NFL Capsules - League and Player News: McNabb throws TD pass; Redskins top Bills 42-17
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Donovan McNabb needed one series to shake off the newness of his surroundings. Mike Shanahan pronounced himself pleased with his Washington Redskins debut. And Albert Haynesworth played second-string nose tackle, then actually talked about it.
McNabb went 5 for 8 for 58 yards in two series Friday night and hit first-year player Anthony Armstrong for a 4-yard touchdown in the Redskins' 42-17 rout of the Buffalo Bills. It was a first-glimpse preseason game that shows Shanahan is quite a bit further along in his rebuilding project than counterpart Chan Gailey.
"It was a good first game," Shanahan said, "and hopefully we can build from here."
The new-look Bills, meanwhile, looked like the same old Bills, making lots of mistakes and adding two running backs to their already lengthy injury list. Fred Jackson will miss the rest of the preseason with a hand injury, and Marshawn Lynch has an ankle problem that new coach Gailey hopes is "more short-term than it is long-term."
"Thank goodness it's preseason," Gailey said. "When we get to early September, it's going to be 0-0 on the win-loss column and thank goodness for that. But we've got to find who can do what in these next three ballgames and get ourselves ready for that first one."
It's been four months since the Easter Sunday trade that brought McNabb to the Redskins, and it's still a jarring sight to see No. 5 in something other than a Philadelphia Eagles uniform. After a couple of wayward throws on his first series, he went 4 for 5 for 47 yards on his second drive and showed he still has some speed in his 33-year-old legs by scrambling to convert a third-and-1.
"When you play your first game, obviously, with a new ballclub, it takes you back to the first game you played," McNabb said. "Your adrenaline is high, and you have to settle down a little bit. The second time we went out, after our first drive, it led to us putting up some points."
McNabb's favorite target was tight end Chris Cooley, who caught three passes for 33 yards — a surefire harbinger of the regular season, especially with the Redskins still trying to figure out their receiver corps. McNabb's last throw was the TD to Armstrong, who has made a surprisingly strong case for a roster spot.
Clinton Portis, with more competition than usual at camp, got more than his usual work for a first preseason game, carrying six times for 22 yards. Brandon Banks, an undrafted rookie receiver from Kansas State listed at 5-foot-7, made some look-at-me noise with a dynamic 77-yard punt return down the right sideline for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Haynesworth, who ended up on the short end of a monthslong showdown with Shanahan, skipped offseason workouts because he wanted a trade to keep from playing in a 3-4 defense. He wasn't allowed to practice at camp until passing a conditioning test. When he finally aced the test on the 10th day of camp, he was told he'll have to play with the reserves until he earns a spot back in the starting lineup.
Haynesworth played two series Friday, both with the second unit in the second quarter, and he drew plenty of attention. Buffalo's offensive line committed two false starts while he was in the game, and he did exactly what a nose tackle is supposed to do — occupy multiple bodies — while rookie Perry Riley blitzed unencumbered and forced Trent Edwards to rush a throw.
Haynesworth was the last player to head to the locker room at halftime, walking slowly behind his teammates. After the game, he took questions from reporters for the first time since last season. He said he has grown to like the Redskins' version of the 3-4 and is confident he can be a playmaker in the defense.
"I know I'm a good player," he said, "and eventually I'll be with the first team."
Haynesworth spoke highly of defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, but didn't have much to say about Shanahan.
"He's the head coach. I'm a player," Haynesworth said. "That's what it is."
Buffalo had a horrible preseason a year ago — the starting offense scored just three points over 15 series in five games — and Gailey and his players are hoping to use this August to get it right.
They're not off to a good start.
The Bills scratched 13 players due to injuries, including five linebackers and four offensive linemen. Then Jackson and Lynch both went down on the offense's opening drive. Buffalo also committed three morale-sapping third-down penalties.: holding on tight end Jonathan Stupar that killed a drive; roughing the passer on linebacker Aaron Maybin that kept one Redskins' touchdown drive alive; and illegal contact against Andra Davis that led to another Washington touchdown.
"We have a lot of work to do. A lot of work," Davis said. "We're still learning this defense. We'll learn from this."
