June 2012 4for4 Player News Articles

Following their third playoff loss in four years, the Falcons finally appear ready to take the shackles off of Matt Ryan and their passing game. “When we first came in, coach (Mike) Smith said we were going to run the ball,” offensive assistant Andrew Weidinger said. “Now we are going to throw it, too. We’ve got all sorts of weapons. We’ve got running backs. We’ve got tight ends. We’ve got receivers. We are going to be able to do a little bit of everything out there.” There have already been several reports stating that Michael Turner’s touches will decrease and that the offense will now revolve around Ryan under new coordinator Dirk Koetter. But it remains to be seen if Smith can get away from his “ground and pound” philosophy in order for Ryan to excel as one of the game’s top passers.

After being distracted by his contract situation a year ago, Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson is trying to change his reputation. “This time last year we weren’t sure what the future held in terms of his time in Philadelphia,” Jackson’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said. “We didn’t know if he was going to play out his contract or get traded. It’s just terrific that he was able to stay with the team and get a good deal. Neow he’s got all his focus on football…” Jackson statistically had his worst season in 2011, compiling 58 receptions for 961 yards and four touchdowns.

Browns’ first-round picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden remain unsigned and the rookie quarterback appears to be getting antsy about the situation. When asked if there was an update on his contract negotiations, Weeden responded, “What’s the politically correct answer here? I wish it was done, but I don’t know. It’ll get done. We’re working. It takes two sides, though.” The holdup appears to be with Weeden and Richardson’s agents, who are seeking fully guaranteed contracts. Players drafted late in the first round typically get the first three seasons of their four-year rookie deals guaranteed, but none or some of the fourth.

One week after he said he’ll likely skip training camp if he doesn’t receive a long-term contract, Bears running back Matt Forte conceded that he’ll be playing for Chicago this season.

“I don’t think I really have a choice, do I?” Forte said. “Yeah, I’ll be here.”

That said, when asked if he’ll report to training camp on time, Forte dodged the question while saying, “It’s going to be a fun season.” Forte and the Bears have until July 16 to come to terms on a long-term deal or else the running back will be forced to play for the franchise tag amount of $7.74 million, which is fully guaranteed.

Once July 16 comes and goes, there's no point in Forte missing camp because he'll have to play under the franchise tag or lose the $7.7 million for the season. Owners should feel confident that he'll eventually report and start for the Bears in Week 1.

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick told the team’s official website that he’s gotten more accurate this offseason. “My accuracy this offseason is higher than it’s been in my whole NFL career,” Fitzpatrick said. He completed a career-best 62 percent of his passes last season after failing to hit the 60-percent barrier in any year before that.

Fitzpatrick was efficient as a ball distributor last season, with most of his success coming out of the shotgun. But his flawed throwing mechanics have led to accuracy issues in the past and he misses on too many big-play opportunities. At times he throws the ball off his back foot and his erratic footwork will keep him from posting big fantasy numbers. That said, owners can do worse than Fitzpatrick as a QB2.

The Detroit Lions are finally rewarding coach Jim Schwartz for guiding the team to the playoffs in 2011. The team's official website reports Schwartz and the Lions have agreed on a multi-year contract extension. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of the '12 NFL season.

Texans trainer Greg Kaplan on QB Matt Schaub: "I think we all expect Matt to be out there the first day of training camp without any issues."

Schaub is flying under the radar this offseason due to his Lisfranc rehab and the depth at QB, but would make an excellent QB2 or member of a QBBC.

While Vikings RB Adrian Peterson believes he can start the 2012 opener, some suggest he open on PUP list. By doing so, the team would effectively be protecting Peterson from himself. By all accounts, AP is a freak of nature, and he's ahead of schedule in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered late last year. He's such a fierce competitor, it wouldn't shock anyone to see him suit up in Week 1. But what if he's not fully healed? ... It's a sticky situation, for the sole reason that doing what's best for the organization in the long haul (i.e. giving Peterson a mandatory 6-game vacation at the beginning of the season) would be an admission that the team doesn't have realistic intentions of fielding a competitive team in 2012.

Late last season, teams could take away the passing game by shutting down WR A.J. Green because the Bengals did not have a receiver who excelled on short to medium routes. With Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell gone, it looks to be a three-player competition among Brandon Tate, Armon Binns and Mohamed Sanu. Tate and Binns showed improvement during OTAs and minicamp, but Sanu, a third-round pick, might have the edge because he is a physical receiver who excels between the numbers.

Tate appears to be in the lead for the WR2 job, though it's early. We're expecting TE Jermaine Gresham to get the second-most targets in the Cincy passing game.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III will conduct passing sessions with several of the team's receivers in Waco, TX.

“I’m going to go back and work out with some of my teammates who are coming into town with me to Waco,” RG3 told me. “So, it’ll be a busy time, but I’m gearing up for this long year that I know it’s going to be in the NFL with the long season and the type of grind I have to be ready to go through.”

He still has an apartment in Waco, where he attended Baylor University. So, he’ll live out his time there, but he won’t do it alone. As for names, the Heisman Trophy winner dropped Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon, Anthony Armstrong, Aldrick Robinson, Fred Davis, Brandon Banks and others who will join him.

Per Pro Football Focus, Redskins RB Roy Helu graded out as the third-best RB in the league at pass-blocking.

Pass blocking is the main thing that the Redskins beat writers have been pointing to to make the case that Tim Hightower would start for the Redskins if healthy. PFF's number indicate that Helu is very capable in this area.

Mike Sando of ESPN NFC West blog on WR A.J. Jenkins: "The 49ers, having added to the position in free agency, do not have a great need for Jenkins to produce this season. I think Jenkins will ease into the offense. I'd be a little surprised if he caught more than 30 or so passes as a rookie. He was the 30th overall choice, so expectations should be muted a little anyway."

Lions RB Jahvid Best will receive the majority of carries early on for Detroit as Mikel Leshoure serves a two-game suspension. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew recently said he expects a breakthrough season for Best, which could occur if he stays injury free.

Lions WR Nate Burleson has adjusted well to mentoring Titus Young.

"When I first got in, I've seen guys handle it poorly," he said. "I remember coming in and some guys are like, 'I'm not gonna help you' because they knew the young guys were coming to take your position."

"I told Titus, I said, 'Look. There's no question that you're brought here to take my position. That's what you're brought here to do. And by the time I'm done, you should be ready to take that and you should be on your way to a new contract. And if you're not in those two positions, I don't think I did my job well enough.'"

Texans WR Andre Johnson, who is recovering from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, has been at every throwing session that QB Matt Schaub has held this week.

Early indications from the Rams' Organized Team Activities and minicamps are that TE Lance Kendricks figures prominently in OC Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. The Rams are carrying nine tight ends on the roster right now, a clear indication of the position’s importance within the scheme.

“I know one thing, I think starting with Lance, we really liked Lance back in New York when we looked at him,” Schottenheimer said. “I think he’s got a chance to be a terrific all around player. Then we are complementing him with guys that can do some stuff in the running game, also some matchup (stuff).”

Ravens RB Ray Rice on how his holdout might impact his peformance this season: "The good thing about my situation is that I’m not going into a new offensive system. I’m going into a system that I’ve been in going into my fifth year, so as far as the football stuff, it’s gonna be just catching up to speed and polishing the fundamentals.”

We're not too worried about Rice provided his holdout doesn't go deep into camp.

If there is room for one more Patriots receiver outside of special-teams captain Matthew Slater and returner Julian Edelman, the battle will likely come down to Donte Stallworth and Deion Branch and which of the two veterans has more left in the tank.

If healthy, RB Tim Hightower is the starting running back in Washington. HC Mike Shanahan just thinks he helps the most overall, as a runner, a pass-blocker and a receiver. But Hightower is coming off that ACL tear, and that could mean early-season opportunity for Roy Helu or Evan Royster.

Helu looked like the RB of the future for the Redskins late last year, but the team re-signed Hightower and plan to use him if his ACL rehab comes along well. He tore his ACL in late October, so he's less than a year removed from his surgery. We'll see how he progresses in camp.

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston believes that Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is a candidate to start training camp on PUP.

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. listed Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas as the #10 breakout player in the AFC: "If the Broncos liked what they saw in 2011 from Thomas in the passing-challenged Denver offense, they will love what they will see this year with Peyton Manning at QB. Thomas has size and toughness along with underrated deep speed and vertical potential. He averaged over 17 yards per catch during the regular season, and I can see that increasing in 2012. Manning makes everyone around him better, and if Thomas can stay healthy, he will be something special."

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. listed Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey as the #7 breakout player in the AFC: "Until last season, he looked like an NFL bust, with vertical speed as his only real attribute. However, he made an impressive turnaround with 64 catches for 975 yards and four TDs, and now he looks like a different player. While playing outside is still his strength, he showed a toughness that we had never seen before, he caught the ball in traffic and his consistency at holding on to the ball dramatically improved."

Over the final five games, Heyward-Bey averaged 5.8 catches for 91 yards and 0.6 TDs. Draft both DHB and Denarius Moore and you'll have built-in insurance for your receiving corps.

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. listed Lions WR Titus Young as the #7 breakout player in the NFC: "If he can stay out of fights with his teammates and learn to control his temper, he can become a special player. His statistics were solid in 2011, with 48 catches for 607 yards and six TDs as the No. 3 receiver. With WRs Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson on the outside, he can be very effective out of the slot, especially on third down. He has really good speed and vertical skills, usually versus a No. 3 corner, but he must play with more discipline and avoid the nine penalties he committed in 2011."

ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert added: "Maturity is the key word for Young, who has drawn rave reviews for the way he rebounded from a fight with safety Louis Delmas. If that incident was the catalyst for getting Young in line and set to be a consistent contributor, then it was a small price to pay."

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. listed Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph as the #4 breakout player in the NFC: "This offense really wants to utilize its tight ends more in the passing game and will show a lot of two-TE sets. Rudolph is a huge target (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) who has excellent hands and should be a good red zone jump ball target. He also can be effective on those seam routes inside the hashes. He isn't an overpowering blocker, but that's why the Vikings acquired John Carlson. Rudolph won't dazzle you with explosiveness, but he should become a comfortable target for QB Christian Ponder."

ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert added: "Rudolph and quarterback Christian Ponder have enjoyed good chemistry since last summer, and there is every reason to think Rudolph will be among Ponder's favorite targets this season. His ball skills and hands make him an especially intriguing player in the red zone."

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. listed Packers WR Randall Cobb as the #1 breakout player in the NFC: "He was a dynamic return specialist as a rookie and showed a lot of explosiveness in the open field. He caught 25 passes in 2011, and his quickness and yards-after-catch ability are off the charts. But more importantly for a young player, he had few drops. With so many weapons in this spread passing game, it will be tough to give Cobb any more than single coverage from the opposition's third- or fourth-best corner."

ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert added: "Cobb's development suggested the Packers might not need veteran Donald Driver this season. But Cobb will compete hard for playing time regardless as he continues his development. Remember, Cobb was an early entrant in the draft and won't be 22 until August."

James Jones is still in Cobb's way, but if he's traded (which is probably unlikely) Cobb would no longer only have fantasy value in dynasty formats. He posted the #19 FP/T (1.38) in 2011, though that's not unusual since there were five Green Bay WRs in the top 20 in that category. Regardless, we're not expecting a breakout season for Cobb in 2012 unless he somehow moves into the WR3 role.

In an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines," QB Drew Brees said that regardless of the circumstances surrounding his contract negotiations with the New Orleans Saints, he would not sit out the entire 2012 season. Brees has until July 16 to sign a contract extension with the Saints or he would be forced to play under the one-year franchise offer of around $16.3 million or he could decide to sit out some or all of the season.

"I'd never sit out the season," Brees said Tuesday. "I love the game too much."

While he didn't say he wouldn't hold out into the season, Brees did alleviate concerns that his holdout could cause him to miss the entire season. He wants a long-term deal, but when push comes to shove, it would be difficult to turn down the $16 million he would earn this season. We're fully expecting him to play in 2012, but he may not be quite as sharp if he continues to miss practice.

49ers WR Randy Moss looks good deep, shallow and everywhere in between. The speed is still there and players and coaches continue to gush about his smarts and dedication. Should Moss catch 80 passes this year and the team isn’t decimated with injuries, the 49ers will be in the Super Bowl. He would provide the missing piece to the team’s offense.

Titans TE Jared Cook readily admits that shortcomings as a blocker kept him from getting more playing time during his first three years. A passing target during his collegiate career under Steve Spurrier at South Carolina, Cook has relied on Craig Stevens as well as Titans tight ends coach John Zernhelt to improve in the blocking department.

Lions cornerback Aaron Berry was arrested early Saturday morning in Harrisburg, PA on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, two counts of causing accidental damage to an unattended vehicle or property and two counts of failure to stop and give information to law enforcement and render aid.

The police report released to the media Tuesday afternoon states that officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Market Street in Harrisburg on a report of a hit & run crash.

One witness reported that a man driving a BMW ran into two parked cars on the south side of the street. One car was pushed onto the curb.

The driver of the striking vehicle then stopped along the curb and walked away. He was seen entering the Hilton Hotel. The officers confirmed the crash details and went to the Hilton Hotel where they found Berry staggering out.

The temptation to bolster the expectations for Michael Floyd is no doubt hard to resist but word is the Cardinals’ coaching staff appears determined to stay true to form regarding the use of rookies and allow their first-round wideout to develop at his own pace. While the long TD pass that Floyd hauled in at the Cardinals’ FanFest evening practice probably ranks as the team’s offseason highlight up to now, we hear he probably will enter training camp as the No. 4 wideout behind good buddy and heartfelt mentor Larry Fitzgerald, Early Doucet and Andre Roberts. “They couldn’t be happier with his work ethic,” one daily team observer said of Floyd, who apparently balked initially when the team decided to trim his practice time because of a strained quad. “The people at Notre Dame really praised that part of his game. Ideally, though, I think he could stand to lose a few pounds before camp starts.”

We're not terribly bullish on Floyd's upside this year given the QB situation in Arizona and the competition he has from the more experienced (and capable) Roberts and Doucet.

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah was asked which Eagles WR would have the bigger year -- Jeremy Maclin or DeSean Jackson. He replied: "I was told that Maclin looked outstanding in offseason workouts. Expecting a huge year."

We agree. We currently have Maclin ranked #20 and Jackson at #34.

It's no secret that RB Adrian Peterson is eager to get back as soon as possible, but the Vikings doctors and athletic trainers are intent on making sure he doesn't come back too soon and suffer a setback.

The Vikings main worry is the 27-year-old Peterson returns to his previous form and not that he attempts to come back too quick.

Reading between the lines, it seems like the Vikings' plan right now might be to open camp with Peterson on the physically unable to perform list. That move would make him ineligible to practice and not open the door for Peterson to talk his way onto the field.

No RB has returned to form in less than a year after tearing their ACL, so Peterson will be limited even if he's available to play in Week 1. The Vikings are not a threat to make the Super Bowl, so there's no reason to rush their franchise player back. He's still a candidate for PUP, which would sideline him for the first six games of the season.

Saints QB Drew Brees said on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning that he and the Saints are engaged in “ongoing discussions,” and that he believes a deal will be reached.

“I’ve always said, you’d think this process should be a lot more simple than it is,” Brees said. “It just always seems to be complicated. But I’m still very confident we’ll get a long-term deal done, and hopefully that’ll happen sooner than later. I’m very aware of where the Saints are at and certainly where I’m at.

Going into this season, however, there’s no one on the Raiders roster who appears primed to become an NFL playmaker at TE.

With the release of last season’s starter, Kevin Boss, the Raiders have a trio of players competing to fill the spot: Brandon Myers, David Ausberry and Richard Gordon.

After the conclusion of the team’s recent minicamp, quarterback Carson Palmer told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Vittorio Tafur that he believes Myers – the most experienced player of the group – will emerge as the starter.

