NFL Capsules: Element of surprise key to onside kicks
The Who had barely finished their halftime show, highlighted by their rock anthem "Won't Get Fooled Again," when the New Orleans Saints pulled off the best trick in last February's Super Bowl.
Not only did they befuddle the Indianapolis Colts with Thomas Morstead's onside kick that Chris Reis recovered in a wild scramble, but they swung the game in their favor. Drew Brees hit Pierre Thomas for a touchdown six plays later, giving the Saints their first lead on the way to their first NFL championship.
So enamored of their tomfoolery, the Saints paid tribute to the move when their kickoff team opened an August intrasquad scrimmage with the same play, called "Ambush." And the Saints' return team was even more fooled than the Colts, with Roman Harper making an uncontested recovery.
Even a certain football fan in the nation's capital praised coach Sean Payton's gambling instincts.
"I make some tough decisions every day, but I never decided on an onside kick in the second half," President Barack Obama said. "That took some guts. ... I'm glad that thing went right."
All of which raises the question: Why don't more teams try the onside kick?
In 2009, 48 were attempted, all but eight near the end of games when teams were desperately trying to catch up. Of the eight that came earlier in games and had the element of surprise, three (37.5 percent) were successful.
Hardly the kind of numbers that would entice coaches to call for such skullduggery very often.
"It's the risk, reward," Browns kicker Phil Dawson says. "It's like a short par-4. You pull out the driver and try to put it on the green, and you're looking at eagle — or you're walking away with a bogey. If the situation presents itself, and then you call it, you have a chance to make a big play. But if you don't, the other team has the ball on the other side of the field and they're one first down from field-goal range. That's the dilemma."
With many NFL coaches being conservative to the core, even considering an onside kick can be a stretch. But doing it in the Super Bowl against one of the most potent offenses and best quarterbacks in league history — even when your own offense has the same explosiveness and a star QB — is a statement that just might inspire some daring throughout a copycat league.
"That was awesome. I'll tell you what, the pressure you feel as a kicker on a surprise onside is pretty intense," Dawson says.
"The reward is high," adds Ravens special teams coach Jerry Rosburg. "Depends on what kind of team you have, depends on what kind of offense your opponent has. It depends on how they play it, it depends on how good your kicker is. All those things are factors. Some guys are really good at it, some teams don't defend it as well as others. You factor all those things together, then the risk/reward changes.
"You have to factor in your skill, your scheme, what they're doing. Obviously the Saints saw something and took advantage of it."
There are a variety of ways of taking advantage. Years ago, the only type of onside kick was the dribbler. Rules changes against loading up one side of the field with players from the kicking team have made the dribbler nearly extinct.
At times, kickers would send a line drive directly at an opponent on the front line of the return team. That forced coaches to place players with good hands into those areas.
Of course, at the end of close games, the "hands squad" is always up front when an onside kick is likely.
The current popular style is the high bouncer.
"I'm pretty positive most kickers use it where you want to get the high bounce," says Jets kicker Nick Folk. "I think it's because you can hit it more consistently than you do the dribbler. You can pretty much tell an area where you can hit each time to get it up high.
"Once a week, I maybe just hit a couple to make sure we practice it. It's always in there for the end of the game, so you work on it for the guys to feel comfortable and familiar with it."
How about getting it "in there" for earlier in the game?
"That play's existed for quite a while," Rosburg says. "I don't think just because the Saints pulled it off that it's going to start a trend. The risk/reward really hasn't changed. People have run the onside kick, that was just the biggest one because it's on the biggest stage."
But Folk is more optimistic, while recognizing the hazards.
"I think it will happen more earlier," he says. "Guys are more creative with the way they hide the kick, and as it becomes more disguisable, you will see more of them.
"You do it to give your team a lift and an edge, but I think it still scares a lot of teams because the success rate is not high and you give up the ball in your area."
Ultimately, whoever calls for the onside kick — it varies from team to team, but you can bet a Bill Belichick or Jeff Fisher is directly involved in the decision — understands the impact success or failure can have on the outcome.
"It's available and you see it," Titans coach Fisher says. "We prepare for it on every kickoff. Coaches are going to look and scheme things up and see if they can have an opportunity to gain possession. We had three or four against the Colts four or five years ago. There were other reasons for that, but it is an effective tool. Clearly the Saints felt like they had an opportunity based on what they had seen."
In a way, the Saints also might have been as desperate as those teams who must try the onside kick in a game's dying moments.
"It's sort of like a sneak attack, and the Saints made it famous last year," Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff says. "I think in the Saints' situation, if you ask them, I'd be willing to bet you that they felt to win that game ... somehow, they needed to steal a possession. They had to run a fake, get a pick, do something to get an extra possession to beat that football team."
Westhoff, one of the NFL's deans of special teams, also believes the kicking team has an edge aside from the element of surprise.
"When those guys are flying at you, it's easier said than done to make that play," he says of players on the receiving team trying to field the kick. "Consequently, if you have the guts to try it, and you get a good kick, the odds are way in your favor that you're going to recover it.
"Now the question is whether you're going to get the good kick and do you have the guts to try it? The Saints had both and they got it, even though the ball should've been played by the Colts. And, that would've been catastrophic."
