The New York Giants announced that they have re-signed defensive tackle Mike Patterson after spending the 2013 season with the organization.
Patterson appeared in all 16 games for the Giants a year ago. In nine career seasons, Patterson has recorded 16.5 sacks.
The Giants also announced that they've signed cornerback Zack Bowman to a deal. He spent the last six seasons with the Chicago Bears.
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Former Miami Dolphins cornerback Dimitri Patterson is visiting the New York Jets today, according to multiple reports.
Patterson, 30, was cut before the start of free agency to save $5 million against the salary cap.
Patterson finished last season on injured reserve with a groin injury.
He was limited to six games last season.
The Jets cut cornerback Antonio Cromartie and failed to sign Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who joined the New York Giants
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Newly-acquired Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew's contract is worth $7.5 million, according to a league source.
Jones-Drew has a $1.2 million roster bonus fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap and a $1.2 million nonguaranteed base salary.
He has an annual $100,000 workout bonus each year.
In 2014, he has a $2.5 million salary-cap figure.
In 2015 and 2016, he has $2.4 million base salaries and $2.5 million salary-cap figures.
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The Houston Texans released safety Danieal Manning on Monday, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Manning was slated to earn $4.5 million this season and was previously asked to take a pay cut. In addition, the Texans signed safety Chris Clemons, indicating Houston was likely to move in another direction.
Manning spent the previous three seasons with the Texans and recorded 24 total tackles and one sack in just six games played due to injury.
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New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork's restructured contract is worth $19 million and includes a $1.3 million signing bonus and $2.6 million in guaranteed money.
Wilfork has an option for 2015 and 2016 the Patriots can exercise in 2014. The team has to notify Wilfork by the end of the 2014 league year to have the 2015 and 2016 years exercised.
Wilfork has a $6.683 million salary-cap figure in 2014 and a $1.3 million base salary fully guaranteed, a $300,000 weight bonus paid out through $60,000 for each of five weigh-ins.
He has a $200,000 workout bonus.
He has an $87,500 per game active roster bonus worth up to $1.4 million. He has $3 million in incentives through playtime, playoffs, and a team qualifier.
In 2015, Wilfork has a $8.433 million salary cap figure and a 3 million base salary, the same $300,000 weight bonus, a $200,000 workout bonus, a $4 million roster bonus due on the first day of the league year, a $500,000 playtime, playoffs incentive, a $31,250 per game active roster bonus worth up to $500,000.
In 2016, Wifork has a $5 million base salary and a $6.433 million salary-cap figure, a $300,000 weight bonus, $500,000 in incentives in playtime, playoffs, a $200,000 workout bonus, a $31,250 per game active roster bonus worth up to $500,000.
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Former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Bryan Hall worked out for the St. Louis Rams, according to a league source.
Hall recently ran the 40-yard dash in 4.92 seconds at the Arkansas State Pro Day, weighing in at 292 pounds.
Hall has moved back to defensive line, regaining weight after getting down to 255 pounds when he was with the Ravens to play inside linebacker.
Hall was released before the start of the regular season last year. He tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, but wasn't signed.
Hall has remaining practice squad eligibility.
An all-state linebacker growing up in Paducah, Ky., before becoming an All-Sun Belt Conference selection at Arkansas State — where he recorded 125 career tackles, 27 1/2 for losses and 17 sacks — Hall lined up at inside linebacker in a preseason game last summer against the Rams.
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Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has already issued a statement denying he's a gang member.
“I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang," Jackson said in a statement. "I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible.”
Now, his Long Beach Poly high school coach has denied an NJ.com report alleging gang ties for the former Pro Bowl wide receiver.
“Gangbanger, what the (heck) is that about?” Long Beach Poly coach Raul Lara told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. “All I was saying was that it was a tragic part of his life when his father died. He’s not a gangbanger, I don’t know where they’re getting that from, and I didn’t say that he was.”
Lara is a Los Angeles County probation officer for the juvenile courts system who has worked extensively with young people in gangs, per the newspaper.
“He’s a great guy — he was a sweet kid when he was in high school, always very polite and respectful with me," said Debbie Hughes, Jackson's high school counselor. "There was no gang activity with him. He wasn’t in a gang — that’s not to say that other students weren’t, but DeSean wasn’t one of them."
