April 2017 4for4 Player News Articles

The Detroit Lions didn’t select a running back this weekend in the annual NFL draft, and after it was over, general manager Bob Quinn said third-year pro Ameer Abdullah will be the team’s starting running back this fall.

Abdullah missed all but one-and-a-half games in 2016 with a foot injury that required surgery. He won the starting job last season and gained 101 yards on 18 carries before hurting his foot against Tennessee.

“He is,” Quinn said, when asked directly if Abdullah was his starter.

Abdullah was fully cleared to return this past winter and believes he still has the capability to be a premier running back in the league, something he said at the end of the season. Quinn called Abdullah’s injury “a fluke thing,” and said he thinks Theo Riddick will be ready to go as well.

“I feel pretty good about the position,” Quinn said. “There were a couple running backs we looked at in the middle part of the draft but just no one we felt was going to come in and really unseat any of the guys that we have on our roster.

“So we feel good about that spot.”

Both Abdullah and Riddick are going in the 7th round of early MFL10 drafts, and they both represent good values at that point in the draft. Riddick's per game average of 16.2 fantasy points (PPR) was the 8th-highest at his position. Riddick may not see as many carries with Abdullah back, but he should continue to play a big role in the passing game. In the one game that Abdullah played, Riddick turned 12 touches into 108 yards and two touchdowns, so he'll be involved even with Abdullah back in the lead role.

The Bills have fired general manager Doug Whaley.

New head coach Sean McDermott is calling the shots for now.

After trading up for Miami TE David Njoku, the Browns have informed veteran TE Gary Barnidge he’ll be cut, source said.

Barnidge apparently became expendable after the Browns drafted TE David Njoku. Rookie tight ends rarely make a fantasy impact, but the Browns appear to be planning to play Njoku extensively if they were willing to part ways with Barnidge. Barnidge is entering his age 32 season, but shouldn't have a problem finding a new team.

Marshawn Lynch trade swap of 2018 picks, Seahawks get Oakland's 5th, Oakland gets Seattle's 6th. Part of thinking is while Raiders still in Oakland, bring in a very popular Oakland-area dude.

In his final season with the Seahawks, Lynch gained 497 total yards and scored three touchdowns in seven games (3.76 YPC). That equates to 11.5 PPG (PPR), which are high-end RB3 numbers. The Oakland offensive line is very good, but Seattle’s offensive line seemed to block just fine for Thomas Rawls (5.65 YPC) and Christine Michael (4.92 YPC) while Lynch struggled mightily in 2015. The soon-to-be 31-year-old would be back on the radar as a fantasy RB2 if he is traded to the Raiders, but a return to RB1 production is not a slam dunk.

Marshawn Lynch is getting a two-year deal from the Raiders, per source.

For real this time? There was a similar report from Mike Silver 12 days ago that was shot down by Lynch, but this report is from Schefter and it appears to be the real deal. In his final season with the Seahawks, Lynch gained 497 total yards and scored three touchdowns in seven games (3.76 YPC). That equates to 11.5 PPG (PPR), which are high-end RB3 numbers. The Oakland offensive line is very good, but Seattle’s offensive line seemed to block just fine for Thomas Rawls (5.65 YPC) and Christine Michael (4.92 YPC) while Lynch struggled mightily in 2015. The soon-to-be 31-year-old would be back on the radar as a fantasy RB2 if he is traded to the Raiders, but a return to RB1 production is not a slam dunk.

The NFL notified Martavis Bryant of the Pittsburgh Steelers today that he has been reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis.

Bryant may join the Steelers at the training facility and participate in meetings, conditioning work and similar activities. Once arrangements have been confirmed regarding Bryant’s clinical resources in Pittsburgh, he will be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games.

Prior to the start of the regular season, the NFL will review Bryant’s progress. Based on his compliance and engagement with his program and resources, he will be permitted to participate in all regular season activities beginning in Week 1. He will be evaluated later in the season for full reinstatement.

Bryant had been suspended since March 2016 without pay following multiple violations of the NFL-NFLPA Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

This is great news for Bryant and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. For an in-depth look at Bryant's outlook for 2017, read John Paulsen's recent article: Just a Friendly Reminder That Martavis Bryant Is Really Good.

