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| Long helping in more ways than one | Sunday 6/8, 11:57 PM CT |
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The Miami Dolphins are not only confident rookie Jake Long will improve one of the most vital positions on the field (left tackle), but they also believe Long will improve the entire line, according to the Miami Herald.
Our View: The move to add Long allows Vernon Carey to switch back to his position of comfort at right tackle, and early reports indicate the entire line is starting to gel much quicker than anticipated as a result. |
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| Nalen goes under the knife | Sunday 6/8, 11:48 PM CT |
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Denver center Tom Nalen underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee on Friday, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.
Our View: The team expects their veteran leader to be ready by training camp. |
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| Lichtensteiger recovering from shoulder surgery | Sunday 6/8, 11:46 PM CT |
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Denver center Kory Lichtensteiger is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.
Our View: The team does not expect the young lineman to partake in team practices until training camp, noting late July may be the most reasonable time to expect Lichtensteiger to enter team drills. |
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| Hester = WR1 in Chicago? | Sunday 6/8, 11:32 PM CT |
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Chicago offensive coordinator Ron Turner has challenged return man Devin Hester ... to become the team's top receiver, according to ProFootballTalk.com.
Our View: The Bears inserted Hester as a receiving option last season with modest-yet-promising returns. Recent reports from Turner list Hester as the top talent among the current receiving options and he reports early practices have proven Hester as the man to target. He has lessons to learn, but Turner believes the work will be done by the end of training camp and he will be their man. |
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| Shiancoe drops to 243 pounds | Sunday 6/8, 11:24 PM CT |
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Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has reduced his playing weight to 243 pounds, according to the Pioneer Press.
Our View: Shiancoe is dedicated to becoming a viable threat on offense and feels the lost weight will help his agility and speed. He's working hard and reports from minicamp support his efforts. |
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| Welker reports to minicamp | Sunday 6/8, 11:21 PM CT |
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New England receiver Wes Welker had been missing practice but arrived for minicamp on Sunday, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: The team and Welker have not addressed the situation, giving no reason for the absence. Fans can ease their worries for he has arrived and is set to take part in preparations for the season. |
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| Birk arrives at minicamp | Sunday 6/8, 11:18 PM CT |
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Vikings center Matt Birk reported to Minnesota's minicamp on Friday despite reports he would skip, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Birk reports his decision to skip voluntary OTAs was driven more by family matters than his desire for a new contract. We will see if that line holds true moving forward, but Birk is setting a precedent and the team may reward him for doing so. |
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| Engram ready to skip training camp | Sunday 6/8, 10:01 PM CT |
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Seattle receiver Bobby Engram is threatening to skip the team's training camp, according to CBSSports.com.
Our View: The 35-year-old veteran is the midst of a contract dispute with the Seahawks that has already led to him intentionally skipping the team's volunatry minicamps. He would like to negotiate a deal that will pay him more than the $1.7 million he is due to make this season, the final year of a two-year agreement. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren hasn't spoken with Engram since the veteran dropped a letter onto the desks of Holmgren and team president Tim Ruskell in early May informing them he would not be attending minicamps. |
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| Parcells backing Williams | Sunday 6/8, 7:02 PM CT |
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Reports out of Miami have asserted running back Ricky Williams as a favorite of new V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells, according to ProFootballTalk.com.
Our View: Williams' story has been tumultuous to say the least, but the former Heisman Trophy winner appears to be more motivated in recent workouts and the lack of abuse suffered over recent campaigns has Parcells putting full support behind the once-embattled phenom. Talk reports that after breaking a series of long running drills, Parcells voiced loud praise for Williams and gave Ricky a fist bump. From Tuna, that is praise the vast majority of his players have never seen, and that has us wondering just how involved Ricky will be in the offense this year. Stay tuned. |
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| Lynch attorneys to meet with investigators | Sunday 6/8, 6:54 PM CT |
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Attorneys representing Bills running back Marshawn Lynch will meet with investigators on Monday, according to WGRZ News.
Our View: Erie County police believe Lynch has been involved in a potential hit-and-run accident. His SUV was found damaged with evidence supporting his vehicle was involved in the crime, and investigators have told reporters they believe Lynch was driving the vehicle when the incident occurred. Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark reports the investigation is nearing completion and will be completed with or without Lynch's cooperation. Clark also reports their efforts are moving forward under the assumption Lynch was driving the vehicle. |
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| Conflicting reports on Shockey's statements | Sunday 6/8, 6:49 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, it appears differing views are coming forth regarding comments made by Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey , according to ProFootballTalk.com.
Our View: Talk reports the New York Post is stating Shockey was strong in his assertions that he will be participating in the team's upcoming minicamp, claiming his teammates are his priority. Meanwhile ESPN is reporting Shockey says he has no idea if he will attend or not. We will see on Wednesday as minicamp starts. |
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| Moore fighting for roster spot | Sunday 6/8, 11:52 AM CT |
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Lance Moore will need to separate himself from other returners in minicamps if he wants to make the final roster, according to the NO Times-Picayune.
Our View: The diminutive Moore has some ability, but the Saints have plenty of depth at receiver. |
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| McCray showing speed off the end | Sunday 6/8, 11:49 AM CT |
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Free agent acquisition Bobby McCray has made quite the impression with his new team so far. The NO Times-Picayune notes that McCray has been "by far the fastest player on the line, much quicker into the backfield than Charles Grant or Will Smith."
