NFL Capsules: Brett Favre says no to a comeback with the Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS — Brett Favre has handed the Minnesota Vikings one more loss.
The 39-year-old Favre called Vikings coach Brad Childress on Tuesday to tell the coach he won’t be coming out of retirement to play for Minnesota.
"It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made," Favre told ESPN. "I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans."
The decision, which was first reported by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, is a stunner for the Vikings after they openly courted Favre all summer. Adding him would have been viewed by many as the final piece for a team that already has star running back Adrian Peterson and a stingy veteran defense that returns nearly intact from last year’s NFC North title season.
"It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback but one that is very familiar with our system and division," Childress said in a prepared statement. "That does not detract from the team that we have."
Last year, Favre tearfully retired from the Green Bay Packers after 17 seasons in the NFL and three MVP awards — then made an about-face and was traded to the New York Jets. He retired again, had surgery in May to alleviate a torn biceps tendon and then flirted with the idea of coming back again with the Vikings, the Packers’ NFC North rival.
"When I heard the news, I was probably as surprised and shocked as everybody else," linebacker Ben Leber told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "The writing on the wall was as long as his arm was healthy he was going to play. I thought it was just a contractual deal that was taking so long and I really expected him to be at camp."
Favre turns 40 in October and didn’t think he had enough left to get through a full season.
"I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons," Favre said. "They were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off.’ But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I’m 39 with a lot of sacks to my name."
Now Childress has some damage control to do with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, the two veterans who were expected to compete for the job before the latest Favre drama began.
Both were peppered with questions about Favre during the team’s minicamps this summer and are suddenly back in the mix.
Jackson’s agent, Joel Segal, said he spoke to his client shortly after the news broke.
"He was his usual cool, calm and collected self," Segal said. "He said, ‘Great, let’s get ready for camp."’
Favre holds almost every NFL career passing record that matters, including touchdown passes (464), completions (5,720), yards passing (65,127), regular-season victories (169) and interceptions (310). Many thought he could help the Vikings land that elusive Super Bowl championship, even if he was reviled by fans here during his incredible run across the state line in Wisconsin.
Favre instead passed on a chance for revenge on GM Ted Thompson and the Packers, whom he felt gave up on him too soon when deciding to move forward last summer with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He was sent instead to the Jets, where arm problems contributed to a 1-4 finish that kept them out of the playoffs.
Childress said Favre’s decision does not temper the team’s high expectations.
"As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team and they have put forth a tremendous effort this offseason preparing for the season ahead," he said. "With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato and getting training camp under way."
Of course, this is Favre, which means there’s always the chance that he will change his mind. Former teammate Matt Hasselbeck tweeted that "Brett has always been predictably unpredictable."
As far as Leber is concerned, however, the case is closed.
"In my mind this should be the end of it," he said. "To be respectful of the players that are involved and the team as a whole, you have to put an end to this and you can’t let it linger on."
Longtime Eagles coordinator Jim Johnson dead at 68
PHILADELPHIA — Jim Johnson, whose attacking defenses helped the Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games, has died. He was 68.
Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death on Tuesday afternoon.
A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson was considered one of the top defensive minds in the league, known for complex schemes that confused opponents and pressured the quarterback from every angle. His defenses consistently ranked among the best in the league, including last season, when the Eagles finished third in total defense and fell one victory short of the Super Bowl.
From 2000-08, Johnson’s Philadelphia defenses ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390). During his 10-year tenure, the Eagles made the playoffs seven times and he produced 26 Pro Bowl selections.
"This whole Eagles-Andy Reid regime here that’s taken place wouldn’t have been possible without Jim," said Andy Reid, who hired Johnson to be his defensive coordinator shortly after he got his first head coaching job with the Eagles in 1999.
"I’m not sure there’s a person that I’ve met that isn’t a Jim Johnson fan. He really represented everything this city is all about with his toughness and grit. That’s the way he fought this cancer."
Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie praised Johnson for his leadership skills and the person he was.
"For 10 years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being," Lurie said. "As an integral part of the Eagles family, Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be — a teacher, a leader, and a winner ... It was easy to feel close to him."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed Lurie’s sentiments.
"He was a teacher to many players both on and off the field and devoted his life to the game of football," Goodell said in a statement. "He had a positive influence on scores of young men, and leaves behind a wonderful legacy."
