Truth & Rumors > NFL

07:07 AM ET 05.21 | Another down, yes, but how many more to go? Rob Gronkowski endured a fourth surgical procedure on his left forearm this afternoon at Massachusetts General Hospital. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, doctors were able to replace the plate that had been keeping the broken bone in place because they were confident enough the infection that had persisted for months in that forearm had finally cleared. ... On the horizon is back surgery, and that will be tackled next. As we learned Friday, a back problem has crept into the picture. According to a source, the surgery avenue will be explored in a month's time as doctors will decide if a piece of disc needs to be removed.

Boston Herald

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07:06 AM ET 05.21 | If Pittsburgh is going to prove its doubters wrong in September, as Mike Tomlin predicts, the work begins this week. The Steelers begin the first day of 13 offseason practice days -- 10 OTAs and three minicamp sessions -- Tuesday, and Tomlin will begin working through an extended check list of concerns, worries and question marks. Among them: LaMarr Woodley's weight. Troy Polamalu's overall health. Ben Roethlisberger's receivers. Dick LeBeau's always-aging defense. The relatively young offensive line. The who's-on-first situation at running back. The who's-going-to-replace James Harrison scenario at outside linebacker. And there's this: For the first time since Tomlin took over as coach in 2007, the Steelers aren't considered to be one of the AFC's elite teams or an AFC North frontrunner.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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07:05 AM ET 05.21 | While Eagles fans may eventually tire of counting quarterback reps, these OTAs are serving up some interesting numbers for Nick Foles. On Monday, it was Foles who had his number called the most to run with the ones. By [Sheil Kapadia's] count, there were five "team" periods at practice, as OTAs continued at the NovaCare Complex. Foles manned the first team for three of them, and Michael Vick the other two. ... Kelly promised a quarterback competition, and so far this has the looks of one. "Everybody gets reps and there's no particular order. We just go out there and rep. I don't think any of us really think first, second, third, whatever, and when it's time to go up we've got to go execute the play," said Foles.

PhillyMag.com

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07:02 AM ET 05.21 | Even if Miami had locked up a stadium renovation deal, the landscape for Super Bowl bids would be thinning under its feet. [The league's willingness to step outside the box] has created a surge in the number of cities that now believe themselves capable of hosting the big game. That belief has led to major efforts to improve other venues for consideration. While the NFL says the development of new stadiums is nothing more than an organic byproduct (not a strategic incentive) of the Super Bowl hosting process, the formula is working. It just doesn't seem to be working very well for Miami. ... [The bottom line for Miami] is that it will have fewer opportunities to host the big game.

NFL.com

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07:00 AM ET 05.21 | Mario Williams had his chance to talk Monday, and he let out a sigh when he stepped to the lectern in Buffalo. [He] then answered every question asked about an unbecoming feud with his ex-fiancee. Williams didn't deny he sent texts her lawyer made public Friday, but insisted he never has had suicidal thoughts and takes only medications prescribed by and dispensed by the Buffalo Bills. "It's blown out of proportion," Williams said. "It's completely out of context." Erin Marzouki's attorney, Tony Buzbee, released a series of texts allegedly from Williams to Marzouki. In the texts, Williams told her he was taking narcotics without anyone's knowledge and suggested he was having suicidal thoughts.

The Buffalo News

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