NFL Player News

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer opened OTAs wearing a brace on his right knee, reports ESPN. Hoyer underwent surgery to fix a torn ACL last October. He'll try to hold off rookie Johnny Manziel for the starting job.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer was asked in a rapid-fire ESPN interview what it would mean if rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel started the season opener. "Somebody got hurt," Farmer said, presumably referring to Brian Hoyer.

Farmer did not elaborate.

The Patriots have signed seven of their nine draft picks. Under contract are Florida State center Bryan Stork, Florida guard Jon Halapio, Georgia Tech cornerback Jemea Thomas, Stanford offensive tackle Cameron Fleming, Wisconsin running back James White, Concordia defensive end Zach Moore and Michigan receiver Jeremy Gallon.

First-round pick Dominique Easley, a defensive tackle out of Florida, and second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo, a quarterback from Eastern Illinois, remain unsigned.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the last pick of the first round, signed his rookie contract with the Vikings, the team announced. He'll compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told NFL Network that first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater will get first-team reps immediately and compete for the starting job.

"Teddy's been great," Zimmer said. "He's had a good command of the offense. I like his leadership. I like his determination. He's throwing the ball well. He's got good, quick feet. I think he's a good athlete. So he's progressing at a good pace."

Matt Cassel will have to fend off the rookie to start the season opener.

Speaking on WFAN-AM in New York, Jets coach Rex Ryan said that quarterback Geno Smith would be "hard to beat out" for the starting job in camp this summer. "He knows the offense forward and backwards," Ryan said according to the New York Daily News. "I'm definitely convinced that we can win with Geno Smith."

But Ryan wouldn't end the quarterback battle early, also saying that new quarterback Michael Vick, who the Jets signed this offseason, "definitely has a chance to win the job."

The 49ers signed quarterback Josh Johnson to his second go-round with the team, the official website reported Wednesday. Johnson was Jim Harbaugh's quarterback back when the coach worked at the University of San Diego. Johnson will battle for a spot on the quarterback depth chart in training camp. 

The Ravens announced deals with three of their draft picks: third-round tight end end Crockett Gillmore, fifth-round offensive lineman John Urschel and sixth-round quarterback Keith Wenning.

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel doesn't need an outstanding preseason to win the starting job over Brian Hoyer, reports CBS Sports Insider Jason La Canfora.

"The most exciting player in college football, who you moved all over the draft board to land, isn't there to hold a clipboard," La Canfora wrote. "I don't see this developing as a true quarterback controversy, because as long as Manziel looks quasi-competent in the preseason I am handing him this job."

Appearing on CBS This Morning, NFL on CBS play-by-play man Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms both believe Johnny Manziel will begin the year as the Browns' starting quarterback. 

"The last nine quarterbacks who were taken in the first round in NFL drafts have been the opening day starter," Nantz said. "Brian Hoyer is the starter going into camp, but we shall see. ... I'd be shocked if Johnny Manziel's not the Cleveland Browns' starter."

"How do you think the fans and the media are going to take it if he's not the starter?" Simms added. "So Brian Hoyer's on the field, he throws one incompletion, they're going to go crazy. If you're a quarterback and [the team] drafts a first-round quarterback on your football team, you better play well and win, and usually that's not enough to keep your job." 

When asked how they think Manziel will do in the pros, Simms noted that Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan did a great job bringing Robert Griffin III along as a rookie and expects something similar for Manziel.

"I expect [Shanahan] to create a new kind of offense," Simms said. "I think [Manziel] got very fortunate going to the Cleveland Browns. He's probably in the best situation he could have found for himself in Cleveland."