NFL Player News

Friday, February 10

• 02/10/12 - 8:50PM ETHines Ward : Likely Played His Last Game For Steelers

  Ward will not be back with the Steelers next season, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network.

  Ward took a backseat to Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, posting his lowest receiving totals since his rookie season in 1998. Ward has one year left on his deal worth $4 million and has indicated he would consider playing elsewhere next season, but the choice might not be his if he can't work out his own restructured deal.

• 02/10/12 - 10:51AM ETRob Gronkowski : Undergoes Ankle Surgery

  Gronkowski underwent ankle surgery Friday, ESPN's Tony Softli reports.

  The procedure was reportedly successful in cleaning out the ankle, and the recovery is expected to take about 10 weeks. Gronkowski, who caught just two balls for 26 yards in the Super Bowl, should fine by the time training camp rolls around.

Thursday, February 9

• 02/09/12 - 12:23PM ETPeyton Manning : Still Having Trouble Throwing

  Manning (neck) is reportedly still having trouble throwing, wgntv.com reports.

  The report notes that Manning's velocity is down and that he's having trouble throwing across his body to the left. Manning has had three neck surgeries in the last 19 months, so the fact that he's not 100 percent yet is not surprising -- after all, it's only February. But the fact remains that as talented and diligent as Manning is, there's no guarantee that he'll make a complete enough recovery to recapture his pre-injury form. With the Colts having a March 8 deadline to pay Manning a $28 million bonus, it's not hard to imagine the team bidding adieu to the face of their franchise, especially with April's draft -- and a shot at QB Andrew Luck -- on the horizon.

• 02/09/12 - 12:12PM ETPlaxico Burress : Wants To Be An Eagle

  Burress, who is headed for free agency, reportedly wants to play for the Eagles this coming season, NFL.com reports.

  Burress, who finished the 2011 season with 45 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns, could certainly add some useful size and experience to the Eagles' wideout corps -- which could lose DeSean Jackson -- but it's uncertain at this point if the interest is mutual.

• 02/09/12 - 12:04PM ETTom Brady : Aggravated Non-Throwing Shoulder in Super Bowl

  Brady aggravated the left (non-throwing) shoulder sprain that he sustained earlier in the season in the third quarter of this past Sunday's Super Bowl, the Boston Herald reports.

  The report adds that the aggravation didn't lead to a major injury, which infers that the issue will subside with some rest and time off, which the offseason will now provide Brady.

• 02/09/12 - 9:07AM ETPeyton Manning : Redskins Could Be Interested

  There is speculation that the Redskins could pursue Manning (neck) if the Colts release him, the Washington Post reports.

  While it's obvious that the Redskins could use an upgrade at QB, it's uncertain if the team would be interested in building around a QB that is reportedly not throwing like an NFL quarterback yet. That Manning is evidently not capable of throwing with any authority at this stage is no real surprise, but assuming the report is accurate, it does underscore the risk attached to him as a player, wherever he ends up in 2012.

Wednesday, February 8

• 02/08/12 - 12:48PM ETPeyton Manning : Former QB Coach Hired by Cards

  The Cardinals have hired Frank Reich, Manning's (neck) former QB coach, as their wide receivers coach, the ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

  With Kevin Kolb still a Cardinal and Manning still a Colt at the moment, a Manning-to-Arizona scenario is purely speculative, but the addition of Reich to the team's staff is the sort of move that will no doubt fuel the offseason Manning rumor mill.

• 02/08/12 - 10:07AM ETSantonio Holmes : Contract With Jets Locked In

  Holmes's contract is now guaranteed through 2013 after Tuesday's roster deadline passed, ESPN New York reports.

  The mercurial wideout is slated to receive $15.25 million over the next two seasons. According to head coach Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez and Holmes spoke by phone recently and are trying to schedule a sit-down, perhaps even a weekend-long meeting, in an attempt to resolve their differences. There's star quality in Holmes, no one disputes this, but can the Jets unlock it?