NFL Player News

CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reports that it won't be too long before Aaron Rodgers becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history. It could be a week or two. Perhaps a month or two. But given the ongoing negotiations between the star quarterback and the Packers, the progress to this point and the accepted reality between the sides that Rodgers is going to eclipse in most every way the recent record contract signed by Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, it's only a matter of time before he becomes the league's first $25-million a year man -- or close to it. La Canfora reports he would not be surprised if a deal was struck before the draft. Rodgers is currently scheduled to earn just $9.75 million this season and $11 million in 2014, the final years of his current deal.

NFL.com reports that quarterback Matt Barkley proved at USC's pro day he's fully healed from the shoulder injury that cut short his senior season with the Trojans. "I think primarily that I still have an arm, and it works," Barkley said what he proved with his performance. "I think that was the big question. Just the fact I haven't been able to throw for so long, since the bowl game, nothing at the Senior Bowl, nothing at the combine. I just wanted to come out today and do what I normally do, just kind of put myself in a normal practice mindset like I've done this a million times before." Reactions were mixed on Barkley's workout. Choosing to throw against the wind, Barkley had some balls flutter. His deep accuracy was good, however, and he finished 55-of-60 passing for the day. "Yeah, we decided to go that way, headed into the wind," Barkley said. "We knew the coaches were probably going to ask us to go that way afterwards if we chose to go with the wind. I don't think it posed too much of a problem, maybe a couple of balls here and there, but I thought it was a good day overall."

The Jaguars official team website reports that quarterback Blaine Gabbert, after finishing the 2012 season on injured reserve, on Wednesday said he will enter the offseason program 100 percent healthy. The torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder healed quickly after late-season surgery, he said, and although the forearm injury that ended his season was more complex, he said he has been recovered from that and throwing full for the last month. As the offseason opens, Gabbert said he understands his situation entering Year 3. First-year general manager David Caldwell has said while Gabbert will get every chance to win the starting job, there are no excuses for the former 10th overall selection in the draft, and that the competition will be real – and could possibly include not only veteran Chad Henne, but a rookie draft selection and a veteran free agent. Gabbert said he welcomes the competition, and said regardless of what anyone says publicly, this is a critical year. “The third year is an important year for any quarterback,” Gabbert said. “It’s where you make the jump. You start playing at a high level. There are still going to be ups and downs. Some guys have off seasons and they’ve been playing 10 years in the NFL. You have to eliminate the peaks and valleys. You have to play at a high level consistently. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing.”

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is expected to be released or traded soon for a late-round draft pick. McCoy has become expendable now that the Browns have signed former Bears quarterback Jason Campbell to a two-year contract. McCoy, the backup last season to Brandon Weeden, is not a match for the downfield, vertical passing game of new coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner, and would fit better in a shorter passing game.

The Sports Xchange reports the Bengals and quarterback Josh Johnson have agreed to a two-year deal.

While saying that Ryan Tannehill has "still a long way to go," Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin remains a staunch believer in his young quarterback's abilities. "I think he’s going to be a very good quarterback," Philbin said from the NFL Owners Meeting. "You only have 1,100 plays or a 1,000 plays, but you've got a lot more on the practice tape (and) you can see him making vertical throws. You can see him making out-breaking route throws. You can see him making in-breaking route throws. You can see him move around. He’s athletic and he’s smart, so there’s no really warning signs right now to me that would say he shouldn't develop into an excellent football player."

Quarterback Brian Hoyer signed his one-year tender with the Cardinals on Wednesday. He'll earn just over $2 million with the team, assuming he doesn't get cut first.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that the Packers are working on a contract extension for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and ESPN reports that it will likely be around $100 for four years. Team president Mark Murphy said the Packers are pursuing a long-term deal with Rodgers that would likely be done before the start of this season and make him the highest-paid player in the NFL. "It's a priority," Murphy said. "I think as an organization, I think we all want to see that get done." Murphy said the Packers would not have a problem coming up with the cash to fund what is expected to be as much as $50 million in guaranteed money. Rodgers is in year six of a seven-year, $65 million contract he signed in November of 2008, his first year as a starter. He is scheduled to make $9.75 million of salary this year, which is far behind the yearly average of the top quarterbacks in the game.

CBSSports.com NFL Insider Mike Freeman reports from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix that Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called quarterback Andy Dalton the "little guy" when talking about other passers in the AFC North in comparison to Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. "Andy just needs to keep being Andy," said Lewis. He added: "He just needs to keep playing and doing his thing. It's not his fault." When asked what Dalton needs to do Lewis, only half joking, said that Dalton "has to quit listening to you guys." Meaning the media. "He is his own worst enemy," said Lewis of Dalton. "He listens too much to what people say. For being such a big, tough guy he's too concerned about people liking him."

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan told ESPN Monday he will not play quarterback Robert Griffin III until he is "100 percent." Griffin is recovering from reconstruction surgery of the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his right knee suffered in the team's playoff loss to the Seahawks in January. Shanahan also said the team is making plans in case Griffin can't start the season on-time. Kirk Cousins will take all the offseason first-team reps.