Holmes

Priest Holmes knew from the beginning he didn't suffer a Bo Jackson-like hip injury, but he had to be sure. Holmes watched a computerized disk of Jackson's surgery that showed Jackson's hip had come out of the socket and the blood supply around Jackson's hip had been cut. Holmes had simple arthroscopic surgery in which two small holes were cut into the muscle outside the hip. The hip was solid. The blood supply was good. After running for two months, Holmes is pulling a golf cart with a rope to strengthen his hip and he suggests anyone looking for a fantasy halfback should take him first.

Johnson impresses Texans
Unsigned Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, the third pick in the draft, has looked good in informal workouts. Contact lenses have helped his vision and working with a high-speed ball machine for the first time has taught him to get his hands in position quicker to make catches. And now that Johnson finally has hired an agent, the Texans are hopeful he'll be in a quicker position to sign a contract.

Longer pacts for rookies
Responding to the Redskins' raids of restricted free agents Laveranues Coles and Chad Morton, the Jets are asking rookies from the third round on down to sign four-year deals, foregoing their restricted free-agent year. The trend has gone league-wide with the Bears, Dolphins, Patriots and Titans inking mid-round draft choices to four-year deals to keep from losing them if they become stars.

Russell denied by league
Darrell Russell's bid for reinstatement from drug suspension recently was rejected by the NFL. The Raiders defensive tackle can apply again for reinstatement in another month or so, but it appears he's heading toward missing his second consecutive full season.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.