NFL Capsules - NFC: McNabb back at practice; Redskins hit Dallas week
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Donovan McNabb was practicing again, Albert Haynesworth was still running mostly with the backups, and Brian Orakpo opened practice by yelling: "Dallas week! Y'all know what time it is."
The Washington Redskins hit regular season mode Monday with as much drama as ever, with tension a bit higher at practice and coach Mike Shanahan ratcheting his game face up a notch or two ahead of Sunday night's opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The good news for the Redskins was that McNabb was wearing a helmet instead of a baseball cap for the first time in two weeks, since spraining his left ankle in the preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 21. While he's lost a lot of valuable practice and playing time getting over the injury, McNabb appears on pace to make his Redskins regular season debut in prime time.
"He's ready to go," Shanahan said.
The more complex issue revolves around Haynesworth, the defensive lineman who has been a source of friction for most of the calendar year. Haynesworth was made to play the entire game Thursday in the preseason finale against Arizona when all of the regular starters had the night off — unheard of for a ninth-year veteran who's twice been an All-Pro — and there remains uncertainty as to his role in the defense.
Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said Haynesworth took "a few" snaps with the first-stringers Monday and that it doesn't make a difference who starts because linemen are frequently rotated in and out of the game. Haslett said Haynesworth took snaps at defensive end, nose tackle and played some in the nickel packages.
"He has a much better understanding" of the defense, Haslett said. "He's starting to come around."
Shanahan and Haynesworth walked off the field together, but the coach still isn't anywhere close to heaping praise on the player who skipped the team's offseason workouts and didn't pass a conditioning test until the 10th day of training camp.
"He worked hard and made a few mistakes here and there," said Shanahan, asked to review Haynesworth's performance against the Cardinals. "But he's getting better."
As for any definite word that Haynesworth will even play on Sunday? Don't look for any enlightenment from Shanahan.
"He's one of our players," the coach said. "We're going to play the best players who are ready to play."
Shanahan soon grew tired of questions about Haynesworth, as has happened several times in his sessions with reporters over the past few weeks. The other players couldn't agree more — they're still hoping for the day when the Shanahan-Haynesworth saga is finally over.
"Hopefully, whatever they got going they can go on and iron it out," cornerback Carlos Rogers said, "where he can go on and get out with us."
Defensive end Phillip Daniels took a more practical view. He noted — as did Shanahan and Haslett — that all of the missed offseason and early training camp practices got Haynesworth so far behind that it's going to take even more time to fully catch up.
"Two, three games into the season, he'll be fully adapted to what we're doing, and he'll be fine," Daniels said.
So what does that mean for Sunday? Stay tuned.
NOTES: Not practicing were FS Kareem Moore and LB Perry Riley. Moore is expected to miss at least two more weeks with a sprained right knee. Riley has a sprained right ankle. ... FB Mike Sellers has recovered from his sprained left knee and should be "full go" on Sunday, according to Shanahan. ... The Redskins signed LB Mike Balogun to their practice squad. Balogun spent the preseason with the San Francisco 49ers.
Reynaud playing many special roles for Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Sage Rosenfels and Darius Reynaud are doing a lot of cramming for their first game with the New York Giants.
It's part of the job when you are traded to a new team a little more than a week before the season opener and you have to be ready.
Rosenfels is the only other quarterback on the team and has to be prepared if something happens to Eli Manning. Reynaud, who also was acquired in the same trade with the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night for future considerations, is now the No. 1 punt returner as well as a member of possibly two or three other special teams units.
Rosenfels and Reynaud got their Giants' playbooks on Saturday and have been in super study mode.
"If I were to play I have to be ready," Rosenfels said after practice on Monday. "There is no excuse not to be ready. I have to get into that play book as much as I can and that's what I am doing."
Rosenfels stood next to quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan at practice on Monday, exchanging ideas after each play. Reynaud spent time with receivers coach Sean Ryan and special teams coach Tom Quinn.
"It is totally different from what we are doing in Minnesota," said Reynaud of the returns schemes.
The trade filled needs for the Giants. They lost veteran backup quarterback Jim Sorgi to a shoulder injury in the first preseason game and they did not feel that second-year pro Rhett Bomar was the answer as the backup despite tremendous improvement in training camp.
While cornerback Aaron Ross showed some promise returning punts, he hurt his foot in the second preseason game and has not returned to practice. The kickoff return game has been nonexistent with several players getting shots.
Halfback D.J. Ware might be the top option there, but he sustained a concussion in the preseason and coach Tom Coughlin has been reluctant to put him back there.
So Reynaud might have to do both jobs. He also was the Vikings' No. 1 gunner on punt returns and was on the starting kickoff coverage team. He also plays receiver, running back and can be a third-down back.
"Anything they want me to play, I'll play it," Reynaud said.
Rosenfels has much more to learn. While much of the offense is similar to stuff the 10-year veteran has run previously, the way the Giants call the plays is totally different.
"That will be the challenge," said Rosenfels, who spent Saturday afternoon watching football with Manning. "Basically, I will be learning a foreign language and trying to relate my old offense to this offense and the pass protection here as it relates to the pass protection in the old offense."
While confident in his ability, Rosenfels said it will be impossible to learn the entire offense in a week. His goal will be to learn the 100 or so plays in the game plan for the Panthers.
The 32-year-old Rosenfels wasn't surprised by Brett Favre's decision to play another season in Minnesota, adding that he felt that might open an opportunity for him elsewhere.
While many in Minnesota obsessed over Favre's situation, Rosenfels said he enjoyed working with him.
"He has great passion for the game," Rosenfels said. "He taught me a lot about the game, how to play the position and also certain intricacies of protections and route combinations. He has a great mind for the game."
Reynaud felt he had a job locked up with the Vikings until the trade.
