NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Andrew Luck: Shoulder 'feeling better and better'

For the latest non-update on Andrew Luck's shoulder rehab, we head to Indianapolis.

"It's going really well, it's feeling better and better every week," Luck told reporters Tuesday following his Change The Play program camp for kids, via the Indianapolis Star. "Still haven't started throwing, but that process will come when it's ready."

When a reporter suggested at the beginning of his question that Luck could be sitting around "sullen or morose" given the long slog he's had without being able to throw the football, Luck added:

"No reason to be sullen or morose" he said. "It's a beautiful day."

Luck really does seem to be in good spirits. Despite not being able to participate in any offseason training activities or mandatory minicamp practices, both the quarterback and the organization have maintained a pretty incredible atmosphere of calm throughout the process. Luck's shoulder is by far the most underrated storyline of the season given that we still aren't 100 percent sure when he'll return to the playing field. Owner Jim Irsay said the season opener is in play, though that would mean seeing progress quite soon.

Much like Drew Brees in New Orleans, the Colts derive almost their entire identity from the quarterback position. New general manager Chris Ballard is trying to change that by bolstering Indianapolis' defense, but in the meantime, Indianapolis could use some good news soon regarding Luck's shoulder. (NFL.com)

 

Latavius Murray on Vikings' RB battle: It's 'my time'

As we move closer toward training camp, position battles will take prominence. Throughout most offseason workouts and minicamps, coaches insist jobs are rarely won or lost. Those competitions don't ramp up until training camp.

One of the battles to keep an eye on is the Minnesota backfield. Adrian Peterson is out after a decade of being the workhorse. In is free-agent acquisition, Latavius Murray, who signed a three-year $15 million contract in March. The Vikings then traded up in the second round of the draft to select dynamic Florida State product Dalvin Cook.

Joining Good Morning Football on Tuesday, Murray discussed the training camp battle he's expecting.

"If I'm looking at it from my perspective, here I am, already behind in a sense, going into a new offense, new situation, but I'm injured, coming off an injury," Murray said of undergoing ankle surgery this offseason. "Dalvin's already been through the [organized team activities], he's already been through the offseason. So, he has that up on me. But also, looking at it as, hey, I'm the vet, I have time in this league, I've done some good things in this league. So I have a lot to bring to the table.

"You're looking at it from his aspect, 'Look this older vet is coming off this injury, it's time for him to step aside. I want this, and I should be the guy.'"

When it comes to the starting gig, Murray is taking the competitor's approach: play to win.

"I'm looking at it from my perspective, like, look, this is my time, this is my opportunity," he said. "This is what I want. When it comes Game 1, I need to be back there lining up." (NFL.com)

 

http://www.csnphilly.com/philadelph...t-offensive-line-according-pro-football-focus

#1 ! Wahoo!

Still a long way to go till making the playoffs, but it's a positive !!

 

lol, I'm seeing a bit of homerism in the fella that wrote the article. Best? Who am I to argue, but there are a few other teams ranked right up there and it may be a matter of opinion.

One that is certain... its a pretty good Line.

 

^^ i remember the Eagles line when he was swiss cheese and our QBs were running for their lives. They do have holes elsewhere, but it's nice to see the O-line being a solid core and around a young and hopefully star QB in the future.

 

David Irving suspended four games for PED violation

The Dallas Cowboys will be without their best pass rusher for the first quarter of the upcoming season.

David Irving has been suspended for the first four games of 2017 for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, the Cowboys announced Wednesday.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on May 23 that Irving's suspension stemmed from a supplement produced by a company with which the defender had a marketing deal. Irving's appeal of the suspension was denied, making the ban official on Wednesday.

Irving emerged late in the 2016 season as a forceful presence off the edge for a Cowboys defense that sorely lacked a reliable pass rusher. The defensive lineman recorded four sacks on the season, with three coming in Weeks 15 and 16, and showed plenty of unexpected promise heading into 2017.

His development will now be put on hold at the beginning of the upcoming season, potentially opening the door for rookie Taco Charlton to get quickly acclimated with the pro game. (NFL.com)
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That's a big hit on that defense.

 

Carson Palmer will decide on NFL future after season

The Arizona Cardinals failed to draft a quarterback in April, leaving the organization's future at the mercy of Carson Palmer's desire to continue playing beyond 2017.

When the 37-year-old contemplated retirement this past winter, it wasn't for the first time. In each of the past three years, Palmer explained Tuesday, he has told his wife that season would be his last.

"She continues to not believe me every time I say that," Palmer added, via the team's website.

The Cardinals are a trendy bounce-back candidate for a return to the playoffs. If Palmer happens to lead his veteran-laden team to a Super Bowl title, it will eventually propel him into the Hall of Fame discussion. (NFL.com)

 

NFL suspends ex-Bills RB Karlos Williams at least a year

Karlos Williams has been suspended again.

The free-agent running back has been suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse for a third time, a source informed told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. ESPN's Field Yates first reported the development.

Williams already was handed a 10-game ban in November for violating the substance abuse policy. His initial substance abuse violation came last summer when he was?suspended four games.

Williams had a promising rookie campaign with the Bills in which he ran for 517 yards and seven touchdowns on 93 carries. He was released by the Bills in August and signed with the Steelers' practice squad in October. Pittsburgh signed him to a reserve/future contract in January before releasing him on March 9.

After his latest suspension, Williams' NFL career now appears to be on life support. (NFL.com)
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Everybody say goodbye to Karlos...

 

Jamaal Charles cutting on injured knee, feels 'normal'

Jamaal Charles could be the biggest wild card in the 2017 AFC playoff hunt.

