Our Colin Kaepernick piece of kabuki theater wrapped up with a twist Monday when the Seattle Seahawks signed former St. Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns quarterback Austin Davis to serve as the No. 3 quarterback behind Russell Wilson and Trevone Boykin.
As the rest of NFL punditry rended their garments over the plight of Kaepernick, I’ve been pretty consistent in letting you know that he wasn’t even the best back up QB on the market. He’s not even the third best.
We've signed quarterback Austin Davis.
📰 | https://t.co/RC76j0TUpF pic.twitter.com/pe0pMA7pOP
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) June 5, 2017
I told you last Thursday that I’d rank Kaepernick behind Davis, Shaun Hill, Robert Griffin III and Christian Ponder and I’ve not changed my mind. Regardless of whether the writers in Bristol, Conn. agree with me, Pete Carroll obviously does. Carroll has had to gameplan against both Kaepernick and Davis, when he was with the Rams. He picked Davis. That should tell you a lot about Kaepernick’s skill level at quarterback.
Davis spent last season with the Denver Broncos and never played a down. He started two games for the Cleveland Browns in 2015 and lost them both. He completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 547 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. In 2014 Davis started eight games for the Rams. He went 3-5, completed 63.4 percent of his passes in their grade school offense for 2,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Kaepernick hasn’t completed 63.4 percent of his passes in any year he was a starter. And that includes his best seven games in 2012 where he and the San Francisco 49ers stumbled into the Super Bowl.
Elvis is in the building in Santa Clara
Speaking of the San Francisco 49ers, the team added a significant weapon to its defense Monday when they signed free agent linebacker Elvis Dumervil to a two-year deal. Financial details have not been released.
After much thought & prayer I have decided to join the @49ers! I look forward to getting to know the NFC West QBs! See you soon SF. pic.twitter.com/t5kB1yNaPW
— Elvis Dumervil (@EKD92) June 5, 2017
Dumervil spent the last four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, but had his final year cut short with injuries. His last full year as a starter, 2015, Dumervil recorded 48 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass defense and that was a down year. In 2014, Dumervil had 17 sacks. In fact, Dumervil, with the Ravens and Broncos, has put up double-digit sack totals four times in his career and more than 8.5 sacks seven times.
Dumervil joins a crowded pass rushing group with the 49ers. San Francisco has used its last three first round picks on pass rushing defensive linemen, begining with Arik Armstead in 2015, then DeForest Buckner in 2016 and Solomon Thomas in April’s NFL draft. Dumervil is officially listed as a linebacker, but will likely be a third down, stand-up rusher since the 49ers have converted to a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Robert Selah.
Faithful – Just added another stud to harass QBs. Thrilled to announce we’ve agreed to terms w/ @EKD92 Welcome to the squad. #BrickByBrick pic.twitter.com/zkOLU7NTcW
— John Lynch (@JohnLynch49ers) June 5, 2017
Ravens bring in Brandon Boykin
After losing Tavon Young to a torn ACL last week, the Baltimore Ravens needed to shore up their defensive backfield. Monday, the Ravens added free agent cornerbacks Brandon Boykin and Al-Hajj Shabazz.
God speed. Thankful to have the opportunity to continue to play this game I love for #ravensnation pic.twitter.com/yqYCTjbYgk
— Brandon Boykin (@BrandonBoykin2) June 5, 2017
Boykin is a former fourth-round pick out of Georgia. He spent his first three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. He started one game and played in all 16, recording 21 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, five passes defended and one interception.
Shabazz also spent time in Pittsburgh last season, appearing in seven games with the Steelers and one with the Houston Texans. He recorded just one tackle.
To make move on their roster for the signings, the Ravens cut defensive tackle Kyle Arrington. Arrington started four games for the Ravens last season and played in all 15. He recorded 28 tackles, one forced fumble and three passes defended.
Texans send two problem children home without supper or NFL contracts
If you’re going to be trouble off the field for the NFL, you better have some legit star talent on it. Neither wide receiver Keith Mumphery or inside linebacker Max Bullough could make that second claim, which is why they were unceremoniously dumped by the Houston Texans Monday.
This week the Detroit Free Press reported that Mumphery had been expelled from Michigan State in 2016 after he was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student. No charges were filed and the Texans drafted him after this occurred. But, that was, of course, before the press knew about it and spilled the beans.
Bullough, at least, could have seen this one coming. He was busted by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy and was already suspended for the first four games of the season.
Mumphery started three games for the Texans last season and played in 11. He caught 10 passes for 69 yards.
Bullough started three games too and played in all 16. He had 19 tackles.
Other NFL News
The New York Jets signed former Indianapolis Colts wide receievr Devin Street to a free agent contract Monday. Street played in five games for the Colts last season and caught one pass for 20 yards. In a related move the Jets placed wide receiver Quinton Patton in injured reserve. He broke his wrist in OTAs last week. Patton caught 37 passes for 408 yards last season and started 14 games.
The Dallas Cowboys made two quarterback moves Monday, signing former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Zac Dysert and cutting rookie Austin Appleby. Dysert, seventh-round draft pick out of Miami (OH) in 2013, has been in the NFL ever since, though you’d never know it from his stat sheet. The Cowboys are his seventh team since being drafted by the Broncos. Appleby was a long shot to make the roster anyway as the kid could barely keep his job at Florida after transferring from Purdue because he couldn’t get on the field there.
The Carolina Panthers will lose cornerback James Bradberry for at least six weeks after he fractured his wrist. Bradberry started and played in 13 games for the Panthers last season. He recorded 59 tackles, two interceptions and defended 10 passes.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be without the services of defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan for at least a little while. He sprained his ankle during organized team activities.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has been cleared to return to the practice field after undergoing another eye surgery just a few weeks ago.
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