However, he said for some unknown reason he told his wife on Thursday that he had a feeling he would be playing for a team in New York this season.
"It was a shock," Reynaud said of the trade. "I thought I was good to go in Minnesota until I got that phone call, and here I am now."
Rosenfels called Reynaud one of the best punt returners he has seen.
"It was very surprising to me that the team let him go because we got a lot of great drive starts last year because of his punt returns. He is one of those players that may not fit a mold for an exact position but he is a football player and an exciting kid to watch."
NOTES: Two-time Pro Bowl center Shaun O'Hara return to practice after missing the last two preseason game with a tendon problem in his ankle. ... LB and special teams leader Chase Blackburn (knee) also practiced for the first time in two weeks. ... CB Corey Webster (groin), LB Phillip Dillard (hamstring) and LB Gerris Wilkinson (groin) did not practice. ... Giants signed RB Charles Scott as the eighth member of their practice squad.
-- Tom Canavan
Saints' Williams preaches necessary roughness
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Gregg Williams exhibits a fanatical devotion to the concept of necessary roughness.
The Saints' defensive coordinator is quick to remind his players that defenses are "respected when they're feared."
He also won't punish players if they're flagged for late hits or unnecessary roughness, as long as the penalty resulted from aggression, not "stupidity."
Defensive end Will Smith explains it this way: "The intimidation part is just the way we play, just playing hard and fast to the ball. ... It hurts a little more when you have multiple people hitting you at the same time instead of just one person."
Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma said creating a fear factor is as fundamental to Williams' approach as being in the right spot on the field.
"You can only be feared if you're hitting," Vilma said.
Still, some outside of New Orleans have wondered aloud whether Saints defenders have taken Williams' philosophy a little too far — namely, Vikings coach Brad Childress, whose club opens its season in New Orleans on Thursday night.
This week, Childress stood by an earlier assertion that the Saints appeared to be trying to use late hits to hurt quarterback Brett Favre in last season's NFC championship game.
Had he been making a presentation to a jury, Childress might have replayed video of three plays in particular. One was a hi-low hit by tackle Remi Ayodele and former Saints end Bobby McCray, which resulted in an interception by Vilma.
No flag was thrown, but McCray was later fined for the low hit.
On another play, McCray was flagged, and later fined, for hitting Favre after a handoff. Anthony Hargrove also was fined for a roughing-the-passer penalty that was called when the 272-pound lineman lifted Favre off his feet and slammed down on top of him.
"I don't think we were trying to hurt him at all," Ayodele said. "It's football. It's a physical game. If you watch all of our games, we did that every game. I just think it was a bigger deal because it was Favre."
Childress and Williams have somewhat of a history. Williams was the Washington Redskins' defensive coordinator when Childress was the offensive coordinator for NFC East division rival Philadelphia.
"His defenses have always been aggressive," Childress said. "It's always been a storm-the-castle type of approach. (He's) kind of known for that. ... What I hate to see are late hits or attempts to hurt anybody."
When pressed if he thought the Saints were guilty of that, Childress responded, "Yes, I would have to say that."
Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen said that while the Vikings also looked for opportunities to hit Saints quarterback Drew Brees, "we were doing it a little more on the legal side, so to speak."
The Saints, as one might expect, take issue with accusations that they're dirty.
"Everybody knows that's nonsense," Smith said, adding that Childress is "probably trying to lobby the refs to call a tight game.
"We played like that all (last) year and we didn't hear anybody else complain."
Favre, renowned for toughness throughout his career, said he didn't see anything dirty about how the Saints played.
"I've heard that from a lot of people and you know what my response is? It's football," Favre said. "In a roundabout sort of way, every defense wants to get the opposing quarterback out, you know? ... Say we played Drew (in Minnesota) and we were able to hit him like that. We would have been saying, 'Hey, great.'"
Williams considers himself a disciple of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, defensive coordinator of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears and later head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Oilers. Williams worked under Ryan in Houston.
"I'm not going to apologize for how hard our guys play, and I'm not going to apologize if they're trying to lay the wood on everybody," Williams said after a recent preseason practice. "When the other team is worried about protecting themselves over protecting the ball, we all like that a lot better."
Williams delights in reminiscing about great defenses of the past which were known for brutal physical play, such as Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s.
"I can remember times when I was growing up and looked at that tremendous Steel Curtain defense — guys that didn't have teeth," Williams said. "Look at the way Jack Tatum played when he was still alive and playing for the Oakland Raiders and look at the greatest defenses that Buddy Ryan had. All those defenses had an intimidating factor about them.
"We're looking to live on the edge, play on the edge," Williams continued. "My whole life, I've tried to speed up players, make them more aggressive, make them tougher, make them play nastier and I'm not going to back them off — not going to look to back them off in any way."
NOTES: The Saints signed veteran LB Danny Clark to their roster, adding depth to a position group that was thinned by LB Jonathan Casillas' season-ending foot injury in New Orleans' final preseason game. TE Tory Humphrey was cut to make room on the roster. ... CB Tracy Porter, who missed the last two preseason games with a sore left knee, returned to practice on a limited basis. Vilma, who missed the last preseason game with a right groin injury, also practiced on a limited basis.
-- Brett Martel
Falcons ready for season of high expectations
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons don't have to answer that same ol' question: Hey, guys, when are y'all actually going to have two winning seasons in a row?
Yet it's the way they view getting a 44-year-long monkey off their backs that provides the best insight into why this long-suffering franchise may have finally turned the corner.
Coach Mike Smith isn't happy about going 9-7. Neither are his players. They came up short of their goals for 2009, which were getting back to the playoffs and going even deeper than they did the year before.
The Falcons will resume that quest Sunday, when they open a season of high expectations against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"We feel like we can take that next step," receiver Roddy White said Monday, relaxing at his locker after practice. "Everyone wants to take that next step. Everyone is doing what it takes to get there."
