When Leon Hall tore his Achilles last November, he was given a 9-12 month recovery. Now, it’s sounding like it will be closer to 12. He has yet to be medically cleared to practice at all for OTAs and some are speculating that he could begin the season on the PUP list. Hall is the Bengals best cover cornerback and was rewarded with a 5 year, 42 million dollar extension just 2 months before the injury. The Bengals defense was noticeably worse without him.

The Bengals have spent the offseason adding depth at the position, bringing in Dre Kirkpatrick through the draft with the 17^th overall pick, as well as Shaun Prater in the 5^th round, and adding veterans like Terence Newman and Jason Allen to go with Pacman Jones and Nate Clements. Obviously the Bengals can’t keep all of their cornerbacks and my money right now is on them cutting Nate Clements, who is injured and owed 4.3 million, and starting Jason Allen opposite Dre Kirkpatrick until Leon Hall can play.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Along with teammate Trent Williams, Redskins tight end Fred Davis was suspended for 4 games in 2011 for failing a drug test. If he fails another one, he will be suspended for an entire year. Today, he vowed that would not happen and blamed his past failed test on the lockout. Davis is an incredibly talented tight end, who managed 59 catches for 796 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 12 games last year. With an upgrade at quarterback, he could be a very underrated fantasy tight end if he makes it through all 16 games this season.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

The Dolphins will be using a 4-3 defense in 2012, rather than their old 3-4, under new Head Coach Joe Philbin. Jared Odrick was a 1^st round pick in 2010, coming to the NFL as a defensive tackle from Penn State. In Miami’s 3-4, they played Odrick at defensive end, something college defensive tackles often do. Odrick was a prototypical fit for the position, the so called 5-technique. He missed all of his rookie year with injuries, but played well in a situational role in 2011 at a crowded position.

Even with the switch to a 4-3, it sounds like the 6-5 304 pounder will still be playing defensive end, at least in base packages. On obvious passing downs, 3^rd round pick rookie Olivier Vernon will come in for Odrick opposite Cameron Wake. Odrick could then slide inside and play defensive tackle with Randy Starks. Fully healthy and now on a less crowded defensive line, Odrick could be a full time player for the first time ever in 2012. If he is, there’s a good chance he has a breakout year and proves himself to be worth the 1^st round pick the Dolphins used on him 2 years ago.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

The Browns used the 22^nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft on Brandon Weeden, but it was incumbent starter Colt McCoy getting all the 1^st team snaps when OTAs opened for the Browns today. I wouldn’t read much into this at all. The inexperienced Oniel Cousins opened as the 1^st string right tackle over 2^nd round pick Mitchell Schwartz as well. Some teams just make rookies earn their starting job and the Browns appear to be one of them.

Both Weeden and Schwartz will start week 1, as will Trent Richardson. Travis Benjamin and John Hughes will also compete for starting jobs as rookies. This is more an indictment on their 2011 talent, rather than a positive for their 2012 draft class. Weeden is 29 this season and will need to make an impact right away as a rookie. Colt McCoy has been shopped about some this offseason, but if they can’t find a taker through a trade, it appears the Browns will keep both him and Seneca Wallace as backups, rather than cutting one or the other.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Needing young cornerback depth, the 49ers took a flier on Perrish Cox, formerly of the Denver Broncos, this offseason, signing him to a bare minimum deal. Cox, 25, had recently been cleared of sexual assault charges and while he didn’t play in 2011 while dealing with the trial, the 49ers took a chance on a former starter.

However, they might not get his services for the entire 16 games this year as CSN Bay Area reports he could still face league discipline. This certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented. Just ask Ben Roethlisberger, who was suspended for 4 games in 2010 after sexual assault accusations and his case never even went to trial. It’s also worth noting that Cox is facing a civil lawsuit from the alleged victim, as is former Broncos teammate Demaryius Thomas, who was allegedly present around the time of the incident. When Cox is available for the 49ers in 2012, he’ll likely just be a depth cornerback.