If healthy, the 30-year-old running back provides the Denver Broncos with a dynamic dual threat alongside C.J. Anderson, in what could be a ground-heavy offense in 2017.

Charles, however, has played in just eight games the past two years due to knee injuries. He never looked like himself in three games last season before being shelved after just 12 carries.

Speaking with Troy Renck of KMGH-TV in Denver this week, Charles said he finally feels closer to full strength.

"I am doing everything. I have been cutting the last couple of days with the guys during the offseason workouts," Charles told Renck. "I feel like the way I am cutting that I am back to the normal me, man. It feels good to be moving around again. I have been knowing this the whole offseason [that the knee was fine]. Nobody can take nothing away from me except God when my time is up. I am still 30 years old. I still have a lot of special stuff to do."

Charles was limited to individual drills during offseason workouts with the Broncos this season. During training camp, he'll battle to make the team and attempt to siphon snaps from Anderson and Devontae Booker. (NFL.com)

 

Ravens conflicted about bringing back Zack Orr

Upon hearing the news that linebacker Zach Orr planned to return after a brief retirement, Ravens players immediately started to recruit their leading tackler to come back to Baltimore.

While players are gung-ho about bringing Orr back, Baltimore's brass might not be so enthusiastic about signing a player with a congenital neck and spine condition.

"There are a lot of variables that the Ravens are having to deal with," agent Rob Sheets told WJZ-FM in Baltimore on Thursday, via ESPN.com. "There's a lot of internal consternation. One side of the line fighting to get Zach Orr back, and another line saying we need to move on."

One issue for the Ravens will be team doctors clearing Orr to see the field again. While the 25-year-old might have found a doctor outside the NFL to suggest he can play, it's not a given Orr will pass a team physical -- especially from the club that nudged him toward retirement in the first place.

Another issue could be compensation. The Ravens were in talks about a new contract for the breakout linebacker before his abrupt retirement in January. Clearly, the parameters of that deal would change. Interest from other teams will change the dynamics of what Orr can get on the open market.

Sheets said Orr has garnered curiosity from more than a dozen teams.

 

Gabe gets Paid...

One week after extending their franchise quarterback, the Oakland Raiders are opting to do the same thing with one of their top offensive lineman.

The team has agreed on a five-year contract extension through 2022 with guard Gabe Jackson worth $56 million, a source informed told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Thursday.

To put that whopping figure into perspective, the $11.2 million annual salary is the third-highest among all guards, trailing only Cleveland's Kevin Zeitler and teammate Kelechi Osemele, per OverTheCap.com.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/eagles...ding-talented-receiver-packing-155000410.html

piss poor attitude. later. i wish it was aghulor but he showed signs of life at mini-camp.

 

Even on a rookie contract there is no reason to not pay your traffic fines. He owed about 1000 bucks for a speeding ticket, hard to believe someone with good cash flow would not pay that stuff.

 

Ravens TE Darren Waller suspended for at least a year

Another Ravens tight end has been sidelined for the 2017 season.

Backup tight end Darren Waller was suspended for at least one year without pay for violating the league's policy on substances of abuse, a league spokesperson announced?Friday.

Waller is the second Baltimore tight end to be lost before training camp. The Ravens released veteran starter Dennis Pitta after he re-injured his hip during?organized team activities, knocking him out for the entire season and threatening his career going forward.

The Ravens drafted Waller in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. Through two seasons, the 6-foot-7 wide receiver-turned-tight end has started in four of 18 games played. Waller has 12 career receptions on 23 targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Fortunately, the Ravens entered OTAs with a bounty of solid options at tight end. Crockett Gillmore, Benjamin Watson, Maxx Williams, Nick Boyle and Ryan Malleck still remain on the roster and will battle it out for the starting position come late July.

 

^^ a job most would kill for and you can't stay off the drugs!

 

Ravens lead the NFL in drug?suspensions

The Ravens lead the league in one stat they?d prefer not to: Suspensions for failed drug tests.

When Ravens tight end Darren Waller was suspended for the full 2017 season last week, it marked his second suspension and the 13th total suspension, coming from 10 different players, that the Ravens have received since 2010 for either performance-enhancing drugs and drugs of abuse. According to ESPN, that?s the most of any team.

 

Tannehill: '17 Dolphins is best offense I've played on

In his first season as the Dolphins' head coach, Adam Gase led Miami to a 10-6 finish in 2016 -- a complete 180 from their previous season. After a prosperous free agency and offseason, quarterback Ryan Tannehill believes the Dolphins boast their most talented roster yet.

"Honestly, I can say it's definitely the most talent we've had with the receiving corps, bringing everyone back, having a second year together in the same offense," Tannehill told Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. "That's going to be huge for us. Adding [tight ends] Julius Thomas and Anthony Fasano, veterans who have played a lot of football, is [big]. Bringing back [running backs] Jay [Ajayi], Kenyan Drake.

"Keeping most of the offensive line together, adding a few pieces. Putting Laremy Tunsil back at his natural position. That's going to be huge for us. You start to stack all those pieces together and we have a good unit. Now it's a matter of being able to elevate our play throughout the season. Just because you have good pieces doesn't mean you're going to perform. That's what the onus was on all spring. That's what it's on throughout the summer. As we hit training camp, it's pushing each other each and every day to go out and be great. Not just be good, but really be great."

Tannehill's remarks about the offense and new additions does bode well for the team's outlook this year. But, is this revamp enough for the Dolphins to claim the AFC East title? We'll see come September.

 

^^^ should be fun to watch this fall for sure.