NFL news: Around the league in 32 plays

Adding to a list of problems, the Saints now have to replace Mark Ingram. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints:  The Saints have been abysmal this year, and it’s likely to get worse now that starting running back Mark Ingram is on Injured Reserve with a torn rotator cuff.  However, the Saints do have some depth at the position with Tim Hightower and CJ Spiller just hanging around.

New York Giants:  The Giants took a big hit with their veteran leadership as long snapper Zak DeOssie and tight end Larry Donnell were both added to Injured Reserve.  The G-Men have been stumbling lately, and this certainly does not help.

New York Jets:  The Jets have placed former Chiefs defensive end Mike Catapano on Injured Reserve with a Lisfranc injury.  Catapano had been a rotational backup and special teams player for the Jets.

Chiefs’ take

: That’s tough for Big Cat.  Every time he seems to make strides towards catching on, he gets derailed.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a very strong resume, so this may be the end for him.

Crabtree has looked good this year, but can he make that last? Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders:  The Raiders got a head start on the offseason by re-signing veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree to a new deal.  Crabtree has seen a revitalization in Oakland, and has become a productive piece of the offense.  The team also extended fullback Jamize Olawale.  Olawale has been a pleasant surprise for the Raiders and may end up replacing veteran Marcel Reece who is 30 years old and carries a contract a bit heavy for a fullback.

• Chiefs’ take: Good and bad for KC here.  I think the Raiders re-signing Crabtree is a mistake on their part.  Yes, he’s performed well this year, but he does have a history of stepping up his game for a new contract.  The Olawale deal is actually a good one in my book.  He’s younger, and should be much cheaper, than Reece and shows the talent to be the same caliber player.

Philadelphia Eagles:  Chip Kelly seems to have a major disconnect when it comes to running backs.  On the team plane home this past week, the man who is supposed to be the starting back, Demarco Murray, apparently sat with owner Jeff Lurie and expressed his displeasure with how he was being used, and told Lurie that he felt he had been lied to.  Shortly after this, former Eagles back, LeSean McCoy, reminded reporters that there is no love lost between him and Kelly either.  On top of all this, we should remember that even the mild mannered Darren Sproles has been sharing some criticism of his current head coach.  In personnel moves, the Eagles finally moved on from receiver Miles Austin who had been a glaring weak link for the team.

Author’s take

: One has to wonder whether the Eagles will ever be able to be realistic players for free agent running backs as long as Chip Kelly is the coach.  McCoy hates him, Murray undermines him, Sproles (supposedly) criticizes him, and let’s not forget that Frank Gore decided he wanted nothing to do with him.  That’s actually good news for any team that has an abundance of running backs and might be looking to move someone.

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