We can no longer say that 23 teams continued their minicamps Thursday because several coaches sent their players home to begin summer vacation a day earlier than planned. collected the relevant quotes, practice updates and news nuggets from Thursday's practices.
Here's what we learned:
Debate: Toughest shoes to fill?
1. It's out with the old, in with the new in the Denver Broncos' backfield. Willis McGahee in a conscious effort to get younger, the team of second-round draft pick . The Broncos are expected to turn to Ball and Ronnie Hillman as their tandem attack, with Knowshon Moreno once again providing veteran insurance.
Unlike the burned-out Michael Turner, McGahee should have before the start of the season.
2. The Arizona Cardinals won't be one of the teams ringing McGahee's doorbell. Reuniting with coach Bruce Arians, Rashard Mendenhall reportedly has a over Ryan Williams and rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington.
3.Mike Wallace's father revealed that the wide receiver from the Minnesota Vikings to sign with the Miami Dolphins. Take this report with an entire shaker of salt. The relevant numbers are the signing bonus and guaranteed dollars, which Wallace's father failed to disclose. Throw in Florida's lack of a state income tax, and it's a good bet the offers were similar in value.
4. Ball was not the only big-name rookie to sign Thursday. The St. Louis Rams signed their entire draft class, first-round draft picks and . Fourth-round picks and with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Second-round pick signed with the Tennessee Titans after missing organized team activities .
5. The Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterback situation isn't any prettier this year than last. Noodle-armed Mike Kafka, plucked off the waiver wire Wednesday, will be given as Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne to win the starting job in training camp.
6.Maurice Jones-Drew says his body is "" due to playing time lost to injuries and an early-career timeshare with Fred Taylor. For those keeping score at home, that leaves Jones-Drew's body than Steven Jackson's.
7. The back injury that kept Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steven Johnson out of OTAs was a . After taking a cortisone shot and an epidural as part of his recovery, Johnson was back on the field for minicamp.
8. It's become an annual rite of summer in Spartanburg, S.C.: Jonathan Stewart's ankles likely will when the Carolina Panthers begin training camp.
9.Brady Quinn's after the Seattle Seahawks brought back Tarvaris Jackson on a one-year contract.
10. Buzz alert: New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle is headed for an expanded role after becoming the "" of the receiving corps in minicamp.
11. Annual disappointment Armanti Edwards has been the on the Carolina Panthers this offseason, according to coach Ron Rivera.
12.Alfred Morris of the Washington Redskins is offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has ever been around. That list includes Houston Texans running back Arian Foster. To be fair, though, Foster's breakout season came the year after Shanahan bolted for the Redskins.
13.Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins as many raves as any NFL rookie.
14. How are the Detroit Lions going to keep "" running back Joique Bell off the field?
15. MVP Kyle Rudolph throughout Minnesota Vikings OTAs and minicamp. Other tight ends with dominant offseasons: Jimmy Graham, Jermichael Finley, Ed Dickson and former hoopster Julius Thomas of the Broncos.
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