NFL League and Player Capsules: Roethlisberger to meet with Goodell
NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger's six-game suspension likely will be shortened to four games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the two meet in New York on Friday.
Goodell has said he will make his decision after the preseason concludes. The Steelers play Carolina on Thursday night. Although the NFL has not confirmed the exact location or time for the meeting, Roethlisberger is expected to meet Goodell at league headquarters.
Roethlisberger was suspended in April under the league's personal conduct policy and the quarterback is not eligible to return until Oct. 31 at New Orleans. However, Goodell stipulated in the suspension that it could be reduced if Roethlisberger behaves well and undergoes counseling. The commissioner indicated when he met with Roethlisberger earlier in August that Roethlisberger was on the right track.
Should the suspension be reduced to four games, Roethlisberger would return on Oct. 17 against Cleveland.
Roethlisberger cannot practice once the season starts and his suspension begins.
The Steelers were heartened last month when Goodell said Roethlisberger was going "above and beyond" what the league asked him to do since the two-time Super Bowl winner was accused of, but not charged with, sexually assaulting a Georgia college student. The quarterback has stayed out of trouble since the March incident, and he spent considerable time during training camp interacting with the team's fans.
"I'm very encouraged by what he's doing," Goodell said at Steelers training camp. "He hasn't just done what he's been told to do, I think he's worked hard to really try to improve and focus on himself and understand what he's been through and what he's going to do differently going forward. I think that's a very positive thing."
Asked what the league still needs to see, Goodell said, "He's got to work through the program that's designed for him to help him. A lot of that is confidential, but he's done it and he's done it with enthusiasm. I think that's a good thing."
Goodell often has been asked if Roethlisberger's suspension could be reduced even further, and the quarterback's representatives plan to seek just that. But league officials have said the commissioner's April 21 ruling specified a minimum suspension of four games.
Goodell's office has kept in frequent contact with Steelers ownership — the Rooney family has one of the most respected organizations in the league — in regard to Roethlisberger. Publicly, the team has been mum.
Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada by a woman who says he sexually assaulted her there in 2008. There were no charges brought in that case.
His attorney has denied he did anything wrong in Georgia, where Roethlisberger owns a lake house near Milledgeville, where the March 5 incident took place.
AP source: Union looking into NFL rookie trades
WASHINGTON (AP) — The NFL players' union is looking into whether trades made by four teams this week are attempts to avoid paying money into a rookie pool, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the union has not made the probes public, said the NFL Players Association is reviewing trades made by the Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.
In an odd pair of trades on Monday, the Redskins sent sixth-round selection Dennis Morris to the Rams for a conditional, undisclosed draft pick, and St. Louis sent fifth-round pick Hall Davis to Washington, also for a conditional, undisclosed pick.
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan at the time that Morris was traded because he wasn't going to make the 53-man roster. Then, once Davis arrived in Washington, the Redskins cut him after one practice.
Also on Monday, the Eagles traded Charles Scott to the Cardinals for Jorrick Calvin in an exchange of players taken in the sixth round of this year's draft. That trade appeared to be more practical because Scott is a fullback, a position of need for the Cardinals because Nehemiah Broughton was lost for the season last week with a knee injury.
The trades have the union's attention because, under collective bargaining rules, if a drafted rookie is cut by the team that drafted him, that team is required to pay 85 percent of that player's salary into a rookie pool. The money from that pool will be distributed to rookies early next year based on the number of downs played in the 2010 season.
The way the rule is written, teams could circumvent the rookie pool payment by trading a drafted player they were going to cut to another team — and have that team cut the player.
While the Redskins quickly cut Morris, the other three players are still with their new teams. However, all teams have until Saturday to make their final preseason cuts, when the 53-man regular season rosters are set.
NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said the union is "monitoring this situation very closely" in regard to the Redskins-Rams trade. He would not comment on the Eagles-Cardinals deal.
The amounts of money the teams would save isn't much by NFL standards. The first-year minimum salary is $310,000, and 85 percent of that amount is $263,500.
-- Joseph White
NFL makes adjustments with umpire positioning
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL will move umpires back to their old spots during the final five minutes of Thursday's preseason games.
Previously they were in the old spot for only the final two minutes of each half.
NFL spokesman Corry Rush confirmed the adjustment Wednesday.
League officials decided to move umpires from the old spot, in the middle of the defense, to behind the deepest running back for safety reasons. But Peyton Manning complained about the switch after being called twice for illegal snaps when the umpire couldn't get into position quickly enough last week at Green Bay.
The NFL will again re-evaluate the new policy after this week's preseason finales. The change could become permanent when the regular season starts.
NFL auction to help Gulf Coast
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The NFL is hosting an online auction of signed memorabilia through the first week of the regular season to support the New Orleans Saints' Gulf Coast Renewal Fund.
The charity auction on the league's website is among festivities planned around the opening of the regular season on Sept. 9, when the Super Bowl champion Saints host the Minnesota Vikings.
