web analytics

NFL News

AFC Notes: S. Smith, McClain, Revis, Manziel

NFL News
October 21, 2015

There has been speculation the Ravens might try to talk wide receiver Steve Smith out of his plan to retire after the season or that Smith will change his mind. However, the veteran says that nothing has changed. “I’m on schedule for what I discussed earlier in the year,” the wide receiver said, according to Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com.

Here’s more from the AFC..

  • If Smith is still retiring, the Ravens should trade him to a contender, Mike Florio of PFT opines. The Ravens are at 1-5 and, for all intents and purposes, they’re probably done in 2015. Florio suggests that the Packers would be a great fit for a savvy veteran like Smith.
  • Free agent cornerback Robert McClain has worked out or visited eight teams since being cut on September 5th, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The veteran’s latest visit was to the Steelers on Wednesday, per Yates. McClain’s recent visits have also included the Bears and Saints.
  • Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis told reporters, including Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter), that he never expected to return to the Patriots this past offseason. “No, the number was too high,” the corner said.
  • Johnny Manziel should be on paid leave from the Browns for his recent altercation with his girlfriend, Christine Brennan of USA Today Sports writes. Manziel’s girlfriend declined to press charges over the matter and the all of the facts are still unknown, but Brennan feels that the former Texas A&M star should be sidelined until everything comes to light.
  • On the Quick Slants podcast, CSNNE’s Tom E. Curran, Phil Perry, and Adam Hart discussed the Patriots secondary and the possibility of making an addition via trade.

Extra Points: Canton, London, Purifoy

NFL News
October 21, 2015

Canton, Ohio – home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – recently submitted an application to host the NFL Draft in either 2019 or 2020, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. It’s not immediately clear if Canton would host the draft in the Hall of Fame Village or at the aging Canton Civic Center or somewhere else, but the Hall of Fame is likely looking for a major event to bring attention and traffic to it’s ongoing renovation project. “I can’t guarantee it’s going to happen,” HOF president David Baker said. “But we’re gonna fight awful hard for this thing.”

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • The NFL is in London this week and the league is considering some interesting ideas involving the budding market, as Albert Breer of NFL.com reports (Twitter links). One idea would have one team play two games there next year in back-to-back weeks. If one team does play two games in UK in ’16, Breer adds that they probably wouldn’t give up two home games. That team, he writes, could play one or both games as the away team.
  • Free agent defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy is now suspended for the first 14 weeks of the regular season, according to The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (via Twitter). Purifoy was already suspended for 10 games, so Purifoy ostensibly has gotten another four weeks tacked on. The impetus for the increased ban is not known at this time.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/15

NFL News
October 21, 2015

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves:

  • The Giants announced that they have signed cornerback Leon McFadden off the Cardinals‘ practice squad, as Michael Eisen of Giants.com writes. McFadden, 5-10 and 199 pounds, has played in 23 regular-season games with two starts for Cleveland and San Francisco. He has recorded 21 tackles (13 solo), one pass defensed and six special teams tackles.
  • The Jaguars promoted running back Joe Banyard to the active roster, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.

Giants Notes: JPP, Beatty, Coughlin

NFL News
October 21, 2015

Here’s a quick look at the Giants and an update on the status of their star defensive end..

  • When asked for an update on Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters, “I wish I knew,” according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). When asked if he’d be coming in today (Wednesday), Coughlin said “Not that I know of.”
  • Despite previous indications to the contrary, JPP did not come to the tri-state area on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano (on Twitter). The defensive end is still expected to meet with Giants doctors at some point this week, however.
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that there are no set plans for a JPP visit with the Giants yet. It may happen, but it may not be this week and it could drag on until next week.
  • Coughlin told reporters, including Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (on Twitter), that tackle Will Beatty (PUP) practiced on Wednesday. The Giants now have three weeks from now to activate him or put him on injured reserve.

Workout Notes: Titans, Brown, Johnson, Dixon

NFL News
October 21, 2015

Just over seven months after he announced his retirement from the NFL, cornerback Cortland Finnegan had a workout today with the Patriots. Finnegan, 31, was one of the league’s worst cornerbacks in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. PFF ranked Finnegan 109th out of 110 qualified corners, with a grade of -19.7 in just seven games. As such, it came as a bit of a surprise when Miami inked the former Ram to a two-year, $11MM deal in 2014. He might not be worthy of that kind of pay, but he could make for an intriguing depth option for the Pats or another team.

Here’s a rundown of today’s other workouts from around the NFL, with all links going to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post on Twitter, unless noted otherwise..

  • The Titans worked out running backs Bryce Brown, Storm Johnson, George Arkinson and quarterback Michael German (link).
  • Safety Ahmad Dixon worked out for the Bengals today, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Falcons worked out linebackers Emmanuel Acho, Carlos Fields, Khaseem Greene, and Ronald Powell (link).
  • The Panthers tried out Nate Askew, Chykie Brown, Bradley Fletcher, Connor Hamlett, Douglas McNeil, Bear Pascoe, and cornerback Cassius Vaughn (Twitter links).
  • The Bears worked out defensive backs Ri’Shard Anderson, Robert McClain, Brandian Ross, and Pierre Warren (link).
  • The Broncos worked out Harold Spears, Paul Browning, DaVaris Daniels, Sage Harold, John Lowdermilk, Andrew McDonald, and Ryan Murphy (Twitter links).
  • The Lions worked out Desmond Martin and Corey Washington (link).
  • The Colts worked out Carrington Byndom and Jeromy Miles (link).
  • The Dolphins worked out defensive backs Garry Peters and Kevin White (link).
  • The Jaguars worked out wide receivers Jordan Leslie, Uzoma Nwachukwu, and L’Damian Washington (link).
  • The Vikings worked out defensive lineman Chigbo Anunoby (link).
  • The Patriots worked out center Jared Smith (link).
  • The Jets worked out Greg Scruggs and Marcus Lucas (link).
  • The Seahawks worked out Darius Eubanks, Danny Gorrer, Damaris Johnson, Nick Kasa, Horace Miller, Dontay Moch, Tyler Slavin, Matthew Wells (link). They also hosted Harold Spears and Dax Swanson (link).
  • Washington worked out Tommy Streeter, Nick Harwell, Anthony Johnson, Toby Johnson, Ronald Powell, Kelcy Quarles, and Julius Warmsley (link).