Eric Steinbach was once one of the better guards in the league for the Browns, but he missed all of last season with a back injury. Due 6 million in 2012, the Browns cut Steinbach, 32, this offseason, but there was some speculation that they could resign him at a lower rate because Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao both struggled at guard last season.

GM Tom Heckert killed any speculation and ruled out resigning Steinbach today. The Browns didn’t use a draft pick on an interior offensive lineman and seem confident that Pinkston and Lauvao can improve in their 2^nd seasons as starters. Steinbach, meanwhile, has drawn no interest from any other teams this offseason and may have to retire.

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With Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, the Bears did not use the tight end much in their offense. Martz has never figured out how to incorporate tight ends into his very specific offense, struggling to do so with both Vernon Davis and Greg Olsen. The Bears traded Greg Olsen last season because he didn’t fit with what Martz was trying to do and basically gave up on the tight end position last year. Kellen Davis led the way with 18 catches out of the tight end position.

In 2012, we can expect the Bears to use the tight end more, with Martz gone. The Bears have talked very publicly about how they believe Davis, already a great blocker at 6-7 262, can develop into an every down tight end, capable of producing in the passing game. They also used a 4^th round pick on Evan Rodriguez, who can be a passing catching specialist for them at tight end and create mismatches in the seam.

Statements made today from Bears’ 3^rd string tight end Matt Speath only solidified the belief that the tight end will be used more this season, as he said, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, that the tight end would be used a lot more in the passing game this year. We do need to consider the source in this situation, but I see no reason why Speath would be wrong.

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There might not have been a more publicly shamed group than the Eagles’ linebackers last year. Poor linebacker play became the poster child for the failure of the so called “Dream Team” last year as the Eagles, widely projected to win 12-13 games, won 8 and missed the playoffs. The Eagles, who have always notoriously devalued the linebacker position, have spent a lot of focus this offseason on getting better in that area, bringing in veteran former Pro Bowler DeMeco Ryans through a trade and Mychal Kendricks in the 2^nd round of the draft.

As of recently, it remained pretty unclear how everyone would line up at linebacker for the Eagles this season, but with the start of OTAs, it’s becoming more clear. Ryans will play middle linebacker, which is obvious for a player who has made the Pro Bowl out of that spot before. Ryans could have a bounce back season now that he’s back in a 4-3. Mychal Kendricks will likely start at strong side linebacker, barring an injury or unforeseen awful play between now and the start of the season.

At weak side linebacker, incumbent Brian Rolle will face competition from Jamar Chaney, who will be playing his 3^rd different linebacker position in 3 years. Chaney started last year as the starting strong side linebacker before moving to middle linebacker. Casey Matthews will likely not be part of that competition and will instead remain at middle linebacker, where he was a starter briefly last year, as Ryan’s backup. He could see action on passing downs because of his ability in coverage. The Eagles seem to have shored up their biggest weakness and are still a very talented bunch. They ended last season on a 4 game winning streak and could carry that into this season and resemble the team they were supposed to be last season.

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The 49ers won 13 games last year in the regular season, but still had one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Alex Smith was sacked more times than any single quarterback last year. This offseason, they lost starter Adam Snyder at right guard and have yet to find a true replacement for him. Snyder played poorly last season, so he probably won’t be missed, but the 49ers still have a hugely unsettled situation at right guard.

Head Coach Jim Harbaugh shed some light on the situation this week by calling Alex Boone the favorite. Boone faces competition from 4^th round pick rookie Joe Looney, who is currently out with a foot injury, and 2011 5^th round pick Daniel Kilgore. Boone is a massive offensive lineman (6-7 328) who went undrafted in 2009, largely for off the field problems. Those seem to be behind him and the 49ers believe strongly both privately and publicly in his potential.

There was also some talk, according to CSN Bay Area, earlier this offseason that Boone could potentially stay at his natural position of right tackle. This would move Anthony Davis, who has allowed 21 sacks in 2 seasons since being selected 11^th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, to right guard in an attempt to salvage his career. So far those have just been rumors and theories, but if Davis continues to struggle and Boone wins the right guard job and plays well there, we could see them switch spots midseason. Meanwhile, Looney and Kilgore will be backups and depth. Kilgore can also play center and may be the 49ers’ 2^nd string center heading into the season.

