I had to ask Saints DE Will Smith, guest No. 16 of 17 on our Sirius NFL Radio show from Saints camp, if he was reading from a script when he became the fourth player to say, "Jon Vilma is the Drew Brees of this defense."

Smith got serious after the indoors afternoon practice and pointed across the field. Sure enough, there was Vilma working with two young linebackers on the jugs machine catching balls, similiar to the scene of Brees tossing the pigskins to Lance Moore after the morning session.

It went noted that Smith and fellow longtime Saints defensive end Charles Grant were two of the four players who named Vilma as the leader. For a defense that has sorely lacked teeth and consistency, Vilma is the perfect extension of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on the field.

Vilma is thrilled to be in New Orleans. Vilma tells us that unlike last year, a season where he played great en route to earning a long-term deal with the Saints, he doesn't even think about his health, which cut short his 2007 season in New York with the Jets. Vilma doesn't get enough credit for being a star. His growth was stunted in New York when Eric Mangini miscast him as a 3-4 linebacker. And then he got hurt.

Williams' aggressive nature, mirroring that of Payton as an offensive play-caller, will make a huge difference. GM Mickey Loomis beefed up the talent in the defensive backfield.

But it will be Vilma's play and leadership that will make all the difference.



(foxsports.com)

ALLEN PARK --Almost every day in training camp, in front of hundreds of Detroit Lions fans, veteran cornerback Phillip Buchanon is the bad guy.

It isn't because he's playing poorly.

Buchanon often is lined up across from Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson, and the fans like to watch Johnson catch passes, especially deep ones. When he makes a catch, the fans cheer. When he doesn't -- usually because of Buchanon's defense -- they groan.

"The NFL is about scoring touchdowns, and Calvin Johnson is definitely the man so they want to see Calvin catch passes," Buchanon said. "My job is stop receivers from catching passes ,so if they take it the wrong way, I'm sorry."
In about a month, Lions fans will hope Buchanon can stop just about every pass thrown his way.

Detroit opens the regular season Sept. 13 against the New Orleans Saints, who rang up 42 points on the Lions last year. Buchanon is among the many new additions to the Lions' secondary, and he's one of the most experienced.
Buchanon is an eight-year veteran who has 18 career interceptions and was a two-year starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Lions as unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

"He's a fast guy and he's got really good recovery speed," Johnson said. "It's good to go up against a guy like that who's been doing it for awhile."

Buchanon was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and was a full-time starter there for three years. He was dealt to the Texans for a second- and third-round draft pick in 2005 and his career took a nosedive in Houston.

He started just six games in his first year with the Texans. Then, after being a backup for the first five games in 2006, Houston released him.

Buchanon quickly resurrected his career when he was signed by the Bucs, starting the last four games for Tampa that season. After winning a starting cornerback job for the last two years, Buchanon left the Bucs because they wanted him to be the No. 3 cornerback, phasing him out for former No. 1 draft pick Aqib Talib.

"Tampa wanted me to be the third guy, and I don't consider myself to be a third guy right now. I'm a starter," Buchanon said. "They wanted me back and I loved playing in Florida, because that's where I'm from. There's no better place for me -- other than northern California -- but I wanted to come here and do my thing."

Buchanon has gotten a break in recent days because Johnson has been sidelined with a jammed right thumb. Buchanon said he's not really enjoying the "time off'' because he loves going against top-flight receivers in practice -- something that started during his college days with the Hurricanes.

"I remember my Miami days when I had to see three Pro Bowl receivers in practice every day: Santana Moos, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne,'' Buchanon said. "Those are three pretty good receivers, and they all brought something different to the game.

Andre's a stronger type receiver, Santana was more a jittery, quicker type of guy and Reggie was real smooth with great hands. Dealing with those guys in college definitely helped me get to where I am today."

Buchanon acknowledged that Calvin Johnson poses an even bigger threat.

"It's a little bit different because Calvin's taller. Andre's about 6-2 or 6-3, but Calvin's 6-5, and that's a difference," Buchanon said.

For his part, Calvin Johnson said he enjoys the battles with Buchanon.

"I've been going against him all summer and all spring," Johnson said. "He's a good coverage guy with good recovery speed, so it's hard to burn a guy like that. And he's got good hands for a defensive back."



(mlive.com)

Despite his 6-4, 308-pound frame, offensive tackle Rashad Butler can fend off bull-rushing defenders with the feet of a ballet dancer.

“Rashad is the picture of consistency,” right tackle Eric Winston said. “He's been very reliable, and he does everything really well. He doesn't seem to have any outstanding flaws.”

That's exactly what the Carolina Panthers saw in Butler when he played at Miami with Winston and center Chris Myers, another Texans teammate. Butler was relatively unknown until his junior year when he started the final eight games in place of Winston, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Carolina selected him in the third round of the 2006 draft and saw him as a project. At 290, Butler was an undersized offensive tackle, but they expected him to get bigger in the NFL.

Butler was inactive his rookie season, and strangely, he lost weight and was cut after training camp in 2007. The Texans quickly picked him up and discovered he had ulcerative colitis, which had prevented him from gaining muscle.

Butler played eight games on special teams during the 2007 season and was inactive for 16 games last season.

Swing man
In February, when the Texans released swing tackle Ephraim Salaam, they committed to Butler.

“We knew we wanted Rashad as our swing tackle,” Kubiak said. “We made the moves to keep him. That's a lot on his plate, but he's handled it very well.”

Butler signed his one-year tender offer in April and will likely serve as a backup to Winston and Duane Brown.
He can play either left or right tackle, and he's an asset to the team in the event of an injury. Butler said he's feeling well and has enjoyed the competitive nature of training camp.

“The competition has been really good,” Butler said. “The starters are competing with each other to get better, and the second-string guys like me are trying to compete for a starting job.”

In practice, Butler typically protects the quarterback from defensive ends Tim Bulman and Connor Barwin, and he said their different dynamics have helped his development.

“Connor's more of a speed guy, and Bulman's more of a power guy, and I'm getting a good mix of both,” Butler said. “ They're good players, and it helps me to try to contain them.

Much improved
Off the field, players say Butler is a shy and gentle giant who has a knack for randomly making a humorous comment in a conversation. Winston said that despite Butler's abundant talent, he often worries about disappointing the coaches.

“I have to prove that I can be there every week,” Butler said. “I don't want to slip up. I want to make sure they know my plays in and out, and I don't want to be the guy that makes mistakes. I'm much more mentally prepared to play than I have been in the past.”

With that preparedness, Butler is much more comfortable in his role, and Kubiak has seen his confidence boosted because of it.

“Rashad's probably one of the most improved players on the team,” Kubiak said. “This year, with his role, we're looking for his career to really take off.”



(chron.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Defense? Defense? That is a question the New Orleans Saints aim to answer in the affirmative this season.

Last season, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees led the NFL in passing yards. The Saints were No. 1 in total offense. But en route to an 8-8 finish, they allowed 27 points or more in nine games (seven of them losses) and ranked 23rd in defense.

Holdover middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and the rest of a revamped New Orleans defense want to close that performance gap.

"I feel the defense is really coming along. … We're a talented group. We have to go out there and execute," says Vilma, whose teams opens its preseason at home Friday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Acquired last season in a trade with the New York Jets, Vilma made immediate impact by leading the 2008 Saints with 151 tackles (100 solo). But overall New Orleans has the kind of defense that makes for changes, and changes have been made.

Free-agent additions include safety Darren Sharper, a 13-year vet from the Minnesota Vikings, and cornerback Jabari Greer, a sixth-year pro from the Buffalo Bills. New Orleans' first-round draft pick was recently signed cornerback Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State.

Gregg Williams, who has an NFL reputation as a defensive fixer, is the new coordinator, replacing Gary Gibbs, who was dismissed after three seasons.

"He (Williams) is definitely bringing the attitude. He's trying to change the culture of the defense right now," says Vilma, 27.

Known for his attacking schemes, Williams has started out with the basics: tackling hard, defeating blocks and "running real fast" to the ball.

"It's attitude. It's so much about attitude," says Williams, who coached the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense last season under a one-year contract.

"It starts with attitude. Tackling starts with attitude, toughness starts with attitude, technique starts with attitude," adds Williams, Washington Redskins coordinator from 2004-2007.

Safety Roman Harper describes Williams as a "real fiery" guy. "He challenges you mentally and physically. … We need that," says Harper.

Says Vilma: "We all know he's heralded for blitzing and getting after the quarterback and things like that. … But at the same time he's a very, very good guy understanding his personnel, understanding the different personalities of the defense."

The defense took a hit this week when it was announced linebacker Mark Simoneau, Vilma's backup, will require surgery to repair a torn triceps.

Wednesday, the Saints worked out veteran linebackers Derrick Brooks (11-time Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Derek Smith. Neither was signed immediately. Coach Sean Payton says the Saints will wait until after Friday night's game to "see where we're at."

Another challenge looms: starting defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant both face four-game NFL suspensions to open the season after testing positive last season for a banned diuretic. The matter is under court appeal.

Other defensive ends in the mix in New Orleans: Paul Spicer, a 10-year vet signed this year after being released by Jacksonville; sixth-year pro Bobby McCray, signed as a free agent in 2008 from Jacksonville; fifth-year pro Anthony Hargrove, signed this year as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills after serving an NFL suspension last season for violation of the league's substance abuse policy; and third-year pro Jeff Charleston.

"Right now, we're just going to keep working. We're not going to worry about the potential loss of our two players," says Vilma.

"We have to keep playing, and then we have very capable backups that are right now competing and fighting for their jobs. So whoever we play with, that's who we're going to go to war with. And we'll get it done."



(usatoday.com)

One of the best battles for a starting spot Thursday night in the Ravens preseason opener against the Redskins is at inside linebacker.

Second-year player Tavares Gooden was expected to start there before training camp began, but Gooden is being challenged by Jameel McClain, a second-year player out of Syracuse, and rookie Dannell Ellerbe.

McClain and Ellerbe made up ground on Gooden when Gooden missed time because of an injury. Gooden has more range than the other two, but Ellerbe is better from tackle to tackle, and McClain is better as a pass rusher because he used to play outside linebacker.

This has turned into one of the strongest competitions in training camp.



(baltimoresun.com)

A year after spending the summer in the coaches' doghouse, Willis McGahee is earning praise for his practice habits and work ethic.

"He has totally committed himself to the Ravens’ way that John Harbaugh preaches," said running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery. That McGahee is back in good graces and still only second on the depth chart speaks to Ray Rice's phenomenal offseason. McGahee is now a handcuff for Rice owners.