Edwards, in a three-way competition for the starting job, completed 6 of 12 passes for 58 yards and had an interception returned 33 yards by DeAngelo Hall, setting up a Redskins score. Another mistake for the lowlight reel: Ellis Lankster muffed a punt for a turnover in the third quarter.
Buffalo trailed 35-3 before Ryan Fitzpatrick's 5-yard pass to rookie David Nelson late in the third quarter. First-round pick C.J. Spiller debuted with four carries for 16 yards.
The Redskins scored their most points in a preseason game since 1988.
Kolb, Vick impress in Eagles' win over Jaguars
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kevin Kolb threw crisp passes, Michael Vick made tacklers miss and even rookie Mike Kafka contributed.
Playing their first game without Donovan McNabb, the Philadelphia Eagles showed they have capable quarterbacks.
Kolb was impressive and Vick displayed flashes of his old self before Kafka rallied the Eagles to a 28-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason opener Friday night.
"We know we're talented," Kolb said. "We know there's talent on the field all over the place. We just have to execute. We're doing our own thing. We don't need to force anything. We're a young bunch. We're excited about the way we started things today and we just need to keep moving forward next week."
Pro Bowl kicker David Akers made all five of his field goals, including a 36-yarder that gave the Eagles a one-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Jaguars backup Luke McCown picked apart Philadelphia's junior-varsity secondary, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.
But the focus was on Kolb, anointed the starter and given a contract extension after McNabb was traded to Washington in April.
Kolb was 6 of 11 for 95 yards. Vick was 11 of 17 for 119 yards and ran for 50 yards. He made a couple spectacular plays, but also lost a fumble and threw an interception.
There's certainly no quarterback controversy here. It's Kolb's job.
But Vick, a three-time Pro Bowl pick with Atlanta, gives the Eagles insurance. He's entering the final season of a two-year deal he signed following his release from federal prison last summer.
"I''m in a system that helps you be comfortable and make good decisions and get the ball to guys who can make plays," Vick said. "It's a good opportunity for me to learn from great coaches."
McNabb led the Eagles to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl during 11 seasons in Philadelphia, but the organization felt it was time to move on with Kolb. There might be no drop-off. Kolb played well in two starts last year, and was sharp in one quarter against the Jaguars.
While the Eagles managed a pair of field goals from their starting offense, Jacksonville's first-team unit couldn't get going. David Garrard was 5 of 10 for 35 yards. Maurice Jones-Drew had only two carries for 0 yards.
"It wasn't what we needed at all," Jags coach Jack Del Rio said. "Couldn't run, didn't convert."
The Eagles will need to work on their red zone offense, though. They reached Jacksonville's 14, 11, 10 and 13 on their first four possessions and ended up with nine points.
"We've got to get better in the red zone," Kolb said.
Helped by a 46-yard pass interference penalty, the Eagles scored on Kafka's first drive. Martell Mallett ran in from the 3 to cut it to 27-25 early in the fourth quarter. The 2-point conversion failed.
Kafka's 57-yard pass to Chad Hall set up Akers' go-ahead kick.
Vick ran in from the 10 to give the Eagles a 16-7 lead in the second quarter. He showed a burst he seemed to be missing last year after sitting out two seasons because of his involvement in dogfighting.
Vick was intercepted by Michael Coe in the final minute of the first half, setting up Josh Scobee's 36-yard field goal that gave the Jaguars a 17-16 lead.
McCown threw TD passes of 73 yards to Troy Williamson, 30 yards to John Matthews and 55 yards to Tiquan Underwood.
But Garrard and the rest of the starters got just one first down in three series.
"We've got to do a better job of getting first downs and keeping the offense on the field," Garrard said.
Kolb connected with DeSean Jackson for 21 yards on his first pass. Then he showed his scrambling ability, running 6 yards to prolong the opening drive. Kolb connected with Jeremy Maclin for 29 yards and nearly finished off the drive with a TD pass. However, Brent Celek dropped Kolb's toss and Akers kicked a 29-yard field goal.
