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QB Tyler Wilson impresses at rookie camp
Monday, May 13, 2013, 9:42am

As far as rookies go, quarterback Tyler Wilson looked nothing of the sort Saturday as he displayed the poise and skills of a seasoned veteran in only his second practice as a member of the Raiders.

Wilson showed off a strong arm, placing balls right on target time and again, be it swing passes, throws over the middle or well downfield.

“Obviously, picking up a new system, there’s a little bit of rust there,” Raiders coach Dennis Allen said of Wilson. “But throwing the ball, he’s done a nice job. I don’t have any question about his arm strength and his accuracy.”

Titans want to use Shonn Greene like LenDale White
Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10:41am

The Titans have tried to sell RB Chris Johnson on the fact that giving Shonn Greene some of his carries will make Johnson more effective because he will be fresher, and it will extend his career. They are planning on using Johnson and Greene they way they used Johnson and LenDale White together early in Johnson’s career.

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10:32am

Last season, the Bengals’ most effective personnel package might have been one tight end, three wide receivers and one back with Mohamed Sanu and Andrew Hawkins complementing A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham. OC Jay Gruden said the plan is still to feature that package quite a bit, probably in nickel.

“It’s just that our base package will probably feature more two tight ends (including rookie Tyler Eifert), two receivers rather than one tight end two backs,” he said. “We can get everything in our running game in that personnel group. It’s taking out a fullback and putting in a heck of a pass catcher and hopefully a good blocker. We like to mix up our personnel groupings and keep defenses off balance hopefully and be diverse in what we do. Our goal is to get our best players on the field.”

If the Bengals can force defenses to go nickel on first and second down with two tight ends on the field as the Patriots do, running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard are going to see a lot of daylight. The key is Eifert being multi-dimensional—not just a pass catcher.

“If Tyler is a good blocker, that puts us in a good advantage in the run game,” Gruden said. “That’s what New England does so well. They get teams to match up nickel with them and they can run the ball effectively out of that two tight end set. They have an extra big body blocking. Tyler has a long way to go to prove he’s a good blocker. Training camp will help him. Coach [Jonathan] Hayes has been around tight ends for a long time and is a great tutor for him.”

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10:28am

There are rather lofty expectations for Bills WR Robert Woods, who at one time in the pre-draft process was thought to be a first-round pick. The Bills have said publicly how NFL ready Woods is, which leads some to believe he factors firmly in to the conversation to be the starter opposite Stevie Johnson.

Woods stood out in his first day of work with his overall polish and route-running.

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 11:57am

Tyler Eifert lined up here, there and just about everywhere during his first practice with the Cincinnati Bengals. Felt like old times.

The Bengals got started on their new tight end-heavy passing game yesterday at the start of a weekend rookie minicamp. A lot of the focus was on Eifert, chosen in the first round to give quarterback Andy Dalton another target.

Eifert lined up in a lot of different spots at Notre Dame. Judging by the first day of practice in Cincinnati, he’s going to be doing the same thing in the NFL.

“A lot of the things I’m learning are a lot of the same plays we had in with two tight ends — move me around in different positions,” Eifert said. “Today I was out in the slot quite a bit. I think I’m picking it up pretty fast.”

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 11:52am

Rookie running back Joseph Randle will be limited in workouts until training camp as he continues to rehab from thumb surgery. Randle, the rookie fifth-round pick who is supposed to come and share the load with starter DeMarco Murray, will be in a cast for six to eight weeks.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team knew Randle’s situation when they drafted him. However, he said Randle won’t be completely idle. Randle will do some individual drills and get plenty of mental reps in minicamp and on field team activities leading up to training camp.

“It’s certainly a restriction on his thumb, but I think candidly there are a lot of things we can do out here in OTAs and get that thumb clubbed up and he’ll get a lot of work in, a lot of valuable repetition,” Jones said. And we made that decision when we drafted him. Was he going to be able to be ready and that is mentally as well, prepared, to get out here to camp and not have to make up all the lost time in OTAs? I think he will be.”

Cosell: Montee Ball an "ideal fit" for Broncos
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 11:51am

NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell believes second-round pick Montee Ball is an "ideal fit" for the Denver Broncos' offense, citing his burst, fluidity and ability to get skinny at point of attack. Although Cosell's one question was if Ball could be a true foundation running back at the NFL level, the former Wisconsin star has landed in the perfect offense. There's no feature back "in a strict sense" in Peyton Manning's offense. Cosell believes Ball already is the best runner on the Broncos' roster.

