EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings wasted no time making sure their practice squad players will be around for the offseason.

The team announced on Monday afternoon all eight have been re-signed to reserve/futures contracts.

Those players are: defensive tackle Chase Baker, running back Joe Banyard, tight ends LaMark Brown and Chase Ford, defensive back Bobby Felder, guard Tyler Holmes, tackle Kevin Murphy and receiver Chris Summers.

The Vikings now have 52 players under contract for 2013. Fourteen players who finished the season on the 53-man roster are unsigned.


(1500espn.com)

The Minnesota Vikings filled out their practice squad on Wednesday morning, signing former University of Miami tight end Chase Ford.

He fills the spot vacated when the Vikings promoted end George Johnson to the 53-man roster on Saturday.

Ford (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) had only 16 catches in his two seasons with the Hurricanes and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds at his campus workout in March.He wasn't drafted and most recently had a stint on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad.

The Vikings probably wanted to give the spot to tight end Allen Reisner, who was claimed off waivers by Jacksonville after they cut him on Saturday.


(1500espn.com)

IRVING — The Oakland Raiders snatched Cowboys running back Jamize Olawale off the practice squad Wednesday.

Olawale, a rookie who played at North Texas, has yet to play in an NFL regular-season game. But he did have a strong showing against the Raiders in the preseason, when he rushed for 42 yards on 12 carries. It appears Olawale made an impression on Oakland’s management in the game.

With Olawale gone, the Cowboys added tight end Chase Ford and gave him No. 87. Ford, a Corrigan native, was briefly on Philadelphia’s practice squad before being cut in September. Ford, a rookie, played at the University of Miami.


(dallasnews.com)

The Houston Texans worked out free-agent TE Chase Ford (Eagles) this week.





(kffl.com)

The Eagles released 2011 second-round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett, a safety from Temple.

The Eagles also signed wide receiver Mardy Gilyard and placed tight end Derek Carrie on the practice squad. Tight end Chase Ford was released from the practice squad.


(philly.com)

After releasing proCane TE Chase Ford on Friday, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Ford to their practice squad.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Chase Ford (89) fights off Cleveland Browns linebacker Ben Jacobs (54) after a pass reception in the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in Cleveland. The Eagles won 27-10. Ford finished the game with 2 catches for 16 yards.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- It's all about who you know. Chase Ford has been a pleasant surprise so far, but he ended up at Eagles training camp largely because of a connection.

The 6-foot-6, 258-pound undrafted tight end played two seasons of college ball at the University of Miami, where Jed Fish is the offensive coordinator. Fish happened to be college roommates with Eagles' GM Howie Roseman at the University of Florida.

That is not to say Ford is out of place or in camp undeservedly. Roseman just had good information. Ford has shown great hands, is a reliable, big target and seems to understand what he can bring to the team at the tight end position.

"My best thing, in my opinion, would probably be catching the ball," Ford said. "I try not to drop anything and I usually don't."

Before going to Miami, Ford played at Kilgore Junior College in Texas. In junior college, Ford caught just about everything thrown his way. He racked up 545 yards on 32 catches and was named a second team Junior College All-American. After the 2009 season, he left for the University of Miami.

Miami was a different story. Ford had just 16 catches in his two seasons there. In his final year for the Hurricanes, Ford had nine receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown. He played in all 12 games, but started just six. The statistics are a bit underwhelming, but stats aren't everything.

Ford has raw ability, good size and potential. You can't teach potential. Roseman and Fish understand that. Ford also has the right attitude. There are no guarantees for Ford with Clay Harbor, Brett Brackett and Brent Celek at tight end. He just focuses on the task at hand.

“I feel like I’ve been doing a pretty good job so far," Ford said. "You always got to come out here and get better every day and that’s my goal to come out here and get better.”

With Celek day-to-day with a sprained knee and the Eagles passing on signing a veteran, Ford should have some extra opportunities and reps the next few days. Those are precious extra snaps to improve and make an impression.

And with Saturday marking the start of full-contact practices, the real fun is about to begin.

"It has been a long time since I've been in pads," Ford said. "I'm ready to get back into pads and get that feeling back again."

Embracing contact is just the ticket to being popular in Philadelphia. And if Ford can continue to impress the way he has when the hitting begins, he will turn some heads. Not that the rookie is focusing on any of that.

“My goal for training camp is just to come out here and get better every day.  That’s all you really can do," Ford said. "Get better from one day to the next and if you do that you should be alright.”


(csnphilly.com)

Free agent tight end Chase Ford from the University of Miami made two nice catches, one of which came in the end zone in heavy traffic on a throw from Nick Foles.




