April 2013 4for4 Player News Articles

Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson is a raw route-runner who probably will need many of his touches manufactured out of the gate, not unlike Percy Harvin did the past four seasons. That leaves Jerome Simpson as the starting split end and Greg Jennings as the flanker, with Jarius Wright a situational threat in the vertical passing game.

Patterson is apparently too raw to start for the Vikings, who desperately need a playmaker opposite Greg Jennings. We'll see how he progresses in OTAs. Don't be surprised if he's starting Week 1, even if it's out of pure desperation.

Cardinals GM Steve Keim on RB Andre Ellington (6th round) — “Obviously after taking Stepfan Taylor, we did not anticipate taking a back, but sticking to our board and staying true to it, we wanted to take the best player available. The fact that most likely we are going to keep four backs on our roster, we feel that Andre is a guy that can bring a diffferent style to the table. His run style, his elusivness, his play speed and athleticism, is different from the other top three backs on our roster.”

Cardinals GM Steve Keim on WR Ryan Swope (6th round) — “A guy that B.A. and I have had our eyes on for quite some time. We were extremely excited that he started to slide. He is a guy that not only can stretch the field vertically but has some underneath quickness. He kind of reminds me of Brandon Stokely a little bit.”

Cardinals GM Steve Keim on RB Stepfan Taylor (5th round) — “Extremely productive running back. Three consecutive years with over 1,000 rushing yards. Not a burner with tremendous top-end speed but a guy that runs with balance, strength and fits Bruce’s offense very well with his ability to protect in pass protection situations.”

Dynasty leaguers should take note -- the Arizona RB situation is far from static. Taylor could be starting in a year or two.

If second-round pick Le'Veon Bell of Michigan State does not take command and become a quick starter for them, then the Steelers may rue their choice there.

"Running back is a position, probably more so than most, that you have a chance to come in and make an impact," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said about Bell. "Obviously, there's a lot of work ahead of him. He's a young guy, but he's coming from a pro-style offense. A lot of the runs will be very similar to the runs that he was running. So I expect him to get into the mix and be a factor."

At this point, we have Bell penciled in as the Steelers' RB1.

Jaguars former first-round pick WR Justin Blackmon is being suspended four games by the NFL, per league sources.

This certainly will put a dent in his 2013 fantasy stock. WR Cecil Shorts gets a bump with Blackmon out for the first four games. Rookie Ace Sanders may get a chance to shine early on.

Titans WR Justin Hunter tells The Midday 180 he'll start out at the Z position. That's opposite Kenny Britt, who's the X.

Nate Washington is still on the roster, so it's no guarantee that Hunter will start at the Z. That's just where he's going to play.

The Eagles released TE Evan Moore.

WR Victor Cruz is the only restricted free agent still unsigned by the Giants, and Tom Coughlin is concerned.

Speaking on WFAN Monday afternoon, Coughlin said he hoped at this point Cruz would have signed a deal and been involved in offseason workouts. The deadline for another team to sign restricted free agents to an offer sheet was April 19.

"It has to be a concern because when the restricted free agency period is over, you would hope that things would move fast. What we want is exactly what I said the other day. We want a win-win. We want Victor to be proud to be a New York Giant, proud of his contract," Coughlin said.

"The New York Giants want him back as badly as we've ever wanted anybody," Coughlin said, "And so we like the thing to be settled and over with and we wish it would be that way so that he could be in here working with the quarterback in the offseason. And the sooner it gets settled, the better off we will be."

The two sides are far apart on a deal, so this is somewhat concerning. Holdouts usually aren't good for fantasy production.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III did a few jumping jacks, jogged in place and bounced up and down on the stage.

The fans cheered. And chanted his name. And cheered some more.

For many of the thousands gathered at the stadium, nothing the Washington Redskins did during the three days of the NFL draft meant more than the brief appearance by the franchise player on Saturday.

"I'm good. You guys saw me jumping. I mean, I can run a little bit," he said, running in place some more. "I'll be good. No worries. I'll take it slow, but at the same time I'll be ready to go."

Griffin III looks like he may be ready to go in Week 1.

“We are hoping it gets easier,” coach Mike Munchak said of QB Jake Locker, the eighth overall pick of the 2011 draft. “There is a lot of stress on a quarterback. But when you can run the football like we are hoping we can do with the changes we’ve made there, then that takes pressure off him. We have receivers we’re hoping could stretch the field and do things — go up and catch a tough ball and go up and make plays when the ball is not perfectly thrown every time.

“Two years ago, we made the decision on a quarterback that we felt was going to lead this team to the Super Bowl. Now, it’s up to us to surround him with people that can help him do that. I think we are doing that. … Obviously he’s excited, but he understands that there is a lot on him, too. He needs to have a good year and he’s doing everything he can to do that.”

At the moment, Rams WRs Brian Quick and Chris Givens project as the starting outside receivers, with Tavon Austin in the slot. The Rams could pair those three up in two tight end sets with Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks in what would be an empty backfield. Three- and four-receiver sets figure to see more use at the Edward Jones Dome than they have since the days of Mike Martz.

Cook alone could line up on the line, in the backfield, in the slot and out wide.

As for Austin, the possibilities are just as numerous. When asked Thursday if Austin will line up in the backfield as a ball-carrier, HC Jeff Fisher smiled and said: “Maybe. We’ll see.”

Actually, Austin let the cat out of the playbook earlier that night while on a conference call with St. Louis reporters.

“They showed me all the positions that I did when I played for Coach (Dana) Holgorsen,” Austin said, referring to the West Virginia head coach. “They’re going to use me in the backfield. Coach Fisher talked to me about special teams, and I’m definitely a slot receiver. So, they definitely have a plan for me.”

Austin figures to have the most fantasy value of any of the Rams WRs.

The Bengals are hoping that receiver Mohamed Sanu is fully recovered from a broken foot that cut short his rookie season. Sanu, a third-round pick from Rutgers last year, had worked his way into the starting lineup when he broke his left foot and needed surgery on Dec. 3.

Sanu caught 16 passes for 154 yards with four touchdowns in nine games last season, ran five times for 15 yards and threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Green out of a Wildcat formation.

Sanu expects to be at full speed for the team's offseason workouts in May.

Sanu will be a late-round sleeper heading into 2013 fantasy drafts.

Once the team landed QB E.J. Manuel, the Bills had accomplished a prime objective. "Our goal coming in was to bring in another bell-cow quarterback to compete for the job [with newly signed Kevin Kolb and holdover Tarvaris Jackson], and we did that with E.J.," CEO Russ Brandon said. "Then we added some new tools in the toolbox."

