Can Cam Newton avoid the 'sophomore slump'?

Matt Bowen - National Football Post

Cam Newton was special as a rookie in 2011. The Panthers QB threw for 21 TDs and rushed for over 700-yards while racking up 14 scores on the ground on his way to the OROY award.

This offseason is crucial to Newton's development as a pro.

Give Carolina some credit here also for their offensive game plan. A scheme designed to utilize the skils that Newton brings to the stadium on Sundays. And I can tell you from a defensive perspective, this is one QB that will force coaches to spend extra prep time working to slow down his production.

The next step for Newton? Continue to develop and avoid a “sophomore slump” in 2012. Key for any rookie when they make the jump to their second season as a pro.

I know what head coach Ron Rivera said about his QB. He gave multiple examples as to why he wouldn’t take a step back in his second season as a pro. But when I look at the Panthers QB, there is still plenty of room to improve.

Report: Fairley traded 15 pounds of fat for muscle

According to a report from John Niyo of the Detroit News, Nick Fairley is finally healthy.  With the broken bone in his foot behind him, Fairley has dropped some flab and put on 15 pounds of muscle to get back up to his desired playing weight of 300 lbs.

Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek said Fairley was never 100% last year, as he favored his injured foot all season, as he tried to play through the pain.  He further said that Fairley has big expectations this year.  He knows they didn't pull the trigger on him in the first round for nothing.  The line coach said you can already see a drastic difference in the big man's movement skills and explosion.

Fairley has made a significant impression among his teammates as well already during this offseason.  Most notably team captain Kyle Vanden Bosch remarked, "You know, you forget how special of an athlete he is".  Now it is time to see if it translates to the field this fall.

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Browns expect Phil Taylor back this year

Terry McCormick - National Football Post

Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert says he does not believe defensive tackle Phil Taylor will be lost for the season with his torn pectoral muscle.

Heckert tells the Akron Beacon-Journal that Taylor will need about six months of recovery time, which could have him back on the field in October or November.

"I don't think there's any question about that. We think he'll probably be [back by the] end of October, early November. But he'll definitely be back, no doubt, no question about it," Heckert said.

The defensive lineman underwent surgery last Wednesday to repair the injury.

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Knee and thigh pads mandatory starting in 2013

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 22, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT

Getty Images

NFL players will be required to wear knee and thigh pads starting in the 2013 season, after the league’s owners voted on the rule change today.

In announcing the vote, Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said union input is still needed, according toDaniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal. Some players have complained that leg pads slow them down, and the owners agreed to drop a proposal to require hip pads as well out of respect for those players’ opinions. Now the league has the next year to discuss the specifications of the mandatory knee and thigh pads with the union, as many players will surely want to wear the smallest, thinnest, lightest pads they’re allowed.

Troy Vincent (pictured), the former NFL defensive back who is now the NFL’s head of player services, didn’t wear leg pads during his playing days but said players will learn to adapt and ultimately be safer for the new rule.

But at the players’ request, that safety measure won’t start for another year.

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Peyton gets reporter with short joke

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

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Tuesday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on May 22, 2012, 9:08 AM EDT

Getty Images

The Bills feel like they have stability on the interior of their offensive line.

Five things to watch during Dolphins OTAs.

Patriots DB Devin McCourty said that he’s still rehabbing a shoulder injury he suffered last season.

Looking ahead to the tough start of the Jets’ schedule.

Ravens S Bernard Pollard said that the team supports S Ed Reed in whatever decision he makes about his future.

Mikel LeShoure says lessons learned

Brad Biggs - National Football Post

Mikel Leshoure, who was once disciplined at Illinois for marijuana, says he’s learned lessons after being busted for possession of the drug twice this offseason.

The Detroit Lions running back, who faces possible discipline from the NFL, participated in the first OTA on Monday as he works his way back from a torn Achilles tendon that wiped out his entire rookie season.

Better NFL Offense: Packers or Cowboys

PFW's 2nd installment of the Best NFL Offense.

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Seahawks trade for Kellen Winslow

Posted May 21, 2012 @ 11:39 p.m. ET

By PFW staff

Updated May 22, 2012 @ 1:42 a.m. ET

The same day that Kellen Winslow announced he was on the trading block, the former Pro Bowl tight end was dealt from the Buccaneers to the Seahawks. In exchange, Tampa Bay received a 2013 conditional draft pick. The pick is reportedly a seventh-rounder that can elevate to a sixth-round pick.

Winslow announced on Sirius XM radio on Monday morning that new Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano told him he was no longer in the team's long-term plans. Later in the evening, the team dealt him to Seattle.

"He was kind of upset that I wasn't there working out with the team in the offseason and for the first week of OTAs," Winslow said of a Saturday phone call he received from Schiano, during the interview with SiriusXM, according to The Associated Press.

"But I've been there the last three years and I've had a successful career so far," he added. "You don't just get rid of one of your best players because of that. ... I don't have nothing bad to say about Coach Schiano. It was just a disagreement on why I'm not there yet." 

The 28-year-old Winslow said that he had been working out near his home in San Diego rather than with the team in Tampa but that he had intended to join his teammates on Monday.

To replace Winslow in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers signed former Colts TE Dallas Clark. Clark has missed 15 games because of injuries the past two seasons but is a former Pro Bowler as well. He had 34 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns last season in 11 games. He had a career year in 2009, going 100-1,106-10.

Last season, Winslow played in all 16 games, registering a team-high 75 receptions for 763 yards and two touchdowns. However, with the arrival of RB Doug Martin and WR Vincent Jackson to the Buccaneers' attack, Winslow's pass-catching skills were no longer as vital as they had been. He has a history of leg and knee injuries that have limited his practice time, although he hasn't missed a game since 2008, which was when he was a member of the Browns.

In Seattle, Winslow will team with TE Zach Miller, who had a career-low 25 receptions last season.
On Monday the Bucs also waived/left squad WR Tyler Shoemaker.

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