Breaking down a statistical analysis of the top five Bills running backs of all time.
Maybe the best way for the Dolphins to handle WR Chad Ochocinco is to simply let Ocho be Ocho.
There are encouraging early signs for troubled rookie CB Alfonzo Dennard in Patriots camp, provided his legal status doesn’t make it a moot point.
The Jets signed a seventh-rounder, WR Jordan White, leaving them with just one unsigned draft pick.
Ravens backup and former run-first QB Tyrod Taylor said: “I’ve never been that run-first guy.”
Bengals QB Andy Dalton said feeling more comfortable has allowed him to take more control in practices: “If a guy runs a route a little differently, instead of letting a coach do it, I’m going to go over there and talk to him.”
Browns QB Seneca Wallace said a year in the offense has made Browns wideouts look faster this year. “There are guys flying around a lot faster,” Wallace said. “The body language has changed on certain players because they’re a little more confident in what they have to do every time they step out. And that goes a long way.
Steelers RB coach Kirby Wilson has made an impressive return, after suffering burns over 45 percent of his body. “He’s like Superman out there,” RB Isaac Redman said.
With a new contract in hand, Texans rookie OLB Whitney Mercilus’ biggest adjustment has been to the Houston heat.
With 50 new players on the 90-man roster, everything’s new in Indianapolis, leaving people feeling lost. “A lot of coaches, too,’' coach Chuck Pagano said. “I couldn’t find the locker room. And once I got to the locker room, I said, ‘Where’s the field at?’ Other than the Combine, this is new to a lot of us.’'
The Jaguars brought former Pro Bowl P Jeff Feagles to minicamp to work with rookie Bryan Anger. Feagles was impressed, saying the third-round pick has leg strength similar to some of the best. “You can tell the sound when guys are just hitting the ball,” Feagles said. “I’ve heard it from Mike Scifres and Shane Lechler. I’ve heard it in pregame. You don’t forget that sound, especially when you can’t make that sound yourself.”
Titans S Michael Griffin hasn’t signed his franchise tender, but he’s been a regular at offseason work and OTAs. “Everybody handles their personal issues differently,” CB Jason McCourty said. “Right now Griff is going through it and I think he’s been great this offseason. He’s been here, he’s been helping the younger guys.”
Denver Post columnist Woody Paige doesn’t think Broncos LB D.J. Williams is worth the trouble, and should be moved out.
With their top two receiving targets out, the Chiefs are focusing on getting their run game back in gear. “The big thing is you have to be committed to it, from the quarterbacks willing to carry out the fakes to receivers willing to go in and dig out the safeties to make 6-yard plays into 16-yard plays,” RT Eric Winston said.
Raiders S Michael Huff confirmed that the late Al Davis was the de facto defensive coordinator: “Nothing personal, but obviously, before with Al, rest in peace, he had his hands in all the defense. He had all his little things he liked to do. Now with D.A. [Dennis Allen] out there, we’ve got all kinds of blitzes, we’ve got 3-4, 4-3 fronts, just a lot of variety and different things going on. So I’m going to love it.”
After adding veteran RB Ronnie Brown, the Chargers are installing Wildcat plays, with RB Ryan Mathews and WRs Eddie Royal and Micheal Spurlock taking snaps.
The Cowboys have asked the league to start training camp early because they open the regular season on Sept. 5, but they’re not optimistic.
Giants DE Chris Canty said knee problems had him “operating at 80 percent,” late in the regular season and in the playoffs.
Eagles rookie CB Brandon Boykin is trying to overcome being 5-foot-9 with what he claims is a 43-inch vertical leap.
Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan joked that new defensive backs coach Raheem Morris can get under his skin with his constant trash talk during practice. Morris said he was glad to hear it and intended to “pump up the juice a little bit during training camp.”
Bears CB Charles Tillman is impressed with his position group, saying: “In my 10 years of being here, this is the best group of corners we’ve had, just overall talent.”
Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp said Lions veterans have to take the fore to turn around the team’s off-field issues.
“It’s definitely an event that generates a lot of testosterone,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of the team’s clay shooting outing that replaced practice Wednesday.
Vikings CB Zack Bowman, a former teammate of Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers, thinks his basketball background can help him make plays.
Second-year Falcons LB Akeem Dent is preparing to challenge veteran pickup Lofa Tatupu for the starting job in the middle.
Panthers QB Cam Newton said the biggest improvement he’s looking to make is simple: “That’s all that matters. Winning,” Newton said. “That’s all we play this game for is to get that W. That’s it.”
Interim Saints coach Joe Vitt said suspended Sean Payton “would be very, very proud with this coaching staff. I think Sean would be very, very proud of the job the support staff has done from the trainers to equipment men to the cinematographers. When Sean left here there was one mandate -- do your job, and these guys have definitely done their job.”
Bucs coaches hope getting MLB Mason Foster back to a more attacking style will help the defense as a whole.
When asked if he’d prefer a quick QB resolution, Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt said: “If it was up to me, I’d prefer we had a quarterback resolution two years ago. But obviously that hasn’t happened.”
The Rams hope to sign veteran LB Rocky McIntosh after a Wednesday workout.
The 49ers are expanding Aldon Smith’s role from pass-rush specialist to three-down outside linebacker.
Seahawks WR Sidney Rice hopes catching the ball’s easier this year with “brand-new shoulders.”