Adrian Peterson tells me he plans to sign with the Saints on a 2-yr deal, effectively a (1 + 1 year option) term worth a base value of $7M.

Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate: "(Mark Ingram) would be the lead back. Peterson would be his backup. The Saints ran the ball 404 times last year."

After a 1,485-yard season in 2015, Peterson gained just 72 yards on 37 carries (1.9 YPC) in 2016 while his season was interrupted by meniscus surgery. He’s 32 years old and doesn’t run well out of the shotgun, which has become the norm in today’s NFL. We don't believe he'll usurp Ingram as the starter, though he should see a significant role a la Tim Hightower. Ingram may become a draft day value if his ADP takes a hit after this signing.

Bills declined to match two-year, $6.4 million offer sheet that RB Mike Gillislee signed with Patriots, per source. Gillislee now a Pat.

Related players: LeSean McCoy, Rex Burkhead

Over the past two seasons, he has gained 844 yards on 148 carries (5.7 YPC) and found the end zone 12 times (11 rush, 1 rec). In fact, among running backs with at least eight rush attempts inside the opponent's 5-yard line over the past two seasons, Gillislee is tied with LeVeon Bell for the highest touchdown conversion rate (70.0%) in the league. Gillislee's arrival takes a lot of the wind out of Rex Burkhead's sails. Burkhead was probably going to see most of the goal line work, but given Gillislee's talents in that are, he'll probably handle those duties. Double digit touchdowns are possible if Gillislee holds down that role for the entire year. It's going to be tough to predict the Patriots' backfield on a weekly basis. In Buffalo, this cements LeSean McCoy's status as a top 5 fantasy back since he's now likely to see an increase in goal line attempts. Jonathan Williams likely serves as his primary back up, though the Bills may address the position in the draft.

Super-Bowl hero James White and Patriots reached agreement on 3-year extension, tying him to New England for 4 years, per league source.

Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis are signed through 2017, so White gives the team some long-term stability at the position if one or both were to walk next spring. White is more of a receiver than a runner, so his value is enhanced in PPR formats. If the Patriots are able to wrestle Mike Gillislee away from the Bills, this is going to be a very tough backfield to predict on a weekly basis.

Patriots extended an RFA offer sheet to Bills RB Mike Gillislee. It’s for 2 years, $6.4M, source said. $4M in the 1st year.

Joel Corry: The Bills are lousy at giving RFAs tenders. A $1.797M tender instead of a 2nd tender round for Mike Gillislee was inviting an offer sheet.

The Bills have five days to match the offer or lose Gillislee for a 5th round pick. Over the past two seasons, he has gained 844 yards on 148 carries (5.7 YPC) and found the end zone 12 times (11 rush, 1 rec). In fact, among running backs with at least eight rush attempts inside the opponent's 5-yard line over the past two seasons, Gillislee is tied with LeVeon Bell for the highest touchdown conversion rate (70.0%) in the league. If the Bills decline to match the offer, it should free up red zone touches for LeSean McCoy. In New England, Gillislee's arrival would put a serious dent in Rex Burkhead's upside, since he's currently first in line for goal line duties. Gillislee could conceivably assume LeGarrette Blount's role in the offense.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said at the NFL’s annual meeting in March that Spencer Ware, 25, did a fine job in his first year as a starter.

“I’m a big Spencer Ware fan — I like him,” Reid said. “Well, the kid’s dirty tough. He’s going to give you an honest down every snap. He’s not real fancy — that’s not his deal, but he can block, he can catch and he can run. So, there’s a place for Spencer, and this was really his first year as a full-time halfback.”

In 17 games where he’s seen at least 10 carries -- 13 of those games occurred in 2016 -- Ware has averaged 17.9 touches for 99 yards and 0.59 touchdowns, or 15.5 PPG (PPR). Those numbers would have extrapolated to #8 RB numbers in 2016. Ware missed two games last year, but was on pace to finish as the #11 RB had he stayed healthy. The Chiefs may draft a running back, which is why Ware’s ADP sits in the 4th round. If he sits atop the depth chart after the draft, he’ll be worthy of a 3rd round pick.

