2012 Rookies

[BINGO]

Checking in on Phil Taylor
11:12AM ET
Phillip Taylor | Browns

The Cleveland Browns suffered a big loss to their interior defensive line earlier this offseason when second-year pro Phillip Taylor tore his pectoral muscle during a weightlifting session. Given the uncertainty of a recovery timeline from such an injury, it's unclear when Taylor will get back on the field; however, he did recently indicate that he will play at some point in 2012, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.

Rookies John Hughes and Billy Winn are believed to be in the mix to fill in for the Baylor product while he's out, though Taylor was quick to cite Scott Paxson as the player most likely to take his spot.

"We won't miss a beat. Paxson's right behind me. He's a great guy. He's gonna be good," Taylor said, also acknowledging that Hughes and Winn "are gonna play a lot this year."

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Latest on Blackmon's deal
10:26AM ET
Justin Blackmon | Jaguars

As with many of the other gentlemen drafted in the Top 10 this April, Jacksonville Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon remains contract-less with training camps getting under way later this month. Some believe that Blackmon's off-field issues -- including a recent DUI -- may affect the contract negotiations, however it's not expected that things will drag on beyond the start of camp.

Within a recent mailbag, John Oehser of Jaguars.com concurred with that sentiment:

"When rookie contracts don't get done by the end of the offseason program -- i.e., mid-June -- they often don't get done until closer to training camp. That's a pretty common annual story around the league. The reason often is members of front offices take vacation in in late June and early July. I'd expect the contracts of Blackmon and [Bryan] Anger to get done before training camp begins and I don't sense any worry around the building that that won't happen."

Matt Williamson of Scouts, Inc. touched on what Blackmon brings to the table for Blaine Gabbert and the Jags' offense in his recent offseason grades column:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Matt Williamson
He's just what they need

"Clearly the Jaguars needed more weapons for Blaine Gabbert, and priority No. 1 for Jacksonville was to do everything possible to help him. Not a burner but a physical wide receiver who is very good after the catch, Blackmon should quickly emerge as the Jaguars' top target, particularly on intermediate routes and over the middle."

 

[BINGO]

The holdup on Wright's deal
11:43AM ET
Kendall Wright | Titans

In an attempt to bolster their corps of pass-catchers for the next few seasons, the Tennessee Titans invested their first-round draft pick (No. 20 overall) on WR Kendall Wright. But there's a slight problem as the start of the club's training camp approaches: he still hasn't signed his rookie contract.

At issue, according to what sources have revealed to John Glennon of the Tennessean, is guaranteed money. Last year's No. 20 overall pick, Adrian Clayborn, got all four years of his contract guaranteed, while the No. 17, 18, and 19 picks got three years and a portion of the fourth guaranteed. This offseason, the Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 21 picks have already signed, and none has had the entire four years guaranteed. As Glennon notes, the Cleveland Browns' contract with No. 22 overall pick QB Brandon Weeden may complicate things. Weeden is seeking a contract with all four years guaranteed, and that would bolster Wright's side of the argument.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Jerel Worthy's assignment
11:29AM ET
Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers rookie D-lineman Jerel Worthy is in the mix to replace starter Anthony Hargrove while the latter serves his bounty-related suspension at the start of the regular season, but there's another defensive package within which the club foresees the Michigan St. product making a big impact: the nickel.

"Especially with how much nickel we play, there are certain things that height is good for and certain things that quickness is good for," DL coach Mike Trgovac said of the 6-foot-2, 308-pounder, according to the Journal Sentinel. "We looked at all the aspects of him, and obviously when we decided to draft him, the things we saw in him we liked."

The Packers will play against the Chicago Bears at least twice this season, featuring an offense that figures to have three WRs on the field extensively. And as more and more teams use the three-or-more WR sets almost exclusively, it's important for a team with Super Bowl aims to counter that with a strong nickel (and dime) package. If Worthy can provide an interior rush to help collapse pockets, this will go a long way in aiding the secondary.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

The NFL's tight end revolution
The Colts appear to be following the Patriots and Saints. Good thinking.
Originally Published: July 11, 2012
By Adam Gabriel | Special to ESPN Insider

The Stanford tandem of Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener could pay big dividends for the Colts.

While no one would deny that the Indianapolis Colts selection of Andrew Luck was a pivotal moment for that franchise, their second-round pick of 6-foot-6, 247-pound TE Coby Fleener at No. 34 overall may have been equally important.

