SB Nation Detroit: All Posts by Jeff Briggs

• Chip Kelly teaches Michael Vick how to hold a football

• Ben Muth: How to generate pressure with 4 rushers

Chargers shield Manti Te'o from media until training camp

2013-05-20T19:11:50Z

San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o will be unavailable to the media until the June 11-13 minicamp, according to Michael Gehlken, of U-T San Diego. A Chargers spokesman said Te'o being kept from the media is an "organizational decision."

More: Chargers coverage at Bolts from the Blue

Te'o was made unavailable to the media after the first day of OTAs on Monday, May 13, according to Matt Calkins, also of U-T San Diego, and will remain that way for nearly a full month. The Chargers selected Te'o in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the No. 38 overall pick. He has been one of the most public sports figures since his fake girlfriend scandal surfaced at the end of the college football season.

By this point Te'o has answered every possible question about the situation and said that he wants to move on and focus on football. Te'o attended the Maxim Hot 100 party last week in honor of his fake girlfriend being included on the list, showing he can poke fun at himself. This team imposed media blackout will likely only increase the attention on Te'o once again when minicamp begins.

More from SB Nation:

• Chip Kelly teaches Michael Vick how to hold a football

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NFL close to offseason schedule changes for Draft, league year

2013-05-20T18:50:36Z

The NFL is close to pushing the draft back to May and moving the start of the league year to before the scouting combine, according to Adam Schefter. The NFLPA is expected to sign off on moving the draft from its traditional April date into May for at least the next three years. While Roger Goodell does not need permission to move the date of the draft, he would like to come to an agreement with the union.

More: Draft coverage at Mocking the Draft Complete NFL coverage

In addition to moving the draft back to May, the league is likely moving the start of the league year up to take place before the scouting combine. The 2013 combine took place from Feb. 20-26 and the league year started on March 12. If the year started prior to the combine that would virtually remove any of the NFL downtime between the Super Bowl and scouting combine.

The NFL had originally proposed a plan to start the league year later, but the NFLPA wanted to move the start up to allow free agents the chance to find a new team sooner in the year.

With the draft moved into May, in addition to adding even more time for NFL Draft buildup and buzz, it could conceivably alter other important dates leading up to the season, such as the June 1 cut designation date.

UPDATE: If the proposal gets the green light, the draft would be moved back for 2014, but the full changes would not go into effect until 2015. Dates for the 2014 Combine have already been set.

Proposed new league year would start before combine in 2015 and 2016. Change of draft to May effective in 2014.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013

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Ed Reed, Brian Cushing sit out Texans OTAs

2013-05-20T18:30:06Z

Houston Texans safety Ed Reed and linebacker Brian Cushing will both sit out OTAs this week as they recover from injuries according to Nick Scurfield. Reed had surgery to repair a small labral tear in his hip in late April and Cushing tore his ACL on Oct. 8. Tackle Derek Newton will also miss OTAs with a knee injury.

More: Texans coverage at Battle Red Blog

It is expected that all three players will be ready to play by the start of training camp or soon after, and just need some more time to recover from their surgeries.

The Texans signed Reed to a three-year, $15 million deal as an unrestricted free agent this offseason after 11 season with the Ravens. Reed has never missed more than six games in a season and played in every game in each of the last two seasons.

Cushing and Reed should serve as two of the leaders on the Texans this year and their health is crucial if Houston hopes to take the next step into the AFC Championship.

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Darrelle Revis injury: Buccaneers CB should be ready for Week 1

2013-05-20T18:07:09Z

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis will not take part in OTAs, but is preparing to be ready by Week 1 of the 2013 NFL season, according to Pewter Report. Coach Greg Schiano said everything is "gearing toward" getting Revis on the field for the start of the season.

More: Buccaneers coverage at Bucs Nation

Revis tore the ACL in his left knee on Sept. 23 and was traded from the Jets to the Bucs this offseason. Revis is still rehabbing his leg at this point, now working with the Tampa medical and training staff. Tampa gave up the No. 13 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and a conditional 2014 selection to get Revis and then signed him to a six-year, $96 million extension.

Due to their heavy investment in Revis, the Bucs aren't rushing to get him back on the field before he is ready. He likely won't see the field until at least the start of training camp, if not later, but it appears he is on track to be 100-percent healthy by Week 1 of the season.

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Alex Smith practices pistol formation at Chiefs OTAs

2013-05-20T17:43:37Z

Alex Smith was seen running plays from the pistol formation during Kansas City Chiefs OTAs on Thursday, according to Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star. The pistol formation will allow Smith to use his leg speed as well as his arm strength in Kansas City.

Arrowhead Pride: Ault once said Smith would be 'excellent' at running pistol

The Chiefs hired pistol formation creator Chris Ault as a consultant this offseason after he retired from the University of Nevada, so it is not a complete surprise to see Smith practicing out of the pistol this offseason. The use of the pistol is a deviation from new coach Andy Reid's typical West Coast, pass-happy offense, but not an unexpected one given it's recent success in the NFL.

The pistol formation became very popular in 2012 with the success Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers, among others. In fact, it was Kaepernick's success running the pistol offense that led to Smith's departure from San Francisco. While Smith is not as fast as Kaepernick, he has good speed and ran frequently while playing under Urban Meyer in college at Utah.

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Saints move Will Smith to outside linebacker in OTAs

2013-05-20T17:23:28Z

The New Orleans Saints will move Will Smith from defensive end to outside linebacker when they open up OTAs on Tuesday, May 21 according to Larry Holder. Smith had been a 4-3 defensive end for all of his nine seasons in New Orleans, but as the Saints shift to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan, they will try Smith in a new spot.

Canal Street Chronicles: Why the Saints defense won't suck in 2013

At 6'3, 282 pounds, Smith is not built like the typically leaner 3-4 outside linebacker and there is some concern that the veteran doesn't have the speed he once did. Smith took a pay cut from $9 million to $3 million to remain with the Saints this season, but time will tell if his new position makes for a good fit.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton both said they expect the same level of production at outside linebacker that he gave them as a 4-3 defensive end. "I think initially that right outside position will be very similar to what he's played for us in the past," Payton said. Both men indicated that Smith will "start out" at outside linebacker, but didn't rule out a possible move to defensive end in the 3-4 scheme.

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Willis McGahee misses Broncos' OTAs on Monday

2013-05-20T17:06:12Z

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee did not attend organized team activities on Monday according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. McGahee has often skipped these events in the past and has not attended many voluntary workouts this offseason, but his roster spot with the Broncos is considered to be in jeopardy this year. McGahee was the only non-injured veteran not present on Monday.

More: Broncos coverage at Mile High Report

Despite McGahee's absence, his agent Chafie Fields maintains that everything is fine, saying, "he's following the same routine he's had his whole career. He'll be there. He's ready to compete. No messages." McGahee tore his MCL and broke his leg on Nov. 18 against the San Diego Chargers, ending his 2012 season. He ended the year with 731 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 10 games; he also added 26 receptions for 221 yards.

McGahee will be competing with Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman and 2013 second-round draft pick Montee Ball in the backfield. McGahee is due $2.5 million in 2013.

The Broncos' first mandatory minicamp takes place June 11-13; expect McGahee to be there.

More from SB Nation:

• Chip Kelly teaches Michael Vick how to hold a football

• Geno Smith: 'I play smart. I play above my neck'