DAILY NFL PLAYER UPDATE #18 07/23/2009

Knowshon Moreno
ESPN.com's Bill Williamson expects Knowshon Moreno to not only start but also to be the "focal point" of the Broncos offense this season.

This gibes with beat writer Mike Klis' pronouncement that the starting job is Moreno's, period. Running backs often make immediate impacts, and the Broncos expect one from the No. 12 overall pick. Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson predicts 1,500 combined yards for Moreno this season, which matches up well with Football Outsiders' projections.

Source: ESPN.com


Michael Vick
Michael Vick could be suspended four games after being conditionally reinstated next week, according to ESPN.com's Sal Paolantonio and Chris Mortensen.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello is denying that a decision has been made. If the ESPN story is correct, Vick is now free to sign with any team that will have him -- and participate in training camp -- but he would then be unavailable until Week 5. Though it's not Vick's best-case scenario, it's still good news for the former felon who could have been facing a full-season suspension.

Source: ESPN.com


Chris Wells
The Arizona Republic's Kent Somers agrees with beat writer Darren Urban's prediction that Tim Hightower will open the season as the Cardinals' starting running back.

Hightower will definitely enter training camp as the starter, but Wells will force the coaches to make a tough decision if he shows blitz pickup skills and big-play ability in preseason action. Considering the talent differential, Wells will push Hightower into a situational role sooner rather than later.

Source: Arizona Republic


Joseph Addai
According to the Indianapolis Star, the Colts are "not totally satisfied with what they're getting out of Joseph Addai."

The "football scientist" K.C. Joyner recently pointed out that Addai did well when his linemen blocked poorly, but he couldn't break big plays when he had clear lanes. That doesn't bode well for future fantasy success. His YPC has dropped steadily from 4.8 as a rookie to 3.5 last year, and his contract is up after 2010.

Source: Indianapolis Star


NFL NEWS
The NFL draft will be moved to primetime for the first time in 2010.

The first round will start on Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The second and third rounds will resume on Friday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m., with Rounds 4-7 picking up at 10:00 a.m. Saturday.

Source: NFL.com


Antoine Winfield
Vikings signed CB Antoine Winfield to a new five-year, $36 million contract. The deal includes $16.1 million in guarantees.

Winfield, 32, is no sure bet to play out this deal, but he's coming off a long deserved Pro Bowl berth and is easily the Vikes' top corner. They had to pay the man. Winfield is such a good tackler that he could move to safety later in his career if Cedric Griffin and Asher Allen develop as hoped. This year, Winfield will continue to shadow opposing top wideouts. Opponents may begin throwing away from him with Griffin a bigger liability on the other side.

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune


Brett Favre
ESPN's Ed Werder reports that free agent Brett Favre is now "conflicted" about whether he truly wants to return to the NFL.

Werder says Favre got calls from Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson, and Adrian Peterson saying they're sure they'd make the Super Bowl with him at QB. If not for the players' efforts, Favre "might have already decided against playing." Money is reportedly no issue, as the sides have a one-year, $10 million agreement in place, but Favre remains uncertain he can make it through a full season. He's never missed a game in his life to this point.
Source: Espn.com