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Date: Team: Pos:

Rob Gronkowski - TE - Patriots

The Boston Herald confirms Rob Gronkowski's fourth left-forearm surgery will take place Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Jesse Jupiter is expected to perform the procedure, with Patriots team Dr. Thomas Gill on hand. The surgeons will take "cultures" from Gronk's arm. If the cultures come back infection-free, a new plate will replace the one already in Gronkowski's arm and he'll begin a 10-11 week recovery timetable. If the cultures show Gronk's infection has lingered, "it's back to square one" and Gronkowski will likely miss regular season games.

Source: Boston Herald

May 19 - 1:28 PM

Markus Wheaton - WR - Steelers

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette anticipates third-round WR Markus Wheaton entering camp behind the "learning curve" because Oregon State's late graduation will keep him away from the Steelers until June 14.

NFL rules prohibit players who haven't graduated from college from participating in full-squad offseason workouts until they do. Wheaton did take part in rookie camp, but he'll essentially miss all of OTA season. It's a reminder that Wheaton isn't a serious candidate to compete for a starting job as a rookie.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

May 19 - 1:16 PM

Brandon Weeden - QB - Browns

Brandon Weeden admits he was "surprised" by the Browns' signing of Brian Hoyer.

"I was surprised, but that’s the nature of the beast," Weeden said. "It’s part of this business, and if you start worrying about it, that’s too much to worry about." Hoyer's addition is an undeniable sign the Browns don't believe they're set at quarterback, but despite GM Mike Lombardi's noted admiration for the former Patriot, he's not a legitimate threat to Weeden. Between Weeden, Hoyer and Jason Campbell, the deck is still stacked in Weeden's favor. Hoyer's addition is worse news for Campbell. They'll battle for No. 2 duties after Weeden "beats out" Campbell.

Source: Akron Beacon-Journal

May 19 - 12:17 PM

Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

CSN Washington believes Roy Helu and No. 154 pick RB Chris Thompson are competing for the same roster spot.

The same is true of Evan Royster and No. 228 pick Jawan Jamison. Thompson and Helu are both change-of-pace type runners, while Royster and Jamison rely more on vision and power. Jamison is the longest shot of the four, but Helu's roster spot will very much be in danger if he doesn't report to camp 100 percent healthy and stay 100 percent healthy.

Source: CSN Washington

May 19 - 11:37 AM

Michael Vick - QB - Eagles

Michael Vick says new Eagles coach Chip Kelly "taught" him how to properly hold the football while running.

The 10-year veteran was apparently being serious. "The other day, I broke out in the pocket, and the first thing Chip told me was to tuck the football," Vick said. "So I showed him how I was running with it, and he looked at it and he knocked the ball right out of my hands. And he was like, ‘Hold it like this.’ And what he told me felt comfortable. I had a tighter grip on the football. That should secure that problem as long as I work on it." It's beyond belief that Vick is implying that he not only didn't know how to properly hold the football, but had never been taught by Dan Reeves, Jim Mora Jr. or Andy Reid, but here we are. Vick has lost 12 fumbles over his past 35 games, which is far too many.

Source: Philly Mag: Birds 24/7

May 19 - 10:58 AM

Trent Richardson - RB - Browns

Trent Richardson isn't expected to face criminal charges after being accused of assault by two women in a civil lawsuit.

The Elyria, Oh. district attorney's office has declined to pursue charges because of "conflicting statements and a lack of evidence." It suggests the suit is little more than a thinly-veiled money grab. From a football perspective, it's a dead issue for T-Rich.

Source: The Morning Journal

May 19 - 10:50 AM

Rob Chudzinski - OT - Browns

League and team sources tell SI's Don Banks that the FBI's investigation into Browns owner Jimmy Haslam's truck-stop company Pilot Flying J is unlikely to affect his ownership "for now."

Per Banks, there's "there's no real sense the sky is falling in Cleveland," or that Haslam's legal troubles will "seriously imperil" his ownership. That's true, but it's also true the FBI has yet to press charges. It's been barely one month since their surprise raid of Haslam's company. What we know for sure is that the investigation shouldn't affect the Browns this season. All bets are off beyond that.

Source: Sports Illustrated

May 19 - 10:40 AM

Michael Egnew - TE - Dolphins

Dolphins TE Michael Egnew has taken up mixed martial arts this offseason, and believes it's helped him "learn how to compete."