It sounds as if Manuel will compete to start for the Bills.

HC Greg Schiano on QB Mike Glennon: “Competition and quality depth across our roster is critical for us to be a championship team. I think that applies to every position. I’m looking forward to it; I think that’s going to make us a better football team.

“He fits the things we’re trying to do – run the football, play-action pass, throw the ball down the field like we did this past season. You always want to be able to do that. God forbid something were to happen to Josh, you want to be able to continue with your offensive philosophy if you can. You can’t always do that.”

The key phrase is "God forbid something were to happen to [Josh Freeman]" so it doesn't sound like Freeman's job is in any jeopardy.

Jaguars RB/WR Denard Robinson (5-feet-10, 199 pounds) played quarterback at Michigan, but is expected to play running back in the NFL. He worked at wide receiver at the Senior Bowl.

The quote isn't definitive, but it comes from the team's official website, so we have to assume that the writer knows what he's talking about.

The Jets have released QB Tim Tebow.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a run at Jeff Demps last year after the London Olympics but had jumped in too late because he already had made a commitment to the New England Patriots.

Saturday, the Bucs got Demps in a swap of running backs, sending LeGarrette Blount to Foxborough in exchange for Demps and a seventh-round draft pick.

Blount will try to make the roster as a backup to Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. This probably won't impact the value of either player, but stranger things have happened.

The New York Jets have traded for New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Like Michael Turner, LaMont Jordan and Chester Taylor before him, the 25-year-old Ivory is one of those RBs that the fantasy community has been hoping would get an opportunity to start, and now he'll get his chance. He was limited to 27 games in four college seasons due to injury, and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He has averaged 5.1 YPC in his career, though he has struggled with injuries in the NFL as well. In his rookie season, due to injuries to Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, Ivory got a few starts and had some success. In 13 career games where he has received at least 10 touches, he's averaged 78 total yards, 0.38 TD and an impressive 5.2 YPC. That production equates to #16 RB-type numbers. New Orleans has not thrown the ball his way very often -- he has just three catches in his career -- but he did score on a 76-yard swing pass in preseason of his rookie year so he has some pass-catching ability. Mike Goodson is pretty good in the passing game, so we're expecting Ivory to be a two-down back in New York, which will limit his upside. If he continues to make big plays running the ball, the team may try to get him the ball more often in the passing game as well. Consider him a low-end RB2 until we know who is going to be the third-down back in 2013. Ivory's arrival kills most of Goodson's sleeper potential.

The Green Bay Packers have signed QB Aaron Rodgers to a contract extension. The signing was announced Friday by Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.

“Aaron is a true professional and a special player,” Thompson said. “He works hard, is humble, and is focused on his actions, on and off the field. He is an excellent teammate and pushes himself and others to be the very best. We are happy to reach an agreement to extend his career with the Packers.”

No word yet on its value, but is rumored to be the richest in league history.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw has received full clearance to participate in offseason workouts. The Steelers remain interested.

Bengals OC Jay Gruden on TEs Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert: “I don’t think Jermaine has a lot to worry about; Jermaine’s our starting tight end. And Tyler’s going to come in here and add another element with the two tight end package or three tight end package. You know, everyone should be pushing themselves anyway. Jermaine should be working to get better whether we drafted Eifert or some slappy from New Haven. Jermaine should be pushing himself, and that’s the way our offense has been run and that’s the way our guys work in the room.”

Despite Gruden's comments, the pick of Eifert will have an impact on Gresham's snaps and targets if the rookie is ready to contribute in 2013.

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians on WR Larry Fitzgerald:

“It was a down year, and it’s nice to see him on a mission right now to get back to where he was, and rightfully so. He’s a premier player and we need to have him back up over 100 catches and 10-15 touchdowns.”

Under Arians, Colts WR Reggie Wayne finished 2012 with 106-1355-5, but Wayne was also helped by the arrival of QB Andrew Luck. Fitzgerald should also see an improvement in QB with Carson Palmer under center. Palmer is no savior, but he should provide at least mediocre play at QB which will be a big improvement from the three-headed monster of Kevin Kolb, John Skelton and Ryan Lindley. We're expecting a bounce-back season for Fitzy, who still is among the most-talented WRs in the NFL.

The Browns completed the anticipated trade with the Miami Dolphins for Davone Bess and rewarded him with a three-year extension. In exchange for Bess, the Browns moved down seven spots in the fourth round (104 to 111) and swapped their fifth-round pick (164) for a seventh-rounder (217).

Bess is expected to compete with newly signed David Nelson for slot duties. Nelson is coming off an ACL tear but is "close to being healthy." Expect Greg Little and Josh Gordon on the outside.

Redskins RB Roy Helu suffered a setback in his recovery from turf toe, but coach Mike Shanahan said he’s nearly 100 percent. Helu played in only three games last season because of the injury on his left foot.

Helu could be the third-down back in Washington if he could get healthy, which would put a dent in the upside of Alfred Morris, who did not show much in the way of pass-catching in 2012.

Packers aren't going to sign RB Cedric Benson today. Just checking on his foot for now.

Bears WR Brandon Marshall ran routes this week. He says he is around 80-90% recovered from hip surgery.

Marshall figures to be one of the top 5 fantasy WRs in 2013, provided he's healthy.

The Steelers need a running back to contribute, a lot. While Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman had their moments last season, the coaches have decided they serve better as complementary backs than ones who can lead the way. Tomlin became frustrated with his back-by-committee approach last season and would like to find someone he could run, as he once said about Willie Parker, "until the wheels fall off.''

RB Steven Jackson moved on to the Falcons and a wide open running back room awaits with Isaiah Pead in position to seize the day. Coach Jeff Fisher believes Pead can easily live up to his draft-pick status. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter even pegged Pead as his 2013 NFC breakout player during a recent interview session with Sports Illustrated's Peter King. Despite all that's gone wrong for Pead, the future remains ripe with opportunity.

"He just didn't get a chance because of the other two," Fisher said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, referring to Jackson and Daryl Richardson. "But he'll get his opportunity this year. ... He's got a chance to make a lot of big plays for us."

"I'm not going to sit and linger on something, but I am one to not forget about a situation," Pead said. "I am moving on from last year, last year is last year, but I have not forgot about last year. I wouldn't call it revenge, but the chip that I put on my shoulder is just a little bigger."

The Rams RB job is a camp battle worth watching this August. Richardson figures to have the advantage due to his experience last season, but Pead supporters point to the fact that he missed OTAs due to his late graduation from college and was never able to recover. He certainly was more highly regarded than Richardson coming out of college.

