NFL Roundup: Latest Headlines and Reaction from Training Camp

NFL training camp is about to get underway, but in terms of generating news, teams are already in midseason form.

Off-the-field issues have dominated the headlines lately. Between legal trouble, contract negotiations and the eccentric doings of the league's most colorful players, the offseason news has had little to do with how teams will perform in 2012.

As the season draws nearer, though, the news has begun to shift back towards the field. Teams are fleshing out their roster options, and we are beginning to get a glimpse of who will be taking the field come September.

So how is your team making news leading up to training camp?

Arizona Cardinals

According to the Tuscon Citizen, the Cardinals are fulfilling the old adage: If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.

Arizona is waiting for Kevin Kolb or John Skelton to step up and lead the offense. However, this hope is likely in vain.

It hasn't just been poor decision-making that has undone the Cardinals QBs. In their play last season, both Kolb and Skelton looked skittish under center and displayed poor throwing mechanics. There is no reason to believe either would have the confidence of their teammates as the starting quarterback.

If the Cardinals are waiting for someone to step up, it's not likely going to happen during training camp.

Atlanta Falcons

Mike Peterson is back in the fold in Atlanta.

ESPN's Pat Yasinskas reports the veteran linebacker will return for his fourth season with the Falcons. It was a necessary move for Atlanta; Lofa Tatupu recently went down with a pectoral injury, and the Falcons have a hole at middle linebacker.

However, Peterson is 36 years old and coming off a season in which he recorded just 24 tackles in 15 games. There is little evidence that Peterson can still make an impact as an NFL linebacker.

It's a good thing that Mike Smith could bring in someone who knows his system, but Peterson is unlikely to contribute much in 2012.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens' defense has never been short on talk, and Lardarius Webb is just the latest to talk the talk.

As BaltimoreRavens.com reports, Webb has become the voice of the Baltimore secondary, calling it the best in the league:

"

I meant what I said. I really do believe we have those guys with Jimmy (Smith) and Cary (Williams) on the outside and me on the inside. With those guys, it's really hard to believe we're not the best. I see their skills every day. With Bernard (Pollard) and Ed Reed in the back, show me another group who is better.

"

Webb's words do have merit. As a corps, Webb, Smith, and Williams are as good as any group of corners in the league. Reed has been prone to injury in recent years, but he is still a virtuoso when he's on the field. Otherwise, this secondary has little weakness.

Offseason talk is often meaningless, but expect Webb and his teammates to walk the walk when the regular season kicks off.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are on the rise, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is driving the bandwagon.

Fitzpatrick told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that this offseason has given the Bills higher hopes than they've had in years.

"

It’s been really exciting just for the city of Buffalo in general. The fans there are so great. I think the optimism surrounding the team right now is really up there. It’s the highest it’s been since I’ve been in Buffalo going into Year 4. We feel that as players. We feel the excitement and optimism, to be honest.”

"

Mario Williams is now a Bill, Stevie Johnson is back and Fitzpatrick and his teammates have good reason to be excited. The Patriots are still a juggernaut atop the division, but with a stout front seven and explosive offensive weapons, Buffalo can challenge for the AFC East title for the first time in ages.

Buffalo hasn't had much reason to be optimistic about its team recently. Bills fans ought to follow their quarterback's example and get excited.

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have been busy dealing as they mold their roster around Cam Newton.

On July 23rd, the Panthers completed two trades within hours of each other. USA Today reports that Carolina acquired wide receiver Louis Murphy from Oakland for a conditional draft pick, then sent offensive tackle Jeff Otah to the Jets for another undisclosed draft pick.

Carolina basically exchanged one injury-prone player for another. Though Otah became expendable after he missed 28 of the last 32 games, Murphy started just one game for the Raiders last season due to a groin injury. Both are solid players when healthy, but that is not a given for either.

If nothing else, the move does signal that the Panthers are committed to surrounding their star QB with offensive weapons. Even if Murphy does not make a significant impact on the field, the sentiment behind the trade is a step in the right direction.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears' offensive line has been blasted in recent years, and the linemen are doing something about it.

Roberto Garza told the Chicago Sun-Times that he led his unit in extracurricular strength and fitness training this offseason:

"

It’s great to build that chemistry with those guys. And those guys want to get better. That they take the time out of their free time shows what we’re trying to do. We obviously all want to be at our best, and that’s what it’s going to take.

