NFL Notes: Extension Candidates, Cowboys, Packers & Vikings

Extension Candidates

• Joel Corry of CBS Sports has a solid rundown of the 12 players worth watching this summer in regards to long-term contract extensions.
• Corry’s list includes notable players such as: Saints QB Drew Brees, Colts QB Andrew Luck, Eagles DL Fletcher Cox, Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell, Cardinals DB Tyrann Mathieu, Patriots LBs Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower among others.

Cowboys

The Cowboys are making first-round RB Ezekiel Elliott earn the starting job, rather than hand it to him based on his draft status.

As of now, Elliott is operating as the team’s No. 2 running back during OTA practice behind veteran Darren McFadden.

“He’s going to compete,” RBs coach Gary Brown said, via Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram. “Zeke has to earn it. I think that’s the best thing for our team and for those guys going forward.”

Elliott, himself, admitted that it’s for the best to have a competition at running back.

“It’s definitely better to have the competition,” Elliott said. “It keeps you on your toes and makes sure you get your work done. The competition makes you better.”

Packers

The Packers traded up in round two this year to get OT Jason Spriggs, and there has been talk that he could end up being a long-term replacement to David Bakhtiari, Green Bay’s current left tackle says was not surprised by the move and “completely understand[s] it.”

“I completely understand it,” Bakhtiari said, via PackersNews.com. “When I went down, or when Bryan went down, we had a complete shuffle of the offensive line trying new guys every week. We even tried a guard out there. I think that if you put me in an organization (perspective), I completely understand it. It’s very smart.

“I think that just really adds depth and really shores up, because that’s a scary thing that you have No. 12 sitting back there, and he has his tackles go down – especially in the same game. I 100 percent can see how the draft unfolded based on that.”

Vikings

The Vikings had Jeremiah Sirles working at left tackle with the first-team unit ahead of Matt Kalil on Wednesday. 

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer was asked about the possibility of Kalil and newly signed G Alex Boone being starters for them on the left side this season, to which he said: “I would assume Boone, probably.”

“We’re rotating guys every day with different combinations and trying to figure out what’s the best group.” Zimmer said, via the Star Tribune. “I thought Sirles did a nice job [Tuesday]. It’s hard for me to tell [Wednesday] until I watch the film.”