HEADLINES

Terrence Cody

Extra Points: Cowboys, Rams, Bills, Henry, Ford

March 26th, 2016 at 4:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here’s the latest from around the league, beginning with two Southern California training camp teams who aren’t jumping at the chance to reconvene for joint practices.

  • Despite the teams now training near Los Angeles, Cowboys and Rams aren’t planning to partake in another training camp scrimmage due to the brawl that occurred last year when the teams had joint practices in Oxnard, Calif., Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The Rams will be training at UC-Irvine this year, but Jason Garrett hasn’t engaged in any discussions on bringing the teams together again.
  • The Bills expect clarity on Percy Harvin‘s health status in the ensuing two weeks, Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports. Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan are open to the UFA returning despite Buffalo’s $6.9MM left in cap space. Harvin, whose troublesome hip issues ended up sidelining him for the season last November, would have to compete with newly signed Leonard Hankerson and players like Olympic long jump hopeful Marquise Goodwin for the Bills’ No. 3 receiver spot, however, and do so having missed 36 games over the past four seasons.
  • An NFC personnel man rates Arkansas’ Hunter Henry as the most complete tight end to be available in the draft in a long time, Mark Eckel of NJ.com reports. The unidentified evaluator sees Henry as a fit with the Jets, whose tight ends caught just eight passes last season after Jace Amaro missed the year with an injury. “I never liked Amaro,” the personnel man told Eckel. “(Hunter) is tons better than Amaro. Where do I see him going? That’s a tough question. (No. 20) might be a little soon, but he’s a first rounder. He’s definitely a first-rounder.”
  • Dee Ford figures to have a bigger role with the Chiefs in his third season. How much bigger will likely be determined by Justin Houston‘s health. John Dorsey and Andy Reid saw flashes of brilliance, per Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, with Reid saying one of last season’s takeaways was finding out that Ford was “a pretty good football player.” The player who would be opposite Ford in a Houston-less look, Tamba Hali, believes the third-year player — who has been mostly buried behind Houston and Hali in his two seasons — needs to develop further mentally. “If I had to speak for him, I would like for him to take the next step in being a professional … basically (the reason) why they drafted him here is to take over the (starting) role. The season’s too long for me to focus on being a starter or a backup,” Hali said. “I think he’s in the position where he can kind of take the torch and go forward. That’s really mental; physically, the kid is gifted and he has it. But mentally we have to just make sure that he understands why we’re in this building and what needs to be done while we’re here.”
  • Former Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody has been handed a nine-month sentence in his animal cruelty case, as Pat Warren of CBS Baltimore writes. Cody was found guilty of negligence in the death of his canary mastiff who was starved to death. However, he was not found guilty of felony animal abuse because the court did not find his actions intentional, according to his lawyer. PETA issued a statement following the sentencing and implored the NFL to do more to combat animal abuse amongst its players.

Zach Links contributed to this report

AFC Notes: Cody, Manziel, Hightower, Bills

February 2nd, 2015 at 6:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens made their release of defensive tackle Terrence Cody official today, cutting ties with him just weeks before he was scheduled to hit free agency. The timing of the move can be explained by Cody’s off-field legal troubles — according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), the Baltimore County Police Dept. announced today that Cody has been indicted for animal cruelty by a grand jury, and was processed and released on a $10K bail. In a series of tweets, Zrebiec details the charges against Cody, which include multiple counts of animal abuse or neglect involving a dog, illegal possession of an alligator, and marijuana possession. A former second-round pick, Cody figured to draw some interest in free agency, but the charges against him figure to diminish his value significantly.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The fact that Johnny Manziel has entered rehab does not mean he must be placed in the NFL’s substance abuse program, but the league would have the power to do so. League spokesman Greg Aiello has declined to confirm one way or the other whether the Browns quarterback will enter into the program, according to Mike Wilkering of Pro Football Talk.
  • Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower will undergo labrum surgery now that the team’s season is over, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Hightower should be ready to go for the 2015 season.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com takes a look at potential release candidates on the Bills, predicting that the team will at least think about cutting linebacker Keith Rivers, guard Kraig Urbik, and cornerback Leodis McKelvin.
  • Prior to hiring Joker Phillips as their new wide receivers coach, the Browns interviewed former Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow for the position, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap previews the Chargers‘ offseason, suggesting that the team should do what it can to re-sign free agents like King Dunlap and Brandon Flowers.
  • Titans fans could surely be frustrated by the production of former player (and current Patriots linebacker) Akeem Ayers, but ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky believes the organization missed out on another defender who played last night. Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett gave the Patriots fits during the Super Bowl, and Kuharsky wonders what could have been had Tennessee pursued him in free agency in 2013.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Ravens Release Terrence Cody

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

FEBRUARY 2, 1:08pm: The Ravens have officially released Cody, the team announced today (via Twitter).

