Whispers from PFT (long, but lotsa stuff)

[Father Demon]

Whispers from around the NFLPro Football Weekly


• RB Willis McGahee wouldn't reveal his weight, but he looked noticeably slimmer and more toned at the Bills' June minicamp than he was at the end of last season. Word is McGahee believes that carrying less weight will bring back some of the explosiveness he lacked last season.

• Sources close to the Raiders indicate that WR Jerry Porter isn't the happiest camper with the way new head coach Art Shell has pushed for more discipline. Sources cite the sometimes tenuous relationship Porter had with Jon Gruden, who, like Shell, was more heavy-handed than Bill Callahan or Norv Turner. The Raiders have dangled Porter as trade bait in the past, so it wouldn't come as a complete surprise for Oakland to shop him if things don't go well early on.

• Sources say Broncos QB Jake Plummer has been sharp throughout summer workouts and appears to be as confident as ever despite Jay Cutler looking over his shoulder. Though the real bullets have yet to start flying, we're hearing that Cutler looks like the real deal to this point.

• Our sources in New Orleans tell us that newly acquired WR Bethel Johnson and underachieving third-year WR Devery Henderson will compete in training camp for the No. 3 WR role behind Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth. We hear that the loser of the competition likely will be traded or released because the Saints are only going to keep one deep threat on the roster.

• Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has somewhat smoothed over his disagreement with team management by keeping his word to participate in mandatory workouts. He chose to skip the offseason conditioning program to work out on his own in South Florida against the advice of head coach Jack Del Rio. Taylor has been injured in training camp two of the past three years, and the Jaguars wanted to keep a close watch on the training habits of their offensive cornerstone. In 2005, Taylor failed to rush for 800 yards for the first time in any season in which he had 10 starts, and he had just one carry of more than 20 yards.

• Vikings C Matt Birk is right on schedule in his recovery from hip surgery that cost him the 2005 season. Birk did participate in the offseason program without recurrence of pain or discomfort in his hip or abdomen. The team expects him to further solidify a new-look offensive line charged with paving the way for the Vikings' new ball-control West Coast offense.

• Sources in Jacksonville say the 2006 season is extremely critical for QB Byron Leftwich, who'll be in line for a new contract in the next two years. Leftwich has missed seven of the last 24 regular-season games because of injuries and could take the blame if the passing game falters without Jimmy Smith. Leftwich consistently missed the mark at a recent minicamp but said he wasn't worried about his accuracy or timing with his new starting receivers, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams.

• Despite signing free agent Nick Greisen and drafting Clint Ingram to replace OLB Akin Ayodele, we're told the Jaguars will open training camp with Pat Thomas as the first-string strongside linebacker.

• Several players with ties to Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz are moving their way up the depth chart. ORT Rex Tucker supplanted last year's starter (Kelly Butler) in minicamp, and RB Arlen Harris, a solid receiver with good speed, has ascended to No. 2 behind starter Kevin Jones. A third ex-Ram, WR Mike Furrey, remains very much in the mix for a reserve WR spot.

• The Colts closed their "summer school" practices to the media for the first time in years, leading to rumor and debate about what kind of experiments the team might have tried with the doors closed. One that might be revisited is moving CB Marlin Jackson to free safety. If FS Mike Doss falters, or a third cornerback emerges behind Nick Harper and Jason David, Jackson could get the call inside.

• Don't expect the Colts to be as reliant on the running game early this season as they were last year. Without Edgerrin James, offensive coordinator Tom Moore will anchor the team with a spread formation, using multiple receivers to protect Peyton Manning and create wide running lanes for RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes.

• The door isn't wide open for Vikings RB Ciatrick Fason to steal work from Mewelde Moore as the backup to Chester Taylor, but Moore hasn't slammed it shut to date. Still bothered by a wrist injury, Moore must answer the same question he faced from the Mike Tice regime: Can he stay healthy? He appeared to be coming around at the most recent minicamp. If Moore doesn't stay healthy, Fason is one of several backs head coach Brad Childress said he's confident will pick up the slack.

• We're told the Bears don't expect much of a QB controversy between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese. Grossman has the full backing of the coaching staff, but his injury history necessitated the Griese signing.

• With Jets C Trey Teague on crutches with a reported ankle injury, rookie C Nick Mangold has been inserted into the starting lineup. Word is, Teague may be out for a significant amount of time.

[Father Demon]

(Part II)

• Word from South Florida is that the Dolphins are satisfied, for the time being, with their current crop of nose tackles and will only look to add a player like veteran free agent Dan Wilkinson later in training camp if rookie Fred Evans, second-year player Manny Wright and aging veteran Keith Traylor aren't getting the job done.

