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NFL notebook: Giants deal Pierre-Paul to Bucs

[March 23, 2018] The New York Giants traded defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick (No. 69 overall).

The Giants and Bucs will also swap fourth-round picks as part of the deal; Tampa Bay will now select at No. 102 and New York will go at No. 108.

"We appreciate everything Jason has done for the Giants," new general manager Dave Gettleman said in a statement. "He was a fine player for us, and he helped our franchise win Super Bowl XLVI. We wish him well in the future."

Pierre-Paul, 29, had 68 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles last season in his first 16-game campaign since losing his right index finger and parts of at least two other fingers in a fireworks accident on July 4, 2015. He had played eight games in 2015 after the incident and 12 games in 2016, missing time after having sports hernia surgery.

--The Atlanta Falcons remain committed to working out an extension with star quarterback Matt Ryan, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff says there's no timetable for the negotiations.

"There's no time frame on it right now,'' Dimitroff told reporters at Georgia's pro day Wednesday, via ESPN. "I think the biggest thing for (Ryan's representation), at one time, was probably waiting to see what was going on in the market. That's kind of come and gone now, right? So we'll continue to talk about how to get it finalized.''

The quarterback market was reset this offseason thanks to the deals Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo received. Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million deal with the Vikings to make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league, eclipsing the annual average value Garoppolo is earning on his five-year, $137.5 million contract with the 49ers by $500,000.

--While the NFL continues to evolve the definition of a catch, players trying to prevent them will be working with the usual pass interference rules.

Defensive pass interference is expected to remain a spot foul, meaning the ball is placed at the location where the infraction occurred, which is different than the "DPI" application in the college game. In college football, pass interference is a stock 15-yard penalty.

Momentum to eliminate the spot-foul aspect of DPI in the NFL appeared to be building, according to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome at the NFL Scouting Combine, but coaches and owners gave the change a thumbs down. According to NFL Network, there is so little support for altering the rule that it will not be on the agenda of items the competition committee will broach at owner's meetings in Orlando, Fla.

--The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles signed former Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace on Thursday, the team announced.

Per NFL Network, the deal will be for one year and $2.5 million with incentives.

The Eagles had a need for a deep threat after trading wideout Torrey Smith -- who makes $5 million in 2018 -- to the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason. Speedy 2017 fourth-round pick Mack Hollins was expected to take on a bigger role in Smith's absence, but that role will likely be smaller now with the addition of Wallace.

--Veteran running back Frank Gore has agreed to a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, according to multiple reports.

Gore, who is from South Florida and attended the University of Miami, visited with the Dolphins on Thursday. He was released by the Indianapolis Colts before the start of free agency.

In addition to Gore, the Dolphins hosted former Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler. Osweiler has 25 starts the past three seasons and could serve as insurance behind Ryan Tannehill. However, the Dolphins are widely expected to draft a quarterback in 2018.

--The Tennessee Titans added some depth to their offensive line, agreeing to terms with Kevin Pamphile on a free-agent deal, multiple outlets reported.

Pamphile, 27, played his first four NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being chosen in the fifth round in 2014. A starter the past two seasons (primarily at left guard), Pamphile has played all five positions on the line.

Pamphile has started 33 of 53 NFL games, with 14 starts in 2016 and 15 in 2017.

--Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson went through only quarterback drills when he worked out for the Texans on Wednesday, according to a report.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said that the Texans want to be prepared for the possibility of selecting Jackson even though the team does not pick until the 68th position in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Other teams project Jackson as being a wide receiver, but Houston could be in the market for quarterback depth behind Deshaun Watson, particularly one with similar skills. Jackson possesses many of the dynamic capabilities that Watson, who is recovering from an ACL injury, flashed as a rookie and is faster, but he lacks polish as a pocket passer.

--Prosecutors will not bring charges against Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones because of "insufficient evidence," following his arrest this week on suspicion of felony vandalism, according to multiple reports.

