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Here we are, at the end of another exciting season of football. It has been enjoyable tracking all of these Mizzou players as they prove themselves on the Sunday stage, and it will be very fun to watch two great members of #DLineZou battling in Super Bowl 50 this coming Sunday.
For this final #MizzouMade column of the season, here's a recap of all the Mizzou players in the league, including their stats, contract status, and in some cases, a link that discusses the player's season and/or future. And occasionally a bit of minor commentary from yours truly.
For simplicity's sake, this will be in alphabetical order.
Tim Barnes - UFA - C
Recovered two fumbles, started all 16 games for the Rams in 2015
This article speculates that Barnes will not be resigned, and his center position will be filled via draft.
Beau Brinkley - Tennessee Titans - LS
Played in all 16 games in 2015.
Under contract through 2019.
Justin Britt - Seattle Seahawks - LG
Started all 16 games for the Seahawks in 2015
Under contract through 2017.
710 AM Seattle - Hawk Talk highlights: Russell Okung's challenge and what's next for Justin Britt
Key quote from the interview in the link:
I do still have hope for Britt. I think that this season was a challenge, and there needs to be an honest discussion about whether he will improve at guard or is just better suited to playing offensive tackle. I think making that transition one week into training camp put him in a difficult, challenging situation and there were techniques he struggled with all year.
Chase Coffman - UFA - TE
8 catches for 71 yards, 1 TD with Seattle and Tennessee
Played in 2 games, 1 with each team
Chase Daniel - UFA - QB
2-2, 4 yards; 2 rushes for -2 yards (kneels)
Appeared in 2 games in 2015 as the Chiefs' backup QB.
Various articles and notes floating around consider Daniel an option for the Eagles, Cowboys, or Rams. He is likely to be linked with any team needing depth at QB, either as a starter or a quality backup. This is the point at which Chase is most likely to break into a bigger role in the NFL.
Kony Ealy - Carolina Panthers - DE
15 tackles, 17 assists, 3 FF, 2 FR, 5 sacks
Played in all 16 games, starting 9.
Under contract through 2017
Columbia Daily Tribune - Behind the Stripes: A Few Good Minutes with...Kony Ealy
The above is David Morrison's interview with Kony Ealy on the eve of his SB50 appearance.
Blaine Gabbert - San Francisco 49ers - QB
178-282, 2,031 yards, 10 TD, 7 INT; 32 rushes for 185 yards, 1 TD
Played in 8 games, all starts.
Under contract through 2016.
Gabbert has a new coach in Chip Kelly, who has been linked to Colin Kaepernick - the other QB on San Francisco's roster, and a player who has recently undergone surgery - in the past. Kelly has spoken highly of both QBs leaving Gabbert's future uncertain. He could be a trade candidate or could continue with the Niners.
Andrew Gachkar - Dallas Cowboys - LB
5 tackles and 3 assists
Played in all 16 games, starting one.
Signed for 2016.
ESPN - Cowboys could see change at linebacker spot in 2016
Gachkar's contribution to the Cowboys in 2015 is touched upon in this article.
E.J. Gaines - Los Angeles Rams - CB
Out with injury all season.
Signed through 2017.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Rams' Gaines eager to get back
Here's a nice look at Gaines' injury/surgery situation that also discusses his quality rookie season and an outlook for his future.
Markus Golden - Arizona Cardinals - OLB
20 tackles, 10 assists, 2 FF, 4 sacks
Played in 15 games, starting 6
Signed through 2018.
Arizona Cardinals (team site) - Markus Golden The Right Pick For Cardinals
Choice quote from this overview of Golden's rookie season:
Golden finished with four sacks and was consistent in pressuring the quarterback despite not getting regular playing time until a quarter of the way into the season. Those four sacks equaled the total of Dupree and of Ray, as well as No. 8 overall pick Vic Beasley. (Second-round pick Randy Gregory, taken by Dallas and there for the Cards to take, had no sacks.)
Pro Football Focus’ grading system gave Golden with the second-best mark of those players, just behind Beasley and well above the other three.
Zaviar Gooden - UFA - OLB
Injured in 2015, released from Tennessee Titans.
Dorial Green-Beckham - Tennessee Titans - WR
32 catches for 549 yards, 4 TD
Played in 16 games, starting 5.
Signed through 2018.