• Word out of Atlanta is the Falcons no longer plan to trade backup RB T.J. Duckett before training camp begins. But we hear if rookie Jerious Norwood has an outstanding camp, he could take carries away from Duckett and even starter Warrick Dunn, and in the process, put Duckett back on the trading block.

• Our Falcons sources tell us starting DE Patrick Kerney, FB Justin Griffith and backup WLB Demorrio Williams should be receiving contract extensions in the next few months. All three players are in the final year of their current deals.

• We're told there is still no progress on a potential contract extension for Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber. Barber, who is entering the final year of his contract, has said he would like to have a new deal in place by the start of training camp, but we hear GM Bruce Allen won't even return his agent's phone calls.

• Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning told PFW why Carolina was so aggressive in signing former Titans C Justin Hartwig to replace veteran Jeff Mitchell: "Justin Hartwig is a younger, stronger guy than we've had there. ... We felt like we needed to get better. Back 10-11 years ago, the philosophy emerged that when you need a player at a specific position, you get one in free agency and don't wait for the crapshoot of the draft and then wait for the maturity of a player you don't know about until you are into the season. We take that approach."

• The Saints have reshuffled the deck at safety, and we hear last season's Week 1 starters -- FS Dwight Smith and SS Jay Bellamy -- will both enter training camp working with the second unit. FS Josh Bullocks, who started 13 games as a rookie last year in place of an injured Bellamy, and free-agent acquisition Omar Stoutmire are penciled in as the starters. We also hear Smith, who was on the trading block earlier in the offseason, is no longer being shopped around because the new coaching staff has been impressed with how he handled his demotion.

• With 2005 third-round draft pick Richie Incognito looking impressive in the Rams' last full-squad minicamp and '05 fourth-round pick Claude Terrell still looking chunkier than the Rams would like, we hear Incognito could have a decent shot at replacing Terrell as the team's starting left guard. After missing his rookie season with a kneecap injury, Incognito's mobility and strength drew high marks at the last minicamp, but the fact the Nebraska product hasn't played an actual game since the fall of '03 is a bit worrisome.

• The hamstring that Rams CB Jerametrius Butler tweaked a couple of weeks before the team's last minicamp could be considered a significant setback, especially taking into account how much 2006 first-round pick Tye Hill appeared to improve from the previous minicamp. Conversely, we hear CB Travis Fisher, who, like Butler, was plagued by injuries last season, looked very good in the last minicamp.

• Although new Rams VP of player personnel Tony Softli will oversee both the Rams' pro and college scouting departments, which will be headed by holdovers Charley Armey and Lawrence McCutcheon, respectively, we're told the former head of college scouting for the Panthers still must answer to both head coach Scott Linehan and president of football operations Jay Zygmunt. In addition, the new setup is definitely a demotion for Armey, who just turned 67 and wasn't interested in setting up shop elsewhere at this stage in his career.

• The Cardinals still have some interest in free-agent CB Ty Law, but after spending a fortune on RB Edgerrin James earlier this offseason, it would have to be at a price that's likely to be significantly less than what Law continues to be after.

• Keep a close eye on Cardinals second-year S Aaron Francisco, who we hear has put on decent weight and is being groomed to replace current FS Robert Griffith as early as next season. Our sources tell us the Cardinals believe they can probably get by with the aging Griffith in a starting role for one more season.

• We hear the Niners have been impressed enough with free-agent addition Walt Harris to consider him the starting left corner over Mike Rumph heading into training camp. The Niners also consider FS Mike Adams to be much improved from last year and no longer think of him as a backup playing a starter's role.

• Word is, the Niners were upset that backup QB Cody Pickett decided not to play in NFL Europe this season. There's talk of moving the athletic Pickett to the team's motion-fullback position, which could enable him to salvage a roster spot.

• Our Seahawks sources tell us the team was impressed with the way 2005 first-round pick Chris Spencer, who up to now has been backing up veteran Robbie Tobeck at center, performed when pressed into duty at right guard in the last minicamp. On the downside, the team is somewhat worried about the condition of top OLG candidate Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who was bothered during the minicamp by sore triceps.

• The Raiders would love to add a running back for depth behind LaMont Jordan and may look to the early round of training-camp cuts for just such a candidate. Justin Fargas, No. 2 on the depth chart, is considered little more than a special-teams guy, and part-time FB Zack Crockett, while reliable in the past, is not someone you want to hand your offense over to.

• Word out of Oakland is that the development of rookie LBs Thomas Howard and Darnell Bing could ultimately determine how many three- or four-LB looks the Raiders use this season. The Raiders are believed to be at least mildly interested in the services of Junior Seau because they'd like to add a veteran presence defensively.

• The player who most took advantage of Chiefs DE Eric Hicks being limited in minicamps while recovering from shoulder surgery was first-round pick Tamba Hali, who displayed a quick first step and the ability to sense throwing lanes and knock down passes at the line of scrimmage.

