Fact or Fiction for Early 2016 NFL Training Camp Rumors

Over the next few weeks, all 32 NFL teams will engage in roster competitions, preseason games and loads upon loads of player evaluation.

At the end, teams will select the 53 players they want to carry into the regular season.

We're early in the preseason process, but we're beginning to get a glimpse at what might be in store for the immediate future. Rumors, reports and speculation are flying in from all corners of the league. We're going to examine the early training camp chatter and discern the facts from the smoke.

We'll examine each talking point and provide our take on what it means now and for the regular season.

Terrance West Is Headed Toward the Ravens' Starting RB Job

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Could Terrance West be Baltimore's starting running back in 2016?

Fiction

Third-year running back Terrance West is impressing the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.

"Terrance has done a great job," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said, per Ryan Mink of the team's official website. "I would say he's in the best shape of his life. He looks good. He looks quick. He looks fast."

The Ravens acquired West during the 2015 regular season but played him sparingly. Now, the Towson product could be in store for a much larger role, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.

"The back that has generated the most buzz is West, who has been the most explosive runner so far in camp," Hensley wrote. "He has a legitimate shot to win the job if he continues to play like this."

While we can't rule out the possibility that West starts, we're not buying the idea that he is feature-back material. West may look explosive on the practice field, but he has never consistently produced big plays on the game field.

West has averaged 3.9 yards per carry during his pro career. He has failed to produce 1,000 yards rushing over the course of two seasons and has just four rushing touchdowns on his resume. He is also facing a large group of competitors for the starting job.

Other backs vying for the position include Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Javorius Allen and rookie Kenneth Dixon. Our guess is that if West has a significant role in 2016, it will be as part of a committee.

Joey Bosa Is Hurting Himself by Not Being in Camp

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Joey Bosa has participated in offseason activities but hasn't reported to training camp.

Fact

The San Diego Chargers haven't seen third overall pick Joey Bosa in training camp this year because the defensive end is holding out over his rookie contract. Bosa—or at least someone who advises him—has decided that some squabbles over offset language and bonus payment are reason enough to not sign.

Since he has no contract, Bosa has been staying away from camp, and some of his teammates are beginning to think he is hurting himself by not being with the team.

"You need to know that you can make plays on this level, and go play at this level," Chargers defensive lineman Corey Liuget said, per Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "You have to build up that confidence. Because it's hard as a rookie to come in and just think that you're going to beat a 10-year guy or a five- or six-year guy."

Bosa may have gained a wealth of playing experience during his time at Ohio State, but only a fraction of the players he competed against are NFL material.

It's going to take time for the rookie defender to acclimate himself to the speed, strength and skill of professional opponents, and he's missing some of that time now.

The Redskins Shouldn't Worry About Josh Norman

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Josh Norman has been regularly beaten by Washington receivers in practice.

Fiction

When the Carolina Panthers parted with emerging cornerback Josh Norman this offseason, the Washington Redskins scooped him up. The team handed Norman a hefty five-year, $75 million deal.

Plenty of folks have wondered whether Norman is worth that kind of money or if he is a product of a smothering Panthers defense. What might create more concern is the fact Norman has been regularly beaten by Washington receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson in practices.

John Keim of ESPN.com believes there is no reason to panic over Norman and that the cornerback will be "just fine."

Norman is learning a new system, and Garcon and Jackson are top-quality receivers. The problem with this thinking is Norman will face every team's best receiver on game day.

The Redskins might not need to panic, but there is reason for concern. Norman only has one elite-level season to his name, and even during 2015 he was torched by the game's best.

Over the final month of the 2015 season, Norman faced Julio Jones twice and Odell Beckham Jr. once. Pro Football Focus rated him 170th overall among 173 cornerbacks during that span. Norman may prove worthy of his contract, but the Redskins have cause to wonder if he will.

Michael Thomas Could Be the Saints' Best Receiver

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Rookie wideout Michael Thomas has been tough to handle on the practice field.

Fact

The New Orleans Saints spent a second-round pick on Ohio State wide receiver Michael Thomas this offseason, and there's a chance the move landed the team a new No. 1 target.

The 6'3", 212-pounder shined during the offseason program and continues to impress in training camp.

"Even when he is covered, he has found ways to come up with a reception," Rod Walker of the Advocate wrote of Thomas. "He has easily been the best player in camp so far."

These are strong words considering guys such as Drew Brees, Mark Ingram and fellow receiver Brandin Cooks have been on the field. However, there is plenty of reason to believe Thomas is on his way to being a star.

The best player on the team? Perhaps not at this point in his career. However, he may already be the team's most talented receiver.

Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller graded Thomas as the top receiver in this year's class. Thomas appears to be a first-round talent who slipped a bit because he played in a primarily run-oriented offense.

