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Seattle Seahawks RB Christine Michael is expected to battle with RB Robert Turbin for the backup duties to RB Marshawn Lynch this year. Michael is expected to see plenty of action. "He's our kind of runner," general manager John Schneider said this month. "He's a tough, intense, up-field, one-cut guy. A very good football player."
Huddle Up: There were no illusions of Michael taking a significant bite out of Lynch's touches, but hearing the GM say positive things about him is reassuring. And if Lynch runs into off-field issues--something he's been prone to do--Michael should leap to the fore of Seattle's backfield backups.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles received 21 snaps with the first-team offense during organized team activities Monday, May 20, while QB Michael Vick received 15 snaps.
Huddle Up: The assumption is that Vick is the better fit for Chip Kelly's offense, but Philly's new coach might feel otherwise--or he could just be getting a long look at Foles to determine if he's worth keeping on the roster or should be shopped around the league. Let the speculation run wild.
Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy left organized team activities Monday, May 20, after suffering a knee injury. He did not look to be limping or in any pain after the workout.
Huddle Up: It's not too early to remind you that Bryce Brown is a quality handcuff to McCoy, and that Chip Kelly won't be afraid to use both in the same backfield at the same time.
New York Jets RB Mike Goodson was in attendance at the team's first OTA practice Monday, May 20, but only to meet with team officials following his arrest on drug and weapons charges last week. Goodson didn't participate or watch the team's workouts, and his future with the team is uncertain. If Goodson pleads guilty or is convicted of unlawful possession of a handgun, he'll be subject to the Graves Act, which is a New Jersey law that carries a minimum of three years in jail.
Huddle Up: Joe McKnight becomes the primary backup to Chris Ivory, while Goodson should be more concerned about staying out of jail than how many carries he'll get with the Jets.
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady started working with former major league pitcher and quarterback tutor Tom House this offseason, and Brady feels his mechanics are better than ever. "The same way Tom Martinez was always there to watch and give me corrections, Tom House has told me why certain corrections need to be made," Brady said. "Look at a baseball swing and a golf swing. It's all mechanics. Look at how Barry Bonds swings. Look at how Floyd Mayweather punches. Mechanics. When you've got to fit it into the tightest windows, mechanics are crucial."
Huddle Up: Just what the rest of the NFL was hoping for, an improved Tom Brady.
Free-agent WR Chad Johnson was arrested in Florida for violating his probation. He failed to report to his probation officer on two occasions and failed to show proof of enrollment in a domestic violence education class.
Huddle Up: Remember when Johnson used to be Ocho Cinco? Remember when he used to be good? Remember when he used to be relevant?
Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson confirmed he played with broken fingers last season. He has been trying to straighten them out this offseason, but didn't have surgery.
Huddle Up: Scary to think what Megatron might accomplish this season with a pair of healthy hands.
The New Orleans Saints will line up DE Will Smith at outside linebacker in OTAs.
Huddle Up: Perhaps the position switch will help Smith get to the quarterback; he hasn't seen double-digit sacks since 2009.
The Cleveland Browns feel confident RB Dion Lewis and WR Travis Benjamin can handle kick return duties, which is why fan favorite WR Joshua Cribbs was allowed to leave via free agency without much effort to re-sign him. Plus, Cribbs is 30, and there are concerns about his knee. The Browns like the speed of Lewis, especially as a third-down back.
Huddle Up: Cribbs was a special teams mainstay in Cleveland, but between his age and his knee and the new regime the Browns have opted to go a different direction. If Lewis sees the field as a third-down back as well as a returner he could bring a little something to the fantasy table in leagues where his kick return stats count.
Miami Dolphins rookie RB Mike Gillislee is expected to compete with RBs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas for the starting running back job during offseason workouts and training camp.
Huddle Up: The 208-pound Gillislee, a fifth-round selection out of in-state Florida, isn't as fast as Miller or as big as Thomas (230 pounds), but he's a solid combo of the 2 incumbents and definitely will have his shot at the No. 1 job with neither of the vets having asserted themselves so far in their brief time in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell's chance at starting this season will be determined by how quickly he will be able to pick up the offense. If Bell struggles to learn the offense, RB Jonathan Dwyer or RB Isaac Redman could start.
Huddle Up: Rookie running backs typically can slide right into starting roles at the next level, provided -- and here's the big if -- they can get a quick handle on the vital skill of pass protection/blitz pickup. That's the challenge here for Bell, the second back selected in the draft.
The Cleveland Browns plan to throw a lot to TE Jordan Cameron this season. Cameron has been targeted on several deep passes during organized team activities.
Huddle Up: The Browns have only had one TE post 50 or more catches since Kellen Winslow Jr.'s 82-grab season in 2007, and Cameron -- who hauled in 20 passes for 226 yards and a a TD in 2012 -- will take aim at the mark this season.