Myers is considered the most all-around talent of the top three, with Gordon perhaps the best blocker and Ausberry – a former wide receiver – a more talented pass-catcher.

NFL Films' Greg Cosell pointed out recently that Falcons QB Matt Ryan's best attribute might be his growing comfort in the no huddle. He can win before the snap. The team allowed Ryan to make more decisions last year. Look for him to take the next step as the true orchestrator of this offense.

Raiders beat writer Vittorio Tarfur was asked about the chances of RB Cedric Benson signing with the team: "Solid chance. Next couple of weeks."

If signed, Benson would likely slide into the RB2 role behind Darren McFadden and would be a fairly cheap backup for the extremely talented yet injury prone McFadden.

Do the Redskins’ coaches favor Tim Hightower as the starting running back? We hear that might be the case, even though he is coming off a torn ACL. Durability concerns might keep Roy Helu a 10-15-snap player, and Evan Royster lacks the speed to be anything but a situational back. Even with rookie Alfred Morris (the only healthy back) impressing in minicamps, it appears to be Hightower’s starting job to lose.

Let the Shanahanigans begin. Hightower is less than a year removed from a torn ACL and there is already speculation that he's going to start over the very productive Roy Helu. (We're guessing that PFW meant 10-15 touch -- not 10-15 snap -- player.)

Dan Graziano on the Cowboys' RB situation: "When everyone was healthy last year, DeMarco Murray was clearly the starter and Felix Jones clearly the backup. Murray even showed enough pass-catching ability to keep Jones on the bench in those situations. So assuming he gets and stays healthy, I don't think there's any fear about Murray as the clear No. 1 back in Dallas."

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks on whether or not he'll participate in training camp: “Definitely making training camp. I started running about two weeks [ago] but the coaches don’t really want me to force the issue right now so I still haven’t started running yet. They want me to just take my time with it — they feel like that’s what’s best. So right now I’m just taking my time with it. … But I’ll definitely be ready for the season.”

Players usually have the most optimistic outlook on their own recovery, but Nicks's original timeline puts him back in mid- to late-August. We're tentatively expecting him to play 16 games, but this is a situation to monitor.

Falcons QB Matt Ryan has increased his arm strength this year.

“Matt, I think, has really progressed,” Mike Smith said. “I think you can see it physically that he’s bigger. I think his arm strength is much-improved from the first four years.”

Some of the major differences in the passing attack will be more vertical routes with an emphasis on getting the ball to receivers on the move. Also, the team will implement a package heavy in screen passes.

If fantasy owners miss out on the top 5-6 QBs (Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, and perhaps Michael Vick) in the first three or four rounds, there's no reason to panic and draft a QB before the 6th or 7th round where Ryan should be available. He finished QB8 last year, and the Falcons are going to a more pass-heavy attack that will utilize his improved arm strength.

The improvement of Ravens WR Torrey Smith from a year ago is noticeable. The second-year receiver's route running is better and he is getting his hips down and accelerating going in and out of breaks.

Smith's 126 fantasy points in 2011 were good enough for him to finish WR24 on the season, but his Targets / Game increased by 20% over the second half of the season. If he gets 6.5 targets per game, he will be a threat to finish in the top 20 given his high Fantasy Points / Target (1.33) in 2011. At worst, he should be a solid fantasy WR3.

Anthony Fasano knows he’ll be facing a challenge for the Dolphins’ starting tight end job when training camp opens in a month.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder who is entering his seventh NFL season was a good fit for coach Tony Sparano’s run-oriented offense. But with Joe Philbin bringing in an up-tempo West Coast attack that puts an emphasis on speed and quickness off the line of scrimmage, Fasano could prove to be a square peg in a round hole.

General Manager Jeff Ireland hedged his bets in April’s NFL Draft when he used a third-round pick on Missouri tight end Michael Egnew, who routinely lined up as an outside receiver for the Tigers. Also in the mix is second-year man Charles Clay, who caught 16 passes last year and was prominent in the passing game during off-season drills.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph is the top receiving threat, seems to have regained a half-step another year removed from a hamstring tendon avulsion and will be used all over the place. John Carlson probably will see more time inline but had several memorable moments in the passing game during offseason practices. They'll be on the field together a lot.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is nearly six months into his rehabilitation from knee reconstruction, and coach Leslie Frazier says he's on pace to meet his goal of playing in Week 1. But it's a given Peterson will be limited in the early going, and there's no way of knowing when or if he'll be himself in 2012. Toby Gerhart has bulked up and is in line to carry the load out of the gate.

No RB has returned to form in less than a year after tearing their ACL, so Peterson will be limited even if he's available to play in Week 1. The Vikings are not a threat to make the Super Bowl, so there's no reason to rush their franchise player back. Despite his recent progress, he's still a candidate for PUP, which would sideline him for the first six games of the season.

Bills beat writer Chris Brown on the team's RB competition: "Chan Gailey and his offensive staff know they have to get both players on the field a lot and get them both involved in their attack. This is where having a veteran offensive play caller and designer is an advantage. I think you’ll see a good number of split backfields with both Jackson and Spiller out there simultaneously. I think there will be a good amount of pre-snap motion with either Fred or C.J. motioning out of the backfield and lining up somewhere else. And while game to game the amount of work each of them get might not be in perfect balance I believe come season’s end, barring any injuries, that both will be integral components in the offensive production."

Although veteran LeGarrette Blount is listed as the starting running back and took most of the first-team reps this offseason, rookie Doug Martin, the Buccaneers’ second of two first-round picks in 2012, is definitely in the mix for the starting job in Tampa Bay.

“They are competing right now, that’s probably the best thing they can do,” said Buccaneers running back Earnest Byner. “Each guy is trying to stake a claim on what he can do to help this football team and what he can do to make us all better.”

Byner said Martin’s ability to pick up the blitz is as good as advertised.

“The thing that they struggle with most of the time is pass protection and especially nickel pass protection, but I don’t think that’s going to be an issue with him,” Byner said. “He has done some good things. He has some quickness. Doug is really smart, and eager to grab some of the concepts that we are teaching. He is excited to come out here and play for the Buccaneers.”

The Falcons intend to utilize RB Jacquizz Rodgers more as a rusher and receiver in 2012 after he averaged five yards per touch in ’11. Rodgers showed more elusiveness as a receiver than he did as a rusher last season, averaging only 3.6 yards per carry. His longest gain — and only gain longer than 16 yards — came on a 31-yard touchdown reception in Week 14.

With featured back Michael Turner entering his first season over the age of 30, all indications are the team is serious about its intent to keep him on a pitch count. Backup Jason Snelling is able to pick up tough yards between the tackles while spelling Turner, and Rodgers could provide a dynamic element in the backfield. Any comparisons to Saints RB Darren Sproles would be premature, but Sproles’ role in New Orleans is similar to the one the Falcons envision for Rodgers.

This has been a common theme throughout the offseason and it's only going to push Turner's value down even further. We're currently expecting a 10% drop in carries for Turner, but he's still a good bet for double-digit TDs, so he projects to be a very solid RB2. He should provide very good value in the 4th round.

In the first of three back-to-back-to-back OTA practices for the team in Davie, Dolphins WR Chad Ochocinco showed flashes of brilliance in the eyes of teammates and onlookers.

Although he spent quite a bit of time on the sidelines speaking to coaches who were spoon-feeding him tips on the playbook, he worked in with the second team during team drills and made several nice catches. His best was a leaping grab down the sideline over cornerback Sean Smith, who is 6-3, 214-pounds and 10 years younger than Ochocinco, who is 6-1 and 192 pounds. Smith said afterward that Ochocinco displayed excellent footwork and added, “you can tell by his releases and the stems on his routes he’s a definitely a vet who still knows how to weave” through coverage.

“The things I’ve seen of him, moving around the field, he’s still very quick out of his breaks. That’s usually the No. 1 decline for an older receiver, and I don’t see that,” said quarterback David Garrard, who played with Ochocinco on the 2009 Pro Bowl team.

“And I definitely don’t see it with the hands, because he’s making some great catches, going up over DBs and making the catch. Those are the things you want to see him do, and he’s still doing it.”

There was a lot of optimism surrounding Ochocinco's arrival in Foxboro, but he was never able to fully grasp the Patriots' offense and his 2011 turned into a bust. He has another chance in Miami, where the Dolphins are desperate for talent at WR.

Last season, Tennessee Titans fans did not see the same running back in Chris Johnson they saw in seasons before. Now everyone seems to think his secret to success in 2012 will come from getting bigger.

However, perhaps it is not just Johnson's weight or even his spending more time with the team during offseason training activities and workouts that will ensure a return to form. Johnson's performance will likely benefit from the added gym time, but his mental preparation and readiness for the season will also factor into what he does on the field once the season begins.

"I was confident last year, it's just that it didn't work out right," Johnson recently told reporters. "I wasn't in shape, the blocking wasn't the same and it was just a lot of different things that factors into it or whatever. But this year I feel more confident physically and being able to work with my offensive line."

This is the concern when drafting players that are holding out and are missing training camp. They may be staying in good physical condition, but they aren't necessarily in "football shape." This is something to consider when drafting players like Maurice Jones-Drew, Matt Forte, Mike Wallace and Dwayne Bowe.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew has so far declined to say anything publicly about his contract situation, but on Wednesday he gave a little when talking with NFL Network after being named the 12th-ranked player in their Top 100.

“What I can say about it is this is the side of the NFL that is just as real as Sunday: it’s the business side," Jones-Drew said. "It doesn’t get publicized as much as on the field and the Top 100 and those things, and this is what the NFL is really about.

"What I can say is that I hope that we can get something done, but to talk about it in the media is not going to hp. Hopefully we can have something where we can be able to get out there and play in the future."

According to people with knowledge of his thinking, Jones-Drew could stay away into the regular season.

Jaguars general manager Gene Smith has said he doesn't plan to renegotiate Jones-Drew's deal.

The team's "no negotiation" stance isn't a great sign since the two sides apparently aren't even talking. He is currently our #5 RB, but he carries a lot of risk at this point.

Chargers WR Eddie Royal was miscast last season in a Broncos offense that turned to power-running signal-caller Tim Tebow. During workouts this week it was clear that he could become the safety valve that Rivers has missed since Darren Sproles left for New Orleans.

"He's a real smooth receiver," HC Norv Turner said. "He reminds me of Charlie Joiner, and reminds me of Henry Ellard, guys that I've been around. He's very deceptive. And sometimes he doesn't look like he's going that fast, and he's hauling."

Titans RB Chris Johnson compared himself to LeBron James: “I feel just like LeBron — a lot of people are going to be back on the bandwagon,” Johnson said. “He had a lot of haters out there, a lot of people saying he wasn’t good and things like that and just to see how he overcame that and came back this year and won the championship, it shows his hard work and dedication.”

Johnson just barely topped 1,000 yards last season, but this season he says he wants to top 2,000 yards, as he did in 2009.

“I feel like a lot of people have written me off,” Johnson said. “I still went over 1,000 yards but it wasn’t a CJ2K year. So a lot of people are going to write me off. . . . I want to be the first one to do it twice, that’s certainly a goal of mine to do. . . . I feel like I’m still the best back in the league. When I ran for 2,000 yards my goal was to be the best player in the league and I still want to be that. In order for my team to make it to the playoffs, make it to the Super Bowl, I’m going to have to be the best.”

Johnson finished the 2011 season as the #16 RB and he is currently sitting at #8 in our standard scoring rankings.

While it’s still not clear what made Vikings WR Percy Harvin unhappy and what transpired to turn him around again, a source with knowledge of the 2009 NFL offensive rookie of the year’s mindset tells PFT that Harvin now regards his fourth season as a contract year — even though he still has two years left on his contract.

This suggests that part of whatever the Vikings said to make Harvin reconsider whatever it was that made him reportedly ask to be traded included a suggestion that, if he performs well and behaves this season, the Vikings will take care of him financially in 2013.

Of course, the fact that Harvin seems happy for now doesn’t mean that everything will continue to be fine going forward. Though he never has been a full-blown malcontent, Harvin has enough of a history of alleged outbursts to make it reasonable to be leery that another one is lurking with the same degree of predictability as the migraines from which he once suffered on a fairly regular basis.

Bears RB Matt Forte on his contract negotiations: “We’ve been talking. That’s a good thing, and we’ll continue to talk, so that’s good news that we’re still talking. That’s about it.’’

Not exactly encouraging, but also progress made since last year or even a few months ago, as far as Forte was concerned.

“Last year we were worlds apart, but it’s gotten better,’’ Forte, who was one of the coaches for the Madden NFL ’13 Pigskin Pro-Am, said. “But I can’t talk about the specifics.’’

Unlike fellow holdout Maurice Jones-Drew, Forte is a franchise player so he's expected to play this season under the one-year tag even if he doesn't get a long-term deal. Michael Bush was brought in as his backup, and he figures to steal a few touches. The concern with Forte is a reduced workload and possible injury when he returns to camp.

If Vikings WR Percy Harvin had concerns about his role in the offense, it may not be changing much. “[His] snaps may go up,” HC Leslie Frazier told ESPN 1500. “Touches, I don't know about that. We want to keep him on the field more, but his style -- he's a reckless guy and doesn't hold anything back. It's always goes 100 miles an hour. So you have to be careful about not overusing him.”

Harvin has already had a tumultuous offseason but appears to be content at this point. We're not sure what he was "unhappy" about, but whatever it was, it looks like it was cleared up.

Considering there’s little contact during the Ravens' Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp, the wide receivers are an easy position for the media to evaluate. They’re either getting open or they’re not.

Despite a crowded wide receiver position full of talent, and another rookie in sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter, it was Deonte Thompson who often stood out.

He said his best 40-yard dash time is 4.23 seconds. He ran indoor track at Florida his first two years, and reached the SEC championship in the 60 meters.

“I’ve got some wheels,” Thompson said with a laugh. “I think they haven’t seen my knack for big plays. I feel like every time I touch the ball, there’s a possibility of something big happening.”

The allure of playing with WR Demaryius Thomas is one of the reasons QB Peyton Manning chose Denver. Manning has often referred to Thomas as having special talent and said he expected Thomas to have a big impact.

“He’s had a productive OTA session and minicamp,” Manning said of Thomas earlier this month. “I think he’s running his routes with a lot of confidence and making a lot of tough catches.”

Thomas does offer Manning a variation he has never worked with -- he’s a huge receiver. At 6-foot-3, 236 pounds, Thomas offers mismatch possibilities that the masterful Manning should be able to exploit.

“Peyton tells me all the time he’s never worked with someone like me,” Thomas said. “I’ve watched a lot of film from his Colts' days to get some pointers. There really weren’t any of his receivers who were like me. ... I know Peyton is looking forward to it.”

RB Bernard Pierce became the presumptive favorite to back up Ray Rice when the Ravens made him their third-round pick in the 2012 draft. They expect players drafted that high to contribute if possible, and a backup role could be a nice fit. He didn’t stand out in the OTAs or minicamps, and missed a little time with a tweaked hamstring. Whether he can contribute immediately remains to be seen.

Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee predicts 72-1185-9 for WR Robert Meachem in 2012, while his colleague Michael Gehlken predicts 64-1096-6.

We're currently projecting 65-1069-7, which makes him our #28 WR in standard scoring formats. Acee's prediction would make Meachem the #10 fantasy receiver in 2012.

Giants rookie WR Rueben Randle was billed as NFL-ready coming out of LSU, but OC Kevin Gilbride cautions he's still figuring out pro game: "There is so much thinking going on. You can see it slows him down."

Randle has plenty of time to get up to speed, but these comments don't bode well for his chances to win the wide-open competition for the WR3 job behind Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.

Bills reporter Sal Cappacio on WR Steve Johnson: "I thought Stevie Johnson had a very good day today catching the ball and getting a lot more work in than he had. The first is probably a direct result of the second. Stevie has said he just needs to get more work in so he can feel comfortable running and cutting and not thinking about his groin. He made several nice catches today and looked good turning upfield after he made them."

