NFL Capsules - AFC: Time for Young to show himself as mature NFL QB
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A free-spirited Vince Young finally seems comfortable in his own skin.
The Tennessee Titans quarterback is coming off a year in which he revived his career, coming off the bench to post an 8-2 record and his best passer rating yet. Life is good.
So good that one day after a drill, he felt like showing off his basketball form, rising into the air like he was shooting a jump shot. The football rolled off his hands, then swat! A teammate batted it down. Young made sure defensive end Dave Ball didn't get the next one, though, tossing the football over the fence into a crowd of laughing fans.
Yep, Young appears to be growing up and more importantly for the Titans, growing into a leader.
"He's doing what we asked him to do," coach Jeff Fisher said. "He's spending the extra time, staying focused and understands the more he puts in, the better the results are going to be."
That's what Young needs entering the final two years of his contract. The No. 3 pick overall in the 2006 draft changed agents to Tom Condon earlier this year to help position himself for that next deal. He spent time in Nashville studying film, working on weaknesses like throwing to his left and improving timing with his receivers. His girlfriend gave birth to his son in July.
The Titans also expect Young to make a big improvement this season and help the franchise reach the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Fisher keeps noting the Titans have surrounded Young with his best supporting cast yet with All Pro running back Chris Johnson to a corps of receivers strong from top to bottom, a strong offensive line and pass-catching tight ends.
Young's maturity has been easy to see.
He opened the preseason by completing all six of his passes. He was very sharp with the first five all going to teammates until he rolled out to his left and tried to squeeze the ball into Justin Gage on the sideline where a defender picked off the pass in Seattle.
When asked about his interception on the sideline during the game, Young quickly called the decision to throw rather than run a "dumb mistake" on his part, exactly the kind of personal accountability that had been missing previously.
Young credits a comfort level that has come from experience and extra work this offseason.
"I'm like an extra coach, an extra voice when someone runs the wrong route, if we have a blitz or something like that and guys need to adjust a little bit quicker. I couldn't even do that two, two and a half years ago ... That's how much progress it's been for myself," Young said.
Teammates have noticed. Quarterback Chris Simms and fullback Ahmard Hall, who also played at Texas with Hall joining Young on the Longhorns' national championship team, expect big things from the quarterback this season.
Simms said Young is the ultimate competitor and cautions people need to remember that the quarterback is so athletically gifted that he has been able to just go out and make plays happen.
"I think he's realized it doesn't matter how athletically gifted you are, you've got to put your work in. That's what I've seen from him so far this year. He's put the work in. He's been in the meeting room and in practice he's been pretty sharp," Simms said.
Hall complimented Young for throwing a ball out of bounds during a training camp drill with the offense backed up against the goal line instead of risking an interception. He thinks Young has learned from watching veteran Kerry Collins and is ready to take over as the unquestioned leader of the Titans.
"Whether the quarterback's a rookie or he's a 15-year veteran, they look at the quarterback to lead the whole team, offense and defense," Hall said. "I think he's finally getting that now and putting himself in situations that will benefit him. He's not making the same mental mistakes."
Young played well paired with Johnson, throwing for 1,879 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions for an 82.8 passer rating. He also ran 55 times for 281 yards with two TDs and led six game-winning drives with the Titans either tied or trailing in the fourth quarter.
His best? Easily the 99-yard drive to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 with a TD pass to Kenny Britt as time expired. Fisher called it the drive of the year.
Young said his teammates will ease the pressure on Johnson and himself.
But the biggest offseason move that may have made the biggest impression came in late July when he met NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York to discuss his misdemeanor charge for a scuffle at a Dallas strip club in June. Young had immediately apologized for the incident, promising to learn from his mistake.
The commissioner decided against punishing the quarterback.
"He knows what type of potential that I had and the type of leader I can be for the entire NFL so I just left it at that," Young said.
That's what the Titans hope to see.
Notes: CB Cortland Finnegan missed practice Tuesday, though S Vincent Fuller returned to individual drills after missing the last week with an injured left knee. Gage sat out, though he ran on the side.
Zorn anticipates bittersweet return to Washington
WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) — Jim Zorn is now in a place where he's wanted, doing a job for which he is appreciated and living his life without being hounded by the media.