That just the sort of attitude that Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff wanted to instill when they were handed the keys to a franchise in disarray after the 2007 season.
They refused to give in to the team's history, which to that point included only one lasting highlight (reaching the Super Bowl in 1999) and a whole lot of lowlights. They refused to accept that it would take years to rebuild from the loss of the team's signature player, Michael Vick, and the defection of its previous coach, Bobby Petrino.
Two years ago, a team picked to win three or four games at the most went 11-5 and claimed a playoff berth. Atlanta fans had been through it all before: a surprising season quickly followed by more disappointment. And, indeed, the Falcons seemed headed for a losing season when a rash of injuries ruined their playoff hopes and left then at 6-7 with three games to go.
But Matt Ryan returned from an ailing toe to lead three straight wins, including a road victory against the New York Jets, and one of sport's most ignominious streaks finally came to an end.
In the past, two straight winning seasons might've been reason enough to hold a ticker-tape parade. Not anymore.
"The season definitely didn't go the way we wanted it to go," linebacker Mike Peterson said. "We did have a winning season, so it was good to hang our hats on something. But as far as the season as a whole, and for me personally, we definitely didn't reach the goals we wanted to reach."
Still, there's no denying that a stigma was lifted from this franchise by the last three games of 2009.
White realizes that. Heading into his sixth season with the Falcons, he's on his fourth head coach and certainly hasn't forgotten the 4-12 debacle that occurred after Vick was caught running a dogfighting ring.
"It was a big thing for us, especially for the organization and the people upstairs," White said. "They all wanted to get that monkey off our back. Matt coming back and playing those last couple of games was really good for us and our confidence. It showed now one gave up. Everybody still wanted to win, even if we couldn't go to the playoffs. That was big for our team."
But again, no one seems satisfied. That's just what Smith wants to hear, because he certainly doesn't consider missing the playoff to be a success, no matter what other factors were at work.
"We didn't reach our expectations last season," he said. "Other than that, I really don't have a whole lot of thoughts about it."
The Falcons have more than enough offensive weapons to keep playing deep into January. Ryan had a bit of a sophomore slump, but no one denies he's the new face of the franchise. Michael Turner is healthier and expecting to carry the bulk of the running load again. White and Hall of Famer-to-be Tony Gonzalez are two enticing weapons in the passing game.
The key is defense. Atlanta ranked 24th in the league in yards allowed two years ago, and not much better (21st) last season. Dimitroff has tried to bulk up on that side of the ball through the draft (most notably, linebackers Curtis Lofton and Sean Weatherspoon, this year's No. 1 pick) and the major free-agent signing of this past offseason, cornerback Dunta Robinson.
"I don't want to put any pressure on us," Peterson said, "but this team is going to go as far as this defense. If the defense is playing well, this team will be playing well."
The Falcons are a popular pick to be this year's surprise team, even though they play in the same division as the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Those sort of expectations are just what Robinson had in mind when he signed with Atlanta.
"These guys — the organization, coach Smith, Thomas Dimitroff — they've come in and done a great job," the cornerback said. "That's something I definitely wanted to be a part of."
-- Paul Newberry
Panthers undrafted rookie Neblett overcomes odds
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — There are so many reasons Andre Neblett shouldn't be on an NFL roster.
Poor grades in high school left him lightly recruited. Struggling Temple took a chance, but the coaches switched him from linebacker to defensive tackle, a position he not only never played, but hated.
While he eventually thrived there and helped turn around the Owls' moribund program, he went undrafted because of concerns he wasn't big enough. He signed with Carolina, but appeared to have little chance to stick around as the Panthers prepared to trim 22 players on Saturday.
Then the cut list came out and on it was veteran Tank Tyler, who some thought would start at defensive tackle. Corvey Irvin, a third-round pick just a year earlier, was waived, too.
Neblett? He became only the fourth undrafted rookie to make the team in coach John Fox's nine seasons in Carolina.
Oh, and he might be the only defensive lineman the Panthers have had who can do a back flip.
"Everything has been going my way," Neblett said.
Neblett spoke Monday at Bank of America Stadium, which serves as a reminder of how far he's come. He was a true freshman here learning a new position in 2006 when Temple lost to Clemson 63-9 on the way to a 1-11 season.
"There's nothing you can do to him in training camp that would bother him after what he's been through here," Owls coach Al Golden said.
Golden talks proudly of how Neblett not only became an elite, if undersized, college defensive tackle, he morphed into a good student and was part of a class that helped Temple to its first bowl game in 30 years last season.
"He was a kid who was playing fullback in high school, so he's only really played nose guard these four years," Golden said. "He's gotten stronger every year. He's gotten smarter in terms of football intelligence. He's gotten tougher every year and he's gotten in better condition every year.
"I'm not surprised that he made (the Panthers). I'm surprised he didn't get drafted. What a deal to get him undrafted."
Panthers general manager Marty Hurney echoed that sentiment in explaining how the 6-foot, 295-pound Neblett made the final roster after collecting six tackles in the preseason. While undersized, he had attributes the Panthers are keen on these days. He's young, speedy and athletic enough to be able to do back flips.
"Every time he was in games he made plays," Hurney said. "Every time he was in there he made something happen."
Yet bad grades at Rahway (N.J.) High School nearly derailed his career before it began. Golden saw potential, but angered him when he moved him to the line.
"I wasn't very happy about it," Neblett said. "I didn't know much about the position. I thought it was just line up and try to knock the guy as far back as you can. But over the years I learned that there's lot more things that go on with the D-line. Being able to have good footwork, good hands, being able to get in that stance and know exactly what you've got to do. Read blocks and things like that.
