NFL Capsules - NFC: Can Favre do it again?
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Even Brett Favre was amazed by what he did last season as a 40-year-old quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
In his 19th season, Favre threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns while setting career bests for completion rate (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (seven).
Remarkable numbers at any age.
"Never in my wildest dreams when we sat here last year would I have thought I would've played the way I did," Favre said Wednesday after rejoining the Vikings. "I mean, look at 18 years previous. I never played that good."
So Brett, can you do it again?
Favre will turn 41 in October and is just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to play 20 seasons. George Blanda (26), Earl Morrall (21) and Vinny Testaverde (21) are the only QBs to play in more seasons than the gray-haired Favre.
Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 record and the NFC North title, then became the first 40-year-old quarterback to win a playoff game when Minnesota thumped Dallas at the Metrodome in January.
The magical season came to a painful conclusion in the NFC title game in New Orleans, where the Vikings lost in overtime after Favre threw an interception at the end of regulation.
"I was even amazed," Favre said. "To think that I could surpass that this year, first of all I don't need to. Because as well as I played, by far the best of my career, it wasn't enough. And that just goes to show you that all phases have to be hitting at the right time.
"But I need to play well obviously and be a great leader, the intangible things that I really thought would be more important last year than the statistics."
The Vikings are betting on Favre delivering another stellar season. The team wanted him back so badly that coach Brad Childress sent Steve Hutchinson, Ryan Longwell and Jared Allen to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Monday night to get an answer. The three veterans convinced their close friend to make one more run at the Super Bowl and put off retirement for at least one more year.
"He's in shape, all that," Hutchinson said. "He's still got the tools. He can still play. Everybody just has to step up around him and give him the opportunity."
Coming off surgery to relieve a torn biceps in his throwing arm, Favre topped 300 yards passing six times, threw at least three TDs in six times as well. He had so much success that the run-oriented Minnesota offense morphed into a pass-first attack in the second half of the season.
Childress joked to Favre that "maybe you've finally got it."
With Adrian Peterson in the backfield, NFL offensive rookie of the year Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, who is still recovering from a hip injury, coming off a breakout season and speedster Bernard Berrian, the Vikings return all 11 starters from an offense that finished second in the NFL in scoring last season.
"I think sky's the limit," Childress said of Favre's potential. "Everybody's always got to play around the quarterback, but he's got a good football team around him and he won't have to do it all himself."
That's what everyone said last year when he arrived in Minnesota, yet he ended up carrying the offense for large stretches of the season.
Even more so than his performance on the field, the Vikings wanted the charismatic Favre back in the locker room. After quickly ingratiating himself to the team in the preseason, Favre was voted a captain and the rest of the veteran group gravitated toward his leadership style.
"Brett, the kind of player that he is, the kind of leadership that he brings to this team, it elevates the entire building, it really does," Allen said. "You can see it every day."
Said Childress: "I think that's the definition of a leader — somebody that people want to play for and play well for. Just at the time he was coming back yesterday, sitting in our cafeteria, the buzz was palpable. It elevates everyone in the building and that's what a franchise QB does."
Whereas last season Favre eased into the year with gimmes against Cleveland and Detroit the first two weeks, he'll need to be ready right from the start in 2010. The Vikings open the season on Sept. 9 at New Orleans and also play Miami, at the Jets, Dallas, at Green Bay and at New England in the first seven games.
Given his familiarity with a team that brings virtually every key performer back from last season, Favre should have an easier time getting back into the swing of things after missing another training camp.
"Last year all the things he had to worry about — trying to win over the guys, trying to make an impression, earn their trust, I said, 'Brett, that's all done. The guys, they want you here. Everybody knows you and you're comfortable. That's one less thing you have to do. Just come out and have fun,'" Hutchinson said.
There were plenty of doubters when Favre got off a private plane last year and arrived to a staggering amount of pomp and circumstance.
There likely will be even more this year, and the grandpa jokes will be plenty after his 21-year-old daughter Brittany gave birth to Favre's first grandchild in April.
"You should always be on your toes. You should always be looking over your shoulder, especially when you're soon-to-be 41 and a new grandfather," Favre said. "You should really be because everyone's writing you off. It just seems like at 40, the guy's a has-been.
"So in saying that, it's motivation for me. I don't feel like I have anything to prove, but if I'm going to play, I want to play at a high level."
Favre comes back for 2nd season with Vikings
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — As far as Brett Favre was concerned, he was finished.
Last we saw the 40-year-old quarterback in action, he was barely able to walk off the Superdome turf, his body aching from the beating the New Orleans Saints delivered in January's NFC title game.
