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Aaron Brooks has the green light for full throwing during training camp after minor off-season shoulder surgery, but the Saints' bigger challenge is getting Brooks to better shoulder the offense in December. In the past two Decembers, Brooks' touchdown passes dropped and his interceptions soared, so Jim Haslett hired leadership experts to mentor Brooks and other key players to help them stay mentally tough. With 8,918 passing yards in a little over two seasons as a starter, Brooks, 27, is so valued as the team's franchise player that he's on pace to break Archie Manning's career yardage stats by 2006.
Akili vying for roster spot
Akili Smith has six weeks and five exhibition games to prove to the Packers he merits a roster spot. He'll compete here in Green Bay against Craig Nall for the third quarterback job because Doug Pederson is established as the experienced backup (off camera). Smith signed too late in June to get off-season reps with the offense, but he's arrived in camp smiling because his Cincinnati days are over. Smith's arrival, though, put a frown on Eric Crouch's bid to make the Packers as a quarterback, so on Tuesday, he asked for and was given his release.
Losing leverage?
Carson Palmer received a $14 million signing bonus from the Bengals as the first pick in the draft, and Dewayne Roberston got more than $13 million from the Jets as the fourth pick in the draft. Such a small decrease from first to fourth will make it difficult for other teams to low ball their first-round picks. One of the toughest negotiations may involve quarterback Byron Leftwich, who despite being taken only three picks after Robertson is being offered a signing bonus of under $8 million by the Jaguars.
Rejuvenated Raider
It looks like veteran Trace Armstrong has found the Raiders' fountain of youth at 37, which should help Oakland's thin and inexperienced defensive line. Armstrong has intensified his training with camp roommate Bill Romanowski, whose oxygen chambers, hired message therapists and workout regiment has helped Armstrong bounce back impressively from last season's groin injury.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
