Packers focus on cornerback depth
GREEN BAY - When the Green Bay Packers let cornerback Casey Hayward walk in free agency in 2016, it looked like the right call.
Hayward had played some good football with the Packers but was coming off an undistinguished fourth season and had his share of injury issues along the way.
So why pay him $5 million a year when Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins just had promising rookie seasons?
Count me among those who defended the move. Well, I was wrong, and not just because Hayward has gone to back-to-back Pro Bowls with the San Diego Chargers. Here’s why: I failed to appreciate just how important cornerback depth is in the NFL, where the rules favor the passing game and the best quarterbacks are beating pass rushers by getting the ball out fast.
You can’t play good defense in today’s NFL if you can’t cover well, and
Eric Reid is getting another shot in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers on Thursday have signed the free agent safety to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Reid filed an official grievance letter with the NFL in October of 2017, alleging that team owners and the league colluded to prevent his employment due to his protest activities. Reid, along with quarterback
Colin Kaepernick, participated in protests during the playing of the national anthem before NFL games to highlight social awareness and racial injustice.
Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said he wasn’t concerned about Reid’s past protests, saying that it was a “football decision” – and one that was approved by new owner David Tepper.
“Every decision we make we communicate with” Tepper, Hurney said.
Tepper bought the team from Jerry Richardson this past summer.
“Everybody we sign we ask if he has the skill set and if he helps us win football games – and we feel the answer is yes,” Hurney said of Reid.
It’s unclear if Reid plans to continue his protests when he begins playing for the Panthers, though he said in March he doesn’t plan to protest during the national anthem this season.
Titans cut Matthews: The Tennessee Titans have released wide receiver Rishard Matthews, whose production had dipped significantly this season.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson said that Matthews had asked Monday to be traded or released.
Matthews has just three receptions for 11 yards after catching over 50 passes for the Titans each of the previous two seasons. He had 65 catches for 945 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016 before following that up with 53 receptions for 795 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Matthews, who turns 29 on Oct. 12, joined the Titans in 2016 after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
Taylor returns to practice: Tyrod Taylor’s first days as a backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns have been difficult.
And not just because he lost his job. Taylor, who was replaced as Cleveland’s starter by rookie Baker Mayfield earlier this week, was cleared from concussion protocol and returned to practice Thursday, but was limited by a back injury that could prevent him from being Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback on Sunday in Oakland.
Coach Hue Jackson said Taylor was limited and there’s a chance Drew Stanton will be the backup when Mayfield makes his first NFL start against the Raiders.
“We will see exactly where that is,” Jackson said. “He did not do a lot, so I will make sure that if we do put him out there, that he’s ready to go. Obviously, Drew has been there since the situation with Tyrod had happened. We will see where that is. I will know more about that tomorrow.”
Jackson plans to make a decision on Friday.
Taylor was in the locker room after practice, but said he couldn’t speak with reporters because he had a meeting.
He sustained a head injury during the first half of last week’s game against the New York Jets.