NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

• According to the Athletic’s Greg Auman, the Buccaneers signed K Ryan Succop to the league minimum $1.05 million with no bonus. 
• However, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reports Tampa Bay gave Succop $150,000 guaranteed for the at least four days he has left in camp to beat out incumbent K Matt Gay. 
• Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians anticipates being able to make a decision in that time: “It’s always a competition when there are two guys fighting for a job and you know Ryan has got a really good resume. He was injured. He’s healthy. He’s got the consecutive kick record these for awhile. So it will be a competition for the next few days.” (Rick Stroud)
• Arians said the team will “play it by ear” with TE Rob Gronkowski‘s snaps in the season opener. (Eduardo Encina)
• The Buccaneers were one of the teams that expressed interest in DB Logan Ryan at one point this offseason, according to Ryan’s father. Ryan had multi-year offers on the table but wanted to sign a one-year deal and picked the Giants this week for $7.5 million. (James Kratch/Zack Rosenblatt)

Falcons

Falcons RB Todd Gurley‘s knee has been his defining attribute for most of the past two seasons as the Rams tried to manage it before finally releasing Gurley this offseason. However, Falcons HC Dan Quinn said Gurley’s talent has been what’s stood out to them so far, specifically his speed during their scrimmage last week. 

“The speed was the thing,” Quinn said via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He out-ran the leverage on one play. On another one, he got to the edge and made a big play. I felt his speed for certain.”

Still, Gurley won’t be able to outrun the knee. Quinn acknowledged Gurley will be on a load management plan the entire season as the two sides try to preserve and maximize his effectiveness. 

“That was part of learning him and us as well,” Quinn said. “What’s the best plan for him. We are pleased with where we are with it. We think we’ve got a good plan in place of how we’d do the right thing by him to make sure that he’s at his best on game days.”

• Falcons DE Dante Fowler has a sprained ankle but it’s not expected to be a long-term injury. (Kelsey Conway)
• The Falcons anticipate OL Justin McCray being the primary backup center, per Quinn. (Jason Butt)

Panthers

• Jonathan Alexander of the Charlotte Observer says that Panthers WR Curtis Samuel has not been impressive and has regressed since the first day of camp. 
• Per the Athletic’s Joe Person, Panthers LB Shaq Thompson remained in a non-contact jersey as he worked through a groin injury. Fellow LB Marquis Haynes cleared the concussion protocol. 
• Former Jaguars’ LB James Onwualu visited with the Panthers on Monday (Aaron Wilson)

Saints

• Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald notes the CBA states players who miss “a material period of time” with an unexcused absence from the team will lose an accrued season toward free agency, in addition to $40,000 per day fines. 
• As it relates to Saints RB Alvin Kamara, Fitzgerald believes Kamara could sit out five days before being subject to losing an accrued season, which would be significant because it would make him a restricted free agent in 2021 as opposed to an unrestricted one. 
• The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan says from his understanding the Saints’ offers to Kamara so far have been in the neighborhood of the deals signed by Bengals RB Joe Mixon and Titans RB Derrick Henry — four years and $48-$50 million.