Alex Smith lets it fly during Chiefs practice. (AP)

To most, new Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is seen as a placeholder player -- a bridge guy who can keep the passing offense relatively mistake-free while head coach Andy Reid and new general manager John Dorsey fill in the personnel holes in a roster that produced a 2-14 season in 2012 despite several Pro Bowl-level performances on defense. That's not a knock on Smith; simply a recognition of his physical limitations. The first overall pick in 2005 floundered around in San Francisco until Jim Harbaugh became the 49ers' coach in 2011 and directed Smith to maximize his attributes and eliminate his liabilities.

Basically, Harbaugh wanted Smith to throw away every pass that wasn't a sure thing, and it worked. The 49ers went 13-3 in 2011, and Smith had the NFL's best passer rating when he suffered a concussion against the St. Louis Rams on November 11. Harbaugh replaced Smith with second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick and saw a serious uptick in his offense with Kaepernick's rushing ability and consistent deep-ball acumen. Smith was the odd man out, so the Chiefs got him in a February trade.

Now, with Reid running his offense, one would assume that Smith will once again be directed to keep it vanilla and mistake-free. But during the team's recent string of practices, Reid said that he wants Smith to test the waters and see what he can get away with downfield.

“If it ends up being an interception, OK, it’s an interception," Reid told the Kansas City Star. You learn from it. These are smart guys so they learn from it and once they get into the season, they’re not experimenting with it on game day and they know what they can get away with and know what they can’t.

“It’s a new offense. I would tell any quarterback that comes in new that that’s what you need to do. I’ve told them all that. Go ahead and take your shots and see what you can get away with, within reason. But if it’s a close throw, there are going to be a few of those in the National Football League on game day, so you need to know what you can get away with on each route.”

Reid is frequently thought to be a West Coast Offense-or-bust guy from his days with LaVell Edwards at BYU and Mike Holmgren in Green Bay and on his own in Philadelphia, and he does subscribe to many of those theories. But while the WCO is generally marked by a higher percentage of short and intermediate managed timing throws, Reid has liked his quarterbacks to sling it deep -- especially in the last few seasons, when he had DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin to test pass defenses at a higher level with the Eagles. In that regard, Smith has some work to do.

Christian Ponder should be careful who he listens to. (Getty Images)

In his second NFL season, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder finished 21st in Football Outsiders' opponent-adjusted metrics among qualifying quarterbacks and threw 18 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions. But more will be expected of Ponder if the VIkings are to get further in the playoffs than they did in 2012, when Ponder suffered an elbow injury in the regular-season finale, and the Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers, 24-10, in the wild-card round. The Vikings have taken Adrian Peterson's greatness about as far as any team can take the efforts of any running back. And in the interest of moving Ponder along, head coach Leslie Frazier has taken an unusual step in bringing former NFL quarterback Jeff George in as a "guest coach" during this week's OTAs.

"We told our players just to be able to pick his brain, our quarterbacks, and talk with him about some of the things he saw as a young quarterback and what he saw as a veteran and just his maturation over the course of his career," Frazier told 1500ESPN.com's Tom Pelissero. "He was a very good player for a long time, high draft pick, and I think he can really help our players with some of his background and his knowledge as well."

Ah, but there's more to the story, in George's case.

Jeff George in 1991, rocking the deadly mullet/'stache combo. (Getty Images)Before Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell hit the NFL and went "splat," George may have been the biggest draft bust in the league's history. Selected with the first overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. George had a decent rookie season, but things soon fell apart. He held out, argued with head coaches Ron Meyer and Ted Marchibroda, and eventually demanded a trade. The Colts acquiesced after the 1993 season, trading him to the Atlanta Falcons. George threw 41 touchdowns and 46 interceptions in his four-year Colts career. He was a bit better in Atlanta, but he's best known for a sideline tirade in the 1996 season involving head coach June Jones. He moved on to Oakland for the 1997 season and impressed with a 29-touchdown season on a 4-12 squad, but his time in the league was soon to be over.

George had a nice little ride for the Vikings in 1999, replacing Randall Cunningham and starting 10 games in a totally stacked offense, but he signed a large contract with the Washington Redskins in 2000 after Vikings head coach Dennis Green told him to "shop around." He never played in a regular-season game after the 2001 season, though he made noises about comebacks through the next decade.

“I’ve been trying to figure out how to get back in, and it just amazes me that I’m not on somebody’s roster,” George told Y! Sports' Michael Silver in 2009. “I’ve been throwing two or three times a week, and every time I go out there to throw, I can’t believe I’m not a backup somewhere. I know it’s a young man’s game, but you can’t tell me I’m not better than some of the quarterbacks that are out there. I look at teams like Minnesota or Chicago, and I want to scream at the people in charge, ‘What are you thinking?’”

What teams may have been thinking was that whatever George had left, it wasn't worth the trouble.

The Houston Texans moved their OTA schedule around on Wednesday, and they did it for all the right reasons. Head coach Gary Kubiak switched the team's start of practice from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. so that everyone could attend the memorial service held for four Houston firefighters -- Captain Matthew Renaud, Engineer-Operator Robert Bebee and firefighters Robert Garner and Anne Sullivan -- who lost their lives in a May 31 motel fire in southwest Houston. The memorial service, held at Reliant Stadium, was attended by all Texans players, coaches, and football personnel.

“Our community means so much to us as an organization; that goes without saying,” Kubiak told the team's official website. “These players, they come from all over the country and they become a Houstonian. We put a team together and get very close to our city, and it's something that we talked about as a team with the players the other day. We get so much support from them, and it’s time for us to show our support for these families and the people that serve our city on a daily basis.”

Texans players pass over the memorial service honoring four Houston firefighters at Reliant Stadium (Houston Chronicle/AP)

The Texans team stayed for the whole three-hour ceremony, which included remarks from Texas governor Rick Perry, Houston mayor Annise Parker, and Houston fire chief Terry Garrison. The American flag and the IAFF Medal of Honor were presented to the families of the four who lost their lives, and a procession of fire engines moved slowly up Kirby Drive.

13 other firefighters were hospitalized when a restaurant connected to the Southwest inn caught fire, and Renaud, Bebee, Garner, and Sullivan were among the first responders. They died when the roof of the restaurant collapsed.

“It’s something that as players, we talked with the coaches and just tried to work it out when we found out it was going to take place in our building," Texans quarterback Matt Schaub said. "It’s important for us, being members of this community, to be a part of that community, and when something like this happens, we all rally around each other as citizens. I think it says a lot about what’s important to us as a football team and an organization.”

Many of the wounded firefighters attended the memorial, and hundreds of their colleagues walked more than a mile in a dawn procession.

(Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos family suffered a major blow when the parents of running backs coach Eric Studesville, 67-year-old Alfonso Studeville and 68-year-old Janet Studesville, died in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday afternoon. According to a report from ConnectAmarillo.com, the Studesvilles were driving a motorcycle on Highway 54 in Texas when a truck towing a grain trailer moved into the wrong lane (eastbound to westbound) and struck the motorcycle head on. The Studesvilles were thrown from their motorcycle into a ditch.

According to the report, Anthony Dewayne Buck, the driver of the truck, was uninjured. The Texas Department of Safety is investigating the accident.

The Broncos issued the following statement on Wednesday morning.

“Our most heartfelt condolences go to Eric Studesville and his entire family following the tragic loss of his parents, Al and Jan Studesville. We were devastated to learn of their passing today. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eric and his family, and our organization will support them however possible during this difficult time.”

The Broncos cancelled their scheduled press conferences on Wednesday with defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

Studesville is in his fourth season coaching the Broncos' running backs. He was also the team's interim head coach for the last three games of the 2010 season after former head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. Studesville's father was a frequent visitor to practice when his son had that position, and he talked about the role his parents played in his success in a Dec., 2010 article for the Denver Post.

On Wednesday, the Super Bowl XLVII champion Baltimore Ravens boarded nine buses and traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet President Barack Obama at the White House and inform the Commander-in-Chief that they plan to be back next summer.

"I want you to know we have plans to be here next year, too," head coach John Harbaugh told Obama, who received a No. 44 Ravens jersey "Mr. President" stitched on the back.

With the players in suits behind him, Obama mentioned how different his entrance to Wednesday's event on the South Lawn was compared to how the Ravens enter M&T Bank Stadium.

"No smoke machines. No fire cannons. Obama didn't even tear up chunks of turf and rub them on his suit," Obama said, the first of two references to Ray Lewis' "squirrel dance" he'd make on Wednesday. "That reminds me...please don't do that on the South Lawn."

Obama detailed how the Ravens, as both a team and as individuals, overcome adversity throughout the regular season and pulled some late-game heroics to continue to advance through the playoffs to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Obama also congratulated Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco for his performance in the playoffs, even using the "E" word.

"Good timing with that contract, huh?" Obama asked Flacco, who signed a six-year, $120.6 million contract extension on March 4. "Capped off one of the greatest postseasons ever by a quarterback. More than 1,100 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, no interceptions. I don't know about you, Joe, but I would say that qualifies as 'elite'. And I have to say that if you keep on playing like that, you're going to challenge (Vice President Joe) Biden as the most popular person from Delaware."

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, two former members of the Ravens, were also singled out by President Obama.

