New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski is sick of missing NFL games. He’s so sick of it, that he fully intends on playing in all 16 regular season games in 2014.

Despite still rehabbing a torn ACL he sustained in the middle of the 2013 season, Gronkowski remains on track for a week one return and has a full season in his sights.

“I’m planning on playing the whole season this year,” Gronkowski said at a women’s football clinic he hosts.

While recently being labeled injury-prone, Gronkowski actually was able to thwart off a college back issue to play all 16 games in each of his first two seasons. During that time, “The Gronk” quickly turned into one of the most unstoppable weapons in the league, as he scored a career high 17 touchdowns in 2011, just his second season in the league.

Gronkowski hasn’t found it easy to play it all 16 games the past two years, however, as an arm injury held him to just 11 starts in 2012. Recurring issues with the arm and a back issue led to Gronkowski missing the first six games to start last season, with his most recent injury taking him off the field for the remainder of the season in week 14 after just seven healthy games.

In just four seasons, Gronkowski has firmly established himself as one of the most dangerous red-zone threats, but after missing a total of 14 of a possible 32 games the past two seasons, he’s also widely regarded as injury-prone.

Thanks to a speedy recovery from his knee injury to this point, Gronkowski looks to be committed to shedding that label and returning to elite form. The beauty is that form really never left, as Gronkowski was always dominant before and after injuries. In fact, despite missing five games in 2012 he still caught 11 touchdowns, while he also was on quite a tear during the seven games he played last year before going down.

Staying on the field is the key. While saying it and doing it are obviously two very different things, it’s good to know Gronkowski has getting and staying healthy as his top goal for 2014.

The Denver Broncos are wisely trying to preserve their elite offense. According to USA Today, Broncos GM John Elway has said that the team plans on continuing to try to nail down long-term contract agreements with superstar wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and emerging tight end Julius Thomas.

“Nothing is going to get done before camp,” Elway admitted. “But we’ll keep talking to them in camp…After the second week of the preseason, we’ll want to have had something done, one way or another.”

Elway is taking the relaxed approach, which is probably wise in this case, as Denver has two very talented weapons they’ll want to keep around for years to come. Both players are set to enter contract seasons, but reports suggest the Broncos are completely content letting both players play out the final season of their rookie deals if no agreements can be met prior to the season.

Denver has made two things very clear: that they want to keep both of their young offensive talents, but they’re not willing to let negotiations become a distraction. Elway has also already been public about Julius Thomas not getting “Jimmy Graham money”, suggesting Graham remains on a whole different level and has proven his worth over time.

“Even though Julius [Thomas] had a tremendous year for us, he’s only (played) 23 games.” Elway said.

In other words, even if it wasn’t already obvious, the team would be much more likely to bend to appease Demaryius Thomas, who is the better talent and has actually put up elite numbers in back to back seasons.

That’s not to knock what Thomas has done, as Thomas busted out in week one of last year with over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns, ultimately ending his breakout year with 12 scores.

Denver wants to see him do it again before committing big money to him. That, or they’d like to secure him for several seasons and see if he keeps playing at a high level. If he does, it could lead to a future long-term deal worth more money.

Signing both passing weapons should be made possible thanks to the team opting not to bring back Knowshon Moreno or Eric Decker during free agency this past offseason, while the Broncos are also expected to let 2015 free agent Wes Welker walk, as well.

For now it’s a waiting game, but it at least clear Denver fully intends to make sure two of the NFL’s best talents at their respective positions will remain with the Broncos.

The Jimmer has found a new NBA home. Former BYU sensation Jimmer Fredette has officially agreed to a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to reports.

Fredette will look for a fresh start after failing to breakout with the Sacramento Kings in three seasons. Fredette also spent some of last season with the Chicago Bulls, but failed to crack the rotation and ultimately both sides chose to move on.

A quality scorer who can run the point or play off guard, Fredette’s main issue through three NBA seasons has been an inability to defend either guard position. He displayed NBA-level athleticism at the combine before the 2011 NBA Draft, but that ability has yet to transition to the court.

The Pelicans didn’t bring him on to be a lockdown defender, though. They want to get better in every facet, and one could be their guard depth, with another being outside shooting.

