- [Ravens] Reserve defensive tackle Casey Walker showed perhaps too much physicality for this time of year, given the league's limitations on contact. He roughly tackled running back Terrence Magee to the ground -- getting him thrown out of the drill -- and engaged in a brief shoving match with backup guard/center Ryan Jensen.
- Second-year defensive tackle Casey Walker also flashed. He got into a bit of a shoving match with guard Ryan Jensen and was forceful up the middle.
- [Jags CB Aaron] Colvin working outside and in. We begin Day Four of Jaguars OTAs Takeaways with second-year cornerback Aaron Colvin, who continues to have the look of a player who could be key to the defense. Colvin, who opened the offseason as the starting nickel corner, has continued in that role, but Head Coach Gus Bradley and defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker each said Colvin also worked with the starters on the outside Monday. “We want to make sure we put our players in a position to be successful, so we’re going to make sure we try guys wherever we need to,” defensive coordinator Bob Babich said. Bradley said he has spoken with Colvin about the mindset needed to play inside and outside. “It’s a guy like (former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback) Ronde Barber,” Bradley said. “He played outside first and second down and on third down he moved inside or based on the personnel groupings, and that’s kind of the challenge that he had to go through,” Bradley said. “It takes a mindset to do that. It’s a challenge, but if you can have a corner play outside and then come in and move inside that’s a great quality.”
- The Chiefs’ experimentation along the offensive line during organized team activities continued Thursday, and it included one interesting switch: Donald Stephenson got the first-team reps at left tackle in front of Eric Fisher, who got the second-team reps.
At the beginning of OTAs, Chiefs coach Andy Reid warned that there would be plenty of experimentation, and when asked about his latest line, he again cautioned against reading too much into it.
"That’s the only way you can get Donald some reps there,” Reid said. “We want to make sure we’ve got everybody covered. Actually, Fish has done a very nice job, so I wouldn’t read anything into that. We’re staying consistent.”
- Jason Kelce On DeMarco Murray; 'That's The Type Of Guy You Want'
By Cal Setar c.setar@hngn.com
Jun 01, 2015 12:04 PM EDT
This offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles swapped the franchise's all-time leading rusher for a guy who led the NFL in yards gained on the ground by a very wide margin last year.
While the jettisoning of LeSean McCoy no doubt left many Eagles fans scratching their heads - or screaming at their computer screens - the later addition of DeMarco Murray in free agency probably eased more than a few concerns.
Murray, set to embark on the second phase of his NFL career, now as a member of Chip Kelly's new-look Eagles, seems to be impressing his Philly teammates with his approach to the game thus far.
"The first day we were out here, the team run [period] didn't go as well as we wanted it to," center Jason Kelce said, per Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com. "And he was out here the next day saying, 'Hey, that was my bad yesterday, guys. I didn't hit the hole the way I should have. I didn't do this the right way.' And that's the type of guy you want. Those are the type of people that take it upon themselves to make an actual difference. It's not this guy, it's not that guy, it's not on the superstar doing it one way. He's the guy that's taking accountability."
Behind the vaunted Dallas Cowboys offensive line last year, Murray racked up 1,845 rushing yards on a whopping 392 carries for a 4.7 yards per carry average.
While the strength of a Cowboys line built on the backs of three former first-rounders certainly aided Murray, the hulking ballcarrier has also averaged 5.5, 4.1 and 5.2 yards per carry over the other three seasons of his NFL career since entering the league as a third-round pick for Dallas out of Oklahoma.
Kelce, who has become something of an unspoken leader for the Eagles up front, has predominantly blocked for the shifty McCoy to this point in his career. Murray brings a more north-south running style on the field and a more straightforward, understated approach off of it.
Kelce seems intrigued by what he, the also recently-acquired Ryan Mathews and the diminutive, but electrifying Darren Sproles, can do out of the backfield for the Eagles next season.
"I think we have three tremendous backs," said Kelce. "I'm excited to work with each and every one of them. But so far, DeMarco's been absolutely great. He's been motivated to learn, motivated to be a part of this offense and a part of this team."
