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Rahim Moore

Extra Points: Edelman, AAF, XFL

June 25th, 2019 at 9:49pm CST by Ben Levine

We haven’t heard a whole lot about the defunct Alliance of American Football since the league suspended operations back in April. However, according to Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic, former league owner Tom Dundon has filed “as an unsecured creditor” for the AAF and is claiming he was convinced to buy the league via “misrepresentations.” Dundon is seeking the entirety of the $70MM he invested in the company.

The league initial secured financing from Reggie Fowler, who is currently under indictment for bank fraud. That’s when Dundon, who owns the Carolina Hurricanes, entered into the equation, as he helped make up for Fowler’s failed commitment by purchasing the league. At the time, the perception inside the league office is that Dundon simply purchased a majority stake in the company to obtain the technology behind its gambling app.

However, a lawyer told Kaplan that Dundon may have two new objectives. For starters, he was looking to “remove himself from any litigation from creditors.” Second, by opting for the “misrepresentation” charge, the league’s executive/board insurance policies could come into play, which would then “open a new pool of money.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the football world…

  • Dundon will have a difficult time convincing the courts that he’s not responsible for the AAF’s $48MM in liabilities, reports Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders. Specially, when Dundon “assumed all of the operational costs,” this meant he was responsible for making payroll. Furthermore, his public declarations that he would continue to invest money (around $250MM) into the league indicates that he was both prepared and capable to pay for any debts. Finally, considering Dundon’s standing as the Hurricanes owner, he has millions of dollars coming in each year that could be used to pay off creditors.
  • Former NFL safety Rahim Moore auditioned for the XFL last week, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. The 2011 second-rounder bounced around the NFL during his professional career, and he started 41 games for the Broncos between 2012 and 2014. The 29-year-old recently participated in the AAF, and he understands that an opportunity in the XFL would also come with its fair share of risks. “It’s still football, you know?” Moore said. “There’s a risk in everything you do. But if you love something, man, just go do it.”
  • Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman is currently on a promotional tour for an upcoming documentary, and the Patriots wide receiver discussed what he went through during his four-game suspension to start last season. “It was a low time,” Edelman said (via Florio). “You’re already battling mentally if you can do it like you did it. And then all of a sudden you have this, you’re dealing with this, and then you’re dealing with everyone outside of your life and what people are saying and dealing with and you can’t really get too involved into because you’re ultimately trying to get yourself back to playing football. It’s not like you’re 100 percent going out here and dealing with all these things, and you’re fine. You still have a task at hand, and that was one of the biggest parts of my journey back — one of the toughest times where I really had to compartmentalize with how to deal with my injury, my suspension, with being a balanced family member and getting back from my injury. And that was a very tough time. . . . It was honestly — it was probably the toughest time of my life at that point.”

Christian Hackenberg Signs With AAF

November 9th, 2018 at 10:49am CST by Zachary Links

Former Jets second-round pick Christian Hackenberg has agreed to play for the Alliance of American Football, according to an announcement from the league. He’ll be joined by quarterback Scott Tolzien, wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers, safety Rahim Moore, linebacker Steven Johnson, and tight end Wes Saxton, the AAF says. 

The AAF will kick off in February, meaning that Hackenberg has likely exhausted all present options in the NFL. Hackenberg never saw the field in his two seasons with the Jets and failed to hook on with the Raiders after an offseason trade brought him to Oakland. After that, he lasted only a few weeks on the Eagles’ 90-man roster and his stint on the Bengals’ practice squad ended when he was released earlier this month.

Hackenberg became Penn State’s all-time leader in passing yards (8,457) and touchdowns (48) after three years on campus. His stats did not jump off of the page and he completed just 53.5% of his passes in his final collegiate season, but NFL teams were enamored by his size and pro-style experience in 2016. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan reached for him at No. 51 overall and that gamble never paid off.

AAF contracts probably include an out clause for NFL offers, so Hackenberg and the league’s other players could conceivably get back into the NFL in the second half of the season.

