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[May 05, 2015]  The Sports Xchange

05/04/2015 NFL Note - Dallas Cowboys Claiborne, Morris

CB Morris Claiborne can become a free agent in March after the Dallas Cowboys declined to pick up the 2016 contract option for the former No. 6 overall pick.

Claiborne has missed 18 games the past two seasons because of hamstring and knee injuries. When healthy, he did not perform up to expectations and his spot on the depth chart next season could become questionable depending on his performance in training camp.

The Cowboys used their first-round pick on cornerback Byron Jones and already have Orlando Scandrick and Brandon Carr ahead of Claiborne.

Claiborne's deal calls for a base salary of $2.607 million in 2015.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Rice, Jr., Jerry

WR Jerry Rice Jr. was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4). The son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice spent the past season on injured reserve after hurting his shoulder. The younger Rice signed with Washington last year after going undrafted.
 


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NFL Note - * Free Agents Aaitui, Isaako

NT Isaako Aaitui was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Coughman, Edawn

T Edawn Coughman was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Bell, Braylon

WR Braylon Bell was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Beauharnais, Steve

LB Steve Beauharnais was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Miller, Gabe

LB Gabe Miller was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Wolfe, Thomas

CB Trey Wolfe was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Okoro, Kenny

CB Kenny Okoro was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Johnson, Rishaw

G Rishaw Johnson was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).
 


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NFL Note - * Free Agents Nsekhe, Ty

T Ty Nsekhe was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Sapp, Ricky

LB Ricky Sapp had his contract terminated by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Spitler, Austin

LB Austin Spitler had his contract terminated by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Horsley, Kenneth

DL Kenny Horsley was waived by the Redskins Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Kalil, Matt

T Matt Kalil had the fifth-year option for 2016 exercised by the Vikings. Kalil was the fourth overall pick in 2012, but is coming off a disappointing third season plagued by inconsistent play following offseason knee surgery. Kalil particularly struggled in pass protection, and was credited with giving up double-digit sacks. The Vikings chose to pick up the $11.096 million option on Kalil's rookie contract for 2016, but can still release him after the season without any further obligation as long as he does not get injured.

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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Smith, Harrison

S Harrison Smith had the fifth-year option for 2016 exercised by the Vikings. Smith was the 29th overall pick in 2012 and picked up some All-Pro votes in his third NFL season. His fifth-year option is worth $5.278 million, and the sides are expected to discuss a potential long-term contract before the start of the season.

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NFL Note - Atlanta Falcons Mooney, Collin

FB Collin Mooney was signed by the Falcons Monday (May 4). Mooney spent the past three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, seeing time on the practice squad and active roster since being signed out of the U.S. Military Academy as an undrafted rookie in 2012.

Mooney signed with the Titans after fulfilling his three-year commitment to the U.S. Army. He rushed for a single-season program record 1,339 yards for the Black Knights as a senior.

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NFL Note - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Martin, Doug

RB Doug Martin did not have the fifth-year option for 2016 on his contract exercised by the Buccaneers.

Martin will become an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season. The Bucs still can sign Martin to an extension before free agency opens next spring.

Martin, who rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns in 16 starts as a rookie, has been limited by injuries the last two seasons. He rushed for 456 yards in six games in 2013 and 494 yards in 14 games last season.

The 26-year-old Martin's average has dropped from 4.6 yards per attempt in 2012 to 3.6 and 3.7 in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

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NFL Note - San Francisco 49ers Miller, Bruce

FB Bruce Miller has been charged with misdemeanor vandalism, CSNBayArea.com reported Monday.

The Santa County District Attorney's office said the alleged incident occurred March 5 when Miller and his girlfriend were arguing in a parking garage in Santa Clara, Calif. Miller allegedly took his girlfriend's cell phone and smashed it against a wall.

Miller was originally arrested on a charge of spousal battery, but the girlfriend refused medical attention and did not have any visible injuries.

"Even relatively minor domestic violence incidents can be the first steps on a path that ends in tragedy," said Jim Demertzis, who supervises the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Family Violence Unit. "That's why we take all domestic violence cases seriously."

Miller, 27, was scheduled to be arraigned on the charge Monday. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail.

"The 49ers organization is aware of today's developments involving Bruce Miller and will continue to monitor these legal proceedings closely," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement.

Miller has not been participating in the 49ers' voluntary offseason program due to the ongoing investigation.

Miller was a seventh-round draft pick in 2011. He has played in 61 career games (42 starts). He has 66 catches for 599 yards and three touchdowns in his career with the 49ers, and has rushed for 48 yards.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Thomas, Chase

LB Chase Thomas was waved/injured by the 49ers Monday (May 4). Thomas spent the 2015 season between San Francisco's practice squad and active roster where he registered two special teams tackles in five games.