Proceeds will help restore Louisiana's fragile wetlands, which in the past five years have been severely damaged by major hurricanes and the recent BP oil spill.
Items in the auction include a Super Bowl helmet signed by Drew Brees, a Super Bowl football signed by the Saints, and game-worn jerseys from Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Eli and Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez.
Player Moves
DT Dockett signs 4-year, $48 million extension
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Darnell Dockett finally has the contract he feels he deserves.
The Arizona Cardinals announced on Wednesday that they have signed the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle to a four-year extension worth up to $48 million with $30 million guaranteed.
Dockett had two years left on his previous contract, so the new deal runs through the 2015 season. A third-round draft pick out of Florida State in 2004, Dockett has developed into one of the best at his position entering his seventh NFL season as the high-spirited leader of the Arizona defense.
"We are very fortunate to have a player of Darnell's ability," general manager Rod Graves said, "and I think even more so his passion for the game."
Dockett has 26 career sacks, 20 in the last three seasons. His seven sacks last year were the most for an NFL defensive tackle. His three sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers two seasons ago tied Reggie White's Super Bowl record.
Dockett has started all but one game since coming to the NFL and enters the season with 81 consecutive starts.
The extension follows a change in Dockett's approach to the contract issue. As long as two years ago, he has made it clear he believed he deserved a bigger contract. Last year, he sat out minicamp with a so-called sore hamstring. But he was there on time for the 2009 training camp and has not missed any workouts since, leaving the contract issues to agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Not that Dockett's free spirit still doesn't get the best of him at times. This summer, he made an ill-advised streaming Internet video taking a shower to win a bit, but promptly made a public apology.
"The thing that has really made it so apparent that we wanted to get this deal done was his growth as a player and as a person," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Where he sits right now in front of you guys, after having a couple of Pro Bowls, after how he works with our team, it's a little bit different than he was almost four years ago when we started this thing."
Eleven days before Arizona's season opener, he sat at a news conference on Wednesday to announce his new contract, Graves on one side, Whisenhunt on the other.
"I know a lot of people probably thought I wasn't going to come to training camp," Dockett said. "I made a commitment to players that I was going to be there, like Joey Porter. I told him I would be there and I didn't want to let him down. Once I put my helmet on and shoulder pads, I can honestly tell you I really didn't think about contract. I just focused on football and believed they could get it done."
For the quick, punishing 6-foot-4, 290-pound tackle, the new deal is a rich testament to his ability to overcome some horrific obstacles.
As a 13-year-old in Decatur, Ga., he came home one day to find his mother killed by a gun shot to the head. He moved in with his father, who just a few months later died of pancreatic cancer. His uncle Kevin Dockett took the boy in and provided him the foundation to eventually succeed.
"The biggest thing for me and my life and my situation is for young people to understand that anything's possible," Dockett said. "I'm living proof. I don't do things for a pat on the back or things like that. I just want people to understand that things are possible. All you've got to do is make the right decisions and keep playing and stay focused."
Over the last three seasons, his 20 sacks are more than fellow defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth (17.5), Kevin Williams (17.5) and Tommie Harris (15.5). Dockett said he feels the new contract pays him what he deserves compared with others at his position.
"I did a lot of research, a lot of thought about it and it's good for me," he said. "I'm very happy."
The news conference was packed with television crews and reporters, a big turnout that could be attributed to the fact that many assumed it had something to do with quarterback Matt Leinart, who reportedly is a candidate to be traded or released.
Whisenhunt was amused.
"I have to admit I was kind of tickled," he said.
-- Bob Baum
Raiders deny interest in Matt Leinart
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have plenty of roster moves they need to make before the start of the season.
Apparently trading for Matt Leinart isn't one of them. The Raiders denied a report from ESPN on Wednesday that said the team has had discussions about trading with Arizona for Leinart.
"The Raiders have never discussed trading for Leinart," the team said in a statement. "The Raiders are very happy about their quarterback situation."
Oakland acquired Jason Campbell in an offseason trade with Washington and is pleased with what he's brought as the starter. Campbell led Oakland to touchdowns on the opening drives of the last two exhibition games. He sustained a stinger and an injured right wrist last week against San Francisco but is expected to be ready for the season opener Sept. 12 in Tennessee.
Bruce Gradkowski and Kyle Boller are slated to be the backups as quarterback appears to be one position that is set heading into the final exhibition game against Seattle on Thursday night.
Oakland must reduce its roster from 75 to 53 by Saturday, giving some of the fringe players one last chance to make a good enough impression to make the team.
"I think you have to show up. They're on the bubble for a reason because they have not shown up to this point," coach Tom Cable said. "You have to make an exclamation point on Thursday night."
The biggest questions left to be answered for the Raiders are the starters at center, fullback and cornerback; the backup running backs and receivers; the primary kick and punt returners; and which linebackers and defensive backs make the roster as backups and special teams players.
