FLASHUPDATE WEEK 1 TEAM NOTES/Wednesday, 3 Sept. 2008 Compiled By FlashUpdate Editor Bob Harris ========================= ARIZONA CARDINALS As East Valley Tribune beat writer Mike Tulumello reported it, there was no drum roll, just a simple announcement: "The person who best gives us a chance to win at San Francisco is Kurt Warner," said head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was kind enough to end the suspense about his starting quarterback well in advance this Sunday's kickoff. Asked if Matt Leinart is still the quarterback of the team's future, Whisenhunt replied, "I would say so. "He's started 16 games in this league. That's not a lot of games. I've been around a number of young quarterbacks. It takes time. I've seen him grow tremendously. You can see it on the field." Whisenhunt has employed a tough love approach in the 20 months or so he's coached Leinart. According to Arizona Republic staffer Kent Somers, "No coddling was offered, no unearned compliments were given, no sweet nothings whispered." The way the head coach and offensive coordinator Todd Haley figured it, if Leinart responded, the Cardinals had a quarterback who had been steeled by adversity, a guy who would produce in tough times. Now the times, certainly for Leinart, are much tougher indeed. Citing an unnamed team source, ESPN insider Chris Mortensen reported that the Cardinals were concerned with Leinart's arm strength and consistency. The Cardinals denied those reports -- much like they denied Mortensen's contention that Warner would be the Week 1 starter. Where there's smoke, at least in this case, there turned out to be some fire. ... And I'm not sure that's a bad thing. Remember, Warner tossed 27 touchdowns last season while leading an offensive surge down the stretch. In fact, Warner passed for 21 touchdowns in the second half of the season, one more than Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's 20 touchdowns passes in the final eight games (although Brady had six interceptions to Warner's 12). The Cardinals will look to go downfield often and have the weapons to do so. Bottom line? Whoever is under center in Arizona is an appealing Fantasy prospect. ... Other notes of interest. ... Edgerrin James opens yet another season as his team's top rushing weapon, but Somers believes his load will be lighter this year. Rookie Tim Hightower was impressive in the preseason, and he should be a nice change of pace (Somers has suggested that Hightower could get 10 or more carries per game). J.J. Arrington, the No. 3 back, is faster than either of them. Tim Castille and Terrelle Smith should both see time at fullback. Castille can run and catch, but Smith is the better blocker. At wideout, the starting duo of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald is among the league's more talented. As long as Boldin and Fitzgerald are healthy, the Cardinals will score. Boldin isn't happy with his contract and wants out but he's not going to get his wish this year. ... No single choice was made for the third receiver slot, with Whisenhunt calling it "in flux" and noting that both Jerheme Urban and Steve Breaston would get work depending on the packages. Early Doucet's chances of making an immediate contribution apparently went by the wayside thanks to an August-long hamstring injury. ... Ben Patrick and Leonard Pope are contending for the starting tight end spot, but Somers reports they'll play together a lot because the Cardinals like that formation. Patrick is coming off a high ankle sprain, but he was able to practice Monday. Kicker Neil Rackers struggled a bit in clutch situations last year, but the team didn't bring anybody in to compete with him this summer. Breaston is viewed as a solid return man as is Arrington, who has busted long kickoff returns before. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre RB: Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower, J.J. Arrington FB: Tim Castille, Terrelle Smith WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Early Doucet TE: Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick, Jerame Tuman PK: Neil Rackers ========================= ========================= ATLANTA FALCONS In an article published Sunday, Atlanta Journal-Constitution staffer Steve Wyche offered readers some insight as to why Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan has earned the trust of his coaches and teammates and the coveted starting job. During the preseason, after ingesting hours of footage of upcoming opponents, Ryan skipped any downtime and began to dissect video of the Lions, the Falcons' season-opening opponent this Sunday at the Georgia Dome. "Oh, I've taken a look at some Lions tape," he confessed last week. "Just trying to get a head start." Wyche went on to note that meticulous QBs coach Bill Musgrave has quietly raved about Ryan's dedication. In fact, Musgrave said Ryan is such a natural for the position that his method of mastering the craft might simply be innate. "I still have a long way to go and lot of improving to do, but I think I've made some strides," Ryan said. Wyche noted some specific examples of that improvement: During Ryan's first mini-camp, two weeks after the Falcons drafted him third overall, he routinely threw the ball behind receivers. He hung balls in the air, in turn hanging receivers out to get hit hard by a surging safety. According to Wyche, receiver Roddy White routinely would walk back to the huddle mumbling for Ryan to get the ball out of his hands sooner and not get so much air under it. By the time training camp started two months later, the ball was coming out earlier, receivers weren't having to wait and most important, the passes were on the money. "I've gotten better in understanding the offense, getting familiar with what we're trying to do as a team, what's expected of the quarterback, and I've gotten better recognizing defenses in the NFL," Ryan said. "The field is different. The numbers are [located] different. The hashmarks are different than they are in college. I've gotten better at [understanding] that. You have to grind in the film room. … Take mental pictures of what coverages look like and what certain players do in different situations." As quickly as Ryan has established himself, he's fully aware things are about to change. The regular season will provide schemes he hasn't seen on film and players far more eager to put the $72 million rookie in his place. He'll take it early and get better, Musgrave said. When it comes to mistakes, he's not a repeat offender. "We feel like, as a staff, that he is the best quarterback," head coach Mike Smith said. "We owe it to the guy and to our football team to make sure the best player is out there. ..." The good news for Ryan? He'll have some talented playmakers to work with. As the Sports Xchange notes, White is coming off an 83-catch, 1,202-yard season. He needs to prove it was no fluke in a system that will rely heavy on the run. Michael Jenkins bypassed Laurent Robinson as the starter because of his toughness and blocking. Robinson might be the most gifted receiver on the team but time missed to a bruised tailbone hurt him. That said, Robinson is steadily working his way back into good graces. The Xchange added that No. 3 man Harry Douglas, a rookie, could be dynamic. Not much has been asked of him but so far, he's shown to be fearless and reliable. ... Other notes of interest. ... As Journal-Constitution staffer Mark Bradley reminded readers Monday, on the second day of training camp, Michael Turner spoke of his job description: "I know it's going to be somewhere around 300 carries. ... I know I'm getting my touches, guaranteed." Well. ... It's not actually guaranteed. That's because offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey learned early in his career not to let numbers be his guide. "I caught myself once -- in my second year in Pittsburgh -- thinking, 'How many balls has this guy had?'" Mularkey said. "I stopped right then. The idea is to defeat the opponent." As for Turner and his nice round number, Mularkey said: "We'll see as we go. I've never said he's going to get 300, and I probably never will." That said, it's safe to assume Turner is going to carry the ball most of the time. Mularkey's scheme is based on power, and Turner is a power back. Jerious Norwood remains an "X factor," however. This is the third Falcons regime that has looked on Norwood and declared, "We've got to get him the ball." But in 29 games he has 202 carries and 40 receptions, which averages out to 8.3 touches. Given that Norwood is the most spectacular talent among Falcons, is that enough? And if not, how does Mularkey fit a speed back into a power scheme? "I think it's going to happen by force of habit," Mularkey said. "Whether we design a set for him, we know his talents. ... We'll do our best to get him the ball." We've heard that one before. I recommend believing it when you see it. ... At tight end, Ben Hartsock has been a huge addition in terms of an on-line blocker. He has helped out both tackles and spurred the ground game with his ability to smash defenders downfield. He is not much of a receiving threat but compared to the other options, the Xchange suggests he's Kellen Winslow. ... Veteran place-kicker Jason Elam will find himself working indoors at least nine times a season (once in New Orleans) as a Falcon and could extend his career. He won't face the elements he faced in Denver. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Matt Ryan, Chris Redman, DJ Shockley RB: Michael Turner, Jerious Norwood, Jason Snelling FB: Ovie Mughelli WR: Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas, Laurent Robinson, Adam Jennings, Brian Finneran TE: Ben Hartsock, Martrez Milner PK: Jason Elam ========================= ========================= BALTIMORE RAVENS First-year head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday that rookie quarterback Joe Flacco will start Sunday in the season opener against the Bengals in Baltimore. Flacco, the team's No. 1 pick in this year's draft, gets the nod over veteran Kyle Boller, out with an injured shoulder, and Troy Smith, the second-year pro who has battled a tonsil infection the last week. "It wouldn't be realistic to have one of those two guys as a starter, for sure. If they can back up, I think that would be an upset," Harbaugh said Monday. Smith is still feeling the effects of infected tonsils and Boller was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season and perhaps his stay with the team. Given those issues, the Ravens worked out quarterbacks Chris Simms, Joey Harrington and Todd Bouman on Monday and signed Bouman on Wednesday. But for now, the focus is on Flacco, who was labeled the team's "quarterback of the future" by general manager Ozzie Newsome on draft day shortly after the Ravens traded up to get the former University of Delaware standout. The quarterback of the future is now the quarterback of the present. "This is what I wanted all along," Flacco said. "Things happen funny. I've gotten my opportunity, and now it's up to me to go out there and play." After two preseason games, Harbaugh essentially eliminated Flacco in what began as a three-way competition to be Baltimore's starting quarterback. The plan was to start Smith in the third game, against the St. Louis Rams, then take a look at Boller. But neither Smith nor Boller was available to play against the Rams or the pre-season finale against Atlanta. Flacco started both games and played well enough to maintain the role in the opener. "If one of you guys wrote this in a movie script, no one would believe it," Harbaugh said. Flacco went 35-for-67 for 284 yards and no interceptions during the preseason. His quarterback rating was better than that of Boller or Smith, and he threw Baltimore's lone touchdown pass. According to Associated Press sports writer David Ginsburg, the Ravens probably would have preferred to let the 23-year-old Flacco learn from the sideline before thrusting him into a game that counts. But the way the situation played out, that wasn't an option. "To me, it doesn't even matter. Joe's our guy. We think he can win for us," Harbaugh said. "He had a heck of a practice, and we're excited to go out there and play with him." For what it's worth, Smith was glad to be back with his teammates after a brief stint in the hospital. According to Carroll County Times staffer Aaron Wilson, Smith has lost roughly 20 pounds and remains on antibiotics. He has been ruled out of practice for an undetermined period of time. ... Other notes of interest. ... Willis McGahee practiced Monday, but the veteran tailback won't be 100 percent his week. McGahee missed the entire preseason after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during training camp. He left the training complex with a big bag of ice on his knee. "I wouldn't say he's 100 percent just from watching him run around, but he's out there," Harbaugh said. "We'll just have to see how he progresses this week. He wants to be out there, I know that." We'll be watching his progress closely in coming days. ... Meanwhile, rookie Ray Rice will be asked to pick up the slack at tailback although offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has also made use of a "jumbo set" with starting fullback LeRon McClain at tailback and Lorenzo Neal handling the lead blocking role. ... Whoever is running the ball -- and I expect to see plenty of Rice -- the Ravens will need to move it on the ground. And not just because Flacco is under center. As the Sports Xchange suggested this week, the passing game will suffer because there are no playmakers at wideout. Derrick Mason has the best hands on the team but he lacks speed to beat cornerbacks deep. So, he'll catch between 70 to 80 passes but he won't be breaking too many 20-yard plays. The hope is that Michael Clayton and Demetrius Williams will rebound from a season in which they combined for no touchdowns. Clayton has taken hold of the starting job because Williams (Achilles) has been hurt. It is unknown how much Williams will play early this year after missing most of the preseason. Yamon Figurs, a return specialist, has been the team's No. 3 receiver in Williams' absence. He is the fastest player on the team but doesn't have solid hands. Also of concern: Todd Heap has been sidelined most of the preseason with a calf injury. If he can get healthy -- often an obstacle in Heap's case -- he could have a career season. It wouldn't be a surprise if Heap put up numbers similar to San Diego's Antonio Gates, who benefited greatly from Cameron's play calling. Beyond Heap, the Ravens lack depth. Daniel Wilcox is solid but he has struggled all offseason with a toe injury. He continues to play with pain. Current No. 3 man Edgar Jones, opened camp at linebacker. ... Also per the Xchange, Matt Stover won't convert many kicks beyond 50 yards, but he remains one of the most accurate within 40 at the age of 40. