Tag: monty rice

Falcons signing former Titans 3rd-round pick to practice squad

Falcons to sign former Titans third-round pick to 16-man practice squad, per report

Just because Arthur Smith is no longer in Atlanta doesn’t mean the Falcons are done adding former Titans. After signing 13 players to the practice squad on Wednesday, the team is expected to add linebacker Monty Rice to that list, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Tennessee selected Rice in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft out of the University of Georgia. Rice was waived by the Titans late in the 2023 season but was then claimed by New Orleans. The Saints released Rice during final roster cuts and now he joins their most-hated rival.

Over his first three NFL seasons, Rice has recorded 124 tackles (70 solo), three QB hits and two passes defended while appearing in 35 games (10 starts).

Rice will be the 14th member of Atlanta’s practice squad, leaving two more spots available. The Falcons also have defensive lineman Kenny Oginni on the practice squad but he doesn’t count towards the total due to the NFL’s International Player rules.

Atlanta completed a late-night trade on Wednesday, sending quarterback Taylor Heinicke to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Heinicke was entering the year as the team’s third-string QB, so it made sense for the Falcons to try and get something for him rather than outright release him at the 53-man roster deadline.

Check out the team’s updated 16-man practice squad HERE!

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

Saints open the second half vs. Titans with a takeaway

The Saints opened the second half against the Titans with a takeaway. Way to reintroduce yourself after missing time with an injury, Monty Rice:

Here’s how you reintroduce yourself after missing time with an injury. The New Orleans Saints opened the second half against the Tennessee Titans with a takeaway. Monty Rice was held out of practice the last week while on the mend with an ankle injury but he was able to dress for Sunday’s preseason game, and he made the most of that opportunity.

Rice tackled Titans running back Jabari Small and punched the ball loose. His teammate, rookie safety Millard Bradford, recovered it and set the Saints offense up in Tennessee territory. It was a great play by both players as they compete for roster spots ahead of cut-downs on Tuesday.

And that competition is fierce. The top of the depth chart at both linebacker and safety appears to be set, so guys like Rice and Bradford are fighting for the few vacancies remaining on the back end of the depth chart or the practice squad. But clutch plays like this will do a lot to help their cases for those jobs.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Countdown to Kickoff: Monty Rice is the Saints Player of Day 59

Countdown to Kickoff: Monty Rice is the Saints Player of Day 59. Don’t sleep on him in the training camp battles at linebacker

Here’s an interesting pick for the New Orleans Saints Player of the Day. We’re almost through the trench players along the offensive and defensive lines, now that we’re into the 50’s while counting down the days until the Saints’ 2024 regular season kickoff. And linebacker Monty Rice is an intriguing player.

The former top-100 draft pick never found his way with the Tennessee Titans before being waived last December, and the Saints acted quickly to pick him up. New Orleans has experienced some turnover in the linebacker corps this offseason so he has an opportunity to make the cut. So what’s his story? And how can he win a roster spot?

  • Name (Age): Monty Rice (24)
  • Position: Linebacker
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-0, 233 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.21
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $1,321,209
  • College: Georgia
  • Drafted: Third round in 2021 (Tennessee Titans)
  • NFL experience: 4 years

Rice was a big special teams player for the Titans, having logged 412 snaps in the kicking game compared to 631 on defense through 35 appearances in three years. And that figures to be his best path to winning a roster spot in New Orleans. The Saints favor linebackers on the punt and kickoff units, and they’ve lost guys like Zack Baun (385 snaps on special teams, most on the team) and Ty Summers (303) in free agency, while Nephi Sewell (266) is out for a while after his ACL injury on New Year’s Eve.

The starters are set in Demario Davis, Pete Werner and Willie Gay Jr., but it’s an open competition for the three or four roster spots behind them. Look for Rice to compete with D’Marco Jackson, Anfernee Orji, Khaleke Hudson, Jaylan Ford and Isaiah Stalbird at training camp. If he can help cover punt returns and run with the kickoff team while holding his own with the second-string defense, he’ll have a strong case for a spot on the depth chart when roster cuts are decided in August.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Titans’ Mike Vrabel on waiving Monty Rice: ‘It didn’t work out’

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel briefly talked about the team waiving linebacker Monty Rice on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Titans made a somewhat surprising move on Tuesday when the team decided to waive former third-round pick and linebacker Monty Rice.

It wasn’t surprising because Rice was playing particularly well. In fact, he had been relegated to mostly special teams duty this season after it was thought he could start going into the year.

But he did have another year left on his rookie deal after this one. Clearly the Titans didn’t feel it necessary to give him another season.

When asked about letting Rice go, head coach Mike Vrabel kept it short and sweet.

“It’s a process and it didn’t work out,” Vrabel said, per John Glennon. “I’m sure Monty will go on and have another opportunity and we’ll give other guys opportunities here.”

Rice, who had some parting words for the Titans on his way out the door, has since been claimed by the New Orleans Saints, where he’ll look to revive his career.

With Rice gone, now half of the eight picks the Titans made in the 2021 draft are off the team. Those left include Caleb Farley, Dillon Radunz, Elijah Molden and Rashad Weaver.

Taking Rice’s spot on the roster is undrafted free-agent signing and linebacker,  Otis Reese, who was promoted to the active roster on Wednesday.

He’s likely one of the guys Vrabel is talking about when he discussed giving other players opportunities. Along with Rice, the Titans have starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Jack Gibbens, and special teamers Luke Gifford and Joseph Jones left at the position.

