Source: New York Giants hard at work improving their deep passing game | Giants Wire A season ago, quarterback Eli Manning threw only 10.5 percent of his passes 20-yards or more through the air, which was the fourth-lowest percentage in the league and one of the lowest totals of his professional career. In 2016, that’s likely to change somewhat. “We have to throw it more…...

Source: With Treadwell on the field, Vikings may go to ‘Bang 8’ route more – StarTribune.com Treadwell seems capable of filling the void. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, he has the necessary size. During spring workouts, Turner raved about his instincts and fluidity running routes. And Treadwell isn’t afraid to go over the middle, having done much of his damage at Mississippi on short and…...

Source: Saints roster preview: Mark Ingram is the leader of the pack | Saints | theadvocate.com As far as who makes the team, Ingram is the only lock. Tim Hightower seems like the best bet to back him up. It would be hard to envision Spiller not making the team, but he needs to prove he can still be productive. Cadet, Daniel Lasco, and Marcus…...

Source: Ian Rappaport on Twitter ​ #Bills RB Karlos Williams is being suspended 4 games for violating the Substances of Abuse Policy — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2016 This is a mea culpa for me. In June, I wrote about the running backs behind LeSean McCoy, and I didn’t even mention Mike Gillislee. Even worse, I got shown up by 14Team Mocker, who highlighted Gillislee in a post arguing that now-suspended…...

Source: NFL exec on Eagles’ Nelson Agholor: He’s their best receiver “From strictly a talent standpoint, I still think he’s their best (receiver),” a personnel man for an Eagles’ opponent told NJ Advance Media. He was granted anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly about other teams’ players. “I’m not sure what happened there last year,” he said. “It’s not like he was…...

Source: Vikings’ Adrian Peterson on Teddy Bridgewater: ‘I see greatness’ – Minnesota Vikings Blog- ESPN: [I]f this year’s Vikings are to take the step the 2009 team couldn’t, it will be incumbent upon Bridgewater to take command of an offense that ranked 31st in the league in passing a year ago. Peterson did not mince words, though, when he was asked whether he thinks Bridgewater…...

Source: How Reliable are Way-Too-Early NFL Point Spreads? (Part II) There are two interesting lessons to be learned here. First, way-too-early spreads are as accurate as actual spreads in terms of predicting actual Week 1 margins of victory. Furthermore, this result provides even more evidence of my belief perseverance hypothesis from Part 1: Between CG’s release and Week 1, the betting public’s perceptions of relative team strength don’t seem…...

Source: Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson is training to outrun history – Minnesota Vikings Blog- ESPN Cooper is taking it somewhat easier on his longtime pupil and a group that includes San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes, free-agent receiver Andre Johnson and others. Even so, the day’s schedule has the tenacious Peterson feeling slightly apprehensive. He begins at Houston’s…...

Source: The Competition 2016: Running Backs Coming off a broken arm that cut his season short last year, Forsett returned to summer workouts as the clear lead dog. He’s healthy once again and just two years removed from a Pro Bowl season. Still, Forsett will have to fend off talented younger competition, especially after his average yards per carry dropped from 5.4 yards in 2014…...

Source: Calgary Dinos receiver Simonise works out for NFL clubs at pro day – Winnipeg Free Press Simonise worked out before scouts representing six NFL teams — New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts. The Calgary Stampeders were the only CFL team on hand. Simonise posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.52 seconds in windy conditions…...

Source: Turner wants to decrease Freeman’s carries in 2016 | www.myajc.com “It’s about growth,” Turner told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Free had a good year, but I’m expecting even a better year. Well, you’re saying, how can it be better? It can be even better with less carries or less catches because I’d obviously like to get Tevin (Coleman) more involved and that also keeps Free…...

Source: Seahawks Running Back Thomas Rawls Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp | Seattle Seahawks “Rehab is going phenomenal,” Rawls said. “Running, cutting, working hard to get back out there. I’m looking forward to being out there the first week. Rehab has been going phenomenal this whole offseason. I didn’t have a break because I’ve got to work 10 times harder. I’m excited to…...

Source: Titans training camp battle: Running back – Titan Insider Sankey, the first running back drafted in 2014, got a crash course in special teams last year after losing the starting job, though he struggled as a kickoff returner. Sankey has mostly been at the back of the line when it came to reps in OTAs, but Mularkey told him not to be discouraged. “He…...

Source: Dez Bryant believes his 2015 struggles were more mental than physical. Bryant alluded to a lack of trust in his surgically-repaired foot, saying it had him “off (his) game.” Bryant, who was limited throughout the offseason program, says he’s going to “focus on the positive things going forward.” Bryant’s disastrous 2015 was equal parts mental, playing at far less than 100 percent and missing Tony…...

Source: Calvin Johnson talks painkillers, concussions, player safety He said he wants to be able to function after football and finish his degree at Georgia Tech. Many players are dealing with the post-football concerns, including the effects of concussions. Johnson was asked if he’s had to deal with concussion issues. He said that even before the movie “Concussion” came out and elevated the discussion in…...

Source: All (hefty) signs point to Broncos being more grounded on offense – Denver Broncos Blog- ESPN The key part of the plan is Anderson. When the Broncos chose to match the Dolphins’ offer this offseason, the decision came with a message it was time for Anderson to show he wants to be the franchise back. Anderson has held up his end of the bargain,…...

Source: Texans’ Braxton Miller has ‘chip on his shoulder’ in switching positions – Houston Chronicle “Braxton Miller, just a versatile player, explosive player,” Texans general manager Rick Smith said. “Trying to impact our football team, adding players who can add dimensions to our football team who can make plays with the ball in their hands, and certainly he can do that.” Although Miller had to…...

Source: Detroit Lions 2016 camp battles: Who will be thunder to Ameer Abdullah’s lightning? | MLive.com:…...

Source: Camp Countdown – 24 – 3 reasons why Dez Lewis’ game should take a big leap forward: [Route running] might be where the biggest change in Lewis’ game has occurred. Not all that familiar with the full route tree as a rookie, Lewis has become a student of route running technique. Everything from an 18-yard comeback to a hook to a slant and go was…...

Jason Lewis recently wrote a series arguing that dynasty owners – specifically startup drafters – are overvaluing youth (Part 1; Part 2; Part 3). I’m not so sure…....