Added Poly athletic director Rob Shock: "He was a great kid and he’s been a great citizen since he’s graduated. Every single year during his bye week he comes back and talks to the kids and goes to a game — he did his anti-bullying rally at Poly a few years ago. We know who DeSean Jackson is, and it’s not the man portrayed in that article. I texted him that we support you 100 percent.”
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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.
Last week’s ruling from the National Labor Relations Board allowing Northwestern University athletes to form a union was so significant that it could very well change the college athletic landscape forever.
The issue is so complex that I will stick to the medical implications. After all, Kain Colter—the former Northwestern quarterback leading the movement—has stated, “Our number one issue is medical coverage and medical protection.” He is right to point out medical care issues.
Even though Northwestern players have indicated that they are not seeking to be paid, the unionization opens up that and many other avenues. The biggest medical implication of being considered an employee versus a student athlete is that medical care would change. All injuries would likely fall under the workers’ compensation systems.
Former Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter is leading the charge against the NCAA.
This would increase the cost of college athletics significantly. In my experience of working with college athletes, as a cost saving measure, most schools attempt to utilize parental insurance to care for students when surgeries are needed. A player with HMO insurance needing ACL surgery would likely have that performed by the HMO doctor, not the team physician. Under workers’ compensation, that would change and the schools would be held primarily responsible.
Colleges would not only be responsible for the cost to treat injuries, they likely would be held responsible for future lost wages under the workers’ comp system as well. This opens up schools to pay out significant settlements for future medical care and lost income.
I am not a human resources expert, but in my experiences dealing with professional sports teams, work comp costs are a big percentage of expenses. In fact, some arena football teams were driven into bankruptcy by skyrocketing work comp costs even though player salaries were controlled.
Maybe I am biased living in California where many small businesses feel the workers’ comp cost pinch. I just know that the student athlete re-definition as employees will change how injuries are handled at universities across the country.
I am quite sure the major programs like Alabama and Texas would survive the extra cost. The question is what happens to the smaller and less prestigious football schools that don’t bring in millions of extra dollars each season?
We haven’t seen the last of the lawyers in this case. Redefining student athletes as employees opens up a huge can on serpent-sized worms.
MMMD 1: Trickle down effect of student athletes as employees
How will this affect the non-revenue sports? It has long been implied that revenue sports like football tend to support the rest of the athletic department.
The potential problem is that as a result of what is happening at Northwestern, football program expenses will go up with the work comp costs mentioned above. Will there be enough left over to support other sports?
What about the work comp costs of non-revenue sports? Or will these sports simply fall by the wayside?
MMMD 2: Trickle up effect of NCAA football players as employees
If the Northwestern ruling stands and my prediction of increased work comp costs is accurate, it could gravely affect the “minor league” of the NFL.
The majority of current Division I programs do not claim to make a significant profit, meaning many colleges might need to abandon football altogether. Currently, the NFL has a free minor league system in place. What happens when some of that talent development disappears?
MMMD 3: Employees have to pay taxes
Student athletes on scholarship don’t have to pay income taxes. Employees, however, do.
A potential outcome of being “hired” by a university to play football is that the scholarship benefit would be taxable. The value of a Northwestern football scholarship could be worth up to $76,000.00 and subject to federal and state income tax. A Northwestern student from California might have to pay California state income tax as well.
NFL players not residing in California see their weekly paychecks dip when they play road contests in San Diego, Oakland or San Francisco. California takes extra state income tax from players’ paychecks that week.
If Northwestern plays Cal like it did last fall, would players now owe the state of California income tax for the scholarship benefit? Where would students get the cash to pay these taxes? If schools paid athletes extra to be able to pay taxes, that money would be taxed as well.
MMMD 4: More employee issues for student athletes
Assuming a Northwestern football “employee” receives pay of $76,000.00 per year (cost of tuition, room and board), what about the pay of another university’s “employee?” Must they be paid the same amount to keep a level playing field?
What happens to a student on scholarship where the tuition, room and board totals only $26,000.00? Will those players be paid the remaining $50,000.00 in cash?
The ruling raises more questions than it answers. We will all have to wait and see.
MMMD 5: New NFL safety rule—No rolling up on the sides of legs
A rule already exists to protect a player from being hit on the back of the legs. The new rule disallows hits to the side of the legs.
Some postulated that this new rule was in response to ACL injuries. That is just not the case. ACL tears are not typically caused this way. In fact, most ACL tears are non-contact injuries.
