NFL Notes: Jaguars, Ravens, Seahawks

Jaguars

Jaguars LT Branden Albert spoke to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since he reported to the team in time for their mandatory minicamp.

“I’m here,” Albert said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN. “I’m just going to call it out right now. I’ll be in training camp. I’ll be ready to work and ready to go.”

Albert skipped the team’s voluntary OTAs and reports mentioned that he was looking for an improved contract from Jacksonville. However, Albert explained that this was what his advisors thought was best for him at the time.

“It was just something that my advisers and me thought about after the fact,” Albert said. “Things didn’t get done, move on. What I’m making this year is not a bad deal. You just look at the market and had conversations and at the end of the day you’ve got to move on. It is what it is.

“… I do my job, everything will be forgotten about. That’s all I got to do: Learn the playbook and move on.”

Ravens

Ravens QB Joe Flacco mentioned that signing veteran WR Eric Decker would be another great addition to their offense after they recently signed Jeremy Maclin to a two-year contract.

“Eric would be a great guy, too, especially losing Dennis and getting a guy who go inside,” Flacco said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “He’s been a great receiver and he’s played with some big quarterbacks. I’m sure he’s been coached up. Listen, I’ve seen what he can do. Anytime you add players like that, it’s going to be good for your team.”

Ravens HC John Harbaugh didn’t add much other that the decision would be up to GM Ozzie Newsome.

“Ozzie [Newsome, general manager] is working hard on all that stuff right now,” Harbaugh said. “That’s something that remains to be seen. But we’re always for good players. You always want to add competition. There are a lot of factors that go into that.”

Seahawks

Last season, Seahawks S Earl Thomas tweeted that he was considering retirement shortly after he suffered a broken leg.

Thomas explained that he honestly thought his NFL career could be over at the time.

“It’s very different, especially it’s my foundation, my legs,” Thomas said during an interview on 710 ESPN, via Pro Football Talk. “I’m a speedster. So when I initially broke it, I’m like, ‘Dang, my career’s over with.’ That’s why I sent the tweet out. Obviously I was very disappointed. I felt like I was having the best year of my career. But as you go through it, you learn, you understand that you can bounce back. And that’s where I’m at at this point.”

Thomas mentioned that being back playing football “makes me feel complete.”

“It just makes me feel complete,” Thomas said of returning to football. “I’m a master at this thing. This is what I love to do so I’m happy to be doing it.”