National Football League News and Rumors
Vikings stadium bill bogged down by politicsMike Florio, profootballtalk.com As the Vikings stadium bill moves closer to becoming a done deal, the measure apparently is being caught in the gears of broader deal-making. Mike Kaszuba of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune explains that the stadium bill essentially has become a bargaining… |
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Stevie Johnson to undergo groin surgeryApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com During the 2011 football season, Bills receiver Stevie Johnson dealt with a groin injury, aggravating the condition in December. On Monday, he’ll have the problem fixed. Johnson has disclosed via Twitter that he has traveled to Philadelphia to have gr… |
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Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com Dan Wiederer of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Vikings have agreed to terms with 15 undrafted free agents. The Vikings used ten draft picks on Thursday through Saturday, so in all they’ve brought aboard 25 rookies in less than a week. Th… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The Steelers are the latest team to disclose the acquisition of rookie free agents who have signed with the team after the conclusion of the draft. The 12 new Steelers are: P Drew Butler (Georgia); CB Terry Carter (Louisian Tech); WR Connor Dixon (Duque… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The rules regarding discussions with players who may not be draft are pretty clear. Before and during the picks process, there can be contact and expressions of interest but no negotiations. In a video of comments from Chandler Harnish a/k/a Mr. Irrele… |
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Harbaugh adds Stanford wideout OwusuApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The risks of concussions haven’t kept any former college football players from the NFL, including former college football players with a history of concussions. Stanford receiver Chris Owusu agreed to terms with the 49ers shortly after the draft ended, … |
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Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com Ty Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has caught wind of the Packers’ undrafted rookie signings, and Dunne passed them along to PFT as follows: Virginia Tech center/guard Jaymes Brooks, South Dakota State receiver Dale Moss (pictured), West Virgi… |
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Chris Polian resurfaces in AtlantaApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com After the 2011 regular season ended, Colts owner Jim Irsay fired Vice Chairman Bill Polian and his son, G.M. Chris Polian. Bill landed at ESPN, where he has done a surprisingly strong job of translating scout-speak into explanations that most casual fan… |
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Texans pick up 21 undrafted rookiesApr 29, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com The Houston Texans have reached contract agreements with 21 undrafted rookies, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Here they are: TCU tight end Logan Brock, James Madison linebacker D.J. Bryant, BYU defensive tackle Loni Fangupo, Illinois fullbac… |
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Tracking the confirmed undrafted rookie signingsApr 29, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com Many NFL teams will not formally announce undrafted rookie signings until Monday or perhaps even Tuesday because they’re waiting for players who’ve agreed to terms to pass physicals and officially put pen to paper. Some teams have announced made annou… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The Oakland Raiders have had some creative programs in the past couple of years. During the lockout, for example, the Raiders didn’t lay off employees or cut their pay. Instead, the Raiders required the employees to attempt to use their down time to… |
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Minnesota Vikings Running Back Caleb King May Have Fractured Someone's Skull At A Birthday PartyApr 29, 2012
Sean Newell, deadspin.com Caleb King was an undrafted free agent last year from Georgia and spent most of the year on the Vikings practice squad. This weekend he was invited to a birthday party that apparently raged until 3:00 a.m., only to end with King allegedly beating a fell… |
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Niners worked out Irvin last weekApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com As folks in Seattle continue to fret about the fact that their favorite football team possibly frittered a first-round pick away on a one-trick pony who won’t be big enough to excel at the NFL level, more evidence emerges that the Seahawks weren’t the… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Eschewing any triskaidekaphobic tendencies, the Philadelphia Eagles have announced the addition of 13 new undrafted free agents. They are: WR Elvis Akpla (Montana State); LS Matt Camilli (UTEP); TE Chase Ford (Miami); CB Cliff Harris (Oregon); FB Emil I… |
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Ravens agree to terms with 20 undrafted rookiesApr 29, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times has a full list of undrafted rookies who have agreed to terms with the Baltimore Ravens. 20 of them are known. Here they are: Kent State center Chris Anzevino, Florida quarterback John Brantley, North Carolina co… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com One of the biggest hurdles facing the former players suing the NFL for concussions suffered during their playing careers arises from the claim that the NFL failed to warn the players regarding the risks of concussions. The NFL undoubtedly will defend t… |
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Peyton visits old friend Helton at Rockies gameApr 29, 2012
Jim Caple, ESPN.com Peyton Manning and Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton were quarterbacks at the University of Tennessee in the mid '90s and the two have maintained their friendship over the years. |
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Chargers work deals with 21 undrafted free agentsApr 29, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com The Chargers have been among the NFL’s most active teams when it comes to rookie free-agent signings. Michel Gehlken of the Union-Tribune San Diego has a list of 21 additions. They are: Applachian State cornerback DeAndre Presley, Arizona State receive… |
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Cowboys cornerback Jenkins still available for tradeApr 29, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com As Florio reported on Friday, the Dallas Cowboys placed cornerback Mike Jenkins on the trade block immediately after trading up to draft Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick. The Cowboys found no takers during the draft, but ESPN Dallas’ Calvin … |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com When Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was arrested and accused of punching a police officer days before the NFL draft, it was about as big a pre-draft mistake as a player could make. But in the long run it could benefit the Patriots. New England draf… |
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Report Card: Grading The NFL Draft GradesApr 29, 2012
Sean Newell, deadspin.com It's that time of year, when we assign nebulous indicators of quality to the impossibly difficult to evaluate drafting of NFL talent. We'll look at the some of the best and brightest draft grades and let you know how each organization did in grading the… |
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The best undrafted players of 2012: The offenseApr 29, 2012
Doug Farrar, yahoo.com You may remember that receivers Doug Baldwin and Victor Cruz had pretty good seasons in 2011. And that Wes Welker guy? He's pretty good, too. Arian Foster is nobody to sneeze at, and London Fletcher is one of the most durable and productive linebackers … |