"It really interested me and now I love it. I can't get enough of it."
Growing comfortable in Temple's 4-3 defense was one of the reasons he was drawn to Carolina, which runs the same scheme. Another reason he chose the Panthers over Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Cincinnati and the New York Giants when he wasn't drafted was that his mother, Protronya Dorsey, lives about three hours away in Allendale, S.C.
But perhaps the biggest incentive was the opportunity after the Panthers watched three starters on the defensive line leave in the offseason.
"Knowing they really didn't have any big names," Neblett said. "They got rid of (Julius) Peppers and I knew I could have an opportunity to come in and make the team."
Neblett, who never missed a game in college, made the most of it. He buried himself in the playbook, honed up on his technique, and outworked his competition. It allowed him to overcome the odds and give him a chance to become part of Carolina's defensive tackle rotation ahead of guys like Tyler and Irvin, who had better resumes.
"I've learned it's about preparing. Not a lot of guys do that," Neblett said. "Being on time, being prepared, taking notes, always in the classroom. Being able to always outwork guys out there on the field and fight through what (Golden) called 'fifth quarter.'
"Just keep pushing. Coach told me it wasn't going to be easy."
-- Mike Cranston
Peterson confident he can cure fumbling problem
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — For all the time Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings have spent studying his fumbling problem, knowledge and strategy will mean nothing if he loses the ball this week in New Orleans.
The extra-aggressive Saints are sure to be trying to strip Peterson of his most prized possession in Thursday's season opener, with the NFC championship game memory still fresh. The All-Pro running back's 122-yard, three-touchdown performance on that epic January night was tainted by two fumbles, plus a botched handoff with Brett Favre.
Peterson, however, believes he's found a cure.
"Holding it high," he said Monday. "I found out by studying myself that when I'm going down I kind of brace myself with the hand I'm carrying the ball in, and that's leaving opportunities for those guys that are reaching and scraping and punching for that ball."
So how does he avoid that?
"Just not brace yourself as much," Peterson said. "I'm a pretty tough guy, so just keep the ball high and fall down. Like you said, it is all off instinct. But when that becomes a problem, you sit there and say, 'Hey, I've got to eliminate doing this.'"
He'd like to take better advantage of defenders, too, when they eschew proper wrapping-up technique for the riskier attempt to get the ball out.
"I look forward for guys to try to tackle me and tackle the ball," Peterson said. "They might not be on the field too long if they continue to do that."
Since the start of his career in 2007, Peterson leads the league with 20 fumbles, losing 13 of them.
"He's such a talented back and he runs so hard that I think it's almost instinctual for him that he lets that ball loose a little bit sometimes," Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "I don't know how you correct that. I don't know how he corrects it. I hope he hasn't corrected it, to be honest with you. But he's a very, very talented back, and he definitely has my respect."
Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy led the team's offseason review of Peterson's habits, yielding an extensive video montage of the turnovers and near-turnovers. The Vikings also consulted New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin and former running back Tiki Barber, who overcame early-career fumbling problems by changing his carry style to a higher and tighter look.
For all the ability Favre has to run a team, read a defense and fire the ball downfield, Peterson remains the fulcrum of this offense. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell didn't flinch Monday when asked if he still considers this a run-first system.
"Absolutely," Bevell said. "I think that we need to try to get Adrian the ball as much as we can."
Favre recalled Sunday the enjoyment he had in last year's season opener when Peterson ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns.
"I had the best seat in the house," Favre said. "I said, 'This is going to be a lot of fun this year.'"
Perhaps just as important for Peterson against the Saints, or against any team for that matter, are his blitz pickups in pass protection. Peterson has struggled in that area in the past, a major reason why Chester Taylor took the majority of third-down snaps over the past three years, but Bevell praised Peterson's progress.
"I'd say he's come a long way even in these last two weeks," Bevell said.
So Peterson will take the field at the Superdome later this week, eager to deliver some helmet-jarring hits on the Saints defense to pay back their treatment of Favre in the playoffs.
"I always work hard, but it felt different this offseason," Peterson said, adding: "It just made me even hungrier."
The taste of that bitter overtime loss is still there for Peterson as much as it is for anyone else wearing purple.
"We've got to go out there and stay focused and eliminate the mistakes that we had last year against those guys," Peterson said, "and we'll definitely win."
-- Dave Campbell
Packers hoping defense comes together
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — After not seeing their preferred 11 defensive starters take a single preseason snap together, the Green Bay Packers are hoping a week of practice is all the unit needs to be ready for Sunday's regular-season opener at Philadelphia.
The Packers had the NFL's second-ranked defense last season. But second-year linebacker Clay Matthews missed all four exhibition games with a pulled left hamstring, and fellow linebacker Brad Jones missed the final three games with a shoulder injury.
Defensive end Cullen Jenkins missed the final two preseason games with a strained calf.
"You'd definitely like to have more time out there playing with each other to be able to feel each other out, but when it comes down to it, it's still football, and we all know how to play it," Jenkins said. "We just have to go out there and do what we're supposed to do."
When the players returned to practice Monday after three days off, it marked the first time all 11 defensive starters worked together since the scrimmage.
Matthews and Jones participated in all aspects of practice, and Jenkins took part in the jog-through at the start before going inside the Don Hutson Center with the injury rehabilitation group.
If anyone was worried about whether the defense could flip the switch in time for the Eagles, they weren't saying so Monday.
"You know what? We don't have time to worry about that. We have no choice but go out there and work with whoever's going to be out there on Sunday," said cornerback Charles Woodson, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"We just have to go get it done. That's the only way to look at it."
There are complicating factors, though, because Matthews, Jones and Jenkins are directly involved in one of the few changes defensive coordinator Dom Capers made during training camp: switching Matthews to the left side and moving Jones to the right.
