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Terrance West

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.”

 

Bills Notes: Mosley, Draft, Trump

April 24th, 2014 at 8:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Yesterday, the Bills hosted Clemson star Sammy Watkins and speculation started flying that Buffalo would look to trade up in the draft. The Bills are currently slated to pick at No. 9 but if they want this year’s No. 1 receiver, they’ll have to vault up into the Top 5. The Rams at No. 2 could be a potential trade partner since they’re said to be open to moving down. The Texans are also open to deals for the No. 1 pick but the asking price is rather high. The latest out of Buffalo..

  • The Bills hosted Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley and Towson running back Terrance West on pre-draft visits today, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Mosley, widely praised for his strong character and work ethic, is a likely first round pick. West won’t hear his name called on Day 1 but he is one of the better tailbacks in a class that is paper thin at the position.
  • Jeremy M. Jacobs Jr, a member of one of Buffalo’s wealthiest families, says his clan is involved behind the scenes in the effort to keep the Bills in Western New York, writes Stephen T. Watson of the Buffalo News. “We are using our resources, our contacts, our relationships to do everything we can to ensure the Bills stay in Buffalo,” Jacobs said. When asked whether those efforts could include making a bid for the team, or joining a group making an offer, Jacobs did not offer a direct answer.
  • Would Donald Trump make a good NFL owner? Former standout running back Hershel Walker sure thinks so. “He would be a great owner, and a credible owner,” Walker told Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports. “People can think what they want to think about Jerry Jones — he’s a terrible general manager, but he’s a great owner. He has done a tremendous job in marketing his team to keep it relevant. I think that’s the same thing Donald Trump would do with the Buffalo Bills.”

Extra Points: Easley, Murray, Lions, Visits

April 17th, 2014 at 2:29pm CST by Luke Adams

Defensive tackle Dominique Easley, who tore his ACL in September, held a personal Pro Day to attempt to prove his health to NFL teams today, and Jeff Barlis of ESPN.com (Twitter links) reports that at least 17 clubs were in attendance. According to Barlis (via Twitter), Easley feels like his knee is at “about 80%” and that he’ll be fully prepared for summer mini-camps. In his ESPN.com piece on Easley’s performance, Barlis adds that the former Florida Gator will visit NFL clubs for seven straight days starting on Sunday.

Here are a few more notes from around the NFL, including one additional update on Easley:

  • Easley is drawing “heavy interest” from the Seahawks, Bears, Patriots, and 49ers in particular, and looks like a second-round pick, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
  • Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links) adds the Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Rams to the list of teams who have met or will meet with Georgia signal-caller Aaron Murray.
  • In addition to tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, whose visit was previously reported, the Lions are also hosting USC receiver Marqise Lee and Mississippi State defensive end Denico Autry today, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
  • Jason Fitzgerald’s evaluatons of each team’s free agent periods continued today at OverTheCap.com with pieces on the Redskins, who received a C grade, and the Eagles, who got an impressive grade of B+.
  • Towson running back Terrance West, who has had private meetings with the Cardinals and Dolphins, will visit the 49ers, Falcons, and Bills next week, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Steelers hosted Minnesota defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, UMass tight end Rob Blanchflower, and Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines for pre-draft visits today, tweets Bob Labriola of Steelers.com.

Pre-Draft Visits: Ravens, Barr, Ellington

April 14th, 2014 at 8:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

Towson running back Terrance West met with the Ravens today, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. West will visit the Vikings tomorrow and the Seahawks on Wednesday.

Here are some other notes on pre-draft visits from around the NFL:

  • Morgan State guard Karim Barton also visited the Ravens as a local prospect, reported Wilson (via Twitter).
  • Linebacker Anthony Barr of UCLA will be getting busy, with multiple visits scheduled over the next two weeks, reports Ross Jones of FoxSports.com (via Twitter). Among his scheduled visits are the Cowboys, Vikings, Steelers, Falcons and Eagles.
  • Receiver Bruce Ellington of South Carolina is visiting a few teams this week, including the Rams, Cardinals, and Patriots, and has already worked out for the Falcons, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 and and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The cousin of Cardinals’ running back Andre Ellington is the fourth receiver to visit the Rams, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch (via Twitter).

