NFL Training Camp Capsules: Haynesworth must pass test, won't be with starters

Along with dealing with the struggles of JaMarcus Russell all training camp, Cable was also dogged by allegations that he assaulted assistant Randy Hanson and could face criminal charges.

The story lines at the beginning of this training camp are much more pleasant for Cable, who starts his second full season as Raiders coach with a new quarterback in Jason Campbell and more optimism than usual around a franchise that has lost at least 11 games for seven straight seasons.

"There's a lot of excitement but there's also a lot of caution in that there's a lot of work to do," Cable said Wednesday. "I know we're going to be a good team, and I'm not afraid to say that. We're going to go after the AFC West. I'm not afraid to say that. I believe that that's what we're going to do. It's not anybody's. If they picked someone for it already, that's too bad. It doesn't work like that. You've got to play the games. This team will be ready to do that."

The Raiders begin practice Thursday and will use a similar format to last year, with a first four days of "intensive learning." The players will not wear pads for the first eight sessions of practice over four days as the coaches will re-teach everything from the beginning to make sure everybody is up to speed next week.

Cable said he was pleased with how that approach worked a year ago, even if it was hard for outsiders to see the results. He said there will be plenty of time for hitting starting next week.

"There's a ton of benefits," he said. "I think the first thing probably is just how our team got into camp and stayed healthy through camp, other than probably the loss of Chaz Schilens. You look at the soft-tissue injuries and things like that we didn't have, that teams typically get in those first week, 10 days, we just didn't have those issues."

When practice starts Thursday, offseason acquisition Jason Campbell will be running with the first team at quarterback. When the Raiders acquired Campbell from Washington during the draft for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick, Cable said there would be an open competition at quarterback.

That remained the stance during minicamps and offseason workouts but Cable said Campbell is his starter right now because Bruce Gradkowski missed the past three months with a torn pectoral muscle.

Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a passer rating of 82.3 in his career.

He is coming off his best season, completing 64.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 86.4. But the Redskins went 4-12 last season. Cable praised Campbell's professionalism and leadership in the three months since the trade.

"You don't have to be a boisterous, outgoing, run-your-mouth kind of guy to be a great leader," Cable said. "He's even showed some of that already, just this morning in some earlier things that went on, that he's capable that way. ... He loves it. It's important to him. It was interesting talking to those guys last night after they got checked in, just how that whole group of quarterbacks, they're so much further ahead and prepared right now than we've been. It's a tribute to all those guys, and it starts with Jason."

It's a stark change from a year ago when Russell arrived for his third NFL season out of shape and uninspired. He struggled mightily in camp and when the season started before finally losing his job to Gradkowski midway through the campaign. He completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in 11 years. He was eventually released on May 6, shortly after the team's mandatory minicamp.

Russell's release was one of many moves made in hopes of improving the culture around a team that has endured so much losing in past years. The Raiders have placed a priority on adding players who have a history of winning in either college or the pros and Cable said he sees the difference.

"We are very competitive. Now it's time to take the next step," he said. "The next step is to not listen to all the negative. People are going to have an opinion. That's just what it is. But they're not going to dictate who we are or what we are. All that is back there. What's in front of us is winning a championship. That's the goal now. Let's go for it."

The only player missing Wednesday was first-round pick Rolando McClain, who still has not signed his rookie contract. Cable said he hopes the deal is done before practice starts Thursday.

-- Josh Dubow

New faces, Fox's future highlight Panthers camp

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — The familiar sights were missing on Wednesday morning as 80 mostly young guys reported for the start of Carolina Panthers training camp.

There was no wondering which side door Julius Peppers might try to sneak through to avoid reporters outside the dormitory. The star defensive end is in Chicago now.

Jake Delhomme didn't walk up with his familiar smile and trash bag draped over his shoulder. The seven-year starting quarterback was cut, then signed with Cleveland.

No sign of veterans Muhsin Muhammad, Brad Hoover, Damione Lewis, Maake Kemoeatu, Na'il Diggs, Chris Harris or Keydrick Vincent, either. All were former starters. All were then let go in the Panthers' offseason youth movement.

Just how young is Carolina? Steve Smith, at 31, is the oldest position player on the roster and one of only four players not born in the 1980s.

"The vibe around here is unknown," said Smith, out of his cast but still weeks away from returning from a broken arm. "Literally, half of them just pulled up."

The new leader looked different, too. Matt Moore, thrust into the starting quarterback job despite just eight career starts, showed up with a thin beard.

At least he's old enough to grow one.

"There's a lot of wide eyes with the youth," Moore said.

After finishing 8-8 last season and under orders by owner Jerry Richardson to cut costs with labor unrest looming, the Panthers begin a season full of uncertainty that includes their coach.

