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NFL Player News : CBSSports.com

1. Sam Bradford off to good start
   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."

2. Titans sign Blidi Wreh-Wilson
   The Titans agreed to terms with rookie cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson on Wednesday. 

   The Tennessean reports that Wreh-Wilson, a third-round pick, reached a four-year deal with salaries of $405,000 in 2013, $495,000 in 2014, $585,000 in 2015 and $675,000 in 2016.

   Only first-round pick Chance Warmack has yet to agree to terms.

3. Reggie Bush could see some punt returns
   Lions running back Reggie Bush could add punt return duties to his workload this year. Special-teams coach John Bonamego believes Bush could be a "situational" punt return man.

   "Reggie will have a role," Bonamego told the official team website. "Reggie (can return punts) and is willing to do it. That's more situational -- we need one, let's put him back there and let's see if he can make something happen. I had him his first two years in the league in New Orleans and that was the way he was utilized in that role. So, he's back there catching them in practice."

4. Titans sign Barry Richardson
   The Titans agreed to terms with veteran offensive tackle Barry Richardson on Wednesday.

   The Tennessean reports he'll add depth to the offensive line. Richardson started all 16 games for the Rams last season.

5. How often did Vernon Davis line up as a receiver?
   Earlier this week the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported that Vernon Davis worked at receiver during the team's recent minicamp, not at the traditional tight end spot he's been accustomed to. So I thought I'd get an idea of just how often Davis lined up off the line of scrimmage last year. 

   With a huge hat tip to ProFootballFocus.com founder Neil Hornsby we now know that Davis lined up as a tight end, be it in a basic set or as part of a two-tight end formation, on 798 plays. He lined up in the slot or out wide like a receiver 268 plays. And he lined up as a fullback 16 plays. He also sparingly lined up as a tackle, doing so 16 times. Point is that he lined up in a non-traditional spot roughly 25 percent of the time last year. Seeing that bump up to, say, 75 percent of the time this year seems off. But that's small potatoes all things considered -- his being on the field 95-plus percent of the time combined with an expected bump in targets is what Fantasy owners need for him to be an asset. That's why he's still a consensus Top 7 tight end among our Fantasy rankings and could inch his way into the Top 5 before too long. 

6. Latest update on Aaron Hernandez
   Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has not yet been ruled out as a suspect in the homicide investigation involving a semi-pro football player who was "an associate" of his, a source told CBS Boston on Wednesday. Hernandez is also not cooperating with police according to the report. 

   There is, however, a conflicting report from SI.com that says Hernandez is not believed to be a murder suspect. 

   Also revealed Wednesday: Hernandez is being sued by a man who claimed Hernandez shot him in the face. The lawsuit, reported by TMZ, was filed on June 13, five days before investigators checked into Hernandez's house in connection with the homicide. The case was originally dismissed because of a paperwork error that has since been rectified.   

7. Report: J.D. Walton's season in doubt
   Broncos center J.D. Walton had another surgery on his ankle this week and is now expected to miss the 2013 season, according to the Denver Post. Walton missed much of the 2012 season with a broken ankle. The team had hoped he'd play in the second half of the upcoming year. 
8. Hakeem Nicks noncommittal on future with Giants
   Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks said he's happy to be a Giant "right now" but that he does "understand the business side of football." In a Q&A with the New York Post, Nicks talked about a lot of things including his future with the team, hinting that he's not promising a return to the team after this season when his contract runs out. He said he's focused only on the 2013 season. 

   Nicks also said he did promise coach Tom Coughlin he would attend voluntary OTA workouts but skipped them because he didn't want to open himself up to injury. Nicks broke his foot at OTA workouts last year. The receiver said he did apologize to his coach. 

   "At the end of the day, there's stuff that's mandatory and there's things that are not mandatory," he said. "From my eyes, anytime you can let your body rest [is good]. Football is a physical sport, and it's a long season, too. Anytime you can let your body rest, I feel like that's always a blessing."

9. Vincent Jackson backs Josh Freeman
   There was some speculation coming into this season that Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman's job could be in jeopardy, but receiver Vincent Jackson is backing Freeman heading into training camp.

   The Tampa Tribune reports that Jackson said Freeman has returned as a far more comfortable and confident quarterback in Year 2 of offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan's system.

10. Ronnie Hillman wants bigger role
    Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman is out to prove he can be the starter in Denver this season. He knows people knock him because of his size and see him better suited to be just a change-of-pace back.

    "You get that when you're a smaller guy," Hillman said, according to NFL.com. "You can't take the pounding, but I just brush it off. Of course you hear things. I'm not going to sit hear and say I don't hear what they say, but you just got to let it go. Obviously, getting 22 carries in negative 13-degree weather against the Ravens (in the divisional playoffs), they shouldn't have much else to say about that if they're paying attention."

    The report says Hillman put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason and now weighs 200 pounds. He said the Broncos actually want him to drop weight and play in the 190-to-195 range.

    Hillman is competing for the starting job with rookie Montee Ball. Knowshon Moreno is also in the mix for playing time now that Willis McGahee has been released.

11. Vonta Leach close to finding team
    Fullback Vonta Leach expects to sign with a new team soon after being released by the Ravens last week.

    "I know I can play in this league, and I've got some teams that are courting me," Leach said, according to the Daily Reflector. "In the next two weeks, I know where I'll be playing."

