NFC East Blog

Pierre Garcon underwent surgery for a torn labrum after the season, the Redskins wide receiver revealed on Thursday during an interview on ESPN's "NFL Live. "It was a small surgery; it wasn't nothing major," Garcon said while coach Mike Shanahan deemed the recovery "unbelievable" during the team's OTA.The former Colt did not specify which shoulder was injured. He is expected to be ready for training camp. In his first season with Washington after signing a five-year, $42 million contract, Garcon played in 10 games, hauling in 44 receptions for 633 yards and four touchdowns.

Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis, who had his Achilles' tendon repaired in late October, told reporters during the team's OTA session on Thursday that he's "right on schedule" for a training camp return. "I feel good," Davis aid. "I'm running routes, making cuts, doing drills, running at my normal speed. I'm just working on more explosion. I feel like I'm at about 90-percent." Barring any setbacks, Davis said the goal is to participate during mandatory minicamp, which begins June 11. Regardless, he says he'll "definitely" be available when training camp starts July 25.

Here is the good news: For once, an injury isn't the reason why Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is missing football activities. He underwent a scope on his left knee more than two months ago, but Nicks said Tuesday that he feels good physically. Alas, Nicks wasn't present for organized team activities on Wednesday, and a source has told Yahoo's Jason Cole that the absence has to do with Nicks' contract. Nicks is entering the final season of his rookie deal and will make about $2.7 million.
OTAs are voluntary, but head coach Tom Coughlin was not happy when asked by the media about Nicks' whereabouts.
"I don't know," Coughlin said. "He should be here."
Teammate Victor Cruz is also missing OTAs as he waits for the Giants to take care of him financially.

Last year the Redskins option-read offense frequently dominated under rookie QB Robert Griffin III, but changes are expected for 2014 because "Griffin wasn't happy about being exposed often on designed running plays," reports Jason Reid with the Washington Post. The former Heisman Trophy winner underwent knee surgery in January and is hoping to return for Washington's season opener against the Eagles.

Apparently. You would think that some coach -- Dan Reeves? Jim Mora Jr? Andy Reid? -- would teach one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the history of football how to carry the ball while running. But Vick said Eagles head coach Chip Kelly finally got it done.
"Chip told me how to run with the football the other day," Vick said in a radio interview last week. "He tought me how to run with the football and how to carry the football, and I think it's something that you just have to work on.
"The other day, I broke out of the pocket, and the first thing Chip told me was to tuck the football. So I showed him how I was running with it, and he knocked the ball right out of my hands. And he was like, 'Hold it like this.' And what he told me felt comfortable. I had a tighter grip on the football. That should secure that problem as long as I work on it."

That's pretty much the headline on top of a Sunday story by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane. He cites the fact that Barkley is the only quarterback hand-picked by head coach Chip Kelly on the roster (I guess we're not counting Dennis Dixon), and that Barkley bests Michael Vick in accuracy, which is of ultimate importance to Kelly, McLane also writes that Kelly would have never drafted Barkley if he felt comfortable with Nick Foles as his backup signal caller.
"History says fourth-round quarterback hardly ever start in the NFL, let alone as rookies," McLane writes. "But the NFL is evolving and in certain segments becoming more like the college game and vice versa. And there's something about the Great Kelly Unknown that suggests anything is possible."

Drafted by the Cowboys in the third round, Terrance Williams is the leader for Dallas' third receiver slot behind Dez Bryant and Miles Austin. That is assuming the former Baylor product can hang onto the ball, a task he struggled with during portions of Saturday's minicamp, according to Todd Archer with ESPN Dallas. Then again, the 6-foot-2 target showed competent hands last season, hauling n 97 passes and 12 touchdown grabs last season.