Kony Ealy

Kony Ealy Trade Another New England Patriots' Masterstroke

... it. After virtually every move they make, the rest of the league collectively thinks. ‘They did it again,” and, “Why can’t that be us?”. I promise that personnel men across the league grabbed their heads and pounded their desks when the checked their Twitter feeds Friday afternoon. As all of those teams try to figure out a way to get better, Belichick struck again in the form of acquiring defensive end Kony Ealy and a third-round pick for their second-round pick. Here’s how it breaks down: New England gets Ealy and the No. 72 overall pick in the draft for the No. 64 overall pick. Are you kidding me? The Patriots dropped eight draft spots and they got Ealy? Seriously, how does Belichick do this. Ealy is a guy who was just a shade below Denver linebacker — and Super Bowl MVP — Von Miller in Super Bowl 50 in terms of being the best player on the field. Ealy was dominant in the game. Had Carolina found a way to win, he would have been the MVP. He can be that special. Of ...

Panthers Bring Back Julius Peppers, Trade De Kony Ealy To Patriots

... April 20, 2002, file photo, Julius Peppers, of North Carolina, holds up a team jersey after being selected by the Carolina Panthers as their first pick, second overall, in the NFL Draft in New York. After eight years, Peppers is returning home to play for the Panthers. The Panthers agreed to terms on a contract Friday, March 10, 2017, with Peppers, their all-time sack leader, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the move can't officially be announced until later in the day. (AP Photo/Ed Betz, File) ED BETZ. FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2014, file photo, Green Bay Packers defensive end Julius Peppers smiles on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis. After eight years, Peppers is returning home to play for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers agreed to terms on a contract Friday, March 10, 2017, with Peppers, their all-time sack leader, according to a person familiar with the ...

Charles Johnson Wants Julius Peppers To Retire As A Panther

... Make sure you're in the loop - take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Panthers newsletter now !). "Keep stacking the D-line. Keep bringing in good people for D-line,’” said Johnson, via the Charlotte Observer. “I’ll even root for them to bring Pep back. If they can bring Julius back, I’m all aboard. “From a personal opinion and as a friend of his, I just want to see him retire as a Panther. I just think him coming back for a year and retiring as a Panther, what better career for him to have, retiring in his home?”. Johnson has spent his entire 10-year career with the Panthers and could play a role in persuading Peppers - who will be an unrestricted free agent this Thursday - to returning to Carolina. Peppers' agent said earlier this week the veteran defensive end plans to return for his 16 th season. Carolina and Peppers have been linked this offseason via speculation, though there haven't been many concrete reports on their exact interest in one another. Carolina has already re-signed three free agent defensive ends ...

Team Adds Cook To The Mix

... head coach Bill Belichick’s infatuation with Cooks dates back to 2015 when, following a preseason game with the Saints (the teams also held joint practice together), he said: “I’m glad we don't have to play him twice a year and he's not in our division. He’s a really good player.”. Cooks caught 78 passes for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns for the Saints last season, but he expressed displeasure about his use by the team. The 20 th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Cooks played three years at Oregon State. In three seasons with the Saints, the 5-foot-10, 189-pounder hauled in 215 passes for 2,861 yards and 20 TDs. The cost for Ealy was minimal. The Patriots merely had to move down eight slots in next month’s draft, shipping their second-rounder (64 th overall) to Carolina in exchange for Carolina’s third (72 nd overall). Ealy’s acquisition came on a day the Indianapolis Colts were reportedly coming to terms with Jabaal Sheard, who totaled 13 sacks in two seasons in New England. Chris Long (four sacks last year) had earlier disclosed that he’ll be one-and-done in New ...

Martellus Bennett Signs Free-agent Deal On 30th Birthday

... quarterback in Tom Brady to another in Aaron Rodgers. Makes sense that he was anxious to let the world know about his next stop in his career. This is Bennett's fourth team since being drafted in the second round in 2008 by the Cowboys. He also spent one season with the Giants in 2012. Patriots trade top pick to Saints for receiver Brandin Cooks. The latest NFL Rumors. Follow along with the latest Patriots and NFL rumors all in one convenient place on "The Pulse". The Patriots had their sights set on Brandin Cooks, and two days into the new league year they've landed him. According to Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran, the Patriots have agreed to send their No. 32 overall selection in this year's draft as well as their No. 103 choice to the Saints. In return, they'll acquire Cooks and the No. 118 pick from New Orleans. Report: Sheard leaves Pats to sign with Colts. In Cooks, the Patriots have landed a dynamic receiver with the speed to be an outside-the-numbers threat and the ...