Jenkins, as the right defensive end, worked on the same side as Matthews all of last year but now will be working in concert with Jones.
"I think we'll be fine. If anything, we'll be fresh," Matthews said. "I know I felt great out there today as far as my conditioning and my overall physical well-being.
"We know what we need to do," the linebacker added. "We've got a great coach and we've got great expectations on our shoulders. I don't think there's going to be a drop-off. I think you're going to see the same thing we did last year — shutting down the run, making them throw the ball and hopefully getting after the quarterback a little bit more."
Jones dismissed the suggestion that the position flip-flop with Matthews would be an issue, but coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged that the move isn't a simple one.
"I don't think anything is simple anytime you change positions," McCarthy said. "There is a difference. There is no denying that."
McCarthy also said the move should give Matthews more pass-rushing opportunities. By playing on the left side, he'll face weaker offensive linemen — an opponent's right tackle usually is a lesser player than its left tackle — and will also be separated from Jenkins, the Packers' best rusher among the defensive linemen.
That should decrease the number of double teams Matthews will see, since offenses will have to protect against Jenkins on one side and Matthews on the other.
"(Matthews) is going to have opportunities over there that he may or may not have had on the other side," McCarthy said. "Scheme is designed to put the player in a one-on-one situation and the player's responsibility is to win the one-on-one situation. Whether it is right side or left side, we'll continue to give him the work.
"Clay is a gifted young man. He brings a lot to the table in terms of his physical gifts and the way he plays the game, so I am fully confident he'll be very productive over there."
Notes: WR Jordy Nelson said after practice that he'll be the kickoff returner and CB Tramon Williams confirmed he'll handle punt returns. .... The Packers announced their eight-man practice squad, which included seven players from training camp: OT Chris Campbell, LB Robert Francois, OT Breno Giacomini, QB Graham Harrell, S Anthony Levine, LB Maurice Simpkins and WR Chastin West. The eighth player is RB James Johnson, a first-year player out of Kansas State who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in four games that year for Cincinnati, then spent time on the Bengals' practice squad in 2008 and 2009. He was with Cincinnati during the preseason after spending some time with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. ... Several players changed jersey numbers from training camp: Harrell (No. 6), safety Charlie Peprah (No. 26) and linebacker Frank Zombo (No. 58).
Bears hope to surprise doubters
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Devin Hester is sick of it, too. So if fans are just a bit antsy, well, imagine how the Chicago Bears' receiver feels.
"When we don't make the playoffs, it's a disgrace," he said.
By that measure, it's safe to say Hester's not exactly proud of what's happened the past three years. Whether they're in for another disgraceful season is open to debate.
Considering how they looked at times, a winless preseason did nothing to ease the angst surrounding the organization, but what really matters is what happens starting now. The season opens Sunday against Detroit, and all the questions surrounding the Bears will be answered in the coming weeks.
Receiver Devin Aromashodu predicts they will surprise fans who are just a little tense after three straight playoff misses, saying "We know what we're capable of doing."
Chicago is coming off a brutal 7-9 season and hasn't been to the postseason since the 2006 team's Super Bowl run, a drought that left at least some calling for coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo to be fired.
They retained their jobs with a mandate to win now and shook up the coaching staff, particularly on offense, while signing Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers and running back Chester Taylor.
"The coaches and the GM did a good job with the recruiting class that we brought in," Hester said.
Those were big, bold moves, but plenty of questions linger. And the preseason provided few, if any, answers.
The offensive line, the receivers and safeties still are question marks. The relationship between quarterback Jay Cutler and new offensive coordinator Mike Martz remains a key subplot even if they've been whispering sweet nothings about each other.
The Bears are also counting on middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and defensive tackle Tommie Harris to stay healthy and show at least some of their old Pro Bowl form.
For now, there are no major injuries.
Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs continued to rest the right ankle he sprained in the third preseason game against Arizona, but linebacker Nick Roach practiced for the first time since arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday.
"I'm glad the preseason's over with and we've got all our players," Taylor said. "We didn't have serious injuries. That was the most important thing so we're coming in ready to play Detroit this week."
But what type of team do the Bears have?
Chicago scored on just three of 16 drives in the first three preseason games with Cutler and watched as he got sacked 10 times. He admittedly was antsy behind a line that, just like last season, didn't provide much protection — particularly in the second game against Oakland — and the offense wound up ranking 31st in the exhibition season.
To that, the Bears say: it's only the preseason.
They insist the offense will look better now that they'll be game-planning and attacking opponents' weaknesses rather than simply working on plays. Their faith in Martz's playbook hasn't waned.
Of the systems he's played in, Taylor said, "I believe this is the best because there are so many different schemes you can do against the defense and using the running back a lot more as a receiver. There's just a lot of different things you can do with this offense."
But can the Bears end this losing cycle? Can they get back to the playoffs and ease the angst?
"There's a sense of urgency for everybody," Hester said. "I'm not even talking about last season. It's just we're tired of not going to the playoffs. It's a boring season when you don't go to the playoffs."
NOTE: Peppers, Urlacher, Cutler, C Olin Kreutz and LS Patrick Mannelly were selected as Bears captains.
-- Andrew Seligman
Lions hope to start a new era after down decade
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Like all teams, the Detroit Lions have that optimism that comes with the start of a new season. They might need that fresh start more than any other NFL franchise.
After losing a league-record 30 games in the past two years, Detroit has new players on both sides of the ball — changes that they hope will give them a chance at their first winning season since 2000.
"We need to win some games — that's what we need more than anything else," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said Monday. "We expect to be able to compete every time we line up. That's been a problem in the past, but I think we should be able to be competitive this year."
On offense, Mayhew has added weapons designed to turn a mediocre unit into a powerful one. In addition to Calvin Johnson, quarterback Matthew Stafford will now have wide receiver Nate Burleson, running back Jahvid Best and tight end Tony Scheffler at his disposal.