(rotoworld.com)

It doesn’t seem realistic considering how good he already is, but receiver Andre Johnson just keeps getting better. Johnson hasn’t dropped a pass in camp. He’s catching the ball all over the field. On one play, he went deep and was covered by three players. He went up with the defensive backs. Safety Eugene Wilson had a beat on him, but Johnson pulled down the ball and scored easily.



(chron.com)

Update:
Olsen had another great practice Tuesday, capping it off with an acrobatic, one-handed catch in the end zone during the two-minute drill, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Recommendation:
Olsen is everyone's favorite breakout tight end this year, and the price tag might not be as cheap as we thought it would be a month ago. Still, he's got the upside to be the top tight end this season, and you won't have to take him that high.



(rotowire.com)

NT Vince Wilfork was on the practice field for the second straight day, just two days after missing action while his wife gave birth to the couple's third child, David.

"The baby came out real, real healthy. My wife is doing fine. The kids are happy. I'm happy. I'm a little tired, but I can take this tired," Wilfork said with a proud smile. "Everything went well with the birth and a healthy baby boy. I'm looking forward to seeing him now.

"It's a beautiful thing to bring something in the world like that, and to be healthy. I thank my wife every day for it. She was the one that had to carry it. My job was easy. But we're excited. The family is excited about it."

The Pro Bowler then went on to joke that the youngster will be pushed toward the golf course rather than the football field later in life.

"No," Wilfork responded with a chuckle when asked if David, named after his grandfather, was a future nose tackle. "He's going to be a golfer. I'm going to start him early. Stay away from football."



(scout.com)

Campbell is the biggest question mark on the defense. He replaces Antonio Smith, who signed with Houston in free agency. Campbell will get a considerable amount of work tonight. He's a solid run defender who needs to work on making moves out of his initial stance.



(azcentral.com)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Frank Gore walked around shirtless after practice the other day showing off his sculpted physique, confident as ever.

Gore feels so good, in fact, after an offseason of workouts back in Miami that San Francisco's star running back keeps referencing his career-best Pro Bowl season of 2006 — because he believes he's primed for a sequel.

It sure can't hurt that Mike Singletary is pushing a power-run offense in the coach's first training camp.

"I feel strong. I feel fast, quick and ready," said Gore, the former Miami Hurricanes standout. "I put the time in. Every time on the field, I visualize myself in the game."

Gore hasn't taken a day off through the first 10 days of camp and hasn't asked for one, either. That effort and energy is catching on with his offensive linemen and others. The coaches are closely monitoring Gore's workload to make sure he stays healthy and fresh, and he will be limited in Friday's exhibition opener against Denver.

"Frank is a workhorse out there," center Eric Heitmann said. "I've never seen Frank take a play off. He's always running downhill, trying to get the right cuts, blowing up the hole. He's working tremendously hard this camp. He's taking a ton of reps and looking extremely good. It's a tremendous motivating factor for us to have a running back with that much intensity and enthusiasm about the game. It really fires us up and it's fun to block for a guy like that."

Monday was a scorcher — the hottest day yet for the Niners during camp — with the temperatures reaching the low 90s with no breeze. Yet play after play, there was Gore adding an extra 10 to 20 yards to every run, channeling a tradition established in the days of Jerry Rice and Roger Craig and their extraordinary work ethics. Those two made plays in practice, then ran a little further just for the fun of it.

"I think Frank has a tremendous attitude this training camp," Singletary said.

The 26-year-old returned to UM for his offseason regimen this year, rededicating himself to the kind of training that worked so well for him in 2006. He turned himself over to Hurricanes strength coach Andreu Swasey, the same man who helped Gore during his college days and early years in the NFL.

"I wanted to go back to him since '06 was one of my best years. I went back to all my old ways, like when I first got in the league," Gore said. "I feel so strong right now. I just go on the practice field and visualize myself in the game. That's why I like to get the reps and why I go so far."

He has missed only three games in three years despite the constant pounding his body takes.

"I think he has the eye of the tiger this year," said new Niners offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. "From what I've seen, his work ethic has been outstanding and he's looking forward to a good year — and we are looking forward to him having one."



(sun-sentinel.com)

INSIDE SLANT The burden of high expectations is on tight end Greg Olsen this year, but that doesn't appear to be nearly enough to stall a career that seems to be blasting off for stardom.

"He's to that point is his career where he's ready to step up and have a huge year," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "He's gotten better and better every year, and [when] you get a better supporting cast around him, then obviously he's going to do better. He's playing with a lot of confidence and playing very fast right now."

Olsen has had star potential since the Bears selected him in the first round (31st overall) in 2007. But great expectations have haunted most of Bears' first-round picks in the past decade. First-rounders Curtis Enis (1998), Cade McNown (1999), David Terrell (2001), Marc Colombo (2002), Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman (2003) and Cedric Benson (2005) have all fallen somewhere in between major disappointments and outright failures.

Olsen has already surpassed all of those predecessors with two solid seasons. As a rookie he caught 39 passes for 391 yards, and last season he had 54 receptions for 574 yards and a team-best five TD catches.

The combination of early production, steady improvement and an enviable array of physical talents, plus the addition of Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, have optimists predicting a monster season for the 6-5, 255-pound Olsen. He's always had the speed and soft hands of a wide receiver, and now everything is coming together for him.

"When you're watching him, you see a lot of talent," Cutler said. "There are very few things he can't do on a football field as far as running routes and blocking. You don't very often find a guy with that kind of motor and, as big as he is, just the way he adjusts to balls. A lot of guys that big are kind of stiff and they can't do some of the things he can. He's a huge target, and we just have to use him the right way."

If the first week of training camp is any indication, it looks like Cutler will be utilizing Olsen more frequently than any Bears tight end has been used since some guy named Ditka back in the 1960s. Cutler has gone to Olsen repeatedly in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, connecting on quick slants, deep sideline routes and everything in between. Through the first week of practice, Olsen had dropped just 1 pass.

"We're a week into training camp and I feel pretty good, and a lot of it has to do with being more confident because it's my third year," Olsen said. "As guys get more comfortable, they're able to go out and just do what they have to do instead of thinking about it."

Turner considers it a natural progression for Olsen to have his best season yet.

"He was ready to take the next step even without Jay," Turner said. "But they've already developed a good chemistry. Jay has a lot of confidence in Greg, and I think he's primed to have a really good year.

"The skill level obviously was always there, but he is playing faster, and he's doing a lot of the little things. I've mentioned it many times when we're in there watching film. Whether it's blocking with his pad level down, his footwork on blocks or the way he runs routes against press coverage. A lot of the things he's doing, he's doing so much better than he did last year and the year before."

Much was made over Olsen's promotion to No. 1 tight end ahead of 11-year veteran Desmond Clark, but that writing was on the wall well before training camp began. The changing of the guard was inevitable, even though Clark has always been a better blocker than Olsen and has caught more than 40 passes in each of the past three seasons. Olsen has the speed to stretch a defense, and he's worked hard to improve his deficiencies as a blocker, as Clark graciously points out.

"One thing you have to appreciate about Greg is that he's a guy who came into the NFL with probably only one glaring weakness," Clark said. "For the last three years, that's primarily what he's been working on getting better at, trying to improve his strength, trying to work on his footwork so he could be that complete tight end. When you see a guy that has as much talent as he does working on the weaknesses, you just know there's going to come a day, and it's probably going to come very soon, where he's the complete package."

That day may have already arrived.



(chi.scout.com)

ALBANY - The Giants' defensive players were raving about receiver Sinorice Moss in the spring, how fast he was and how difficult he was to cover. They never told him that, of course.

"No, but they tell me to slow down half the time I talk to them," Moss said. "But I can't do that, man. I'm out here on a mission."

Moss, the 5-8 speedster entering his fourth NFL season, is on a mission to prove his critics wrong and to once and for all show he can play in this league. His first three seasons have been a mess of injuries, lack of opportunities and failure to meet expectations. He's heard the word "bust" far too many times.

But the coaches have often praised him for his work ethic far behind the scenes and for the positive outlook he has kept despite a seemingly dreary situation. In the spring, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride anointed Moss the No.3 receiver in this new-look passing offense.

As far as the 25-year-old Moss is concerned, that's only the start.

"I've been so anxious really to just prove to people and to show people what I'm capable of doing," Moss said. "But I feel like now this is the year that I have the opportunity to do it. I'm going to go out and do what I have to do, just whenever they get the ball in my hands, execute and make some plays."

That's exactly what Moss has failed to do in his first three seasons with the Giants. After Big Blue traded up to draft Moss in the second round in 2006, he suffered through an injury-plagued rookie season and then was undone by inconsistencies in camp and practice the last two years.

As a result of that, and his inability to break through on special teams - even though the Giants drafted him in part because he was a dangerous return man - he has had just 38 catches (for 403 yards) in his first three seasons. Last year he caught 12 passes for 153 yards. The Giants always knew he had the speed, but they weren't always convinced he had the game to match.

However, that speed is what has kept him around.

"I think the sky's the limit because of his speed," said receiver Steve Smith. "He's a threat to every defense because he's got that vertical game."

"He's always been the speed guy," added cornerback Corey Webster. "Now they have ways to try to get him the ball and to utilize his ability to stretch the field."

Despite a great spring and a solid start to the summer, Moss still isn't a lock for the third receiver spot. He will feel pressure from Mario Manningham, who also impressed the coaches this spring. And the Giants didn't draft Hakeem Nicks in the first round to bury him on the depth chart.

Moss knows the competition, even for the two starting jobs, is wide open now that Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer are gone. To him, however, that's no different than it is every year.

"I felt each year the same way, that I'm just going out there and working hard and doing the best that I can for this team," he said. "There's a lot of opportunities this year and there's been opportunities the year before. I approach this season like I approach every season, staying confident, being positive about my situation and going out there and continue to work hard."

And if he can surprise a few people along the way, all the better.

"I hope so," Moss said. "You have doubters, you have naysayers, people who don't expect me to do anything. Hey, let them do what they do. I'm out here to perform and do what I have to do, and that's helping this football team win games."



(nydailynews.com)

Everybody knew Broncos LB D.J. Williams was hurt while trying to play in the final two games of the season but few knew the extent of his pain and now it’s being reported that the weakside linebacker is facing offseason surgery — on his shoulder, not his knee. Williams suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the Broncos’ eighth game against Miami which caused him to miss the next six games and he was listed on the injury report the last two weeks with knee and shoulder injuries.