Offensive players have spent much of the week praising the new system Reid has installed. On Thursday, after the conclusion of their three-day mini-camp, it was wide receiver Dwayne Bowe’s turn.

“It’s exactly what I dreamed,” Bowe said. “It’s only the third day but you can already imagine 40 days of everybody getting in synch. This offense is going to be up and running.

“Throwing the ball deep, that’s something we haven’t done in the past so I’m excited right now. The play calling is totally different from last year. It’s not check downs or putting it in the running back’s hands. This guy likes to go down the field, take the top off (the defense) and that’s something we haven’t done in the past, put up a lot of points. This season he said we’re going to blow out the scoreboard and that’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Not putting the ball in "the running back's hands" contradicts the belief that Reid will throw more to Jamaal Charles in the passing game, but nonetheless it's good to hear that Bowe likes the offense.

When he received an invitation to train with Brandon Marshall in South Florida, Bears second-year receiver Alshon Jeffery automatically accepted.

“I just wanted to learn from someone different and do things different,” Jeffery said. “Plus, he’s a Pro Bowl player. I want to see what it takes.”

When he arrived at Fit Speed, Jeffery weighed in at 225 pounds with a body fat percentage of 11 or 12 percent. When he checked out a few weeks ago, Jeffery weighed 219 pounds with eight percent body fat.

“Alshon made tremendous strides,” said Matt Gates, Fit Speed’s co-owner and director. “He’s a really good kid, a really hard worker. He doesn’t say much, but I like that.”

Keep Jeffery in mind as a sleeper as a starter opposite Marshall in the Bears offense, which should get a shot in the arm with the arrival of sharp offensive mind Marc Trestman as head coach.

The diligent side of tight end Martellus Bennett — quarterback Jay Cutler’s new big weapon — has emerged during the Bears’ voluntary minicamp, erasing any concerns about how his eccentric, outgoing personality would blend into the Bears locker room.

‘‘He’s a student,” Bears tight end coach Andy Bischoff said Thursday after the third day of minicamp. ‘‘He’s writing everything down. He’s asking questions. He wants to be coached. Really, in every possible way, he’s been a joy.’’

After a hot start (5.0-62-1.0 in the first three games), Bennett only cracked the 50-yard mark once in the next eight games, and failed to find the endzone during that span. He finished the season with two TDs in his final five games. Ever since they traded Greg Olsen away, the Bears have struggled at TE. Bennett should immediately start in Chicago. We liked him more in New York, but he could surprise for the Bears if Jay Cutler sends enough passes his way. At this point, he looks like a mediocre TE2.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson is ahead of schedule as he heals from a season-ending broken leg injury suffered in 2012.

"The great news is I'm healed up," Burleson said. "I just got news from my doctors that the bone is good. I'm running and jumping three months ahead of schedule."

Currently the veteran receiver is slotted to be Calvin Johnson's main foil this season, but he said he would welcome competition if the Lions took a wide receiver with one of their high draft picks.

Unless the Lions add a talented WR before the season, Burleson figures to start opposite Calvin Johnson, with Ryan Broyles (ACL) is aiming to be ready for Week 1.

Titans WR Kenny Britt, who spent part of his offseason working out in California, impressed his teammates on the first day of workouts at Baptist Sports Park on Monday.

“He came back and looked great during workouts,’’ quarterback Jake Locker said. “It sounds like he really got on his rehab and got his knee feeling a lot better and I’m really excited about how he came back.”

“He was normal, laughing and joking,’’ cornerback Jason McCourty said of Britt. “He did everything everybody else did in the lift, and what we all did in the running. He looks like the normal Kenny Britt.”

Britt may be "fool's gold," a talented WR that for one reason (injury) or another (off-the field troubles) can't put together a good, 16-game fantasy season. In 13 games from 2010 to 2011, Britt averaged 4.5-82-.92 which equate to Calvin Johnson's 2012 fantasy production (#1 WR). So the talent is there, but injuries and knuckle-headed tendencies are major concerns.

An offense seemingly tailor-made for his skillset, paired with the departures of Donald Jones and David Nelson, should equal a golden opportunity for Bills second-year receiver T.J. Graham.

“Oh yeah, I love it,” Graham said of the new coaching staff and fast pace. “Not that I didn’t love the old staff. I just happened to be fortunate to get a really good staff in here that can teach me and other receivers [to be better]. It’s a really good system and I like it. It’s wide open.”

If Buffalo can find someone to provide decent play at QB, Graham will be a deep sleeper heading into the 2013 season provided he starts opposite Steve Johnson.

Two positions the Broncos figure to address within the first three rounds are running back and cornerback.

"With [Willis McGahee], he's our big back right now," GM John Elway said. "We have Ronnie Hillman who's a 190-pounder change-of-pace type guy. We look at Willis as being that big back for us right now, and then we'll see what happens in the draft."

Are the New York Jets close to moving Darrelle Revis? It appears so.

The Jets have granted the cornerback permission to visit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and take a physical, a Jets source told NFL.com's Albert Breer. ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news. Breer reported that the physical is expected be given Sunday.

Revis is rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered last season. The Buccaneers, who will want to know as much about the knee before committing to a trade for Revis, hold the No. 13 slot in the 2013 NFL Draft and likely would have to give up that and a second-rounder. Another later pick is probable. The Jets already own the No. 9 spot.

The Buccaneers were last in the league in pass defense and 28th in pass TDs allowed. A healthy Revis would go a long way to improving those numbers. Revis turns 28 in July and is coming off an ACL tear.

It’s likely that RB Andre Brown will share backfield duties with explosive second-year man David Wilson. But Brown believes he can handle the bulk of the action.

“Third-down back, pass protection, goal line, short yardage – all that,” Brown said. “I can’t wait to do it. Because I want to show, other than (scoring) the one-yard touchdown, I want to show more than what I have.

“I feel like I’m a home run hitter, too. As long as I go out there and produce and show the world my versatility, the sky’s the limit.”

Brown is the reason we're not crazy about David Wilson in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. He's going to be the Giants' goal line back and could have an even bigger role given how well he played in 2012.

“You always want people holding you back,” Redskins QB Robert Griffin III told host Larry Michael on Wednesday’s program, referring to the team’s medical staff needing to limit how hard he pushes himself during rehab sessions. “You don’t ever want to have people pushing you forward.”

Although Griffin did not specifically address where he is in the rehabilitation process, he confirmed recent reports from surgeon James Andrews and Coach Mike Shanahan that his recovery is progressing well and that he’s well ahead of schedule.

