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NFL notebook: Panthers release key veterans

[February 27, 2018] Defensive end Charles Johnson and safety Kurt Coleman were released by the Carolina Panthers on Monday, and the next roster move might impact longtime running back Jonathan Stewart.

Releasing Johnson saved the Panthers $3.25 million against the salary cap, and Carolina can also punt Coleman's $2.65 million cap charge.

Stewart's deal includes a similar structure, with a $1 million roster bonus due on March 15. Stewart has a cap figure of $5.2 million and could be viewed as a superfluous chess piece with 2017 first-rounder Christian McCaffrey viewed as the future at the position.

Johnson, 31, signed a two-year contract prior to last season and has played for the Panthers since entering the NFL out of Georgia in 2007. He was suspended four games last season for a PED violation.

--The Minnesota Vikings are not expected to apply the franchise tag to quarterback Case Keenum, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.

The team's decision before the March 6 deadline will allow last year's breakout starter to hit free agency, sources told Rapoport.

Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater are all unsure of their respective futures with the Vikings. The 30-year-old Keenum was the team's primary starter this past season after being called upon in September when Bradford went down with another knee injury. Keenum started 16 total games, including the NFC Championship game, and had 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions in the regular season.

--Coming off a year in which he missed all but two games, Vikings quarterback and pending free agent Bradford "absolutely" intends to continue his NFL career in 2018, according to an NFL Network report.

Some wondered if the 2010 No. 1 overall pick might retire, considering Bradford's career earnings of more than $114 million and a seemingly endless list of significant injuries through eight NFL seasons.

According to NFL Network, the 30-year-old QB has been told by Dr. James Andrews that his left knee joint is sound, with ligaments intact and no reason to be concerned moving forward. Andrews performed an arthroscopic procedure on Bradford's knee in November, cleaning up a bone spur and some cartilage that was causing discomfort.

--The Chicago Bears released outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps, the team announced.

The moves will save the team more than $10 million in salary cap space.

McPhee, 29, had 90 tackles and 14 sacks for the Bears over the past three seasons. Demps, 32, was limited to the three games in 2017 after suffering a fractured left forearm.

--Teams are being informed Cincinnati Bengals free agent Tyler Eifert expects to be ready for offseason workouts.

Eifert missed 14 games in 2017 after undergoing back surgery and has missed more games than he's played in his NFL career due to a slew of injuries. Dr. Robert Watkins sent a memo to every team last week informing clubs Eifert was physically cleared for offseason workouts, ESPN reported.

Eifert, 27, has played in 10 games total the past two seasons and is not likely to re-sign with the Bengals.

--New Orleans Saints All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan underwent minor surgery on his left foot earlier this month and is expected to recover in time for offseason workouts, according to a report from The New Orleans Times-Picayune.

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Jordan had the elective surgery within the past two weeks and was given a recovery timeline of four to six weeks, according to the report. He is wearing a protective boot and using a scooter to get around.

Jordan played in all 16 of the Saints' games this season, registering a career-high 13 sacks, forcing two fumbles and hauling in an interception. The 28-year-old was named to his third Pro Bowl and took part in the event, which players have the option to skip when injured.

--New York Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated early Monday morning after going the wrong way through the Lincoln Tunnel and crashing into a bus.

Four people aboard the Jitney bus were injured in the 2 a.m. crash in the tunnel's center tube, Port Authority spokesman Joe Pentangelo told the New York Post. Donahue, 25, was charged with DWI and reckless driving after crashing into the bus, which had 15 people aboard. He blew a 0.15 on a Breathalyzer, sources told the New York Post.

The 6-foot-3, 248-pound Donahue was the Jets' fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the Jets' overtime win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4. He played in four games and recorded five tackles.

--When the trade for Kansas City Chiefs shutdown cornerback Marcus Peters is completed on March 14, the Los Angeles Rams will reportedly part with only a 2019 second-round pick and 2018 fourth-round selection.

ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news surrounding the details of the swap. Peters and a 2018 sixth-round pick will go to the Rams in the deal the teams agreed to last week.

Peters, the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2015, has 19 career interceptions in 45 games and presumably will replace Trumaine Johnson as the No. 1 corner in Wade Phillips' defense in Los Angeles.

--The Miami Dolphins continue to study their options regarding standout receiver Jarvis Landry and are slated to meet with his agent on Wednesday, according to an ESPN report.

The meeting would take place in Indianapolis, site of the NFL Scouting Combine. The Dolphins placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Landry last week, which would lead to a salary at approximately $16.2 million for the 2018 season.

However, Landry can negotiate with other teams and could sign an offer sheet. The Dolphins would then have the right to match the offer or work out a trade.

--Apparently, there's a price to pay when you mess with Roger Goodell. Even if you're Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Goodell is going to request that Jones repay more than $2 million in legal fees to cover costs incurred by teams during the defense of Ezekiel Elliott, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport said the following on his Twitter account shortly after the New York Times reported Jones would be fined more than $2 million: "Clarity on NFL and #Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: It's not a fine, it's a reimbursement of costs incurred by member clubs. More than $2M. The resolution has been on the books for more than 20 years. Goodell did this after consulting with owners."

--Field Level Media

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