A source told Sporting News that Steelers WR Martavis Bryant met Thursday with the NFL’s Management Council as part of his efforts for reinstatement from a year-long drug suspension. Among the conditions for being cleared to play again, Bryant was told to assemble a plan detailing safeguards that would help him prevent a relapse upon returning to Pittsburgh, the source said.

Bryant also will have to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell or one of his representatives once the league’s medical director and medical advisor submit their recommendation about reinstatement per the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Bryant sat out the 2016 season after multiple failed drug tests, so he's a risky pick, even if he is on track to be reinstated. Given his production, he's worth the reward, especially at his current ADP (7th round, WR41 in early MFL10s). In 24 career games, including the postseason, Bryant has averaged 4.0 receptions for 65 yards and 0.67 touchdowns, or 14.5 PPG (PPR). That would have been good enough to finish as the #13 WR in 2016, ahead of Jarvis Landry and Julian Edelman. He has posted similar numbers (4.4-67-0.56) in his last 16 games, which equate to a 71-1074-9 season. His ADP should be in the 6th round, and if he's reinstated, it could rise into the 4th.

Marshawn Lynch has signed with the Raiders. Terms to come.

Update from @RapSheet: To follow up Mike Silver's reporting: Marshawn Lynch & Raiders haven't agreed to parameters. But optimism is there. Expected to happen.

The Raiders still need to agree to trade compensation with the Seahawks, but this looks like it's happening. In his final season with the Seahawks, Lynch gained 497 total yards and scored three touchdowns in seven games (3.76 YPC). That equates to 11.5 PPG (PPR), which are high-end RB3 numbers. The Oakland offensive line is very good, but Seattle’s offensive line seemed to block just fine for Thomas Rawls (5.65 YPC) and Christine Michael (4.92 YPC) while Lynch struggled mightily in 2015. The soon-to-be 31-year-old would be back on the radar as a fantasy RB2 if he is traded to the Raiders, but a return to RB1 production is not a slam dunk.

After he signed with the Redskins, Terrelle Pryor had said Kirk Cousins’ presence was among the reasons he was excited for 2017. Now, after working with him ahead of Monday’s first offseason voluntary workout, Pryor is even more excited.

During their time together in Florida, they only misfired on one or two passes -- out of 200, he said.

“It was about him getting my timing down,” Pryor said. “There were a couple routes I had to run a couple times because he’s a timing thrower, and he throws it to spots. But we’ll get there. When we get there Monday, we’ll go two or three times a week and work on that as well. I was eager. It was great to work with him and get to know him.”

On the surface, this is a puff piece, but it's so important for free agent receivers to build chemistry with their new quarterbacks as soon as possible. It also indicates that Cousins, who has had a tumultuous relationship with the team, is preparing as if he'll be playing for the Redskins in 2017.

The Seahawks & Raiders are expected to work out a trade for Marshawn Lynch to Oakland. It’s contingent on a reworked contract first.

In his final season with the Seahawks, Lynch gained 497 total yards and scored three touchdowns in seven games (3.76 YPC). That equates to 11.5 PPG (PPR), which are high-end RB3 numbers. The Oakland offensive line is excellent, so the soon-to-be 31-year-old would be back on the radar as a fantasy RB2 if he does un-retire and find his way to the Raiders.

49ers RB Carlos Hyde on knee: "I’m back to running. I can cut, just not all the way I like to run, but I’m making improvement."

In 20 games over the past two seasons, Hyde has averaged 16.6 carries for 73 yards and 0.45 touchdowns. His 13.9 PPG (PPR) in that span is better than what Frank Gore averaged as the #12 fantasy running back last season. Hyde’s injury history is concerning, but if he’s able to stay upright and play a full season, he has a great chance to finish as a fantasy RB1.

“I’m feeling good. I continue to get better. My back feels great,’ Bengals TE Tyler Eifert assured on Monday.

Eifert doesn’t know when he’ll be cleared to resume regular workouts or work in the May and June camps, but he says he’ll ready for training camp. He isn’t running full steam yet, but he’s been running enough that he feels he’s close to being in tip-top shape.

“I’ll be ready and healthy and strong and be ready to go by the time it’s go time,” Eifert said. “I’m close.”

“It will be nice to have somewhat of an offseason to get ready for the year,” Eifert said. “Instead of coming into camp straight off of injury.”