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Joe Flacco, Todd Bouman, Troy Smith RB: Willis McGahee, Ray Rice FB: LeRon McClain, Lorenzo Neal WR: Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Yamon Figurs, Marcus Smith TE: Todd Heap, Daniel Wilcox, Edgar Jones PK: Matt Stover ========================= ========================= BUFFALO BILLS In an article published Tuesday, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle staffer Sal Maiorana reminded readers that Trent Edwards attempted a mere 16 passes in only four series of work during the preseason, plus missed valuable practice time due to an injured right quadriceps muscle that he now claims is 100 percent healthy. Holdout Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters is nowhere to be found and may never come out of hiding, which means the offensive line is weaker than it was last season. Other key starters such as running back Marshawn Lynch and receivers Lee Evans and Josh Reed saw very little playing time in the exhibition games, while prize rookie wideout James Hardy does not appear ready to contribute much to the offense. And two of the three tight ends remaining on the 53-man roster -- Derek Schouman and rookie Derek Fine -- are battling injuries, leaving only Robert Royal healthy. Yet according to the Bills all things are well for an offense that ranked 30th in the NFL last year, scored a franchise record-low 20 touchdowns and is still working the kinks out in new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert's system as it heads into the regular-season opener Sunday against the Seahawks. "Well, I think we did a lot of good things this preseason," Evans, who caught eight passes for 99 yards in brief duty, told Maiorana. "Just from an execution standpoint, we got better week to week. I think that some of the things we have going on offensively are very promising. I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited about it." Said Edwards: "I'm not concerned at all. I'm very, very happy with the way things have gone so far this offseason, this training camp. "I'm very excited with the skill position players that we have, and I'm very excited with the way the front five have been blocking all camp." According to Maiorana, Schonert would appear to be an improvement over former offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild. We shall see. We'll also find out if Edwards will emerge as a truly viable NFL quarterback in just his second year -- first as a full-time starter. His ability to do so will be critical to the team's success. Evans understands this, and he is doing all he can to help Edwards negotiate what will certainly be rugged terrain. "I want to help him move through this season being his first whole season as a starter," said Evans. "Coming into it I think he has his mind right. He's done a lot himself to help his own cause. I think he's earned the trust of everyone on the offense." For his part, Edwards exudes confidence in his ability. "I'll say this, I feel like the offense has a lot to prove and that in particular starts with the quarterback position," Edwards said. "I'm talking very generally right now, but there are a lot of expectations." Are they realistic? Buffalo News sports reporter Bucky Gleason points out that Edwards' strength is making quick decisions and accurate throws, but there are concerns about whether he'll be sharp going into the opener. He acknowledged having a sloppy workout Sunday. But his leg felt fine. The key now is getting his game ready before the opener. Another key might be getting Lynch more involved in the offense. As the Sports XChange suggested, Lynch, the team's 2007 first-round pick, was as good as advertised -- a poor man's LaDainian Tomlinson. The former Cal star ran for 1,115 yards, second most ever by a Bills rookie. In Schonert's offense, Lynch figures to be more of a factor in the passing game (he had just 18 catches) but nothing to that effect was on display in the preseason. ... Although Reed will open as the starter opposite Evans, Hardy gives Buffalo the ability to create matchup problems, especially in the red zone. He had 36 TDs at Indiana. With Hardy on board, Reed can eventually return to the slot in three-wide looks. Roscoe Parrish will also see plenty of time in three- and four- receiver sets. ... Rian Lindell returns for another season with the Bills. His 84.17 percent success rate on field goals makes him Buffalo's all-time most accurate kicker, One last note here. ... Schouman returned to practice Monday after overcoming a knee injury that sidelined him for more than two weeks. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Trent Edwards, J.P. Losman, Gibran Hamdan RB: Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Xavier Omon FB: Darian Barnes WR: Lee Evans, Josh Reed, James Hardy, Roscoe Parrish TE: Robert Royal, Derek Schouman, Derek Fine PK: Rian Lindell ========================= ========================= CAROLINA PANTHERS According to Sports Ticker contributing writer Brian Joura, the Panthers hope that an injury-free season from quarterback Jake Delhomme (and a return to form by defensive lineman Julius Peppers) will be enough to catapult the team back to the playoffs after two years of sitting on the sidelines in January. Delhomme, a Pro Bowl selection in 2005, was limited to just three games last season because of an injured elbow that required "Tommy John" surgery. But Delhomme displayed little signs of rust in the preseason. In his last outing, he was 11-for-19 for 159 yards and two touchdowns versus the Washington Redskins' first-string defense. "His arm is healthy, and we are going forward with business as usual," said head coach John Fox of his quarterback. The Panthers traded for Josh McCown last week in an effort to bolster their depth behind Delhomme. Wide receiver Steve Smith remains the focal point of the offense, but will sit out the first two games of the regular season after getting into a fight and sucker-punching teammate Ken Lucas. Veteran Muhsin Muhammad rejoins the team after bolting for Chicago in free agency after 2005. D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson add quality depth to the receiving corps. Hackett has been out since early August with a toe injury and didn't play in any of the Panthers' four exhibitions. But the former Seahawk returned to practice on Wednesday and, barring any setbacks, should be available for the season opener Sunday in San Diego. Fox hasn't confirmed it, but Charlotte Observer staffer Chris Chandler, believes Hackett will start against the Chargers opposite Muhammad with Jarrett the third option. ... Jeff King is a solid blocking tight end while Dante Rosario has shown glimpses of being an effective pass catcher at the position. In fact, Gaston Gazette staffer Steve Reed believes Rosario will see extended action the first two weeks of the season in two tight end sets because the Panthers are so thin at wide receiver. But of course, with Smith sidelined, Carolina will turn to the running game, which looked impressive in the preseason. In addition to a rebuilt offensive line, the Panthers have two tailbacks vying for the starting job and will undoubtedly employ a rotation of the two rather than designating one as the full-time starter. Holdover DeAngelo Williams is joined by first-round pick Jonathan Stewart to form a potent 1-2 punch. "Both are explosive guys," Fox said. "DeAngelo got better from last year as far as the maturation process. Not only on the field but in becoming more of a pro." Both backs ran for 100 yards and broke off long scoring runs against the Redskins -- a 60-yarder by Williams and a 50-yarder by Stewart, who was selected with the No. 13 pick. "We've held Jonathan back because of his toe, and we threw him and thought he made some strides," Fox said following the Redskins game. "His confidence is starting to grow and he looked good." Fullback Brad Hoover, who will be the lead blocker for Williams and Stewart, had praise for both of his teammates. "They've both got the speed, the power," Hoover said. "They're ready to have success. I think their style fits our offense. Jonathan is more physical. But DeAngelo, as small as he might seem, he's a very physical runner in the open field. ..." I expect both men to contribute equally -- at least early on. I do believe Stewart is a more complete ball carrier, however, and ideally suited to Fox's style of offense. Veteran John Kasay returns as kicker but Rhys Lloyd will handle kickoff duties. ... Fox said he didn't anticipate the team making any more roster moves after signing kickoff/punt returner Mark Jones on Monday. Jones will fill in for Robinson, who has a knee injury and is the only Panthers player who's on the shelf now. One last note here. ... Smith starts serving his suspension this week and won't be allowed at team headquarters until after the Panthers' Sept.14 home game against Chicago. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Jake Delhomme, Josh McCown, Matt Moore RB: Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Nick Goings FB: Brad Hoover WR: Muhsin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett, Mark Jones, Ryne Robinson, Steve Smith TE: Jeff King, Dante Rosario, Gary Barnidge PK: John Kasay ========================= ========================= CHICAGO BEARS As Chicago Sun-Times beat man Brad Biggs pointed out Tuesday, the late-summer slump of the defense took the focus off an offense that has been evolving a week at a time. What remains uncertain is whether an offense that underwent so much change -- and didn't name a starting quarterback until two weeks ago -- can start the season in sync. Kyle Orton got more reps than ever in training camp, when he split time with Rex Grossman, but it wasn't as many as a starting quarterback normally receives. Orton threw 43 passes in the preseason, fewer than the Bears attempted in three regular-season games a year ago. "I feel like I've gotten plenty of reps," Orton said. "And when I wasn't out there, I was getting reps on film and in my mind. I feel good. My body feels good, and my mind feels good. I'm not too worried about that." Brandon Lloyd and Devin Hester appear to be locked in as starting wide receivers, but that doesn't mean much in a receiver-by-committee approach. The offensive line will have only two starters in the spots they occupied last year: center Olin Kreutz and right guard Roberto Garza. Then there's the revamped backfield, with Matt Forte slated to be the first rookie to start a season opener at running back for the Bears since Walter Payton in 1975. It's all about timing and reps, and the offense ran the ball with mixed results in the preseason. "It's a little tough," Orton said. "You need to wear on people, especially our type of run game -- downhill running, power running. Sometimes those runs in the first half aren't what they are in the second half, when you can wear down those guys a little bit. We'll see. But we're a second-half running team, and I'm sure it'll be working this week." It better be. ... In five home games last year, the Colts held their opponent to 16 points or fewer. Kreutz acknowledges that getting the running game going is the first order of business, with high expectations in place for Forte. "It means a lot, and it's an honor for me to put that uniform on and go out there as a rookie starting a game," Forte said. "I didn't even know [a Bears rookie hasn't started at the position since Payton], so that's even more of an achievement and also a bigger deal for me to go out there and follow in a guy like that's footsteps." Payton's debut also came against the Colts, the ones from Baltimore. It didn't go so well: Eight carries, zero yards. "Hopefully I'll do better than that," Forte said. Hopefully indeed. As Chicago Tribune staffer David Haugh suggested, if Forte has fewer than 20 touches against the Colts, the Bears figure to lose soundly. If he gets the ball 20 or more times, whether it's by handoff or short pass, then it means the offense will keep the chains moving and keep Peyton Manning off the field. For what it's worth, Kevin Jones is said to be close to full speed and his physical style is an effective complement to Forte while Garrett Wolfe could contribute in a specialty role. ... And what if Orton needs to throw? As noted above, Hester and Lloyd are the presumptive starters. But the company line is that the Bears have a cast of receivers who all will see a lot of time, with each player bringing different strengths they want to exploit. That's one spin. The other, according to Biggs, is that it's a roster full of No. 3 receivers. Asked if the Bears have a true No. 1 receiver, offensive coordinator Ron Turner said: "I don't know if we do. And I don't think you have to. I don't think you have to look and say, 'This is our No. 1 guy.' "I know everyone always talks about who's the No. 1 receiver, who's the No. 2 receiver. I can see four or five guys playing and contributing, and the quarterbacks have confidence in all those guys, so they're going to see a lot of different guys out there." Fair enough. But I'll remind you when the offense clicked during Turner's first stint with the Bears (1993-96), he had some go-to targets. The Bears had two 1,000-yard receivers -- Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway -- in 1995 for the only time in franchise history. It's not clear at this point if Hester, Lloyd, Marty Booker, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis or rookie Earl Bennett can provide the kind of consistent weaponry necessary to produce at that level. Davis might be the man to watch. Although he caught just 17 passes last season, two years after converting from cornerback and being an Arena League MVP, the Sports Xchange points out that he currently has more time in the current system than any wide receiver on the team and might be the most reliable and consistent target. The Xchange believes he could have a breakout season in a mostly nondescript group. I also believe the tight ends could help. Ten-year veteran Desmond Clark keeps on getting it done as a reliable target and decent blocker. Greg Olsen should play almost as many snaps, often at the same time as Clark. Last year's first-round pick flashed exceptional talent as a pass catcher, even if he's deficient as a blocker. Rookie Kellen Davis looks like a fifth-round steal. At 6-7, 262 pounds, with 4.65 speed, the Xchange believes he could be special. Clark returned to practice Monday after missing the last two weeks with a sprained right knee and wore a brace while doing limited work. ... In terms of special teams, the Bears are loaded. Hester already ranks among the best return men ever and Robbie Gould is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, Caleb Hanie RB: Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, Garrett Wolfe, Adrian Peterson FB: Jason McKie WR: Brandon Lloyd, Devin Hester, Rashied Davis, Marty Booker, Mark Bradley, Earl Bennett TE: Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis PK: Robbie Gould ========================= ========================= CINCINNATI BENGALS As the Associated Press first reported, Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson said Monday he will play this weekend against the Ravens, and that he's "super, extra focused" in both in mind and body. The receiver cited a renewed focus on his team, which he said had been lacking this offseason, and physically, he deemed his partially torn labrum in his left shoulder "fine." "There's nothing wrong with me, trust me," Johnson said. "I mean, you'll see it on Sunday. I can do everything. I can hit you with my left right now, but I'm not going to. I'm fine. I'll give you a story after Sunday." Johnson did not want to discuss his legal name change to Ocho Cinco in his first interview since the news became public (although agent Drew Rosenhaus has made it clear his client now prefers "Ocho Cinco"). Johnson wanted to keep the focus instead on the Ravens. This after a troubled offseason highlighted by trade demands, a desire for a new contract and a postponed ankle surgery. "I've got a lot of making up to do to a lot people," Johnson said. "Teammates, coaches, from the top all the way down." Monday's practice was the first time quarterback Carson Palmer and receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Johnson were together on the field this season. In addition to Johnson's shoulder injury, Houshmandzadeh also missed time with a bad hamstring and Palmer suffered a broken nose. "I think they're both a little rusty," Palmer said of his starting receivers. "(But) once those guys hit the field, it's gameday, and they're not going to be worried about how (much they haven't done)" Johnson credited Palmer for giving some of the best advice for handling his shoulder subluxation, which will need monitoring all season. "As soon as I got hurt, he told me to take it seriously," Johnson said. "He thought I would just go in and get treatment. But my rehab is a six-month process, which is the whole season. So he said 'Even if I'm feeling fine, pretend like you're still hurt.' He was right. ..." Palmer told reporters on Wednesday his nose has healed well. He will wear a clear plastic protective shield on his facemask. "It's doing great," Palmer said. One positive: With Houshmandzadeh and Johnson/Ocho Cinco spending most of the summer watching rather than playing, new tight end Ben Utecht had a chance to develop some chemistry with Palmer. Otherwise rookie receiver Andre Caldwell ended the preseason with a foot injury. Fellow rookie Jerome Simpson is working hard to polish his game and prove he wasn't a second-round reach. Still, there is no clear No. 3 receiver, though Chris Henry was re-signed and must first serve a four-game suspension. Utecht could emerge as an interesting weapon. ... Still, the big question from a Fantasy perspective has to be how long it takes the passing attack to get in sync. But of course, there are suddenly questions surrounding the rushing attack. In fact, with Rudi Johnson's rather surprising release, the team will have a much different look in their backfield -- starting this week with the Bengals set to go with Chris Perry as their starting tailback. Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey will back Perry up. Perry was a durable, productive running back at Michigan, and then broke into the NFL as an effective third-down back. But injuries have forced him to miss 42 of 64 games with the Bengals. Nonetheless, Dayton Daily News staffer Scott Priestle believes Perry was the most impressive offensive player in training camp, showing the hands that served him well as a third-down back and the strength and quickness to thrive on first and second downs, as he did at Michigan. "There's never been a problem with me running the ball," he said. "There's never been a problem with vision. There's never been a problem making cuts, anything like that. Just injuries, and it's never been minor injuries. There was never a point where I felt I was back to being who I was (at Michigan). I always felt I was that person." Head coach Marvin Lewis said Perry likely will play more than any Bengals running back in years. "We felt very comfortable keeping him in there on third down, so I think he'll log more playing time than anyone we've had back there for a while," the coach explained. The danger, of course, is that such a workload will invite another injury. Lewis downplayed that fear Saturday when the team cut Johnson. "You know, we're all one step from a significant injury," he said. "You can't look forward into a crystal ball, nor can you look behind." Meanwhile, Watson was effective enough in Johnson's hamtring-related absence last season to instill confidence in his ability to get the job done if something happens to Perry. ... Lewis revealed during his afternoon press conference on Wednesday that fullback Jeremi Johnson will be placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Lewis didn't specify the type of injury, but said that Johnson was originally injured during Monday's practice, although he was able to finish. Johnson underwent a knee scope on Wednesday morning. Converted tight end Daniel Coats started most of the preseason at fullback with Johnson battling weight issues. I suspect Johnson's absence won't be a difference maker. ... One last note here. ... While Shayne Graham has been among the more desirable kickers (from a Fantasy perspective) in recent seasons, the current questions about the team's offense have made him somewhat less appealing. And now Graham says he wants a new contract before the start of the season. And since the start of the season is four days away, that doesn't give his agent and the Bengals' front office much time to work out a deal. "My goal is to have it taken care of before the season starts," Graham told the Daily News. Graham is heading into the final season of a five-year, $6.5 million contract he signed in 2004. If he doesn't sign an extension in the next four days, he's likely to become a free agent after the season. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jordan Palmer RB: Chris Perry, Kenny Watson, DeDe Dorsey FB: Daniel Coats WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson, Jerome Simpson, Glenn Holt, Antonio Chatman, Andre Caldwell, Chris Henry TE: Reginald Kelly, Ben Utecht PK: Shayne Graham ========================= ========================= CLEVELAND BROWNS According to the Associated Press, Braylon Edwards, sidelined since Aug. 9 with a severely cut right foot, and Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Anderson, out for two weeks with a concussion, were both back at practice Monday for the Browns, who only have a few days left to get as healthy as possible for their high-profile opener and a season of great expectations. Head coach Romeo Crennel told reporters that as long as Anderson doesn't have any setbacks during the workout, the second-year QB will start against the Cowboys. The same is true for Edwards, whose foot was sliced open when teammate Donte' Stallworth accidentally stepped on his heel during post-practice sprints Aug. 9. Edwards was running in his socks at the time. He has yet to speak with the local media about his injury, but admitted on Jim Rome's radio show last week that the injury was the result of horseplay. He didn't speak with the media during the open locker room period after Monday's practice, but Edwards sat at his stall and rubbed the area where his heel was stitched up following his encounter with Stallworth's cleats. Crennel said Anderson, who got hurt when he was sacked by New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora in an exhibition game Aug. 18, will have to pass a medical evaluation before he's cleared for the opener. "The doctors need to see that he can handle the sunlight, which is pretty bright out today, that he can handle the verbiage of the offense, be able to handle the checks and do the things that a quarterback has to do," Crennel said. "If he can do those things and doesn't have any headaches afterwards then chances are they will let him go." Anderson appeared to be himself during the 30 minutes of practice open to the media. He wasn't wearing sunglasses on Monday -- recent reports suggested he was still struggling with sensitivity to light -- and was seen joking around with tight end Steve Heiden as he warmed up by throwing to third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey. ... While Edwards and Anderson seem ready for Sunday, the Browns could be missing other key players against the Cowboys. Running back Jamal Lewis (hamstring) was kept indoors Monday and Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs (high ankle sprain) only took part in special teams walkthrough drills before heading inside with trainers after 25 minutes. According to the team's official web site, Crennel expected Lewis to be on the practice field Wednesday for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury Aug. 18. "He'll be out there," Crennel said. "He'll be listed as limited, so we'll see what he can do. The more he can do, the more we'll give him to do." Cribbs was in a walking boot until a few days ago and team officials say they'd rather have Cribbs as close to 100 percent as possible for their Week 2 matchup against the Steelers. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cribbs sounded resigned to sitting out the opener. "My competitive side, I want to be out there with my team," said Cribbs, who suffered the sprain on Aug. 18. "It was so hard in preseason watching my team play. But where they're coming from is we've got 15 games after this. It doesn't matter what I think at this point. It's not up to me. They're going to make an assessment as the week progresses and do what's best for me and the program." Syndric Steptoe, who averaged 35.2 yards on his 10 kickoff returns and 9.3 yards on his four punt returns, is gearing up to replace Cribbs. ... As for Lewis, general manager Phil Savage hinted over the weekend that he expected the veteran tailback to be ready to come Sunday. Savage added, however, that in the event Lewis missed time, Jerome Harrison would be the 1st- and 2nd-down starter while Jason Wright would remain the third-down back. That's a departure from last season, when Wright started one game in place of the injured Lewis (foot). ... According to the Canton Repository, rookie tight end Martin Rucker (knee surgery) will be out for three to four more weeks, but Savage felt the Browns might need an insurance policy given the injury picture at the position. Kellen Winslow is coming off knee surgery, a pulled hamstring and played through a shoulder injury last season; Heiden is coming off back surgery and a sore knee and Darnell Dinkins suffered a bruised hip against the Bears. "It's not a bad idea to have this guy in the backdrop," said Savage. ... Phil Dawson, who kicked a 56-yard field goal and a 53-yard field goal in preseason, is coming off a 120-point 2007 and appears to be ready for more for more. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey RB: Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison, Jason Wright FB: Lawrence Vickers WR: Braylon Edwards, Donte' Stallworth, Josh Cribbs, Syndric Steptoe, Paul Hubbard, Joe Jurevicius TE: Kellen Winslow, Steve Heiden, Darnell Dinkins, Martin Rucker PK: Phil Dawson ========================= ========================= DALLAS COWBOYS If there's a question about the Cowboys' offense heading into this week's opener against the Browns, it's depth at wideout. This after a team spokesman confirmed last Friday that an MRI confirmed Sam Hurd has a high left ankle sprain and will miss this week's game. Hurd, who suffered the injury during the opening series of the Cowboys' 16-10 win over Minnesota last Thursday, joins Miles Austin (knee) and Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) on the sidelines. Austin is also out for the opener. The good news? Stanback practiced Monday, catching the ball without difficulty and blocking defenders with no physical problems. Depending on how he feels Wednesday, it appears, Stanback will be the No. 3 receiver for Sunday's season opener at Cleveland. Head coach Wade Phillips said the team hasn't made a final decision regarding how many wide receivers to keep active for the game. As it stands now, only Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton and Stanback will be active. One of the practice squad receivers, Mike Jefferson and Danny Amendola, could be added to the active roster. Another possibility to bolster the position is Adam Jones. During the off-season, the cornerback asked to get some snaps at wideout. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said he is open to Adam Jones playing on offense, but it didn't happen during training camp and the four preseason games. When Adam Jones was asked if he could see time at wide receiver he said, "We'll see, man. We'll see what they do. ..." Whatever the case, the team's brain trust is showing no signs of panic at the prospect of facing the Browns with only two healthy wideouts. That's because Phillips and Jerry Jones are confident Owens and Crayton can get the job done with some help from Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten, who last year enjoyed the most prolific season by a tight end in franchise history, catching 96 passes for 1,145 yards and seven TDs. "We'll see where we are medically, but we still have two pretty good receivers that can give anybody problems," Phillips said. "And Witten is a force out there, so he can be a third receiver if we need him to." Having depth at tight end also helps. Backups Tony Curtis and Martellus Bennett allow offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to move Witten around. "Because (Curtis and Bennett) have played well, there's no reason you can't put Witten in the slot like the Colts do with (tight end Dallas) Clark," Phillips said. Curtis led the Cowboys in receiving during the preseason with nine receptions for 65 yards. Bennett finished with six catches for 71 yards after snagging three passes for 22 yards against the Vikings. "Curtis and Bennett both played well, blocked well, ran some good routes," Phillips said. One could argue, of course, that depth at wideout is less worrisome due to the presence of Garret, the NFL's highest-paid assistant coach. As Dallas Morning News staffer Jean-Jacques Taylor suggested: "Garrett makes $3 million a year for weeks like this" and there's no reason to think he won't make the proper adjustments. Taylor added: "Seriously, how hard can it be to call plays for an offense that has one of the league's top quarterbacks, tight ends and receivers, three Pro Bowl linemen and one of the game's most physical running backs?" Garrett will make sure the Cowboys' offense gets it done, especially against a raggedy defense like Cleveland's. And even without the injured wideouts, this is still essentially the same offense that finished second in the NFL at 28.4 points per game and third in the league with 365.7 yards per game. Garrett is the reason it all works so well. In addition to throwing out plays Tony Romo doesn't feel comfortable with, Garrett emphasizes routes that Owens and Witten run the best, and with Marion Barber as the featured back instead of Julius Jones, the running game has more power running plays this season. And he provides Romo an exit strategy on almost every play. Romo can change most plays at the line of scrimmage if he doesn't like the defense. Those approaches are among the reasons the Cowboys led the league with 233 plays of 10 yards or more and 68 plays of 20 yards or more. ... Again, no reason to believe that will change noticeably this year. ... In terms of special teams, Nick Folk didn't miss much as a rookie last year, setting a team scoring record and making the Pro Bowl. Look for more of the same this year. Meanwhile, Phillips said that Adam Jones and Felix Jones would probably be the Cowboys' primary kickoff returners in Sunday's season opener. "It may not be both of them on the field," Phillips said. "It may be one at a time, but hopefully there aren't too many of those [kickoff returns]." Stanback, who appeared to be seizing the kickoff return role before dislocating his shoulder, will be limited to the No. 3 receiving role due to his injury -- at least for this week. And finally. ... According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas is targeting former Vikings backup Brooks Bollinger as a potential third quarterback. Bollinger, in his sixth season, was part of the final round of cuts by Minnesota after spending the past two seasons there. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Tony Romo, Brad Johnson RB: Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice FB: Deon Anderson WR: Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Isaiah Stanback, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin TE: Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis PK: Nick Folk ========================= ========================= DENVER BRONCOS Brandon Marshall is focused on staying mentally and physically in the game while he serves his one game suspension. "I'm going to watch a lot of football and prepare myself as if I was going to be out there," Marshall told Denver television station CBS4 reporter Vic Lombardi on Monday. Marshall also believes the team has sufficient talent to weather his absence. "You're looking at Darrell Jackson, who's been to the Super Bowl. He's a proven player in this league and well respected," he said. "And you've got Keary Colbert, who I think this is his year to go out and make a few plays." When Lombardi asked him how he's going to top 102 receptions last year, Marshall said he wants 140 this year. Marvin Harrison with the Indianapolis Colts holds the season record with 143 receptions in the 2002 season. Harrison, of course, needed 16 games to get there. We'll see what Marshall can do in 15. ... In addition to Jackson and Colbert, Jay Cutler will have Brandon Stokley and rookie Eddie Royal available on the outside. With receiving specialist Tony Scheffler and the more versatile Nate Jackson working opposite blocking specialist Daniel Graham at tight end, Cutler shouldn't lack weaponry. Especially with Selvin Young, Andre Hall and Michael Pittman on hand to pound the ball on the ground -- and provide additional receiving threats. ... Also of interest. ... According to the Sports Xchange, Hall is going to have a significant role on the Broncos. A talented back, Hall will return kickoffs, could be Denver's goal-line back and looks like he will share some carries with starter Young. Hall showed some flashes of his talent in limited time last year, and could have a nice year in the Broncos' typically strong running offense. Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountain News suggests the fact that Ryan Torain, who may not return until the first week of November because of an elbow injury, was given a roster spot is a sign his recovery is on pace for him to play at least half of the season and possibly more. ... Getting back to the tight end spot. ... The Xchange reminded readers this week that Scheffler seemed like a lock for the spot, but a foot injury set him back in off-season camps and Jackson took advantage of the opportunity. He worked in front of Scheffler throughout preseason and training camp. Scheffler still expects to have a big role in the offense, but Denver Post staffer Mike Klis believes that Jackson's understanding of the offense -- and head coach Mike Shanahan's preference for well-rounded (meaning receivers who are also capable blockers) tight ends -- could limit Scheffler again early this season. ... Also according to the Xchange, new place-kicker Matt Prater showed off a huge leg in training camp, hitting a 68-yarder in practice with plenty of room to spare. Leg strength isn't an issue, but consistency is. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey RB: Selvin Young, Andre Hall, Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain FB: Peyton Hillis WR: Eddie Royal, Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokley, Keary Colbert, Brandon Marshall TE: Daniel Graham, Nate Jackson, Tony Scheffler PK: Matt Prater ========================= ========================= DETROIT LIONS In an article published Monday, Detroit News staffer Terry Foster advised readers: "After final cuts were announced Saturday to pare the roster to 53, it became obvious this team is constructed in the image of coach Rod Marinelli. ... The Lions are not imaged after the kindly Marinelli, who often wears Crocs and a smile, and greets fans like long-lost buddies. "The Lions are imaged in the fierce and intense Marinelli the public often does not see. Someone who barks during practice and, at times, has profanity-laced tirades in games. "He talks about being mean and tenacious, vicious and tough. ..." And Foster added, that's exactly what the Lions were when they broke camp with a 4-0 exhibition record and with their eyes on Sunday's opening opponent, the Falcons. Only 11 players remain from the 2005 season, the year before Marinelli became coach. Two are kickers Jason Hanson and Nick Harris, meaning five offensive players and four defensive players remain. Now when Marinelli talks about pounding the rock, he means it. The Lions ran 123 times in four exhibitions, an average of 31 per game. Last year they ran 324 times in the regular season, an average of 20. The notion Detroit will be a run-first offense gained further credence on Monday, when free agent running back Rudi Johnson signed a contract with the Lions. Johnson, who rushed for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons with the Bengals (2004-06), will replace Tatum Bell as the No. 2 running back behind starter Kevin Smith. Bell was subsequently released. According to MLive.com beat writer Tom Kowalski, the addition of the eight-year veteran might mean the Lions will use more of a platoon system at running back. After practice on Monday, Marinelli said, "I just had a chance to watch [Johnson] in some drills (during a workout) and he's impressive. He's a big, thick guy who has great feet. I played against him over the years so I know he's a very physical back. He's a guy with a lot of talent and a lot of experience." According to ESPN insider John Clayton, there was a buzz in the Lions locker room among players who saw his workout. Clayton also suggested the Lions shouldn't have any problems accommodating a two-back system given their desire to run the ball on a regular basis. Which brings us back to Marinelli, who didn't have much of a say in the offense game planning the past two seasons with Mike Martz calling the shots. Back then, Jon Kitna wasn't allowed to call audibles at the line. Marinelli admitted during weekly news conferences the Lions needed to run more but they didn't. And when offensive players talked about coach, they were talking about Martz. All that has changed. According to Foster, Marinelli still doesn't stick his nose in day-to-day business on the offense, but he knows things are being run his way. Adding Johnson to the mix is further evidence that will indeed be the case. ... Run first, however, won't mean run only. Not with Kitna coming off back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons and Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams so capable of dominating opposing secondaries. Johnson in particular seems primed for a breakout year after being slowed by a back injury virtually all of his rookie season. As the Sports Xchange pointed out this week, the second-year man can outrun, outmuscle and outjump just about any cornerback in the league. If opponents give him single coverage, look out. If they give him double coverage, then the Lions can go to Williams, who has played in the Pro Bowl. Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey led the Lions in catches the past two years under Martz. They won't do that again, but even catching fewer balls, they should have a role and provide solid depth. At tight end, Dan Campbell is a complete player -- when healthy. He's coming off a season-ending elbow injury and he has struggled with a hamstring injury in camp. Michael Gaines wants to show he can be the man, but he is known for his blocking. Fitzsimmons is the opposite, known more for his pass-catching than blocking. Jason Hanson didn't get much work this summer due to a sore hip. Entering his 17th season as a Lion, he really didn't need the extra reps. ... Drew Stanton sprained his hand during practice 12 days ago but it is pain-free following his last treatment on Friday. Stanton expects his cast to be removed in two weeks and hopes to begin workouts shortly afterward. He thinks he should be able to play within two weeks of having the cast removed. "It has been responding well to treatment," he said. Stanton was trying to push Dan Orlovsky for the backup job to Kitna when he banged his thumb on a lineman's shoulder pads. And finally. ... One last note on Rudi Johnson's interesting arrival: Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio, citing a "reliable" but unnamed source, reported Tuesday night that Bell was caught on videotape stealing Johnson's bags as the newcomer sat in Matt Millen's office negotiating his deal. Really. Per Florio's source, "Bell took the bags to the house of a female acquaintance. When confronted on the matter, Bell offered up some cockamamie story that he thought the bags belonged to someone he knew. The girl, however, said that she hadn't seen Bell in several months and he showed up out of the blue and asked her to keep the bags for a while. "Johnson has retrieved the bags, and it's our understanding that charges won't be pressed." Nice. ... Bell is heading to Houston for a tryout with the Texans. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Jon Kitna, Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton RB: Kevin Smith, Rudi Johnson FB: Jerome Felton WR: Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Shaun McDonald, Mike Furrey TE: Michael Gaines, Dan Campbell, Casey Fitzsimmons, Sean McHugh PK: Jason Hanson ========================= ========================= GREEN BAY PACKERS As Sports Ticker staff writer Bill Bernardi framed it last week: "He has been scrutinized, vilified and been both wildly booed and passionately cheered -- and that's just how Aaron Rodgers spent his summer. "How Rodgers spends the next two seasons will ultimately go a long way in how the new starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers will be received in 'Titletown. ...'" And Fantasy Nation as well. ... Brett Favre's departure now leaves Rodgers as the leader of a team which fell one interception short of the Super Bowl last season. But he won't go it alone. The 24th overall pick of the 2005 draft, Rodgers is blessed with a solid supporting cast. Green Bay boasts a young but talented group of wideouts, headlined by Greg Jennings and his 12 touchdown catches last season -- while capable veteran Donald Driver provides a steadying influence. In addition, a determined Ryan Grant seems poised to repay the Packers' faith in him with a productive season after the running back signed a lucrative four-year, $30 million contract earlier this month. But that doesn't mean Rodgers will be a bystander. After all, the former first-round pick demonstrated some resiliency by rebounding from a less-than-stellar pre-season effort against San Francisco by looking like an All-Pro against Denver just six days later. In his third exhibition contest, Rodgers completed 18-of-22 passes for 198 yards and led four scoring drives in his five possessions as the Packers recorded a 27-24 triumph over the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field. ... And as Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Ron Wolfley advised readers last week, if you ask ESPN's Ron Jaworski whether Rodgers is going to be any good, he'll tell you he's more optimistic about Rodgers' chances now than when he was drafted in 2005. "When I was out in Green Bay earlier this year, I was at practice for three days and I watched him very closely," Jaworski said. "I must say I was surprised by the arm strength. I was surprised by the rotation of the football, the tight spiral he can throw. I was surprised by the improvement in mechanics. Clearly, when you look at a guy from when he came out of college to now, and you project him into the NFL, in my opinion he has shown great improvement. "There's been mechanical improvement. Now you find out by going on the field. But what I have seen in terms of the growth of Aaron Rodgers, I like him. ..." Again, Rodgers gets plenty of help. ... The Packers were the league's best in yards after the catch last season with 2,294. The starting mainstays are Driver, who has four straight 80-catch, 1,000-yard seasons, and Jennings, who was money in '07 with an average of 17.4 yards per reception and 12 touchdown catches. The normally sure-handed Driver was guilty of a number of drops in camp and pre-season games, a trend I wouldn't expect to continue deep into the regular season. Other notes of interest. ... According to the Sports Xchange, second-year back Brandon Jackson seems poised to make amends for a rough rookie season. Jackson did everything right in the team's offseason program and hit his stride running the football with authority in the preseason, thus giving the Packers insurance should Grant struggle out of the gate after missing most of August with a hamstring injury. Grant was held out of Tuesday's practice to rest the hamstring, but head coach Mike McCarthy said the tailback didn't suffer a setback and is expected to play this week. Still, McCarthy plans to limit Grant's carries to about 20 each game, so Jackson will have ample opportunity to contribute as the No. 2 back. Also worth noting, undrafted rookie Kregg Lumpkin emerged as a late contender to push aside Vernand Morency and Noah Herron with his powerful, productive running style. ... James Jones was a major contributor early in his rookie season last year before faltering and enters this season with a balky knee. If he's not ready to go this week (which seems unlikely), Ruvell Martin will move up to the No. 3 spot. Either way, Martin will have a role in the multiple-receiver sets McCarthy loves to employ. Speedy rookie Jordy Nelson, the team's top draft pick this year, didn't make a jump from the No. 5 role but will be valuable down the road as a big-play producer. At tight end, Donald Lee posted career highs of 48 catches for 575 yards and six touchdowns in 2007. Tory Humphrey and Jermichael Finley, a third-round pick from Texas, will provide depth. Mason Crosby comes off a solid pre-season, an encouraging sign because although he amassed a league-high 141 points as a rookie in 2007, Crosby was just 12-of-19 on field goals from at least 40 yards. ... On a less positive note: Crosby not only has a new long snapper in Brett Goode, but a new holder after Jon Ryan was released in favor of former Redskins punter Derrick Frost. But Frost, a fifth-year pro, has held for kicks since his sophomore season in college at Northern Iowa. He was Washington's holder the past three years and Cleveland's holder his first season in the NFL. ... Will Blackmon is listed as the No. 1 punt and kick returner. Nelson and Pat Lee are listed together for the No. 2 spot on kick returns. ... And finally. ... As Wisconsin State Journal staffer Jason Wilde suggested, it was a surprise based on where they started but not based on where they ended up by preseason's end: Seventh-round pick Matt Flynn has beaten out second-round pick Brian Brohm for the backup quarterback job behind Rodgers. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Brian Brohm RB: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Kregg Lumpkin FB: Korey Hall WR: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Ruvell Martin, Jordy Nelson, James Jones TE: Donald Lee, Tory Humphrey, Jermichael Finley PK: Mason Crosby ========================= ========================= HOUSTON TEXANS The Texans had a light workout Monday before getting their last day off Tuesday as they prepare for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. "Great team, great organization, (this is) probably as tough as it gets, but we're looking forward to it," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "We had a good camp. We're a better team than we were last year, but that doesn't guarantee you anything. We've got some big tasks ahead." The biggest task? Perhaps running the ball effectively. Of the Texans' three running backs, only Ahman Green carried the ball last season, and he was hurt from the first game on. He missed all but one play of this preseason with a strained groin. Chris Taylor spent his second season on injured reserve. Steve Slaton was a junior at West Virginia. The good news? "Ahman's ready to go," Kubiak said. "He's been practicing for two weeks." Indeed, Green went through a full workout last Saturday and is looking forward to returning to action against Pittsburgh. "I'm definitely ready to start the game and play the game against Pittsburgh, because it's going to be a physical game," Green said. According to the team's official web site, Green most likely will start the game, but Slaton and Taylor will be called upon to shoulder the load against the Steelers' physical 3-4 defense. "To all of a sudden go out there and start and think he (Green) is going to carry the ball 25 times this weekend, I think would be a mistake," Kubiak said. "We could very well play three guys in the game. Who ends up lining up behind Ahman, how we go one or two; we'll make that decision as the week goes on." Green was having an excellent camp before his injury, saying he felt like he did in 2006 when he rushed for over 1,000 yards. The Pro Bowler knows that he will be facing one of the best run defenses in the league in Pittsburgh. "I've played against the Steelers before, and from seeing them on-field and playing against them in the past, their defense and their defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is a guy that he's a genius at what he does and when you watch film on their defense, it looks like you're watching organized chaos," Green said. "Because before the ball is snapped, it looks like they're all lost. They don't know where they're going, they look like dogs in the neighborhood, then all of a sudden the ball snaps and they're hitting their gaps hard, fast, so we've got to be ready for that." As for Taylor and Slaton, Kubiak said, "It's easy to sit here and say, yes (they're ready), but bottom line is, we'll find out." Taylor also is the backup fullback behind Vonta Leach. "We're asking a lot of him," Kubiak said. "We're asking a lot of special-teams work out of him, too. His role is getting broader. Hopefully, that won't set him back. Hopefully, he rises to the challenge because we need him to play well." It might be worth noting that Slaton has missed