Buffalo Bills QB EJ Manuel, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, has signed a contract, according to an announcement from the team. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to be worth about $8.9 million over four years. The deal brings all eight of the Bills’ 2013 draft picks under contract.
Bills | EJ Manuel signed
New York Giants WR Victor Cruz could still hold out of training camp, according to a source with knowledge of these types of situations, despite the fact that Cruz will sign his one-year tender on Friday, June 14. Cruz will be under contract and thus subject to fines of $30,000 per day if he doesn’t show. He could have lost $2.289 million if the Giants had retracted the tender offer on Monday, June 17, and replaced it with an offer of $590,000. At that rate for fines, Cruz could afford 76 days of them before he’d reach the $2.289 million for which he’s signing his tender. The source said there were no indications that the team was going to rescind the offer, but Cruz didn’t want to take the chance.
Giants | Victor Cruz could still hold out
The Buffalo Bills announced Friday that EJ Manuel has signed his rookie deal, ensuring that the draft’s 16th overall pick will be ready for training camp next month.
EJ Manuel signs Buffalo Bills rookie contract
Penn St. lists juco transfer, frosh as QB co-starters
Penn St. lists juco transfer, frosh as QB co-starters
New York Giants RB David Wilson’s number of kickoff returns will be affected by his workload at running back, hinted special teams coordinator Tom Quinn. ‘We’ll see how that all plays out,’ Quinn began. ‘Obviously, he would like to do it. He’s done it very well, but we’ll have to see how it all comes down with where he is on the depth chart and what he’s doing on offense. It might be maybe for one or two or you don’t need him for one or two, but we’ve got other guys that we feel good about. They feel good about the scheme and the system that’s in place.’
Giants | David Wilson’s duties as KR may be affected
New York Giants WRs Hakeem Nicks, who attended the team’s minicamp but not OTAs, and Victor Cruz, who didn’t, were the subject of inquiry related to how long it will take them to get their timing back because of their offseason absences. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride responded, ‘That is so, not unimportant, but it is just a relatively minor thing,’ he began. ‘The thing is they haven’t been working. They haven’t been listening. They haven’t been growing, they haven’t been developing. They haven’t been receiving the coaching that they need to get better. To be quite frank, they need it. And the absence and not being here has hurt them and because of that, it has hurt us.’ Gilbride added that the positive is that other receivers have received those reps and opportunities to become integral pieces of the offense down the road.
Giants | Hakeem Nicks’, Victor Cruz’s absences have effects
New York Giants CB Prince Amukamara has expressed his desire to cover the opponent’s No. 1 wide receiver for his team, a responsibility that has ordinarily gone to CB Corey Webster, this year. When asked what he’s seen of Amukamara this offseason, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said, ‘A lot of improvement because he’s practiced every day and his skill set is much improved,’ Fewell said. ‘I see a nice confidence in him right now.’
Giants | Prince Amukamara on the rise, wants more responsibility
New York Giants LB Mark Herzlich, who lined up with the first-team defense throughout the team’s organized team activities and minicamp, is expected to be the starter at middle linebacker when training camp begins on July 26. He’s aware that the job appears to be his to secure and has been ‘very commanding,’ according to defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. ‘He’s taken a leadership role out there and I think he has some good respect from his teammates in some of the things he’s done in the OTAs. Obviously, we want to find out what happens when the pads come on.’ LB Dan Connor figured to stand a good chance to starter in the middle, but he’s been unable to displace Herzlich.
Giants | Mark Herzlich to enter camp as No. 1 MLB
It didn’t take long for Mario Williams to clarify his ‘Kill ’em or hurt ’em’ comments, an aggressive matra he attributed to Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Williams took to Twitter to explain.
Mario Williams: ‘Kill ’em’ comment a figure of speech
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Eric Page has thrust himself into the kick returner equation.
Our View: Page is a talented player with big play ability and elusiveness in the open field. He was picked up by the Broncos last year as an UDFA but was lost with a knee injury before the start of training camp. He’s healthy now and trying to make a name for himself with the Buccaneers.
Buccaneers | Eric Page in return equation