Packers have no plans to move Woodson to safety

Posted by Josh Alper on February 28, 2012, 11:58 AM EST

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With Nick Collins‘ future unclear after the neck injury that ended his 2011 season andCharles Woodson getting a year older, there’s been some speculation that the Packers would move Woodson to safety this year.

Mike McCarthy put the kibosh on those notions, though. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that McCarthy has no plans to move Woodson to safety full-time even if Collins is unable to return from his injury.

Claiborne runs a 4.47 forty

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on February 28, 2012, 10:15 AM EST

AP

LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is undeniably the top cornerback in this draft. He’s going to be compared to former teammatePatrick Peterson as a potential top-five pick, but there are clear differences between the two players.

Claiborne describes himself as more of a “technician.” Peterson, who ran an unofficial 4.32 last year, has superior measurables.

Patriots prepared to move on without Light and Koppen

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 28, 2012, 8:03 AM EST

AP

In the weeks since the Patriots lost the Super Bowl, we’ve passed along reports noting that tackle Matt Light could retire, and that center Dan Koppen could leave via free agency.

The Patriots are prepared for both scenarios.

Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe reports that the Patriots are satisfied with where they are on the offensive line even if both Light and Koppen depart this offseason.

Browns will not tag Hillis

Posted by Mike Florio on February 28, 2012, 7:17 AM EST

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Now that the Browns have worked out a new contract with linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, they won’t have to use the franchise tag to keep him on the team.

But that doesn’t mean the Browns will use the franchise tag on someone else.

The two prime candidates are running backPeyton Hillis and kicker Phil Dawson, recipient of the team’s tag in 2011.  According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, however, the Browns remain disinclined to use the tag on Hillis.

Rams "will" trade the No. 2 pick in the draft

Posted by Mike Florio on February 27, 2012, 7:51 PM EST

AP

If there were any doubt in the wake of Peter King’s latest Monday Morning Quarterbackcolumn (and there shouldn’t have been), there’s definitely none now.

The Rams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN,will trade the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft, which barring something completely unforeseen and unexpected will be used on Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

The only remaining question is the “who” and the “how much.”  The fact that the draft picks are now subject to a genuine rookie wage scale, which drives down the financial cost of using the second overall pick, and could drive the picks-and-players cost even higher.

P.R. power struggle in Indy continues

Posted by Mike Florio on February 27, 2012, 4:47 PM EST

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Nearly two weeks ago, Colts owner Jim Irsaymade a brilliant move in the ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of his team’s fans by pointing out, in essence, that no other team will pay Peyton $28 million on March 8 and that Manning should be willing to do with the Colts whatever reduced deal he would be willing to do with another team.

On Monday, Irsay squandered those style points by attempting clumsily to reconcile his various public remarks regarding the Manning situation with his prior admonition that Peyton should “keep it in house.”