With Kelly building a bigger wide receiver corps and looking at either a second season with Mark Sanchez under center - or, more accurately, in shotgun - or a first, career-resurrecting year with Sam Bradford, the run game figures to feature prominently in Philly.
Murray seems to set to carry the bulk of the load in 2015 and if the early returns are any indication, it could prove to be a perfect fit between the former Cowboy and his new Eagles teammates and coaches.
- Eagles encouraged by what they’re seeing from Sam Bradford
Posted by Darin Gantt on June 3, 2015, 10:51 AM EDT
There’s at least one quarterback who looks good in Eagles camp, even if he’s the one doing the least.
Teammates were impressed with what they saw from quarterback Sam Bradford, who took part in 7-on-7 drills for the first time yesterday as he comes back from his latest torn ACL.
“Sam Bradford looks really good,” wide receiver Jordan Matthews said, via Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com. “I’m not gonna ruin the surprise, the kid can throw the ball, though.”
The Eagles are giving Bradford the benefit of patience, as he didn’t take all the reps, splitting the work with the ones with Mark Sanchez. But he’s also their most talented quarterback when well, so they’re going to give him a chance to get that way.
Bradford’s still wearing a brace on his left knee, and he didn’t do all the work, letting Sanchez work with the starters during situational drills later in practice. But the fact he’s working this much now can only be a good sign.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Bradford was “right on schedule,” keeping him from being the first ACL-tearer in the history of the NFL to be behind schedule.
“We all think there’s three phases: There’s medical rehab, there’s performance rehab and then there’s prepare to play,” Kelly said.
There are far worse fallback positions to have than Sanchez, who proved with the Jets he can be good enough to help a good team to playoff success. But Bradford has the talent to be something more than that, so it’s worth them giving him all the time he needs.
- The big news of the day was Bradford taking part in seven-on-seven drills, the first time he has done so since the team began OTAs. Bradford was in there for a few reps, completing his first two passes before having his third nearly picked off. If Bradford wasn't sporting a heavy knee brace you wouldn't be able to tell he was recovering from a torn ACL, as he seems to move fine out on the field in the drills he does take part in.
- As for [Lions WR] Ryan Broyles, who knows if the coaching staff will ever see him as anything more than Golden Tate insurance. The addition of Lance Moore, if he shows he has anything left in the tank during training camp and the preseason, could actually spell the end of Broyles' time in Detroit.
- Ryan Broyles on being healthy for the first time in his Detroit Lions career
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Ryan Broyles smiled. The Detroit Lions wide receiver almost always smiles, but right now he has more reason to than at any point in his NFL career.
He might have more reason to smile than any point in his life. The 27-year-old Broyles is in the middle of an offseason of change as he enters his fourth year with the Lions. This has much to do with things on the field as off of them.
Off the field, his wife, Mary Beth, is in the final weeks of her pregnancy, giving the Broyles family their first child. On the field, Broyles has been healthy for an entire season and offseason for the first time since he played at Oklahoma.
This led to a ton of different feelings -- all good -- for Broyles as he enters a contract season.
"[Injuries have] been a part of my life for the past three, four years, man," Broyles said. "So it's like not having to talk about [injuries] is awesome. I told some guys, don't take it for granted, I'll tell you that.
"Hopefully, I can be healthy throughout my career and the rest of my life, to be honest."
Teammates noticed a difference. In years past, receivers asked him how he was feeling or told him he looked a little bit injured coming off the field or after running a route.
His two torn ACLs and ruptured Achilles that took all or part of his final year in college and first two NFL seasons are now healed. The post-route conversation is either constructive or a simple "good route" instead of a constant query on his health status.
Those two words -- "good route" -- never felt so positive.
"He's healthy for a whole year," quarterback Kellen Moore said. "That's the biggest thing. It's been unfortunate to have to deal with some things and this is probably one of the few times he's gone through a full season and an offseason and so he's doing well."
One of the few times? Broyles would laugh. It is the first time as a professional he hasn't spent an entire offseason rehabbing instead of going through more of a typical NFL offseason progression. To commemorate, he switched trainers from API to Michael Johnson Performance in McKinney, Texas.
