NFL alumni blurbs

Marshawn Lynch (ironically pictured here with fellow rookie Trent Edwards of Stanford) is shining out in Buffalo, making a lot of buzz about his upcoming season in the news. In addition to the following blurbs, here is a training camp report with some Marshawn action from yesterday.

SI.com’s Monday Morning QB:

7. I think Marshawn Lynch impressed me off the field the other day, after showing terrific moves on the field. . . . One other thing about Lynch. I asked him about his goals for the season and how good he thought he could be as a rookie. “I haven’t even put on the pads yet,” he said. “We can’t know about that yet. I’m just getting comfortable here. Guys have been doing this for years and I just got here.” Impressive kid, at least at first glance.

AP (Sporting News): “Top pick Lynch arrives at Bills camp”

Once practice began, it was difficult to hold Lynch back. . . . Lynch made his training camp debut in suburban Rochester after signing a five-year contract worth nearly $19 million. He was so eager that the native of Oakland, Calif., was already in the state waiting for the deal to be completed. . . .

He was drafted 12th overall out of Cal to replace Willis McGahee, the inconsistent and often brooding player who was traded to Baltimore in March. . . . His versatility as a receiver gives the Bills an added dimension in coordinator Steve Fairchild’s multi-threat offense, something McGahee struggled with last year. . . . Losman also praised Lynch’s attention to detail. “You watch him closely, he’s always paying attention,” Losman said. “You never see him messing around back there. And that’s what you want to see from your running back.”

Jason Y reports that today’s “ESPN First Take” included the following from Aaron Schatz (Writer of “Pro Football Prospectus 2007”):

“The running back with biggest opportunity in his rookie year is Marshawn Lynch because Buffalo really has a big hole open in that running back position.” Schatz goes onto say that ultimately Adrian Peterson will be slower out of the gates because he has other running backs to compete with and that Adrian will probably gain superstar status eventually, but this season Lynch will be the rookie that shines.

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is looking good (but needs a haircut) at quarterback, taking reps with Green Bay’s first-team offense in training camp. However, he’s stuck indefinitely behind Brett Favre on the depth chart.

Green Bay Press-Gazette: “Rodgers looks sharp with first team”

Rodgers completed 13 of his last 16 passes in competitive periods Sunday morning — two of the misses were drops by Holiday and Brandon Miree — and was 15-for-21 overall, including 6-for-7 in the challenging blitz period. The performance was on par with Rodgers’ play in most offseason practices that were open to the media this summer, showing off his improved arm strength and increasing comfort in the Packers’ offense. . . .

Rodgers needed 5½ months to recover from a broken foot sustained Nov. 19 against New England, the game in which he saw his most extensive action last season. His arm, however, has overshadowed any lingering concerns about his health since minicamp.

He’ll lead the starters the next two days while Favre continues to deal with the death of his wife’s stepfather, and potentially more later in training camp if Favre sits out some mornings during two-a-day practices. However, there’s no telling when Favre will step away for good. Rodgers is in the third of the five-year, $7.655 million contract the Packers gave him as the 24th overall draft pick in 2005, and his best chance to become a starter might come elsewhere.

Wisconsin State Journal: “Packers: Rodgers’ actions speak clearly”

“Aaron is at the point in his career where he just needs reps. You don’t really get (enough) opportunity being the No. 2 and 3 guy,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said . . . He (has) total command of the huddle. I think his arm has gotten stronger. I think his maturity — physically and mentally — has progressed a lot since he’s been here. He just needs the opportunity to play.”

And therein lies the problem for Rodgers. He’s said mostly the right things as he’s bided his time behind Favre, but part of him was excited when his name was linked to the Oakland Raiders in the offseason Randy Moss trade rumors. Those rumors proved to be unfounded, though, so he’s back for Year 3 of learning behind a legend.

Here’s a short bit on JJ Arrington with the Arizona Cardinals:

Coach Ken Whisenhunt has been encouraged by the play of J.J. Arrington in camp, but that didn’t stop Whisenhunt from chewing out the running back when he didn’t finish a play in the afternoon session. Whisenhunt complimented Arrington after he carried the ball a few plays later. Not only is Arrington getting work at fullback in some sets, he’s also flanking out as a receiver on some plays . . .

And, a brief on Kyle Boller in Baltimore:

After three up-and-down seasons as Baltimore’s starting signal-caller, Boller was replaced by former league Most Valuable Player Steve McNair.

Boller played well when opportunities presented themselves in 2006, completing a career-best 60 percent of his passes for 486 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s unlikely to challenge McNair for playing time, though, as he enters the final year of his contract and will receive competition for the backup role from rookie quarterback Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State. . . . Boller will be a free agent after the 2007 season.

EDIT 8/1: Here is a blurb on Marcus O’Keith (Kansas City):

In the early days of camp, Michael Bennett and Kolby Smith have received most of the first-team snaps, but the Chiefs also have been impressed with rookie Marcus O’Keith, and he could conceivably earn some playing time with a strong preseason if Johnson’s holdout is prolonged.

O’Keith ripped off a couple of long runs toward the end of Tuesday afternoon’s practice.

And here’s Adimchinobe Echemandu of the Raiders (notice his “Joe” nickname):

That left Justin Fargas and Adimchinobe ” Joe” Echemandu sharing first-team snaps during the afternoon practice in Napa. . . . So far, Echemandu has been a pleasant surprise with several long runs. With Rhodes and Jordan out, the former Cal running back will get a chance to make a strong impression on the coaching staff.

“What we’re about is giving guys open competition, give them a look,” Kiffin said when asked about Echemandu earlier this week. “Right now, Joe will be getting his shot.”