Cutler back to fill Fins’ Tannehill void
Jay Cutler has decided to postpone retirement for the chance to be Ryan Tannehill’s replacement.
Cutler agreed to terms yesterday on a contract with the Miami Dolphins, a person familiar with the situation said. The person confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins weren’t expected to announce the deal until Cutler signed the $10 million, one-year deal.
Cutler will compete with Matt Moore for a starting job while Tannehill remains out with a left knee injury that could sideline him for the entire season.
Dolphins coach Adam Gase was offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears when Cutler had a careerbest quarterback rating with them in 2015. Gase joined Miami in 2016, and Cutler parted with Chicago in March after eight seasons.
Cutler, 34, drew little interest in the spring as a free agent, perhaps partly because of his prickly personality and tendency for turnovers.
“I guess I know a different guy than what everybody else portrays,” Gase said in May, when Cutler was hired by Fox as an analyst to work on its No. 2 NFL team.
Tannehill, who missed the final four games of last season with two sprained ligaments in his knee, reinjured it a week into training camp Thursday. The damage is similar last year’s injury, a personal familiar with the diagnosis said, which has left the Dolphins consulting with specialists to determine whether surgery is the best option for Tannehill. He’s expected to be sidelined a minimum of six weeks, but the deal with Cutler signals the Dolphins anticipate Tannehill will need a lengthier recovery.
Cutler is 68-71 as a starter with a career quarterback rating of 85.7, 208 touchdown passes and 146 interceptions. Several NFL starting QBs are older.
Moore turns 33 next week and has 28 starts in 10 seasons. Last year he helped the Dolphins clinch their first postseason berth since 2008, going 2-1 as a starter to end the regular season before a first-round playoff loss at Pittsburgh.
Gase gave Moore only a tepid endorsement Friday, saying: “Right now Matt is our quarterback.”
Miami decided not to pursue Colin Kaepernick, who parted ways with the San Francisco 49ers in March and remains unsigned. Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem at games last season to protest police brutality, and there has been speculation he’s unemployed because of his politics.
Atlanta CB suspended
For the second straight year, Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins will be suspended for the start of the season for a violation of the league’s policy on performance enhancers.
This time, the suspension has a bigger bite: 10 games.
The NFL announced that Collins has been suspended without pay for the first 10 games of the 2017 season. He was suspended for the first four games in 2016.
Collins, a second-round pick in 2015, has said he failed drug tests at Louisiana State.
The suspension will be costly to the Falcons’ depth. Collins started six games last season and had two interceptions. He moved into the lineup after star cornerback Desmond Trufant was placed on IR with a torn pectoral muscle.
Collins will be eligible to return to the active roster following the team’s game against Seattle on Nov. 20.
Glenn back on field
Buffalo Bills starting left tackle Cordy Glenn has returned to practice and feels reassured after having a nagging left foot injury examined by a specialist.
In other Bills news, the team avoided a scare after receiver Sammy Watkins rolled his left ankle while making a one-handed catch in camp. Watkins pulled up short and appeared to be limping while being escorted off the field to the trainer’s tent before returning to practice about 10 minutes later. . . .
The Tennessee Titans have added running back Brandon Radcliff and have waived injured linebacker Victor Ochi. ...
The Jacksonville Jaguars have released oft-injured safety James Sample, a fourth-round draft pick in 2015.