Broyles didn't play much last season -- four targets, two catches and 25 yards -- but in-season health allowed his mind to actually take a break in the offseason, including a trip to New York City.
"I wasn't in there training, you know what I mean," Broyles said. "I got to relax my mind, my body. I'm about to be a family man with my wife. Get to see my family, travel a little bit. So it wasn't football 24-7-365.
"That was the biggest thing so I could come in here fresh and ready to work. You've got to take downtime, man, you know what I mean. You've got to relax your mind and got to get a release. Just think about it."
Along with his body, his mind might be in its best position in his NFL career, too. He doesn't think or worry about his knees or his ankle. He can focus on making Detroit's roster as a productive wide receiver -- not a given with a crowded, but questionable, receiver corps after Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.
His offseason and preseason production could be the key to his now-healthy future.
"Just make plays," Broyles said. "That's all I can do, just like last year. Leave it up to my preparation and the rest will take care of itself."
- With [Vikings RT Phil] Loadholt still recovering, Mike Harris took reps at right tackle and rookie T.J. Clemmings started off as the team's right guard. Though both rookies Tyrus Thompson and Austin Shepherd got looks at guard earlier this month, both worked at left and right tackle, respectively, during Wednesday's practice.
- Five Things to Know About Chris Chester
Posted May 30, 2015
Andrew Hirsh
atlantafalcons.com
The Falcons announced the signing of veteran guard Chris Chester, who is coming into his 10th season, on Saturday morning and we've got the five things you need to know about him:
He’s durable: After a year in which the Falcons’ offensive line was decimated by injuries, it’s refreshing to look at Chester’s stats and see he hasn’t missed a game since 2010. In fact, during his nine professional campaigns — five with Baltimore, four with Washington — he’s made 138 of 145 possible appearances. Chester’s rookie season was the only time he dressed in fewer than 14 contests.
Experience in the system: Chester joins the Falcons with a strong understanding of the playbook they’ll use in 2015. He and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who held the same job in Washington from 2010-13, know each other well. As Shanahan continues to install his zone blocking scheme, the 6-foot-3 veteran should have little trouble fitting in.
By the numbers: Pro Football Focus has liked Chester’s work in two of the last three years. He was particularly good in 2012, when his 13.4 overall grade ranked 15th among qualifying guards. In 2014, he earned positive marks in 11 of 16 matchups.
His 2013 performance may have ranked lower, but he did excel on rushing downs. That season, Chester’s run blocking, which produced in a 3.7 rating, helped Washington amass 2,164 yards on the ground, the fifth best total in the league.
Moreover, he’s been remarkably disciplined: Chester has been called for just 13 penalties since 2010, according to PF — an average of 2.6 per season.
A converted tight end: In his final year of high school, Chester ranked as the country’s eighth-best tight end, according to Rivals.com. He played that position at the University of Oklahoma before shifting to O-line as a senior.
A familiar face: Chester is not Atlanta’s only signee who came from Washington. Fellow offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus, who inked a contract with the Falcons earlier this month, played alongside Chester in the nation’s capital for most of the last four years.
- Mike Remmers is the [Panthers] first-team right tackle, where he impressed at the end of last season. Rookie Daryl Williams, who will compete with Remmers for that spot, worked as the second-team right tackle.
- [Panthers] Defensive end Frank Alexander got some work with the first-team with Charles Johnson getting a "veteran" day, and head coach Ron Rivera has been impressed with the way Alexander is approaching a critical point in his career.
Alexander played in just one game last season after being suspended twice for violating the NFL policy and program for substances of abuse.
"Frank is doing a nice job," Rivera said. "He's showing that he's hungry. He's got a lot to prove personally. I think he feels that way. And he's been working that way. This is his make or break season."
- Frank Alexander says he’s given up his marijuana habit
Posted by Darin Gantt on May 31, 2015, 8:14 AM EDT
In the absence of Greg Hardy last year, the Panthers were hoping to get some production from defensive end Frank Alexander.