On Philadelphia's second possession, Kolb hit Jackson for a 26-yard gain. Then Vick entered on second-and-2 and tossed a 6-yard pass to Celek. But the drive stalled and Akers kicked a 32-yarder.
Kolb and the rest of the starters left mid-drive after Jackson's nifty 17-yard run ended the first quarter. On the next play, Vick threw a beautiful deep pass to rookie Riley Cooper, who made an over-the-shoulder catch for a 46-yard gain to the Jaguars 10.
But Vick fumbled after he was sacked by Derrick Harvey. Anthony Smith recovered and ran 19 yards.
"You can't have the turnovers, but he did some good things in there, too," Eagles coach Andy Reid said of Vick.
-- Rob Maaddi
Falcons' rookies better than Chiefs 20-10
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Ryan can check off a couple of preseason goals.
The Falcons quarterback watched with delight Friday night as holes opened for running back Michael Turner on Atlanta's opening drive. He ran efficient no-huddle formations on the second drive and avoided direct hits on both possessions in a 20-10 victory over Kansas City.
"It felt good to finally go in a game-type atmosphere with the game speed and pass rush and everything like that," Ryan said.
Ryan and Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel both lacked solid protection in the preseason opener, but the Falcons got better play from their rookie reserves.
Dexter McCluster, a second-round pick, made a few dazzling moves as a tailback and a slot receiver for the Chiefs. But Dimitri Nance and Shann Schillinger helped put the Falcons ahead to stay early in the third quarter.
Nance, an undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona State, ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 10-3. Schillinger, a sixth-round cornerback, set up the score by picking off Brodie Croyle's throw and returning it 29 yards.
Kansas City safety Eric Berry, the No. 5 overall pick, was credited with one tackle.
The Chiefs had a winless preseason in 2009, then no victories in the first five weeks of the regular season. They finished 4-12 under first-year coach Todd Haley.
"We're just trying to make progress," Cassel said. "There's light at the end of the tunnel."
Atlanta is coming off a 9-7 season that ended a 44-year franchise history of never achieving consecutive winning records.
The first half was a dud despite McCluster's speedy bursts and a few timely defensive plays by the Falcons.
Five of the first eight drives ended with field-goal attempts. Matt Bryant's 30-yarder on Atlanta's first possession made it 3-0, but the next four tries all missed from 50 yards or more.
Falcons running back Michael Turner, a 2008 Pro Bowl selection trying to come back from an ankle injury last year, gained 29 yards on four carries.
"We kind of wanted to go out there and set the tone early," Turner said. "I thought we had a couple of big runs. I thought the O-line had a great push at the beginning. We just didn't come up with a touchdown."
Ryan, whose final month of '09 was affected by a turf toe injury, connected on a pair of third-and-long completions to tight end Tony Gonzalez, for 16 and 12 yards. He otherwise went 1 of 4 for 6 yards.
Cassel, who completed 6 of 8 passes for 25 yards, suffered from worse protection.
After a three-and-out, Cassel's second drive ended with Kroy Biermann's sack and John Abraham's fumble recovery.
"As a defense, we seem to be playing a lot better," Abraham said. "I think it's just coming to maturity. Being in the defense three years now, I think a lot more of the guys understand their role and understand the concept of the defense we play."
Nine plays into his third drive, Cassel was sacked by middle linebacker Curtis Lofton for a 6-yard loss.
Lofton, the heart of Atlanta's defense, limped off the field before halftime, but Falcons officials said he only had a leg cramp.
"Yeah, no concerns at all," Lofton said. "If this had been the regular season, I would've never come out."
McCluster, a second-round pick from Mississippi, ran five times for 25 yards and caught three passes for 22. He needed only limited space to run past the first level of Atlanta's defense and into the open field.
"All preseasons are just to see where you are, and I think we are improving," McCluster said. "I think we can be a very dangerous team."
Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop twice tried field goals from 53, hitting the left upright and missing wide right. His 20-yarder with 2 seconds left before halftime made it 3-3.
Haley started Thomas Jones ahead of Jamaal Charles at running back. Jones played one series, gaining 2 yards, before Charles played the rest of the first quarter and into the second, running five times for 33 yards.