Our View: McCray showed flashed of potential in his time with Jacksonville but never really busted out. Given the need that the Jags had at end and still chose to let McCray walk this offseason, we're suspecting that he won't suddenly blossom this season. |
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| Shiancoe slims down and speeds up | Sunday 6/8, 11:37 AM CT |
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Visanthe Shiancoe trimmed down over the offseason and feels a lot faster, according to the Pioneer Press. "I'm a lot slimmer and a lot faster," he said. "I'm down to 243, and I'm running cuts really well. We've been catching balls after practice. I'm a lot faster. The way I change directions, it's crazy."
Our View: Shiancoe was considered a sleeper by some last year but had a very quiet year. Perhaps he is in line for bigger things this season, though how much Tarvaris Jackson has progressed will have a lot to do with any success Shiancoe might have. |
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| Shockey hints he may not show up to minicamp | Sunday 6/8, 11:10 AM CT |
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Jeremy Shockey hinted Saturday that he might not attend the Giants' mandatory minicamp, which begins Wednesday, according to ESPN.com. "Who knows? I might go to see my mother in Texas. I have no idea," Shockey said. The tight end has been lobbying for a trade over the offseason and is coming back from a broken leg. "Obviously. I'm not 100 percent and if I do show to minicamp, it's going to be, I wouldn't imagine me doing much, just getting treatment on my leg," Shockey said.
Our View: It would probably be in both parties' interest if Shockey were dealt, but no trade appears on the horizon. We're betting that he does show up for minicamp, just so he can avoid being fined. |
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| Scheffler says he could be in pain for two years | Sunday 6/8, 10:26 AM CT |
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Tony Scheffler admitted to the Denver Post that his injured foot may not be pain-free for another two years. The tight end broke his left foot while running a pass pattern last May, and last month he felt a pop in the same left foot, in the same fifth metatarsal. "It had been feeling great," Scheffler said. "I thought I was completely past it. That's the frustrating part about it. I felt like I had finally found my place in this organization. Felt like I could contribute a lot. It finally felt right for the first time after last year. And then to fall back, it's hard. But that's what makes athletes better."
Our View: Scheffler ran some sprints following Friday's practice, and he could return for the team's next practice on Tuesday. The third-year tight end has the skills to break out this year, but the foot ailment could potentially hold him back. |
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| Williamson catching everything | Sunday 6/8, 9:54 AM CT |
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Troy Williamson is know for his stone hands, but so far in minicamps he has been catching everything in sight. "We heard through the offseason he was a little suspect with his hands," quarterback David Garrard said in the Florida Times-Union. "He really hasn't been this whole camp; he's catching everything."
Our View: Excuse us if we're not encouraged about Williamson's "progress". The former first-round pick still isn't worth drafting in standard leagues. |
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| Hagan impressing receivers coach | Sunday 6/8, 9:20 AM CT |
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New receivers coach Karl Dorrell has been impressed with third-year receiver Derek Hagan in minicamp. "There's no question he's at a level right now where he should be an excellent starter in this league," Dorrell told the Miami Herald. "He's strong, physical, very bright, has good speed for his size."
Our View: Many receivers have broken out in their third year. Might Hagan be the next? He is expected to start opposite Ten Ginn. |
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| Fins won't scale back Ginn's special teams work | Sunday 6/8, 9:17 AM CT |
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The Dolphins won't scale back Ted Ginn's punt/kickoff-return duties even though he will serve as the team's No. 1 wideout, according to the Miami Herald. "There is no question the skill is there (for Ginn to be a legitimate No. 1 receiver)", receivers coach Karl Dorrell said. "He's very smooth, quick, has good feet. He has all the tools to be a great player. He knows he needs to be a bigger factor in what we do."
Our View: Ginn had a solid rookie campaign last year and is looking to step it up in his sophomore season. He's worth a late-round pick. |
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| Jackson adds weight over the offseason | Sunday 6/8, 9:13 AM CT |
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Brandon Jackson added 10 to 15 pounds of "the right kind of weight" during the offseason, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Jackson feels more confident this year than he did in his rookie season. "Mentally and physically," Jackson said. "I put on a little weight. It's great. I can run with it and everything. And on the mental side, I know my plays, I study a lot, just to stay refreshed on everything."
Our View: Jackson will back up Ryan Grant this year and should get some time on third down. He's worth a roster spot in deeper leagues. |
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| Bears in ongoing talks with Urlacher | Sunday 6/8, 8:52 AM CT |
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The Bears are in ongoing contract talks with disgruntled linebacker Brian Urlacher, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We'll engage, we've been engaging his agents and Brian," team president Ted Phillips said. "And we'll continue to talk about things and see where it goes."
Our View: Urlacher wants more money, but so far the Bears haven't budged. We don't anticipate Urlacher to sit out any mandatory workouts, regardless of his contract situation. |
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| Browns plan to scale back Jurevicius' snaps | Sunday 6/8, 8:46 AM CT |
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Joe Jurevicius played 68 percent of the offensive snaps for the Browns last year. This year the Browns would like that number to be around 35-40 percent, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Our View: The Browns are worried that Jurevicius' knee won't hold up playing so much, so they plan on scaling back his work. |
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