Giants Cut Rahim Moore, Ishaq Williams

May 25th, 2017 at 10:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants cut defensive back Rahim Moore and linebacker Ishaq Williams, according to a team announcement. Rahim Moore

The Giants signed Moore to reserve/futures deal back in January, but their interest in him dated back to at least March of 2016. The G-Men considered signing the safety in that offseason, but he ultimately joined the Browns on a one-year, $1.85MM deal. Moore was cut in early September and earned a tryout from the Giants in October 2016, but he ended up sitting out the entire season. Before all of that, Moore spent the first four years of his career in Denver and parlayed that into a three-year, $12MM free agent deal with Houston. The Texans dropped him after a disappointing 2015.

Williams, a Notre Dame product, joined the Giants as a UDFA in May 2016. Though he missed the final cut, he spent significant time on the taxi squad and even earned a promotion to the active roster in December.

Giants Sign Rahim Moore, Three Others

January 13th, 2017 at 2:38pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants have signed four players to reserve/futures contracts, including safety Rahim Moore, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. The organization also added linebacker Curtis Grant, running back Daryl Virgies and guard Martin Wallace.

Rahim MooreThe Giants have looked at Moore several times over the past year. The team discussed signing the former second-rounder last offseason, but the defensive back ultimately joined the Browns on a one-year, $1.85MM deal. Moore was cut in early September and earned a tryout from the Giants in October, but he ended up sitting out the entire season.

The 26-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career in Denver, where he started 48 games for the Broncos. Moore signed a three-year, $12MM deal with the Texans once he reached free agency, but he ended up compiling career-lows in games played (seven), tackles (16), and interceptions (one) during the 2015 season.

The Giants will presumably head into the 2017 season with Landon Collins and Darian Thompson as their starting safeties. The team also has undrafted free agent Andrew Adams, who started 13 games last season.

Virgies comes out of Division III Virginia University. Vacchiano notes that the running back’s career was derailed following a gunshot wound in late 2015. Wallace has one career game under his belt, and he’s spent time with the Browns, Panthers, Buccaneers, Bears, Cardinals, and Jets. Grant, an Ohio State product, spent last season in the 49ers organization.

The Giants worked out a number of additional players, according to Howard Balzer (on Twitter). The group included running back Marshaun Coprich, quarterback Austin Davis, tight end Cedrick Lang, and wideout Durron Neal.

Seahawks Sign Jeron Johnson

December 6th, 2016 at 5:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have officially placed safety Earl Thomas on injured reserve, and filled his roster spot by signing fellow safety Jeron Johnson, the club announced today. Seattle also confirmed the previously-reported signing of fullback Marcel Reece, and announced that it has waived running back George Farmer to create a roster spot.Jeron Johnson (Vertical)

[RELATED: Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart]

Johnson, 28, is a familiar face in Seattle, as he spent the 2011-14 campaigns serving as a reserve defensive back and a special-teamer for the Seahawks. He signed with the Redskins last year with the hope of getting more playing time, but was ultimately released just one season into a two-year deal. After briefly hooking on with the Chiefs in August, Johnson was cut and had been roaming the workout circuit, meeting with the Giants, Ravens, and Bills.

Steven Terrell figures to take most of Thomas’ vacated snaps at free safety, meaning Johnson is likely to return to his special teams role for the Hawks. Johnson wasn’t the only safety Seattle worked out today, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link) that the Seahawks also took a look at veterans Duke Williams and Rahim Moore.

NFL Workout Updates: 10/3/16

October 3rd, 2016 at 8:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’re a quarter of the way through the regular season, and clubs are constantly updating their emergency lists of players. Let’s take a look at the latest reported auditions and visits:

  • The Giants worked out safeties Rahim Moore and and Dion Bailey, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). New York is looking for defensive back help given the large amount of injuries to its secondary, and the club has also auditioned Will Allen, Donte Whitner, Jeron Johnson, and Shamiel Gary. However, the Giants don’t expect to sign anyone until tomorrow at the earliest.
  • The Redskins auditioned safety Cedric Thompson, Caplan tweets. Like the division rival Giants, Washington is also on the hunt for secondary options after corner-turned-safety DeAngelo Hall was lost for the season. The Redskins worked out fellow safeties Josh Evans and Jerome Couplin last week.
  • The Patriots took a look at wide receivers B.J. Daniels and Shaq Evans, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Daniels, a former college quarterback, has spent time on five other clubs’ rosters over the past three-plus seasons.
  • Offensive lineman Mike Liedtke will meet with the Ravens on Tuesday, as agent Brett Tessler tweets.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North

September 4th, 2016 at 6:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns, Rahim Moore Agree To Deal

March 19th, 2016 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 10:58am: The deal is for one year and $1.85MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The safety will earn a $400K signing bonus.