But after a pair of suspensions for marijuana cost him four and 10 games, they admitted they didn’t know if they were ever getting anything from the former fourth-rounder.
But Alexander is trying to work his way back into their good graces, primarily by giving up marijuana, saying he hasn’t smoked in 11 months.
“I didn’t do it before I went to work. I didn’t do it at work. It was simply like after I got out of practice, I wanted to kind of relax and chill. It kind of healed my body up,” Alexander told Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. “It wasn’t like a thing I was doing all the time. I didn’t need it to get up and go.”
Many players, frankly, share Alexander’s view, and see a certain hypocrisy in the league’s drug policy given the amount of pain killers and other medications made available to them. But the policy is the policy until it changes, and Alexander said he’s given it up (after testing positive four times), so he doesn’t waste his chance to play in the NFL.
“There’s still more out there for me to do. That’s why I was disappointed last year that I couldn’t go out there and play,” Alexander said. “I know I can do a whole lot better than what I’ve been doing. It’s just a mindset thing, confidence and believing in yourself.”
Alexander spent 16 days in a rehab facility last summer, and now spends his nights after work playing video games. He said the support he’s gotten from the Panthers was valuable as well, though he knows he doesn’t have chances to spare now.
“They kept it real with me about the consequences if I make another mistake. But all in all, they were real supportive,” Alexander said. “It’s kind of like what Mr. [Dave] Gettleman told me, ‘I’ve got a son your age. I know y’all can make some bonehead decisions.’
“Coach [Ron] Rivera was the same way. ‘We’re going to stick behind you.’”
Of course, there’s a pragmatic reason for that too, since the Panthers didn’t sign or draft a pass-rusher to replace Hardy this year. So they could use Alexander, but only if he’s eligible.
- [49ers] Blake Bell, tight end, first year. Beat Jaquiski Tartt over the middle for a 15-yard gain. Two plays later, beat Craig Dahl over the middle for another 15-yard gain. Bell has been a tight end for just one year (he used to play quarterback), and already he seems to be a better receiver than former second-round pick Vance McDonald.
- Rookie tight end Blake Bell made a nice outstretched catch down the middle on a pass from backup Blaine Gabbert.
- Second-year defensive tackle Casey Walker also flashed. He got into a bit of a shoving match with guard Ryan Jensen and was forceful up the middle.
- [Jags CB Aaron] Colvin working outside and in. We begin Day Four of Jaguars OTAs Takeaways with second-year cornerback Aaron Colvin, who continues to have the look of a player who could be key to the defense. Colvin, who opened the offseason as the starting nickel corner, has continued in that role, but Head Coach Gus Bradley and defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker each said Colvin also worked with the starters on the outside Monday. “We want to make sure we put our players in a position to be successful, so we’re going to make sure we try guys wherever we need to,” defensive coordinator Bob Babich said. Bradley said he has spoken with Colvin about the mindset needed to play inside and outside. “It’s a guy like (former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback) Ronde Barber,” Bradley said. “He played outside first and second down and on third down he moved inside or based on the personnel groupings, and that’s kind of the challenge that he had to go through,” Bradley said. “It takes a mindset to do that. It’s a challenge, but if you can have a corner play outside and then come in and move inside that’s a great quality.”
- The Chiefs’ experimentation along the offensive line during organized team activities continued Thursday, and it included one interesting switch: Donald Stephenson got the first-team reps at left tackle in front of Eric Fisher, who got the second-team reps.
At the beginning of OTAs, Chiefs coach Andy Reid warned that there would be plenty of experimentation, and when asked about his latest line, he again cautioned against reading too much into it.
"That’s the only way you can get Donald some reps there,” Reid said. “We want to make sure we’ve got everybody covered. Actually, Fish has done a very nice job, so I wouldn’t read anything into that. We’re staying consistent.”
- Jason Kelce On DeMarco Murray; 'That's The Type Of Guy You Want'
By Cal Setar c.setar@hngn.com
Jun 01, 2015 12:04 PM EDT
This offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles swapped the franchise's all-time leading rusher for a guy who led the NFL in yards gained on the ground by a very wide margin last year.
