Third-year Panthers quarterback Cam Newton spent most of training camp in the pocket, with new offensive coordinator Mike Shula only occasionally breaking out the read option.

Newton interacted more with teammates – whether it was making one-handed catches before practice or playing cards between meetings.

Seems like all good signs for Newton. The story also added he's been working real well with WR1 Steve Smith. He could easily be the fourth QB taken in just about any draft, behind Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. He'll still collect the rushing yards and TDs despite the team wanting him to stay in the pocket more.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning at 37 appears improved physically over the 36-year-old version that statistically had a season for the ages in 2012.

"It's hard for me to tell that," Manning said. "But when the cornerbacks like Chris Harris say there's less reaction time (to cover his throws), I value that feedback. That does tell me something. I can use that. Maybe I can hold it an extra second against the rush."

Hard to believe, but Manning continues to get better and better it seems. We have him locked into our third spot behind Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees in our QB rankings. With QBs slipping, it's hard not to consider Manning, especially if he's there in the third round, and especially with the group of WRs surrounding him.

Eddie Lacy was the star of the Green Bay Packers' intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday night. But coach Mike McCarthy isn't ready to give the rookie the starting halfback job quite yet, at least not until he gets a look at DuJuan Harris.

"I'm excited to see when DuJuan Harris comes back, because I view him as our starter," McCarthy told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "I want him to get back in there and earn it like he did all of last year. He made an impact in our offense."

Harris, 24, ran for 257 yards on 62 carries (4.1 average) over six games, including two playoff contests, after injuries made room for his promotion from the practice squad Dec. 1.

But he missed time in the offseason after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from one of his lungs, then opened training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury that might keep him out another week or two.

It may be only a matter of time until the Packers give the job to Lacy, the second-round draft pick out of Alabama who ran for 65 yards on eight carries in Saturday's scrimmage and is a more physical presence at 5-11 and 230 pounds than the diminutive Harris (5-8, 203).

"I think everybody's been really impressed with Eddie and how he's looked in pads," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "He offers something a little different — a big back who's got incredible vision."

This is probably just McCarthy keeping his big back (Lacy) motivated. That said, he has never been afraid to use multiple backs when necessary.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was complimentary of TE Jermichael Finley:

"He's been running his routes really well," Rodgers said. "Something clicked last year midseason ... and it's carried over this spring.

"He's got himself in unbelievable shape, and he's come in and been dominating out there. I'm really proud of him and the steps he's made."

Finley has a tantalizing skill set, but drops have been a serious problem throughout his career and he tends to put the blame on some mysterious lack of chemistry with Rodgers. But over the last seven games, Finley averaged 4.6-57-.14, which equates to TE10 numbers over the course of a full season. HC Mike McCarthy said that Finley was a 'different man' after the team's Week 10 bye, so Finley's strong finish may translate to 2013.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers commented on rookie RBs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin.

"It's exciting to see both of those guys doing what they were brought in to do,'' Rodgers said. "I think Johnathan from the mental side has a slight edge right now, just because he understands [passing game] progressions well and he's done a little bit more of that at UCLA. But Eddie obviously has the physical stature and downhill running style that [head coach] Mike [McCarthy] has always appreciated in this running game.

Franklin was reportedly struggling in pass protection, so it's no sure thing that he's on the field as a third-down back.

Catches have been few and far between for Packers TE Jermichael Finley in camp. He just hasn't seen the ball much. However, Aaron Rodgers polished off a four-play, 70-yard drive in two-minute with a TD strike to his tight end.

Packers HC Mike McCarthy on TE Jermichael Finley: "He's where he needs to be, he's in a very good place. I think he's having a heck of a camp."

Finley has a tantalizing skill set, but drops have been a serious problem throughout his career and he tends to put the blame on some mysterious lack of chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. But over the last seven games, Finley averaged 4.6-57-.14, which equates to TE10 numbers over the course of a full season. HC Mike McCarthy said that Finley was a 'different man' after the team's Week 10 bye, so Finley's strong finish may translate to 2013.

QB Matt Flynn is solidifying his role as starting quarterback for the Raiders one year after losing that same job in training camp with the Seattle Seahawks.

Flynn entered camp with the inside track over Terrelle Pryor and rookie Tyler Wilson to replace Carson Palmer in Oakland and has done nothing in the first week to change that equation.

Flynn has been the most impressive of the three quarterbacks so far in training camp with the most accurate arm, a good grasp of the offense and strong leadership on the field.

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.

Raiders QB Matt Flynn is clearly the No. 1 guy at this point, and looked the part with several accurate passes to the right receivers. Coach Dennis Allen liked Flynn’s effort but wants more consistency than the quarterback and other members of the passing game showed on Friday.

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.

Packers TE Jermichael Finley did look like a player who was serious about realizing his vast potential during the second half of last season. At midseason, he’d dropped seven passes in the first eight games, his agent had questioned via social media quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ leadership abilities, and Finley, never one to censor himself, had continued his outspoken ways, to the chagrin of the organization.

But then, Finley flipped the switch. He wound up breaking the franchise single-season record for receptions by a tight end (61), and he didn’t drop a single pass over the final six games (including playoffs). Tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said Finley’s drop percentage early in the season was “about 30 percent,” and during the second half of the season, it was down to 6 percent.

Not coincidentally, Finley’s relationship with Rodgers was improving during that time, as the pair began spending the night before each game talking about the game plan, how Finley should run his routes and life in general. The connection made a big difference, as Finley caught 26 passes in the final five regular-season games and also had a breakthrough day in Detroit on Nov. 18, when his three receptions included a touchdown and a critical 40-yard catch-and-run to set up the game-winning score.

“He seems like he’s really dialed in. as far as expectations go, I didn’t set any expectations last year, we just wanted to continue to improve each and every week, and that’s the same mentality we’re taking this year – let’s get better, let’s find a starting point and let’s get better each and every week. We’re capable of doing great things,” TE coach Jerry Fontenot said. “I think we definitely had a year to grow off of last year and the way we finished off the year, I’m happy with where we’re starting. But again, we have a long ways to go.”

Finley has a tantalizing skill set, but drops have been a serious problem throughout his career and he tends to put the blame on some mysterious lack of chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. But over the last seven games of 2012, Finley averaged 4.6-57-.14, which equates to TE10 numbers over the course of a full season. It sounds as if those weekly meetings with Rodgers have helped. HC Mike McCarthy said that Finley was a 'different man' after the team's Week 10 bye, so Finley's strong finish may translate to 2013.