Favre was one play away from his goal — taking the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl — when he threw an interception in the final minute of regulation, then watched from the sidelines as the Saints kicked the winning field goal in overtime.
"Believe me, when I left New Orleans, a big part of me was — I don't want to say done — but the fact that we lost that game, how hard it is," Favre said, his voice trailing off.
Ryan Longwell, Steve Hutchinson and Jared Allen, his three closest friends on the team, unexpectedly arrived at his doorstep on Monday night.
"We need an answer, yes or no," they told Favre. "We're either going home with you or moving on without you."
So here we are, with Favre about to start his 20th NFL season.
"I've done it all. There's nothing left for me to prove," said Favre, who joined the Vikings for practice Wednesday. "I'm here to have fun, help these guys win. I really enjoy this group of guys like you wouldn't believe. I think the feeling is mutual."
The decision to return was nearly as agonizing as that gut-wrenching loss to the Saints.
Indecision is part of what comes in the Favre package, along with his laser-like throws into the end zone and go-for-broke playing style. He spent the last seven months going back and forth on whether or not he had anything left to give to a team he enjoyed playing with as much as any other in his 19-year career.
"I could make a case for both playing, not playing," Favre said. "This is a very good football team. The chances (of going to the Super Bowl) here are much greater than other places. From that standpoint, it was always going to be easier (to return).
"Part of me said it was such a great year, it would be easy to say, 'Hey, can't play any better, why even try?' Then the other part is, 'Guys are playing on a high level. Why don't I go back out?' The expectations are high here, as they should be."
Favre underwent left ankle surgery on May 21 and just a few weeks ago texted several teammates and Vikings officials that he would not return because the recovery was slower than he expected. But he said Wednesday that wasn't the main concern.
"There is nothing on me that's 100 percent. There wasn't anything that was 100 percent last year or the year before," Favre said. "The surgery made me a little better.
"I have played 309 straight games, I can't complain."
What was really holding him up was what Favre called a fear of failure. He was coming off what he called the best season of a record-setting career that includes a Super Bowl title and three MVP awards. He will turn 41 in October and wondered if he could defy the odds yet again.
"I can only control what I do, but I don't want to fail," Favre said. "And you know what? I'm just being honest with you."
The gray-haired Favre threw 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions to lead the Vikings to the NFC North title last season. He passed for 310 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in the Superdome, but also threw that fateful interception.
Now after being cajoled by Allen, Hutchinson and Longwell, Favre will have one more shot at redemption and a second Lombardi Trophy. The journey could begin as soon as Sunday night in the Vikings' exhibition game at San Francisco.
Longwell, who has known Favre for years dating back to their days together in Green Bay and spoke to him often this summer as the drama unfolded, put the chances of Favre returning at "about 0.2 percent" before they knocked on his door.
"He's pretty at peace down there," Longwell said. "And so with his family around and the way he was thinking it was pretty open and shut that he was comfortable there and we were going to have to come up with something else to get him back."
Hutchinson said coach Brad Childress asked all three players if they would be willing to make the trip down on Monday after practice to get an answer once and for all.
"Really, it was a message from our locker room," Hutchinson said. "We're down here to find out what you want to do. The guys on this team want you here. Everybody wants you here. Basically that's what we told him."
The coach's willingness to let one player skip all of training camp before sending a group of prized veterans to personally ask him to come back has drawn some criticism from analysts. But Childress knows that Favre gives the team the best chance to win the Super Bowl, and that's all that matters to him.
"You can say, hey, we're pushing it all to the middle of the table. That's how we feel every year," Childress said. "Any team in the National Football League that doesn't start by saying, 'We want to go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl' there's something wrong."
Win or lose, Favre said that this will be the last time he holds a welcome back press conference, believe it or not.
"I can promise you this: Not that I have ever set out as a goal to play 20 years, it's 20 years and I'm done. This is the last year of my contract. I'm sure a lot of people are like, 'Yes!'" Favre said, pumping his fist.
Then, of course, he hesitated.
"Did I just say that?" he said with a grin. "I do believe it now. I do. I'm going to fall apart sometime."
-- Jon Krawczynski
Manning will miss Saturday's game against Steelers
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Eli Manning is going to sit out the New York Giants' preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.
Coach Tom Coughlin announced the decision after a scarred Manning did not practice on Wednesday at training camp at the University at Albany because of stitches in his forehead.
While Manning insisted he is feeling fine after needing 12 stitches on Monday night to close a cut on the left side of his head, Coughlin said the team is concerned that wearing a helmet might break the stitches or irritate the wound.
Backup quarterback Jim Sorgi also didn't practice because of shoulder and rib injuries, and Coughlin was not sure whether he would play in the Giants' first home game at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Rhett Bomar took all the snaps on Wednesday.