JANUARY 23, 1:00pm: Peter Schaffer, Cody’s agent, says his client’s dog died due to worms and “there was no animal cruelty” involved, per Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (TwitLonger link).

“If this affects at all my client’s ability to get a job, I’m going to do everything in my legal power to protect his rights,” Schaffer said. The agent also spoke to Aaron Wilson about the issue, suggesting that the league has created an “atmosphere of hysteria that tramples on due process rights” and that the state attorney should be focusing on “real issues” (all Twitter links).

11:25am: Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun provides the likely motive for the Ravens’ decision to cut ties with Cody rather than waiting for his contract to expire. According to Wilson, the defensive tackle is under investigation for animal cruelty, and the case is being discussed with the Baltimore County State attorney’s office. The Ravens are aware of the allegations against Cody, who has yet to be charged with a crime, says Wilson.

10:48am: The Ravens will terminate the contract of defensive tackle Terrence Cody following the Super Bowl, the team announced today (via Twitter). The move will allow Cody to hit the open market, making him free to sign a new deal with any of the league’s 32 teams.

After starting all 16 regular season games for the Ravens in 2011, Cody played a part-time role for the club over the next two seasons, then barely saw the field at all in 2014 while he recovered from hip surgery. Cody began the season on the physically unable to perform list, and though he was activated in early November, the 26-year-old just appeared in one game for Baltimore, playing nine defensive snaps in Week 14 against Miami.

Assuming Cody doesn’t re-sign with the Ravens, it’s a disappointing end to a stint that began when he was selected by the club in the second round of the 2010 draft. It’s also a slightly premature end — having been on a one-year contract, Cody would have been eligible for free agency in March anyway. By releasing him from his contract early, the Ravens will allow the veteran defensive lineman to get a headstart on finding a new job.

Ravens Add Two Players, Cut Chykie Brown

November 4th, 2014 at 12:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

12:09pm: In addition to confirming the release of Brown, the Ravens have announced three other roster moves. According to a press release, the team has activated defensive tackle Terrence Cody from the physically unable to perform list and promoted rookie cornerback Tramain Jacobs from the practice squad. To create that second opening on the 53-man roster, Baltimore cut tight end Phillip Supernaw.

10:14am: The Ravens gave up six passing touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday night, and now one Baltimore defensive back is seeing the hammer fall. Per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), the Ravens are releasing cornerback Chykie Brown. A fifth-round pick in 2011, Brown has spent the entirety of his four-year career in Baltimore.

The 27-year-old Brown has played in 46 games over the course of his career, starting two, including this year’s season opener against the Bengals. He’s registered eight tackles on the season, and received mostly negative grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) — the more snaps he was forced to play, the worse his production became. It’s possible that Brown is a viable reserve defensive back, but it’s fair to say that he shouldn’t be a starting CB. Because he’s a vested four-year veteran, he won’t have to pass through waivers, meaning he is now a free agent.

It’s a little surprising that the Ravens would cut Brown loose, given that No. 1 corner Jimmy Smith is out for several weeks with a foot injury, while Lardarius Webb is also dealing with health concerns. Nevertheless, Baltimore now has an open roster spot, so look for the club to sign a replacement in the near future.

