NFL Player News
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Dan Carpenter K | BUF
Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Bills could keep Dan Carpenter, Dustin Hopkins
The Bills could decide to keep two kickers this season with Dan Carpenter and Dustin Hopkins, reports the Buffalo News.
Last year, the Bills drafted Hopkins in the sixth round, but he hurt his groin right before the season began, and Carpenter signed and had a great season. The Bills last month re-signed Carpenter to a four-year contract worth $9.95 million, and Hopkins still is on the roster.
The report says Carpenter could continue to handle field goal and extra point attempts, and Hopkins will be used for kickoffs.
"Would you like to have one guy that can do both? No doubt about it," Bills general manager Doug Whaley said. "But this is a situation where if it makes our team better, we're going to do it. ... Is keeping Dustin Hopkins better for the team that keeping an extra receiver, an extra DB? You juggle that."
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Connor Barth K | CHI
Connor Barth cleared to kick
Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth has been cleared to resume football activities after tearing his Achilles just before the start of training camp. Barth posted the news on his Facebook page according to PewterReport.com.
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Dan Carpenter K | BUF
Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Bills re-sign kicker Dan Carpenter
The Bills have re-signed placekicker Dan Carpenter, who will likely open up training camp in a competition for the job with second-year kicker Dustin Hopkins.
Carpenter went 33 of 36 on field goals last season, making six from 50-plus yards.
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Connor Barth K | CHI
Connor Barth says he's 100 percent
Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth, who ruptured his Achilles tendon last July, says he's back to 100 percent, reports the Tampa Tribune. Barth is regularly hitting field goals from 50-plus yards, including a 61-yarder last week that had a few yards to spare, the report said.
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Connor Barth K | CHI
Connor Barth in, Rian Lindell out for Bucs
The Buccaneers plan to replace kicker Rian Lindell with former kicker Connor Barth, reports FOX Sports.
Barth missed the 2013 season after suffering a torn Achilles in a charity basketball game in July. He was replaced by Lindell, who is a free agent this offseason.
Lindell was 23 of 29 on field goals in 2013 with 31 extra points.
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All franchise tags of the non-exclusive variety
The four players who got franchised -- the Saints' Jimmy Graham, the Panthers' Greg Hardy, the Jets' Nick Folk and the Redskins' Brian Orakpo -- all received non-exclusive tags. That means they can sign offer sheets with any team.
However, the signing teams would have to give up two first-round draft picks if the tagging team decided not to match. It's highly unlikely any team would give up that much, even for superstars like Graham or Hardy.
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Jason Worilds OLB | PIT
Brian Orakpo OLB | TEN
Jimmy Graham TE | NO
Nick Folk K | NYJ
Alex Mack C | SF
Six players get tagged for 2014
Eight players received the franchise tag in 2013. This year, four players got franchised and two drew the transition tag, which had not been used since 2011.
Getting the franchise tag were Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, Jets kicker Nick Folk, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and Redskins outside linebacker Brian Orakpo. Browns center Alex Mack and Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds were designated as transition players.
The deadline for tagging players passed at 4 p.m. ET.
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Only four players tagged so far
With the 4 p.m. ET deadline approaching, only four teams have applied the franchise tag for 2014. The Saints tagged tight end Jimmy Graham, the Jets tagged kicker Nick Folk, the Panthers tagged defensive end Greg Hardy and the Redskins tagged outside linebacker Brian Orakpo.
Eight players received the franchise tag last year.
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Nick Folk K | NYJ
Jets use franchise tag on Nick Folk
The Jets have placed the franchise tag on placekicker Nick Folk, the team announced Friday.
In 2013, Folk made a career-high 33 field goals on 36 attempts for a career-high 91.7 percent accuracy, including a perfect 3 for 3 on 50-yard tries. He also hit all 27 of his extra-point tries.