Only Jeff Fisher in Tennessee, Bill Belichick in New England and Andy Reid in Philadelphia have been with their teams longer than John Fox. But his ninth season in Carolina could be his last after he was denied a contract extension in the offseason.

Fox enters the last year of his deal with the challenge of getting a team with 63 players who are 25 or younger ready to compete in the same division as the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

"I feel like I'm one of the older guys because I'm in my third year," said Mackenzy Bernadeau, a candidate to start at right guard.

The biggest intrigue will be at QB and on the defensive line.

After finishing strong last season, Moore was handed the starting job when Delhomme was released following his miserable season. Moore is 6-2 as a starter, but those games came over two seasons after Carolina was already effectively eliminated from playoff contention.

Moore, the affable, easygoing Californian, appeared far from overwhelmed as he reported to camp.

"I think if I make it bigger than it is, that's when things start going wrong," he said.

His hold on the starting job is hardly secure. The Panthers snatched up Jimmy Clausen in the second round after his remarkable fall in the draft, and the former Notre Dame star agreed to a four-year contract early Wednesday to avoid a holdout.

With DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart back after they each rushed for more than 1,100 yards last season and with one of the best offensive lines in the league, the Panthers are likely to lean on their running game as they settle their quarterback spot.

That's good because Smith will miss most of the preseason after being hurt playing in a recreational flag football game, a violation of his contract.

"It's only been five weeks. Next week will be six weeks. All the analysts say it takes eight to 10 weeks to see how well I'll be able to use it," Smith said, refusing to say if he thinks he'll play in a preseason game.

Without their four-time Pro Bowl pick in practices, the Panthers will shuffle in Dwayne Jarrett, Brandon LaFell, Kenny Moore and Armanti Edwards as they look for depth after Muhammad's departure.

The defensive line has even more work to do.

After allowing their career sacks leader to walk away in free agency, the Panthers also must replace both defensive tackles. Only starting defensive end Tyler Brayton returns.

"There is a lot of starting positions on the line and a lot of candidates for them at all positions," said Everette Brown, a candidate for Peppers' old spot. "It's just going to pick up the intensity."

Weakside linebacker Thomas Davis' season-ending knee injury last month will cause changes there, too. Pro Bowl pick Jon Beason could move from the middle to the outside. The Panthers plan to use Sherrod Martin as Harris' replacement at safety.

With so many new and young players, Fox is expected to push the team harder when two-a-day workouts begin Thursday morning in perhaps his final camp at Wofford College.

"I think it's going to be fun," Smith insisted. "We've got a lot more younger guys, so I think things are going to be different, a little bit more loose, a little bit more fun, a little bit of guys trying to establish their own traditions. I'm excited to see, to observe, what's going to happen."

-- Mike Cranston

Rams sign Saffold, likely to start him on O-line

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sam BradfordÂ’s protection is now in place.

The St. Louis Rams announced Wednesday that they have come to terms with their second-round draft pick, offensive lineman Rodger Saffold. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Saffold, who was the 33rd player selected in April, is expected to play right tackle. Jason Smith, last yearÂ’s No. 1 selection and the second overall pick in 2009, has moved to left tackle.

Due to a knee injury and a concussion, Smith played in only eight games last year, starting five. The Rams will in essence be protecting Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick, with two untested players.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur seems unconcerned, however. He said Wednesday he is excited by what Saffold and Smith bring to the table.

"I think theyÂ’re young and talented, so weÂ’re excited about what these guys can do," Shurmur said. "TheyÂ’ve got fresh legs and theyÂ’re really good players, so we anticipate theyÂ’re going to be very productive for a long, long time."

Saffold started 41 of 42 games while at Indiana and earned second-team All-Big 10 honors as a senior when he allowed just three sacks on 440 pass plays.

Although Shurmur would not say for certain that Saffold would start right away, all signs point in that direction.

"At this point, weÂ’ll see how it plays out," Shurmur said. "WeÂ’ll put the best five guys out there and I would anticipate heÂ’ll wind up playing tackle."

Shurmur is taking a similar approach with Bradford, who has yet to sign. Shurmur likes what he has seen so far from the former Heisman Trophy winner.

"He did such a good job in the spring," Shurmur said. "IÂ’d like to be able to see him build on that.

"His challenge is to be ready to play Day 1. If that works out, great. If it takes a little bit longer, so be it. But IÂ’m anticipating heÂ’s going to build on what he did this spring."

If Bradford is not ready from the beginning, the team will turn to 10-year veteran A.J. Feely, who has an extensive history with Shurmur from his days in Philadelphia.

The Rams rookies were set to report for training camp Wednesday afternoon. The full squad is due in on Saturday.

The Rams also said that they have signed sixth-round pick Fendi Onobun, a tight end from the University of Houston. Onobun played one season of college football after a four-year basketball career at the University of Arizona.

Holmgren hobbling, but excited by team's outlook