His role as quarterbacks coach of the Baltimore Ravens may not be as prestigious as head coach of the Washington Redskins, but he isn't complaining. Not after last season, when Zorn was subjected to intense scrutiny, stripped of his play-calling duties and ultimately fired.
After going 12-20 in two seasons as Washington's head coach, a reign he finished by losing 18 of 24, Zorn returns to FedEx Field on Saturday night when the Ravens face the Redskins in a preseason game.
"I'm familiar with the stadium, that's for sure. I'll be in the other locker room, which is OK," Zorn said Tuesday. "I suspect I'll have some good feelings about what those fans do, how they support the Redskins and some of the players I'm very fond of. It will be just interesting going there and being on the other side."
Zorn was initially hired by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to be the team's offensive coordinator. Before he could serve a day at that position, he was given his first head coaching job. His inexperience outweighed his knowledge of the game, as evidenced by what some of his former players are saying this summer.
One of them, asked to describe last season, put a finger to his mouth and made a gagging noise.
Veteran head coach Mike Shanahan is now in charge of the Redskins. Asked to describe the difference between this year and last, Washington defensive end Phillip Daniels said, "Everything. Attitude. More discipline. Focus. All that's changed.
"And that's just by having a guy as your head coach that you really believe in, that's been there, that's done it, that really gets the most out of all his guys. ... Guys know that he knows exactly what he's doing, you know what I'm saying?"
Zorn, 57, has no hard feelings. He hasn't spoken to Snyder since the day of his dismissal, and he's fine with that.
"I've never had any animosity. ... You just get fired, thank you very much, and you move on. I really think that's how we have to handle it, or we could go sit in our rooms for a few weeks and mope and feel sorry for ourselves. It's not the way life is, really. We're called to handle difficult situations as well as glorious situations."
His current focus is making Joe Flacco a better quarterback and working with backups Marc Bulger and Troy Smith to make certain they're ready if needed.
"My concentration is now to help this football team win. I'm really excited about being a part of the Ravens," Zorn said. "I don't spend a lot of time going, 'Gosh, oh, gee whiz, I'm not this or that,' because we don't have time."
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh hired Zorn within a month of his departure from the Redskins. Zorn replaced Hue Jackson, who became offensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders.
With Cam Cameron as his offensive coordinator and Zorn as his quarterbacks coach, Harbaugh has the luxury of having two former NFL head coaches running his offense.
"Having Jim Zorn here makes us better. That's not taking anything away from Hue Jackson, because Hue Jackson was a tremendous coach," Harbaugh said. "Jim brings to the table playing experience, quarterback coaching experience, running an offense experience, head coaching experience. And beyond that, even more importantly — that's resume stuff — is the kind of person he is. He's got a great way of communicating, he's got great expertise, he's really easy to be around, he's got great insight. It makes me better, it makes Cam better, it makes Joe better."
Zorn insists he's happy where he is, and that he's "not in any hurry" to be a head coach again. At this point in his life, he's still absorbing his experience in Washington.
"I've written a lot of things down. I've thought about a lot of things," he said. "I've had some conversations with different people, just trying to get a feel for different issues. Some I wouldn't change and some I wish I could have changed.
"And yet, I really believe this: We live in the circumstances, and we have to deal with the circumstances as they come. We tried to make the most of what we had there, and here I am. Here I am."
-- David Ginsburg
Jets' Sanchez shows his maturity after early INT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Mark Sanchez let his first pass of the game fly — and watched it get tipped into a defender's hands.
Not exactly the preseason debut the New York Jets quarterback wanted.
"Oh, man," Sanchez said. "I don't think you can script a worse start on the first play of your second season."
Sanchez threw to LaDainian Tomlinson into double coverage on the Jets' second play from scrimmage Monday night in their 31-16 loss to the Giants. The ball deflected off the running back's arm and right to Antrel Rolle, who returned it 59 yards before being tackled at the 1 by Dustin Keller.
"It wasn't the best ball in the world to L.T.," Sanchez said. "I put it on his back shoulder and I've got to lead him with the ball, especially balls like that over the middle so they don't get tipped up from poor accuracy."
Three plays later, Brandon Jacobs ran the ball in and gave the Giants an early 7-0 lead.
