HEADLINES

Tony McDaniel

Extra Points: Jets, Bosa, Seahawks, Eagles

August 25th, 2016 at 8:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets’ concerns over quarterback Christian Hackenberg‘s throwing mechanics will likely render this a redshirt year for the second-round rookie from Penn State, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Hackenberg was the fourth of 15 quarterbacks to come off the board during the draft, but he’s the only one who hasn’t yet appeared in a preseason game. He’s also lagging well behind fellow reserves Geno Smith and Bryce Petty on the Jets’ depth chart. As a result, the Jets will stash Hackenberg at the bottom of their 53-man roster this year and could tinker with his mechanics to a significant extent next offseason, according to Cimini. On the possibility of overhauling Hackenberg’s mechanics, Jets quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo told Cimini, “That’s not something we’re going to get into right now. We’re just trying to see where he’s at, what he knows.”

More on Gang Green and a few other teams:

  • With Hackenberg guaranteed a roster spot and Smith, not Petty, set to serve as the Jets’ backup in their third preseason game on Saturday, it could spell doom for Petty, opines Brian Costello of the New York Post. If the team decides against keeping four QBs, Petty is likely to be the odd man out despite going in the fourth round of last year’s draft.
  • One anonymous NFL general manager blames the Chargers for the Joey Bosa debacle, tweets Michael Silver of NFL.com. “[The] Chargers essentially had first pick in draft since the two quarterbacks were going first. [They] could have made sure Bosa would accept the terms,” the GM said.
  • Thanks to an ankle injury to rookie Jarran Reed, recent signing Tony McDaniel could go into the season as a starting defensive tackle for the Seahawks, observes John Clayton of 710 ESPN Seattle. McDaniel isn’t yet a lock to crack the roster, though, as the Seahawks have decisions to make on him, fellow veteran Sealver Siliga and undrafted rookie Brandin Bryant. McDaniel seems to have the edge on those two, relays Clayton. Click here to read the interesting story of how McDaniel’s deal with the Seahawks came together.
  • Stephen Tulloch‘s one-year pact with the Eagles calls for a $1.75MM fully guaranteed base salary with nearly $47K in per-game bonuses that max out at $750K, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He can also earn $750K through incentives.
  • In case you missed it, free agent safety Donte Whitner will visit the Panthers on Friday.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Seahawks Notes: Browner, McDaniel, Powell

August 18th, 2016 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com expects Brandon Browner to make the Seahawks‘ 53-man roster, though he is on the bubble. Seattle is curious to see what Browner can do against pass-catching tight ends, but the team also needs to see him show enough at safety to make the cut.

Browner returned to the Seahawks this offseason on a one-year deal. In between his two stints in Seattle, Browner won a ring with the Patriots and inked a three-year, $15MM contract with the Saints and becoming one of the team’s starting corners. Unfortunately, his lone New Orleans season did not go as planned. Pro Football Focus rated him dead last in the league among 113 qualified cornerbacks, leading to his Saints release. Now, he’ll try and get back on track with the Seahawks.

Here’s more out of Seattle:

NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Kaepernick, 49ers

August 16th, 2016 at 1:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Could the Cardinals and Chargers hammer out a trade? The Cards have some question marks at tackle and cornerback and GM Steve Keim says he isn’t inspired by the options currently available on the open market. At the same time, he says he’ll meet with Bolts GM Tom Telesco this week when the two teams have their joint practices, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. He expects they’ll discuss their respective rosters and deficiencies, in hopes they can ask each other, “Hey, is there an area where we can help each other improve?’”

Here’s more from the NFC West:

  • Will Colin Kaepernick play for the 49ers this year? His status in SF is in flux following news of his “dead arm,” Mike Florio of PFT opines. On the surface, talk of this mystery problem hurts Kaep’s value. On the other hand, Florio wonders if word of this issue is actually better for his trade value than a declaration that he has lost the starting job to Blaine Gabbert based on talent. Earlier this summer, the Niners backed out of a potential trade with the Broncos because they were unwilling to pick up a sizable portion of Kaepernick’s salary. At this point, Florio believes that the Niners would be willing to entertain such a deal. Alternatively, the 49ers can do what the Browns did with RGIII – keep Kaepernick on the bench for all of the 2016 season to avoid the risk of having to pay out his injury guarantee of $14.5MM for 2017.
  • 49ers GM Trent Baalke isn’t a big fan of the term “rebuild,” but that’s clearly where the team is right now, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports writes. SF is taking the long approach, and that means building through the draft. “That’s historically what wins,” Baalke said. “It’s tough to buy championships in any sport [but] it’s damn near impossible in the National Football League. … We absolutely have a young core group of guys that are going to move into their second contracts here. And I think people will see that this year as it unfolds. The Aaron Lynchs. The Jimmie Wards. The Carlos Hydes. They’re good football players and they’re only going to get better.”
  • Tony McDaniel can thank Snapchat for his deal with the Seahawks, ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia writes. Last week, McDaniel posted a Snapchat photo at the Atlanta airport. His agent, David Canter, saw the photo and asked McDaniel where he was flying to. He said he was headed to Seattle to visit some family and friends. “[Seahawks director of pro personnel] Dan Morgan and I got into a text message exchange,” Canter said. “I said to them last week, ‘Hey, Tony’s going to be in town. It’s a free workout. Worst-case scenario, you bring him in, he looks like crap, he stays home. You don’t even have to pay for a flight.’ ” Needless to say, the 31-year-old made a solid impression on the Seahawks. Sealver Siliga‘s calf injury also helped his case, of course.