"I am not going to rush things," said Coughlin, who said he has never conducted a training camp practice with one quarterback. "If the doctors say it's OK for him to throw, then maybe he'll do some throwing. But, he definitely is not going to put the helmet on."
Manning was to be examined after practice by team surgeon Russell Warren, but the results would not affect the decision to sit to the 29-year-old, who wore a baseball cap at practice. Coughlin did not know when Manning would be back.
Sorgi is a wait-and-see proposition, mostly because of a sore shoulder that resulted from a hit he took on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against the Jets on Monday night.
"He is sore and could not have thrown today," Coughlin said.
Earlier in the day, Manning sounded like someone who knew he was not going to play.
"I physically feel fine," Manning said after lunch. "I threw some balls today. I ran around, I know what is going on. I'm all there. It's just a matter of getting the helmet on."
The Giants could put extra padding in the helmet, but it seems an unnecessary risk for a preseason game.
Manning did not know when the stitches would be removed. He also said he was lucky that his injury was not more serious. He noted that being hit by Jets safety Jim Leonhard with his helmet off could have easily broken his nose or another bone.
"When it is preseason, you have time to get things healed up. It's time to be smart," Manning said.
Manning refused to show reporters his cut, but he took his cap off on the field and it revealed a sterile pad covering the stitches.
The cut was opened early in the second quarter when his helmet was knocked off by a combination of two hits — one by Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and another by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace. The force of the hits sent him face-first into the helmet of Leonhard.
Manning lay on the field for a few seconds and then summoned the team's athletic trainers after seeing blood gushing into his hand. He said he was not in pain at that point and knew he did not have a concussion. He was concerned because he could not see the extent of the cut.
"You get a little worried," he said.
He said his wife, Abby, was at the game and came down to the locker room while he was being treated.
"She's more concerned about the scar I'll have than anything else," Manning quipped.
Manning said he took an ImPACT test on Wednesday, a computerized evaluation of memory, brain processing and visual motor skills. Coughlin said the results were normal.
Teammates were glad to see Manning walking around, and offensive linemen Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl and Rich Seubert arrived at lunch wearing huge bandages over the left sides of their heads.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Manning said, shaking his head.
He later got back at O'Hara, saying that while he did not pass out after being cut, O'Hara did when he looked at it.
"I saw the look in his eyes and said this must be pretty bad, it's not a little scratch," Manning said.
Sorgi was crunched on his 34-yard TD pass to Victor Cruz, one of three the free agent from the University of Massachusetts caught in the 31-16 win.
"I'm a little sore," Sorgi said Wednesday. "I took a couple of good shots. We'll see how it goes, ice down and get some treatment and be ready to go."
Sorgi laughed about comparing his injury to Manning.
"He got 12 stitches. I didn't get stitches. I'll say I caught the good end of that," Sorgi said.
-- Tom Canavan
Weight-watcher Kemoeatu holds down Redskins NT job
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — It's never a good idea to skip breakfast and lunch before going outside for football practice on a hot day, even if it's an athlete trying to watch his weight.
Washington Redskins defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu did just that last week and suffered for it. Sapped of energy and dehydrated, he had to ride a cart off the field after practice and was helped into the building by two teammates.
"I can't skip meals and do practice," Kemoeatu said Wednesday. "You shouldn't do that."
New to the Redskins, the Tonga-born, Hawaii-raised veteran has played an ancillary role in the Albert Haynesworth saga at training camp — Kemoeatu is the player holding down the starting nose tackle job while Haynesworth toils with the backups — but Kemoeatu's story of weight loss and rehabilitation is a story unto its own.
After missing the entire 2009 season with a torn right Achilles' tendon, Kemoeatu has worked his weight down from a peak of 400 pounds to a somewhat viable 350 or so and is trying again to be the inside force that helped him anchor lines in Baltimore and Carolina.
"I'm not going to get back to that weight again," Kemoeatu said. "It was just unhealthy. Playing in the NFL, you've got to be professional about it. Not just working out, but about eating, staying healthy and all that."
But willpower at the dinner table is not Kemoeatu's strong point. Or, as he put it: "I have a weakness — food."
Realizing this, the Redskins sent along a baby sitter — strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright — when Kemoeatu returned home after the offseason workouts and minicamps. They didn't want all the hard work he had put in at Redskins Park during the spring going to waste in Hawaii during the summer.
"Some guys know exactly what they're going to do when they're away," coach Mike Shanahan said. "And Kemo said, 'Hey, I've got a big family. There's no way I'm going to practice two times a day, so can Ray come with me?' I said there's a smart man."