Instead, it was a catapult to a championship. And perhaps to a trend.
League News
NFL reviewing positioning of umpires
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL will update its teams this week on the repositioning of the umpire to the offensive backfield.
A memo will be sent to the 32 clubs outlining how the change will work during the season.
A meeting of the referees and umpires will be held Friday, one day after the season opener between Minnesota and New Orleans. That meeting will "simply be to review the mechanics of the umpire position," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Monday.
In March, the league decided for safety reasons to move umpires from the middle of the defense near the linebackers to behind the deepest running back. But Colts quarterback and four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning complained in a preseason game at Green Bay after he twice was called for illegal snaps when the umpire couldn't get into position quickly enough.
The league moved umpires back to their old spots during the final five minutes of last Thursday's final exhibition games. Previously they were in the old spot for only the final two minutes of each half.
"I don't think we'll see the full import of it until we get well into the regular season and certainly get a full season's worth of work," said Colts President Bill Polian, who also serves on the competition committee that recommended the change. "My concerns right now are simply mechanical and very easily solvable."
Moving the umpires was an easy decision for safety's sake, NFL vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said. After reviewing video showing dozens of collisions and near-collisions with players or even the ball, it became clear to the competition committee that the umpires were endangered.
"We needed to get them out of harm's way," Anderson said. "We saw too many instances when they were knocked down or were in vulnerable positions."
But the solution already has drawn protests from some players, particularly those on fast-tempo offenses.
"If we do the mechanics right, I don't think that it (penalties) ought to be an issue," Polian said. "If I thought that would be a byproduct of it, obviously, I would not have voted for it. There are certain times of the game and certain downs and distance where it's going to become more of an issue, and they've got to be aware of it.
"I'm sure there are some tweaks that they will make and we'll move forward."
-- Barry Wilner
Fourteen players start season suspended
NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger is one of 14 players who begin the NFL season on suspension.
According to league figures, Roethlisberger is one of four players suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He will miss the first four games after Commissioner Roger Goodell reduced the suspension by two games last week.
Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student following a night of drinking in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar on March 5. He was not charged by Georgia authorities, but Goodell acted because the league's integrity and reputation were at stake, he said.
Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the NFL's personal conduct policy who was not arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime.
"I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person," Roethlisberger said in a statement after the ban was reduced. "I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be, and exceeding what is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers."
The others suspended for personal conduct are Ravens cornerback Cary Williams (two games), Patriots offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka and Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, one game apiece.
Ojinnaka was traded from Atlanta to New England late last month. He was arrested in May 2009 and charged with battery after his wife confronted him over his contact with a female friend on Facebook. He was accused of tossing his wife down stairs and throwing her out of the house.
Talib also was fined one additional game check stemming from his punching a cab driver in August 2009. He initially was charged with resisting arrest without violence and simple battery. He later reached agreement on the battery charge.
Williams is suspended for a domestic dispute.
Seven players are banned for substance abuse, and three are out due to violating the policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Atlanta is the only team with two players suspended, linebacker Robert James four games for PEDs, and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, one game for substance abuse.
Also gone for substance abuse are Jets receiver Santonio Holmes (four games), Bills tight end Shawn Nelson (four games), Broncos running back LenDale White (four games), Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson (three games), Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill (one game), and Packers defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, who has an indefinite suspension that certainly will carry through the 2010 season.
Jolly made a deal with prosecutors last month to avoid trial on a felony drug charge and will have the case against him dismissed if he stays out of trouble for the next year.
Suspended for performance-enhancing drug use is Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year, who will be out for four games. Also sidelined four games are Titans linebacker Gerald McRath and James.
-- Barry Wilner
Player Moves
Revis signs 4-year deal, returns to Jets
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Darrelle Revis was walking toward his teammates on the practice field when a strange feeling came over him.
"I had butterflies," the New York Jets' cornerback said with a grin Monday.
For a guy who routinely shuts down opponents' best wide receivers, the acknowledgment of insecurity was stunning.
"I didn't know how my teammates were going to accept me," Revis said, "because I haven't been here for a month."
After some loud, welcoming cheers and good-natured ribbing, Revis knew he was finally back home. He signed his four-year deal Monday afternoon, apologizing to fans for not getting back sooner and officially making his return after a 36-day holdout.
"It was a good feeling just to see the guys," Revis said, "just wanting to be around them because I haven't been here for a while."
Revis agreed to a new contract late Sunday night and took an early morning flight Monday from his home in South Florida. He arrived at the Jets' training facility after 1 p.m., rejoined his teammates and signed the deal.
"It was a long process," he said. "It was rough on me. You know I'm a football player and I love to play the game and I'm happy it's over with. I can go play football now."
And, he'll get started right away. Revis is expected to practice Tuesday and be ready to play in the season opener next Monday night against Baltimore.
"I do think we may play Revis, I'm not sure," coach Rex Ryan quipped. "I think he might need to practice for several weeks before we play him, but don't be shocked if he's out there.
"In other words, he's definitely playing."
