The New Orleans Saints have $143.4 million committed to the salary cap for the 2014 season, which leads the NFL.

The 2014 cap is expected to be slightly more than $120 million, giving Mickey Loomis another offseason in which he will have to creatively reduce the Saints' cap issues.

The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are the only other teams with more than $130 million committed to the cap for 2014.

Robert Griffin III is limited in his physical activity due to his offseason knee surgery, giving him time to improve his mental approach to the game.

Griffin was unable to to be as mobile as he typically is during the final two games of the regular season and the Washington Redskins' playoff game, forcing him to rely on his abilities to read coverages and move through his pass progressions.

“A lot of film work, watching the film – alone and with the coaches, within the rules of the CBA,” Griffin said. “That part of it helps, and I was talking to the guys about [it] toward the end of last year, being slowed down kind of slowed the game down for me, because I had to slow down, and it made me have to get through all of my reads. That’s what I’m getting forward to doing this upcoming season: getting through every single option that I need to get through, and while at the same time, being able to use my legs as a weapon.”

Pro Football Focus studied how quarterbacks performed when under pressure over the past five seasons, finding that Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Peyton Manning, Ryan Tannehill and Robert Griffin III scored the best.

JaMarcus Russell, Brett Favre, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford and Donovan McNabb were the worst when under pressure.

With Michael Crabtree out for a significant amount of the 2013 season with an Achilles tear, the San Francisco 49ers are hoping Colin Kaepernick and Vernon Davis improve their chemistry.

Davis caught six passes in Kaepernick's debut as starter against the Chicago Bears, but only had seven receptions over the next seven games.

Davis had five receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown in the NFC Championship Game and six receptions for 104 yards in the Super Bowl.

"We bond really well. We play, we joke away from the field," Davis said. "That's very important, especially when it comes to having a relationship with your quarterback. You want to be able to joke with this guy.

"It's about what you do away from here. Colin and I are going to work on the field but how's your relationship away from the field. It's always been good. Just like me and Alex (Smith)."

The Baltimore Ravens were unwilling to add $1 million more to the final season of Joe Flacco's five-year extension before the 2012 season, which broke off negotiations.

Following the Ravens' Super Bowl win, Flacco agreed to a far more lucrative six-year, $120.6 million contract.

Due to the size of Flacco's contract, the Ravens were unable to sign several of their key players in the offseason.

"One million dollars six years from now, in the base salary non-guaranteed money, and they walked away," Linta recently told USA Today's Jim Corbett. "It cost them $35 million. So I have no sympathy. None.

"I've never in my life seen a dumber move. I guess people can say, 'Well, Joe was dumb, too.' It could have been (dumb), God forbid, if he got hurt. But $1 million to (owner) Steve Bisciotti six years from now? That's like 100 bucks for you or me today."

While the Baltimore Ravens have undergone considerable change following their Super Bowl win, Joe Flacco's offensive line has remained the same with the exception of the retired Matt Birk.

Flacco was asked if the continuity of the offensive line matters.

"Yeah, it does," said Flacco. "I think every year we've been here, we've juggled the offensive line around a pretty good amount."

The Ravens re-signed Bryant McKinnie to play left tackle.

"I think the fact that we have a pretty good feel about who is going to be up there is definitely good for me, and the fact that they played so well together last year at the end of the season is definitely a big confidence-booster."

The Pittsburgh Steelers hope to kickstart their running game with the outside zone, one-cut blocking style.

The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans have been successful with this zone blocking scheme.

The Steelers have a big, young and agile offensive line that suits this style.

Jonathan Dwyer led the Steelers last year with 623 yards, the lowest total for their leading rusher since Merrill Hoge rushed for 810 in 1991. 

Tom Brady spoke about the departure of Wes Welker on Thursday. 

Welker left the New England Patriots, who replaced him by signing Danny Amendola to a five-year, $31 million contract.

"That's what happens. This is a, like I said, it's a very tough, competitive business, and nobody appreciated Wes more than I did and what he was able to accomplish for our team,” Brady told WEEI radio station in Boston. “He's moved on; he's in a good situation with another great team and a great quarterback. We always kind of kept in touch, we always will. He's one of my best friends." 

The Patriots signed Brady to an extension this offseason that runs until he's 40, which is without precedent for the franchise. 

"Of course I have feelings, but those feelings are very personal to me," Brady said about Welker. "I used to get caught up in anger and disappointment, but I don't make the decisions. These things aren't up to me. At some point you've got to realize the things that are out of your control, you've just got to let go, focus on my job and what I need to do. The game moves on, the team moves on, there's only so long you can dwell on the past, and at some point you've got to move forward.”

Tom Brady will turn 36 this summer and he feels as though he continues to get better as a quarterback.

"Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football," said Brady. "I've never felt better throwing the football."

Brady's throwing coach, Tom Martinez, died 15 months ago. Brady is now working with former MLB pitcher Tom House.

"I owe so much to Tom Martinez,'' Brady said. "He taught me so much about how to play the game and throw the football. He was so committed to me for so many years. I miss him every time I step on the field. I found Tom House, and really developed a rapport with him quickly. I've learned, and to me, the learning process is fun. The same way Tom Martinez was always there to watch and give me corrections, Tom House has told me why certain corrections need to be made. Look at a baseball swing and a golf swing. It's all mechanics. Look at how Barry Bonds swings. Look at how Floyd Mayweather punches. Mechanics. When you've got to fit it into the tightest windows, mechanics are crucial. And to me, the offseason is crucial. If you make a throw within four feet, that's not going to be good enough. You have to make the throw within four inches of your target. That's good enough. And that's why the mechanics you adjust and learn in the offseason are important. You're going to keep them during the season.

"Tom House, pretty soon after the season, said basically, 'All right, Tommy. Get to work.' That's the one thing that helps me move forward. There's nothing we can do about losing the championship game to the Ravens. It sucks. You move on. But, with Tom, I think I've learned some things this offseason that are really going to help me."

Calvin Johnson has exceeded even the highest of expectations placed on him when he entered the NFL, but the Detroit Lions have had only one winning season during his tenure.

The Lions were 4-12 last season after reaching the playoffs in 2011.

"That's exactly where we're at," Johnson said. "It's funny because I talked to (former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver) Hines (Ward) in the offseason, over the last few offseasons, because we share the same trainer (Tom Bender). He 's like, 'You can have all the accolades in the world, but it doesn't really mean nothing'. He told me, and he could attest to this, (it does not mean anything) if you're not winning.

"I could have three touchdowns and 200 yards, but if we lose the game, what's it all for?"

Johnson is optimistic that the Lions will be better in 2013.

"I think that what we went through last year, you know, the year before we got it right and got in the playoffs," Johnson said. "During the end of the season last year, there were a few games here and there where one play could have made a difference. That's been the thing and that's what I've been saying since last year. We've got some pieces that I think can help our offense where we can make that one more play at an important time in the game.

"Guys that have been in those positions on different teams; we've brought some of those guys over. Of course, you know Reggie (Bush) and some other additions to defense. I think we got what we need, like I said, when it comes to clutch time, to make those plays."