“That’s what they’re doing right now; they’re holding me back from doing certain things because I feel like I’m ready, my body might feel like it’s ready, but according to the timetable, I’m not ready,” he said.

Griffin had the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his right knee repaired by Andrews on Jan. 9.

QB is already deep, but if RG3 is good to go for Week 1, watch out. Tony Romo figures to be our QB12 in that scenario and he was drafted QB6-QB7 from 2009-2011.

QB Michael Vick told ESPN that, under HC Chip Kelly's new training regimen, he has added 9 pounds.

"All muscle," said Vick, who missed five games last season. "I want to be strong all year."

Running back Jamaal Charles hasn’t been used a lot by the Chiefs as a receiver over the years. He did catch 45 passes in 2010, but that’s his career high.

Given the way HC Andy Reid uses his backs, as prolific receivers out of the backfield, Charles can probably count on breaking his personal best for pass receptions this year.

“I’m happy I can catch out of the backfield more,’’ Charles said. “This is the most movement I’ve been (asked to do) in five years in the league, shifting and motion. This is the most I’ve ever (done). I have to get my mind right and my body in shape for this type of offense.’’

Charles may not see as many rushes as he did in 2012 (285), but McCoy averaged 20.5 touches per game in the last three seasons, which is more than the 18.0 that Charles averaged in the same span (and the 20.0 touches he averaged in 2012). The Kansas City offense should improve, which should lead for more redzone touches as well.

Giants GM Jerry Reese wouldn’t even guess at when Victor Cruz might finally report back to the Giants. He even cautioned against assuming Cruz will be on the roster on opening day.

Eli Manning, though, seemed to know exactly when his star receiver would join the Giants’ offseason program.

“I have a feeling I’ll see Victor here when the contract’s done,” Manning said Thursday. “That’s my gut feeling. I could be wrong. If he's back here earlier, then that will be a bonus.”

Unfortunately for the Giants, that could still be a while because they and Cruz are not particularly close on a long-term contract, according to an NFL source familiar with the situation. The Giants, as the Daily News has reported, have an offer on the table to the 26-year-old worth more than $7 million per season. That’s believed to include somewhere between $15 million-$18 million guaranteed.

Cruz, who was once seeking $10 million -$11 million per season according to several NFL sources, has not yet accepted. He has also not signed his “first-round tender” worth $2.879 million.

TE Jordan Cameron enters his third NFL season playing for HC Rob Chudzinski and OC Norv Turner that has worked with a pair of future Hall-of-Fame tight ends who are converted basketball players – just like he is.

“It’s awesome,” Cameron said as the Browns concluded their first minicamp Thursday. “Obviously, (Chudzinski) knows the importance of the tight end . . . He knows the little things, the little nuances of the position. His hands are everywhere. He’s coaching up everyone. He definitely knows what he’s doing. He’s proven.”

Chudzinski was asked Tuesday if Cameron has the makings of a “top” tight end.

“Well he’s not ready right now, we are working through that with him,” the coach said. “He is learning the offense obviously. This is an offense that has featured tight ends, and tight ends have always been a big part of it. He has the skill set that fits and he has had a good couple days.

“It’s a learning process right now and he has to keep progressing, but we feel good about him and where he is at.”

Cameron makes sense as a breakout candidate, but the signing of David Nelson is worrisome. He's a big WR who could play some "move" TE too.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on the loss of WR Mike Wallace:

“We had good chemistry. I’m going to miss him as a person and as a teammate. He is a great locker room guy who always brought a smile to your face because he was fun, because he was funny. Really going to miss him. But on the field, he was something special. He really was. People don’t realize how important it is to have a guy with his ability on the football field and the guy who is probably going to notice it the most right from the get-go is Antonio Brown. Safeties have to respect Mike’s speed. Cornerbacks and the defense are scheming to stop Mike Wallace going deep. It opens up other receivers, so to lose a guy like that is really going to be tough for all of us.”

On the importance of TE Heath Miller:

“He’s been my MVP vote very year since he has been here. That’s what I think of Heath Miller. That’s how key he is to this team, to me. He is something special. It hurt so bad to see him get hurt. It hurt me more as a person than it did on the football field because of what Heath is.”

Depending on Miller's status to start the season, Roethlisberger could be down two of his top three weapons from last season. We like him as a fantasy QB, but it's going to be tough for him to post his usual numbers without Wallace and Miller.

Saints RB Chris Ivory signed his one-year, $2 million tender as a restricted free agent, the team announced Friday, the precursor to a possible trade with the Jets. There are strong indications the trade will happen.

Ivory took a recent free-agent visit to the Jets, who are looking for another back. They never entertained the idea of signing him to an offer sheet (they would've had to compensate the Saints with a second-round pick), but they remain interesed in trading for him at lower compensation. The Jets might be willing to part with a fifth-round pick; whether that's enough remains to be seen.

If Ivory lands with the Jets, you can forget about our sleeper love for Mike Goodson. Ivory is the superior runner, so he'd likely start for the Jets. if that's the case, look for him to go in the 4th or 5th round of fantasy drafts.

“You’re going to need another back in this offense,” said Eagles RB LeSean McCoy. “This is an offense where it’s not a debate, ‘I can do it myself.’ For one, you are going to do more plays than any other offense. Two, the amount of hits. You’re running so much. If you’re faking it, or running it, pass or not, you’re constantly going. I think any back, no matter how great of shape he’s in, is going to need some extra help.

“You’re running so much, it’s like a freaking track meet. It’s like a relay. You need extra guys.”

The supersonic pace that Chip Kelly deployed at Oregon is now being established in Philadelphia. Everything they do, they do quickly. The practices — like the meetings — are shorter than is standard in the NFL. But that doesn’t mean they are working less.

“Where in a normal offense you might come out here and get 30, 40 reps, we’re out here getting 100-and-something plays off,” said McCoy. “We’re doubling the reps, we’re getting it fast-paced so it’s kind of beaten into your head, going over and over again. It’s one of those things you kind of learn on the run. Just in three days I feel like I have the majority of the offense down.”

Even if McCoy loses some snaps to Bryce Brown, the Eagles should get off more plays per game than they did in 2012, so his average snaps per game could stay consistent. We're not afraid to recommend the talented McCoy in Kelly's offense.

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians signed RB Rashard Mendenhall to a one-year contract in free agency and is thrilled to have him.

“He’s a legitimate big-time threat every time he touches the ball,” Arians, the Steelers former offensive coordinator, said this morning at the NFC coaches breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. “He’s a big back who never has to come out of the game. He has a 230-pound body with 180-pound feet.”

