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NFL notebook: Winston says his shoulder is fine
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston insisted Friday there is no issue with his right shoulder despite a report earlier in the day that he underwent an electromyography at the Scouting Combine to determine the source of weakness in his throwing shoulder.
Winston did not miss a game in two seasons at Florida State, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and did not lose a game until the College Football Playoff semifinals in the Rose Bowl. He has been working with noted quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. in preparing for the NFL draft, where he is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick.
“Never had any issues. Never had any surgeries,” Whitfield said Friday. “I don’t know what part they are looking at. I’m sure they are just making observations. I knew they were doing tests. It’s actually a little bit of a shock. He’s only been getting stronger. They test these guys like astronauts.”
Winston said he underwent an MRI on Thursday and he intends to throw during positional drills Saturday.
“I have the same shoulder I’ve had the past two years at Florida State,” Winston said. “I was a pitcher (on the baseball team), that may be the shoulder thing.”
—Georgia running back Todd Gurley, projected as a first-round pick, plans to wait for the official medical re-check in April to allow teams to fully examine his left knee.
He tore the anterior cruciate ligament Nov. 15 — in his first game back from a suspension handed down Oct. 9 for receiving payment for his autograph — and surgery was performed by renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
Gurley, who signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation agency, will not participate in Georgia’s pro day March 18 and is unlikely to hold a workout in April before the draft. Gurley said he is just beginning to perform lateral agility drills.
“The timetable is six to nine months. I got hurt in November, so I’m not really giving (a) timetable,” said Gurley, who admitted patience is not his strong suit. “I’m just trying to get back safe, but as quick as possible.”
—The San Diego Chargers deceived their fans and the city by working on a stadium plan in the Los Angeles area with the Oakland Raiders, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer said Friday.
“The Chargers weren’t being up front with San Diegans, they weren’t being up front with their fans. … That’s not how you get things done,” Faulconer said. “We deserve an honest dialogue. What we saw speaks volumes about the true intentions and about what’s been happening over the last few weeks.”
Two longtime rivals, the Chargers and Raiders announced in a joint statement Thursday night that they are teaming up to propose a shared stadium in Carson, Calif., near Los Angeles. The Carson site would have a capacity of 68,000 to 72,000, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf said Raiders president Marc Badain assured her Thursday that the team’s “No. 1 priority” is to build a new stadium in the city. Schaaf, who doesn’t believe Oakland should subsidize a stadium, “respects” the Raiders’ need to explore other options for a new home.
“They have done it before and they will do it again,” she said.
— The Green Bay Packers released linebacker Brad Jones.
Jones, a seventh-round draft pick in 2009, started 36 games and played in 76 in his six seasons with Green Bay. In 2014, he played in 13 games, recording 18 tackles.
The Packers had signed Jones to a three-year, $11.75 million contract in 2013. The move will save the team $3.75 million against the 2015 salary cap — money the Packers can use to try to re-sign pending free agents such as wide receiver Randall Cobb and tackle Bryan Bulaga.
—Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said the team is hearing only positive reports about suspended wide receiver Justin Blackmon’s progress.
He is currently suspended after a series of off-field issues but Caldwell said the Jaguars are hopeful the NFL will make him a priority soon.
“It’s in Justin’s hands, really,” Caldwell said. “From what we hear second hand, he’s doing the right things. Right now, those reports are positive.”
—St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher officially named Chris Weinke as the team’s quarterbacks coach on Friday.
Weinke, a former Heisman Trophy winner who led Florida State to its second national championship and its first undefeated season in 1999, joins the Rams after serving as the director of the IMG Academy football program in Bradenton, Fla.
During his tenure with IMG, Weinke helped college quarterbacks prepare for the NFL draft, including Teddy Bridgewater (Minnesota Vikings), Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) and Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks).
Weinke, 42, replaces Frank Cignetti, who was recently promoted to offensive coordinator.
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