When Eifert is healthy, well, the numbers say it.

There is that .650 winning percentage and those .54 TDs per game. That’s what eight-time Pro Bowler Antonio Gates has in 204 games. No one is near Rob Gronkowksi’s .77 TDs per game, but consider that Jimmy Graham is at .56, Jordan Reed at .43, one-time Pro Bowl MVP Kyle Rudolph at .36, Greg Olsen at .34, Travis Kelce at .29, 10-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten at .28, and Delanie Walker at .19, and you’re looking at a guy that scores with the best of them.

In 21 games over the last two seasons, Eifert has averaged 3.9 catches for 48 yards and 0.86 TD per game (on 5.8 T/G). That equates to 13.8 PPG (PPR), which is what Travis Kelce averaged last season as fantasy’s #1 tight end. It will be tough for Eifert to maintain that touchdown rate, though he did manage 0.82 TD per game in the 17 games over the last two seasons that A.J. Green also played, which underlines Eifert’s red zone role in the passing game. If his touchdowns regress, he’ll be hard-pressed to make up the difference in receptions or yards, since his targets are low, relatively speaking.

Vance Joseph said Broncos QB Trevor Siemian is a full-go. Cleared to participate in offseason program fully after left shoulder surgery in January.

The injury was to his non-throwing shoulder so it shouldn't affect his fantasy prospects heading into 2017. It looks like he is the favorite to start once again for the Broncos. Siemian averaged 13.6 fantasy points in 14 games, which makes him a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes.

Bruce Arians is content with his wide receivers, for now at least.

If a top-tier wide receiver is available when it’s the Cardinals' turn to pick at No. 13 in this month’s NFL draft, there's no guarantee he’ll be heading to Arizona.

“A top-round pick isn’t necessary,” Arians said. “Again, if the right guy falls and you say, ‘OK, where does he fit this year?’ And everyone says he’s a bust because he’s fighting his ass off to get on the field.’

“We don’t need a plug-and-play player right now at that position.”

Related players: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, JJ Nelson, Jaron Brown, Aaron Dobson

The story said Arians has thrown praise at Dobson this offseason and John Brown is working out twice a day so the Cards are hopeful he returns to form in 2017. The story added both could fill the role left by Michael Floyd.

LeGarrette Blount wanted a team to “give me some money.”

The Patriots, at least to some degree, are willing.

New England is known for not overly investing at running back, often allowing even its most productive veterans to walk via free agency. Blount currently has an “offer on the table” from the Patriots, Mike Giardi of CSN New England reported Friday. This is less a development and more an update on where the situation stands. That Blount has yet to accept indicates the deal’s numbers and/or structure do not meet his expectation.

The team hosted Adrian Peterson Monday but it's believed the price wasn't right and the story went on to say Blount, at the right price, seems like the preferred option.

Now that Tony Romo is out of the picture, the Denver Broncos' quarterback job is up for grabs between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch.

Although coach Vance Joseph has preached an open competition between the incumbent starter and the 2016 first-round draft pick, Siemian remains the favorite to be under center in Week 1.

After speaking with Joseph, NFL Network's James Palmer told Omar Ruiz of Up to the Minute Live that Siemian has the "upper hand" entering the offseason program.

Siemian might have been widely viewed as a pet project of former coach Gary Kubiak, but the new coach has been impressed after taking an in-depth look at the 2016 game film. Despite subpar pass protection and an inconsistent ground attack, the Broncos coaching staff believes "he played very well last season," Palmer added. "They believe he played at a higher level than many assume," the rest of the story went on to say.

Surprise, surprise, Ben Roethlisberger will not retire.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback announced via Twitter that he informed the team he's looking forward to playing his 14th NFL season. "Steeler Nation will get my absolute best," he wrote.

After a playoff loss to the New England Patriots, Roethlisberger said he was contemplating retirement, noting he wanted to "evaluate" all his options.

It's fair for a 34-year-old to think about the future and spending more time with his family, especially after a playoff loss, the story said. But it didn't seem believable Big Ben would walk away with so much left in the tank on a team with enough talent to reach a Super Bowl, especially on offense.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is participating in the effort to move on and move out from Seattle, but he doesn’t just want to go anywhere.