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This might not be news to many, but Osi Umenyiora is unhappy with the Giants. Again. Osi has been upset with the organization for seemingly forever, over being a situational player behind Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul, as well as not being given a long term contract extension. There have been some trade rumblings in the past, but for the most part, Osi has just sucked it and up and played anyway and was a big part of the Giants’ 2^nd Super Bowl title in 5 seasons last season.

Heading into the final year of a 7 year deal, Osi is still upset. To show this, he is skipping all of the Giants voluntary OTAs. There has been some talk this offseason of the Giants moving him, but most of that talk has died down since the draft. More likely than not, Osi will complain all offseason again and then return to the Giants to play his situational role and make 3.925 million in the final year of a 7 year, 41 million dollar deal. After the offseason, however, he’s free to go wherever he wants and I’d be very surprised if he remained in New York after all of this.

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Last season, AJ Jefferson was the starting cornerback for the Cardinals opposite Patrick Peterson. However, it appears he will have very stiff competition to remain the starter. The Cardinals brought in William Gay through free agency, Jamell Fleming in the 3^rd round of the draft, and also will get a former starter, Greg Toler, back from an injury that caused him to miss the entirety of the 2011 season.

Right now, it seems like William Gay has the edge in terms of winning the starting job. Gay, who was experience in defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s scheme from his time in Pittsburgh, has been taking all the first team snaps in OTAs. He’ll have plenty of competition and is no lock to be the week 1 starter, but he’ll get the first crack at the job. With Patrick Peterson going into his 2^nd season and likely an upgrade in some form opposite him, the Cardinals could see an improvement on their 6.9 YPA allowed last season, good for a run of the mill 12^th in the league.

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Primarily a center throughout his career, the Bears have moved Chris Spencer to guard. He is taking the 1^st team snaps in OTAs at left guard. Incumbent starter Chris Williams has moved to left tackle, where he will compete with J’Marcus Webb. Roberto Garza will remain the starting center. The Bears will probably have one of the worst offensive lines in the league again in 2012, but with Mike Martz gone, that weakness will not be as exposed as it was in Martz’ offense.

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A day after disgruntled Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins, who lost his starting job this offseason as the Cowboys brought in two new cornerbacks, demanded a trade, Head Coach Jason Garrett is adamant that they will not be trading him. He’s not owed a ton of money this season and provides solid depth at a position of high importance between new starters Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, as well as incumbent nickel cornerback Orlando Scandrick. Jenkins is obviously not happy with being a #4 cornerback, but he might not have a choice but to suck it up and play this season if the Cowboys are unwilling to trade him. It sounds like they are unless a team gives them an offer they can’t refuse, whatever that means.

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Earlier this week, it was reported the Ray Rice wanted 10 million dollars per year from the Ravens in his long term deal. Apparently that was an underestimate, at least if you ask ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio. Paolantonio reports that Rice is asking for “Adrian Peterson money” from the Ravens. Peterson got 96 million over 7 years last offseason, with 36 million guaranteed, the largest contract for a running back ever by a large amount. It sounds like Rice wants one as well, though deals given to Chris Johnson, Arian Foster, and LeSean McCoy have been significantly smaller in the past calendar year.

Paolantonio also said that the Ravens are flat out refusing to even discuss that kind of deal with Rice and says that Rice’s holdout could end in “Training Camp, if then”. It’s worth noting that there was a point when Chris Johnson wanted to be one of the highest paid playmakers in the league (around 15 million per year) and ended up settling for significantly less before the season started. We could see a similar situation with the Ravens and Rice, but that would mean Rice missing most or all of Training Camp and the Preseason. The Ravens drafted Bernard Pierce in the 3^rd round as insurance.

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Phillip Merling was once a high pick of the Miami Dolphins, going with the 1^st selection of the 2^nd round in 2008, 32nd overall. However, Merling could never establish himself in a crowded rotation in Miami and never seemed to be comfortable anywhere in their 3-4. They cut him this offseason and today he found someone to take a flier on him, the Green Bay Packers.

It’s no secret the Packers needed defense this offseason. They did very well to address their defensive needs through the draft, but another defensive player couldn’t hurt. Merling still has some upside and if anyone can get it out of him, it could be Dom Capers and the Green Bay Packers, even though Merling has never fit a 3-4 scheme. He could see action for the Packers in a situational role on the defensive line, where they need help. He could just as easily be cut in preseason. I would assume his contract reflects this and doesn’t have a lot of guaranteed money.

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