Chargers HC Norv Turner on his team's minicamp: "l told our guys, I don't have to, but if I listed 10 guys who have been outstanding and probably have had their best camp that I'm aware of, (Antonio Gates) falls in that category. (Ryan Mathews) is in that category. Philip Rivers is in that category. He's still been here (at the team facility) more days probably more than any other guy on the team."

Bengals OC Jay Gruden on WR Brandon Tate, who has spent some time running with the first-team in workouts: “He’s been one of the best surprises of camp for me. Last year he came in late (after being acquired on waivers from New England) and was mainly a return guy and our fifth receiver and never really got in the flow with the group at wide receiver. Now I think he’s more confident, he sees that he belongs as an NFL wide receiver, and I think the confidence level that he has is showing. He’s got all the ability. He runs all of the routes great, he’s got great feel, and he’s done an outstanding job.”

Tate and Armon Binns appear to be the early leaders in the battle to start opposite A.J. Green.

The Bengals have a big hole at WR2 and are looking to fill it. Rookies Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones are also in the mix, but Gruden seems to be leading towards a vet. We believe that TE Jermaine Gresham will actually see the second most targets in 2012.

ESPN's Dan Graziano on WR Santana Moss's role this season: "I thought Moss was a guy whose spot on the team still wasn't 100 percent secure and who, if he did make the team, would have to play the slot receiver position in order to get reps. After a couple of days around the team and talking to coaches, I came away believing they have the slimmed-down Moss projected as the starting wide receiver opposite Pierre Garcon, and that while they might use him in the slot, he retains a chance to be the Redskins' No. 1 wide receiver in 2012."

Moss is certainly more proven than Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan, so it would be no surprise if he retains a major role in the Redskins passing game.

Two wideouts are at the top of the list of players who enjoyed the best offseason programs. And as the 49ers head into training camp, those two -- Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss -- are atop the depth chart.

Moss declined all interview requests during the 49ers' offseason. Instead, he let others do the talking for him. And, without fail, every teammate and coach had glowing praise for the 14-year veteran. The offseason could not have gone any better for Moss.

It's certainly tough to trust a 35 year-old WR who flamed out of the league two seasons ago and has a history of giving up on teams/seasons. There are two things working in Moss's favor: 1) HC Jim Harbaugh is a good motivator, and 2) the 49ers enter the 2012 season as a legit Super Bowl contender. He has been going in the 12th round or later, but if the glowing reports continue, his ADP will creep up into the 11th round, or perhaps even earlier. He has burned many a fantasy owner, but he is worth a pick in the later rounds if he stays motivated.

Bills rookie WR T.J. Graham has been rotating in with the first team throughout the official off-season workouts and has made some impressive plays along the way, most notably down the field. But there's also been times where the ball hits him in the hands and drops to the turf. It's just the pangs of being a rookie wide receiver and trying to commit a new playbook to memory.

Graham could press Donald Jones for snaps if he has a good camp.

Vikings WR Percy Harvin has taken to Twitter, claiming that his unhappiness isn’t about money.

If his issues were contract related, we would expect Harvin to skip workouts in order to spark negotiations, but he hasn't done that. Harvin returned to practice today, so this is simply a situation to watch at this point.

The Vikings continue to monitor RB Adrian Peterson's recovery from ACL surgery.

"My goal is to be able to go out and participate somewhat during training camp," he said. "How much, I'm sure, the staff will evaluate things and let me know. I'm just going to go with the flow. The main thing for me right now is getting back the strength in this left leg, getting the quad, the hamstring and the calf (healthy). Just building those muscles and trying to get it as equally strong as my right leg."

Peterson expects to be ready when Minnesota opens the season Sept. 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The team is cautiously optimistic that its star ball carrier will be able to start on Week 1. But head trainer Eric Sugarman said in May that Peterson's playing time would be determined by a consensus of opinion among Peterson, his surgeon, the Vikings' medical staff and the team's front office.

Falcons OC Dirk Koetter on the team's backfield situation: "(Michael Turner) has been a very consistent player since he’s been here. [He’s had] back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons. We need to keep Mike healthy so that he’s as good at the end of the season as he is in the front of the season. The way this roster has been built, we have some other backs that are very capable. We have good competition in the backfield. I like our backfield situation. Mike Turner is at the head of the class. But, you know, we’re going to need all of those guys."

Seahawks WR Sidney Rice wants to return to full speed by training camp after having offseason surgeries on each shoulder, and the oft-injured receiver says he's added some bulk with the hopes of improving his durability.

"I actually gained 11 pounds of muscle," Rice told "Bob and Groz" during the team's minicamp last week. "I'm really happy about that. I'm planning on putting on about seven more pounds to make coach [Tom] Cable happy."

Rice said he's up to 209 pounds after weighing 198 following his surgeries. He wants to be 212 or 213 pounds by the start of the season, accounting for the weight he typically loses during training camp. That won't turn Rice into Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald or any of the NFL's other mammoth receivers, but it's a step he apparently feels is necessary after missing 23 games during his five-year career.

"I feel like that's the right thing to do as well so I can take the pounds, the hits across the middle and things like that," he said, "whatever I have to do for this team."

He's a big injury risk, but the likely WR1 for the Seahawks is going in the 8th round of early drafts. There's some upside (and downside) here.

Titans rookie wide receiver Kendall Wright isn’t taking part in this week’s minicamp because of the shoulder injury he suffered last week. Still, offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said Wright remains on track for training camp and the season.

“He’s exactly where we want him to be,” Palmer said. “He has done a tremendous job. He is football smart. He is a high school quarterback who can throw the ball. You can’t have enough guys like that.”

The Titans initially planned for their first-round pick to learn one position this offseason. He studied three.

Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount has a new way of carrying the football. He hasn't used it in a game yet, and nevertheless it already feels completely natural.

"It's become a habit," said Blount after a Tampa Bay Buccaneers mini-camp practice last week. "I don't even notice that I do it most of the time. Holding the ball down here [closer to the stomach] is kind of uncomfortable now."

Blount's new ballcarrying technique – one that by Greg Schiano's insistence he will share with every Buccaneer who gets his hands on the pigskin – is most commonly described as "high-and-tight." The ball ends up buried between the forearm, the upper arm and the chest, carried a few degrees off of vertical so that is against one of the numbers on the player’s jersey. One point of the football is buried under the crook of the elbow and against the chest, protected by all the arm muscles, not just the forearm. The hand is over the other point of the football, taking away another point of entry for prying defensive hands.

Ball security has been an issue for Blount in his first two seasons, as has pass protection. He is reportedly improving in both areas this summer.

When asked to name a player poised to surprise in 2012, Vikings OC Bill Musgrave replied, "I'd say (WR) Jerome Simpson. Jerome really has made a good first impression. We cannot hardly wait to get him into games, starting with the fourth one of the season. "

Simpson will be available very late in drafts due to the three-game suspension that will scare most fantasy owners off. He's another guy to target after Week 1 or Week 2 for those owners who miss out on the top waiver wire pickups early in the season.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. on Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham: "Gresham will only be 24 years old when the 2012 season begins. The best is in front of Gresham, and I expect a breakout season this year. In fact, behind A.J. Green, I expect Gresham to be the second targeted receiver in Cincinnati's passing attack. Andy Dalton is not a big-armed passer and struggles to drive the ball deep downfield, but Dalton can be very effective inside the numbers, which again favors Gresham to see a lot of action going forward. The Bengals, now, need to get Gresham more involved downfield."

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. on Colts TE Coby Fleener: "Fleener is in an excellent situation in which to enter the league. His obvious familiarity with Andrew Luck should make his transition to the NFL much smoother than most rookies -- and the Colts have a need for targets for Luck. While I don't think Fleener is an elite pure talent in the Jimmy Graham class, he does run very well for such a tall target and will be able to stretch the field, make highlight-reel catches and present major problems in the red zone for opposing defenses. I see Pro Bowls in Fleener's future, but not greatness."

Bengals OC Jay Gruden is going running-back-by-committee. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is going to be teamed with Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard.

"Any team that Marvin Lewis is coaching is going to run the ball," SI's Peter King says. "Green-Ellis isn't explosive, but they want him to do what Benson did and possess the ball and get three or four yards every time without big losses and that's what he does."

A team can only run the ball so much and this offseason Falcons head coach Mike Smith has said running the ball will remain a priority, but on a more by-committee basis.

If the team follows through with this plan, it would negatively impact RB Michael Turner.

The fantasy community seems intent to put Turner out to pasture, but he still has a lot of gas left in the tank. He had eleven 20+ yard runs in '11 (3rd in league) and four 40+ yard runs (2nd), with a 4.5 YPC. Even with a 10% drop in carries, he's still our #13 RB in standard scoring formats. We're dubious about the Falcons moving to a true RBBC.

Dolphins RB Reggie Bush likes his potential in the team's new offense.

“This offense is perfect for guys like me,” said Bush, who averaged 14.4 carries last season but fewer than three receptions per game. “It gives us a chance to use our speed and kind of wear down the defense and have them chase us around all day.

“I think I will be pretty balanced. Hearing them talk, they want to run the ball just as much as they want to throw the ball. Obviously I think my role is going to be a little bit different from last year. I’m going to be split out wide a little bit more, playing more receiver, but for the most part I think we’re still going to run the ball.”

If he's going to play some receiver, it would boost Bush's value in PPR formats.

Leslie Frazier tells KFAN-100.3 that WR Percy Harvin is back at the ‪Vikings‬ facility and will practice on final day of minicamp.

We're still not entirely sure why Harvin isn't/wasn't happy, but it's a good sign that he's back at practice today. Stay tuned.

Colts RB Donald Brown’s 645 rushing yards ranked 30th in the NFL last season but they were acquired at an average of 4.8 yards an attempt, a figure exceeded by only 10 of the running backs ranked above him. So one wonders: why didn’t the Indianapolis Colts use him more, and might they this season?

“Donald is an every down back,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano declared during the club’s organized team activities. “He is doing a tremendous job and he is having a fantastic offseason. He understands, especially on third down as far as protections go and all of those things. Nothing is going to be more important than protections.”

Brown is the veteran, the smart guy, the protector, the big-play threat, the incumbent. But Pagano wants to play heavy-shouldered offense. He wants his hefty offensive line to wear on the defense and his backs to batter and bang between the tackles.

That will be an adjustment for Brown. If he is to retain his status as an every-down back, he will have to do it between the tackles. He will have to do it when the pads go on.

Brown averaged a gaudy 4.8 YPC in 2011, but without his 161-yard effort against the Titans in Week 15, his YPC would drop to a more pedestrian 4.1 YPC. However, the running game should have more room to run with QB Andrew Luck under center in 2012. We're expecting Brown to be the lead back, but that could change in training camp. Pagano certainly seems to like him, however, and that will impact his ADP.

Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban believes that while RB Beanie Wells will likely be the starter, Ryan Williams is going to "play a major role" in 2012.

Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban on the team's WR situation: "I think Michael Floyd will play an important role for this team, and Early Doucet will play. But if you don’t know by now the level of confidence the coaching staff has in Andre Roberts with his play after last season, you haven’t been paying attention."

Packers RB Alex Green hasn't hit any snags in his recovery from a torn ACL and is still aiming to return for training camp. The 225-pound back didn't practice through the team's organized team activities and minicamp, but he was inside the Don Hutson Center slowly doing more and more work.

Green pointed to last Thursday -- Green Bay's final practice -- as his best day. Green was able to cycle through outside zone plays and cut freely. He also ran all the routes the position demands without any problems. Without a defense and without pads, Green says he is sprinting and cutting fine.

Chargers beat writer Michael Gehlken on WR Eddie Royal: "If these minicamps were open to public, Eddie Royal would be trending. Sharp, explosive in and out of breaks. Consistently gets separation."

Anthony Fasano on the role of the TE in the Dolphins' new offense: "Tight end is an important position in this offense. We're asked to do some things in the passing game."

When asked if Week 1 was a reasonable goal, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson had this to say: "Yeah, I feel like it's realistic. That's my goal, to be back by the first game. As of right now, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction to meet that."

See the full video interview (with workout clips) here.

If he were to play in Week 1, he would only be about 9 months removed from ACL surgery. No RB has returned to form after tearing his ACL in that timeframe, so we're skeptical but less so than a few weeks ago. Those owners who decide to roll the dice on Peterson will need to be sure to draft Toby Gerhart as a handcuff. If he does play, don't expect the usual AP in Week 1 -- he's going to have to work his way back to form.

Bills WR Steve Johnson said after the practice on the Bills' grass field he's about 90 percent recovered. Johnson revealed that the surgery he had performed early in May was actually to repair a tear in his groin, which he suffered during last year's training camp.

"Definitely, today was a big step. Still a lot of work to do. Mentally I feel [OK], everything else I think I am pretty good. My groin felt good. I still have to get over the mental aspect of it," he said. "That is why I wanted to come out for this minicamp. I can get acquainted to running routes and try to get over the mental aspect of being out there, cutting on my left leg and trying to trust it. I think this is big. I do not want to go into training camp thinking how I am thinking now out there. I think this is a big step."

Aaron Wilson of Ravens Insider on QB Joe Flacco's contract talks: "No movement afoot on Joe Flacco talks. Lack of cap space, gap in contract talks are major obstacles to getting it done."

Titans HC Mike Munchak said rookie WR Kendall Wright, who landed hard on a shoulder last week, will not practice in the minicamp as a precaution.

David Climer of The Tennessean on the Titans' QB competition between Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker: "There’s a difference between listing two quarterbacks on the same line on a depth chart and ranking them dead even. They may be 1-A and 1-B, but I suspect Hasselbeck is solidly ahead of Locker entering the final minicamp sessions."

Dolphins beat writer Ben Volin on WR Brian Hartline: "Was told a strained calf for Hartline, but it's probably worse. He tweeted a photo of him in bed and a 'Get Well Soon' balloon."

Hartline is in line for a starting job in 2012, but if he continues to struggle with injuries, it will open the door for Chad Ochocinco or someone else to start opposite Davone Bess.

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with veteran free safety Michael Griffin on a multiyear contract Tuesday.

A source with direct knowledge of the negotiations told NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport that Griffin's deal is worth a little more than $7 million per year over five years.

Mewelde Moore, a free agent running back who previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, signed with the Colts on Tuesday. The team also announced it had released quarterback David Legree.

AP sports writer Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: "Percy Harvin has requested a trade from the ‪Vikings‬."

Harvin told 1500 ESPN that he wasn't "happy" six times in a brief interview, so the obvious issue is his contract, which he signed back in 2009. It runs two more seasons.

It's strange that he would request a trade instead of holding out, which is the usual route that players use to start contract negotiations. This situation is obviously a big red flag for Harvin until it gets sorted out. The WRs ranging from #7 to #19 are only separated by 14 points in our standard scoring projections, so there's no reason to draft Harvin over someone like Brandon Marshall or Marques Colston at this point.

Vikings HC Leslie Frazier on RB Adrian Peterson: Have talked thru scenarios. So far he's on pace, optimistic to play in home opener. Not sure on training camp.

If he were to play in Week 1, he would only be about 9 months removed from ACL surgery. No RB has returned to form after tearing his ACL in that timeframe, so we're skeptical. Those owners who decide to roll the dice on Peterson will need to be sure to draft Toby Gerhart as a handcuff.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski gave a concise answer when asked by reporters Monday about his left ankle.

“Great,” said Gronkowski, prior to teeing off at the fourth annual golf tournament to help benefit the Joe Andruzzi Foundation at the Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy.

In a feature dedicated to naming the Raiders' starters, beat writer Paul Gutierrez said that WR Darrius Heyward-Bey is "looking more and more like a legit No. 1 wideout."

