NFL Player News

New Packers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said he will challenge Aaron Rodgers and try to keep him from getting complacent.

"You definitely have to find ways to stimulate him even on the basic principles of the offense," Van Pelt said, per the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "You find ways to challenge and stimulate him. That goes for any great player that’s been in that position for a long time.

"How many times can you hear the coaching points for '200 Jet Dragon'? You’ve been hearing it from Day One of your football life," Van Pelt added. "Now, let’s try to find another way to challenge him, to stimulate your brain to play better."

Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley had a shoulder injury that "bothered him more than he let on last summer, and he's healthy now," reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. While the Eagles remain high on their 2013 fourth-round pick, Barkley "needs a strong spring and summer for the team to believe he can be a trustworthy backup quarterback," the report said.

The paper expects Michael Vick to leave via free agency. Barkley threw four interceptions and no touchdowns in spot duty last year.

The Jets plan to address two areas of need this offseason on offense with receiver and quarterback, reports NFL.com. Receiver is a must, and they also want to bring in competition for quarterback Geno Smith.

The report says it won't be a surprise if the Jets take the best available wide receiver off the board with the 18th overall selection in the NFL Draft. They could also go hard after free agent Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, who's coming off a career year.

Finding competition for Smith is also a priority, whether that be through the draft or locating a veteran in free agency. Smith is still expected to enter 2014 as the starter, but he needs to improve -- and adding receiver help will definitely help his chances of that happening.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is expected to get more pressure from coach Joe Philbin this summer to improve his game -- or else. CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora writes that Miami head coach Joe Philbin professed his belief in backup Matt Moore to several general manager candidates, suggesting that he could put Moore in the lineup if Tannehill doesn't improve. 

"He definitely wants to push Tannehill more," a source who spoke with Philbin said, "and if he doesn't see improvement he said he might go to Moore at some point. He definitely has a lot of faith in Moore, and they're paying him a lot of money."

Indeed, Moore is due $4 million in 2014 and counts for $5.5 million against the cap. Tannehill is not due for a new contract until 2016. 

With the promotion of Hue Jackson to offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, the official team website surmises that Andy Dalton won't throw as much as he did under former playcaller Jay Gruden, now in Washington. 

According to the site, "less is more" with Jackson. That suggests he'll ask for Dalton to throw around 25 times per game, something that worked out nicely for the world champion Seahawks in 2013. That's a big drop for Dalton, who averaged 36.6 pass attempts per game in 2013 including six games with 40-plus attempts. The Bengals were 2-4 in those games, 9-1 otherwise. 

The team might also add some over-the-middle throws to Dalton's arsenal as the previous playcaller asked Dalton to throw outside more often. 

New Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi believes that Matthew Stafford has the makings of a great quarterback but admitted that he needs help with his footwork in order to become a more effective passer. Speaking at a press conference Friday, Lombardi said he watched all of Stafford's interceptions and walked away knowing he's not an interception machine but rather a guy who just needs to work on his technique. 

"Every quarterback can tighten up his footwork," Lombardi said. 

Stafford had 19 interceptions last year and 51 total over the last three seasons. His completion percentage has dropped over each of the last three seasons as well. 

New Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan praised incumbent starting quarterback Brian Hoyer but stopped well short of saying Hoyer would start in 2014, reports ESPNCleveland.com. Cleveland is expected to draft a quarterback early.

“I think Brian’s a very capable guy,” Shanahan said. “Everyone’s looking for one of those top five guys. If you’re not one of those top five guys, then odds are you’re trying to get replaced. Obviously, no one here has proven they are one of those top five guys.

“But he has shown he can play in this league," Shanahan continued. "You’ve got to see what his ceiling is and how high a level he can reach. Everyone wants a franchise quarterback. I truly believe that’s the only way to have sustained success in this league. I’m not saying he is. But he hasn’t shown that he can’t be. So I’m looking forward to studying him more. It’s nice to be in this building so I can look at a lot of practice tape, also.”

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told the media Wednesday that everything Russell Wilson did this season was within expectations and that even though he left yards on the field, he was still a very effective quarterback. He followed it up by saying he wants more from Wilson starting in 2014. 

"[W]e go into this offseason with my hopes are that he is really going to take another big step forward," Carroll said of Wilson according to the Seattle Times. 

Wilson finished the regualr season with 3,357 passing yards and 26 touchdowns with only nine interceptions, tacking on 539 rush yards and a rushing score. He added 524 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptiions in the playoffs along with 42 rush yards. 

Aaron Rodgers expects a smooth transition with Alex Van Pelt replacing Ben McAdoo as Packers quarterbacks coach. Van Pelt, a former quarterback, coached Green Bay's running backs the past two seasons.

"As far as Alex is concerned, him and I have been good buddies from his first day here,” Rodgers said on ESPN 540 Milwaukee. 

Rodgers added he's heard good things about Van Pelt and that "Alex gets the game. He played the position and if he’s the guy, I know it’s going to be a really smooth transition, and we’d have a lot of fun together.”

McAdoo left to become the Giants' offensive coordinator.

Although new Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan "really likes" quarterback Kirk Cousins, Cleveland is unlikely to trade for the Redskins' backup, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Washington general manager Bruce Allen said this week that he expects Cousins to be with the Redskins in 2014.