With Wright staying at Kemoeatu's house and staying on Kemoeatu's case, Kemoeatu came back ready for training camp, playing a nose tackle position that defensive coordinator Jim Haslett says "is like the catcher in baseball" — lots of grunt work to set up glory for others.
"The catcher has a role to play for the pitcher," Kemoeatu said. "Obviously the pitcher's going to be the main guy, and my linebackers are going to be the main guy."
It was that type of mindset that had Haynesworth balking at the idea of playing nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, but the two-time All-Pro has been persuaded that the scheme is flexible enough for him to make plays in the backfield. Haynesworth has been working with the second unit at camp because he missed the first nine days of practice while getting himself into shape to pass a conditioning test. No one is saying exactly what the rotation will be once he works himself back into the good graces of the coaching staff, but he is expected to get snaps at defensive end as well as nose tackle.
"If I'm in there at nose tackle first, second down, then have Albert come in on third down and rush the passer, get the sack and get himself a ticket to go the Pro Bowl, the team is winning," Kemoeatu said. "So he's doing his job."
Notes: Kemoeatu did not practice Wednesday because of a sore left shoulder. He said he'll return Thursday and play in Saturday's exhibition against Baltimore. ... WR Malcolm Kelly (hamstring) and WR Mike Furrey (concussion) remain sidelined.
-- Joseph White
Eagles close one of Andy Reid's toughest camps
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — They sprinted off the field, howling and hollering as if it were the last day of school, jumped into their SUVs and headed home.
The Philadelphia Eagles ended one of their longer and more physical training camps under head coach Andy Reid Wednesday morning at Lehigh University. Players returned to Philadelphia, where they will board a plane to Cincinnati on Thursday for their second preseason game Friday night.
"We ran 200 more plays here than we did a year ago," Reid said. "And that's good for a young team."
The Eagles are a young team, a very young team.
The average age of the projected starters on both offense and defense is around 25. The only non-kicker on the team over 31 years old is 32-year old defensive end Juqua Parker.
"We're a deep, young team," wide receiver Jason Avant said. "Are we too young? I don't think so. I mean we're young in terms of age, but in terms of football we have guys who have played a lot of games. I think we're young, but with experience."
The Eagles added 13 draft picks to the roster this year plus another 14 first-year or rookie free agents. So the extra days of practice — the Eagles under Reid have always broken camp after the first preseason game — was helpful for all of the new faces, as was the extra hitting.
"I think the game is still about blocking and tackling, so we practiced those things," Reid said about running one of the more physical camps in the league. "It's about that simple. I think it's just one of the major parts of the game.
"It builds a good foundation, particularly with a young group. They need to be introduced to what the National Football League is all about. It's faster. There's more pressure put on you physically and mentally here than what you face at the college level. And there's no better place to figure it out than here at training camp."
The Eagles opened camp at Lehigh for rookies and selected veterans, which included first-year starting quarterback Kevin Kolb, on July 26. The rest of the team reported July 29. They went twice a day, except for the day before and the day after the first preseason game against Jacksonville.
"It was long; too long," veteran fullback Leonard Weaver said. "That's why I can't wait to get out of here and get back to Philly."
Notes: Reid ruled the following injured players out of Friday night's game against Cincinnati, centers Jamaal Jackson (knee) and Nick Cole (knee), guard Todd Herremans (foot), cornerback David Pender (leg) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri, who is on the physically unable to perform list. Cornerback Asante Samuel (hamstring) and running back Mike Bell (calf) will be game-time decisions.
New Bears QB Gutierrez may get thrown right in mix
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears believe Matt Gutierrez could be exactly what they need at quarterback even though he lacks much in the way of NFL credentials.
Gutierrez signed a one-year contract and went through his first practice Wednesday, providing the Bears with a third quarterback for practice and possibly even this Saturday's preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at Soldier Field.
"He's a smart guy, he's been in some good systems," coach Lovie Smith said.
The Bears were in need of another quarterback after backup Caleb Hanie sustained a sprained right shoulder that could keep him out for the remainder of the preseason.
Gutierrez spent 2007 and 2008 on New England's roster and 2009 with the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Idaho State quarterback has thrown two NFL passes and completed both for 18 yards.
Prior to signing with Chicago, Gutierrez was pondering an offer to join the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL. Instead, Wednesday afternoon he was trying to learn as much as possible about coordinator Mike Martz's offense in order to take some of the throwing burden off starter Jay Cutler and third-string quarterback Dan LeFevour.
"It's just part of the game, part of doing what we do as players," Gutierrez said. "We've got to deal with situations like this so I'm trying to come in and learn as fast as I can."
