Tag: Corey Ballentine

Jamie Collins among ex-Lions hitting the tryout circuit this week

Linebacker Jamie Collins is among 2021 Detroit Lions players hitting the tryout circuit this week

Life comes at you fast…

One year ago, Jamie Collins was a starting linebacker for the Detroit Lions. Now the veteran and former Pro Bowler is still trying to catch on with another NFL team.

Collins is one of a few former Lions players who are hitting the tryout/visit circuit around the NFL in advance of Week 1. The 32-year-old linebacker had a visit with the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday. He was not immediately signed by the Raiders.

His time in Detroit did not end well. Collins played lethargically and ineffectively in the first two Lions games of 2021. After being a healthy scratch in Week 3, the Lions released the veteran who had joined the team as a prominent free agent addition in 2020 under then-GM Bob Quinn. Collins signed with one of his old teams, the New England Patriots, for the remainder of the season.

Collins wasn’t the only ex-Lion still actively looking for a gig this week. Linebacker Rashod Berry tried out with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens this week, per the NFL’s transaction wire. Defensive back and return specialist Corey Ballentine also tried out with the Cardinals. Both Berry and Ballentine played four games in Detroit last season.

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Giants earn C in 2019 NFL draft re-grade

In a Bleacher Report re-grade of the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Giants earn just a “C.”

In yet another ‘re-draft’ of the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Giants don’t fare well as time passes. Maurice Moten of Bleacher Report gives them a ‘C’ grade in his latest loopback on one of the most critical drafts in recent Giants history.

General manger Dave Gettleman made several grave errors, selecting Duke quarterback Daniel Jones No. 6 overall and then traded back into the first round to take Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker, who washed out amid legal troubles.

The Jones pick can still be salvaged if he plays well this season and finally put the franchise’s mind at ease after three inconsistent years.

As a rookie, Jones showed flashes, throwing for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, but his passing yards and touchdown totals have been on the decline thereafter. Though the athletic signal-caller has rushed for 1,000 yards and five touchdowns, he’s had some ball-security issues with 36 fumbles, losing 20 of them. The Giants declined to pick up the fifth-year option in rookie his deal.

The Giants waived Deandre Baker before the 2020 season as he faced robbery charges, but Florida prosecutors dropped those charges.

Third-round pick Oshane Ximines — the first player ever drafted out of Old Dominion – has also yet to establish himself.

Minnesota linebacker Ryan Connelly injured his knee right after becoming a starter and was later released. The sixth-round pick, Washburn cornerback Corey Ballentine, and the two seventh rounders (Syracuse defensive lineman Chris Slayton and Kentucky offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei), all had very short Giants careers.

Gettleman did hit on a few of his picks, though. Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence — taken No. 17 overall with one of the picks the Giants received in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade — has become a reliable and steady presence and the team recently exercised his fifth year option.

Fourth rounder Julian Love, a safety from Notre Dame, has become a starter, and Auburn wideout Darius Slayton, selected in the fifth-round, has had some success.

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Man who shot ex-Giants CB Corey Ballentine sentenced to life in prison

The man who shot ex-New York Giants CB Corey Ballentine and killed Dwane Simmons has been sentenced to life in prison.

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Defensive back Corey Ballentine was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.

In the wee hours of the morning following his selection, Ballentine was a victim of a shooting in his hometown of Topeka, Kansas. His friend and college football teammate, Dwane Simmons, was killed in the incident.

Three years later, finally, justice is served.

Shawnee County District Judge Cheryl Rios presided over the case against Francisco A. “Franky” Mendez, the convicted shooter in the incident. He spent three years in jail awaiting his trial, during which he refused to give up his accomplice’s names and never showed remorse for his actions.

As such, Judge Rios did not hold back at sentencing.

“You will pay for the decision that you made,” she told Mendez before handing out a harsh penalty, via the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Rios sentenced Mendez to prison for 50 years, without the chance of parole, for the murder of Simmons. Then she added 41 years to be served after that for the four counts of attempted murder, plus seven counts of aggravated robbery that were part of a three-day crime spree in April 2019.

Ballentine, who signed a reserve/future contract with the Atlanta Falcons in January, played for the Giants for two seasons before being waived. While wearing blue, he appeared in 22 games. He recorded 38 tackles, including 33 solo and seven sacks as a defensive back, and returned 19 kicks for 447 yards.

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Lions claim rookie S Brady Breeze off waivers from the Titans

The Lions claim rookie S Brady Breeze off waivers from the Titans and place CB Jerry Jacobs on IR

The Detroit Lions added a rookie safety to the team on Monday. Detroit claimed former Tennessee Titan S Brady Breeze.

Breeze was a sixth-round selection, the 215th pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of Oregon. He had only played on special teams in five games for the AFC South-leading Titans. Tennessee waived him on Saturday and the Lions claimed him by virtue of having the top spot on the waiver wire.

Detroit had an opening after placing rookie CB Jerry Jacobs on injured reserve. Jacobs tore the ACL in his knee early in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos.

Practice squad move

CB Corey Ballentine went from playing 14 reps on special teams for the Lions on Sunday to the practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. Ballentine was one of the seven players elevated from the practice squad to help fill in for the Lions who were out with COVID-19. Now he’s joined them after reverting back to the practice squad. Per the NFL’s transaction wire, it was the result of a positive test.

