HEADLINES

Tommy Kelly

Cardinals Notes: QB, Dockett, Bowles

January 4th, 2015 at 6:58pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cardinals’ season is over after losing to the Panthers on Saturday, but the team has a number of decisions to make with their roster as they approach a critical offseason. The team’s front office will have to make a more than a few of choices on personnel, with a number of players’ statuses uncertain for 2015.

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald and defensive lineman Darnell Dockett both have high cap numbers going into next year and could be asked to take pay cuts to stay with the team, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. The team will also have the opportunity to bring back or move on from free agents Antonio Cromartie, Larry Foote, Tommy Kelly, and Sam Acho.

One of the biggest mysteries will be how the team treats inside linebacker Daryl Washington. Washington could be reinstated from suspension in May but could face a separate suspension for an assault conviction upon his return.

  • Poor quarterback play ruined the Cardinals’ year after losing both starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton for the season. The team was forced to roll with Ryan Lindley down the stretch. Head coach Bruce Arians does not believe the team will be able to bring in another veteran signal caller in the offseason, citing the move as too expensive, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • An important part of the defense that is expected to return is Dockett, writes Weinfuss (via Twitter). Bob McNaman of the Arizona Republic also writes the team plans on bringing Dockett back, despite a cap hit of close to $9MM next season (via Twitter).
  • Coach Arians stated that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has been requested for interviews with multiple organizations, and he expects his assistant coach to pursue openings in New York, Atlanta, and Chicago, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter).
  • Arians was extremely complimentary of Bowles, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). “He’s a great teacher, great communicator and players love him,” said Arians. “Very bright guy. He’s soft spoken but a very good motivator and he can get on their asses as good as anybody.”
  • Arians also noted that he does not expect to make any other coaching changes this offseason, other than Bowles, according to Weinfuss (via Twitter).

AFC East Notes: Ayers, Brady, Jets, Pryor

October 24th, 2014 at 10:23am CST by Ben Levine

Akeem Ayers finds himself in a much different situation with the Patriots than he with his previous team, the Titans. The former second-round pick apparently fell out of favor with Ken Whisenhunt and his coaching staff, but the 25-year-old is happy for a chance to contribute in New England. Via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald…

“I’m pretty much just happy to be here. Obviously, I wasn’t playing there, and I just happened to get in a good situation here,” Ayers said. “As I’m learning the playbook, I’m trying to simplify things as much as I can and the coaches are helping me out with that. We’re trying to keep things simple and try to learn to the best I can to play as fast as I can when I’m on the field.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…

  • ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss believes Tom Brady will finish his career with the Patriots. However, based on the team’s previous handling of franchise players, Reiss warns that it isn’t a guarantee.
  • While Bill Belichick has received some criticism for releasing veteran Tommy Kelly, Reiss points out that the veteran didn’t put forth much effort in the team’s preseason opener. The writer opines that Kelly wanted out and forced Belichick’s hand.
  • Following an eight-win season in 2013, the Jets should have done a better job of addressing some of their weaknesses in free agency, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Entering the season with the league’s second-highest salary-cap surplus is an “embarrassing truth,” the writer opines.
  • Among the Jets disappointments this season has been first-rounder Calvin Pryor. Coach Rex Ryan attributed the rookie’s struggles to a missed interception earlier in the season. “Probably started with the first game when he dropped that pick-six. But, he hasn’t had the impact necessarily that I think all of us had expected, but quite honestly, our defense has been played a little differently than maybe we had anticipated,” Ryan said (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “So, I think we’ve had to make some of those adjustments along the way. It hasn’t gone according to plan so to speak.”

Cardinals To Sign Tommy Kelly

August 27th, 2014 at 2:56pm CST by Luke Adams

2:56pm: The Cardinals have officially announced the signing, and according to Darren Urban of Cardinals.com (Twitter link), the team will cut defensive lineman Ryan McBean to make room for Kelly.

2:28pm: It’ll be a one-year deal for Kelly with the Cardinals, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

2:18pm: After hosting him for a visit, the Cardinals will be signing free agent defensive lineman Tommy Kelly, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports had indicated (via Twitter) earlier this afternoon that Kelly’s meeting with the team was going well and could result in a deal.