DHB had a breakout 2011, racking up 64-975-4 despite missing Week 2 and only seeing one total target in Weeks 9-10. Over the final five games, Heyward-Bey averaged 5.8 catches for 91 yards and 0.6 TDs. He is currently our #35 WR in standard scoring formats.

When asked about the Seahawks' QB competition, beat writer Dave Boling said this about Matt Flynn: "I don’t care for his throwing motion. He has a bit of an elbow-first push to it. At first look, it makes him seem a bit unimposing as a passer. Many great quarterbacks have flourished with unique styles, though. Whereas Jackson has the look of a thoroughbred athlete, Flynn is less impressive on the hoof. The difference is in efficiency. Flynn identifies his target, anticipates the opening, and gets the ball into the receiver’s catching-window with great regularity. His timing and accuracy make him look like a quarterback who can move the sticks, and be a very nice fit in the Hawks’ run-balanced offense."

Boling went on to say that he thought Flynn was in the lead for the starting job.

When asked about RB LeSean McCoy's role in the Eagles' offense, beat writer Ray Didinger said, "I expect McCoy’s role this season to be the same as it was last season and that’s plenty big... Based on what we saw in minicamp, it appears Reid and Marty Mornhinweg have come up with some new looks that will split McCoy out almost as a flanker (they did the same thing with Westbrook) to take advantage of his improved receiving skills. You can expect to see some of that."

PPR leaguers take note -- McCoy could see a jump in receptions in 2012.

Buccaneers first-round RB pick Doug Martin is expected to earn his way into the club’s featured-back role without much delay, but one team observer said it’s clear that the player Martin will be competing with for touches — LeGarrette Blount — received the message sent by Martin’s arrival and is operating with a greater sense of urgency.

New Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer sounds excited about the team’s potential mix at tight end. “I know one thing, Starting with [Lance Kendricks], we really liked Lance back in New York when we looked at him,” Schottenheimer said at the team’s mandatory minicamp. “I think he’s got a chance to be a terrific all-around player."

There was some hype surrounding Kendricks in 2011. As a rookie, he was the #21 TE taken in fantasy drafts, but only mustered 28 catches for 352 yards, and failed to catch a TD. Given the depth at the position, we're not terribly optimistic about his prospects in 2012, but he could surprise if the Rams offense takes a big step forward.

When asked about WR Julio Jones, Falcons QB Matt Ryan said, "I think he is going to have a great year. I thought he was extremely productive for us last year and I think this year he is going to be even better than he was.”

Dolphins QB David Garrard is working with first team in early portion of practice on Tuesday. Matt Moore second team. Ryan Tannehill is the No. 3.

Don't read too much into this, but Garrard is in the mix until HC Joe Philbin says he isn't.

It’s now or never for RB Felix Jones and his future with the Cowboys. He’s entering the final year of his contract and needs to have a productive season for the Cowboys to re-sign him. Otherwise, Jones could be with another team come 2013.

Jones didn’t participate in any of the Cowboys’ organized team activities or veteran mini-camp practices while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder in January.

Murray has established himself as the Cowboys’ starter, but Jones will continue to get carries and opportunities out of the backfield.

Vikings QB Christian Ponder on RB Adrian Peterson as he rehabs his knee: “You can’t doubt Adrian. The guy number one a freak athlete, and for him to be doing the things that he’s been doing so early after surgery’s unbelievable, so you can’t count him out. I know that [athletic trainer] Eric Sugarman and the training staff’s gonna make the right call, whether they let him play for Week 1 or not, but as of right now he looks good and I know he’s determined to get back for Week 1.”

Steelers WR Mike Wallace did not participate in the voluntary OTAs or the mandatory mini-camp. He might not show up to training camp on time, either.

Wallace is a restricted free agent (RFA), which means he can continue to negotiate a long-term deal as he holds out of training camp. The best case is that Wallace gets a deal done before the start of camp, but the two sides are reportedly far apart on compensation. The worst case is that Wallace goes the same route Vincent Jackson did in 2010, when he held out for much of the year only to return midseason so that he wouldn't lose a year of service and remain a RFA the following season.

Should Cowboys QB Tony Romo's power of prediction turn out correct on WR Dez Bryant, his own job will be a whole lot easier in 2012. Entering his third NFL season, Bryant has pleased the Cowboys front office and coaching staff with his improved conditioning and production during organized team activities and mini-camp. Romo was recently asked for his personal assessment of the 23-year-old wide receiver and responded by saying he can see that Bryant is consistently getting better. "He just keeps improving and improving. He's a kid that I enjoy playing with because he wants to get better," Romo said. ... "The guys that really want to be great and have that ability to be great, you can't have enough of those guys," Romo added. "And we got a few of them."

Bills QB/WR Brad Smith has been exclusively lining up at quarterback during the OTA practices. On Thursday and then again on Friday Smith lined up at receiver for the first time this offseason. HC Chan Gailey insists the team has a specific approach for the multi-faceted Smith.

“There is a plan,” said Gailey. “It’s not like we just flip a coin and decide what he does each day. We worked him at quarterback, which we needed him to do that. He’ll go into the season, unless something major changes which I don’t foresee, he’ll be the third quarterback so he’s got to have enough quarterback knowledge to get you out of a game. He’s a very good special teams player and can line up and do that. He can play receiver and help us there. So there are a lot of things.”

The full offseason has afforded the offensive coaching staff of expanding their plans for Smith in the team’s Wildcat package, something that wasn’t available to them with Smith’s late summer signing last year.

“We’ve yet to put in a Wildcat, which we’ll do and he’ll do that,” said Gailey of Smith. “It’s great that he can do so many things. It may hurt him in some respects because he doesn’t lock in on one thing, but for our football team he helps us tremendously by being a very versatile player to help us in a lot of areas.”

The Jets are taking a wait-and-see approach with TE Dustin Keller, and they're planning to wait until after the season, when Keller's rookie contract expires. Keller isn't making a stink, but he'd like the security of a long-term extension. He deserves it, but with the change in direction on offense, the Jets want to see how he fits into Tony Sparano's system before making that kind of commitment. If Keller has a big year, he'll get a new deal or get slapped with the franchise tag. If not, they'll probably let him walk. And that would be too bad.

Mikel Leshoure could be the key to the Lions' rushing game. Despite his offseason issues, despite being suspended for the first two games of the season and despite coming off Achilles surgery, Leshoure is the guy who can get the tough yards, who can break off big runs and can make plays with his hands.

If his recovery stays on course, he's the primary back the Lions have been missing. Jahvid Best, if he can put his concussion issues behind him, can finally play the Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles-type role the Lions always envisioned for him.

Don't sleep on Kevin Smith, either. Nobody ever questioned his talent and he's worked his tail off to get his career back. The football gods owe him at least one season of clean health, right?

That pretty much sums up the Lions' RBBC heading into the 2012 season. Best has been running with the first team and holds value as long as he's upright. But his concussion history is worrisome.

Who is ready to carry the rushing load for the Patriots? That is a question the defending AFC champions are not ready to answer.

Consider New England's ground attack a journey into the unknown. Its running back roster reads like a waiver wire scrap heap in fantasy football: Joseph Addai, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. These four combine for nine career starts in New England. Addai, a free-agent signing, has 60 starts, but all were with the Indianapolis Colts.

None of them stand out on their own. However, the Patriots are hoping for strength by committee.

The conventional wisdom was that Ridley had the inside track, but Vereen has also been taking snaps with the first team and was drafted ahead of Ridley last summer, so there's a decent chance that the duo split carries. We've been slowly moving Ridley down in our rankings, so the better value at this point may be Vereen, who has been going in the 12th round this summer. However, if Ridley earns all (or most) of the goal line carries, he could hold BenJarvus Green-Ellis type value in 2012.

The obvious leader of the Jaguars' receiving corps is free agent acquisition Laurent Robinson. He is big, athletic, precise and catches the ball away from his body. Robinson also has a head start on the Jaguars offense, having played for Mike Mularkey before, and it shows.

Don't be shocked if the speedy Robinson outplays rookie Justin Blackmon this season. Robinson played very well for the Cowboys in 2011, and has been around the block a few times.

Earlier in minicamps, Pat Shurmur was talking up WR Mohamed Massaquoi. Then Browns President Mike Holmgren said "I think he's ready to have a breakout year." Holmgren correctly said Massaquoi had to be bothered by the concussions that he's had the last two years, and he also had a foot injury last summer that carried into training camp.

WR Josh Cribbs will see heavy duty on special teams. The Browns hope Josh Cooper and/or Jordan Norwood can fill the third receiver spot behind Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi. An undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State, Cooper is more than just a guy who caught college passes from Weeden -- the Browns consider him a real prospect in the slot. They like his hands and ability to get open quickly.

This is somewhat surprising because Cribbs has been coming along as a receiver, showing good adjustment to balls thrown his way, especially in the endzone. Four of his 41 catches were TDs in 2011.

49ers HC Jim Harbaugh on Thursday was full of praise for first-round pick WR A.J. Jenkins. "Very gung-ho. Very fast, fast, fast. He's got excellent hands," Harbaugh said. "He's got the ability to get in and out of cuts with his foot speed. And the turnover, he doesn't get stuck in routes. He doesn't get stuck at the top of the routes. He's able to get out of those cuts. And he's right on track. A.J. Jenkins is going to be just fine."

That's vintage Harbaugh, and you would not expect anything but positives and praise from him when it comes to his young players. The truth, however, is that Jenkins had a rough spring. He had a hard time staying on his feet, fighting for position and often - very often -- was on the ground after the play. And this was in non-contact practices.

Everyone knows that 49ers WR Randy Moss is tall and lean. But his physique still grabs your attention when you see him up close, and with his long arms and leaping ability you understand why he's such a favorite target for quarterbacks. Moss took part in every practice since arriving April 30. That speaks toward the veteran's motivation and dedication, which have been his biggest question marks in recent years.

49ers TE Vernon Davis may have been the most prolific pass-catcher during the recent three-day minicamp, an indication that the tight end is picking up where he left off at the end of last season. On Tuesday, Davis had a leaping back-shoulder catch in the back of the end zone that required him to get his feet in bounds as his momentum was carrying past the end line.

It was a fantastic catch in itself. But it's downright astounding if you had seen Davis as a rookie in 2006. He was so raw, so muscle-bound, so inept when it came to any throw in which he wasn't squared to the ball. The degree to which he's improved over that span can't be overstated.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson will re-sign with the San Diego Chargers and then announce his retirement from the NFL during a Monday news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. PT.

King on the Steelers' RB situation: "I think if your fantasy draft is tomorrow, you'd be smart to pick Isaac Redman ahead of Rashard Mendenhall, who is not ready to play football because of offseason knee surgery and should miss at least the first six games of the season."

This echoes GM Kevin Colbert's "guess" that Mendenhall is headed for PUP. At best, Redman is the starting RB for the season and at worst, he'll start 6-8 games and enter a timeshare with a recovering Mendenhall during the second half of the season (barring injury, of course).

Jets QB Mark Sanchez didn't have an efficient minicamp. Yes, it's a new offense and, yes, his receiving corps was banged up, but there were times when he didn't seem comfortable throwing the football. Minicamp stats are virtually meaningless, but I'm going to give them anyway -- 11-for-29, with four sacks and three near-interceptions. On the positive side, he didn't have any turnovers, and that's a huge area of emphasis for him. Overall, this wasn't a great showing, but it was a learning experience and it should help him in training camp.

Meanwhile, Tim Tebow (11-for-18, two sacks, 1 TD) performed as expected. He showed arm strength and a decent touch on long throws, but he still has that elongated throwing motion -- i.e. a slow release. He was indecisive with some of his reads, especially in red-zone drills. His accuracy was inconsistent, but everybody knew that about him. He is who he is. Tebow revealed that he's up to 249 pounds, by design, a sure sign that he'll be carrying the ball out of the wildcat.

Speaking on The Howard Simon Show this morning, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick talked about the differences he sees in RB C.J. Spiller from last year to this year.

"C.J. is a completely changed man. It's been apparent from day one of this off-season. I think the biggest thing with what he did at the end of the year last year, was he got his confidence. You just see how comfortable he is in this system now. He's telling guys, receivers that they're lined up wrong and letting them know... there's just so many things. He's directing people on the field and out of the huddle. I think he's ready to make a big jump. I think mentally he's made a big jump in the last year. With his confidence level where it is right now, we expect big things out of him this year. He really showed last year what he can do."

The main thing limiting Spiller's value this season is the presence of Fred Jackson, who was outstanding last season before getting injured. We currently have Jackson and Spiller ranked #21 and #30, respectively. Spiller figures to eat into Jackson's touches significantly after gaining 633 total yards and five TDs in a six game stretch to close the 2011 season.

Bills WR Steve Johnson (groin) participated in some individual drills Friday. Johnson looked good but wasn't moving at full speed. His workload is expected to increase at next week's mandatory minicamp.

Bears rookie WR Alshon Jeffery continued his inactivity in the final day of minicamp. Limited over the last two workouts with a lower-leg injury, Jeffery didn’t participate in any portions of the Thursday session at Halas Hall. Jeffery’s injury isn’t believed to be serious.

Eagles WR Riley Cooper, who had 16 receptions last year, is the team's best blocking wideout, which counts for a lot with Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg. But Marvin McNutt was impressive in spring camps, catching everything thrown in his direction.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhal tore the ACL in his right knee Jan. 1 in Cleveland.

“My guess is [Mendenhall] will open the season on PUP (the physically unable to perform list),” GM Kevin Colbert said.

“You’ve got to remember both of those injuries happened late in the year.”

Mendenhall wouldn’t be eligible to play until after the Steelers’ sixth game if they start the season on the PUP list.

If Mendenhall does indeed start the season on PUP, it will give a big boost to the draft stock of Isaac Redman, who figures to be the featured back while Mendenhall recovers. We currently have Redman as our #23 RB, five spots ahead of the general consensus. It appears he'll have the chance to prove his worth and would at worst be in a timeshare when Mendenhall finally returns.

The Falcons repeatedly have said they plan to limit RB Michael Turner's carries. They also have said they want to get Jacquizz Rodgers, a second-year pro, more involved in the offense. Rodgers needs to use minicamp, training camp and the preseason to show he’s ready for an increased role. OC Dirk Koetter also will have to be creative in carving out that role.

Even if Turner sees a 10% drop in carries (which is what we're currently projecting) and averages 4.35 yards per carry (reasonable given he rushed for 4.5 YPC last year), he'll rack up a very respectable 1,175 rushing yards. Turner's value comes from his TDs, and we don't think that he'll suddenly fall off the cliff after four consecutive 10+ TD seasons, since the Falcons should continue to move the ball well.

With WR Dwayne Bowe still absent, the Chiefs finished minicamp with 12 wide receivers present. Nine of them are in their first or second NFL season.

The Chiefs will need at least a couple of those younger guys to develop into reliable players eventually, if not immediately. The team expects that one of those players will be Jonathan Baldwin, who starred in the offseason practices and was their first-round draft pick last year.

Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan had some high praise for WR Santana Moss.

“Santana’s entire offseason. . . to me he came in possessed. He was ready to go,” Shanahan said. “You saw it physically, and then to see him in the meeting rooms, he’s been great. He’s been so attentive and it’s shown over to the field. The guy’s not thinking out there, he’s confident in his speed. He feels confident in his knowledge of the offense and there’s no hesitation. He’s been very exciting.”

Redskins coaches challenged Moss to play at a lighter weight this season so he could regain his explosiveness and effectiveness. He has lost 15 pounds.

“You know, a lot of guys can lose weight by starving themselves, staying in the steam and dehydrating themselves and just getting on a scale,” Shanahan said. “Santana did it the right way. I feel he’s more powerful. He’s more explosive.”

Raiders WR Denarius Moore (hamstring) is expected to be ready for training camp.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie admits that he hasn't found a replacement for Michael Bush, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound back who handled short-distance duties and filled in for the injured Darren McFadden last year.

