Cowboys sign rookie J.J. Wilcox
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Cowboys rookie defensive back
J.J. Wilcox agreed to a four-year deal Wednesday. ESPN reports
the deal is worth roughly $2.8 million with a signing bonus of a little more than $586,000.
Wilcox, the No. 80 overall pick in the draft, is expected to be a major contributor on special teams and has an outside chance to challenge for a starting job at safety as a rookie.
Sam Bradford off to good start
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer likes what he sees from quarterback
Sam Bradford this offseason.
ESPN reports that Bradford will work with Schottenheimer for a second consecutive season, which is the first time that's happened in his young career.
"The day Sam walked back into the building [this offseason] we started making adjustments," Schottenheimer said. "We are a thousand years ahead of where we were last year."
Titans sign Blidi Wreh-Wilson
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) The Titans agreed to terms with rookie cornerback
Blidi Wreh-Wilson on Wednesday.
The Tennessean reports that Wreh-Wilson, a third-round pick, reached a four-year deal with salaries of $405,000 in 2013, $495,000 in 2014, $585,000 in 2015 and $675,000 in 2016.
Only first-round pick Chance Warmack has yet to agree to terms.
Reggie Bush could see some punt returns
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Lions running back
Reggie Bush could add punt return duties to his workload this year. Special-teams coach John Bonamego believes Bush could be a "situational" punt return man.
"Reggie will have a role," Bonamego told the official team website. "Reggie (can return punts) and is willing to do it. That's more situational -- we need one, let's put him back there and let's see if he can make something happen. I had him his first two years in the league in New Orleans and that was the way he was utilized in that role. So, he's back there catching them in practice."
Titans sign Barry Richardson
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) The Titans agreed to terms with veteran offensive tackle
Barry Richardson on Wednesday.
The Tennessean reports he'll add depth to the offensive line. Richardson started all 16 games for the Rams last season.
How often did Vernon Davis line up as a receiver?
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Earlier this week the
Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported that
Vernon Davis worked at receiver during the team's recent minicamp, not at the traditional tight end spot he's been accustomed to. So I thought I'd get an idea of just how often Davis lined up off the line of scrimmage last year.
With a huge hat tip to ProFootballFocus.com founder Neil Hornsby we now know that Davis lined up as a tight end, be it in a basic set or as part of a two-tight end formation, on 798 plays. He lined up in the slot or out wide like a receiver 268 plays. And he lined up as a fullback 16 plays. He also sparingly lined up as a tackle, doing so 16 times. Point is that he lined up in a non-traditional spot roughly 25 percent of the time last year. Seeing that bump up to, say, 75 percent of the time this year seems off. But that's small potatoes all things considered -- his being on the field 95-plus percent of the time combined with an expected bump in targets is what Fantasy owners need for him to be an asset. That's why he's still a consensus Top 7 tight end among our Fantasy rankings and could inch his way into the Top 5 before too long.
Latest update on Aaron Hernandez
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Patriots tight end
Aaron Hernandez has not yet been ruled out as a suspect in the homicide investigation involving a semi-pro football player who was "an associate" of his,
a source told CBS Boston on Wednesday. Hernandez is also not cooperating with police according to the report.
There is, however, a conflicting report from SI.com that says Hernandez is not believed to be a murder suspect.
Also revealed Wednesday: Hernandez is being sued by a man who claimed Hernandez shot him in the face. The lawsuit, reported by TMZ, was filed on June 13, five days before investigators checked into Hernandez's house in connection with the homicide. The case was originally dismissed because of a paperwork error that has since been rectified.
Report: J.D. Walton's season in doubt
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Broncos center
J.D. Walton had another surgery on his ankle this week and is now
expected to miss the 2013 season, according to the
Denver Post. Walton missed much of the 2012 season with a broken ankle. The team had hoped he'd play in the second half of the upcoming year.
Hakeem Nicks noncommittal on future with Giants
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) Giants receiver
Hakeem Nicks said he's happy to be a Giant "right now" but that he does "understand the business side of football." In a Q&A with the
New York Post, Nicks talked about a lot of things including his future with the team, hinting that he's not promising a return to the team after this season when his contract runs out. He said he's focused only on the 2013 season.
Nicks also said he did promise coach Tom Coughlin he would attend voluntary OTA workouts but skipped them because he didn't want to open himself up to injury. Nicks broke his foot at OTA workouts last year. The receiver said he did apologize to his coach.
"At the end of the day, there's stuff that's mandatory and there's things that are not mandatory," he said. "From my eyes, anytime you can let your body rest [is good]. Football is a physical sport, and it's a long season, too. Anytime you can let your body rest, I feel like that's always a blessing."
Vincent Jackson backs Josh Freeman
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6/19/2013) There was some speculation coming into this season that Buccaneers quarterback
Josh Freeman's job could be in jeopardy, but receiver
Vincent Jackson is backing Freeman heading into training camp.
The Tampa Tribune reports that Jackson said Freeman has returned as a far more comfortable and confident quarterback in Year 2 of offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan's system.
