NFL Player News

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. 

The Jets signed their franchise player, kicker Nick Folk, to a multiyear deal, reports ESPN. He made 33 of 36 field goals last season.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Panthers have signed kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract, the team announced Friday.

"The special teams unit was a large part of our success last year, and we are excited to keep Graham as a part of our team," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "Graham has shown range and accuracy in his field goal kicking, and his strong leg has been a weapon for us on kickoffs."

In 2013, Gano played in all 16 games for Carolina, converting 24 of 27 field goal attempts to establish a career high with an 88.9 field goal percentage. Gano set a franchise record and tied for the NFL lead for the most made field goals of 50 yards or more with six. He was the only kicker in the NFL with more than three attempts from 50-plus yards without a miss from that distance.

Gano placed 76 of 82 kickoffs in the end zone with 63 touchbacks to lead the NFL with a 77.8 touchback percentage, the highest touchback percentage in the NFL since 1994.