NFL Player News

Though it sounds far-fetched, Packers coach Mike McCarthy wants his offense to run 75 plays per game, reports ESPN.com. The team averaged nearly 69 plays in the games quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished last season. Denver led the league with 72.1 plays per game.

Playing at a fast pace "seems to be the answer to some of the different things defenses are doing," Rodgers told the website.

McCarthy said earlier that he wants all his running backs to be three-down players so there's no need to substitute. "We play pretty fast, but you always want to play faster," McCarthy said. "With a guy like Aaron, he plays faster than anybody I've ever been around."

Bengals receiver A.J. Green told NFL Network he's hoping quarterback Andy Dalton receives a contract extension. "We came in together and that is the great thing for me and him," Green said. "I know he's my guy. I don't want any other quarterback throwing me the ball. I think he feels the same way about me."

Green said he's built chemistry with Dalton in their three years together.

"He feels confident that whether I'm double covered, triple covered, it don't matter I'm going to come down with the ball," Green said. "And I feel like we've grown over these last three years and I feel like this year is going to be another key year for us."

Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner had high praise for rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who's competing with Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder.

"Teddy's been really, really impressive and a lot further along than I expected him to be," Turner said, via the team's website. Turner also said Bridgewater "has his sights set on playing and playing well as soon as he can, so that’s what you want."

Jets quarterback Geno Smith said his team can play in the Super Bowl this season, reports ESPN.

"I feel good about our team making a Super Bowl run," Smith said via the NFL Network.

The report says the Jets, according to Las Vegas, are 66/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLIX, ahead of only the Bills (75/1), Raiders (100/1), Titans (100/1) and Jaguars (200/1).

There were issues between Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and receiver Mike Wallace connecting on long passes last season. In 2013 Wallace had just five catches good for 40-plus yards, four of them legitimate deep lobs (and all of those four slightly underthrown). A big issue for Miami this offseason is to fix the deep ball for Tannehill and have him connect more often with the blazing-fast Wallace. 

According to ESPN, there's no visual evidence of an improvement. Over seven practices open to the media including the team's recent three-day minicamp, Tannehill has failed to connect with Wallace. He's tried but misfired. 

The team, including the receiver involved, insists that it's a non-issue. 

"(You) haven't been here. ... We hit those, about three or four of them so far," Wallace said. "Me and him haven't personally thrown that many. If we've thrown like six, we've hit on like four."

ESPN also notes that Wallace "appears determined" to have a big year. He's put in extra time after practice to work on his hands and received praise from his head coach, Joe Philbin, who said he's "doing the little things that can make the difference when the season comes around."

The Browns are trying to give quarterback Brian Hoyer a contract extension, sources tell ESPN. But according to Hoyer's agent, the negotiations will be difficult. 

Agent Joe Linta told NFL Network that "it will be a very difficult deal to do" because Hoyer is content to "wait and see what happens down the road."

Hoyer is entering a contract year as well as a well-publicized camp battle with Johnny Manziel. 

Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said he plans to use video games to help him prepare for this season, reports ESPN.

Bridgewater said last week he's imported the Vikings' playbook into his Madden NFL football game, which allows him to take "virtual reps" by practicing with the Vikings' offense against defenses he'd see in an actual game. He did the same thing in college, adding the Louisville Cardinals' playbook to a NCAA football video game for his Xbox, and he'll continue the practice in the NFL.

"It helps because you get one more rep than you had in practice, actual practice," he said. "Any chance you get to take an extra rep or go the extra step, extra mile, it's going to be very beneficial transferring it to the field."

Bridgewater says it works for him.

"I try to take as many reps as I can, whether it's on a video game, playing EA Madden Football or in the playbook, just drawing it or just visualizing it in my head," Bridgewater said. "I try to just maximize every rep I can get and every opportunity that I can take."

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is considered a player on the rise, reports ESPN.

The report says the Dolphins are asking a lot of Tannehill in his third season, which includes making it to the playoffs, becoming a leader on the team and mastering a new offense under first-year coordinator Bill Lazor.

Tannehill had some ups and downs this offseason, per the report, but he is showing growth, especially in the leadership department.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson sees great things ahead for the defending Super Bowl champions, reports ESPN.

"Right now I definitely believe we're way further ahead," Wilson said. "It's exciting. You have an itch because you know how to do it at a very high level. And the best part about it is we can continue to do it better."

The Seahawks changed some things at receiver with Golden Tate gone, Percy Harvin healthy and new additions with rookies Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood. 

"There's a lot more ways we can be better," Wilson said. "And there's a lot more ways that I can get better. That’s the great part about it. I continue to try to stay focused on what I can control and continue to grow in every way possible."

Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner has been surprised by rookie Teddy Bridgewater's deep throws this summer, reports Fox Sports North.

"One of the things that has been the most impressive to me is, I knew he'd be very accurate, I knew he'd make great decisions, quick decisions, but he's been outstanding throwing the ball deep, which some people thought that was going to be an issue," Turner said.

"I think in the six or eight weeks we've had him on the field, I think he's been put in a position where he's had to make most of the throws he would have to make and I think he can make all the throws he needs to make."

Bridgewater is competing with Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder for the starting job. The rookie appears to have more velocity on his throws than the two veterans, the report said.

"It's just been all footwork, laying it and playing," Bridgewater said. "I've been able to watch Matt (Cassel), watch Christian (Ponder), and watch how those guys have had great success throwing the deep ball and try to apply some of the things that they're doing to my game also."