Dominic Raiola, who suffered through the worst of the Matt Millen era, is enthused about seeing how the new players perform in Sunday's opener at Chicago.
"This is a complete new start," said Raiola, who was elected one of Detroit's team captains on Monday. "We've turned over the whole roster, and these guys haven't been through all the losing. All they care about is that we are 0-0.
"No matter what we've done this spring and summer, Chicago has always been at the back of our mind. This is when we find out what we've got."
The changes on defense have been more decisive and borne out of desperation. Detroit's terrible defense has been a major factor in the 2-30 record and a 20-game losing streak on the road, and coach Jim Schwartz has worked with Mayhew to rebuild the unit.
"We decided to rebuild around two young players — Louis Delmas and DeAndre Levy," Schwartz said. "The next step was to revamp our defensive line. We did that by drafting Ndamukong Suh, trading for Corey Williams and bringing in Kyle Vanden Bosch. That's a strong group that will help us against the run and the pass."
Unfortunately for Schwartz, he hasn't had as much success with his linebackers and secondary. Levy and Delmas — the only two returning starters in the back seven — have both struggled with injuries throughout the preseason, meaning the group has been unable to build the chemistry that Schwartz needs.
"We haven't had the players on the field during preseason games, but they've been working together in practices," he said. "And if we have guys who can't go, we have other options. At every position, we have options."
Even with the injuries and inexperience, Schwartz thinks the defense has gotten better.
"We need to perform on the field, but I think we are upgraded over last year," he said. "Of course, it wouldn't take much to be better than we were a year ago."
Delmas agrees.
"I know we haven't played together during preseason games, but I know how well we've worked together since we started this in the spring," he said. "That whole time, we've been talking about Chicago. This is our first chance we've got to prove that we're a great team."
NOTES: The Lions players voted on captains Monday, selecting Raiola and Stafford on offense, Vanden Bosch on defense and longtime kicker Jason Hanson on special teams. ... Detroit confirmed Monday that they had claimed TE-LB Spencer Havner (Green Bay) and WR Stefan Logan (Pittsburgh) on waivers. Havner practiced at linebacker on Monday, but Schwartz said that he could play offense as well, while Logan is expected to return both kickoffs and punts.
Anderson goes from castoff to NFL starter again
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — By all accounts, Derek Anderson was not handed the starting quarterback job in Arizona. He took it, teammates and coaches say, with his attitude, strong arm and eagerness to work on the weaknesses that had made him an NFL castoff.
With Matt Leinart released by the team over the weekend, Anderson is the unchallenged leader of the Arizona offense, with an upstart undrafted rookie, Max Hall, backing him up.
Anderson, speaking after the Cardinals practiced on Monday, said that from the day he signed, he felt he had a chance to be the starter. Since then, the 6-foot-6, strong-armed thrower from Oregon State has worked with quarterback coach Chris Miller, who as a player had one of the most accurate arms in the NFL.
"Coach Miller has been amazing," Anderson said, "working on my footwork, working on touch balls, working on accuracy."
It's an impressive rebound for a quarterback who, after a Pro Bowl, 10-6 season with Cleveland in 2007, struggled mightily, eventually losing his job last year to Brady Quinn. Browns fans were quick to turn on him. Some even cheered when he lay on the field in pain after a season-ending knee injury against Indianapolis in 2008.
A bitter Anderson ripped the Cleveland fans after he was released following last season, but later apologized.
"A lot of struggles, a lot of difficult times on and off the field," he said. "I went through a lot in my life, but obviously I'm happy about the way things turned out and excited about the opportunity."
He brushed aside the widespread perception he simply is not a good NFL quarterback, opinions based on the way things ended in Cleveland. Before he was benched last year, he threw for three touchdowns with 10 interceptions, including a brutal 2-for-17 day at Buffalo.
"I've moved past that," Anderson said. "I'm focused on bigger and better things. I learned a lot from that situation as a person and as a football player."
He said his footwork is the key to better accuracy.
"Just working on my feet, making sure my feet are underneath me," Anderson said, "my feet and body, everything going in the right direction. I think it has improved dramatically."
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Anderson's willingness to work on his weaknesses was one of the reasons he replaced Leinart as starter in the third preseason game. Whisenhunt noted that Kurt Warner, when he came to Arizona, worked to improve his problems with holding on to the ball too long and moving in the pocket. Warner, of course, went on to complete his career with two spectacular seasons.
"To be an accurate thrower, a consistently accurate thrower, you have to have good footwork, especially when you're tall like Derek is," Whisenhunt said. "And you know he's worked hard at it and you've seen the results, especially over the last two games. It's nice to see him working on the little things."
In those games — at Chicago and briefly against Washington — Anderson was 9 of 15 for 131 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions or sacks.
Guard Deuce Lutui, who played with Leinart at USC, said Anderson came in and "automatically took those reins and never let go."
"It's just his experience, really," Lutui said. "The decision of the coaching staff to put him in, as unfortunate as it is for Leinart to go out, D.A. has done a great job in taking that role and so forth that none of the guys questioned him. When we see him in the huddle, it's "OK, let's go. It's go time.'"
The players appreciate Anderson's lighthearted demeanor, Lutui said.
"It's nice to have a quarterback just to be as clumsy and wacky like me, a class clown," Lutui said moments after teammate Jeremy Bridges splattered his face with shaving cream during a television interview in the extremely relaxed Arizona locker room. "It just kind of shows that he's loose in there, not timid and really serious about anything — which you are in a sense — but we've got to remember that we play this game because it's fun. That's what D.A. brings to the table. He's out there having fun and when he's having fun, we're having fun."