practice recently because of a toe injury, but Kubiak expects him to rejoin practice no later than Wednesday. The rookie was a highlight for the Texans in the preseason, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and finishing fourth among NFL rookies with an average of 46 yards per game. Slaton said he will play through the injury and that he is ready to make his regular-season debut. He said he learned in three preseason appearances to make better reads and improve his pass protection, which he realized was key in earning playing time. ... Meanwhile, former Lions running back Tatum Bell flew to Houston to try out with the Texans. The attraction is that his former line coach with the Denver Broncos, Alex Gibbs, is now an assistant head coach in charge of offense with the Texans. ... Other notes of interest. ... Receiver Andre Johnson has been on every Texans team but the first one. He was asked after practice Monday if this is the best team he's played for. "I think so," he told the Houston Chronicle. "There's a lot of talent here, a lot of competition. And through camp, it was probably the most competition we've had since I've been here. "You can tell the team's better just by looking at us in practice. If we do what we're supposed to do, we'll put ourselves in a good situation. "Guys expect more from themselves. We don't want to be in those situations that we were in before. We're determined to get those things fixed and become a winning team." Now if only Johnson could fix his apparent inability to avoid injury. ... The star wideout heads into the season in good shape after missing most of the offseason and seven games of last year. Kevin Walter and Andre' Davis both had the best years of their respective careers last year, and should keep defenders from constantly hounding Johnson. Walter has improved upon his yards after the catch -- something that was a strong suit of Davis' last season. Jacoby Jones has struggled to hold onto the ball this offseason, but still has a lot of potential as a deep threat for the quarterbacks. As the Sports Xchange notes, Matt Schaub has overcome offseason surgery to his non-throwing shoulder to return to his starting role at quarterback. The Texans are hopeful with a healthy Johnson in the mix, Schaub can play at the level they hoped when they traded two second-round picks to Atlanta for his services. ... Also according to the Xchange, Owen Daniels could emerge as one of the league's better tight ends this season He had a solid year last season until he started dropping the ball. If he can hold onto the ball this season, he could garner some of the respect he deserves. He is great in the passing game and is always getting yards after the catch. Around 75 percent of his catches resulted in a first down for the Texans last season. Kris Brown comes off a strong enough season that team officials didn't bother to bring in any competition to kick against him in camp this summer. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Matt Schaub, Sage Rosenfels RB: Ahman Green, Chris Taylor, Steve Slaton FB: Vonta Leach WR: Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre' Davis, Jacoby Jones, David Anderson TE: Owen Daniels, Mark Bruener PK: Kris Brown ========================= ========================= INDIANAPOLIS COLTS As Associated Press sports writer Michael Marot framed it: "Peyton Manning is healthy enough to start playing games. ... Now the Colts must find out how well his left knee will hold up to the hits." Head coach Tony Dungy reiterated Monday that Manning would probably start Sunday night's season-opener against Chicago, perfect timing for a starting offense that failed to score a single touchdown in five preseason games. "I'm sure he'd rather have gone through training camp and gotten his normal reps," Dungy said. "But we've done it before with Bob Sanders, so I don't worry about it with a veteran guy. If he was a second-year guy, you might." Manning has eased his way back into a normal routine last week, more than a month after having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. He started practicing last Tuesday, increased the workload Wednesday, then went through his regular pregame routine before Thursday night's preseason finale against Cincinnati -- the first time Manning was even in uniform for a game though he still sat out. Since there have been no setbacks, Dungy now expects Manning to use this as a regular week before making his season-debut Sunday. It will allow Manning to keep the NFL's second-longest streak for consecutive starts by a quarterback (160) intact. Only Brett Favre, who has taken his record streak of 253 from Green Bay to New York, has more. Of course, Manning's health isn't the only concern for Indy. His longtime backup, Jim Sorgi, missed the last two preseason games with a gimpy knee and his replacements, Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray, struggled. Lorenzen and Gray were cut Saturday. Sorgi returned to practice Monday and should be fine for the Chicago game. Still, Indy took one precaution Monday by adding a third quarterback to the roster, Josh Betts, who is starting his third straight season on the Colts' practice squad. "I've been working out during the week and going to the lake on weekends," said Betts, who was released at the start of training camp. "I've been throwing three or four times a week, and I'm real happy I got the call Saturday." The bigger concern may be the battered offensive line. Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, who makes the offensive line calls in the no-huddle offense, could miss at least six weeks after injuring a ligament in his right knee. The Colts have not given a definitive timetable for Saturday's return. The likely replacement is Jamey Richard, a sixth-round pick in April. Dungy and the Colts aren't worried. Now, though, they will be protecting Manning against a defense that typically ranks among the league's best units -- and one that will try to hit Manning hard. "We'll bump him up a little bit in practice this week," Dungy said. "But it's not like we want him getting hit anyway. ..." Other notes of interest. ... In case you haven't been paying attention, Marvin Harrison looked very good during training camp after missing most of the 2007 season with a knee injury. But even if he's able to take on a more prominent role, Reggie Wayne is still the top receiving threat in Indianapolis -- and tight end Dallas Clark could make a case for being next in line. Joseph Addai has been very productive since he came into the league as a rookie two years ago. He split playing time with Dominic Rhodes in 2006. Rhodes is back this year, but he seems unlikely to cut into a healthy Addai's touches in a similar way this season. ... Adam Vinatieri comes off yet another solid season and remains a front-line Fantasy kicker this year. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi, Josh Betts RB: Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Hart WR: Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon, Courtney Roby TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Tom Santi, Gijon Robinson PK: Adam Vinatieri ========================= ========================= JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot and critically wounded outside an apartment building early Tuesday as he and a former teammate waited for two women they had met at a nightclub, police said. Collier, 26, and former Jaguars defensive end Kenneth Pettway were waiting in a car when a gunman fired into the vehicle, said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson. Collier was shot several times, but it wasn't clear where he was hit. Collier was in critical condition at a Jacksonville hospital, a nursing supervisor told the Associated Press early Tuesday. Later, a spokesman said the hospital was no longer giving updates on Collier's condition. Head coach Jack Del Rio said Collier's family had requested privacy. "The guys are in shock," running back Fred Taylor said. "You see this kind of thing happen all the time on TV, but you never expect it in your own backyard. He's a good dude. I just pray for him and his family and wish the best for them. I'm sure he'll pull through. ..." Meanwhile, Taylor was dealing with other issues. This after he was ordered out of his car at gunpoint, patted down and handcuffed while a K-9 unit searched his vehicle for drugs outside a Miami Beach nightclub over the weekend, according to a police report released Tuesday. Taylor yelled at officers repeatedly and was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after they advised him three times to quiet down, according to Miami Beach Police. "As officers began to check vehicle for weapons, defendant became vocal again and attempted to (incite) the crowd of bystanders," the report said. "Defendant really became vocal when drug dog checked for narcotics. "He was advised to quiet down. ... For a third time. When defendant did not and continued his loud behavior, he was arrested." Taylor insisted Monday he wasn't actually arrested; he said he was just issued a citation. "At this point, I just want to go left of it and take the high road, whether I'm right or wrong. At the end of the day, I'm going to feel more right than wrong," Taylor said Monday, suggesting he was provoked by officers. According to the report, police were called to Club Cristal around 4 a.m. Saturday to respond to an altercation. When officers arrived, they were advised that there might be firearms in a green Mercedes Benz, Taylor's wife's car. They then ordered Taylor and his friends out of the car, which irritated Jacksonville's all-time leading rusher and ultimately led to his arrest. "Right now, I'm humbled by it," Taylor said. "I'll continue to move forward and do whatever I've got to do to let this blow over. ..." On a somewhat more positive note. ... Jerry Porter participated in practice on Monday for the first time since injuring his hamstring in May, giving rise to the question: Will Porter play in Sunday's season-opener in Tennessee? "When we think he's ready, we'll get him on the active 45 and play him," Del Rio said. "I don't have anything to add to that story. I'll let you know when he's ready to play." Signed to a six-year, $30.4 million contract in February, Porter underwent hamstring surgery in July and missed all of training camp. The club expected him back by the season opener, but it appears the Jaguars are playing coy in regards to his status. As the Florida Times-Union noted, the official injury report comes out Wednesday, but the team won't have to designate Porter's status -- probable, questionable or doubtful -- until Friday. "He [Del Rio] said he wanted to see two weeks of practice," Porter said. "[They're] aiming for [the Week 2] Buffalo [game]. If you have a hamstring pull or tear or whatever, guys want to come back too soon and it [can have the potential to] set them back for twice as long." And the Jaguars can't really afford season-long issues at a position where Troy Williamson failed to meet expectations this summer. Postives? Matt Jones figured to be cut shortly after his arrest for cocaine possession this summer, but he survived that ordeal and had his best training camp since 2005 when he was the team's No. 1 draft pick. Reggie Williams had a team-record 10 TD catches a year ago and as the Sports Xchange suggests, a repeat effort there would go a long way to making this a successful unit for '08. .. Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew also fall under the positives category. So does quarterback David Garrard, who enters the season confident that he can post similar numbers to those that he achieved in 2007. He'll be pressed to match the three interceptions he threw (in 325 attempts) last year. Taylor and Drew took much of the pressure off Garrard a year ago by rushing for the second highest total by two backs on the same team in the NFL. As the Xchange noted, the two complement each other as well as any two backs in the league. For what it's worth, Jones-Drew (ankle) returned to practice this week and didn't appear to carry any residual effects from the sprain he suffered in the preseason game at Tampa on Aug. 23. ... Team officials have high hopes for tight end Marcedes Lewis. He showed great improvement a year ago from his rookie season to last year and most important, Garrard feels comfortable with him. ... Josh Scobee missed the first eight games of the season when he was injured during warm-ups in the opener a year ago. He still managed to hit on 12 of 13 field-goal attempts and led the team in scoring with 62 points in those eight games. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: David Garrard, Cleo Lemon RB: Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, Montell Owens, Chauncey Washington FB: Greg Jones WR: Jerry Porter, Reggie Williams, Dennis Northcutt, Matt Jones, Mike Walker, Troy Williamson TE: Marcedes Lewis, Greg Estandia, Richard Angulo, George Wrighster PK: Josh Scobee ========================= ========================= KANSAS CITY CHIEFS As Kansas City Star beat man Adam Teicher suggested Tuesday, with 15 rookies on their opening-day roster, the Chiefs are a team in need of years. They are not, unlike at this point in each of the last two seasons, a team in need of days and weeks. While their 2-2 preseason was not as successful as they hoped, neither was it as disjointed as it was in either of the two other seasons under head coach Herman Edwards. Then, the Chiefs entered the regular season a team in need of more preparation time. They didn't get it and were clobbered in their season opener two years ago by Cincinnati and last year by Houston. They've had easier opening-day assignments than this week's, having to go to New England to play the defending AFC champion Patriots. But, the quality of their opponent notwithstanding, they feel better able to get off to a quick start. While the Chiefs might prefer to begin their season at Arrowhead Stadium or anywhere but against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, a game like this so early in their rebuilding process has one advantage. They will get to see, for better or for worse, how they measure up against the best. "It's probably the best way for us to start," Edwards said. "We get a barometer of where you're at right now. There's no guessing. When it's over, you can look at your football team and go, 'OK, this is where we're at.' That's the good thing about playing a team that's this good. "You're going to get something out of it either way. You're going to find out a lot about your team and the earlier you know, the better." One reason Edwards played the starters so much in the preseason is that he wanted them as ready as possible when the real season began. "Playing so much in the preseason is going to help us," tight end Tony Gonzalez told Teicher. "I played more in the preseason than I have since my rookie year. That's a good thing. We needed to work together. We needed to play together because we're learning a new system. "I do believe we'll start out better offensively. We haven't had guys going out and coming back in. That's been different than the last couple of years. We've been together. We've had only one injury and that's Branden Albert. "So it's coming along. I'd say we're right about where we want to be. ..." For what it's worth, Albert is healthy enough at least to return to practice this week. After missing more than four weeks because of a sprained foot, Albert might even play Sunday when the Chiefs begin the regular season at New England. "Not ruling him out at all," Edwards said. "Not one bit. ..." Other notes of interest. ... In a recent position-by-position breakdown, the Sports Xchange notes that Brodie Croyle will get his best chance to show he is the quarterback of the future the team thinks he can be. That's a lot of confidence put in a third-year player who has yet to win a game in six starts. Croyle was severely handicapped last year by an injury-ridden offensive line and the absence of injured running back Larry Johnson, and his 69.9 passer rating reflects those problems. But Johnson seems to be fully recovered from the fractured bone in his foot that caused him to miss eight games and limited his carries to 158 tries netting 559 yards. Still, that's only a 3.5-yard average before his injury -- hardly what was expected of a back who averaged 5.2 and 4.3 in his previous two seasons when he exceeded 1,750 yards in each. According to the Xchange, Johnson had a solid camp, but whether he can again be the back of 2005 and '06 while running behind a rebuilding offensive line, is a key question this season. Dwayne Bowe, KC's top draft pick in 2007, got an outstanding start with 70 catches and 995 yards to lead all rookies in both receptions and yards. He demonstrated a consistent ability to make the tough catch and established himself as a wideout with a big future. But the team still needs a bona fide threat as a No. 2 wideout -- and it can't be Gonzalez. Devard Darling, one of the team's few free agent acquisitions, had the job coming out of camp, but he was more of a special teams player at Baltimore where he had only 20 career receptions in four years. Jeff Webb had turns as KC's No. 2 last year, but he used the opportunity to catch only 28 passes. Rookie Will Franklin, a fourth-round pick, had a solid spring and camp and was running No. 3 before a late camp knee injury and subsequent surgery put him on the shelf for two to four weeks, jeopardizing his standing for the season's first game or two. Gonzalez, of course, will continue to play a prominent role. He can still make the tough catch despite double teaming -- which he's likely to see again everywhere he goes -- but the attention he draws in the red zone makes catching touchdowns (only five in each of the past two seasons) especially difficult. ... The Chiefs' interest in former Miami kicker Jay Feely lasted all of two days. That surprised a lot of observers who thought Feely, signed on Aug. 25 and released a day later, was being brought in for the long haul as a replacement for kicker candidates Connor Barth, a rookie, and 16-game vet Nick Novak, who opens the season as the lone PK on the roster. B.J. Sams is listed as the punt returner and Dantrell Savage as the kickoff returner. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard RB: Larry Johnson, Kolby Smith, Jamaal Charles, Dantrell Savage FB: Mike Cox WR: Dwayne Bowe, Devard Darling, Jeff Webb, Will Franklin TE: Tony Gonzalez, Brad Cottam PK: Nick Novak ========================= ========================= MIAMI DOLPHINS Ricky Williams signed a one-year contract extension on Sunday. Speaking publicly for the first time in months, Miami general manager Jeff Ireland was more than willing to praise the talented, yet controversial star. "You guys see it out there, we see it out there; he's done an excellent job in the weight room, in the meeting rooms," Ireland said. "He's come out there, he's jumped out at us on tape, he looks good in the preseason. "Everything we've seen since we got here -- and it was zero-zero when we got here, Tony [Sparano] said that in the first press conference -- he's done everything we've asked him to do. He's a player that's shown he can play; he showed us that he can play so we didn't want him to make the free agent market." The 31-year-old running back who failed the league's substance abuse test five times and sent a perennially winning franchise into a spiral is being looked upon to improve a team which finished 1-15 last season. Speaking of last year, Williams carried the ball six times for 15 yards and fumbled before tearing a chest muscle against the Pittsburgh Steelers, ultimately ending his campaign. This year, the former Heisman Trophy winner will be paired with Ronnie Brown in the backfield, which provides reason for hope in South Florida. Williams has rushed for 7,112 yards in seven seasons since being picked fifth overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1999. Williams said Monday he wants to finish his playing career with the Dolphins. If Williams gets his wish, that will mean he is playing well enough to keep management from allowing him to ever become a free agent again. "Ideally, that's what I want," Williams said, asked if he wants to eventually close his career here. 'And if I keep playing like this, hopefully I'll have that opportunity. Hopefully, every time we get to this point in the season, they'll say, `We like you and we don't want you to become a free agent."' Meanwhile, Palm Beach Post staffer Ben Volin reports that Sparano claims he no longer stays up late at night worrying about who to play at running back. "I can sleep a little easier at night," Sparano said Monday about his two-pronged rushing attack of Williams and Brown. "That's a position that's solved. Now we can move on to some of the other ones." Brown has a more-than-solid role as the No. 2 back, but his future might be more precarious than expected for a player who was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2005. Remember: Brown was dominant when healthy last year. He gained 100 total yards in five straight games and led the NFL in total yards (991) through seven games before tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament and missing the rest of the season. On Monday, Sparano said Brown's 2007 season means, "really, very little," but also praised his performance in the final exhibition game. ... Other notes of interest. ... Following a 1-15 season, it should come as no surprise that more than half the team is new, with only 26 holdovers from 2007 on the 53-man roster. The Dolphins have a new coach in Sparano, a new quarterback in Pennington and a new cornerstone in tackle Jake Long, the top overall pick in the draft. Only one player in the offensive line and two players in the defensive front seven return at the same position. Miami even has a new kicker in Dan Carpenter, one of 11 rookies to make the team. As the Sports Xchange notes, Pennington was brought in not only to establish a winning culture with players who play smart football, but to mentor rookie Chad Henne, his eventual successor. The veteran will have to show the newcomer how to get it done without an abundance of star power on the outside. Ted Ginn has made progress with his route running and receiving skills, especially once the extremely accurate Pennington arrived. Derek Hagan has had the best summer of any receiver, but he has yet to be consistent in the fall and winter. In fact, South Florida Sun-Sentinel staffer Omar Kelly reported on Wednesday, Greg Camarillo may have gone from hero of the 2007 season to possible starter for the 2008 season opener against the Jets. Camarillo worked with the first-team offense during Wednesday's practice, replacing Hagan, who dropped two passes in the Dolphins' final exhibition game against New Orleans. It's safe to assume I'll be following up on this one in coming days. ... Meanwhile, Ernest Wilford, signed to bring his experience and wisdom to this kiddie corps unit, has been invisible. If not for his $6 million guaranteed cash, the Xchange suggests he would've been cut by now. Davone Bess might be a player worth watching. In fact, asked the biggest surprise of training camp on Monday, Sparano singled out Bess. The 5-10, 190 pounder starred in Hawaii's high-octane passing offense but wasn't drafted last April. Signed by the Dolphins, he has been able to get open and rarely drops the ball. Bess has lined up with the first-team offense in three-receiver sets. "Coming from kind of where he came from, meaning the guy wasn't drafted, to see what he did," Sparano said. "He did a nice job in this pre-season." At tight end, Anthony Fasano came over with the regime that drafted him in Dallas and is expected to emerge as a dual pass threat and run-blocker now that he has escaped the shadow of Jason Witten. David Martin, however, remains a more dangerous downfield weapon. ... One last note here: Sparano doesn't buy into the notion that Pennington's eight seasons with the Jets might give him an edge against his old team this week. "I think it's overrated, I really do," Sparano said. "You can put way too much stock into that." Because Pennington, who started 61 games in New York, knew the ins and outs of their scheme doesn't mean he'll be able to pick up what the Jets are doing with Brett Favre. "If you have a player from another team, and he's on your team now, well he's not on that team," Sparano said. "We're just going to go about our business and try to do our jobs here and get them to understand our information first." DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, John Beck RB: Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown, Jalen Parmele FB: Boomer Grigsby WR: Ted Ginn, Derek Hagan, Greg Camarillo, Ernest Wilford, Davone Bess, Brandon London TE: Anthony Fasano, David Martin, Sean Ryan PK: Dan Carpenter ========================= ========================= MINNESOTA VIKINGS Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said after Tuesday's practice that he will play Monday night at Green Bay. As Minneapolis Star Tribune staffer Judd Zulgad reminded readers, Jackson missed the final two pre-season games because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee but has said he planned to play against the Packers. Head coach Brad Childress also sounded encouraged about Jackson's progress. "I feel good. Through the whole process I'm feeling better each day," Jackson said. "I had a couple days off, couple days to rehab. I feel a lot better." Jackson said there is nothing he can't do at this point. Asked if he would continue to wear a brace on his right knee, Jackson said: "It depends on how I feel. It's not me against the training staff or anything like that. It just depends on how my knee feels." Jackson also said it's not realistic to expect to be 100 percent right now. "Nobody is 100 percent," he said. "Once the season starts the only day you're probably 100 percent is the first day of training camp. After that, you're going to have nicks and bruises and stuff like that. I'm playing Monday regardless of how I feel." And he should. As St. Paul Pioneer Press staffer Rick Alonzo put it last week: "Jackson gives the Vikings the best chance to win." That said, Adrian Peterson will obviously have something to say about it, too. Indeed, the team's rushing attack will be a major factor in whatever success they achieve. Make no mistake about it, Peterson is the star. Still, Alonzo suggests the Vikings might have the best backfield in the NFL in Peterson and Chester Taylor, who are probably better than Jacksonville's duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Peterson led the NFC in rushing last season with 1,341 yards, though his average of 2.7 yards a carry in the final four games show there's room for improvement. Taylor remains a talented backup who could start for many teams. He has strong pass protection and receiving skills. But Peterson spent time this offseason working on his pass blocking so he can stay on the field in third-down and two-minute situations. If Peterson stays healthy it will be interesting to see how many carries Taylor gets. His rushing attempts went from a career-high 303 in his first season with the Vikings in 2006 to 157 last year as he shared time with Peterson. Peterson had 238 attempts. It's hard to imagine that number coming down. ... The biggest changes on the roster came in the receiving corps. With Bernard Berrian and some emerging young receivers, the Vikings finally appear to have some options. Berrian is the deep threat the team has sorely needed, but his timing and chemistry with Jackson could take time to establish following injuries this preseason. Sidney Rice should be a force in the red zone and Aundrae Allison is a big-play threat with a chip on his shoulder. Their emergence as viable threats allow Bobby Wade returns to the slot, his comfort zone. At tight end, Visanthe Shiancoe will try to bounce back from a disappointing season and Jim Kleinsasser remains one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. ... According to the Sports Xchange, Ryan Longwell handled very little kicking for much of the preseason as the coaching staff tried to get the veteran as much rest as possible. He remains extremely consistent from inside 50 yards and has not missed a field goal under 45 yards since joining the Vikings in 2006. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte, John David Booty RB: Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, Maurice Hicks FB: Thomas Tapeh, Naufahu Tahi WR: Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, Bobby Wade, Aundrae Allison, Robert Ferguson TE: Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser PK: Ryan Longwell ========================= ========================= NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Tom Brady is ready to play in the New England Patriots' opener but stopped short Monday of saying he would. "If it's up to me, there's no question" Brady said. "I've been getting progressively better over the past couple of weeks. I'm excited. I'm excited to start the year." As the Associated Press noted, Brady, who has a right foot injury, didn't play in any of four exhibition games although he said he could have. New England lost all four exhibition games. "I felt like I could play all of them and I practiced the entire preseason, pretty much," he said. "The decision was made that, OK, Tom, you're not going to play, and I was fine with it." The Patriots start the regular season Sunday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. But the story is by no means a simple one. ... In fact, radio station WEEI in Boston suggested on Wednesday that Brady actually has or had a cracked bone in his foot, but that he still plans to play Sunday. The prior reports regarding Brady's foot were that he had only a deep bone bruise. This rumor actually started on a blog called NFLJuice and was subsequently posted on Deadspin. The Patriots are, not surprisingly, mum on the story. We'll go ahead and note that the WEEI report came with an initial disclaimer explaining there was no way to confirm their report. Also worth noting, Brady was present for the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday morning. He did the same on Monday. According to Boston Globe staffer Mike Reiss, Brady was seen jogging, running through agility bag drills, and working on three-step drops while throwing to a stationary target during the portion of Wednesday's session open to the media. Also worth noting, Brady has started New England's last 127 games, the third longest streak in NFL history for quarterbacks. Only Brett Favre and Peyton Manning have longer streaks. Brady addressed the question of why he didn't watch the last three preseason games from the sidelines. On his weekly appearance on WEEI (on Monday), Brady said he missed the first under doctor's orders, the second because of a personal matter and the third on the instructions of head coach Bill Belichick. "He said, 'There's no reason for you to be here,'" Brady said. "Sometimes I think I can be a bit of a distraction just standing around. He said, 'All right, you're not playing, so just like all the other inactive guys, just stay home and be ready to go the next day.'" Brady still sounded surprised on Monday that he injured his foot. "It's just something that came up that was a bit unexpected," he said. "I think we have moved past that. I was out there practicing yesterday and I am going out there to practice today. Hopefully, I will be practicing enough the rest of the week to give everybody enough confidence to know that I will be OK if I go out there." Brady's track record speaks for itself, but he acknowledged that missing the preseason wasn't ideal. "There's nothing like playing," he said. "You can't replicate the speed of that, the decision-making that goes into it or your level of energy. I think coach tries to simulate that as best as he can. The fortunate thing for me is I've played in about 130 games. So I know that speed and my body knows that speed. "Hopefully, I can rely on the past history that I have had playing." Brady declined to disclose what percentage healthy he is -- "Coach hates percentages" -- but he hopes it's good enough. He knows his team needs him and he knows better than to think the Patriots can just flip the switch when the games count for real. "I don't think we look at it