Revis said he has stayed in shape by working out during his holdout, but he acknowledges that he's not necessarily in football shape.
"I haven't had pads on and I haven't had contact," he said. "So that's something I have to get back into and just take it slow in the process."
The Jets and Revis' agents declined to announce financial terms of the deal, but it is reportedly worth at least $46 million, including $32 million guaranteed. Revis said all along he wanted to be the highest-paid player at his position, something agent Jonathan Feinsod said the Jets cornerback would be — without releasing terms.
"The numbers would reflect in our minds that he's being paid as the highest-paid cornerback," Feinsod said.
After months of waiting and wondering about his future, the All-Pro cornerback was just happy to be back on the field.
"This experience humbled me so much just because I love to play football," Revis said. "At one point, it was something that was taken away, that I love to do. I've never had anything taken away from me that I love to do. So this was a point in my life where it was serious."
Perhaps the most crucial moment of the negotiations came Saturday, when both Ryan and owner Woody Johnson flew to South Florida to meet with Revis, mother Diana Gilbert and uncle and former NFL player Sean Gilbert to try to solve the contract impasse.
"It meant a lot to me," Revis said, "to show the passion they have for me to come down to Florida and just chat with me and see if we can come to a common ground and both sides can see the right thing."
Both the Jets and Revis' agents spoke all weekend until reaching what general manager Mike Tannenbaum called "a breakthrough" before coming to an agreement around 11 p.m. Sunday night.
"I think the thing was, the season is upon us," Johnson said. "It was basically, let's see if we can leave this room with something."
During the discussion with Revis, Johnson brought up the cornerback's Hall of Fame potential.
"We talked about how important it is to keep on the right track," Johnson said. "If he continues his progress, I think Hall of Fame and Darrelle Revis don't sound like they're a strange pair."
Revis began his holdout Aug. 1, when the team reported for training camp in Cortland without him. Agent Neil Schwartz said the nearly $600,000 in fines Revis accrued for sitting out would be given to an undetermined charity.
Since early August, the team and Revis' agents agreed to keep all negotiations confidential after things got testy through the media. With the silence came the fear that Revis could sit out the entire season, as his uncle once did.
"I didn't think it was going to get done," linebacker Bart Scott said. "I was preparing myself to go into the game without him. Thankfully, we got it figured out and I think we're a better team because of it."
Ryan said he heard Revis was at his New Jersey home a week or so ago, and drove there to try to meet with his star player. But, Revis wasn't home. He also acknowledged storming out of a meeting room Sunday night in frustration while negotiations with Revis' agents were being done over the phone.
"I was ripping everybody on both sides," he said. "After I threw my little tantrum and the deal was getting done, they brought me back up."
Revis made it to practice in time to address the team and break down the practice huddle, with NFL Films cameras capturing the moment for HBO's "Hard Knocks" series. Some Jets players shouted, "Revis Christ!" at him, while others poked fun at Revis' bushy beard.
"It was kind of funny," safety James Ihedigbo said. "A bunch of guys started the Rudy clap, that nice slow clap, as he came out. We welcomed him with open arms."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Jets bringing back FB Richardson after cutting him
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Tony Richardson wasn't an ex-Jet for long.
Coach Rex Ryan said the veteran fullback will be re-signed by New York on Tuesday, two days after the popular player was released in what was initially viewed as a cost-cutting move.
Richardson will be added to the 53-man roster, Ryan said Monday, and play in the season opener against Baltimore next Monday night.
"I just said, 'Let's get him in, quick,'" Ryan said. "The thing is, we felt pretty confident we could get T-Rich back, but there's still the possibility that somebody gets him and convinces him (to go elsewhere). We had to get this deal done quick, and that's what we did."
Richardson's release Sunday and subsequent re-signing was connected to Darrelle Revis' situation. The Jets needed depth at the cornerback position, not knowing when — or if — Revis would end his contract holdout, so they kept undrafted free agent Brian Jackson.
Once Revis agreed to a four-year deal late Sunday night, the Jets knew they could drop a cornerback and bring back Richardson. Jackson was released later Monday.
The Jets also signed center Robby Felix, linebacker Ricky Foley, linebacker Josh Mauga, wide receiver Larry Taylor, defensive lineman Martin Tevaseu and defensive back Donovan Warren to the practice squad.
The Jets will have to make another move when Revis is added to the active roster. He is currently on the reserve-did not report list, and the team received a two-game roster exemption for Revis. He doesn't count against the 53-man roster, but can still practice. Revis will come off the list at some point before the season opener, and the Jets will make a corresponding roster move.
The move to cut the 38-year-old Richardson on Sunday was surprising because Ryan repeatedly said the team would go with two fullbacks to help the Jets' run-heavy offense.
Richardson was also routinely praised as one of the lone leaders on a young unit, with Ryan even stating his case to general manager Mike Tannenbaum to keep the fullback on the last episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks."
He'll be back now to mentor John Conner, the hard-hitting fifth-round pick who is nicknamed "The Terminator."