Lions officially waive Corey Ballentine and Kevin Strong

Both players cleared waivers and Strong could be back with the practice squad soon

Two widely reported Detroit Lions roster moves became official with the expected releases of defensive end Kevin Strong and cornerback/return man Corey Ballentine. The moves appeared on the NFL’s transaction log.

Both Ballentine and Strong were subject to waiver claims for the other 31 NFL teams, though neither was claimed. The Lions can bring them back to the team’s practice squad, and that’s a distinct possibility for Strong. The coaching staff has repeatedly praised the third-year pro throughout the summer.

A stint on injured reserve with a thigh wound slowed Strong’s progress. Both players were activated from the IR in the last two weeks prior to being waived.

Strong paid his respect to the Lions in a social media post.

Lions activate CB/KR Corey Ballentine from IR

Lions activate CB/KR Corey Ballentine from injured reserve and released CB Parnell Motley from the practice squad

The Detroit Lions activated a player from injured reserve on Thursday, but it wasn’t necessarily the player most expected to make his return. Cornerback and return specialist Corey Ballentine was activated from the IR after earlier being designated to return.

Ballentine suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The third-year DB played exclusively on special teams prior to his injury.

Quarterback Tim Boyle remains on the IR/designated to return list even though he’s taken the first-team reps in practices this week with starting QB Jared Goff sidelined with an oblique injury. Boyle has not played since injuring his thumb in the preseason and has been on the IR all year. Boyle is expected to be activated but has not as of yet.

The Lions had a roster spot open after waiving wide receiver Geronimo Allison earlier this week. They will need to make another to activate Boyle.

On the practice squad front, the Lions released CB Parnell Motley. Allison rejoined the team’s practice squad on Wednesday.

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Lions rookie CB Ifeatu Melifonwu is returning to practice

The Lions now have 21 days to activate Melifonwu and Ballentine to the active roster

There is some promising news out of Detroit Lions headquarters in Allen Park as the team returns to practice action following the bye week. Rookie cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu is returning to action in practice on Wednesday in an attempt to come back from his thigh injury.

It’s the first step for Melifonwu to get activated off the injured reserve list. The Lions will have 21 days to either place their third-round rookie on the active roster or lose him to IR for the rest of the year. Melifonwu took over as a starter at outside CB following the injury to Jeff Okudah in Week 1, but the rookie from Syracuse couldn’t finish his first career start.

The Lions also announced that CB and return specialist Corey Ballentine is joining Melifonwu on the practice field and earning the designation to return from IR. Ballentine suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve right away.

Melifonwu’s return is a good sign for a secondary that has relied upon undrafted rookies Jerry Jacobs and AJ Parker in starting roles for most of the season. While they’ve fared better than expected, getting Melifonwu back helps build broader experience and depth for 2022 and beyond.

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Lions place Corey Ballentine on IR, sign Shakur Brown to practice squad

The Detroit Lions place CB Corey Ballentine on IR, sign former Michigan State CB Shakur Brown to the practice squad

The injured reserve list continues to grow for the Detroit Lions. On Friday, the team placed cornerback and kick returner Corey Ballentine on the IR with a hamstring injury.

Ballentine has not practiced this week, and the decision was made to put the young DB on the IR. In three games in Detroit, Ballentine has played exclusively on special teams. The Lions acquired him earlier this season off waivers from the New York Jets.

In practice squad roster moves, the Lions added former Michigan State cornerback Shakur Brown to the unit. To make room for Brown, who was most recently on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, the Lions released OL Darrin Paulo from the practice squad.

Ex-Jets CB/KR Corey Ballentine claimed by Lions

Corey Ballentine is headed to the Lions a day after being waived by the Jets.

Former Jets cornerback and kick returner Corey Ballentine found a new team a day after New York waived him off injured reserve.

The Lions claimed Ballentine on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. He could be a depth piece for the Lions’ secondary after Jeff Okudah went on season-ending injured reserve. Ballentine could also be an option on special teams if receiver Khalif Raymond is forced to play more snaps on offense.

Ballentine played in the final six games of the Jets’ 2020 season after being claimed off waivers from the Giants on Nov. 11, 2020. He averaged 26.17 yards on 12 kicks and played 100 special teams snaps. The Jets originally waived/injured Ballentine during training camp following a knee injury.

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Lions claim DB Corey Ballentine off waivers

Ballentine was a 2019 6th-round pick by the Giants and has some impressive kick return experience

The Detroit Lions have added another defensive back to the mix. The Lions claimed cornerback Corey Ballentine off waivers from the New York Jets.

Ballentine, 25, is in his third NFL season. The Jets waived him off injured reserve and the Lions claimed him. He injured his knee in the preseason on a very impressive kick return against the Green Bay Packers.

Ballentine was a 2019 sixth-round pick out of Washburn, a D-II school. He impressed during the 2019 Senior Bowl week with his twitchy athleticism and open-field speed. He played over 400 snaps at cornerback for the Giants in 2019-2020 before being waived in a surprise move. The Jets quickly pounced and installed him as their primary return man for the rest of the season.

He fills the roster spot created with CB Jeff Okudah going on injured reserve. Ballentine