During the games, Anderson turns serious but says he will lighten up when he thinks it's appropriate.
"There's a time and a place for everything," he said, "but I think obviously it's my job to lead those guys and keep them loose. I think our team plays well when we're loose and aggressive."
Speaking of fun, Cardinals coaches and players love the style the scrambling, ever-upbeat Hall brings. Whisenhunt cautions that all the Max Hall talk should be reined in a bit, because the 6-foot-1 quarterback from BYU never played against first-string NFL players.
Still, the coach thinks enough of him to put him an Anderson injury away from being a starter.
"That kid, I love being on the field with him or watching him," running back Tim Hightower said. "Just to see the fight in that kid, the passion. He looks like a little kid out there playing. He's excited about every throw, every play. You can't help but respect that and admire that and look forward to having a guy like that on your team."
-- Bob Baum
49ers hoping for big things from rookie linemen
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The youngest member of the San Francisco 49ers grew up quickly this summer.
"I came into training camp when I was about 20," Anthony Davis said Monday. "Now I'm about 25."
Like the team around him, Davis is anxious to see if that maturity carries over to the regular season. The rookie will get the chance Sunday when he makes his starting debut at right tackle as the 49ers open the season at Seattle.
Davis, the No. 11 overall selection in this year's NFL draft, is one of two first-round draft picks who earned starting jobs this summer along San Francisco's offensive line, the team's biggest problem area in recent seasons.
Mike Iupati, the No. 17 overall selection in the draft, will start across the line from Davis at left guard. The 49ers are counting on both youngsters to upgrade an offense that hasn't finished higher than 23rd in the NFL rankings since 2003.
Davis, who doesn't turn 21 until October, will become one of the youngest players in team history to start a season opener. Iupati, 23, also made a strong enough impression this summer for the 49ers to believe he's ready to handle a starting role in the NFL trenches.
"They better be," coach Mike Singletary said. "They've done a great job and have continued to work their tails off. Both young men are impressive in their own right and have continued to make great strides. I'm really excited we have both of them. But now is not the time to ask if they're ready. It's on now, so they better be."
The 49ers will learn quickly just how far along the young linemen have come. They open at Seattle's Qwest Field, notoriously one of the NFL's noisiest stadiums and toughest venues for opposing teams.
Since 2005, Seahawks opponents have been flagged an NFL-high 95 false-start penalties. The 49ers have regularly struggled with the conditions in Seattle, including last season when a 20-17 loss to the Seahawks in December crippled San Francisco's playoff hopes.
"It's a very loud place," center David Baas said. "But we still have to go out there and execute. We still have to go out there and dominate. In order for us to do that, we all have to be working together. It doesn't matter if they're a rookie or not."
With star talent at several offensive skill positions, the 49ers have placed a lot of emphasis this year on upgrading their offensive line, bringing in new positional coaches Mike Solari and Ray Brown to oversee the unit and then spending high draft picks on Davis and Iupati.
The unit took a blow in early August when center Eric Heitmann, the team's most consistent lineman, broke his left leg in practice. But Baas has made a smooth transition to the position after starting all 16 games last year at left guard.
Baas was available for duty at center because he lost his starting job at guard to Iupati during the first week of training camp. Iupati exhibited great power in the trenches during the preseason, giving San Francisco's line a more formidable look entering the season.
"Now it's for real," Iupati said. "I know (opponents) will be coming hard and they'll try to take advantage of me. But the bond we've developed as offensive linemen is great. These guys go the extra mile to be successful, so I have to go the extra mile to be successful now."
The rebuilt line will be a major factor in San Francisco's success this season. The 49ers are a consensus favorite to win their first NFC West title since 2002, but there still are plenty of questions facing a team has gone seven years without a winning season.
Those questions begin with the two rookies in the middle of it all up front.
"The hay is in the barn and the work has been put in," Singletary said. "I think we're mature enough to do the things we have to do. The biggest question mark we have as a team, with the talent we have, are we ready to go and play to the level we're capable of playing. That's a good question, and I believe the answer is yes."
NOTES: Singletary said the 49ers have not yet settled on a punt returner, although rookie seventh-round draft pick Phillip Adams said on Monday that he'd be handling that role against Seattle. Adams also will be a gunner on the team's punt-return unit. Rookie sixth-rounder Kyle Williams, the team's top option at punt returner, hasn't practiced since spraining a big toe on Aug. 15. Williams was cleared to run Monday, but Singletary said he will "probably not" practice this week. LB Ahmad Brooks, who suffered a lacerated kidney during practice Aug. 6, said he's "90 percent healthy" and expects to be cleared for a return to practice next week and play in the team's Sept. 20 home opener against New Orleans. With veteran CB William James likely out until the middle of this month with an ankle injury, the 49ers kept two rookie cornerbacks — Adams and undrafted free agent Tramaine Brock — on their final roster, which features 11 defensive backs.
Roster shuffle continues for Carroll, Seahawks
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The leading receiver from a year ago is gone, the leading rusher was rumored to be heading out only to be at practice, and a half-dozen new players made introductions on Monday at Seahawks headquarters.
According to Pete Carroll and John Schneider, the massive roster shakeup just a week before the start of the regular season was all part of their plan when they approached building and reconstructing the Seattle roster.
"The most exciting part of it is if you have a coach and a coaching staff that is willing to move forward and teach and put in the extra time to get new players ready, it can be an extremely exciting period to add players," Schneider, the Seahawks general manager said on Monday. "This is not something we're trying to patch. We're trying to build. It's not like a rebuilding thing, it's not like a patching thing. It's a continuously building this thing as we go."
The 53-man roster on the field Monday afternoon was far different than the team that returned from Oakland last Thursday night following the final preseason game.