"We don't have that big back, but we've got a couple of backs that are playing fullback for us that can be that guy," McKenzie said. "We feel good about the versatility of (Marcel Reece), and all our fullbacks have the ability to run it. (Owen Schmitt) can run it, short yardage. We got some guys that can, I'm kind of anxious to see them in preseason."

Reece's role could increase significantly with Bush gone, though it sounds like Mike Goodson is the RB2 in Oakland right now. In short yardage, the team may elect to use McFadden since he is pretty adept around the goal line.

Titans WR Kenny Britt ran some cutting drills Thursday, the first time he’s tried such movements since an arthroscopic procedure on his surgically repaired ACL about a month ago.

Earlier this week, Britt said he didn’t expect to begin cutting drills until next week.

“They surprised the heck out of me today,” Britt said of the changed schedule. “And I did it without the brace, too. … On my first one I was a little hesitant, but it felt good and after that, it was all out.”

If Britt's knee responds well, it's time to start moving him up in the rankings. He is a top 10 talent when healthy.

One thing that was clear this off-season is that the Cardinals would like to incorporate the tight end more into the passing game.

Todd Heap, when healthy, has been one of the leading receivers at the position over the past decade. Coaches are excited about the potential of Rob Housler, a rookie last year, because he has the speed to cause matchup problems for defenses. Veteran Jeff King is probably the best all-around tight end on the team.

The Cardinals aren't saying they are morphing into the New England Patriots, who have a devastating tight end duo in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. But the tight end position should be a strength, and if it is, that could open things up more for WR Larry Fitzgerald.

This is all well and good, but we're not expecting a whole lot out of the Arizona TEs this season.

"I think (Dez Bryant) needs to be a No. 1 receiver," Cowboys VP Stephen Jones told KESN-FM in Dallas this week. "Not to take anything away from Miles Austin, but I would submit to you that when we line up out there that the guy that they're most worried about is Dez.

"And he's got to be that guy, and even when they do try to stop him, the great ones still make a lot of plays. Tony (Romo) has got to be able to count on him, he's got to run the right routes at the right depths and be a precise route runner. Those are things he's got to improve on."

We currently have Bryant ranked #15 and Austin #17. Defenses are going to have to pick their poison week to week.

The Cowboys' owner and general manager sees RB Felix Jones being a big part of the team.

"I think he's an integral part of our firepower," Jerry Jones said. "And he will always give defenses something that they've got to be ready for, and he adds a dimension to what we can do in the entire offensive scheme, whether it be the passing game or the (running game). He is a savvy and good blocker, but he gives a lot of options when he's in there.

"I even like the idea of both of them (Jones and Murray) being in there . . . You put both of them in there, that gives us some options."

Friday is the (only) day the Steelers can slash WR Mike Wallace’s still-unsigned one-year restricted free agent tender worth $2.72 million to $577,000 for the upcoming season, but they won't do that.

“That’s never been an intention of ours,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told 105.9 The X’s Mark Madden yesterday. “When we tendered Mike at the amount we did, the compensation through that tender, we really had no issue with that whatsoever because he is deserving of that.”

Wallace reportedly wants somewhere in the neighborhood of $12-16 million a year, which would put him among some of the top paid receivers in the league.

The Steelers will not pay Wallace that kind of money because they don’t believe in paying a receiver as much as their franchise quarterback.

If Wallace elects to hold out, he'd be going the route that Vincent Jackson took two seasons ago. He would have to return after the team's Nov. 12 game so that he doesn't lose an accrued season and remain a restricted free agent.

Lions HC Jim Schwartz said WR Titus Young has looked "outstanding" since he returned to the team after a practice skirmish with safety Louis Delmas last month.

"He's had a good run since he's been back," Schwartz said of Young. "He's worked hard, he's been a good teammate. He's probably looked the best that I've seen him look in this couple-week span. But we just need to keep him on this track because he's been outstanding."

Young, a second-round pick out of Boise State last year, has turned heads with his playmaking ability in just about every practice over the last three weeks.

Giants OC Kevin Gilbride with some extremely high praise of RB David Wilson: "I don’t know if we’ve had a guy as explosive, regardless of the position, here. I don’t know if we’ve seen quite the darting, the exposiveness in short bursts that we’ve seen with him. That’s kind of exciting to see. He’s got some excitement that I don’t know if we’ve had that kind of guy. In this guy you’ve got the kind of explosion that I’m not sure how guys in the league have."

If he can get up to speed in pass protection, Wilson could eat into Ahmad Bradshaw's touches. For now, he's the clear handcuff for Bradshaw.

HC Mike Munchak said WR Kendall Wright will likely be held out next week in minicamp after landing on his shoulder.

Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt said he fully expects RB Ryan Williams (patella tendon) to be ready for the start of training camp although the team will be smart about it. RB Beanie Wells (knee) hopefully will be ready too. “He’s got to work himself back to being ready,” Whisenhunt said of Wells. “We’ve done the right thing with Beanie as far as the offseason and making sure he is healthy. He’s got to bust his tail the next few weeks to be ready for training camp because some guys have looked good there.”

Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount has been taking the majority of the first-team reps throughout the OTAs (organized team activities) and the three-day mandatory mini-camp with Doug Martin being worked in with the starters occasionally, along with other running backs Mossis Madu and Michael Smith, the team’s seventh-round draft pick this year.

Everyone expects Martin to overtake Blount eventually, but he's being drafted as if he has already won the starting gig. The scouts love Martin, but his college production (namely his 4.9 YPC against inferior competition in the Mountain West Conference) doesn't really measure up. Don't forget that Blount rushed for 977 yards and five TDs in the final 11 games of the 2010 season, and at that point he looked like one of the most promising young RBs in the league. He didn't suddenly forget how to run. He's not good in pass protection, but if Martin falters and Blount runs like it's 2010, he'll hold onto the starting job.

Even with Ronnie Brown behind him, Chargers RB Ryan Mathews will most likely receive 20-30 carries a game this season after averaging just under 16 during his first two seasons.

Durability is the question with Mathews. Otherwise, his talent and workload certainly equate to a top 10 fantasy RB.

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams says he will participate in some full team action tonight for the first time since his knee injury.

It's a battle of attrition in Arizona, with Williams and Beanie Wells both recovering from their respective injuries. In general, we're not bullish on this situation, but Williams may have some value in the later rounds.

Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan raved about WR Santana Moss Wednesday. Shanahan raves about a lot of players, sometimes even when it’s undeserved. But this one was legit as he even called him one of the “premier” slot receivers in the league.

Actually, once Shanahan said Moss had lost 15 pounds that was a good sign. The coaches needed him to regain his speed and he got a little out of shape last season. And then seeing him in the first OTA workout… he just looked quicker.

Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan said that QB Robert Griffin III has picked up the offense faster than expected for a quarterback who didn't play much under center in college.

Bears WR Earl Bennett stretched the field numerous times from the slot and looks poised to be a dangerous weapon in the new offense under OC Mike Tice.

TE Jimmy Graham spent OTAs doing to the Saints' defense what he did to opposing defenses last season. He torched them regularly.

Graham was the MVP of offseason drills. He was unstoppable in the red zone and down the middle of the field.

His performance last season was only the start of what could turn into a Hall of Fame career. He keeps getting better and better every day.

Ron Rivera views Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell as his starting receivers. The Panthers’ coach is anxious to see who steps up to claim the No. 3 spot.Rivera hopes it will be David Gettis.

Gettis, entering his third season, missed all of last season with a torn ACL after starting 15 games as a rookie in 2010. He’s back on the practice field now and said he’s “close” to 100 percent, which is good news for Cam Newton and company.

“Brandon is going to do the things he did last year, so we need to find that guy who can come in and be that other threat,” Rivera said. “Once we establish who that other guy is it’s going to help our offense. I think David is well on his way right now as long as he continues to work on it and regain that confidence” in his knee.

Tight end Chris Cooley did not participate in the final practice of minicamp (Redskins coach Mike Shanahan called off the Thursday practice) because of a “slight hamstring” Shanahan said. Earlier in OTAs Cooley dealt with a slight groin issue. But Shanahan said the one positive is that Cooley’s knee continues to show no signs of swelling. Nor has he needed to have any fluid drained.

We don't expect Cooley to cut into Fred Davis's targets, but it wasn't too long ago that Cooley was one of the best pass-catching TEs in the league.

QB Tim Tebow, whom the Jets plan to use in a Wildcat package, revealed Wednesday at minicamp that his weight is 249 pounds -- about nine pounds heavier than his playing weight last season with the Denver Broncos. The Jets' backup quarterback said the team wants him at 250 for the season.

This provides further evidence that Tebow will be an integral part of the rushing attack. The Jets have emphasized that his playing time will come in the Wildcat and that he's not competing with Mark Sanchez for the starting job.

The Chiefs continue to work without running back Jamaal Charles, who tore his ACL in an early-season game in Detroit last year. But Charles all but guaranteed he would be cleared to participate when training camp begins next month. “When they let that cape off me, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to put my cleats back on and punish everybody in my way,’’ said Charles, who added that he felt so strong that he could play in a game today, if necessary.

Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey lined up opposite Denarius Moore with the first team at this week's minicamp.

DHB had a breakout 2011, racking up 64-975-4 despite missing Week 2 and only seeing one total target in Weeks 9-10. Over the final five games, Heyward-Bey averaged 5.8 catches for 91 yards and 0.6 TDs. Draft both DHB and Moore and you'll have built-in insurance for your receiving corps.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall is running in a straight line again. He hasn't started cutting yet, but Mendenhall looks like he's in great shape. It looks like he'll be back sooner rather than later.

It's great to hear that Mendenhall is progressing, but RBs just aren't the same within 12 months of tearing the ACL, and he tore his very late in the season. We're expecting Isaac Redman to carry the load for most of the year.

RB Mikel Leshoure of the Detroit Lions has been suspended for two games without pay and will be fined two additional game checks for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, according to an NFL spokesperson.

Reportedly, the concussion-prone Jahvid Best looks great in camp, and Kevin Smith is also in the mix. This is a tough RBBC to predict given all of the variables involved.

Cowboys beat writer Bryan Broaddus on WR Miles Austin: "Haven't spoke much about Austin this off season but looks in outstanding shape. Routes been good and snatching everything in sight."

Redskins RB Roy Helu pulled his hamstring during a team workout early last week.

The hamstring is only a minor setback, and Helu should be ready for training camp, both he and head coach Mike Shanahan said.

Although most are assuming that either Mike Williams or Arrelious Benn will start opposite Vincent Jackson at wide receiver for the Buccaneers, don’t rule out Preston Parker. He did some good things as a receiver and return man this year and he’s drawn praise from HC Greg Schiano and QB Josh Freeman.

NFL scout Greg Cosell on Chargers QB Philip Rivers: "[Rivers] certainly did not have his best season for the San Diego Chargers in 2011. But based on his previous five-year track record, I strongly believe he will rebound and have an outstanding year in 2012."

Rumors started circulating around league circles that the Packers were willing to deal WR James Jones.

A move for Jones would make him more of a fantasy factor. It would also open things up for Randall Cobb.

Seahawks WR Sidney Rice went on injured reserve last December after suffering his second concussion in the span of three games, but it was the news that he underwent surgery on both shoulders after the season that was most surprising. He had the labrum repaired in each.

Rice had the right shoulder operated on first, the left one a month and a half later, and while Rice is out running on the field, he still hasn't been cleared for contact.

"Everything is feeling good, right on pace to be ready for the season," Rice said. "I'm going to continue to push it."

Had the shoulders been an ongoing problem for Rice before the surgery? "It has," Rice said. "A lot of slipping out, popping out, going back into place. Right now, they're supposed to be brand-new shoulders and take it from here. I've got to continue to gain my strength back in those shoulders and prepare for the season."

If healthy, Rice certainly has the talent to be a top 20 WR, but those shoulders are a huge concern. We currently have him ranked #39 in standard scoring formats.

Rams RB Steven Jackson is in no mood for long-term rebuilding. He's in no mood for slowly breaking in rookies or coddling gifted youngsters such as second-round draft pick Brian Quick. Rather than toss out pleasant compliments to the rookie wide receiver after the first day of minicamp, Jackson issued a rather gruff challenge to his new teammate.

Be ready to make an immediate impact.

"I'm sure (receivers coach Ray) Sherman will get him right," Jackson said. "But over the next six weeks, he's going to have to work real hard to be prepared for a long season, because we're going to lean on him, lean heavily on him. He's a high draft pick and we're going to need someone on the outside to make plays and I'm challenging him right now because we're going to need him to prepare himself over the next six weeks to be a standout on this team."

The Patriots have "The Gronk" and the Bengals are hoping TE Jermaine Gresham (a.k.a. "The Gresh") turns into quarterback Andy Dalton's X-Factor as his first non-A.J. Green option down the field.

OC Jay Gruden has been pushing Gresham to be more meticulous with his assignments and he wasn't happy after Tuesday's practice, where Gruden said he had a "major" mistake. But he can also see the progress.

"Jermaine has got to work at it every day, no question about it," Gruden said. "He's come a long way with his route discipline and knowledge of the offense with the run game, especially. Just have to keep repping him. Some of the concepts where he has to read coverages on the move he has to get better at."

"We've got to do a good job getting him more involved downfield and he's got to make sure he's more accountable for the quarterback," Gruden said. "The quarterback has to feel the confidence he can go to Jermaine when Jermaine is ready and in the right spot. When he gets to that point I would expect him to put up some strong numbers."

With Jerome Simpson gone, it's unlikely that the 105 targets he saw in 2011 are going to whoever wins Cincy's WR2 job. That means that Gresham could see an increase in the 92 targets (11th among TEs) he received last season.

You could make a case that Carolina’s backfield already was overcrowded before Mike Tolbert arrived. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who each have been 1,000-yard rushers in the past, had to share carries last year in an offense that suddenly turned pass happy with rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Stewart was on the field for 55.2 percent of the offensive plays, while Williams took part in 42.7 percent of the plays. In San Diego, Tolbert took part in 44.4 percent of the Chargers’ offensive plays.

But Tolbert insists there is enough room for all three backs to get plenty of playing time and he throws out some scenarios that Carolina fans might have trouble picturing right now.

“I think we mesh well together,’’ Tolbert said. “They are different types of backs. DeAngelo is more the slicer and Jonathan is more of the power guy and I kind of fit in between. It’s going to be fun for all of us to get in the backfield at the same time or myself with DeAngelo or with Jonathan or just one out of there at times. It’s going to be fun to put it all together and see what happens.’’

Stewart is still the Carolina RB to own, especially in PPR formats, but Tolbert's arrival puts a dent in Stewart's value. Throw in some very undefined roles and we have a cloudy RBBC.

Titans WR Kenny Britt said the follow-up arthroscopic surgery on his knee last month has been a help.

“It got the little clicking (noise) out of there I had the first time (in my knee) and got me more extension than I had the first time,” Britt said. “Even though they said that a little clicking might happen from time to time, each time I put my foot down I was hearing it.”

The Panthers like what they're seeing in WR Brandon LaFell, who has been lining up opposite Steve L Smith with the first team offense in OTAs.

“He looks much more comfortable,’’ coach Ron Rivera said. “In fact, you see him helping other guys. You see him working with the younger guys. You see him working very well with Steve and (tight end) Greg Olsen. I think his rapport with (quarterback) Cam (Newton) is developing very quickly. That’s what we need -- that other guy to step up and be that other guy that’s going to stress the defenses that we face. As he develops and becomes a better and better football player, we may see even more things from Steve.’’

Bengals TE Orson Charles, the fourth-round pick from Georgia, has shown up. Gruden says he's swimming mentally just because tight ends have to learn both the run and pass game ("It's the toughest position to come in and play," OC Jay Gruden says), but he also says the guy is an eye-opener.

"Physically he's shown things that are very exciting," said Gruden, who lobes Charles's route running. "His strength is unreal."

