NFL Training Camps: Brady participates fully in training camp

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The only problems that got Tom Brady off the field were thunder and lightning.

The Patriots quarterback even kept playing through a torrential downpour Thursday, leading the offense through its paces.

"Throughout the monsoon, or whatever you want to call it," wide receiver Greg Lewis said, "he was fired up: ‘Let’s get up to the huddle, break the huddle, let’s get out there and get this thing right.’ "

Brady was back on the first day of New England’s training camp, taking snaps just as he did before he was knocked off the field for the 2008 season by a left knee injury in the first quarter of the opener.

He dropped back and threw a 20-yard pass that bounced off Ray Ventrone’s hand, a sideline pass that just eluded Wes Welker, and a long completion over the middle to seventh-round draft choice Julian Edelman. He made handoffs and faked others.

"Any time you have your best player on the team back, it’s a great thing," Welker said.

About an hour into practice, clouds moved in. A heavy rain began. Umbrellas sprouted. Fans abandoned the hillside and metal bleachers next to the field. But the Patriots stayed out there — until a clap of thunder and a flash of lightning sent them running for cover during a field goal drill, ending the session about a half-hour earlier than planned.

"I don’t mind a wet ball out there, but (we’ve) got to call it when thunder and lightning are in the area," coach Bill Belichick said.

It was a sunny day in Foxborough last Sept. 7 when Brady, trying to pass, was hit in the lower left leg by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard. He lay on the field and was helped off. Matt Cassel replaced him and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record. But they missed a playoff spot because of a tiebreaker.

Now Cassel is in Kansas City, where he was traded, and Brady is blending back in.

Running back Kevin Faulk has been with the Patriots since 1999, one year before Brady arrived as a sixth-round draft pick from Michigan. He doesn’t think he has to see Brady do anything special before deciding the 2007 NFL MVP is ready to play at full strength.

"I might have seen it already," Faulk said. "When he’s out there, he’s out there. Nobody’s paying attention to him. Nothing different from when he was there last year. He’s just playing football. That’s it."

Brady’s fitness was no surprise to his teammates. They’ve practiced with him in optional team activities, a minicamp in May and informal workouts.

"All the players that are out there are ready to go. They are participating fully," Belichick said.

Brady, who is expected to talk to reporters Friday, normally doesn’t play much in the exhibition season, which starts in two weeks on Aug. 13 at Philadelphia.

"Tom’s worked very hard to get back out on the field in his rehab and doing what he did in the spring," Belichick said. "He’s certainly a big presence on our team and it’s good to see him back out there."

But he wouldn’t say how much he plans on using him in this summer’s games.

"We’ve thought more about this afternoon’s practice and what we have to do there," he said. "We have a lot of short-term goals and are very shortsighted here."

Welker and Randy Moss, who practiced Thursday afternoon after sitting out the morning session, lead a deep receiving corps with Joey Galloway and Lewis.

Belichick must decide on replacements for outside linebacker Mike Vrabel, who went to the Chiefs with Cassel, and cornerback Ellis Hobbs, traded to the Eagles. He must decide how to apportion time among three over-30 running backs — Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor — and fourth-year veteran Laurence Maroney.

Taylor signed as a free agent after spending his entire career, 11 seasons, with the Jaguars, where he rushed for 11,271 yards and caught 286 passes.

But he never had a quarterback like Brady.

"Playing these guys a few times here in the playoffs, you look over and you’re like, ‘Ah, we can go and beat that team. What do they do that we can’t do? We can go and win this game,’ " Taylor said. "And when you get here, you see his passion, you see the way he studies, you see how demanding he is of his players and the leadership, and right in front of you, it just jumps out and you see why he’s a proven winner."

Brady’s personal life made headlines with his marriage to supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Faulk seemed puzzled by that.

"I got married a few years ago, too," he said to a roomful of laughter, "but nobody talked about that."

Many starters back for Steelers, few big issues

PITTSBURGH — It’s almost a given since the NFL adopted a salary cap 15 years ago: win a Super Bowl, break up the team in a year or two.

The New England Patriots were the exception, winning three titles in four years, and now the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to take their third in five seasons by doing what they do best. That means staying the course, refusing to hitch themselves to the latest strategical trend,and keeping their best players signed.

That’s why the team that reports to training camp Friday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, about an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh, will be nearly identical to the one that won the Super Bowl six months ago, beating Arizona 27-23 on Ben Roethlisberger’s last-minute TD pass to Santonio Holmes.

