NFL Notes: Quarterbacks, Lions & Patriots

Quarterbacks

• Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union writes that it’s unlikely that any of the notable quarterbacks from the 2014 draft class will come close to the record setting contract signed by Andrew Luck last week.
• However, Carlyon can see Derek Carr and Blake Bortles commanding slightly more than Russell Wilson’s $21.9 million annual salary.
• As for Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, Carlyon believes he’ll top Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill’s $19.2 million per year deal.

Lions

Lions HC Jim Caldwell had some positive things to say about undrafted rookie QB Jake Rudock and his early development.

“He’s smart, he’s diligent and he’s developing,” Caldwell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “He’s developing physically, which he has to. He’s developing mentally because it’s a little bit different challenge for him, but he certainly has the wherewithal to be very good in that area.

“He’s a young pup right now, but he’s going to be alright.”

Patriots

Patriots WR Danny Amendola explained the difference with playing in New England’s offense versus the traditional west coast offensive system.

“In our offense, especially at the wideout position, it’s all about feeling. It’s about trying to find open space, using your eyes,” Amendola said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “Other offenses I’ve played in, West Coast offense, all the routes are run on steps. I kind of relate it to driving a car. If you’re out there on the road and you’re following all the signs, you’re putting your blinker on, it’s kind of like the West Coast offense; you follow the route on the page. In our offense, it’s kind of like if you take away all the street signs on the road and you kind of just drive — you yield and stop at an intersection just by what you feel and what you see with your eyes.“