This is the February 21, 2013 news archive. View today's NFL news and rumors.

National Football League News and Rumors

From the combine: Andy Reid gets a hug from his old Eagles buddy, talks about the future in Kansas City (Video)

Doug Farrar, yahoo.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- it was the first time in Andy Reid's 14-year career as a head coach that he spoke to the media at the scouting combine, and his podium session on Thursday started off with an interesting and emotional moment -- as current Philadelphia Ea…

Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com

The Seattle Seahawks didn’t appear to have a particular need to utilize the franchise or transition tag on any of their pending free agents. Now general manager John Schneider has agreed that it’s unlikely they will use the franchise tag this off-seas…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

Falcons G.M. Thomas Dimitroff and former Chiefs G.M. Scott Pioli go way back, more than 20 years. They got together on Thursday to talk shop and reminisce. Coincidentally, the Pro Football Talk cameras were rolling.  And I was eavesdropping.  While also…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin recently said on Pro Football Talk, “Once a Raven, always a Raven.” Ravens assistant G.M. Eric DeCosta agrees.  “Anquan’s a Raven,” DeCosta said during Thursday’s edition of Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Networ…

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

For NFL fans, the Scouting Combine is typically viewed as the kickoff of the offseason in February, the draft is the offseason’s halftime in April, and the start of training camp is when football is back upon us at the end of July. But that could change…

Adam Schefter, ESPN.com

The NFL is proposing to overhaul its offseason calendar, pushing back the combine to early March, the start of free agency to early April and the draft to early May, according to league sources.

John Clayton, ESPN.com

Greg Schiano made it clear at the combine that Josh Freeman is the Buccaneers' starting quarterback, writes John Clayton.

ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com

The Kansas City Chiefs are still deciding what do with receiver Dwayne Bowe and left tackle Branden Albert and it could have an impact on how they use the No. 1 pick in April's draft.

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

At last year’s Scouting Combine, few players were as impressive as Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, who put on a show and shot up draft boards: Although the NFL draft advisory board told Hill at the end of his junior season that there was no way…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

The Ravens and quarterback Joe Flacco still haven’t worked out a long-term deal.  Regardless of how the dominoes fall, assistant G.M. Eric DeCosta made clear during an appearance on Thursday’s Pro Football Talk that the team plans on keeping Flacco a…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

The Scouting Combine gives teams an opportunity to meet face to face with plenty of incoming rookies.  Through the formal interview process, teams can talk to up to 60 players for 15 minutes at a time. But there’s a lesser-known (and less formal) appro…

Rich Cimini, ESPN.com

One month after upsetting Darrelle Revis by refusing to kill trade rumors for the star cornerback, New York Jets officials shifted into make-up mode Thursday at the NFL combine, saying they expect him to remain with the team for 2013.

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

New Bears head coach Marc Trestman is filling out his coaching staff by hiring away a receivers coach from Alabama. Mike Groh has left his job as Alabama’s wide receivers coach to take the same job in Chicago, BamaOnline.com first reported. Groh, the so…

Doug Farrar, yahoo.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Through read-option offensive schemes have been used in the NFL with success for at least the last decade, 2012 was the year that the general idea really took off. Between Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson (and let…

Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o is trying to move on from the internet girlfriend hoax that landed him on Katie Couric's couch. Te'o is hoping to let his play on the football field do the talking for him, but he is expected to draw a large crowd for hi…

CNNSI.com

Coaches made the biggest headlines on a slow first day at the combine. From newbie Chip Kelly to endangered Mike Munchak, Don Banks breaks down Thursday's key takeaways.

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

The bad news for Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard is that he could be sentenced to up to six years in prison after he was convicted of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The good news is that other people convicted of the same crimes t…

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

The 40-yard dash is the marquee event of the NFL Scouting Combine, but it’s also often disparaged by those who say that a player’s speed in running 40 yards in a straight line while wearing shorts and a T-shirt does not say much about what kind of foo…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

The Jets are doing their honest best to try to dampen the Darrelle Revis trade talk. But coach Rex Ryan, while tiptoeing through a minefield of hypothetical and semantic questions at the NFL Scouting Combine, said there was a possibility he’d move the c…

Paul Kuharsky, ESPN.com

The NFL executive heading up the league's effort to implement HGH testing said Thursday that the policy should have been in place for a year already and that the failure of the union to do its part to make testing happen has created a "disservice t…

ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was driving at least 110 mph at the time of the December car crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown, according to police reports obtained by Dallas-Fort Worth television station NBC 5.

Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com

The combine is underway and Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Network is there to bring you everything you need to know from the Underwear Olympics. Mike Florio and former Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli are in Indianapolis and will speak with Falcons …

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

If you have a spare, too-expensive backup quarterback, today’s the day to tell the world you may or may not be interested in moving him. Even though the world already knows you would. After 49ers general manager Trent Baalke made sufficiently clear he w…

Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com

According to the Youtube description, Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett went to the Apple Store Best Buy in Sterling, Va. As one does in an Apple Store, he played around with the electronics. He turned on an iPod Touch. He turned on the camera …

ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com

The San Francisco 49ers are "highly, highly, highly unlikely" to release quarterback Alex Smith, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

Doug Farrar, yahoo.com

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's feud with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis  yesterday was all over the news, and Sherman went on the NFL Network's NFL AM program on Thursday morning to explain his side of things. After he compared h…

Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com

On Thanksgiving, Jim Schwartz boned Jim Schwartz by throwing a challenge flag on Justin Forsett's 81-yard touchdown. But really, the NFL boned Jim Schwartz—the rule that you can't challenge a play that's automatically reviewed, and if you try, you're pe…

Associated Press, ESPN.com

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman can't say it enough: Percy Harvin will remain in Minnesota, and he's not going to discuss contracts in public.

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, widely viewed as one of the top players in this year’s NFL draft, has decided not to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine. Jones has decided to put all his focus on peaking at Georgia’s Pro Day on March 21, ESP…

Jeff Dickerson, ESPN.com

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery said Thursday that no decision has been made on the future of free-agent linebacker Brian Urlacher but stressed that the eight-time Pro Bowler "will never be slighted" by the franchise.

Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com

The Miami Dolphins have a lengthy list of starters headed toward unrestricted free agency. Left tackle Jake Long headlines the group, which consists of cornerback Sean Smith, safety Chris Clemons, defensive tackle Randy Starks, wide receiver Brian Hartl…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

Broncos head coach John Fox talked about how eager he was to see a healthier Peyton Manning next season, but keeping his quarterback that way might be more difficult given the current state of his offensive line. Four of the five projected starters on t…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

New Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman can’t think too much about the draft at this point, as he has more immediate concerns. “The first thing we have to do is make March 12,” Gettleman said from the NFL Scouting Combine. The Panthers are worki…

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

The torn ACL suffered by Texans linebacker Brian Cushing when he was hit in the knee from behind by Jets guard Matt Slauson may have been the tipping point for a change in NFL rules to emphasize protecting the legs of defensive players. Cushing supports…

Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com

As the NFL conquers the world, the draft combine has grown into a monster of its own. By one veteran's reckoning, an event that drew 50 reporters in 2003 now hands out 800 media credentials. (And yet, still, not a single important story will emerge. Thi…

Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has drawn criticisms throughout his career for his body language, but that won't be an issue with first-year head coach Marc Trestman. "Everybody has an opinion on that," Trestman said of Cutler's occasiona…

ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com

Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, the top player on Mel Kiper's Big Board, will not work out at this week's NFL scouting combine, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

Lions receiver Calvin Johnson broke the NFL record for receiving yards in a season in 2012. And that was even harder than previously known. Johnson played with at least two broken fingers most of the season and is still being seen around Detroit with hi…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians might not have his quarterback at the moment, but he doesn’t sound like he’s close to joining the mobile quarterback movement. Arians said this morning at the NFL Scouting Combine that he was a quarterback “traditionalis…

CNNSI.com

One season after winning the Super Bowl, the Giants missed the playoffs. What can New York do to fill its holes? Chris Burke takes a closer look at the Giants' offseason to-do list.

