NFL Notes: Broncos, Buccaneers, Ravens, Seahawks & Titans

Buccaneers

Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com writes that even though HC Lovie Smith has been impressed with TE Tim Wright, second-round pick TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is probably the favorite to be their starter in Week 1.

Yasinskas adds that there is still room for Wright to carve out some playing time for himself this summer, even though the Bucs also have Brandon Myers and Luke Stocker on their roster.

“Tim is a guy I should have talked about more because he’s another guy that does something well it seems like every day,” Smith said. “Nowadays, with the emergence of the passing game and you’ve got to be able to pass to win and this good stuff, the matchup, though, tight end versus safety, tight end versus linebacker — Tim, we have a good matchup with Tim Wright. He of course can do things in line, but he can split out, he can run all of the passing tree, he’s natural moving out and running routes too. I’m very pleased with him and all he’s done since Day 1. He’s a guy that’s been here every day and we’ve seen him doing that.”

Broncos

Broncos second-round pick WR Cody Latimer mentioned that he’s not in a rush to see playing right away, and it instead willing to learn from the veterans and help out on special teams.

“I’m here to get on the field, but it’s not much of a rush,” Latimer said, via DenverBroncos.com. “I can learn from (the veterans) and don’t have to get pushed into the system too early…I’ll be on the field when I can, special teams, however I’ve got to play on the field. Like I said, it makes it easier for me having to catch on to the offense, not so much of a rush.”

Denver happens to be pretty deep at receiver with Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Emmanuel Sanders and Andre Caldwell. Tight end Julius Thomas gives them another weapon in the passing game to work with as well, so they really don’t have to push to get Latimer prepped and ready to play a huge role for them in year one.

Ravens

Ravens RB Ray Rice could still be facing a suspension despite the fact that he managed to avoid a trial for assault charges, according to former NFL counsel David Cornwell.

“I think the problem that Ray Rice has is the video and that created such a public outrage,” said Cornwell, who doesn’t represent Rice, “via the Baltimore Sun. “He has no other prior incidents and, all things being equal, he probably would be looking at a fine from the NFL under normal circumstances. The video makes it a little more complicated.

“That’s what could get it out of the fine range and into a suspension because the league will respond to the unique aspect of the video and the fact that there’s a female involved. Those are complicating factors. The NFL has ignored plea bargains and things of that nature in the past.”

Aaron Wilson points out that the league has suspended first-time offenders in the past such as former Ravens cornerbacks Cary Williams and Fabian Washington.

Seahawks

Jim Trotter of ESPN mentions that QB Terrelle Pryor has a “legit shot” to win the Seahawks backup quarterback job this summer.

According to Trotter, the Seahawks “love his athleticism,” but want to see more improvement from Pryor when it comes to playing in the pocket.

Seattle sent the Raiders a seventh-round pick in return for Pryor who will be competing with veteran Tarvaris Jackson for the team’s backup job.

Jackson has plenty of experience in Darrell Bevell’s offensive scheme, which could end up giving him the edge. Pryor’s athleticism could go a long ways towards impressing the coaching staff, but he’ll have to show something as a passer as well.

Titans

Titans QB Jake Locker is expected to do “most everything” during the team’s OTAs that get underway next week.

“He’ll do most everything,” HC Ken Whisenhunt said of Locker, via the Tennessean. “I think he’ll be cleared to participate. But we also have to keep an eye towards not doing too much. … Jake is going to want to throw himself in there, and at this point it is more prudent for us to be reserved in what we do, knowing we’ll have a lot of practices in camp ahead of us and he’ll get opportunities.“

Locker unfortunately suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury last year and is now entering a make-or-break season in Tennessee. The Titans elected to not pick up Locker’s fifth-year option, which is hardly surprising given how much it would have cost him and the fact that he hasn’t been able to put together a strong season from start to finish.