On Sunday, the Eagles announced that Sean McDermott would replace Johnson. In his first news conference as coordinator, McDermott gave full credit to Johnson.
"What haven’t I learned from Jim?" McDermott said. "I don’t think it would be fair to Jim, in this setting, to try and limit in one statement, one press conference, the effect that Jim has had on my life."
McDermott paid Johnson the ultimate compliment in describing the style of defense he wanted the Eagles to play: Johnson’s style.
"There is one thing I know, and that is that this system, it works," McDermott said. "Jim has spent a considerable amount of time in his coaching career researching and finding things that work and finding things that didn’t work, quite frankly, and I’m going to respect that and we’re going to build on that. From there, we’ll add wrinkles."
Coaches across the league paid homage to Johnson’s impact on their careers and the league.
"I loved Jim Johnson," said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, an Eagles assistant for nine seasons with Johnson. "He had a special ability to bring out the best in people while getting you to see the best in yourself. He saw potential and developed it. He made me believe I could coach at this level. In football, he was a pioneering and brilliant strategist, changing the way defense is played in the NFL. For me, he was a father-type mentor, and above all, a cherished friend. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. I will miss him so much."
"He was a dear friend and a special person," said St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, a member of the Eagles defensive staff under Johnson for eight seasons. "Our prayers and thoughts go out to his wife Vicki and their family. Jim meant the world to me, both personally and professionally. I am very blessed to have had the privilege to work for him and with him. The NFL has lost a good man."
Giants coach Tom Coughlin did not know Johnson, but admired him from afar.
"He was great to work with and for, and he had his priorities in order," Coughlin said. "His players loved to play for him and his coaches loved to coach with him. It is a sad day for the National Football League to lose somebody the quality of Jim Johnson. It is a sad note on which to start the season."
Johnson had been treated for melanoma in 2001.
In January, he complained of back pain and coached from the press box in the Eagles’ playoff win over the New York Giants and in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship.
An MRI after the divisional playoff win against the Giants on Jan. 11 alerted doctors that something might be wrong. Following the Arizona loss, the team announced the cancer had returned and Johnson would undergo more treatments.
Johnson had recovered sufficiently to coach during the team’s first post-draft minicamp in May. But he coached from a motorized scooter during practices and said he wasn’t certain he’d be able to return for the season.
"Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia," said Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, who played 10 seasons for Johnson in Philadelphia. "He was a tough coach who wasn’t afraid to let you know how he was feeling, but at the same time, he cared about us deeply."
Johnson is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren.
Vick sweepstakes: One day and, so far, no takers
If any NFL teams are interested in Michael Vick, they’re not saying.
A day after the quarterback was conditionally reinstated to the league, only the Baltimore Ravens would directly acknowledge evaluating him.
"We’ve had long discussions about Michael Vick and we have a feeling about how he would impact our team and not impact our team," coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday.
General manager Ozzie Newsome declined comment. Previously, he has said the Ravens have enough quarterbacks.
Other teams either refused comment or insisted they wouldn’t pick up the former Atlanta Falcons star, who served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring and was released from home confinement on July 20.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team.
Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.
Two clubs that might have seemed like a logical destination — the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals — said they wouldn’t pursue Vick.
Bengals owner Mike Brown refers to himself as "a redeemer" and is known for giving troubled players a second chance, or more. But Cincinnati has a full complement of quarterbacks, and starter Carson Palmer has fully recovered from an elbow injury that sidelined him for 12 games last season.
"When you have a situation like ours, he’s a very difficult fit," Brown said. "Quarterbacks are like queen bees — you can only have one of them before they start stepping on each other. And we have ours. Carson’s the guy. That’s why it just doesn’t fit for here in a football sense."
The Dolphins rejuvenated their offense last season by mixing in the Wildcat, a variation of the single wing. The package featured direct long snaps to running back Ronnie Brown, who usually ran with the ball.
The Wildcat would take advantage of Vick’s running ability, but the Dolphins drafted another running quarterback in April: West Virginia’s Pat White. They also have 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Chad Pennington returning and promising Chad Henne as the No. 2 quarterback.
"We don’t have an interest," general manager Jeff Ireland said in a statement. "We like the players we have on our current roster."
Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said "we’re not bringing him in right now," but acknowledged the team is always weighing its options. The Broncos have uncertainty at quarterback after trading the disgruntled Jay Cutler. Kyle Orton is penciled in as the starter.
"We’re always going to try to do what’s best for the organization — that could mean it’s a player or a situation that we’re going to evaluate," McDaniels said. "We’re always going to try to make sure that we leave no stone unturned. If it means adding a player, we have looked at every player that we feel out there could help us at this time."
One organization that wants Vick is the upstart UFL. The four-team league plans to kick off a six-game season in October.
"I still think we are the best option for him," UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said.
Huyghue suggested Vick could prove to NFL teams that he’s ready to return — on and off the field — during the UFL season.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards figured Vick’s conditional status would leave general managers in a bind.
"It’s got to be hard to sign him, because where are you going to put him?" he said. "You don’t know if he’ll be able to play Week 1, and you want him to be your starting quarterback or at least compete for a starting job, (but) you can’t essentially do that as a general manager."
-- Rachel Cohen
Dungy: Vick focused on putting life back together
Tony Dungy believes Michael Vick is focused on putting his life back together.
The former Indianapolis Colts coach has agreed to mentor Vick as part of the quarterback’s conditional reinstatement to the NFL.
"I’m not sure what football is going to hold for him; that will be discussed at length in the sports pages over the next few weeks," Dungy said in a post on his blog Tuesday. "I believe in second chances for people who admit their mistakes and are committed to changing."
Dungy retired in January, two years after leading Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title. He has long been involved in prison ministries. Dungy met with Vick in May at the federal penitentiary where the former Atlanta Falcons star was serving an 18-month term for running a dogfighting ring.
Dungy said he also met Vick on a second occasion and has spoken to him on the phone several times.
"I think Michael deserves the chance to show people he has changed and learned from past mistakes, but my true hope is that he will make sound decisions about his future and, at the same time, let people know more about the person that I’ve come to know recently. I know the public will be skeptical, but I think, over time, people will find there’s a different side to him than what they’ve seen so far."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team.
Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.
"Sure, he would love to play football in the NFL again," Dungy said, "but I think he has other priorities."
Dungy said Vick wants to reconnect with his three children after missing 18 months of their lives.
"He also would like to have a positive impact on young people’s lives and he realizes that his dogfighting conviction has been a huge negative in that respect," Dungy said. "I know he wants to turn that around and help kids understand the importance of good decision-making."
Dolphins GM: Team has no interest in Vick
MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins say they won't pursue Michael Vick, even though he could be an ideal fit in their Wildcat offense.
With speculation building about where Vick might land now that he has been reinstated, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said his team won't court the quarterback.
"We don't have an interest," Ireland said in a statement Tuesday. "We like the players we have on our current roster."
The Dolphins, who hold their first training camp practice Sunday, are deep at quarterback.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Vick on Monday, with conditions. Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team. A number of other teams earlier said they're not interested.
The Dolphins rejuvenated their offense last season with frequent use of the Wildcat, a variation of the single wing. The package featured direct long snaps to running back Ronnie Brown, who usually ran with the ball.
The Wildcat would take advantage of Vick's running ability, but the Dolphins drafted another running quarterback in April — West Virginia's Pat White. They also have 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Chad Pennington returning, and promising Chad Henne as the No. 2 quarterback.
Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation on his property in Virginia. At the time, Goodell said Vick must show remorse before he would consider reinstating him.
Among other teams with no interest in the 29-year-old quarterback is the Falcons, who released Vick in June.
-- Steven Wine
Bengals not interested in Vick
CINCINNATI — Bengals owner Mike Brown hopes some other NFL team decides to give quarterback Michael Vick another chance.
Brown praised commissioner Roger Goodell's decision to conditionally reinstate Vick, giving him a chance to resume his career after serving jail time for running a dogfighting ring. However, Brown said Tuesday he won't be calling Vick with an offer.
The Bengals have a full complement of quarterbacks. Carson Palmer has fully recovered from an elbow injury that sidelined him for 12 games last season. For that reason, Brown thinks that Vick wouldn't work out in Cincinnati.