Seahawks To Sign Tony McDaniel

August 15th, 2016 at 5:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks will reunite with a familiar face, as they’ve agreed to sign defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, according to a tweet from his representatives at DEC Management. McDaniel played for Seattle from 2013-14 before being released last fall, and worked out for the club earlier today, per Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com.

[RELATED: Q&A with Seahawks beat writer Bob Condotta]Tony McDaniel (Vertical)

During his time with the Seahawks, McDaniel was a full-time starter in the middle of the team’s defensive line, starting 29 contests during that stretch. He played on 413 snaps in 2014, posting 17 tackles, but didn’t grade too well according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked McDaniel as a bottom-10 defensive tackle. In Tampa, McDaniel was more a rotational lineman, as he started only three games and played on roughly a quarter of the club’s defensive snaps.

McDaniel, 31, could face an uphill battle to earn playing time, or even a roster, spot with the Seahawks, who have added enviable depth in the middle over the offseason. The club re-signed Ahtyba Rubin, spent a second-round pick on Jarran Reed, and signed Sealver Siliga after he was non-tendered by the Patriots. And with Jordan Hill still around, McDaniel might not be able to play his way onto the roster over the next several weeks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC South Notes: Bennett, Bucs, Falcons

August 12th, 2015 at 1:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the NFC South, where the newest member of the Buccaneers‘ defensive line could be recruiting a Seahawks notable to Tampa Bay..

  • New Buccaneers defensive tackle Tony McDaniel says that former teammate Michael Bennett wants to return to Tampa Bay, as JoeBucsFan.com writes. “I told him about, you know, I told him about some of the teams that were offering me and he said Tampa was a great place, and he even said he wishes he could come back down here. But yeah, he kind of helped sell me to come down here to Tampa and play,” said McDaniel, who also vowed to get Bennett back to the Bucs. Bennett is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with the Seahawks but he also has multiple years to go on his deal.
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com passes along a few details on the Buccaneers‘ new “pay-as-you-go” extension with Lavonte David, reporting that the deal increases David’s cap hit for 2015 due to a roster bonus that will be paid this week, and features annual escalators for Pro Bowl or first-team All-Pro nods (all Twitter links).
  • Former Missouri cornerback Kevin Rutland, a former Jaguars player, worked out for the Falcons, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Buccaneers To Sign Tony McDaniel

August 10th, 2015 at 6:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Buccaneers worth up to $2.5MM, a source tells Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). McDaniel was slated to earn that same amount with the Seahawks, so he’ll now have the opportunity to match that if he reaches certain incentives.

Since joining the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, McDaniel has been a full-time starter in the middle of the team’s defensive line, starting 29 contests during that stretch. He played on 413 snaps last year, posting 17 tackles, but didn’t grade too well according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked McDaniel as a bottom-10 defensive tackle.

As a vested veteran, McDaniel did not need to pass through waivers before signing with another club. The 30-year-old was scheduled to earn a $2.5MM base salary in 2015 and when combined with his prorated roster bonus and workout bonus, he would have counted $3.625MM against Seattle’s cap. By cutting him in August, the club cleared out that total except for his roster bonus, saving $3MM in the process.

Several other clubs, including the Raiders, have been linked to McDaniel in the past week.

East Notes: Cowboys, Brady, Giants, McDaniel

August 5th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Zachary Links

In an interview on KESN-FM 103.3, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones left the door open for signing a free agent running back. “I do think we’re a popular place for a running back right now. There’s backs out there that I think still have some gas left in their tank. If we need to go get one, then we can get one,” Jones said (transcript via The Dallas Morning News). Here’s more from the East divisions..