Only two starters are gone, a rarity during the salary cap era, and neither player who left may have started this season. Indeed, the biggest change from past summers will be visible not on St. Vincent’s steamy practice fields, but along the sidelines.

Team owner Dan Rooney has been a training camp fixture since he was a toddler during the 1930s. But he is expected to miss all or most of camp now that he is the U.S. ambassador to Ireland. Rooney’s midfield confabs with his coach always signaled the unofficial end to that day’s work, but now coach Mike Tomlin will huddle with only one Rooney, team president Art Rooney II, Dan’s son and the grandson of team founder Art Rooney.

Their topics of discussion during a preseason camp that shifts to the Steelers’ Pittsburgh practice complex after three weeks? They could be these:

—Is hunger a problem? Not Casey Hampton’s well-known appetite, either. After winning the Super Bowl in February 2006, the Steelers admittedly did too much celebrating and didn’t appear focused or driven when camp started the following summer. Roethlisberger’s motorcycle crash and the uncertainty over coach Bill Cowher’s future also didn’t help.

The Steelers went on to lose six of their first eight games and missed the playoffs despite finishing with a 6-2 run, and Cowher resigned shortly after the 2006 season ended.

"It’s different this time," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "Coach Tomlin, he won’t let us have a down year."

—Hampton’s weight. He may be the key to the Steelers’ run defense, but the 350-pound Hampton won’t be re-signed unless he shows he can push aside second helpings as easily as he does offensive tackles.

—Distractions? What distractions? Roethlisberger’s reaction to the allegation he sexually assaulted a Nevada hotel employee last year will be closely watched throughout camp. But he is not expected to comment about the civil lawsuit. There are no criminal charges, and Tomlin is certain to try to make it a non-issue from the start.

"We have the desire to be a good team, the desire to be a consistently good team, a world championship-caliber team," Tomlin said before the Roethlisberger allegations surfaced. "You’ve got to acknowledge that some potential distractions come with that."

—The running game. The Steelers will be boosted by the return of running back Rashard Mendenhall. Whether Mendenhall, a first-round pick in 2008, pushes Willie Parker may determine whether the Steelers try to re-sign Parker for 2010. Parker is coming off his first injury-interrupted season, and his first with fewer than 1,000 yards as a starter, and he is expected to get fewer carries with Mendenhall healthy.

"How he (Mendenhall) plays will determine his role," Tomlin said.

—Contracts. The Steelers lost former starting cornerback Bryant McFadden to Arizona (William Gay, who split time late last season, takes his place), and linebacker Larry Foote left for more playing time in Detroit. But punter Daniel Sepulveda hurt in 2008, returns.

The Steelers made certain tight end Heath Miller’s status wouldn’t be an issue, reaching terms Wednesday on a $35.3 million, six-year contract that pays Miller a $12.5 million signing bonus.

—Some happy returns? The Steelers averaged 11-plus wins the last five seasons despite never having an above-average return game. Newly drafted kick returners Mike Wallace and Joe Burnett might offer a substantial upgrade.

—Who’s No. 3? Ward and Holmes form the only NFL receiving tandem in which both starters have been Super Bowl MVPs. Limas Sweed, a second-rounder last year, will compete with former Lions receiver Shaun McDonald to be the third receiver, replacing Nate Washington, now with Tennessee.

—The offensive line. Center Justin Hartwig is mending from a broken toe, and right guard Darnell Stapleton may be the weakest link along a rather nondescript offensive line. Still, a line that is expected to be a major problem every season never seems to become one, and the Steelers need it to stay that way.

-- Alan Robinson

Zorn adjusts as he enters Year II with Redskins

ASHBURN, Va. — To listen to Clinton Portis tell it, there was nearly an uprising of veteran Washington Redskins when rookie coach Jim Zorn imposed a curfew two nights before the team’s final game last season.

Portis didn’t like being told he had to be in bed by 11 p.m. on a Friday night ahead of what turned out to be a loss at San Francisco. The running back says teammates were upset, too.

"Some things, you don’t do (to) grown men," Portis said Thursday after the first practice of 2009 training camp. "You don’t want people rebelling."

Year I of Zorn’s life as an NFL head coach certainly hit some bumps, not just on the field — where a 6-2 start was followed by a 2-6 dive to 8-8, with no playoffs — but also away from it, including a public spat with his star running back over playing time and other matters.

