NFL Notebook, June 3: Wildcat Could Be Coming to Tampa, Too

Here's what's happening around the National Football League on Thursday, June 3, 2010:

• Josh Freeman took over Tampa Bay's starting QB spot midway through the 2009 season, shoving Josh Johnson to the sidelines. The Buccaneers may have a new use for Freeman, though. According to the Tampa Tribune, the Bucs are experimenting with a wildcat formation that would utilize the more-mobile Johnson.

"Don't be shocked if you see them playing together,'' Bucs coach Raheem Morris said of his two QBs. "[Johnson] is so explosive and is so talented.

"The league's going to a wildcat format and he can run the football. He creates mismatches with people, he creates different problems. So anything you can do to win a football game you try to do.''

• The Ravens announced the signing of kicker Shayne Graham to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. The Bengals let Graham walk after the 2009 season, which ended for Cincinnati, in part, because Graham missed a pair of field goals in the team's playoff loss to the Jets.

Despite Graham's lucrative deal, though, he'll have to compete with returning starter Billy Cundiff for the Ravens job.

"For us to be in a situation where we have two quality veteran kickers competing, and both guys embracing the opportunity to compete for the job, that's what it's all about," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "That's what makes football players better. I think we have to be excited to be in that situation."

• The Lions are considered a sleeper in the O.J. Atogwe race, but for Detroit to land the free-agent free safety, Atogwe's contract demands will have to come down. That's according to Tom Kowalski of MLive.com, who wrote Thursday that "Atogwe's salary demands are extremely high and the Lions aren't interested in meeting them."

Multiple sources told FanHouse's Dan Graziano that the Rams are still the front-runners to sign Atogwe.
Transaction Wire

• Cleveland signed WR James Robinson, a former Butler (Pa.) Community College player, who spent time on the practice squads of Miami and Washington last season.

Injury Ward

• As if the Eagles needed any more bad news, starting left guard Todd Herremans missed practice Thursday to visit foot/ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, according to Geoff Mosher of DelawareOnline.com. The team told Mosher that the visit was a "routine check-up," but Herremans had surgery on his left foot last offseason after a stress fracture, then missed the first five games of the season.

• Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, who suffered an apparent seizure after a practice last week, will return to New Orleans' OTAs this weekend, according to The Times-Picayune.

Tweet Up

• New Ravens wide receiver Donte Stallworth (@D_Stallworth18) on the NBA Finals: "Before yall think I'm a Lakers fan, I'm not... I'm a KOBE KOBE KOBE fan... Was actually pullin for Celts last time they met in finals...."