Tag: Antonio Callaway

Cowboys release Callaway after arrest, sign journeyman WR

From @ToddBrock24f7: Tyron Johnson has played with eight clubs over four seasons, logging most of his career stats with the 2020 Chargers.

Tyron Johnson is joining yet another NFL locker room. He and the Cowboys both hope that the ninth time will be a charm.

The wide receiver was among the free agents brought in Monday for a workout with the club just prior to the beginning of mandatory minicamp. He was signed shortly thereafter.

Wide receiver Antonio Callaway was released in a corresponding move. Callaway was arrested in Miami over the weekend; a warrant for driving with a suspended license was executed during a traffic stop in which Callaway was not driving.

Johnson, a 27-year-old out of Oklahoma State, went undrafted in 2019 and has been on quite the tour of the league ever since. He has one start on his résumé over 26 game appearances. He has 23 career receptions for 422 yards and three touchdowns, most of them coming with the Chargers in 2020.

Along the way, Johnson has also logged stints with Houston (three times), Buffalo, Carolina, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, and San Francisco.

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As per Patrik Walker of the Cowboys team website, former first-round draft pick N’Keal Harry and Lynn Bowden were the other wide receivers who worked out for Dallas coaches on Monday.

The 90-man roster reportedly stands at just 88, so more additions could still be to come.

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Cowboys WR Antonio Callaway arrested in Florida

From @ToddBrock24f7: A fourth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2018, Callaway has not been in an NFL game since 2019 and is part of a crowded WR room in Dallas.

Cowboys wide receiver Antonio Callaway was arrested in Florida over the weekend.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Dallas practice squad in November and signed a reserve/futures contract in January, had a previous warrant for driving with a suspended license and failing to pay, according to Andy Slater of FoxSports 640 South Florida.

On Saturday, Callaway was reportedly a passenger in a car that was pulled over for speeding in Miami. During the stop, Callaway provided his identification and was subsequently arrested on the outstanding warrant.

Callaway is from the Miami area and attended the University of Florida.

Callaway was a fourth-round draft pick of the Browns in 2018. He made 20 game appearances over the next two seasons in Cleveland, logging 51 receptions for 675 yards and five touchdowns. He started the 2019 season on suspension for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy and then was waived by the Browns while also facing another suspension at the time.

He played in five contests for the Dolphins in 2020 and went through part of the 2021 offseason with the Chiefs.

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Callaway is part of a crowded WR room in Dallas and is one of a number of project players jockeying for a spot on the 53-man roster behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup.

Jalen Tolbert, Simi Fehoko, KaVontae Turpin, Dennis Houston, Dontario Drummond, and rookies Jalen Brooks, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Jose Barbon, and John Stephens Jr. are the other wide receivers currently listed on the Cowboys roster with the team’s mandatory minicamp set to kick off this week.

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Here’s why Cowboys working out QB, WR ahead of Packers game is significant

For very different reasons, two visitors to The Star on Friday bring a ton of intrigue to the Cowboys. | From @KDDrummondNFL

All eyes are glued to their devices, feverishly refreshing their social media pages to see if there’s an update on the OBJ Watch. For now, Odell Beckham, Jr. remains a free agent, no matter how many members of the Dallas front office or roster mention his name. While that works its natural course, the front office is remaining diligent in looking for ways to improve the roster.

Every week, clubs around the NFL bring in street free agents to see if there’s anything out there worthy of bringing in to the fold. Dallas did the same on Friday, working out two players at offensive positions. And there may be more than meets the eye here.

Antonio Callaway to attend Colts’ minicamp

Antonio Callaway will be trying out at the Colts’ minicamp.

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway will reportedly attend the Indianapolis Colts’ minicamp on a tryout basis, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Colts are set to ramp up their offseason activity, starting with the rookie minicamp this weekend, which includes their eight draft picks, several signed undrafted rookie free agents and a number of players attended on a tryout basis.

Callaway was a fourth-round pick with the Browns during the 2018 NFL draft.

Callaway has dealt with off-field issues during his career both in college and in the NFL.

In 2016, Callaway was accused of sexual misconduct but was found not responsible by an independent hearing officer. He was suspended in 2017 for involvement in a felony fraud case while he pleaded no contest to a drug charge during the summer of 2017.

He was suspended for the first four games of the 2019 NFL season after violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and shortly after he was reinstated, the Browns waived Callaway when he was suspended 10 games for failing two drug tests. The suspension lasted the final seven games of the 2019 season and first three games of the 2020 season.

Callaway tried his hand with the Tampa Bay Vipers in the XFL during the 2020 spring, but the league wound up folding shortly after the hit from COVID-19.