The reason? Tight end production has been rapidly increasing across the NFL over the past dozen years, and that ever-improving performance appears to be fueling a golden era for quarterbacks. That's right -- there is significant evidence that it's not merely quarterbacks making the tight ends, but tight ends partially fueling the passing explosion. The kind of tight end matters.

In this day and age, having a playmaking TE is a must in the league for QBs, as record point and yardage totals are being posted. Starting with the appearances of converted basketball players Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates, continuing through Kellen Winslow and Vernon Davis and now culminating with the monster seasons from Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski, the data is in and the conclusion for NFL GMs should be clear: Go get your QB a tight end who can run and catch or you will be left behind.

As the table below shows, there have been huge increases in TE receptions, yardage, TDs and yards per catch between 2000 and 2011:

The Rise of the Tight End
Four-year averages indicate a distinct trend of teams taking advantage of tight ends as receivers.

4 Year Avg. TE Rec TE Yds TE TDs 20+ Yds Average

2000-03 1,628 16,997 136 192 10.44
2004-07 1,938 20,442 167 231 10.55
2008-11 2,228 24,805 179 315 11.13

But again, this is not simply a function of teams putting the ball in the air more often. As a percentage of NFL passing offense, receptions by TEs jumped from 16.7 percent from 2000-03 to 21.5 percent from 2008-11. During those same time periods, the percentage of receiving yards by TEs increased from 16.3 percent to 22.0 percent, while the percentage of receiving TDs by tight ends leapt from 20.7 percent to 25.1 percent. These stats mean there has been a decreased emphasis on throwing to wide receivers or to running backs or both.

Simultaneously, quarterback performance league-wide has risen across multiple categories. In 2000-03, average QB completion percentage was 58.9 percent; it increased to 60.7 percent from 2008-11. Yards per attempt, one of the most important measures of QB success, went up from 6.3 to 6.6. And TD-to-INT ratio improved from 1.22:1 to 1:42:1. All of this has helped contribute to a substantial improvement in traditional QB ratings over time -- the four-year average has rocketed from 78.8 from 2000-03 to 81.9 from 2008-11.

Perhaps most interestingly, yards per completion to TEs have been higher than the league-wide YPC for the last five years in a row, after never being higher in any year from 2000-06. This indicates that tight ends are helping QBs play better, not the other way around.

Today's tight ends are very similar in stature to those from a decade ago (on average 6-4 and about 254 pounds), they are quicker and more explosive. Average 40-yard dash times at that position group dropped a full tenth of a second from 4.82 in 2000 to 4.72 in 2011, while the average vertical jump increased to almost 34 inches.
What factors are contributing to this change? For one, a quick look at past NFL combine testing data from 2000 compared to 2011 shows that although today's tight ends are very similar in stature to those from a decade ago (on average 6-4 and about 254 pounds), they are quicker and more explosive. Average 40-yard dash times at that position group dropped a full tenth of a second from 4.82 in 2000 to 4.72 in 2011, while the average vertical jump increased to almost 34 inches.

One longtime NFC scout indicated that the proliferation of the spread offense throughout college football has gone hand and hand with better athletes at tight end appearing at the combine. "However, at the same time, it is getting harder and harder to find traditional, on-the-line TEs to evaluate these days," said the front office veteran.

The consequence of faster players manning the position is that offensive coordinators have been able to become more creative in their use of formations and shifts. The end result has been a major uptick in the way tight ends have been deployed in the slot. With thanks to Pro Football Focus data, the chart below shows that when lined up in the slot, TE snaps, targets, catches, yards and TDs have been on the rise for the past four years.

Increasing Importance of the Tight End from the Slot

Year Snaps Targets Recs Yards TDs
2008 4,912 870 574 6,625 37
2009 5,029 872 572 6,584 49
2010 5,352 953 620 6,832 51
2011 5,629 1003 670 8,232 55

In addition, the dynamic tight ends now found in the league have allowed quarterbacks the luxury of exploiting mismatches, both with safeties who are too small and linebackers who are too slow. That is a factor that has been crucial to the evolution of the position according to the NFC scout.