Smith wouldn't rule out game action for Gutierrez on Saturday.
"I think he could learn enough," Smith said. "It's not like we're teaching him a new sport or anything like that."
The signing serves as a validation of sorts for Hanie, who has thrown only seven passes in two NFL seasons. Martz had expressed some concern over the lack of a veteran backup to Cutler, and the team tried to sign 38-year-old Todd Collins.
However, Collins declined their offer, and instead of looking for another experienced player the Bears signed Gutierrez. Martz is now comfortable enough with Hanie that he didn't mind.
"Caleb is further than I thought he would be," Martz said. "You go through growing pains, we put a lot of pressure on him trying to get him ready and stress him out a little bit.
"He went through that phase and he's fought through it real well and he understands what we're doing."
Hanie completed 10 of 17 attempts for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception against San Diego last Saturday before leaving with the shoulder injury that happened on a sack.
Martz called the art of developing a backup quarterback an inexact science at best.
The offensive coordinator in St. Louis when the Rams won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season, Martz recalled how former Rams quarterback Trent Green was backed up by an unknown named Kurt Warner.
"Trent only threw two incomplete passes in that preseason, '99, and you have this grocery clerk back there as a backup quarterback (Warner)," Martz said. "So, who knows? I don't have a crystal ball."
Notes: The Bears also signed former Houston Texans and University of Cincinnati DB Aaron Webster to a contract and waived G Vince Vance and LB Matt Mayberry.
Weary Panthers happy training camp is over
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Rookies were spared when the Carolina Panthers finished training camp on Wednesday morning. Nobody was taped to a goalpost or doused with ice water.
A few players stuck around to sign autographs, but most quickly headed to the locker room or immediately jumped in their cars to head back to Charlotte.
Maybe they were too tired to do anything else.
"I tell you what man, this camp was definitely intense," said defensive end Everette Brown, one of the few players to linger on the Wofford stadium field. "There were a lot of challenging days coming out, especially in full pads."
Coach John Fox put one of the NFL's youngest teams through a physical camp with plenty of hitting and workouts in full pads in intense heat. They had a full contact session as late in camp as Sunday.
Fox called it a "productive camp" with a "bunch of guys I didn't know that well" after an offseason veteran purge left Carolina without nine starters from a year ago.
"Watching them kind of gel together, I like the way they've gone about their business," Fox said.
But even after 26 practices and a preseason game over three weeks, there are numerous unanswered questions.
While Matt Moore has looked good in camp, he had little time to throw in the loss to Baltimore last week behind what is supposed to be a stout offensive line. Moore, replacing longtime starter Jake Delhomme, is clearly the No. 1 QB. But rookie Jimmy Clausen had an impressive camp has passed Hunter Cantwell for the No. 2 job.
"Hopefully, we don't have other holes to plug and we can get that oiled up and actually watch our passing game work," Fox said. "You can't do anything in the passing game without protection."
There continues to be a dizzying number of defensive tackles working with the first team. While rookie Greg Hardy has shined, it's still unknown if a collection of unheralded defensive ends can combine for the same number of sacks lost when five-time Pro Bowl pick Julius Peppers left in free agency.
Nobody has taken hold of the No. 2 receiver job after Muhsin Muhammad wasn't re-signed, and rookie Armanti Edwards has struggled in his transformation from college quarterback to receiver and punt returner.
"Day one I was really lost out here. I was out here thinking when I was running routes," Edwards said. "To look back from that day to this day, I think I progressed."
Edwards is part of one facet made clear from the practices in steamy Spartanburg. The Panthers have a lot of team speed — sometimes maybe showing too much during drills.
Linebacker Jon Beason said there aren't many veterans left who "realize that the mental part of the game is so much more important than the actual physical part" during camp.
"Young guys come in and they're trying to earn a spot," Beason said. "They don't know any better, so practices are full speed every snap, everything you have just to prove you belong and make a name for yourself because the coaches don't know you. I think that's been the biggest difference this camp. It's been a very physical camp."
The Panthers did appear to avoid any serious injuries. Defensive end Tyler Brayton twisted his left ankle against Baltimore, but isn't expected be out long.
Right tackle Jeff Otah hasn't practiced and had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, but is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener.
Receiver Steve Smith was without a helmet again Wednesday, but did run routes and catch balls as he recovers from a broken left arm. Running back Jonathan Stewart took part in some non-contact team drills for the first time Wednesday as he slowly recovers from offseason heel surgery.
Carolina will practice the next two days in Charlotte before the home preseason opener Saturday against the New York Jets. It'll be another new experience for the rookies on the NFL's third-youngest team, many of which didn't completely escape rookie hazing.
