NFL rumors: Report suggests Bucs prefer Marcus Mariota as No. 1 pick
With NFL free agency in full swing and the draft approaching next month, the NFL rumor mill is abuzz. What's the latest? Check back often as we update below with all the latest scoops.
• NFL free agency: Best players remaining on the market
• 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Jameis goes No. 1 | 2015 NFL draft Big Board
April 14
• Quarterback prospect Jameis Winston will meet with the Bears on Wednesday in Chicago, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The team previously met with quarterback Marcus Mariota.
• Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor officially announced his retirement on Tuesday.
• The Miami Dolphins plan to sign quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a contract extension before the start of the 2015 season, reports NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
• Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said if the team doesn't win a Super Bowl in the upcoming season, it would be a "bust season."
• Offensive lineman Wade Smith announced on his Instagram page on Monday that he is retiring from the NFL.
• Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman said all four of the team's quarterbacks—EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor and Jeff Tuel—will get repetitions with the first-team offense.
• Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte missed the first day of the team's voluntary offseason program on Monday.
• The San Diego Chargers will work out former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in Eugene, Ore., on Tuesday, reports Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
April 13: Bucs to draft Mariota?
ESPN's Ron Jaworski says he is hearing from sources that former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota will go first overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the upcoming NFL draft.
Mariota and former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston are expected to be the top two quarterbacks taken off the board.
"Mariota's stock, remember it was quiet for a while? And there's a reason for that. There's a lull every year until about 30 days before the draft. Now the coaches get involved, Jaworski said on CSN’s Philly Sports Talk. "Prior to that, it's the scouts, it's the roadies that are filling out the paper work."
Mariota has met with Tampa Bay and will reportedly meet with the Redskins, Bears and Rams in the weeks prior to the draft.
Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said at the NFL owners meetings in March that it would not be an "erroneous assumption" to think Tampa Bay will take Winston over Mariota or someone else.
Jaworski also reported that Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who previously served as Oregon's head coach, feels Mariota has tremendous NFL potential.
"I've talked to player personnel directors, and I've heard it from a couple or three people that have had conversations with Chip Kelly, and Chip Kelly said, 'Marcus Mariota will win multiple Super Bowls in the National Football League,'" Jaworski said.
More April 13
• The jury will start its fifth day of deliberations in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial on Monday.
• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk speculates that Russell Wilson might opt to sign the franchise tag instead of signing a long-term deal with the Seahawks.
April 10
• Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has retired following 12 NFL seasons, the team confirmed on Friday.
• Former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George said he thinks the team’s front office is filled with "disfunction and disarray," Sameer Bhuchar of 24/7 Sports reports.
• Jameis Winston’s lawyer David Cornwell said he is "ready to be an NFL player on the field. But he’s not ready to be an NFL player off the field," BuzzFeed’s Joel D. Anderson reports.
• The Jets are expected to sign free-agent linebacker Joe Mays by early next week, reports ESPN's Adam Caplan.
• The ;Saintsannounced they signed linebacker Anthony Spencer to a one-year contract.
• Marcus Mariota visited the Bears a little more than a week ago, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• The Chiefs worked out free-agent OT Byron Bell on Wednesday, reports ESPN's Adam Caplan.
