NFL football doesn’t take a back seat to other sports too often in America, but all eyes this afternoon figures to be on what the rest of the world knows as football, as the U.S. men’s national soccer team faces Germany in Brazil. While you’re looking forward to that game, here are a few morning odds and ends from around the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tells Dan Pompei of Sports on Earth that he wants to “beat down the things they are saying about the running back position.” While no running backs have been drafted in the right round for two consecutive years, Peterson thinks that will change when the right players are draft-eligible: “We haven’t had a good back, a must-have guy, come out of college in a couple years. That’s what’s missing. You get a guy who comes out who is like Marshawn Lynch… you’ll definitely want to bring that guy in.”
- Ben Tate was one running back who felt the effects of a depressed free agent market this offseason, signing a modest two-year pact with the Browns. In the view of Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap though, Tate’s deal is Cleveland’s best contract, heading into the 2014 season. On the other end of the spectrum, Paul Kruger ranks as the Browns’ worst deal, according to Fitzgerald, who had Kruger’s contract in that spot in 2013 as well.
- The Ravens have removed linebacker Xavius Boyd from their injured reserve list, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Per Wilson, the Ravens didn’t work out an injury settlement with Boyd, who expects to be healthy soon after suffering a hamstring injury in spring workouts.
- Our Offseason in Review series has kicked off this week, with Zach Links examining the offseason moves made by the Browns and Steelers.