It certainly sounds as if Arians plans to start Mendenhall over Ryan Williams, but we'll know more once we get deeper into summer.

The Browns believe Greg Little and especially Josh Gordon can make an impact in the new offense, which will stress more long passing than the previous West Coast offense. The new offense also should help QB Brandon Weeden, as he'll be throwing more often out of the shotgun. On paper, it looks promising.

There was a nine-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 14 where Gordon played like a fantasy WR2. He averaged 3.9-71-.56, which projects to #14 WR numbers. His speed is a good match for Weeden's big arm, so Gordon should progress in 2013. As for Little, he gained at least 48 yards and/or scored a TD in seven of his last eight games. It's good to hear that the Browns believe he can make an impact in the new offense.

QB Matthew Stafford will be in Allen Park on Monday when the Lions open their off-season program, as he has almost every other day since the end of last season's 4-12 finish.

Stafford always has been a diligent worker, but in his first few years in the league he spent large chunks of time rehabbing in Florida, or in his native Texas or adoptive Georgia training the winter away.

This year, he has made it a point to stay local, working out at the Lions' facility, meeting with coaches and general manager Martin Mayhew, even helping woo running back Reggie Bush in free agency.

"There is not a guy that's done more for this franchise in this off-season than Matthew Stafford," president Tom Lewand said at the team's town-hall meeting last week. "The guy's been in the building every day. He's been living here the entire off-season. He's been working out, he's helped us recruit free agents, he's been involved on a daily basis in trying to get ready for the season, and he would do anything to help us be successful."

This can only help Stafford's relationship with his teammates. It's good to see him focused and in a leadership role after the Lions' disappointing season. He'll be a nice value in the middle rounds as the last few fantasy QB1s start to fall off the board.

Bengals WR Mohammed Sanu confirms 100 percent: 'No nagging pain.'

Sanu never broke the 50-yard mark in 2012, but he did score four TDs in three games and could surprise as the Bengals' WR2 in 2013. He'll benefit from all the attention teams will pay to A.J. Green and Andy Dalton is a capable quarterback.

WR Santonio Holmes is rehabbing his foot injury in Ohio & will not be attending start of Jets offseason conditioning program.

The Detroit Lions have re-signed running back Joique Bell.

Bell was Detroit’s second-leading rusher last season behind Mikel Leshoure. Bell ran for 414 yards on 82 carries with three touchdowns. He also caught 52 passes for 485 yards.

Bell's role has been taken by Reggie Bush, so he won't be much of a fantasy factor in 2013 unless Bush gets injured.

QB Peyton Manning said recent workouts at Duke University with Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and one of the team's newest additions in Wes Welker went well and that he felt some additional arm strength in five workouts.

This is bad news for pass defenses on the Broncos' schedule in 2013.

The Browns have signed free agent kicker Shayne Graham, a potential replacement for Phil Dawson.

A 12-year NFL veteran, Graham has made 85.4 percent of his kicks, fifth in league history. Graham played in 16 games for Houston last season, setting a team record for points with 138. He connected on 31 of 38 field goals and set a career high with 28 touchbacks.

Giants RB Andre Brown reported for the offseason program, so his broken leg appears to be fully healed.

Brown figures to get all of the goal line work and may eat into David Wilson's touches in the Giants' base offense as well. Don't forget that Brown averaged more YPC (5.3) than did Wilson (5.0). It's no sure thing that Wilson leads the team in touches in 2013.

WR Victor Cruz is seeking a long-term contract extension and wants more than the current $7 million-per-year offer sources say he has on the table from the Giants.

Meanwhile, his tender remains unsigned.

At least one league source familiar with Cruz’s situation believes it will remain that way — and Cruz will remain absent from the program — at least until next week. As a restricted free agent, Cruz has until Friday to solicit an offer sheet from another team. In the unlikely event that he gets one, the Giants would have five days to decide whether they’d want to match it. If they didn’t, they would receive a first-round pick in this year’s draft from the team that presented Cruz the offer.

Add a receiver who has 672 receptions over the past six years into an offense and it's bound to have an impact on how things get distributed. But Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas said Wes Welker's presence can help everyone's output.

"I knew when he was coming in that I would probably get more one-on-one coverage, so I was kind of excited, actually, because with that guy, and (Eric) Decker, and two great tight ends, it's going to be hard to double-team somebody," Thomas said. "So, I think it will help me out and help the team out.

"He's one of the best in the game at what he does at the slot position. I think he can bring something in for us and help us out on the offensive side of the ball."

Welker figures to get most of his targets from the departed Brandon Stokley (3.9 per game) and will also eat into the targets of TEs Jacob Tamme (5.3) and Joel Dreessen (3.6). Less clear is how the targets for Thomas and Decker will be affected.

The New England Patriots have more bad injury news at the tight end position as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that Aaron Hernandez will likely miss the team's OTAs and minicamp this offseason after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The Patriots began "Phase One" of their offseason program on Monday and have OTA dates scheduled for May 20-21, May 28-30, June 3-4 and June 6-7. The team's mandatory minicamp closes out their offseason program from June 11-13.

News of Hernandez's potential absence this offseason comes one week after a Boston Herald report that Rob Gronkowski may not be ready for the start of the 2013 regular season due to an infection in his twice-broken left forearm. Gronkowski is likely to require an additional surgery on the forearm, which could keep him out through the start of the regular season.

With Gronkowski and Hernandez likely on the shelf this offseason, veterans Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells, Michael Hoomanawanui and first-year player Brad Herman will get plenty of work with the first-team offense.

Hernandez should be fine for the start of the season, so there's no reason to panic. Of greater concern is Gronkowski's injury, which has put his Week 1 availability in jeopardy.

Browns HC Rob Chudzinski and OC Norv Turner know tight ends, with Chud having played the position at the University of Miami and the two of them coaching Pro Bowlers Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow. They've identified Jordan Cameron as their starter for 2013, with Kellen Davis and Gary Barnidge playing reserve roles. Expect Cameron to take a big step this year and have plenty of production in this tight-end friendly offense.

Keep in mind the Browns also signed big WR David Nelson who could play some "move" tight end as well. Regardless, Cameron will be a sleeper (a fantasy TE2-type) in Cleveland's TE-friendly offense.

About six hours before the deadline to match the New England Patriots' offer to Emmanuel Sanders, the Pittsburgh Steelers have done just that.

The team on Sunday matched the one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet for the restricted free-agent wide receiver, Sanders' agent, Jordan Woy, told USA TODAY Sports in an email.

