News
NFL notebook: Eagles release CB Williams
Cornerback Cary Williams was released Tuesday by the Philadelphia Eagles, who could be in the market for a pair of starters at the position.
Williams was due a base salary of $6.5 million and was scheduled to count $8 million against the salary cap in 2015. He started 32 games in two seasons with the Eagles, who signed Williams away from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency with a three-year, $17 million contract in 2013.
Williams, 30, is free to sign with any team immediately, before the rest of the 2015 free agent crop can change teams (March 10).
The Tennessee Titans released veteran safety Bernard Pollard on Tuesday and picked up linebacker Jonathan Massaquoi off waivers as a replacement.
After leading the Titans in tackles in 2013, the 30-year-old Pollard suffered an Achilles tendon injury that cut short his 2014 season after five games and 27 total tackles.
Massaquoi was waived by the Atlanta Falcons after playing in 39 games in three seasons. He has six sacks and 11 tackles for loss during his career.
—The Philadelphia Eagles will part ways with starting outside linebacker Trent Cole, perhaps as early as Wednesday, according to CSNPhilly.com
The two sides had discussed reworking Cole’s contract — the 32-year-old was due to earn $10 million in base salary next season — but could not come to terms.
Cole played 10 seasons with the Eagles and registered 88.5 career sacks, second in team history behind only Reggie White, who had 124.
—Potential No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston’s chance to prove capable of being the entrusted face of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began Tuesday.
Winston is scheduled for a three-day visit with the Buccaneers that will involve ownership, management and a large portion of the coaching staff. ESPN first reported the visit, which is much earlier than usual for top prospects.
The schedule points to the vetting process, which is noted by NFLDraftScout.com as one of — and perhaps the only — concern left for general managers with Winston. A two-year starter at Florida State, Winston won the Heisman Trophy and national championship as a redshirt freshman. He lost only one game in two seasons — the College Football Playoff semifinals against Oregon at the Rose Bowl.
—Former NFL running back Ray Rice received $1.588 million in a grievance for wrongful termination against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Baltimore Sun reported the amount Rice received in the January settlement. Terms were previously unknown. Rice is unemployed and was released by the Ravens on Sept. 8.
After initially being suspended two games by the NFL for domestic violence, Rice was suspended indefinitely when video of him knocking out his then-fiancee in a casino elevator surfaced.
—New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis could become a free agent Sunday, and if he does, the Jets plan to be there to show him the way back to New York.
Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly has made it clear he views Revis a top priority in sitdowns with first-year, first-time general manager Mike Maccagnan. At the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Maccagnan said the Jets would be very aggressive when free agency begins March 10 pointing to “a lot of cap space” and many needs to fill.
—The Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Nate Stupar to a one-year contract extension Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it is a veteran minimum $585,000 deal, per ESPN.com.
Stupar, known primarily for his special teams play, ranked second on the Falcons with nine special teams tackles last season while appearing in 15 games. Originally a seventh-round pick in 2012 by the Oakland Raiders, Stupar also spent time with the Eagles, 49ers and Jaguars before being claimed by the Falcons off waivers on Aug. 31, 2014.
He has played in 27 career games.
—Nine-year NFL veteran Ray Ventrone joined the coaching staff of the New England Patriots as assistant special teams coach.
Ventrone played with New England (2006-2008), the New York Jets (2007), Cleveland Browns (2009-2012) and the San Francisco 49ers (2013-2014), primarily as a special teams player. He originally signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Villanova in 2005.
—Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will visit the Texas Rangers’ spring training camp again this year, stopping by on March 28 for an exhibition game against the San Diego Padres.
Wilson, a former minor league baseball player who went on to become a Super Bowl winning quarterback, also joined the Rangers early in spring training a year ago.
—The Carolina Panthers re-signed defensive tackle Colin Cole to a one-year contract on Tuesday after the veteran played in all 16 regular-season games in 2014.
Cole joined the Panthers as a free agent in 2013 and has seen action in 31 of 32 games in the two years since his arrival. He has started 26 of those games. Last season, Cole made 10 starts and finished with 26 tackles and a fumble recovery. The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder also started one of the Panthers’ two playoff games.
—Well-traveled free agent defensive end Earl Okine signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-6, 284-pound Okine originally signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2013 but was waived three months later, Since then, he has played in the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League and Fall Experimental Football League.
News
Buccaneers admit mistake, boot Aguayo
Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk
Powered by WPeMatico
News
Did Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo?
Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk
Powered by WPeMatico
News
Broncos holding their breath on Derek Wolfe
Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk
Powered by WPeMatico