Elsewhere around the NFL:

Houston: Texans coach Gary Kubiak indicated that Steve Slaton (neck surgery) will be involved in OTAs as a non-contact participant. Kubiak expects Slaton to be cleared for contact by training camp “as long as he recovers correctly.” The Houston Texans don’t seem to be concerned about the long-term affects of the surgery, but Slaton won’t be a great bet to play 16 games in 2010. Though he remains in the mix for carries, Kubiak is placing a “high priority” on adding a physical back with the ability to close games.

Houston: Coach Gary Kubiak believes Jacoby Jones should end up as No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in the NFL.
Kubiak joked that that he’s had more meetings with Jones than he’s had with his own children, but he insists that Jones is a “good kid,” lacking only in consistency. Kubiak has been high on Jones since the end of the season, and the return ace has a shot to ascend to the No. 2 job with Kevin Walter an unrestricted free agent.

Cincinnati: Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson disputes a report that the Bengals are planning to use Matt Jones as a tight end. The Dayton Daily News characterized “in-house NFL guru” Carlos “Big C” Holmes’ opinion as fact, when it was merely guesswork. The Cincinnati Bengals realize Jones doesn’t have the bulk or the blocking ability to pull off the switch. If reports about his workout are true, Jones has a lot of work to do this offseason just to make the final roster.

Cincinnati: The Bengals are believed to be interested in re-signing DT Tank Johnson. The team has already made an opening offer. Johnson stayed out of trouble all season while helping the Bengals’ run defense, so it makes sense that they’d want to bring him back to start next to Domata Peko.

Cleveland: Though he’s not yet ready to make a decision on his quarterback situation, Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren suggested that Brady Quinn deserves a full season of starts before he can be fairly evaluated. Holmgren believes a quarterback needs 32 games to be accurately defined. “I think Brady’s played about nine games in three years (actually 12),” said Holmgren. “So if I’m sticking to my beliefs, which I really do believe in, that’s the formula.” Holmgren added, however, that he needs to study his options more before deciding on a direction for the team’s quarterback.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Tampa Bay: Bucs WLB Geno Hayes will be sidelined 3-4 months after undergoing surgery in late January to repair a torn labrum sustained in Week 17. Hayes will miss all offseason activities, but he’s expected to return by training camp. Hayes had a breakout season on the weakside, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were expected to make strongside a priority this offseason. The serious injury to Hayes makes outside linebacker a bigger need.

Jacksonville: Jaguars released WR Torry Holt, as expected. Holt, who turns 34 in June, hasn’t been the same player since knee surgery robbed him of his explosiveness three years ago. After not scoring a single touchdown in 2009, he’ll struggled to land a starting job on the open market. Mike Thomas is the favorite to ascend to Holt’s role, though the team could look to free agency or the draft and keep Thomas in the slot.

Houston: Steve Slaton will avoid contact until training camp after undergoing a “discectomy” in mid-January, designed to relieve pressure on the nerve root that caused pressure in his spine. Slaton is calling the procedure a “cervical fusion.” Regardless, it’s a serious operation and a concern for an NFL player running to contact. His recovery is expected to take four-to-six months, though that’s highly optimistic. Arian Foster enters the offseason as the No. 1 back, and the Tennessee Titans are fully expected to target a running back early in the draft. Even if Slaton does fully recover by training camp, he’s a longshot for the starting job.

New York: The Giants have released MLB Antonio Pierce. The move had been expected since the end of the season. Pierce, 31, was due $4.75M in 2010, and there are questions about his health due to a bulging disk in his neck that caused him to miss the final six games of the season. Jonathan Goff, Chase Blackburn and Bryan Kehl are internal options to replace Pierce, but the Giants may look outside the organization for a permanent solution.