| |  | | | Cowart |
There had been some concern that outside linebacker Sam Cowart's hamstring injury was
worse than the Jets were letting on. Cowart was supposed to practice during
the week of the Jets' first preseason game, but he didn't return to practice
until after the game, and he only participated in noncontact drills at that.
Given Cowart's proneness to injury lately, this may bear watching.
Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said he is not concerned about
the predictability of his offense. Wide receiver Hines Ward said the Patriots' defense
had successfully called out the plays Mularkey sent in during the AFC title
game Jan. 27. Mularkey said the solution is as simple as making sure the
Steelers' receivers and linemen pay attention to detail and don't tip off
defenders with their stance at the line of scrimmage.
There's some talk that the Eagles are trying to trade very capable nickel
cornerback Al Harris.
The Redskins are still interested in acquiring Bears guard Mike Gandy. The
Bears discussed trading Gandy when the two teams were negotiating a trade
involving quarterback Patrick Ramsey.
Eagles placekicker David Akers has been looking great in training-camp workouts. He
nailed a 65-yard field goal with room to spare in practice recently. Akers
said that the longest field goal he's ever connected on in practice is from
70 yards.
Eagles special-teams coach John Harbaugh says that his units have gotten
even faster than last year, thanks in part to a bunch of rookies. The
Eagles' special teams was already a very good unit last season.
Eagles running back Dorsey Levens ran like a man possessed against his old team, the
Packers.
While the Cowboys might be interested in trading for disgruntled Chiefs tight end
Tony Gonzalez, it's not going to happen. The Cowboys would never agree to
surrender the amount of draft picks the Chiefs would demand in a trade.
We hear the Rams are pleased with the progress of position-switching
rookies Eric Crouch and Steve Bellisari. Crouch, a quarterback at Nebraska,
has demonstrated the innate abilities of a pro-caliber wide receiver in
short order. Bellisari, a quarterback-turned-safety, has impressed the Rams with his
size and nose for the ball.
In addition to being a prime candidate for the 49ers' punt-return job, we
hear second-year pro Cedrick Wilson could also challenge Tai Streets for the
team's third-wide receiver role.
We hear 49ers defensive end Chike Okeafor is having the best training camp of his pro
career and has firmly secured the starting left defensive end job over John Engelberger.
The Bears could be in the market for a third quarterback, as Henry Burris
had a very disappointing preseason debut vs. the Broncos.
Two newcomers we hear the Cardinals have been impressed by are free-agent
rookie center Steve Grace, who has displayed some real athleticism, and defensive end Gillis
Wilson, acquired off waivers from Carolina. Cardinals head coach Dave
McGinnis likes Wilson's leverage and hand technique.
Not only do we hear Seattle's new middle linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski is covering more
ground in the middle than the player he replaced, the departed Levon
Kirkland, he also is already filling some of the leadership void created by
Kirkland's release.
Our Saints sources tell us fourth-year linebacker Charlie Clemons has been the most
dominant defender in training camp. In his second season starting in the
middle, he has appeared more confident and sure of his reads.
We hear former beer-truck driver Michael Lewis is making another valiant
effort to make the Saints as a return specialist and backup receiver. At
presstime, Lewis had dropped only one punt in the Saints' training camp.
Second-year Saints defensive lineman Kenny Smith has had a very disappointing training
camp and needs to make up for lost time spent on the sidelines nursing a
right-knee injury.
Don't be surprised if free agent rookie linebacker Ryan Nece, the son of Hall of
Fame safety Ronnie Lott, makes the Buccaneers' final cut. Displaying the same
hard hitting that made his father famous, Nece is currently listed on the
Bucs' depth chart as a top backup at outside linebacker.
We hear Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke has steadily improved his throwing
accuracy, thanks to a special drill devised by offensive coordinator Dan
Henning that involves throwing a football through the goal posts and landing
it in a large barrel at varying distances.
This could be a make-or-break camp for three Bills veterans: defensive end Erik
Flowers, who is struggling with a neck injury, defensive end Bryce Fisher and wide receiver Jeremy
McDaniel.
| |  | | | Bryson |
Trade rumors continue to float around Buffalo regarding running back Shawn Bryson.
The thinking is that the Bills are waiting for another team to have an
injury at running back, after which they can make an offer. Bryson is
currently slated to be the primary backup for Travis Henry, but the Bills
have two other running backs who could fill that role in Sammy Morris and
Richard Huntley.
