Ed Reed made some headlines last week by saying that he wasn’t “100%” sure he’d return for the 2012 NFL season, which would be his 11^th in the NFL. Reed immediately backtracked after speculation started and today Head Coach John Harbaugh said he wasn’t worried at all that Reed would retire. Ravens fans shouldn’t worry either. Their biggest concerns with Reed should be that he turns 34 in September, has as an injury history, and is a free agent after the season. He’ll be on the field in 2012, however.

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The Raiders lost Zach Miller in free agency last offseason and signed Kevin Boss to be his replacement. Boss struggled mightily in his first year in Oakland, catching just 28 passes for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Raiders cut him one year into a 4 year deal for salary cap reasons and didn’t bring in another tight end to take his place.

This is because they love David Ausberry, a former wide receiver drafted in the 7^th round last year. Ausberry has added 20 pounds and is now in the 240s and the organization believes he can be a huge mismatch in the seam as a pass catcher. He’s not much of a blocker, but the Raiders have Brandon Myers for that. Ausberry continued to impress today, working primarily with his hand in the dirt in OTAs.

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After losing Adam Snyder in free agency, the 49ers all of a sudden had a huge hole at right guard. There was speculation earlier this offseason that right tackle Anthony Davis could move to right guard. The organization is very high on former undrafted free agent Alex Boone, a natural tackle, and Davis has struggled in pass protection in 2 years with the team and might be a better fit at guard.

Jim Harbaugh ended any speculation today by saying that the team is no longer considering that. Instead it’ll be Boone moving to guard, where he is currently the front runner for the starting right guard job, again according to Harbaugh. That may be the case for now, but if Davis continues to struggle in the season, the 49ers could make the positional switch with him and Boone.

Davis, the 11^th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, has allowed 21 sacks in 2 season and could end up at guard or off the team if he doesn’t improve in a make or break 3^rd season. Jim Harbaugh has shown no loyalty to Mike Singletary guys like Davis, trading Taylor Mays for a pack of peanuts after just one season with the team last offseason.

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In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, free agent acquisition Michael Bush communicated that he understood he was a backup in Chicago to Matt Forte and that his job is just to play when Forte is tired, hurt, or unavailable. This is noteworthy because Forte, who has yet to get a long term deal, felt highly respected when the Bears signed Bush, who started in Oakland last year in place of an injured Darren McFadden.

Bush signed a 4 year, 14 million dollar deal, whereas Forte is still refusing to sign his 7.7 million dollar tender for 2012. Bush said his role would be similar to his role in Oakland, where he never managed more than 158 carries in a season until last year even behind an incredibly injury prone Darren McFadden. Bush will continue to be the 1^st string running back for the Bears until Forte signs and reports. He’s working out with the 1^st team in OTAs.

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When the Patriots brought in Chad Ochocinco last offseason, expectations were high. However, Ochocinco was as disappointing as can be, catching 15 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown, struggling to get on the field, and being the butt of many, many jokes. He didn’t know a lot of the playbook and took a paycut down to 1 million dollars this offseason in order to compete for a roster spot.

It doesn’t sound like Ochocinco, 34, is doing much better so far, at least early in OTAs. He was reportedly yelled at on several occasions by coaches and had to be told by Deion Branch where to line up. The Patriots brought in seemingly a million receivers this offseason and Ochocinco right now is squarely behind Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, and Deion Branch on the depth chart.

If he can’t move up, the Patriots won’t hesitate to cut him in favor of cheaper, younger receivers who can contribute on special teams and even defense (Matt Slater, Julian Edelman). Right now, his chances to move up don’t look good. If cut, Ochocinco might not get another chance elsewhere at age 34. Perhaps he can join former teammate Terrell Owens in the Arena League.

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Jeff Otah was once one of the best right tackles in the league, but injuries have limited him to 4 games over the last 2 seasons. Now supposedly healthy, Otah will have to earn his starting job back from incumbent Byron Bell. Otah was at OTAs and able to participate 100%, but worked out with the 2^nd team, while Bell stayed with the 1^st team.