It was reminiscent of Sanchez's first preseason start last year against Baltimore, when he forced a pass — also on the Jets' second play — that was intercepted by Haloti Ngata, who rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown with 52 seconds elapsed.
But instead of beating himself up on the sideline this time, Sanchez couldn't wait to get back to work.
"I think that's part of his maturity process from last year to this year," fullback Tony Richardson said. "Last year, he'd get a little down on himself. He came to the sideline, talked about it and moved on to the next play and played great football."
Sanchez bounced back nicely, finishing 13 for 17 for 119 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brad Smith, in two mostly sharp quarters. He also showed no signs of being tentative in his first game since having the patella-stabilizing ligament in his left knee repaired in February.
"I think he was a little anxious, ready to go out and have some fun," wide receiver Santonio Holmes said. "But, he calmed down a little bit after that and got this offense rolling."
Sanchez went through his share of growing pains as a rookie, throwing 20 interceptions and making plenty of mistakes. His body language often did nothing to mask his frustration.
"I think last year, I would've been down in the dumps," Sanchez said. "This year, I feel like things will just turn around, no big deal."
Over a year in the system has Sanchez's confidence soaring, and he has had a solid summer. Good thing, too, since much of the Jets' Super Bowl hopes will hinge upon how well Sanchez plays in his second season.
"He came in and did what we expected him to do," coach Rex Ryan said. "He's looked outstanding all through training camp, and tonight was no different."
Sanchez has endeared himself to his teammates by acting more like a 10-year veteran than a second-year player. He sets the tone on the practice field and in the locker room with his competitive nature.
"I don't care if you're playing that sucker in dominoes or hopscotch or whatever, he wants to win," Richardson said. "He's never lost. I mean, everywhere he's been, he's been a winner."
So, when Sanchez struggled through a rough stretch in the middle of last season, his teammates had to remind him that he was still learning — and mistakes were expected.
"You're going to have some bad plays and games that just don't go your way," Richardson said. "It's just a matter of how you pick yourself up and move forward."
Just as Sanchez did late last season, when he was terrific in the playoffs. He threw four touchdown passes — more than he had in his last six regular-season games combined — and two interceptions.
After his first errant pass Monday night, Sanchez marched the Jets on a 14-play drive that was capped by the touchdown pass to Smith.
"He was throwing the ball all over the place, making good checks and did a great job," Keller said. "I think that's more of the offense that we are."
Sanchez followed by leading the offense on drives that ended in field goals on the Jets' next two possessions.
"I wanted to make sure I wasn't trying to force anything after that (interception), like, 'OK, now I need a really good play because I messed something up,'" Sanchez said. "That wasn't going through my head. It was just staying sharp, going through my progressions, checking it down when I needed to, and letting the other guys do the hard work. I think I did that."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Brohm gets next chance in Bills' QB competition
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Quarterback Trent Edwards has maintained his hold on the Buffalo Bills starter's job for now. Brian Brohm will get his chance to prove himself this week. And it's Ryan Fitzpatrick's turn to sit.
In other words, nothing's been resolved in the team's offseason-long quarterback competition as Buffalo prepares to play its second preseason game Thursday, facing Indianapolis at Toronto.
And if as coach Chan Gailey has indicated he's got a deadline to award the starting job before the season opener on Sept. 12, he's not there just yet.
"There's no job that's locked in right now," the first-year coach said after practice Tuesday. "All jobs are still open."
Edwards, attempting to reclaim the job he lost to Fitzpatrick midway through last season, opened camp atop Gailey's pecking order and has spent the past three weeks working with the first-team offense. He's preparing to make his second start following an up-and-down outing in a 42-17 loss at Washington last week.
After going 5 of 6 for 44 yards passing on the Bills opening drive to set up a 38-yard field goal, Edwards went 1 of 6 for 14 yards and an interception over the final three series he played.
"I think I just need to continue to grow, continue to compete out there," Edwards said. "I think that's what Chan wants to see, a guy that's taking control of the quarterback position, being assertive."
For Brohm, the game Thursday will be his preseason debut while entering the game as the No. 2. He's expected to get about two quarters of playing time. That's a switch after Brohm sat out last week's game while Fitzpatrick appeared in six series as Edwards' backup.