"Not only are defensive coordinators put in a bind with more snaps from the slot, when an athletic tight end like [Dallas Cowboys TE Jason] Witten comes on the field now, he creates headaches because the defense doesn't know if he's going to be at fullback, at move H, on the line or even at wideout," he said. "With New England, it's even worse because you've got two guys to worry about [with Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski]. Are they going four wides? Two tights and two wides? Now, the quarterback can sit there and find an easy target to take advantage of if the defense has the wrong personnel deployed."

Increase in TE Deep Throws
TE receptions over 20 yds.

Year Attempts Yards TDs
2008 250 3,065 23
2009 257 3,098 29
2010 263 3,176 26
2011 310 3,969 37

As a result, receptions of more than 20-plus yards have increased in each of the last five years, hitting a high of 366 in 2011, nearly twice the number from 2000 (184). This a result of more versatile TEs creating missed tackles, a la Aaron Hernandez, who led the NFL with 23 last season, as well as the vertical threat of downfield throws. The chart to the right shows the increasing number of deep attempts of more than 20 yards to tight ends since 2008.

We now know that these versatile TEs have helped quarterbacks improve their QB ratings, but has their presence resulted in more wins? The answer is yes. A check of teams making the playoffs in 2011 confirms the importance of the TE position: All but one of the 12 franchises to make it to last year's postseason had a tight end in the top 20 in TE receiving yardage, with Denver the lone exception. (New England, at the head of the class, had two of them in Gronkowski and Hernandez.)

What about the have-nots? Teams with young quarterbacks who want to make a jump in the standings -- such as the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins -- would be well advised to take a hard look at acquiring more tight end talent as soon as possible.

None of the four primary TEs on those teams -- Lance Kendricks, Benjamin Watson, Jeremy Shockey and Anthony Fasano -- were in the top 20 in TE receiving yards last year. In fact, they only totaled 1,668 yards and 11 TDs combined, which pales in comparison to Gronkowski's solo effort of 1,327 yards and 17 TDs. And those four players averaged just 33 receptions, a mere half of the 65-catch average of the top 20 TEs in 2011. There is a wide tight end talent gap to close between NFL playoff teams and these struggling squads which had a collective 18-46 record in their previous campaigns.

All things considered, Andrew Luck should be one of the happiest rookie quarterbacks to come into the league in many seasons. Having a target like Fleener to throw to should make his transition from college to the NFL substantially easier if the demonstrated "Trend to the Tight End" is any indication. And perhaps cognizant of the shift across the league, Indy didn't stop there. They took Clemson star Dwayne Allen, also a tight end, with their next pick.

Adam Gabriel has previously conducted quantitative research studies for the St. Louis Rams on the salary cap, free agency and the draft. He holds an MBA in finance from Saint Louis University and studied sports law at Washington University. He has also worked as a statistician on NHL and NFL broadcasts for ESPN, NBC and Fox Sports.

 

[BINGO]

Fitzgerald forgives Floyd
4:25PM ET
Larry Fitzgerald | Cardinals

We told you a few days ago about Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald publicly chastised rookie Michael Floyd for skipping a series of workouts. Never let it be said that Fitzgerald is not a fair man, because he's also willing to give praise when it's due. Floyd took Fitzgerald's tongue-lashing to heart and showed up for the next workouts -- with a vengeance.

"Just finished another strong workout with [WelleFast Elite Sports Training]," Fitzgerald said via Twitter. "@MichaelMFloyd killed it 2day & led the group in all drills & [squatted] 400+. #beast"

- Vince Verhei​

 

[BINGO]

Backing up Bradshaw
2:24PM ET
New York Giants

Email New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw missed four games last season. That wasn't a huge deal for New York because they had a quality backup in Brandon Jacobs. Now, though, Jacobs is in San Francisco. What will the Giants do if Bradshaw misses games again this fall?

"In an ideal world, first-round pick David Wilson acclimates to the pro game quickly and makes an impact," writes D.J. Ware and Andre Brown are two other options.

"Bradshaw's health looms over everything. He has chronic foot issues and is coming off surgery in the offseason in which he had bone marrow taken from his hip and injected into his right foot. We don't have to tell you these are not the types of procedures you want associated with your starting tailback.

- Vince Verhei​

 

[BINGO]

Quiet debut season for 49ers' rooks?
3:59PM ET
San Francisco 49ers

CSNBayArea.com's Matt Maiocco doesn't expect the San Francisco 49ers' rookies to have much of an impact during the 2012 campaign. However, he does think that second-round pick LaMichael James has the best chance to contribute.