• At first glance, the inexperienced Ronnie Cruz stepping in at fullback for the departed Tony Richardson would seem to be an issue in Kansas City, but it should be noted that Richardson's role had diminished with age and the Chiefs have utilized more two-TE, single-back sets recently.

• Massive TE Brandon Manumaleuna may have been acquired by the Chargers more for blocking purposes, but it's his soft hands that have caught the eye of new QB Philip Rivers and the coaching staff.

• Ravens QB Steve McNair showed consistent improvement throughout his first minicamp in Baltimore. The way we hear it, McNair and WR Derrick Mason picked up right where they left off from their time together in Tennessee, and their exceptional chemistry was apparent.

• A source familiar with the Steelers' decision-making process says character is weighed heavily in the draft process, which makes WR Santonio Holmes' recent off-field problems that much more surprising. The way we hear it, there is concern that Holmes might have trouble maintaining focus, given his offseason and that he'll soon be signing his rookie contract.

• Some Texans observers don't share the team's optimism about RB Domanick Davis being ready for the start of training camp as he recovers from the effects of knee surgery.

• Of the Browns' rookies, there's a feeling RB Jerome Harrison is most ready to contribute, likely on third downs.

• Expect the Browns to split out TE Kellen Winslow at wide receiver at times, particularly if Braylon Edwards misses the start of the season.

• Don't count out Erik Meyer, an undrafted free agent, in the competition to be Cincinnati's No. 3 quarterback. Word is that Meyer has caught the eye of QBs coach Ken Zampese.

• Though Titans WR Bobby Wade struggled famously as a punt returner in Chicago with the swirling winds in Soldier Field, he might start the season with that duty. Though the WR position is crowded in Tennessee, expect Wade to make the roster -- the coaches appear to like him a great deal.

• It appears the Titans are slipping out of the Ty Law running, but that doesn't mean they aren't looking for a cornerback. If a veteran comes available before or during training camp, don't be surprised if they make a big push.

• New taterskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders gushed about backup RB Ladell Betts in the team's final minicamp, and Saunders pledges to find more ways to get both Betts and Clinton Portis on the field at the same time. Expect Betts to be used more as a receiver and keep his job as kick returner.

• Though he was beaten out for the Rams' VP of player personnel job by Tony Softli, Cowboys chief college scout Tom Ciskowski is considered a rising star and legitimate GM candidate in the near future.

• Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter, who is coming off his third season-ending knee injury in five years, likely won't be ready for the start of camp and faces long odds to make the roster despite being a personal favorite of the coaching staff.

• There's a chance that both Rob Johnson and Jared Lorenzen could beat out Tim Hasselbeck for the Giants' backup QB job. Johnson must prove he has shed the rust from a two-year layoff, but Lorenzen has impressed the staff with his throwing this offseason.

• With the Cowboys phasing the fullback out of the offense, Lousaka Polite -- who got most of the work there last season -- is fighting for his roster life. He has been working at running back and tight end, but both positions are crowded.

[Zanshin]

Good stuff.  Thanks.

[phattymatty]

Get Porter.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Eagles are fine at WR

[mussa]

The addition of Gaffney set us up big time

[Magical_Retard]

i forgot all about duckett.

if he is up for a trade again i think he would be tremendous.

[Father Demon]

More whispers.

• Titans QB Vince Young's biggest problem in camp so far has been trying to throw into double coverage. He has been bailed out by some nice plays by Titans wideouts, but the coaching staff has really stressed to Young that he must check down more.

• We hear that Miami is on the list of teams that Titans RB Chris Brown would accept a trade to, if Tennessee decides to deal its disgruntled back. The Dolphins are definitely looking to upgrade the backup situation behind Ronnie Brown.

• While most of the focus on rookies in the Seahawks' camp has been on first-round pick Kelly Jennings, we hear the team is very pleased with the progress of fourth-round pick Rob Sims, who is currently backing up Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack at left guard and, according to our sources, could be a starter at one of the OG spots sooner than later.

• Sources close to the Falcons tell us second-year DT Darrell Shropshire has been elevated to the starting role alongside Pro Bowl DT Rod Coleman. Last year's starter, DT Chad Lavalais, has fallen so far out of the picture, because he has been out of shape and shown little fight on the field, that he could have trouble even making the roster.

• One of the more pleasant surprises of Cowboys camp has been the remarkably fast recovery from ACL surgery of LB Kevin Burnett, who's working behind DeMarcus Ware on the right side. Burnett could get some time with the regular defense if Ware flip-flops sides on occasion.

• There has been some quiet concern about the early play of Giants CB Sam Madison, who has been beaten deep on more than one occasion. Though team sources say Madison is far from finished and still appears to be picking up the defensive responsibilities, he hasn't stood out to date.