Associated Press, ESPN.com

New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has backed out of an appearance at a Baptist mega-church in Dallas with a pastor who has created controversy with his remarks about other faiths.

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

The Bills have a decision to make soon on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and they’re not ready to say he’s part of their future. Bills president Russ Brandon declined comment when asked by Tim Graham of the Buffalo News if Fitzpatrick’s roster spot w…

CNNSI.com

One-year wonder? Hardly. The Bengals continued building a winner the old-fashioned way in 2012, but there's more work to be done. Andrew Perloff outlines their best path.

Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com

Mike Florio has taken the PFT Live show on the road to Indianapolis this week and he’s got a pair of guests Thursday with a lot of interest in how the prospects look at the combine. Titans coach Mike Munchak would like to uncover a few players who will …

Doug Farrar, yahoo.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- It's the oldest rule in the book: In the NFL, you build through the draft. But the San Francisco 49ers, who were a few plays and a couple of interesting calls from a Super Bowl victory a couple of weeks ago, are still looking for a few m…

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

The Bengals lead the league in salary cap space, but that doesn’t mean they’re going on a spending spree on March 12. In fact, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says that the team’s priority is to keep the players it has, not to add a lot of high-priced ta…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

With an incoming rookie class of quarterbacks that no one seems sold on, the 49ers are sitting on an asset in Alex Smith. And they want to make sure everyone is aware that they control that asset. When 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was asked about …

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

For a recent third-round pick who couldn’t get on the field for the league’s all-time worst defense (as measured by yards allowed), cornerback Johnny Patrick was popular yesterday. After being released by the Saints, he was claimed off waivers by the …

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

Not many people can say they’ve lost a lot of weight to get down to 339 pounds, but not many people have the build of former Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker. Fluker was among the first players to get weighed and measured as the Scouting Combine kic…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

For media purposes, the NFL Scouting Combine is a whirl of interviews and player availability. For television watchers, the 40-yard dashes and drills take center stage. But for the teams that come to Indianapolis to scout, the priority isn’t anything th…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

The Texans-Lions game on Thanksgiving had everything.  Included a horrible call that led to a long touchdown run that wasn’t reviewed via replay because Detroit coach Jim Schwartz threw the red challenge flag when he shouldn’t have thrown it. The blu…

Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com

When looking at ways that the Cowboys can solve their salary cap woes without causing too much damage to their chances of winning, it’s hard not to turn your attention to right tackle Doug Free. Free was awful in 2011 as both a run and pass blocker whil…

Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com

One of the two active leaders in consecutive games played is still deciding whether he’ll be back for his 241st straight game come Week One of the 2013 season. The Washington Post caught up with Redskins linebacker London Fletcher at an appearance for a…

Doug Farrar, yahoo.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, projected by many to be the top defensive back selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder after this week's scouting combine, according to ESPN's Ad…

Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com

Add the Bills to the list of teams skeptical about the QB class in this draft, with assistant GM Doug Whaley saying: “There is no total package.” As much as the Dolphins will be scouting WRs at the Combine, their answer at the position still figures t…

Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com

Players began arriving in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the first day of the NFL combine. The first group to make it to town included kickers, special teamers, offensive linemen and tight ends. While everyone made it to town in time to register for the …

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

The Dallas Cowboys have been interested for months in extending the contract of franchise quarterback Tony Romo.  And after months of dragging their feet, it appears that Romo’s camp at least is willing to listen. Cowboys executive V.P. Stephen Jones t…

Sean Newell, deadspin.com

Kansas beat Oklahoma State 68-67 Wednesday night in a double-overtime thriller that had Bill Self dancing like a mad man. Kansas won, remarkably, despite failing to make a field goal for about nine minutes and 45 seconds of the 10 minutes played in over…

Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com

After three players suffered season-ending injuries on a thoroughly worn out natural grass surface at FedEx Field during the playoff match-up between the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks in January, the league has vowed to be more proactive in e…

grantland.com

Most of the news from the first day of this year's NFL combine has been standard podium fare. The Bears haven't started contract talks with Jay Cutler...