"I felt confident that we could get Tony back at some point," Ryan said. "That point is 24 hours later."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Houshmandzadeh agrees to terms with Ravens
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens upgraded their receiving corps again by agreeing to terms Monday with T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
To make room for Houshmandzadeh on the roster, the Ravens traded wide receiver Mark Clayton to the St. Louis Rams for an undisclosed draft pick. Clayton, drafted 22nd overall by Baltimore in the 2005 draft, ranks third in Ravens history with 234 career catches and 3,116 yards.
Houshmandzaheh, a 10-year veteran, was cut by Seattle last week. He signed with the Seahawks as a free agent before the 2009 season and had a team-high 79 catches for 911 yards and three touchdowns.
But that deal was signed with Jim Mora as coach and Tim Ruskell as general manager, and both are gone from Seattle.
So, too, is Houshmandzadeh, who was in the second year of a five-year, $40 million contract.
"The first things that pop out at you about T.J. are that he has been very productive and durable in his first nine years in the NFL," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "Plus, we saw him more than we wanted making a lot of plays against us. We had interest in him a year ago when he first became a free agent before he signed with Seattle."
In previously bolstering the wide receiver position, the Ravens traded with Arizona for Anquan Boldin in the offseason and signed free agent Donte' Stallworth. But Stallworth broke his left foot in the third exhibition game.
Baltimore also has veteran Derrick Mason. The 36-year-old Mason, entering his 14th pro season, has been the Ravens' most consistent receiver for years. In 2009, he was second to running back Ray Rice on the team with 73 catches and led the Ravens with 1,028 yards. He caught seven touchdown passes.
Kennard McGuire, Houshmandzadeh's agent, said the receiver "is excited about playing for such an amazing organization."
"He's another proven weapon for our offense — a big receiver with good hands and toughness," Newsome said. "The one other thing that every coach and player we talked with about him indicated is that T.J. is a driven player with an excellent work ethic."
Houshmandzadeh, who will be 33 on Sept. 26, spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, for whom he twice exceeded 1,000 yards in a season (2005 and 2006), and three times had at least 90 receptions. His 112 catches in 2007 tied for the league lead with Wes Welker of New England.
Even with his release by Seattle, Houshmandzadeh was guaranteed $7 million for the 2010 season.
Clayton leaves with a franchise-record nine 100-yard receiving games. He joins a team shy of veterans at wide receiver, plus the Rams lost Donnie Avery for the season with a knee injury in the preseason.
Clayton had nine 100-yard receiving games, most in Ravens history. In 2006 he caught 67 passes for a team-leading 939 yards and five touchdowns.
"You never reach a point when it's easy to release or trade a player you respect. Everyone here has the highest regard for Mark," Newsome said. "He'll help the Rams, and it's good for him that they reached out to get him."
49ers cut third-string QB Nate Davis
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers waived third-string quarterback Nate Davis on Monday, just more than one year after drafting him in the fifth round out of Ball State. Shortly after announcing they had parted ways with Davis, the team said it signed quarterback Troy Smith to a one-year deal.
Coach Mike Singletary had been openly frustrated with Davis' slow development and work ethic despite the quarterback's dyslexia that makes it difficult to grasp the playbook. Singletary hinted after Thursday night's preseason victory over San Diego that Davis was a question mark to make the team, but he was still around Friday when the Niners trimmed their roster to the 53-player limit.
The move was made Monday as San Francisco prepares for its opener at NFC West rival Seattle, but announced hours after Singletary addressed the media.
The 49ers already have starter Alex Smith and backup David Carr, two former No. 1 overall picks. Singletary had said they could get by with only two quarterbacks, but opted to add Troy Smith. He was a fifth-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2007 and has appeared in 14 games with two starts in three seasons. The Ravens cut Smith on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Smith is 48 for 89 for 558 yards and three touchdowns and has thrown one interception.
While Davis' potential had some believing he might push Troy Smith as soon as this season, Singletary publicly expressed disappointment with Davis' progress after the second preseason game against Minnesota on Aug. 22.
On Friday, Singletary said Davis was "working at it" and beginning to grasp the amount of effort it takes to be prepared for an NFL season.
"It's really important that he really understands the skill set he has to have as a quarterback and not just sit over there on Sundays and wait for the offseason to come," Singletary said during the Friday conference call. "I really want him to contribute, hopefully this year."
It won't be with the 49ers as it turns out.
Davis never played a regular-season snap last year, when San Francisco finished 8-8 to end a franchise-worst stretch of six straight losing seasons. The team is trying to snap a seven-year playoff drought in 2010.
In four exhibition games, Davis completed 23 of 44 passes for 301 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked four times for 27 lost yards and had a 62.8 quarterback rating.
-- Janie McCauley
Bills ink FB McIntyre to 2-year contract extension
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — For someone who's bounced around the NFL for nearly a decade, fullback Corey McIntyre finally feels like he's found a home in Buffalo after signing a two-year, $1.85 million contract extension.
"From a person who's traveled the road I've traveled, to actually have your first real contract, I can't even describe the feeling," McIntyre said after practice Monday.
The deal runs through the 2012 season and could be worth more if McIntyre meets several incentive clauses. It was reached as he prepares for his third season in Buffalo.
What pleased him most is that the Bills were the ones who approached his agent first last month to discuss the possibility of an extension.