While the jettisoning of LeSean McCoy no doubt left many Eagles fans scratching their heads - or screaming at their computer screens - the later addition of DeMarco Murray in free agency probably eased more than a few concerns.
Murray, set to embark on the second phase of his NFL career, now as a member of Chip Kelly's new-look Eagles, seems to be impressing his Philly teammates with his approach to the game thus far.
"The first day we were out here, the team run [period] didn't go as well as we wanted it to," center Jason Kelce said, per Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com. "And he was out here the next day saying, 'Hey, that was my bad yesterday, guys. I didn't hit the hole the way I should have. I didn't do this the right way.' And that's the type of guy you want. Those are the type of people that take it upon themselves to make an actual difference. It's not this guy, it's not that guy, it's not on the superstar doing it one way. He's the guy that's taking accountability."
Behind the vaunted Dallas Cowboys offensive line last year, Murray racked up 1,845 rushing yards on a whopping 392 carries for a 4.7 yards per carry average.
While the strength of a Cowboys line built on the backs of three former first-rounders certainly aided Murray, the hulking ballcarrier has also averaged 5.5, 4.1 and 5.2 yards per carry over the other three seasons of his NFL career since entering the league as a third-round pick for Dallas out of Oklahoma.
Kelce, who has become something of an unspoken leader for the Eagles up front, has predominantly blocked for the shifty McCoy to this point in his career. Murray brings a more north-south running style on the field and a more straightforward, understated approach off of it.
Kelce seems intrigued by what he, the also recently-acquired Ryan Mathews and the diminutive, but electrifying Darren Sproles, can do out of the backfield for the Eagles next season.
"I think we have three tremendous backs," said Kelce. "I'm excited to work with each and every one of them. But so far, DeMarco's been absolutely great. He's been motivated to learn, motivated to be a part of this offense and a part of this team."
With Kelly building a bigger wide receiver corps and looking at either a second season with Mark Sanchez under center - or, more accurately, in shotgun - or a first, career-resurrecting year with Sam Bradford, the run game figures to feature prominently in Philly.
Murray seems to set to carry the bulk of the load in 2015 and if the early returns are any indication, it could prove to be a perfect fit between the former Cowboy and his new Eagles teammates and coaches.
- Eagles encouraged by what they’re seeing from Sam Bradford
Posted by Darin Gantt on June 3, 2015, 10:51 AM EDT
There’s at least one quarterback who looks good in Eagles camp, even if he’s the one doing the least.
Teammates were impressed with what they saw from quarterback Sam Bradford, who took part in 7-on-7 drills for the first time yesterday as he comes back from his latest torn ACL.
“Sam Bradford looks really good,” wide receiver Jordan Matthews said, via Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com. “I’m not gonna ruin the surprise, the kid can throw the ball, though.”
The Eagles are giving Bradford the benefit of patience, as he didn’t take all the reps, splitting the work with the ones with Mark Sanchez. But he’s also their most talented quarterback when well, so they’re going to give him a chance to get that way.
Bradford’s still wearing a brace on his left knee, and he didn’t do all the work, letting Sanchez work with the starters during situational drills later in practice. But the fact he’s working this much now can only be a good sign.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Bradford was “right on schedule,” keeping him from being the first ACL-tearer in the history of the NFL to be behind schedule.
“We all think there’s three phases: There’s medical rehab, there’s performance rehab and then there’s prepare to play,” Kelly said.
There are far worse fallback positions to have than Sanchez, who proved with the Jets he can be good enough to help a good team to playoff success. But Bradford has the talent to be something more than that, so it’s worth them giving him all the time he needs.
- The big news of the day was Bradford taking part in seven-on-seven drills, the first time he has done so since the team began OTAs. Bradford was in there for a few reps, completing his first two passes before having his third nearly picked off. If Bradford wasn't sporting a heavy knee brace you wouldn't be able to tell he was recovering from a torn ACL, as he seems to move fine out on the field in the drills he does take part in.