This rule will help to prevent medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries and high ankle sprains. Any rule to cut down on injuries is a good one and hopefully this will help.
MMMD 6: New NFL rule—No dunking due to safety?
A new NFL rule will penalize any player who chooses to dunk the ball over the crossbar. While one can argue whether this is just another example of the “No Fun League” or not, one is hard pressed to make this rule about safety as some have.
The “Jimmy Graham Rule” goes into effect next season.
There really aren’t any special safety concerns other than perhaps rolling one’s ankle after dunking. Trying to cloak this rule as safety-related doesn’t make sense. The reality is that the NFL doesn’t want game delays for a damaged goal post. To me, there is an easier solution.
It’s not dunking that damages the goal post. It was New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham hanging on the crossbar after his dunk that tilted the goal post. Hanging on the goal post is what should be disallowed, as the actual dunking is harmless.
MMMD 7: Navy freshman f
ootball player dies
On the first day of spring practice, Navy freshman running back Will McKamey collapsed. He subsequently fell into a coma and died.
There was no apparent contact or other sign of trouble. As a high school senior, McKamey did sustain a concussion that required hospitalization. After multiple tests and the opinions of more than one specialist, he was cleared to return to football.
At this point the cause is unknown and it doesn’t feel appropriate to speculate as to what happened. All that is left to do is mourn and send best wishes to his family, friends and Midshipman classmates.
MMMD extra: ACL surgery series – Week 11
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Broncos linebacker Von Miller underwent ACL surgery on the same day 11 weeks ago. As both players approach the big three-month milestone for rehab, let’s discuss why allografts (cadaver tissue) are the least desired choice.
A patella tendon autograft (middle one-third of one’s own knee cap tendon) was likely chosen for Gronk and Miller. Most NFL physicians consider this the best and strongest choice.
Allograft (cadaver) tissue is still utilized, but has been shown by the prestigious ACL study group to have high failure rates. I’m lucky enough to have been elected as a part of this group of top worldwide ACL surgeons and we have known for over a decade that the highest failure rates come from allograft.
All ACL grafts are scaffolds for one’s own tissue to grow into. There is not routine technology to tissue type or match donors to recipients. I theorize for this reason that sometimes cadaver grafts don’t incorporate to become live tissue.
Failed ACL surgery is the worst thing that can happen to an athlete. Losing one season is hard enough. Missing a second season with a graft re-tear many times means the end of a professional career.
Follow David on Twitter: @profootballdoc
Dr. David Chao is a former NFL head team physician with 17 years of sideline, locker and training room experience. He currently has a successful orthopedic/sports medicine practice in San Diego.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch called it the “dumbest move in the history of the NFL draft,” and The Arizona Republic deemed it “a colossal mistake.”
“The decision boggles the mind,” wrote ESPN.com’s Gene Wojciechowski. “(Houston) got sloppy drunk on ‘measureables’ and potential rather than actual production.”
Even the team’s hometown paper, the Houston Chronicle ran an editorial cartoon depicting owner Bob McNair, head coach Gary Kubiak and senior vice president/general manager Charley Casserly as dumb, dumber and dumbest.
When the Texans last had the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, they chose fairly obscure North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams over Reggie Bush, the dynamic Heisman Trophy-winning running back, and Vince Young, the hometown hero who had just quarterbacked Texas to the national title in one of the most thrilling championship games of all time.
Fans in attendance at the 2006 NFL Draft booed Williams as he stood on the Radio City Music Hall podium. Others chanted, “over-rated.”
Almost a decade later and with the Texans selecting No. 1 overall again, does Casserly, having clearly selected the right guy despite the vehement objections from fans and media alike, now feel vindicated?
“We don’t even think about things like that, to be honest with you. You make a decision and move onto your next one. You never look back,” Casserly said. “It’s the old line that if, ‘you’re listening to the fans, you’re going to be sitting with them pretty soon.’”
Casserly deflected praise, but he has reason to crow. His choice was far and away the correct one.
Williams, a three-time Pro Bowler, has 76.5 career sacks in eight seasons. Bush has only surpassed 1,000 rushing yards twice and never made a Pro Bowl, and Young, who was rumored to be suicidal and bankrupt at various times, has not played in an NFL game since 2011.
For Casserly and the Texans, the decision of who to spend $9 million on came down to Williams and Bush, a less complete player despite his prodigious talent.
ICONDespite what the fans wanted, Vince Young was never in the discussion back in 2006.
