Former Titans CB Buster Skrine arrested on fraud-related charges

Former Titans CB Buster Skrine has been arrested on fraud-related charges.

Former Tennessee Titans cornerback Buster Skrine has been arrested in Canada on fraud-related charges, according to a press release from the Durham Regional Police in Whitby, Ontario.

Here are the details, per the press release:

A 34-year-old male from Georgia is facing several fraud-related charges totaling more than $100,000.

On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, members from the Financial Crimes Unit concluded an investigation into ongoing fraud incidents that were taking place across Durham Region. Investigators became aware of a male that was attending numerous financial institutions where he would identify himself as a retired NFL player.  He would open bank accounts with fraudulent cheques and obtain a portion of the money prior to the cheque clearing.  There is reason to believe the same male has been committing similar offences across Canada.

The suspect had made travel arrangements to return to the United States on August 9, 2023.  DRPS Fraud Investigators worked in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as Peel Regional Police and arrested the suspect last night at Pearson International Airport.  

Darryl Frank “Buster” SKRINE, age 34 of Georgia USA has been charged with Fraud Over$5000 x4, Make False Statement to Procure Money x7, Possess Property Obtained byCrime Over $5000 x3 and Possess Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000.

The report states Skrine was held for a bail hearing after his arrest.

Skrine was signed by the Titans in 2021, appearing in six games. He has also spent time with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.

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Former Browns cornerback retires abruptly

Skrine’s career earnings are impressive for a 5’9″ cornerback drafted in the fifth round:

With a lot of turnover among the front office and coaching staff since the team returned, there are surprisingly few former Cleveland Browns around the league. Many draft picks flamed out while with the team or after being given a chance someplace else and faded into the next phase of their life.

Earlier this offseason, former Browns cornerback Joe Haden made a post on Instagram that had people wondering if he could return. After being released by Sashi Brown, Haden immediately went to play for the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 33-year-old remains on the free agent market with no signs of interest from Cleveland.

Another former Browns cornerback, Buster Skrine, made news on Tuesday by telling the Tennessee Titans that he had decided to retire:

Skrine spent his first four years in the league in Cleveland after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He left the team to join the New York Jets, signing a four-year, $25 million contract in 2015.

Skrine spent three years with the Chicago Bears before joining the Tennesee Titans last season.

Combined, the diminutive cornerback earned over $40 million in his 11 seasons in the league while pulling in 10 interceptions and deflecting 88 passes.

No information was provided as to what led to this decision just before the start of training camp.

Tennessee Titans CB Buster Skrine retires from NFL

Titans CB Buster Skrine has decided to retire.

Tennessee Titans cornerback Buster Skrine has decided to retire from the NFL after 12 seasons.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel revealed the news during his first press conference of training camp, saying Skrine notified the team of his plans, although no reason was given as to why the veteran is hanging up his cleats.

This is certainly surprising news, as Skrine was one of the players we pegged as a top candidate to secure a backup role at cornerback. His retirement leaves Tennessee a bit thinner in the depth department.

The Titans have seen a rash of abrupt retirements since 2021. Last season alone, cornerback Kevin Johnson, offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo and defensive lineman Abry Jones all unexpectedly retired.

Skrine joined the Titans in 2021 and played well in a reserve role over the course of six games. He has also spent time with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers during his career.

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Titans re-signing DB Buster Skrine, RB Jordan Wilkins

The Titans are re-signing CB Buster Skrine and RB Jordan Wilkins.

The Tennessee Titans have reportedly re-signed two of their own free agents in cornerback Buster Skrine and running back Jordan Wilkins.

According to multiple reports, the Titans are reuniting with the two players, both of whom were brought in late in the season with Tennessee dealing with several injuries. Contract details are not yet know for either.

Skrine appeared in six games (three starts) for the Titans in 2021 and played fairly well. He should make the roster out of training camp and will provide a veteran depth option in the secondary behind Tennessee’s three projected starters, Caleb Farley, Kristian Fulton, and Elijah Molden.

A former fifth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts, Wilkins played in one game for the Titans in 2021, but only played 13 special teams snaps. He’ll provide competition behind Derrick Henry in training camp.

Skrine and Wilkins are two of three signings the Titans made on Friday, as they also inked tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year deal.

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Titans activate Bud Dupree, Denico Autry, 2 others from COVID-19 list

The Titans activated four players off the COVID-19 list on Saturday.

The Tennessee Titans will be getting back three more active-roster players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of their Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

The team announced on Saturday that it has activated outside linebacker Bud Dupree, defensive lineman Denico Autry, cornerback Buster Skrine, and practice squad receiver Cody Hollister from the COVID-19 list.

All four are now eligible to play on Sunday.

In addition to those moves, the Titans downgraded defensive lineman Larrell Murchison to out after he was listed as questionable on the final injury report, and the team has cut wide receiver Caleb Scott from its practice squad.

Remaining on the COVID-19 list are wide receiver Julio Jones, linebacker Jayon Brown, backup tackle Kendall Lamm, and practice squad defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun. All four players are now ineligible to play in Week 17 versus the Dolphins.

For Jones, this will be the the seventh game he misses this season in what has been an issue-plagued first campaign for him in Nashville, mostly because of injuries. He also hasn’t been productive when healthy and on the field.