The Steelers, who later confirmed the move, retained Sanders rather than take the Patriots' third-round pick as compensation.

This is good news for QB Ben Roethlisberger, who nearly lost three of his top four receiving options this offseason. Mike Wallace is in Miami and Heath Miller (ACL) is iffy for Week 1. Sanders will be a sleeper as the Steelers' WR2 and is likely to start in Wallace's spot. In 2012, he caught 10 passes for 187 yards during a three-game midseason stretch with Brown sidelined, so he's a threat to crack the 1,000-yard mark with Wallace gone. In New England, this is good news for Donald Jones, who could start for the Patriots.

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com first reported Friday that Bernard Scott is headed back to the team. USA Today later reported Scott agreed to a one-year contract, according to his agent Scott Casterline.

Wide receiver Pierre Garcon said in a televised interview Thursday that he’ll be sufficiently healthy to play for the Redskins in the 2013 season but he still might not be at full capacity.

“I’ll be healthy enough to play,” Garcon said during an appearance on the NFL Network, according to a transcript provided by the league-owned TV channel. “I can’t say I’ll be 100 percent, but I’ll be back out there helping the team in any way possible.”

Garcon said previously he would not undergo surgery for the torn ligament near the second toe in his right foot that plagued him last season. He said during Thursday’s TV appearance that it’s unclear how fully he will participate in offseason practices with the Redskins.

Garcon had the #27 PPG average among WRs even though he struggled with a foot injury throughout the year. Not counting his abbreviated return in Week 4 and Week 5 (4-44 combined) or his first game "back" in Week 11, Garcon posted 5.1-66-0.5 in eight other games (including the playoffs). That equates to #19 WR numbers. Obviously, this talk of not being fully healthy is cause for concern.

After putting off the NFL combine and allowing time for his injured hamstring to heal, Eddie Lacy ran his much-anticipated 40-yard dashes Thursday on the University of Alabama campus.

One scout timed Lacy as having run a 4.59 and 4.62 in the 40. His top time would have placed him 15th among running backs who competed in March's NFL combine.

Lacy said he's close to 100 percent healthy after getting hurt during training.

"During my 40, I was a little nervous about actually opening up but I ran a pretty good time, so I'm satisfied with that," he said.

Lacy also showed solid hands by catching all the balls thrown to him in a passing drill. There is some concern about his not being in great shape during the shuttle run, but it's to be expected since he's coming off a hamstring injury.

Prosecutors have decided not to file any charges against Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford after he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated last month, officials said Wednesday.

It appears that entertainment mogul Jay-Z's budding influence on the sports world is about to help wide receiver Victor Cruz stay with the New York Giants.

Cruz, who has spent more than a year haggling with the franchise over a long-term deal, not only was moved to Creative Artists Agency through his relationship with Jay-Z, but has told at least two people that he plans to stay with the Giants long-term. Cruz, according to two sources, wants to take advantage of the business and marketing opportunities he envisions with Roc Nation, the marketing company Jay-Z (whose real name is Shawn Carter) founded.

"[Cruz] told his agents not to sign him with another team because he wants to work with Jay-Z," a source said. "There might have been a couple of teams interested, but he didn't want to go anywhere."

It's an interesting bit of news that may decrease Cruz's leverage in negotiations, since the Giants now know he doesn't really want to sign elsewhere. Cruz knows he has a good situation in New York and now everyone else knows he knows it too.

Rob Gronkowski won't be having surgery to check on the status of his infection, and ultimately install a new plate in his left forearm just yet. According to one source familiar with the proceedings, the decision for now is to have the Patriots tight end delay the surgery for several more weeks. Earlier today we thought he would continue with antibiotic treatment but we have since learned he has finished his six-week course of antibiotics.

''Gonna hold off for a few weeks to make sure infection gone before going back in,'' a source close to the situation said.

Eventually, surgeons will have to go in once again to put in a new plate that's holding the bone together. The required healing time for that surgery is roughly 10 weeks. The scenario everyone wants to avoid is having the infection linger and persist further, and show up when they go back in to change the plate. That scenario puts the start of the season in jeopardy for Gronkowski.

So for now, surgery is on hold with the hope the infection has finally cleared.

At this point, we still have 20 weeks to go until we hit September and the start of the season, so it's no time to panic. Obviously, the lingering nature of his arm injury makes him a much more risky pick in the early rounds of fantasy drafts.

"There's certain guys you just feel like you have timing with right away," QB Peyton Manning said of WR Wes Welker after a recent workout in Durham, North Carolina. "He's a guy that has a great feel for how to get open, and understands route concepts and, of course, he played in such a sophisticated offense there in New England, so he's a smart player. You can see why he's been such a productive player. He's intense. He loves to work."

RB Rashad Jennings announced on Twitter that he's signing with the Oakland Raiders.

Jennings had a chance to make a lot of money last season with Maurice Jones-Drew sidelined but ended up being benched after rushing for just 237 yards on 88 carries (2.7 YPC) from Week 7 to Week 13. He'll compete with Marcel Reece and Jeremy Stewart for carries behind Darren McFadden

Giants QB Eli Manning, along with older brother Peyton, is working out at Duke University this week, according to ESPN. The Mannings are there with Duke coach David Cutcliffe, a college coach of both brothers, as well as three Giants and three Broncos teammates.

Manning brought Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and recently signed Louis Murphy, per ESPN. The Giants offseason program begins next Monday, and Manning hopes Cruz is working alongside him in East Rutherford as well.

It's a good sign for both Hakeem Nicks (knee) and Victor Cruz (contract) that they're with Manning at these workouts. Nicks looks to be recovering from a knee scope and if Cruz didn't think he'd be getting a deal done with the Giants, he probably wouldn't be there.

The Patriots just submitted an offer sheet on Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders.

They also agreed to terms on a one-year deal with WR Julian Edelman.

The Steelers have five days to match the Patriots offer to Sanders, but are in a tough salary cap situation and may not be able to do so. Sanders was set for a promotion to WR2 in Pittsburgh after the departure of Mike Wallace, but may instead be fourth in the pecking order for targets in New England after Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Danny Amendola.

Seahawks are signing Brady Quinn to back-up Russell Wilson after working out QBs yesterday.

The Seahawks apparently scrapped the idea of finding a backup QB with a similar skill set as starter Russell Wilson.

Lions HC Jim Schwartz said RB Reggie Bush could potentially catch 60-70-80 passes next season.