- As for [Lions WR] Ryan Broyles, who knows if the coaching staff will ever see him as anything more than Golden Tate insurance. The addition of Lance Moore, if he shows he has anything left in the tank during training camp and the preseason, could actually spell the end of Broyles' time in Detroit.
- Ryan Broyles on being healthy for the first time in his Detroit Lions career
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Ryan Broyles smiled. The Detroit Lions wide receiver almost always smiles, but right now he has more reason to than at any point in his NFL career.
He might have more reason to smile than any point in his life. The 27-year-old Broyles is in the middle of an offseason of change as he enters his fourth year with the Lions. This has much to do with things on the field as off of them.
Off the field, his wife, Mary Beth, is in the final weeks of her pregnancy, giving the Broyles family their first child. On the field, Broyles has been healthy for an entire season and offseason for the first time since he played at Oklahoma.
This led to a ton of different feelings -- all good -- for Broyles as he enters a contract season.
"[Injuries have] been a part of my life for the past three, four years, man," Broyles said. "So it's like not having to talk about [injuries] is awesome. I told some guys, don't take it for granted, I'll tell you that.
"Hopefully, I can be healthy throughout my career and the rest of my life, to be honest."
Teammates noticed a difference. In years past, receivers asked him how he was feeling or told him he looked a little bit injured coming off the field or after running a route.
His two torn ACLs and ruptured Achilles that took all or part of his final year in college and first two NFL seasons are now healed. The post-route conversation is either constructive or a simple "good route" instead of a constant query on his health status.
Those two words -- "good route" -- never felt so positive.
"He's healthy for a whole year," quarterback Kellen Moore said. "That's the biggest thing. It's been unfortunate to have to deal with some things and this is probably one of the few times he's gone through a full season and an offseason and so he's doing well."
One of the few times? Broyles would laugh. It is the first time as a professional he hasn't spent an entire offseason rehabbing instead of going through more of a typical NFL offseason progression. To commemorate, he switched trainers from API to Michael Johnson Performance in McKinney, Texas.
Broyles didn't play much last season -- four targets, two catches and 25 yards -- but in-season health allowed his mind to actually take a break in the offseason, including a trip to New York City.
"I wasn't in there training, you know what I mean," Broyles said. "I got to relax my mind, my body. I'm about to be a family man with my wife. Get to see my family, travel a little bit. So it wasn't football 24-7-365.
"That was the biggest thing so I could come in here fresh and ready to work. You've got to take downtime, man, you know what I mean. You've got to relax your mind and got to get a release. Just think about it."
Along with his body, his mind might be in its best position in his NFL career, too. He doesn't think or worry about his knees or his ankle. He can focus on making Detroit's roster as a productive wide receiver -- not a given with a crowded, but questionable, receiver corps after Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.
His offseason and preseason production could be the key to his now-healthy future.
"Just make plays," Broyles said. "That's all I can do, just like last year. Leave it up to my preparation and the rest will take care of itself."
- With [Vikings RT Phil] Loadholt still recovering, Mike Harris took reps at right tackle and rookie T.J. Clemmings started off as the team's right guard. Though both rookies Tyrus Thompson and Austin Shepherd got looks at guard earlier this month, both worked at left and right tackle, respectively, during Wednesday's practice.
- Five Things to Know About Chris Chester
Posted May 30, 2015
Andrew Hirsh
atlantafalcons.com
The Falcons announced the signing of veteran guard Chris Chester, who is coming into his 10th season, on Saturday morning and we've got the five things you need to know about him:
He’s durable: After a year in which the Falcons’ offensive line was decimated by injuries, it’s refreshing to look at Chester’s stats and see he hasn’t missed a game since 2010. In fact, during his nine professional campaigns — five with Baltimore, four with Washington — he’s made 138 of 145 possible appearances. Chester’s rookie season was the only time he dressed in fewer than 14 contests.
Experience in the system: Chester joins the Falcons with a strong understanding of the playbook they’ll use in 2015. He and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who held the same job in Washington from 2010-13, know each other well. As Shanahan continues to install his zone blocking scheme, the 6-foot-3 veteran should have little trouble fitting in.
