Everson Griffen sheds weight for shift to linebacker

Posted by Darin Gantt on July 9, 2012, 2:35 PM EDT

AP

The Vikings are deep at defensive end, and thin at linebacker.

So it made sense to experiment with Everson Griffen, to give him a few looks in minicamp to see if he could play away from the line of scrimmage.

It apparently worked, as Griffen said he’s been told linebacker would be his primary positionwhen training camp opens July 27.

Adrian Peterson's dad says police were "vulgar, disprespectful" to Adrian

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 9, 2012, 2:05 PM EDT

AP

Adrian Peterson’s father says that his son was the victim of mistreatment from the police — and not the perpetrator — when he was arrested and charged with resisting arrest in a Houston bar over the weekend.

Nelson Peterson told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the off-duty police officer who asked Adrian to leave the bar used “vulgar language.”

“From what I’ve gathered, he was very disrespectful to Adrian,” Nelson said.

Monday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on July 9, 2012, 9:25 AM EDT

Getty Images

The infamous white Ford Bronco used by former Bills RB O.J. Simpson is on display in Las Vegas.

Who belongs on a Dolphins Mount Rushmore?

Three Patriots — QB Tom Brady, DT Vince Wilfork and LB Jerod Mayo — taped a video welcoming back a U.S. Army Captain.

Jets LB Bryan Thomas is happy that the team re-signed him this offseason.

Ravens C Matt Birk thinks QB Joe Flacco is held to a different standard than other quarterbacks.

Dion Lewis arrested on felony charge

Posted by Mike Florio on July 9, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT

Getty Images

Adrian Peterson wasn’t the only NFL running back arrested over the weekend.

According to Bryan Fitzgerald of the Albany Times-Union, Eagles running back Dion Lewis and his older brother were arrested early Saturday after allegedly banging on the locked doors to a hotel lobby and eventually pulling a fire alarm.

Lewis is charged with a felony count of falsely reporting a fire.  He also faces misdemeanor reckless endangerment charges.

Mike Nolan sees a lot of potential in Sean Weatherspoon

Posted by Mike Florio on July 9, 2012, 9:00 AM EDT

AP

The high expectations for Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon aren’t confined to the fans and the media.

Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan thinks that the third-year linebacker has plenty of room for improvement.

“He’s a good player now, but he could be a lot better than he is,” Nolan tells the team’s official website.  “And he will be.  No question, because he loves football and he’s exciting to watch and he’s a playmaker, for all those reasons.  But he’s done well, but he can still do a lot better. I ’m not just saying that because that’s the blanket statement for people, but as I’m watching him, he’s got a lot of upside, so as much good as you’ve seen, he’s got a lot of good in there going forward.”

Irsay says Colts are close to finalizing Luck's deal

Brad Biggs - National Football Post

The Indianapolis Colts will open training camp in three weeks and owner Jim Irsay says the team is getting close to signing No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Luck.

While contracts have been completed quickly for the majority of draft picks this year, the group at the very top of the draft remains unsigned. There isn’t much for the Colts and Luck to haggle over with the streamlined signing process courtesy of the most recent CBA.

The big parameters for the deal are in place. Luck will get a four-year deal worth roughly $24 million and about $14.5 million will be guaranteed.

“We r close on#12's deal,it'll get done,” Irsay sent out on his Twitter account, that he occasionally uses to break news, this morning.

Maybe if Luck’s deal gets done it will spur some more movement with high picks.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TTR is looking for more writers!

Welker, Pats remain $6 million apart

Terry McCormick - National Football Post

Wes Welker and the New England Patriots remain roughly $6 million apart with just over a week of negotiating time left for a new long-term deal.

Welker was given the franchise tag of $9.5 million by the Patriots just before the start of free agency, a move that was supposed to buy time for the team and the receiver to get together on a new deal.

But, according to the Boston Globe, that has not happened, as the sides remain far apart with the deadline of July 16 fast approaching.

Welker's 122 receptions led the league, and if he has to play for the franchise tag in 2012, then signing him to a bargain deal in 2013 is not going to be easy if he comes close to that type of production again this season.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TTR is looking for more writers!

Adrian Peterson says "truth will surface" about his arrest

Posted by Mike Florio on July 8, 2012, 3:39 PM EDT

AP

Arrested for resisting arrest and accused of pushing an off-duty police officer, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has addressed the situation on Twitter.

“Thank you for waiting for the facts,” he said.  “Truth will surface.”

And the truth (or at least Peterson’s version of it) presumably will be different from the allegations against him.  Paraphrasing a bounty-related quote recently posted by Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Peterson says, “A lie gets halfway around the worldbefore the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”

Of course, nothing stops Peterson from professing his version of the truth right now, on Twitter or elsewhere.  But he’s surely under orders from his lawyer(s) to not talk about the details, since anything Peterson says can and will be used against him within the confines of his potential prosecution.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TTR is looking for more writers!