Croyle was 8 of 16 for 65 yards. Third-string Chiefs QB Tyler Palko completed 7 of 10 passes for 62 yards, but Falcons cornerback Chevis Jackson picked him off and ran the ball back 26 yards to set up Steve Hauschka's 37-yard field goal and a 20-3 lead.
Palko ran for a 1-yard TD in the final minute.
"Our club has a bunch to work on," Haley said. "We had some really good situations to work from and we left a couple of them on the wayside. There were some positives."
-- George Henry
Carroll, Bradford get started
For those with little interest in NFL preseason football, understanding the excitement Pete Carroll and Sam Bradford are feeling is impossible.
It should be understandable considering Carroll will coach his first pro game in a decade and Bradford will play in his first NFL game Saturday night.
Enticed by $30 million and full power of football operations, Carroll left behind a dynasty at Southern California to become coach-vice president of the Seattle Seahawks. He'll lead them against the Tennessee Titans at Qwest Field, his first game on an NFL sideline since Jan. 2, 2000 at the helm of the Patriots.
Before his three seasons in New England, Carroll coached the Jets for a year.
"I can't wait to see the fans and see the crowd. I've heard so much about it," Carroll said. "There's no way I imagine anything close to what it's going to be like going in there for the first time when we're really cranking it up and it's gametime.
"We'll get to see how far we've come."
Folks in St. Louis will get to see how far top overall draft choice Bradford has come when the Rams host Minnesota. The quarterback's contract guarantees him $50 million and if all incentives are reached, the six-year deal is worth at least $78 million.
Bradford won't start — coach Steve Spagnuolo will go with journeyman A. J. Feeley for a dozen or so plays.
"Then Sam will get in there," Spagnuolo said. "Then, we'll decide how far we'll go with Sam based on how the game's going. I would think he would get through the second quarter. Then, whether we bring him out in the second half or not, we'll decide. We may not."
Bradford will take whatever he can get.
"I'm really excited and looking forward to getting out there and playing in an actual NFL game," Bradford said. "The butterflies aren't there yet but I'm sure they will be ... In college, you don't have preseason games. I'm going to treat it like the first game of the year, which it is."
Also opening their preseason schedules Saturday night will be Tampa Bay at Miami; Detroit at Pittsburgh; Cleveland at Green Bay; Houston at Arizona; and Chicago at San Diego.
Carroll declined several previous offers to return to the NFL, and his Trojans were a powerhouse throughout his nine seasons at USC. He went 97-19, winning seven consecutive Pac-10 titles and two national championships.
It was something of a shock, then, when the Seahawks persuaded him to come to the Pacific Northwest.
His enthusiasm, though, is not at all surprising.
"No, I don't know if there's 'just any game' to me," he said. "This is huge. It is what it is, the first game of preseason. But to us, this is the first major test and it's our first opportunity to make major assessments."
In St. Louis, the assessment of Bradford also will begin, although expectations are low after the Rams went 1-15 last year. Besides, Bradford could be a backup when the schedule begins, if not for long after that.
For now, he gets to face the Vikings, an NFC favorite with a staunch defensive line.
"I'm kind of anxious to see how I react to a defense I haven't seen, an NFL defense that I haven't gotten reps against to see what the speed will be like during a game," Bradford said. "From everyone I've talked to, they say the speed definitely picks up during the game. I want to see how I react to all of that."
So does the rest of the league.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is noncommittal about using Ben Roethlisberger against the Lions. Roethlisberger's six-game suspension, which could be shortened by commissioner Roger Goodell, does not begin until after the preseason.
"I want to play — I want to be out there with the guys. I'd like to play the whole game," Roethlisberger said. "If coach says I'm not going to play, it's his call."
And Tomlin isn't making that call public yet.
"We're going to make you come to the stadium to check that out," Tomlin said.
-- Barry Wilner
League News
Sides negotiate, "nothing to report"
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and the players association met Friday for a negotiating session toward a new collective bargaining agreement, with a league spokesman saying there "was nothing to report."
