Rick Spielman came to this year’s annual NFL scouting combine with a quarterback quandary.
He has two first-round draft picks trying to recover from injuries and a third-stringer
http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-oren-burks-jersey , who led the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC championship game.
Now, instead of reaping the benefits of his smart moves and abundant riches, Spielman faces one of the most challenging decisions a general manager can with all three set to become free agents in less than two weeks.
”I believe in Case Keenum,” Spielman said Wednesday, the first full day of activity in Indianapolis. ”He did a phenomenal job and he has a knack for making big plays. We’re very excited about what he was able to accomplish.”
The more telling question might be how eager others around the league to sign Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford?
Spielman is running short on time as the carousel spins. He says he won’t make any decisions until he returns to Minneapolis next week.
Meanwhile, the offseason has started with a bang.
Alex Smith was traded from Kansas City to Washington, essentially assuring Kirk Cousins becomes a free agent. Blake Bortles and Jimmy Garoppolo each signed contract extensions with Garoppolo getting a reported five-year, $137.5 million deal. Garoppolo won his first five starts in San Francisco after a midseason trade from New England and is now 7-0 as a starter.
The new deals have Green Bay contemplating a new deal for Aaron Rodgers. New general manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged ”it’s not going to be inexpensive.”
But this could be just the start to a wild and wooly offseason.
The free agent market opens March 14 and Keenum, Bridgewater and Bradford could all be attractive options for quarterback-needy teams.
Keenum seemed to find a home last year after spending two-plus seasons in Houston and two-plus seasons with the Rams.
Bridgewater was considered the Vikings’ next big star until he tore the ACL and dislocated his knee in August 2016. He made it back briefly late last season and now the Vikings await a ruling that could force Bridgewater to stick around one more season before hitting free agency.
Spielman doesn’t sound hopeful about Minnesota’s chances.
”I don’t personally believe
http://www.cardinalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-christian-kirk-jersey , with what I know today, that his contract will toll,” he said.
One big advantage the Vikings have: They know Bridgewater’s prognosis and exactly where he stands in the rehab process.
Bradford, the 2010 NFL offensive rookie of the year, missed all but two games last season with a knee injury and there are long-term questions about the stability of his left knee. The 30-year-old has a long history of injuries but a needy team might be willing to take a calculated risk on the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner and top pick in the 2010 draft.
Other prominent names could be on the move, too.
Cousins and Mike Glennon are expected to be available after the Bears announced Wednesday they would release Glennon, and 39-year-old Drew Brees will be a free agent if he doesn’t re-sign with the Saints in the next two weeks. The conventional wisdom suggests Brees will remain in New Orleans.
Then there’s the trade market.
Coach Sean McDermott said Buffalo does not intend to cut Tyrod Taylor but could trade him. And if the New York Giants decide to rebuild with a young quarterback, 37-year-old Eli Manning could hear his name bandied about.
One team that seemed to take itself out of the discussion is reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.
Executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman appears to be in no hurry to change anything with starter Carson Wentz recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee, especially after backup Nick Foles led the Eagles to their first NFL title since 1960.
”We’re trying to keep as many good players as we can,” Roseman said. ”That room is exactly what we want it to be. We have a franchise quarterback
Marshall Newhouse Color Rush Jersey , a Super Bowl MVP and we have a young quarterback (Nate Sudfeld) who we like.”
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A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.
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NOTE: The stories slugged Black History-Game Changers are part of AP’s coverage during Black History Month of how African-American athletes have used their platforms during the last 100 years to influence social and political change. Please see the Black History Month advisory for more details on the series.
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FRIDAY, Feb. 2
BLACK HISTORY-GAME CHANGERS-KAEPERNICK
Colin Kaepernick knew he was sending a message when he first refused to stand during the national anthem, before a preseason game in 2016. He probably never would’ve guessed the price he would pay. Because of the efforts of the now-unemployed quarterback, the days of excluding politics and social issues from sports appear to be over
http://www.texansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-keke-coutee-jersey , and those who have followed Kaepernick’s lead are feeling more and more empowered to use their platform for something other than mere fun and games. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos and video by 3 a.m. Friday.
BLACK HISTORY-GAME CHANGERS-BLACK ATHLETES
Sports and race have been intertwined in America’s journey to become a more perfect union, and black athletes have often found themselves at the center of the struggle for racial progress. From Jack Johnson’s defiance outside of the boxing ring, thumbing his nose at segregation and challenging notions of black inferiority to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel silently during the national anthem ahead of NFL games that many point to as the reason he is now out of the league, black athletes have protested for generations in ways large and small in an effort to highlight injustice, expose hypocrisy and move the country forward. Often met with hate by fans uninterested in mixing sports and social issues, many have taken stances that risk their careers, choosing race over the games they love. Where does that leave us? By AP National Writer Errin Haines Whack. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos and video by 1 p.m. Friday.
MONDAY
Rashaan Gaulden Color Rush Jersey , Feb. 5
OLY–SBD-SHAUN WHITE
Shaun White says there were times in the weeks after he slammed his face into a halfpipe in New Zealand and had to be helicoptered off the mountain when he wondered what was to be learned from it all. To outsiders, the answer is simple. The accident served as a jarring reminder of the hurdles White was willing to overcome to make it back to the Olympics – and this time, to leave with a third gold medal. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 3 a.m. Monday.
TUESDAY, Feb. 6
BKN–MAVERICKS-DIRK’S 20TH
DALLAS – Dirk Nowitzki made peace years ago with the reality that spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks would likely mean little or no chance to win a second championship. The most accomplished European player in NBA history never seriously considered leaving the franchise that courted him as a teenager in Germany and drafted him five days after his 20th birthday in 1998. Now in his 20th season, Nowitzki is comfortable with the idea that he led the Mavericks to their first championship and can try to help a younger core build toward making Dallas a title contender again. By Schuyler Dixon. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos by 3 a.m. Tuesday.
THURSDAY, Feb. 8
BLACK HISTORY-GAME CHANGERS-JOHNSON
There was no more potent or more closely guarded symbol of white domination at the turn of the 20th Century than the title of heavyweight champion of the world. Then 32-year-old Jack Johnson stepped into the ring. By AP Sports Writer Kareem Copeland. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos and video by 3 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, Feb. 8.
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Again
http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-leighton-vander-esch-jersey , if you have questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.
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