NFL Player News

Receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones both complimented Andy Dalton's improved arm strength and velocity, the Bengals official team website reported Wednesday. Dalton has spent part of the offseason with passing expert Dr. Tom House in Los Angeles.  

"Best I've seen him," Sanu said. "He's put a lot of work in the offseason, just seeing how he approaches it ... it's on you fast. You turn around and you're like, 'whoa.'"

"He's got a lot of zing, a lot of velocity to him," Jones said. "Especially when it matches the intensity with the way we run our routes. We run our plays in different periods and it just brings everybody up, him included. He's spinning the ball real nice."

Dalton had the best year of his career in 2013, getting 4,296 passing yards and 33 touchdowns along with 20 interceptions.

The Raiders signed quarterback Derek Carr, the No. 36 overall pick, to a four-year deal worth about $5.3 million, reports NFL Network. Carr threw for 5,082 yards and 50 touchdowns with eight interceptions last season for Fresno State.

He's expected to back up Matt Schaub in Oakland.

The Raiders are "firmly committed" to Matt Schaub as their starting quarterback this season, and it would take something "catastrophic" for second-round pick Derek Carr to start, reports ESPN's Jim Trotter. Schaub, who turns 33 in June, threw 10 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with the Texans last season.

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer took the first reps at OTAs, followed by Tyler Thigpen and rookie Johnny Manziel, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The battle for the starting job is between Hoyer and Manziel.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer told The Bull and Fox Show on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland that Hoyer is ahead of Manziel by "a substantial margin." 

"Who's the best quarterback right now? Brian Hoyer," Farmer said. " ... Here's a guy that's a five- or six-year veteran that has been in the league, that knows the defenses, that reads it quicker. It's like he's got an advanced calculus degree, and Johnny's good at math, but I don't know if he's in the advanced calculus stages yet."

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer opened OTAs wearing a brace on his right knee, reports ESPN. Hoyer underwent surgery to fix a torn ACL last October. He'll try to hold off rookie Johnny Manziel for the starting job.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer was asked in a rapid-fire ESPN interview what it would mean if rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel started the season opener. "Somebody got hurt," Farmer said, presumably referring to Brian Hoyer.

Farmer did not elaborate.

The Patriots have signed seven of their nine draft picks. Under contract are Florida State center Bryan Stork, Florida guard Jon Halapio, Georgia Tech cornerback Jemea Thomas, Stanford offensive tackle Cameron Fleming, Wisconsin running back James White, Concordia defensive end Zach Moore and Michigan receiver Jeremy Gallon.

First-round pick Dominique Easley, a defensive tackle out of Florida, and second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo, a quarterback from Eastern Illinois, remain unsigned.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the last pick of the first round, signed his rookie contract with the Vikings, the team announced. He'll compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told NFL Network that first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater will get first-team reps immediately and compete for the starting job.

"Teddy's been great," Zimmer said. "He's had a good command of the offense. I like his leadership. I like his determination. He's throwing the ball well. He's got good, quick feet. I think he's a good athlete. So he's progressing at a good pace."

Matt Cassel will have to fend off the rookie to start the season opener.

Speaking on WFAN-AM in New York, Jets coach Rex Ryan said that quarterback Geno Smith would be "hard to beat out" for the starting job in camp this summer. "He knows the offense forward and backwards," Ryan said according to the New York Daily News. "I'm definitely convinced that we can win with Geno Smith."

But Ryan wouldn't end the quarterback battle early, also saying that new quarterback Michael Vick, who the Jets signed this offseason, "definitely has a chance to win the job."