As their roster currently stands, Fredette doesn’t seem to have a clear path to a major role or significant minutes. However, injuries derailed New Orleans a year ago, as starting point guard Jrue Holiday and starting shooting guard Eric Gordon missed a good amount of action.

Fredette is insurance. The team could eventually be parting ways with backup combo guard Austin Rivers, which makes Fredette his likely replacement. Fredette’s own ability to both shoot and create makes him another combo guard, which should allow him to back up both guard spots and come in and help in a pinch. The Pelicans aren’t planning on Holiday or Gordon to miss most of the year again, but if they do they know they’ll have some solid offensive help in the form of Fredette.

Those two weren’t the only two players to miss time last year, though, which is a key reason why adding another offensive player was huge for the Pelicans. Forward Ryan Anderson, arguably the team’s best three-point shooter, also missed extensive time during the 2013-14 NBA season and isn’t even a lock to be healthy when the new season starts. In fact, Anderson might even be on the trading block.

At first glance, the Jimmer Fredette signing is small. However, with all the injuries the Pelicans have endured, it could easily go down as a big one later on in the year.

It seems Andrew Wiggins may not be untouchable, after all. Despite reportedly being taken off the board in trade talks involving Kevin Love, the 2014 NBA Draft’s top overall draft pick could indeed be added to a trade package.

Wiggins was temporarily “hands off” earlier in the week, and was reportedly even told he would not be traded. However, with the Minnesota Timberwolves insisting any trade for Kevin Love would have to include the young superstar in the making, the Cavs seem to be bending a bit.

As talented and “special” as Wiggins appears to be, the move actually makes sense for Cleveland, as they just got LeBron James back in town and will want to do all they can to help James bring a title home.

James is said to be a fan of bringing Love on board, which would effectively give James his own “Big 3” in Cleveland, with Love and point guard Kyrie Irving being two of the game’s best offensive players.

Nothing is set in stone, but an inclusion of Wiggins (if it’s in fact legit) could expedite trade talks and get a deal done before the 2014-15 NBA season takes off. Love has also let it be known that he is open to the idea of joining James in Cleveland, as winning and competing at a high level has been high atop his list of demands when it comes to signing long-term somewhere.

The Timberwolves had recently commented that they’d like to try to keep Love around, but with a deal like this potentially on the table, they may not have a choice. Love seems intent on leaving Minnesota one way or another, whether it be a blockbuster trade of his choosing or as a free agent following the upcoming NBA season.

There are two ways to look at the Love/Wiggins trade rumors. On one side, Wiggins is a very athletic and versatile wing player. In time, he should be quite good and could be a Scotie Pippen to James. Unfortunately, he’s very young and still fairly raw, which could make the path to that level of play a log one.

At 30 years old, James is now in the prime of his career and as physically imposing of a player as he is, it’s anyone’s guess just how long he’ll be able to play at an elite level. Another 4-5 years is probably a good guess, but the Cavs want to win now (and as much as possible). Bringing on a proven scorer and rebounder like Love would help solidify their offense as one of the best in the NBA (if not the top one, overall) and would help make them legit title contenders right away.

Only time will tell if Wiggins is the piece that will get the deal done, but the mere fact that he’s now being made available at least shows the Cavs are very serious about turning into a championship contender in a hurry. Now the ball is in Minnesota’s court.

Minnesota Timberwolves star point guard Ricky Rubio is taking advantage of circumstance. With fellow star teammate Kevin Love making his way out of town one way or another over the next year (free agency or trade), Rubio reportedly is now seeking a max contract extension.

Rubio and his agents are wisely leveraging Love’s departure here, as it clearly makes Rubio the lone true superstar left on the team. Naturally, that role will come with added pressure, both from opposing defenses and the media. Rubio is said to be looking for the five-year max deal.

Former GM David Kahn had previously declined to offer the seemingly more valuable Love a max deal in order to preserve it for Rubio, but only time will tell if the current brass in Minnesota will look to do the same. With Love on the way out via trade at some point this year, the Timberwolves would probably be wise to meet Rubio’s demand. If they don’t, they’d risk losing a second star player.

While Minnesota can’t afford to start dropping superstar talents left and right, they do need to consider two things: first, if Rubio is really worth a max deal and two, if they could just get quality value in return for dealing Rubio.