Cable said recently this will be the toughest cut-down decision in his four years with the organization because of the improved depth.
"There's definitely going to be some eye-openers," safety Michael Huff said. "But that's what goes with being a good organization, being a team that has quality depth and great players. There's always going to be competition and there's going to be players that could start for other teams but because we have so much depth here, they won't be able to play here."
Among the players who have started in past years for Oakland but aren't guaranteed roster spots this season are safety Hiram Eugene, and linebackers Thomas Howard, Ricky Brown and Sam Williams.
All three linebackers started games last year when Cable said that unit was one of the biggest weaknesses on the defense.
Williams has done well on special teams this summer and Brown provides versatility with the ability to play middle or outside linebacker. Howard was once viewed as a building block on the defense starting 62 of 64 games in his first four seasons.
He intercepted six passes in 2007, returning two for touchdowns, but is fighting for a backup spot this season with players like Williams, Brown and Quentin Groves.
"It's just a blessing to be out here and playing this game we all love," Howard said. "People forget that it's an opportunity, and that's how I am looking at it — as an opportunity to go out and play."
Cable hasn't named starters at center, where Samson Satele appears to have the edge over rookie Jared Veldheer, and cornerback, where Chris Johnson and Stanford Routt are fighting for a starting job opposite Nnamdi Asomugha.
Marcel Reece has done his best to seize the fullback job that entered camp as an open competition. Luke Lawton will miss the first two games with a suspension and undrafted rookie Manase Tonga is the only other fullback on the roster.
Reece has four catches for 87 yards, bringing an added element with his ability to make plays in the passing game.
"He just continues to get better," Cable said. "That's the thing that he's shown us is that, from one week to the next he's going out and improving on whatever his negatives were from the week before. It's starting to show up more and more that this guy, you can coach him, he'll take it and he'll go get it again. I certainly think that he's really showing himself the right way."
With Michael Bush's status for the opener in doubt because of a broken left thumb, the Raiders might end up keeping both Michael Bennett and Rock Cartwright as backup running backs to Darren McFadden.
The Raiders will also have some difficult decisions to make at receiver and defensive back. Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Chaz Schilens appear set as the top three receivers, with players like Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jacoby Ford, Yamon Figurs, Nick Miller and Todd Watkins fighting for the other spots.
With all those players other than Watkins competing for the return jobs as well, special teams could play a big role in who makes the team.
At defensive back, three drafted rookies are in the running for roster spots in fifth-round cornerback Walter McFadden, seventh-round cornerback Jeremy Ware and seventh-round safety Stevie Brown.
-- Jsh Dubow
Elway likes Tebow's situation
DENVER (AP) — Hall of Famer John Elway says he thinks rookie Tim Tebow will get plenty of playing time this season even though Kyle Orton is entrenched as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback.
"I'm sure they're going to take advantage of what he does in the shotgun, especially in third-down situations with the run-pass option that you have with a guy like Tim," Elway said. "He throws the ball so well on the move and has the chance for the big play. And maybe they'll use him more than that and get him into the right situations."
Part-time duty is just the ticket for Tebow this year, Elway said after competing in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open golf tournament on Wednesday at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
"I think the good thing for Tim is all the pressure's not on him to go in and play right away and play well. So, it's actually a good situation for him," said Elway, who led the Broncos to two Super Bowl victories.
Elway said he visited the Broncos at practice last week and told Tebow that his dart into the end zone as time expired in his pro debut at Cincinnati, leaving him with bruised ribs, was the right play.
Tebow was sidelined for more than a week and that play raised the chatter about whether he'll be able to survive in the NFL with the same, bruising style that made him a great college player at the University of Florida, where he won the Heisman Trophy and two national titles.
Elway said the competitor in Tebow wouldn't allow him to go down short of the goal line as two defenders raced to meet him as he reached the end zone.
"When you think about the option of him going down on the 1-yard line and he doesn't get hurt, what's everyone going to be talking about then?" Elway said.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Redskins sign QB Beck to 3-yr, $3.35M contract
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Redskins have signed quarterback John Beck to three-year contract worth $3.35 million.
The deal is essentially a two-year extension and puts Beck under contract through the 2012 season. More importantly, it appears to solidify his spot on the roster as the third-string quarterback. He had been competing with Richard Bartel for the No. 3 spot behind Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman.
Beck was acquired Aug. 2 in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
Beck was with the Ravens last year and previously sent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him in the second round out of BYU in 2007. He hasn't played in the regular season since his rookie year, when he appeared in five games.
Bears claim OL Williams
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have claimed offensive lineman Edwin Williams off waivers and waived running back Brandon Minor.
Williams was an undrafted free agent with Washington in 2009 and appeared in four games for the Redskins, starting two at right guard. The 6-foot-3, 313-pound Williams played at Maryland and started the final 49 games of his career, most of them at center.