Don't be surprised if Bills guard Marques Sullivan supplants veteran Jerry
Ostroski as the starting right guard. Ostroski remains on the
physically-unable-to-perform list with a leg injury, and Sullivan has been
playing very well.
Patriots rookie defensive end Jarvis Green has turned several heads with his pass-rush
abilities in camp thus far. While we hear that Green, a fourth-round pick,
won't contend for a starter's job, he certainly is making a big case to make
the team and get more playing time.
Jets center Kevin Mawae (shoulder) is on schedule to return by the end of the
preseason and is currently snapping the ball and participating in noncontact
drills at camp. Defensive end John Abraham (knee) is also on schedule and could be back
in action sooner rather than later.
| |  | |
| Abraham |
The injury to defensive end John Abraham doesn't look as if it will destroy the unit
as much as it could have, after a decent performance in the Jets' first
preseason game by rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas. Thomas does need to improve,
though, according to head coach Herman Edwards, who told reporters that
Thomas tended to get up the field too quickly, taking himself out of the
pass rush too early. Thomas demonstrated good ability against the run,
something that had been a concern prior to the game.
Early observations out of Denver indicate linebacker John Mobley is having no
trouble moving from the weak side to the strong side to make room for Ian
Gold.
According to observers, veteran Steve Beuerlein has been the most
impressive quarterback in Broncos camp thus far, and his surgically repaired
throwing elinebackerow is showing no signs of problems.
Bengals wide receiver coach Steve Mooshagian has said that Peter Warrick is doing
everything the coaches are asking of him and is studying the playbook and
discussing the offense with teammates a lot more than he did in his first
two years.
Neither Neil Rackers or rookie Travis Dorsch have impressed much in the
Bengals' placekicker battle, and boos could be heard from the crowd as both kickers
missed field goals in a recent intrasquad scrimmage.
Although he isn't being worked too hard in an effort to conserve his leg
for the regular season, placekicker Morten Andersen has earned positive reviews from
observers in Kansas City's training camp.
Chiefs cornerbacks Eric Warfield and William Bartee showed they must get more
physical in bump-and-run coverage after getting abused by Randy Moss in a
scrimmage with the Vikings last week.
Right offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy's hyperextended right knee is cause for concern because
he is the lineman the Raiders could least afford to lose and because he was
finally back to 100 percent following shoulder problems.
Outside linebacker Jamir Miller, the first Pro Bowl player for the Browns since the
franchise was resurrected, tore his right Achilles' tendon in Cleveland's
27-15 win over Minnesota and is likely out for the season. Though the Browns
selected three linebackers in the 2002 draft, it is likely converted safety
Marquis Smith will get first crack at taking Miller's vacant starting job.
Despite reports out of Cleveland that running back Jamel White is surging up the
depth chart, the only way White or James Jackson, could edge rookie running back
William Green for the starting job is if injuries continue to befall Green.
Green has been bothered by a shoulder injury early in camp.
Consider it a battle settled, as James Farrior will start at left inside
linebacker over John Fiala. Defensive coordinator Tim Lewis wanted to give
the holdover Fiala a chance to edge Farrior, who led the Jets in tackles in
2001, as Earl Holmes' replacement inside.
The Browns are thrilled with the play of tight end Rickey Dudley early in
preseason. Dudley, coming off of foot surgery, has been sharp in receiving
drills and is running smoothly.
The Steelers wide receiver corps appears to be greatly improved with wide receivers Terance
Mathis and Antwaan Randle-El serving as a support system for starters Hines
Ward and Plaxico Burress. Rookie sixth-round pick Lee Mays has been a
favorite of the club and might make Troy Edwards expendable.
Safety Damon Moore has yet to report to Bears training camp but is not
considered a holdout. Since Moore, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament
in January, wouldn't be able to play until October, the team is allowing him
to work out personal issues that Moore cited as the reason he has yet to
report. Moore's agent Joel Segal said he could not comment on reports that
his client is considering retirement.
Even though the Packers' two best receivers could be Javon Walker and Terry
Glenn, it isn't likely the two will be on the field together unless the club
is using a three- or four-wide receiver set. For now, Glenn won't be in the lineup,
having injured his knee for the second time in as many weeks. He is
currently day-to-day with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
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