Kelly, 33, joined the Patriots on a two-year deal prior to last season after spending the previous nine years in Oakland. He tore his ACL in Week 8, and spent the remainder of the season on IR. In 134 career games (122 starts), Kelly has racked up 301 tackles and 37 sacks. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has graded Kelly as relatively average over the past few years, noting that he is much better pash rusher than as a run defender. The veteran was released by the Patriots during this weekend’s roster cutdowns.

At 6″6″, 300 pounds, and capable of playing both end and tackle, Kelly should add some versatility to a Cardinals 3-4 scheme that recently lost Darnell Dockett for the year. After Brett Keisel turned down Arizona’s invitation for a free agent visit, the Cardinals ended up signing fellow veteran lineman Isaac Sopoaga to a deal. While Kelly and Sopoaga won’t necessarily replace Dockett’s production, they’ll provide some veteran depth on the line, allowing the team to avoid having to rely heavily on inexperienced alternatives.

Before they finalize the signing of Kelly, the Cardinals will have to remove a player from their active roster in order to create an opening.

AFC East Notes: Patterson, Bills, Pats

August 25th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s look at the latest from the AFC East:

  • Dimitri Patterson‘s decision to skip the Jets’ Friday night preseason game was fueled by his displeasure at his place on the cornerback depth chart, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. New York suspended Patterson indefinitely this afternoon.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today (Twitter link), former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly said he didn’t care which bidder ultimately purchases the franchise, as long as they intend to keep the team in Buffalo. Kelly reportedly turned down an opportunity to join Jon Bon Jovi’s Toronto group in a bid for the Bills.
  • Jimmy Garoppolo will start at quarterback for the Patriots in Thursday’s preseason finale, but according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter) New England still hasn’t decided whether he or Ryan Mallett will be the No. 2 quarterback when the regular season arrives.
  • With Mallett reportedly on the trade block, Tom Carpenter of ESPN Insider (subscription required) takes a look at some possible destinations for the Patriots backup QB.
  • With regards to dealing Mallett, however, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says (via Twitter) that the Patriots won’t trade him until they are certain Garoppolo is ready to flourish as Tom Brady‘s primary backup.
  • Rapoport has more on the Patriots, tweeting that Tommy Kelly and/or Will Smith, both of whom were released yesterday, could re-sign with New England after Week 1, at which point neither’s salary would be guaranteed. Rapoport passed along this thought before news of Kelly’s visit with the Cardinals broke.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Cardinals To Meet With Tommy Kelly

August 25th, 2014 at 4:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals will bring in veteran defensive lineman Tommy Kelly for a visit tonight and/or tomorrow, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Kelly was released by the Patriots yesterday.

Kelly, 33, joined the Patriots on a two-year deal prior to last season after spending the prior nine years in Oakland. He tore his ACL in Week 8, and spent the remainder of the season on IR. In 134 career games (122 starts), Kelly has racked 301 tackles and 37 sacks. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has graded Kelly as relatively average over the past few years, noting that he is much better pash-rusher than run-defender.

At 6″6″, 300 pounds, and capable of playing both end and tackle, Kelly should add some versatility to a Cardinals 3-4 scheme that recently lost Darnell Dockett for the year. After Brett Keisel turned down Arizona’s offer, the Cardinals ended up signing fellow veteran lineman Isaac Sopoaga to a deal. Pairing Kelly with Sopoaga would, at least in part, help alleviate the loss of Dockett.

Pats Release Will Smith And Tommy Kelly

August 25th, 2014 at 12:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 12:37pm: In addition confirming the releases below, the Patriots have announced the release of TE Justin Jones via press release.

SUNDAY, 4:53PM: As other NFL teams part ways with a slew of young, inexperienced players as Tuesday’s 3pm cutdown date approaches, the Patriots have taken a different tack, releasing veteran defensive lineman Will Smith and Tommy Kelly, reports Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Per Schefter, New England has also cut linebacker James Anderson.

The Pats added Smith, 32, on a one-year deal ($65K bonus) in May, after the veteran had spent his entire 10-year career with the Saints. I noted at the time of his signing that landing in New England’s versatile defensive scheme might be an ideal landing spot for Smith, who had noted he was open to playing in either a 3-4 or 4-3 front. However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets that Smith was not fitting in as a 3-4 defensive end, noting that he hadn’t received the opportunity to rush from the edge.

Kelly, 33, joined the Patriots on a two-year deal prior to last season after spending the prior nine years in Oakland. He tore his ACL in Week 8, and spent the remainder of the season on IR. Kelly restructured his contract in March, turning some of his base salary into incentive-based and roster bonus pay, so his release doesn’t come as a total surprise. In fact, back in July, Reiss had predicted the Pats would eventually cut Kelly.

