NFL Player News

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is "very confident" the team will reach a longterm deal soon with tight end Jimmy Graham, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The Saints slapped the franchise tag on Graham, who wants to be paid like a wideout and not a tight end.

The Buccaneers will likely use both of their tight ends this season with Timothy Wright and Brandon Myers expected to split time and play in tandem, reports ESPN.

The report says "Wright did some nice things as a rookie last season, but Wright is limited as a blocker. That’s why the Bucs brought in Brandon Myers. He can contribute as a blocker and a receiver."

The Bucs aren't likely to use a fullback very often, which means there could be a lot of two-tight-end sets. 

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday that second-year tight end Travis Kelce is "progressing well" from last year's microfracture surgery on his knee and "doing everything," reports the Kansas City Star.

Kelce missed his entire rookie season after undergoing surgery in October. He had 45 catches for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season at the University of Cincinnati and is expected to play a big role in the passing game for the Chiefs this year.

Franchised player Jimmy Graham has until April 22 to file a grievance against the Saints for tagging him as a tight end. He and his representatives have said they believe he's more of a wide receiver than a tight end based on where he lines up and what he's asked to do. The Saints insist he's a tight end. 

It was initially believed by ProFootballTalk.com that the Saints and Graham would agree to terms before the deadline for a grievance arrived. But general manager Mickey Loomis said the team doesn't view April 22 as a deadline to get a deal done. The Saints have until July 15 to sign Graham to a multi-year deal; if they don't then he can only sign the one-year franchise tender. 

Graham had 86 catches for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. 

With Dwayne Allen fully recovered from his hip injury, the Colts plan to put him and fellow tight end Coby Fleener on the field a lot, often at the same time, reports ESPN.com. 

“We love using tight ends like everybody else,” coach Chuck Pagano told the website. “But (Fleener) took a big step in Year 2 and played really good football for us and will continue to do that. Getting Dwayne back, we're going to have great options there. You get that inline blocker in Dwayne but don't forget that Dwayne is a heck of a pass receiver, too. So we can create a bunch of mismatches with those guys and get them out in space and get the matchups that you want. It's going to be a great situation.”

Pagano said having Allen and Fleener allows for multiple formations and "gives us a lot of flexibility there.”

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen is fully recovered from a hip injury that derailed his 2013 season. In fact, he says he feels almost 110 percent.

That has general manager Ryan Grigson excited about Allen's 2014 season.

“Dwayne Allen, the guy’s a beast,” Grigson said. “Anyone who game plans against him or watches the tape, or Joe Fan that just sees him how he plays in the red zone, how he plays in traffic, how he blocks at the point of attack, the tempo he plays at and the ferocity he plays at, he’s a guy you want on your team.

“He’s doing very well and we look forward to him having a great year.”

Anthony Fasano is the Chiefs' starting tight end, but second-year pro Travis Kelce will be "their pass receiver at tight end" and "an important piece" in the passing game, reports ESPN.com. Kelce missed all of last season following microfracture surgery but is expected to be ready for OTAs.

The Chiefs got only 53 catches from tight ends last year.

Free agent tight end Chase Coffman tweeted he's been told he won't be re-signed by the Falcons. Coffman appeared in 11 games last season without making a catch.

Calling him a "unique, physical specimen," new Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he expects to see more from second-year tight end Joseph Fauria in 2014. Fauria made waves as a rookie last year catching seven touchdowns (including three in the same game) on just 18 catches. 

"We've got the tall guy who can get down in the goal line area we can do something with, but not only that, I think you'll see Joe's going to be pretty good out in the field, too," Caldwell said from the NFL Owners Meetings. "[T]here will be some things he can do every down, there will be some things, obviously, he can do on passing downs as well. ... Do I think that he's one of those guys you can put in a bunch of point-of-attack runs and heavy run-oriented situations? I think you're misusing him in terms of his talent level. I mean the guy is athletic, he can run, he can jump, and to take him and pidgeon hole him into one area, I think, would be unfair. I do think he's talented enough to play on every down but I do also think that he's a specialized talent that you have to make certain that you put him in the best possible position in order to be successful."

Fauria will battle for playing time this summer; the team re-signed fellow tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who might end up seeing far more playing time but not necessarily as many targets. 

Saints owner Tom Benson is confident the team will strike a long-term deal with Jimmy Graham at some point this offseason, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "He's a hell of a good player, but he's also a good person," Benson said. "I'm confident we'll work out something. We just have a little bit of time to do it. That's all."

Benson said there's no pressure to get a deal done quickly, despite the April 22 deadline for Graham to challenge his franchise tag designation as a tight end. Graham wants to be paid like a receiver.