That’s the word from Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who said on PFT Live that Sherman is involved in the trade effort, but he’s looking to play for a contender and wouldn’t cooperate with trade talks if the talks are with a bad team.

“Richard Sherman is talking to some people,” Salguero said. “He wants to play in Super Bowls or have a chance to compete in Super Bowls, so he has some degree of leverage as to where this train goes.”

The story went on to say that despite Sherman’s willingness to participate in trade talks, Sherman is expected to remain a Seahawk because he expects the Seahawks to demand more in a trade than any team will offer.

It’s Cardinals RB David Johnson's drive which made him happy to hear the comments from Bruce Arians last week, when the Cardinals coach broached the idea of getting Johnson the ball 30 times per game in 2017.

The number is lofty and could be hard to hit. Furthermore, there are cautionary tales about running backs that declined after getting a heavy workload early in their careers. Johnson, though, has no qualms about high usage.

“I’m still young,” Johnson said. “I’m still on my first contract. So I feel I can definitely handle 30 touches. I did it last year, basically, with running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.”

Johnson said he didn’t feel worn down near the end of games last season, even as he became the clear focal point of the offense. He led the NFL in touches, averaging more than 23 per game. 30 touches a game seems a bit out of reach, and obviously depends on how the game is going, but it's clear Johnson is again going to be a major part of the offense which will have him going at, or near, the top of a lot of fantasy drafts.

The Redskins will expect more out of WR Josh Doctson this season, especially with the departures of DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon to other NFC teams in free agency while Terrelle Pryor Sr. and Brian Quick need time to acclimate to a new offense.

“I’m happy,” Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said last week at the NFL’s annual League Meetings in Phoenix when asked about the tweet. “That’s a big thing with him. We took it really slow. I think Larry Hess and the training room did a great job with him. We sent him to a lot of doctors to try and figure out what was wrong with him. We took it slow and I think he’s in a good place mentally and that’s half the battle. We’ll continue to gradually build him through OTAs and the mandatory camp so hopefully we’ll get him to full speed in training camp and go from there. I’m excited as heck to watch him play.”

Related players: Jamison Crowder

Doctson’s already gotten a jump on his second season with the Redskins, as he went to Florida with some of the other wide receivers to work on timing with Kirk Cousins.

The New Orleans Saints are not done yet looking at big names on the NFL free-agent market.

According to an NFL Network report, the Saints plan to meet next week with running back Adrian Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP.

Related players: Mark Ingram

After letting Tim Hightower leave to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, the Saints are in the market for help at running back. The prevailing expectation was for New Orleans to target a running back in the draft, but it appears they want to see if Peterson could help the offense.

No running back in league history has ever started all 16 games at age 34 or older.

The Colts should, and will, continue to use Frank Gore as their lead back. Only 12 players ran for 1,000 yards last year in the NFL, so Gore is still a top-level back.

But the Colts will certainly involve some other ball carriers behind their Hall of Famer.

Related players: Robert Turbin

Robert Turbin wants a more expanded role in 2017, the story said. And GM Chris Ballard believes Turbin has potential for more first and second down work as well. With Gore another year older, and Turbin showing off his skills last season, using the latter more in 2017 could very well be in the works. Turbin contributed in several ways last year. Short-yardage and third down were the two main areas the Colts found plenty of success in using Turbin. The team could also draft a RB in what is supposed to be a deep class.

Brandon Bolden is back in the fold. The Patriots announced they re-signed the running back, who was an unrestricted free agent.

The five-year veteran, who is best known for his special teams work, has rushed for 845 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also caught 46 passes for 366 yards with two touchdowns. During the week leading up to Super Bowl LI, quarterback Tom Brady was highly complimentary of Bolden, who had two special teams tackles during the win.

Marshawn Lynch is from Oakland, frequently flew from Seattle to Oakland when he was a member of the Seahawks and has called Oakland his home since he retired just over a year ago. So, it wasn’t a long drive or bike ride for Lynch when he reportedly visited the Raiders on Wednesday.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed McAfee’s report. According to Rapoport, the Seahawks OK’d Lynch’s visit. Schefter added that a source told him, “it will happen.” Jack Del Rio just needs to sign off, per Rapoport:

"On Marshawn Lynch: My understanding is that meeting with Jack Del Rio is the final hurdle. If the #Raiders coach signs off, dominoes fall."