    Leach has called a return to the Texans, where he earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2010, his first choice. He visited with the Dolphins last week. Nearly every team that features a fullback has been connected to Leach at some point in the last week.

    "There are a lot of teams out there that want me; about seven teams," Leach said. "Me and my agent are going to take our time and see what's the best fit for me. I'm probably going to play three more years before I hang it up."

12. Christian Ponder scrutinized at minicamp
    It took all of one minicamp practice for Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder to go under the proverbial microscope.

    ESPN Radio in Minnesota was on the scene for Tuesday's practice and the reviews were not good. Per observer Judd Zulgad, a long-time beat writer for the Vikings, Ponder's footwork wasn't good and his passes weren't sharp. While he wasn't impressed, Zulgad did caution that this was minicamp and the Vikings are still installing plays and tinkering with the offense. 

    Matt Cassel was signed by the Vikings to back up Ponder, but there's slowly growing belief he could push for the starting job at some point. 

13. Victor Cruz, Giants differ on compensation
    Giants receiver Victor Cruz is looking to sign a long-term contract, and he reportedly wants to be paid at least $10 million per year. The Giants don't feel that Cruz is worth that much and would pay him more than $7 million per year.

    The New York Post reports that it is believed the Giants are offering $12-15 million in guaranteed money, and Cruz is seeking $15-18 million in guaranteed money.

    If Cruz did not sign the restricted free agent tender offer he was given he could have held out of training camp with no repercussions, as the Giants could not fine him because he would not have had a contract. That leverage is now gone for Cruz, who would incur fines of $30,000 for every day he held out of training camp.

14. Justin Smith signs two-year extension
    Defensive end Justin Smith has signed a two-year extension through the 2015 season with the 49ers, according to Comcast Sportsnet. Smith wouldn't speculate much on his future a week ago when meeting with the media but did say he will be ready for training camp after playing through a triceps injury last year and having surgery for it during the offseason. 
15. Daryl Washington walking 'thin line'
    Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is concerned about linebacker Daryl Washington and his off-field behavior. Washington is due in court in early July for the next proceedings related to assault charges brought against him following a May arrest for allegedly grabbing his girlfriend by the throat and throwing her to the floor.

    Should that case reach a conclusion before the start of the 2013 season, Washington could face discipline from the league under the Personal Conduct Policy and that might extend his early season absence beyond the four-game suspension Washington will serve for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. 

    "Well, it’s all up to him. He's had double incidents and, as an organization, that throws a red flag up," Arians said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "But I think Daryl is a very bright young man who understands the mistakes he's made, and he's walking a very thin line in the league right now. Super talented, but you have to adhere to the rules."

16. Vikings expecting John Sullivan back by camp
    Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier expects center John Sullivan to return to practice by training camp. Sullivan is recovering from offseason microfracture knee surgery. 

    "Hopefully there are no setbacks between now and then," Frazier said. "Then when we get there we will plug him in right away. Unless they tell us there are some restrictions, we plan on plugging him in and going full speed ahead. From what I've been told there should not be any restrictions."

    Sullivan has started every game he's played the last five years.

17. Carson Palmer can still throw down field
    New Cardinals coach Bruce Arians runs an offense that stresses throwing the ball down the field. He said Tuesday that quarterback Carson Palmer can still chuck it when needed.

    Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Arians said Palmer's deep arm strength is fine. His arm strength has come into question in recent years following elbow problems toward the end of his tenure in Cincinnati, but Arians is not concerned at all.

18. Erin Henderson aims to keep starting job
    Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson sounded confident he was going to remain the team's middle linebacker, even as they kick the tires on free agent Desmond Bishop.

    "I'm playing the Mike," Henderson said, according to ESPN Radio in Minneapolis. "I hope it goes well for him (and) the Vikings like what they see. Welcome him with open arms, welcome him to the team. Not really sure what it's about. I'm just employee No. 50, baby. I just come out here and do what they ask me to do on the field. ... You definitely need as many good players as you can have. You never know what's going to happen throughout the season. All the ebbs and flows and ups and downs (of) 16 games. People get beat up, people get injured, get hurt. So it's always good to have people that can come in and play."

19. Levi Brown still rusty
    Cardinals offensive lineman Levi Brown missed last season with a torn right triceps muscle, and he apparently has some work to do in his return to action this year.

    Coach Bruce Arians said on SiriusXM NFL Radio Tuesday that Brown was "very rusty" coming off injury at minicamp but his "skills are still there."

    The Cardinals official team website reports that Brown is expected to open the season as the starter at left tackle.

20. Report: Rob Gronkowski could return early
    An optimistic report that tight end Rob Gronkowski will be back on the field before the end of the preseason was delivered by USA Today Wednesday. Gronkowski is a day removed from a microscopic lumbar discectomy surgery that went well according to a statement by his doctor, Dr. Robert Watkins.

    It was originally estimated that Gronkowski would need 12 weeks of rehab on his back while also rehabbing his forearm. That put him on a timeline that would end Sept. 10, two days after the Patriots' first game against the Bills. But a source told USA Today there's optimism he'd finish his rehab early. This is Gronkowski's second microdiscectomy; he had his first one while in college in 2009. 

    Gronkowski is a lock to start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If he's still on the list by Aug. 31, he'll miss the Patriots' first six games.