National Football League roundup

[April 20, 2016]  April 19 (The Sports Xchange) - Andrew Luck, five months removed from a lacerated kidney and on the verge of a massive contract with the Indianapolis Colts, continues to experience issues throwing the football.

The quarterback told Colts.com after the start of offseason workouts in Indianapolis on Monday that he is not yet 100 percent.

That hasn't caused any hesitation from owner Jim Irsay in contract negotiations with Luck. Irsay said he hopes to nail down a deal with Luck by July 4. Some project that contract will be worth $27 million to $30 million per year.

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Les Snead has a million dollar secret and the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams intends to keep it under lock and key until April 28.

Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher acquired the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft last week in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. All signs point to the Rams drafting a quarterback, and most suspect Cal's Jared Goff holds the edge over North Dakota State's Carson Wentz.

Snead said he's 97 percent sure who the Rams will draft next Thursday, but the speculation will continue.

"There will be suspense leading all the way up to the draft," Snead said. "It will be good for the networks."

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Prosecutors in Dallas are moving forward with a family violence case against Johnny Manziel and plan to present it to a grand jury on Thursday.

A decision by the grand jury would be likely early next week, meaning the former Cleveland Browns quarterback could hear charges days or hours before the 2016 NFL Draft.

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Fletcher Cox was on the trade block in April 2015 but he stayed with the Philadelphia Eagles and the 25-year-old defensive tackle is on the verge of a contract that would make him the Eagles' highest-paid player.

Cox will reportedly agree to a six-year deal worth at least $52.5 million guaranteed, Bleacher Report reported.

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Brian Hoyer could capitalize on the ongoing standoff between the New York Jets and their 2015 starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Hoyer, released by the Houston Texans on Monday after one shaky season, met with the Jets on Tuesday.

The Jets and Fitzpatrick are unable to agree on the value of a one-year contract. He is an unsigned free agent and could be targeted by teams who fail to fill a need in the NFL draft next week.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is pleased with his progress after undergoing major knee surgery in December and is aiming to be ready for training camp in late July.

Flacco underwent the operation in early December to repair both the ACL and MCL in his left knee. He said he has made "big improvements" over the past three weeks.

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New York Giants tight end Larry Donnell has been medically cleared to resume his NFL career, the team announced.

Donnell, 27, suffered a season-ending neck injury last season and it was feared it could also be a career-ending ailment.

Donnell was limited to eight games last season and caught 29 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He had a breakout campaign in 2014 when he had 63 receptions for 623 yards and six touchdowns.

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Linebacker Tony Steward was released by the Buffalo Bills.

A second-year player out of Clemson, Steward was a sixth-round draft pick in 2015 and recorded two tackles while appearing in seven games as a rookie.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed quarterback Dan LeFevour from the Canadian Football League.

LeFevour will be reunited with Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian, who was at Central Michigan as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach while LeFevour was in college.

The 6-foot-3 LeFevour has played in the CFL since the 2012 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Montreal Alouettes. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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