May 6, 2016; Oxnard, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during rookie minicamp at River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff got in plenty of work at rookie minicamp and head coach Jeff Fisher says the No. 1 overall pick is doing a “great job” picking up the offense.
Fisher was impressed with Goff after two days of minicamp in Oxnard, Calif., for rookies and undrafted free agents.
“We’ve given him a lot more information than we did at the private workout and then that we did here at our meeting, and he’s handled it without any problem,” Fisher told reporters Saturday. “And that’s the impressive thing. I passed him last night walking to the room and he was leaving the meeting room at 10 o’clock. He’s that kind of guy. He’ll spend the time. It’s important to him.
“A little frustrating at times for him because he’s setting the back foot and getting ready to go, and we’re running half-speed routes. So if you see balls hit the ground or things like that, it’s all because we’re encouraging the skill players not to run full speed.”
Goff, the former California standout, will be away from the team — per NFL rules — with Cal’s exams ongoing for the next week.
“He’s a guy who understands priorities. He knows how to budget his time and where to spend his time,” Fisher said Saturday. “We’ll get him some information this week so he can stay up as we continue to install. But he’s handled everything. As I mentioned before, he’s got that internal competitive drive that you don’t see. He doesn’t wear it on his sleeve, (but) he’s going to make sure everything’s right.”
Goff was the lone quarterback as the Rams began a two-day rookie orientation and minicamp on Friday, taking every snap.
“It’s nice to get all of them right now,” Goff said Friday. “It’s nice to get as many as you can to get used to it.”
–The Miami Dolphins and veteran defensive end Cameron Wake agreed to a contract extension through the 2017 season, the team announced Saturday night.
The deal replaces the season Wake had left on a five-year contract. ESPN reported it was worth $15 million with $10 guaranteed.
Wake, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, played in just seven games last season after suffering a torn Achilles’ tendon. He had seven sacks and four forced fumbles prior to the injury.
Wake has 70 career sacks — second most in franchise history — and 247 tackles in 100 games for the Dolphins. He joined the organization in 2009 after playing two seasons in the Canadian Football League.
–Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver Dez Bryant, rehabbing from January surgery to his right foot, is making progress but may not practice before training camp.
Bryant underwent surgery on his foot and ankle after he missed seven games with various injuries, including a broken foot, last season.
Head coach Jason Garrett is pleased with Bryant’s progress.
“He’s done a really good job with his rehab and he’s made progress,” Garrett said Saturday. “Like with all those guys, it’s a day-by-day, week-by-week thing. But he’s had no setbacks, but he really continues to get better and better.”
Bryant greeted many of the rookies in the locker room during rookie minicamp at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch facility in Irving, Texas.
Bryant was on the field while the rookies practiced, speaking with owner and general manager Jerry Jones and catching a few passes off to the side.
Garrett has been cautious whether Bryant would be a full participant at the June minicamp.
“I don’t think there’s any balance. It’s all about just being healthy,” Garrett said, via ESPN.com. “As soon as he’s healthy, he’ll get integrated back in. He’s doing everything we’re asking him to do with his rehab, and he’s making progress.”
–Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Tyreek Hill says he understands fans’ negative reaction about his domestic violence arrest.
The Chiefs selected Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and defended choosing a player who pleaded guilty to punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend in a 2014 incident.
Hill practiced for the first time on Saturday as the Chiefs began three-day rookie minicamp.
“Those guys, those fans, they have every right to be mad at me,” Hill, who is on probation in Oklahoma, told ESPN.com. “I did something wrong. I just let my emotions get the best of me and I shouldn’t have (done) it. They have every right to be mad. But guess what? I (plan) to come back and be a better man and be a better citizen and everything will take care of itself.”
Hill was kicked off the team at Oklahoma State after being charged with domestic violence, ending up at Division II West Alabama.
Hill admits he was wrong to say on draft day that the lesson he learned was that he needed to better pick his friends.
“It’s a very wrong way to look at it,” Hill said. “I don’t blame (anybody) but myself. It’s my fault. It’s my mistake. Going forward, I just want people to know that I’m a hard-working kid, dedicated to what he does and really a good citizen, a good teammate and like I said, a good, hard worker who’s trying to help the team out.”
–The Cincinnati Bengals announced signed four free-agent players who participated in tryouts over the weekend.
The Bengals signed Jonathan Brown, a kicker from Louisville; Gionni Paul, a linebacker from Utah; Trip Thurman, a center/guard from Florida; and Corey Tindal, a cornerback from Marshall.