Bush caught 294 passes in 60 games over five seasons with the Saints. That's 4.9 catches per game, which equates to 78 receptions if he's able to play 16 games. In other words, it's not an unreasonable goal for Schwartz and the Lions. He also averaged 70.5 total yards and .483 TDs per game while with the Saints. Those are fringe RB2 numbers in standard formats and fringe RB1 numbers in PPR. His involvement in the Detroit passing game is clear, so the question is -- will Bush get the 8.7 carries per game he saw in New Orleans, or will the Lions use him more in the running game? That answer, coupled with his ability to stay healthy, will drive his fantasy value in 2013. Keep in mind that Mikel Leshoure is a very capable goal line back, so he is likely to vulture some red zone touches, limiting Bush's upside.

Former Bills WR David Nelson reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.

Nelson caught 61 passes for 658 yards and five TDs in 2011 before tearing his ACL in Week 1 in 2012. HC Rob Chudzinski's offense is TE-friendly, so if Nelson ends up getting some snaps at the "move" TE position, he will have some upside. Jordan Cameron and Kellen Davis currently sit atop the TE depth chart in Cleveland.

The talk that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is making an unprecedented recovery from reconstructive knee surgery continues.

Two weeks after Dr. James Andrews, who performed Griffin’s surgery, referred to Griffin’s recovery as “superhuman,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said in an interview on NFL Network that Griffin’s hard work in rehab is already leading to significant progress.

“He’s over at the facility, rehabbing all of the time. He’ll set a record for coming back because that’s how hard he works,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan cautioned, however, that the Redskins won’t rush Griffin and won’t even have an estimate for when he’ll be back to full-speed on-field work until training camp starts.

“He is ahead, but there’s a process. It takes time. Robert will do it the right way and we’ll find out in July exactly where he’s at,” Shanahan said. “He will not come back until he’s 100 percent.”

Shanahan also continues to say that the read-option offense, which some people think exposes Griffin to too many hits, actually protects Griffin. Shanahan says the biggest thing he wants Griffin to pick up is knowing when to slide at the end of a run.

If Griffin is on track to start Week 1, we'll have unprecedented depth at QB with the addition of RG3, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick to solid fantasy starter status. Regardless of his status, owners would be wise to wait until the 5th round or later to draft a QB.

According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, tight end Rob Gronkowski has been battling a stubborn infection in the area around where a second metal plate was installed to repair his broken left forearm and his readiness for the season is in jeopardy.

Gronkowski is nearing the end of a six-week cycle of antibiotic treatments administered under the auspices of Massachusetts General Hospital, but it is not yet assured the infection has been completely eradicated.

Doctors treating Gronkowski will have to go back into the arm again to remove the plate and install a new one, but if they find more infected tissue, they would be unable to install the plate at that time. That would require another surgical procedure after the tissue around the injury is clear of infection and, sources confirmed, that would not give Gronkowski the required 10 weeks healing time to be ready for the season opener in September.

Gronkowski, agent Drew Rosenhaus, team officials, both team physicians and outside consultants are expected to meet within a week to make a determination of what step will be taken next and how quickly to move. All are hopeful the pesky infection has been cured but they cannot be sure until the surgery to remove the old plate and the process to replace it begins.

The way the TE position was shaping up, it was looking like we'd be recommending that fantasy owners draft Gronkowski in the 2nd/3rd rounds, but that strategy is on hold for now as we play the waiting game. Hopefully everything will go smoothly with the next procedure and doctors will find no infected tissue around the plate. We'll just have to wait and see.

Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez tells PFT Live he is "100 percent" certain 2013 will be his final season, up from last year's 95 percent.

All that matters to redraft owners is that Gonzo is playing in 2013.

Jaguars agree to terms with WR Mohamed Massaquoi.

The deal is for two years. Massaquoi figures to compete for snaps behind Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon.

Roy Helu Jr. had surgery on February 5th to correct a lingering injury to his left foot, the Redskins running back said Friday.

Helu got hurt in the season opener in 2012 and, after attempting to play through the discomfort, he eventually landed on the injured reserve list September 26, ending his second NFL season after only three games. The originally diagnosis was a turf toe-like ailment, but when Helu still couldn’t run at full speed in January, and X-rays and MRI exams did not reveal any structural damage, he began searching for answers.

“In January, I hit a road block, where I couldn’t sprint but everything else was great. I could jog at a high pace, I just couldn’t sprint,” Helu said in a phone conversation. "I made the decision to see what was wrong. I just knew my body was telling me that, with this amount of time, I should be recovered.”

After visiting with foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, Helu opted for a surgical procedure.

“Off of an instinct that something was wrong, we went into surgery,” Helu said. “And we found out there was damaged cartilage [near the big toe] that was causing the problem, but it wasn’t showing up on anything. Thankfully we found it and now it’s gone. The road to recovery this time, since February, has been a lot better.”

Helu ran for the first time since the surgery on Tuesday, and based on how he’s feeling, he said he's aiming to be “without limitations” at the start of OTAs on May 20th.

If Helu can get healthy, he could serve as the change-of-pace back to Alfred Morris, who is not particularly adept at catching the ball out of the backfield.

K David Akers has agreed to a deal with the Lions, according to his agent, Jerrold Colton.

Akers was terrific in 2011 before a brutal 2012 season, where he missed 10 of 19 FGs beyond 40 yards. If he can get his mojo back, he should get plenty of opportunities since the Lions usually do a solid job of moving the ball.

One of the more interesting responses from Seahawks HC Pete Carroll came when he was asked who he believes will be the Seahawks’ breakout player in 2013. His answer? Quarterback Russell Wilson.

“I think it’s going to be Russell Wilson,” Carroll said. “I think he’s going to really do well this year. He’s going to bust out and will benefit tremendously from his first year. It may be hard to imagine he’s going to get any better, but I think he’s going to get a lot better, being he was a first year starter, first time in the League.”

Overshadowed by Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck, Wilson had arguably the best season of any rookie QB (ever) not named Cam Newton. He accounted for 30 total TDs (26 pass, four rush) and rushed for the third-most yardage among all QBs in 2012. Wilson averaged 20.2 fantasy points in his final eight games after averaging 11.3 FP in the first half of the season. Even if we remove W15 (where he rushed for three TDs after not rushing for a score all year), he averaged 18.0 FP in the second half of the season. With the addition of WR Percy Harvin, Wilson is looking like a solid starting fantasy QB in 2013. Like the other rookies and first-year starters, there's always the possibility that defenses will be able to scheme against them, and Wilson's average passing yardage (195 per game) won't help his fantasy value weather a regression in touchdowns.

Long-time Lions kicker Jason Hanson has announced his retirement from the NFL after 21 seasons.

