Knowshon Moreno was the 12^th pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos by Josh McDaniels, but like most of McDaniels’ picks, Moreno has yet to pan out. Moreno has been plagued by injuries and has not been that good when healthy in 3 years with the team. When hurt last year, he lost his starting job for good to Willis McGahee and the Broncos’ new regime clearly doesn’t believe in him the way McDaniels did, drafting a similar running back, Ronnie Hillman, in the 3^rd round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

That dropped Moreno immediately to 3^rd on the depth chart and he might not be done slipping. According to the Denver Post’s Lindsay Jones, Moreno, who is still not 100% from a torn ACL, will have to battle with Lance Ball and Mario Fannin just to stay on the roster. Ball carried the ball 96 times for 402 yards and a score last year, while Fannin is a 2011 undrafted free agent who the organization is high on now that he’s back from a torn ACL.

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In a surprising prediction, Steelers’ cornerback Keenan Lewis is predicting he’ll make the Pro Bowl this season. Teammate Ike Taylor seconded the opinion, saying that “expectations are sky high” for Lewis. Lewis, a 2009 3^rd round pick, first has to win the starting cornerback job opposite Taylor. He’s never been a starter in the NFL, but with William Gay gone, he’ll get a chance this season. He’ll have to beat out Cortez Allen (4^th round 2011) and Curtis Brown (3^rd round 2011) to win the starting job. Even if he does, the Pro Bowl will be a long way away. This just sounds like a case of a guy hyping himself up to get attention. At least he’s confident.

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Mike Jenkins lost his starting job with the Cowboys this offseason after they brought in Brandon Carr in free agency, giving him a massive contract, and Morris Claiborne in the draft, trading away a 2^nd round pick to move up 8 spots to grab him 6^th overall. Jenkins was not happy about this and asked to be traded, but the Cowboys are refusing to do so.

Still, the Indianapolis Colts are trying to acquire him. Needing a veteran cornerback as they are slated to start Jerraud Powers and Kevin Thomas this season, the Colts have made the Cowboys several offers for Jenkins, all of which the Cowboys have declined, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Colts ranked 26^th against the pass last season, allowing 7.8 YPA, and could rank in a similar spot this season unless they get some help.

It’s unclear if Jenkins is that help, however. Yes, he’s a former Pro Bowler, but there’s a reason he lost his starting job and is currently the Cowboys’ #4 cornerback. Since his 2009 Pro Bowl season, Jenkins has allowed 88 of 143 (61.5%) for 1334 yards (9.3 YPA), 10 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The Cowboys remain adamant that he will not be traded right now, so the Colts will have to make the Cowboys an offer they can’t refuse. For a cornerback in the final year of his deal, it would not be wise for the Colts to do so.

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When Hakeem Nicks broke a bone in his foot yesterday, he was given an initial recovery of around 3 months, which would, as Tom Coughlin said, put him in a race for their week 1 game, especially since the Giants start 4 days earlier than everyone else, on Thursday Wednesday Night Football. However, a day later, the prognosis doesn’t look as bleak.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, some people with knowledge of the situation think it could be closer to a 4-6 week recovery and that the Giants aren’t too worried about his week 1 availability. Still, the only statement made by the Giants themselves was one of uncertainty for week 1, though, of course, this was yesterday. We’ll probably know more after he has surgery this Friday. It’ll definitely be a situation to monitor because, if healthy and reliable, he’s a surefire top-10 fantasy wide receiver and a huge part of the Giants’ offense.

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Though the Eagles used a 3^rd round pick on Nick Foles, the organization sees him as more of a developmental quarterback of the future than someone they want to play this year. Given that, it’ll be a competition between two veterans, Trent Edwards and Mike Kafka, to be the #2 quarterback behind Michael Vick. Foles will be the #3 quarterback for this season.

Given that Edwards didn’t attempt a pass last season, Kafka has the inside track at the #2 job. He was their #3 quarterback last year and has 2 years of experience in the system after going in the 4^th round in the 2010 NFL Draft. Kafka has been impressing in Eagles OTAs so far, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.

Kafka spent a lot of time this offseason in the weight room working on his arm strength, one of his biggest weaknesses. It’s showing on the field as he reportedly is making throws he once couldn’t. Kafka has 16 career attempts, with 11 completions for 107 yards, no touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. It sounds like he’ll be the #2 quarterback and Edwards will be cut. He should make several starts this season given Vick’s injury history.

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Last offseason, Bryant McKinnie showed up to Vikings camp so overweight out of the lockout, almost 400 pounds, that the Vikings cut him even though they didn’t have a true replacement on the roster. This led to them having to sign the mediocre Charlie Johnson to be their left tackle and he predictably struggled, leading to the Vikings using the 4^th overall pick on Matt Kalil.

McKinnie got a chance in Baltimore and was able to get into good enough shape to be a solid left tackle for the Ravens, allowing Michael Oher to play right tackle, his more natural position. McKinnie allowed 7 sacks, 29 pressures, and committed 7 penalties in 18 total games. 33 in September, McKinnie was brought back for the 2012 season and has been working very hard to get into even better shape.

He has been meeting with the coaching staff and strength trainers 4 days a week to get to his target weight of 345. He is an a contract year in 2012 and how he plays this season will likely determine whether or not he gets a starting job on the open market in 2013. If not, he may have to retire or wait for an injury somewhere.

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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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