"Well, a couple of the linebackers got thrown into the cold tub yesterday," Edwards said. "The receivers had to wear autographed helmets for two days. But it wasn't as bad as the linebackers."
NOTES: Fox said starting CBs Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble were excused from Wednesday's practice for personal reasons. "No problem. They'll be at practice (Thursday)," Fox said. ... S Sherrod Martin (groin), DT Ed Johnson (elbow) and DT Louis Leonard (rest, team decision) also sat out.
-- Mike Cranston
Undrafted WR Williams making big splash in camp
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The injury to receiver Larry Fitzgerald should give Stephen Williams more opportunities to show what he can do for the Arizona Cardinals.
Not that he hasn't been noticed already.
The undrafted 6-foot-5 rookie wide receiver from Toledo has been one of the major surprises of the team's training camp, making one big catch after another in practice and emerging as perhaps the leading candidate for the No. 4 receiver spot behind Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet.
Most recently, it was a long catch from Matt Leinart in the corner of the end zone with the defender right on him in practice on Tuesday afternoon.
"It's still very early in his progression or his career with what he's going to be as a receiver," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I think what jumps out at you is his consistent ability to make plays. That's what you've seen."
Williams, in an interview on Wednesday, said he doesn't know why he went undrafted, but afterward 16 teams — half of the NFL — "made phone calls trying to get me to go to their program."
The money in such circumstances isn't much different, so why Arizona?
"Just a good organization and a good fit," Stephens said, "an opportunity for me to get on the field of play and learn from one of the best receivers," a reference to Fitzgerald, the four-time Pro Bowler who last season became the youngest player in league history to top 7,000 yards receiving.
Stephens, who grew up in Houston, started 40 games at Toledo, including every one in his final three seasons. He broke current New Orleans Saints receiver Lance Moore's career school records with 229 receptions and 3,102 yards receiving.
Asked why he believes he wasn't drafted, Williams said, "I don't know. I mean, that's a question you're going to have to ask the coaches of the different organizations.
"I think I did enough and I had a good college career," he said. "But everything happens for a reason. Just looking on it, I think I made a good decision. I think everything worked out perfectly for me, just getting an opportunity to come in and showcase my skills. All you need is one team to like you anyway."
With disgruntled Anquan Boldin traded to Baltimore, Breaston moved up to the No. 2 receiver spot, with Doucet at No. 3. That opened competition for the fourth receiver, a spot that sees considerable action in the Cardinals' offense. Arizona felt the need to address the situation in the draft, picking Andre Roberts of The Citadel in the third round.
Williams was one of four wide receivers brought in as undrafted rookies.
He quickly separated himself from that pack. Now his chief competitors for the No. 4 receiver job include Roberts, who has had some big catches after a shaky start at camp and has the added benefit of being a kick- and punt-returner. Also, there is Onrea Jones and Ed Gant, who spent last season on the Arizona practice squad.
Williams called it "a surreal feeling" to walk into University of Phoenix Stadium for his first NFL game on Saturday night. He caught two passes for 29 yards and helped rally his team to a 19-16 victory, although he failed as the intended receiver on two 2-point conversion tries.
In addition to Fitzgerald, the Cardinals have been without Doucet because of an abdominal strain and Gant has been slowed by a sore foot. The receiver shortage led Arizona to sign wide receiver Mike Jones on Wednesday.
The situation means Williams should get plenty of exposure when the Cardinals play at Tennessee in a nationally televised game on Monday night.
"Now, he's' a young player, he hasn't gone against a No. 1 defense in the NFL yet," Whisenhunt said. "Going against some of those corners is going to be a little bit different. But you certainly like the way he's started off."
-- Bob Baum
Summer fun nothing new for Seahawks' QB Whitehurst
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Hardly a week goes by without some NFL know-it-all reminding Charlie Whitehurst he's been in the league four years but has yet to throw a pass in the regular season.
So the San Diego Chargers' former third-string quarterback just laughed upon hearing it yet again on Wednesday.
"Yeah, you know, it's one of those things. I haven't done it," the Seattle Seahawks' presumed heir to starter Matt Hasselbeck said with a sigh after Wednesday's practice. "I don't know what that says either way, honestly."
For now, it says that despite a splashy, two-touchdown debut in last weekend's preseason opener against Tennessee, Whitehurst remains unproven when it matters most.
Yet Saturday night provided evidence why new Seattle coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider gave up a second-round pick this year and a third-rounder in 2011, plus a new $8 million contract to the former Clemson star, to get Whitehurst from San Diego in March.
They made the trade knowing the oft-injured Hasselbeck turns 35 next month and is entering the final year of his contract.