Tennessee and Miami will meet at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, with kickoff set for noon CST. The Titans can clinch the AFC South with a win or an Indianapolis Colts loss.

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Tennessee Titans Week 14 film study: The art of confusion

Breaking down each of the Titans’ four interceptions from their Week 14 win over the Jaguars.

The Tennessee Titans got back in the win column after a two-game losing streak by shutting out the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14. The 20-0 victory not only demoralized the Jaguars, but it likely helped get their coach fired, along with the myriad of Urban Meyer missteps.

The Titans took Jacksonville’s soul on Sunday. Now, that is something we have grown accustomed to seeing, but usually it is a result of several Derrick Henry stiff arms. This time, however, it was all about confusion.

If you are Jaguars Owner Shad Khan, the most frustrating part of the day had to be watching your young rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick look like a fool.

The Titans had Trevor Lawrence’s head spinning and he was lost all day, leading to four interceptions, the first time the Titans have reached that mark in a game since 2012.

It wasn’t just the interceptions, though; Lawrence was sacked three times, took plenty of other hits and had his lowest passing rating of the season.

In fairness, you can’t blame this all on Lawrence, as the game was an exercise in how to not support your rookie quarterback.

Only eight rushing attempts for the Jags after running for almost 200 yards in the Week 5 matchup with the Titans is egregious. That lack of support and inability (or unwillingness) to run the ball led directly to the Titans’ success in creating turnovers.

When the offense you’re facing is consistently in third-and-long, an obvious passing situation, it opens up the defensive playbook and increases the amount of creativity you can have with your play calls. Add in a poorly coached rookie quarterback and the result is what we saw Sunday.

What exactly did that confusion look like and how did the Titans’ defense turn that into four interceptions? As we do every week, let’s step into the film room and see how they did it.

Report: 49ers to sign CB Buster Skrine

The #49ers are adding more CB help with veteran nickel corner Buster Skrine.

The 49ers once again find themselves making additions to help their ailing secondary. NFL insider Adam Caplan on Tuesday reported San Francisco is expected to sign veteran CB Buster Skrine with K’Waun Williams likely to miss time with a calf strain.

Williams exited the 49ers’ Week 3 loss to Green Bay early and was replaced by rookie fifth-round pick Deommodore Lenoir.

Skrine, 32, was a fifth-round selection of the Browns in the 2011 draft. He spent four of his 10 seasons with Cleveland, four with the Jets and the last two with Chicago. He’s started 92 of his 151 games, and racked up nine interceptions, 85 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and 573 tackles.

Ravens work out four defensive backs including Buster Skrine

The Ravens worked out four defensive backs on Tuesday

The Baltimore Ravens currently have four open spots available on their roster after dealing with multiple injuries and also doing some shuffling. They have a few positions where they could stand to add someone, especially on the offensive line.

However, one area of the team that might need another addition is at the cornerback position. With veteran Marcus Peters out for the season with a torn ACL, Baltimore has just five cornerbacks on their active roster. On Tuesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic shed light on the fact that the Ravens worked out four cornerbacks, including a few veteran options at the position.

Skrine and Worley are the most accomplished players out of the bunch. Skrine has accumulated 573 total tackles and nine interceptions over the course of his 10-year career, while Worley has 265 total tackles and five interceptions in five years at the NFL level.

Haley and Rose are a bit more inexperienced. Haley has 83 total tackles and one interception in three years as a professional, while Rose has yet to play in a game at the NFL level, but has starred in the Canadian Football League.

Report: Bears will cut ties with RT Bobby Massie

The Bears are expected to decline the option on RT Bobby Massie, making him a free agent and saving them valuable cap space.

Another Chicago Bears player is set to be released as we inch closer to the start of the new league year.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears are expected to decline the option on offensive tackle Bobby Massie, making him a free agent and saving them over $5 million in salary cap space.

Massie joins cornerback Buster Skrine as the other starting player to be released in an effort for the Bears to clear cap space.

The veteran right tackle joined the Bears as a free agent in 2016, signing a three-year contract after being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. As he steadily improved over the course of his contract, Massie signed an extension following the 2018 season, re-upping with the Bears for another four years, earning $14 million guaranteed.

Injuries would plague him over the last two seasons, however, as he missed 14 regular season games with ankle and knee issues. His last game as a Bear was in week eight against the New Orleans Saints.

The 31-year old offensive lineman now joins a crowded free agent pool and the Bears have an opening at their right tackle position heading into the start of the new league year.

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Former Browns CB Buster Skrine now available after being released by the Bears

Skrine played his first 4 years in Cleveland

Faced with a glaring need for reinforcements across the defense, the Cleveland Browns have a lot of options in the pending free agent market. But if they wish to jump ahead of the market, a familiar face is freshly available.

The Chicago Bears cut cornerback Buster Skrine on Monday in a salary cap dump. He has been Chicago’s primary nickel back for the last two years and played reasonably well. Skrine logged 64 total tackles and three pass breakups in 12 games before missing the final four regular-season games and Chicago’s playoff loss with a concussion.

Skrine, now 31, played his first four seasons with the Browns from 2011-2014. He’s emerged as a relatively reliable slot corner with a nose for run defense and solid short-area coverage. With Kevin Johnson and Terrance Mitchell both set to hit free agency, Skrine could be an inexpensive veteran replacement option. Signing Skrine would not end the Browns’ need for a long-term solution at CB, however.

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