"It's great," McIntyre said. "They went from there and the next thing, I get a call saying, 'You'll be a Bill for a couple of more years.'"
Though officially entering his sixth NFL season, the 31-year-old has been around much longer after initially entering the league in 2002 when he signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia.
McIntyre had to wait three more years, and spend a season in Europe, before making his NFL debut with Cleveland in 2005. He then played parts of the following two years in New Orleans and Atlanta before signing with the Bills a month into the 2008 season.
ProFootballTalk.com first reported his extension on its website earlier in the day.
Used as a fullback and on special teams, McIntyre has five carries for 34 yards and nine catches for 54 yards in 26 games in Buffalo.
Coach Chan Gailey praised McIntyre for the hard-nosed edge he provides.
"You can't count in statistics what he brings to our football team," Gailey said. "He's a true tough guy."
The Bills on Monday also added three players to their practice squad by signing receiver Paul Hubbard, linebacker John Russell and defensive back Dominique Harris.
Harris is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Temple who was cut by the Bills a day earlier to make room for Kraig Urbik, who the team claimed off waivers.
Hubbard was released by Oakland on Aug. 31 after spending last season on the Raiders' practice squad. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, the Wisconsin product was originally drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round in 2008. He then spent that season on the Browns practice squad.
Russell joins the Bills two days after being released by Kansas City. He originally signed with Green Bay this spring as an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest.
Also, tight end Derek Schouman was not claimed after being waived/injured on Saturday, and is now on the Bills injured reserve list.
-- John Wawrow
Chargers sign 3rd-string QB O'Sullivan
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Free agent quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan signed a one-year contract on Monday with the San Diego Chargers.
He will be added to the roster Tuesday and a corresponding move will be made then. He will line up on the depth chart behind Philip Rivers and Billy Volek.
O'Sullivan spent 2009 with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing in three games.
The Chargers cut rookie third-string quarterback Jonathan Crompton on Saturday and signed him to the practice squad Sunday.
General manager A.J. Smith didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
O'Sullivan was a sixth-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints in 2002. He has also been with Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, Carolina, Detroit and San Francisco. His most extensive playing time came with San Francisco in 2008, when he started eight of nine games played and threw for 1,678 yards, eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has played in 17 career games, starting eight.
Also Monday, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman wore a boot to protect his Achilles' tendon injury as he rehabbed on the side.
He said he will have to see how things go Wednesday before knowing if he'll be able to play in the season opener next Monday night at Kansas City.
Seahawks release Babineaux, Schmitt, Vickerson
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks have released veteran safety Jordan Babineaux, fullback Owen Schmitt and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson.
They were replaced on the roster Monday by defensive end Raheem Brock, running back Michael Robinson and defensive tackle Junior Siavii.
Seattle also hired Pat Ruel as the offensive line coach. Ruel served in the same capacity at Southern California under head coach Pete Carroll the last five years.
Babineaux signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted rookie in 2004 and appeared in 83 games at cornerback and safety, making 319 tackles, 2½ sacks and eight interceptions. He started at safety in all 16 games last season, finishing with a career-high 105 tackles.
Schmitt, selected by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft, had five carries for 21 yards in 30 games, including two starts. Vickerson was acquired along with running back LenDale White from Tennessee in a draft day trade in April. White was released in May and signed with Denver last month.
Brock had 396 tackles and 28½ sacks while starting 104 of 120 games over eight seasons with Indianapolis and winning one Super Bowl. He signed with Tennessee last month and was released Saturday.
Robinson, originally a quarterback at Penn State, was a fourth-round selection by San Francisco in 2006. Playing on special teams, he had 79 tackles in 62 games. He also had 86 carries for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
Siavii, a second-round pick by Kansas City in 2004, played in 26 games over two seasons with the Chiefs before sitting out of the NFL for three seasons. He signed with Dallas last year and had a career-high 29 tackles while playing in all 16 games for the Cowboys.
Patriots name Crable, 5 others to practice squad
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Linebacker Shawn Crable was among six players placed on the New England Patriots practice squad on Monday.
Also named to the group were safety Sergio Brown, wide receiver Darnell Jenkins, offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger, running back Javarris James and tight end Jeron Mastrud. The Patriots can add two others to the eight-man group.
Crable didn't play for the Patriots after they drafted him in 2008 in the third round out of Michigan. He was inactive for the first eight games as a rookie then spent the rest of the year and all of the 2009 season on injured reserve. He was released July 28.
Brown, a rookie free agent from Notre Dame, played well on special teams in the preseason. Jenkins, who finished last year on the Patriots' practice squad, had two long runs after catches in exhibition games. Ohrnberger played in three games last year after the Patriots took him in the fourth round from Penn State.
James was released by Indianapolis after signing as a rookie free agent out of Miami on April 30. Mastrud was cut by Tampa Bay after signing on April 26 as a rookie free agent from Kansas State.
Jaguars complete practice squad by signing four
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed four players to their practice squad.
The team signed linebacker Alvin Bowen, cornerback John Destin, quarterback Brett Ratliff and center Bradley Vierling on Monday. Bowen and Vierling spent time with the Jaguars during the preseason.