"I'm still of the opinion that Kendall Hunter is the 49ers' second-best running back behind Frank Gore," he said. "But the 49ers would not have selected the dynamic James if they did not envision a role for him as a rookie."

On the other hand, Maiocco thinks their first-rounder may not even be active on game days.

"I find it difficult to believe that first-round pick A.J. Jenkins can supplant Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss or Mario Manningham to find a steady role as one of the team's top three wide receivers," Maiocco said. "So it might be difficult for him to earn the right to put on a uniform as part of the active 46 players on game days."

As for how Moss has looked after taking a year off from the NFL, here's what ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter had to say Friday:

- Tom Carpenter​

Adam Schefter
Analyzing the top WR duos in the NFL

"So far he has looked great ... But it's July, not November. The challenge for Moss will be looking and acting great over the course of a full season. He hasn't been able to do that recently, but everyone knows the type of player he can be when he wants to be. Moss should produce for San Francisco. But so should Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and A.J. Jenkins. Still, the season likely rests with QB Alex Smith. If he can improve on the way he played last season, watch out for the Niners. If not, it will not be easy for San Francisco."

 

[BINGO]

Richardson, Weeden deals close?
10:58AM ET
Trent Richardson | Browns

The big news for the Cleveland Browns this week was the team's acquisition of WR prospect Josh Gordon with a second-round pick in the supplemental draft on Thursday. (Here's our post on what to expect out of Gordon as a rookie). But another pair of rookies figure to have big roles for the club in 2012 -- first-rounders Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden -- and neither of them are yet under contract.

Not to worry, though; Browns GM Tom Heckert acknowledged this week that he hasn't spoken with the agents for either player for a while, but expects to have both under contract in time for training camp, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. The Browns rookies are slated to report on July 24, with the veterans joining them on July 26.

Richardson (the No. 3 overall pick) is reportedly waiting to see the deals for the two men drafted ahead of him, while some observers believe the holdup on Weeden's deal is a fully guaranteed fourth season.

Here's our NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Gordon:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Adam Schefter
The next Moss or Marshall?

"One NFL executive told me Gordon had Randy Moss-like talents. Another said Gordon is a faster Brandon Marshall. So the talent definitely is there. He gives the Browns a big, downfield threat. But there also are major questions about his maturity, decision-making and determination. Gordon now will have a chance to answer those questions. If he takes his new job seriously and grows up, he can big a big-time difference maker. It's up to him."

 

[BINGO]

Analyzing the top WR duos in the NFL
July, 13, 2012 9:47AM ET

Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall should help Jay Cutler this season.

Adam Schefter answers reader questions in his mailbag twice a week. Got a query of your own? Submit it here.


Q: I feel like Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall are going to complement each other very well this year. Do you agree that they are a top WR duo? Who is better than them?

-- Kramer (Indiana)​

A: I like the duo, Kramer, like it a lot. But I don't view them as a top WR duo just yet. What about Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz? What about DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin? What about Dez Bryant and Miles Austin? And that's just the NFC East. There are some great duos on teams like the Atlanta Falcons (Roddy White and Julio Jones), Green Bay Packers (Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown). So Marshall and Jeffery have some distance to make up to become a top duo. It might happen in the future, but let's wait until Jeffery has played a snap in the NFL before proclaiming them a top WR duo.

--Adam Schefter​

 

[BINGO]

Coples' impact in 2012
10:32AM ET
New York Jets

After surveying the talent on the roster for the 2012 season, the New York Jets made the decision earlier this offseason to deploy more four-man defensive fronts this fall. And as part of his "Camp Preview" series, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com had a look at the defensive linemen who will be manning those slots.

In Cimini's view, the group's strength is its depth and versatility, with Muhammad Wilkerson, Mike DeVito, Marcus Dixon and first-round pick Quinton Coples able to line up at multiple spots. Coples -- who some believe may well be the most talented pass-rusher in this year's rookie class -- is the fulcrum upon which this defense may pivot:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Rich Cimini
Coples is the wild card

"[Jets HC Rex] Ryan isn't afraid to throw a rookie lineman into the fire, as we witnessed last season with Wilkerson. This year, it's Coples, their No. 1 pick. He was penciled into the starting lineup the moment he was drafted. If he plays the way he did in 2010, watch out. If he hits the cruise-control button too many times, as he did last season at North Carolina, Coples will hear comparisons to Vernon Gholston. Based on pure ability, he could be their best lineman -- like, right now."