"

This has to be great news for Bears fans. If first-rounder Gabe Carimi is getting better and weak link J'Marcus Webb is being pushed for his left tackle spot, that is definitely an improvement. The chemistry boost for a group that often looked out of sync last season is a nice bonus, too.

That said, Bears fans know to keep their guard up. It's great to hear that the o-linemen are putting in the work in the summertime, but there is no cause for celebration unless they make strides in the regular season.

Cincinnati Bengals

Breaking news, everyone: People want to go to Bengals games.

According to NBC Sports, Cincinnati is already selling out next season's games at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers and Cowboys contests are already in the books, and the organization is confident it will sell out its other six home games.

Though it's always a great experience to see a game live, the real winners in this story are the fans who did not purchase a ticket. Due to poor ticket sales in the past, the Bengals have fallen prey to the league's TV blackout policy, and the fans at home have suffered.

Bengals fans now have a playoff team to root for, and they are buying tickets in support. The NFL is a better league when its best teams are televised; good for the people of Cincinnati that their devotion is finally paying dividends.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns just got significantly more explosive on offense.

According to The Plain Dealer, Trent Richardson has agreed to a four-year contract with the Browns, and Pat Shurmer could not be more pleased. The second-year Browns coach understands that he has the most talented offensive player Cleveland has seen in years, saying:

"

Wow, he's a very powerful man and he's powerfully built. Don't let the 5-9 1/2 fool you. He's almost 230 pounds and that's a lot of muscle packed into that body. I think he's got a very powerful build, much like we thought when we drafted him and it shows up on the field.'

"

This is the start of a new era in Cleveland. With Brandon Weeden under center and Richardson in the backfield, the Browns will have some growing pains in 2012. That is nothing new, though.

What's important is that Richardson and Weeden will give Browns fans a reason to hope, something they have lacked for some time.

Dallas Cowboys

It's the offseason, and Dez Bryant is going through legal trouble again.

This time, the young wideout was arrested for assaulting his mother. With Bryant back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Tony Romo has voiced his support of his teammate to ESPN Dallas: "The one thing I know is that Dez knows I have his back. Dez knows I'll be there for him. Dez knows that I'm going to stick up for him."

There is a silver lining in all the negativity surrounding Bryant. The Cowboys always seem to be under the microscope when it comes to off-the-field issues; without strong leadership, the locker room would fall apart. So when Romo publicly defends his fellow Cowboy, it signals that he has his team under control.

Despite what Bryant is going through, it appears the state of the Cowboys' locker room is strong, and it's thanks to their quarterback's steady command.

Denver Broncos

In times of tragedy, there are more important things than football.

That's why it was so refreshing to see members of the Denver Broncos visiting victims of the Colorado movie theater shooting. The strength of the victims proved inspirational to some of the toughest men you can find.

Linebacker Joe Mays told the Associated Press:

"

What we were trying to do was go in there, show support and try to put a smile on these peoples' faces. But the thing is, they put a smile on our faces. They had such positive attitudes. They knew they were blessed to live and they knew they were going to have another chance to walk about with their families.

"

Mays and his teammates have their priorities in the right place. At a time like this, there is nothing more important than being with one's loved ones. The Broncos will return their focus to football in due time.

Detroit Lions

We move from unconscionable tragedy to unmitigated stupidity.

ESPN reports that the Detroit Lions have cut cornerback Aaron Berry following his second arrest of the offseason.

"We have repeatedly stressed to everyone in our organization that there will be appropriate consequences when an expected standard of behavior is not upheld," said team president Tom Lewand.

The second-year pro was arrested on suspicion of DUI on June 23rd and on simple assault charges on July 21st. Though Berry has expressed his contrition, he has worn out his welcome in Detroit.

The Lions were right to value civility and professionalism first and foremost. Perhaps Berry will get another chance at an NFL career, perhaps not. Hopefully entering the preseason without a team will be enough to convince Berry to change his ways.

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers may be the reigning NFL MVP, but he is now without his longtime quarterbacks coach.

Tom Clements has been promoted to offensive coordinator, and former Packers' tight ends coach Ben McAdoo will now handle the quarterbacks. While Rodgers did not get the experienced coach he was hoping for, the Green Bay Press Gazette reports he will still have high expectations in 2012, with McAdoo saying:

"

I’m going to go about it the way I do everything else. Show up, an honest hard day’s work, give him the information he needs and count on him to give me back some information, communicate with me. That’s how we’re going to do it.