By the numbers: Pro Football Focus has liked Chester’s work in two of the last three years. He was particularly good in 2012, when his 13.4 overall grade ranked 15th among qualifying guards. In 2014, he earned positive marks in 11 of 16 matchups.
His 2013 performance may have ranked lower, but he did excel on rushing downs. That season, Chester’s run blocking, which produced in a 3.7 rating, helped Washington amass 2,164 yards on the ground, the fifth best total in the league.
Moreover, he’s been remarkably disciplined: Chester has been called for just 13 penalties since 2010, according to PF — an average of 2.6 per season.
A converted tight end: In his final year of high school, Chester ranked as the country’s eighth-best tight end, according to Rivals.com. He played that position at the University of Oklahoma before shifting to O-line as a senior.
A familiar face: Chester is not Atlanta’s only signee who came from Washington. Fellow offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus, who inked a contract with the Falcons earlier this month, played alongside Chester in the nation’s capital for most of the last four years.
- Mike Remmers is the [Panthers] first-team right tackle, where he impressed at the end of last season. Rookie Daryl Williams, who will compete with Remmers for that spot, worked as the second-team right tackle.
- [Panthers] Defensive end Frank Alexander got some work with the first-team with Charles Johnson getting a "veteran" day, and head coach Ron Rivera has been impressed with the way Alexander is approaching a critical point in his career.
Alexander played in just one game last season after being suspended twice for violating the NFL policy and program for substances of abuse.
"Frank is doing a nice job," Rivera said. "He's showing that he's hungry. He's got a lot to prove personally. I think he feels that way. And he's been working that way. This is his make or break season."
- Frank Alexander says he’s given up his marijuana habit
Posted by Darin Gantt on May 31, 2015, 8:14 AM EDT
In the absence of Greg Hardy last year, the Panthers were hoping to get some production from defensive end Frank Alexander.
But after a pair of suspensions for marijuana cost him four and 10 games, they admitted they didn’t know if they were ever getting anything from the former fourth-rounder.
But Alexander is trying to work his way back into their good graces, primarily by giving up marijuana, saying he hasn’t smoked in 11 months.
“I didn’t do it before I went to work. I didn’t do it at work. It was simply like after I got out of practice, I wanted to kind of relax and chill. It kind of healed my body up,” Alexander told Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. “It wasn’t like a thing I was doing all the time. I didn’t need it to get up and go.”
Many players, frankly, share Alexander’s view, and see a certain hypocrisy in the league’s drug policy given the amount of pain killers and other medications made available to them. But the policy is the policy until it changes, and Alexander said he’s given it up (after testing positive four times), so he doesn’t waste his chance to play in the NFL.
“There’s still more out there for me to do. That’s why I was disappointed last year that I couldn’t go out there and play,” Alexander said. “I know I can do a whole lot better than what I’ve been doing. It’s just a mindset thing, confidence and believing in yourself.”
Alexander spent 16 days in a rehab facility last summer, and now spends his nights after work playing video games. He said the support he’s gotten from the Panthers was valuable as well, though he knows he doesn’t have chances to spare now.
“They kept it real with me about the consequences if I make another mistake. But all in all, they were real supportive,” Alexander said. “It’s kind of like what Mr. [Dave] Gettleman told me, ‘I’ve got a son your age. I know y’all can make some bonehead decisions.’
“Coach [Ron] Rivera was the same way. ‘We’re going to stick behind you.’”
Of course, there’s a pragmatic reason for that too, since the Panthers didn’t sign or draft a pass-rusher to replace Hardy this year. So they could use Alexander, but only if he’s eligible.
- [49ers] Blake Bell, tight end, first year. Beat Jaquiski Tartt over the middle for a 15-yard gain. Two plays later, beat Craig Dahl over the middle for another 15-yard gain. Bell has been a tight end for just one year (he used to play quarterback), and already he seems to be a better receiver than former second-round pick Vance McDonald.
- Rookie tight end Blake Bell made a nice outstretched catch down the middle on a pass from backup Blaine Gabbert.
