Six years ago on this date, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Packers quarterback Brett Favre from the reserve/retired list (h/t: Packerpedia on Twitter). Of course, this move would set off a series of transactions — Favre was traded to the Jets before “retiring” again, then subsequently signed with the Vikings before calling it quits for good following the 2011 season. Let’s look at some news from the NFC:
- The Falcons signed safety Tyrell Johnson following his workout today, and according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link), Atlanta also tried out fellow S Jordan Pugh. Pugh, a sixth-round pick by the Panthers in 2010, had previously tried out for the Broncos, Colts, and Bears.
- Following Glenn Dorsey‘s potentially season-ending injury, and considering the murky injury status of Dorsey’s direct backup, Ian Williams, the 49ers will turn to a triumvirate of Quinton Dial, Tony Jerod-Eddie, and Demarcus Dobbs to fill in at nose tackle, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.
- The 49ers have seen most of their injuries afflict the running back and defensive line position groups, which, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee tweets, is fortuitous, as those are perhaps San Francisco’s deepest units.
- Matt Cassel is confident he’ll be the Vikings Week 1 starter, and isn’t worried that rookie Teddy Bridgewater is receiving practice snaps, as he tells Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “The No. 2 guy, you have to get him ready to play at any point,” said Cassel. “The fact of the matter is he’s going to get reps with the one’s and this is the time of year to do it. it’s also a situation where they’re preaching competition. I think competition makes all of us better…”
- New Falcon Devin Hester is always a threat on punt and kick returns, but even a special teams ace needs to learn to adjust to new blockers, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.