Lynch would still be under contract with the Seahawks, who have moved on to Eddie Lacy, if he comes out of retirement. So he would need the Seahawks to either release him or trade him to Oakland. A release appears to be the likelier of the two options, according to the story. Lynch, 30, would replace Latavius Murray as Oakland's lead back should the deal go through.

Tony Romo's retirement to the broadcast booth took one quarterback out of this offseason's game of musical chairs.

Even with a dearth of capable quarterbacks on the open market and few pro-ready signal-callers in the draft, one man can't sniff a gig: Jay Cutler.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday on Good Morning Football that Cutler's market is almost zilch.

"I've had a lot of conversations with general managers or head coaches talking about where these quarterbacks are going to land and it is unbelievable that Cutler's name rarely, if ever, comes up," Rapoport said.

The story went on to say with Romo out of the mix and Houston heading into the draft with injury-prone Tom Savage as the starter, the Texans have been pondered as a landing spot for Cutler. But Rapoport reiterated that the Texans don't view Cutler as a fit -- he added Colin Kaepernick is also not a fit for Houston.

Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is back.

"This was my first time actually sprinting and actually doing full movement things," Taylor, who had groin surgery shortly after the 2016 season, told the team's official site after voluntary workouts on Monday. "I've felt great since the surgery and the doctors here and the training staff have done a great job of getting me to 100 percent and I feel real good. I feel very explosive."

His comments are good news on multiple levels. Taylor wasn't treated like a face-of-the-franchise quarterback down the stretch in 2016 and the new regime dragged their feet on re-working his deal for 2017. He is still paid less than Mike Glennon, Brock Osweiler, Sam Bradford and others despite one Pro Bowl season under his belt.

The New Orleans Saints' addition of Chase Daniel last week means a changing of the guard at the backup quarterback position.

The team plans to release veteran quarterback Luke McCown, the backup the past four seasons, on Wednesday, according to a source with knowledge of the decision.

Related players - Drew Brees

McCown, 35, initially joined the Saints in 2013. He re-signed on a two-year, $3 million contract during the 2016 offseason, but with the team adding Daniel to the roster, McCown won't have the chance to play on the final year of his deal.

According to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network, LeGarrette Blount remains an option in New England.

"I know LeGarrette Blount would like to return to the Patriots, I know the Patriots would like him back," Rapoport said. "But at this point, the salary has not been more than some of the other running backs on the roster already make, especially some of the newly acquired ones in Rex Burkhead, so they're just not there yet as far as getting LeGarrette Blount back in the fold for the Patriots. Maybe this spurs things along, or maybe he's able to get a visit somewhere that will let the Patriots know that he has other suitors."

Related players: Dion Lewis, James White, Rex Burkhead

The story said the Giants could also be interested in Blount, who is likely looking for a multiyear deal. The Adrian Peterson meeting has come and done without a signing, so attention could turn back to Blount for the Pats.

Quarterback Eli Manning has organized workouts with his receivers at Duke University, which employs his coach at Ole Miss David Cutcliffe as their head coach, for the last few years. WR Odell Beckham told Newsday on Monday night that he won’t be there because he’s having oral surgery.

Beckham said that he expects to be good to go for the start of the Giants’ offseason program in a couple of weeks.

Beckham’s absence will leave Manning with more time to work with Brandon Marshall, who is the newest addition to the receiving corps after signing with the Giants last month following his release by the Jets.

Tony Romo is retired, with one caveat:

If the Dallas Cowboys ever need him in an emergency, he'll fly out of the television booth, suit up and play savior for Big D.

That's the word from NFL Network's Jane Slater, in the wake of Romo's retirement.

"In his head right now, he has not ruled out coming back to Dallas if in fact they ever needed him, because, God forbid, there was an injury, that he could see himself in a savior role for the Cowboys," Slater said Tuesday on NFL Network's Good Morning Football.

As the story states, this boils down to simply: If Dak Prescott suffers a catastrophic, Teddy Bridgewater-esque injury, Romo could unretire to try and save the day. The story added one would assume the injury would have to take place early in the season, and not late-season, for Romo to shake off the rust and leave the broadcast booth.

