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Seahawks Beat: Eddie Lacy & Thomas Rawls 'take a fairly equal share' of early-down carries

Seahawks beat writer Bob Condotta:

Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise all are coming off of seasons when they had significant injuries and I think the Seahawks are going into the year just fine with the idea that they can spread the carries out and not have to count on anyone taking a Lynch-like share of the load.

My best guess, assuming they each are healthy, is Lacy and Rawls take a fairly equal share of the basedown carries with Prosise slated largely for a third-down role as well as being worked into the gameplan to take advantage of specific matchups from week to week.

Raiders finalize five-year extension for QB Derek Carr

The Raiders and QB Derek Carr have finalized a 5-year monster extension worth $125M, sources say. Highest paid player in history.

Ravens WR Jeremy Maclin reveals he played through a torn groin in 2016

Yes, former Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin heard the whispers that, perhaps, at age 29 he had lost a step.

Maclin, who was released by the Chiefs on June 2 and later signed with the Ravens, missed four games last year with a groin injury and there was a steep drop in production from a sensational 2015 season. Maclin had 44 catches for 536 yards and two touchdowns in 2016 after he had 87 receptions for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns the season before.

Talking with ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s podcast “Know Them From Adam,” Maclin said that groin injury was worse than people knew. He revealed the injury when Schefter asked about the perception that Maclin was a step slower.

“Well, I tore my groin last year,” Maclin told Schefter. “So, if I’m supposed to be just as fast with a torn groin, then more power to them. Man, I guess they just have to wait and see. I don’t really have anything else to say about that. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. I’ll still be able to get open. I’ll still be able to make big plays, that’s for sure.”

Titans sign WR Eric Decker

Titans and former NY Jets WR Eric Decker reached agreement on a one-year deal, per source.

Bucs GM: RB Doug Martin has 'got that burst' back

Perhaps no veteran player has done more to improve his standing during offseason workouts than Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin.

A clear cut candidate after struggling last year and being suspended at the end of the season for violating the NFL's drug policy, Martin has earned nothing but praise this offseason after he spent time in rehab.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo spoke to Bucs general manager Jason Licht as the team closed minicamp on Thursday. The assessment of Martin's on-field improvement was glowing.

"I had a conversation with [Licht]. He said, '[Martin] looks lean, he looks like he's finishing his runs -- obviously, there is no contact in the spring -- but it looks like he's finishing his runs. He looks like he's got that burst. He looks like he's got that burst. He looks like the Doug Martin of 2015,'" Garafolo said Thursday on NFL Network's Inside Minicamp Live.

Bears WR Kevin White 'back to full speed'

Bears WR Kevin White at least is back to full speed after spending part of the winter in Phoenix at the Fischer Institute of Physical Therapy and Performance, where he retaught his body to run with the proper alignment and technique. That has allowed him to resume his developmental process as a receiver this spring.

Azzanni attested that White still has to answer questions about his route-running, given that he didn't run the full route tree at West Virginia.

"We've been working on that hard, some of his breaking-point stuff," Azzanni said. "A lot of times when you're a big guy like that, stopping and change of direction is hard."

During offense-only drills earlier in May, White ran a curl on which he sank his body and exploded back to the ball.

"A bunch of mouths dropped," Azzanni recalled. "Like the wideouts (said), 'Wow, we have not seen Kevin do that in a long time.' I think that got him excited."

Zimmer: Vikings RB Dalvin Cook has 'a chance to be special'

Dalvin Cook has yet to run in pads for the Minnesota Vikings, and it will be some time before coaches begin to establish a pecking order for a backfield that hasn't really needed one for the better part of a decade. But Cook's early work has coach Mike Zimmer believing the Vikings might have a unique player on their hands.

"I think he's got a chance to be special," Zimmer said on Thursday. "There was a play yesterday that, Xavier Rhodes is trying to catch him, and he's hauling now. I just think this guy has got a chance to be pretty good. Now, he's got some things he's got to work on, like all young backs, but I've been very impressed with him this spring."

