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Date: Team: Pos:

Vick Ballard - RB - Colts

Vick Ballard is expected to open the season as the Colts' No. 2 back.

The Ahmad Bradshaw signing was a clear indication of GM Ryan Grigson's feelings about his running back corps; he recognized it wasn't good enough with Ballard in the lead role. Ballard will be no more than a low-end flex pick in fantasy drafts. In his AFC Team-by-Team Notes column accessible at the link below, Rotoworld's Evan Silva breaks down the Colts' projected 2013 backfield.

Source: AFC Team-by-Team Notes

Jun 18 - 10:54 PM

Daryl Washington - LB - Cardinals

Speaking in a Tuesday radio interview, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians hinted he expects suspended ILB Daryl Washington to play this season, but acknowledged he's walking a "very thin line."

Arians said Washington's fate is "all up to him," and that his recent troubles have "(thrown) a red flag out" with the organization. Suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, Washington could get a longer ban if his domestic assault case is settled before Week 1. One of the league's best young defenders, Washington's presence is going to be sorely missed in Weeks 1-4.

Source: Alex Marvez on Twitter

Jun 18 - 10:32 PM

Levi Brown - T - Cardinals

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says LT Levi Brown (triceps) was "very rusty" in minicamp, but that his "skills are still there."

That implies Brown's skills were there before he missed all of 2012 with a torn triceps, but we digress. Arians added that he was "extremely high" on second-year pro Nate Potter, so perhaps blindside duties won't be gifted to Brown after all. Brown hasn't been an effective player through his first 77 career games.

Source: Alex Marvez on Twitter

Jun 18 - 8:55 PM

Jason Smith - T - Saints

The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers Jason Smith a "sleeper" for the Saints' left tackle job.

We'll call him a deep sleeper. A deep, deep, deep one. Smith is "competing" with Charles Brown and third-rounder Terron Armstead, but is a distant third. Smith did get some first-team reps in OTAs, but he isn't even a lock for a roster spot. The Saints will be in trouble if they need Smith to start games this season.

Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Jun 18 - 7:24 PM

Rob Gronkowski - TE - Patriots

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the Patriots are "holding out hope" Rob Gronkowski (back surgery, arm surgery) will be ready for Week 1.

As to be expected. At this point, there's no reason to unilaterally assume Gronk won't be ready for Week 1 — two and a half months is a long time — but there's still far more reason to believe he won't be ready than will be ready. We're unlikely to get a good read on Gronk's regular season status before mid-August. All we know for now is that he'll start camp on the active/PUP list.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Jun 18 - 7:18 PM

Aaron Hernandez - TE - Patriots

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the "belief" inside Patriots headquarters is that Aaron Hernandez was "not involved" with the murder police are investigating in Attleboro, Mass.

The facts are changing quickly, but here's what we think we know: Hernandez is simply being questioned, and is not a suspect. 2. A car rented in Hernandez's name is a "key piece of evidence." 3. Hernandez's home is being searched Tuesday evening. The story will likely continue to evolve quickly, but for now there's no reason to assume anything other than Hernandez is having a (really) bad Tuesday. The situation should be updated later this evening.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Jun 18 - 7:04 PM

Aaron Hernandez - TE - Patriots

Sports Illustrated reports Aaron Hernandez has been questioned in a "possible homicide" in North Attleboro, Mass., but is "not believed to be a murder suspect."

However, SI reports "a vehicle rented in (Hernandez's) name has emerged as a key piece of evidence in the investigation." The body of a 27-year-old Boston man was found less than a mile from Hernandez's home on Monday. Hernandez was questioned by Massachusetts State Police, who were reportedly at his residence on Tuesday. A source close to Hernandez confirmed he has spoken with police. His player rep has declined comment.

Source: Sports Illustrated

Jun 18 - 5:59 PM

Rob Gronkowski - TE - Patriots

Profootballtalk reports "it is believed" Rob Gronkowski's Tuesday back operation went well.

We wouldn't expect anything else, but it would be unwise to take anything related to Gronk's health for granted. Set to open camp on the active/PUP list, Gronk's Week 1 status is hazy, at best. It would be an upset if he didn't miss regular season games. He's not going to play in the preseason.

Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com

Jun 18 - 5:19 PM

Armanti Edwards - WR - Panthers

The Charlotte Observer believes Armanti Edwards is "beginning to look like an NFL receiver," and expects him to keep his roster spot.

Better late than never? Edwards has done absolutely nothing through his first three NFL seasons, but is apparently "running fluid routes and catching the ball in traffic." That's all good and well, but pad-less practices have always been when Edwards shines. We're highly skeptical he'll suddenly be a productive player in 2013, and don't consider his roster spot cinched up.

Source: Charlotte Observer

Jun 18 - 5:14 PM

Kevin Walter - WR - Titans

Kevin Walter (back) will be sidelined until training camp.

Walter has barely practiced since signing in April, and is starting to hurt his roster chances. At this point, Walter might need Tennessee to renege on its promise of keeping Nate Washington to have a real shot at making the 53-man roster.

Source: Jim Wyatt on Twitter

Jun 18 - 4:54 PM

Delanie Walker - TE - Titans

OC Dowell Loggains believes the Titans have their best tight end corps since "Alge (Crumpler) and Bo Scaife."

"I feel really good about having three guys that can do a lot of different things," Loggains said of Delanie Walker, Craig Stevens and Taylor Thompon. "Also all three of them can be in-line blockers, point-of-attack blockers, and all of them have good speed." Notice he didn't mention catch passes. None of Walker, Stevens or Thompson has ever cleared 30 catches in a season. The Titans seem to have forgotten the fact that they wanted to keep Jared Cook before realizing they may have to pay him as a receiver under the franchise tag. The Titans' tight end group isn't bad, but it's not as good as it would have been had Cook been re-signed and properly utilized.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

Jun 18 - 4:45 PM

Matt Ryan - QB - Falcons

A source with knowledge of the situation tells Profootballtalk the Falcons and Matt Ryan are engaged in "casual" extension talks, and that negotiations are expected to intensify after July 4.

There's no real urgency to get a deal done, though extending Ryan could theoretically free up the money to sign DT Richard Seymour. That would depend on the deal's structure, of course. Ryan's current cap number is $12 million. It's unknown how much Ryan is seeking, but there's every reason to believe he'll look to breach the $20 million annually barrier, and try to eclipse the $52 million guaranteed Joe Flacco took home.

Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com

Jun 18 - 4:31 PM

Christian Ponder - QB - Vikings

ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested on NFL Live that Christian Ponder will be in danger of losing his job this season if the Vikings begin to struggle.

"There are enough people around the league that believe Matt Cassel is good enough to challenge Ponder," stated Schefter, adding that Cassel "could unseat Ponder at some point this season." Although Schefter confirmed Ponder won't lose his job before Week 1, he called it a "situation that bears watching." Ponder endured a brutal nine-game stretch last season (Weeks 7-16) where he completed 140-of-245 passes (57.1 percent) for just 1,267 yards (5.17 YPA), and a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio with two lost fumbles. Ponder was serviceable to solid (67.2 percent, 7.01 YPA, 11:4) in his other seven starts.

Jun 18 - 4:24 PM

Jerraud Powers - DB - Cardinals

AzCardinals.com expects Jerraud Powers to start over Antoine Cason opposite Patrick Peterson.

Reporter Darren Urban "wouldn’t be shocked" if Cason beat out Powers in camp, however. Urban believes Powers' experience playing for Cardinals coach Bruce Arians last season gives him a leg up. Cason has been a starter each of the past three years, but played poorly in 2012. He's also making less than Powers. In other words, Powers is the better bet to start.

Source: azcardinals.com

Jun 18 - 4:22 PM

Rob Gronkowski - TE - Patriots

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed on NFL Live that Rob Gronkowski (back surgery) will open training camp on the active/PUP list.

"I think the one thing that does seem certain at this time is, he is expected to open training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list," stated Schefter. Schefter added that the Patriots anticipated Gronk needing back surgery all offseason, but the procedure was repeatedly delayed due to his four forearm procedures. Because Gronkowski will open camp on PUP, he'll be a candidate to open the regular season on the reserve/PUP list, costing him six games.

Jun 18 - 4:06 PM