NFL Player News

Center Nick Mangold believes Mark Sanchez is the best quarterback for the Jets this season, and he said the rest of the locker room agrees with him. 

"I haven't walked around with a pen and paper and taken a poll, but from the feeling I get, the locker room wants to win. Whoever gives us the best chance to do that, we want out there -- and at this point, Mark gives us that best chance," Mangold told the New York Post, adding that Sanchez has shown "flashes" this spring while understanding the team's new playbook. 

As for rookie Geno Smith , who is battling Sanchez for the starting job, Mangold sees him as a hard worker who just isn't quite ready for the job. The team should declare a starter before the end of training camp. 

Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer likes what he sees from quarterback Sam Bradford this offseason.

ESPN reports that Bradford will work with Schottenheimer for a second consecutive season, which is the first time that's happened in his young career.

"The day Sam walked back into the building [this offseason] we started making adjustments," Schottenheimer said. "We are a thousand years ahead of where we were last year."

The Florida Times-Union reports that Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is on top of the depth chart heading into training camp ahead of Chad Henne for the starting job. The report says that "barring a horrific August, Gabbert will be the starter against Kansas City on Sept. 8."

Geno Smith had an excellent practice on Thursday, showing off his solid arm when he didn't telegraph where he was going with the ball. If the season started next week, Jets coach Rex Ryan said his rookie wouldn't be ready. But if he excels during training camp, then he might be. "His steps -- dropbacks -- his mechanics footwork wise weren't dialed in the way they'll have to be at this level," Ryan said according to the Newark Star-Ledger. "I think some of that is your five- and seven-step drops, it's all new to him. But sometimes you can't even notice it. Because when he's on, the guy is absolutely terrific. We knew that it's not an easy process but it's one that I have confidence that when we get to Cortland, I think when the thing goes I think you're going to see the guy keep improving and improving and improving."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson told ESPN that if push came to shove he'd be willing to run, but it's not why he is where he is. Wilson believes he'll struggle to stay healthy if he runs amok even though he practices a conservative approach when running to get out of bounds and avoid big hits. "To be honest with you, I don’t really like running," Wilson said. "I’d rather throw the ball to guys and let the true playmakers make the plays. When I have to run to get a first down, I’ll do that. If something extra happens, that is always good, too."

Former Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey told SiriusXM NFL Radio Wednesday that if he were still in Jacksonville he'd go with Chad Henne over Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. The two passers are battling for the starting job this summer, with Gabbert believed to have the edge. "I think the jury is still out on Blaine. He's got a lot of growing up to do. He's still a young player mature-wise," Mularkey said. " ... I know the number of starts that [Henne's] had and I know how our guys responded when he came in against Houston last year and we should have beat Houston. Lost to them in overtime at their place. And I know that, at the time, players were drawn to him by his leadership ability. He reminds me a lot of Matt Ryan, being with Matt for four years, of walking in that huddle and calling a play and guys believing the play's going to work. That's what Chad's got going for him right now."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said this offseason he feels more prepared because he's getting all the first-team reps. As a rookie last season, Wilson was sharing those snaps with Matt Flynn before Wilson won the job. “Well, it helps a lot, getting all the first-team reps just because I get to go against the ones every day first of all," he said. "Our defense is very, very talented. So to go against them every play is an awesome experience for me. And then just getting the groove – the offensive line getting the groove with the receivers, tight ends and running backs. Last year I was splitting a third of the reps all the way up through August pretty much. So that definitely helps a lot."

ESPN reports Tuesday that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez worked exclusively with the starters at minicamp practice while Geno Smith worked with the backups. The report says this has been the "usual" routine for all offseason practices so far as Sanchez and Smith compete for the starting job. The report says both quarterbacks "weren't great, but they weren't terrible." The good news was neither quarterback committed a turnover during practice.

ESPN reports Tuesday that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez worked exclusively with the starters at minicamp practice while Geno Smith worked with the backups. The report says this has been the "usual" routine for all offseason practices so far as Sanchez and Smith compete for the starting job. The report says both quarterbacks "weren't great, but they weren't terrible." The good news was neither quarterback committed a turnover during practice.

ESPN reports Tuesday that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez worked exclusively with the starters at minicamp practice while Geno Smith worked with the backups. The report says this has been the "usual" routine for all offseason practices so far as Sanchez and Smith compete for the starting job. The report says both quarterbacks "weren't great, but they weren't terrible." The good news was neither quarterback committed a turnover during practice.