After replacing Hasselbeck in the second quarter, Whitehurst completed 14 of 22 passes for 214 yards and one interception against the Titans. One of his two touchdowns came when he recognized a blitz. He used hand signals to change Mike Williams' route into a short one. Williams caught the heady throw, juked a defender and sprinted 51 yards for the go-ahead score.
When the offense ran off the field, Carroll didn't immediately hug Williams — even though the former star for Carroll at USC is making an NFL comeback and had just caught his first TD pass of any kind in three years.
Carroll sought out Whitehurst. He met him 10 yards before the sidelines and gave him a hug.
To the coach, the improvisation and the debut validated the Seahawks making the unproven Whitehurst their quarterback of the future.
"He did what we thought he could do," Carroll said. "It was a big step to take. And I think as the first really big move that John pulled together, it showed that he was on track with this thing.
"I'm really pleased for Charlie, too. He sat for four years in a spot where he couldn't really get anywhere close to playing time. ... I know he's seizing the opportunity."
Yet Whitehurst has done this before: shining in the summer, only to disappear for the fall and winter. After watching for four regular seasons, isn't he curious whether he can do it for real?
"I just don't know if I want to use the word 'curious,'" he said. "I have a lot of respect for the game and how demanding the NFL can be. I'm not saying I've lived being a starter — I never have. But I am confident I could be successful. I am definitely confident that I can do it.
"But, again, I know it's hard."
He saw his dad live it.
David Whitehurst's NFL career started the opposite way from his son's. The eighth-round draft choice started five games as a Packers rookie in 1977, then all 16 games of 1978 as a 23-year-old. Two years later, he was on the bench. He lost his job to Lynn Dickey and started just three games in his final four seasons. By 1984, he was out of the league.
Charlie, who turned 28 this month, is a native of Green Bay, born there in the sixth of dad's seven seasons in town. He had hoped the Packers would draft him coming out in 2006 as a holder of 46 Clemson records. But Green Bay had made Aaron Rodgers the second quarterback drafted, at 24th overall, just a year before.
"It was a team I would have loved to play for," Charlie Whitehurst said of the Packers, whom Seattle hosts Saturday night. "But it wasn't really in the cards with Aaron there."
San Diego took him in the third round. He spent four lonely years there sitting behind two-time Pro Bowler Philip Rivers and Billy Volek.
Then, out of nowhere, a jolt of hope and excitement: The Seahawks traded for him three months into their new regime, banking on potential and reasoning they were better off acquiring a somewhat seasoned Whitehurst than by drafting a rookie passer.
"I got a feeling that I hadn't felt in a few years. It's exciting," Whitehurst said. "It just kind of gets you going — 'All right, I'm kind of in the mix now.'
"It's just nice to be considered or wanted."
Even if Hasselbeck stays healthy and plays 16 games for the first time since 2007 behind a shaky offensive line, maybe Whitehurst will finally throw that elusive first regular-season pass this fall. Maybe Carroll returns to his college mindset. Maybe he does something wacky by NFL standards, like say, inserts Whitehurst early into games for a meaningful series or two.
It's not likely. But given Seattle's future at the most important position, their 9-23 record the last two years and Carroll's invigorating ways, it's not impossible.
But Whitehurst won't allow himself to dream that.
"No, no," he said, shaking his head and its long, wavy dark hair that flows like Samson's from beneath his helmet. "We have a starting quarterback here. Matt's been the starter for a long, long time. He's doing a great job in camp. No, I don't think that's something you do in the NFL.
"But if he were to go down, I'm confident I could go in and do a good job."
-- Gregg Bell
RB Dixon could still be top backup behind Gore
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brian Westbrook has a history of success as an NFL running back. Rookie Anthony Dixon's NFL experience consists of one exhibition game. As far as San Francisco offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye is concerned, they are both on even ground.
Raye rallied support around Dixon a day after Westbrook made his training camp debut with the 49ers as a possible backup to Frank Gore.
Raye said Wednesday it's not a sure thing that Westbrook will step right into the spot vacated by the sudden retirement of Glen Coffee. Dixon impressed the coaches in the 49ers' 37-17 exhibition victory over the Indianapolis Colts, rushing for 100 yards with a touchdown.
"I like the way he ran with the football and his physicality," Raye said. "We had some concerns about his ability to play without the ball. He demonstrated otherwise. His performance in his first opportunity, in his first year, was pretty good."
Raye said Dixon will be given the opportunity to make an earlier appearance when the 49ers host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
"He's put himself in position to warrant more snaps and earlier snaps against better competition," Raye said. "Stats are not functional in an exhibition game. We're looking to see how clear the picture is, let him use his athleticism and how he plays within the framework of the offense."
