NFL Player News

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen refuted an ESPN report that backup quarterback Kirk Cousins has asked for a trade and said he expects Cousins to be with the team this fall, reports the Washington Times. "There's no change from our perspective on Kirk," Allen told the paper. "That's it. We're comfortable with Kirk."

Of course, the situation could change if Washington gets a good offer for Cousins. New coach Jay Gruden has declared Robert Griffin III his starting quarterback.

An NFL executive told ESPN.com that Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins could start for some teams and that Washington might be able to acquire a second- or third-round draft pick for him. Cousins, who has no chance of unseating Robert Griffin III, has said he'd welcome a trade.

A day after it appeared Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson was going to carry through on making an appearance at spring training with the Rangers, it's now a lot less a sure thing, according to ESPN. Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, confirmed in a text message Tuesday that his client's schedule was "too fluid to commit to anything" at this time.

"I know he was honored to be drafted by the Rangers, but there is no pressure or obligation to report," Rodgers said. "Ideally, people will allow Russell to enjoy the Super Bowl victory and relish in that accomplishment before making any firm commitments for the offseason."

The Rangers are echoing similar sentiments. General manager Jon Daniels said Monday he hasn't reached out to Rodgers or Wilson, preferring to give Wilson "time to enjoy the 'W'."

"We'll connect when he comes up for air," Daniels said.

After he was selected in December's Rule 5 draft from the Rockies, Wilson expressed interest about joining the Rangers in spring training.

"I'm sure I'll go down there for spring training and just talk to some of their players and hang out some," Wilson said in December. "It'll be kinda cool. But that's down the road."

New Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan "loves" Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins, reports ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Cousins has indicated he wants a shot to start, so the teams could start talking trade.

It's unclear how much Washington would demand for Cousins, who threw for 747 yards and four touchdowns with five interceptions in the final three games last season.

Russell Wilson's football career seems to be going well, but the Seahawks quarterback won't reneg on his pledge to show up at Rangers' spring training, reports FOX Sports. The Rangers picked Wilson, who spent two seasons in the Rockies' farm system, in the Rule 5 draft in December.

Wilson said then he'd love to show up to spring training, and his agent says nothing has changed. It's unclear, however, what Wilson will do there. Take batting practice? Speak to the team? 

A second baseman, Wilson batted .229 in 93 minor-league games after the Rockes drafted him in the fourth round in 2010.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson overthrew tight end Zach Miller on his first Super Bowl pass before settling down to play an extremely efficient game. Wilson finished 18 of 25 for 206 yards and two touchdowns and ran three times for 26 yards.

He did not commit a turnover while posting a 123.1 passer rating and repeatedly converting third downs. In the second half, Wilson hit Jermaine Kearse for a 23-yard touchdown and Doug Baldwin for a 10-yard score.

"It was a great team win," Wilson said, noting Seattle got major contributions from offense, defense and special teams.

The Seahawks' Russell Wilson was the sixth quarterback taken in the 2012 draft. The 5-foot-11 Wilson plays like a man with something to prove, and has his team in the Super Bowl.

"I'm very competitive," Wilson told NFL Network. "I believe I could be picked before all those guys, but it wasn't going to affect me either way. I knew that the Seattle Seahawks were going to pick me. I was going to make the 31 other teams regret it."

Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins "believes he is ready to start" and is open to an offseason trade, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter. Washington is expected to field calls about Cousins from quarterback-needy teams, possibly including Cleveland, the report adds.

Cousins appeared in five games this season, throwing for 854 yards and four touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Jets general manager John Idzik said he has spoken with quarterback Geno Smith about handling the social side of the NFL after two regrettable offseason incidents.

Smith was involved in a verbal altercation with a Virgin America flight attendant after refusing to shut off his cell phone before takeoff, though the airline was the one that issued an apology. Lewd photos of Smith were previously posted on Instagram by an Atlanta woman who claimed to have had an affair with him.

"When you're a quarterback in the NFL and you're a quarterback for a franchise in a big market such as New York, all eyes are on you 24/7," Idzziki told ESPN. "I think Geno is experiencing this first-hand. Obviously, I've kept in close contact with him. This is part of learning how to deal with these things.

"We've addressed them, he's addressed them, so [I have] no real concerns that way. It's just how to deal with your celebrity and the visibility that goes along with that position."

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer is resigned to his team drafting a quarterback in May, but remains confident that he will be the starter in 2014.

Hoyer won all three games he started this season, though he was knocked out of the third against Buffalo. The Browns collapsed thereafter, losing 10 of their last 11 to once again rev up speculation that they must fill their need for a franchise quarterback in the draft.

"It's pretty much inevitable, they will draft a quarterback and that's nothing new," Hoyer said via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "In this league, there's always someone coming up behind you or laterally moving. There's going to be someone for me to compete with, which I have no problem with. That makes you better.

"I was able to start for three games last year, and we did well. When I played, we won, and I'm just looking forward to trying to get back to where I left things off. I think as long as I have a chance, I feel confident in my abilities."

Hoyer completed 57 of 96 passes for 615 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.