Ron Rivera would choose a blocker over a receiver

The Panthers held their pre-draft press conference on Tuesday and, like every other team, they mostly played it coy about their intentions in May.
General Manager Dave Gettleman acknowledged the need for offensive tackle and wide receiver help, but said he wouldn’t be bound by positional need if a “blue goose” came along at a different position. Coach Ron Rivera was a bit more forthcoming about what direction he would go if given a choice between the team’s two biggest needs.
“I think protecting [quarterback Cam Newton],” Rivera said, via Steve Reed of the Associated Press. “You have so many opportunities to get playmakers on the field. Other than the quarterback there are five other guys who can make plays for you. I think right now what we’ve done is bring in guys who have the ability to make plays for us. I feel very comfortable with that.”
Rivera may not feel as comfortable with the team’s receivers as he claims, but it’s got to be more comfortable than he feels about the prospect of playing with better receivers and no Newton. The Panthers’ goose, regardless of color, would likely be cooked if Newton missed any significant time and that’s as good a reason to find some blocking as you need.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Josh Alper
Photo: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

Seahawks announce Russell Wilson's getting divorced

For all the coverage the NFL receives, one of the realities of the sport is that we truly don’t know the individuals participating in front of us.
And many times, they prove to be as human as the rest of us.
The Seahawks released a statement today saying that quarterback Russell Wilson was getting divorced.
“I have made the difficult decision to file for divorce,” it read. “Clearly, decisions like these don’t come easy. Ashton and I respectfully ask for prayers, understanding and privacy during this difficult time. Moving forward, I will have no further comment on this personal matter.”
Given Wilson’s popularity, word would have eventually gotten out, via the avenues that pursue celebrity relationships. Announcing it via the team seems an unusual step, since many other players get divorced every year.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Darin Gantt
AP Photo, Elaine Thompson

Cowboys could pounce on Manziel

From the moment the Joneses who own the Cowboys started gushing about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, we began to pay attention to the possibility that the Cowboys would be inclined to add the potential franchise quarterback a year after giving Tony Romo a franchise quarterback contract.
Ed Werder of ESPN fuels that notion, explaining on SportsCenter that, if Manziel falls to No. 16, the Cowboys could take him.
Let’s take a step farther.  We think that, if Manziel slides past the Vikings at No. 8, the Cowboys could be inclined to trade up to get Manziel.  In 20 of 25 drafts, Jerry Jones has made a move with a first-round pick.  This year, moving up for Manziel could give the Cowboys the kind of offseason shakeup they surely covet.
Said Werder on the air, “Jerry Jones was raving about [Manziel] this weekend . . . in front of Romo.”
It would be a circus, a distraction, a potential mess to have Romo and Manziel on the roster.  Cap considerations would make a trade of Romo difficult if not impossible this year.  The cap hit would be stiff next year but not insurmountable, if the Cowboys were to move Manziel to the starting lineup and move Romo out of the building.
With an extended lull resulting from the league’s insistence on delaying the draft by two weeks, it’s fun to consider what may happen.  It would be even more fun to cover the efforts of Romo and Manziel to coexist as the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart of America’s Team.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Mike Florio
Photo from 'Busted Coverage'

2014 AFC West Offseason Football ERA Formula Podcast

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