A 25-year old native of Marietta, Ga., Thomas attended Stanford.

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NFL Note - Seattle Seahawks Irvin, Bruce

LB Bruce Irvin, who did not have his fifth-year option picked up by the Seahawks, has taken out his frustration on social media.

Irvin wrote on Twitter with a series of tweets Monday morning -- some of them profanity-laced -- that revealed his feelings about not receiving the option. The Seahawks would have been on the hook to pay Irvin $7.8 million in 2016.

"Worked for everything I got in my life this s--- will b no different!" Irvin tweeted early Monday. "I earns my keeps!"

The deadline to pick up the option was Sunday. Irvin will play this season at $1.5 million and become a free agent at the end of the year.

"Faced way tougher adversity getting outta them streets coming up!" Irvin tweeted. "That's s--- is nothing!

(EXPLETIVE) THAT OPTION!"

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll talked after the draft on Saturday about his plans for Irvin.

"If we pick up Bruce's option it's a great thing, if we don't pick up Bruce's option it only means we aren't picking it up. ... We want him to be here for a long time," Carroll said.

Carroll said he met with Irvin before the draft to lay out the possible scenarios.

"We met with Bruce (Thursday) before we got going, and it went very well," Carroll said. "We discussed what our plan is and what we are planning on doing, still knowing that maybe something could happen that could change the decision. It has nothing to do with the statement of how we feel about him in our program. We expect him to be here for a long time and we will work to get that done."

The 27-year-old Irvin was a first-round draft choice out of West Virginia in 2012. Irvin had 6.5 sacks in the regular season in 2014 and two more in the playoffs. He also had two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns.

"I'm a very blunt person and that won't ever change," Irvin tweeted. "Sorry if u dislike it. Gonna teach bray (his son, Brayden) to be the same way."

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NFL Note - Buffalo Bills Carrington, Alex

DE Alex Carrington left the Rams for the Bills as an unrestricted free agent Monday (May 4).

Carrington was a third-round draft pick by the Bills out of Arkansas State in 2010, and spent the first four years of his NFL career with the team before signing with the St. Louis Rams last offseason.

Carrington has 53 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in five NFL seasons, but he had just one tackle in eight games in 2014. His four blocked kicks during the 2012 season still stands as a Bills single-season team record.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Madsen, Joe

C Joe Madsen was waived by the Packers Monday (May 4). Madsen, a first-year player out of West Virginia, was signed to Green Bay's practice squad on Jan. 3, 2015, where he spent the rest of the postseason. Madsen re-signed with the Packers on Jan. 20, 2015.

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NFL Note - Houston Texans Mercilus, Whitney

LB Whitney Mercilus and the Texans agreed on a four-year contract extension on Monday. That precludes the team from having to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for 2016.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the deal keeps Mercilus in Houston through 2019 and is worth $26 million.

In three years with the Texans, Mercilus has compiled 122 total tackles with 18 sacks and four forced fumbles.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Boone, Kadron

WR Kadron Boone was waived by the Colts Monday (May 4). Boone was originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2014. After his release from the Eagles at the end of training camp, he spent time on the St. Louis Rams' practice squad before being released on Oct. 29. Boone was signed to the Colts' practice squad on Dec. 31 where he remained for all three postseason contests.
 


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NFL Note - Indianapolis Colts Conway, Gannon

DE Gannon Conway was waived by the Colts Monday (May 4). Conway was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2014. He was released three days later and signed by the Colts as a free agent on June 11. Conway spent time with the Colts in training camp before being released on Aug. 30. He was then signed to the practice squad on Jan. 15 where he remained for the team's AFC Championship Game appearance.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Demps, Jeff

RB Jeff Demps was waived by the Colts Monday (May 4). Demps competed in two games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013 and posted one carry for 13 yards and three receptions for 21 yards. He was signed to the Bucs' practice squad at the start of the 2014 season but was released in October. Demps spent one week on the Colts' practice squad in October before his release. He was re-signed by Indianapolis to a reserve/future contract on Jan. 19.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Hall, Matt

T Matt Hall was waived by the Colts Monday (May 4). Hall was originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2014. He was waived by Minnesota on July 25 and signed by the Colts two days later. Hall spent the 2014 season on injured reserve.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Cornick, Paul

T Paul Cornick was waived by the Broncos Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Kelley, Jeremy

WR Jeremy Kelley was waived by the Broncos Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Ball, Marcus

S Marcus Ball was waived by the Saints Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Knox, Kyle

LB Kyle Knox was waived by the Saints Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Zimmerman, Ty

S Ty Zimmerman was waived by the Saints Monday (May 4).

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NFL Note - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fragel, Reid

T Reid Fragel was claimed on waivers by the Buccaneers from the Falcons Monday (May 4.)

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