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New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was sued earlier this month for allegedly shooting someone in the face following an incident in Miami. The case was dismissed four days after it was filed, which could indicate the two sides reached a settlement. The victim claims he suffered serious damage including the loss of his right eye and needed surgery on his face and arm.
Huddle Up: Hernandez has done a nice job of keeping this incident quiet, but his recent involvement in a homicide investigation must have popped the lid. It's certainly a strike against him in the court of public opinion, and with the current investigation you have to expect the league office to get involved for a discussion of Hernandez's off-the-field conduct. Even without any formal charges he may be looking at a game or two suspension. This makes for an eventful offseason for those with an interest in Patriot tight ends.
Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder might be challenged by Matt Cassel for the starting job during the 2013 season.
Huddle Up: Ponder is still the starter in Minnesota, but the leash isn't particularly long with a quality backup plan like Cassel in the wings. Neither is on the fantasy radar; what fantasy owners are hoping for is enough from one or the other to keep Kyle Rudolph and Greg Jennings relevant.
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will begin the preseason on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Huddle Up: You saw this coming given Gronk's medical issues, what with the forearm surgeries and the back surgery. No need to panic yet, though the current timetable does push Gronk right up against the start of the regular season.
Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones has cut beef and pork out of his diet over the past year and feels "much better. Especially playing football, I feel that stuff sits on you." He also now prefers organic over regular food while also taking advice from the team nutritionist.
Huddle Up: Jones was already a beast; leaner, meaner, and more muscular should serve him well in 2013. He's already holding a lofty perch among fantasy wideouts so it would be tough to push him up further, but at least you know he won't show up for camp out of shape.
Updating previous reports, New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez has not been ruled out as a suspect in the homicide case, and he is not cooperating, according to a law enforcement source.
Huddle Up: With Rob Gronkowski already in danger of missing the start of the regular season, this was to be Hernandez's opportunity to shine. Instead, it looks as if he'll spend the rest of the offseason entangled in this legal mess--and that's a best-case scenario. Suddenly the Patriots' pick-up of Jake Ballard last offseason is looking like a shrewd move.
San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis practiced exclusively with the wide receivers in the most recent minicamp.
Huddle Up: There's one way to fill the void created by Michael Crabtree's absence. Splitting out wide will certainly increase the opportunities for Davis, so his projected fantasy value should rise accordingly.
Carolina Panthers TE Ben Hartsock spent most of his first nine seasons in the NFL clearing space for running backs and protecting quarterbacks, rarely getting any balls thrown his way. However, during minicamp, QB Cam Newton targeted Hartsock on a number of underneath routes and Hartsock did not have any noticeable drops.
Huddle Up: In a word... no. The Panthers still have one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league in Greg Olsen, but his numbers are likely to drop due to the departure of tight end guru Rob Chudzinski. If the Panthers are playing more two-TE sets, it's only to improve the blocking. Fantasy-wise, barring injury to Olsen there's nothing to see here regarding Hartsock.
The Atlanta Falcons and QB Matt Ryan both would like to extend the quarterback's contract, but an agreement has not yet been reached. However, casual talks are ongoing, with the expectation that things will heat up after the July 4 holiday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Huddle Up: Ryan, who hit career highs in passing yards (4,719), TDs (32) and completion percentage (68.6) and finished 5th among fantasy QBs last season, definitely has earned an extension, and look for a deal to get done before training camp.
Arizona Cardinals CB Jerraud Powers has an injury history, but he also has a connection to head coach Bruce Arians from their days together with the Indianapolis Colts. Powers is expected to push CB Antoine Cason for the starting cornerback job opposite CB Patrick Peterson.
Huddle Up: Powers, a 4-year starter in Indy, missed half of the 2012 season due to a turf toe injury that required surgery and finished with 1 interception, 8 passes defensed and 40 tackles. Don't be surprised if he beats out the ex-Charger Cason and is starting Week 1.
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, who underwent surgery to fix a spinal issue in his back Tuesday, June 18, has hopes of returning to action late in August, during the preseason. However, Gronkowski isn't a lock to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. He's likely to begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list but will be eligible to come off at any point before Week 1.
Huddle Up: The risk/reward balance is going to come into play wherever Gronk is drafted, but there have simply been too many surgeries to justify keeping him atop your TE draft board.
New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was questioned by police investigating a possible homicide in a town 40 miles south of Boston on Tuesday, June 18. The police were interested in possibly searching Hernandez's home. He's not believed to be a murder suspect, though, but a vehicle that was rented in his name has become a key piece of evidence. The police are hoping to analyze the vehicle for fingerprints. A body was found Monday, June 17, less than a mile from Hernandez's home.
Huddle Up: Just when you were set to move up Hernandez on your TE draft board due to teammate Rob Gronkowski's health issues, this deeply disturbing news surfaces. Definitely see what develops . . .
Tennessee Titans WR Kevin Walter (back soreness) will not practice again until training camp begins, according to head coach Mike Munchak.
Huddle Up: It's likely more of just a precautionary measure at this point, but in any case, definitely don't be expecting a whole lot of the former Texan on his new squad which has a glut of WRs in Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, Damian Williams and recent high draft picks Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter for a team not expected to rank among the league leaders in passing attempts.
