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NFL notebook: Buccaneers add S Ward
September 3, 2017
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign three-time Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward, who was released by the Denver Broncos as they made their final roster cuts at the Saturday deadline.
It will be a one-year deal worth $5 million, multiple media outlets reported Sunday. Ward was scheduled to make a non-guaranteed $4.5 million with the Broncos in the final year of the four-year contract he signed in 2014 but was cut after three seasons.
Ward, 30, started 14 games last season and recorded 69 tackles, one sack and one interception. He did not play in any of the four preseason games after sustaining a hamstring injury at practice in early August.
--The Washington Redskins talked projected starting safety Su'a Cravens out of retiring at age 22.
Cravens told some within the organization this weekend that he was planning to retire, but a meeting with the team's coaches and executives changed his mind for now, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Cravens, who has been nursing a knee injury, now is expected to miss the start of the season as Washington helps him address his issues rather than have him walk away from the game, according to ESPN. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Cravens, a second-round pick out of USC in 2016, recorded 34 tackles, one sack and one interception in 11 games (three starts) during his rookie season.
--The Dallas Cowboys acquired outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott in a trade with the Green Bay Packers, who received a conditional 2018 seventh-round draft pick.
In addition, the Cowboys cut defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, their biggest free agent signing in 2016. Thornton signed a four-year, $17 million deal that included $9 million guaranteed, but he did not become a starter and was slowed in training camp by a hamstring strain.
In 11 games last season, Elliott led the Packers with 13 special teams tackles and was credited with 19 on defense with one sack.
--Brock Osweiler's relatively short but eventful career has now come full circle. The quarterback is returning to Denver after the Broncos signed him to a one-year contract.
The deal is for one year at the veterans' minimum of $775,000. The Browns, who cut Osweiler at the end of preseason camp, still will owe him approximately $15,225,000.
The Broncos had a need at the position with backup Paxton Lynch out at least a month because of a shoulder injury. And Osweiler knows the Broncos' offense, having played there under offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.
--The Buffalo Bills waived backup running back Jonathan Williams in a surprise move.
While Williams dealt with hamstring and knee tweaks this offseason, the Bills' reasoning to cut the former fifth-round pick in 2016 had nothing to do with injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
Williams, 23, had been expected to be LeSean McCoy's primary backup this season. Williams ran for 94 yards on 27 carries with one touchdown in 11 games during his rookie season. Veteran Mike Tolbert appears to be first in line to back up McCoy.
--The Indianapolis Colts claimed running back Matt Jones off waivers a day after he was cut by the Washington Redskins.
Jones, a third-round pick by the Redskins in 2015 out of Florida, spent two years in Washington, compiling 950 yards on 243 carries with six touchdowns and eight fumbles (six lost).
Jones, 24, began last season as the Redskins' starting running back before losing the job. He was a healthy inactive for the final eight games and finished the season with 460 rushing yards and three TDs.
--The Miami Dolphins changed kickers, claiming Cody Parkey off waivers and waiving Andrew Franks.
The Browns waived the 25-year-old Parkey as they trimmed their roster to 53 players. He lost his job to rookie Zane Gonzalez, a seventh-round pick.
Parkey joined the Browns in Week 3 last season after Patrick Murray injured a knee in practice. He missed 3 of 6 field-goal attempts in his debut but recovered to make 17 of his next 19 attempts. Franks, 24, has been the Dolphins' kicker for the past two seasons, converting 29 of 37 field goal attempts and 74 of 78 extra-point tries.
--The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired safety J.J. Wilcox and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a sixth-round pick in 2018.
Wilcox, who just signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers this offseason, previously played four years with the Cowboys, who drafted him in the third round in 2013. The 26-year-old had 49 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble in 13 games with the Cowboys last season.
Wilcox became expendable when the Buccaneers reportedly landed free agent safety T.J. Ward.
September 3, 2017
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign three-time Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward, who was released by the Denver Broncos as they made their final roster cuts at the Saturday deadline.
It will be a one-year deal worth $5 million, multiple media outlets reported Sunday. Ward was scheduled to make a non-guaranteed $4.5 million with the Broncos in the final year of the four-year contract he signed in 2014 but was cut after three seasons.
Ward, 30, started 14 games last season and recorded 69 tackles, one sack and one interception. He did not play in any of the four preseason games after sustaining a hamstring injury at practice in early August.
--The Washington Redskins talked projected starting safety Su'a Cravens out of retiring at age 22.
Cravens told some within the organization this weekend that he was planning to retire, but a meeting with the team's coaches and executives changed his mind for now, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Cravens, who has been nursing a knee injury, now is expected to miss the start of the season as Washington helps him address his issues rather than have him walk away from the game, according to ESPN. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Cravens, a second-round pick out of USC in 2016, recorded 34 tackles, one sack and one interception in 11 games (three starts) during his rookie season.
--The Dallas Cowboys acquired outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott in a trade with the Green Bay Packers, who received a conditional 2018 seventh-round draft pick.
In addition, the Cowboys cut defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, their biggest free agent signing in 2016. Thornton signed a four-year, $17 million deal that included $9 million guaranteed, but he did not become a starter and was slowed in training camp by a hamstring strain.
In 11 games last season, Elliott led the Packers with 13 special teams tackles and was credited with 19 on defense with one sack.
--Brock Osweiler's relatively short but eventful career has now come full circle. The quarterback is returning to Denver after the Broncos signed him to a one-year contract.
The deal is for one year at the veterans' minimum of $775,000. The Browns, who cut Osweiler at the end of preseason camp, still will owe him approximately $15,225,000.
The Broncos had a need at the position with backup Paxton Lynch out at least a month because of a shoulder injury. And Osweiler knows the Broncos' offense, having played there under offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.
--The Buffalo Bills waived backup running back Jonathan Williams in a surprise move.
While Williams dealt with hamstring and knee tweaks this offseason, the Bills' reasoning to cut the former fifth-round pick in 2016 had nothing to do with injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
Williams, 23, had been expected to be LeSean McCoy's primary backup this season. Williams ran for 94 yards on 27 carries with one touchdown in 11 games during his rookie season. Veteran Mike Tolbert appears to be first in line to back up McCoy.
--The Indianapolis Colts claimed running back Matt Jones off waivers a day after he was cut by the Washington Redskins.
Jones, a third-round pick by the Redskins in 2015 out of Florida, spent two years in Washington, compiling 950 yards on 243 carries with six touchdowns and eight fumbles (six lost).
Jones, 24, began last season as the Redskins' starting running back before losing the job. He was a healthy inactive for the final eight games and finished the season with 460 rushing yards and three TDs.
--The Miami Dolphins changed kickers, claiming Cody Parkey off waivers and waiving Andrew Franks.
The Browns waived the 25-year-old Parkey as they trimmed their roster to 53 players. He lost his job to rookie Zane Gonzalez, a seventh-round pick.
Parkey joined the Browns in Week 3 last season after Patrick Murray injured a knee in practice. He missed 3 of 6 field-goal attempts in his debut but recovered to make 17 of his next 19 attempts. Franks, 24, has been the Dolphins' kicker for the past two seasons, converting 29 of 37 field goal attempts and 74 of 78 extra-point tries.
--The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired safety J.J. Wilcox and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a sixth-round pick in 2018.
Wilcox, who just signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers this offseason, previously played four years with the Cowboys, who drafted him in the third round in 2013. The 26-year-old had 49 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble in 13 games with the Cowboys last season.
Wilcox became expendable when the Buccaneers reportedly landed free agent safety T.J. Ward.
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