"

Though Rodgers may be less comfortable now that he is not directly working with his mentor, he is a veteran now. Clements will now have more control over the team's offensive system, and he will tailor it to his star pupil's strengths. The sky is still the limit for Rodgers, regardless of who his QB coach is.

Houston Texans

Last we saw Matt Schaub, he was hobbling around the Houston sideline as the Texans were knocked out of the playoffs.

According to NFL News, the Texans quarterback has been medically cleared to play after last season's Lisfranc injury. Following surgery on his foot and an offseason of rehab, Schaub will be back at the helm for the start of training camp.

Far be it from me to doubt the player or the physician, as I am neither myself. But Lisfranc surgery has a spotty recovery record. While Schaub may be healthy enough to play, he might not be the player he once was.

The Texans have their QB back on the field, but they still must exercise caution if they want him to play up to his pre-injury ability.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck is ready for Colts camp, and Reggie Wayne is eager to work with him.

Wayne told the Indianapolis Star that the beleaguered Colts are excited to work with the vaunted rookie quarterback, though it will take some time to for them to click.

“It’s going to take some time,” Wayne said. “That’s why we have training camp. Hopefully in training camp, we can get some chemistry going and everything will be all right.”

While Wayne is doing an admirable job as a veteran leader of the Colts, he will reap little fruit from his labors. The 33-year old is entering his 11th NFL season. Though he recently signed a three-year contract with Indianapolis, the elder statesman at wideout will not be Luck's top option for too long.

Regardless of the numbers Wayne puts up, the interest he has in Luck's development will pay off for the Colts in the long term. For that reason alone, it's good that Indianapolis still has one major holdover from the Manning era.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A ghost from the Jaguars' past has a foreboding message about the star of their present.

Greg Rosenthal of NFL News writes that former Jaguar Fred Taylor expects Maurice Jones-Drew to hold out for a new contract. "Possibility it'll go into training camp or even further," Taylor says of the standoff.

The rebuilding Jaguars have enough problems on their plate, but a Jones-Drew holdout would jump right to the top of the list. As Rosenthal wrote back in June, both sides are set in their ways and the negotiations could linger into the regular season.

Jacksonville has limited weapons and young players to develop. In order to do that, the Jags need their star running back more than the Jones-Drew needs the team. Without him, the team has no semblance of an offensive game.

One side has to blink in every holdout. For all parties involved, it must be the Jaguars in this case.

Kansas City Chiefs

With no players over 30 on the Chiefs roster, Kansas City is looking for its younger players to step up.

The Kansas City Star expresses optimism about the energy Kansas City will bring to the field but questions the team's experience.

Yet a team can have winners without having guys in their 30s. From their 2008 draft class alone, the Chiefs have an All-Pro running back in Jamarcus Charles, a shutdown corner in Brandon Flowers, a stout defensive end in Glenn Dorsey and a punishing guard in Brandon Albert.

Coach Romeo Crennel also points out that he can still find leadership amidst youth (via above link):

"

Matt Cassel, by the nature of being the quarterback, is a leader. Eric Winston is going to be a leader. Steve Breaston is a quiet leader. I think Boss is going to be a leader in a quiet way. So we have some guys who have some experience, and they know about winning and how a team should be run, and they’ll be able to help the young guys we have.

"

The Chiefs definitely have the talent, and Crennel believes they have the leadership. Despite the Star's trepidations, that is a formula for a winning football team.

Miami Dolphins

The Ochocinco era is finally over.

ESPN reports that the flamboyant receiver once known as Chad Johnson has shed his pseudo-numerical moniker in favor of his given name. When Chad reports to Miami Dolphins camp, his jersey will not read Ochocinco for the first time since 2008.

"I'm refocused and locked in. Time to get back to the old me," Johnson told ESPN.com of the change.

After a dismal season with the New England Patriots, Johnson could definitely benefit from some refocusing. Though he says the change "has nothing to do with football," Miami would certainly benefit from a resurgence of the dangerous talent Johnson once was.

I don't pretend to understand the man's thought process, but if he prefers to take the field as Johnson and not Ochocinco, then more power to him. Better not to question it and just enjoy the ride.