For one, Rubio wouldn’t be really making up for the loss of Love’s main asset – his scoring prowess. As the owner of a 2013-14 scoring average of 9.5 points per game, Rubio’s inefficient shooting and average scoring ability would have to be taken into account when considering a max deal. There is no denying Rubio’s talent as a play-maker and his clear upside at just 23 years old, but it’s at least arguable that he’s fairly overrated.

While that may very well be the case, it’s still very possible many teams view him as a legit “answer” to their problems at the point. What Rubio lacks as a shooter and scorer he arguably makes up for as a facilitator, while he has the size and length to also develop into a better defender.

Rubio doesn’t seem to be intent on leaving Minnesota, however. In fact, he’s been open about wanting to sign a long-term deal and stick with the Timberwolves – provided he doesn’t have to sacrifice winning in the process.

“I like Minnesota,” said Rubio,”But I want to win, too…Are we going to lose a lot? Before I came to Minnesota, the season before they won like 17 games.”

Ideally, the T’Wolves would land a trade for Love that would net them picks to keep building, as well as a player or two that could help them remain competitive. For now, it looks like one shoe will follow the other. Once Love’s situation unfolds, we’ll know more about what Rubio will do. Minnesota just needs to know that a second problem follows closely behind their dilemma with Love.

The big names have fallen. LeBron James is a Cavalier again and Carmelo Anthony is staying in New York. The domino’s have largely come down following the biggest names staking their claim to territory in the 2014 NBA free agency period, but there is still some dust that needs to settle.

The top remaining NBA free agents aren’t likely to make or break many teams, but they could still play a key role in a title run, depending on where they land. Each day brings another chance for some of these guys to latch on with a legit contender.

Let’s break down the top five NBA free agents still on the open market before they get snatched up:

1. Eric Bledsoe, G, Phoenix Suns (Restricted Free Agent)

Bledsoe is without a doubt the most talented and tempting free agent out there right now. He’s only a restricted free agent, though, so odds are the Suns will match any offer than isn’t insane. However, if it’s way over the top, Bledsoe could still be pried out of the desert. He has great size and athleticism for the lead point position, but also is a terrific scorer and can play the two. The Bucks and Pistons are just two teams that have shown serious interest, but the list of suitors interested in Bledsoe isn’t short.

2. Greg Monroe, F/C, Detroit Pistons (Restricted Free Agent)

Monroe is easily the best big man that could be available to other suitors outside of Detroit, but the odds are he’s not going anywhere. The Pistons love the talent they have in him and Andre Drummond and will be much more likely to ship off Josh Smith before letting Monroe leave. Look for him to sign a long-term deal and stick in Michigan.

3. Lance Stephenson, G/F, Indiana Pacers (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Stephenson is a blossoming star, as he brings elite versatility and athleticism to the table. He’s a bit of a headcase, but he can be a lock down defender and can help the flow of an offense. Returning to the Pacers is probably the most likely scenario, but he could either follow major money elsewhere or take a hefty deal to sign on with another contender. The Hornets are the leading non-contender at the moment, but expecting Lance back in Indy is a safe bet.

4. Evan Turner, SF, Indiana Pacers (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Turner lacks elite athleticism and isn’t the most fluid player, while he also isn’t overly efficient. With that said, he does offer solid range and versatility, and also rebounds well for a three. He can still be an effective starter and could be a very good role player off the bench in the right situation. Indiana clearly wasn’t the right place for him last year, so he’ll look to find a better gig elsewhere. He’s still young and has some upside. The Timberwolves are one team that has been rumored to have some interest, while a team needing SF help like the Clippers could also be an option.

5. Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Wade is listed last here because no one really believes he’s leaving Miami. The Heat locked up Chris Bosh and brought in Luol Deng, so the Heat can actually re-form a lesser Big Three with James gone. Wade’s knees are shaky and he’s aging, but he’s still a fantastic scorer and creator when healthy. There were some whispers that he could latch on with his hometown Chicago Bulls, but he’s going to get overpaid to stay in South Beach. If healthy, he and the Heat could still be a strong playoff contender.

People joke that the NBA was waiting to find out what LeBron James would do in free agency, and then the rest of the dominos would fall. It wasn’t a joke, and now it’s finally happening.

