NFL Player News

A number of sources are reporting USC quarterback Matt Barkley has a Grade-3 shoulder separation, keeping him from participating in Combine drills. Barkley sent a letter to every NFL team explaining his injury and his decision to not work out at the Combine. He intends to throw at his Pro Day on March 27.

Browns blog DawgsByNature.com picked out an interesting nugget on quarterback Colt McCoy: Due to clauses in his contract he's set to make over $2.3 million in 2012. By cutting him the Browns save nearly all but $200,000 of that money.

New Jaguars quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo told the Florida Times-Union he believes Blaine Gabbert is better than any quarterback prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft. "If you graded him out right now, this is his draft class. If he were coming out and the quarterback draft class the way it is, would he be the top guy taken? I think the answer is yes," Scelfo said. "Ask the scouting departments and the general managers around the league and I think you would end up with a yes on that. Basically at his age, 23, the No. 1 pick in the draft with two years of experience already under his belt. That’s pretty good."

The Palm Beach Post reports the Dolphins should consider incorporating the pistol formation into their offense as they move into Year 2 of the Joe Philbin-Mike Sherman-Ryan Tannehill era in 2013. Sherman, the offensive coordinator, gave Tannehill more freedom to run at the end of the season, and he rushed for 181 of his 211 yards over the final six games, including a couple of 30-yard runs out of the read-option play that Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III made famous this year. Tannehill said he’s no stranger to the pistol, either. “I did a little bit in college — not a whole lot, but a few snaps,” he said. “So it’s something I have done before a little bit, and it’s exciting just to see the NFL grow in that direction.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Bengals will likely look to re-sign free agent backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. He is the No. 2 quarterback for the Bengals behind Andy Dalton.

The Palm Beach Post reports that Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is OK with the expected changes on offense coming in2013. Tannehill doesn’t exactly know who his teammates are going to be. Some of his favorite targets – Brian Hartline, Anthony Fasano and Reggie Bush – are all free agents. And the Dolphins could be adding new receivers in free agency come March 12 or in April’s draft. “I have faith it’s going to work out,” Tannehill said. “I have faith in our organization, our leadership up front in the main office that they’re going to make the best decisions for us and bring in guys that we feel like we can with it. I’m excited to see how it shakes out, but it’s not stressful for me.”

Jaguars general manager David Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley each suggested they'll be patient with Blaine Gabbert's progress. Though competition is expected at the position Gabbert will be given the chance to develop this year. "We’ve got the second-youngest quarterback in the NFL," Caldwell told the Florida Times-Union. "That was his second year. What were they saying about other quarterbacks after their second year? We’re looking for improvement [in his third year]. We need to build around him. We’ll upgrade whenever we can upgrade." Coach Bradley added Gabbert "has been very impressive so far in our conversations."

ESPN.com reports that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be paying attention to what happens in the Ravens’ contract negotiations with quarterback Joe Flacco. But Rodgers said Tuesday he isn’t worried about when he’ll get his own deal done. Flacco is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and his new deal could eclipse those of Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, whose contracts are the most lucrative of any quarterback in NFL history. Rodgers is under contract with the Packers through the 2014 season, having signed a six-year, $65 million contract in 2008 that contained $20 million in guaranteed money. “I think everybody is going to see what Joe (Flacco) ends up signing for,” Rodgers said Tuesday. Asked if it was more important to be the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback or sign a deal that pays him what he deserves while also leaving the team cap maneuverability to sign other players, Rodgers replied, “It kind of is what it is, as far as that goes. The team, when they’re ready to talk contract, we’ll get there when we get there. Obviously you’ve got to be able to have guys around you to compete and win every year, and we’ll see what happens with some of the free agents that we have. When that time comes, we’ll get a deal done. I’m not worried about that. I think the Packers want to keep me around for a little while longer, and I’d love to be a Packer for life.”

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers could get a new contract this offseason, especially if Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco gets a new deal at around $20 million annually. The report says Rodgers’ contract doesn’t run out until after the 2014 season, but he’s horribly underpaid at an average of $9.3 million a year, so the Packers appear more likely to address his contract this year.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson continued his multiple touchdown streak despite playing in a meaningless all-star game, spiking the AFC for three touchdowns on 8 of 10 passing in the 2013 Pro Bowl. He had 98 yards passing and 10 yards rushing in the game.