Eddie Lacy's toe is not fully fused
Friday, May 10, 2013, 9:48am

Two weeks ago, Packers RB Eddie Lacy tripped all the way to the 61st overall pick. One reason was leaked afterward. Before his final year at Alabama, Lacy underwent surgery on the big toe of his right foot. For a bigger, mashing running back whose job is to inflict and absorb punishment, this was a red flag.

Only longevity - or a lack thereof - will ultimately prove who was right on draft day. But this week, both Lacy and his team doctor at Alabama insisted that the toe is not a problem. True, a small piece of bone in Lacy's big toe on his right foot was "fused." He did undergo turf toe surgery before his final season at Alabama. But it wasn't "toe fusion surgery" in the classic sense, his doctor said.

Lacy had surgery on his toe to prevent potential problems. Alabama's team doctor, E. Lyle Cain Jr., believes the window of legitimate concern - immediately after the surgery - has passed. One of Cain's partners teamed with a doctor from the Steadman Hawkins Research Clinic in Vail, Colo., to perform the bone fusion. Unlike the typical toe fusion surgery - which hardens the toe completely, limiting mobility - only the bone on the tip of Lacy's big toe was fused.

"The joint underneath the toenail was fused to allow the ligament to work better basically," Cain said. "It's something you do to give you a better push-off. His big toe moves just like a normal big toe in terms of motion. . . . If you fused it completely, it'd give you a stiff big toe and you can't push off and that's a big problem. In Eddie's case, he does not have that. His fusion does not affect his big-toe motion.

"The bottom line is, the fusion he had does not affect his big-toe motion."

Friday, May 10, 2013, 9:29am

It's still very early in the 2013 offseason. But so far, all signs are pointing toward a big year for New Orleans Saints tailback Mark Ingram.

Not a "breakout" year, per se, since Ingram will still have to share the workload with standout tailbacks Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. But Ingram certainly should have his most productive year to date in his third NFL season.

For one thing, the Saints traded Chris Ivory, turning a four-way tailback logjam into a three-man rotation. For another thing, Saints Coach Sean Payton has made it clear that he intends to make an improved run game one of his top priorities this season.

And perhaps most noteworthy, Ingram is fully healthy this offseason for the first time since he left Alabama for the NFL in 2011.

"I've just been working hard this offseason, trying to get in the best shape of my life," said the 5-foot-9, 215-pounder, who spent last summer recovering from toe surgery and a minor knee surgery.

Michael Vick working with first team
Friday, May 10, 2013, 9:22am

Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin says QB Michael Vick is running with first team, with Nick Foles sprinkled in here and there.

Thursday, May 9, 2013, 2:28pm

WR Lavelle Hawkins has agreed to a two-year deal with the Patriots. Was just released by Titans last week.

Thursday, May 9, 2013, 9:46am

John Glennon of the Tennessean reports that the Titans have signed Jalen Parmelee and released Jamie Harper.

Broncos likely to cut Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno
Thursday, May 9, 2013, 9:36am

It’s highly unlikely that barring injury the Broncos will keep both Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno on their 2013 season-opening roster.

The Broncos just drafted workhorse running back Montee Ball in the second round one year after they selected speed back Ronnie Hillman in the third round.

Ideally, the Broncos would like Ball and Hillman to become their one-two running punch in 2013. As for the No. 3 back who can fill in as starter, Moreno is younger (26 in July) and less expensive ($1.7 million) than McGahee (32 in October, $2.5 million) and is a betteer third-down option because he’s a better receiver.

Then again, the 210-pound Moreno is similar in size to the 214-pound Ball. It’s the 235-pound McGahee who, size-wise, would be a complement to Ball and Hillman.

Rob Gronkowski to have 4th surgery, 5th possible
Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 11:13am

According to a source familiar with the case, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is going to need a fourth operation to change the plate that’s securing the broken bone in the forearm.

While there has been some suggestion recently that this step might be avoided, the source indicated the fourth operation still has to happen. The plate has to be switched, no matter what, and the surrounding tissue tested. The real question is if Gronkowski, who has been taking part in the team’s offseason program, will need a fifth operation.

If tests show the infection has been completely flushed out, the plate will be replaced, and the recovery process begins. If there are still signs of infection, that won’t happen.

That’s a scenario no one wants to contemplate. Ultimately, Gronkowski would need more surgery and his participation for the start of the season and perhaps beyond would be in jeopardy.

Julian Edelman in walking boot
Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 10:16am

WR Julian Edelman is in a walking boot after re-injuring right foot (the same foot that put him on IR). He could be ready for minicamp June 11-13.