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Dez Bryant slowed by injury all of last season, optimistic for 2012 season

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant missed Week 2 of the 2011 season due to a thigh injury suffered in the season opener, but he says the injury never fully healed throughout the season.

"It was very frustrating," Bryant said, per Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "But you?ve just got to get through things, get to the end the best way you can and try your best to get back on the field. Some of the game tape that I watched from last year, I really wasn?t too proud of myself [because he was hindered by the injury]. I know it?s because of the injuries, but I feel like this year, I?m spending more time focusing on my body and making sure everything is right."

Last offseason, Bryant was in the news mostly for the wrong reasons (i.e., getting banned from shopping malls, not paying jewelers, etc.).

With no lockout, things appear to be going much better for the gifted wideout this offseason.

"I see a big change in my weight, in my strength and everything," Bryant said, per Jon Machota of Fox Sports Southwest. "Coach Woicik's doing a great job with us. I feel way more explosive coming out of my cuts."

"Each year I got better, from one to two, and I haven't played this year yet but I already feel much better. I'm confident in what I'm doing. When the coach calls out the play, I'm starting to have the play before he even calls it out. I'm getting better."

And receivers coach Jimmy Robinson likes what he is seeing as well.

"Dez has really had a good off-season," Robinson said. "It?s just the consistency of route running. I don?t know if subtleties is the right word, or if it?s just the execution of each individual route on a consistent basis play after play. He has really improved just in the off-season work that we?ve done. But the proof will be in the games, training camp, and the preseason games. He?s a work in progress, but we like what we have in him, what we see in him. He did a pretty good job last year when you look at the production, and he hasn?t even come close to scratching the surface."

Bryant had 63 receptions for 928 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games last year. The injury impacted his conditioning, which showed up in his first-half-versus-second-half splits: 37-558-7 (before halftime) and 26-370-2 (after halftime).

If he stays healthy and lives up to his potential, Bryant, the No. 15 receiver in our early fantasy rankings, can be a top-five or even top-three receiver in the league.

Andre Johnson had knee scoped two weeks ago

When the Texans started their organized team activities (OTAs) today, wide receiver Andre Johnson was on the sidelines.

Johnson, who missed nine games last season due to his hamstrings, had arthroscopic knee surgery a couple of weeks ago.

?I feel like maybe in three, four more weeks, I?ll be probably ready to go,? Johnson said, per Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com. ?It?s just a process. I?m not having any issues from the other injuries I had with my hamstrings and stuff like that. I?ve just been staying on top of things so I won?t have to experience those injuries (again).

?It?s nothing to panic about. This is my 10th season. I?ve been through OTAs several times, so I don?t really feel like I?m missing anything right now.?

In addition, Johnson says that he will ?be ready for training camp.?

Going into the 2012 season, Johnson is my second-ranked fantasy wide receiver after Calvin Johnson.

If/when healthy, Johnson is one of the league's elite receivers. Unfortunately, that's becoming a bigger and bigger "if" as Johnson turns 31 years old in July and has had multiple surgeries over the past year.

Norv Turner on Antonio Gates: "Gates looks great ? he's back"

We saw unprecedented production out of the tight end position in 2011 and that was with an unhealthy (foot) Antonio Gates.

Over the past two seasons, the foot injury has slowed down Gates and kept him out of the lineup for a total of nine games during that span. In games that he did play last year, he did not look like the elite player to which we had become accustomed to seeing.

According to his coach, that is about to change.

"Gates looks great ? he's back," Turner said, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Physically, he's back to where we want him to be. I think, like anybody, going through this offseason program helps you get better. (It's) the combination of conditioning, the combination of getting better in the areas you can improve, and being out there with your teammates."

Last year, Gates ranked fifth among all tight ends in receiving yards per game (59.8) and was tied for fourth in touchdowns (seven) despite missing three games with the injury.

Had he stayed healthy and maintained his per-game pace (a career-best 78.2 YPG) back in 2010, Gates would have finished with 1,251 yards and 16 touchdowns -- numbers close to Rob Gronkowski's record-breaking numbers last year.

In other words, if Gates returns to his pre-injury level of performance, he will be a steal where he is currently being drafted (46th overall via Mock Draft Central).

LeSean McCoy, Eagles agree to five-year extension

Two months ago, the Eagles signed receiver DeSean Jackson to a five-year deal although they designated him with the franchise tag earlier in the offseason.

Today, the Eagles and running back LeSean McCoy have agreed to a five-year extension worth $45 million, which includes $20.765 in guarantees, per Pro Football Talk.

McCoy, the team's second-round pick in 2009, set career highs across the board when it comes to rushing the football: 273 carries, 1,309 yards and a league-high 17 touchdowns. Although his receiving numbers were down, he still hauled in 48 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

From a fantasy perspective, McCoy is the No. 3 running back in our rankings for both standard and point-per-reception (PPR) scoring formats.

Kenny Britt has arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday

Titans receiver Kenny Britt had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today, but the procedure was somewhat expected based on comments from coach Mike Munchak over the weekend.

Britt, who had some swelling in his knee, tore his ACL and MCL last year.

?It almost becomes commonplace,? [Titans GM Ruston] Webster said of the procedure, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. ?It is not one of those things, ?Wow, oh no, he is having surgery.? It is very common and if it helps his rehab process and all that, it is well worth doing. And our goal is to have him play this year. It will be helpful to him, I think, and probably accelerate his rehab.?

According to Wyatt, Webster said that the procedure should set Britt back "a week or two."

Britt has 101 receptions for 1,765 yards (17.5 yards per reception) and 15 touchdowns over his 31 career games.

Maurice Jones-Drew wants a contract extension

As Jimmy Fallon once said in a Capital One commercial: "According to research, everybody likes more cash ... well, almost everybody."

Maurice Jones-Drew is no different.

With two years remaining on his contract, Pocket Hercules wants an extension according to his coach.

"He's talked about trying to get an extension for his contract, which I think everybody's aware of," Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said Tuesday, per Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. "I'm on the coaching end of those matters. I talk to him about football and what I can do for him on the field and in the locker room."

Not only did Jones-Drew lead the NFL in rushing last year, but he became the first running back in NFL history to rush for 80-plus yards in 15 of 16 regular-season games.

In our fantasy football rankings, MJD is the No. 4 running back on our list after Arian Foster, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy.

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