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Aaron Rodgers remains confident in Packers' offense

2013-06-18T15:12:52Z

The Green Bay Packers have finished in the top 10 in points scored for six consecutive seasons and earned trips to the postseason in each of the last four years, but the offense will look a little different in 2013. With some big-name players no longer suiting up for Green Bay, the team's offense may be in a bit of a transition period that would mean a step back for many.

More: For extended coverage of the Packers, visit Acme Packing Company

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't think so, though, as the former-NFL MVP told ESPN Wisconsin on Monday that he's confident in the players on the team, singling out Jordy Nelson and James Jones as players at the top of their game.

I love ‘em. I love our weapons. We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things for you. We have two of the top outside receivers in the league in Jordy and James.

Who has left?

Greg Jennings: The two-time Pro Bowl receiver finished with over 900 yards receiving in five consecutive seasons for the Packers before the 2012 season. While Jennings left to join the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on a five-year, $45-million deal, his departure is eased some by the fact that he had a career-worst season in 2012 as he struggled with injuries for the majority of the year.

Donald Driver: A seventh-round selection of the Packers in the 1999 NFL Draft, Driver elected to call it a career and retire after 14 seasons with the team. Driver finished his career with seven 1,000-yard seasons and three trips to the Pro Bowl. Like Jennings, though, his departure isn't too significant after finishing with just eight receptions for 77 yards in his final season with the team.

Tom Crabtree: Although his production rose in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, Crabtree elected to play his fourth season in a different uniform, signing a two-year, $1.6-million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he caught just eight passes for the Packers in 2012, he was a solid red zone target, finishing the year with three touchdowns and 203 yards receiving.

Who is left?

James Jones: With six seasons of play under his belt, Jones has steadily improved as a receiver, but it wasn't until the 2012 season that he got an opportunity as a full-time starter on the outside. He took advantage with 64 receptions and led the NFL with 14 touchdown grabs.

Jordy Nelson: The 2008 second-round pick slowly worked his way into the lineup before his huge 1,263-yard, 15-touchdown season in 2011. While he missed a few games due to injury in 2012, he still finished with 745 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

Randall Cobb: As a rookie, Cobb got the NFL excited with a long receiving touchdown and a much longer kickoff return in the league's opening game of 2011, before tailing off for the remainder of the year. In 2012, though, he managed to finish with a team-leading 80 receptions for 954 yards and eight touchdowns in the slot, more than doubling his production in every major receiving category.

Jermichael Finley: When healthy, Finley has been a very consistent target in the passing game for Rodgers. For the third time in four seasons, Finley finished with over 50 receptions and 650 yards in 2012, although he managed just two touchdown catches. With Crabtree's departure, many red zone looks could instead go to Finley once again.

Rookie running backs: The Packers are getting each of their top four receivers from 2012 back in 2013, so they elected to pass on the addition of more pass catchers. Instead they focused on helping their 20th-ranked rushing offense by selecting both Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin in the 2013 NFL Draft. The young running backs should only help Rodgers and the pass game by keeping defenses honest.

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Bill Callahan 'excited' to control Cowboys offense

2013-06-18T14:14:06Z

The last time Bill Callahan was in charge of calling the plays for an NFL offense, it was with the Oakland Raiders in 2003 as head coach. In 2013, he'll make his return to the role as offense coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, and it's an opportunity that he told Rowan Kavner of DallasCowboys.com that he's looking forward to.

"Excited would be the word, would be the adjective, that I would use," Callahan said. "I'm really excited. Anxious now. I wish we could continue working like we've been here, because the situation coach [Jason Garrett] has put us in has been tremendous."

Callahan, 56, served as the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys in 2012, but wasn't given the play-calling role until January 2013, when owner Jerry Jones stripped head coach Jason Garrett of the responsibility. The Cowboys finished the season with an 8-8 record and the sixth-ranked offense, although it scored the 15th-most points.

More: For extended coverage of the Cowboys, visit Blogging The Boys

After two seasons as the head coach of the Raiders, Callahan was named the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2004 and continued his role as an offensive play caller. He relinquished the role in 2008 when he became the offensive line coach for the Jets, a position he held until joining the Cowboys in 2012.

Led by quarterback Tony Romo, the 2012 Cowboys finished with the third-ranked passing offense, but the team's rushing offense finished with the second-fewest yards accumulated in the NFL.

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Victor Cruz rumors: Giants hold leverage in negotiations

2013-06-18T13:46:23Z

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz signed his one-year tender earlier in June, but is still eyeing a new deal that would pay him no less than $9 million per season. That deal doesn't look like it's on the way though, as one unnamed, prominent NFL agent told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post that it's the Giants that hold all the leverage in contract talks.

"I don't see any scenario where he gets any more money than they have on the table right now,'' the agent said, "unless out of the goodness of their heart they decide to throw him a couple extra million."

Cruz, 26, reportedly turned down an offer of just over $7 million per season as he continues to pursue one that would pay him closer to $10 million per year. If the two sides can't come to an agreement, Cruz is now under contract to play the 2013 season for $2.879 million.

More: For extended coverage of the Giants, visit Big Blue View

Of course, Cruz could play the 2013 season on the one-year deal, taking the risk that he is able to perform at a high level and maintain his high price-tag, but that wouldn't do him any good either, according to the unnamed agent:

"This year doesn't help him at all,'' the agent said. "What's Cruz going to do this year other than become overexposed? He could go out there and have 100 receptions for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns and be the hottest thing on the market next year and then they'll just franchise him. That's all he's playing for.''

After recording zero catches as a rookie in 2010, Cruz tallied 168 receptions, 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns in the next two seasons, earning a Pro Bowl spot in 2012.

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Jonathan Stewart injury: Panthers uncertain of running back's return date

2013-06-18T13:15:00Z

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart missed all of OTAs and minicamp following offseason surgery on both ankles, but the team isn't ready to say whether he'll be available in time for training camp in late July. On Thursday, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman spoke to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, but wouldn't reveal much about Stewart's recovery:

Gettleman would not speculate on whether Stewart would be ready for the start of training camp, saying: "We'll see. Time will tell."

Stewart, 26, played in nine games and started in just six as he struggled with ankle problems throughout the season before undergoing the surgeries in January. He finished the season with franchise-lows in every major rushing category and tallied just 3.6 yards per carry after averaging over 4.3 in each of the four seasons prior.

More: For extended coverage of the Panthers, visit Cat Scratch Reader

A first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Stewart accumulated 10 rushing touchdowns in each of his first two seasons but has struggled to match the production since. He signed a six-year, $38.27-million contract before the beginning of the 2012 season.

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