Rookie seventh-round pick Levi Brown, who's not part of the competition, will serve as the third-stringer as he did against the Redskins.
Gailey established the rotation so Fitzpatrick and Brohm can have a chance to play, as the coach called it, "in a legitimate part of the game," and avoid "mop-up duty."
"Any way he wants to do it is fine," Brohm said. "I just have to go out there with the attitude that any opportunity I have, I've got to make the most of it."
This is the latest in what's becoming a long line of second chances for Brohm, who finished last season as the Bills' third-stringer. Green Bay's 2008 second-round draft pick out of Louisville, Brohm was signed by Buffalo in November off of the Packers practice squad.
He wound up being a castoff after losing the backup job in Green Bay to seventh-round draft pick Matt Flynn. Due to injuries to Edwards and Fitzpatrick, Brohm struggled in making his first career start, going 17 of 29 for 146 yards and two interceptions in a 31-3 loss at Atlanta in December.
"I feel like I'm ready," Brohm said. "I'm not worried about the quarterback race or who's where. I'm just worried about each and every single play and doing what I'm supposed to do."
Brohm is mobile and has a strong arm, but has struggled with his accuracy during training camp. That was evident while Brohm ran a two-minute drill in practice on Monday.
He opened the drive by making a perfect pass up the left sideline, hitting Naaman Roosevelt in stride. Brohm then scrambled up the middle for a 5-yard gain before the drive ended with him throwing three straight incompletions.
"He's done a good job in practice and he'll get his shot," Gailey said, assessing Brohm. "He's very smart. He knows where to go with the football. He's got good velocity on the ball. He just needs to work on continual accuracy. That's really been his only issue."
Fitzpatrick hasn't wowed anyone yet, either. Taking over late in the second quarter against Washington, he produced one first down on his first four series before engineering consecutive scoring drives. Fitzpatrick finished 9 for 14 for 61 yards and a touchdown.
There's pressure on Edwards, too. Dating to the start of last preseason, the Bills' first-string offense under Edwards has produced just two field goals in 19 series in six exhibition games (Buffalo played five preseason games last year).
"Personally, I don't believe in moral victories, but I understand," Edwards said. "I feel that's something we need to do. We need to put the ball in the end zone."
-- John Wawrow
Charles still wondering about his role with Chiefs
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — He's the first man in NFL history to rush for more than 1,100 yards in fewer than 200 carries and the first Kansas City Chief with four TD runs of 40 yards or more.
Jamaal Charles is also second team.
So do the Chiefs have the deepest stable of quality running backs in the league? Not exactly, though newcomer Thomas Jones does have five straight 1,000-yard seasons and a wonderful gift for leadership.
But the Chiefs' apparent indecisiveness over how to play their pair of aces probably has more to do with strategy and secrecy than coaches' confusion.
For his part, Charles is taking a wait-and-see approach, insisting he's going to be a good teammate and try to hit whatever pitch life throws.
"Whatever happens, happens for a reason," Charles said. "I always believed in that. If it happens for a reason, I guess I've got to go with it. I can't do nothing about it."
Charles was left out of much of the offseason work because of shoulder surgery he underwent right after finishing the season with 2,342 combined net yards. He says he's 100 percent, and looked that way last week in the first preseason game.
On a night in Atlanta when most of the offense appeared sluggish and out of synch, Charles rushed for 37 yards on only four carries. The 23-year-old Texan looked just as quick as last year when world-class speed helped carry him to 1,120 yards rushing after trouble-making former Pro Bowler Larry Johnson was traded.
But possibly out of concern for Charles' shoulder, the Chiefs signed the highly respected Jones to a free agent contract, importing an 11-year veteran with less speed but more experience and terrific leadership skills. Most days, Jones has been running with the first team.
"Thomas has the best locker room presence I've ever seen in a player," said backup running back Jackie Battle.
Last year with the New York Jets, Jones finished third in the NFL with 1,402 yards, trailing only Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson.
So will they be a one-two punch? Or will one take over as undisputed No. 1 while the other sits on the bench?
Exactly what the Chiefs have in mind is something fans and onlookers have been puzzling over for months. As training camp progresses, the mystery seems only to deepen — at least to everyone but Charles and Jones.
"They both understand what's going on," Haley said.
Haley and general manager Scott Pioli, constantly casting nervous glances for any eavesdropping rivals, are top drawer at holding their cards close to the vest.
"On good teams, players understand their role," Haley said. "That sounds simple, but a lot of times people don't understand their role. So part of our job as coaches, and that's in that mix, the communication that's going on is players understanding their role in the team."
So what is Charles' role?
"That's still to be determined," Haley said. "As is the case with the majority of the guys. That's what I mean by 'get it.' There are more and more guys who are starting to get it and understand what's going on and what we're trying to do."
With Jones and Charles, the Chiefs will go into the season with two running backs coming off 1,000-yard campaigns for the first time since Lamar Hunt founded the team in 1959.
"Jamaal is a developing player. Jamaal is a player that last year at times in that development had good days, bad days and in-between days — like a lot of other guys," Haley said. "That is part of the development and that's part of becoming a dependable player on a daily basis and that's really what we're trying to get down with the entire unit. Be a dependable teammate, be a dependable player. It's not complicated. It's pretty simple. Being the same guy every day."
Apparently, Jones and Charles have developed a good working relationship. That would certainly fit the history of Jones, who has not yet been made available to the media.
"Me and Thomas are cool. I love the guy," Charles said. "I got to know him in a short period of time and it's like a lifetime now."
-- Doug Tucker
Quinn brushes off shaky preseason performance
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Brady Quinn was brought into Denver to push incumbent Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton for the starting job.
Instead, he's fending off rookie Tim Tebow for the backup role.
Quinn, who was acquired from Cleveland in the offseason, looked confused at times in coach Josh McDaniels' complicated system during the preseason opener Sunday night at Cincinnati.
It's just one performance, behind a makeshift offensive line and with a hodgepodge of receivers he's still getting to know.
But the rushed throws, misreads and interception returned for a 24-yard touchdown weren't exactly the kind of early impressions he wanted to make.
Watching the replay in the film room certainly wasn't any better.
"Obviously, I could've done some things better here and there," Quinn said Tuesday. "But that's why we come out here to practice, that's why we're working on it. ... Things are never always as bad as they look and never as good as they look on film."
While Quinn struggled, Orton looked cool and confident in the pocket, leading the Broncos on two long scoring drives that ended with TD passes.
Hardly a surprise there.
Orton has looked that solid, that comfortable all training camp, firmly placing his stamp on the starting spot.
His mastery of the offense is unmatched by a wide margin. Then again, being in Year 2 of the system, that should be the case.
"Feeling great with it right now," Orton said.
That was hardly the case last summer, when Orton struggled with picking up the nuances of the system. There are no CliffsNotes available for this offense, only intense cramming.
Precisely what Quinn is undergoing now.
"It's a tough offense to learn, no question about it," Orton said. "The more you're into it, the better it gets. He's just at a starting point right now."
Even Tebow looked to have a better grasp of the system, although it was largely against third-stringers. The University of Florida star completed 8 of 13 passes for 105 yards, numbers that could've been even more impressive had Matthew Willis hauled in a long pass down the sideline that bounced off his facemask.
Or, could've been worse, had Tebow's fourth-quarter fumble — returned for a Cincy TD — not been reversed by replay.
Tebow's night was punctuated by a run up the middle on the final play, a bruising 7-yard TD rumble that was reminiscent of so many in his career with the Gators.
"It was a great play," said Quinn, a former first-round pick of the Browns after a standout career at Notre Dame. "He did a great job running it in."
After the game, Tebow was besieged by autograph seekers — in his own locker room, no less. Two media members asked him to sign some items, before being booted by the Broncos' public relations staff.
Tebow simply shrugged off the episode.
Quinn's trying to do the same with his lackluster performance. He completed 6 of 16 passes for 68 yards against the Bengals.
He insisted he wasn't pressing or thinking too much on the field. And he's definitely not reading anything into the performances of Orton and Tebow.
"I think the biggest thing is you have to kind of control the things that you do out there," Quinn said. "We're all working toward the same goal."
