NFL Player News

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is hopeful that an appeal will allow stud quarterback Tom Brady to take the field for the season opener in September. But if Brady remains suspended for his role in Deflategate, the quality of the position is thrown into uncertainty.

Jimmy Garoppolo is a 24-year-old backup with six NFL games and 27 passes to his credit. Kraft has no idea how he will perform in Brady's place.

"He is a very hard worker, a very fine man, but until the bullets are flying and you're out there, no one knows," he told Monday Morning Quarterback. "Think about how many of these first-round picks, even, don't make it."

Garappolo, who was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Eastern Illinois, performed competently in limited opportunities last year. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 182 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

The Lions didn't go sexy in the first round of the 2015 draft. But quarterback Matthew Stafford is certainly not complaining.

His team drafted offensive linemen Manny Ramirez and Laken Tomlinson in the first round. Just what the doctor ordered - if that doctor is Stafford, who can certainly visualize the difference between the offensive line that will be protecting him in 2015 and the one that did not last season.

The Lions allowed 45 sacks a year ago - only 10 teams surrendered more. It was the highest number of times Stafford wound up on his back during his six-year career.

"Since the week before the draft, to the week after, it was like night and day," Stafford told MLive.com. "We just have so many more bodies, and so many more guys who are capable of playing well."

Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo drafted Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford when Spagnuolo was the coach of the Rams in 2010 and he said Bradford will be successful in Philadelphia, reports 97.5 FM The Fanatic.

"I know he's going to do great things there in Philadelphia," he said. "He's a better athlete than most people think. Trust me when I tell you he's got all the skills, and I keep going back to the fierce competitor because I believe elite quarterbacks in this league have that."

Spagnuolo cited Bradford's ability to make all the throws and his passion for football for his confidence in Bradford.

"I think he's in a great system there," Spagnuolo said. "What Chip [Kelly] does and what he'll do with him. His arm is top notch. I still remember the workouts in Oklahoma, and he was outstanding."

The Ravens released quarterback Keith Wenning and tight end Phillip Supernaw, reports The Baltimore Sun.

Wenning was a sixth-round pick in 2014, but he never received a snap during the regular season, while Supernaw played in six games for the Ravens and totaled two receptions for 27 yards.

Texans quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are expected to split first-team reps under center during offseason team activities this summer, according to the team's website.

"It's not new -- for me, it's kind of just getting back on the bike," Hoyer said Monday. "You learn to ride a bike and whether you don't ride it for a year or two, you can pick it up pretty quickly. There's some adjustments, especially with (George) Godsey being the offensive coordinator. It's been a great three weeks so far of getting re-acclimated and learning the nuances that he's kind of put his own spin on."

Hoyer threw for 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2014 with the Browns.

"For me, I'm kind of re-acclimating myself, so we're all kind of learning together," Hoyer said. "We've put a lot of extra work in after our workouts, whether it's going in the film room and looking at formations or going over concepts. I think that's really helped me and it's helped those guys, too. Especially in this offense, you're asked to do so much, so if you can do without thinking, it speeds up the process that much more."

Mallett threw for 400 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in three games for Houston before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury.

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is already turning heads in rookie minicamp, specifically offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, according to The Tampa Tribune.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been suspended four games for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the league, the NFL announced.

In addition, New England will lose their first-round draft pick in 2016, a fourth in 2017 and the team was fined $1 million. Brady was considered to have a "more probable than not" knowledge of the deflating of footballs during the 2014 season, including the AFC Championship game against the Colts, according to the Wells Report.

Brady will be able to participate in all off-season, training camp and pre-season activities.

The two team employees, John Jastremski and James McNally have also been suspended indefinitely without pay by the team. Commissioner Roger Goodell came to the decision after consulting multiple parties.

"We reached these decisions after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others," Goodell said. "We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report."

Backup Jimmy Garoppolo will likely take over for Brady in the first four weeks of the season, something his personal passing coach Jeff Cristiansen believes he's ready for.

"From the exchanges I've had with Jimmy, I can tell you Tom's been great with him, and helping him understand NFL defenses, along with the offense," Christiansen said. "He's got nothing but great things to say about the whole situation. He feels very fortunate."

The Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson are "10s of millions" apart in contract negotiations, various sources familiar with the talks have told radio station ESPN 710.

The offer by the club for an extension to Wilson is believed to be around $80 million. That would put him in the same ballpark with such veteran quarterbacks as Colin Kaepernick and Andy Dalton, but not the veteran elite such as Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger.

Wilson has guided Seattle to the Super Bowl in each of the last two years, winning it in 2013. But running back Marshawn Lynch and the defense have generally received much of the credit. Wilson, however, is coming off another strong season in which he completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,475 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Jets have announced three signings of 2015 draftees, including quarterback and fourth-rounder Bryce Petty.

Also in the fold are third-round selection and linebacker Lorenzo Mauldon and seventh-rounder and defensive tackle Deon Simon.

Despite the assumption of many that the Eagles traded for quarterback Sam Bradford to make him the automatic starter, fellow signal-caller Mark Sanchez doesn't perceive the situation the same way.

Sanchez believes there will be an open competition in camp, which is why he signed a two-year deal worth $9 million to return to Philadelphia.

"Absolutely," he told NFL.com. "That's the way I understand it. ... Just talking with coach (Chip) Kelly and knowing I'm comng with the opportunity to compete for the starting job. That was important to me."

Sanchez completed 64 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Eagles a year ago.