like that," he said. "I know I don't look at it like that. I think the way you practice is usually the way you go out there and play. ..." In a rather surprising development, Belichick told reporters after Wednesday's practice that he expects Brady to play against the Chiefs. "He's practicing and I expect he'll be ready to go," the coach said. While the concerns about Brady's preseason-long absence are legitimate, I'll remind you that many of us had those same concerns when Randy Moss missed most of training camp and the preseason with a tender hamstring. Turned out Belichick played that hand correctly. ... Other notes of interest. ... In another injury-related item, Wes Welker left the third pre-season game with a rib injury, but it's not expected to be a long-term issue. Meanwhile, the Sports Xchange reports that Moss had a great camp and looks ready to have another great year working with Brady. Moss and Welker remain the top two threats, but Jabar Gaffney also has a good relationship working with Brady. Gaffney remains the third option after Chad Jackson failed to emerge as the player expected. Jackson was released on Sunday. ... At tight end, the Xchange suggests that David Thomas is a player to watch. If he can stay healthy he could provide a nice complementary option for Brady and the passing attack. Though he's not the athlete that starter Ben Watson is, Thomas has the ability to be a more consistent target. ... And maybe healthier at this point. Watson was not on the field for Wednesday's practice. I'll be watching for more on his status as the week progresses. ... The Patriots have a deep group of experienced running backs with Laurence Maroney, the team's top rusher last season, and Kevin Faulk leading the way. Sammy Morris, who missed the last 10 games last season with a chest injury, and LaMont Jordan, signed after being released by Oakland, are also capable contributors. Fullback Heath Evans, a strong special teams player, is highly regarded by Belichick, who appears to be fine with the logjam. "I don't think that the players at the same position are necessarily in competition with each other," Belichick said. "We want to keep the best players and that may be a balanced roster or not. It may include a few more players at one position and a few less at another. ... All of our running backs have been productive." A quick reminder. ... Faulk has been suspended without pay for the team's first regular-season game and fined one additional game check for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy following a marijuana-related arrest earlier this year. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, September 8 following Sunday's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. ... According to the Reiss, with Faulk serving a one-game suspension, the Patriots will need to fill the void in the two-minute offense. Faulk is a major weapon in that package, specifically as a pass catcher, and Jordan has prepared to assume that role if called upon. "I've always been a back who feels like I can do everything -- third down, goal-line -- I think I'm an every-down back," he said. ... According to the Xchange, Stephen Gostkowski had a strong preseason and has the leg to be a more productive kicker than he has been over two seasons. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Kevin O'Connell RB: Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, Kevin Faulk FB: Heath Evans WR: Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, C.J. Jones, Kelley Washington, Sam Aiken TE: Ben Watson, Dave Thomas, Stephen Spach PK: Stephen Gostkowski ========================= ========================= NEW ORLEANS SAINTS With the city having withstood limited damage from Hurricane Gustav, the Saints on Tuesday said the regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be held as scheduled in the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday. "There were a number of critical issues that needed to be addressed before we could make this announcement," Saints owner Tom Benson said. "We have been assured by Superdome officials that the stadium is ready to host our fans and our team for a sold-out game this Sunday and we have been assured by our political leaders that we have their support in making this happen." The team had flown to Indianapolis to practice at the Colts' training facility before Gustav hit the Louisiana coastline. It will fly back to New Orleans on Friday. There had been plans of possibly switching the game to Tampa and moving the team's second meeting of the season to New Orleans had the storm caused substantial damage. ... With that question resolved, there are other questions for the Saints. As SportsLine.com's Pete Prisco recently asked, "Is Reggie Bush a bust?" Prisco thinks not. Is the former first-round pick what the Saints thought he would be? No. But entering his third season, Bush has a chance to prove a lot of doubters wrong. Prisco suggests that Bush needs to run tougher inside the tackles. If he can do that, he will get more carries. He has been a very good receiver so far in his career, but the Saints need more from him on the ground after using the second overall pick in the 2006 draft to get him. Bush will benefit from lessons learned when Deuce McAllister went down to injury last year. McAllister is back this season, but if his surgically-repaired knees become a problem, it's safe to assume we'll see more of Pierre Thomas and Aaron Stecker in an effort to avoid relying too heavily on Bush. Another question is at wideout. Second-year receiver Robert Meachem, the team's first-round pick in 2007, looked good in camp and will likely be the team's third receiver behind Marques Colston and David Patten. Meachem was a disappointment last season when he came to camp out of shape and then didn't catch a pass. If he can become a deep threat to go with Colston and Jeremy Shockey, the Saints' passing game will be even better. Lending at least some degree of confidence is the fact Meachem was the Saints' leading receiver in the first three exhibition games with nine catches for 211 yards (23.4 average) and a TD. ... As the Sports Xchange notes, Colston is poised to have another big season after becoming one of the league's elite receivers last year. He piled up 1,202 receiving yards and 11 TDs and was second in the NFC with 98 receptions. He now has 168 catches in two seasons, the most in league history for a player in his first two years. Patten worked his way into the starting lineup and caught 54 passes for 792 yards and three TDs. Shockey didn't play in the first three exhibition games as he slowly came back from a fractured leg in December, but he's being counted on heavily to help spread defenses out with his ability to get deep down the middle of the field. One reason head coach Sean Payton was so eager to land Shockey was the belief a more dangerous threat at tight end would make it harder to double team Colston. If things work out as expected, Drew Brees, coming off two monster seasons in which he helped the Saints finish first in the NFL in total offense in 2006 and fourth in '07, is going to remain locked in as a top-three Fantasy QB. ... Martin Gramatica opens the season after battling rookie Taylor Mehlhaff throughout camp. Gramatica's experience won out of Melhaff's stronger leg. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Drew Brees, Mark Brunell RB: Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, Pierre Thomas, Aaron Stecker FB: Mike Karney WR: Marques Colston, David Patten, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Terrance Copper, Lance Moore TE: Jeremy Shockey, Mark Campbell, Billy Miller PK: Martin Gramatica ========================= ========================= NEW YORK GIANTS According to Associated Press sports writer Tom Canavan, Plaxico Burress is done with questions about his troublesome right ankle. It's fine. In fact, it feels so good for the first time in more than a year that the veteran receiver believes this could be a great year for him, and that's saying something heading into Thursday's NFL kickoff game against the Washington Redskins. "Nobody is more excited than me," Burress said Sunday after going full tilt through his third straight practice. "I am back out there doing some of the things that I wasn't able to do in the past. I am just getting my feet back under me." Burress played the entire 2007 season with a badly sprained right ankle, and it prevented him from practicing more than a handful of times and limited what he could do on the field. Cutting to his right was very limited in his game plan. Despite that, Burress played in every game, caught a team-high 70 passes and a career-best 12 touchdowns. The nine-year veteran added 18 more catches in the postseason, including the game-winning 13-yard touchdown catch with 35 seconds left in the Super Bowl. "Last year I played well and had some good games, but I couldn't do it on a consistent basis like I wanted to," Burress told Canavan. "Granted I wasn't able to go out and practice, but I never let my mind waver and used that as an excuse. I gave it what I had. I just expect to be consistent and great week in and week out -- that's what I want to be." Canavan went on to suggest it's hard to guess how much the Giants will use Burress against the Redskins. He came to training camp bothered by a stability problem with his right ankle and missed almost all the practices while learning how to play in orthotics. Burress has taken most of the snaps with Eli Manning and the first team in recent days, but head coach Tom Coughlin indicated he may use Domenik Hixon some because the receiver had a good camp. Burress acknowledges his stamina could be better. He was huffing and puffing walking off the field with fellow veteran Amani Toomer on Sunday, but he was laughing about it because he sees improvement since last year. He has no limitations running his routes, and he is cutting, jumping and stopping without any problems. Burress also noted that he has put on seven pounds for this season, and that should help him from getting dinged as much. Put it together and Burress thinks he can be a dominant receiver in the league. "I try to do it every time I step on the football field," he said. "With me getting practice, I have already practiced more this year than last year, so I am just trying to get to the top of my game. I am trying to be an impact player week in and week out. I am trying to prove something to myself, and be the best that I can be for my team. ..." For what it's worth, the Giants released an "unofficial" depth chart over the weekend. Of interest to Fantasy owners, Hixon is backing up Burress and Steve Smith is backing up Toomer. Sinorice Moss is listed after Smith and ahead of rookie Mario Manningham. Kevin Boss is obviously the starter at tight end, but Michael Matthews is listed ahead of Darcy Johnson on the depth chart. Still, Johnson appears to be more of a receiving threat than Matthews. ... On the running back depth chart, it's Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw, Reuben Droughns and Danny Ware. Jacobs is locked in as the starter, but the Sports Xchange notes that his campaign for a new contract a year before his old one runs out fell on deaf ears. He will become a free agent at the conclusion of the season and vows to get "the most I can." This might explain why the Giants kept five running backs. The Giants list seven kick returners. In order: Hixon, Bradshaw, Ward, Ware, Droughns, Moss, Manningham. They also list four punt returners: R.J. McQuarters, Hixon, Bradshaw, Moss. Worth noting. ... The Giants are going with just two QBs -- Manning and David Carr -- this fall. Coughlin called that "a calculated risk" they had to take so they could carry two kickers. Which brings us to this. ... The Giants signed 44-year-old John Carney last Saturday, and he will be their place kicker on opening night against the Washington Redskins. They added the 21-year veteran because Lawrence Tynes is still out with an injured left knee, and no one seems to know when he'll be able to return. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Eli Manning, David Carr RB: Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward, Reuben Droughns FB: Madison Hedgecock WR: Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Domenik Hixon TE: Kevin Boss, Michael Matthews, Darcy Johnson PK: John Carney, Lawrence Tynes ========================= ========================= NEW YORK JETS When the New York Jets head to Miami for their season opener, Chad Pennington will be starting at quarterback. For the Dolphins -- not the Jets. This strange twist only somewhat stranger than the fact Pennington is being replaced as New York's starter by none other than Brett Favre. As Sports Ticker contributing writer Joe Rizzo suggested, the legendary Packer quarterback's fickle mind and general manager Mike Tannenbaum's organization quickly made everything change. Favre decided to unretire from the Green Bay Packers, who shunned the most popular player in the storied history of the franchise. The Packers eventually granted Favre a ticket out of town, and Tannenbaum and Co. willingly changed the face of the organization overnight without disrupting what they worked hard to build the past two-plus seasons. "When the opportunity presented itself, I just felt like it's something we had to take a real long look at," Tannenbaum said. "My gut feeling, for a long time, I just didn't think it was going to come to fruition. Then it really heated up. I just think organizationally, the only part of the process we control is preparation and we had a lot of great preparation, so if and when that opportunity presented itself we were ready to roll. "When it did, we moved quick." Making room for Favre meant the end of wearing green for Pennington, the likeable longtime starter who could never escape criticism of his less-than-average downfield throwing arm, yet at the same time always drew praise for his leadership, guts and game-management skills. Now, working in New York with a set of starting receivers in Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles similar to those he left behind in Green Bay, there's no reason to believe Favre won't continue to produce solid Fantasy totals (even if the Jets continue to struggle as a team). As the Sports Xchange notes, with Coles having trouble staying on the practice field this summer, Cotchery seems to be developing into Favre's favorite target among the wideouts. He isn't a speedster but is fast enough to get downfield and figures to be a vertical target for Favre. Meanwhile, Brad Smith's route-running improved in 2007, and the former quarterback seems to be developing the ability to make the tough catch, something he had trouble doing last season. The team also has a wealth of talent at tight end with rookie Dustin Keller, veteran Chris Baker and former Packer Bubba Franks. Favre tends to look to the position on a regular basis and it's safe to assume he'll find this group to his liking. Concerns? How about the rushing attack? Running back Jesse Chatman, who led the team in rushing this preseason with 164 yards and a touchdown on 51 carries, was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL policy on steroids and related substances. Normally news that a reserve tailback is going to miss four games wouldn't be a huge worry. In this case, however, the suspension leaves the Jets with only two running backs on the roster -- Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. Both struggled last year. In fact, Jones' 3.6 yards per carry was his lowest average since he had 3.4 with Arizona in 2001 in his second pro season. A large part of the problem was an offensive line that didn't generate much of a push, particularly in short-yardage situations. Jones continued to have a tough time shaking loose for any big gains in the 2008 preseason, and had only 29 yards on 12 carries in the first three games. Washington averaged only 3.6 yards per carry through the first 11 games last season but finished at 5.0 after a late-season burst. He looked even more explosive in summer practices and the Jets need to find ways to get him the ball in space more often on offense. Don't be surprised if they find ways to get Washington the ball more in general. Especially if Jones continues to struggle. ... In a related note. ... Former Packer running back Vernand Morency worked out for the Jets on Tuesday but there's been no follow up reporting at this point in time. ... Mike Nugent had another very solid season in 2007, connecting on 26 of his last 28 field-goal attempts inside 50 yards. But was only 1-for-4 from 50 yards and beyond on field goals. He missed a 23-yarder in a preseason game and admitted he needs to focus a little better sometimes. Nugent could get a boost from the return of special teams coach Mike Westhoff, who stepped aside after last season to have a ninth operation on his left leg, which has been ravaged by bone cancer. After recently getting a clean bill of health, Westhoff was welcomed back Monday to the coaching staff. Recently hired special teams coach Kevin O'Dea will remain with the team, but it's unclear how he'll work with Westhoff. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Brett Favre, Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff, Erik Ainge RB: Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Jesse Chatman FB: Tony Richardson WR: Jerricho Cotchery, Laveranues Coles, Brad Smith, Wallace Wright, David Clowney TE: Chris Baker, Dustin Keller, Bubba Franks PK: Mike Nugent ========================= ========================= OAKLAND RAIDERS The Raiders head into their Monday night regular-season opener against the Raiders with almost as many questions surrounding their passing attack as they have answers in the ground game. First and foremost, is JaMarcus Russell ready for prime time? As Oakland Tribune staffer Jerry McDonald suggests, we'll find out soon enough. While there's no questioning his arm strength and mobility, it remains to be seen if the former first-round pick can effectively run an NFL offense. There are also questions about Javon Walker. NFL Network insider Adam Schefter reported over the weekend that Walker is questionable with a hamstring injury, meaning there is a 50-50 chance he won't face the Broncos But Walker was running patterns for head coach Lane Kiffin before team sessions began on Sunday and there was no mention of a hamstring injury and Walker was not named among players who missed practice. According to McDonald, if Walker had sustained a hamstring injury serious enough to put him at risk for the opener, chances are he would have been in treatment or at least had his leg wrapped. Instead, he was in the locker room, no sign of a limp or discomfort. McDonald went on to suggest that Walker must have had enough of a twinge in his hamstring to be checked out, but that it's not considered to be serious in terms of missing the opener. Still, the team's decision to bring former 49er Ashley Lelie on board raised the hackles of local observers, who have questioned Walker's motivation throughout the summer. Despite admitting he considered retirement at one point this summer, Walker insists he's still go "it." "I know what type of player I am," Walker said. "When I'm in the zone I feel like I can't be stopped. That's the only thing you can think of to motivate yourself to play. So to get out there and get some opportunities catching the ball going into the regular season feels good. I know what I can do. I know what I bring to the table." Meanwhile, Ronald Curry will open the season opposite Walker with Johnnie Lee Higgins serving as the third receiver. But McDonald advised readers it's hard to see the inconsistent Higgins as the third wideout as well as both the punt and kickoff return specialist. That could open the door for Lelie, who brings a 17.2 career receiving yard average to a team that had trouble this summer finding receivers who could separate from cornerbacks. Of course, tight end Zach Miller looks like an emerging weapon -- one that Russell seemed to look for on a regular basis this summer. ... And the rushing attack? Again, the only question there is how to divide the workload. According to McDonald, Kiffin has dreams of a three-headed monster with starter Justin Fargas, first-round draft pick (and superstar in the making?) Darren McFadden and Michael Bush getting close to 600 rushing attempts. Fargas rushed for 1,009 yards despite being a starter for little more than half a season. According to the Sports Xchange, he will be pushed aside at some point, but came to camp in terrific shape and retained his hold on the top spot despite the fact that the Raiders drafted someone who will eventually take his place. Kiffin's biggest worry regarding McFadden is spreading him too thin -- his rushing and receiving skills, plus his ability to return kickoffs, bring myriad possibilities. He is the most explosive Raiders back in years. Bush is an intriguing tailback who weighs 240-plus pounds and can lower the boom as a runner or receiver, even if he doesn't exactly fit Kiffin's profile as a third-and-short and goal line runner. It will be a formidable rotation -- and one that's likely to frustrate Fantasy owners wishing they could count on a single prospect in what's a lock to be a ground-oriented attack. ... And finally in Oakland. ... Sebastian Janikowski remains an accurate kicker inside 40 yards and a good kickoff man but not quite the force the Raiders expected on long field-goal attempts and touchbacks. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: JaMarcus Russell, Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo RB: Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden, Michael Bush FB: Justin Griffith, Luke Lawton WR: Javon Walker, Ronald Curry, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chaz Schilens, Todd Watkins, Ashley Lelie TE: Zach Miller, Tony Stewart, John Madsen PK: Sebastian Janikowski ========================= ========================= PHILADELPHIA EAGLES According to Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Bob Brookover, there's an opinion out there, and it might even be the prevailing one, that Donovan McNabb's days in Philadelphia are coming to an end. It's been circulating on the radio air waves and the fan message boards ever since the team used a second-round pick on quarterback Kevin Kolb in the 2007 draft. The discussion didn't go away last season when the team stumbled out of the starting gate and McNabb suffered another injury, albeit a relatively minor one, that prevented him from playing 16 games. McNabb said he believes that the talk of his demise with the Eagles is greatly exaggerated. He insists that he plans on spending his entire career with the team that drafted him second overall in 1999 and he has no plans of retiring any time soon. With the Eagles a week away from their regular-season opener against the St. Louis Rams, the quarterback seems to have an air of confidence that was missing at the start of last season when he was still recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. "I felt good this preseason," McNabb told Brookover. "I've approached this preseason differently because of my health. And because of my off-season training, I look forward to having a great season." And by a great season, Fantasy owners hope he means a high-scoring season. That, of course, would require considerable improvement in the red zone. In case you missed it, after finishing sixth in red-zone offense in '06, the Eagles slipped to 24th last year, converting just 45.1 percent of their trips inside the 20 into touchdowns. Coaches hope a healthy McNabb -- and one of his key red-zone weapons, tight end L.J. Smith -- will change that. But the rest of their receiving corps, which many felt wasn't playoff-caliber in the first place, took some hits in the preseason. Their top wide receiver, Kevin Curtis, who became just the second wideout in the Andy Reid era to notch 1,000 receiving yards last season, had surgery to repair a sports hernia in mid-August, and will miss at least the first month of the season and probably more. Their other starting wideout, Reggie Brown, suffered a hamstring injury in the second preseason game. Brown returned to practice Wednesday and should be available this weekend. So will rookie receiver DeSean Jackson, a second-round pick in the April draft, who had a lights-out preseason and could emerge as an immediate contributor. Hank Baskett, a former state high jump champion, could emerge as a viable red-zone weapon on fades. And there's always Brian Westbrook, who has developed into one of the league's best and most versatile running backs. He led the NFL in yards from scrimmage last season and as the Sports Xchange suggests, has erased any questions about his ability to be a carry-the-load running back. With nearly 700 touches in the last two years, though, the Eagles need to lighten his load a bit. Lorenzo Booker, acquired in a trade with Miami, is a similar type of running back to Westbrook, who can be flexed out wide to exploit coverage mismatches in the passing game. Look for the Eagles to use both together in the passing game, especially early on with Curtis out. The Eagles moved Tony Hunt, an '07 third-round pick, to fullback late in the preseason. But his blocking skills need further honing. ... David Akers has long been one of the league's most accurate kickers. But he is coming off a disappointing season that saw him convert just 2 of 10 field goal attempts from beyond 39 yards. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley RB: Brian Westbrook, Lorenzo Booker, Correll Buckhalter FB: Tony Hunt WR: Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Greg Lewis, Kevin Curtis TE: L.J. Smith, Brent Celek, Matt Schobel PK: David Akers ========================= ========================= PITTSBURGH STEELERS Ben Roethlisberger enjoyed a career year last season, but the best part for the Steelers -- and Fantasy owners -- is that it appears their young quarterback has an even better supporting cast around him in 2008. Pittsburgh spent its top two draft choices on skill positions to help bolster an offense that had already ranked ninth in the league in scoring and third in rushing yards and had allowed Roethlisberger to set a franchise record with 32 touchdown passes last season. "All in all, he has so many viable weapons now," said Hines Ward, the elder statesman of the offense who has led the team in receptions each of the past nine seasons. "I think we've got a strong supporting cast around him now. We're just as talented as anybody at (the skill positions)." As Sports Ticker contributing writer Chris Adamski noted, the triumvirate of running back Willie Parker and receivers Ward and Santonio Holmes combined for 3,128 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns last season. Parker led the league in rushing before breaking his leg in a December 20 game at St. Louis, and Holmes topped the league in yards per catch (18.2) among players with at least 21 receptions. The team also features receiving threats in tight ends Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth. Miller caught 47 passes and ranked fourth among NFL tight ends with seven touchdowns, and Spaeth, a third-round choice in 2007, set school records at the University of Minnesota. Wide receiver Nate Washington (29 catches, 450 yards, five touchdowns last season) also returns, but Pittsburgh stayed on the offensive by adding running back Rashard Mendenhall, the first-round pick from Illinois, and 6-foot-4 receiver Limas Sweed, the second round pick out of Texas. "Any time you can come out and see guys like Willie Parker, Hines, Santonio, Ben there's just so many ways that these guys can strike offensively that it's really exciting," Sweed said. The combination of the top four receivers, the 1-2 speed-power punch at running back and the pair of talented tight ends to go along with a Pro Bowl quarterback has the Steelers believing they might have one of the best offenses in the AFC this side of Foxboro. ... They might be right. According to Adamski, the pass-catching group might be the most intriguing. Ward holds just about every team receiving record and is a four-time Pro Bowler. Teammates rave that Holmes, a first-round pick in 2006, is on the cusp of stardom. Miller has scored 18 touchdowns during his three-year career. Roethlisberger hasn't had a set of receivers this deep and diverse since his rookie season in 2004, when Ward, Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El combined for 158 catches, 2,303 yards and 12 touchdowns. "I can't really say that this (current group) is the best group because then I wouldn't be doing (Burress) justice and (Randle El) and guys like that," Roethlisberger said. "I won't say this is the best group, but I do love the group that I have. They're awesome." "We want to complement each other," Ward said. "I think Santonio is starting to come into his own, and we're starting to get a rapport back as far as receiving goes." Holmes, in particular, spent time in the offseason building a closer relationship with Roethlisberger. "I don't think Ben comes into the huddle saying, 'OK, I'm going to throw it to that guy,'" Holmes said. "He has reads he can go through, progressions, options to find wherever the best matchup is to throw the ball. He knows that any one of us, if he needs us to make a play, we'll make it." The proverbial good problem to have? As Adamski suggested, too many weapons, not enough balls to go around, particularly in the backfield, where Parker has rushed for at least 1,200 yards during each of the past three seasons but will certainly yield some carries to Mendenhall. "It will all work itself out," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "It's a lot of fun. You like to have weapons, and each guy brings something different to the table so you want to use them all." No arguments here. ... But there's more. ... According to the Sports Xchange, Mewelde Moore is a player to watch. He gets lost in a backfield that includes Parker and Mendenhall, but Moore will play on third downs and can have an impact there. Signed as a free agent from the Vikings, Moore can block, run and catch, a triple-threat the Steelers have not had in their more recent third-down backs. It might be worth noting that as of Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin still wasn't sure how much Mendenhall will play at halfback. Mendenhall did not help his case when he lost three fumbles in the final two preseason games. "We're looking at his preparation this week, his attention to detail in terms of how he executes his assignments, and his level of ball security," Tomlin said. "That process will be ongoing. That's what it's about. We'll see as we get closer to game time." Mendenhall will handle kickoff returns, however. Moore and Holmes will handle the punt returns, being used differently based on certain situations in the game, such as field position. Moore has a 10.4-yard career punt return average. ... The Steelers have signed tight end Sean McHugh on Tuesday. His addition gives the Steelers three tight ends on their roster. McHugh, who can also play fullback, appeared in 15 games for the Lions last season and caught 17 passes for 252 yards. And finally. ... With 616 career points, kicker Jeff Reed opens the season ranked third on the Steelers' all-time scoring list. DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT   QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon RB: Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, Gary Russell FB: Carey Davis WR: Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington, Limas Sweed, Dallas Baker TE: Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, Sean McHugh PK: Jeff Reed ========================= ========================= ST. LOUIS RAMS According to the Sports Xchange, there were some sighs of relief when the Rams' first-team offense scored two touchdowns against Baltimore in the team's third preseason game. "We still have a long way to go, but this was good progress," offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. "You always have to remember, these are practices in a game environment." Saunders was hired by head coach Scott Linehan to raise the standards on offense, as well as develop continuity on the offensive line. For the Rams to compete for a division title, the offense has to be a lot better than it was i