Gone was T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Seahawks leading receiver from last year and who will make more than $6 million from Seattle in 2010 despite now being a member of the Baltimore Ravens as part of his guaranteed contract.
Houshmandzadeh was cut in order to give younger receivers Golden Tate, Deon Butler and Ben Obomanu more opportunities, along with the emergence of former first-round pick Mike Williams, Schneider said.
Also gone was versatile safety Jordan Babineaux, starting fullback Owen Schmitt, offensive lineman Mansfield Wrotto and No. 3 quarterback J.P. Losman. Those players were sent packing over the weekend after Seattle traded away starting cornerback Josh Wilson last week.
Oh, and offensive line coach Alex Gibbs suddenly retired on Friday. He was replaced by Pat Ruel, who coaching with Omaha in the United Football League until getting a call from Carroll on Friday night. Ruel worked with Carroll at Southern California.
"It was probably more 'hellos.' Came here today and there were a bunch of guys we didn't know," Williams said. "But it was like that when we got here in the spring so we'll get the guys that just got here and get them in here as fast as we can and learning what we do and how we do it."
Still around was running back Julius Jones, rumored to be cut over the weekend, only to be at practice on Monday and undeterred by the talk of losing his job in Seattle. Schneider said he made it a point to apologize to Jones after the reports surfaced.
"It was false. You can't always believe what you read or see on TV," Jones said. "I've been in contact with everybody. My weekend went business as usual, just like practice went business as usual today. Everything you guys heard was false. I got a lot of phone calls, a lot of text messages but I'm still here."
But even though Jones is sticking around, he's being demoted for now after being Seattle's leading rusher each of the last two seasons. Carroll said after Monday's practice that Justin Forsett will get the start on Sunday.
Schneider and his scouting staff approached the cutdown day in a similar regard to the NFL draft. Schneider had an ever evolving board with all the players Seattle wanted to target. When a players they wanted became available, the Seahawks recruited aggressively.
The result: the addition of offensive linemen Stacy Andrews and Evan Dietrich-Smith; defensive linemen Raheem Brock and Junior Siavii; cornerback Mike Ness and fullback/special teams standout Michael Robinson.
"I didn't think I'd be coming back here," said Brock who was in Seattle with Tennessee to open the preseason. "But anything happens in this league. I'm happy to be here and it seems like it's going to be fun."
Now comes the task of inserting the new pieces with what remains and coming up with a game plan for Sunday's opener against San Francisco. Carroll confirmed Monday that injured left tackle Russell Okung won't play as he continues to recover from a high right ankle sprain. It's likely either Chester Pitts, coming off microfracture knee surgery, or recently acquired Tyler Polumbus will start.
Carroll also noted that most of the new additions are support players for now and not front line starters.
"This doesn't have anything to do with the game plan though, as far as I'm concerned," Carroll said of the moves. "We've been working on this game plan for months. We're all over it, so it doesn't affect it."
-- Tim Booth
Rams offensive line looks to protect Bradford
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Now that the St. Louis Rams have settled on rookie Sam Bradford at quarterback, it's up to an offensive line that's been a focus of the rebuilding effort to protect the No. 1 pick.
It starts with Sunday's home opener against Arizona.
Center Jason Brown acknowledged all eyes will be on the offensive line to see how well they do the job protecting Bradford.
"There's more pressure than you will ever know," Brown said. "We take pride in it and we want to make sure he stays on his feet and make sure he has plenty of time in the pocket to make his reads downfield."
The middle of the line is composed of veterans — Brown and guards Jacob Bell and Adam Goldberg. Second-round draft pick Roger Saffold is at left tackle and second-year player Jason Smith, last year's No. 2 overall pick, has moved over to right tackle after an injury-plagued rookie season.
"We're coming together as a unit and our health has been good lately," Brown said. "We need to stay healthy."
The Rams made Bradford the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and made a huge investment in the 2008 Heisman winner. Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million contract with $50 million in guaranteed money and Sunday he begins to earn it against the Cardinals.
Brown said he feels a special connection to Bradford as his center.
"Definitely. He doesn't put his hands under anyone else's bottom but mine," Brown said. "That's how it all starts."
The other linemen feel protective of Bradford, too.
"There's always pressure on offensive lineman," right guard Adam Goldberg said. "When things go bad, it's our fault and when things go good, no one cares. There's always pressure on us, no matter who gets the ball.
"Sam is a very impressive young man. He's very good with the ball but his intangibles are good, too. What he does without the ball, what he does in the huddle and what he does in meeting room is impressive. He's a real special player."
Playing together helps the line, Goldberg said. The line played together in the final two preseason games and the offense clicked, despite running back Stephen Jackson playing sparingly.
"There's a comfort level in playing with the guys next to you. You know what they're going to do," Goldberg said. "We have good communication with each other. It's been nice to line up the same five across the last couple of weeks and hopefully we keep that momentum rolling into the regular season. We're going to roll with this group."
The tackles are inexperienced. Smith missed most of his rookie season with injuries and a concussion. Still, Goldberg said he will do his job.
"Jason's a good young player," Goldberg said. "It's good to have us together on that side and have a good working dynamic there. We have a nice mix on this line. We're well-coached. We work hard. All five us have to work together and we do."
Saffold knows he's in the hot spot at left tackle. Being a rookie, opposing defenses will be trying to exploit him and get to Bradford to disrupt the offense.
"The best thing about being an offensive lineman is you've got to love the challenge," Saffold said. "Being a rookie, I know they've got me kind of circled so they'll be trying to go their hardest at me to get to the quarterback. They'll be trying to go through a rookie to get to a rookie."
It's been a growing process, Saffold said. He believes he's made a lot of progress since training camp opened.
"It was rough in the beginning of camp," Saffold said. "I was stepping on Jacob Bell's toes. Now, it's becoming easier and easier. I understand a lot more."