(denverpost.com)

METAIRIE, La. – New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey(notes) appears to have emerged from his time in football purgatory with a decidedly optimistic attitude. Finally healthy after suffering a leg fracture late in the 2007 (an injury that cost him a chance to play in the Super Bowl for the New York Giants) and tendon tears in both legs which left him hobbled for much of 2008, Shockey looks like the swift, powerful receiver who was a first-round pick in 2002.

With that in mind, the irreverent Shockey talked about what he considers the most troubling year of his career and what lies ahead for him, including a life as a world traveler and entrepreneur.

Cole: Your buddy Plaxico Burress(notes) wrote in his book “Giant” that you get hurt a lot because you fight too hard for every yard. He said you need to make what he called better “business decisions” on the field to stay healthy. Your thoughts?
Shockey: I wish it was so easy as you describe. This is how I’ve always played football – to fight for every inch, every yard. Plaxico plays a different way. He slides. You see him make a catch and he does the baseball slide. If that’s a business decision, it’s a business decision. In the middle of a play, I don’t think I’ve got to slide or I’m going to get hurt.

Cole: Is this some testosterone-filled, manhood thing for you?
Shockey: Obviously, you haven’t played organized sports at this high a level.

Cole: Yes, that’s obvious, but this is what Burress and other players talk about – saving themselves for the long haul.
Shockey: Well, I don’t have that button in my head that says, “Hey, get down.” I wish I did. I don’t. My attitude is full go, go full speed. Last year, even after I had the surgery, I wanted to be out there – full go – and play and try my best.

Cole: When you can’t play at full go, how much does it hurt you?
Shockey: It hurts very bad. It’s an empty feeling that’s hard to describe. When I can’t do something I love and enjoy so much, it’s hard. We had this speaker come in the other day who had worked for President [George W.] Bush, and he talked about going to work in the White House. The [players] were talking to him about how he can be around these great athletes whose heads are so big they can barely walk through the door. He said, “Listen, the guys you are around, those 45 or 50 guys on a roster, they truly enjoy what they’re doing.” And then we asked him, “You’re the CEO of a company; does everybody truly love working at your company?” And he said no.

Everybody in this game loves their occupation, and that’s very unique. So when you can’t play … it’s a feeling that’s really hard to describe. To me, I’ve matured a lot over the years. In some sense, it’s good to sit back and watch a little, but at the same time it’s hard to sit back and think, “I haven’t hurt anybody in my life, I’ve never been arrested; why is this happening to me?” I had a lot of those questions in my head last year. Why is this happening to me? Why did I break my leg with the Giants? Why, in my first training camp with the Saints, did I pop both the tendons in my legs?

Cole: Do you ever think about what you’re going to do to replace the feeling you get from playing when you’re done?
Shockey: I have businesses. I own [a business] in Panama. I sell art, I sell houses, a lot of things in Panama. That’s a competitive thing for me. Whatever I do is going to be a competitive thing. I love to fish, deep-sea fish. I’ve been in a lot of tournaments in various countries. I’ve won a lot of money doing billfish tournaments.

Cole: So, you’re going to escape to Panama when you retire and we’ll never see you again?
Shockey: I probably will not retire in the United States. I’ll have a home here, but I doubt I’ll retire in this country. I’m always somewhere.

Cole: So replacing the thrill of playing doesn’t sound easy.
Shockey: It’s hard to explain. Because if you ask people what it’s like to be sick and you can’t go to work, most people would say that sucks. But in the back of their mind, they’re thinking, “Cool, I can stay home for the day and chill.” In this sport, you want to be part of it. We’re competitive people out there every day, and another thing I’ll miss most about all this is the locker room: joking around with the guys, telling stories about five years ago, girl stories, going-out stories, different experiences in your life.

Cole: So your approach is that you’re all in, every day, in this game
Shockey: I enjoy it. This year I obviously enjoy it a lot more because I’m healthy. Last year was a really hard time for me. I would say I will remember last year more than any other year – not all the accolades and all the awards. It will be last year more than anything in my life because of the broken leg, the trade went down, fighting back from the adversity of popping both tendons …

Cole: And all the negative stuff from the fans in New York?
Shockey: That’s fine; I don’t care what those people think. In my mind, I will remember last year more than any other year because of all the adversity I had to face. Coming to a new team and wanting to do so well and then getting hurt. I was thinking, These guys gave up a lot for me and I can’t really do much. I probably only played six games healthy last year and I still had 50 receptions – no touchdowns but a ton of first downs. This year is going to be a lot different and I feel it’s going to be a lot more satisfying.

Cole: So do you have a goal, some numbers in mind?
Shockey: I always have a goal, always have goals and numbers, but I don’t share them with anyone except [Saints quarterback] Drew Brees(notes). That’s it. It’s a different feeling when you’re healthy and can do things. When I was living in New York my first two or three years, you realize you’re always going to have a strain or a bruise or something that’s wrong with you, a cut on your knee or whatever. But to be truly hurt like I have been the past two [seasons] is really a hard feeling to describe. I was probably only getting like two or three hours of sleep a night.

Cole: Do you feel almost as if you’re chained up?
Shockey: I was just really depressed. It was a very depressing year, a very black, dark time in my life. That’s why, when you’re healthy, you have to take it and come out and work every day. There are very few guys like Michael Strahan(notes) who get to go 14 or 15 years and only go on IR twice in his whole career. Granted, I only went on IR once in my career, but I have yet to play a full season. I’ve always missed one game here, one game there, two games here. Maybe if I made some business decisions like Plaxico – slid on this play or that play – I would have. I just don’t think that way.



(yahoosports.com)

Right-hander Chris Perez, who will need surgery to remove a bone from his left foot at the end of the season, faces the possibility of two kinds of operations.

"If they do the one operation, I would be out for three weeks," said Perez. "If they have to do the more invasive operations, I could be out three months. That would involve a ligament transplant for my ankle."

The Indians acquired relievers Perez and Jess Todd from St. Louis for Mark DeRosa. Perez joined the team immediately, while Todd was the player to be named.

"Everyone has the bone that I'm going to get removed," said Perez. "Mine is just a little bigger and causes some irritation."

An MRI will determine what kind of operation Perez needs.



(cleveland.com)

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Pressure? Nerves? Just because Tavares Gooden is expected to take over free-agent defector Bart Scott's spot at Ravens inside linebacker next to Ray Lewis? No way, says Gooden. Running with the first team in practice isn't about pressure or nerves. It's about great big holes to run through.

"You hear noises that make you think you're watching an army movie -- Haloti Ngata crashing into guys and stuff like that," Gooden said Sunday after the Ravens wrapped up their afternoon practice at McDaniel College. "And then you've got those holes and those openings, and you just fill them as a linebacker. I think that's the biggest part of being with the 'ones.' Everybody knows their assignments, and all you have to do is play off that D-line."

There's a chance that Gooden, the second-year linebacker out of Miami, isn't up to this -- that he doesn't yet have what it takes to replace Scott. There's even a chance, technically, that Jameel McClain beats him out for the starting job. But you wouldn't know about those possibilities from talking to Gooden. He's loaded with confidence. He is, after all, a Hurricane.

"At the University of Miami, before you can even hit somebody, you have to pass your conditioning test," Gooden said. "It's all mental there. Once you get your mind into it, you can do anything. That's what they instill in us. That's why us guys, with the god-given ability, really explode. Our minds are so high above everybody else. We're looking to do things that people haven't done. They brainwash us at the University of Miami to believe we're the best, and that's how we play."

The best part is that Gooden has a support system here for that confidence. He's one of four Hurricanes on the Ravens' roster, along with Lewis, safety Ed Reed and running back Willis McGahee, who backs up Gooden's school pride.

"We separate ourselves from the other guys," McGahee said. "We were NFLU when I was in school. We lost two games the whole time I was there -- my first game and my last game. The expectations are different."

So being a starting linebacker for the Ravens, with all that goes along with that, is nothing Gooden isn't expecting of himself. Especially with Lewis right there to help him.

"Ray is doing everything he can," Gooden said. "He's not just saying 'I'm going to be in Canton, so I can relax.' He's showing us. He's teaching us the way, how to play defense like a Raven."



(nfl.fanhouse.com)

If there is any one player that should benefit from the Chicago Bears trading for Jay Cutler, it's Greg Olsen. The former Miami Hurricane looks terrific in training camp and should be in the running for his first Pro Bowl selection. Get the Inside Slant from the NFL experts at Scout.com.

INSIDE SLANT The burden of high expectations is on tight end Greg Olsen this year, but that doesn't appear to be nearly enough to stall a career that seems to be blasting off for stardom.

"He's to that point is his career where he's ready to step up and have a huge year," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "He's gotten better and better every year, and [when] you get a better supporting cast around him, then obviously he's going to do better. He's playing with a lot of confidence and playing very fast right now."

Olsen has had star potential since the Bears selected him in the first round (31st overall) in 2007. But great expectations have haunted most of Bears' first-round picks in the past decade. First-rounders Curtis Enis (1998), Cade McNown (1999), David Terrell (2001), Marc Colombo (2002), Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman (2003) and Cedric Benson (2005) have all fallen somewhere in between major disappointments and outright failures.
Olsen has already surpassed all of those predecessors with two solid seasons. As a rookie he caught 39 passes for 391 yards, and last season he had 54 receptions for 574 yards and a team-best five TD catches.

The combination of early production, steady improvement and an enviable array of physical talents, plus the addition of Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, have optimists predicting a monster season for the 6-5, 255-pound Olsen. He's always had the speed and soft hands of a wide receiver, and now everything is coming together for him.

"When you're watching him, you see a lot of talent," Cutler said. "There are very few things he can't do on a football field as far as running routes and blocking. You don't very often find a guy with that kind of motor and, as big as he is, just the way he adjusts to balls. A lot of guys that big are kind of stiff and they can't do some of the things he can. He's a huge target, and we just have to use him the right way."

If the first week of training camp is any indication, it looks like Cutler will be utilizing Olsen more frequently than any Bears tight end has been used since some guy named Ditka back in the 1960s. Cutler has gone to Olsen repeatedly in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, connecting on quick slants, deep sideline routes and everything in between. Through the first week of practice, Olsen had dropped just 1 pass.

"We're a week into training camp and I feel pretty good, and a lot of it has to do with being more confident because it's my third year," Olsen said. "As guys get more comfortable, they're able to go out and just do what they have to do instead of thinking about it."

Turner considers it a natural progression for Olsen to have his best season yet.

