NFL Player News

The Dolphins don't just want quarterback Ryan Tannehill on the field for Week 1, they want him locked up on a long-term contract, according to NFL.com.

If a new deal cannot be struck, the team can still exercise his fifth-year option that will keep Tannehill in Miami through the 2016 season for about $16 million. But the Dolphins are hoping they are not forced to make that a reality.

Tannehill performed well enough in 2014 to motivate the front office to work on a new contract. He set a franchise record for completions with 392 while tossing 27 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He racked up 4,045 yards in the process.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has not ruled out playing baseball in addition to his football career, per NFL.com.

"You never want to kill the dream of playing two sports," Wilson said. "I would honestly play two sports."

His latest statement regarding playing two sports was made to Bryant Gumbel in an interview that will air on the HBO series Real Sports.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith spent nearly two months this offseason training with former major-league pitcher Tom House, according to ESPN. House said he had Smith focus on four basic metrics: Biomechanical, functional strength, nutrition and a mental/emotional profile.

"I think he left incrementally better in all four metrics," House said.

House described Smith as a hard worker that is "not afraid to put in the time." House said they challenged Smith and "he met the challenge perfectly."

"He's really good," said House, who has also worked with Tom Brady and Drew Brees. "None of them are perfect -- Nolan Ryan and Greg Maddux weren't perfect when they came to me -- but we try to train for perfection."

Smith spoke highly of his time with House, who said he made "incremental changes in (Smith's) delivery and incremental changes in his conditioning."

"This should make him a more consistent performer for a longer time," House said.

Geno Smith, who figures to be in a battle for the Jets starting quarterback job with Ryan Fitzpatrick, said Monday after the team's first voluntary workout that he needed to perform better this season, per Newsday. 

"In this league, there isn't room for excuses ... moral victories. I've got to put this team in a position to be successful," he said. 

Smith managed 2,525 yards, 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions a season ago.

New Bills coach Rex Ryan brought in veteran quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor in the offseason, but that doesn't mean he's ready to give up on EJ Manuel. 

"And then EJ. Let's not just throw him out after two years. Aaron Rodgers never took a snap for three years. So let's see where Manuel's going to be," Ryan said, per the Buffalo News.

Ryan plans to have a quarterback competition during OTAs and training camp. 

Jets coach Todd Bowles is a fan of competition. 

Instead of being content with quarterbacks Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Simms competing for the starting job, Bowles, via the Newark Star-Ledger, said the team has plans to add a fourth signal caller to the mix. 

Bowles said this on a conference call with season-ticket holders. 

"Ryan's going to compete, as well as Geno's going to compete," Bowles said. "And we hope to add somebody else to help compete with that along with Simms."

That could mean many things, such as adding a veteran quarterback, a mid-to-late-rounder or someone looking to get back in the league. Or perhaps it's a sign the Jets want to take a quarterback — possibly Marcus Mariota — with the sixth overall pick if the opportunity arises. 

The Bengals signed veteran backup quarterback Josh Johnson on Thursday, the organization announced. 

Johnson was drafted in the fifth round by the Buccaneers in 2008 but mostly served in a backup role. He did start one game with the Bucs in 2011, filling in for an injured Josh Freeman. Once his time in Tampa Bay was up, he bounced around with the Bengals, Browns and 49ers in consecutive seasons from 2012-2014. 

Johnson was with the Bengals for the 2013 season. He was active each game that season, backing up Andy Dalton. 

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was in new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's system for the first time last season. The team plans on taking more chances down the field in Stafford's second season in the new offense, Lombardi said, according to the team's official website.

“In his second year (in the offense) he’s going to be that much more comfortable,” Lombardi said.

“We’ll be able to tailor the offense a little bit more to what he likes and what he’s good at. I thought he played smart football and sometimes to a fault. We’ll look for him to maybe take a few more chances this year with the football.”

Although Stafford didn't take many shots down the field, he did throw a career-low 12 interceptions in 2014. 

The former first overall draft pick has thrown for 21,714 yards with 131 touchdowns and 85 interceptions during his six-year career.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been in talks to land a contract extension this offseason, and while a large portion of the deal will be guaranteed, the quarterback will not receive a fully-guaranteed contract, NFL.com reports.

CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported on March 21 that Wilson and the Seahawks were not close to an agreement. La Canfora also said during the NFL combine that it's possible Wilson plays out his rookie deal with the team. He has a cap hit a little less than $1.7 million in the last year of his rookie contract.

After suffering his second season-ending injury in nine months last year, quarterback Sam Bradford contemplated retiring but his former quarterbacks coach from Oklahoma talked him out of it, according to Philly.com.

Bradford, who was aquired by the Eagles in a trade in March, missed the entire 2014 season with the Rams after tearing his left ACL during a preseason game.

Josh Heupel, a former college coach, talked with Bradford after the injury and persuaded him to stay in the NFL.

"When a player goes through a big letdown, it's natural to be down," said Heupel. "I just tried to reach out to him and say, 'Hey, I still see this in you as a person and a player. I think the best is yet to come for you. You've got to get yourself healthy and get yourself back on the field and get yourself in the right environment ...'"

Heupel, who coached Bradford during his 2008 Heisman Trophy-winning season, is currently the offensive coordinator at Utah State.