Callaway then signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad and served his three-game suspension during the 2020 season. He was hit with another four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was reinstated and activated to the roster for a Week 10 game but was eventually waived before the 2020 regular season ended.

He signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2021 offseason but was released with an injury settlement during the preseason.

In 25 career games (14 starts), Callaway has 53 receptions for 695 yards and five touchdowns.

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Report: Chiefs sign WR Antonio Callaway to a reserve/future contract

A new report says the Kansas City Chiefs have added a talented receiver on a reserve/future contract.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to get a headstart on their 90-man offseason roster, this time signing an intriguing receiver.

Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor reports that the Chiefs have signed WR Antonio Callaway to a reserve/future contract. Callaway was selected out of the University of Florida in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in 16 games for the Browns in 2018 with 11 starts, recording 43 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns.

In 2019, Callaway was suspended for the first four games of the season due to a violation of the NFL’s policy on substance abuse. He’d appear in just four games that season, recording 8 receptions for 89 yards. After a number of issues in practice, team meetings, and off the field the team would waive Callaway.

Most recently, Callaway spent the 2020 season with the Miami Dolphins on their practice squad. He faced a suspension again to start the 2020 season, serving three games while on the practice squad. He appeared in a total of five games this season for the Dolphins, including one start. He faced the Chiefs in Week 14 and was targeted twice, but failed to record a reception. He did, however, return two punts for a total of 12 yards. On Monday, Callaway’s practice squad contract in Miami expired, making him an unrestricted free agent and free to sign with any team.

Callaway has always been immensely talented, but off-field issues have stifled his NFL success. Andy Reid, of course, has a history of working with players like this and turning them into success stories. We’ll see if that’s what the future holds for the Chiefs and Callaway.

Kansas City already signed QB Anthony Gordon to a reserve/future deal on Tuesday. This would make the second of such signings by the Chiefs, though, they did report a number of players in for visits on Tuesday. Remember, reserve/future deals do not count toward the roster until the league year changes and the 90-man offseason roster is opened.

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Miami Dolphins waive wide receiver Antonio Callaway

Miami Dolphins waive wide receiver Antonio Callaway

With the Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver room as banged up as it currently is, one would think opportunities would be ripe for any receiver on the roster who is capable of making a splash if afforded the chance. Add in the draft history of receiver Antonio Callaway as a fringe top-100 pick several years ago and there was an easy assumption to be made that the former Florida Gators receiver would help Miami bridge the gap between their Week 15 contest with the New England Patriots and the return of their healthy players.

It didn’t turn out that way.

Not only was Callaway a non-factor for the Miami Dolphins in their 22-12 victory over New England, the team announced last night that they had waived Callaway all together, ending his tenure with the team team after just a handful of games of availability.

Callaway had been working on the practice squad for the early portions of the season while serving a suspension for past transgressions and only became available for the Dolphins to dress midway through the year. His stay in Miami ended after five games and two receptions.

If a career reclamation wasn’t going to happen for Callaway in Miami during a time in which Lynn Bowden Jr, Mack Hollins and Malcolm Perry served as the primary wide receivers, it is pretty difficult to envision one happening at all. The Dolphins have been known to take these kinds of low-risk players on — they tried the same thing in 2019 with Robert Nkemdiche and Mark Walton, too. Neither one of those materialized for Miami either; but the thoroughness of the Dolphins’ search should be credited for at least being open to talents who may simply need a second chance to make their playing career stick.

Callaway will be bunched in with the others who were unable to do so — and the Dolphins must presumably feel good about their chances of returning some receivers to the game day availability as a result.

Dolphins promote one to active roster, elevate another for Week 11

Dolphins promote one to active roster, elevate another for Week 11

The Miami Dolphins have made a handful of roster moves this week to help best align the team for the upcoming contest against the Denver Broncos — although at least one of the Dolphins’ roster moves has a bigger level of permanence to it.

The Dolphins announced yesterday that they have signed wide receiver Antonio Callaway to their active roster and that they’ve also promoted interior defensive lineman Benito Jones off of the practice squad for this week to serve as an active player.

The news of Jones elevation for another week off the practice squad does not seem to bode well for Dolphins standout defensive lineman Christian Wilkins; who has been in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol for a week after getting flagged last Thursday and being charged with isolating from the rest of the team. We have yet to hear an official update on Wilkins’ status, but the roster move to promote Jones for the week seems to indicate the Dolphins themselves anticipate being without Wilkins this weekend.

