NFL notebook: Siemian named Broncos starter over Lynch
August 21, 2017
Trevor Siemian has won the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback battle over 2016 first-rounder Paxton Lynch, coach Vance Joseph announced Monday.
"Trevor was more consistent on what we asked those guys to do," Joseph said. "Trevor is the guy."
Siemian came off the bench in Saturday night's 33-14 preseason victory against the San Francisco 49ers and completed 8 of 11 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. Lynch went 9 of 13 for just 39 yards. During the preseason, Siemian has completed 14 of 18 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown, zero interceptions and a 118.5 passer rating. Lynch is 15 of 22 for just 81 yards with a 74.2 passer rating.
Siemian threw for 3,401 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, going 8-6 as a starter last season.
--The Broncos released Bernard Pierce and replaced him by claiming fellow running back Stanley Williams off waivers.
Pierce, a third-round draft pick of Baltimore in 2012, appeared in 45 games in three seasons with the Ravens. However, he had only six carries for Jacksonville in 2015 and spent last season on injured reserve with the New York Jets.
Williams was signed as a free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals in early May and waived on Sunday. He spent the past three seasons at the University of Kentucky, leading the team in rushing each year.
--Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL are close to a new five-year contract extension that would run through the 2024 season.
The news was first reported by the Sports Business Journal and confirmed by ESPN and NFL Network. The terms of Goodell's new deal, if reached, would be similar to his current contract which expires in 2019, according to the Sports Business Journal.
A committee chaired by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has had ongoing discussions about a new contract for Goodell since the league meetings in May, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Even though a deal is likely to be completed, there are still issues to work out because talks have not progressed as expected, ESPN reported.
The 58-year-old Goodell succeeded Paul Tagliabue in September 2006. Goodell made nearly $32 million in fiscal year 2015, according to the league's tax filing from that year, and has made $212.5 million in his first 10 years as commissioner. The NFL is no longer required to file his salary as the league office has given up its non-profit status, thus salary figures are no longer available.
--Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell, who has yet to report to training camp or sign his $12.12 million franchise tender, is expected miss another preseason game as he continues his holdout.
Bell plans to stay away from Week 3 of the preseason, but a source told ESPN he could be back shortly after Saturday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The 25-year-old Bell can't be fined for his absence from the preseason because he doesn't have a contract. He isn't allowed to receive a long-term deal this season because the deadline for tagged players passed on July 17.
The Steelers can tag Bell for the second straight season in 2018 at $14.54 million or re-sign him. The franchise tag still has Bell as the league's highest-paid tailback in 2017.
--Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. has been formally charged on three misdemeanor crimes in Pinellas County, Fla., according to court records.
Fowler was arrested on July 19 and charged with simple battery, criminal mischief and petit theft. The 23-year-old was formally charged on Aug. 10, according to court records. His arraignment in Clearwater, Fla., is scheduled for Sept. 11 -- one day after the Jaguars' regular-season opener against the Houston Texans.
If convicted on all counts, Fowler could face up to a year in jail and is subject to league discipline.
Fowler struck a man and then stomped on his prescription glasses after a brief verbal confrontation, according to the police report. He got out of his car to confront the man after he made a comment about Fowler's driving, according to the report. Police said Fowler then "took the victim's grocery bag, with recently purchased liquor, and threw it in a lake." Police said the victim was not injured.
--New York Jets teammates Darron Lee and Leonard Williams will not face discipline from the NFL for an incident that occurred at a music festival in June.
"Following a review, we concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that there was a violation of the personal conduct policy," league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement Monday.
Video appeared to show Lee getting into an argument with his girlfriend before he was restrained and forcibly removed by Williams, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman. No arrests were made in the incident, which occurred at Governors Ball Music Festival in New York on June 3.
Lee, who was the 20th overall pick in 2016, recorded 73 tackles in 13 games as a rookie linebacker last season. Williams was the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft. The former Southern Cal standout totaled 68 tackles and seven sacks last season.
--Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh provided a welcome diversion from training camp for his team.
Harbaugh canceled practice to allow the players to participate in a trip that included a visit to the Pentagon and a stop at Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Also on the daily agenda for the team was a visit to the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy and lunch at Fort Myer.
--The Tennessee Titans activated second-year wide receiver Tajae Sharpe from the physically unable to perform list.
Sharpe, 22, had been rehabbing since suffering a foot injury in June and undergoing surgery. He passed a physical Monday morning and was cleared to begin practicing with the team.
Sharpe, a fifth-round pick, had 41 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie season in 2016, playing in all 16 games with 10 starts.
--The Detroit Lions signed free agent tight end Scott Orndoff to add depth at the position.
The Lions have been battling injuries at tight end with projected starter Eric Ebron, Khari Lee, Michael Roberts, Cole Wick and Tim Wright all missing practice time last week, according to the Detroit News.
Orndoff, 23, comes to the Lions after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2017 out of the University of Pittsburgh. In four seasons (2013-16) at Pitt, Orndoff recorded 58 receptions for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Lions also waived/injured defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, who signed with the team in June. He played nine games for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers in 2015, recording 12 totals tackles and one sack.
--New York Giants offensive lineman Michael Bowie turned himself in after a warrant was issued last week on a charge of domestic assault and battery in Oklahoma.
Bowie, a native of Tulsa, also was charged with two counts of malicious injury or destruction of property. The 25-year-old was booked at 11:23 a.m. and released at 12:07 p.m. after posting $17,000 bond, according to Tulsa County jail records.
Bowie did not travel with the team to play Monday night's game against the Cleveland Browns.
According to the Tulsa World, Bowie and his girlfriend had an argument over finances and it turned physical after the woman made a remark about Bowie's mother. Tulsa County assistant district attorney Kenneth Elmore told the newspaper that Bowie grabbed the woman by her neck and tossed her to the ground. He then broke two televisions and punched a hole in the wall.
--The Seattle Seahawks acquired offensive lineman Matt Tobin and a 2018 seventh-round draft pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2018 fifth-round selection, the teams announced.
The move comes two days after the Seahawks saw left tackle George Fant sustain a torn ACL in a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. Fant will miss the entire season as a result of the injury.
Tobin's flexibility at playing other positions along the line gives Seattle options, although he likely will provide depth behind Rees Odhiambo at left tackle.
The 27-year-old Tobin started 21 of the 42 games he played in with the Eagles after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2013.
--Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Bryce Treggs announced on Twitter that he has been fined $25,000 by the NFL.
While Treggs did not disclose the reason for the financial punishment, it could stem from his high hit on Green Bay Packers defensive back Damarious Randall during the teams' preseason opener on Aug. 10.
"I made league minimum last year and I just got fined 25K. I'm starting a gofundme to pay it," tweeted the 23-year-old Treggs, who made $450,000 last season.
Treggs unleashed a shot to the head of Randall during a 3-yard run by LeGarrette Blount in the first quarter of their game. Randall, who sustained a concussion on the play, took to Twitter to convey that he thought Treggs' hit was dirty.
