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NFL notebook: Kaepernick, Reid settle NFL grievances

[February 16, 2019] Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid have decided to settle their collusion grievances with the NFL, according to a joint statement released by their attorneys and the league on Friday.

According to Yahoo Sports, the final hearing in the players' joint collusion case against the NFL was scheduled for later this month. Yahoo added that sources previously said Kaepernick would withdraw his grievance only for a lucrative settlement.

Kaepernick filed his grievance in October 2017, alleging collusion by NFL owners to keep him out of the league. He remained unsigned as a free agent through the fall after opting out of a contract with the San Francisco 49ers that spring.

Reid, who was the first teammate to join Kaepernick in 2016 with the 49ers by kneeling during the national anthem in protest, filed his own collusion case against the NFL in May 2018. It appears the two grievances were combined into a joint case, but it's unclear when that occurred. Reid now plays for the Carolina Panthers.

--Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who has requested a trade, will meet with team owner Art Rooney II, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rooney is in Florida, where he owns a home, and has been hoping to at least open a line of communication with the disgruntled wideout, Rapoport reported.

Brown initially declined before deciding to take the meeting.

--The Detroit Lions announced the release of former Pro Bowl safety and ironman Glover Quin, ending his six-year tenure with the team.

Quin, who turned 33 in January, had one year left on a two-year, $13 million extension and was set to count $7.9 million against the cap in 2019. The Lions will save about $6.2 million against the cap with his release, which leaves a dead-money charge of $1.7 million.

Quin joined the Lions on a five-year free agent deal in 2013 after spending his first four seasons with the Houston Texans. He led the NFL with a career-high seven interceptions in 2014, earning his only career Pro Bowl nod.

--The Miami Dolphins will run a 4-3 and 3-4 defensive system under coordinator Patrick Graham, who is expected to call plays rather than new head coach Brian Flores.

Graham told the Miami Herald that the Dolphins plan to use the chameleon-like approach the New England Patriots have used for years under Bill Belichick, which Flores and Graham are quite familiar with after spending 15 and seven years, respectively, with the organization.

Flores, who turns 38 on Feb. 24, called plays for the Patriots in 2018, including in the team's stifling defensive performance in Super Bowl LIII, limiting the Los Angeles Rams to just three points.

--The Denver Broncos are expected to decline linebacker Brandon Marshall's option and allow him to become a free agent, according to multiple reports.

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Dec 30, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) looks on during warm-ups before the Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. Brown has been ruled out of the game due to injury. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Marshall acknowledged his pending departure on Twitter.

The Broncos would save $4.8 million against the cap while incurring $4 million in dead money should they release Marshall with two years left on his deal -- a four-year, $32 million contract he signed in June 2016.

--The Buffalo Bills released tight end Charles Clay, the team announced.

Clay was entering the final year of a five-year, $38 million contract and was set to count $9 million against the cap in 2019. The Bills will save half of that figure, with $4.5 million remaining on the cap in dead money.

The eight-year veteran, who turned 30 on Wednesday, had 21 catches for a career-low 184 yards in 13 games (12 starts) last season, failing to score a touchdown for the first time in his career.

--Three uninvited NFL draft entrants will be able to attend the league scouting combine after all - sort of.

Earlier this week, the NFL informed Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson that he couldn't work out for teams at the combine because of the discovery of a prior legal issue. He joined Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and Colorado State wide receiver Preston Williams in being forced to sit out for that reason.

But Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the three players may travel to Indianapolis later this month to undergo medical evaluations. They will not be permitted to take part in other events or evaluations at the combine, however.

--The Atlanta Falcons will not tender a contract to cornerback Brian Poole, making him a free agent next month, Pro Football Talk reported.

Poole, 26, recorded 196 tackles, 20 passes defended, five sacks and four interceptions in three seasons with the team after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2016.

--The New Orleans Saints are set to hire Penn State assistant coach Phil Galiano to work with their new special teams coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Saints announced the hire of Darren Rizzi as special teams coordinator on Monday. Galiano and Rizzi previously worked together at Rutgers between 2003-06 and with the Miami Dolphins in 2016.

--Field Level Media

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