"He was ready to take the next step even without Jay," Turner said. "But they've already developed a good chemistry. Jay has a lot of confidence in Greg, and I think he's primed to have a really good year.

"The skill level obviously was always there, but he is playing faster, and he's doing a lot of the little things. I've mentioned it many times when we're in there watching film. Whether it's blocking with his pad level down, his footwork on blocks or the way he runs routes against press coverage. A lot of the things he's doing, he's doing so much better than he did last year and the year before."

Much was made over Olsen's promotion to No. 1 tight end ahead of 11-year veteran Desmond Clark, but that writing was on the wall well before training camp began. The changing of the guard was inevitable, even though Clark has always been a better blocker than Olsen and has caught more than 40 passes in each of the past three seasons. Olsen has the speed to stretch a defense, and he's worked hard to improve his deficiencies as a blocker, as Clark graciously points out.

"One thing you have to appreciate about Greg is that he's a guy who came into the NFL with probably only one glaring weakness," Clark said. "For the last three years, that's primarily what he's been working on getting better at, trying to improve his strength, trying to work on his footwork so he could be that complete tight end. When you see a guy that has as much talent as he does working on the weaknesses, you just know there's going to come a day, and it's probably going to come very soon, where he's the complete package."

That day may have already arrived.



(scout.com)

McGahee said he feels healthy and is in top shape, but he's getting a challenge from second-year running back Ray Rice. The Ravens are working hard with Rice on his pass-catching, and there's some thought that he could be the primary back. It's likely that the Ravens will be run-oriented enough that there will be plenty of carries for McGahee, Rice and the beefy Le'Ron McClain, but McGahee sounds skeptical.

"I hope so," he said. "That's the way it looks like it should work. But in football, you never know how it's going to go."

McClain led the team in rushing yards (902) and carries (232) last year. McGahee got 671 yards on 170 carries in 13 games, and Rice picked up 454 yards on 107 carries in his 13 games.



(nfl.fanhouse.com)

I mentioned this last week on Examiner and though I hate to keep harping on it, he may be as important as any member of the Colts outside QB Peyton Manning. There's a lot unknown on the Colts' offense this season -- i.e., just how productive WR Anthony Gonzalez will be in his first season as a starter, just how much the 31st-ranked running game will improve and how healthy the OL will stay -- but Wayne hasn't missed a game since 2001 and he has had at least 1,000 yards receiving the last five seasons. He has been to three consecutive Pro Bowls and watching him closely in camp, you're struck by just how reliable his hands are and the precision and effectivness of his routes. He's a big-time wide receiver -- if not a Hall of Famer, then perhaps very, very close -- and being able to rely on he and Manning gives Indianapolis  something solid each week offensively.



(examiner.com)

JV- What's camp been like so far with the energy in practice's and the crowd's that have come out?
CC- It's been definetley alot better camp then last year for me, I know what to expect, I'm a lot more confident, a lot more support of the fans, we're a lot more confident as a team, I think we know what we can do now, plus last year I know we wanted something great, now we know we can get there as long as we work hard and continue to do the small things.

JV- What experiences have you taken from last year to make you a better player this season?
CC- When the offseason ended the first thing I did was relax a little bit, tried to clear up my mind, then I hit the offseson workout pretty tough. Coach Lott helped me out alot to get my upper body strength together, just tried to bulk up a lot, work on my technique and just get ready for camp. There's a vacancy when our good teammate Antonio Smith left and they told me that they want me to fill his position, or at least try to because it's big shoes to fill because he's a great player. I'm just hoping to work hard and do everything I can to fill the void.

JV- There's obviously the challenge of a young player working hard to get playing time on this team, now you also have the challenge of trying to replace a player that not only was popular in the lockerroom but made plays on the field as well?
CC- That's the same kind of player I am, me and him have a lot of similarities so hopefully I can do a decent job where the team can count on me and depend on me. Antonio Smith had a leadership role and lots of things he brought to the table, so it'll be hard to fill his shoes but I'll do what I can to work hard and give it my all and hopefully that's enough.

JV- Looking at your career at Miami the thing that stands out about your stats are the sacks, so the pass rushing skills are there. How would you say you are at stopping the run?
CC- Stopping the run, people don't usually think I can but at Miami I did a pretty good job against the run as I got a little older. That's one thing I really wanted to show people I could do because they say he's a pass rusher but he can't stop the run, it's the same kind of thing now. When I get down there in the trenches I have to play with great technique because I don't really have the strength that a lot of the guys have, but hopefully I'll get oppurtunities this year to show everybody I can do it.

JV- With the expectations you'll have on you this season how important will it be for you to lean on guys like Darnell(Dockett), Bertrand(Berry), Adrian(Wilson), Karlos(Dansby), and other veterans?
CC- Without a doubt, I lean on them a lot already, I leaned on them a lot during the summer as well. Last year I learned so much from them and it helps to have great leadership role guys who have been in the league a long time, guys that know how to stay in the league, know how to make plays, be prouctive. What I try to do is be a copy cat and do what they're doing, try and fit in, take everything I can from them and benefit from it.



(kstar.com)

There are a pair of tubs outside the locker room at Redskins Park, shielded from both the sun and the rain by a tent, and on Thursday morning Santana Moss hobbled up to one of them and slid in, uniform pants, thigh pads and all. The relief washed over his face, because the ice-cold water in what amounts to a kiddy pool hit his hamstring, his 30-year-old hamstring, and the tightness began to go away.

Moss sat in the frigid water, staring out past the edge of the tent to the drizzle that came on down as his Washington Redskins teammates made their way off the practice field. On into the locker room went tight end Chris Cooley, the man who caught more balls than any other Redskin last year. On into the locker room went Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, the second-year wide receivers who must develop in order for the Redskins' offense to improve. And on into the locker room went the linemen who are entrusted with opening holes for running back Clinton Portis and protecting quarterback Jason Campbell.

Moss garnered attention only when cornerback Carlos Rogers, whose own calf was wrapped tightly, saw him in the tub, pointed and smiled. "I need it, man," Moss called out, and went back to staring past his teammates.

In a training camp in which Moss is easy to overlook, it is imperative the Redskins don't do just that. On Saturday, he sat out the Redskins' first scrimmage of the preseason with that hamstring strain, making it easier for Washington's defense to dominate. His frame is just 5 feet 10 and 200 solid pounds, but his impact on the team's ability to stretch the field is enormous.

"The whole passing game," said wide receivers coach Stan Hixon, "runs through Santana."

This August, no defensive coach in the NFC East is preparing a game plan that might stop Kelly or Thomas, who are unproven and, outside of Ashburn, scarcely discussed. As Moss said, "I know what I can do," and that means defensive coaches do, too. If one Redskins wideout is to come up in discussions beyond the walls of Redskins Park, it is Moss, and only Moss.

"He's got a full knowledge of the offense now, too," said Coach Jim Zorn.

That, then, would seem to indicate that Moss could improve on his fine 2008 season, a year in which he caught 79 passes for 1,044 yards, the third 1,000-yard season of his eight-year career, his second in four years with the Redskins.

But that little tightening of the hamstring last week is both a warning of Moss's past and, potentially, a harbinger of his future. Though Moss has generally been durable during his time with the Redskins -- missing four games total in his four years, two each in 2006 and '07 -- he has an acute sense of injuries, of his own finely tuned body parts. So in each of the last two offseasons, he has prescribed himself something he used to abhor: rest.

"I should've did this when I was younger, honestly," he said. "I was one of those guys that just [doesn't] know how to stay out of the gym. And you know, when college kids get ready for the combine [in the spring], I'd be in there with them, like I got to get ready for something. And then you look at the seasons, and how they pan out and how you feel, I kind of start saying to myself like, 'Man, I done had two seasons already.' "

That, though, is about all you'll get from Moss by way of discussing his physical well-being. Last year, when one of his hamstrings tightened during a game in Detroit, causing him to sit out practices but ultimately no game time, Moss loathed giving daily updates on how he felt. He is following that line of thinking this season, too, calling his latest setback the "same old same old" on Sunday, when he again sat out the Redskins' workout.

"All you can do is go day by day, man," he said. "Me telling you every day something is getting better -- you see me practicing, you'll know I'm ready to go. Other than that, man, all I can do is go day by day."

Zorn and the Redskins, though, need Moss on the field not only for what he can do to defenses -- "He's the guy we know we can go deep to," Campbell said -- but also for the trickle-down effect he has on the offense.

"This is our fifth year together," Hixon said. "And what I was telling him in year one, two and three, he's telling the younger guys now."

That includes aspects of the game only coaches and players with a complete knowledge of the offense can pick up. Zorn, for instance, said he can have conversations with Moss about the subtleties of a certain play that he simply can't have with Kelly or Thomas, because they don't yet understand the game at that level.

"He's learning how to beat defenders with the patterns that we've got," Zorn said. "Where maybe last year, where he was just learning terminology and a route, now he's learning how to run it to beat a defender. He's trying to know whether he can cut his split down, widen his split. He's trying to learn if he can take a little time on the release, or whether he's got to go and just get there. Based on his knowledge of the pattern itself, he's getting better and better."

Because of that, Zorn's West Coast system allows for Moss, more than any other receiver, to tinker his routes within a certain play. Hixon said he has to work with Moss to slow things down -- "He's not a patient guy," Hixon said -- because he sometimes is so anxious to get the ball that he cuts off a pattern at, say, 18 yards rather than the 20 it's supposed to be run. But as long as he and Campbell are communicating well, Moss can improvise a bit.

"Santana plays with imagination," Hixon said. "So as a coach, the head coach and the coordinator have got to give him some leeway to be creative. If the [defensive back] is still seeing the same route run the same way every time, they hop on it. He'll run the same route about three different ways."

To do that, though, he has to be able to run. Moss celebrated his 30th birthday, which was June 1, in fine style, with parties at a Washington nightclub and a Miami hotel, with fellow University of Miami players, Redskins, even a lingerie show. But in that ice-cold tub in the heat of an August training camp, such celebrations can seem so long ago.

"I know what I need to do to get ready," Moss said, "and that's what I'm going to do."



(washigtonpost.com)

Spencer Adkins - #59 Height - 5′11, Weight - 230 lbs, 40-Time: sub 4.5, 30 reps x 225
Bio - Undersized linebacker that never developed at Miami after a highly productive high school career. Huge upside with loads of potential, but is very, very raw. Will definitely be a long-term project. Wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine. Lacks assignment discipline.



(blogs.ajc.com)

The Bucs expect tight ends Kellen Winslow and Jerramy Stevens to play a big role in the passing game.

"We felt like what we wanted to do at tight end could cross over to the receiver position," GM Mark Dominik said. The Bucs will use Winslow as their No. 2 option because he's better than any of their No. 2 receivers. He should have a nice bounce-back year lining up in the slot as well as at tight end



(rotoworld.com)

It's a popular saying in Baltimore, particularly on defense, that you must "play like a Raven" to make the team. There is no set definition for that term, yet everyone on the Ravens' roster seems to understand it.

Second-year linebacker Tavares Gooden is the latest player looking to uphold Baltimore's legacy of being physical and punishing. He is competing for a starting inside linebacker job vacated by another physical player in Bart Scott.
Also adding to the pressure is the nickname Gooden has received in "Baby Ray." Defensive leader and fellow Miami Hurricane Ray Lewis is taking Gooden under his wing to teach him the nuances of the game, and the pair is expected to play side-by-side this season in Baltimore's 3-4 scheme.

"Being the youngest in my family, I've always had to exceed whatever somebody else did," Gooden said at Ravens camp this week. "My brother -- he was a great football player -- and I was the baby. So, I was always called 'Little Byron,' or 'Little Stump.' So, I had to go through that.

"Now, it's the same thing with Ray -- they're like, 'Baby Ray.' Eventually, I just want to come out here and make my coaches proud, make my team proud and earn my own name."

Gooden said making the transition a lot easier is playing behind a stout defensive line featuring players like Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg. Much of his job in Baltimore is to read and react to the defensive line and fill the holes accordingly.

If Gooden wins the job, as projected, he will be the least experienced starter on Baltimore's defense, which ranked No. 2 in the NFL last season. He could see a lot of teams test him early, but Gooden says he doesn't plan on letting his teammates down.

"You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know that Bart, Ray and 'Sizzle' [Terrell Suggs] were all up on their deals [last year]," Gooden said of the situation this season. "They brought in another linebacker. You never knew how it was going to unfold, but this is how it is. Now it's time for us to start playing together, start building communication."



(espn.com)

LB Rocky McIntosh. Not on the run; he was fine and he came through nicely on a blitz. But he struggled to cover the tight ends, especially on crossing routes.





(washigtonexaminer.com)

“It was good. I think a lot of the scenarios we’ve been practicing kind of got played out in that game. We got a lot of guys in for some different reps and different scenarios and we learned a lot. We definitely did some good things out there.” (On the touchdown throw on the first play of the first drive) – “Lance (Leggett) is an extremely fast guy and we wanted to try and get some play action, to pull the safeties and see if he could get behind the coverage and he did. He made a great play, ran a great route, and the offensive line did a great job of holding up.”

Quinn’s coach, Carl Smith, had Quinn throw deep on the first play and he hit Lance Leggett for a 51-yard touchdown as Leggett got behind Rod Hood and Nick Sorensen.



(clevelandleader.com)

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—A shirtless Frank Gore walked around after practice the other day showing off his sculpted physique, clearly as confident as ever.

Gore feels so good, in fact, that San Francisco's star running back keeps referencing his career-best Pro Bowl season of 2006—because he believes he's primed to duplicate those results for the 49ers.

It sure can't hurt his cause that Mike Singletary is pushing a power-run offense in the coach's first training camp.
"I feel strong. I feel fast, quick and ready," Gore said. "I put the time in. Every time on the field, I visualize myself in the game."

Gore hasn't taken a day off through the first 10 days of camp and hasn't asked for one, either. That effort and energy is catching on with his offensive linemen and others. The coaches are closely monitoring Gore's workload to make sure he stays healthy and fresh, and he will be limited in Friday's exhibition opener against Denver.

"Frank is a workhorse out there," center Eric Heitmann said. "I've never seen Frank take a play off. He's always running down hill, trying to get the right cuts, blowing up the hole. He's working tremendously hard this camp. He's taking a ton of reps and looking extremely good. It's a tremendous motivating factor for us to have a running back with that much intensity and enthusiasm about the game. It really fires us up and it's fun to block for a guy like that."
Monday was a scorcher—the hottest day yet for the Niners during this camp—with the temperatures reaching the low 90s and no breeze. Yet play after play, there was Gore adding an extra 10 to 20 yards to every run, channeling a tradition established in the days of Jerry Rice and Roger Craig and their extraordinary work ethics. Those two made plays in practice, then ran a little further just for the fun of it.

"Good job, Gore!" one teammate hollered.

"Go get 'em, Frank!" yelled another.

Gore charges up the middle and high-fives a lineman, then makes another nice run and slaps hands with running backs coach Tom Rathman. He pats linemen on their helmets, too—and they sure appreciate those gestures of support.

"We're very lucky to have a guy like Frank in our backfield," Heitmann said.

On Monday, in an 11-on-11 drill featuring the starting lines on both sides of the ball, Gore broke through and ran right into the arms of observing injured linebacker Patrick Willis for an embrace.

"I think Frank has a tremendous attitude this training camp," Singletary said after the day's first session. "I think a lot of that has to do with his coach, Tom Rathman. Tom has developed a good rapport with all the running backs and getting to know who they are and coaching them hard. At the same time, being that father figure when you have to listen and help them work through things. So there's a trust that's there between Frank and Coach Rathman that only enhances what Frank can do."

In the best of his four NFL seasons, Gore ran for 1,695 and eight touchdowns in '06 and also caught 61 passes for 485 yards and a TD. He carried the ball 31 times at Denver that season and rushed for 212 yards against Seattle, both career highs.

The 26-year-old Gore returned to the University of Miami for his offseason regimen this year, rededicating himself to the kind of training that worked so well for him in 2006. He turned himself over to Hurricanes strength coach Andreu Swasey, the same man who helped Gore during his college days and early years in the NFL.

"I wanted to go back to him since '06 was one of my best years. I went back to all my old ways, like when I first got in the league," Gore said. "I did a lot of sand work, a lot of heavy step-ups, a lot of agility in the sand, 200s, 300s. I worked on a lot of power-cleans. I feel so strong right now. I just go on the practice field and visualize myself in the game. That's why I like to get the reps and why I go so far."

Gore decided he needed to do something differently because he didn't finish the past two seasons the way he would have liked and has dealt with a bum ankle that kept him out two games in 2008. He still finished last year with 240 carries for 1,036 yards and six TDs and another 43 catches with two touchdowns.

He has missed only three games in three years despite the constant pounding his body takes.

Everybody's eager to see what Gore can do in the 49ers' revamped offense.

"I don't have anything to measure this against because I haven't seen him in a game or a season situation with him, but he has been one of the best workers in preparation since we started this training camp," said Jimmy Raye, the new Niners offensive coordinator and seventh in as many years. "I think he has the eye of the tiger this year. From what I've seen, his work ethic has been outstanding and he's looking forward to a good year—and we are looking forward to him having one."



(mercurynews.com)

METAIRIE, La. -- By all accounts, Jonathan Vilma resurrected his career with the New Orleans Saints last season. After clashing with coach Eric Mangini with the Jets and enduring an injury, Vilma found a home in the middle of New Orleans' 4-3 defense.

He got back to playing middle linebacker the way he was used to playing it and instantly became the leader of the defense. By Vilma's account, that wasn't nearly good enough.

Personal satisfaction has a way of getting watered down when you're playing on a defense that's not very good. Vilma might have been a bright spot, but the rest of the defense was a dark hole. Nine different times the Saints allowed opponents to score at least 27 points and they lost seven of those games.

Williams' impact has been felt from the first moment he entered the building and it's been obvious out on the practice field.

"The X's and O's are pretty much the same," Vilma said. "But it's a different mindset. It's about letting us play. Coach Williams lets us know it's all right to go out there and make mistakes. It's all right to go out there and be wrong. As long as you're doing it 100 miles per hour, as long as you're hitting somebody, it's all right. We'll go into the meetings and make our corrections there."

Basically, what the Saints are doing is trading a cautious defensive approach for an aggressive one.

It's been said that even an average defense might be good enough to get the Saints to the playoffs. But the Saints aren't looking for an average defense. They want more.

"We can be as good as we want to be," Vilma said. "We have the talent. We had the talent last year, but we just didn't make plays. This year, we're focusing on making those plays. The talent is there. It's just a matter of going out and doing it."



(espn.com)

Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Jon Beason, who hurt his hamstring Aug. 3 on the first day of training camp, returned to practice for the first time Monday evening.

Beason said all along the injury wasn't serious. He appeared to be running normally for much of the time he missed practice while doing individual workouts on the sidelines.



(charlotteobserver.com)

FOXBORO - Representatives for Vince Wilfork and members of the Patriots front office are engaged in “constant discussions” regarding a potential contract extension for the nose tackle, according to director of player personnel Nick Caserio.

In his first meeting with reporters in months, Caserio addressed the status of the Pro Bowler. He said about reaching a potential resolution: “Hopefully we will get to that point.

“It’s ongoing and, as far as pinpointing that this is going to be the final resolution, it is hard for us to say that. Vince has been a good player for us in our system, and we want to have him around here. Both parties are working on both sides to try to get something resolved.

Wilfork’s agent, Kennard McGuire, declined comment.

Wilfork, a 6-foot-2, 325-pound former first-round pick from Miami, is entering the final season of a contract that pays him $800,000 per year plus incentives. Instead of holding out, Wilfork showed up on time.

Last season, he had 85 tackles. Caserio, who is the voice of the personnel department now that Scott Pioli works for the Kansas City Chiefs, would not rate Wilfork or say whether he deserves to be paid like one of the NFL’s best linemen.

“How he stacks up relative to other players in the league may or may not come into play,” Caserio said. “But we know in our system he’s been a productive player, and some of those other players, you don’t know how they would fit in your system. He has been a good player for us, and we are cognizant of how he stacks up (in) the league.”

Wilfork took a day off Wednesday to be with his wife, Bianca, who gave birth to their third child. The absence was scheduled, as the family had planned to have doctors induce labor. Wilfork returned yesterday but did not speak with reporters.



(bostonherald.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak hopes to have C Chris Myers (high ankle sprain) back by the third preseason game.
Chris White and third-rounder Antoine Caldwell are getting reps in the meantime. With both Myers and guard Chester Pitts expected to be healthy by Week 1, the Texans will return last year's line intact for the regular season.