Tennessee also has newly-signed linebacker JoJo Domann on the practice squad.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Saints announce 5 roster moves before Week 14 matchup vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints announced five roster moves before their Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers:

The New Orleans Saints announced five roster moves before their Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, losing two key defenders to injured reserve while parting ways with a veteran on the practice squad — and signing a couple of young defensive players to reinforce the 53-man roster. Here’s what you need to know about each move:

Former Titans LB Monty Rice claimed by the Saints

Former Titans LB Monty Rice has found a new home with the Saints.

The Tennessee Titans made a surprising move after they waived linebacker Monty Rice after just 2.5 seasons.

The Georgia product was a former third-round pick back in 2021, who never found a way to consistently make meaningful contributions on the defensive side of the ball.

However, he now has the opportunity for a fresh start elsewhere, as it was recently reported by ESPN’s Field Yates that Rice had been claimed by the New Orleans Saints.

Rice will immediately join the Saints’ active roster after a tumultuous Titans tenure that recently saw him take some parting shots at his former team in a series of recently-deleted tweets.

While the former third-round pick never became a focal point of the defense as originally intended, he was a steady presence on special teams throughout his young career. This season alone, he accounted for 184 special teams snaps, which is 98 more snaps than he played on defense.

Rice now gets a clean slate in New Orleans where he hopes to revitalize his once promising career.

In total, Rice played in a total of 35 games (10 starts), tallying 128 tackles, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and two passes defensed.

Monty Rice throws shade at Titans after being waived

Now-former Titans LB Monty Rice had some parting words after being waived on Tuesday.

Now-former Tennessee Titans linebacker Monty Rice did his best Jaleel Johnson impression after the team waived him on Tuesday.

The Jaleel Johnson reference comes from the defensive lineman tweeting his frustration with the Titans after his being waived last month. Surprisingly, Tennessee ended up him bringing him back and he has since apologized.

After being let go, Rice took to X to say that not only was he happy that the Titans let him go, he also believes he was better than what we saw of him on the field and encouraged everyone to put on the tape and see for themselves.

Hat tip to AtoZ Sports’ Sam Phalen for the screen shots of Rice’s tweets, which we couldn’t view because the linebacker has us blocked on X.

Rice’s tenure with the Titans was a major disappointment after he was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Georgia.

Rice failed to break through to a full-time starting role over his first two seasons, at least partly because he was stuck behind some good players. When he did see the field on defense, he wasn’t very effective.

The 2023 campaign was supposed to be the year that Rice ascended to a starting role after the team parted ways with David Long and had just one sure starter at the position in Azeez Al-Shaair.

Instead, Rice was absent for a chunk of the preseason, and while we know it was not injury-related, no exact reason was given.

Jack Gibbens ended up winning the starting job over the Georgia product, who was relegated to mostly special teams duty until Week 10, when he began seeing regular snaps on defense.

That continued through Week 12, but the 24-year-old saw a dip in playing time in Week 13. Clearly the Titans didn’t see enough out of him with those opportunities.

This isn’t the first time Rice has taken to X to air grievances.

During the offseason, he voiced his displeasure with criticism of his coverage and those he perceived showed him “disrespect” in their analysis of him.

Rice will now go to waivers, where he can be claimed on Wednesday. If no team claims him, he’ll be able to sign with any team, although I think it’s safe to assume a return to Tennessee’s practice squad is off the table.

But after what we saw with Jaleel Johnson, never say never.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Titans waive linebacker Monty Rice

The Titans have parted ways with linebacker Monty Rice.

The Tennessee Titans made a surprising move on Tuesday, with the team announcing it has waived linebacker Monty Rice.

A 2021 third-round pick, Rice appeared in all 12 games this year but played mostly on special teams after failing to grab a starting role out of training camp.

The 24-year-old did see more snaps on defense in recent weeks and looked to be ascending, at least in terms of playing time, but his snaps took a dip in Week 13.

While he provided a speed upgrade as compared to starter Jack Gibbens, Rice didn’t do much with his increased snaps and never panned out overall during his two-plus seasons with the team.

[lawrence-related id=136831]

The move is surprising because Rice still has one more year left on his rookie deal after 2023 and at least could’ve continued to provide help on special teams, if nothing else.

However, clearly the Titans felt it was time to part ways with the Georgia product, who will now go to waivers, where he can be claimed on Wednesday. If he goes unclaimed, he can sign with any team.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Analyzing Titans’ snap counts from Week 12 victory

The Titans’ snap counts following their Week 12 victory on Sunday.

When it comes to the Tennessee Titans’ snap counts from the Week 12 win over the Carolina Panthers, there wasn’t too much that stuck out on either side of the ball.

The most notable thing on defense was safety Elijah Molden seeing less playing time in favor of fellow safety K’Von Wallace. It’s also worth noting that linebacker Monty Rice was once again involved in a rotation.

On offense, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins seeing the third-most snaps at the position was certainly worth mentioning, as was tight end Trevon Wesco leading his position group.

Now, a look at the full snap counts for offense and defense from Week 12.

Titans’ Week 11 snap counts: Snaps split evenly at LB, TE

A look at the Titans’ snap counts from Week 11.

There were some interesting takeaways from the Tennessee Titans’ snap counts following their Week 11 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tennessee had a full-blown timeshare at linebacker between Monty Rice and Jack Gibbens. It was the second-straight week in which Rice eclipsed his season-high number of snaps.

Meanwhile, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo saw a season-low number of snaps and did not lead the team in playing time at the position.

On top of seeing how the Titans divvied up snaps at linebacker and tight end, we’ll also be taking a look at how the team replaced some of their missing players at wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line.