"When you have a situation like ours, he's a very difficult fit," Brown said. "Quarterbacks are like queen bees — you can only have one of them before they start stepping on each other. And we have ours. Carson's the guy. That's why it just doesn't fit for here in a football sense."
Brown is known for giving troubled players a second chance, or more. Last year, the Bengals released receiver Chris Henry after he was arrested for the fifth time with the Bengals. Then, over the objections of coach Marvin Lewis, the owner changed his mind and brought the receiver back on a two-year contract.
Brown refers to himself as "a redeemer" who believes in helping players turn their lives around. He's hoping another team fills that role for Vick.
"I would argue that Michael Vick made bad error, but what a price he's paid," Brown said. "He's paid millions of dollars, millions. He's lost his reputation. He's gone to prison. I don't know what more you can do to a guy than what's been done to him.
"And I don't think that he should be forever denied a chance to get back as a productive citizen. I wish him well. I hope a team will pick him up and give him the chance to play, give him the chance to redeem himself. And I think it would be nice if it ends up a good story."
The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring. Goodell will allow him to participate in training camp and play in the last two preseason games. He could be fully reinstated by the sixth game of the regular season.
First, he has to find a team that will take him.
"We haven't made any calls to him," Brown said. "Listen, I wish him well. I'm not one of those who wants to beat on him while he's down. I hope he can re-establish himself and come back. I would think that some team would be out after him, that he would be signed fairly quickly. We'll see what happens."
-- Joe Kay
Bengals offense starting out from dead last
CINCINNATI — Last in the league. Even now, it's difficult for the Cincinnati Bengals to accept how poorly their star-laden offense played last season.
Last?
"Oh, it kills your pride," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "I take a lot of pride in what we do. To finish last in the NFL in offense — we're used to finishing in the top 10. To finish last, that hurts your pride."
Bengals coaches responded by redesigning the offense, which will be the focal point when players report for camp in Georgetown, Ky., on Thursday. Bratkowski has thrown out some plays, added others and reconfigured everything else.
"It is different," Bratkowski said. "We are going to be different."
The biggest difference is at quarterback.
Carson Palmer partially tore a ligament and tendon from the bone in his passing elbow, forcing him to miss a dozen games last season. The Bengals dropped their first eight games — Palmer played in half of them — and finished 4-11-1, their worst mark in coach Marvin Lewis' six seasons.
Instead of having surgery, Palmer chose to let the injury heal with rest. His arm was back to normal during the team's minicamp in June. He was still a little rusty from missing so much time during the season, but the Bengals think he'll be back in form by the season opener against Denver on Sept. 13.
One change during camp: Palmer will be limited in the number of snaps he takes, allowing him to gradually build back his arm strength.
"At any point, you don't want your quarterback's shoulder to become sore," Lewis said Tuesday, before the team's annual preseason luncheon. "It has nothing to do with the elbow. Our quarterback likes to take every snap, so we have to pull him back."
The Bengals can redesign the playbook all they want, but they're going to flirt with another bottom-of-the-barrel finish on offense unless they get some stability on their offensive line. Asked to describe the state of the line with two days left before the start of camp, Bratkowski said, "The offensive line is interesting."
Only right guard Bobbie Williams returns in the same spot. The Bengals went through a major overhaul, deciding not to keep right tackle Stacy Andrews, left tackle Levi Jones and center Eric Ghiaciuc. Kyle Cook takes over at center, and left guard Andrew Whitworth moves to left tackle.
The Bengals are counting on first-round pick Andre Smith to start at right tackle, a position he has never played. First, they have to sign him.
The line struggled to open holes for running backs and protect the quarterbacks last season. Unless the line stabilizes and improves dramatically, it could be another season similar to the last one — one that still makes the Bengals cringe.
"It was miserable," Bratkowski said. "It was the most miserable season I've ever had as a coach."
-- Joe Kay
Flacco primed for encore to solid rookie season
WESTMINSTER, Md. — Joe Flacco can't help but smile when thinking back to how lost he was at his first NFL training camp.
"You don't know anybody, you don't know what to expect, you don't really know the offense so you're kind of scared of getting in there and messing up," the Baltimore Ravens quarterback recalled Tuesday. "You feel like a freshman in college, a freshman in high school again."
Drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, Flacco arrived in camp as the third-string quarterback. He became the starter late last summer after injuries to veterans Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. This year, Flacco sits atop the depth chart in camp after guiding Baltimore to the AFC championship game.
Flacco still has much to learn, but his comfort level has increased over the course of the past 12 months. Which explains why, on the opening day of his second training camp, Flacco laughed when asked how he would handle the sudden retirement of wide receiver Derrick Mason — his favorite target during a 2008 season.
"Last year I had no idea who I was going to be throwing the ball to. I didn't know what Derrick Mason or Mark Clayton even looked like. I probably thought Mark Clayton was Derrick Mason at one point," Flacco said. "So this year we're in much better shape."
Over the final 11 games of the regular season, Flacco led the Ravens on a 9-2 run while throwing 13 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. He then became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win two playoff games.
The season ended with a three-interception performance in a loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. During the offseason Flacco spent hours studying film and throwing passes to Clayton or just about anyone else willing to run a pass pattern.
Flacco still wears No. 5 and has a short-cropped haircut underneath his helmet, but he bears little resemblance to the bewildered rookie of a year ago.
"It's like night and day," quarterback coach Hue Jackson said. "He's got 19 games under his belt. Our expectation as a coaching staff is that he's going to play much better than he did last year. That's what he expects of himself. There's no question in my mind we should see a much improved player on the field."
Clayton said Flacco really benefited from last season.
"You can see it in him. He's not wide-eyed, like he was," Clayton said. "He knows what to expect, therefore he can anticipate better."
Flacco was uneasy and tentative last summer. At first, his focus was to avoid making mistakes. Though Flacco failed to throw a touchdown pass in either of his first two games, he was steady enough to help Baltimore beat Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Three straight losses followed before Flacco shredded Miami, going 17 for 23 for 232 yards and a touchdown in a 27-13 win. He finished the season with a flourish, and expects to carry the momentum into 2009.
"I feel much more comfortable right now. I'm light years ahead of where I was last year at this point," he said. "But toward the end of the season I obviously was feeling pretty good. My goal for the offseason was to make sure I continued with the process, continued to learn the offense and not take a step back."
Flacco's development remains a work in progress, as evidenced by his three interceptions against Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game. But his poise isn't an issue, which is why he's earned the nickname Joe Cool.
"I'm not very cool, I'm laid back," he insisted. "I don't know if that's a great name for me, but I'll take it. My thing is to go out there and play football. I have fun when I'm out there."
Flacco had a good time making a commercial for Reebok, in which he hits two soaring clay pigeons with footballs. Asked if he really hit the targets, Flacco coyly replied, "I'll leave it up to your imagination."
His parting words in the commercial, however, were very real.
"Last year," he said, "was just the beginning."
--David Ginsburg
Lawyer: Burress will testify at grand jury
NEW YORK — Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will testify before the grand jury that is investigating weapons charges against him, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Attorney Benjamin Brafman said Burress would testify at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
"He’s going to go in and tell the truth," Brafman said.
Burress, 31, shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub early on the morning of Nov. 29. He was accompanied by teammate Antonio Pierce, who still could be charged in the case.
Burress was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison. Burress has pleaded not guilty and is free on $100,000 bail. The Giants released Burress in April.
The New York Post reported Monday that Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is insisting on jail time for Burress.
"We’ve always taken the position that he’s going to have to go to jail, whether by trial or by plea," Morgenthau told the newspaper.
Brafman blasted Morgenthau for speaking out about the case, saying the district attorney’s comments could prejudice the grand jury proceedings.
Asked about Burress at a news conference Tuesday, Morgenthau refused to comment.
Burress, who caught the winning touchdown in the final minute for the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl, also could face disciplinary action by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league’s personal conduct policy. Burress has yet to sign with another team and Goodell’s office announced in June that the league already had started its examination of the incident.
In a statement Tuesday, Giants President John Mara defended Pierce’s actions, which included taking Burress to a hospital under an assumed name.
"When this incident occurred, Antonio reacted out of concern for the health and well-being of Plaxico Burress," Mara said. "There was no criminal intent on the part of Antonio, who was thrust into this predicament simply because he accompanied Plaxico that evening and because he made the decision to immediately take Plaxico to the hospital."
