It's July 5th and there's not much going on in the NFL. And much of what is going on is nonsense -- people saying things they don't mean, doing things that don't matter, and providing updates and answering questions that are short on actual information or answers. Maybe lies is too strong a word, but they're not absolute truths, either.
Here are eight I've seen in recent weeks.
Jacksonville's passing game will be more aggressive. Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett says that Blake Bortles' (pictured) development will enable the team to throw the ball more aggressively, trusting he'll make the right decisions more consistently. Maybe. But this is a team loaded with talent on the defensive side of the ball and with a line and running back corps that should also enable the team to emphasize the run. Will be surprising if Bortles and the passing game are any different than they were a year ago.
Deshaun Watson won't change his style of play, and the coaching staff won't limit his runs. We'll see. It may be difficult for Watson personally to play any differently than he has in his football career, but I'm very comfortable thinking the coaching staff will change some things to keep him in one piece. As a fantasy coach, I want that rushing production, but I also want him healthy all season to get that passing production. Watson is going to run less.
Robert Turbin will be an important piece in the Colts offense. This was before his four-game suspension was announced, of course, but maybe you'll get some people selecting him late with the idea they have a future starter, the heir apparent to Frank Gore. Turbin might be a heckuva guy and is way better than football than most of the world, but he's an ordinary running back who will bring nothing to the offense at any point, and at best can expect maybe a third of a committee with the way more talented Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines.
Ryan Griffin has a chance to start over Ryan Fitzpatrick in Tampa Bay. This is in weeks 1-3 when Jameis Winston is suspended. Full disclosure, I haven't seen much of Griffin, but that's because he's never attempted a pass in a regular-season game, completed only 4 passes LAST preseason, and completed an unremarkable 58 percent (and 5.8 yards per attempt) two preseasons ago, when he was a deep reserve in New Orleans. He's 28 years old and while we get Kurt Warner stories every so often, let's be serious. Griffin isn't starting in Tampa Bay unless Fitzpatrick gets hurt.
Nathan Peterman is a serious contender for the Bills starting job. The 2017 fifth-rounder was a train-wreck in his start replacing Tyrod Taylor last year. Players get better, but if the Bills had the remotest aspirations of Peterman developing into a starter, they wouldn't have traded up for Josh Allen; if they even thought he'd be a viable backup, I'm not sure they'd have signed AJ McCarron. Not gonna happen.
Eric Ebron will have a major role for the Colts. I guess this one is possible. He's a former first-round pick, and new coach Frank Reich will no doubt use plenty of two-tight end sets in his offense. But there's only one football, and Jack Doyle has proven very capable as both blocker and receiver while starting in Indianapolis. Ebron could siphon some production away from Doyle, no question. But unless anyone actually wants to handcuff tight ends, Ebron is not worth a fantasy pick.
Kendrick Bourne could push for an expanded role. The second-year undrafted free agent caught 16 passes last year. In San Francisco, there's not much certainty on the depth chart, except that Marquise Goodwin (just signed to a three-year, $20 million extension) and Pierre Garcon will be the top 2. And then for Bourne to emerge as the No. 3, he needs to get past Trent Taylor (a credible slot receiver a year ago) and second-rounder Dante Pettis, among other youngsters. I like Jimmy Garoppolo fine, but factoring in tight ends and running backs, it's difficult to see much opportunity for Bourne beyond maybe the No. 4 wideout and No. 5 or 6 target in the passing game.
Teddy Bridgewater has lots of trade value. Every so often I'll see a report about how the Jets should trade Teddy Bridgewater to some team that needs competition or a possible starter at quarterback -- his trade value is "trending upward," went the last one. No question Bridgewater has some ability, but this is a guy who signed a contract several weeks into free agency that included only $500,000 in guaranteed money, and that a two team that traded up to draft Sam Darnold. Why didn't teams supposedly interested in trading for him now simply offer him a slightly better deal back in March? Great that Bridgewater's knee rehab is going well, and understandable the Jets (who have a veteran starter in place and a franchise rookie to develop) would want to create the idea that he's available for trade. But it defies belief that a noteworthy trade market exists for a player who drew almost no interest in free agency.
It's early. There will no doubt be plenty more such fun reports (let's not forget the ubiquitous "ahead of schedule on his rehab", which outnumber "behind schedule on his rehab" reports by about a billion to zero). Let's see what the tide brings in the rest of the month.