By all accounts, Zorn is making adjustments for Year II, which makes sense, considering he never worked at a position higher than quarterbacks coach before being picked to replace Hall of Fame member Joe Gibbs in Washington.

"Every year, coaches have to grow within their own program," Zorn said. "Grow with the players they’ve got. Grow with what you might be able to do — and what you know you can’t do."

One change Portis and some of the other older Redskins love: Zorn decided to allow players who have been in the league at least four years to live at home, rather than at the team hotel, during training camp.

"I don’t have to stay with you to bond with you. I don’t have to see you every night and day. That’s not going to be bonding, that’s going to be fighting if I see you too much," wideout Santana Moss said. "I feel like it works. You are a veteran — you have done this a long time."

Players described the move as a sign of trust and respect.

And a sign of Zorn’s adapting to his job.

"It was just learning things," Portis said. "This year, he came back with a chance to let us be men, staying at home and being responsible and leaving it on us. So I think that’s a great start."

Zorn’s Redskins training camp debut in 2008 got off to a rather unusual start. Defensive end Phillip Daniels tore up his left knee on the very first play of 7-on-7 drills, prompting a trade for Jason Taylor before the day was done.

This year, no such oddities during the first practice. Everyone other than unsigned top draft pick Brian Orakpo was on the field, and no one got injured.

New defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was out there, alongside a healthy Daniels. Quarterback Jason Campbell looked sharp. Portis, whose preference for less practice was a theme of last season, passed his conditioning test Thursday, then got in his reps.

After the opening two-hour session, several players said Zorn seemed less hyper than he did 12 months ago.

"He knows us players better, first and foremost. He knows the roster a lot better," center Casey Rabach said. "This year, he seems a little bit looser. Last year, he was kind of tight, and a lot of little things bothered him. This year, it doesn’t seem that way."

Said Campbell: "You definitely can tell. He’s more laid-back this year."

Zorn acknowledges feeling "more relaxed," and he also attributes that, in part, to players and coaches knowing each other more and knowing the team’s system more.

Asked about last season’s curfew the weekend of the loss at the 49ers after Portis raised it, Zorn played the issue down. "That was just something that wasn’t a major issue, and I’m sure with him, it wasn’t a major issue," Zorn said.

But Portis made it sound like one.

"I don’t think you put people in that situation," Portis said.

Make no mistake, however, Zorn is in charge, and he makes the rules.

He dressed down some players for wearing various colors and lengths of shorts and sweat pants during last year’s practices. This year, Zorn told his players, everyone should wear burgundy — the team’s main uniform color — and there are three acceptable lengths.

To demonstrate this during a team meeting, Zorn wore full-length burgundy sweat pants, peeled those off to reveal burgundy cutoffs, and then removed those to reveal burgundy shorts.

"I don’t want all of the different colors, because we don’t look like a team," Zorn explained. "And that’s what we’re trying to put together: a team."

When someone pointed out Thursday that Zorn himself was wearing khaki pants for the first practice, he smiled and noted: "I’m the coach."

NOTES: After an offseason in which the Redskins tried to trade for Jay Cutler, then tried to move up in the draft to get Mark Sanchez, Campbell is still Washington’s starting QB. And stepping out for the opening practice of training camp, Campbell said, "The first thing I see is a ‘DC WANTS VICK’ sign. I started laughing to myself about it." ... Zorn said he had "no new information" on when Orakpo might be at camp. Orakpo’s agent said negotiations were ongoing.

-- Howard Fendrich

Orakpo misses 1st day of Redskins training camp

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache did not sound too pleased that No. 1 draft pick Brian Orakpo missed the first two practices of training camp Thursday because he hasn’t agreed to a contract.

"He’s not getting better. We are not getting better as a team. When a guy holds out — doesn’t help him, doesn’t help the football team. The only person it benefits is the agent, so he can recruit people next year," Blache said after the day’s second practice.

"What they are fighting about now — Orakpo couldn’t explain it to you in 20 years, probably. Not that he isn’t a very intelligent person, but it’s minute things," Blache continued. "That’s our business; those things happen. We don’t worry about guys that aren’t here."

Entering Thursday, only six of the 32 players taken in the first round of April’s NFL draft had signed deals. Orakpo was the 13th overall pick.

Asked Thursday afternoon about the status of Orakpo’s talks with Washington, his agent simply said they were negotiating.

Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said he had no new information on the talks with the only member of Washington’s roster who was not on the field Thursday.

The Redskins are hoping to shift Orakpo from defensive end, which he played in college at Texas, to strong-side linebacker.

"He needs all the work he can do out here," Blache said.

"When he comes, then we’ll worry about him," he added. "But in the meantime, he has to make decisions, they have to make decisions. But you know what? We’ve got to make decisions. We’re moving forward."

No Tennessee hangover, most Titans show up early

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans apparently are very eager to get back to work.

The team that wasted the NFL’s best record and home-field advantage with an opening playoff loss faced a voluntary reporting deadline Thursday for training camp, and coach Jeff Fisher said about 95 percent of his Titans showed up early for conditioning tests.

An experienced Tennessee squad also showed Fisher they deserve the relatively easy training camp schedule. Fisher is opening camp a week later than he could have because of playing Buffalo in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9, and he currently has planned only two days with two full team sessions.

"They have high expectations. They’ve worked well this offseason and ready to come in and compete," Fisher said Thursday.

"I’m especially pleased right now with the condition level of this football team, the commitment. I talked about this last year how important that was. They’ve pushed themselves even further. Their condition tests were excellent this morning. With that being said, we’re looking forward to this."

Linebacker Keith Bulluck tweeted he passed his conditioning test Wednesday by posting an average time of 57 seconds in two 300-yard shuttles. Running back Chris Johnson took his Thursday morning but only announced on Twitter that he handled the test, while LenDale White traveled to Nashville tweeting that he was ready to "reclaim my throne."

The Titans insisted throughout the offseason that they aren’t looking back at 2008 when they went 13-3 before a 13-10 divisional loss to Baltimore. Their focus has been on Sept. 10 when they open the NFL season in prime-time against the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, a team Tennessee routed late last season.

The only player not signed yet as of Thursday was Kenny Britt, the 30th pick overall. Fisher said he checked with general manager Mike Reinfeldt and Vin Marino, senior director of football administration, and was told talks were closer. The coach said he would not rule out having the receiver from Rutgers on the field Friday.

Britt’s agent did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press on Thursday.

In a sign of how healthy the Titans are, the only question Thursday was whether All Pro center Kevin Mawae starts on the physically unable to perform list. He is recovering from a torn triceps tendon in his snapping arm but was able to take part in conditioning tests as was defensive end Jevon Kearse, who spent the offseason recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Only two starting jobs must be filled during camp, one on offense with free agent signee Nate Washington the favorite to earn the open spot at receiver and the other on defense where All Pro tackle Albert Haynesworth must be replaced.

Tennessee will practice only 11 times before leaving for Canton. Not that playing time will be a problem with five preseason games — most since 1994 when still called the Houston Oilers. Fisher said they will play that opening game to win in honor of owner Bud Adams and the franchise’s 50th anniversary as an original American Football League member.

That means Kerry Collins will play as long as possible, secure as the starting quarterback thanks to his new two-year deal.

The status of his backup Vince Young will be closely watched this camp.

The 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year lost his starting job to Collins after a meltdown and injured knee in the 2008 season opener, and the Titans must see whether he can hold off Patrick Ramsey for the backup job and pressure Collins. Young is due to count more than $14 million against the salary cap in 2010, which would be very pricey for a backup.

Fisher said he wants Young to have fun again. And make plays.

"To do that, you have to know what to do and how to do it. It’s really pretty simple. I want him to have fun again, and I’m confident he will do that," Fisher said.

The coach had talked briefly with Young’s mentor and former Titans quarterback Steve McNair about visiting camp shortly before McNair was murdered July 4. Fisher wasn’t sure how much McNair would have spent around the Titans, trying to decide how interested the ex-quarterback was in coaching.

Fisher didn’t plan to address McNair’s death with his team because he has talked with most players individually already.

"We know how close Vince was to Steve and how Vince was affected by that. Vince is mature enough to know that he can take something as difficult as that experience was and turn that into a positive. Personally, I hope that will be the case for him," Fisher said.

-- Teresa M. Walker

Rams training camp opens with new coach Spagnuolo

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger says he feels "like a rookie" again.

Bengals a little uncomfortable with TV attention

Smith denies Cutler-Urlacher rift

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they’re simply not true.

"There’s nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that’s it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."

Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler’s manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.

