NFL Player News

Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will try to beat out Matt Cassel, but he won't get frustrated if he's not starting Week 1, reports the Minneapolis StarTribune. 

"It’s not tough at all because I have nothing but my best interest for the team," Bridgewater said. "And I’m very excited about this team that we have here. … If I’m not the guy then I know the coaches have the best interest for the team also. My teammates also have the best interest for the team. So in order for me to be a better player, I have to have the best interest for the team and want nothing but the best interest for the team."

Coach Mike Zimmer says Bridgewater will get a chance to play at some point, but was unsure if that opportunity will come this season, the report said.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford didn't practice on Thursday, though it was scheduled that way according to head coach Jeff Fisher. Bradford is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season. 

"[Y]ou'll be able to see him (Friday)," Fisher said. "We're going to have him participate in about half of the OTAs. He'll probably get five of them in. (Friday) he's going to throw two 7-on-7 periods. He threw a 7-on-7 period with the 1s on Tuesday."

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford took part in the team's OTA practices this week while wearing a knee brace, The Sports Xchange reported. Bradford is working his way back from a torn ACL that cut short what was a solid beginning to the 2013 season. 

Geno Smith is still saying there's competition for the starting quarterback job with the Jets, but he is still ahead of Michael Vick. According to ESPN, Smith worked with the first-team offense at OTAs on Wednesday while Vick stuck with the second team. And while Smith is preaching competition, Vick said as recently last week that it's not a competition and that he's the backup. 

Speaking at a Town Hall event on Wednesday, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell helped make it clear that the Seahawks are going to keep being a running team. Per the Seattle Times, the Seahawks will have to adapt to the flow of the game but, as Bevell said, "to sit here and tell you we are going to throw it 500 times, that's probably not going to happen. That's not our philosophy. That's not how we are built."

The Seahawks attempted 420 passes last year, 407 by Russell Wilson, who averaged 192.8 yards per game. Twenty-eight teams passed over 500 times last year, including nine that threw over 600 times. 

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is expected to be ready for the upcoming minicamp this week, reports ESPN.

Bradford is coming off last year's torn ACL in his left knee.

Browns running back Ben Tate sounds like he is expecting Brian Hoyer and not rookie Johnny Manziel to win the starting quarterback job this season, reports ESPN.

Tate went as far as to say the Browns are Hoyer's team.

"The guy has been there," Tate said. "The guys know him, are comfortable with him."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been impressed with his receiving corps so far, reports ESPN.

"To be honest with you, the receivers have been the best-looking position so far," Wilson said Monday. "They’ve done a tremendous job showing their explosiveness. They’ve been exceptional."

Wilson has some new weapons in rookies Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood, along with free-agent signees Chris Matthews and Taylor Price. And Wilson also is pleased to have Percy Harvin on the field without any injury issues.

"It's great having Percy being out here finally healthy," Wilson said. "He feels great and looks great. He catching the ball extremely well."

The Seahawks are trying to replace the departed Golden Tate, who signed as a free agent in Detroit, and Sidney Rice is coming back from a torn ACL.

The Patriots announced Monday the signing of second-round draft choice quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 62nd selection overall of out Eastern Illinois. He started in all 45 games that he appeared in college, completing 1,047-of-1,668 passes for 13,151 yards and 118 touchdowns.

As a senior in 2013, Garoppolo was named the Walter Payton Award winner, given to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision, after completing 375-of-568 passes for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns.

He is expected to be the No. 3 quarterback in New England behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett.

The Giants announced the release of quarterback Josh Freeman on Friday. He was signed in late April. 

The move leaves the Giants with two backup passers behind Eli Manning: Ryan Nassib and Curtis Painter. Both have a much-improved chance on making the team with Freeman out of the picture. 

Freeman was cut early into the 2013 season by the Buccaneers after leading them to an 0-3 start. He was signed by the Vikings, only to play in just one game for them. He totaled 761 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions last year.