Ratliff originally signed as a rookie free agent with the New York Jets in 2007. He spent his rookie year on the practice squad, then was the team's No. 3 quarterback for all 16 games in 2008. He was traded to Cleveland last season and spent the entire year on the active roster.
Destin spent the preseason with Buffalo after signing as an undrafted rookie.
Broncos sign three more to practice squad
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have signed running back Bruce Hall to their practice squad, one day after waiving him to make room for Andre Brown.
The Broncos also signed offensive lineman Jeff Byers and defensive lineman Lionel Dotson to their practice squad.
Hall is a second-year pro who rushed 30 times for 88 yards and caught a dozen passes for 73 yards during the preseason.
Byers is a rookie from Southern Cal who was waived by Seattle on Saturday. He grew up in Loveland, Colo. Dotson is a third-year pro who spent his first two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who waived him over the weekend. He was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona in 2008.
Bills add WR Hubbard, LB Russell to practice squad
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills continue adding to their practice squad by signing receiver Paul Hubbard and linebacker John Russell.
Hubbard was released by Oakland on Aug. 31 after spending last season on the Raiders' practice squad. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, the Wisconsin product was originally drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round in 2008. He then spent that season on the Browns practice squad.
Russell joins the Bills two days after being released by Kansas City. He originally signed with Green Bay this spring as an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest.
Both were signed Monday. Also, tight end Derek Schouman was not claimed after being waived/injured on Saturday, and is now on the Bills injured reserve list.
Bucs claim RB Blount off waivers
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed rookie running back LeGarrette Blount off waivers and signed punter Chris Bryan.
Blount was released by the Tennessee Titans after signing with them as an undrafted free agent and rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns during the preseason. His draft prospects plunged after the University of Oregon suspended him for eight games of his senior season for punching a Boise State player last September.
Bryan is a native of Australia who spent the preseason with the Green Bay Packers.
To make room on the roster Monday, the Bucs waived rookie punter Brent Bowden and receiver Reggie Brown. Receiver Dezmon Briscoe, tackle Will Barker and tackle Derek Hardman were signed to the practice squad.
Cardinals cut 3, claim 3 off waivers
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals have cut three players and claimed three off waivers, including veteran cornerback Brandon McDonald.
The Cardinals released cornerback Marshay Green, fullback Reagan Maui'a (Mow-EE-uh) and linebacker Pago Togafau (PONG-go TONG-uh-fow). They claimed off waivers McDonald, from Cleveland, outside linebacker Cyril Obiozor and fullback Jerome Johnson.
McDonald started 27 games over the last three seasons for Cleveland but was released by the Browns over the weekend. Obiozor was cut by Green Bay and Johnson was released by the New York Giants.
In other moves, Arizona re-signed three players to the practice squad: offensive lineman Herman Johnson, guard Tom Pestock and wide receiver Isaiah Williams.
Saints add LB Danny Clark
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have added veteran linebacker Danny Clark to their roster, marking his second stint with the club since the Sean Payton era began in 2006.
The 33-year-old Clark, now in his 11th season, also was with the club in 2006. His addition adds depth to a linebacker corps depleted by a season-ending foot injury to projected weakside starter Jonathan Casillas.
Clark, who is 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, began 2010 training camp in Houston, but was released on Sunday. Clark started eight games for the Texans in 2007 and 26 games over the past two seasons with the New York Giants.
The Saints got a good look at Clark in August when they held joint training camp practices and a preseason game with Houston.
Panthers sign Dale Murphy's son to practice squad
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have signed eight players to the practice squad, including former Atlanta Braves star Dale Murphy's son.
Guard Shawn Murphy has bounced around after being Miami's fourth-round pick in 2008. The 27-year-old played at Utah State, during which he took off three years for a church mission and to decide if he wanted to play football again.
He and Dan Santucci will provide depth for Carolina's thin offensive line in practice. Santucci was cut by Kansas City on Saturday.
The Panthers also signed six players to the practice squad Monday they cut two days earlier, including rookie cornerback R.J. Stanford, defensive tackle Corvey Irvin., running back Josh Vaughan, fullback Rashawn Jackson, receiver Trent Guy and linebacker Sean Ware.
Mr. Irrelevant Toone makes Lions practice squad
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions have signed seven players to their practice squad, including rookie wide receiver Tim Toone, the seventh-round pick dubbed Mr. Irrelevant as the final choice of the draft.
The Lions also announced Monday that defensive tackle Rob Callaway would be on the practice squad. Other practice squad signings are linebacker Caleb Campbell, center Dan Gerberry, cornerbacks Jonathan Hefney and Paul Pratt, and receiver Michael Moore.
Campbell recently completed two years of active service in the Army after being drafted out of West Point in 2008.
Summers among 8 on Steelers' practice squad
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Running back Frank Summers, one of the final players cut last weekend, has returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers as a practice squad player.
Also brought back were seven other players released during the preseason: tight end Eugene Bright, guard Dorian Brooks, safety Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, wide receiver Tyler Grisham, offensive tackle Kyle Jolly, defensive tackle Steve McLendon and defensive end Doug Worthington.
