Seahawks ready to sign former Navy star Reynolds
Redskins hire Lefemina to run business operations
The Seattle Seahawks are expected to sign free-agent wide receiver-returner Keenan Reynolds, a former Raven and record-setting quarterback at Navy, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Twitter and The Seattle Times confirmed.
Reynolds rushed for 4,559 yards operating Navy’s triple-option offense, the most of any quarterback in Football Bowl Subdivision history, and 88 touchdowns, also an FBS record.
He was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round in 2016 and spent most of his first season on the practice squad, continuing to work on the transition to receiver and returner.
Reynolds improved considerably in 2017 minicamps but was held without a catch and botched a punt in the preseason. He was let go in the cutdown to 53 players, and the Ravens did not re-sign him to the practice squad.
The Washington Redskins signed him to their practice squad in November but did not re-sign him after the season. Redskins hire business leader: The Washington Redskins have hired Brian Lafemina as the teams’s president of business operations and chief operating officer in a newly created position.
Lafemina will head the business side of operations and report to team owner Daniel Snyder, the team announced. He worked for the NFL the last eight years and spearheaded the Club Business Development. Lafemina also put together the team that developed and distributed best practices to each franchise in the league. He was directly involved in NFL-wide programs focused on fan experience, ticketing strategy, Super Bowl strategy, Pro Bowl strategy and stadium development.
“I am thrilled to welcome Brian to the Washington Redskins,” Snyder said in a statement. “Brian has been one of the most highly regarded NFL executives amongst league ownership for many years because of his deep understanding of our business, his focus on partner relationships and his genuine belief that fans must be at the center of every decision we make.
“Brian is coming to Washington with fresh thinking and big ideas to implement, and I have full confidence that with Brian’s addition and with Bruce Allen continuing as team president, the Redskins’ success will continue to grow, both Former Ravens wide receiver Keenan Reynolds is reportedly ready to sign with the Seahawks. He spent part of 2017 on the Redskins’ practice squad. on and off the field.”
The hire was a year in the making after Snyder first tried to poach Lafemina from the league offices. He previously held multiple positions over a 22-year span with the Madison Square Garden Company, finishing as senior vice president of Madison Square Garden Sports. Raiders moves: The Oakland Raiders have signed fifth-round defensive tackle Maurice Hurst and seventh-round receiver Marcell Ateman to rookie contracts.
The deals announced Wednesday give the Raiders five of their nine draft picks under contract.
Hurst was drafted 140th overall out of Michigan after being selected as an All-American last season. He had 5{ sacks as an interior rusher and led all nose tackles and defensive tackles with 49 total quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He slipped to the fifth round because of concern over a heart condition that got him sent home from the combine.
Ateman was drafted 228th overall. He had 146 catches for 2,466 yards and 13 touchdowns at Oklahoma State. Titans signing: The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver Nick Williams.
The Titans announced the deal Wednesday.
The 5-foot-10, 184-pound Williams has played 22 games in his career with the Atlanta Falcons over the past three seasons and Washington in 2013. He has 28 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns.