NFL

Per Kraft, Gronk will be back "as soon as possible." Right now, "as soon as possible" appears to be mid-August. That's because Gronk is tentatively slated for "minor" back surgery sometime in the next 3-4 weeks. Like Robert Griffin III, Gronk's Week 1 status will be hard to accurately gauge before training camp.

The deal includes a $700,000 signing bonus, and is worth a "maximum" of $4.3 million, likely through hard-to-achieve incentives. Woodson is returning to the team that made him the No. 4 pick of the 1998 draft. Woodson spent the first eight years of his career in Oakland before defecting to Green Bay. He's chosen the Raiders over the Broncos despite the fact that Denver is on the cusp of the Super Bowl, and Oakland is one of the worst teams in the league. However Woodson spins it, money was almost certainly the determining factor. Going on 37, Woodson has lost multiple steps the past few seasons, but will still likely be a better option than Usama Young opposite Tyvon Branch at safety. It's possible he won't be a 1,000-snap player, instead playing somewhere in the neighborhood of 500-750.

It's a big step. "I feel very confident," Revis said on NFL Network. "If (they tell me) to cut, I am cutting. I am not trying to think about (it)." Coach Greg Schiano said Monday that "everything is gearing towards" Revis being ready for Week 1.

The longtime Steeler vaults to the top of the Chargers' depth chart at left tackle. OT Kevin Haslam was waived in a corresponding move. Haslam was part of the Bolts' revolving door on the blindside last season as Jared Gaither "battled" back and groin injuries. Starks was not effective for the Steelers in 2012, allowing a troubling 40 hurries according to Pro Football Focus' stats, but still has more to offer than King Dunlap. Left tackle remains a trouble spot for San Diego, which is likely looking at a long season under rookie GM Tom Telesco.

Sports-hernia operations typically only require 4-6 weeks of recovery, but it puts Taylor behind the eight ball as he transitions from the Mountain West to potential NFL starter. Taylor is competing with Richard Marshall to start opposite Brent Grimes, who is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon. The Dolphins have precious little depth after letting Sean Smith walk in free agency. They'll really be in trouble if Taylor suffers a setback and isn't ready for camp.

Super Bowl L ' or 50, if you will ' will be played in the 49ers' new stadium in February 2016. It will be the first Super Bowl played in the Bay Area since 1985. Super Bowl LI will be Houston's first Super Bowl since the Patriots defeated the Panthers in 2004. Shut out of the bidding was Miami, which failed to secure public funding for apparently necessary upgrades to Sun Life Stadium. Next year's Super Bowl will be played in New York/New Jersey's MetLife Stadium ' outdoors.

Johnson said last week he had "no idea" when he'd be cleared to return, but it took less than seven days. "It was great to see him," OC Nathaniel Hackett said. "It was great to see him run some routes instead of being on the side. We've just got to work him back in." The Bills will take things slow with their No. 1 receiver before camp, but his back is not a long-term concern.