NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Niners set to sign Alfred Morris...



An MRI performed after 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon was injured in Sunday’s practice showed a calf strain that will keep him out of action for a while.

As a result of that development and Matt Breida‘s shoulder injury, the Niners have decided to bring in some outside help. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that the team plans to sign Alfred Morris pending a physical.

Morris played for Shanahan in Washington during his first two NFL seasons and ran 611 times for 2,888 yards and 20 touchdowns over those years.

“Alf did a great job for us for the two years I was with him,” Shanahan said Monday, via 95.7 The Game. “It’s not flashy, but he runs extremely hard. He’s very reliable. You block him for zero, usually he can get at least one. He’s a hard-nosed runner you can keep handing the ball off to.”

Morris spent four years in Washington overall and then moved on to the Cowboys for the last two seasons. He ran 115 times for 547 yards and a touchdown last season. (PFT)

 

Report: Roquan Smith finalizing deal with Bears...

Roquan Smith, the final unsigned draft pick, is close to being the last signed draft pick.

The Bears and the first-rounder are finalizing an agreement and should have the deal completed by the end of the day, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The sides have only language left to complete in the contract before it’s signed.

Smith has held out of training camp, with his representation at odds with the team over whether Smith would lose guaranteed money if he is ever suspended.

His holdout is one of the longest since the NFL’s 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement largely dictated the salaries of all draft picks.

 

$18.4M

 

Former players rip Hue Jackson’s “punishment” of Antonio Callaway...



When Browns rookie receiver Antonio Callaway was arrested for marijuana possession, coach Hue Jackson decided on a strange form of punishment: He made Callaway play a lot of snaps in the Browns’ first preseason game.

Jackson explained that Callaway was asking to come out because he was tired, but Jackson made him keep playing. Some former players say that’s a ridiculous way to punish a player.

“This is not a smart coach people,” Nick Hardwick wrote. “1-31 doesn’t happen by chance. Either he should’ve really punished him, or said, ‘He’s a rookie that is going to be suspended and we need to get him as many reps before then as possible,’ followed by a ‘sorry not sorry.'”

And wouldn’t a rookie trying to prove himself want a lot of playing time?

“If I’m an undrafted rookie for the browns I’m gonna make sure i get in trouble before the next game,” Danny Woodhead wrote. “Playing all game just gives you an opportunity to make the team! This isn’t a punishment this is a gift!”

Also odd is that Jackson, who was shown on Hard Knocks putting his assistant coaches in their place when they said players shouldn’t be given too much rest, said that he forced Callaway to stay in the game when Callaway was getting worn out. And it raises questions about Callaway that he was apparently asking to come out of the preseason game and being told he couldn’t: Callaway is a rookie who should want every opportunity to prove himself. And although he played more than most players play in preseason game, he totaled just 57 snaps, which isn’t a particularly grueling workload compared to what players are often asked to do in the regular season.

Everything about Jackson’s “punishment” is strange, and it’s not surprising that some former players were left shaking their heads.
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First I heard of this. Instead of 'drop and give me 50', he had to work harder and longer. The 'former players' need to realize, Callaway is lucky to have a job and still be gainfully employed in the NFL. Callaway got off easy, in my opinion, he survived it... he ought to thank God he can still be a Browns football player.

As for the former players, well, they are just that, former players with nothing else better to do, lol.

 

I agree with Hue on this one... playing for the Browns? What could be a worse punishment?

Relax. I’m kidding. Hue laid down the block and I hit that hole... and you would’ve too.

 

If (No - WHEN) the Browns turn it around, there will be a bunch of click-bait "reporters" out of work!

 

Washington cuts Orlando Scandrick five months after signing him...

In March, Washington signed cornerback Orlando Scandrick. His tenure was a short one.

Washington has cut Scandrick, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Scandrick just pocketed a $1 million signing bonus five months ago, but apparently he didn’t look as good in training camp as some of the young cornerbacks on the roster, and so the team decided to move on quickly. He is not owed any more guaranteed money.

The 31-year-old Scandrick was a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2008 and had played his entire career in Dallas before Washington signed him. Last year he started 11 games for the Cowboys, but they cut him this offseason. Now he’ll attempt to find a new team, less than a month before the start of the regular season. (PFT)

 

I don’t recall Scandrick being terrible, just ok. Has his ability fallen off that far so quickly? Well, 10 yrs in I guess it’s possible. It seems he could still be useful for depth for some team.

 

Think between the general need for CBs, preseason injuries, and a need for a veteran corner, he'll find work soon.

 

Scandrick had some really good years with Dallas. Always thought he was better suited for the slot. If he was let go by Washington this soon into preseason, he - surprisingly - must not be showing much of anything.

 

The emergence of Fabian Moreau likely made this move possible.

 

I wonder who popped/dropped him. Or did he fall out of his gigantic high chair again?

 

Collision with Gilbert and Keion Adams is what was initially reported, but there was also a report of him falling and hitting his head off the turf violently.

 

So.... it wasn’t the high chair?

 

This and the pending Rudolph suspension puts the Steelers pretty thin @ QB. Here we go Kap!

 

I heard Belichik is scared because the Steelers actually have a QB that can kick his teams ass now.

 

Terry is coming out of retirement?

 

If you’ve ever wondered what Emmitt Smith has been up to lately...

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nfl-legend-emmitt-smith-loves-190100766.html

 

Having seen Hard Knocks this makes even less sense now. You kick him to the curb because he asks you to? Play him in the damn game and give him an opportunity to make some plays.