Bell was one of the worst offensive tackles in the league last year according to ProFootballFocus, ranking 67^th among 76 offensive tackles. He allowed 7 sacks, 24 pressures, committed 12 penalties and was well below average against the run. It shouldn’t take much for Otah to surpass him on the depth chart if he is in fact healthy. When healthy, Otah, once the 19th overall pick in the 2008 draft, is an excellent football player.

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Rob Gronkowski suffered an ankle injury in last year’s AFC Championship in a collision with Bernard “The Patriot Killer” Pollard and was noticeably slowed in the Patriots eventual Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Months later, Gronkowski is still not 100% and is not participating in OTAs. No word has been given on his return because…well it’s the Patriots and they never say anything. However, he should be back by Training Camp at the latest. It’s definitely something worth monitoring for fantasy purposes. Gronkowski redefined the tight end position last year, catching 90 passes for 1327 yards and 17 touchdowns.

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The Saints used a 3^rd round pick on Martez Wilson in 2011 and he played sparingly as a rookie, which is not a surprise. However, the Saints brought in 3 free agent linebackers this offseason, Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne, and Chris Chamberlain so there isn’t a lot of room for Wilson to play at linebacker. Given that, the Saints are working him out at defensive end in OTAs.

At 6-4 250, he has decent size to play defensive end, but is probably very raw as a pass rusher. He worked out as the 2^nd team right end opposite Greg Romeus, with Will Smith and Cameron Jordan as the starters. The Saints have a real need at defensive end, particularly for pass rushers. They managed just 33 sacks last year, with 7.5 of them coming from safety Roman Harper. Will Smith, who led their defensive line in sacks, turns 31 in July and will miss the first 4 games of the season with suspension. Wilson could play a hybrid role just to get on the field and might be a pleasant surprise as a defensive end on 3^rd down.

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Former 1^st round pick Dez Bryant had somewhat of a breakout season in 2011 with 63 catches for 928 yards and 9 touchdowns. However, according to him, he was never healthy all last season, despite only missing 1 game. While players often admit this and it’s not uncommon (no one is ever really 100%), it’s all the more reason to expect a huge season from Bryant in 2012.

The Cowboys lost one of their leading receivers from 2011, Laurent Robinson (54/858/11), this offseason. Bryant also reportedly didn’t know the whole playbook last season. That should improve in 2012, his 3^rd year in the league, a common breakout year for receivers. Bryant has crazy physical talent and if he can keep his head straight and play all or most of the 16 game season, he should surpass 1000 yards for the first time in his career.

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The Patriots scooped former Pro Bowler Brian Waters in the preseason last season and he played better than maybe even they could have ever imagined, making the Pro Bowl on a New England line that was one of the best in the league and helped the Patriots make the Super Bowl. However, at 35 years of age, there was some doubt about whether or not he’d return for his 13^th NFL season.

According to the Boston Herald, not only will Waters be returning, but he has been planning “all along” to return. The Herald mentioned that Waters always misses voluntary team practices to spend the spring with his family and this year has been no different. The Patriots have been tight lipped on his status, but they love doing that so that doesn’t really mean anything. This would explain why the Patriots didn’t use a single draft pick on an offensive lineman. Waters’ return will be incredibly valuable to an offensive line that already lost one veteran, Matt Light, this offseason.

Even with Light retiring, the Patriots should still have one of the best offensive lines in the league. Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer are both talented young bookend tackles that the Patriots have spent high picks on in recent years. Logan Mankins is perennially one of the best guards in the league and should be fine after offseason surgery on a partially torn ACL. And then, of course, Waters.

Dan Koppen or Dan Connolly will compete for the center job and whoever wins will probably be the weak link on this line and that’s not really a knock on either. 2011 5^th round pick Marcus Cannon is healthy after missing most of last season with a tumor and will provide valuable depth inside and outside. Once a projected 2^nd round pick, Cannon could end up being a steal when all is said and done. Now healthy, he could be Waters’ successor at guard.

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