Month: February 2015

The Oakland Raiders are cutting safety Tyvon Branch.
Branch is a former Raiders fourth-round draft pick.
He dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, playing in just five games. He had 27 tackles during that time.
Branch had 74 tackles and an interception per year from 2010 to 2012.
Branch, 28, is an excellent player when healthy.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun

The Indianapolis Colts struck a deal with  quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on a one-year contract extension.
Hasselbeck was signed two years ago.
He’s been backing up quarterback Andrew Luck and played in seven games over the past two seasons.
They’ve completed 37 of 56 passes of 431 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for a 93.7 passer rating.
Hasselbeck is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
He’s passed for 34,948 yards, 203 touchdowns and 148 interceptions for an 82.3 passer rating in 16 NFL seasons.
He’s also played for the Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun
 
 

The Atlanta Falcons cut veteran running back Steven Jackson two years into a three-year, $12 million contract.
Jackson dealt with injuries each season. He rushed for 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons. He caught 53 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown.
A former St. Louis Rams first-round draft pick, Jackson rushed for 10,135 yards and 56 touchdowns before joining the Falcons.
He caught 407 passes for 3,324 yards and eight touchdowns with the Rams.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun

The Washington Redskins have signed veteran defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois to a three-year, $9 million contract that includes $4 million guaranteed.
The deal is worth $11.25 million if incentives are triggered.
Jean Francois was cut by the Indianapolis Colts this week.
Jean Francois met with the Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
Jean Francois was cut two years into a four-year, $22 million contract signed two years ago.
Redskins general manager Scot  McCloughan was general manager of the San Francisco 49ers when they picked him in the seventh round in 2009.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun

Hours after Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s won a legal victory to overturn his suspension, the NFL returned him to the commissioner’s exempt list and is appealing the ruling by Judge David S. Doty.
Doty vacated the previous ruling by former NFL executive Harold Henderson.
“Petition to vacate the arbitration award was granted,” Judge Doty wrote in his decision. “Case was remanded for further proceedings … as the (collective bargaining agreement) may permit.”
The NFL issued a statement.
“Judge Doty’s order did not contain any determinations concerning the fairness of the appeals process under the CBA, including the commissioner’s longstanding authority to appoint a designee to act as hearing officer,” the league said in a statement. “Even so, we believe strongly that Judge Doty’s order is incorrect and fundamentally at odds with well-established legal precedent governing the district court’s role in reviewing arbitration decisions. As a result, we have filed a notice of appeal to have the ruling reviewed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.”
The Vikings issued a statement.
“Adrian Peterson is an important member of the Minnesota Vikings, and our focus remains on welcoming him back when he is able to rejoin our organization,” the Vikings said. “Today’s ruling leaves Adrian’s status under the control of the NFL, the NFLPA and the legal system, and we will have no further comment at this time.”
Earlier, the NFLPA issued a statement.
“This is a victory for the rule of law, due process and fairness,” the statement read. “Our collective bargaining agreement has rules for implementation of the personal conduct policy and when those rules are violated, our union always stands up to protect our players’ rights. This is yet another example why neutral arbitration is good for our players, good for the owners and good for our game.”
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun
 

The Kansas City Chiefs are cutting tight end Anthony Fasano, according to NFL Network.
Fasano was due $2.8 million in 2015.
Fasano played two years for the Chiefs.
The former Miami Dolphins tight end caught 48 passes for 426 yards and seven touchdowns for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris and Richard Gordon at tight end.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun
 

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s suspension appeal ruling was overturned by judge David Doty today,  as he ruled in favor of the NFL Players Association in their lawsuit against the NFL on behalf of the Pro Bowl runner.
It will now go back to the NFL for another ruling under the collective bargaining agreement.
Peterson was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell through April 15 following the running back’s child abuse case.
““This is a victory for the rule of law, due process and fairness,” NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said. “Our collective bargaining agreement has rules for implementation of the personal conduct policy and when those rules are violated, our union always stands up to protect our players’ rights. This is yet another example why neutral arbitration is good for our players, good for the owners and good for our game.””
The Vikings may try to release him, restructure his contract or trade him, but have said they want to keep him on the roster.
Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, got in a heated exchange with Vikings vice president Rob Brzezinski last week at the NFL scouting combine.
Doty typically rules in favor of the players’ union.
Doty agreed with the union’s argument that Goodell acted outside his authority when he suspended Peterson.
Peterson is scheduled to earn $12.75 million in 2015 and count $15.4 million against the salary cap.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider
Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun