PFT on NBC Sports Network: Colin Kaepernick, NFC West/AFC West free agent needs

Reuters

There were plenty of big stories during the 2012 season, but it is hard to think of many bigger than the ascension of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick from second-string to Super Bowl starter.

It was a big bet by 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and it paid off handsomely for team and player as Kaepernick jolted the 49ers offense to another level. We’ll find out his reaction to the whirlwind year when he joins Erik Kuselias for a chat on Thursday’s Pro Football Talk on the NBC Sports Network. We’ll ask Kaepernick what he’ll be up to this offseason and what he plans as an encore for his breakout season.

Mike Florio, Shaun King and Pete Najarian will also be on hand to talk about the needs the 49ers have to fill in free agency outside of the quarterback position. They’ll be hitting all the other NFC West clubs as well and they’ll find time to give an overview of the AFC West as we keep setting the table for the March 12 start of the 2013 league year.

It all gets underway at 5 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

AP

The Titans need better offensive line play next season if they are going to improve on their results from 2012, but they will have to wait until training camp to see how their projected starters look as a unit.

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports that coach Mike Munchak said at Tuesday’s opening of minicamp that left tackle Michael Roos, right tackle David Stewart and left guard Andy Levitre will all be limited to individual work during the three-day session that ends Tennessee’s offseason work. That leaves center Fernando Velasco and rookie right guard Chance Warmack as the only expected starters doing team drills with the offense.

Levitre hasn’t done any team work since signing with the Titans as a free agent, although everyone expects him to be ready for a full workload when camp gets underway. The same is true of Stewart, who broke his leg late last season, and Roos, who is out because of a back issue.

If they all meet that expectation, the Titans will be breathing easier. Anything less than that would be a troubling start for a team trying to rebound.

AP

After coming back from a torn Achilles in college, Browns sixth-rounder Jamoris Slaughter isn’t just content to make the roster.

He’s thinking about a starting job.

Slaughter didn’t participate in OTAs or minicamp, but said he’ll be ready when training camp begins.

“I’m cleared at this point to do everything, so I’ve been feeling really good,” Slaughter said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I’ve been working out hard with the team, just waiting to get back for training camp.”

Slaughter suffered the injury early last season for Notre Dame, and most of his work was on a stationary bike during spring workouts.

But he thinks he can compete with Tashaun Gipson for the starting free safety job.

“Definitely,” he said. “It’s one thing I think about every day is getting that starting position. I know it’s a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. As long I keep taking the right steps and staying positive, I think it will happen. . . .

“I’m steaming to get out there on the field, just having to watch OTAs, and minicamp,” he said. “I’ve been getting a lot of mental reps. On that side, it’s helped me out a lot, mentally just learning the playbook and watching the guys and seeing the things they do good and bad and learn from that. I know when I step on the field and get the rust off I’ll be right back.”

Gipson started three games last year, but Slaughter’s biggest obstacle might be his own condition. Confidence is one thing, but having realistic expectations when coming back from such an injury is key.

AP

The Falcons surely hope to avoid being called “dumb” by Matt Ryan’s agents next year.  Of course, if being dumb means winning the Super Bowl, the Falcons would gladly wear the dunce cap.

For now, the posture between Ryan and the team that made him the third overall pick in the 2008 draft is identical to last year’s contract standoff between the Ravens and Joe Flacco.  Ryan has a year left on his deal, both sides want to extend the contract, but an agreement has not been reached.

For now, Ryan bears the risk of injury and ineffectiveness.  If Ryan makes it through 2013 unscathed, the Falcons will have to choose between giving him market value, using the non-exclusive franchise tag (which exposes him to being pilfered by another team in exchange for two first-round picks), or the exclusive version of the tag (which could cost nearly $20 million for 2014 and unlock a year-to-year formula that would put the Falcons well north of $70 million for three years).

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, casual talks currently are occurring, with an expectation that things will heat up after the July 4 holiday.

Ryan has a $12 million cap number for 2013.  A long-term deal often drops a player’s cap number, but if Ryan is going to be paid at or near the top of the market (i.e., somewhere between $16 million and $20 million per year), it’s unlikely that the cap number will be any lower than $12 million in 2013.  Which means that a long-term deal for Ryan likely won’t create additional cap space for a potential contract with Richard Seymour.

The real question is whether Ryan (a CAA client) wants to be paid like Drew Brees (a CAA client) or Tony Romo (a CAA client) or somewhere in between.  Brees is getting $20 million per year.  Romo’s deal, as a practical matter, is worth $16.375 million over four years or $15.9 million over five.

Looming in the background is Matthew Stafford (another CAA client), whose cap number already is above $20 million.

As more and more franchise quarterbacks become the highest-paid player on their respective franchises, the questions constantly will be:  (1) how much is enough?; and (2) how much needs to be left behind to have a competitive team?

That’s why Ryan needs to ask himself, along with whether he’s willing to roll the dice and walk away from whatever the Falcons put on the table now, in the hopes of getting them over a barrel later.

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The idiots who thought it would be a good idea to make fun of Steve Gleason’s ALS paid for their lack of judgement and humor with their jobs.

But Gleason himself has taken the high road, accepting the apologies of the idiots in question, calling their contrition “genuine.”

Gleason posted that message on his Facebook page, responding with the kind of grace not everyone could muster (including yours truly).

“Regarding the DJ skit in Atlanta yesterday. I would like to thank the public for their support,” he wrote, with his eyes, since he can’t use his hands because of the disease. “’Defend Team Gleason’ now has been officially redefined. Additionally, the DJs have provided genuine apology. Received and accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our mistakes is the measure of who we are.

“I think everyone can learn from this event. Its clear to me that, on a national & global scale, ALS is not understood, which is part of why its under funded and largely ignored. In the past 36 hours lots of people have been talking. Lets talk about this… There are zero treatments for ALS. If you take any action as a result of this event, I prefer it to be action to end ALS. See what we are doing to change that @ teamgleason.org. SG”

Gleason’s work on behalf of others with the disease has been remarkable and uplifting. But his forgiveness might be as impressive, and an example for each of us.

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During the 2012 season, Giants running backs coach Jerald Ingram hammered rookie running back David Wilson for not being a complete running back, with a particular emphasis on the need for Wilson to become a better pass blocker if he wanted to become a major part of the team’s running game.

Wilson did see more time in the final weeks of the regular season and Ahmad Bradshaw’s departure means that he’s in line for a lot of playing time in his second season. Ingram said that Wilson has “grown” during the offseason in terms of his understanding of the offense, including the vital role of keeping Eli Manning from being planted in the turf.

“There are some goals that he has to accomplish for us,” Ingram said, via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com. “He’s definitely on a better track than he was a year ago in understanding our protections and doing those kinds of things. I think we’ll take advantage of his natural ability as much as we can.”

Andre Brown is on hand to provide balance, Ingram referred to the tandem as a “thunder and lightning-type situation,” but Wilson’s playmaking ability will be tough to take off the field if he proves competent as a blocker. Ingram notes that you can’t tell much about blocking until everyone’s in pads, which means August will bring more of an idea of whether Wilson’s reached that level.

AP

Bill Callahan is “excited” to get to work calling plays for the Cowboys offense and the team has gotten one of the rookies Callahan can deploy this season under contract.

Nick Eatman of the Cowboys website reports that third-round pick Terrance Williams has agreed to a four-year contract with the team. The deal with the wide receiver is expected to be officially announced on Wednesday.

How much Callahan deploys him remains up in the air. When Williams came off the board with the 74th overall pick, he looked like a good bet to be the team’s third receiver in 2013 but wide receivers coach Derek Dooley offered a reminder that Williams is a work in progress as offseason workouts came to a close.

“These rookies are coming in, he’s hearing a language he’s never spoke. It’s like learning Japanese, right now,” Dooley said, via the Dallas Morning News. “He used to get a signal and he ran a route. Now he’s got to hear a play, he’s got to line up right, we’re moving him all over the place, and then oh, by the way, go run a route against Morris Claiborne and get open. There’s a lot to it. Each day, what I’m proud of, he’s getting a little bit better. He’s still got a long way to go. It’s a journey in the National Football League, especially at wide out, but I’m really proud of how he’s progressing.”

You’d expect as much for most rookies, so we’ll see what happens when Williams gets to camp this summer. Dwayne Harris is the likeliest other choice to play behind and with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.

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The various AFC Mt. Rushmores will get a lot more interesting at 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, when we select four Patriots for placement on their hill of immortality.

It’ll happen on NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk.

Pats fans and Pats anti-fans alike will be ready to vote for (or not for) certain specific figures who fueled the team’s run of three Super Bowl wins in four years, especially in light of the Spygate scandal and the associated arguments and/or conspiracy theories it spawned.

But despite the efforts of some to nominate men like Matt Walsh for the honor, the Pats’ still have their titles — if not all of their rings.

And the best part about the Mt. Rushmore honor is that the winners get nothing tangible.  Which gives heads of state one less thing to steal.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are already committed to playing one “home” game a year in London, and tight end Marcedes Lewis is on board with that. But if the Jaguars start playing two games a year in London, Lewis believes that would be a bad move.

Lewis told Mike Freeman of CBS that playing multiple games in London “would be highly stressful for a team. It would disrupt a big part of your season. There would be a competitive disadvantage for a team that did that. . . . [P]laying two games in London would be pretty rough for any team no matter what you try to do.”

If the Jaguars do start playing two games a year in London, it would likely be one “home” game and one “road” game, so in addition to giving up one of their home dates, the players would have to make a longer road trip than they otherwise would for one of their road dates. It’s possible, however, that the NFL could book Wembley Stadium for back-to-back Sundays and allow the Jaguars to stay in London for the week in between, and save them the trip.

But the reality is, the NFL is badly wants to grow its game overseas, and the league views regular games in London as the best way to accomplish that goal. And that’s not going to change just because some of the players who are forced to play there twice a year don’t like it.

AP

Confidence is an important trait for any pro athlete.  That’s why the offseason routinely consists of plenty of boasts regarding performances to come in the next NFL campaign.

For Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, his confidence comes with a six pack of apathy.

Specifically, Cromartie thinks he can be the best cornerback in the NFL.  But he doesn’t really want to be.

“Can I be?  Yes.  Do I care to be? No,” Cromartie recently told Brian Costello of the New York Post.  “If we’re winning and I’m doing the things I need to do, then that’s what it’s really all about.”

It’s a bizarrely mature comment from Cromartie that could get lost in the headline.  He’s basically saying that he’s more interested in team accomplishments than individual accolades.

That’s really the way it should be.  While personal achievements can lead to big contracts and, eventually, a bronze bust in Canton, the focus never should be racking up stats or praise.  It should be doing your job and hoping that everyone else does the same.

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Putin apparently has reared his head.  Again.

The Russian leader, not content to simply bogart Bob Kraft’s Super Bowl ring, may (or may not) have commandeered the Twitter account of Lions president Tom Lewand.

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Lewand’s Twitter account was hacked by Russian spammers on Tuesday.  The messages, as translated by Birkett, include:  “Is it possible to get rid of varicose veins with the aid of an extract of beer Sophia.”

In all, 40 tweets in Russian landed on Lewand’s Twitter page, who later claimed that he was indeed hacked.

Look for the Lions to eventually release a statement explaining that Lewand actually gave the keys to his account to the Russians temporarily.  You know, as a gift.

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The Jaguars needed a major upgrade in the secondary, and drafted to fill that need.

Tuesday, they signed a pair of them, announcing deals for second-round safety Jonathan Cyprien and third-round cornerback Dwayne Gratz.

The team tweeted out photos of the players signing their contracts, and Cyprien in particular seemed excited about his.

Early returns out of minicamps and OTAs were positive for both of them, and they should end up starting for the Jaguars this year.

AP

The three Atlanta radio knuckleheads who thought it would be hilarious to make fun of former Saints safety Steve Gleason’s struggle with ALS have all issued abject apologies after they were fired for the stunt.

Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino and Steve “Steak” Shapiro are the three “Mayhem in the A.M.” hosts who were fired by 790 The Zone for the bit, and they’ve all released statements saying they’re sorry.

“I deeply regret the ill attempt at humor from this morning’s show,” Cellini wrote on Facebook on Monday night. “I have personally apologized to Steve Gleason and his wife. The comments were insensitive and offensive and do not represent my personal views regarding the severity of the disease.”

“The sheer stupidity of trying to put this as a failed attempt at humor is not lost on me,” Dimino wrote on Facebook. “My apologies go out first to Steve Gleason and his family. The weight of what he and they are going through did not need to be made heavier or worse by the pure and straight insensitivity of my actions.”

“I love the people and city of New Orleans, always have, always will,” Shapiro wrote on Twitter. “Team Gleason I will work tirelessly to make this up to you.”

The question these apologies doesn’t answer is, What were they thinking? There may be no statement that can answer that.

AP

The Vikings get the first crack at former Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop.  But Bishop is making other plans for his NFL future.

Next up on the docket, PFT has confirmed, is a visit with the Chiefs on Thursday.  (Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the looming Chiefs visit.)  A source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that the Jaguars also are in play for Bishop.

Whoever offers Bishop the kind of contract he’s seeking will have to feel very good about his hamstring, which was seriously injured during the 2012 season.  Bishop ultimately may have to accept a deal that is tied to playing time and/or ability to suit up on game days.

If he’s healthy, the 28-year-old Bishop has plenty of football left in him.  That’s why physicals, workouts, and ultimately a leap of faith will be critical to determining the next step in his career.

Reuters

With Tony Gonzalez getting the week off from Falcons minicamp, they needed some more help at tight end.

So they added another, signing former Jaguars, 49ers and Colts tight end Colin Cloherty, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Cloherty might be a spare part for camp, but the extra work for fourth-rounder Levine Toilolo this week will be worth monitoring.

The 6-foot-8 Stanford product could be a contributor for the Falcons in the red zone in the future beyond Gonzalez, or maybe sooner.

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Since Robert Griffin III apparently doesn’t want his fatherly advice, Donovan McNabb’s giving it to his nephew the hockey player.

McNabb has been working with Darnell Nurse, who is expected to be one of the top picks in the June 30 NHL Draft (at least according to my mock draft).

“He’s been one of the best people in my life to go to for advice,” Nurse said of McNabb, via Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News. “He’s been a big influence in my life. I think anyone who has a family member in sports faces the same thing.

“But at the same time, it’s a different sport and I’m trying to do my thing so that at some point, my sister’s kids will be asking about me.”

Nurse’s dad, Richard, is the brother of McNabb’s wife Raquel. Richard Nurse was also a wide receiver in the CFL, so Darnell has some background with pro athletes at home.

But growing up in outside Toronto, his dad steered him toward hockey. He’s been going to Arizona to train with McNabb the last five years. But the last time they saw each other, McNabb prepped him for his combine interviews by portraying an executive.

What he hasn’t been able to do was get McNabb into hockey, at least as a participant.

“I’ve tried to get him on skates, but he won’t budge,” Nurse said. “That’s the next step.”

While Nurse might not be on the board when the Flyers pick 11th, he knows from visiting his uncle twice a year in Philadelphia that playing in that kind of market would be an experience.

“I loved it there,” Nurse said. “The fans are crazy. But I think that’s the best part of the city – that they’re crazy about their sports. They’re going to let you know when you don’t do so well. I think my uncle is a prime example of that.

“But at the same time, you get a lot of respect for success. If I had the opportunity to go there, that’s the kind of market you want to play in.”

At least until it goes to overtime.