(rotoworld.com)

(nachofoto.com)

HH: Can you talk about recruiting Clinton Portis? What was his personality like back then?
Clinton was an unbelievable story. The tape we were watching on Clinton we were actually watching the Quarterback on his football team. Late one Monday night early in the season it was like the first of September, it was Clinton's Senior year. The game by accident we picked up to watch the quarterback, Clinton was absolutely spectacular. Kickoff returns for touchdowns. Everytime he touched the ball. I remember one particular sequence he scored a touchdown... it was a long run, a 67-yard run and there was a penalty and they brought it back. They handed him the ball the very next play, and he did exactly the same thing. It was like immediately, "Get on the phone. Find out who this guy is. Do we have any kind of opportunity to recruit him?" We were fortunate with him being right there in Gainesville. For whatever reason, the Univ of Florida wasn't interested. We went full out trying to recruit him. He was a great player in college and a phenomenal player on the next level.

HH: And Santana Moss?
Santana was a totally different story. He was the biggest secret maybe in the country. We all knew in South Florida what a phenomenal kid that he was. Charismatic. Great personality. He had outstanding track times. He played with a great high school football team at Carol City, but they hardly ever threw the ball. This stat won't be 100% accurate, but he had something like 8-10-12-15 catches. Like maybe one a game. He was in a 3-point stance and blocking down field. Talking about somebody flying totally under the radar. Immediately when he got on our football team, we knew that he was special. He was a difference maker. He might be the most electrifying punt returner that I've certainly ever had the opportunity to be around. There were so many ways he could hurt a defense. Stretch em deep. Great hands. Run after catches. Electrifying. You could do all the reverses with him. We were blessed to have both of those kids on our football team.

HH: You left there right as Sean Taylor was getting there. Were you involved at all in recruiting him?
When I recruited Sean, my son went to the same school as Sean. So, I was over at Gulliver a lot picking up my son and wathing him practice. I'll never forget the year we recruited Sean, he scored 5 TDs in the championship game as the RB. That was one of the things [people don't realize in games]. They see an interception by Sean Taylor in college and the NFL and they didn't realize they just threw the ball up to one of the country's best RBs. At the time we had Willis Maghee, Clinton Portis, Najeh Davenport. We had a host of RBs..it was just more prudent to put him at safety.

HH: When I interviewed Coach Larry Coker on the phone, he had mentioned he recruited Sean.
Well, I was the head coach when Sean was there. I left the week before they all signed. Kellon Winslow Jr, Antrel Rolle. All those guys. That was quite a class.

HH: Man...I bet that 2001 Miami team could have beat the bottom third of the NFL that year.
I don't know about that but they were pretty gifted. When you go to training camp if you would, please say hello to Clinton and Santana, I'd appreciate it.

OK, so the 2001 Miami roster, which won the National Championship, included: Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport, Andre Johnson,  Antrel Rolle, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis,  Philip Buchanon, Frank Gore, Rocky McIntosh, Vince Wilfork, Bryant McKinnie, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey, and Jerome McDougle. Ken Dorsey was the QB for this championship team, but wow, what a squad.



(hogshaven.com)

Teammates and coaches alike are noticing the terrific camp running back Frank Gore is having, the result of an offseason conditioning program and a renewed sense of purpose in new coordinator Jimmy Raye's offense.

Put simply, Gore is tearing up camp. He hasn't taken a moment off since camp started Aug. 1 and doesn't intend to ask for any down time.

"I feel fast, strong, ready," Gore said Saturday between practices. "Every time I'm on the field, I envision being in the game. I feel great. I feel the more reps, the comfortable I will be. I'm ready to play ball."

Raye had a different way of assessing Gore's readiness: "He has the eye of the tiger this year."

Expanding, Raye said, "He has been one of the best workers in terms of preparation since we started. He has the talent and passion to be an upper-echelon guy."

It could be Gore is motivated by talk that the 49ers plan to give him a breather this season by sending in third-round draft pick Glen Coffee, who is having a stellar camp himself. Gore values his carries, as all backs do.

"I see them in tandem, working together," Raye said. "I think it is very difficult for one guy to go 16, 18, 20 weeks and carry the load."

Raye has liked what he has seen of Coffee, a one-cut-and-go type of runner.

"He carries the ball well," the coordinator said. "Carrying the ball is his biggest asset. He looks pretty big to me. He's a very rugged guy."



(sfgate.com)

There were, however, a couple of notable players sitting out the morning practice. Receiver Santana Moss, who is nursing a sore hamstring, did mostly side-work. He had little to report on his injury after practice, calling it "same old same old."

"All you can do is go day by day, man," he said. "Me telling you every day something is getting better - you see me practicing you'll know I'm ready to go. Other than that, man, all I can do is go day by day."

So when can fans expect Moss back? "I really don't know," he said. "When it's time to go, I'll be out there."



(washigtonpost.com)

Veteran RB Willis McGahee, the backup to Ray Rice, has played well in camp. McGahee has shown flashes of his old self with good vision, and the ability to read and cut off blocks. McGahee apparently has brought into Harbaugh’s coaching style instead of fighting it like last season. McGahee could be the perfect spark if Rice struggles early in the season.



(sportingnews.com)

Q: What is your role in the secondary this year?
A: This year I get to play a bigger role. Last year I only came in on third downs and right now I’m excited to work as a started. At mini camp we were working out the secondary, off season we kept in touch, made sure that everybody was doing extra drills and working on their hands so that when we get the opportunity to make a play we’ll make it.

Q: Can you think of one thing that your former teammates in the secondary did that helped you out a lot?
A: They knew how to practice every snap. They didn’t take plays off, there was no lull, they went for the ball, went back to the huddle.

Q: How different is it for this year coming into camp with a year of experience under your belt?
A: I feel more confident, I’m more comfortable.

Q: On defense the coaches have been yelling your name the most – in a good way. Do you think this will be the year for you?
A: Last year I was more hesitant when I was making plays because I didn’t really know what I was doing but this year my role has change. I’ve got to make the calls and be a bigger help on the defense. So far I’m just trying to fill that need.

Q: Has the new coordinator [Bill Sheridan] changed your defense at all?
A: No. I get along with Coach Sheridan. He didn’t change the defense too much.

Q: You’ve said you felt like you were on a little bit of a leash last year…
A: Last year I was a rookie. This year things are working out so far.



(giants.com)

The one-on-one pass blocking drill pitted the running backs and tight ends against the linebackers and defensive backs. Defense won many battles.

Linebacker Jonathan Vilma is unblockable in the drill. He blew past and over fullback Heath Evans. Perhaps the veteran out of Miami (FL) will have more chances to blitz in the new defensive scheme.

Tight end Buck Ortega handled free safety Darren Sharper.



(whodatzone.com)

Kenny Phillips trumped made the play of the day with an incredible interception. Domenik Hixon went deep down the middle and had a step on Phillips and Corey Webster. Eli Manning threw the ball and put it in a great spot for Hixon to catch it in stride. But Phillips found another gear and was able to catch up to the receiver and the ball and jump for it, outjumping the other two players in the area, all while coming down with the pick.

"Quite an interception," Coughlin said.

Phillips briefly had the lead in interceptions this camp with three, but Bryan Kehl picked off Carr on a pass for Mario Manningham later in practice so they are tied atop the leaderboard. The QBs have thrown 16 interceptions in eight practices.



(newsday.com)

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Evidence that speedy Bears receiver Devin Hester is more than just a deep threat came on the first play of a two-minute drill in Thursday night’s training camp practice.

Quarterback Jay Cutler drifted to his right and fired a fairly deep pass over the middle that appeared to be heading into the waiting arms of Brian Urlacher. But Hester came back for the ball, shielded it from the middle linebacker and plucked it out of the air for a first down. 

The play, which set up Robbie Gould’s 25-yard field goal, may not have been one that Hester was capable of making when he first moved from cornerback to wide receiver in 2007.

“It’s because of how much progress I’ve made,” Hester said. “The more reps you get the better you get at whatever you do in life. Given the opportunity to be the No. 1 [receiver] and going out and getting as many reps as I’m getting is helping me out a lot.”

Hester made several nice catches in Thursday night’s practice, including one in the right corner of the end zone on another perfectly-thrown pass from Cutler.

“I’m just trying to be an all-around receiver as far as moving the chains, catching the deep ball and being able to come up and block when I have to,” Hester said. “That’s what I’m working on.”



(chicagobears.com)

BOURBONNAIS - The burden of high expectations is on tight end Greg Olsen this year, but that doesn't appear to be nearly enough to stall a career that seems to be blasting off for stardom.

"He's to that point in his career where he's ready to step up and have a huge year," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "He's gotten better every year, and (when) you get a better supporting cast around him, then obviously he's going to do better. He's playing with a lot of confidence and playing very fast right now."

Olsen has had star potential since the Bears selected him in the first round (31st overall) in 2007. But great expectations have haunted most of Bears' first-round picks in the past decade. First-rounders Curtis Enis (1998), Cade McNown (1999), David Terrell (2001), Marc Colombo (2002), Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman (2003) and Cedric Benson (2005) have all fallen somewhere in between major disappointments and outright failures.

Olsen has already surpassed all of those predecessors with two solid seasons. As a rookie he caught 39 passes for 391 yards, and last season he had 54 receptions for 574 yards and a team-best 5 TD catches.

The combination of early production, steady improvement and an enviable array of physical talents, plus the addition of Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, have optimists predicting a monster season for the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Olsen. He's always had the speed and soft hands of a wide receiver, and now everything is coming together for him.

"When you're watching him, you see a lot of talent," Cutler said. "There are very few things he can't do on a football field as far as running routes and blocking. You don't very often find a guy with that kind of motor and, as big as he is, just the way he adjusts to balls. A lot of guys that big are kind of stiff and they can't do the things he can. He's a huge target, and we just have to use him the right way."

If the first week of training camp is any indication, Cutler will be utilizing Olsen more frequently than any Bears tight end has been used since some guy named "Ditka," back in the 1960s. Cutler has gone to Olsen repeatedly in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, connecting on quick slants, deep sideline routes and everything in between. Through the first week of practice, Olsen had dropped just 1 pass.

"We're a week into training camp, and I feel pretty good, and a lot of it has to do with being more confident because it's my third year," Olsen said. "As guys get more comfortable, they're able to go out and just do what they have to do instead of thinking about it."

Turner considers it a natural progression for Olsen to have his best season yet.

"He was ready to take the next step even without Jay," Turner said. "But they've already developed a good chemistry. Jay has a lot of confidence in Greg, and I think he's primed to have a really good year.