Jones, who turns 23 next Friday, was arrested in downtown Los Angeles late Monday night after calls to police about a disturbance at an apartment building. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said Jones was "breaking glass doors and windows" in the building.

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TMZ posted a video that purportedly showed a naked Isaiah "Zay" Jones struggling with his brother, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cayleb Jones, in the hallway of a building. The clothed man is trying to control the naked man, who is heard saying, "I'm going to fight for Jesus." Broken windows and blood-covered walls were subsequently seen in the video.

--Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst has been cleared by cardiologists to conduct a full workout at the school's pro day on Friday, according to a report from ESPN.

Hurst was sent home from last month's NFL Scouting Combine after a heart condition was detected. He reportedly was cleared to resume football activities by cardiologists at both Michigan and Harvard.

The 6-foot-1, 292-pound Hurst was considered a possible first-round pick in the upcoming draft before an EKG performed at the combine displayed heart irregularities.

--Johnny Manziel threw in front of scouts from 12 NFL teams during the University of San Diego's pro day.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner last played in the NFL with the Browns in 2015 after being selected by the team in the first round in 2014. The Browns were among the teams in attendance as Manziel made 38 throws in a light rain.

Ben Brunnschweiler, the school's director of football operations, told USA Today that Manziel has been working out recently with Torero players. The pro day was scheduled on behalf of four San Diego seniors, including receiver Justin Priest and tight end Ross Dwelley, so Manziel's participation also served to help the prospects.

--The Dallas Cowboys signed free-agent receiver Deonte Thompson to a one-year deal reportedly worth $2.5 million.

The move isn't expected to preclude Dallas from pursuing wide receiver Allen Hurns, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week.

Hurns visited with the Cowboys on Wednesday and has been a hot commodity since hitting the market, reportedly drawing interest from the Panthers, Browns, Jets and Ravens among other teams. The Cowboys are also scheduled to host fellow free-agent receivers Dontrelle Inman and Justin Hunter for visits.

--Offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle will return to the New England Patriots after agreeing to a one-year deal.

Waddle is a candidate to replace Nate Solder at left tackle following Solder's departure in free agency. A mainstay on the New England line, Solder left to join the New York Giants, signing a four-year deal worth up to $62 million.

Waddle, 26, started four games at right tackle last season, spelling injured starter Marcus Cannon, who is also back in 2018 and should be ready to start at right tackle.

--The Green Bay Packers will bring cornerback Tramon Williams back for his second stint with the team on a two-year deal, according to multiple reports.

Williams, who turned 35 last Friday, played eight seasons with the Packers after joining them as an undrafted free agent in November of 2006, appearing in 127 games (99 starts) and intercepting 28 passes. He tallied career highs of six interceptions and 20 passes defensed in 2010, earning his only Pro Bowl appearance.

Williams left Green Bay for two seasons with the Cleveland Browns before playing for the Arizona Cardinals in 2017, finishing with two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 13 games (nine starts).

--The Giants announced that they terminated the contract of receiver/returner Dwayne Harris.

Harris missed the last 11 games of the 2017 season after breaking a foot. He didn't catch a pass last season before the injury, but averaged 20.9 yards on nine kickoff returns and 6.9 yards on seven punt returns.

Harris was slated to count $4.05 million against the Giants' salary cap as he entered the fourth year of a five-year, $17.5 million deal.

--Three weeks after releasing defensive end Derrick Shelby, the Falcons are bringing him back, the team announced.

According to NFL Network, Shelby's new contract is for one year and $3.25 million with $2 million guaranteed.

The 29-year-old was set to make $4.5 million in base salary in 2018 prior to his release, which saved Atlanta over $3 million against the cap. Shelby joined the Falcons in the spring of 2016 on a four-year, $18 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed.

--The Kansas City Chiefs reached an agreement with free agent running back Damien Williams, the team announced.

Williams, 25, spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins, primarily as a backup.

He rushed for 477 yards in four seasons, including a career high of 181 last year when he carried just 46 times. He also has 85 career receptions, including at least 20 in each season with the Dolphins.

--Field Level Media

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