The Lions will be in the market for a kicker for the first time in a long, long time. The Lions tend to move the ball, so whoever wins the job should be a solid fantasy kicker.

It's common for players to emphasize their excitement when a new coach arrives -- it would be foolish for them to say otherwise -- but DeSean Jackson is one who could especially benefit from the hiring of Chip Kelly. Kelly wants speed and versatility on offense. That's what to expect from Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowler who finished last season on injured reserve and has not record a 1,000-yard season since 2010.

“I feel the sky’s the limit for myself," Jackson said Wednesday. "I think this year, with Chip coming in with the style of play of his offense, it’s really going to help me out a lot more as well. I’m going to be able to get certain looks, get the ball in my hand, do things I wasn’t doing the past five years. So that’s going to be an exciting time ofr myself. I’m going to have to be fully prepared, fully in shape, fully healthy.”

Jackson recovered from his fractured ribs during the first two months of the offseason and was not fully healthy until March. He maintained his conditioning, although he's now able to lift weights and will be a full participant in the offseason program.

He said teams were able to "key in" on him during the past two few seasons, and thinks Kelly can move him around in the offense to maximize his capitabilities. He also hopes to return punts "a little more than last year."

Jackson has great speed. The question is -- will Chip Kelly be better than Andy Reid at utilizing Jackson's skill set? In In current mocks, he's being drafted as the #35 WR. Given the incredible depth at WR, that seems about right.

Bengals acquire QB John Skelton on waivers from the Cardinals

The Bengals had an opening at QB after Bruce Gradkowski signed with the Steelers. Skelton has a big arm but didn't show much accuracy playing behind Arizona's shaky O-line.

Former Giants WR Domenik Hixon is agreeing to terms with the Panthers today.

This isn't great news for Brandon LaFell, who averaged 52 yards per game in his third season. Still, the Panthers could view Hixon as a WR3-type behind LaFell and Steve L Smith.

It will be interesting to see how the Colts line up in two wide-receiver sets. This much is certain: Reggie Wayne starts. Somebody asked on Twitter if that could be stated as fact. Yes, it can. Wayne is still a Pro Bowl WR. You don’t sit him.

The early hunch is Darrius Heyward-Bey and T.Y. Hilton will alternate at the other starting WR slot when they are in two-receiver sets. This is why the team has training camp and preseason games. Such roles sort themselves out.

“We feel good about acquiring a talented player in Darrius Heyward-Bey,” GM Ryan Grigson said in a team release. “He’s big, strong and shows toughness in traffic and after the catch. He’s got elite finishing speed that’s as good as there is in the NFL.”

We're expecting Hilton to emerge as the solid starter opposite Wayne with DHB coming in on three-receiver sets. Hilton showed too much promise in his rookie season to take a back seat to Heyward-Bey, though only time will tell.

Miami let Reggie Bush sign with Detroit because they are excited about Lamar Miller's future based on his 4.9 yards per carry average, and upside. Miller's teammates sing his praises regularly. The Dolphins are concerned about Daniel Thomas' durability, and his ability to be the big, physical goal line runner this offense needs. The Dolphins will likely add another young back, or two via the draft.

We're expecting Lamar Miller to serve as Miami's RB1, though as the article mentions, the Dolphins are expected to add a RB or two this offseason.

CB Nnamdi Asomugha chooses the 49ers and has agreed to terms, per sources.

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms on one-year contracts with a pair of unrestricted free agents, wide receiver Kevin Walter and center/guard Chris Spencer.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew says he started jogging lightly on Monday in rehab from Lisfranc injury.

This is obviously good news for Jones-Drew who doesn't need to see any setbacks as he tries to recover from his foot injury.

The Cardinals cut QB John Skelton.

The Cardinals added QB Carson Palmer Tuesday, and they didn’t have to give up much to get him.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cards completed the deal with the Raiders in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2014.

The condition is that he starts 13 games, meaning if he falls short of being the full-time starter, the Cards don’t owe them a thing.

This is big news for Larry Fitzgerald owners. Even mediocre QB play should be a big upgrade for Fitzy. A QB change had already been priced into his ADP (3.02) but his stock may rise a bit further now that the news is official. As for Palmer, he should post his usually decent fantasy numbers, especially if the Cardinals often find themselves in catch-up mode in 2013.

The Buccaneers signed WR Steve Smith to a one-year deal.

The Colts have agreed to terms with ex-Raiders wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey, the team said Monday night. Owner Jim Irsay, who had made no secret that the club had zeroed in on a wideout, linked to the announcement on Twitter.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Heyward-Bey’s deal is for one year and as much as $3 million.

The 26-year-old Heyward-Bey caught 41 passes for 606 yards and five TDs for Oakland in 2012.

Heyward-Bey was very solid for the Raiders in 2011, catching 64 passes for 975 yards and four TDs. In fact, he averaged 84 yards in his last 11 games that season. His targets declined from 7.5 per game that year to 5.3 in 2012, which is the main reason he had a down season. (His FP/target actually increased from 1.08 in 2011 to 1.13 in 2012.) He is likely to fill the WR3 role behind Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton, so his targets probably won't be consistent week to week. At just 26-years-old, the Colts could view him as a long-term solution at WR once Wayne retires.

The Browns have dealt QB Colt McCoy to the 49ers.

The Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks have pulled the trigger on a trade that will send quarterback Matt Flynn to the Raiders in exchange for a pair of draft picks, reports Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the picks the Raiders have shipped to the Seahawks include picks in 2014 and a conditional draft choice in 2015.

In addition to acquiring Flynn, Glazer adds that the Raiders are attempting to trade Carson Palmer, their starting quarterback the last two seasons, to the Arizona Cardinals for a late round draft choice.

Flynn has started two games in his career. In 2010, he filled in for an injured Aaron Rodgers in a tough 31-27 loss against the Patriots in Week 15, throwing for 251 yards, three TDs and an interception. In 2011, with Rodgers resting in Week 17, Flynn torched the Lions for 480 yards and six TDs (with one interception). His stock took a dive after he couldn't beat out rookie Russell Wilson, but he was dealing with an elbow injury and Wilson turned out to be pretty good. The Raiders have not been a favorable situation for QBs in recent years, but Carson Palmer was 8th in the league in pass attempts in 2012, so if Flynn finds himself in garbage time as often, he should put up decent fantasy stats. He doesn't have great arm strength, but has shown good accuracy and anticipation on his throws. As for Palmer, it appears that he will land with the Cardinals. He's no savior, but even mediocre QB play would be a big upgrade for WR Larry Fitzgerald.