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Date: Team: Pos:
Matt Hasselbeck - QB - Titans

ESPN's Adam Schefter predicts that Matt Hasselbeck will open the season as the Titans' starter and keep the job "as long as he's healthy and productive."

Schefter believes Hasselbeck could even wind up starting for "this whole season," and Jake Locker will only play if Hasselbeck gets hurt or the Titans start losing. Schefter has joined top beat writer Jim Wyatt as well as ESPN AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky in predicting that Hasselbeck will beat out Locker.
Related: Jake Locker
Source: ESPN Insider
May 16 - 10:28 AM
Ryan Tannehill - QB - Dolphins

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that it "would be an upset" if Ryan Tannehill didn't end up starting games for the Dolphins this season.

Schefter notes that Tannehill's knowledge of the offense is already more advanced than his competitors, and "Miami likes Tannehill too much" to keep him planted on the bench all year. Tannehill is being given a chance to win the Week 1 starting job. If the No. 8 overall pick doesn't beat out Matt Moore and David Garrard, the Fins will be headed for a quarterback carousel this season.
Source: ESPN Insider
May 16 - 10:21 AM
Martin Rucker - TE - Chiefs

Chiefs signed TE Martin Rucker, LB Leon Williams, DB Dominique Ellis, and OL Rich Ranglin.

Former mid-round picks Rucker and Williams share a combined 69 games of NFL experience, but are roster longshots in Kansas City. Undrafted out of South Carolina State, Ellis earned a longer look with a strong tryout in rookie camp. Ranglin played last year with the Arena League's Kansas City Command.
May 16 - 10:14 AM
De'Quan Menzie - DB - Chiefs

Chiefs signed No. 146 overall pick CB De'Quan Menzie to a four-year contract.

Based on film study, NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell gave Menzie the edge over Brandon Boykin as the top slot corner in this year's draft. The Chiefs started him out at safety in rookie minicamp, though, with the idea that he will still be an option in subpackages.
May 16 - 10:10 AM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Jaguars

A team spokesman indicated the Jaguars have had no contract discussions with Maurice Jones-Drew.

With two seasons remaining on his five-year, $31 million deal, Jones-Drew's boycotting of offseason practices isn't swaying the front office in the least. The Jags are resigned to practicing without their star running back until mandatory workouts begin.
Source: Florida Times Union
May 16 - 9:45 AM
Davin Meggett - RB - Texans

Special teams coordinator Joe Marciano nominated undrafted rookie Davin Meggett as a "sleeper" for kick return duties this season.

Meggett isn't quite the returner that his Pro Bowl father and former Giants star, Dave, was in the 1980s. Rookie Keshawn Martin appears to be the early favorite to take over for Jacoby Jones, though Trindon Holliday and Juaquin Iglesias are also in the mix.
Related: Trindon Holliday, Keshawn Martin, Juaquin Iglesias
Source: HoustonTexans.com
May 16 - 9:37 AM
Randy Bullock - K - Texans

Texans special teams coordinator Joe Marciano insists there is no early favorite in the kicking competition between fifth-rounder Randy Bullock and veteran Shayne Graham.

"Over the long haul through the OTAs and training camp, there'll be somewhere in the vicinity of 130-150 kicks that we've charted," said Marciano, "and let the best man win." The Texans brass would prefer to have Bullock win the job outright, and Marciano praised the rookie as "almost unflappable, almost unbreakable."
Related: Shayne Graham
Source: HoustonTexans.com
May 16 - 9:34 AM
David Ausberry - TE - Raiders

Coach Dennis Allen expects David Ausberry to be deployed as a receiving tight end this season.

Converting from wide receiver, Ausberry is "noticeably bigger" in the upper body to aid in those situations when he does find himself blocking. With Kevin Boss out of the picture, Ausberry may emerge as Oakland's primary pass-catching tight end. The position will take a backseat to wide receiver in Greg Knapp's offense.
Source: Contra Costa Times
May 16 - 9:21 AM
DeSean Jackson - WR - Eagles

DeSean Jackson feels like there is "100 pounds of stress" relieved from his shoulders this season after signing a five-year, $47 million contract in March.

"It was a tough year for myself, had a lot of struggles, had a lot of things that just took me off of my game and my focus," Jackson said of 2011. "This year, a lot of that has just been removed." Coach Andy Reid is confident that Jackson is in for a bounce-back season in 2012.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News
May 16 - 8:32 AM
Mike Wallace - WR - Steelers

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on NFL Live Tuesday that restricted free agent Mike Wallace still has no imminent plans to sign his one-year tender.

"He's not going to sign that (RFA) tender anytime soon," Schefter said. "It may be awhile before they see Wallace." Wallace seems sure to sign by June 15, when NFL rules allow the Steelers to slash his salary from $2.742 million to $577,500. We're not concerned about Wallace missing any regular season time.
May 16 - 12:19 AM
Taylor Price - WR - Jaguars

Jaguars WR Taylor Price required surgery and had a pin inserted into the stress fracture in his left foot.

He's on crutches at OTAs. Price's injury is going to put him well behind Cecil Shorts, Chastin West, and even Brian Robiskie when training camp kicks off.
Source: Florida Times Union
May 16 - 12:07 AM
Justin Blackmon - WR - Jaguars

Justin Blackmon is practicing at Z receiver and in the slot during Jaguars OTAs.

Jaguars GM Gene Smith stated after the draft that Blackmon's likely position was X receiver, but the coaching staff appears to have a different design. At Z, Blackmon would run more possession routes and use his after-catch ability to soak up yardage. For a player who lacks ideal vertical tools, Z suits Blackmon the best. It's Roddy White's old position in Mike Mularkey's system.
Source: Florida Times Union
May 15 - 11:48 PM
Chase Daniel - QB - Saints

Chase Daniel will handle all of the Saints' first-team quarterback reps as unsigned franchise player Drew Brees sits out OTAs.

It means nothing for Daniel this regular season, but is a nice opportunity for a contract-year player who's consistently played well in exhibition games. Another big preseason could earn Daniel some double takes in 2013 free agency.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
May 15 - 11:42 PM
Rob Bironas - K - Titans

Titans K Rob Bironas plans to keep kicking into his 40s.

Bironas, 34, is keeping his leg fresh by annually taking off the first four months of the offseason. It's obviously worked so far. Over the past two seasons, Bironas has nailed 53-of-58 field goal attempts (91.4 percent), and in 2011 tied for second in the AFC with 44 touchbacks. He's now entering a contract year.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
May 15 - 11:30 PM
Matt Prater - K - Broncos

Unsigned franchise player Matt Prater is sitting out offseason workouts.

As is disgruntled DT Ty Warren, whom the Broncos want to take a pay cut. Unlike Warren, Prater isn't under contract and therefore not required to attend OTAs and minicamps. "There's no message. It's voluntary," Prater's agent said.
Source: Denver Post
May 15 - 11:18 PM


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