Packers sign troubled former Oregon TE Colt Lyerla

Colt Lyerla will get his chance in Green Bay. (USATSI)

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Though Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla was invited to the NFL combine and performed well there, he went undrafted earlier this month. Most likely, that's because his résumé was littered with red flags, particularly with a guilty plea of cocaine possession.

But after trying out with the Packers during their rookie minicamp this past weekend, the team signed Lyerla on Monday.

It's a small risk for Green Bay, which might not have the services of tight end Jermichael Finley, who is injured and a free agent. Because while Lyerla has talent, the 6-foot-4, 242-pounder also has plenty of transgressions in his past.

As CBSSports.com wrote on his draft profile, "[He] abruptly quit the team on Oct. 6, calling his choice to leave the Ducks as a "personal decision." This occurred after missing the Ducks' Sept. 14 game against Tennessee for what Lyerla later called the stomach flu but head coach Mark Helfrich characterized simply as "circumstances." Arrested Oct. 23, 2013 when undercover police discovered inhaling a "white powdery substance" inside a car. Lyerla later admitted the substance was cocaine. This was hardly Lyerla's only run-in with police. He had his driver's license suspended Oct. 11, 2013, after receiving four driving tickets in the previous 24 months."

But Lyerla also has athleticism, and his jumping ability in the leadup to the draft was lauded by many. At the combine, he said he knew he might have a tough time earning a pro job.

"I put myself in a position where my back's against the wall, to the point that if I don't do everything perfect and the right way, I won't be able to play football, let alone be successful in any shape or form," Lyerla said in February, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Said Packers coach Mike McCarthy on Friday: "He's one of the 58 [rookies]. He's done things in his college career and [we're] fully aware of everything that every prospect's done on and off the field. And with that we feel he's earned the opportunity as a tryout player to earn a spot to go to training camp."

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Jets pick up RB Daryl Richardson



As expected, it didn't take running back Daryl Richardson long to find a new home in the NFL. He was claimed off waivers by the Jets on Friday, one day after he was released by the Rams. In a corresponding move, the Jets released running back Alex Green.Update: Well, Green hasn't been released yet. Although Green tweeted Friday night that it was "Time to officially move on," the Jets said Saturday that he remains on the roster. So, there's that. With so many running backs in front of him on the depth chart, Green should be jettisoned soon enough.



Not that he had much of a choice, but I don't think this is a good landing spot for Richardson for fantasy purposes. The Jets have a pretty crowded backfield as is. They already have their "Thunder and Lightning" duo in Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson, respectively. Then there's Bilal Powell, who's pretty good as a No. 3 RB. Richardson is going to likely compete against him for playing time, and I don't like his chances in that one. Powell has shown himself to be a solid third-down back who can carry the load in a pinch. Even if Richardson wins that competition, he still isn't going to have significant fantasy value without an injury to at least one of the players ahead of him.