Anderson, 30, started 16 games for the Bears last season, but remained on the free agent market until New England signed him in June. Anderson had been working mostly as a coverage linebacker — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the sixth-best 4-3 OLB in terms of pass coverage last season. As Reiss writes (Twitter link), the Pats were probably looking for more special teams ability out of their reserve linebacker position.

According to Brian McIntyre (Twitter links), the Patriots will save $3.565MM in cash this season by releasing the three players. Smith and Anderson were each due a $50K bonus if they were on New England’s Week 1 roster, while Kelly was entitled to $800K in per game active roster bonuses.

AFC Notes: Gordon, Hoyer, Broncos, Bills

July 29th, 2014 at 2:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Josh Gordon‘s appeal hearing is scheduled to take place this Friday, and the Browns receiver appears to have a pretty decent case for having his suspension reduced from the looming one-year penalty, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. Florio goes into detail on Gordon’s failed test, which only constituted a failure by the narrowest of margins, and which the wideout would have passed had the “A” and “B” labels on his two urine samples been flipped.

It’ll be interesting to see what the NFL decides on Gordon, especially after Roger Goodell and the league came under so much scrutiny for what was viewed as a light punishment for Ray Rice. As we wait to see how the case plays out, let’s check in on a few items from across the AFC, including one more note out of Cleveland….

  • The Browns and quarterback Brian Hoyer haven’t had any discussions about a contract extension since exchanging numbers earlier in the offseason, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). La Canfora adds (via Twitter) that perhaps if Cleveland were to include bonuses or incentives based on team or individual performance, something could get done, but that’s not all that likely. Hoyer’s agent suggested a month ago that he and his client would probably wait to see how the season played out, perhaps re-assessing the situation in November or later.
  • While an incumbent option like Ronnie Hillman or C.J. Anderson might win the No. 2 running back job for the Broncos behind starter Montee Ball, that role could ultimately be assumed by a player plucked off waivers before the season starts, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
  • Donald Trump will submit a bid in an attempt to purchase the Bills, but he doesn’t expect his bid to be the winner, as he tells Fox News. Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi isn’t making many friends in Buffalo by having aligned himself with Toronto-based investors, writes Eric Edelson of Yahoo! Sports.
  • With this afternoon’s deadline for initial bids on the Bills approaching, New York Senator Charles E. Schumer said today in a statement that he has spoken to several prospective owners who would be committed to keeping the team in Western New York. Jerry Zremski of the Buffalo News has the details and quotes.
  • Asked by Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe (TwitLonger link) about the pay cut he took this offseason, Patriots defensive lineman Tommy Kelly said he didn’t mind reworking his deal, since the changes weren’t too drastic. “Coach asked me for a favor and I obliged,” Kelly said. “I didn’t have no problem with it. At this point in my career, I’ve made a whole lot of money. Money ain’t the problem.”

AFC East Notes: Williams, Thomas, Johnson, Kelly

July 19th, 2014 at 3:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Bills newcomer Mike Williams sat out portions of minicamp to rest his troubled hamstring, but the veteran wideout has no worries heading into training camp.

“I’m fully ready to go,” Williams told Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. “I trained this whole offseason. There was really no offseason for me. I kinda had to get my leg better. I had to get back to feeling like Mike again, like my mom always tells me. Today running that conditioning test made me feel like I was Mike again.

“At the start of camp, just did the conditioning test and I feel real good. I feel great. I feel I got an A-plus, if there was a grade for it. I feel I’m ready to go.”

Williams finished 2013 with 22 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns – all career lows. The Buccaneers traded the wideout to the Bills in early April for a sixth-round pick.

Let’s look at some more notes from the AFC East…

Tommy Kelly Restructures Pats Contract

March 13th, 2014 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Patriots defensive lineman Tommy Kelly has restructured the final year of his contract to reduce the team’s cap hit for 2014, reports Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

Kelly’s deal had originally featured a $2.656MM cap number for 2014, but that has been reduced to about $1.85MM in the restructure, according to Yates. Kelly can still earn approximately the same total salary if the contract maxes, but more of it is tied up in per-game roster bonuses and playing time incentives.

Unlike Kelly, it doesn’t appear fellow lineman Vince Wilfork will be reworking his deal. He reportedly asked the Pats for his release earlier today.