NFL Notes: Bengals, Giants, Packers, & Patriots

Bengals

Bengals WR A.J. Green is confident that the team will eventually get a long-term deal in place with QB Andy Dalton.

“We came in together. That’s my guy. He helped me where I am.  I helped him and we took the Bengals to a different level,” Green said, via Bengals.com. “The Bengals were losing a lot before we came. I feel like we turned it around.

“I know they know he’s the guy. I feel like they’re going to get something done before the season starts.“

Dalton has said previously that he is open to a clause-filled contract like the one agreed to by the 49ers and QB Colin Kaepernick a few months ago, but it seems unlikely that Cincinnati would be willing to come close to the kind of figures that are included in that deal.

Dalton, 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to make $986,027 for the 2014 season. He’s led Cincinnati to the playoffs in each of his first three years in the league, but has yet to win a single postseason game.

Last year, Dalton completed 61.9 percent of his passes for a career-high 4,296 yards 33 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Giants

Giants president John Mara told reporters at a YMCA donation ceremony on Thursday that they expect RB David Wilson to be ready to play.

“We expect him to be playing … all signs are he’ll be ready to go,” Mara said, per Tom Rock of Newday.

Wilson is expected to meet with doctors on Monday to evaluate his neck, but signs continue to point towards him being cleared.

Giants team physician, Dr. Russell Warren, previously mentioned that Wilson has made “significant progress” following his neck surgery and is also optimistic about his status moving forward.

“There has been significant progress and healing since David had the fusion,” said Dr. Russell Warren, the Giants’ team physician. “But the reality is it has only been four and one-half months since the surgery. We anticipate that when David is re-evaluated at the start of training camp he will be cleared at that point.”

The Giants’ backfield consists of Wilson, Rashad Jennings, Peyton Hillis, rookie Andre Williams, Michael Cox and Kendall Gaskins.

Wilson, 22, was a first-round pick of the Giants back in 2012. He has struggled with ball security at times, which led to him being benched, but there is no question that has impressive ability when healthy.

Packers

Earlier this morning, free agent TE Jermichael Finley posted a cryptic tweet that some interpreted as being an indication that he is re-signing with the Packers.

Let’s Try This Again. #GreenBay

— Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) July 17, 2014

However, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports that there is nothing new regarding Finley’s situation.

• Demovsky adds that Finley has a “non-football/non-medical related appointment” in Green Bay set for Friday.
• According to Demovsky, a second source confirmed that “there’s nothing new from the Packers end with Finley.”

Finley is facing a decision of whether to return to the NFL at a reduced salary or call it a career and take the $10 million from his insurance policy.

Interestingly enough, Finley recently mentioned that he received multiple offers from the Steelers, but didn’t like the salary they were offering.

We have Finley listed as the No. 1 player in our Best Available Free Agent List.

Patriots

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston mentioned in a recent chat session that he wouldn’t completely rule out the idea of the Patriots possibly adding veteran TE Dustin Keller at some point in time.

“I wouldn’t cross Keller off the list,” Reiss said. “He’s still available and the Patriots still are light at the position. I think he’s their best signing possibility, assuming the health checks out.”

Last we heard regarding Keller, he is continuing to rehab his knee after hetore three ligaments and dislocated his knee last August.

As things stand right now, New England has Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui, D.J. Williams and Justin Jones as their top-four tight ends.

The Patriots brought in Jermichael Finley for a visit a few months ago, but there has been no buzz about Finley joining New England since then.

We have both Finley and Keller listed in our recently updated Best Available Free Agents list.