Worthington, a seventh-round selection, was the only healthy Steelers draft pick to not make the 53-man roster. Offensive tackle Chris Scott (foot), a fifth-round pick, is on the physically unable to perform list.
Colts add 3 more to practice squad
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have added three more players to their practice squad.
The Colts announced Monday they had signed receiver Alric Arnett, defensive back Cornelius Brown and offensive lineman Xavier Fulton. Arnett and Brown are both rookies. Fulton is in his second NFL season after spending last year with Tampa Bay.
The moves come one day after the Colts re-signed five players that had been cut, including quarterback Tom Brandstater, CFL veteran John Chick and three undrafted rookies.
The defending AFC champions open the season Sunday at Houston.
Dolphins sign Carpenter, release Anderson
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Inside linebacker Bobby Carpenter has signed with the Miami Dolphins, who released linebacker Charlie Anderson.
Carpenter, a fifth-year pro, played in 58 games with Dallas, mostly as a reserve. He's expected to contribute mostly on special teams. Anderson, who is in his seventh NFL season, played the past two years with Miami in a backup role.
Lions cut WR Dennis Northcutt and LB Rocky Boiman
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have claimed linebacker Spencer Havner and kick returner Stefan Logan on waivers.
Havner played tight end last season with Green Bay, but is expected to switch back to his college position of linebacker with the Lions. Detroit has struggled with injuries and inexperience at the position throughout training camp. Logan returned both punts and kickoffs for Pittsburgh in 2009, and should fill the same role for the Lions.
Injuries
Griffin iffy, but Vikes won't rule him out
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have not ruled out cornerback Cedric Griffin playing this week in New Orleans.
Griffin blew out his left knee in the NFC championship game against the Saints last January, an anterior cruciate ligament injury that typically requires about nine months of recovery. Griffin recently returned to practice, but he was listed as a limited participant on the injury report released Monday by the Vikings.
"The fact that he's out here practicing gives us some hope, and so we're just trying to ascertain over the next couple of days — is it a real possibility?" defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "We're going to give it another day and just see how he does tomorrow, but he has already done far more than we expected when we decided to put him" on the active 53-man roster.
Griffin is clearly ready mentally, whether his legs are truly in game shape or not.
"My body's fine. I always had good wind, so that's never a problem," he said. "I really feel good right now."
Griffin said he's been taking turns in practice with the first team defense this week. Only individual position drills are open for media viewing.
"I'm doing my part, and I'm just making it happen," he said. "I'm glad they allowed me to practice right now and do what I can do out there so far."
Starter Antoine Winfield seemed to contradict what Frazier and Griffin suggested about his participation level.
"I've seen him running around out there, but he hasn't really taken any reps in our period," Winfield said.
Even if Griffin pulls off the improbable and suits up against the Saints, the Vikings still appear vulnerable at a critical position, particularly against a prolific passing team. Asher Allen and Lito Sheppard are the only other fully healty cornerbacks next to Winfield, with rookie Chris Cook out with a knee injury. Cook didn't practice Monday.
"That's tough to go into the season with only three, right now, healthy bodies," Winfield said. "But this is our job. This is what we do. We have to go with who's healthy."
Frazier downplayed the pursuit of a free agent. He said safety Husain Abdullah is a possible emergency cornerback.
Backup defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy also sat out of practice because of a knee injury he's been bothered by for weeks. Other players listed as limited were running back Toby Gerhart (knee), safety Jamarca Sanford (ankle) and center John Sullivan (calf).
-- Dave Campbell
Rogers back practicing with Browns
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Just like that, the Cleveland Browns' defense got a whole lot bigger, badder and bulkier.
Shaun Rogers came back.
The mammoth nose tackle, who missed training camp and all four exhibition games while recovering from a leg injury sustained last season that required surgery, returned to practice Monday. Browns coach Eric Mangini said there's a chance the 6-foot-4, 350-pounder could play in Sunday's season opener at Tampa Bay.
After spending most of the past month riding a stationary bike or stretching on the side as his teammates went through summer two-a-days, Rogers returned to the field as the Browns began installing their game plan for the Buccaneers.
During the 30-minute period open to reporters, Rogers did agility drills and No. 92 flattened a few blocking dummies with powerful swipes of his massive arms.
Mangini said Rogers will be brought along gradually this week, and that he will work at both nose tackle and defensive end. When Rogers missed the final five games last season, backup Ahtyba Rubin filled in and played well as the Browns ended the year with four straight wins.
It's possible the Browns' defensive front could include Rogers and Rubin this season.
"Rubin has earned the right to play and Rubin will play," Mangini said. "He has done an exceptional job. I really have enjoyed watching his growth and seeing him develop — not just as a player but as a pro. He's earned the right to play so that's a good thing because Shaun does have the ability to play nose tackle and defensive end.
"To be able to mix guys in at different spots gives you depth, it gives you a chance to spell people during the course of a game and it also gives you some versatility in terms of matchups that you want against your opponents' offensive linemen."
