NFL Player News

Echoing the sentiments of teammate Greg Jennings, Vikings wideout Cordarrelle Patterson referred to the team's new offense as "tough." Minnesota hired long-time play caller Norv Turner to run the offense, bringing his aggressive downfield approach with him. 

"[I]t's totally different than last year," Patterson said. "It's going to be tough, but us guys we are going to work together and we are going to be with each other. We'll have to come early in the morning and leave late after practice. We are going to be with each and we're going to get it done."

Patterson said he's spoken to receivers who have played in the offense including Josh Gordon, who was a superstar last season with the Browns. The second-year player said he's focusing far more on improving his work ethic after being disappointed with it last year. 

The Bears plan to add a running back either through the draft or free agency to help ease the workload for Matt Forte, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

No running back in the NFL touched the ball more than Forte in 2013. He had 289 carries and 74 receptions, setting career highs with 1,339 rushing yards and 594 receiving yards.

This offseason, the Bears cut Michael Bush, but all they have now behind Forte is Shaun Draughn, who had four rushes last season, to join Michael Ford, who spent his rookie year on special teams.

The reports says that either through the draft or with a late free-agent pickup, the Bears need a complementary piece, but one who, were Forte to be injured, could carry the load.

Broncos running back Montee Ball is projected as the starting running back this season ahead of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman, but he's not taking anything for granted, reports ESPN.

"I know for a fact they're not going to hand it to me, they're going to make sure we all get our opportunities throughout camp and throughout OTAs … but it's going to be who's the most productive," Ball said. "But for me, my mentality is that it is my job."

Denver can still add a running back between now and the draft to challenge Ball, but he's prepared to be the starter come Week 1.

"I don't want them to bring another running back in," Ball said. "I want it to be my job and that’s how I'm approaching it, in the most humble way possible. Like I said, I understand they’re not going to hand it to me, but I'm going to work really, really hard to contribute."

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews isn't upset in the least that the team signed Donald Brown this offseason. In fact, he's welcoming it with open arms.

"I can't wait," Mathews said about playing with Brown, per U-T San Diego. 

Mathews is coming off of a career season but an ankle injury kept him limited down the stretch. While it's expected that Brown will help shoulder the load a little bit -- Mathews has been called the "bell cow" numerous times by general manager Tom Telesco -- Mathews anticipates that if he wants to play 16 games and break the 1,255 yards he had last year, he'll need Brown to fill in for him. 

"I (want to) make it more than 16 games," Mathews said. "That was a big goal last year: 'Alright, let's get him through 16 games.' We did that. Now the goal is to keep me healthy, keep running after 16 games. The coaches did a good job of getting another guy like Donald to help me out. It's going to be fun."

Colts running back Trent Richardson, who joined the team via trade early last season, apparently is gaining a lot from the offseason program.

"Just to get back at it and just to be out here with my teammates, it’s a blessing," he said. "To be taking everything slow and to know the real concept of the plays, not just going week to week and just really knowing why the quarterback is doing this or why they’re thinking that or why do we got these audibles set up in this play or why the offensive line is making this call, not just if they make this call, I go that way and make sure I block this person. It’s way different. It’s much easier and it’s slowing down a lot so it’s making the game much better for me."

Richardson called the offseason workouts "very important" in terms of building chemistry with the offensive line and quarterback Andrew Luck.

"To know the real actual plays, what they’re meant for, what’s the real concept," he said. "Knowing the concept of a play is the biggest thing because when it comes down to it, if you just remember what you’re doing, that’s not good enough. I felt like I remembered the playbook last year. I know it now but I remembered the playbook last year but I’m learning a lot this year. If you can really break that down, I’m learning a lot this year. As much as I’ve learned in this last week, much more than I learned last year."

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the team planned to add one or two running backs even before Ray Rice's felony assault case, reports ESPN.com. Look for Baltimore to draft at least one of those.

Behind Rice, the Ravens have Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett and Cierre Wood.

The Vikings have "four solid options" at receiver and have bigger draft needs than wideout, reports the Minneapolis StarTribune. The paper expects the team to pass on receivers in the draft, then add one from the deep pool of undrafted free agents.

Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright project as the team's top four wideouts.

49ers general manager Trent Baalke said he does not plan to trade disgruntled running back LaMichael James, reports the Sacramento Bee. Baalke added he believes James is working out in Texas, and not with the team, due to the recent birth of his child.

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said running back Doug Martin, who's coming off shoulder surgery, has "taken every rep we've asked him to" at the team's voluntary minicamp, reports the Tampa Tribune.

“To finally see him on the football field, he’s compact and he runs downhill an awful lot, but the wiggle that he has, he can make people miss in the open field,’’ Smith said. “And he’s a happy guy. I like being around him. He takes coaching well."

Colts running back Trent Richardson knew he would answer dozens of questions about his disappointing 2013. He proved he was prepared on Wednesday. Richardson told the Indianapolis Star that after reviewing his own film he realized he was "trying to hit the home run" instead of playing patiently.

"When I (missed) the cuts and the holes, I said, 'Dang, how the heck did I miss that?'" Richardson said. "'How in the world did I miss that?' That's second nature. You never miss a cut. You get as much yards as you can get at every opportunity."

Richardson did feel like defenses were ganging up on him, "tacking 10 (defenders) in the box, nine in the box." But he's focused as ever about proving he can still play at a high level. 

"I want everybody to be on the edge of their seats," he said.