AFC Notes: Jags, Raiders, Cody, Browns

October 18th, 2014 at 7:54pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s no secret that GM David Caldwell has overhauled the Jaguars‘ roster since arriving in Jacksonville, and Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has some eye-opening numbers on just how significant that overhaul as been. According to O’Halloran, no team has fewer pre-2013 draftees on its current 53-man roster (and reserve lists) than Jacksonville — the Jags are carrying just six players that they drafted prior to ’13.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Only one team in the NFL has fewer sacks this season than the Raiders‘ five, and free agent signees Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley haven’t helped matters, combining for just one sack so far. As Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, Oakland needs the veteran pass-rushing duo to pick up its game going forward in order to help justify the team’s approach to the offseason.
  • Defensive tackle Terrence Cody was eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list this week, but he won’t be activated by the Ravens quite yet. Still, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the team has been encouraged by Cody’s progress.
  • In his latest Browns mailbag, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com fields almost exclusively questions about the team’s quarterback situation, as Brian Hoyer‘s performance continues to keep rookie Johnny Manziel sidelined.
  • While the Browns’ early success has raised questions about Hoyer’s long-term future in Cleveland, it may be doing the same for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, says Jeff Schudel of the Morning Journal. In Schudel’s view, Shanahan continues to improve his resumé and figures to be considered in January by teams with head coaching openings.

PUP, IR-DTR Players Soon Eligible To Practice

October 10th, 2014 at 1:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Week 6 of the NFL season will come to an end after Monday night’s game between the 49ers and Rams, and when teams begin preparing for Week 7, many of those clubs may be welcoming some players back to practice. Six weeks into the NFL season, players who were placed on the physically unable to perform list or the injured reserve list with the designation to return prior to Week 1’s games will be eligible to return to practice.

Of course, just because those players are able to return to the practice field doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be healthy enough to do so. Players on the PUP list have a five-week window to begin practicing. Once they return to practice, they have three weeks to be added to their respective teams’ active rosters. In other words, a player on the PUP list could theoretically return for his team’s Week 7 game, or could return as late as for his team’s Week 15 contest. If the player doesn’t return to practice or game action in time, he’ll revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Here are the players currently on the physically unable to perform list who can begin practicing as soon as next week:

Players who began the season on the PUP list didn’t participate in any preseason practices, but that’s not the case for players on the injured reserve list with the designation to return. Teams can use this spot on one player per season, placing him on the injured reserve list without necessarily ruling him out for the season. As we explained in an earlier post, players given this designation can begin practicing after six weeks and can return after eight weeks.

That means that players who were placed on IR-DTR prior to Week 1 can begin practicing next week. A player who was placed on IR-DTR after – for instance – Week 2 will have to wait another two weeks to return to practice.

Here’s the list of players currently on IR-DTR who can begin practicing as soon as next week:

Ravens Cut Derek Cox, Dominique Franks

August 30th, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Ben Levine

3:56pm: The Ravens have announced their last few moves, which are as follows:

Cut:

Placed on reserve-PUP list:

Placed on reserve-suspended list:

1:15pm: The Ravens have waived two more players:

9:37am: After letting go of offensive lineman Reggie Stephens yesterday, the Ravens have cut two more offensive lineman this morning. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that lineman A.Q. Shipley has been released while NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala tweets that Ryan Jensen has been released. Below is a running list of the team’s moves:

