NFL Player News

Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden hasn't shied away from how he feels about rookie tight end Tyler Eifert, who has made a big impression during spring workouts since getting drafted in Round 1 in April.

"I just learned there's really nothing that he can't do," Gruden told the Cincinnati Enquirer about Eifert. "He's smart and he can block and can line up all the routes. He can line up outside in the slot and at tight end, and I think he's going to be a major, major player around here for a lot of years."

In three seasons with Notre Dame, Eifert had 11 touchdowns on 140 catches for 1,840 yards (13.1 avg.). Eifert stands at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, a size that should be appealing to Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton on seam routes. 

Brian Hoyer will get a legitimate shot to overtake Jason Campbell for the Browns' No. 2 quarterback job behind Brandon Weeden, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Hoyer, 27, was sharp in team drills in the spring, though Campbell took the majority of second-team reps.

No Cleveland quarterback has played a full 16-game season since Tim Couch in 2001, the report notes.

It was at the end of the Jets' offseason conditioning program when Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told the New York Daily News that rookie quarterback Geno Smith was "way ahead of the pace of a normal rookie." Smith had mixed reviews during the offseason practices and worked out on his own away from teammates after minicamps wrapped. 

"I think Geno's close," he said. "I don't think he's there yet. But he's close to being able to get into a game and function at a high level. So our whole challenge — and his challenge — is that first preseason game. Now let's get to a point where you can function at a high level."

Smith will battle Mark Sanchez for the starting job in training camp. 

After throwing two pick-sixes in a terrible practice performance Tuesday, Ryan Tannehill looked sharp Wednesday, making several nice throws to Mike Wallace, reports ESPN.com. The highlight was Tannehill's back-shoulder touchdown strike to Wallace.

Tannehill also hit Armon Binns for two long gains, and the second-year quarterback did not commit a turnover. Wednesday's performance was a welcome sight for Dolphins fans expecting significant improvement. Miami added Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Dustin Keller in addition to re-signing Brian Hartline this offseason, giving Tannehill plenty of weapons.

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley called it an “open competition” between Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne and said each could start a preseason game.

He did not give a timetable for picking a starting quarterback but said, “Hopefully, it’s not something we do right before the season,” according to Jaguars.com.

Jacksonville averaged 14.1 points with Gabbert last year, 18.3 with Henne.

Bring it on. That’s the attitude Philadelphia’s Nick Foles is taking to the quarterback competition with Michael Vick and Matt Barkley.

"I have all the confidence in the world in my ability ... I still respect the players around me, and I know what they're capable of doing,” Foles told Philly.com. “But at the end of the day, I'm not here to be a backup. I'm here to be the guy.”

Foles started six games as a rookie last year, throwing for 1,699 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions.

Barkley, a fourth-round pick out of USC, believes it’s a three-man race.

"The coaches have said that it's kinda there,” he said. “My mindset is that I'm in it, and I've got to do everything to prove to the coaches that (the job) is mine."

Vick did not talk to the media Monday.

The Jets announced Monday they signed second-round pick Geno Smith. The rookie quarterback is competing with Mark Sanchez for the Jets' starting quarterback job.

In our recent 12-team standard mock draft, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was selected in Round 9 at No. 98 overall. That's later than he's going based on his Average Draft Position on CBSSports.com, which is No. 68.

We understand most leagues won't wait on a quarterback like we did in this mock draft, but that's still a tremendous value pick to get Wilson in Round 6 on average. He was a standout quarterback last season and should again do well in 2013, especially with the addition of Percy Harvin.

In waiting on Wilson until Round 6 you can start your draft with at least two running backs, two receivers and a tight end or flex. You can then draft Wilson, who last year had at least 20 Fantasy points in a standard league in seven of his final eight games.

Wilson should finish this season as a Top 10 Fantasy quarterback, and you'll be happy to have him on your team, especially if you wait long enough to draft him with a mid-round pick.

Bengals receiver A.J. Green fully supports Andy Dalton as the quarterback of the future, reports the team's official website.

"I don't feel like it's a make-or-break year for him," Green said. "He's still the quarterback of the future because he has every intangible to be a great one. He works hard, he has great leadership. I think he'll be fine."

Green thinks 2013 is going to be a great year for Dalton.

"You look at Tom Brady and all the best quarterbacks in the league, it takes four or five years for them to really get in a groove," Green said. "Aaron Rodgers sat behind (Brett) Favre for years. (The criticism) comes with the territory."

Eagles coach Chip Kelly does not need to have a mobile quarterback for his offense to be successful, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Michael Vick is competing for the starting job with Nick Foles, and rookie Matt Barkley might also be in the mix.

"If the fact they have the ability to run, I believe that's an added bonus, but that's not the precursor to what we do," Kelly said. "We've said it since day one. I want the quarterback that has the ability to run. I do not want a running back that can throw. We've never been that type of offense, and I think that's a misconception."