Vikings will cut TE John Carlson
Vikings will cut TE John Carlson
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings will release veteran tight end John Carlson after two injury-marred seasons.
A person with knowledge of the decision confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press that the team will make the move. The person spoke condition of anonymity because the team had not yet finalized the transaction.
The Vikings had no announcement. The news was first reported by FoxSports.com.
Carlson was a multisport star at Litchfield High School, a small town about 65 miles west of the Twin Cities, and a standout at Notre Dame. He was drafted in the second round in 2008 by Seattle. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds, Carlson had the ideal size for the position and showed he could be productive when healthy, totaling 1,201 yards and 12 touchdowns over his first two years in the NFL with the Seahawks.
He tore the labrum in his left shoulder in 2011, though, and missed that entire season. The Vikings took a risk by signing Carlson in free agency to a contract with more than $9 million guaranteed following that whole year off. Right away in his first training camp with his home-state team he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
The Vikings wanted to use him in tandem with Kyle Rudolph, another Notre Dame star and second-round draft pick. But Carlson never caught up after returning from that injury and had only eight receptions for 43 yards in 2012.
Carlson was scheduled to make $3 million in 2014.
Suspended CB Brandon Browner reinstated by NFL
SEATTLE — Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner tweeted Tuesday that he was reinstated by the NFL following his suspension in December for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse.
Browner announced the news via a lengthy statement on his Twitter page. Browner was suspended indefinitely without pay by the league on Dec. 18. The reinstatement will make Browner a free agent as his contract with the Seahawks ended after this season.
Browner’s agent, Peter Schaffer, also confirmed the reinstatement.
“I now have the opportunity to prove to the fans and my teammates how important this sport is to me,” Browner wrote. “I realize now more than ever that being part of the NFL is not a right, but a privilege.”
Cowboys rework deals for Romo, Lee, Scandrick
IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are close to getting under the salary cap after restructuring the contracts of quarterback Tony Romo, linebacker Sean Lee and cornerback Orlando Scandrick.
The adjustment on the six-year, $108 million extension Romo signed last year will save Dallas about $10 million on the salary cap, while the conversions on Lee and Scandrick will cut about $7 million. Lee and Scandrick got new contracts last year as well.
With the reworked deals announced Tuesday, the Cowboys are slightly less than $1 million over the $133 million cap a week before they must clear the remaining space.
Dallas now has time to work on reducing defensive end DeMarcus Ware’s salary cap hit of $16 million. He had a career-low six sacks in 2013.
Redskins cut DL Adam Carriker, punter Sav Rocca
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca.
Carriker tore the quad tendon in his right knee in the second game of the 2012 season and hasn’t played since. He’s had three surgeries on the knee and has been aiming for a comeback in 2014.
Carriker was a first-round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2007. The Redskins acquired him in a trade in 2010.
Rocca, a 40-year-old former Australian Rules Football star in his native country, had a disappointing year in his third season with the Redskins. His 33.8-yard net average ranked last in the NFL.
The Redskins on Tuesday also released tight end Richard Quinn and waived running backs Jawan Jamison and Davin Meggett.
Eagles release WR Jason Avant
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles have released wide receiver Jason Avant.
The Eagles cut ties with Avant on Tuesday. He played his first eight NFL seasons in Philadelphia and ranks 11th in team history with 297 receptions for 3,646 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was drafted in the fourth round in 2006 from the University of Michigan. In 2010, Avant was chosen by his teammates as the Ed Block Courage Award recipient in recognition of the adversity he overcame in his youth.
The Eagles re-signed free agent wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper last week. Their return made Avant more expendable.
Avant had 38 receptions for 447 yards and two touchdowns last season. He had a career-high 53 catches in 2012.
By wire sources