“I thought (Bush) was a part-time role player — but good at what he would do,” said Casserly, now an NFL Network analyst. “I didn’t see him as a guy who would be a starting running back, 60 plays a game.”
Young was never a serious candidate to be drafted first overall. The Texans’ reluctance did not involve concerns over his character but his ability to thrive as a dropback passer in a pro-style NFL offense.
“Vince Young was never in the discussion,” Casserly said. “I just didn’t feel Young was going to be an NFL quarterback.”
Instead Williams, a 6-7, 295-pounder who ran a 4.7. 40, graded out as the best defensive end — along with Julius Peppers — Casserly scouted in the last 10 to 15 years. A good citizen without health issues, Williams could stuff the run or rush the passer.
“Mario Williams was a complete player,” Casserly said.
Jadeveon Clowney has more natural talent than Williams, according to Casserly, but lacks his consistency, work habits and commitment to football.
Despite Clowney having the “best NFL potential” of the 2014 prospects available for the Texans, Casserly said questions also remain on how the defensive star would fit into Houston’s 3-4 scheme, where he would have to play as a stand-up linebacker.
For the No. 1 overall pick in 2014, Casserly also lauded offensive tackle Greg Robinson and linebacker Khalil Mack but said that Blake Bortles would be the best passer for Houston.
He praised Bortles’ smarts, size and strong arm, noting that Teddy Bridgewater is more consistent right now while Bortles has more upside and ability to make plays.
But as an overall draft strategy, Casserly suggests the Texans select the best player overall regardless of their depth chart and, of course, ignore what is said on the outside just as he did in 2006.
“If you force a need, you probably will regret it at some point,” he said. “Public pressure should mean nothing to you.”
The media didn’t rattle Casserly, who only read the clippings the Texans distributed. He was too busy to scour the Internet, listen to talk radio or watch sports shows.
“If you’re doing all those things,” Casserly said, “you’re not doing your job.”
Ignoring the many naysayers, he shrewdly executed his duties and made the correct call by choosing Williams instead of Bush or Young.
“Ultimately it was my responsibility to get it right,” Casserly said. “But I can’t emphasize this enough — it was a collaborative effort.”
Follow Jeff on Twitter: @JFedotin
Jeff Fedotin has written for Packers.com, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN The Magazine, the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World and Rivals.com. After graduating from Northwestern University, he interned for the Buffalo Bills. During his football playing days at Pembroke Hill (Mo.) School, Fedotin was known for his bad knees and even worse blocking.
Akron defensive tackle Moses McCray has already traveled a long road to get to this point.
As McCray makes his NFL bid, he looked back on transferring from Florida State for his final year of eligibility after struggling with injuries during his time with the Seminoles. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament a few years ago at Florida State.
McCray worked out at the Florida State campus Pro Day. McCray weighed in at 336 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.3 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times.
He recorded 24 tackles, two for losses, last season for the Zips.
As a sophomore at Florida State, he started nine games and had a dozen tackles, one for loss, and a fumble recovery..He also started as a true freshman after a standout high school career where he recorded 15 sacks as a junior.
National Football Post caught up with McCray recently for the following interview:
NFP: How is the draft process going?
McCray: "It's quite interesting, how they test everything and call you up and intreview you. Honestly, I think it's kind of fun. I'm a part of it and I get to go through this and experience it all behind the scenes firsthand."
NFP: What kind of feedback did you get from teams at your Pro Day?
McCray: "A lot of teams were impressed with how quick I was for my size and my hand speed. The drills really helped, especially the heavy bag drill to show my hand and foot speed. I had fun doing the drills. It was an adrenaline rush."
NFP: What kind of player and person will the NFL get with you?
McCray: "I would say they'll get a tough ballplayer and person who's built to last and has a tenacious and persistent attitude. I have great leadership and a lot of coaches can vouch for my character., both Tommy Bowden and Jimbo Fisher."
NFP: What has your journey been like?
McCray: "Man, it's been different. I can definitely tell you that. I was kind of sad when I left Florida State. I found a new home and new family at Akron. It definitely humbled me. it showed me both sides of the game. It was a different atmosphere. Being at Akron makes you work harder."
NFP: What was the Pro Day like working out with Florida State top-ranked defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan?
McCray: "We have been feeding off each others' energy. Timmy is my boy. We treated that day like it was a game and showed what we can do. It was intense."
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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun