Tag: Billy Price

Raiders sign former top pick C Billy Price to the practice squad

Raiders get some depth at center with addition of former top pick Billy Price to the practice squad.

With the status of Andre James in question, the Raiders added a bit of insurance Tuesday. They signed former first round pick Billy Price to the practice squad according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Andre James suffered a concussion on the final play of the Raiders’ week one game against the Chargers last Sunday. He was taken away in an ambulance after the game to a local hospital for observation.

Monday, head coach Josh McDaniels said James was back at the facility, but gave no further details on the severity of James’s status.

The team’s current backup center is Dylan Parham who played several snaps at right guard in the opener, swapping out with Lester Cotton Sr.

The question is what Price’s addition would mean for Hroniss Grasu who is currently on the team’s practice squad as their third option at center.

They have several options. They could release Grasu in favor of Price, keep both and call one of them up for the game, or keep both and call BOTH up for the game.

If they went with the third option, it could signal the team’s intention to start Parham at guard. Something to watch for.

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Cardinals bringing in former Giants starting center Billy Price for visit

Price started 15 games for the Giants in 2021 and would back up Rodney Hudson in Arizona, if signed.

Currently, the Arizona Cardinals’ backup center to Rodney Hudson is Sean Harlow. He was valuable last year as he started games both at guard and center, but he isn’t the ideal player to be the backup there. He is listed at only 284 lbs.

They could be signing a veteran center to back up Hudson.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, former Cincinnati Bengals and Mew York Giants center Billy Price is on his way to Arizona for a visit.

Price was a first-round pick of the Bengals in 2018 and dealt with injuries and uneven play. He later signed with the Giants in 2021 and started 15 games for them at center.

The 6-4, 308-lb center would be Hudson’s backup in Arizona if signed.

He fits the mold the Cardinals have preferred at the position the last couple of seasons — a big, physical presence in the middle.

Price was teammates with Will Hernandez, whom the Cardinals signed to a one-year deal and is expected to be the starting right guard.

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6 centers the Jets should avoid in free agency

The Jets should steer clear of these six centers once free agency begins.

Important decisions lie ahead for Joe Douglas with free agency looming.

The Jets made some progress in 2021, but Robert Saleh still needs more talent to work with. New York enters the offseason with holes on both sides of the ball and free agency is the perfect time to address some of them.

Connor McGovern enjoyed a return to form this past season before landing on injured reserve late in the year. The 28-year-old is under contract for another season, but the Jets still seem to be interested in adding at center. It wouldn’t necessarily spell the end for McGovern if Douglas chooses to do so, as he could kick over to right guard, the position he played with the Broncos in 2018.

If the Jets decide to go in a different direction, here are six centers they should avoid once free agency begins.

Why the Giants are unlikely to use the franchise tag in 2022

The New York Giants have salary cap issues, but that’s not the only reason they’re unlikely to use the franchise tag in 2022.

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March 8 is the deadline for NFL clubs to designate franchise or transition players. The New York Giants, seeking to shed at least $40 million in salary cap space, aren’t likely to place either tag on any of their impending free agents.

The Giants have only four impending free agents that currently earn over $2 million per year: tackle Nate Solder, center Billy Price, tight end Evan Engram and safety Jabrill Peppers.

None of those players are worthy of the designation, which would pay them franchise tag values are based on the average of the top five highest-paid players at their positions or even higher.

Other starters and notable names headed for free agency are guard Will Hernandez, linebacker Lorenzo Carter, defensive tackle Austin Johnson and fullback Eli Penny.

The Giants will either seek to sign them before free agency begins on March 16 or take their chances in the open market.

According to Spotrac, the franchise tag values are expected to be as follows:

  • Quarterback: $29.5M
  • Running back: $9.5M
  • Wide receiver: $18.5M
  • Tight end: $11M
  • Offensive linemen: $16.5M
  • Defensive tackle: $17M
  • Defensive end: $17.5M
  • Linebacker: $18.5M
  • Cornerback: $17.5M
  • Safety: $13M
  • Kicker/Punter: $5M

Solder is expected to retire. The Giants aren’t going to bring him back and it’s doubtful any team will pay him enough to continue his career elsewhere.

Price, Engram and Peppers can all be had much cheaper in free agency. That is, if the Giants are even interested in retaining any of them.

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2022 free agency: Should Giants re-sign these players or let them go?

For the New York Giants, it’s time to look ahead and decisions will soon have to be made on several impending free agents.

The New York Giants and their fans want a clean slate heading into the 2022 season. That means shutting the door on some players that they once considered investing in long-term.

They don’t have many impending free agents to begin with but of the ones they do have, there’s not too many they should be in a hurry to bring back.

Here’s a quick rundown of the players in that group and what action the Giants should take with them.

Giants’ Kadarius Toney among three out vs. Bears

The New York Giants will be without nearly all of their wide receivers, including Kadarius Toney, on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

The New York Giants will be without the vast majority of their wide receivers on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

In addition to Sterling Shepard, who is on injured reserve, and Darius Slayton, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Giants have ruled out Kadarius Toney, Collin Johnson and John Ross. That leaves Kenny Golladay as the team’s only active receiver.

