Daily News 19

Tag: Mike Vrabel

  • Sources: Patriots to Add DaQuan Jones on 1-Year Deal

    Sources: Patriots to Add DaQuan Jones on 1-Year Deal

    The New England Patriots are expected to sign veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, according to sources who spoke with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Friday.

    Contract Details and Role

    The 12-year veteran will receive a $3.5 million base salary as part of the agreement. Jones arrives in New England as a proven interior presence, having started all 51 regular-season games he appeared in over the past four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, along with eight postseason contests under former head coach Sean McDermott.

    Reunion with Mike Vrabel

    The signing reunites Jones with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. The two spent three seasons together with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2020, when Vrabel served as Tennessee’s head coach. That familiarity should ease Jones’ transition into New England’s defensive scheme.

    Depth Chart Impact

    Jones joins a defensive tackle room that currently features Milton Williams, Cory Durden, and Christian Barmore at the top of the depth chart. Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor III project as the primary backups. The addition provides valuable experience and rotational depth at a position that relies heavily on fresh legs.

    Production and Durability

    Since 2022, Jones has recorded 10 regular-season sacks and posted a 37% run stop win rate, which ranked sixth on the Bills during that span. His 2023 campaign was interrupted by a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery and forced him to miss 10 games, but he returned to form in 2024.

    Career Timeline

    A fourth-round selection by the Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Jones spent his first seven professional seasons in Tennessee, starting 93 of 99 games played. He played the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers, starting all 17 games. Across his career, the 34-year-old has accumulated 20 sacks and 372 tackles.

    ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Alaina Getzenberg contributed to this report.

  • 5 Things to Know About Patriots Running Back Corey Kiner

    5 Things to Know About Patriots Running Back Corey Kiner

    The New England Patriots addressed running back depth at the end of the preseason, sending a seventh-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for Corey Kiner on cutdown day. The move came after the team released Hassan Haskins and reached an injury settlement with Jam Miller, later adding Haskins and La’Mical Perine to the practice squad.

    Patriots Had Eyes on Kiner Since 2024

    Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the organization tracked Kiner well before the trade.

    “Corey [Kiner], we talked about him when we traded for him that he was a player that we had looked at trying to get last year coming out,” Vrabel said. “It didn’t work out. He’s a good young runner.”

    With Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson atop the depth chart, and Henderson ruled out for the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Kiner could see immediate opportunities.

    Compact Build, High Contact Balance

    Listed at 5-foot-9 and 209 pounds, Kiner profiles as a physical, tackle-breaking back. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry across five college seasons, amassing 2,882 yards and 16 touchdowns. His 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine suggests functional speed, but his game is built on consistent effort and after-contact production.

    NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein noted pre-draft that it is “rare” to see Kiner brought down by the first defender. Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield echoed that assessment last March.

    “He is consistently good every single day,” Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield told reporters last March. “You know what you’re going to get out of him. He’s going to be a guy who breaks a lot of tackles. He’s always going to strain for the extra yard.”

    LSU Roots and Kevin Faulk Connection

    A consensus four-star recruit ranked 11th nationally at his position in the 2022 class per 247Sports, Kiner initially committed to LSU. Former Patriots running back Kevin Faulk, then the Tigers’ running backs coach, spearheaded his recruitment. Kiner spent one season in Baton Rouge alongside wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, whom New England recently traded to the Houston Texans, before transferring to the University of Cincinnati.

    Productive Stint as Cincinnati’s Lead Back

    Kiner became the starting running back during the Bearcats’ inaugural Big 12 season in 2023. Despite a 3-9 team record, he posted his first 1,000-yard campaign with 1,047 yards on 192 carries (5.5 YPC) and five touchdowns. Cincinnati improved to 5-7 in 2024, and the program sits at 1-0 to start the 2025 season.

    Ohio High School Legend

    Kiner hails from the Cincinnati area and finished his career at Roger Bacon High School ranked 10th in Ohio High School Athletic Association history with 7,130 career rushing yards and third with 116 rushing touchdowns. He scored 35 touchdowns as a senior, led the program to its first regional championship, and earned Ohio’s Mr. Football honor. The University of Cincinnati’s official bio describes him as “one of the greatest running backs in Bearcats history.”

    Fourth NFL Stop in Less Than a Year

    Kiner entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. After being released at the end of training camp, he joined the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad before the Cardinals signed him to their active roster. He appeared in four games for Arizona last season, totaling 58 yards on 12 carries. Kiner remained with the Cardinals through the 2025 offseason until the Patriots acquired him in late August.

  • Dianna Russini’s Sports Media Comeback Detailed After Mike Vrabel Scandal

    Dianna Russini’s Sports Media Comeback Detailed After Mike Vrabel Scandal

    NFL Insider Dianna Russini Declines High-Profile Tell-All Interview Opportunities

    ESPN NFL insider Dianna Russini has reportedly turned down multiple lucrative tell-all interview offers from major television networks, popular podcasts, and reality television productions, according to a source who spoke with Page Six.

    Media Interest in Russini’s Career and Insights

    The reported interest from across the media landscape highlights Russini’s prominent position in sports journalism. As one of the NFL’s most connected reporters, her behind-the-scenes knowledge of league operations, team dynamics, and player relationships would command significant audience attention.

    Focus Remains on Reporting

    By declining these opportunities, Russini appears to be prioritizing her role as a working journalist over celebrity exposure. The decision aligns with her established reputation for breaking major NFL stories and providing insider analysis across ESPN platforms, including “NFL Live,” “SportsCenter,” and “Get Up.”

    Russini joined ESPN in 2023 after several years at The Athletic, where she covered the NFL with a focus on the Washington Commanders and league-wide transactions. Her reporting has consistently driven news cycles around coaching changes, quarterback decisions, and front-office movements.