Westbrook participated in his second day of practice with his new team, seeing action in a limited number of plays as he works to incorporate himself into the team's playbook.
"There is a lot of versatility back there," 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said of the running backs. "Westbrook is a nice add to the mix. I'm excited to see what he could do."
Raye was a little more sedate about his new running back.
"I know his reputation but I don't know him as a player," Raye said. "We need to indoctrinate him into they way we want him to do things. He's a smart guy. I'm sure he'll pick things up. But Anthony Dixon is very much in the running as the guy who goes in for Gore."
Raye also said there was a chance Westbrook could see some action against the Vikings this week.
"I don't want to put him out there if he's not sure what he's doing," Raye said. "We can afford to be patient and yet there's a chance he could get some work if the medical staff thinks it's prudent."
Smith is looking forward to the day he'll have his entire offensive weaponry at his disposal. He's missing wide receiver Michael Crabtree (neck), center Eric Heitmann (broken leg) and tight end Vernon Davis (knee).
"It's very important we all play together, Smith said. "We have to get the work in, continue to makes strides and get better. Otherwise you're just hoping it shows up on game day."
David Bass assumed the center's role as Heitmann will likely miss up to eight weeks.
"I feel good with him," Smith said. "He's been working very hard to get ready. It's good for him to go up against our defensive line. He's stepped right up."
Notes: The 49ers released WR Brandon Jones and waived injured T Chris Patrick (shoulder). Jones appeared in eight games last season. Patrick appeared in three. ... QB Nathan Davis is also likely to see action earlier Sunday. "He needs to play against guys who have played in the NFL," Raye said. "We can see how his development is going." ... Smith was disappointed in his performance against the Colts. "We didn't finish plays, throws or catches," he said. "I felt good but that didn't equate to anything." ... OT hopeful Matt Kopa played with Vikings' RB Toby Gerhart the past four years at Stanford.
Rams' Gilyard eager to get on the field
ST. LOUIS (AP) — After excelling in Cincinnati during college, St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Mardy Gilyard is eager to make his pro debut on the other side of the state of Ohio.
"That's a big rivalry, the two cities," said Gilyard, a fourth-round selection. "Being in Cincinnati for so long, you tend to (love) Cincinnati.
The 5-foot-11 Gilyard is just happy to be playing. He missed the Rams' preseason-opening 28-7 loss to Minnesota last week with a sore left wrist.
St. Louis running back Steven Jackson could also make his 2010 debut Saturday at Cleveland against the Browns.
Jackson underwent surgery on a herniated disk in April and is getting a light workload in the preseason.
"I feel crisp, I feel good," Jackson said. "I'm not worried about the back. I feel great. I'm preparing as if I'm going to (play Saturday). It's easier to go with that mindset."
Jackson was even involved in a little altercation with teammate Gary Gibson.
"It's part of football," he said of the scuffle in which he ripped Gibson's helmet off.
"Offense, defense, sometimes we forget we're on the same team."
Gilyard, who was also slowed by an injury during the first part of camp, came on strong this week with efforts that caught the attention of coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Gilyard made a pair of leaping catches on Wednesday and also hauled in a long pass from quarterback Sam Bradford midway through the 2-hour, 30-minute workout.
"I want to be one of those rookies that the vets can trust out there when I walk out there with the ones (starting unit)," Gilyard said. "Whoever is under center can know that we can unleash the whole thing with this guy out here."
Gilyard got hit on the wrist during a scrimmage on Aug. 6 that had limited him until this week.
Now, he is ready to cut loose. He is wearing a small soft, protective cast on the wrist which he says is not a hindrance.
"I'm been catching pretty well with it," he said.
Gilyard caught 204 passes for 3,003 yards and 25 touchdowns at Cincinnati. He also excelled as a kickoff and return specialist.
For now, Gilyard is in a tight competition at wide receiver. He may also be called upon to help Danny Amendola on the return teams.
"It's not easy for a wide receiver to play with a cast on," Spagnuolo said. "He's been catching the football during punts, kickoff returns. It's good to see."
Spagnuolo and the medical staff are keeping a careful watch on Gilyard.
"Right now, (the cast) is more protective," Spagnuolo said. "But he's got something there, so we're going to be careful with it."
Gilyard is enjoying his time in camp. He is learning from the veterans and hopes to put those lessons to good use on Saturday.
"All in all, I just can't wait to get out there and play," he said. "To let them know that money spent (on me) is not money wasted."
Notes: Defensive end George Selvie missed his second successive practice with a muscle strain in his leg. Selvie, a seventh-round choice out of South Florida, had four tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in the loss to Minnesota.
