NFL Player News

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is 3,000 miles east of New Jersey as Denver and Seattle prepare for the Super Bowl. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Stafford is in London to promote his team's game against Atlanta on Oct. 26 at Wembley Stadium. In a radio interview, he spoke about his philosophy in regard to attending the ultimate NFL game.

"I've never been to the game, a lot of players do this," he said via the Oakland Press. "They don't want to go to the game unless they play in it. That's how I feel about it. Nothing against it, I don't want to be a fan ... I want to make sure when I go to the game that I'm suiting up and trying to win it."

The Browns' Brian Hoyer told the official team's radio program he's planning on being the starting quarterback heading into the 2014 season. Hoyer tore his ACL in his second start against the Bills and missed the rest of the year.

"I'm feeling great, rehab's going well ... made a lot of progress with the running," Hoyer said. "Definitely on track, if not ahead, looking forward to getting back."

Despite the good play by Hoyer in 2013 the Browns are expected to bring in another quarterback this offseason.  

Jets coach Rex Ryan has refused to make the same commitment to soon-to-be second-year quarterback Geno Smith that he did in the 2013 offseason to demoted Mark Sanchez.

Ryan told the media last year that Sanchez would get the first preseason snap, but has not uttered the same promise about Smith. "We'll see who's on the roster before we make that decision," he told the New York Daily News.

Smith proved inconsistent in his first year. He completed 56 percent of his passes for a Jets rookie-record 3,046 yards, but managed just 12 touchowns and 21 interceptions. He suffered through a stretch in which he tossed just one scoring pass and 11 picks.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees believes new Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is going to bring out the best in Matthew Stafford, according to mlive.com.

Lombardi worked as Brees' quarterbacks coach for five seasons before joining the Lions. Brees said he sees some similarities between the Lions and Saints personnel, and believes Lombardi will find a way to make things work in Detroit. Brees added that he knew Lombardi would be in line to get a coordinator job. "You can kind of tell when assistant coaches are just kind of ready for that next step -- to be a coordinator, to be a playcaller," Brees said. 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who signed a five-year, $110 million contract last April, will account for 13.46 percent of the proposed 2014 salary cap, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. With so much money tied up in Rodgers, Green Bay cannot afford to be without him even for a handful of games.

The Packers went 2-5-1 in 2013 while Rodgers missed nearly eight full games with a broken collarbone.

"Well, I mean, Aaron Rodgers is the best player in the National Football League," coach Mike McCarthy said. "So to say you're too reliant on him, it depends on what side of the fence you want to look at. Does he make a difference on a football team? Absolutely."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson might end up being a good option for anyone still alive in Playoff Challenge leagues as Seattle is set to face Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Wilson has been a horrible Fantasy quarterback to close the season. He hasn't been over 17 Fantasy points since Week 14, and in two playoff games against New Orleans and San Francisco he has combined for just 318 passing yards and one touchdown and eight carries for 16 yards and a fumble.

But the Broncos have given up production to quarterbacks of late with Terrelle Pryor, Philip Rivers and Tom Brady all scoring at least 21 Fantasy points in the past three games. And if the Broncos go ahead in this game and Seattle is chasing points, then Wilson will have to make plays to keep the Seahawks alive. That was the case in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers, when he had 103 passing yards and a touchdown in the second half for 10 Fantasy points, which is the most production he's had in the postseason thus far through two games.

Peyton Manning is obviously the best Fantasy quarterback in this game, but depending on your Playoff Challenge roster, don't be afraid of Wilson. He could surprise us with a big performance when it matters most.

The Rams are unlikely to draft a quarterback in the first round, but are interested in taking a quarterback somewhere in the draft, general manager Les Snead told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Starter Sam Bradford is coming off a torn ACL, and backup Kellen Clemens is an impending free agent.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wouldn't mind playing Super Bowl XLVIII in a snowstorm. ‘‘Hopefully, it snows,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘That would be kind of fun to play the Super Bowl in the snow.’’

Unfortunately for Wilson, the forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-30s, sunshine and little chance of precipitation.

Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, who's been studying film of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, shared a few tendencies with the media, reports ProFootballTalk.com.

"Quarterbacks have tendencies," Knighton said. "His tendency is that he is a right-handed quarterback; he wants to get out to his right and throw. He’s more successful that way. So we’ve got to do a good job of keeping him in the pocket and force him out of his comfort zone.

"When he’s moving left he’ll tend to run it more and when he’s moving right he wants to pass it more. We just have to do a good job of containing him. He’ll get out and he’ll make his plays during the game, but we’ll just have to limit them.”

Knighton praised Wilson, saying he rarely turns the ball over and is improving every week. Knighton is especially wary of Wilson's scrambling ability.

“He extends plays, he’s a smart player and he can beat you with his feet and with his arm,” Knighton said. “We have to keep him in the pocket.”

While the Broncos practiced outside Monday, the Seahawks practiced indoors at the Giants' facility. Coach Pete Carroll called it a great day of work for quarterback Russell Wilson and his teammates.