Minnesota Vikings

When Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL late last season, it looked like his 2012 season might be in jeopardy.

Now backup running back Toby Gerhart tells NFL News that he thinks AD will be ready to take the field for Week 1:

"

You can never be surprised with Adrian. The way he comes to work every day, the way he pushes himself. I mean, he was flying around, straight-line speed, moving out there. Racing Percy (Harvin) up the hill, doing conditioning stuff. I haven't seen him in a couple of weeks now, but I'm sure he's continued to make leaps and bounds in progress.

"

Gerhart also says he expects to have a big role to start the season, intimating that Peterson would ease back into play with limited touches. That is exactly how the Minnesota Vikings must play this.

Peterson is the cornerstone of the franchise, and he must produce well beyond the 2012 season. Gerhart is also a very capable backup and should hold his own until Peterson is ready.

The Vikings will not be contending for the Lombardi Trophy in 2012. They are wise to be planning their season around future runs at the Super Bowl.

New England Patriots

While Kansas City is kicking off a youth movement, the New England Patriots are going all-in on experience.

Patriots players admitted to ESPN Boston that competition would be fiercer with more veterans in camp than ever before. They also expressed concern that the veterans would take jobs away from undrafted free agents, a group traditionally welcome in the Pats locker room.

New England has the fewest undrafted free agents of any team with 13; the next closest team has 19, and the Rams have the most with 33.

This makes sense for the makeup of Bill Belichick's roster, though. Take Tom Brady's weapons on offense. Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, and Wes Welker are all shoo-ins, and Deion Branch's job is likely safe as well.

So Belichick doesn't need to try to strike gold on rookies. What he needs is guys like Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney, serviceable veterans who could step in and produce, no questions asked.

Belichick and Brady are trying to win now. If some vets force out some rookies for them to do it, so be it.

New Orleans Saints

Bountygate is going to cast a shadow over every facet of the Saints' 2012 season.

As soon as Drew Brees' contract was resolved, the narrative shifted right back to the affidavits on who knew what when.

Sporting News reports that Brees swore ignorance to the existence of a bounty program and also threw his support behind teammate Jonathan Vilma:

"

"In my four years as a teammate with Jonathan, I have found that he is a man of integrity who passionately plays the game of football within the frameworks of the rules and has respect for his opponents.

"

Vilma is facing suspension for the entire 2012 season for his alleged involvement in the bounty program. If Brees truly believes the Saints linebacker is innocent, then he has no choice but to stand by his convictions and speak up for Vilma.

The bigger issue, however, is that Bountygate has and will dominate all Saints news. Vilma will likely miss the 2012 season, but we haven't heard a peep about how the Saints will replace him at middle linebacker; we've heard of his legal troubles and nothing more.

It is almost time for training camp, and Bountygate shows no signs of going way. Best dig in and get used to it.

New York Giants

Though he was the emotional leader of the New York Giants defense, Justin Tuck was often banged up and playing below his abilities in 2011.

This season, Tuck refuses to let that happen, telling Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN that 2011 was a learning experience he will use to improve:

"

I definitely didn't work as hard as I should've last year. The lockout was going on. I took a trip to Africa. There were some things I did in the past that I didn't do last summer.

"

With his work ethic and physical prowess, Tuck usually accomplishes whatever goals he sets for himself. If he can return to All-Pro form in 2012, watch out.

Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora were terrifying enough on the ends last season for the Giants. Adding a fully healthy Tuck into the mix hardly seems fair.

As New York mounts their championship defense, the Tuck-led pass rush looks like it will be as dominant as ever.

New York Jets

One potential training camp distraction has been averted for the New York Jets.

According to Newsday, Darrelle Revis will put his agitation over his contract aside and report to training camp on time. This could not be better news for Gang Green, which has been known to be something of a media circus.

Santonio Holmes continues to run his mouth. Mark Sanchez's relationship with his outspoken wideout is a source of constant discussion. Rex Ryan finds a way to make himself the biggest story, even as he gets smaller. And we haven't even mentioned the one-man media jamboree that is Tim Tebow.

So in terms of Revis and his contract, here's some unsolicited advice for the Jets, their fans and the media: Don't question his reasoning, don't speculate whether he'll hold out later, don't think about it at all. There are many other media battles to fight; just chalk this one up as a victory and move on.