(phillyburbs.com)

I had a good conversation the other day with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg about the evolution of the tight end position and whether the Eagles might borrow some of what the Patriots did last year with their offense, making the tight ends the focal point of the passing game. I don't see that happening, but the Eagles do think they can create favorable matchups with Brent Celek and his backup, who is likely to be Clay Harbor or Brett Brackett. Rookie Chase Ford is going to get a long look in training camp, too. Said Mornhinweg: "If you've got a couple of really good ones, and we think we do here, you utilize them. It depends on your personnel and your opponents' personnel. We move ours around and we want them to be involved in our passing game and who can hold up on the line of scrimmage for in-line blocking. We've got a good group of athletes and all of them have a real good opportunity here. Brent is one of the best in the league in every phase and we have great competition behind him. This is Clay's first major offseason that he has had and he is coming on strong."


(philadelphiaeagles.com)

Olivier Vernon (Junior) was the first proCane drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft going to the Miami Dolphins with the 9th pick of the 3rd Round 72nd pick overall.

Sean Spence (Senior) followed Olivier Vernon by getting picked with the 23rd pick of the 3rd Round and 86th pick overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lamar Miller (Redshirt Sophomore) was then picked in the 4th Round by the Miami Dolphins with the 2nd pick in the 4th round, 97th pick overall.

Travis Benjamin (Senior) was selected by the Cleveland Browns three spots later with the 5 pick in the 4th round, 100 overall.

We then had to wait till the 6th round for Tommy Streeter (Junior) to be selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 198th pick overall, 28th pick in the 6th Round.

Brandon Washington (Junior) followed Streeter by getting picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 2 picks later with the 30th pick in the 6th round, 200th pick overall.

Below are the free agent signing which will be constantly updated:

Chase Ford TE (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Philadelphia Eagles
Marcus Forston DL (Junior) - Undrafted Free Agent - New England Patriots
Micanor Regis DL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Atlanta Falcons
LaRon Byrd WR (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Arizona Cardinals
Adewale Ojomo DE (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - New York Giants
Jacory Harris QB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Miami Dolphins (TRYOUT) & Arizona Cardinals (TRYOUT)
Tyler Horn C (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Atlanta Falcons
Aldarius Johnson WR (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
JoJo Nicolas DB/S (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - New York Giants
Joel Figueroa OL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Miami Dolphins (TRYOUT)
Lee Chambers DB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Chris Ivory LS (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Harland Gunn OL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Dallas Cowboys
Mike Williams DB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Andrew Smith DE (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Jordan Futch LB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Marcus Robinson DE/LB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -

TE Chase Ford, Miami (FL): Despite an underwhelming career at The U, Chase Ford may have a bright future in the NFL. At just shy of 6'7" and 255lbs, he ran a 4.75 in the 40 yard dash with a 33 inch vertical, and good agility measures. Most importantly, I watched him live during East-West Shrine practices and he made plays all over the place. This translated to the game itself as he hauled in a big seam pass, broke the tackles of two defenders that came at him simultaneously, and used his speed to create a bunch of yards after contact. He made so many big plays like that in practice that by the end, quarterbacks were looking for him. Watching his highlights from JUCO at Kilgore, you see the same play maker. The black hole in his record is his time with The U, but he would hardly be the first athlete in recent memory that they have failed to utilize or develop properly, that go on to be better pros than collegians.


(sun-sentinel.com)

TE Chase Ford, Miami (Fla.): Had a good showing at this year's East-West Shine Game. For a guy at his size (6-6, 245 pounds) with his body control, Ford looks like an option you can draft late and try to mature into an every-down type option. Has the frame to add weight and get much bigger.



(usatoday.com)

TE Chase Ford, Miami (Fla.): With only 16 career catches at Miami the past two years, Ford was a bit of an unknown entering this week. But he quickly showed off his skills as a natural pass catcher with fluid body control and terrific hand/eye coordination. At 6-feet-6 and 258 pounds, Ford has the size and frame for the position with reliable hands, especially in traffic. He is a bit one-dimensional as a pass-catcher and needs a lot of work as a blocker, but certainly put his name on the draftable radar after his work this week.

Ford had a leaping 64-yard catch-and-run for the East in the East-West Shrine Game in a 24-17 loss. Ford finished with the most receiving yards for the East squad. Ford was tough to guard all week and he flashed his potential when he made a big 64 yard grab and run despite taking a big shot on the play. Like many other athletic tight ends, Ford needs major work on his blocking, but he certainly has upside and is worth a look at.


(cbssports.com)

TE Chase Ford, Miami (Fla.): He had only 16 catches in his two seasons with the Hurricanes, but he worked very well Tuesday. While he struggled in blocking drills, especially with his angles and body positioning, Ford looked natural catching the ball with body fluidity, above-average focus and soft hands. After practice, a scout confirmed my beliefs Ford is "one-dimensional" at this point, but the upside is there and he has definitely improved his chances at getting drafted.


(cbssports.com)