Browns put WR Edwards on non-football injury list
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have placed wide receiver Braylon Edwards on the non-football injury list with an unspecified injury.
The team did not give any details in making the announcement about their top offensive playmaker on Tuesday. A message seeking comment was left with Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis.
Edwards is the only established receiver on Cleveland’s roster, and he was mostly a spectator during the team’s three-day camp in June because of an undisclosed injury. At the time, Edwards and first-year Browns coach Eric Mangini said it wasn’t serious, and Mangini added that Edwards was expected to participate fully in the team’s training camp, which begins Saturday.
Edwards had 55 receptions and three touchdowns last season, a dramatic drop from the 80 catches and 16 TDs he had as a Pro Bowler in 2007. The former No. 3 overall pick was plagued by dropped passes in 2008, and his season got off to a rocky start when he suffered a serious injury to his heel during training camp when he was stepped on while running post-practice sprints in his socks.
The Browns seem to be doing all they can to keep Edwards’ injury under wraps. The team announced his status in a press release on the signing of second-round pick Mohamed Massaquoi. With Massaquoi, the 50th overall selection in the NFL draft in camp, Cleveland’s only unsigned draft choice is wide receiver Brian Robiskie.
The team was hoping Edwards could serve as a mentor to Robiskie, who played at Ohio State and once served as a Browns ballboy. Robiskie and Massaquoi will compete for the No. 2 receiver job behind Edwards.
Cleveland’s depth at wide receiver has been thinned with the retirement of Joe Jurevicius due to injury and Donte Stallworth’s indefinite suspension for DUI manslaughter.
-- Tom Withers
Bills ‘close’ to signing rookie G Wood
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are "close" to signing first-round draft pick Eric Wood, with coach Dick Jauron saying he’s optimistic the guard will report to camp by Wednesday.
"We’re close," Jauron said, following a training camp practice Tuesday night. "I know we’re optimistic. I’m very hopeful ... so that would be great news for everybody."
It would be great news for the Bills, because they’re counting on Wood to start immediately at right guard on a completely revamped line that’s expected to feature two rookie starters and no returning players at the same position.
Wood’s agent, David Dunn, was not immediately available for comment. Wood has spent the past week in Buffalo waiting for negotiations to end so he can report to camp 90 minutes away in suburban Rochester.
General manager Russ Brandon also announced Tuesday that the Bills have "no interest at this time" in signing Michael Vick a day after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback was conditionally reinstated to the league. Brandon said the team is comfortable with its current roster, which features Trent Edwards entering his second full season at starter.
Wood is the second of Buffalo’s two first-round picks. He was chosen with the 28th overall pick out of Louisville. He started 49 straight games in college at center and was a Big East Conference first-team selection last season.
The Bills intend to convert Wood into a guard, and are counting on him to take over for Brad Butler, who’s being shifted to right tackle. Langston Walker is switching to left tackle, after two-time Pro Bowl center Jason Peters was traded to Philadelphia. The Bills signed Geoff Hangartner in free agency to take over at center, while rookie second-round pick Andy Levitre is competing to start at left guard.
Wood has so far missed six practices since the team opened camp Saturday.
The Bills have yet to sign the other first-round pick, defensive end Aaron Maybin, and second-rounder Jairus Byrd, a safety.
Reserve defensive tackle John McCargo missed practice Tuesday night because of a hamstring injury, which Jauron described as minor. Starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud returned to practice after missing two days with a hamstring injury.
-- John Wawrow
Marshall misses morning workout due to soreness
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Disgruntled Denver Broncos wideout Brandon Marshall missed morning practice Tuesday for health reasons.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Marshall’s absence was simply a "precautionary measure" after he was sore following his first workout the day before.
Marshall had offseason hip surgery, but McDaniels wouldn’t elaborate whether that’s what bothered the Pro Bowl receiver.
The mercurial Marshall has made it clear he’s unhappy in Denver. He skipped all offseason workouts to protest his contract and for what he feels was a misdiagnosis of his hip injury by the team’s medical staff.
If Marshall were to hold out of camp, he’d be subject to daily fines of $15,888.
-- Pat Graham
Redskins sign supplemental pick Jarmon
ASHBURN, Va. — Supplemental draft pick Jeremy Jarmon and the Washington Redskins agreed to a four-year contract with a $755,000 signing bonus Monday.