It’s still unclear why running back LeSean McCoy was the lone member of the Bills to not show up for the first day of the team’s offseason program. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, however, McCoy didn’t stay away due to his contract.

The Bills, despite a potentially significant change to the rushing philosophy under offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, have made it clear they want McCoy. And McCoy apparently isn’t trying to send them a message. The workouts are voluntary and he risks losing $250,000 worth of workout bonuses if he doesn't meet the threshold specified in his contract.

The Vikiogns are a group that will spend a decent chunk of the offseason trying to establish its identity on offense. Here's an idea: balance.

The Vikings haven't ranked in the top 20 in both running and passing yards since 2009, when Brett Favre shared a backfield with Peterson. Since that season, one facet of the Vikings' offense has been ranked 26th or worse in the league in every year but one: 2013, when the league's most porous defense forced the Vikings to play catch-up enough that their passing game ascended all the way to 23rd.

"We were almost totally 100 percent one-dimensional, which made it extra tough for the quarterback," Zimmer said at the NFL owners meetings last week. "Teams were able to load up on us, rush the quarterback, play more coverage. I thought [Bradford] did great. He hung in there and showed his toughness. He's an extremely accurate thrower. The guys in the locker room, he developed a relationship with those guys, even though he came in [eight] days before the season, and was able to learn the system and so on."

Related players: Latavius Murray, Sam Bradford

Last year, the Vikings' 18th-ranked passing offense was their best since 2009, but they were hindered by a 32nd-ranked ground game that made their offense almost inoperable at times.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is leaving football and going into broadcasting, even with Dallas planning to release him Tuesday, league sources tell ESPN.

Romo has received interest from CBS, Fox and NBC, and can choose to be a color commentator where he wants. That move could come as early as Tuesday, sources said.
But the decision to leave football already has been made. His run as the Cowboys' quarterback -- and an NFL player -- officially ends Tuesday.

The story went on to say Dallas is expected to designate Romo as a post-June 1 release, softening the blow against the Cowboys' cap this season. Instead of counting $24.7 million in 2017, Romo would count $10.7 million this year and $8.9 million in 2018. The Cowboys would gain $14 million in cap space, but it would not become available until June 2. But after Tuesday, Romo will no longer be with the Cowboys.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had his boss’s permission to wrestle, and said he’s planning on being a full participant when the bell rings on the offseason program.

Before his Wrestlemania appearance last night, Gronkowski told ESPN he was recovered from back surgery and ready to get back to work.

“I’m feeling great. I’m good to go,” Gronkowski said. “It’s been about four months now [since surgery]. Just been back with the team a lot during the week, doing my rehab with the trainers there. I’m feeling good. I’ll be ready to roll when [the] offseason program starts. Super excited to get back on the field.”

New England begins its offseason program in two weeks with OTAs scheduled for May 22.

Serious leg injuries in each of his first two NFL seasons have forced Kevin White to miss 28 of 32 games. But the Bears are confident that the young receiver possesses the drive and determination to relaunch his career.

"Knowing his work ethic and his approach and his support system, I know he's going to come back ready to go," said general manager Ryan Pace. "He has just got to shake off some of that bad luck. Kevin is going to have to step up and stay healthy."

White has been anything but since being selected by the Bears with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft out of West Virginia. He missed his entire rookie season with a stress fracture in his left leg and then broke his fibula in the same leg in the fourth game last year, eventually undergoing surgery for the second straight season.

White has shown promise when healthy; his 19 receptions last year were the most ever by a Bears player through the first four games of a season, the story said. The key moving forward, of course, is for the 6-3, 216-pounder to stay on the field and out of the training room.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has started 176 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak for a quarterback in NFL history. But he won’t be around forever.

That’s why Chargers coach Anthony Lynn indicated at the league meeting that the Chargers will draft a quarterback who can back up the 35-year-old Rivers and compete with the 33-year-old Kellen Clemens for the No. 2 job.

“I think we do have to get a young quarterback on campus. We have to start developing someone because we have two veteran quarterbacks,” Lynn said. “Both of them are long in the tooth. I think they have some good years left in them — don’t get me wrong. But, you have to start thinking about down the line too.”