"The skill level obviously was always there, but he is playing faster, and he's doing a lot of the little things. I've mentioned it many times when we're in there watching film. Whether it's blocking with his pad level down, his footwork on blocks or the way he runs routes against press coverage. A lot of the things he's doing, he's doing so much better than he did last year and the year before."

Much was made over Olsen's promotion to No. 1 tight end ahead of 11-year veteran Desmond Clark, but that writing was on the wall well before training camp began. The changing of the guard was inevitable, even though Clark has always been a better blocker than Olsen, and has caught more than 40 passes in each of the past three seasons. Olsen has the speed to stretch a defense, and he's worked hard to improve his deficiencies as a blocker, as Clark graciously points out.

"One thing you have to appreciate about Greg is that he's a guy who came into the NFL with probably only one glaring weakness," Clark said. "For the last three years, that's primarily what he's been working on getting better at, trying to improve his strength, trying to work on his footwork so he could be that complete tight end. When you see a guy that has as much talent as he does working on the weaknesses, you just know there's going to come a day, and it's probably going to come very soon, where he's the complete package."

That day may have already arrived.



(dailyherald.com)

FOXBORO - After club director of player personnel Nick Caserio spoke Thursday of ongoing contract talks with Vince Wilfork [stats], the Patriots [team stats] nose tackle wouldn’t say yesterday if the negotiations were progressing or if they had hit a snag.

The big guy is not talking about his contract status these days.

“Right now, that’s something I’m (not) concerned about,” Wilfork said. “The only thing I’m concerned about is getting better as a football player and playing football. I’ll let those (guys) handle what they have to handle off the field. Right now, my focus is football, and football only.”

So instead of bemoaning the lack of a contract extension, Wilfork spoke enthusiastically about the acquisition of defensive end Derrick Burgess, whose play he loves, as well as the birth of the newest member of the Wilfork family.

On Thursday, Vince and wife Bianca welcomed their third child, David, who was named in memory of Wilfork’s father.

So, another nose tackle is about to be groomed?

“No, he’s going to be a golfer,” Wilfork said, laughing. “I’m going to start him early, have him stay away from football.”

Wilfork, who is in the final season of the six-year deal he signed as a rookie, said putting the contract aside and letting his agent handle whatever might pop up has helped him focus and take the proper approach to training camp.

It’s allowed him to just play football.

“That’s how it’s going to be until I say otherwise,” he said. “But it will not affect the way I prepare and what I do on the field.

“You have to be able to separate business from your profession and what you’re doing. You know me, I love football, so I’m going to play football. Everything else will take care of itself.”

A Herald column by Ron Borges on Sunday cited a source claiming Wilfork would be gone if he reached free agency.

When asked yesterday if he realized how much fans wanted him back, Wilfork smiled.

“I want to be here. There’s no question in my mind that I don’t want go anywhere, but it’s a business. Things happen,” said Wilfork, who will make $2.2 million this season. “Every year, people move to different teams. I’m pretty sure sometimes people want to go, and sometimes they don’t want to go. So, in my case, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay around here for a long time. I want to end my career here.

“We’ll see happens, but that’s something I’m not even concerning myself with right now. My thing is getting up every day, coming to work. Until they say it’s over, it’s not going to change the way I come out and prepare. I’m not going to let anyone down in that locker room. They know the situation. It’s in the papers, it’s on the news. They know I’m in my final year. They also know when I step on this football field and strap it on, it’s time to go to work. They know they can trust me. And I expect the same thing out of them.”



(bostonherald.com)

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester is a changed man.

After voicing frustration last season with his inability to break punt or kickoff return touchdowns while learning to be a wide receiver, Hester this year has accepted a slimmed down special teams responsibility. He's going to focus on being a better receiver.

He's a more serious player overall and he has even given up the sports car he used to drive.

"I had to get rid of that -- getting a little older," said the 26-year-old Hester. "That was more for younger guys. I moved on to something a little simpler."

It's that way for Hester on the field, as well.

Last year, he gradually learned the receiving game and finished with 51 catches. Eventually Danieal Manning replaced him returning kickoffs the final four games and has gone on to post the highest career kick return average among active NFL players with at least 40 returns (28.8 yards per return).

"I'm not doing any kickoff returns this year -- none," Hester said Friday. "That's going to be all Danieal."

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub hasn't discounted Hester in a complete emergency on kickoffs, but Rashied Davis, Garrett Wolfe and rookie Johnny Knox have practiced returning kicks behind Manning.

Hester electrified the NFL with 11 kick and punt returns for touchdowns in 2006-07 to draw within two of Brian Mitchell's career record, but that was before he played much receiver.

Toub doesn't want Hester shouldering all the blame for last year's struggles. The Bears' return units last year had a large turnover in blockers and special teams as a whole dropped from a top NFL ranking for two straight years to eighth overall.

"You're going to get turnaround all the time, but there are a lot of guys who are coming back for the second time [this year]," Toub said. With blocking expected to improve, Toub thinks that even with full-time receiver duty Hester can average 10 yards per punt return.

Hester averaged 12.8 yards on punt returns in 2006, 15.5 in 2007, but only 6.9 last year.

"Those [2006-07] were unbelievable years," Toub said. "We had two great years where that was all he was doing. We're asking him to do a lot more [for the offense].

"If he could just get the ball and get 10 yards, then anything after that is a bonus. That's all I'm asking for. There's no reason why he shouldn't be averaging over 10 yards per return. Last year he was 6.9 and he's not happy with that, we're not happy with that."

Added Hester: "If you're getting 10 yards a return you're breaking a few in there. That's a goal."

Both Bears return men are starters -- Manning is in the defensive secondary -- yet coach Lovie Smith thinks handling one special teams chore shouldn't prove taxing.

"Both players feel comfortable doing that, both players want to do that," Smith said. "And in order for us to win, we need them to do that. We'll start from there, we'll always have backups that we feel pretty good about. We have some other guys who can do both."

The bigger issue might be Hester clicking as a receiver with new quarterback Jay Cutler. Hester's speed is always apparent, but in recent practices he has shown a better ability to run underneath routes or cross the middle.
Hester calls 2009 a fresh start.

"At the end of the day I want to be a complete receiver," he said. "And at the end of the season, for all the critics saying I'm maybe a third receiver or something like that, I want them (to say), 'Yeah, he is capable of being a No. 1 receiver."'



(cbssports.com)

Clinton Portis is in the odd position of being at once the Redskins' most popular and famous player, and having the biggest disrespect complex in the team's locker room. Who exactly, besides Brian Mitchell, has been disrespecting Portis? Jason La Canfora? Mike from Rockviille? ChRiS LaRRy? Anyhow, whoever it is, Portis has a message for you:

"I think it's eatin' 'em up to still see me doing it," Portis told NBC Washington's Dan Hellie. "You really just can't say nothing to me, there's nothing you can say that's gonna have me low and down in the dumps. I can tell you check my paperwork. You know, just look at the paperwork, look at my stats, look at my grind, look at everything I've accomplished at 28, and I'm not even 28 yet. So you take the one year away that I got hurt, I'd be over 10,000 yards already."

Whatever your feelings about his defensiveness, check my paperwork is a great athlete line. Unless you're named Smiley Gonzalez.

"I don't think there's a harder back in the game when it comes to the grind, or the blocking, or doing the extra," Portis also argued. "I think when I'm on the field my energy level is better than anybody in the game. That's the way I'm gonna always feel. I'm gonna go out and I'm gonna give everything I've got for this team and this organization and my teammates, and when I can't do it no more, I'll walk away."

In other highlights, Portis said he'd pick Tom Brady first in his fantasy league, that he would be a surfer if he weren't in the NFL, that Jim Zorn would be an architect since "he built all the little tents," and that if he could be with any woman for a day, he would choose Alicia Keys.

"Me and Alicia Keys in Cabo, sun setting, and she's got a piano out on the beach, playing a good tune to me," he said.



(washigtonpost.com)

Jeff Fisher likes what he sees.

“We’re getting a lot of plays and production out of the young guys,” Fisher said. “Tanard Davis is doing well, Cary Williams is making his share of plays. Fortunately, with the extra preseason game we’ll get a chance to evaluate them.”

Davis jumped a post route and picked off a pass from Patrick Ramsey in practice yesterday.



(musiccitymiracles.com)

FLAGSTAFF – Everyone has seen what Antrel Rolle can do with the football in his hands. He already has four interception returns for a touchdown (and a fumble return for a TD in the playoffs) and that led the Cards to try the safety as a slot receiver a couple of times.

It’s also why the Cards want to look at Rolle as a punt returner, and why Rolle would want the job.

“It would be something I would take a whole lot of interest in,” Rolle said. “I love punt returns. That was always my number one love growing up in high school and college.”

But for now, coach Ken Whisenhunt sounds like he is planning on keeping Steve Breaston as both his kickoff and punt returner. Whisenhunt noted Breaston’s sure-handedness as a punt return man – he has yet to fumble in two years.

Rolle badly sprained his ankle the very first time he tried to return a punt in the preseason last year and never got another chance.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough of those guys,” Whisenhunt said. “With Steve’s situation, maybe it’s a spot where we need someone else to do it to spell him when he needs a blow.

“From this point, I am very comfortable with Steve as both. But we are always looking to have other guys do it because you don’t want just one guy who can do it. We will know a lot more after the preseason games.”



(azcardinals.com)

The man who drove a band of young men from Fort Myers to Miami for an ill-fated burglary that ended in the slaying of NFL star Sean Taylor goes to court Friday in a bid to rescind his guilty plea.

A Miami-Dade judge will hear testimony in the case of Venjah Hunte, 21, who last year pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against four co-defendants in exchange for a 29-year sentence.

But Hunte, claiming he did not understand the deal struck with prosecutors, filed a motion in June seeking to vacate his plea.

If Hunte violates the deal by not testifying against the others, he faces life in prison.

Taylor was shot in the groin on Nov. 26, 2007, during a botched burglary at his Palmetto Bay house.

The Washington Redskins and University of Miami star died later at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The other defendants -- accused gunman Eric Rivera, 19; Jason Mitchell, 21; Charles Wardlow, 20, and Timmy Lee Brown, 18 -- are all in jail and awaiting trial on murder charges. They allegedly were looking for a stash of cash they believed was in Taylor's house.

The court has waived attorney-client privilege for Hunte's former lawyer, Michael Hornung, who is expected to testify Friday. Hunte says Hornung gave him ``ineffective representation'' leading to the plea deal. Hornung declined to comment, citing a gag order imposed by Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy.



