NFL Player News

The Packers couldn't win without Aaron Rodgers last season, so now they're determined to find a promising quarterback in the draft, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Green Bay has drafted only one quarterback, 2012 seventh-rounder B.J. Coleman, in the past five years.

The paper noted Matt Flynn is an impending free agent and Scott Tolzien may or may not be the answer as Green Bay's backup quarterback.

"I think we definitely need four, so I'm hopeful that we can get a young guy in the draft," coach Mike McCarthy told the paper. "That's something we're looking at and maybe taking even a harder look this year — well, that's not true, we've always taken a hard look.

"That's something that we're focused on."

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said the team might sign quarterback Andy Dalton to a long-term extension, reports ProFootballTalk.com. Dalton is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

“As a football team we would like to continue to keep our good, young players,” Lewis said. “The representatives from his side and our team will get together and try to discuss something. We feel good about what Andy has done the past three seasons and we have to continue to help him to continue to play better.”

Lewis remains staunchy behind Dalton despite the quarterback's playoff failures.

In the unlikely event the Jets want to keep quarterback Mark Sanchez, there are two scenarios that could unfold, reports ESPN.com. Both involve the Jets asking Sanchez to take a big pay cut.

If they try to cut his base salary from $9 million to $1 million, "it would be insulting, a strong indication he'd have no chance to unseat [Geno Smith]," the report said. If the Jets offer $3 million to $5 million with incentives, "it would show they consider him a viable starting option."

New Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson gave an emphatic vote of confidence to quarterback Andy Dalton.

"I like what Andy brings to the table for us," Jackson told the team's website. "Andy can do it all. I haven’t seen anything he can’t do. He ran with the ball last year. Obviously he threw it all over the yard, and obviously he ran our football team.

"At the end of the day, those are the characteristics we’re looking for in a quarterback for our football team as well as our organization."

Dalton capped his finest regular season by throwing six interceptions in Week 17 and the playoff loss combined.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead both said positive things in regards to quarterback Sam Bradford on Friday.

Fisher said Bradford, who suffered a torn ACL last season, is scheduled to start throwing in late May and early June during OTA workouts, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

And Snead said Bradford remains the Rams quarterback moving forward and that contract extension talks are "ongoing and active," reports ESPN. Bradford is under contract for the next two seasons.

The Redskins don't have plans to trade quarterback Kirk Cousins according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cousins figures to remain as the backup in Washington this season behind Robert Griffin III. 

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson confirmed via Twitter that he'll attend Texas Rangers spring training on March 3, reports Fox Sports. It's still unclear what exactly Wilson will do there. He might just speak to the players about his experiences.

Wilson played two years in the Rockies' organization and later was selected by the Rangers in the Rule 5 draft.

Jets general manager John Idzik said he wouldn't mind seeing Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith battle for the starting quarterback job again this summer, reports the New York Post. The expectation was Sanchez would be released, but Idzik maintained he's still a starting-caliber NFL quarterback.

Sanchez is "making very good progress" on his shoulder rehab, Idzik added. If the Jets are serious about keeping Sanchez, they'd likely ask him to redo his contract.

The Redskins want a second-round draft pick if they are going to part with backup quarterback Kirk Cousins, reports the Washington Post. It's not clear if the team is having active discussions about Cousins or if Washington ultimately might settle for lesser compensation, the report added.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith plans to work out this offseason with former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke, reports ESPN.

Weinke worked out with Smith last season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., leading up to the NFL scouting combine. The report says Smith has been working with Weinke to stay sharp and fine-tuning his throwing mechanics.