Tag: Waivers

Bucs cut former first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves before Saints game

WR Michael Thomas and the New Orleans Saints will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without top CB Vernon Hargreaves, who was released Tuesday.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a big move at cornerback, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter reported that Tampa Bay cut starting cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, their former first-round pick in 2016 out of Florida. Hargreaves had played the third-most defensive snaps of all Buccaneers this season (582), including 46 snaps last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Hargreaves will now go on waivers.

Their pass defense was ranked worst in the league, so some change was inevitable. It’s just strange to outright cut someone who led his position in playing-time at this point in the season, even if Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians benched Hargreaves late in the game for a perceived lack of hustle.

Hargreaves’ release might look as if it’s coming at a strange time, but it makes some sense; at a distant third-place in the NFC South with a 3-6 record, the Buccaneers are shifting their focus towards self-evaluating and figuring out which players will still be here next year. Cutting a former top draft pick sends a clear message that no one is safe, and lacking effort won’t be tolerated.

So what does this mean for the New Orleans Saints? They’re inbound for Tampa Bay, bringing a receiving corps that’s pretty much been a one-man show. Michael Thomas has caught 86 passes this year, while the other wide receivers (Ted Ginn Jr. Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, and Austin Carr) have combined for 30 receptions. New Orleans has had to get creative in its use of pass-catching tight ends, running backs, fullbacks, and quarterback Taysom Hill to try and pick up the slack.

Sunday should be another big game for Thomas. He dropped a season-high 182 receiving yards on Tampa Bay in their last meeting inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, outmuscling every defensive back they tried to assign to him. And he did that with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. Without Hargreaves on the field and with Drew Brees throwing to him, there’s no reason Thomas should slow down any time soon.

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Josh Gordon appreciates Seahawks culture, playing for Russell Wilson

The Seattle Seahawks’ new wide receiver Josh Gordon expressed an appreciation for the team’s culture and playing for Russell Wilson.

The Seattle Seahawks claimed wide receiver Josh Gordon off waivers after being cut by the New England Patriots and he is very satisfied to be with his new team in the Emerald City.

“I’m just grateful to be here,” Gordon said following Saturday’s practice. “I’m grateful to be here. There’s a lot of gratitude. Definitely thankful to land in a spot like this. Could’ve been anywhere, I couldn’t control that. Nonetheless, I’m grateful to have this opportunity to just go out there and do what I do.

“It has been great. It’s been a smooth transition. A great environment, a great football team, and organization. I’m really happy to be here.”

Gordon expressed his appreciation for the culture in the Seahawks’ locker room from the players to the coaches.

“The energy is high energy, all the time, everybody,” he said. “Top to bottom, all across the board. Offense and defense, staff. I love it. Keeps everybody kind of moving, everybody’s on their toes and in the right frame of mind to come in and do what you have to do and just perform, work, and compete.”

Gordon stated he and Russell Wilson discussed playing together for years, and he is looking forward to finally making it happen.

“Me and Russ have been talking about (playing together) for a long time, for a while behind the scenes – how nice it would be,” Gordon said. “Admire his game. I think maybe he respected mine mutually. I love the way he plays, it’s as simple as that. He’s a great ballplayer, he can make it happen from pretty much anywhere.”

Wilson offered words of praise for his new wide receiver after team practice this week.

“Josh, he’s been great since he’s gotten here,” Wilson told reporters on Friday. “He’s been studying like crazy. He sits up (front) and takes tons of notes. He’s highlighting like crazy. He’s in his playbook nonstop. He’s prepared. He’ll be prepared and ready to roll. He’s a true pro. He’s been in different systems and stuff like that. I think that helps him. I think he’s really fired up to be here. We’re fired up to have him.”

Fans hope Gordon can contribute to Seattle’s ambitions as they head into a brutal stretch of schedule through the second half of the season.

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