[switch_ad_hub

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

When the Cowboys gave up their 2^nd round pick and traded up 8 spots with the St. Louis Rams to grab Morris Claiborne with the 6^th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, many believed that Mike Jenkins would be traded. He was not, as the Cowboys hoped he would provide them extra depth, but they might not be able to keep him for that purpose. Jenkins is reportedly not happy with being a backup and wants to be traded, according to the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. Jenkins has been absent from the start of OTAs for this reason.

Jenkins, the 25^th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, is owed just 1.052 million this season, the final year of a 5-year rookie deal. He was a Pro Bowler in 2009, but has struggled in each of the last 2 seasons since, thanks, in some part, to injuries. There was a report that suggested Detroit could be interested because they had interest in him with the 17^th overall pick in 2008, when they opted for Gosder Cherilus instead. While Jenkins would fill a need for the Lions, the regime in charge in 2008 is completely gone so I don’t know why that’s relevant.

Wherever he goes, the Cowboys probably won’t get much more than a late round pick for him and may have to just cut him outright if they can’t find a taker. Jenkins doesn’t fill a need or anything for the Cowboys. They have Brandon Carr and Orlando Scandrick, two guys they’ve given big contracts to over the past 2 offseason, and, of course, Claiborne, the 6^th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. They viewed Jenkins as just insurance, which clearly he was not pleased with.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

After missing all of last season with injury, Mikel Leshoure got arrested twice this offseason in marijuana related incidents. Given that he has a past criminal history dating back to his time at Illinois, most expect him to be given some sort of suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell, which would further delay the 2^nd round pick’s NFL debut. According to the Detroit News, that suspension could only be 2 games.

The Detroit News mentions that Leshoure has enrolled in the NFL’s substance abuse program and has been taking drug tests multiple times per week and passing them all. Because of this, Goodell could definitely be lenient with his suspension. Leshoure is also rehabbing from his torn Achilles, but he is recovering fine and should be able to play whenever Goodell lets him. He has no major past injury history like teammates Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith so he should be good to go this season. The Lions are counting on him and Best to give them the rushing attack they’ve lacked for years and bring another dimension to an already explosive offense.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

The Redskins drafted Niles Paul in the 5^th round last year as a wide receiver, but he barely saw the field in a crowded receiving corps in 2011, catching just 2 passes for 25 yards. The Redskins brought in another 2 receivers this offseason, leaving Paul as the odd man out, but rather than cutting him, Paul has begun working out with the tight ends. He was in the low 220s last season, but now he is up to 235.

He’s attended all of the team’s tight end meetings and has been lining up solely there in OTAs. At 6-1 235, you can’t expect Paul to be much of a blocker, but with a strong camp, he could make Chris Cooley and his 3.8 million dollar salary expendable as a receiving tight end. Cooley could be cut before the season. Beat writer John Keim of the Washington Examiner says Paul looks very good and could be a “major threat” in a situational role this season.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

According to the Miami Herald, free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress would “love” to play for the Dolphins. This is a statement that can probably be interpreted as Burress saying he would “love” to play for anyone. Burress has yet to go on a single visit and would probably welcome any opportunity he gets at this point. He’s in no position to be picky and the Dolphins would give him the best opportunity to not only play, but possibly start.

While it wouldn’t completely surprise me if Burress was a Dolphin next season, given how much the Dolphins need to do something to generate more fan interest, I highly doubt they sign the soon to be 35 year old receiver. The Dolphins have one of the most inexperienced receiving corps in the league, but they’re also a rebuilding team and all Burress would do for them is take snaps away from the many young receivers they have.

Earlier this week, GM Jeff Ireland talked up his unproven (at best) receiving corps so I expect he’ll want to give them every chance to prove themselves. Signing Plaxico would be counterproductive to that goal. Burress will have to wait for the phone to ring from another team, something that may never happen.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]