Buffalo Bills QB EJ Manuel, the team's first-round pick at No. 16
overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, is the club's only unsigned draft
pick following the agreement on a 4-year deal with second-round pick
WR Robert Woods on Sunday, May 19.
Huddle Up: Striking an early deal with Woods is a plus, but getting Manuel
signed is the most important item on Buffalo's to-do list due to the
steep learning curve for rookie QBs. And to be certain, Manuel will
need every edge he can get if he has any chance of beating out vets
Kevin Kolb and Tavaris Jackson for the starting job.
Free-agent DB Charles Woodson (Packers) said he is willing to sign with the Detroit Lions if he is comfortable with the salary.
Huddle Up: Add another suitor to the list for Woodson, who suddenly has gained quite a bit of leverage over the past week with the Broncos, Panthers, Raiders, Giants and now the Lions showing interest.
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm, back) is scheduled
to undergo surgery Monday, May 20, on his injured forearm. The
doctors are expected to take cultures from his forearm to see if the
infection is still there. If there is no infection, the plate in his
forearm will be replaced and Gronkowski would start a 10- to 11-week
rehab process. The plate will not be replaced if there is still
signs of an infection.
Huddle Up: Best case scenario here is that Gronk returns early in training
camp, but there's the possibility of a lingering infection and also
the reports of a back issue that have cropped up over the past week.
Translation: The TE's availability for Week 1 is still very much in
question.
The New York Giants are making slow progress in contract talks with restricted free-agent WR Victor Cruz on a long-term contract. The two sides are expected to resume negotiations this week.
Huddle Up: Slowly but surely the talks seem to be picking up steam as the Giants look to extend the deal of a highly productive wideout who ranks ninth in receptions (168), fifth in receiving yards (2,628) and eighth in TD grabs (19) in the league over the past 2 seasons.
New York Jets OG Willie Colon said he does not think RB Mike Goodson will remain with the team after being arrested earlier this week on drug and weapons charges. 'It's one of the things where it's zero-tolerance with stuff like that,' Colon said. 'It's sad. Mike could have been huge for us.'
Huddle Up: It remains to be seen if Goodson's run with the Jets is over before it really began, but in any case, the news is a boon for the fantasy stock of Chris Ivory, another offseason RB addition for the squad.
Miami Dolphins WRs Brandon Gibson and Armon Binns are expected to
compete for the No. 3 wide receiver job during offseason workouts
and training camp.
Huddle Up: Gibson, who hit career highs with 691 receiving yards and 5 TDs with
the Rams last season, would seem at first glance to be the odds-on
favorite over Binns, who has 24 career receptions, but neither
figures to set the fantasy world afire playing behind Mike Wallace
and Brian Hartline in one of the league's lesser-regarded passing
attacks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said he believes QB Mike Glennon can play quickly and has not ruled out the possibility of Glennon taking over the starting job from QB Josh Freeman. 'We have a starting quarterback. It's not like we're looking to find a starter. But competition is competition. Mike Glennon is a fierce competitor. I knew that when he was coming out of high school. Now being able to work with him a little, you can see it on the practice field,' Schiano said.
Huddle Up: Freeman, entering his 5th season, bounced back nicely from his 16-TD, 22-interception campaign in 2011 with a career-high 27 TDs and 4,065 yards this past season, and it's going to take a pretty sizable regression from Freeman for Glennon to get a shot.
Philadelphia Eagles WR Jason Avant saw some time as a defensive back during organized team activities this week. Avant does not believe his work with the defense clouds his future with the team.
Huddle Up: Avant, entering his 8th season in Philly, appears to have plateaued somewhat with 51, 52 and 53 catches, respectively, over the past 3 seasons. The Andy Reid offense is out, though, and the Chip Kelly regime is moving in, and it'll be interesting to see how that shakes out for a deep Eagles WR corps that includes Avant, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper and newcomer Arrelious Benn.
Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden indicated that he and WR Josh Gordon are jelling nicely at organized team activities (OTAs). 'I have so much confidence in him. I'm not afraid to throw at any corner with him,' Weeden said. 'He's that good.'
Huddle Up: Gordon, a 2nd-round supplemental draft pick last summer, may still be flying under the radar even after finishing third among rookie wideouts in receptions (50), third in receiving yards (805) and tied for second in TD grabs (5) in 2012. With Gordon and Weeden now having a season under their belts, they figure to produce even bigger numbers this season.
Philadelphia Eagles WRs Riley Cooper and Arrelious Benn may have to compete for one roster spot during training camp. Both are bigger receivers who can block and play special teams.
Huddle Up: Benn, a second-round pick of the Bucs in 2010, was the odd-man out with Tampa's signing of Vincent Jackson last year, and he'll now try to unseat Cooper, who has 5 TD catches in only 10 career starts.
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