Draft Notes: Lions, Falcons, 49ers, Pats

April 13th, 2014 at 6:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The Lions are hoping to make it back to the playoffs in 2014, and Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com believes that the team is one player away from being a true contender. With that said, there are plenty of different directions the Lions could go in during the draft. If they select a wide receiver like former Clemson standout Sammy Watkins, Rothstein says the offense “would look extremely talented.” Of course, Rothstein also adds that it may be in the team’s best interest to draft defense.

Here are some more draft notes from around the NFL…

  • A Falcons congregation travled to Towson University to workout running back Terrance West and cornerback Jordan Love, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
  • The 49ers will bring in former Sooners cornerback Aaron Colvin for a pre-draft visit, reports Eric Branch of SFGate.com. Colvin is currently rehabbing from an ACL tear sustained during the Senior Bowl.
  • Considering Vince Wilfork‘s age and questionable future in New England, the Patriots need another elite defensive tackle, writes Tom E. Curran of CSNNewEngland.com. Specifically, Curran looks at Notre Dame’s Louis Nix, stating that the defender would be “the most reasonable replacement” for Wilfork.
  • One scout referred to Jadeveon Clowney as “spoiled” and “lazy,” writes Mark Eckel of the Times of Trenton. While the scout can’t see Clowney overcoming his apparent lack of commitment, he still acknowledges that the defensive end will be a top-five pick.

Extra Points: Pettine, Mack, Weems, Manziel

April 11th, 2014 at 10:14pm CST by Zachary Links

New Browns coach Mike Pettine says he’s ready to “fight” his way out of two decades of losing, writes Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Pettine believes the difference between finishing 6-10 and 10-6 is often how a team handles two-minute drills, performs on third downs, and plays in the red zone. “We are going to over practice in these areas,” he said. More from around the NFL..

  • Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida-Times Union discusses the Jaguars‘ pursuit of Browns center Alex Mack. O’Halloran notes that Jacksonville considers center the third-most important position on the offense after quarterback and left tackle and wanted to acquire an experienced player. With that kind of importance placed on the center position, one has to wonder why the Jags didn’t make their offer harder for the Browns to match.
  • One motivating factor for Eric Weems remaining with the Bears is that he believes he will have good chance to make an impact in the return game, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Earlier tonight we learned that Weems took a $270K paycut to stay with Chicago.
  • The Texans should make Johnny Manziel their No. 1 pick, opines Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union Tribune. Roger Staubach has compared Manziel to Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Canepa notes that Johnny Football is even more athletic than the Super Bowl champion.
  • Towson running back Terrance West took to Twitter to announce that he’ll have a workout with the Ravens on Monday. We heard earlier today that the tailback was impressive during his Pro Day and appeared to solidify himself as a fourth-round pick.
  • Losing nickel corner Corey Graham to the Bills in free agency could hurt the Ravens, so they may not wait long to draft a replacement, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. It’s hard to see Baltimore drafting a corner in the first round over their needs at right tackle and safety, but there are some cornerbacks that could interest them in the second round, including Stanley Jean-Baptiste of Nebraska, Larmarcus Joyner of Florida State, and Keith McGill of Utah.

Pauline’s Latest: Pryor, Evans, Gaines, Pats

April 11th, 2014 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Here’s the latest draft buzz from Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net:

  • Sources close to the club say that Louisville safety Calvin Pryor will be a priority for the Lions if he drops to the second day of the draft. I imagine that’d be the case for most teams, considering Pryor is widely considered one of the top two or three defensive backs in the draft.
  • There’s a consensus that Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans will be a top-10 pick, and the team that lands him may ultimately trade up or down to do it. Pauline identifies the Rams, Eagles, and Ravens as possible landing spots for Evans. Philadelphia could also be in the mix for receivers like Brandin Cooks or Marqise Lee.
  • Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines had dinner with the Jaguars last month and has worked out for the Bengals and Buccaneers. Gaines also has trips lined up with the Giants, Cardinals, and Dolphins.
  • The Patriots recently worked out Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas and D.J. Coles, and Pauline suggests that there’s a belief New England will draft a quarterback this year, since the team expects to lose Ryan Mallett a year from now. As for Coles, the Pats had the receiver do plenty of tight end work during position drills.
  • Prior to tearing his ACL during a workout with the Saints, offensive lineman Brandon Thomas had official visits set up with the Raiders, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Panthers. He was also scheduled to work out for the Buccaneers and Giants. The workouts are obviously off the table now, but it’s not clear which of the visits will still happen, if any, says Pauline.
  • Towson running back Terrance West was impressive during his Pro Day and appeared to solidify himself as a fourth-round pick, according to Pauline.