After a long wait, LeBron James revealed via an article on SportsIllustrated.com that he would be returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he spent his first seven NBA seasons with.

James voiced his eagerness to return to help bring a championship to the Cavaliers, and admitted he “always knew” he’d return, but just wasn’t sure when would be the right time. At 29 years old (he’ll be 30 in December), James is choosing his prime as the right time, and leaves behind a Miami Heat team that reached the NBA Finals (and won two titles) each year he was in South Beach.

James also did a solid job in making his decision somewhat low-key this time around, which comes off much less arrogant when compared to the way ESPN televised the infamous “Decision” back in 2010.

The important thing here is James is unmasking himself as a person for all to see in the SI feature. He’s showing that he’s human, and revealing that leaving Cleveland back in 2010 was about obtaining a title and not turning his back on his home state.

In fact, James reflected on his stay in Miami as completely positive, but referred to it almost as a four-year stay at a college for a teenager that grows into an adult. James cited that he needed that four-year experience to become a man, to become a champion and be able to return to the Cavaliers as the player he is today.

There were some minor moves that had gone down prior to James announcing his move. With James no longer in Miami, though, the dominos really are about to fall – and a rapid rate, at that.

The Houston Rockets are now fully expected to extend a max deal to Chris Bosh, which should pull Bosh away from Miami and leave what is left of the Big 3 to rot. That could be Dwyane Wade and his bulky knees, or it could prop up a backup plan the Heat potentially have in place. Perhaps Wade and Bosh both stay in Miami and bring in Carmelo Anthony and/or Pau Gasol. Or maybe the Heat just bring in Luol Deng and some other role players and see if they can still compete.

The dominos will continue to fall one way or another, as Carmelo Anthony will make his decision in the near future, with his decision also likely have a significant impact on the landscape of the NBA free agency period.

James returning to Cleveland arguably changes the league for the better. He has a chance at redeeming himself for leaving four years ago, while his departure also opens things up in the Eastern Conference for other teams to get a little more competitive.

It’s anyone’s guess how the rest will unfold, but we’ll all remember, regardless of how it shakes out, exactly how it all got started.

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t being shy about their serious interest in bringing back hometown hero, LeBron James. While King James remains undecided on whether to return to Cleveland or stay with the Miami Heat, his former team is going all out to show him he’s the guy they covet the most.

Per reports, the Cavs recently finalize a three-way deal with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, which sent guard Jarrett Jack and forward Sergey Karasev to the Nets and big man Tyler Zeller to the Celtics. Brooklyn also sent shooting guard Marcus Thornton to the Celtics in the deal, while Boston also acquired a future first-round pick in the deal.

The move clears up enough cap space for Cleveland to offer James a max deal, as well as pursue further players to continue to build up their supporting cast.

In addition, the Cavs are rumored to be interested in signing on free agent floor spacers Mike Miller and Ray Allen. James has played with both sharpshooters and their presence could help persuade James to join Cleveland.

The Cavs apparently aren’t stopping there, however. There are also reports that they “have a deal in place” to land Minnesota Timberwolves superstar big man Kevin Love. In that scenario, although details aren’t known just yet, Cleveland would likely be sending a draft pick or two, as well as 2014 number one pick, Andrew Wiggins.

The Love to Cleveland rumor hasn’t been verified and could fall apart before anything concrete comes out, but it’s worth noting considering all the moves Cleveland has been making. It’s not clear if that means Cleveland is making their moves to only land Love, or if Love is part of the “pot sweetening” to lure James back to the Cavs.

Should that be the case, James could potentially be creating a new Big Three with his former team, as he’d team up with established stars in point guard Kyrie Irving and big man Kevin Love.

The details are still forming together, but the picture in Cleveland appears quite clear: the Cavs want James back, and they’re not done trying just yet.

All eyes are on LeBron James right about now. In probably the most fluid and fluctuating NBA free agency period ever, James leads a very talented pack of restricted and unrestricted free agent small forwards. As the NBA’s best overall player, he naturally paces the position and is the most coveted player on the open market.