Chicago radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.

"I wouldn’t go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that’s never happened. I’ve hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we’ve always gotten along."

Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.

"I didn’t practice this summer, so I don’t know how I would fight the guy if I didn’t practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I’m excited about football starting. I’m excited to have him as our quarterback."

Why would Wade say that?

"I don’t know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he’s jealous because we have a good quarterback now."

Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.

"He called me and I said, What’s up (expletive), what are you doing?"’ a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It’s so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."

The Bears believe they are in a better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.

His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith’s mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.

"There’s no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can’t spend a whole lot of time on something that isn’t true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it’s a non-issue."

In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.

Smith said another quarterback — Michael Vick — deserves one, although he doesn’t see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.

"I think Mike deserves a second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we’re concerned, we like this team that we have right now."

Particularly the new quarterback.

"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I’ve been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

-- Andrew Seligman

Lions’ Schwartz, friends & family share his story

DETROIT — Jim Schwartz has confronted challenges his whole life.

Leading the Detroit Lions, coming off the NFL’s first 0-16 season, is just the latest for a man who has an interesting story to tell and isn’t afraid of sharing it.

"I’m comfortable in my own skin. I have enough friends," Schwartz said in a 45-minute interview with The Associated Press. "I don’t need to make any new ones by trying to be somebody who I’m not. I just have fun with it."

Don’t be fooled, though, by the tales about Schwartz growing up in an 11-person family in Baltimore, sporting a mullet while studying economics at Georgetown, or his devotion to heavy metal.

Schwartz will soon passionately put in 100-hour weeks as a first-time head coach in the hopes of turning around a franchise that hit rock bottom last year.

He can’t wait to get to work.

And, there’s plenty to do.

The Lions will report to training camp Friday and will start practicing the next day.

"We’re chomping at the bit," Schwartz said Wednesday before playing in the Buick Open pro-am. "It’s good to recharge your batteries with vacation, but every day you’re recharging, you’re getting more anxious to get out there.

"There’s not a coach in the NFL, college or high school football that doesn’t look forward to this time of year."

There may not, however, be another coach in the league quite like the 43-year-old Schwartz.

He was born and raised in Baltimore as the second of nine children. His father, whose name is also Jim, was a police officer, and his late mother, Pat, had the job of raising two boys and seven girls.

"We had a Volkswagen bug and my dad would cram all of us into it sometimes because our station wagon used more gas," Andy Schwartz, Jim’s brother, recalled. "And, we would never go through the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore because my dad didn’t want to pay a dollar, so we would go around the Beltway.

"It felt like we were in a clown car. People would drive next to us and start counting how many people we had shoved in there."

In those days, the Baltimore Colts were so bad the home games were blacked out on TV. Andy Schwartz fondly remembers his mother making sure he and "Jimmy" had a place to listen in on the radio while enjoying Oreo cookies and milk.

Schwartz played linebacker and was a captain at Georgetown, where he earned distinguished economics graduate honors. Then his passion for football pushed him on a unique path for a person with his academic credentials.

He started his slow climb up the coaching ladder in 1989 at Maryland, where he was a graduate assistant. After having the same job at Minnesota and moving on to be an assistant at North Carolina Central and Colgate, he interviewed for an unpaid gig for Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns.

"When we brought him in for an interview, we did a psychological profile for him much like we did for players," recalled Mike Lombardi, a former NFL executive who now writes for the National Football Post. "After Jim took the test, the guy who evaluated it told us not to let him out of the building because he would be the best guy we’d ever hire."

Schwartz started off handling mundane tasks such as picking people up at the airport. He grew into a larger role and learned from Cleveland’s remarkable cradle of coaches on Belichick’s staff, including current Browns coach Eric Mangini and Alabama’s Nick Saban.

Schwartz spent three seasons as college and pro scout for the Browns. He landed his first coaching job in the league in 1996 as a defensive assistant under coordinator Marvin Lewis in Baltimore.

The Titans hired him away a few years later and he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2001, a job he had until Detroit hired him to replace Rod Marinelli.

Unlike Marinelli and most coaches who guard their off-the-field interests as if they’re game plans, Schwartz is unafraid to let the public know what he enjoys to do.

He was an in-studio guest at WRIF-FM in the Motor City for more than an hour once this offseason, where he aired his knowledge and love of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and the like.

