HEADLINES

Tommy Armstrong

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/16/17

June 16th, 2017 at 6:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Friday’s minor moves:

  • The Vikings have waived undrafted rookie Tommy Armstrong, whom they signed just over two weeks ago. The former Nebraska quarterback auditioned at running back with the Vikings before moving to safety, but Armstrong didn’t do enough in his 13 practices as a defender to keep his roster spot. Armstrong was an effective dual-threat QB during his four college seasons, totaling 90 touchdowns (67 passing, 23 rushing).

Vikings Sign Tommy Armstrong

May 31st, 2017 at 9:12am CST by Ben Levine

It looks like Tommy Armstrong has finally received that long-awaited contract from the Vikings. According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter), the team has added the former Nebraska quarterback to their roster. To make room, the team has waived receiver Mitch Mathews.

Nov 25, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The undrafted free agent participated in the Vikings’ rookie minicamp, although the organization wasn’t eyeing Armstrong as a quarterback. Rather, the coaching staff auditioned the 23-year-old as a running back, and they later shifted him to safety. Despite the apparent versatility, the team didn’t sign Armstrong following the conclusion of minicamp.

Armstrong had a successful collegiate career at quarterback. In 45 games, the four-year player converted 53.3-percent of his passes for 8,871 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 44 interceptions. Armstrong also showed talents in the running game, collecting 1,819 yards and 23 touchdowns on 423 attempts (good for a 4.3-yard average).

Mathews has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of Brigham Young in 2016. Besides Minnesota, the 6-foot-6 receiver also spent time with the Chiefs and Browns. In 41 career collegiate games, Mathews hauled in 152 receptions for 2,083 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Extra Points: Broncos, Barron, Vikings

May 13th, 2017 at 12:25pm CST by Ben Levine

The Broncos running back depth chart is currently crowded with intriguing names (including Jamaal Charles, C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, and rookie De’Angelo Henderson), and head coach Vance Joseph expects to rely on a running back-by-committee approach.

“Every position on our football team is going to be competitive,” Joseph said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “The running back position, you need two or three guys who are going to carry the load. It’s no longer a one-guy position. I’m excited to have Jamaal, C.J., Book, even De’Angelo in the mix there. It’s a good group, it’s going to be competitive and that’s the way it should be.”

Let’s take a look at some other notes from around the NFL…

  • Previous defensive coordinators have used Mark Barron all around the field, but Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said he’ll solely be using the veteran at linebacker. “He’s really instinctive,” Phillips said (via ESPN.com’s Alden Gonzalez). “He’s got great speed, and we can utilize his coverage ability at linebacker. It gives you more options as far as things you want to do defensively. If you get a guy like that who can cover people, then we’re going to utilize that.”
  • Former Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong will not be joining the Vikings, the player tweeted on Thursday night (via Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com). The 23-year-old participated in the team’s minicamp last week as a running back and safety. Armstrong later said that Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray told him he’d be back for OTAs, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
  • Free agent defensive end Bobby Richardson will be attending the Titans‘ rookie minicamp, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Richardson broke onto the scene as an undrafted rookie in 2015, playing in 15 games (11 starts) for the Saints while compiling 40 tackles and one interception. He’s bounced around since that time, spending time with the Redskins, Chiefs, and Broncos.

Extra Points: Eagles, Walker, Mangold, Vikes

May 8th, 2017 at 9:29pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Newly minted Eagles defensive tackle Charles Walker drew criticism for leaving Oklahoma’s football team last year before its season ended (head coach Bob Stoops essentially called him a quitter), but it turns out he had a good reason. Walker’s early exit came because of a battle with depression, which he explained in a letter to all 32 NFL teams prior to the draft, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links). Walker also notified clubs that taking medication has helped curb his depression. Despite that positive development and Walker’s high upside, nobody took a flier on him during the seven-round draft.

More from around the game:

  • Free agent center Nick Mangold, unemployed since the Jets released him in February, told Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday that he’s “trying to get ready” for 2017, but it doesn’t appear retirement is out of the question for the 33-year-old. When asked if he has ruled out walking away from football, Mangold said, “We’re still trying to see what the options are.” Although he has an outstanding track record, there has been scant interest in the seven-time Pro Bowler this offseason. It’s possible that’ll change shortly, however, as New Orleans may be on the lookout for help in the middle of its offensive line.
  • After a four-year stint as Nebraska’s quarterback, the undrafted Tommy Armstrong is going to have to change positions if he wants to make the Vikings. Armstrong, who’s currently unsigned, entered the Vikings’ rookie minicamp trying out at running back. Minnesota then shifted him to safety, and he intrigued the club enough to earn an invitation to organized team activities, per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Said Armstrong, whose college career included 90 touchdowns (67 passing, 23 rushing): “I met with (defensive backs coach Jerry) Gray after practice Sunday, and he said, ‘We’re going to fly you back up here (next) Sunday and we’ll give you a playbook. He said he’d call me in a few days. They also like the way I’ve been playing special teams.’’
  • Upward of 12 players in the Spring League have been invited to NFL minicamps. CEO Brian Woods says he’s happy with the way things have played out since the league’s inaugural season wrapped up. “We were pleased with the NFL turnout for sure,” Woods said (via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com). “It was overwhelming and we were happy to have it. I was talking as it wrapped up with some of our coaches, and we feel like this league is in position to help quarterbacks as much as anything, and we all know that’s an ongoing priority for the NFL.” Generally, though, NFL execs have told Seifert that they wished the league was younger as a whole. Running back Ben Tate, 28, apparently turned in the best performance of any of the league’s players.

Zach Links contributed to this post.