NFL Player News

Free agent tight end Bear Pascoe is visiting the Falcons on Thursday, reports FOX Sports.

Pascoe has spent all five seasons of his career with the Giants and has 38 catches for 333 yards and one touchdown.

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz had some big games down the stretch of his rookie season, catching two touchdown passes against the Cardinals and making six grabs for 57 yards and a score at Minnesota. Ertz is preparing for a bigger 2014 role. 

“I want to be more of a complete tight end," he told the team's website. "I don’t want there to be a situation where I have to come off the field because it’s a running play or a passing play and the coaches feel they have to get me off the field. That’s what I’m working for this year.”

Ertz finished with 36 catches for 469 yards and four touchdowns while sharing time with Brent Celek and James Casey. The website said the Eagles plan to move Ertz around the formation "quite a bit" and use his ability "to get down the field."

Tight end Gavin Escobar will be the most improved player on the Cowboys, according to ESPN.com's Todd Archer. Escobar might not improve his blocking much, but should play a lot more in 2014.

"I think the Cowboys will use him and play to his strengths more," Archer said. "He’ll attack the seams and be a red-zone threat on occasion."

The 6-6, 249-pounder caught nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Jason Witten will continue to dominate targets among Cowboys tight ends.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen said Wednesday that he's been cleared to "participate in everything" according to the official team website. He was able to run around and catch passes. Allen hurt his hip in Week 1 of last year and missed the remainder of the season. 

Saints coach Sean Payton said tight end Jimmy Graham is not participating in the team's offseason workouts due to ongoing contract talks, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Payton said "it's pretty normal" for a player in Graham's situation to sit out.

The team put the franchise tag on Graham, but there's optimism the sides will strike a longterm deal before training camp.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is "very confident" the team will reach a longterm deal soon with tight end Jimmy Graham, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The Saints slapped the franchise tag on Graham, who wants to be paid like a wideout and not a tight end.

The Buccaneers will likely use both of their tight ends this season with Timothy Wright and Brandon Myers expected to split time and play in tandem, reports ESPN.

The report says "Wright did some nice things as a rookie last season, but Wright is limited as a blocker. That’s why the Bucs brought in Brandon Myers. He can contribute as a blocker and a receiver."

The Bucs aren't likely to use a fullback very often, which means there could be a lot of two-tight-end sets. 

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday that second-year tight end Travis Kelce is "progressing well" from last year's microfracture surgery on his knee and "doing everything," reports the Kansas City Star.

Kelce missed his entire rookie season after undergoing surgery in October. He had 45 catches for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season at the University of Cincinnati and is expected to play a big role in the passing game for the Chiefs this year.

Franchised player Jimmy Graham has until April 22 to file a grievance against the Saints for tagging him as a tight end. He and his representatives have said they believe he's more of a wide receiver than a tight end based on where he lines up and what he's asked to do. The Saints insist he's a tight end. 

It was initially believed by ProFootballTalk.com that the Saints and Graham would agree to terms before the deadline for a grievance arrived. But general manager Mickey Loomis said the team doesn't view April 22 as a deadline to get a deal done. The Saints have until July 15 to sign Graham to a multi-year deal; if they don't then he can only sign the one-year franchise tender. 

Graham had 86 catches for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. 

With Dwayne Allen fully recovered from his hip injury, the Colts plan to put him and fellow tight end Coby Fleener on the field a lot, often at the same time, reports ESPN.com. 

“We love using tight ends like everybody else,” coach Chuck Pagano told the website. “But (Fleener) took a big step in Year 2 and played really good football for us and will continue to do that. Getting Dwayne back, we're going to have great options there. You get that inline blocker in Dwayne but don't forget that Dwayne is a heck of a pass receiver, too. So we can create a bunch of mismatches with those guys and get them out in space and get the matchups that you want. It's going to be a great situation.”

Pagano said having Allen and Fleener allows for multiple formations and "gives us a lot of flexibility there.”