  • After poring over the entire 457-page transcript of Tom Brady‘s appeal hearing, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports just wants to see a settlement take place. One could poke holes in the argument of either side, but none of which could be big enough to blow the whole case wide open. The NFL won’t allow Brady to avoid a suspension and the Patriots quarterback won’t admit guilt, but they can still meet in the middle for a reduced suspension.
  • Newly-acquired wide receiver James Jones signed with the Giants for the veteran minimum, according to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke with Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. Jones had 73 catches for 666 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Raiders in 2014.
  • There hasn’t been much talk about the Cowboys making a play for Tony McDaniel, but the team could take a hard look at him because he played in a defense that is similar to Dallas’, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. McDaniel was released by the Seahawks earlier this week due to financial constraints.

AFC Notes: Foster, Hilton, Bills, Raiders

August 5th, 2015 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Texans running back Arian Foster is headed to Philadelphia to get a second opinion on his groin injury, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (Twitter link), and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the second opinion will come on Friday from Dr. William Myers, an expert on sports hernias. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com goes one step further, tweeting that Foster won’t just be in Philadelphia for Myers’ assessment — he’ll also undergo surgery on Friday.

With Foster expected to miss the start of the regular season, the Texans wanted to sign Pierre Thomas, but the two sides couldn’t agree to terms today after the ex-Saint worked out for Houston. Now that they failed to lock up Thomas, the Texans may not sign a veteran, since they like their young backs and want to get them reps, tweets Rapoport.

Even if the Texans do continue to explore the free agent market, Ray Rice probably won’t be considered, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who says owner Bob McNair likely wouldn’t approve such a move. Rice may not be an appealing on-field option anyway — one GM tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that his most recent game tape “isn’t get enough to get excited about.”

Let’s check in on a few more items from around the AFC….

  • Agent Drew Rosenhaus left Indianapolis today, despite the fact that he and the Colts have yet to work out an extension for wideout T.Y. Hilton. However, talks are ongoing, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
  • Appearing on WGR 550 in Buffalo today (Twitter link), GM Doug Whaley admitted that the Bills are in “quarterback purgatory,” since the team doesn’t have a clear long-term answer at the position, and doesn’t expect to pick near the top of the draft within the next couple years.
  • The Raiders have likely made contract with defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, who was released on the weekend by the Seahawks, writes Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. GM Reggie McKenzie said “there’s a chance” Oakland could bring in the veteran, who has a history with new Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
  • In the wake of reports suggesting they tipped off the Colts about the Patriots deflating footballs, the Ravens issued a strong denial of their involvement today, via a team release.
  • Bills running back Boobie Dixon, who isn’t considered a lock to make the team’s roster, is expected to miss several weeks with a calf injury, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

West Notes: Von, Chancellor, McDaniel, Hawks

August 2nd, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Rory Parks

After getting drug tested multiple times a week for two years, Broncos LB Von Miller has been released from the league’s substance abuse program, according to Mike Klis of 9News.com. The news comes at a great time for Miller, who is in the final year of his contract and who now has a long track record of clean drug tests to present to teams interested in his services.

Let’s take a look at some more from the West divisions, including notes from Seattle:

  • Now that the Seahawks have extended both Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, head coach Pete Carroll says the club can turn its attention to bringing safety Kam Chancellor back in the fold (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Chancellor, set to earn $4.55MM in 2015, is holding out while aiming for a new contract.
  • Former NFL receiver Tim Brown told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that Seattle’s decision to release Tony McDaniel in order to fit in Wilson and Wagner’s contracts could lead to a locker room problem. While that may be true, I find it hard to believe that Seahawks players wouldn’t accept the club making the moves necessary to keep two of its stars.
  • McDaniel might not be gone for long, as Carroll tells Condotta (via Twitter) that the Seahawks would like to re-sign the veteran defensive tackle, obviously at a lower salary.
  • NFL agent Brett Tessler tweets that the Seahawks are bringing in Gabe Miller for a workout tomorrow. Miller played outside linebacker for Washington last season, but he will try out for Seattle as a tight end.
  • The Broncos will bring in former Kansas receiver Nigel King for an audition today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). King went undrafted earlier this year.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Seahawks Release Tony McDaniel

August 2nd, 2015 at 1:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In need of cap space following the extensions of both quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, the Seahawks have released veteran defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Seattle has since confirmed the move.

McDaniel, 30, was scheduled to earn a $2.5MM base salary in 2015 — combined with his prorated roster bonus and workout bonus, he would have counted $3.625MM against Seattle’s cap. By cutting him now, the club will clear out that total except for his roster bonus, saving $3MM in the process.

Since joining the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, McDaniel has been a full-time starter in the middle of the team’s defensive line, starting 29 contests during that stretch. He played on 413 snaps last year, posting 17 tackles, but didn’t grade too well according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked McDaniel as a bottom-10 defensive tackle.

McDaniel, who has also spent time with the Jaguars and Dolphins, is a vested veteran, so he won’t need to pass through waivers, and he’s available to sign with any club immediately.

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