The Redskins chose the defensive end in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft on July 16. He was the only player picked.
The 6-foot-3, 277-pound Jarmon was declared ineligible for his senior season at Kentucky by the NCAA because he tested positive for a banned substance.
Jarmon finished third in Kentucky history with 17½ sacks.
He is the first player the Redskins have taken with a supplemental selection. The team relinquishes its third-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft.
Getting Jarmon is the latest move by Washington aimed at upgrading a pass rush that ranked last in the NFC in 2008 with only 24 sacks. The Redskins opened free agency by landing All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, then drafted Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo in the first round.
Orakpo still has not agreed to a contract. Redskins players are scheduled to report to training camp Wednesday, with the first practices slated for Thursday.
Cardinals agree to terms with 2nd-round pick
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have agreed on a contract with second-round draft pick Cody Brown of Connecticut.
Terms of the four-year deal were not disclosed when the club announced the signing Tuesday.
Brown, a Coral Springs, Fla., native, was a unanimous All-Big East first-team choice as a senior in 2008 after starting all 13 games at defensive end.
Brown recorded 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and a career-high 56 tackles last season. His 11 sacks were good for second in the Big East and rank as the third-highest single-season total in school history.
Third-round draft pick reaches deal with Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have agreed on a four-year contract with third-round draft pick Jerraud Powers.
C.J. LaBoy, Powers’ agent, said the deal was expected to be signed later today but would not divulge financial terms.
Powers is the first of Indy’s eight draft picks to sign. Players are scheduled to report to training camp Sunday.
The 5-foot-10, 192-pound cornerback left Auburn after his junior season and is regarded as a strong defender in run support.
Rams sign 7th round draft pick
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams have signed seventh-round draft pick Chris Ogbonnaya.
Terms of Monday’s deal with the Texas running back were not disclosed.
Ogbonnaya rushed 140 times for 597 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, and caught 75 passes for 792 yards and three receiving touchdowns during his four-year collegiate career. He started 47 games for the Longhorns.
His best season was last year when he rushed for 373 yards and four touchdowns on 74 carries and caught 46 passes for 540 yards and three scores.
Raiders reach deals with draft picks
NAPA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders arrived at training camp with all but one of their draft picks signed.
Second-round pick Mike Mitchell, third-rounder Matt Shaughnessy, fourth-rounders Louis Murphy and Slade Norris and sixth-rounder Brandon Myers all checked into the team’s summer headquarters in Napa on Tuesday after having their contracts signed.
Oakland is hoping to finalize a deal with receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey before practice begins Thursday. Heyward-Bey was the seventh pick in the draft and is being counted on to help boost the Raiders passing game.
The Raiders already released one of their sixth-round picks, defensive lineman Stryker Sulak.
Tillman looks good for season after back surgery
CHICAGO — Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman is promising to be ready for the season despite his recent back surgery.
Tillman promised on the team’s Web site Tuesday that he’ll be fine, saying: "When I panic, then you can panic. But I’m not panicking, so we’re good."
The season opens Sept. 13 in Green Bay, and the Bears have high expectations after acquiring quarterback Jay Cutler in a trade with Denver. A healthy defense will go a long way toward determining whether they get back to the playoffs for the first time since they made the 2006 Super Bowl.
Tillman missed parts of training camp last year while his infant daughter recovered from a heart transplant. But he finished with 91 tackles and three interceptions while leading the team with four forced fumbles.
Bengals sign rookie TE Coffman
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have signed third-round draft choice Chase Coffman.
The 6-foot-6, 257-pounder from Missouri is the career NCAA tight end receptions leader with 247. The Bengals have now signed eight of their 11 draft picks this year.
Smith hearing on Fla. misdemeanor counts delayed
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida court hearing for former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith to dispose of misdemeanor charges has been postponed.
County Judge Brent Shore said the Tuesday hearing had been postponed until the next day.
The 40-year-old football player faces charges of driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container. The charges stem from an August arrest.
Smith did not attend the hearing and was represented by attorney Brian Coughlin.
Smith faces another court appearance Wednesday morning on more serious felony drug charges.
According to Smith’s MySpace page, he has been in a 90-day drug rehabilitation clinic in Houston.