Cowboys Adding Carroll, Moore

... with a completion percentage of 67. The Redskins lost four of their last six games — including 19-10 at home against the division rival New York Giants in the regular-season finale, a defeat sealed by Cousins' late interception — to end up 8-7-1 and miss the playoffs. — Howard Fendrich reporting from Washington. 11:20 a.m. The Tennessee Titans have continued the reconstruction of their secondary by signing safeties Johnathan Cyprien and Brynden Trawick. Both signings were announced Friday. And Neil Schwartz, the agent for cornerback Logan Ryan, tweeted Thursday night that his client had signed with the Titans. Cyprien has 442 career tackles in four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including a career-high 126 last season. Titans general manager Jon Robinson says in a statement ...

Cowboys Adding Carroll, Moore

... p.m. The Carolina Panthers have signed unrestricted free agent safety Mike Adams to a two-year contract. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Adams comes to Carolina after three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2015 after tying for the league lead with seven takeaways in 2014 and posting five interceptions in 2015. A 13-year NFL veteran, Adams has played in 190 games, with 117 starts. He has amassed 737 tackles, six sacks, 25 interceptions, 74 passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. - Steve Reed reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina. 3:35 p.m. The Bengals have re-signed cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick to a five-year contract. Cincinnati's first-round draft choice in 2012, Kirkpatrick has started 32 of the last 35 Bengals games. His three interceptions in 2016 were tied for the team lead. He led the team in passes defensed in 2015 and was second in 2016. "It's exciting for us to retain one of our young, emerging players," coach Marvin Lewis said. "Dre has developed over the last two seasons to be a consistent starter and dependable ...

Steelers Re-sign Landry Jones As Backup Qb

... Reiff grew up with Minnesota Vikings games on the family television every fall weekend across the state line in South Dakota. Then he entered the NFL with the Detroit Lions and played against them twice per season. When Reiff became a free agent for the first time, the Vikings were a natural fit. The feeling was mutual for a team embarking on another rebuild for an offensive line that fell apart last year. The Vikings finalized their contract with Reiff on Friday. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Reiff played in 78 of a possible 82 games with the Lions. Cardinals re-sign Jones. The Arizona Cardinals have made the big investment they knew would be required after trading for Chandler Jones a year ago, signing him to a five-year contract. The agreement comes after the Cardinals placed the franchise tag on Jones to prevent him from becoming a free agent. The Cardinals acquired Jones in a trade with New England before last season, and general manager Steve Keim had said all along that the team would sign the player to a long-term contract. It's worth $82.5 million, with $53 million ...

Busy Panthers Bring Back Peppers, Munnerlyn

... for the Patriots' second-round pick (No. 64). The Panthers did lose starting offensive tackle Mike Remmers, who signed with the Vikings, his agent Brett Tessler announced Friday on Twitter. Remmers was made expendable when the Panthers agreed to terms with free agent offensive tackle Matt Kalil from the Vikings on Thursday. Ealy had three sacks and forced two turnovers in a Super Bowl loss to Denver two years ago but never developed into the dominant pass rusher Carolina was hoping for last season, recording just five sacks. Shepard and Johnson help fill the voids left by the departures of Ted Ginn Jr. and Philly Brown. The 6-foot-1, 195 pound Shepard spent four seasons with the Bucs and posted career highs of 23 receptions, 341 yards receiving and two touchdowns last season. The speedy 6-foot-2, 217-pound Johnson has spent his first three seasons with ...

Glennon Gets Bears Job, Rg3 Gets Walking Papers

... who went to Green Bay. He was a solid sidekick to star tight end Rob Gronkowski last season, but when the Patriots traded for Dwayne Allen this week, it was clear Bennett was heading elsewhere. They also added another offensive option late Friday, giving a first- and third-round pick to New Orleans in exchange for speedy receiver Brandin Cooks. College quarterback turned NFL receiver Terrelle Pryor left Cleveland for Washington for a one-year contract worth up to $8 million. The Redskins lost their two top receivers on Thursday in free agency, Pierre Garcon and De Sean Jackson. Veteran linebacker Lawrence Timmons of the Steelers joined the Dolphins for $12 million over two years. Also on the move on the second day of free agency were several more offensive linemen as NFL teams look at the crop of blockers in this year's draft and shudder. So big bucks were handed out to Andrew Whitworth by the Rams, Russell Okung by the Chargers, Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers by the Vikings, Ricky Wagner by the Lions, and Manelik Watson by the ...