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Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com The Colts have already begun contract talks with new quarterback Andrew Luck, and owner Jim Irsay confirmed that he envisions no hiccups on a deal with the No. 1 overall pick. “It’s something that should be done swiftly,” Irsay told the Indianapoli… |
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Seahawks announce ten undrafted free agent signingsApr 29, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com The Seattle Seahawks announced Sunday that they have signed ten players to undrafted rookie contracts. They are Ohio receiver Phil Bates, McNeese State cornerback London Durham, Cal (PA) guard Rishaw Johnson, Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse, Henders… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 40 times last season, and if Pittsburgh spending first, second and seventh-round picks on offensive linemen can change that, he’s going to be very happy. Roethlisberger said he knew before the draft tha… |
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Grades are in for each team's draft weekendApr 29, 2012
Andrew Luck was just the start of a great draft for the Colts, writes Chris Burke in his report card on all 32 NFL teams. The Broncos? Well, it's a good thing they have Peyton Manning. |
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Vontaze Burfict thinks he’s a first-round talentApr 29, 2012
Doug Farrar, yahoo.com The NFL may beg to differ, but former Arizona State and current Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is convinced that he's one of the elite players in the 2012 draft class. The league showed a different opinion by leaving him out of the 253-pi… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The Cleveland Browns gave up three picks to move up one spot in the NFL draft and select Alabama running back Trent Richardson, a trade that has some analysts questioning the Browns’ decision because the Vikings (who already have running back Adrian Pet… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The Dolphins’ addition of Stanford left tackle Jonathan Martin raised a few eyebrows in South Florida, because Martin very sparingly played on the right side in college. His arrival resulted in an item from Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sent… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Shortly after the Browns drafted Brandon Weeden, reports surfaced that the Packers were interested in trading for Colt McCoy to serve as a backup to Aaron Rodgers. Nothing came of it before the end of the draft, although McCoy’s future in Cleveland cert… |
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Jags dump their pre-Anger puntersApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Jaguars punter Nick Harris signed a new contract with the team in March. On Saturday, the team ripped it up and cut him loose, one day after using a third-round pick on Cal punter Bryan Anger. Harris and Spencer Lanning both were cut on Saturday, accor… |
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Patriots go outside the box for Nate EbnerApr 29, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com It was an unusual draft for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. They traded up twice in the first round after years of dealing down and they didn’t make a trade with the Eagles. Things got back to normal later in the process, though, as the Pats dealt down… |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com Each year, there are players who fall in the draft for a number of reasons. We all remember the sight of Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn waiting far beyond expectations for their names to be called, and the divergent paths their careers have taken give us… |
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Giants say all options open on Osi UmenyioraApr 29, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com The draft is over and Osi Umenyiora is still a Giant. There was talk that the Giants would trade Umenyiora, who is entering the final year of his contract and has consistently been hankering for a new deal from the team. They handed a three-year extensi… |
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Beware unconfirmed reports of UDFA signingsApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Now that the draft has ended, teams may sign players who weren’t picked. It’s a potentially valuable aspect of the process, given that players like John Randle — undrafted when the draft had 12 rounds — have made it to the Hall of Fame. But as t… |
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The official PFT draft gradesApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The NFL draft always comes in like a mountain lion on HGH and goes out like a comatose lamb. Now that all the names have been called and the teams are scrambling for training-camp tackling dummies, it’s time to hand out official grades. And, as usual,… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Viewers of ESPN’s NFL draft coverage heard a lot about Troy offensive lineman James Brown on Saturday. Mel Kiper ranked Brown as the No. 54 player in the draft and spent much of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds calling him one of the best pla… |
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Bruce Irvin vows to pay off for the SeahawksApr 29, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The draft’s biggest surprise came in the middle of the first round, when the Seahawks after trading down from No. 12 to No. 15 took former West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin. Regarded as a reach by those who didn’t realize multiple teams had Irvi… |
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Sunday morning one-linersApr 29, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com In LB Nigel Bradham and CB Ron Brooks, the Bills think they got two players who will boost their special teams play. RB Lamar Miller’s dream came true when the Dolphins drafted him. The Patriots didn’t draft a running back which could mean they plan t… |
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Toni Monkovic, nytimes.com General Manager Jerry Reese says the Giants have found a gem in a Cincinnati tight end who caught only 12 passes last season. |
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Chris Johnson falls 87 spots in NFL Top 100 rankingApr 29, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com When NFL Network unveiled its list of the Top 100 players in the NFL last year, as voted on by NFL players themselves, Titans running back Chris Johnson was No. 13. When the new Top 100 list was unveiled on Saturday night, Johnson was still on it. Barel… |
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Rams release Josh BrownApr 29, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com When the Rams selected kicker Greg Zuerlein in the sixth round, it signaled that Josh Brown’s job might not be secure for much longer. Brown’s security lasted less time than it took you to read that sentence. The Rams announced Saturday night that Bro… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Vontaze Burfict said after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals that his new team just got one of the steals of the draft, because he has the talent of a first or second-round pick, and Cincinnati didn’t even have to spend a pick on him a… |
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Kirk Cousins: Redskins’ pick “a little surprising”Apr 29, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Everyone knew the Redskins would use their first pick in the draft, No. 2 overall, on quarterback Robert Griffin III. But no one expected the Redskins to use their third pick, No. 102 overall, on a quarterback as well. Not even that quarterback, Michiga… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com More details have emerged regarding Saturday’s arrest of Vikings running back Caleb King. And they’re as troubling as they are ludicrous. According to a statement from the Anoka County Sheriff, via Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the al… |