Although Tebow is making a hard charge to become the backup, Quinn isn't taking an adversarial stance. He's there to support Tebow, offering any advice the first-round pick may need.
After all, they're in the same predicament, both brushing up on quite a foreign system.
"The terminology I'm somewhat familiar with," Quinn said. "It's something that, here and there, having a little experience in the NFL, I can kind of give him some advice."
After practice Tuesday, Quinn slipped off his shoulder pads and sauntered over to the far sideline to sign autographs.
Usually, it's Tebow among the fans, penning his name on as many of his top-selling jerseys as he can.
Quinn, though, has become just as accessible and almost as big of a crowd favorite.
Almost.
He's still trailing Tebow in popularity — like everyone else — and the gap for the backup role may be closing as well. Quinn very well could be designated the third QB on game days, especially if the Broncos incorporate specialty packages for Tebow.
To boost his stock, Quinn realizes he needs to keep absorbing that intricate offense.
"You've got to try to move on and try to get better each day," Quinn said.
-- Pat Graham
Raiders' Asomugha out to prove he's the best
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — While Darrelle Revis continues his holdout with the New York Jets in hopes of a new contract befitting a player many think is the best cornerback in the NFL, Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha is working on taking that title back.
The Raiders finally appear willing to let him, too.
After being tethered almost exclusively to the right side of Oakland's secondary, the two-time Pro Bowl defensive back is getting his freedom and will roam the field covering opponents' top receiver no matter where he lines up.
It's a change in strategy and philosophy for the Raiders and the man-to-man coverages favored by owner Al Davis, a change the 29-year-old Asomugha fully embraces.
"Every year there are times when it happens but this year I just think it will happen more because we're doing it (in practice) more and they're allowing it to happen more," Asomugha said this week. "Me being able to play in the slot on third down ... I've wanted that for a while."
Asomugha was widely recognized as the top defensive back in the league when he grabbed a career-high eight interceptions in 2006 and garnered his first Pro Bowl selection. Opponents became so frustrated they nearly quit throwing to Asomugha's side of the field entirely.
In 2009, quarterbacks attempted only 28 passes in Asomugha's direction compared to 111 for Revis. The lack of action cemented Asomugha's reputation in the eyes of some but created doubt among others.
That's why the eight-year veteran is welcoming his new role after flirting with it periodically throughout his career.
"There are so many times when I feel like I'm having the game of my life and no one knows it," Asomugha said. "That's rough. No one sees it. The offenses see it, the people that watch film see it but the fans don't see it."
Not that Asomugha is motivated by public opinion, though he could easily make a career change and enter politics if he wanted. He has rubbed elbows with presidents and other world dignitaries, is a mentor to teens and is deeply involved in numerous charity and volunteer efforts in the Bay Area.
Asomugha is also the face of Oakland's defense. While Richard Seymour has the championships and Tommy Kelly has the money, it's Asomugha who commands the most respect on and off the field.
Still, there are many who believe Revis is the better cornerback. His current holdout was reportedly sparked by his desire to get a better contract than the $45.3 million, three-year deal Asomugha received in 2009.
Asomugha has stayed above the fray when it comes to talk of him and Revis. Instead, he's focused on his new role and trying to help the Raiders snap out of a seven-year funk that coincided with Asomugha's arrival as a first-round pick out of Cal in 2003.
"Some of it is just being able to get him comfortable on both sides because of all the slot formations and corner over (the top)," Oakland coach Tom Cable said. "Some of it has to do with him maybe lining up on the best receiver."
Asomugha has matched up against opponents' top receivers periodically throughout his career. Last season he held Denver's Brandon Marshall without a catch in the first half before the Raiders altered their coverages in the second half. He also held Baltimore's Derek Mason to one catch in their season-ending matchup.
The Raiders hope he can do more of that this season now that he'll be shadowing opponents' top receiver.
"We're doing more things, and I love it," Asomugha said. "I've been inside, I've been outside, both sides. It looks like it won't be a thing that's selective based off who we're playing. It's just going to be a thing that we can do whenever we want ... and that's great. It gets me more involved."
Notes: DE Jay Richardson had arthroscopic surgery on his injured knee Tuesday. Cable said he would have an update Wednesday on when Richardson might be able to return. ... Backup QB Charlie Frye will undergo a "procedure" on his injured right wrist Wednesday, Cable said.
