NFL Player News

The Jaguars traded quarterback Blaine Gabbert to the 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. 

Gabbert, a former first-round pick of Jacksonville's, couldn't hold on to the starting job in each of his last two seasons with the Jags. Over 28 games he completed 53.3 pct. of his passes for 4,357 yards with 22 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. 

Former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason, who is an analyst for the NFL Today, came to the defense of current Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, reports the official team website.

Dalton has led the Bengals to three consecutive playoff appearances, but the team is 0-3 during that run, which has led to some criticism. But Esiason says back off because Dalton is legit. 

"I never had a season like he had this year," Esiason said. "He'll be fine. The trajectory is like this, 9-7, 10-6, 11-5, 22 touchdowns, 27 touchdowns, 33 touchdowns. The guy is a really good player. Everyone just has to calm down.”

In 2013, Dalton completed 62 percent of his throws for 4,293 yards, 33 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. 

Jets coach Rex Ryan said nothing has changed with the future of quarterback Mark Sanchez coming back to the team in 2014, reports the Newark Star-Ledger . He also is excited about the future for Geno Smith.

"We'll just let that play out and see what happens," Ryan said about Sanchez. "But it's nothing I'm going to make a comment on."

Sanchez is in the last year of his contract with the Jets and is set to make $9 million with a $2 million signing bonus later this month if he's still on the team. Because of his $13.1 million cap charge for 2014, he is expected to be cut.

As for Smith, Ryan had nothing but praise for the second-year passer.

"I really like where he left off," he said. "The last month of the season was probably his best. I know he had some rocky spots, to say the least. And so did we as a team. But to finish where he did, I think he was the second-highest rated quarterback at the end of the season. Very few turnovers. he ran the ball effectively as well. So he used his legs, used his arms, cut down on turnovers. I think if he could play that way, we're going to be tough to beat."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will participate in the Texas Rangers' spring training workout Monday morning before that day's game against the Cleveland Indians, reports MLB.com. While Wilson will be in uniform for the game, Rangers manager Ron Washington said Wilson won't bat.

The Rangers selected Wilson in the Rule 5 draft last December. He spent two years in the Colorado Rockies' minor-league system, batting .229.

"The guy has had a lot of success and he has a championship attitude," Washington told MLB.com."We're going to give him a chance to talk to our young kids and see what happens. Maybe [shortstop Elvis Andrus] and some of those young guys can hang with him and see what he has to offer."

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford received a $27.5 million signing bonus when he agreed to a contract extension last July but agreed to defer $17.5 million of the payment. That balance is due Friday, reports the Detroit Free Press.

The bonus already has been accounted for in the Lions' salary cap.

Stafford ranked third with 4,650 yards last season but his completion percentage (58.5) declined and his interceptions (19) rose for the second straight year, the paper noted.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said he spoke to new coordinator Bill Lazor and found out the offense "definitely will be different," according to the Miami Herald. "It’s a completely different system. Bill runs a numbers system. Coach [Mike] Sherman was a West Coast-style system.

"Everything is going to have a different name," Tannehill added. "It’s going to be re-programmed in my brain to work in a different way. It’s a big task.”

Tannehill said he's excited to work with Lazor. “He’s a fun guy to work with. Just his personality coming in seems like it’s going to be a lot of fun," the quarterback said. "I’m looking forward to when we can get into learning the offense. I’m just waiting on that date. ... I’m really looking forward to taking a big step this year.”

For Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, 2014 is a make-or-break year, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Bradford showed improvement last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury, posting a career-high 90.9 passer rating, but still has a lot to prove, the report said.

"This will be Bradford's 3rd season with [Brian] Schottenheimer as the OC. If things aren't clicking in Year III  ... then when?" the paper said.

Bradford is signed through 2015. He's owed $17.6 million this year and $16.5 million next year.

The Redskins aren't shopping backup quarterback Kirk Cousins, but will listen to offers, reports the Washington Post. The team would be willing to trade Cousins for a second-round draft pick, the report said.

“It’s not a case of looking to trade him,” a source told the paper. “That’s not the situation. But it’s not a case of there being absolutely no interest in a trade under any circumstances, either. It would all depend on what someone might offer.”

Cousins was a fourth-round pick in 2012, and it's unlikely any team would give up a second-rounder for him. Washington would be content to go into 2014 with Cousins again backing up Robert Griffin III.

Asked an open-ended question about his quarterbacks, new Browns coach Mike Pettine's first words were "Brian Hoyer," reports the Boston Globe.

“We’re looking forward to getting him back to where at least he’ll do some limited work in the spring," Pettine continued, referring to Hoyer's comeback from ACL surgery. "I’ve always admired Brian from afar. He’s proven he can be successful in the NFL, but at the same time, you’re always looking to make the team better and that’s the most important position.”

The Browns still are expected to draft a quarterback at No. 4 overall.

Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins wants a chance to compete for the starting job, or to be traded. But he's vowing not to be a distraction. “I’m gonna communicate my desire to play in a classy way,” Cousins said, per the Washington Post.

“I don’t want to do it in a way that’s gonna hurt our organization or reflect poorly on me or the team. But yeah, I absolutely want to play, and that’s not a complicated fact. But we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what’s in the cards. And if I’m not good enough, I’ve got to accept that, but all I’m looking for is that chance.”