HC Marvin Lewis has also been impressed.

"Orson has exceeded in every way my expectations," he said. "I knew he was a big, strong guy. But his ability to run and catch the ball has been impressive.”

TE Kyle Rudolph, who is 6 feet 6, 258 pounds, is expected to be a centerpiece in the Vikings' attack considering how frequently offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave uses two tight-end sets, often spreading one wide.

"He looks really good," QB Christian Ponder said of Rudolph. "He's so athletic. He's such a big target. He's got unbelievable hands. He's a guy I feel real comfortable with. He's going to make a lot of plays this year."

Ponder described Rudolph's hands as "freakish." "They're huge. But he's got soft hands," he said. "When he catches the ball, he just plucks it out of the air. It's crazy."

Chargers TE Antonio Gates has chosen to trim his playing weight this season, he said Tuesday, cutting it down by five pounds.

"I've always felt deeply that as you get older, you have to lose a little weight," said Gates, who turns 32 next week. "I've always played at 260 (pounds). I felt like this year, I can play at 255 ... That's just the key. When I watch guys who have longevity and played for 15, 16 years, one thing I continuously hear is guys maintaining health, maintaining weight. They control their weight."

"The aches and pains of playing are always there. But in terms of my foot, I'm able to get to practice at a rate that I wasn't able to do in the past. From that standpoint, I'm feeling great."

Bengals WR Jordan Shipley on his knee: "There's still a little bit of stiffness, but nothing big. I'm just kind of in the last phase of getting the speed back and all that."

The Giants knew it wasn’t a guarantee that injured TE Jake Ballard would sneak through waivers, but it was a calculated risk they took on Monday in what was a plan to avoid having him occupy a roster spot in 2012.

Less than 24 hours later, the plan backfired.

The Patriots, against whom Ballard suffered the torn ACL in Super Bowl XLVI that has him sidelined, surprisingly claimed the tight end before the 4 p.m. deadline, according to his agent Blake Baratz.

Doh! The Giants apparently thought that no one would take a shot on Ballard knowing that he would miss some or all of the 2012 season, but the Patriots came calling. Once he heals, he'll join a stacked TE corps that features both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. His fantasy value is very limited right now.

The Packers have committed to James Starks as their primary running back. Ryan Grant's locker is now occupied, indicating his return is not in the team's plans, and Tuesday, Starks took the first-team repetitions while second-year back Alex Green continued his recovery from knee surgery. Starks has a long injury history, but coach Mike McCarthy is clearly prepared to take that risk. McCarthy: "He's a young raw guy that needs to play. If he can stay healthy, I think he'll make a significant jump as a player."

Raiders WR Denarius Moore suffered what appeared to be a right hamstring injury during practice Tuesday, though coach Dennis Allen didn't seemed overly concerned.

"He's going to be fine," Allen said. "We'll evaluate it. Usually those things take a couple of weeks or so, so we'll see where he's at."

Moore got hurt while making a sharp cut on a down-and-out route midway through practice. Moore has about six weeks to recover from his injury before the Raiders begin training camp in Napa on July 29.

Hamstring injuries can linger, and Moore already has a history of injury. But he has six weeks to heal, so he should be fine for the start of training camp.

Jets HC Rex Ryan confirms that WR Santonio Holmes hurt hammy last week when he pulled himself out of practice. At the time, Holmes insisted he wasn't hurt. ‪

This is not a huge concern, but this is not the start that Holmes and his fantasy owners were hoping for after a subpar 2011.

Bills HC Chan Gailey says it's still too early to call the WR2 race, but Donald Jones is in the lead.

Jones has good speed, which would complement Steve Johnson's all-around game and David Nelson's work in the slot. Jones flashed his potential when he torched the Patriots for 101 yards on five catches in Week 3.

The NFL has suspended Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson for the first three games of the 2012 season, punishing him for a felony drug conviction tied to a marijuana shipment to his home last fall.

Simpson has made a big splash at the Vikings' OTAs and the team has a huge need at WR, so he could very well become a fantasy starter this season. With a three-game suspension, he will likely be available very late in drafts, and those owners who do draft him will have to make the tough decision to stick with him while passing on the inevitable early-season waiver wire wonders.

Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson had groin surgery in late April. The procedure was considered minor, but significant enough to keep him out of team drills until training camp at St. John Fisher College.

"I'm ready to go," Johnson told reporters. "They said it was about six to eight [weeks for recovery], but I'm feeling like I'm ready to be out there, and I think we're moving towards that next week."

If there is a ding against Chargers RB Ryan Mathews it's that he gets banged up often. He has missed six games in two seasons. Getting the rock 25-30 times per game may be a challenge for a player who has 380 NFL carries. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. is a big believer in Mathews’ abilities, but he wonders if he can handle the load of being a true workhorse.

“In terms of what Mathews is capable of, I totally see it,” Williamson said. “I think he is a nearly elite total running back, in terms of his physical skill set and ability to help in all phases of the position. He’s a stud. But, what we don’t know and what I have huge questions about is his mind-set/toughness to be a true lead back. Few have that mental capacity to truly want the ball down after down and have the entire team lean on them when it matters most, like Emmitt Smith. And can Mathews play with pain? I have my doubts for sure. His talents suggest that he can be that guy and be one of the very best. What he has shown to this point from a toughness/mental standpoint. I have serious doubts. I hope he proves me wrong, and he might.”

The Buccaneers' receivers during the past two seasons were, perhaps, the youngest unit on the team. Leadership was practically non-existent.

Along comes Vincent Jackson, a proven veteran who was the top free-agent receiver, and there’s now hope of bringing some professionalism to a unit that sorely needed it.

“It’s fun to watch him work because he’s such a good influence on the other guys with how professional he is,” WRs coach P.J. Fleck said of Jackson. “He’s the first one in line, he’s the first one in meetings, he takes incredible notes. His notebook is immaculate. And it says a lot about him. If he keeps doing that, I think he’s going to get where he wants to be.”

The funny thing about Jackson, Fleck said, is that although he’s by far the most accomplished member of the unit, he’s arguably the hungriest. That’s saying something for a guy who has three 1,000-yard seasons in his past four campaigns.

Colts WR Donnie Avery has been one of the bright spots of the team's offseason program and organized team activities. He brings exceptional speed.

The rookie season of Broncos TE Julius Thomas went downhill on the first reception of his NFL career. On a 5-yard catch against Cincinnati last September, Thomas injured his right ankle. He left that game and ended up missing a total of 14 games — 12 in the regular season and both of the Broncos' playoff games — because of the injury.

He had surgery in April and is recovering from that procedure. He hasn't participated in the Broncos' offseason conditioning program or in any of the team's OTAs, and he won't participate in the three-day minicamp this week.

When he returns, Thomas will have to compete with newcomers Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen, a Colorado State product from Fort Morgan, for playing time.

Tamme and Dreessen weren't signed to watch. They likely will have big roles in the offense. So playing time won't be easy for Thomas to acquire whenever he returns.

Dolphins RB Reggie Bush sounded in an interview on NFL Total Access like he thinks first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill is the favorite in the three-way quarterback race with incumbent starter Matt Moore and free agent signing David Garrard.

“Ryan Tannehill, he’s a really good quarterback, he’s very smart,” Bush said. “Obviously he has the upper hand coming into an offensive system that he already knows basically. Now he really just gets to work on his skill set as a quarterback, improving and he has that advantage on his side.”

Lions RB Mikel Leshoure is participating in running back drills. He wasn't doing them last week in OTAs.

In a move that pretty much makes official what was clear back in February when Jake Ballard tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants have waived Ballard with a failed-physical designation.
The transaction means Ballard is headed to the physically-unable-to-perform/reserve list once he likely clears waivers. The third-year tight end will likely eventually be placed on injured reserve, where he'd then remain for the entire season.

This was a procedural move so the Giants could free up a roster spot while keeping Ballard, assuming he clears waivers. With Ballard likely on the shelf for 2012, the TE looks in New York will be up for grabs between newly signed Martellus Bennett, Travis Beckum and Adrien Robinson.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew wasn't planning on coming to the Jaguars mandatory minicamp, barring a change of mind. There was no change of mind for the Jaguars star running back. I've been told it's possible Jones-Drew takes this into the season. Gene Smith's insistence that he won't redo his contract isn't compelling him to return.

Jones-Drew hasn't spoken publicly about his desire for a contract, of which he let the team know early in the offseason. He has been the Jaguars most consistent performer for the past few years, even while playing on a torn meniscus through the 2010 season.

The other side of this is that the Jaguars feel they gave Jones-Drew a contract worth $31 million over five years in 2009 on the expectation that he would become a special player, but before he proved it.

We will continue to monitor this situation as it unfolds. As of now, it appears neither side is willing to give in easily. Rashad Jennings looks to be the handcuff to own just in case. He is returning from a 2011 knee injury. Montell Owens is currently behind Jennings on the depth chart.

Chad Ochocinco wasn't out of work for long. The veteran wide receiver has signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, the team confirmed on Monday night.

Ochocinco joins a Miami offense attempting to fill the void left by Pro Bowl wideout Brandon Marshall, who was traded to the Chicago Bears in March. Other receivers on the roster include Brian Hartline, Davone Bess and Legedu Naanee.

Ochocinco, 34, was released by the New England Patriots last Thursday. He had just 15 receptions for 276 yards and one touchdown in his lone season with the team.

Miami is an ideal landing spot for Ochocinco, given that Brian Hartline and Davone Bess are currently the top two wideouts on the Dolphins roster. By all accounts, Ochocinco was simply a bad system fit in New England. The Patriots expect their WRs to run precise routes and Ochocinco is known to be... well, not so precise. He's more of a freelancer on the field.

Ochocinco is 34 and has only one 1000 yard receiving season since 2007. While he is in a good position to grab a starting job in Miami, it remains to be seen how much gas he has left in the tank. With some combination of rookie Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore and David Garrard throwing him passes, a return to fantasy relevance seems unlikely.

In Chris Johnson’s perfect world, the football finds its way into his hands 25 times a game — 20 carries and five pass receptions.

“To say you’re going to get a guy 25 touches a game is pushing it,” Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said. “That’s 400 touches over the course of a season. He’s certainly capable of that, but what does it mean for the team? Does it help us win?”

Johnson remains a key element, but Palmer is more inclined to spread the field with receivers and throw the ball.

“We can’t allow people to come up and jam the box and make it difficult to run,” Palmer said. “In an ideal situation, you’d like to be 45 percent pass, 55 percent run. But depending on whom we’re playing, it may switch to 60 percent pass, 40 percent run. Or it can be a higher percentage of passing depending on the score.”

Better offensive balance should mean more room for Johnson to run. We're expecting a mild bounce-back season, but his performance in 2011 is still a big concern.

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said that the QB some league observers believe could be released at the end of training camp remains a nose ahead of the rest by virtue of his experience – incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson.

Carroll points to the fact that Jackson showed toughness finishing 7-7 as Seattle’s starter last season while playing with a partially torn pectoral muscle – including a 5-3 record in the final eight games of year – as the reason he’s first man up with the starters.

Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson will continue to compete for the starting job.

Even if Titans QB Jake Locker proves himself ready for the starting role in preseason, if it is close, the team may consider as a secondary factor, the possibility of a tough early-season schedule that begins with New England, Houston and Detroit as a reason to go with the veteran experience of Matt Hasselbeck.

"You have to factor everything in, so sure, you're thinking about that. I could sit here and put a paper of pros and cons of who should start in that first game and there's a lot of reasons for both of them. That would not be influencing why we would do what we do. We've got to go with the guy who is ready to help us win," HC Mike Munchak said.

This is one of the toughest preseason QB battles to call and whoever wins the job should be a solid fantasy QB2 given the team's weapons at WR and RB.

QB Jay Cutler on his offensive line: "You always want to be pro-Bears and compliment your teammates and stuff but ... over a three-year career here (the offensive line is) definitely at the forefront of my mind every year. Until we get those front five hammered down, we're still kind of up in the air offensively -- even though we've got some really, really talented guys on the outside."

WR Doug Baldwin on the Seahawks' QB competition: As for Matt Flynn right now it's hard to tell the distance between him and Tarvaris Jackson, not as clear-cut as people might think.

Packers TE Jermichael Finley wants to find chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers. They don't necessarily hang out much off the field. Finley respects the fact that Aaron Rodgers prefers to keep to himself. He's the league's most valuable player, the one under constant surveillance.

The lack of chemistry Finley often speaks of is strictly related to timing. He doesn't blame Rodgers. He blames the lack of a full off-season.

Finley plans on flying out to California for three days after minicamp this week to work with Rodgers.

"Having an off-season, having chemistry with your quarterback is a big key to success," Finley said. "I promise you."

This is the first time Michael Vick has had an offseason as the Eagles starting quarterback, and he is determined to take advantage of it. Vick, according to those who know, has been first in, last out at the NovaCare Complex. After accounting for 18 turnovers in 13 games and enduring a disappointing season, Vick wants to make sure he is in prime physical shape and in prime mental shape and is working hard on both fronts.

Browns coaches really like what they see from WR Greg Little and think the second year wide receiver is going to step up. In fact, their enthusiasm for Little has something to do with why they did not make a big move at the position in the offseason. The Browns believe Little can clean up his drops because he dropped a lot of easy passes last year. His hands did not appear to be the problem; rather, concentration was.

People who know Titans RB Chris Johnson are expecting him to have a big bounce-back season because he has rededicated himself. Johnson has worked out hard this offseason and spent a lot of time around the Titans facility. Last offseason, between his contract situation and the lockout, Johnson took it easy. He wasn’t in top shape when he reported, and it showed in how he played.

Broncos WR Brandon Stokley has worked with the Broncos' top group of wide receivers — back in his familiar slot spot — in organized team activities, and he made one of the best plays in the three sessions that were open to the media when he dived to catch a deep pass from Manning against triple coverage in a two-minute drill.

"It's the Brandon Stokley I've seen on tape. He's healthy, and he's got a good skill set to play in this league, and he's proven that a lot of different places," coach John Fox said.

Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman on the team's WR corps: “Obviously Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson are freaks. They are tremendous talents,” Freeman said. “Another guy that is just unbelievable – and I’m so happy and so excited about this guy’s progression with how he has come out and performed – is Preston Parker. He’s been unbelievable. And we have Arrelious Benn and Tiquan Underwood, who was a guy I traded with for the combine. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s really fast and runs sharp routes. Arrelious is doing an awesome job. Sammie [Stroughter] is doing awesome – and so is [Dezmon] Briscoe.”

Throughout the majority of OTAs, Parker and Stroughter have been running second team behind Jackson and Williams, with Benn, Ed Gant, Underwood and Briscoe all rotating with the third team. Yet it’s clear that Parker is establishing himself as the team’s third receiver on the depth chart by doing some great work in the slot.

Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas on his rookie campaign: "I know I've gotten better. The injuries affected me a lot last year. They messed my mind up. I lost the confidence I had. I didn't have the same burst I had earlier," when he ran for 107 and 95 yards in his first two games. (He ran for just 379 in the 11 others.)

Thomas said his 3.5 average (2.9 in the fourth quarter) is unacceptable and "very disappointing," adding, "I think I can average 5.0 a carry in this league."

Also troubling: his 1.9 yards-per-carry average after contact - fifth-worst among NFL backs. That's one reason he added seven pounds, and now weighs 235. "I wanted to get stronger because I lost some of the leg drive I had early on. I was stopped on first contact and that's not me."

Thomas, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry in two years at Kansas State, is encouraged because "our offense is doing a lot more zone running, and we ran well last year when we zoned. That's something I did in college a lot."

Chargers HC Norv Turner on WR Eddie Royal's role in the offense: "A year ago our tailbacks combined to catch over 100 balls. As much as we push the ball up the field, I'd like to think that Eddie Royal will get a lot of those catches (by running backs) because he becomes an option underneath. We haven't had that guy, and Eddie's really been impressive as the guy who runs the option routes, runs the seams, runs the post -- some higher percentage stuff."

Instead of being a spoke in a team's passing wheel, Chargers WR Robert Meachem is as close to being the hub as at any point in his career. He is being asked to fill the No. 1 role that was vacated when Pro Bowler Vincent Jackson signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay.

HC Norv Turner: "Meachem can get up the field. He's a deep threat, but he's also a more versatile receiver than I thought he'd be when you looked at tape. He can do a lot more things than he did in New Orleans because they didn't need those things from him because they had other guys. But he's an outstanding route running, he's a good 'feel' receiver and he does have outstanding hands."

As our #29 WR, we're relatively high on Meachem. He has a good chance to finish as a fantasy WR2 and should be a solid pick in the middle rounds.

Per a league source, TE Rob Gronkowski has signed a six-year contract extension. The deal carries, we’re told, $54 million in new money.

Given that he already was under contract for two more years, the deal binds Gronkowski to the team for eight seasons, putting him under contract through 2019.

The contract includes an $8 million signing bonus, a fully-guaranteed 2012 base salary of $540,000, a fully-guaranteed 2013 base salary of $630,000, and a fully-guaranteed base salary of $3.75 million in 2014.

This is great news for Gronkowski and his keeper/dynasty owners.

Texans QB Matt Schaub is healthy after Lisfranc surgery on his right foot last November.

“I’m ready to go,” Schaub said Friday.

Schaub could have participated in the OTAs, but coach Gary Kubiak kept him out as a precaution.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Chargers have agreed to terms with former Miami standout running back Ronnie Brown on a one-year deal.

Brown, 30, will be given a chance to be a backup to Ryan Mathews, who the team wants to be a workhorse. Brown is clearly nearing the end of his career.

The Chargers said they planned to add a veteran RB at some point after evaluating the RBs on the roster. Brown isn't much of a threat to Mathews's touches but he'll provide some insurance in case Mathews can't stay healthy.

Patriots beat writer Greg Bedard on WR Brandon Lloyd: "Brandon Lloyd did nice work in the red zone with a couple of touchdowns. He just has terrific body control. Really think the sky’s the limit for him in this offense. Of course, not having any TEs around makes Brady look at the WRs more. Those reps certainly can’t hurt."

There are no fewer than four big mouths to feed in the Patriots' passing game so unless Tom Brady sets a league record for pass attempts, someone isn't going to live up to their lofty expectations. Lloyd certainly has upside, but owners who draft him are betting that Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker or Aaron Hernandez do not finish at or near their 2011 numbers.

So far, in nine no-tackling practices – three of which were open to the media – Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray looks as quick and as explosive as he did last year as a third-round draft pick.

"No limitations. I feel great out there," he said.

Running backs coach Skip Peete agrees.

"He's taking every rep he's supposed to take and hasn't missed a beat," Peete said. "Just the stress of planting and cutting on that (ankle), you want to see if they're back completely from that injury. It seems like he obviously has rehabbed and healed 100 percent right now."

Murray is currently our #12 RB in standard scoring formats.

The one area where Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew ranks down the list among tight ends is yards per catch. His 9.4-yard average last year ranked 29 among the 30 tight ends who had 30 or more catches.

"Some of them really separate themselves,” Pettigrew said of the NFL’s tight end class. “If you’re going to be a top tight end in this league, that’s what you’ve got to do, is separate yourself."

“As far as catches and stuff, I’m there. Some guys get a lot of YAC (yards after the catch). The yardage separation is there. I’ve got to put myself there and start making that big play.”

Pettigrew saw a ton of targets last year which drove his value as a fantasy TE1, but as Titus Young and Ryan Broyles earn more looks, Pettigrew's targets will likely fall, hurting his upside. He's still a decent TE1 in PPR, but less so in standard formats.

Falcons RB Jacquizz Rodgers senses that he could play a big role in the screen game.

“Right now, everybody is getting a shot at running screens,” Rodgers said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of that. Coach Dirk (Koetter) is huge on running the screen, so we have a lot of screens in store.”

Michael Turner has never been a big pass-catcher, but he did set a career high in receptions (17) last season, so he may also be involved in the screen game.

The Jaguars closed the book on their Aaron Kampman gamble Thursday when they released the defensive end two years after he signed a four-year, $24 million deal with a $10 million signing bonus.

The Jaguars had decided to risk signing Kampman even though he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Green Bay late in the 2009 season because they were desperate for a proven pass rusher.

A league source tells PFT that the Patriots and TE Rob Gronkowski have reached agreement on a contract that would replace the final two seasons of his rookie deal. A second-round pick in 2010, Gronkowski is due to earn $540,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013.

His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, denies that a deal has been reached.

If accurate, this is important news for keeper or dynasty owners because it reduces the possibility of a contract dispute next summer.

Raiders HC Dennis Allen on WR Denarius Moore: "He is an exceptional route runner. He has great speed I am really looking forward to working with Denarius." The former Saints assistant went on to say Denarius Moore was like a rich man's Lance Moore -- "a little bit faster and a little bit more of a down-the-field threat."

New Orleans Saints tailback Mark Ingram described his recent arthroscopic knee surgery as "as minor as it gets." And he said he will be 100 percent healthy by the time training camp starts.

The surgery was on Ingram's right knee, not the left knee that Ingram had injured during his college career at Alabama. Ingram said he was experiencing some soreness in the knee.

"Just something, needed to have it fixed and went in and got it done," Ingram said. "A minor knee surgery, a little scope. As minor as it gets."

Ingram is also recovering from a more more significant surgery earlier in the offseason to repair a tendon in his big toe - the injury that ended his rookie season early last year. Despite the two surgeries, he expects to be full speed by next month.

Darren Sproles is the RB to own in New Orleans, but Ingram has some upside given his current draft position in the middle rounds. Pierre Thomas rounds out the Saints' RBBC.

In two open practice sessions, Patriots RB Stevan Ridley has worked as either the first or second-string running back.

RB Shane Vereen was spotted working as the team’s lead running back in one of the team's two practices. A healthy Vereen pushes Ridley for the lead back role, and the two of them make the Patriots a much faster team.

This is shaping up to be another New England RBBC, with Ridley and Vereen handling most of the rushing, while Danny Woodhead serves as the team's third-down back.

After unsuccessfully trying to trade WR Chad Ochocinco throughout the day Thursday, the Patriots are releasing him, per league source.

It appears that the experiment is over. The writing was on the wall for Ochocinco, who never fully grasped the Patriots' offense.

Jets WR Santonio Holmes took another positive step this week by declaring that he will attend Mark Sanchez's "Jets West" passing camp in the coming weeks at the high school in Mission Viejo, Calif., that the quarterback attended.

Holmes was at "Jets West" in 2010, but skipped last year's camp because he was unsigned at the time. Even though he's not team captain anymore, Holmes feels he needs to be there because he still sees himself as a team leader.

"Being out there is going to give the young guys a sense of security, knowing we have our veteran, we have our leader here with us, who's going to help us and get us on the same page," Holmes said. "I think all of us doing the same thing at the same time will be a great chemistry builder."

With Plaxico Burress gone, Holmes is a sleeper heading into 2012. The Jets will be a run-first team under new OC Tony Sparano, but Brandon Marshall saw a ton of targets playing for Sparano in 2011.

With the emergence of Bills RB C.J. Spiller in the last six games last season following the season-ending fibula injury to Fred Jackson in Week 11, there’s a clear aim on the part of the offensive staff to get both backs on the field together as much as possible.

Such an approach not only gets more talent on the field, but adds a tremendous amount of versatility knowing both players can split wide as receivers and block.

“The great thing about it is we can put both of them anywhere,” said HC Chan Gailey. “We can leave one of them in the backfield and put the other one out as a receiver or motion them out. They both can block well enough so they create problems for the defense, so it’s really a good thing for us to have.”

Making the tandem even more versatile is Spiller’s improved blocking technique, helping to make him a more complete back. “He can do a lot of things blocking,” said Gailey. “He’s gotten better at his blocking from the previous year.”

Chris Johnson is on a mission. The Tennessee running back insists he's still the best in the NFL, and he's working hard this offseason to make sure he bounces back after the worst season of his career.

Johnson has packed on 8 to 9 pounds of muscle as part of his strong commitment to the Titans' offseason program.

Coach Mike Munchak couldn't pinpoint Johnson's struggles when reviewing film at season's end. Johnson had trouble getting to the outside on stretch plays, his signature run through his first three seasons, and didn't locate the hole quickly enough on cut backs.

"Sometimes he cut back too soon, it was blocked well and then the next time he'd go well 'I'm going to stretch the darn thing' and all of a sudden he should have cut back," Munchak said.

With each catch during the past three weeks of the Bengals voluntary workouts, WR Mohamed Sanu is emerging as solid go-to guy with his big body and big hands to match his family's big dreams. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden doesn't know how much Sanu will end up playing or where. But he does know he's dealing with a guy much older than his 22 years.

"He just has a natural instinct to be a big, friendly target; he knows what he has to do to get open," Gruden says. "A lot of guys when faced with a route adjustment round it off and it allows the route to get jumped for an interception. But he's got the ability to stick his foot in the ground, make the right shade or angle and get that 12-yard completion."

It sounds as if Sanu is impressing in his audition to be the Bengals' WR2 in 2012. Stay tuned.

Texans HC Gary Kubiak on QB Matt Schaub's recovery from Lisfranc surgery: "You’re probably watching him as much me over there. He’s on the other field. But he looks good to me. He looks like Matt. He’ll work as hard as anybody and he’s got a lot of ground to make up while some of these other guys take a little break here in a few weeks."

With RB Adrian Peterson’s health still an uncertainty, it’s a distinct possibility Toby Gerhart will be the Vikings’ opening day starter on Sept. 9. In the four games Peterson missed due to injury in 2011, Gerhart averaged 18 carries and 73 rushing yards per contest.

As for Gerhart’s increased bulk, the Vikings are doing a bit of offseason experimenting to determine how he can be most effective.

“He’s still a developing guy,” HC Leslie Frazier said. “And there are some things we’re going to find out in these OTAs. Before we send him home and come back to training camp, we’ll give him a prescribed weight. But we wanted to take a look at him at where he is right now and just see how it would affect his quickness. Because there’s a very good chance he’s going to have to really carry the load early on.”

We are currently lower (#15) on Peterson than most and that's because he's trying to do something unprecedented -- completely return to form nine months after tearing his ACL. Despite his progress, he could still land on PUP, which would knock him out for the first six weeks. Owners need to exercise caution when going down this road.

Vikings WR Percy Harvin (shoulder surgery) was absent from OTAs on Thursday after possibly overdoing it on Wednesday.

Titans HC Mike Munchak says WR Kenny Britt, who did light work on the side, should be back to where he was before second surgery by next week.

Falcons RB Michael Turner on the team's new offense: "Might be a little more passing than normal, than what Falcons fans are used to."

We currently have Turner projected for 1,338 total yards, which is 170 fewer yards than what he posted in 2010. Along with 10.5 TDs, we project him to be the #13 RB in standard formats. Other sites may warn you off of Turner, but there's value here if he's falling into the late 3rd or early 4th.

After brief flashes of how good he could be, Bengals RB Bernard Scott will have his best chance yet to show his ability as he will be one of the featured backs. Gone are the days of one back consistently getting 25 carries a game and in is a backfield-by-committee approach in which there will be a more equal distribution of carries between Scott and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Scott doesn’t have any idea how many carries he will get per game, but he does think the setup will work better.

Said Scott: “I think me and BenJarvus are going to be ready to handle how many carries they want to give us. I think it will be pretty even, but you never know.”

We currently have a 2:1 ratio for BJGE/Scott in total yardage but it may be more of a 60/40 or 55/45 split by the time the season starts. Scott did mention that Green-Ellis has a better than expected "wiggle" and has the ability to get outside, so if he can hold onto the lead back job, he will have RB3-type value.

Vikings WR Percy Harvin (shoulder) returned to the practice field on June 5.

Titans WR Kenny Britt said he's scheduled to start running and cutting again on Thursday for first time since scope.

Great news for Britt. If he doesn't suffer any setbacks his ADP is likely to climb into the 3rd or 4th round. He is currently our #18 WR, but has top 5 potential.

Raiders RB Darren McFadden is tending to a youth football camp in his home state of Arkansas and wasn't present, while Marcel Reece is just getting immersed in the system after signing his exclusive rights tender Monday.

That left the bulk of the work at running back to trade acquisition Mike Goodson and second-year back Taiwan Jones. Goodson got most of the first-team work and continued to impress.

Goodson appears to be ahead of Jones as McFadden's backup, though the team would likely take a committee approach, with Reece getting some work as well.

Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban on WR Michael Floyd: "I wouldn’t say Floyd has been eye-popping. But there are reasons for that, and it’s not necessarily a negative thing. When you think about it, most of Floyd’s strengths don’t translate to the underwear season of OTAs. His game is about going up in a crowd at getting a ball, or fighting for YAC, or cracking back on a defender to spring a teammate on a running play. None of those things are going to show up now...If I had to guess, I’d guess Floyd will be part of the group rather than a breakout guy as a rookie. That’s usually how it plays out for receivers. He’s got plenty of time to ramp up and do more, though."

At best, Floyd is going to see WR2 targets, and only if he's able to outplay Andre Roberts and Early Doucet. The QB situation is not great either. With all of this working against him, he is currently our #58 WR.

As we get closer and closer to the start of training camp, it appears more and more likely that the Ravens will allow starting quarterback Joe Flacco to play out the final year of his rookie contract during the 2012 season.

It isn’t often that a young quarterback the caliber of Flacco, 27 and a four-year starter in the NFL, is allowed to become an unrestricted free agent (the Ravens still have the franchise tag as an ace in the hole next spring).

If a long-term deal does not get done before the start of the season, Flacco should be plenty motivated in 2012.

Widespread reports over the past several months have pegged the Saints’ offer at $18 million per year, with QB Drew Brees’ demands north of $21 million. Some accounts have put Brees’ expectations at $23 million annually.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, that’s not the case. Brees, we’re told, has never asked for $21 million. And the Saints are believed to be offering more than $18 million, possibly closer to $19 million than $18 million.

So if the gap is closer than reported, why hasn’t the deal gotten done? It could be that the Saints are pushing the bigger numbers, in the hopes of creating the impression that, once they move toward Brees’ real bottom line, it will be perceived that the final number is much closer to what the Saints had offered than to what Brees had wanted, which in turn will result in a belief that the Saints “won” the tug-o-war.

Even if that’s the strategy, it makes no sense for the Saints to sacrifice Brees’ involvement in the offseason program during an offseason of so much upheaval and uncertainty. While Brees may not need the extra work in order to pick up where he left off in 2011, the Saints need Brees.

This is an encouraging report from the standpoint that the two sides are close enough that a deal should get done before the start of training camp.

Browns RB Trent Richardson is a lock to start and become a workhorse, but who will be his primary backup? The Browns hope Montario Hardesty can finally stay healthy and prove himself worthy of a second-round pick, but it will be an uphill battle considering his medical history, which includes a torn ACL and a torn calf muscle in the past two years. Brandon Jackson, who has returned to action after missing all of last season with an injured toe, is viewed as an ideal third-down back, and he has what it takes to challenge Hardesty for playing time. Chris Ogbonnaya will fight for a roster spot and could benefit if either Hardesty or Jackson suffer setbacks on the comeback trail.

Lions WR Titus Young has looked tremendous in OTAs so far. Nobody can defend him.

Lions RB Mikel Leshoure sat out of practice. He is coming off a torn Achilles. He participated last week, but was having issues with his other ankle as a result of compensation. It is not considered a setback.

Wide receiver Ryan Broyles, who is coming off ACL surgery, participated in most of the practice. He did a drill with all three quarterbacks and then had his left knee iced and he was done. This is protocol for Broyles. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he is ahead of schedule in his rehab.