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Dimitroff enjoys Falcons' practice against Pats
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons were in their final segment of Tuesday morning's combined practice when Thomas Dimitroff took a step back.
Make that a few steps back.
Instead of assuming his usual practice spot close to the sideline, Atlanta's general manager sought a big-picture look at the 11-on-11 team drill.
"I was standing way back, just taking it all in, just more of a big picture than I ever have," he said.
The new vantage point provided Dimitroff a big-picture view of his career.
Dimitroff was the Patriots' director of college scouting from 2003-07. He helped find players who appeared in back-to-back Super Bowls in the 2003-04 seasons.
Now in his third season as Atlanta's GM, Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith have led a makeover that has produced immediate results. The Falcons made the playoffs with 11 wins in 2008 and finished 9-7 last year for the first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history.
"You talk about fast-forwarding that many years and here I am humbly stated as one of the co-builders of this team and there is the former team I was with that I learned so much about," he said. "I was feeling proud of the product we have on the field and showing my former team what we're creating here. It's a good feeling, a good feeling."
The two combined practices on Tuesday gave Dimitroff a chance to show off his new team to the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick.
"It was a bit surreal to step back in the final period there and be watching both sides and feeling like, you know, this is my former team where I learned so much in terms of team-building and feeling proud of the product we have on the field," Dimitroff said.
The Falcons and Patriots will play a preseason game at the Georgia Dome on Thursday night.
This is the second set of combined practices for each team. The Falcons held combined practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars last week while the Patriots played host to the New Orleans Saints.
Belichick said his relationship with Dimitroff "probably was the starting point" of the agreement to hold one day of combined practices.
"We had talked about it in the past, 'Hey, if we ever get the chance to do it, it's something we'll look into,'" Belichick said. "When the preseason schedule came out, then it fit. If we hadn't played them in the preseason, I don't think this would have happened."
With NFL owners expected to discuss cutting two games from the preseason schedule, Dimitroff said the combined practices may become more common.
"That's something where there is the potential we're going to see a lot more of this," he said. "Quite honestly I'm happy we're on the front end of the curve here and one of the first teams that's doing this with two teams. In my mind it could possibly evolve into a situation where these combined practices will be in lieu of two preseason games."
The Patriots' visit created a buzz rarely seen at the Falcons' camp in August. Every completed pass from Tom Brady drew applause from fans. There were loud cheers after Brady's deep completions, including a bomb to Randy Moss over Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens.
Moss also had a one-handed catch against Brian Williams.
"They're a talented offense," said Smith, who stayed with his Falcons defense during the practice. "We saw a great quarterback and a great wide receiver."
Meanwhile, Falcons fans cheered Matt Ryan's completions to Atlanta's receivers.
At one point, the quarterbacks were leading the first-team offenses on adjacent fields. It was as if each quarterback was trying to top the other.
Like the fans, Dimitroff enjoyed the show.
"Let's face it, there's an element of competitiveness there on either field with Tom being on one field and Matt on the other," he said. "I started listening for the roars of the crowd when Matt completed passes. You look and there's Tom completing one and then you look and Matt is completing one to Harry Douglas."
Ryan was a wide-eyed fan as he followed Brady while playing at Boston College. The two met last season when the Falcons took a 26-10 loss at New England.
"I watched Tom all through college when I was at B.C. and that was really right through their three Super Bowl runs," Ryan said. "It was good to finally meet him last year when we played up there and to get to talk to him a little today."
Brady said he also followed Ryan's career.
"I've watched him since he was at Boston College and I've really enjoyed watching him play," Brady said. "His first pass was for a touchdown. What a way to start a career."
Brady said he liked the intensity of the practice.
"We came out here competing," Brady said. "We came a long way for these practices, so we might as well do our best."
NOTES: Douglas, who missed the 2009 season with a knee injury, is expected to make his preseason debut on Thursday night. ... Belichick said he left some players in Foxboro, Mass., who are not expected to play, but WR Wes Welker, also returning from a knee injury, was with the team. ... There will not be a combined practice on Wednesday. The Patriots are planning only a walk-through session.
-- Charles Odum