(miamiherald.com)

Rams QB Brock Berlin is getting all the snaps at No. 3 quarterback ahead of Keith Null, the record-setting West Texas A&M product. Null didn’t take advantage of his minimal opportunities Thursday, bobbling a snap in morning practice and fumbling one in the afternoon.



(footballvideosite.com)

Exhale.

While there's still no definite timeline on how long Texans starting center Chris Myers will be on the sideline with a high ankle sprain, the news coming out of Texans camp today could have been much worse.

When asked during a post-practice Q&A (published on houstontexans.com) whether Myers' injury would require surgery, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said "no, all indications are to me that he's fine and that we'll rest it, rehab it and get him back out there."

But Kubiak was non-committal about Myers' return since high ankle sprains can be tricky from a rehab standpoint.

"Well those high ankles (sprains), I don't think you know,"  said Kubiak.  "You'll see two weeks, you'll see four weeks. With Chris, I'd work more towards the short end, but that's just me knowing him.  I know we can count on Chris, but I can't put at timetable on it."

The good news is that Myers suffered no broken bones or torn knee ligaments.  After hearing reports of the injury yesterday, I was fearing the worst.

Myers took his fair share of grief from fans last season but the Texans are much better off with him than without him. 

For what he may lack in raw power, Myers is an accomplished technician in the Alex Gibbs' blocking scheme.  He makes the line calls and has put on some weight in anticipation of facing at least four opponents this season that run a 3-4, meaning he will be facing nose tackles like Kris Jenkins and Vince Wilfork who outweigh him by 30-40 lbs.

Last season was the first time in Alex Gibbs' career that he had all five lineman play all 16 games together and that consistency most certainly contributed to a few wins.

Rookie 3rd rounder Antoine Caldwell has been running second team center in practice and he and Chris White are sharing reps in Myers' absence.  While the experience will help Caldwell - who will eventually emerge as a starter at center or guard - I would rather see him learn in an environment other than trial by fire like Duane Brown did last year.



(examiner.com)

Frank Gore wants to see more maturity out of Vernon Davis, and he told him so.

"It's his fourth year now. Now it's time," Gore said Saturday.

The 49ers running back spoke to reporters a day after Davis said some teammates were upset by his latest training-camp fight. Coach Mike Singletary punished the entire team after Davis' scuffle by making players run sideline-to-sideline sprints.

Gore was among those unamused.

"I wasn't mad about having to run gassers," he said. "I just feel it's his fourth year now, and I told him it shouldn't be him now. Everybody makes mistakes but it shouldn't be him. OK, a rookie? I accept that."

Gore and Davis have a friendly relationship and joke around frequently in the locker room. Before talking to reporters Saturday, Gore said he already had spoken to the tight end about the matter, telling him: "It's time to be a man and try to do everything right. There are younger guys who probably look up to you on the team."

Davis, 25, has a history of training-camp fights. He vowed to dial it back this season, but Thursday he tussled briefly with linebacker Marques Harris.

Singletary held Davis accountable for the incident and pulled him aside for a one-way conversation.
Then, the coach made everyone run.

Davis said of that experience: "A few guys were mad, but like I told them you can't get mad because there will be a time you make the rest of us run. I told them they should be happy that I made them run because it's extra work for us and a chance for us to get better."



(mercurynews.com)

WAYLAND - For Chris Zellner the summer months once represented one thing. From his summer school course work to his lengthy weight room workouts; a healthy diet and constant battles to get the best of the unrelenting southern sun.

When peers took time off for vacations and barbeques, afternoons on South Beach and extended relaxation, he ran and lifted, sprinted and squatted.

Maybe somewhere in the mix he snuck in a cheeseburger or a trip to the most famous stretch of sand in the country. But he didn't waste time. For Zellner, the newest member of the Wayland Warrior coaching staff, everything in his summer regimen has always been about one thing.

Preparation.

``You are a long way away from game day,'' Zellner, a 2009 graduate of the University of Miami (FL) began. ``In the summer, it's all about making yourself better. It's the little things: jumping off sides, remember the snap count and your job for that play.

``In football there is a great deal of trust and you've got to be able look at that teammate in the fourth quarter. It all starts now and I just keep trying to encourage them - I try to harp on those every week.''

As a player Zellner was a high school star in Sarasota, FL. He earned a scholarship to Miami, known to football fans simply as ``The U.'' He played tight end for the Hurricanes, primarily in a blocking capacity, and last year he caught a season-high eight passes in the Emerald Bowl, where Miami fell to California.

Now, Zellner has traded in the Florida sun and a helmet for a whistle and a visor. It's still about football and preparation this summer, but the 6-foot-3, 245 pound player has transformed into a coach.

``Ever since high school, my first goal was always to make it to the NFL,'' Zellner said. ``I helped out when we had camps in high school, and then also at Miami. I've always wanted to help out with the kids.

``This summer we're hitting the weight room, working on a lot of explosive weightlifting. That's the main thing. Trying to make them have fun is also a major part of it. We run a lot of hills. We add a lot of competition to it and try to go out and have a good time.''

According to head coach Scott Parseghian the fit has been natural.

``The kids have taken a real liking to him this summer. They love working out with him and he brings a great energy to the program,'' said Parseghian.

The workouts include a lot of sprints, running hills and explosive weight lifting. Strength and conditioning coaches have come up with all kinds of brutal workouts, from running with weights tied to their back or pushing cars. Zellner drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it's not what you think.

``One day I had a couple of the guys help me push my car,'' Zellner said, laughing lightly, ``but no no, that wasn't a workout, I was legitimately stuck.''

Zellner says about 20 players have taken part in the voluntary work outs on Mondays and Thursdays with a dozen players involved on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As a player, he bench pressed 410 pounds, squatted 500 pounds and threw around 330 pounds in his power clean. He shares his strength, his 4.61 40-yard dash time, and many other experiences with the players.

``I know I have a different perspective and some a lot of life experiences,'' Zellner commented. ``It's been a great match. The kids are great. They go out and work hard, they don't complain. They get along and they like what I'm doing.''

Zellner moved to the area with his fiance Melinda, a Massachusetts native. This academic year he will be a teaching assistant in Wayland. During the season he will work with the receivers and - at times - the defensive line. After a disappointing 2008 season in which the Warriors lost numerous close games, this year's edition of the Black and Orange boasts more experience and some key returning players.

Looking ahead to the fall, Zellner is excited for his first season of high school football in the northeast, and possibly a little friendly rivalry as he defends his Miami brethren.

Earlier this week Zellner was asked if he knew that Parseghian's is a long time supporter and fan of the Florida State Seminoles - Miami's biggest rival.

``Oh really,'' Zellner responded, sounding surprised. ``Nah, he hasn't mentioned that to me. Now I have to a conversation with Coach P when I see him again.''



(wickedlocal.com)

WESTON - Even if he doesn't retain the starting job at small forward he claimed at the end of last season, James Jones figures to be plenty busy this coming season.

In addition to preparing for his second season with the Miami Heat, the seventh-year veteran has joined the negotiating committee that will try to work out a new NBA collective-bargaining agreement, serving as secretary-treasurer with the National Basketball Players' Association.

With his wife due with the couple's third child, the Southwest Ranches resident missed this week's first negotiating session in New York but plans an active role in the process.

"They held an election, my name came up, and I was voted by my peers," he said Thursday, before appearing at a water-safety event for special-needs children at the Miami Children's Hospital Dan Marino Center in Weston. "I looked at it as an opportunity to just do something besides playing basketball."

In addition to Jones, also on the players' negotiating committee are union president Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs center Theo Ratliff, Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr., Oklahoma City Thunder forward Etan Thomas, Toronto Raptors forward Maurice Evans, Orlando Magic center Adonal Foyle and New Jersey Nets guard Keyon Dooling, the former Heat reserve.

With ownership holding the right to end the current collective-bargaining agreement as soon as June 30, 2011, negotiations, due to a forecast of a severe drop in league revenues, have begun unusually early.

"Right now is sort of a discovery period, where they give us their information, we give them our information, and we just try to figure some things out," said Jones, who graduated the University of Miami with a degree in finance.

"There is definitely, on both sides, urgency to come together quick and to get something done."

Jones has been involved with the union as a team representative in each of his four NBA stops, with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and, now, the Heat.

"I've been a player rep basically my entire career," he said, "But on the board, this is my first time."

Already there are concerns about a league shutdown in 2011, similar to the six-month one the league experienced in 1998. Jones said it is too early to be talking about a lockout.

"Right now, we're trying to take the positive side, which is we're going to do everything we can to avoid a 2011 lockout, because no one wants a lockout," he said. "Everyone just wants a deal that's fair."



(sun-sentinel.com)

CORAL GABLES, FLA. – Former University of Miami forward Brian Asbury has signed with Hapoel Kiryat Tivon following a two-day U.S. tryout in Ft. Lauderdale in late July.

Asbury will begin the season in the Second Division on the Tivon roster, but will practice with Maccabi Haifa – an Israeli Premier League team – during the season and can be called up to that squad.

“We are proud to sign a local Miami player like Brian out of our U.S. tryout,” said Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffrey Rosen. “Since the team’s parent company, Triangle [Financial Services], is based in South Florida we are always scouting for local talent. We look forward to Brian gaining experience in the Second Division with Tivon in hopes to help Haifa down the stretch.”

A four-year letterwinner for the Hurricanes, Asbury set a Miami record with 130 career appearances and averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a senior with 19 starts in 32 games. Versus ACC competition, Asbury was UM’s second-leading scorer with 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Asbury, who received the Ultimate Teammate Award following the 2008-09 season in a vote by his fellow Miami players, impressed team management after tryouts at Nova Southeastern University on July 28 and 29, where 48 players competed for an opportunity to play professional basketball in Israel.



(hurricanesports.com)

When South Broward star Krystal Saunders verbally committed to Miami, news spread quickly.

One of the first people to call and offer their congratulations? Former Miami and South Broward star Tamara James.
"I just talked to her and it was awesome," Saunders said Thursday.

Saunders said she first met James last year and since then, the pair have become friends. They practice together and have bonded over basketball--and pride in South Broward. Now they'll have one more thing to talk about--college life at Miami.

James finished her career as Miami as the Hurricanes' leading scorer before being drafted by the Washington Mystics eighth overall in the 2006 WNBA draft. She started what has now become a pipeline between Miami and girls' basketball power South Broward.

Also choosing Miami after playing at South Broward was Lamese James.

"Tamara did such great things for UM and then Lamese followed so they had another one to watch," South Broward coach Sharlene Ferguson said. "It all started with Tamara."



(sun-sentinel.com)