Panther Racing hoping to end runner-up streak (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 16:44:52 PDT)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Panther Racing owner John Barnes would still like to celebrate in Indianapolis' Victory Lane some day.

Hakeem Nicks breaks right foot at Giants OTA (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:33:39 PDT)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks is expected to be sidelined up to three months after breaking his right foot at a team organized activity early Thursday.

Vegas has spoken, NFL season win totals are live (National Football Post)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:06:06 PDT)
Four picks to keep an eye on this summer as we approach the start of the 2012 season.

Hakeem Nicks out 12 weeks with broken foot (National Football Post)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 12:51:05 PDT)
Giants WR could miss start of training camp

Utecht expands music career, memory still hurting (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 03:22:33 PDT)
CINCINNATI (AP) Ben Utecht is writing songs for his next album at his home in Minnesota, another step in his highly unusual transition from professional athlete to musical artist.

NFL roundup: Players union files suit, accuses owners of collusion (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:14 PDT)
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused NFL owners and the league of collusion during the 2010 NFL season.

Broncos acquire Chris Gronkowski from Colts (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 12:48:42 PDT)
Denver acquired fullback Chris Gronkowski from the Indianapolis Colts for cornerback Cassius Vaughn, the Broncos announced.

Colts swap linebackers as part of defensive change (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 12:12:35 PDT)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis Colts have signed outside linebacker Jerry Browns and waived outside linebacker Brandon Peguese.

Colts acquire Vaughn in exchange for Gronkowski (National Football Post)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 12:06:02 PDT)
Cornerback heads to Indy in exchange for fullback.

Indianapolis Colts Trade FB Chris Gronkowski to Denver Broncos for DB Cassius Vaughn: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 11:35:00 PDT)
The Indianapolis Colts have traded fullback Chris Gronkowski to the Denver Broncos in exchange for defensive back Cassius Vaughn. As a longtime fan of the Colts, I really like this move.

Broncos trade for Chris Gronkowski (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:25:27 PDT)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos have traded defensive back Cassius Vaughn to the Indianapolis Colts for fullback Chris Gronkowski.

NFL seeks to add excitement, maintain integrity with later trade deadline
(Tue, 22 May 2012 17:29:24 PDT)
Supporters are for contenders making moves as long as it's not at the expense of struggling teams dumping their rosters.

Broncos' restocked secondary gets high marks (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 17:27:45 PDT)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Peyton Manning and Champ Bailey are giving the Denver Broncos' restocked secondary two thumbs up.

Schiano: Winslow trade not about sending message (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 16:52:03 PDT)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) New Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano insists he wasn't sending a message by trading tight end Kellen Winslow, just improving the football team.

Browns' McCoy hoping for fair fight for job (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 16:44:41 PDT)
BEREA, Ohio (AP) Colt McCoy has been promised a fair fight by the Browns.

Colts sign 5th-round draft pick Josh Chapman (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 14:29:10 PDT)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis Colts have signed fifth-round draft pick Josh Chapman, giving them six draft choices under contract.

Dallas Clark getting used to new surroundings in Tampa (National Football Post)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 10:56:05 PDT)
Tight end hoping to be rejuvenated with Bucs

Seau's suicide prompts worries about post-NFL life (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 09:42:21 PDT)
Junior Seau's suicide is troubling NFL players.