Oakland Raiders

It has become commonplace for the Raiders to field a miserable defense, but at least they are paying the right players.

Oakland has re-signed strong safety Tyvon Branch to a four-year deal, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Branch has been a reliable exception in a normally poor Raiders secondary. He has also said all the things you want to hear from a guy leading a defensive revival:

"

I don't really have any personal goals. I just want to win. Whatever it takes to win, I'm all about winning. That's the most important thing; whatever it's going to take for us to get in the big dance. We want to be a part of the tournament this year, get into the playoffs.

"

The Raiders seem to be perpetually trying to shake the perception that they are laissez-faire when it comes to off-the-field issues. Readers even asked ESPN's Bill Williamson if the Raiders should pick up the embattled Aaron Berry. It has just become second nature to link the league's troubled souls with the silver and black.

Not only is Branch a strong defender, but he has been a model NFL citizen in his three years in the league. If Oakland wants to be respected on and off the field, Branch is just the type of guy to build around.

Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles aren't even thinking about training camp; they're thinking about winning their second or third Super Bowl.

The Eagles quarterback incited an uproar when he said this Philadelphia team has the talent to become a dynasty a la Lombardi's Packers and Walsh's Niners. Surprisingly enough, Vick's coach did not try to quell the dynasty talk. Rather, as ESPN reports, Andy Reid supported it:

"

That's all right. I'm OK with it. I know the player. He loves challenges. He's as competitive as anybody you've ever been around. He wants to win. He's willing to do whatever it takes physically and mentally to do it.

"

Of course Reid should support his quarterback, and of course every member of the Eagles organization should feel confident about this team. However, predicting one Super Bowl victory and predicting three are entirely different issues, especially when Vick's Eagles have yet to get past the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Maybe Vick and Reid will have the last laugh years from now, when we will have to kiss multiple rings and admit they told us so. Until then, they should remember that the play of a dynastic team speaks much louder than its chatter.

Pittsburgh Steelers

It's just a marvel that the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't re-signed Mike Wallace yet.

CBS Sports reports that the two sides are getting closer to a long-term deal. Until then, Wallace holding out appears to be a very real possibility.

The real mystery is how the Steelers intend to replace Wallace should the two sides fail to reach an agreement. Yes, Antonio Brown nearly matched Wallace in receptions, yards and receptions of 20 or more yards.

However, Brown is two inches shorter than Wallace and lacks his leaping ability; it is no surprise that Wallace scored eight touchdowns last season to just two for Brown.

Rashard Mendenhall is coming off a down year, and the principles of the Steelers defense are getting older. The connection of Roethlisberger to Wallace is the most reliable weapon Pittsburgh has left, and the Steelers must get him into camp if they want to compete in the AFC North.

San Diego Chargers

Another pillar of the San Diego Chargers' run at a championship has fallen.

NFL News reports that the Chargers have released Luis Castillo, who has been the anchor for San Diego's defensive line at the end position. Though he missed almost all of the 2011 season with a broken leg, Castillo signed a one-year, $1 million deal with San Diego this past April. Now he is a free agent once again.

There could be a reasonable explanation for all this. Perhaps Castillo was not fully recovered from his injury, though the team felt confident enough in his rehab to re-sign him in the first place. Only if and when Castillo catches on with another team will we know for sure.

If healthy, Castillo would have been a bargain at that price tag, but the Chargers clearly weren't biting. With him gone, the Marty Schottenheimer era becomes an even more distant memory. Now it remains to be seen whether Norv Turner's current squad can even make a run at the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers

Despite the events that transpired in the NFC Championship game, the San Francisco 49ers continue to stand by Kyle Williams.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Niners GM Jed York told Twitter followers that Williams will be the team's breakout player in 2012, baffling many who presumed recent acquisitions had knocked him from the depth chart.

After Williams' fumbling debacle against the Giants, Ted Ginn, Jr. will reclaim his rightful position as the Niners' return man. The wide receiver position is now more crowded than it was last season due to two new arrivals, Randy Moss and Mario Manningham.

Maybe York knows something we don't. Williams will certainly still get reps on special teams, and maybe he made a good impression on coaches during minicamp. This one ultimately seems more like a feel-good show of support than a legitimate prediction on York's part.

Seattle Seahawks

It seemed as though Marshawn Lynch was past this.