The 23-year-old is ready to take over for the departed Marques Colston as the team's franchise receiver.

Mark Sanchez Is the Clear Favorite to Start in Denver

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Has Mark Sanchez already won the starting job in Denver?

Fiction

The Denver Broncos have three quarterbacks competing for the starting job. Trevor Siemian returns from last year's team, while offseason acquisition Mark Sanchez and rookie Paxton Lynch are also in the mix.

Because of the presence of head coach Gary Kubiak, former Broncos great Terrell Davis believes Sanchez is the right man for the job.

"Everywhere he's been, he's proven he can get a quarterback to play at a high level," Davis said, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. "That's part of the equation I feel for Mark Sanchez."

It makes sense for the Broncos to roll with Sanchez. He is the lone experienced pro on the roster, and he has appeared in playoff games before. Though Sanchez has primarily been a game manager, Denver proved last season it can win with such a presence under center.

Yet we're not as quick to crown Sanchez as the solution. Just because the Broncos can win with Sanchez in a game-manager role doesn't mean they should. If Lynch—or even Siemian—shows enough promise in camp and the preseason, he deserves a shot at the job.

Sanchez appears to have reached his ceiling, and it's a limited one. Denver showed it is interested in a quarterback with a dynamic skill set when the team flirted with the idea of trading for Colin Kaepernick. Sanchez isn't going to be that type of quarterback, but someone else on the roster could be.

This battle is far from over.

The Patriots' Receiving Group Could Be the Best in Recent Team History

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Julian Edelman could be part of one of the top receiving corps this season.

Fact

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick raised a few eyebrows when talking about the competition the team has in training camp.

"I think our competition at receiver is probably as good as it's been since I've been here," Belichick said Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio's Movin' the Chains, per Christopher Price of WEEI.com.

The line stands out because we don't often hear the subdued Belichick talking up his team. It's also an interesting line because the Patriots have fielded some talented receiving groups during Belichick's tenure.

New England's 2007 roster, for example, featured the likes of Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth and one Randy Moss.

We can, however, buy into the idea that this group could be as deep as any Belichick has witnessed.

New England rated sixth overall in receiving at Pro Football Focus last season. Guys such as Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson return to the receiver competition. The Patriots also added the likes of Nate Washington, Chris Hogan and rookie Malcolm Mitchell to the mix.

We're not saying the current group of wideouts is better than the 2007 group. However, we could see this competition create a unit that is just as deep and dangerous as the one that nearly went undefeated almost a decade ago.

For opposing defenses around the league, that is a frightening thought.

The Giants Are Legitimate Super Bowl Contenders

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Are Eli Manning and the Giants good enough to win another Super Bowl?

Fiction

The New York Giants took steps to improve their roster this offseason, adding guys such as Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison and rookies Eli Apple and Sterling Shepard.

Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. believes these additions are good enough to transform the Giants into a title contender.

Beckham recently told NFL Network's Michael Irvin (via NFL.com's Tyler Dragon):

"

We truly have a chance to hang a banner. Knowing what it takes, but not knowing what it takes at the same time I look to those guys who know what it takes. I want that. That's obviously what you come here to do. It's cool to catch a couple passes, it's cool to be in the NFL, but I don't like losing. If we're gonna do it, we might as well do it big.

"

While we can't rule out the possibility of the Giants as Super Bowl contenders—their last two championship teams were unexpected—we're not buying the idea this year. This was a six-win team with a lot of holes last year.

Pro Football Focus rated the Giants 26th overall in offense and 28th overall in defense for the 2015 season.

The Giants appear to have improved on both sides of the ball, so they could contend again in the NFC East. However, they haven't done enough to catch up with the likes of the Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in the NFC.

Bengals Could Reunite with Cornerback Leon Hall

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Leon Hall could be headed back to Cincinnati.

Fact

The Cincinnati Bengals had a stroke of misfortune early in training camp. First-round draft selection and cornerback William Jackson III suffered a torn pectoral muscle, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. This means the Houston product may miss an extended period of time, if not the entire season.

Though the Bengals haven't made it a recent habit to lean on rookie defensive backs, this is still a blow to the defense. At worst, Jackson would have been a solid depth player and a capable body in practice. Now, Cincinnati must look elsewhere to fill the role.

Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group reported that Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has been in contact with former Bengals defensive back Leon Hall. The longtime Bengal has remained unemployed throughout the offseason, perhaps because of concerns about his offseason back surgery.

If Hall is close to being 100 percent, it makes sense for the Bengals to sign him. Though relegated to a smaller role in the defense, Hall was still valuable last season. He finished the year with 55 tackles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

Pro Football Focus rated Hall 27th overall among cornerbacks for the season.

Bringing Hall back into the fold feels like the right move for Cincinnati.