NFL Player News

The Giants have their eyes set on a couple of versatile free agent running backs. 

According to NJ.com, the Giants will target Redskins running back Roy Helu and Falcons running back Antone Smith. Both backs are shifty, versatile options out of the backfield that can also make plays int he passing game. 

The Giants' goal is to find a change-of-pace back to compliment both Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams. 

Helu only ran for 216 yards and one touchdown a season ago but caught 42 passes for 477 yards and two touchdowns. Smith never recorded more than six touches in a game this past season but still managed to total 366 combined rushing and receiving yards and five touchdowns. 

Free-agent running back Chris Johnson is recovering at an Orlando hospital after being shot in the arm Saturday night, NFL.com reports.

Johnson has been training in Los Angeles, FOXSports.com reports, but was back home this weekend an riding around with friends when his car took gunfire. One person in the car, the driver, was killed, according to ESPNNewYork.com.

Johnson is stable and expected to be OK following the shooting. No arrests have been made at this time.

The Browns have re-signed exclusive rights free agent running back Shaun Draughn and punter Spencer Lanning on Friday, per the team's official website.

The Colts gave linebacker Jerrell Freeman, a restricted free agent, a qualifying offer, the organization announced on Thursday. 

The Colts also placed tenders on exclusive-rights free agents OLB Daniel Adongo, RB Dan Herron and OLB Cam Johnson.

The Redskins are interesting in bringing back running back Roy Helu, but he "absolutely" will test the free-agent market, reports ESPN 980, adding Helu is 50-50 at best to return to Washington.

Helu has averaged 4.4 yards per carry in four seasons with the Redskins while catching 129 passes and scoring 10 total touchdowns. He typically served as Washington's passing-down back.

>> Want more NFL offseason? >> Mock drafts | Free agency tracker

Jonas Gray burst on the scene for the Patriots last season, rushing for 201 yards and four touchdowns in a Sunday night game. Just as quickly, he was gone. 

Gray overslept and was late for practice, and coach Bill Belichick didn't give him another chance to showcase his skills. Gray was inactive for the Super Bowl. 

Gray learned his lesson. "The tough part for me was to watch it, and not participate in a matter I thought I should," he told Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. "But it's motivation going into the offseason. I just know I need to work harder, so I'll never get myself in that position again." 

Still on the Patriots, Gray believes he'll get a clean slate next season, and he's spending the offseason preparing himself for the opportunity. 

I tell them, I'm going to have a Jerry Rice/Walter Payton mentality where whatever you do isn't enough," Gray said. "I'm going to have a work ethic where I know, in my heart of hearts, I'm going to outwork everybody. That's what I hope to achieve

Broncos running back Juwan Thompson recently underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee to fix a knee injury, which ended his season, reports The Denver Post.

Thompson was inactive for the final game of the season and the playoffs after suffering a knee and hip injury. General manger John Elway said Thompson will compete for a fullback role in 2015.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer spoke highly of rookie running backs Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West, but indicated that Cleveland will look to adding more backs this offseason, per NFL.com. Farmer would not reveal whether he would add through free agency or the draft.

The role of both backs fluctuated during the season, especially after the team released Ben Tate. Crowell ran for 607 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, while West rushed for 673 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry in 2014.

Whether the Patriots are able to hang onto running back Shane Vereen or not, it looks like his price tag is set.

According to a the Boston Herald, Vereen is looking for a contract worth $5 million per season. Vereen apparently prefers to stay in New England, though his current price tag might force the Patriots to let him walk when March 10 rolls around.

As a running back with a specialized role in New England's offense, Vereen ran for 391 yards and two touchdowns on 96 carries and caught 52 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns. 

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged during his combine press conference on Thursday that the team will have to find ways of "manufacturing" touches for wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, but said that it's a "two-way street," per NFL.com.

Zimmer is seeking a bounce-back season for Patterson after a disappointing 2014 campaign. in a highly disappointing second season. In 2013, Patterson finished with 45 catches for 469 yards and four touchdowns and 12 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns. He caught 33 passes for 384 yards and a touchdown in 2014.