Bills WR Andre Holmes getting first team reps

Of the horde of receivers that are trying to break through, Andre Holmes seems to have stood out the most. It was a slow start, fighting the ball a little bit early on, but he's settled in nicely -- and is even leading a lot of the positional reps during individual work. He's consistently worked with the first-team offense, and Sean McDermott made it known that he felt really impressed by Holmes with both his offensive and special teams work. On Tuesday, he was smooth with his hands and made a couple of tough catches during team drills. He's positioning himself to be a contender for a roster spot in 2017.

Ravens say RB Danny Woodhead is a 'big part' of the passing game

Not since the days of Ray Rice have the Ravens had a running back with a knack for getting open in the flat, slipping behind linebackers or even breaking downfield to challenge a safety.

“Ever since we lost Ray, we haven’t had the type of back quite like Ray was and quite like (Danny Woodhead) is in the passing game,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “They just have a very good feel for when they’re open, how to get open, how to sit in holes, how to find my eyes.”

“He was somebody that we targeted early in free agency and signed him right out of the gate,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s a very versatile running back for us. He can carry the ball, but he’s a big part of the passing game.”

Jets cut WR Eric Decker

So now former Jets WR Eric Decker will be a free agent. He can choose where he wants to go.

Ravens sign WR Jeremy Maclin

Ravens and WR Jeremy Maclin agree to a two-year deal, per source.

Related players: Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman

Redskins OC hints at a running-back-by-committee approach

Redskins offensive coordinator Mat Cavanaugh indicated that they will play (the running game) by ear.

“(Rob Kelley) obviously has earned the starting job, and I think really it’s a game-to-game evaluation, an in-game evaluation of how well he’s doing and how winded he is – ‘Does he need a blow?’ said Cavanaugh. “We just feel like we’ve got depth at that position now with a lot of similar-type players: stocky, quick-footed, strong, smart guys that can sub in for each other. I wouldn’t put a pitch count on any of them, but obviously if a guy’s got a hot hand and he’s feeling good and he’s not gassed, we’ll keep him on the field. Ideally, maybe have some third-down reps too.”

That last part means that they could play Kelley or Samaje Perine on third downs. They could also expand Thompson out of his usual third-down role.

“Historically here, Chris has been our third-down back, but there’s no reason why can’t play him on first and second down,” said Cavanaugh. “But just rotating the backs, keeping them fresh, we’ve got confidence in all of them.”

Jets Beat: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins 'the most impressive player on the field'

Austin Seferian-Jenkins spent a good portion of this offseason getting his life together. He stopped drinking, and lost 25 pounds. In OTAs, he was the most impressive player on the field and caught everything in sight. It's early, but if Seferian-Jenkins can stay healthy, the Jets may actually have a tight end.

Falcons OC wants to use WR Julio Jones more in the red zone

New Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian hopes to enhance one of the league's top offenses, and that could mean more red-zone touches for top receiver Julio Jones.

"I think, No. 1, they were still very good in the red zone," Sarkisian said of last year's Falcons. "But when you have a player like Julio, it's making sure we maximize his opportunities because there is so much double-coverage, there are so many unique coverages that roll his way that when we don't get that, let's make sure he's one of the primary receivers on that play because it is such a tough matchup for anybody one on one."

Giants say RB Paul Perkins 'can be an every-down back'

Giants RB Paul Perkins appears to have the coaching staff sold based on what he did last season and this spring.

“Well, what he’s shown is … in our system you have to have three phases: You have to be able to run the ball. He was an effective runner last year,” running backs coach Craig Johnson said. “You have to be able to catch the ball. He did a good job in that. And you have to be able to block people, because they are going to try you out. He probably improved the most in that situation. Guys were going to test him out to see if they were going to get to the quarterback. He held up very good in protection and he’s continuing to do that.

“If you can do that, that allows you to be a guy that it’s possible to stay on the field all three downs.”

The Giants are of the belief that Perkins can be an every-down back. They used him as such late last year when Vereen was injured and he was in a 50-50 timeshare with Rashad Jennings.

Vereen may change the situation slightly this year. He was subbed in on most passing downs for the Giants the previous season, when he caught 61 passes.

But this year could be different. Perkins may just be viewed as the feature back the Giants have lacked in recent years.

“I really like what Paul Perkins has been doing so far,” Johnson said. “He ended last season playing like a guy that is ready to take over the job. There is nothing so far in the offseason to show he’s not going to be able to handle that role.

“But that is today. It’s a long way from today to the opening game.”