As for Callaway, this is the next step in Miami’s slow and steady return to action for the wide receiver. Callaway has plenty of physical gifts — but a troubled history off the field. When Miami first signed him to the practice squad, it was known he would miss about half the season serving a suspension. The Dolphins have always seemed unfazed with any potential risk here and now take the opportunity to work him onto the active roster as a member of the 53-man roster amid some of the other losses the Dolphins’ wide receiver room has incurred thus far this season.

Between the injury of Preston Williams, the opt-outs of Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson and the trade of Isaiah Ford, Miami’s receiver room has been turned nearly upside down in just 6 months. Now we will wait to see if Callaway still has it in him to make the most of this new opportunity with the Dolphins.

Dolphins cut one, activate WR Antonio Callaway onto practice squad

Dolphins cut one, activate WR Antonio Callaway onto practice squad

The Miami Dolphins have waived former 3rd-round cornerback Cordrea Tankersley for the second time this season; although this time Tankersley’s release comes off the practice squad as the Dolphins embrace a newcomer to the fray at the wide receiver position.

Miami, amid an injury to DB Jamal Perry this past week, elected to elevate CB Tae Hayes from the practice squad to be active against the Rams, further highlighting the divide between Tankersley and his readiness to play for Miami — so his termination is an understandable move in a football sense for the Dolphins. Taking his place on the practice squad? Previously suspended wide receiver Antonio Callaway, formerly of the Cleveland Browns.

Callaway was a highly gifted speedster at the University of Florida but off the field issues ultimately caused a drop his NFL Draft stock upon his entry to the pros. And in the years that have passed since, Callaway has made more negative impacts off the field than he’s made positive contributions on it. But as a practice squad player, Miami can embrace a low-risk opportunity for him to prove himself a capable NFL receiver.

Whether or not he gets the chance to do so on Sundays is at the discretion of Brian Flores, who may look to mix Callaway into the active receivers given that the team has done some musical chairs with that room to this point in the season. Rookie Malcolm Perry made his NFL debut this past Sunday against the Rams, taking on the role we’ve seen given to fellow rookie WR Lynn Bowden Jr. in past weeks. Callaway is more of direct competition for Jakeem Grant’s receiving reps, as they’re somewhat similar players: fast but with questionable hands and capable of working and winning vertical.

And with the offense looking for some chemistry amid the quarterback change, it may be in Miami’s best interests to give Callaway a shot. His first chance will come this Sunday against the Cardinals in Week 9.

 

Ex-Browns WR Antonio Callaway suspended 4 more games

Callaway is now on the Dolphins’ suspended list

The troubled career of former Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway continues to spiral downward. Callaway has been suspended an additional four games for another violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Callaway is already serving a 10-game suspension he earned for violating the same policy while with the Browns last November. He had also served a 4-game suspension, the first four contests of the 2019 campaign, for a separate failed drug test. He was placed into the NFL’s drug program for a marijuana arrest on his first day in Cleveland after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Browns released Callaway when the 10-game suspension became known, as well as for Callaway missing meetings.

Now with the Miami Dolphins on their practice squad suspended list, Callaway will not be eligible to return until after Miami’s seventh game. In between his stints with the Browns and Dolphins, Callaway was one of the catalysts for the downfall of the XFL.

Miami Dolphins sign wide receiver Antonio Callaway to practice squad

Miami Dolphins sign wide receiver Antonio Callaway to practice squad

The Miami Dolphins have formally made the most of their pre-roster cut tryouts from earlier this weekend. Before the Dolphins lopped off more than twenty players off of their roster yesterday, the team hosted a slew of free agents. And now, with the roster formally trimmed, the Dolphins have started to work on their initial 2020 practice squad.

First up? Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway. Callaway is a former 4th-round draft selection who enjoyed a fairly productive rookie season in 2018 with Cleveland as a speedy pass catcher before parting ways with the team in November of 2019.

Callaway is currently scheduled to serve a suspension to start the season, but he will still be permitted to participate in team meetings and practices with the Dolphins throughout the course of the first month of the season. The suspension is centered around a tainted CBD-product from 2019. Callaway’s failed drug tests are only the tip of the iceberg with his off-field issues — including a credit-fraud scheme during his college days with the Florida Gators and a failed drug test at the NFL Combine ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft.

If Callaway is going to make it work in the NFL, he’s running out of opportunities to stay out of trouble and stick. Callaway will have to walk a fine line with the Dolphins. His status as a practice squad player will give Miami a low-risk, potential high reward addition. The Dolphins would be wise not to count on anything from Callaway, but this isn’t an empty move that couldn’t yield production for the team if things go right.