web analytics

NFC Notes: Saunders, Donnell, Ingram, Packers

Fantasy Football
December 10, 2015

Wide receiver and return man Jalen Saunders, who is on the Bears‘ practice squad IR list, just finished serving a four-game suspension, but before he could even become eligible to return to Chicago’s active practice squad, he was hit with another penalty. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Saunders has now been suspended 10 games by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The 10-game ban will mean that Saunders will miss the final four games of the 2015 season, as well as the first six games of next year. By that point, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll still be in the Bears’ plans at all, and it may be hard for the Oklahoma product, a Jets fourth-round pick in 2014, to find another team willing to take a shot on him.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Giants tight end Larry Donnell won’t play again this season, having been placed on injured reserve by the team. But at this point, there’s optimism that Donnell’s neck injury won’t be a long-term issue that impacts his career in future years, head coach Tom Coughlin said today (Twitter link via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post).
  • Having been placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, Saints running back Mark Ingram will undergo surgery to repair his torn left rotator cuff, writes Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Ingram is the second Saints running back to land on IR this season, joining Khiry Robinson on the list.
  • Packers offensive lineman Matt Rotheram is the latest practice squad player to get a raise, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. Yates tweets that Rotheram is now earning $25,588 per week, equivalent to what he’d earn as a minimum-salary player on the active roster. Green Bay likely bumped up the lineman’s salary after he received some interest from rival teams.
  • British rugby player Tom Burgess will continue his NFL tour today with a workout for the Seahawks, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Burgess has already auditioned for the Steelers, Giants, Jets, and Bills, and could be in line for a reserve/futures contract at season’s end.

Cary Williams Visiting Titans

Fantasy Football
December 10, 2015

Veteran cornerback Cary Williams is paying a visit to the Titans today, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. It’s the first free agent visit Williams has made since he was released by the Seahawks earlier this week, though we heard he had received interest from several teams, including the Rams.

After spending several seasons as a starting cornerback for the Ravens and Eagles, Williams signed a three-year, $18MM deal in March with the Seahawks, looking to step in as a replacement for departed free agent Byron Maxwell. However, the 30-year-old struggled this season, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 102nd out of 118 qualified cornerbacks. Williams was inactive for his final two games with Seattle before he was cut.

As for the Titans, their secondary has been affected by injuries, with Jason McCourty having landed on IR. The team could use a cornerback to add depth and to complement Perrish Cox and Coty Sensabaugh.

Cooks misses practice Thursday with concussion

Fantasy Football
December 10, 2015

InjuryInjury likely suffered in Wednesday practice

The New Orleans Saints might be heading into Tampa with a beaten and battered offense.

WR Brandin Cooks, who leads the Saints in all main receiving categories, missed practice Thursday due to a concussion, a new injury for the receiver. In addition, LT Terron Armstead (knee), RG Jahri Evans (ankle) and RT Zach Strief (shoulder) all missed practice due to injury. (The Advocate)

Nerdy Football Analysis: The blog makes no mention of Willie Snead, who missed last week with a calf injury, or Mark Ingram, who was placed on IR on Wednesday. Cooks has virtually no shot at playing against the Bucs this weekend after suffering a mid-week concussion, meaning Ben Watson and Snead (if he can play) candidates for 10-plus targets. Especially after the loss of Ingram and (in all likelihood) Cooks, Tampa Bay is looking like a solid streaming D/ST option this week.

Broncos expect Anderson, Hillman at practice FRI

Fantasy Football
December 10, 2015

InjuryKubiak leaves door open for Juwan Thompson to start Week 14

Broncos HC Gary Kubiak expects C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman to go full tomorrow. Said there’s a chance Juwan Thompson could start. (Nicki Jhabvala on Twitter)

Nerdy Football Analysis: Anderson is trying to recover from an ankle injury while Hillman is battling a foot issue. The fact that Kubiak is willing to concede Thompson could be the starter this week suggests that Hillman’s injury, which did not force him from Week 13, could be nearly as serious as the injury that forced Anderson from the same game. This is quickly shaping up as a situation to avoid despite what should be a plus-matchup for the Denver running game.

Browns Rumors: Benjamin, Barnidge, Roper

Fantasy Football
December 10, 2015

The Browns signed tight end Gary Barnidge to a contract extension today, and while the salary numbers on the deal aren’t yet known, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that he believes Barnidge’s camp was targeting $4MM per year.

That would be a team-friendly price for a player who ranks among the NFL’s best tight ends in terms of catches, yards, and touchdowns this season. As I noted in our story on Barnidge’s extension, Lance Kendricks signed a four-year deal worth $4.625MM annually with the Rams in March, and he has never had a season nearly as productive as Barnidge’s 2015. On the other hand, the Browns tight end is 30 years old, and had only caught 44 balls in 92 career games coming into the season.

As we wait on the figures for Barnidge’s new contract, let’s round up a few more news items and notes from out of Cleveland….

  • Another Browns pass catcher, wide receiver Travis Benjamin, indicated earlier in the season that he’d like to remain in Cleveland beyond this year, and the team has since engaged him in extension discussions. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter links), Benjamin said today that he thinks he’s about 75% or 80% of the way to reaching a new deal with the Browns.
  • Discussing his extension, Barnidge explained today that he decided not to test the open market because he wanted to repay the Browns for giving him a shot (Twitter link via Cabot). “I want to be part of the turnaround,” Barnidge said.
  • According to Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has conducted at least one meeting to discuss “how to pick up the broken shards left from the 2015 season.” Team president Alec Scheiner and general manager Ray Farmer were present at that meeting, says Grossi, within a piece examining Farmer’s track record as Browns GM.
  • Browns senior offensive assistant Kurt Roper will finish the season with the team, but he’s on track to become South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator, Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine confirmed today (Twitter link via Ulrich).
  • With the 49ers on the schedule for Cleveland this week, ex-Niners punter Andy Lee reflected on his time in San Francisco, praising the franchise for how it handled his traded to the Browns. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com has the story, along with Lee’s quotes.