Both sides have met infrequently this year, the final one before the CBA expires next March. The last meeting was in June, when they discussed adding two games to the regular season and reducing the preseason from four games to two.
Earlier this week, New York Giants owner John Mara expressed confidence a deal would get done. But he acknowledged that "crunch time" has yet to arrive.
"The differences are not insurmountable," Mara told The Associated Press. "We have had no stoppages since 1987 and I am optimistic we will be able to reach agreement prior to the 2011 season. Both sides have too much at stake and realize that. But I can't say we're in the same ballpark right now.
"My experience in labor negotiations is that oftentimes a deal will not get made until both sides feel a lot of pressure to get it done. The owners are all convinced a deal will get done and we have the opportunity to get a deal that works for everybody. Nobody is looking forward to a work stoppage. Nobody wants that."
NFL owners opted out of the CBA in 2008. The 2010 season has no salary cap.
-- Barry Wilner
Player Moves
Merriman signs tender, reports to Chargers camp
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shawne Merriman signed his $3,269,000, one-year tender with the San Diego Chargers on Friday, admitting his two-week holdout didn't accomplish anything.
The star outside linebacker won't play in Saturday night's exhibition opener against Chicago, but coach Norv Turner expects him to be ready by the following weekend's game against Dallas.
Merriman, once one of the most-feared players in the NFL, stood on the sideline watching Friday's walkthrough, the sleeves on his jersey rolled up to expose his tattooed arms.
"I think it was time for me to come in and get ready," said Merriman, who's trying to regain the form that resulted in 39½ sacks in his first three seasons. "You can't show up game one, game two, whatever, and expect to be ready. The only way to emulate football is to play football."
Merriman softened his stance on a handful of issues, including one in which he was quoted as saying he wanted the Chargers to tell him he wouldn't be traded during the season.
"Everybody's on the trading block, so I don't think that was a question at all. I think it was more of it being talked about so much. We have bigger fish to fry, and that's to play the Kansas City Chiefs and get ready for them," he said, referring to the season opener on Sept. 13.
"At no point in time did I want my conversation on where I'm going to play or what's going to happen be bigger than us getting ready for a game. At some point, it got there. That's what I wanted to stay away from. But I'm happy to be back here for another year, to come out and finish what we started with these guys. There's no better way to do it."
So did he accomplish anything by not being in camp?
"No I didn't accomplish anything at all because I always knew that I was wanted here and that was one of the biggest reasons for getting some things sorted out," he said. "But just the whole business part of it you just hate to deal with. I'm just so glad that that's behind me now where I can go out and play."
Merriman said he expressed his concerns a few times to general manager A.J. Smith, including during a phone conversation on Thursday.
"We obviously have the same goals, trying to accomplish the same things, and sometimes in between, things get a little mixed up and they shouldn't be," Merriman said. "But ultimately we have the same goals, to come out and be a championship ballclub."
Smith, not a fan of Merriman's celebrity-leaning pursuits away from football, didn't return a call seeking comment.
The Chargers still have two high-profile holdouts. Left tackle Marcus McNeill and Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson have refused to sign their tenders because they want long-term deals.
McNeill's agent, Alvin Keels, confirmed in an e-mail on Friday that the Chargers have threatened to place the player on the roster exempt list if he doesn't sign his tender by next Friday. Jackson's agent, Neil Schwartz, didn't return a call or e-mail, but it would seem to follow suit that the Chargers would also threaten his client with the same treatment.
By being placed on the roster exempt list, they would face a three-game suspension once they sign. Jackson and McNeill are believed to be willing to hold out through the season's first 10 games, returning for the final six to gain an accrued season. Jackson already has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Being placed on the roster exempt list would force them to move up their return, if they intend to play at all this year.
Smith used the same move in 2005 on tight end Antonio Gates, who missed the season opener. Gates could have been a factor when the Chargers had four cracks at the end zone from the Dallas 7-yard line in the final minute before losing 28-24. The Chargers eventually missed the playoffs that year.
Merriman also backed off an earlier statement that he wanted to be on a team where the defense was built around him.