It's a good thing Egnew is learning how to compete, because he clearly didn't know how to as a rookie. "I expect to play this year," Egnew said. "I’ve gotten stronger. I’m absolutely ready." Just one year removed from being the No. 78 overall pick, Egnew is buried on the depth chart. Dustin Keller is the starter, while fourth-rounder Dion Sims should be the primary blocker. Egnew's camp will be all about saving his roster spot.

Source: Miami Herald

May 19 - 10:20 AM

Delanie Walker - TE - Titans

According to the National Football Post's Dan Pompei, the Titans believe they can "get more out of Delanie Walker than they did Jared Cook."

Yikes. Per Pompei, the Titans plan to play Walker "for more snaps than they played Cook." That's not far-fetched since Walker is a far superior blocker, but stone-handed, he's half the receiver. Nevertheless, the Titans believe Walker can split out wide and "(create) mismatches." That's hard to do for a 6-foot-0 tight end. The Titans have been overly optimistic bordering on aimless with their offseason moves. A reckoning could be coming in 2014.

Source: National Football Post

May 19 - 10:08 AM

Brian Hoyer - QB - Browns

ESPN Cleveland reports the Jets "really wanted" QB Brian Hoyer before he signed with the Browns.

It's not surprising. With David Garrard headed to the beach and Mark Sanchez's roster spot up in the air, the Jets have perilously little depth behind second-round pick Geno Smith. Despite a media-inflated reputation, however, Hoyer isn't any more proven than Greg McElroy. He's attempted just 65 more regular-season passes.

Source: Tony Grossi on Twitter

May 19 - 9:51 AM

Mike Glennon - QB - Buccaneers

Coach Greg Schiano believes third-round pick Mike Glennon was the best quarterback in the draft, and is "not against" him beating out Josh Freeman for the Bucs' starting job.

"It’s not like we’re looking to find a starter," Schiano claimed after his latest message to Freeman. "But competition is competition. Mike Glennon is a fierce competitor." Schiano also compared Glennon to Joe Flacco, and believes he has "pocket presence, ability to feel the rush and move in the pocket." With the Bucs investing so much in being competitive this season, Freeman is still the favorite for the starting job, but they've made it clear time and again that it will not be handed to him going into the final year of his rookie contract. The cannon-armed Glennon is an intriguing Dynasty-league prospect.

Source: National Football Post

May 19 - 9:45 AM

Brandon Spikes - LB - Patriots

ESPN Boston reports ILB Brandon Spikes "hasn’t been seen much" since the start of the Patriots' offseason program.

It's an interesting strategy for a player going into the final year of his rookie contract, but there have been no reports Spikes is planning to skip this week's "voluntary" OTAs. Going on 26, Spikes is coming off his strongest campaign. He started 14 games last season, grading out as Pro Football Focus' No. 9 inside linebacker. Spikes offers little on passing downs, but could put himself in position for a nice payday with a similarly strong 2013.

Source: ESPN Boston

May 19 - 9:28 AM

Jordan Cameron - TE - Browns

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns plan to throw to TE Jordan Cameron "a lot," and targeted him on "plenty of deep balls" in OTAs.

It's the Rod Chudzinski recipe at tight end, and reason for legitimate excitement over Cameron's 2013 fantasy prospects. Cameron can seal his status as a high-upside TE1 candidate with a strong camp and preseason. He has the talent to take advantage of his golden opportunity.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

May 19 - 9:23 AM

Geno Smith - QB - Jets

ESPN New York considers Geno Smith the heavy favorite to win the Jets' quarterback competition.

Reporter Rich Cimini believes Smith will beat out Mark Sanchez as long as he "proves capable of running the offense." The more intriguing question is whether the Jets prefer Sanchez or Greg McElroy to be Smith's backup. Sanchez needs Smith to have a horrid camp to be guaranteed a roster spot. Otherwise, we believe new GM John Idzik has the stones to cut Sanchez loose despite his fully guaranteed $8.5 million salary.

Source: ESPN New York

May 19 - 9:06 AM

David Garrard - QB - Jets

ESPN New York reports David Garrard was struggling to "drive the ball" on longer passes before his retirement.

Garrard had been missing workouts, and "bounced some passes." In other words, his knee troubles weren't only evident to him. The Jets' main quarterback question is no longer "who will start," but "Mark Sanchez or Greg McElroy?" The Jets deemed McElroy a better option than Sanchez down the stretch last season, and could do so again unless they can't stomach the idea of releasing a player guaranteed $8.5 million. In terms of skill, the entire organization knows the Sanchez experiment is over.

Source: ESPN New York

May 19 - 8:57 AM