
NFL Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Jermaine Gresham, Chris Cooley and More
All blockbuster trades and big-ticket free-agent signings are well in the rearview mirror, and players from several NFL teams have already begun to filter into training camp. However, franchises will continue to tinker with their rosters right up until the regular season begins in an effort to find the best-possible combination of 53 players.
With that in mind, coaches and team executives still have some major decisions to make before Week 1, and we can always count on some trusted sources from around the Web to provide us with rumors regarding what is going on behind closed doors.
A few interesting pieces of gossip have surfaced, so let's take a look at what's being said about a couple potential roster additions and a decision on a contract extension.
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Jermaine Gresham Arizona Bound?

Tight end Jermaine Gresham spent all five of his NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, and due to a changing of the guard at the position, the team opted to let the former first-round draft pick find a new home via free agency. Well, it hasn't been easy.
It's now late in July and Gresham remains unsigned. That could be due to an underwhelming start to his NFL career. The big tight end wasn't the playmaker he was with Oklahoma and continued to struggle as a blocker. In 74 career games, Gresham recorded 280 receptions for 2,722 yards and 24 touchdowns but also fumbled 11 times and was regularly guilty of penalties. Making matters worse, he's also coming off back surgery.
Still, perhaps a change of scenery will turn things around for the former Sooner. At least, that's what the Arizona Cardinals are hoping for, as they brought Gresham in for a visit, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:
The Cardinals are weak at the tight end position—especially following the retirement of John Carlson—and could use some immediate veteran help. At the very least, the 6'5" Gresham will be a nice red-zone target and will have a chance to rekindle his relationship with quarterback Carson Palmer.
According to Schefter's Facebook account, the New Orleans Saints already offered the tight end a contract; however, nothing has come to fruition just yet.
Chris Cooley Arizona Bound?

Let's go ahead and keep this tight end-to-Arizona trend going. As mentioned earlier, the Cardinals are in the market for a tight end, and at this juncture in the offseason, there aren't many options remaining. The team is expected to be a contender this season and will want to sign a veteran who can contribute immediately. Gresham isn't the only player they're looking at in that regard.
According to Schefter, Arizona is also interested in former Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley:
Cooley did have some productive seasons in the NFL after he was drafted in the third round back in 2004; however, injuries began to plague the tight end thereafter. Cooley did play in all 16 games in six of his nine seasons, but he made nine or fewer appearances in three of his final four campaigns. He left the NFL for a broadcasting career after the 2012 season and hasn't played since.
Still, Cooley was never officially retired, and he did express interest in returning to the NFL during an interview with the Washington Post (via John Keim of ESPN.com) saying, "If I went to camp, I could be anybody's third tight end, worst case. I have no doubt. Any team in the NFL, I could be their third tight end. There's not a question in my mind."
We'll see if Cooley will be able to shake off the rust quickly enough to contribute this season. To this point, the 33-year-old tight end has accumulated 429 receptions for 4,711 yards and 33 touchdowns over his NFL career.
Minnesota Not Extending Harrison Smith (Yet)

Harrison Smith has been a revelation for the Minnesota Vikings at the safety position. The team selected the Notre Dame product with the 29th selection of the 2012 NFL draft and hasn't regretted that decision, as Smith went on to produce three stellar seasons at the safety position.
Smith is coming off his most productive campaign under the tutelage of defensive guru Mike Zimmer, recording 93 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, five interceptions, nine passes defensed and one touchdown in 2014. Although, according to ESPN's Ben Goessling, the Vikings aren't in any hurry to extend Smith's contract:
That decision shouldn't come as much of a surprise given the structure of Smith's current contract. He's set to make a base salary of $1.36 million this season in what would be the final year of his four-year deal; however, the team also has a fifth-year option that will allow it to keep Smith in the fold in 2016 for $5.27 million, according to Spotrac.com.
Since that option is in place, there's no reason for the Vikings to hurry to get an extension done. They'll likely revisit Smith's contract situation next offseason and strike a new deal before his salary increases.
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