Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck met with reporters on Monday, and noted he still has a ways to go in his recovery from his shoulder injury.
He missed all of last season because of the injury to his right shoulder.
“(I am) not a perfect feeling athlete right now,” he said, adding he “pushed a little too hard” in his attempt to return to action after having surgery in January 2017.
As a result, he is going to make sure he gets through each step of his rehab, admitting that he has skipped steps in the past.
Luck clarified what had been reported regarding the comments of new Colts head coach Frank Reich last week. Luck is not throwing regulation-size footballs yet, as had been reported by some media outlets.
Reich said Tuesday Luck has begun throwing “smaller footballs,” and Luck confirmed on Monday that is the case at the moment.
Luck said there is a timetable in place for him to move to the next step in his throwing program but did not say what that timetable was.
–New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reported for the opening of the team’s offseason conditioning program, coach Pat Shurmur said on Monday.
Shurmur admitted during an early-morning conference call that he hadn’t seen Beckham as of yet but knows that the three-time Pro Bowl selection is “in the building.”
Attending voluntary workouts is a show of good faith for Beckham, who is seeking a long-term contract that will make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players. He is set to be paid $8.46 million this season.
–Offensive lineman Ereck Flowers was absent for the start of the Giants’ offseason conditioning program, multiple media outlets reported.
While the workouts are completely voluntary, Flowers’ absence does him no favors as he attempts to move from left to right tackle after the Giants acquired free agent Nate Solder this offseason.
–If the New York Giants opt to go for a quarterback with the second overall pick of the NFL draft, they will take USC’s Sam Darnold if he is available, according to a report by NJ Advance Media for NJ.com.
“If Darnold is available, they’re taking Darnold,” an NFL talent evaluator told NJ Advance Media on the condition of anonymity. “They don’t like (Josh) Rosen.”
The Cleveland Browns have the No. 1 overall pick, and they might choose Darnold before the Giants have a shot at him.
“(The Giants’) top three choices are Darnold, Saquon Barkley, and Bradley Chubb,” the executive said, according to NJ.com. “They are debating Barkley vs. Chubb, because they need an edge rusher but the scouts love Barkley.”
–Former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid reportedly is scheduled to make his first free-agent visit.
Reid is expected to meet with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, who also reported “there is a real good chance he signs with this visit.”
Reid, 26, has been a starter in each of his five NFL seasons, and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2013. However, there has not been much interest in Reid. There are suspicions that his decision not to stand during the national anthem before games in the past might have affected his market appeal.
Last month, Reid said he will no longer kneel during the anthem; however, he will still be active in social-reform efforts.
–New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick chastised tight end Rob Gronkowski for using quarterback Tom Brady’s diet and exercise in his daily routine, the Boston Herald reported.
Belichick made the point of Gronkowski’s allegiance to Brady’s patented TB12 Method in front of players early last season, per the report.
According to the article, “maybe that was Belichick’s not-so-subtle way of trying to keep everyone from jumping ship on the team’s training staff.”
–An apparent attempt at humor by Green Bay Packers wide receiver Trevor Davis quickly escalated into a serious matter at Los Angeles International Airport.
Multiple media outlets reported that Davis was arrested on a misdemeanor count of making criminal threats at the airport on Sunday.
TMZ Sports reported that Davis was asked routine security-related questions about the contents of his checked luggage at a Hawaiian Airlines ticket counter. At that point, Davis allegedly turned to his female traveling companion and asked, “Did you remember to pack the explosives?”
The 24-year-old Davis was taken into custody by LAX police before being released from jail after posting $15,000 bond.
–The Oakland Raiders began their offseason conditioning program with one notable absence: defensive end Khalil Mack.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, citing team sources, reported that Mack was not in the building to kick off the conditioning program.
While the workouts are completely voluntary, Mack’s absence may serve as a means to deliver a message ahead of the final season of his rookie contract. The three-time Pro Bowl selection is set to make $13.846 million on the fifth-year option.
–Free agent cornerback Jalen Collins was suspended by the NFL for the first 10 games of the 2018 season, according to Field Yates of ESPN.
This would be the fourth suspension for Collins, who last played an NFL game in 2016 when he was with the Atlanta Falcons.
The reason for his latest suspension is unclear.
He was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season, then suspended for the first 10 games of the 2017 season. He was released by the Falcons in November 2017, and subsequently suspended four more games in December 2017.
–The Oakland Raiders announced that they have re-signed five exclusive rights free agents, including kicker Giorgio Tavecchio.
The other four who re-signed with Oakland were linebacker Shilique Calhoun, defensive end James Cowser, safety Erik Harris and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland.
Tavecchio served as the Raiders’ place-kicker last season because Sebastian Janikowski spent all of the 2017 season on injured reserve with a back problem. In February, the Raiders announced the 39-year-old Janikowski would not be retained by the team.
Tavecchio made 16 of 21 field-goal attempts last season, and he hit on 3 of 4 attempts from 50 yards or longer.
–The Cleveland Browns plan to get a closer look at each part of the pre-draft quarterback carousel as Wyoming’s Josh Allen and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson are expected to visit later in the week, multiple media outlets reported.
Cleveland hosted UCLA’s Josh Rosen, USC’s Sam Darnold and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma last week.
The Browns own the top overall pick and fourth selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, which will be held on April 26-28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
–Marquette King is relishing the opportunity to routinely punt in a high altitude.
King, who signed a three-year, $7 million contract with the Broncos last week, has flourished in five career games in Denver. He has averaged 50.03 gross yards and 45.51 net yards while kicking in the Rocky Mountains, and 46.48 and 40.68, respectively, when extending his leg everywhere else.
“Denver’s a punter’s paradise,” Marquette King told Peter King of SI.com. “The ball definitely travels a lot further. I’ve always enjoyed punting out here in the altitude just because the ball travels further.”
The Oakland Raiders released King last week.
–The New York Jets added depth at the wide receiver position by signing Charles Johnson, the team announced on Monday.
Johnson has not played since the 2016 season when he was with the Minnesota Vikings. He signed with the Carolina Panthers last year but was waived in July after undergoing knee surgery.
In 2016, Johnson played in 16 games, including seven starts, and caught 20 passes for 232 yards.
–Quarterback Matt Ryan is pleased with the progress in his ongoing contract negotiations with the Atlanta Falcons.
“I think things have been productive up until this point,” Ryan said on Monday, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “As far as a time frame of anything like that, it will shake out. It will handle itself. I don’t know if it will be today or tomorrow. Or in a couple of weeks, but I really think we are moving in the right direction.
“I’m excited to be here and that’s the biggest thing. All of those things will take care of itself.”
Ryan enjoyed a big weekend as he and his wife Sarah announced the birth of twin boys on Sunday after a complicated pregnancy.
–Free-agent running back Orleans Darkwa is visiting the New England Patriots, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
Darkwa enjoyed a career season with the New York Giants in 2017, posting personal bests in carries (171), rushing yards (751) and touchdowns (five).
–Free-agent linebacker Connor Barwin is scheduled to visit the Arizona Cardinals this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Barwin recorded 34 tackles and five sacks in 14 games with the Los Angeles Rams last season.
–New York Giants safety Landon Collins said that he has mended his relationship with teammate Eli Apple, who he called a “cancer” last season.
“We buried the hatchet a while ago. That’s my guy, my brother,” Collins said via a conference call. “We know what we got to do. Make this season go.”