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Rogers missed much of training camp last season. But when the season kicked off, he was his usual dominant self, overpowering guards and centers and blocking field goals and extra points before breaking his leg in a November game at Cincinnati. The team has never revealed specifics about Rogers' injury.
The Browns feel fortunate to have Rogers available at all.
Last week, he avoided a possible NFL suspension for an offseason felony weapons charge, when police said he carried a loaded handgun into Hopkins Airport. Instead, commissioner Roger Goodell fined him and docked Rogers a one-game paycheck — roughly $400,000 — for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
The off-field incident — Rogers was ordered to enter a diversion program to avoid a trial — didn't help his reputation as being troublesome and selfish. He was acquired in a 2008 trade with Detroit, where Rogers lacked consistency and was accused of loafing.
One of Mangini's core coaching principles is a team-first philosophy. He believes the Browns have a strong nucleus of veteran leaders, and that Rogers is one of them.
"I've gotten to know Shaun over the last couple of years and he hasn't been in a situation where the team has won a lot of games and that's something that's important to him and that's something that's important to me," Mangini said before practice. "Now the things that we talk about are how do we achieve that together. What's that like and what goes into that whole process?
"One thing that I like that Shaun does a lot and does well is he'll talk to the younger guys. They may be trying to figure out how to do something and really have no idea where to get the answer from. They kind of do and Shaun will take them through. He's very good like that, in terms of sharing his experience with those guys. That, to me, is important from all of the veteran guys and the really good ones leave a legacy, not just of their play, but the other people that they help make play better."
Rogers was not available to the media following practice. He can be a challenging interview, and has rarely opened up about his play or personal life. But ask any of his teammates, and they'll tell you that Rogers is loyal and the perception of him is somewhat twisted.
"He's a great guy," running back Jerome Harrison said. "When he first came here, he was at the house every other day, barbecuing and hanging out. He's a great teammate. He's a great father as well to his little daughter. He's a great guy in the locker room.
"A lot of guys on this team are misunderstood. But if he sat down and talked to you, you'll find that he's a big teddy bear."
And a grizzly on Sundays.
-- Tom Withers
Dolphins T Long wearing knee brace
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins Pro Bowl tackle Jake Long wore a left knee brace and sat out drills Monday as the team began its final week of preparation for the season opener at Buffalo.
Long stretched with the rest of the team at the start of practice, but when drills began he went to the side and rode an exercise bicycle. Coach Tony Sparano has declined to comment on Long's status for Sunday's opener.
Linebacker Channing Crowder also rode a bike. He has been sidelined since Aug. 17 because of an unspecified injury.
Long, who has started every game in his first two NFL seasons, hurt his knee in the Dolphins' final exhibition game Thursday at Dallas. Starters typically see little action in the last preseason game.
"It's just an unfortunate circumstance," Sparano said. "I'm not going to Monday-morning-quarterback any of those decisions."
Listed behind Long on the depth chart is Lydon Murtha, a second-year pro from Nebraska who played in one game off the bench last year.
"There's obviously another whole step that needs to take place for Lydon, because he hasn't played meaningful plays in a game," Sparano said.
Jaguars star Jones-Drew returns to practice
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is back at practice.
Jones-Drew, who missed most of the last two weeks of work amid reports he was dealing with a knee injury, returned to practice Monday and expects to ready for Sunday's season opener against Denver.
He says his knee is "a non-issue." He says there are a lot of "false reports" out there.
Jones-Drew ran six times for minus-2 yards in the preseason. His longest run was 3 yards. He missed the last two games and insists he "was just resting. It was preseason."
Jones-Drew ran 312 times for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns last season — all career highs. He believes he's done enough work during summer workouts and training camp to be ready for the Broncos.
Elsewhere
Giants sued by woman claiming injury at '09 game
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants have been sued by a woman and her husband who claim she was attacked by fans during a New York Jets game played at Giants Stadium last year.
Michelle Munoz says she attended the Sept. 20 game against the New England Patriots and was assaulted by Jets fans and thrown to the ground, causing her to suffer back injuries.
The suit, filed in late July, names the Giants and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operated Giants Stadium. The stadium was torn down this year to make way for a new stadium that is owned by the Giants and Jets. The Jets were not sued.
Evan Foulke, an attorney for the Munozes, said his clients notified security personnel at halftime about fans who were becoming unruly, but that no action was taken. The incident occurred near the end of the game, a 16-9 Jets win, and left Michelle Munoz with cervical spine injuries, according to the lawsuit.
The suit seeks unspecified damages. Through spokesmen, the Giants and the sports authority declined comment on the suit Monday.
T.O., Ochocinco to get joint talk show on Versus
Teammates on the field this season, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco are teaming up on TV as well. The outspoken Cincinnati Bengals receivers, already with their own separate reality shows, are getting a weekly talk show, to be broadcast on the Versus cable network.
"The T.Ocho Show" will start Tuesday night as a segment on "The Daily Line," the network's nightly sports highlight, news and interview show, and then will branch out as a half-hour show on Oct. 12.
Along with a studio host, Owens and Ochocinco will discuss their views on the NFL, Twitter and highlights from their VH-1 Reality shows — "The T.O. Show" and "Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch."
