The Texans may release a quarterback before training camp, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters, including Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage viewed as locks for the regular-season roster, either Case Keenum or T.J. Yates is expected to be the odd man out.
  • Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, who has two years left on his rookie deal, has fired agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It’s the second time Rosenhaus has made headlines in the last 24 hours — he’s also on the receiving end of allegations made by Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson.
  • The Jaguars have cut offensive tackle Demarcus Love to make room to sign wide receiver Brandon Wimberly, tweets John Oesher of Jaguars.com. Wimberly participated in the club’s rookie minicamp as a tryout player last month.