NFL Notes: Vonta Leach, Colts, Lions, Packers & Titans

Vonta Leach

Free agent FB Vonta Leach recently mentioned that he is hopeful he’ll be able to sign on with a new team at some point during training camp.

“It’s never easy going through free agency,” Leach said, via The Robesonian. “It’s just a waiting game. I probably won’t sign with a team until training camp.”

The Ravens released Leach back in February, which cleared $1.75 million in salary-cap space.

Since then, there has been no reported interest in Leach. Although, there was some speculation that the Dolphins could have interest.

Leach, 32, appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens last season and caught 11 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. However, Pro Football Focus had him rated as the second worst qualifying fullback in the league.

Colts

• Second-round OL Jack Mewhort “has the edge” in the competition for the Colts’ starting left guard position over veterans Donald Thomas and Lance Louis. (Mike Wells)

Lions

• First-round TE Eric Ebron mentioned that he has had a difficult time learning multiple receiving positions in the Lions’ offense.

“I’m used to either learning the Y or learning the A, which we had at North Carolina. But now it’s the Y, the F, the Z,” Ebron said, via NFL.com. “It’s really hard, but I’m not going to say I’m not enjoying it or not having fun doing it because I know the more I learn the faster I’m able to play, the faster I’m able to produce.“

Ebron added that he expects to line up in the slot 50 percent of the time during his rookie season.

Packers

• Micah Hyde has “looked natural in his conversion to safety” while playing ahead of first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. (Rob Demovsky)
• ILB Brad Jones‘ starting job doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy this offseason, even though the Packers would like to get Jamari Lattimore more involved. (Rob Demovsky)
• Fourth-round pick LB Carl Bradford has “flashed some pass-rush ability.” (Rob Demovsky)

Titans

• Titans sixth-round pick QB Zach Mettenberger made it clear that he is focused on winning the starting job in training camp and during the preseason.

“I’m going to make Jake [Locker] work that much harder, make Charlie [Whitehurst] work that much harder, cause I’m coming everyday,” Mettenberger said during an interview with Sirius XM Radio. “And I’m bringing my best effort and my hardest work to the facility everyday to show that I shot be the guy playing.”

Mettenberger insists that he isn’t trying to create any controversy with these comments, but he believes any quarterback “worth his salt has” would approach the situation the same way.

“I think that’s the approach any guy worth his salt has,” Mettenberger said. “You’re not only thinking about the short team, but you also have a long-term view of yourself as a player and a person. We don’t play this game to ride the bench, you don’t play this game to just get a paycheck – at least the good ones don’t. You play this game because you love it, you love competing, and you wanna play. That’s what I’m doing.”