But is he just waiting for Pat Riley and the Heat to add enough help to get him and the rest of the Heat’s Big 3 to return, or is he seriously considering alternative options? Let’s break it down at the small forward position and kick things off with James at the top spot as we look at the top-five free agent small forwards right now:

1. LeBron James (Miami Heat) Unrestricted Free Agent

James is the best player in the league, but will potentially have to decide whether he wants a max deal or if he wants to return to the Heat. He might bolt for more money or a better situation, though, as Dwyane Wade’s health is in decline and the Heat as we know them weren’t good enough last year to beat the Spurs. Wherever he goes, that team is still a major threat to get to the Finals. Ultimately, he’s likely staying in South Beach for at least 1-2 more seasons.

2. Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) Unrestricted Free Agent

Anthony can make the most money by far by returning to the Knicks for five years, but they’re not close to winning anything anytime soon. His best chances to win are likely in Houston or Chicago, while Melo is seriously considering the Lakers, as well. Miami is even a possibility if Chris Bosh follows the money to Houston. It’s anyone’s guess for one of the league’s most versatile scorers, but chances are he simply follows the cash and stays in the Big Apple.

3. Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets) Unrestricted Free Agent

With James and Anthony both potentially considering Houston, Parsons could be on his way out of Texas. Or maybe not. Even if the Rockets don’t sign back their versatile small forward, Parsons could stay down south by moving over to the Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets probably won’t land either of the big fish, though, so we can safely expect Parsons back in Houston.

4. Luol Deng (Cleveland Cavaliers) Unrestricted Free Agent

Deng has been in talks with the Heat and at this point in his career is probably looking to go to a contender. He is still a top flight defender and can provide offense, but he looked a step slow in Cleveland last year. That’s either regression or life as a Cavalier. He’s still a hot commodity in his prime, though, and will probably go to the highest bidder or best mixture of cash/winning. At the moment, that seems to be the Heat.

5. Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz) Unrestricted Free Agent)

Hayward isn’t the veteran presence Paul Pierce is, but he’s about a decade younger and at this point is much more athletic and versatile. He’s also merely scratching the surface of his talent, so he could be courted be a number of interested teams. The Suns, Celtics and Hornets are just some teams that could pitch him a deal, but all signs point to the Jazz matching even the highest of offers.

The Green Bay Packers and star wide receiver Jordy Nelson are reportedly working together to finalize a long-term deal. The 29-year old receiver has been an elite option in Green Bay’s passing game the past three years – all while playing under a moderate salary when you consider his talent and production.

Nelson even had to endure half of an Aaron Rodgers-less season in 2013, yet still found a way to finish the year with careers highs in receptions (85) and receiving yardage (1.314 yards), while even adding in eight touchdowns.

Still very much in his prime and only freshly 29 years old (his birthday was this past May), Nelson should be able to return value on his new contract with another 3-4 solid seasons of top level production.

With Nelson in the news, fantasy owners might start wondering just how much value he has in fantasy football this year.

The answer? A lot.

Nelson was an absolute redzone fiend in 2011, when he racked up an insane 15 touchdowns, as well as a gaudy 18.6 yards per catch off of just 68 catches. Many thought he was a flash in the pan, but despite missing four games due to injury the following season, he showed once again he was one of the better receivers in the league.

Last year was much of the same, even without his superstar quarterback slinging him darts.

With Nelson extremely unlikely to force his hand with the Packers (especially since both sides are mutually talking about a new deal already), there shouldn’t be any legit concerns over a holdout. That keeps Nelson on the practice field, healthy and in shape and on the same page in terms of chemistry with Rodgers and the rest of his teammates.

To put Nelson’s fantasy value in perspective, it only takes a quick look at his last three years in the wide receiver fantasy ranks. He finished third overall in 2011 thanks to his insane touchdown production, he was 30th in 2012 despite missing four games and he finished 11th in 2013 despite playing without Rodgers for half the year.

In fact, when Rodgers played a full game in 2013 (eight total games), Nelson racked up seven scores (on pace for 14), 49 receptions (on pace for 98) and 810 receiving yards (on pace for 1,620).

Obviously there’s no way in knowing that Nelson would have continued that torrid pace had Rodgers stayed healthy, but the picture is pretty clear: Rodgers loves throwing to Nelson and the two make one effective fantasy duo.

In other words, as long as Rodgers and Nelson are healthy, something around top-10 production is probably in order and much more isn’t out of the question.