Asked if that would be the situation with the Chargers, he said: "Absolutely not. It wasn't intended for any defense or anything like that to be built around me. I want to be a big part of this team for the next five, seven years, whatever it is. I've never been a guy that wanted anything built around me because I always believe that if you put me on the field, I'm going to be able to make plays. You don't have to do anything around me at all. I'm just happy to be here and do my part, and do my part as I have for the last five years."
He also said he wanted people to stop dwelling on talk about a long-term deal with the Chargers, "because as you saw in '08, it can be over and you can be out. I'm going to continue to take it year by year. I know I'm wanted here and that's good enough for me."
Nicknamed "Lights Out" because of his punishing hits, Merriman missed the final 15 games of the 2008 season after having reconstructive knee surgery. He was limited to four sacks last year as he bounced back from the knee surgery and dealt with other injuries.
Merriman was a force in his first three NFL seasons, although he served a four-game suspension in 2006 after testing positive for steroids. He had a career-high 17 sacks in 12 games that season.
-- Bernie Wilson
49ers RB Glen Coffee leaves team, football
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Running back Glen Coffee left the San Francisco 49ers on Friday morning, telling the team he no longer wants to play football.
It was another sudden blow in a tumultuous week for the 49ers, who saw defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer leave the team Monday. Balmer, the team's first-round draft pick in 2008, missed practice for the fifth straight day Friday. His absences have been unexcused since Wednesday.
"We just respond to this and move forward," coach Mike Singletary said. "We're dealing with this in stride and continuing to have our best practice. The thing that we're trying to do as the 49ers is that we're trying to find 53 men that love the game of football."
Coffee apparently isn't one of those. In a statement released by the team, the second-year veteran said, "I feel it is best for me that I move on from football."
Coffee, San Francisco's third-round draft pick in 2009, was the team's second-leading rusher as a rookie last season with 226 yards, but he averaged just 2.7 yards per carry and scored one touchdown.
Coffee was in competition this summer with rookie sixth-round draft pick Anthony Dixon to be the team's top backup to Pro Bowl halfback Frank Gore. The 49ers are looking to ease the workload this season on Gore, who is coming off his team-record fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season.
Singletary, who said Coffee "was having a fine camp," said Coffee's abrupt decision caught the team by surprise.
Coffee didn't show up for Thursday's afternoon practice and then informed Singletary of his decision Friday morning.
"I appreciate his honesty and I appreciate him not coming out here and going through the motions," Singletary said. "He said his heart isn't in it. It's his decision. He is a man, and the last thing that I'm going to do is disrespect him and try to drag something out."
Coffee's departure leaves the 49ers with Dixon and fifth-year veteran Michael Robinson as the only halfbacks on the roster behind Gore. Singletary said the 49ers will immediately look to bring in another running back.
Robinson averaged 4.7 yards per carry as a backup to Gore in 2007 but has seldom been used as a running back the past two seasons. Robinson is San Francisco's special teams captain and a standout performer on those units.
"We had no indication this was coming," Robinson said. "Glen's a good friend and it's like I'm losing a brother. With Glen not being here, there is a void. But I've been here five years and I've seen backs come in and I've seen backs leave. We all have to elevate our games now."
The 49ers had been bringing along Dixon gradually, but his learning curve now will accelerate. Dixon will be Gore's top backup in Sunday's exhibition opener at Indianapolis.
Singletary said Dixon is "going to have to grow up real quick." Dixon's workload will increase and he will start seeing more snaps in practice.
Dixon has been eager to get his chance since he was drafted. The 233-pounder from Mississippi State led the Southeastern Conference in rushing last year with a school-record 1,391 yards.
"This puts no more pressure on me than there already was," Dixon said. "I knew they were going to call on me, and now it's time to step up. This is what I've been waiting for, and I'm definitely out to show some people what I'm capable of."
Browns sign offensive lineman Malecki
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent offensive lineman John Malecki.
He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Tennessee in April and waived by the Titans on Aug. 10. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Malecki made 24 starts in college at Pittsburgh, where he began his career as a defensive tackle before switching to the offensive line.
Malecki was a first team All-Big East selection as a senior right guard.