WEDNESDAY, 3:33pm: Former Broncos and Texans safety Rahim Moore will be signing with the Browns, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). It has been a busy day so far in Cleveland, where the Browns have released veterans Karlos Dansby and Dwayne Bowe, and added free agent linebacker Demario Davis.Rahim Moore

Moore signed a three-year, $12MM contract with the Texans just a year ago, but his first and only season in Houston was a disappointment, as he lost his starting job to Andre Hal halfway through the year. He was cut by the Texans earlier this month.

Still, although Moore is coming off a poor 2015 campaign, the UCLA product was Denver’s primary free safety from 2011 to 2014, starting 48 regular-season contests during that stretch. He was also very impressive in his final season in Denver, racking up 51 tackles to go along with four interceptions in ’14.

While there’s no guarantee that Moore will bounce back in Cleveland in 2016, he’ll certainly come cheaper than the Browns’ former free safety, Tashaun Gipson, who inked a $35MM+ contract with the Jaguars. Moore figures to compete for a starting job in Cleveland’s secondary alongside veteran strong safety Donte Whitner.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Browns’ Terrelle Pryor, Don Jones Sign RFA Tenders

March 17th, 2016 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

The Browns have confirmed a handful of signings, announcing today in a press release that wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and defensive back Don Jones have inked their restricted free agent tenders to remain with the team. The club also confirmed the previously-reported addition of safety Rahim Moore.Terrelle Pryor

Pryor, a quarterback-turned-wide receiver, appeared in three games with two starts in 2015, notching one reception for 42 yards on eight targets. In total, for his career, he has appeared in 18 career games with 12 starts, though of course the majority of those appearances came at quarterback.

Turning the talented Pryor into a receiver was an experiment conducted by the old Browns regime, but it appears the team’s new decision-makers – and new head coach Hue Jackson – have some interest in continuing down that road as well.

Jones, meanwhile, has jumped from team to team since entering the league in 2013, having spent time with the Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, and Browns. He played exclusively on special teams in nine games with Cleveland last season after joining the club.

Both Pryor and Jones will be in line for non-guaranteed $1.671MM base salaries for the 2016 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Texans Cut Garrett Graham, Rahim Moore

March 3rd, 2016 at 11:57am CST by Luke Adams

11:57am: The Texans have now released safety Rahim Moore in addition to Graham, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. As noted below, this move was expected, and creates more than $2MM in cap savings.

10:16am: After parting ways with longtime running back Arian Foster this morning, the Texans are continuing to make roster cuts. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the club has now released tight end Garrett Graham.Garrett Graham

[RELATED: Texans cut RB Arian Foster]

Graham, 29, has seen his role in Houston decrease since an impressive 2013 campaign in which he caught 49 passes for 545 yards and five touchdowns. In 2015, he was the Texans’ third tight end behind C.J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin, recording just four receptions for 30 yards and a TD in eight games.

With the Texans progressively phasing him out of the offense and his cap hit approaching $4MM, Graham looked like a logical release candidate. By cutting him, Houston will clear his $3MM base salary and his per-game roster bonuses from the team’s books, creating $3.125MM in cap savings and leaving $750K in dead money on the cap.

In the wake of the Foster move, several Texans beat writers, including Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) suggested that Graham and safety Rahim Moore would be next to go. There’s nothing official on Moore yet, but if and when he’s released by the team, that would create another $2MM+ in cap room.

Moore signed a three-year, $12MM contract with the Texans just a year ago, but his first – and likely only – season in Houston was a disappointment, as he lost his starting job to Andre Hal halfway through the year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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