NFL Player News

Second-year pro Ryan Nassib is firmly entrenched as the Giants' backup quarterback, reports The Star-Ledger. Nassib has picked up the new offensive system quickly, the paper said.

"Really smart," Danny Langsdorf, the team's new quarterbacks coach, told the paper. "I think he’s done a great job, especially in our no-huddle periods of just being able to get guys lined up, whether we’re in a two-minute situation or whatever situation we’ve been in he’s done a great job of just getting us in a correct formation, getting us lined up.

"He’s just got to keep working on executing, whether it’s a throw or timing with the receivers, he’s just got to continue to work with those guys but he’s been very good to this point in terms of studying and learning."

Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin made one regular-season catch in 2013 as he missed most of the year with a hip injury. Quarterback Russell Wilson told NFL Network the duo is building chemistry quickly.

"We've connected so much, and he's so fired up," Wilson said. "He looks so good."

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer told CBS Cleveland there's "no doubt" he's 100 percent healthy and that he'll participate fully in all of training camp. Hoyer is coming back from a torn ACL that ended his 2013 season after three games.

Hoyer sat out some team drills during OTAs as coaches managed his knee, but he's not expected to be limited during camp. "Yeah, no doubt. No doubt," Hoyer said. "I’m ready to go so can’t wait for Day 1."

The Ravens drafted Keith Wenning in the sixth round to vie with Tyrod Taylor for the backup job behind quarterback Joe Flacco. But in minicamps, Wenning did not appear ready to challenge Taylor, reports the Baltimore Sun.

The paper expects Wenning to serve as the No. 3 quarterback this season while Taylor finishes out his rookie contract.

Though it sounds far-fetched, Packers coach Mike McCarthy wants his offense to run 75 plays per game, reports ESPN.com. The team averaged nearly 69 plays in the games quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished last season. Denver led the league with 72.1 plays per game.

Playing at a fast pace "seems to be the answer to some of the different things defenses are doing," Rodgers told the website.

McCarthy said earlier that he wants all his running backs to be three-down players so there's no need to substitute. "We play pretty fast, but you always want to play faster," McCarthy said. "With a guy like Aaron, he plays faster than anybody I've ever been around."

Bengals receiver A.J. Green told NFL Network he's hoping quarterback Andy Dalton receives a contract extension. "We came in together and that is the great thing for me and him," Green said. "I know he's my guy. I don't want any other quarterback throwing me the ball. I think he feels the same way about me."

Green said he's built chemistry with Dalton in their three years together.

"He feels confident that whether I'm double covered, triple covered, it don't matter I'm going to come down with the ball," Green said. "And I feel like we've grown over these last three years and I feel like this year is going to be another key year for us."

Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner had high praise for rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who's competing with Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder.

"Teddy's been really, really impressive and a lot further along than I expected him to be," Turner said, via the team's website. Turner also said Bridgewater "has his sights set on playing and playing well as soon as he can, so that’s what you want."

Jets quarterback Geno Smith said his team can play in the Super Bowl this season, reports ESPN.

"I feel good about our team making a Super Bowl run," Smith said via the NFL Network.

The report says the Jets, according to Las Vegas, are 66/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLIX, ahead of only the Bills (75/1), Raiders (100/1), Titans (100/1) and Jaguars (200/1).

There were issues between Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and receiver Mike Wallace connecting on long passes last season. In 2013 Wallace had just five catches good for 40-plus yards, four of them legitimate deep lobs (and all of those four slightly underthrown). A big issue for Miami this offseason is to fix the deep ball for Tannehill and have him connect more often with the blazing-fast Wallace. 

According to ESPN, there's no visual evidence of an improvement. Over seven practices open to the media including the team's recent three-day minicamp, Tannehill has failed to connect with Wallace. He's tried but misfired. 

The team, including the receiver involved, insists that it's a non-issue. 

"(You) haven't been here. ... We hit those, about three or four of them so far," Wallace said. "Me and him haven't personally thrown that many. If we've thrown like six, we've hit on like four."

ESPN also notes that Wallace "appears determined" to have a big year. He's put in extra time after practice to work on his hands and received praise from his head coach, Joe Philbin, who said he's "doing the little things that can make the difference when the season comes around."

The Browns are trying to give quarterback Brian Hoyer a contract extension, sources tell ESPN. But according to Hoyer's agent, the negotiations will be difficult. 

Agent Joe Linta told NFL Network that "it will be a very difficult deal to do" because Hoyer is content to "wait and see what happens down the road."

Hoyer is entering a contract year as well as a well-publicized camp battle with Johnny Manziel.