Giants HC Tom Coughlin said he was impressed with the conditioning of RB David Wilson and the participation of veteran RB Ahmad Bradshaw in practice when many expected him to sit out OTAs.

"A lot of the rookies have -- upon opportunity -- maybe a flash here and a flash there," Coughlin said. "David Wilson, with his conditioning and his quickness and speed, has been there. I'm encouraged by more and more guys that have had issues in the past –- like Ahmad, he has practiced a couple of days. We have him restricted but he will take the first couple or three plays of a practice and go. And he actually looks good and he appears to be pretty comfortable."

Wilson is a must-handcuff for Bradshaw, and may actually eat into the veteran's touches as the season wears on.

Saints QB Drew Brees is not attending the team's mandatory minicamp.

There was a line of thinking that the team's only mandatory minicamp would help push the two sides closer to a deal. It's the only three days of all-out practice of the entire offseason until training camp. It's the only time that signed players are required to be in attendance.

Well, that day is here. And Drew Brees seems no closer to signing on the dotted line.

Redksins WR Leonard Hankerson was starting to look good last year before a hip injury ended his season, and the coaches believe he has the ability to develop into the true No. 1 game-breaker they have lacked. He has said he's fully healthy and cleared to participate in all offseason activities, and if he can stay healthy and develop a rapport with Griffin, he could be a big-time weapon for this offense in short order. He has the ability to create physical and athletic mismatches in the secondary, and the issues he had with actually catching the ball early last year seem to have been corrected.

Giants TE Martellus Bennett said he's 291 lbs because he's actually in great shape. Has worked to bulk up. Says his pants size has gone down.

One of the Bengals’ OTA projects has been cleaning up WR A.J. Green’s routes. Green had a fantastic rookie season, but the team believes he can take his game to another level with more attention to detail in his routes. “He’s always been such a good receiver that he could beat guys a lot of times just by running around them,” Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden told me. “There were times last year when he wasn’t as detailed as he should be in terms of getting off the line, his depths and his route running. I think some of those routes will be cleaned up. He’s working on it. He’s so receptive to it. Has a ways to go, but he wants to be great. With the talent he has, throw in the desire he has, the work ethic he has, and the sky is the limit.”

Colts RB Coach David Walker on Donald Brown: "Donald deserves to be the No. 1 right now as we go through offseason training. But we'll see how that unfolds as we get to camp and start hitting, playing against other people in the preseason."

Brown averaged a gaudy 4.8 YPC in 2011, but without his 161-yard effort against the Titans in Week 15, his YPC would drop to a more pedestrian 4.1 YPC. However, the running game should have more room to run with QB Andrew Luck under center in 2012. We're expecting Brown to be the lead back, but that could easily change in training camp.

History lesson with Chargers HC Norv Turner: He likes his backs to run a lot, and he doesn't care if the rest of the league is going to this consistent two-back business. When the Chargers let Mike Tolbert go to Carolina in free agency and didn't replace him with a prominent back as complement to third-year man Ryan Mathews, that sent the message about Mathews' role to the team loud and clear. "At that moment, I knew I'd be the guy,'' Mathews said.

Look at Turner's track record. When he took over as Jimmy Johnson's offensive coordinator in 1991, Emmitt Smith's carries rose from 241 in 1990 to 365 in Turner's first year. In 2002 in Miami, the Dolphins had just acquired Ricky Williams and had just signed Turner as coordinator. Williams had his two biggest seasons for carries (383, 392) with Turner in Miami. And Frank Gore hit his career rushing high for attempts (312 carries) in Turner's only 49er season. Last week, Turner said in San Diego he was getting Mathews ready "for everything he can handle.'' Sounds very much like Mathews, if he stays upright, will get his 300 carries, and then some.

"Coach Turner's coached a lot of great backs,'' Mathews told me the other day. "He's told me I remind him of Ricky Williams, which is the kind of back I would like to be. In college [Fresno State] I was a workhorse back. I believe I can do that here. My training has really improved, and I've set high standards for myself. I shouldn't come off the field at all this year.''

That would mean Mathews, who has had 72 catches combined in his first two years, could have that many this season alone. If he plays on most third downs, particularly with Philip Rivers needing to throw hot because he could be under duress early if the new-look line struggles, Mathews could approach 400 touches.

The Chargers intend to feed Mathews as much as any back in the league. It'll be up to him to handle it.

Mathews is currently RB5 in 4for4's rankings. We're expecting him to be productive in a big workload, but our one concern is his durability. However, no RBs are completely immune to the injury bug -- it comes with the territory.

Ravens RB Ray Rice did not provide an update of negotiations between his representative and the team, saying, "Honestly, I just let my agent [Todd France] take care of all of that stuff. I just stay in shape and come out on days like this to get some fresh sun. I know the business side always takes care of itself. I know I've put myself in that position to kind of let it dwindle out and whatever it is at the end of the day, hopefully I'll be out there soon."

"You've just got to understand what's going on," Rice said. "Once you understand what's going on, you kind of separate yourself from it and control what you can control, and that's always staying in shape and being ready when your time comes."

In order for the Falcons’ offense to soar under new coordinator Dirk Koetter, Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White figures that he must do less.

“I know that sounds crazy, but we’ve got other guys out there that can play,” White said. “[Julio Jones] is going to be a big part of the offense this year. [Harry Douglas] is going to do wonders in the slot. We have to maximize our talent and get the ball in everyone’s hands.”

RB Michael Turner has more than 300 carries in three of the past four seasons. HC Mike Smith has stated that Turner’s carries will be more closely monitored in the new attack.

“[Koetter] wants to throw the ball more this year,” White said. “We still have Michael Turner and he’s a great running back, but we have so many weapons at the skill positions. We’ve got to find a way to get everybody the ball and keep everybody happy.”

Provided that Jones can stay healthy, he should take over as the top fantasy WR in 2012, though White isn't going to go away quietly. In the running game, we're still expecting Turner to be a solid and productive RB2, though he will have limited upside due to the new scheme and his lack of use in the passing game.

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick receiver Justin Blackmon was arrested on an aggravated DUI charge Sunday after authorities in Oklahoma said he had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

The former Oklahoma State star smelled of alcohol when an officer pulled him over shortly after 3 a.m., Stillwater police spokesman Capt. Randy Dickerson said.

Blackmon agreed to take a breathalyzer test and blew a .24 - three times the legal limit of .08, Dickerson said.

Yet another multimillionaire refuses to take a cab or hire a car service when he goes out drinking. We're not terribly high on Blackmon in 2012, mostly due to QB Blaine Gabbert, but this arrest is not encouraging.

When 49ers beat writer Matt Maiocco was asked about the role of WR Randy Moss, he responded, "Probably No. 1 split end with Crabtree No. 1 flanker."

That would make Moss the starter ahead of Mario Manningham. If that's the case, Moss would be draftable in 12-team formats.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is dialed in on Week 1.

"What I envision is to be suited up and ready to roll. Full strength," Peterson said. "Anything else? I would be cheating myself."

"Even they recognize Adrian's different," trainer Russ Paine said. "He has a different protoplasm than the rest of the world."

For now, he remains ahead of schedule. His full range of motion has returned. He looks great and feels better. But Paine issues a reminder of the phases Peterson has yet to clear. His left quadriceps still needs strengthening. Then there's the inescapable need to regain proprioception -- getting his knee to reach a state of equilibrium and balance with the rest of his body. That takes time. So while Sugarman supports Peterson's urge to be ready for Week 1, he isn't crazy enough to promise it.

"In reality, he is only going to be back on the field when he is functionally safe to go on the field. Not just because he wants to say, 'Oh, I did it. I'm the greatest.' There's a lot more to it."

Peterson is probably the biggest boom/bust pick heading into 2012 fantasy drafts. He's currently going in the 2nd or 3rd round, and would likely be a steal there if he's a full go for Week 1. Owners need to be sure they also grab Toby Gerhart as insurance. But be warned -- RBs simply don't return to form within a year of an ACL tear. It would be unprecedented if Peterson is the same running back by Week 1.

RB Justin Forsett revealed on Twitter that he’s agreed to terms with the Texans.

The Texans have an opening at the third tailback spot behind Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Forsett should be able to win that position, assuming he stays healthy in training camp.

The Panthers wanted to extend RB Jonathan Stewart's contract earlier this offseason, but were unable to strike a long-term deal.

They've not given up hope of doing so.

"I definitely hope things work out," Stewart said. "I want to be back. I think we have a lot of weapons on offense and we can be a dangerous team."

Stewart's fate was probably sealed by the contract that DeAngelo Williams signed last year. Fantasy owners who are in keeper leagues may want to target Stewart on the chance that he signs elsewhere next summer. He'll be a 26-year-old free agent in 2013 and has the talent to be a top 10 RB if he were to get a full workload.

Coach Ron Rivera said he views RB Mike Tolbert primarily as a fullback, but that his versatility means he'll be able to line up at a variety of positions including as a short-yardage running back, split out wide as a receiver as well as blocking back for DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and quarterback Cam Newton.

It sounds as if Tolbert is going to vulture short-yardage carries from Stewart and Williams, who already see fewer goal line touches due to Newton's ability to punch it in.

Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck on WR Kendall Wright: “He’s been great. He’s been as advertised. He’s explosive. He’s a great kid, he’s a competitor. He’s not a big guy, but he’s been fun to have around. The rookie class in general, they’ve just been really hungry, going to work, humble. Kendall, because of the injury (to Kenny Britt), and Nate (Washington) have had great practices so far. It’s great to see.”

Britt is coming back off knee surgery for a torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Week 3 in 2011, and is targeting late preseason or the season opener for his return. Wright has been playing at the “X” position in the offense, which is where Britt plays, and may shift to other spots when Britt returns.

"I'm just feeling good, man," WR Michael Crabtree said after a recent practice. "It's been a while. It just feels good not to have to go through so many warm-ups, putting on a bunch of wraps and (ointments) just to go out and play."

Crabtree's left foot has undergone two surgeries and is pain-free. He says it hasn't felt this good since he was a college freshman in 2007.

His improved health is good news, but the 49ers added Mario Manningham, Randy Moss and A.J. Jenkins this offseason, so Crabtree's targets are likely to be reduced unless the team changes its offensive philosophy.

Ravens WR Anquan Boldin on the addition of WR Jacoby Jones: "I think just adding a threat like that on the outside is big for us. You have a guy with that kind of speed, him and Torrey Smith outside, it opens up a lot of things you can do, me working inside with [tight ends] Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, bringing Ray Rice out of the backfield. It just opens up a lot for us.”

It sounds as if Boldin is planning to move to the slot when the team utilizes three-WR sets, with Jones and Smith on the outside.

"The Arm" of Redskins QB Robert Griffin III is already becoming legendary.

"It's more of running to your left and flicking your wrist and throwing the ball 70 yards," Washington's backup quarterback Rex Grossman said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"His arm almost comes off like a whip," Grossman added, holding his own hand above his head, then flinging it forward about a foot in a vain attempt to demonstrate the way Griffin throws.

"There are a lot of plays in our offense where you boot[leg] and run to the left and the receivers cross downfield," Grossman said.

"He's going to make some impressive plays," Grossman continued. "Not just runs, he's going to make some big plays when everything breaks down."

Chiefs HC Romeo Crennel indicated that WR Jonathan Baldwin missed practice because he was dealing with a medical issue. Crennel wasn't specific but Baldwin's absence may be related to recent migraine problems.

The Giants announced today that the club has restructured DE Osi Umenyiora's contract, the terms of which were not disclosed.

"I appreciate Osi’s patience and effort through this process,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said in an announcement released by the team. “We talked it out, and it makes sense for everybody involved. We are very pleased, excited and looking forward to seeing number 72 on the field at Monday’s OTA.”

Giants TE Martellus Bennett is listed at 265 lbs but TE coach Mike Pope said, "He weighed in at 291. That's probably a little too big for his legs to carry."

With both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum working their way back from knee injuries, Bennett has a great opportunity to prove himself as a starting NFL tight end, but this kind of weight gain is not a very good start.

Browns HC Pat Shurmur on WR Greg Little: “I’ve seen him look a lot quicker, a lot more sudden, and I think to this point he has caught the ball at a much more consistent rate and he just looks like a different guy to me ... To his credit, he has done a really nice job of getting his body into the right kind of shape he needs to be in to be a receiver in this league."

You can count rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden among those who believe that Little has what it takes to become a dominant offensive weapon this season. Weeden even went so far as to compare Little to this year's fifth overall pick, Justin Blackmon.

"There are a lot of similarities [between Little and Blackmon]." Weeden told reporters following Wednesday's organized team activities. "They are big body guys, big hands and strong. You can tell when Greg catches it he’s strong with the football and that’s the way that Justin was.

"I haven’t really thrown much with Greg, we’ve been in two different groups, but the more I see him, I’ll tell you what, he can play. He can really, really go get it. He’s going to be a fun guy to throw to."

This is all well and good, but it's concerning that Weeden hasn't "thrown much" to Little. That's not a great way to develop a rapport. Still, if any Browns WR is going to make a fantasy impact this season, it will likely be Little.

WR Stephen Hill continues to impress. We know he's big and we know he's fast, but he also demonstrated the ability the beat jams at the line of scrimmage. A lot of rookies struggle with that aspect of the job. Actually, Rex Ryan candidly admitted he expected Hill to have trouble with press coverage, but the second-round pick has surprised him. Obviously, these aren't full-contact practices, so he isn't getting the full brunt of life as an NFL receiver, but Hill has met the early challenges.

Jaguars HC Mike Mularkey said wide receiver Mike Thomas is getting extensive work at various receiver positions, “and has handled it pretty well. He’s been grasping things more than the other guys. He’s been around. He has done well. As he gets it, he gets better and better. He has had a good camp.” Mularkey said Thomas right now is the Jaguars’ most versatile receiver because of his experience and his ability.

Earlier reports had Thomas on the roster bubble, but it appears that his job is safe for now. We're not expecting much from the Jaguars' passing game. There is some talent at WR, but QB Blaine Gabbert needs to make big strides in 2012 for this passing attack to have any sort of fantasy impact.

Vikings WR Greg Childs has been out because of a calf strain that he hurt during rookie minicamp last month. Childs' injury is unrelated to the torn patellar tendon he suffered as a junior at Arkansas.

Jets RB Shonn Greene set a career-high with 253 rushing attempts last season, and he said he had been led to believe by the offensive coordinator Tony Sparano that he will surpass that figure in 2012 — even if Tim Tebow does end up taking away carries that would have otherwise gone to him or the backup, Joe McKnight.

“We’re not going to disappoint you,” Coach Rex Ryan said. “We’re going to give the ball to Shonn Greene a bunch.”

Greene finished the 2011 season RB18 in standard scoring formats, but he's currently the #25 RB off the board despite the fact that he's still young (27 to start the season) and that the Jets let LaDainian Tomlinson (117 touches) go. Sure, Tebow may very well eat into his rushing TDs, but he only had six scores in 2011 so he can only drop so far in that area. He has improved as a pass-catcher as well. He should make a solid (if unexciting) RB2 or a very good RB3.

The Falcons will have a new offense in 2012. Coordinator Mike Mularkey left to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his replacement is former Jaguars coordinator Dirk Koetter.

The Jaguars were known as a run-heavy team under Koetter, but that was because that's the way then-coach Jack Del Rio wanted it. The Falcons are expected to be more vertical with Ryan throwing to Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside.

That no-huddle offense seemed to be when the Falcons shined in 2011. Koetter plans to use more of it, and QB Matt Ryan likes that idea. It puts more on his plate, calling plays at the line of scrimmage, but it also gives the Falcons a chance to dictate tempo. With Jones and White outside, why not let it fly?

The author of the article, Pete Prisco, spent quite a bit of time with Koetter so his insight is valuable. We shouldn't worry too much about the Falcons moving to a more run-oriented attack after opening things up last year.