 

[BINGO]

Delay in Griffin deal
1:39PM ET
Robert Griffin III | Redskins

Last week, No. 2 overall draft pick Robert Griffin III indicated that he expected to sign his rookie contract in time to report with his fellow Washington Redskins rookies on Monday. The Redskins rookie class has reported on Monday, according to WJLA-TV, but Griffin is not amongst those in attendance.

The official start of training camp for the entire team is July 26, so the pressure is on for the negotiations to produce a deal by then. It is believed that the holdup in the contract talks is related to offset language -- how much of the guaranteed portion of the contract will be paid if Griffin is cut before the term of the contract is up and he is signed by another team.

Griffin will be on the field leading the Redskins at some point, and in a recent column, Football Scientist KC Joyner identified the Baylor product as the fourth-best player in the NFL around which teams can build:

- Tim Kavanagh​

KC Joyner
Top young stars to build around

"Pros: Griffin got a ton of attention for his 2011 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign, but his collegiate career totals were actually as good or better than those posted by Andrew Luck. RG3 has shown an ability to get top-level performance out of everyone on his offense and has All-American-caliber speed.

Cons: The offense Griffin operated at Baylor is a lot different from the system he will be operating in the NFL, so he will have to show that he can transition to a pro-style offense. There are concerns about Griffin's durability. He was given a 4 durability rating in his Scouts Inc. draft profile and will have to prove he has NFL-caliber physical endurance."

 

[BINGO]

The Eagles' LB lineup
9:55AM ET
Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles saw a weakness in their defense at the LB level this offseason, and made some dramatic moves to address it. After trading for DeMeco Ryans, they drafted Mychal Kendricks in the second round (No. 46 overall), and both men figure to be starters for Philly this fall.

Philadelphia Inquirer scribes Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari previewed the Eagles' roster -- in slideshow format -- in a piece posted this week. Within it, they note that there are significant questions at the LB position entering camp -- Can Ryans be a three-down LB? Is Kendricks being rushed into a starting spot at SLB? Who will be the first-team WLB at the start of camp? -- but also that the unit has more depth than in recent seasons.

The addition of Kendricks is notable; the Eagles famously don't use first-round picks on LBs, so his selection with a second-rounder is about the highest tribute the organization can pay to a prospect at the position. And he's part of the reason why the Football Outsiders rank the Eagles as the No. 6 team in the NFL when it comes to Under-25 talent:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Football Outsiders
The future looks bright for Philly

"The bell cow of Philadelphia's 25-and-under talent is RB LeSean McCoy, who astonishingly is still only 24 years old. McCoy led all backs in rushing DYAR last season after finishing fourth in 2010. As a rookie starter, C Jason Kelce (25) helped open holes for McCoy and also did a good job of protecting QB Michael Vick (only one blown-block sack allowed). WR DeSean Jackson, who just missed our cut at age 26, might produce more fodder for highlight reels, but according to our metrics, Jeremy Maclin (24) has actually been a more efficient and more valuable wideout for Philadelphia over the past two seasons.

On defense, strong safety Kurt Coleman and free safety Nate Allen are both younger than 26. Coleman was merely adequate as the replacement for former starter Quintin Mikell. It was Allen, however, who showed a huge improvement from his rookie season, finishing first among safeties in success rate on pass coverage. Philadelphia's revamped front seven in 2012 includes two rookies who will see significant playing time. Second-round pick Mychal Kendricks has been handed the starting strongside linebacker job as a rookie. First-rounder Fletcher Cox might unseat 2011 starter Mike Patterson at defensive tackle, but even if he doesn't, he'll be heavily involved in the rotation."

 

[BINGO]

Griffin's absence
8:41AM ET
Robert Griffin III | Redskins

Despite optimism from Robert Griffin III that he'd have his rookie deal signed in time for him to report to camp with the rest of the Washington Redskins' rookies on Monday, there was no deal by Monday, and thus, no Griffin at camp.

This isn't a huge deal just yet. As Rich Campbell of the Washington Times notes, the Redskins vets don't report to camp until July 25, with the first full-squad practices occurring on July 26. "It's just more a review of film, just going over the installation schedule, getting in a good lift, a good run, maybe a couple hours, not to overdo it, but to get some added time in meetings, a chance to ask any questions over the next month or five weeks," Redskins HC Mike Shanahan explained of the rookie's early reporting date.