The Browns, who will open their exhibition season on Saturday in Green Bay, also waived tight end Joel Gamble.
Injuries
Ty Warren placed on IR, Burgess reports
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick's defensive rebuilding project just got bigger with defensive end Ty Warren sidelined for the season by a hip injury.
The New England Patriots placed Warren on injured reserve Friday after he missed most training camp practices and Thursday night's 27-24 win over the New Orleans Saints in an exhibition opener.
"Tough break, but we have to move on," Belichick said. "He's missed quite a bit of time the last couple of years, so we've had to deal with that anyway. Unfortunately, that's part of the game. We'll just move ahead."
Fortunately for the coach, linebacker Derrick Burgess reported Friday and was reinstated from the reserve-did not report list after considering retirement. He gives the Patriots an outside pass rusher, mitigating somewhat the loss of Warren. Burgess passed his physical and conditioning test Friday and is expected to practice Sunday after Saturday's day off.
He had 38 sacks in four seasons with the Oakland Raiders, then was traded before last season. He had five sacks with New England.
"Derrick is a very knowledgeable pass rusher. I think he has a good understanding of his opponents, pass rush technique and how to defeat blockers," Belichick said. "Derrick is really a pretty versatile player."
Belichick is playing a bigger role in defensive planning after Dean Pees resigned as coordinator following last season and was not replaced. Pees is now linebackers coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
The Patriots' linebacking corps, retooled since Tedy Bruschi retired and Mike Vrabel was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs before last season, has plenty of young talent led by 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Jerod Mayo.
The depth of the defensive line, though, could be a problem.
Last summer, the Patriots' top four linemen were nose tackle Vince Wilfork and ends Warren, Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green. Only Wilfork remains. Seymour was traded to Oakland eight days before the Patriots 2009 opener, and Green, who took Seymour's starting job, signed with the Denver Broncos in the offseason as a free agent.
The Patriots still have Mike Wright, entering his sixth season. Without Warren, veteran newcomers Damione Lewis and Gerard Warren should see more playing time. But both are adjusting from a 4-3 defense they played with their previous teams to the 3-4 alignment.
"Damione played in St. Louis and Carolina again, primarily as a three-technique, lining up on the guard's outside shoulder," Belichick said. "In a 3-4 defense, we really don't have that player.
"Like Gerard, he's played a lot of football. He's played against a lot of good players. He's a smart guy and a very experienced guy and he's been able to make the adjustments to our system and our style of play."
Gerard Warren played his first four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, then two with Denver and three with Oakland.
"He's shown a lot of improvement," Belichick said. "He did a lot of good things in (Thursday's) game. He played with good effort and he made a nice play with a screen pass down the field, for example, things like that. We know he is a strong, physical player on the line of scrimmage and he's shown good ability to rush the passer.
"(He) had a couple quarterback hurries and also he showed up well in pursuit. I think he's made the transition pretty well."
But Ty Warren was a reliable contributor ever since the Patriots drafted him from Texas A&M with the 13th pick of the 2003 draft.
He started 92 of his 105 games in seven years and missed just one game in his first five seasons. Then he sat out three in 2008 with a groin injury and three more last year with an injured ankle.
-- Howard Ulman
Bills RBs Jackson, Lynch injured against Redskins
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Bills running backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch both were injured Friday night on Buffalo's first drive of a 42-17 preseason-opening loss to the Washington Redskins.
Jackson hurt his left hand on a 7-yard run on Buffalo's second play from scrimmage, and coach Chan Gailey said his team's leading rusher last season will miss the rest of the exhibition games.
"We hope to get him back" for the start of the regular season, Gailey said.
Six plays later, Lynch injured his ankle on a 20-yard run that was wiped out by a holding penalty.
"Don't know the extent of it," Gailey said, "but we're hoping it's a lot more short-term than it is long-term."
Jackson gained 1,062 yards on 237 carries in the 2009 season, and Lynch was second on the team with 450 yards on 120 runs.
"When we lost those two guys, we lost an awful lot of stuff we were trying to do in this ballgame," Gailey said. "Those of you that watched practice saw a lot of the two-tailback stuff, and we were trying to use that quite a bit tonight, and that kind of went out the gate when those two guys went down."