Schwartz is an avid reader of books — going through 500-plus pages in a day when he was single, not married with three kids as he is now — and the latest niches intriguing him are the Civil War and historical fiction.

"If I find an author — David Morrell, Mario Puzo, John Grisham or any guy I hear is good — I’ll read everything he did," Schwartz said. "I don’t read books by women. I’ve tried to, but their perspective is different, so I stick with what I like."

Schwartz has a flame-filled tattoo that wraps around his right leg just above his right ankle.

"I got it soon after my mom passed suddenly at the age of 53 on December 21, 1994," he said quietly. "I wanted to have something every day that reminded me of her when I woke up to keep the pain of losing her near the forefront of my mind."

Schwartz learned how to tackle a challenge from his father, and one of his best friends is confident he will be able to handle the huge one facing him this fall.

"At least once a year since he was working for free in Cleveland, I’ve visited him for a game," said Stewart Miller, a Georgetown teammate. "Years ago, our friends from school who are investment bankers and lawyers, were always rolling their eyes and asking me, ‘What is Schwartzy doing with his life?’ I would always say, ‘Leave him alone, he’s pursuing his dream of being a head coach in the NFL.

"He never had any doubt in his mind this day would come and now he has the perfect challenge, trying to turn around an 0-16 team."

-- Larry Lage

Jets report to camp in new site with fresh outlook

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Mark Sanchez stepped off one of the team buses in front of the New York Jets’ dormitory, a big pillow in one hand and a travel bag in another.

"I slept the whole way," the rookie quarterback said Thursday with a big smile. "I saw a little bit of the countryside up here. It’s going to be fun."

The Jets’ players and coaches made the nearly four-hour and 200-mile trek from their training facility in lush, green Florham Park, N.J., to even-greener Cortland in upstate New York for the start of training camp.

"It’s a beautiful area," Sanchez said, "and something I’ve never experienced, being from Southern California."

All the rookies had to take one of the two team buses, while the veterans were allowed to drive and find their way to the sprawling SUNY Cortland campus. The first training camp under new coach Rex Ryan is also the first time since 1967 that the Jets will be spending the summer somewhere other than Hofstra University.

"We just have us," guard Alan Faneca said. "At Hofstra, guys had places, so you could run for a little bit. Here, during your free time, you’re forced to spend time with me. That creates a bond, I think. It’s always good for team building."

The quaint town with a population of just under 19,000 — nicknamed the "Crown City" — rolled out the welcome mat for the Jets, with team banners lining the streets leading to SUNY Cortland.

"I had a vision for what I wanted our training camp to be and look like and the feel for it," Ryan said, "and I think this really, maybe exceeds what my expectations were."

Ryan would be thrilled if he could say the same about his team, which he is already holding to lofty levels.

"We’re heading into camp preparing to establish our brand," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "It’s going to be a physical brand of football, so we’re going to beat each other up each and every day. When it’s time to get ready to play other teams, we can release some of that frustration out on others."

Ryan’s top priority in camp is finding out who his starting quarterback will be as Sanchez and veteran Kellen Clemens compete for the opportunity. Ryan said Clemens will start camp listed as No. 1 on the depth chart, followed by Sanchez and Erik Ainge.

"Obviously, we’re going to give Sanchez the chance to be with the 1’s, as well," Ryan said. "I would say that it will be an open competition and we’ll evaluate them everyday. We’ll then make the best decision."

Clemens is entering his fourth season in offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system, so he has an early advantage. But, the Jets traded up in the draft to take Sanchez with the No. 5 overall pick, a clear indicator that the team expects him to be the future of the franchise. And some fans and members of the media believe that future will be sooner rather than later.

"We’re excited about his future, and we’ll see," Ryan said. "Whether he starts now or he starts whenever, that’s fine."

Another key issue for the Jets will be finding a No. 2 wide receiver to complement Cotchery. That will likely come from a relatively unproven group that includes Chansi Stuckey, Brad Smith, David Clowney and Wallace Wright.

"I feel like the receivers we’ve got are just fine," Clowney said. "Just because we don’t have a big-name guy that you hear about everyday, doesn’t mean you don’t have a No. 2 receiver. We have a No. 1 receiver, a No. 2, No. 3 and a No. 4 receiver. We’ll just go out there and make it happen every week."

Only one player — running back Leon Washington — failed to show when the team reported Thursday. Washington, a Pro Bowl selection last season as a kick returner, is embroiled in a contract dispute, and could face team fines for each day he doesn’t report. He’s due to earn $535,000 this season, the final year of his rookie deal. He’s believed to be looking for about $6 million a year.

