NFL Player News

In a quick interview, Chris Johnson told NFL.com Wednesday he would not like the Titans to bring in another running back to split reps with him. "Throughout all the years I've been in the league, when we get in the red-zone area they always put another guy in there," he said. " ... But if it comes down to a two-back system, I don't agree with that. ... I played in a two-back system in college (East Carolina) and I don't like it because you really can't get into a groove. That's something I wouldn't be happy with."

With Steven Jackson expected to hit the free-agent market this offseason, attention has turned to the Rams' remaining running back corps. At the NFL combine Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead expressed optimism in both Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson. Fisher said both have the capability of being every-down backs, though he added Pead was the one they took because they thought he could be "the guy," according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

With Steven Jackson expected to hit the free-agent market this offseason, attention has turned to the Rams' remaining running back corps. At the NFL combine Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead expressed optimism in both Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson. Fisher said both have the capability of being every-down backs, though he added Pead was the one they took because they thought he could be "the guy," according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said that running back Darren McFadden has suffered some "flukey" injuries. "He is as tough as they come," McKenzie said. "Those things happen." McKenzie also said he is counting on a big year for McFadden in 2013. "I'm looking forward to Darren McFadden having a great season this year," McKenzie said.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rams coach Jeff Fisher has confidence in the running backs who were behind Steven Jackson on the depth chart if Jackson is gone in 2013 as a free agent. That group includes Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson and Terrance Ganaway, who were all rookies in 2013. “They’re options,” Fisher said. “I’m not one to deal in hypotheticals. We drafted Isaiah because we felt like he has a chance to be a good back, not necessarily just a change of pace back for ‘Jack,’ but the guy. Daryl can be the guy. Most everybody is using multiple backs in their offense. Ganaway has an opportunity. And there’s a number of really good backs in the draft this year.”

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rams coach Jeff Fisher has confidence in the running backs who were behind Steven Jackson on the depth chart if Jackson is gone in 2013 as a free agent. That group includes Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson and Terrance Ganaway, who were all rookies in 2013. “They’re options,” Fisher said. “I’m not one to deal in hypotheticals. We drafted Isaiah because we felt like he has a chance to be a good back, not necessarily just a change of pace back for ‘Jack,’ but the guy. Daryl can be the guy. Most everybody is using multiple backs in their offense. Ganaway has an opportunity. And there’s a number of really good backs in the draft this year.”

The Falcons official team website reports that coach Mike Smith is fond of running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who gained 362 yards as a rusher and added 402 yards on 53 receptions. He added a touchdown as a rusher and a receiver as well and Smith said Rodgers showed that he can handle all three downs with the offense. “We thought he was only going to be a change of pace back,” Smith said. “We found out very quickly that even though he is short, he is not little. He can handle all three downs and he does a very good job for us returning kicks."

DuJuan Harris was a pleasant surprise for the Packers late last season, so much so that general manager Ted Thompson wants to know what he can do for them after spending the offseason with them. "He did a good job," Thompson said. "And we’re looking forward to having him here for the whole thing, because when you come in in the middle of the season, you don’t go through the offseason, you don’t get to see them in training camp and the stress times and things like that. You’re already in the regular season. So there’s a lot more that we need to get to know about him. But he did a nice job for us."

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians both had nice things to say about third-year running back Ryan Williams on Thursday. Speaking from the NFL combine, Arians made no qualms about Williams' athletic ability, adding he needs to stay healthy. That's been a problem for Williams after he tore a patella tendon and missed his entire rookie year, then had shoulder surgery that wiped out a huge portion of his second season. Keim was especially optimistic about Williams. "He’s a guy that, watching film with Bruce, because he got injured early in the season, you forgot the type of run skills Ryan had," Keim said according to the official team's website. "We watched him against Philadelphia, we watched him against New England, his lateral quickness, his natural run skills, his avoid-ability is something he brings to the table. Plus he’s a three-down back. We’re expecting big things out of Ryan moving forward."

During the same press conference Chargers general manager Tom Telesco referred to Ryan Mathews as someone who "can be a bellcow back," he also made it clear the team will search for another player to help him with the workload. Head coach Mike McCoy expressed the same sentiments on Thursday. "Would we like a complement back?" general manager Tom Telesco said. "There's no doubt about it."