"These two won't be wearing purple next year. Everybody is going to have to get used to that," said Obama. "It's welcomed news for quarterbacks. Ray retired on top, coming back from a triceps injury, which I believe was caused by that dance he does. (The injury) caused him to miss most of the regular season. Ed sprained ligaments in both of his knees during the Super Bowl, but he still made the game's only interception. And before he left Houston, where he'll be playing next year, Ed took out a full page ad in the Baltimore Sun to thank Ravens fans, saying 'I have such deep love for all of you'. So that's a class act."

Obama declined to Lewis' invitation to do the squirrel dance, but was happy to point out that the 34-year-old Reed is getting some gray in his hair.

"I'm not the only one," Obama said while turning back to address Reed. "You look like an old man...That makes me feel better. I thought I was the only guy."

Tyrann Mathieu could find multiple=

After a brief hiatus, our good buddy Greg Cosell of NFL Films, ESPN's NFL Matchup, and Shutdown Corner is back to talk a little football. And with a little more than a month passed since the draft, we thought it would be interesting to review that selection process by division, now that teams have given a bit of insight into how their new players will be used. We'll start with the NFC West, go through the divisions, and wind up just in time for training camp.

The Shutdown Corner NFC West draft review podcast with Greg Cosell

A few thoughts from Mr. Cosell:

On how new Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles might use defensive back Tyrann Mathieu: "A thought came to mind when you talked about how often the nickel cornerback will play. I wonder, in the NFC West, if it might be fewer snaps than for other teams [in other divisions]. San Francisco plays with two and three tight ends fairly often, Seattle has multiple tight ends and can use them, and the Rams signed Jared Cook. And, they still have Lance Kendricks. We don't know the answer to this, but he might play fewer snaps as the nickel corner. As far as the safety situation, I think they feel that he's a quick kid who's around the ball a lot, and they're trying to get him on the field. He's not going to start at corner. So, if he's a nickel corner, that's great. How many snaps? We don't know that, but if they want him on the field for 90 percent plus, he'll have to play safety."

On where Seahawks running back Christine Michael could fit into Seattle's plans: "He's a really intriguing running back. He's got size, lateral quickness, and natural power. He's got acceleration. He's got really explosive feet for a 220-poound back. I thought he was really decisive downhill. I liked him a lot. It's a pick where I'm sure they'll say that they had him highly rated and they had to take him, and I can understand that. But what's really fascinating about it is that here's a league in which running backs are not theoretically valued, and here's a guy who hardly carried the ball [in 2012], and he gets taken with the 62nd pick in the draft."

The Shutdown Corner NFC West draft review podcast with Greg Cosell

Ben Roethlisberger had knee surgery on Wednesday (USA Today Sports Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can been added to the list of NFL stars — which also includes New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul — who have undergone, or will undergo, surgery this month.

According to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Roethlisberger was absent during the team's penultimate OTA practice on Wednesday as he was having surgery on his right knee.

"Earlier today, Ben had minor surgery on his right knee that was the result of slight discomfort this offseason," Tomlin said in a statement released by the Steelers' PR department. "We advised him to get the surgery done to ensure he will be completely healthy for the start of training camp. This surgery will have no long-term effects on his health."

ESPN's Ed Werder reports that Roethlisberger's surgery was to repair meniscus, an injury that he could have played through, but doctors wanted to fix now, two months before the preseason opener against the Giants.

Injuries are nothing new for the 31-year-old Roethlisberger, who is entering his 10th season in the NFL and has played in all 16 regular season games just one time (2008). Roethlisberger missed three games in heart of the 2012 regular season due to a right shoulder injury and missed four games with injuries to both knees during the 2005 season.

JaMarcus Russell will work out for the Bears (USA Today Sports Images)

Former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell will be among a quartet of free agent quarterbacks who will work out for the Chicago Bears on Friday, reports Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago.

Wright is quick to point out that the Bears are planning to conduct workouts for players at several positions, which teams normally do to prepare their "emergency list" when injuries occur. Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune reports that Trent Edwards and Jordan Palmer will join Russell for Friday's workout.

Last week, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Russell had slimmed down with the hopes of attracting interest from an NFL team. Russell's weight had ballooned to over 300 pounds, but he dropped 50 pounds and recently weighed in at 265 pounds, the exact same weight he had at the 2007 scouting combine.

Selected by the Oakland Raiders with the top pick in the 2007 NFL draft, Russell missed training camp and the start of the regular season as he did not sign his six-year deal worth up to $68 million with over $31 million in guaranteed money until mid-September. In three seasons with the Raiders, Russell completed 52.1 percent of his 680 pass attempts for 4,083 yards with 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Russell was also sacked 70 times and lost 15 of 25 fumbles before the Raiders released him in May of 2010, two months before he was arrested in his Mobile, Alabama home for possession of codeine syrup without a prescription.

A grand jury declined to indict Russell on those charges, but the former LSU standout has been out of football ever since. The 27-year-old Russell has been working with former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia at TEST Academy in San Diego, California.