The story added that Rivers has indicated he has no issues with the team drafting a QB and he expects to start for at least a few more years.

Dolphins coach Adam Gase expects TE Julius Thomas to cause similar matchup problems with Miami like he did in Denver in 2013 and 2014.

According to Gase, the Dolphins were seeing a lot of base defenses when they went with three wide receivers and one tight end. Essentially, opponents didn't fear Miami's tight ends enough and were willing to cover them with linebackers, and the statistics bear that out.

The Dolphins did not get nearly enough production out of the tight end position last season due to injuries and inconsistency. Last year’s starters -- Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims -- combined for just 34 receptions for 316 yards and five touchdowns.

Thomas knows the system well and shouldn’t have a big learning curve, the story said. Gase also knows how to get the best out of Thomas and will put together a productive route tree and efficient ways to use the tight end.

Sunday's news that the Patriots will be hosting RB Adrian Peterson on a visit, reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, seems to be a reflection of how the dynamics have changed.

If a potential contract is closer to minimum levels, or structured in a way in which it is heavy with incentives, maybe it could be a fit for Bill Belichick's club. Or, at the least, the Patriots now have more motivation to explore if it could be a fit.

That seems like the best way to sum up Monday's meeting.

Related players: James White, Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, D.J. Foster

Many didn't think Peterson would be a fit for the Pats, mainly because of cost. It's also a deep RB class in this year's draft and Peterson is challenged in pass protection. The Pats could use a power back, however, and it seems as if they are doing their due diligence with Peterson.

The 49ers added some much-needed depth at running back, agreeing to terms with Tim Hightower, general manager John Lynch announced Saturday. Hightower becomes the second running back to join the Niners this week, along with DuJuan Harris, who re-signed with the team on March 28.

Related players - Carlos Hyde

Hightower will battle Harris for the leftover carries not given to entrenched starter Carlos Hyde, and will be able to look forward to running behind newly acquired fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Some beat writers in New Orleans last year thought HIghtower was the better runner between he and Mark Ingram, but HIghtower will be 31 by the start of the season.

Mine [expectations for a Kirk Cousins deal] are rather low. Some people I know think it should be even lower. Maybe it changes, but that's the feeling now. I know the Redskins say they'll get a deal done, but I also think they've waited too long to make an offer that tempts Cousins. That said, they've still been willing to pay him $44 million over two years. It's not as if he's been done wrong financially thanks to the franchise tag. Still, at some point it won't be about the money for him; if free, he can get a similar deal elsewhere.

The story said their is really no update on the contract. Word surfaced the team offered Cousins around $20 million per year for five years on top of the 2017 franchise tag but the guarantees were low. The story went on to say at this point, there's more incentive for Cousins to wait and see how things play out in Washington -- the direction of the franchise, how he meshes with coach Jay Gruden as a playcaller, etc. Cousins can become a free agent next offseason (unless the Redskins tag him for a third and final time).

Coach Mike Tomlin has talked to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger multiple times this offseason, hitting on all of the normal topics the two usually address in the offseason.

“We’ve been in pretty fluid conversation,” said Tomlin while attending the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix, Arizona. “I hear he’s in some big-game hunting with Jim Kelly in New Zealand. We spoke before he went on that trip. We’ve had some good, fluid discussions. But really, normal discussions that we have this time of year, keeping him abreast of what’s going on in free agency, how the draft is potentially shaping up, normal, fluid conversations you have with your veteran franchise quarterback.”

There is one topic that really hasn’t come up much, though, and that is Roethlisberger’s comments made shortly after the season when he hinted at potential retirement.

“Ben is answering questions," Tomlin said. "Sometimes in an effort to be transparent and answer the question as honestly you can, it produces other questions. It’s not an issue for me. I understand the nature of the conversation and how this discussion got started. He is going through his normal procedure. The older he gets, the more direct questions he gets in that regard. You guys ran with it. That is your right and responsibility. It’s not my responsibility to overreact to it.”

At the end of the season, Big Ben said he was going to take time in the offseason to evaluate and consider all his options, including his health, family and age. It would be hard to imagine Ben calling it quits at this point, especially with a dynamic offense surrounding him.