Seahawks trade for Kellen Winslow; hope to make 2-TE sets more productive (Shutdown Corner)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 05:55:50 PDT)
In 2011, per the game-charting of NFL.com's Brian McIntyre, the Seattle Seahawks put two tight ends on the field 39 percent of the time, one of the highest figures in the NFL. However, they didn't get much production from those tight ends. Former Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller, acquired as a free agent before the 2011 season, caught just 25 passes on 44 targets for 233 yards and no touchdowns -- Seattle's injury-weakened offensive line put Miller in a position to block most of the time. Despite that, Miller led the team in all categories at the position. On Monday evening, the Seahawks endeavored to become more productive with the 2-TE sets they prefer by trading for ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow. For assuming Winslow's contract, the Seahawks gave up just a seventh-round draft pick in 2013 (conditional sixth if Winslow meets certain performance guidelines). Winslow has three years left in a six-year, $36.1 million contract he signed in 2009, but the $3.3 million he's due this season in base salary is not guaranteed. The eight-year veteran was deemed expendable by new Bucs head coach Greg Schiano after missing a recent round of OTAs, and it was Winslow himself who revealed the news -- last Saturday, Schiano told him that the Bucs were looking to make a deal and get him out of there. In his place, the Bucs signed former Indianapolis Colts TE Dallas Clark to a one-year deal. [ Related: Trading Kellen Winslow could be risky for the Buccaneers ] "It's kind of shocking, but that's what it is," Winslow told Ross Tucker of SIRIUS NFL Radio on Monday morning. " [Schiano] said he was upset that I wasn't working out with the team in the offseason, and then, the first week of OTAs. But, look -- I've been there the last three years, and I've had a successful career so far, and you just don't get rid of one of your best players because of that. That's just what I was told, but I have nothing bad to say about coach Schiano -- it was just a disagreement on why I'm not there yet. I was training in San Diego, and I was going to start [in OTAs with the team] today, but I got the call on Saturday that they're looking for somebody else." Winslow was especially surprised, given his claim that he has participated in a team event before in this preseason. "There was a previous minicamp -- I went to that. It was a three-day minicamp and then, I came back down to San Diego to train, and I was going to start [back with the team] today."

Buccaneers deal TE Winslow to Seattle, sign Clark (The Associated Press)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 20:59:24 PDT)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded tight end Kellen Winslow to the Seattle Seahawks for a draft pick on Monday night and signed former Colts star Dallas Clark to replace him.

Bucs acting fast to replace Kellen Winslow with Dallas Clark (National Football Post)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 15:40:12 PDT)
Ex-Colts tight end headed to Tampa

All reports positive after Peyton Manning’s first organized team activity in Denver (Shutdown Corner)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 15:23:54 PDT)
For the most part, the glowing reports seen from early OTAs and minicamps should be taken with less than an actual grain of salt -- especially when you're talking about offensive players in non-contact drills, and quarterbacks throwing against defensive backs with no specific NFL future. That said, the Denver Broncos had to feel pretty good about the practice they set up on Monday, showing as it did the first real glimpses of Peyton Manning throwing in anything approaching game situations. It was the first time the media had seen Manning throw in his new digs. <br /> Because of the restrictive practice schedules put forth by the new collective bargaining agreement, Manning -- who signed a five-year, $96 million contract with the Broncos in March -- had to do a lot of work with his new receivers at high school fields. Finally back at the team's Dove Valley practice facility with the entire cast in tow, Manning looked like ... well, like he looks. He ran the practice, lined up his teammates (receivers, running backs, and even the other quarterbacks), and showed pretty good zip on the ball. It allowed Manning to continue to answer concerns about his ability to come back from a series of neck surgeries that brought his long tenure with the Indianapolis Colts to an end earlier this season. "We've had the opportunity to see him the past few weeks in Phase Two [of the workouts], and he does have great command," head coach John Fox said of Manning's progress. "He understands the game. As much as he's accomplished on the field, the things he does off the field in a leadership role is tremendous. Dealing with the physical part, he's getting better every day. It's something we felt good about, our medical people felt good about. His progress has been outstanding. We're excited about where he is." [ Also: 'Tebowing' to be included in Madden NFL 13 video game ] Manning, who had been rather quiet about the physical aspects of his recovery after sitting out the entire 2011 season, felt that things were definitely headed in the right direction. "It's hard to say," Manning reflected. "I try to get better every day—that's my goal. I really need to use this time. I do think there's a difference when you're on the field in helmets going against the defense. Up until now we haven't been able to go against the defense, so this will be great work for me. Going against [CB] Champ Bailey, [LB] Von Miller, [DE] Elvis [Dumervil], [CB Tracy] Porter, [CB] Drayton Florence, we just signed—we've got three great cover corners to work against. Until now we've been kind of just throwing passes versus air. You can work on your timing with the receivers, but really it's a great test to go against these corners. I'm looking forward to it and I'll try to use all these practices to see where I am and get better each time." But how close is he to normal? That, of course, is the $96 million question.

Manning looks good in Broncos' first OTA workout (The Associated Press)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 15:12:05 PDT)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) His passes were hitting receivers in stride and right between the numbers, not skipping off the ground or whizzing behind their heads like so many of Tim Tebow's.

Manning sharp in first Broncos' practice (National Football Post)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:14 PDT)
Veteran quarterback working on offense, timing during off-season work.