Ochocinco wants to go to Miami

Posted by Mike Florio on June 9, 2012, 1:23 PM EDT

AP

At a time when it’s believed by many that no high-profile players want to play for the Dolphins, a high-profile player in whom no one else apparently is interested reportedly wants to reverse that trend.

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports that Chad Ochocinco wants to play for pro football team headquartered in his hometown of Miami.  Though the report would likely be accurate if the name of any NFL team were inserted in the title, it makes sense for Ochocinco to want to play for the Dolphins.

Saturday one-liners

Posted by Mike Florio on June 9, 2012, 12:49 PM EDT

AP

Bills fourth-round LB Nigel Bradham got some “quality reps” with the first-team defense on Thursday and Friday.

Regarding Tim Tebow’s role as the Jets’ new Wildcat quarterback, coach Rex Ryan recently told the media, “As far as you guys know, we have not done anything.”  (Someone from the media said in response, “Thanks, Belichick.”)

Undrafted TE Brad Herman ruptured an Achilles’ tendon during warmups for Patriots practice on Thursday; he has since had surgery and he’s out for the year.

The professional sports teams in South Florida are trying to create the impressionthat they get along, after folks from the NHL’s Panthers handed out business cards and free tickets at a March anti-Dolphins rally.

Even though the Ravens’ uniforms will now be plastered with a swoosh, their practice facility will be riddled for the next decade with the hybrid U and A.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger continues to say that the team will be running the ball, a lot.

Brown LT Joe Thomas was at the Pentagon on Friday.  (He surely would have preferred to be at the White House.)

Bengals CB Adam Jones tapped into his Pacman past to help with a police-sponsored camp for underprivileged youth in the Cincinnati area.

While WR Justin Blackmon’s experience has served as a wakeup call for the rest of the Jaguars, coach Mike Mularkey said Friday of his message to do the right thing at all times:  “I will still be shoving it down their throat.”  (And then he wondered whether anyone would quote him in a way that made his words seem like a double entendre.)

Texans S Danieal Manning drew rave reviews during the 2012 OTA sessions.

The Colts haven’t approached LB Dwight Freeney regarding a possible contract extension.

Eschewing the potential risks, Titans WR Kenny Britt has been spending extensive time running in a pool.

Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor is using his status as the final draft pick of Al Davis’ life as motivation.

At least the photo of Broncos LB D.J. Williams’ playbook included no extraneous body parts.

The Chiefs may add food trucks to the parking area at Arrowhead for pre-game tailgaiting.

A man dubbed the “Frustrated Fan” bandit because he wore Chargers or Padres gear during a five-week spree of armed robberies was sentenced to 36 years and eight months in prison.  (At least he won’t miss either team winning a championship.)

The group of former Giants who attended the team’s Super Bowl trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue didn’t include WR Mario Manningham or RB Brandon Jacobs.

Cowboys LB Bruce Carter, a second-round pick in 2011 who tore an ACL in 2010, is becoming a “real player,” in the estimation of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

Is Eagles QB Mike Kafka ready to be Mike Vick’s backup?

Redskins TE Niles Paul is getting plenty of support and encouragement as he makes the transition from receiver.

Vikings DT Kevin Williams, 31, thinks questions about his experience make him look old.

Bears LB Shea McClellin is still getting acclimated to Chicago and its surrounding cities, like Everton.

Packers CB Davon House, a rookie in 2011, is amazed that players like Cam Newton and Von Miller were able to make such an impact last year, given the limited prep time.

Raiders G.M. Reggie McKenzie says that Lions G.M. Martin Mayhew has made some really good decisions.

Panthers players are very happy offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has yet to fulfill his dream of becoming an NFL head coach.

For Saints defensive backs Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins, the bounty scandal has possibly been a welcome distraction from their performance in the playoff loss to the 49ers.

The Falcons, after generating only 68 yards on screen passes in 2011, will havesignificantly more in 2012.

The Bucs will donate $11,000 to a pair of youth football teams that recently had their gear stolen.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt says his players know how to avoid crossing the line in OTA sessions.

Earlier this year, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission quietly offeredto spend $48 million on stadium upgrades and to cut the lease from 2025 to 2020, if the Rams would waive the requirement that the Edward Jones Dome be a “first-tier” venue by 2015.

A young Giants fan recently sent $3.36 to 49ers RB Brandon Jacobs to get him to return to New York.  (By October, several young 49ers fans could be offering Jacobs much more to do the same.)

The Seahawks are counting on two youths from Utah State.

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Redman ready to lead team in Mendenhall's absence

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 9, 2012, 8:03 AM EDT

Reuters

New Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is expected to implement a run-first offense in Pittsburgh, and the biggest question is who will do most of the running. After Rashard Mendenhall suffered a torn ACL in Week 17, it appears that the carrying the load will fall toIsaac Redman. And Redman says he’s ready for that.

“Rashard and I really haven’t spoken that much,” Redman told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “We both understand that he’s working as hard as he can to get back. I’m working hard to lead this team until he gets back to 100 percent, and I don’t doubt that I can.”

Barber: Schiano is demanding, but we need it

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 8, 2012, 8:16 PM EDT

AP

Ronde Barber is in his 16th season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Greg Schiano is in his first season as the Buccaneers’ coach. And Barber says he’s seeing a level of discipline and intensity from Schiano that he’s never seen before.

And Barber says that’s exactly what the Bucs need.

“He’s very demanding, and I think that’s a good thing for this football team,” Barber told Andrew Siciliano on NFL Total Access. “He has come in and really put an emphasis on a lot of details. We line up for stretching and we’re on the line — that’s something I haven’t had since I was in college ball, but he has high expectations for us and you really just have to appreciate what he puts into the job. I think we have a lot of guys right now who are buying into it. He has a saying, the quicker we buy in the quicker we win. And it feels like we’re doing that right now.”

The reason the Bucs need someone who’s so demanding is that they’re coming off a bad season with a “players’ coach” in Raheem Morris. Barber likes Morris, but he realizes that last year, the Bucs responded to Morris’s more laid-back approach to coaching by putting a lackadaisical product on the field.

“We were very uncompetitive, and it got a good friend of mine, our coach, Raheem, fired,” Barber said.

Schiano won’t let the Bucs get away with being very uncompetitive.

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