The Seahawks running back has been on the straight and narrow since arriving in Seattle. Lynch had not had a run-in with the law since 2009, when he was still a member of the Buffalo Bills.

That changed on July 15th. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Lynch was arrested on suspicion of DUI after he drove with a blood-alcohol content above .08 and had two near-collisions.

Following the incident, Lynch's contrition revealed a changed man who had a lapse of judgement:

"

This is not the type of community leader I have been over the last two years or the one I'm striving to become. I want to assure everyone that I will work to be better and look forward to a very exciting, and very successful season with the Seattle Seahawks.

"

What Lynch did in driving drunk was reckless and foolish, but his comments indicate he is no longer a reckless and foolish person. As Lynch said, his reputation now is as a community leader, and the Seahawks should still be proud of the way he represents his team and his city.

St. Louis Rams

There's a new head coach in St. Louis, and he is not interested in the Rams' recent futility.

The Washington Post reports that Jeff Fisher believes his Rams can win now.

“They’re not hungry to win,” Fisher said of his players. “They expect to win. Everybody does. The past is the past, we’re looking forward with the expectation of winning games.”

Fisher will also reorient the offense around Sam Bradford in 2012. The rationale here is sound, as it will lighten the burden placed upon workhorse Steven Jackson while also allowing him to be involved more in the passing game.

However, the move is also predicated on Fisher's young quarterback and offensive line rising to the occasion. That is no given, but he is still right to trust his charges.

If Fisher rolls the dice on Bradford and fails, it's an indication that he probably isn't the answer at quarterback, and the team improves with that knowledge. If Bradford succeeds, then Fisher will be laughing all the way to the playoff berth he knows his team can earn.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Greg Schiano's tenure in Tampa Bay has only just begun, but tempers are flaring already.

The Buccaneers new head coach recently spoke to the Tampa Bay Times about an altercation between defensive tackle Brian Price and rookie safety Mark Barron:

"

We all make mistakes. Be men about it and let's go. Ultimately, everything we do has one goal and that's to bring that trophy back here. We have to put our own personal preferences and whatever disagreements we have aside to do what's best for the club.

"

Though it sounds like Schiano has his locker room under control, he will have to watch Price's emotional state. The second-year pro has not yet gotten over his older sister's death in May, and he was hospitalized for four days in the aftermath due to exhaustion.

It's not as if Schiano's job as a rookie head coach wasn't hard enough. However, helping players cope emotionally is right in the former Rutgers coach's wheelhouse. If Schiano can be there for Eric LeGrand, he's the perfect coach to help Price through this trying time in his life.

Tennessee Titans

If anyone is going to join Aaron Berry in unemployment due to his behavior, it's Kenny Britt.

The Tennessee Titans receiver was arrested for DUI at Fort Campbell, KY, according to The Examiner. It was Britt's eighth arrest since the Titans drafted him in 2009, and the team's patience is running low.

With rookie first-rounder Kendall Wright in the fold, the Titans seemingly have the flexibility to move Britt for a conditional draft pick. However, Britt is recovering from three surgeries on his injured right knee, which puts a damper on his already plummeting trade stock.

When healthy, Britt is one of the most dangerous receivers in the league, which is a big part of why he still has a job. His presence as a deep threat will certainly help Jake Locker's development at quarterback, though the front office must question whether he is now just more a distraction than anything else.

If the Titans were shooting for the Super Bowl in 2012, it might be wiser for them to just hope Britt heals up and flies right. But as a team in transition, the Titans don't need to deal with this distraction any longer. They should get what they can get for Britt and cut ties once and for all.

Washington Redskins

If Robert Griffin III can rejuvenate the Washington Redskins' offense, he could find himself playing into the postseason in his rookie year.

The Washington Post reports that RG3 signed a four-year contract, allowing him to report to camp and take the reins as the Redskins' starting quarterback.

Though they went 5-11 last season, quarterback was the only glaring hole on the roster. Though perhaps all other holes seem less significant when Rex Grossman and John Beck are your options under center.

With wide receivers Santana Moss and Pierre Garcon, Fred Davis at tight end and Roy Helu out of the backfield, Griffin will have some solid options to throw to. How they perform is entirely contingent on how he fares under center.

If he is even just a decent quarterback, an underrated Redskins' defense should keep this team respectable. But if Griffin's explosive athleticism translates to the pros, this sneaky good Washington team could shock the NFC East and make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.