Ravens Links: Clinton-Dix, Rankin, RBs

April 10th, 2014 at 10:54am CST by Luke Adams

As the Ravens continue to weigh their options for the No. 17 pick, the team recently hosted Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a pre-draft visit, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson adds that Clinton-Dix has also visited the Lions and met with the Titans. As Wilson writes, the young safety would be an excellent addition to Baltimore’s secondary, allowing the club to shift Matt Elam over to strong safety. However, considering Clinton-Dix is viewed as arguably the top defensive back in the draft, there are no guarantees he’ll be available when the Ravens pick 17th overall.

Here’s more out of Baltimore:

  • Add Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin to the list of prospects participating in the Ravens’ local Pro Day, tweets Wilson. Among the other players expected to be in attendance: Wake Forest wideout Michael Campanaro, Towson running back Terrance West, Towson cornerback Jordan Love, and Arkansas fullback Kiero Small.
  • The Ravens’ No. 3 running backs last season totaled just 16 rushing yards on eight carries, and the team is looking to improve on those totals this season, writes Bo Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com. With Ray Rice dealing with legal troubles and Bernard Pierce coming off shoulder surgery, that position will be of extra importance. For now, Justin Forsett is penciled into that No. 3 spot, though there’s still time for the team to add more competition to the roster, either in free agency or the draft.
  • Picking just two spots apart in the draft, the Ravens and Steelers may be targeting similar players, says Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Brown singles out safety Calvin Pryor and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan as prospects who seem to be generating interest from the pair of AFC North rivals.

Pauline’s Draft Notes: Latimer, Johnson, West

April 7th, 2014 at 9:54pm CST by Peter Sowards

In this nugget-filled piece on draftinsider.net, NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline drops some knowledge on the latest workouts and visits from eligible prospects around the league. Here are a few of the notes PFR has yet to touch on:

  • The Eagles hosted Indiana receiver Cody Latimer for an official visit today in addition to Brandon Coleman, Quron Pratt and Kelvin Benjamin.
  • The Chargers and Saints will host New Mexico offensive lineman Darryl Johnson, whom Pauline describes as a practice squad developmental prospect who projects to guard in the NFL.
  • Terrance West has already worked out for the Falcons and has made an official visit to see the Titans. At least 22 teams were represented at the Towson running back’s pro-day today.
  • Georgia State offensive tackle John Ulrich has trips scheduled to visit the Falcons and Seahawks.
  • Sources tell Pauline to expect the Seahawks to target offensive tackles in the upcoming draft.
  • Pauline hears that the Buccaneers hope to draft at least one tackle and/or guard with starting potential.
  • South Carolina edge rusher Chaz Sutton recently met with the Texans and Raiders.

 

Draft Notes: Manziel, Matthews, Mettenberger

April 7th, 2014 at 7:31pm CST by Ben Levine

As the NFL Draft quickly approaches, Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review takes a look at five players the Steelers could draft in the first round. The list includes receivers Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin, cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert and defensive lineman Louis Nix. Robinson also brings up Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald, but believes that the defender is not a good fit for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has the 15th pick in the first-round of this year’s draft.

Here are some more prospect notes…

  • Johnny Manziel will begin meeting with the Jaguars tomorrow, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Manziel spent that last two days with the Raiders.
  • Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews will visit with the Bills tomorrow, tweets Joe Buscaglia of WGR Sports Radio.
  • While the team will meet with the quarterback, the Titans have no intention of working out Zach Mettenberger, according to Jim Wyatt of Tennessean (via Twitter).
  • University of Tennessee offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James is scheduled to visit the Titans this week, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
  • Running back De’Anthony Thomas will visit with the Bears, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
  • Scouts for the Bills and Saints were at Terrance West‘s pro day, Wilson tweets. The Bengals also met with the Towson running back (via Twitter). West ran for 2295 yards last season.
  • Center Bryan Stork will visit the Saints this week, according to Larry Holder of NOLA.com (via Twitter). The Florida State alumni won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center.
  • Former Boise State defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe met with the Chargers, reports Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (via Twitter). According to Gehlken, the Amsterdam-native is relatively new to the sport.
  • Eagles coach Bob Bicknell worked out Rutgers receivers Quron Pratt and Brandon Coleman, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
  • The Dolphins hosted offensive tackle Garrett Scott, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. The team has already added linemen Shelley Smith, Branden Albert and Jason Fox during free agency.
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