Exploring the Latest Rumors, Chatter Heading into NFL OTAs

We are now entering the back half of May, which for NFL fans means that organized-team-activity (OTA) season has arrived.

For most teams, offseason programs have already begun, and OTA workouts are right around the corner. Having teams on the practice field is great for NFL fans because it means we're getting our first real previews of what the upcoming season has in store.

Getting teams back together is also great because it tends to generate plenty of discussion. Players, coaches and media types tend to talk when there's a crowd involved, and rumors generally follow.

We're going to take a look at some of the latest rumors, chatter and talking points surrounding the NFL as we head into 2016 OTA season.

Do the Jets Lack Confidence in Their Quarterback Situation?

Jerome Davis/Getty Images

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is still without a new contract.

The New York Jets still haven't reached a new agreement with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led the team to 10 wins in 2015. As a result, Fitzpatrick remains a free agent, and the Jets remain looking at other options.

The Jets, of course, have Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg on the roster. According to at least one player, the Jets need to move on without Fitzpatrick, though that player doesn't sound confident about the prospect.

Wide receiver Eric Decker recently appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss the situation. He had the following to say, via Seth Walder of the New York Daily News:

"

All I can say is we have to move on without him, right now. Because they are stuck where they are with the business decision, where they want to go with the money, who’s going to break. But again we have a job to do and that’s to be the best football team, field the best football team, of who we have in the locker room right now. …

We have the pieces right now to win. I just think we need to plug him in, we need to move forward. Again, the organization has to make the best decision for them long term, but as players, we know what’s going to give us success and that’s why we want him back.

"

We're not sure how many other players Decker is speaking for here, but it sounds like at least part of the team feels like it needs Fitzpatrick to be successful this season. This could be a reflection of the confidence Fitzpatrick added to the offense last season, or it could be a reflection of how some players view the other signal-callers on the roster.

Conspiracy Theory

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Did Robert Griffin III and Dan Snyder conspire to change Washington's playbook?

This tidbit has more to do with years past than the coming season, but it's a fun little talking point if you're a fan of conspiracy theories.

We've heard some rumors before that former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III helped facilitate the dismissal of former Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. According to Shanahan, Griffin may have also secretly worked to change his offense.

Shanahan recently spoke with Jason Reid of The Undefeated and explained that when Griffin demanded changes in the offense, he believed owner Dan Snyder was involved:

"

There’s only one way a guy who’s going into his second year would do something like this: If he sat down with the owner and the owner believed that this is the way he should be used.

He had to have the full support of the owner and, in my opinion, the general manager to even have a conversation like that. He just had the best year for a rookie QB in the history of the game. You got selected to the Pro Bowl. We went to the playoffs. We tried to get him to slide. We tried to get him to throw the ball away. … To hear him … it was really incredible.

"

Griffin, now with the Cleveland Browns, hasn't exactly dismissed the story as untrue.

“I am so far removed from Washington now and focused on this opportunity here in Cleveland that I don’t even worry about those things anymore," Griffin said when asked about Shanahan's statements, per the Browns' official website.

The fact that Griffin may be willing to undermine his head coach probably isn't comforting for Browns fans—especially since the Browns have an owner in Jimmy Haslam who has shown a willingness to interject himself into quarterback decisions.

Sam Bradford Just Needed Some Time

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Sam Bradford is back with the Eagles and apparently ready for business.

Quarterback Sam Bradford obviously wasn't too happy when the Philadelphia Eagles decided to trade up in the draft in order to secure a quarterback. The move meant that the Eagles weren't interested in committing to Bradford beyond his current two-year deal.

Shortly after the Eagles traded with the Browns to secure the No. 2 overall selection in the draft, talk began to swirl that Bradford would boycott training camp. Later, Bradford's agent, Tom Condon, made it known that Bradford wanted a trade.

Well, Bradford has returned to the team, and it appears that he is ready to lock down the starting job for the coming season. According to the Oklahoma product, he didn't really want to be traded; he just needed some time to clear his head.

"When I first found out about the trade, I was frustrated," Bradford said, per Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com. "I needed some time. I could have stayed here, but I'm not sure my head would have been here."

According to Sheridan, Bradford made it known that a trade was Condon's idea, but Bradford ultimately realized that Philadelphia was where he needed to be.

"My agent felt a trade was the way to get somewhere to create that stability, at a place where I could be entrenched long term," Bradford said. "After time and some thought, I realized this was still the best place for me to be."

What Bradford probably realized is that Philadelphia is the only place he can be this season and that he isn't going to impress any potential future employers sitting at home. It doesn't hurt that the Eagles are giving Bradford $22 million in guaranteed money to deal with the situation over the next two years.