ESPN NFC East blogger Dan Graziano writes that no one should be too concerned... yet:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Dan Graziano
The deal will get done

"I continue to insist, to all who ask, that there is exactly no reason whatsoever to worry about this. But everything I know about Griffin's agents (specifically, that they're smart) leads me to believe there's no chance he'll sign before Andrew Luck does."

 

[BINGO]

Plans for CJ2K, rookie Wright
11:56AM ET
Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson added eight pounds of muscle this summer in an attempt to stay strong this season, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. He also stuck around to train this offseason with his teammates for the first time as a pro.

Johnson hopes that the added effort on his part and the addition of players like first-round pick Kendall Wright will help him return to form in 2012 after last season's sub-par performance.

"Since I got here, a lot of seasons, everybody has been keying on me," Johnson said.

"So, having all the extra additions, I feel good that everybody is not going to be able to key on me. I feel like a lot of teams won't be able to focus on me like they have in years past."

Per Wyatt, the Titans intend to get the rookie Wright "heavily involved right off the bat." That will especially be true if Kenny Britt isn't ready to return from his knee surgery at the start of the season.

- Tom Carpenter​

 

[BINGO]

Browns continue to get younger
12:26PM ET
Josh Gordon | Browns

On Monday, the Cleveland Browns inked wide receiver Josh Gordon to a four-year deal worth about $5.3 million, $3.8 million of which is guaranteed, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal's Nate Ulrich.

The Browns selected the 21-year-old Gordon in last week's supplemental draft. He'll join a crew of extremely young skill players, as well as "old-timer" Brandon Weeden, who will be a 29-year-old rookie this season.

ESPN NFL Insider John Clayton thinks that while the team may struggle this year, the youth investment should pay off soon:

- Tom Carpenter​

John Clayton
Browns will be green on offense

"Gordon is 21. Greg Little is 23. Fourth-round pick Travis Benjamin is 24. Mohamed Massaquoi is 25 and in the last year of his contract. Carlton Mitchell is 24 and will fight just to make the roster. Throw in 21-year-old running back Trent Richardson and you can see that the Browns will be green at the skill positions this season. ... History tells Browns fans to be patient. Teams have been successful going young at the skill positions, but in most cases, the growing pains hurt them in the first year. ... The comparison that might match the Browns would be the 2009 Oakland Raiders. Weeden won't be as bad as JaMarcus Russell, but his experience level fits the model. Russell was 24 and in the third year of a disastrous career. He was working with 25-year-old tight end Zach Miller, 23-year-old running back Darren McFadden and wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford and Louis Murphy, who were all 23 years old. That Raiders team finished 5-11. Since then, Russell has been replaced and the young receiving group has developed enough to make the Raiders an 8-8 team the past two seasons. This year's Browns? I think 5-11 or 4-12 seems reasonable."

 

[BINGO]

Washington Redskins sign Robert Griffin III, according to Adam Schefter - ESPN

 

[BINGO]

Alfonzo Dennard of New England Patriots granted delay in trial - ESPN Boston

 

[BINGO]

Where's Luck's deal?
8:25AM ET
Andrew Luck | Colts

We've heard that a rookie contract for No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck is close, on multiple occasions, from Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. But with the news on Wednesday morning that No. 2 overall pick, Robert Griffin III, had signed his deal -- per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter -- the pressure mounts on the Colts and Luck to get his deal squared away.

In the view of Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star, a deal will get done by early next week; possibly Monday, Tuesday at the latest. The reason for this is that the team has an extra three-day window -- starting on July 25 -- for rookies to stage a three-day mini-camp before the full team arrives for training camp. Because Luck missed much of the offseason program -- due to Stanford's academic calendar -- it is important for him to be in attendance next week, and only players with signed contracts are allowed to participate.

The financial details are reportedly set, the remaining negotiations appear to consist of "offset" language in the deal. (To summarize, teams don't want to be on the hook for any payments if they cut a player before the contract is up, and he signs with another team).

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[MHSL82]

Washington Redskins sign Robert Griffin III, according to Adam Schefter - ESPN

I knew Rex Grossman was bad, but 25 turnovers in 13 starts? I guess 7 last year puts that into bigger perspective (5 INTs, 2 fumbles). We'd be lost with that many (31 over 16 games) by Smith last year to say the least.