The Sports Quotient - Dorial Green-Beckham Compares Well Against Rookie Receivers
This in-depth article explores the rookie WR class and shows that DGB was well-placed.
Ziggy Hood - UFA - DT
Registered no stats in 2 games played for Chicago (which I completely missed!) in mid-season.
He was released in mid-December.
Marcus Lucas - Chicago Bears - WR
Signed to a reserves/futures contract for the offseason
Jeremy Maclin - Kansas City Chiefs - WR
87 catches for 1088 yards, 8 TD; 3 rushes for 14 yards
Played and started in 15 games in 2015.
Signed through 2019 season.
Maclin recovered from a devastating looking to play (albeit at less than 100%) against NE in the playoffs and should be back next season at full strength.
William Moore - Atlanta Falcons - SS
38 tackles, 13 assists, 2 INT, 4 PD, 1 FF
Played and started in 11 games in 2015.
Signed through 2017.
His play and the size of his contract is leading to much speculation that he will be cut, or asked to take a pay cut in order to stay with Atlanta. The draft could determine his fate; he would likely catch on elsewhere if cut, but injuries have plagued him throughout his career.
Mitch Morse - Kansas City Chiefs - C
Started at C in 15 games for KC in 2015
Signed through 2018.
The Kansas City Star - Five key decisions that shaped the Chiefs’ season
The draft selection of Mitch Morse is highlighted as one of the five key decisions for the Chiefs.
C.J. Mosley - UFA - DT
4 tackles, 3 assists
Appeared in 11 games for Miami in 2015.
Marcus Murphy - New Orleans Saints - RB/KR
28 PR for 261 yards, 1 TD; 12 KR for 300 yards; 1 rush, 0 yards; 3 fumbles
Played in 13 games before being injured late in the season.
Signed through 2018.
Murphy seemed to lose some of his grip on the return job for NO late in the season, just before his injury. With likely continued changes to the Saints roster, he'll be battling to remain in that role and possibly gain some reps at RB.
Shane Ray - Denver Broncos - DE
15 tackles, 5 assists, 4 sacks, 1 PD
Appeared in 11 games.
Signed through 2018.
Though from an earlier game in the postseason, this quote from the above article is notable:
"I think the fact that they played a lot through the course of the season should help them. Guys like, Shane [Ray] and those young kids think they know what this next step is all about, playoff football. It is a rude awakening for some of them but it doesn’t take long for them to fit in," Kubiak said with a grin Thursday. "[Ray] has played some big games for us, he played some big games in college so the good news is, we counted on everybody and we will count on them again this weekend."
Sheldon Richardson - New York Jets - DT
20 tackles, 15 assists, 5 sacks, 2 PD, 2 FF
Played in 11 games, starting 10.
Signed through 2016.
Shelly somehow avoided jail time for his high-speed chase/weapons charges. He will likely be back with Jets despite previous speculation that he might be cut due to disciplinary issues.
Aldon Smith - UFA - OLB/DE
21 tackles, 7 assists, 3.5 sacks, 3 PD
Played in 9 games, starting 7 for Oakland in 2015.
Was suspended by the NFL for a year in Nov. He will be eligible to sign with a new team in Nov. 2016.
NBC Bay Area - Raiders' Aldon Smith Decision Will Have to Wait
The Raiders claim that Smith is in their long-term plans, and the article goes over his troubles and his fit with the team.
Jacquies Smith - RFA (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - DE
15 tackles, 7 assists, 7 sacks, 3 FF, 3 FR, 1 PD
Appeared in 12 games (11 starts) in 2015.
TB has the rights to keep J Smith if they want to, by matching offers. They can also tender him for one year to guarantee themselves a draft-pick in return if he signed elsewhere.
His performance would indicate that he'll be back in TB next season, under a new head coach in Mike Smith (formerly of the Falcons).
Sean Weatherspoon - UFA - LB
9 tackles, 2 assists
Played a very limited role for Arizona in 2015, appearing in 14 games often on special teams.
The Falcoholic - Does former Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon want to come back to Atlanta?
Spoon is an unrestricted free agent, and has expressed interest in returning to Atlanta. He should catch on somewhere, but injuries continue to cause him problems.
Side note: This has been a really fun column for me to put together each week. I hope to do it again next season, and maybe include a couple FA updates this offseason. Thanks for following along!