Washington’s teammates insist the running back’s situation won’t be a distraction as they prepare for the season.

"One of the things you have to understand with that is, whatever reason that Leon has to stay at home, we are going to grant him the respect in letting him take care of that," nose tackle Kris Jenkins said. "Now at the same time, we’re going to hope that once he gets all that stuff taken care of that he’ll be here and ready to go."

Meanwhile, the Jets are eager to get started — beginning with Friday’s two practices — and erase the bad memories of last year’s 1-4 finish in which they missed the playoffs and cost coach Eric Mangini his job.

"I expect it to be fun, but with the emotions and with everything that happened last year, everyone’s mind is set on making it happen this year," Cotchery said. "I don’t know if there will be too many fights, but there are going to be some very competitive days."

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

49ers prepare for intense camp

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Mike Singletary’s plan for two-a-day practices in full pads from the get-go has his players just a bit nervous heading into the coach’s first training camp in charge of the San Francisco 49ers.

Linebacker Takeo Spikes began training twice a day five weeks ahead of time rather than his typical two weeks. Left tackle Joe Staley and the rest of the offensive linemen seriously took their workouts up a notch, too.

"Ready for it to be over," Spikes joked Thursday, when veteran players reported to the team’s training complex in advance of the first practice Saturday.

That’s when the real grind begins. There’s no day off in the practice schedule before the team’s exhibition opener Aug. 14 at home against the Denver Broncos.

"I expect it to be physical and intense," said Staley, recently rewarded with a six-year contract extension. "If you know Singletary, he’s known for his intensity. ... I feel as strong as I’ve ever felt in my career."

"I want winners," screams a billboard just up the freeway from team headquarters, featuring a picture of a serious Singletary with arms crossed.

Linebacker Parys Haralson cradled the thick, spiral-bound defensive playbook — "DEFENSE 2009" — under his left arm as he made his way to the lunch tent on a breezy, 78-degree afternoon, when a rabbit scurried across the nearby field turf.

What about rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who could be a holdout come Saturday if he doesn’t sign soon.

"Nothing right now," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughlan said.

The record-setting receiver from Texas Tech was the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft by San Francisco after he unexpectedly slipped several slots on draft day.

Singletary, beginning his first full season as head coach after taking over for the fired Mike Nolan last October, is overhauling the 49ers’ offense with a philosophy heavily committed to the running game. San Francisco went 7-9 last season and scored only 339 points.

"We made no secrets we’re going to be a running team," Staley said. "It’s not a boring playbook at all."

-- Janie McCauley

Jets RB Washington a no-show as camp starts

CORTLAND, N.Y. — New York Jets running back Leon Washington, in a contract dispute while seeking a big raise, was a no-show as players reported Thursday for the start of the team’s first training camp under new coach Rex Ryan.

Washington, a Pro Bowl selection last season as a kick returner, is due to earn $535,000 this season, the final year of his rookie deal. He’s believed to be looking for about $6 million a year.

The Jets and Washington’s agent, Alvin Keels, have been talking this week in an effort to come to a resolution. Keels did not immediately respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Washington sat out the first three weeks of organized team activities before returning for minicamp "in good faith" and said he was only looking for "fair-market value." He was the only player not to report Thursday afternoon, and could be subject to a team fine since he is under contract.

"Everybody knows Leon’s a huge member of this football team and obviously a huge guy, somebody that finished in the top 10 in punt returns and kick returns," Ryan said. "We want Leon here and we’ll see what happens."

Ryan said he has spoken with Washington throughout the offseason.

"He knows how I feel about him, how the team feels about him," Ryan said. "He knows that."

General manager Mike Tannenbaum has said one of the major stumbling blocks in getting a new deal done with Washington, a fourth-round pick out of Florida State in 2006, is the uncertainty of the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Without an extension to the CBA, Washington would become a restricted free agent — not unrestricted — next offseason and the Jets would be able to retain his rights for far less than what he’s currently seeking.

Washington has rushed for 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns, and caught 108 passes for 838 yards and two scores, in his first three seasons. He has also returned four kickoffs for touchdowns.

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

KC Chiefs starting camp on the run

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley says he expects his players to arrive at training camp already in shape, and he'll determine quickly who is not.