Other Players Want to Clear Their Gut

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett can't stomach Bradford's comments.

One player who isn't buying a bit of what Bradford is saying is Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett.

According to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com, Bennett recently appeared on 701 ESPN Seattle's Brock and Salk show. Apparently, the topic of Bradford's situation came up because Bennett has been campaigning for a new deal.

The idea of not wanting to play, however, didn't sit well with Bennett.

"I listened to Sam Bradford again. I just almost threw up," Bennett said, per Kapadia. "I can't believe Sam Bradford is complaining about making $40 million in the next two years, and because he actually has to compete for a position. This guy, this guy right here definitely sets a bad tone of what a player should be."

Whether or not Bradford's comments actually made Bennett sick, we believe his general sentiments are probably shared by plenty of players around the league. Of course, we also believe that there are just as many players out there who won't have a problem with a guy trying to better his situation.

Players don't often complain about things when a teammate goes through a contract holdout, so long as the player is ready to get on the field and get to work in the end. Though he isn't a player, Eagles coach Doug Pederson seems fine with the whole ordeal now that Bradford is back.

“I’ve actually talked to Sam, and since he has been back, my feelings haven’t changed: He’s my guy. He’s the No. 1 guy," Pederson said, per Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today.

Carson Palmer Is Itching for Success

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is ready to prove he can win the big one.

It's usually not a good thing when we hear NFL players discussing addictions. However, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer apparently has an addiction that should make Cardinals fans quite excited.

"Playing quarterback in the National Football League, getting to the Super Bowl is an incredible challenge," Palmer recently said, per Paola Boivin of AZCentral.com. "That’s why I’m still playing. I (strive) for it. You get addicted to it.”

Palmer has taken some criticism over the years because of his inability to get into and perform well in the postseason. Despite a 12-year playing career (he sat as a rookie in 2003), Palmer's first playoff win didn't come until this past season.

Palmer's overall performance in the 2015 postseason wasn't inspiring, either. Through two games, he posted a passer rating of 67.1, and he committed eight turnovers to go with four passing touchdowns.

If the goal of winning a Super Bowl really is akin to an addiction for Palmer, we're hoping he goes all-in with it in 2016.

I Didn't Know I Couldn't Do That?

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Were the Ravens really aware that padded practices in rookie camp were a no-no?

Because of guidelines in the most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA), NFL teams are limited in the number of padded practices they can have each year and the times they can have them. It appears the Baltimore Ravens may have gone against those regulations by having padded practices during rookie minicamp.

According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, the NFL is investigating the Ravens for using pads during rookie-camp practices. This would violate the CBA and could result in Baltimore being fined or forfeiting future practices as punishment.

The Ravens, however, are claiming that they were unaware padded practices were not allowed during rookie camp. According to Hensley, a team official stated Baltimore briefly had rookies in pads but immediately pulled them upon learning that rules for rookie camp fall in line with rules for OTAs.

However, the NFL isn't buying the team's story, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Per Schefter, the Ravens knew the rules "but still moved forward" with padded practices.

We're having a hard time believing someone of importance in the Ravens organization wasn't aware of the rule regarding rookie practices. Given rules sensitivity in the wake of last year's deflated-football scandal, we'd expect every team to have staff members dedicated to dissecting and digesting the rule books.

We have an even harder time believing the NFL is going to pass off this potential violation as a case of not knowing the rules. Claiming ignorance is rarely an effective defense.

Minnesota's Next Big Thing

Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images

Wideout Laquon Treadwell is Minnesota's next rising star.

Thanks to the presence of running back Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings have had one offensive superstar in place for nearly a decade.

A couple of years ago, the Vikings added a potential franchise quarterback in Louisville product Teddy Bridgewater. This offseason, Minnesota may have added the final piece to its quarterback-rusher-receiver trio.

The Vikings made former Mississippi wideout Laquon Treadwell their first pick in the 2016 draft. The early word out of offseason workouts is that Treadwell is primed to be Minnesota's next breakout star.

“He’s going to be big for this team,” Bridgewater said, per Mike Wobschall of the Vikings' official website. “There’s a reason that we drafted him in the first round. He’s been here with us for two days now, and he’s been looking good. I’m not qualified to judge players and things like that, but from what I’ve been seeing, I’ve been pretty impressed.”

Treadwell was certainly impressive during his Mississippi career. Despite coming back from a serious leg injury, he produced 82 receptions, 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015. The 6'2", 221-pound wideout seems ready to finally give Bridgewater and the Vikings the true No. 1 receiver they've been waiting for.

For the defending NFC North champions, this should be a welcome development.