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is enjoying his team flying under the radar heading into the 2013 season. 'I love it. I love being under the radar,' Rodgers said. 'For sure, we're a contender. For sure. I mean, we're going to put ourselves in position to win a lot of games. Our goal is to win our division and get to the playoffs. And anything can happen. And then hopefully we can take care of business like we did in 2010 when we get back there.'
Huddle Up: The Pack may be getting overlooked a bit, but Rodgers definitely won't be in fantasy drafts after throwing for at least 3,922 yards and 28 TDs in each of the past 5 seasons.
Carolina Panthers RBs DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert received
plenty of repetitions in OTAs with RB Jonathan Stewart (ankles) on
the mend.
Huddle Up: What else have we come to expect from the Carolina RB situation as
it's shaping up to be yet another committee effort producing numbers
on the ground.
Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen is showing great timing with QB Cam Newton during offseason workouts.
Huddle Up: Olsen had a career year in 2012 in terms of receptions (69) and yards (843) and even more could be in store this season with questions still surrounding the Panthers' WR situation outside of veteran Steve Smith.
New England Patriots QB Ryan Mallett continues to draw rave reviews at practice. 'He's got arm strength like I've never seen. Ever,' RB Shane Vereen said. 'He uses that really well. He's got tremendous leadership ability. He just needs his opportunity, I think.'
Huddle Up: It appeared as if that opportunity might come earlier this offseason with the Browns, among other teams, rumored to be in hot pursuit, but the Pats are in no hurry as Mallett's value should continue to trend upward the longer he sits behind Tom Brady.
Free-agent RB Vonta Leach (Ravens) said he'll decide on a new team within two weeks, but he prefers to sign with the Houston Texans.
Huddle Up: Leach had a productive 4-plus-year run with the Texans before signing with the Ravens in 2011, but Houston reportedly likes what it has in new FB signee Greg Jones so we'll have to see if there's room for Leach on the roster.
Free-agent LB Desmond Bishop (Packers) said he is motivated as a result of his release Monday, June 17. "There's something about being released that's definitely going to add another chip to my shoulders,' Bishop said. 'It's motivation. It's nothing negative about this whole situation. I think it's all part of the plan, and I have to keep playing it out. I think it's going to be good. I think all that is going to help me reach my goal."
Huddle Up: The Vikings and Chiefs reportedly are already interested in the 28-year-old Bishop, who led the Pack in tackles and finished second in sacks in 2011, before suffering a season-ending hamstring tear a year ago in August.
The Dallas Cowboys believe rookie RB Joseph Randle can be a full-time running back if something happened to RB DeMarco Murray. Randle will have to compete with RBs Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner for the No. 2 running back job during training camp.
Huddle Up: It's more like "when" -- not "if" -- something happens to Murray, who's missed a combined 9 games over his first 2 seasons in Big D. Randle isn't the biggest of backs (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), though, and there definitely be some doubts should the 5th-round pick step in as the No. 1 back for any length of time.
Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman added about 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason and got his frame up to 200 pounds. The team would like him to play between 190-to-195 pounds.
Huddle Up: The Broncos drafted Montee Ball to be their "big" back, with the expectation for Hillman to be their speed/change of pace back. Hillman might like a larger share of the workload, but he'll have to settle for being a little larger and being what likely amounts to the junior member of Denver's committee.
Seattle Seahawks TE Zach Miller did not participate in the team's minicamp last week because of a foot injury. The injury is not believed to be serious, and he is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Huddle Up: Tough to count on the oft-injured Miller for any sort of contribution in Seattle; he can't stay on the field and the Seahawks have plenty of other weapons lined up ahead of him.
Dallas Cowboys WR Miles Austin said he believes sitting out some practices during organized team activities and minicamp helped him not overwork his hamstrings. Austin has dealt with hamstring problems the last few seasons.
Huddle Up: Expect this to be an ongoing theme with Austin. If resting him in OTAs helps keep him healthy, Austin may sit out practices during the regular season as well so as to stay on the field.
Cleveland Browns TE Jordan Cameron said he has been working on becoming the team's starting tight end this season and has been learning offensive coordinator Norv Turner's scheme. "It's just having the mindset that I'm going to be the guy, try and take over this role," Cameron said. "The confidence is huge with that, and I think I get more confidence every day, learning new things. With [tight ends coach Jon Embree], he really knows the details and how to make you a better player, whether it be blocking or positioning or route-running." Cameron said the new offense is allowing tight ends to run deep routes.
Huddle Up: With tight end whisperer Rob Chudzinski now the Browns' head coach, the position is expected to see an uptick in opportunity in Cleveland. The athletic Cameron offers intriguing upside in the role, and he seems to be adopting the mentality to capitalize on his opportunity. He's already appearing on many sleeper lists and makes an intriguing selection after the top tight ends have gone off the fantasy draft board.
Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo is expected to be fully recovered from his back surgery next week and will try to throw some passes to the remaining players at the team's facility.
Huddle Up: Still far too early to worry about Romo, and if he's throwing without incident next week there's no reason to ding his fantasy value based on the back issues.
San Francisco 49ers WR Kyle Williams is the pre-training-camp favorite for the 'X' wide receiver spot, ahead of A.J. Jenkins, who holds the slot advantage, and others.
Huddle Up: With Michael Crabtree sidelined for at least the first two months of the season the Niners have openings at wide receiver. Williams and Jenkins may have the inside track, but they're no locks to be the starters in what should be an interesting training camp battle with, among others, Quinton Patton and Ricardo Lockette.
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