Extra Points: Clowney, Glenn, Shembo

July 19th, 2014 at 1:10pm CST by Matt Feminis
  • Texans No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney’s status for the beginning of training camp is still up the air, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. Clowney, who is recovering from June sports hernia surgery, remains day-to-day with no timetable established for his return.
  • The Ravens placed backup nose tackle Terrence Cody on the physically unable to perform list for the beginning of training camp, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Cody, who is recovering from hip surgery, can be be activated whenever he’s healthy enough to resume practicing.
  • In minor transaction news, the Bills signed receiver Tori Gurley and cornerback Kamaal McIlwain to fill empty roster spots, according to BuffaloBills.com insider Chris Brown.
  • Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn is on the Active/Non-Football Illness list, but GM Doug Whaley doesn’t think Glenn will be lost long-term, according to WGR 550’s Joe Buscaglia. Said Whaley: “We don’t think so at this time. It’s just gonna have to see on how he progresses. We hope not. We’re still waiting on some reports on him, but it looks like it’s gonna be one of those day-to-day things and we’ll see how it progresses.”
  • In the meantime, highly publicized rookie Seantrel Henderson will man left tackle in Glenn’s stead.
  • Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union takes an in-depth look at the Jaguars’ new-look offensive line, including quotes from offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch praising the athleticism of Luke Joeckel and the leadership of Zane Beadles. “He’s certainly as advertised and then some,” Fisch says of Beadles.
  • Falcons fourth-round outside linebacker Prince Shembo has a realistic chance of earning starts, writes Orlando Ledbetter in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ledbetter says the team will “force-feed” information to Shembo, whom head coach Mike Smith is “very excited” about. “He’s picked up the system very well,” said Smith. “He doesn’t have any experience, but we will get him a lot, I can assure you that in the preseason.”
  • James Harrison, Jermichael Finley and Santonio Holmes headline AP writer Dennis Waszak Jr.’s list of 13 notable, veteran free agents still looking for work with training camps getting underway.
  • The Patriots issued a press release saying Bill Belichick and Aaron Hernandez exchanged 34 total text messages, not 33 pages worth. According to Boston Globe correspondent Dan Adams, filings released Monday did not reveal the contents of the text messages or what Patriots employees shared with authorities, but did reveal that Belichick, Robert Kraft were interviewed by investigators, who also searched the locker of a player.
  • The NFL is moving swiftly to address the issue of underqualified underclassmen flooding the draft, reports NFL.com’s Albert Breer. In an effort to deter potentially undraftable players from declaring, the league’s advisory committee will streamline (simplify) its evaluation grades to include first round, second round or neither. Additionally, colleges will be restricted to five evaluation requests unless an abundance of talent dictates the need for more (e.g. Alabama, LSU, Florida State, etc.). Writes Beer: “At the heart of the changes are staggering statistics stemming from the 2014 draft class — of the record 107 who declared, 45 went undrafted. A majority of those 45 remain unsigned by NFL teams as undrafted free agents.”

AFC Notes: Ravens, Browns, Patriots, Chiefs

July 6th, 2014 at 6:08pm CST by Peter Sowards

A frustrating year befell the 2013 Baltimore Ravens, unable to match the high expectations set after winning the Super Bowl the prior season. The offense sputtered behind the NFL’s worst rushing offense and inconsistent play from quarterback Joe Flacco, and an average defense couldn’t make up for the offensive deficiencies.

Thankfully, 2014 is a clean slate. According to Ben Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com, safety Darian Stewart, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and offensive lineman Ryan Jensen are three players whose stocks are rising after the team’s offseason, while defensive lineman Terrence Cody, center Gino Gradkowski and offensive lineman Jah Reid are on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Stewart, with 19 starts in his four-year NFL career, looks to be the Week 1 starter opposite Matt Elam, Smolka writes. Juszczyk is a perfect fit in Gary Kubiak‘s offense and Jensen can play every position on the offensive line.

More news and notes from around the NFL…

  • As the fallout from the Josh Gordon saga continues, Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer suggests the Browns offer the wideout an ultimatum: enroll in a full-time rehabilitation program in Cleveland right now, or be released. Pluto points out that Gordon’s problems have continued from his time at Baylor and Utah, and it’s time to truly figure out his interest in football.
  • Patriots first-round defensive tackle Dominique Easley is making progress in his recovery coming off two torn ACLs in college, writes ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss, who provides a status update on each of the team’s nine draft picks. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, drafted in the second round, has taken advantage of an opportunity afforded to him by the limited availability of backup quarterback Ryan Mallett.
  • Chiefs rookie running back De’Anthony Thomas told NFL.com that he’s a player nobody’s ever seen step on the football field, according to Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. Thomas also set a number of goals for the season, including winning Rookie of the Year, leading the team in a number of offensive categories and going to the Super Bowl.

Ravens Re-Sign Terrence Cody

April 7th, 2014 at 9:55am CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY 9:55am: Cody’s one-year deal is for $730k, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

FRIDAY 2:01pm: The Ravens have re-signed free agent defensive tackle Terrence Cody, the team announced today. It’s the latest move in a busy Friday for the Ravens, who also officially inked Owen Daniels and Justin Forsett to deals.

After starting all 16 regular season games for the Ravens in 2011, Cody has played a part-time role for the club in the two seasons since then, and will likely provide defensive line depth once again in 2014. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 25-year-old played 240 defensive snaps in 12 games in 2013, logging 17 tackles.

While the former second-round pick may not have lived up to expectations so far in Baltimore, Cody’s a familiar face for the Ravens’ defensive line rotation, and should be inexpensive — terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but anything more than the minimum salary would be a surprise.

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