With such a shortage at the position, the Giants are likely to elevate several practice squad receivers. Pharoh Cooper is a weekly elevation and will be joined by Alex Bachman, David Sills and/or Travis Toivonen.

Center Billy Price was listed as doubtful. The veteran and his wife are dealing with a tragic personal matter.

The Giants’ final injury report can be found below:

Out: WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), WR John Ross (knee)

Doubtful: OL Billy Price (personal)

Questionable: RT Nate Solder (COVID ramp up), DL Austin Johnson (foot), TE Chris Myarick (hip), CB Adoree’ Jackson (COVID ramp up/quad)

Meanwhile, the Bears’ final injury report can also be found below:

Out: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Questionable: N/A

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Giants injury report: Kadarius Toney continues to miss practice

New York Giants WR Kadarius Toney continues to miss practice with a shoulder injury, but RB Saquon Barkley returned to the field on Thursday.

The New York Giants placed three more players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday — Darius Slayton was among them — but welcomed Nate Solder back.

After sitting out during Wednesday’s walkthrough, Saquon Barkley also returned to the field. However, he was not accompanied by Kadarius Toney, who continues to sit out with a shoulder injury.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: RB Gary Brightwell (neck), DL Austin Johnson (foot), WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), OL Billy Price (personal), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), WR John Ross (knee/COVID ramp up)

Limited participant: OL Ben Bredeson (ankle), DB Keion Crossen (COVID ramp up), FB Cullen Gillaspia (shin), DB Adoree’ Jackson (quad/COVID ramp up), RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), PK Graham Gano (illness), DL Raymond Johnson (illness), TE Chris Myarick (illness), TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle), OT Nate Solder (COVID ramp up)

Full participant: N/A

Giants’ Darius Slayton, two others test positive for COVID-19

The New York Giants have placed WR Darius Slayton and two others on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

The New York Giants continue to deal with a COVID-19 problem that has completely depleted their roster. And while they will get right tackle Nate Solder back on Thursday, they will lose three others.

The team revealed three new positives, including wide receiver Darius Slayton and offensive lineman Korey Cunningham.

Both Slayton and Cunningham have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and are expected to miss a Week 17 game against the Chicago Bears.

Practice squad offensive lineman Omari Cobb has also tested positive for COVID-19. He’s been placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list.

That leaves the Giants incredibly thin along the offensive line headed into Sunday’s game even with Solder returning. And they might be forced to start a new center as Billy Price remains away from the team dealing with a personal matter.

Asked about Price, both head coach Joe Judge and offensive line coach Rob Sale offered their prayers for Billy and his wife. They would not offer any further detail but the situation sounds dire and expectations are that Price will not rejoin the team this week.

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Giants injury report: Saquon Barkley, Kadarius Toney among nine not practicing

The New York Giants held a walkthrough practice on Wednesday and nine players were absent and five others were limited.

The New York Giants took the field for Wednesday’s walkthrough and despite the return of several players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, they were extremely shorthanded.

In the portion of practice open to the media, more than a handful of new players were absent. Among them were kicker Graham Gano, running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Kyle Rudolph.

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who played in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, also appeared to be sidelined.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report (projected/walkthrough) can be found below:

Did not participate: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), RB Gary Brightwell (neck), PK Graham Gano (illness), DL Austin Johnson (foot), WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), DL Raymond Johnson (illness), OL Billy Price (personal), TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder)

Limited participant: OL Ben Bredeson (ankle), DB Keion Crossen (COVID ramp up), FB Cullen Gillaspia (shin), DB Adoree’ Jackson (quad/COVID ramp up), WR John Ross (knee/COVID ramp up)

Full participant: N/A

Lorenzo Carter, Andrew Thomas were highest-graded Giants in Week 15

Lorenzo Carter and Andrew Thomas earned the New York Giants’ highest grades in a Week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

The New York Giants were embarrassed once again on Sunday, falling to the Dallas Cowboys, 21-6, and dropping their record to 4-10 on the season.

There’s a lot to dislike about the current direction of the franchise, but not everything is shrouded in negativity. Ironically, one of the most encouraging things about the 2021 Giants comes on the offensive side of the ball.

After a terrible rookie season, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas is playing lights out in his second year. And in Week 15, he led the Giants’ offense with an 83.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (min. 10 snaps).

Just behind Thomas were quarterback Jake Fromm (78.7), center Billy Price (74.1) and right tackle Nate Solder (68.4).

Other notable offensive grades include wide receiver Kenny Golladay (64.0), running back Devontae Booker (63.1) and running back Saquon Barkley (53.2).

The lowest-graded Giants on offense were right guard Will Hernandez (46.2) and quarterback Mike Glennon (41.0).

Defensively, the Giants were led by linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who arguably played the best game of his career. He recorded an overall grade of 90.8, which topped the team.

Checking in just behind Carter were cornerback Jarren Williams (82.0), defensive lineman Leonard Williams (76.6) and linebacker Jaylon Smith (73.7).

Other notable defensive grades include cornerback James Bradberry (65.8), linebacker Azeez Ojulari (60.2) and safety Logan Ryan (54.0).

The lowest-graded Giants on defense were linebackers Reggie Ragland (35.8) and Benardrick McKinney (29.9).

Ragland, however, recorded the team’s highest special teams grade (76.5).

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