Without the team's top two runners, first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller gained 16 yards on four carries against Washington, a week after arriving at training camp to sign a contract.
Chad Simpson, who was with the Indianapolis Colts the past two seasons, led Buffalo by rushing seven times for 67 yards. Joique Bell, an undrafted rookie free agent from Wayne State, carried five times for 52 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown run.
"If coach needs me to step up, I'll step up," Bell said. "I'm here to do a job."
Giants' Smith, Snee unlikely for Jets game
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Pro Bowlers Chris Snee and Steve Smith probably will to miss the New York Giants' preseason opener against the Jets on Monday night.
Snee (left leg) and Smith (groin) have been sidelined most of this week at training camp. Both are improving, but their chances of playing are slim.
Guy Whimper replaced Snee at right guard and Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden worked with the first-team receivers Friday night in the Giants' last two-a-day workout at camp.
Starting cornerbacks Terrell Thomas (leg) and Corey Webster (buttocks) and starting tight end Kevin Boss (hamstring) also did not practice Friday.
Safety Michael Johnson (back), receivers Tim Brown (hamstring-groin) and Sinorice Moss (groin), and tight ends Travis Beckum (hamstring), Scott Chandler (hip flexor) and Jake Ballard (hamstring) also missed practice.
With only one healthy tight end, the Giants used linebacker Adrian Tracy, defensive end Dave Tollefson and safety Michael Greco as tight ends during scout team drills.
Elsewhere
Longtime Jets fan Gov. Paterson visits camp
CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — The governor is ready to step in for Darrelle Revis.
New York Gov. David Paterson, a longtime Jets fan, stopped by the team's training camp practice Friday and considered a career change after seeing 5-foot-6 wide receiver Larry Taylor.
"I thought, 'Well, if he can be out here, maybe I could come out and try out for cornerback,'" the slightly built Paterson said with a smile. "I heard they might be looking for one right now."
Paterson, of course, was referring to holdout cornerback Revis, who has missed 13 days since the team reported for training camp at SUNY Cortland. He's scheduled to make $1 million in the fourth year of his six-year rookie deal, but wants to become the league's highest-paid cornerback.
"It's obviously a difficult situation because the Jets have a contract and contracts are made to be adhered to," Paterson said. "At the same time, players in football don't have guaranteed contracts, so they've got to try to get their money as up front as they possibly can, so you can really see both sides of it."
When asked if he could help sort things out, Paterson smiled.
"Well, if they ask me," Paterson said, "I'm sure I can try something."
Paterson decided earlier this year not to seek a full term, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has since become the Democratic nominee for New York governor.
"I think he'll win the election," Paterson said, "and you'll be in good hands, as they say, with Gov. Cuomo."
Paterson arrived at SUNY Cortland in a black SUV and stood on the sideline during the Jets' special teams practice with school president Erik Bitterbaum. He then spoke to the players and broke the team huddle to end the afternoon session. Raised on Long Island, Paterson said he has been a fan of the team since the franchise was known as the Titans in the early 1960s.
"Then, a number of pains, heartaches and stunted growth from games the Jets had won that they lost, I tried to clear up with them this year," Paterson said. "I've had a lot of other issues this year, and I don't need any more pain from the Jets losing at the end of the game."
Paterson thinks the Jets will be a playoff team and will win at least 10 or 11 games. And he'll be watching Monday night when the Jets take on the Giants in the teams' preseason opener.
"I have a lot of friends who are Giants fans," Paterson said. "Maybe we'll be friends on Tuesday. As long as the Jets win, we will be."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Green Day teams with Gang Green in Jets' opener
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Gang Green and Green Day are ready to play together.
The New York Jets said Friday the band will play during their regular-season opener Sept. 13. The Jets face the Baltimore Ravens in the Monday night game at New Meadowlands Stadium.
Green Day will perform "Last of the American Girls" with the Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning rock musical "American Idiot." The halftime show will finish with fireworks.
The guitarist Slash and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger will play during a tailgate concert outside the stadium. Scherzinger will sing the national anthem.