• While everyone in the media is heaping praise on Giants rookie WR Sinorice Moss, essentially handing him the No. 3 job, sources say Tim Carter is off to a great start and appears to be ahead of Moss at this point.

• The early indications out of taterskins camp were that QB Todd Collins, who played under Al Saunders in Kansas City, had a far better grasp of the offensive system than second-year QB Jason Campbell. If Mark Brunell went down tomorrow, you'd see Collins, not Campbell, starting.

• The taterskins' coaching staff has been amazed at the condition of OG Randy Thomas following a long and difficult offseason ankle rehab. Thomas has wowed the coaches with his work ethic and speedy recovery, and he appears to be on track to regain the starting ORG job.

• One early surprise in Ravens camp was veteran RB Mike Anderson splitting carries with Musa Smith. Starter Jamal Lewis has been slowed by a hip flexor injury. Anderson seemed to have a clear edge on Smith in the battle to back up Lewis, but Smith impressed in the opening days of camp, and it appears he will get a chance to push the more highly regarded Anderson.

• Gerome Sapp looks to have won the starting safety job opposite Ed Reed in Baltimore.

• The way we hear it, Browns No. 2 QB Ken Dorsey struggled mightily at the beginning of training camp, and fellow backup Derek Anderson has looked downright clumsy at times. In other words, don't be surprised if the Browns have to address the QB position before the start of the season.

• Sight seen early in Steelers camp: RB Cedric Humes tiptoeing toward the line of scrimmage in a goal-line drill and being tackled for a loss as LB Joey Porter, standing on the sideline, yells at the rookie to be more aggressive. Porter (knee) missed the early part of camp, but as of this writing, he was expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

• A Steelers observer says RB Willie Parker looks bigger than a season ago, though it's unclear whether this has affected his trademark speed in any way. Parker is angling for some of the goal-line carries available now that Jerome Bettis has retired.

• Steelers rookie Willie Reid could have a leg up for the punt-returning job. Third-year CB Ricardo Colclough, thought to be a contender for the position, disappointed the team with his focus early in camp. However, we hear Colclough has played well at his primary position.

• Word from Bengals camp is ORT Willie Anderson, a team leader who's in the final year of his contract, has not pouted about his tenuous status beyond 2006. The Bengals recently signed OLT Levi Jones to a lucrative contract extension. OLG Eric Steinbach is also a free agent after the season, and Bengals observers doubt the team has enough financial flexibility to re-sign both Steinbach and Anderson.

• The Texans were moving DE Mario Williams around the defensive line early in camp, a strategy they are likely to employ to counter opponents' attempts at neutralizing the No. 1 overall pick.

• The Dolphins are trying to teach their offensive linemen to play multiple positions, much as the Patriots do, to promote versatility and flexibility. Coming off a season in which the team allowed the fourth-fewest sacks in the league, Miami believes this strategy will take the line to the next level.

• We hear that new Jets coach Eric Mangini's practices have been long, physical affairs, often stretching beyond two and a half hours. While predecessor Herm Edwards didn't believe in a lot of contact, Mangini has had the players hitting in pads and has made tackling a top priority.

• Word from New England is that QB Tom Brady missed three days of practice for two reasons: (1) to save his arm after eight straight days of work, and (2) to give backup Matt Cassel more reps and assess the second-year QB's prospects for filling the primary backup role behind Brady.

• Word from Buffalo is that the Bills are taking every precaution with LB Takeo Spikes as he returns from a season-ending ruptured Achilles. We hear the Bills have been wary of putting him in 11-on-11 scrimmages and that he won't play in any preseason games so that he will be ready to go in Week 1.

• While RB Cadillac Williams continues to dazzle at Tampa's training camp with his ability to run the ball, we hear his receiving skills could use some work. We're told head coach Jon Gruden wants to incorporate Williams more in the passing game, but Williams' dropped passes have drawn Gruden's ire.

[Father Demon]

Part II:


• Our Buccaneers sources tell us backup RB Michael Pittman, a well-respected receiver out of the backfield, has been lining up as the X-receiver at times and is excelling. Coach Jon Gruden's offense is based on creating mismatches, and splitting the muscular 228-pound Pittman out wide certainly accomplishes that.

• Word out of Saints training camp is Adrian McPherson, drafted as a quarterback in the fifth round in 2005, is being used as a punt and kickoff returner and on the kickoff coverage unit. We hear head coach Sean Payton has referred to McPherson -- the No. 4 QB behind Drew Brees, Jamie Martin and Todd Bouman -- as the best athlete on the team, and there even has been some consideration of trying him at receiver.

• Despite missing the first week of the Saints training camp to stay home and care for his cancer-stricken wife, QB Martin is still the top choice to serve as Brees' primary backup in New Orleans. We hear Bouman, who was working with the second unit, has struggled in training camp, and his roster spot could be in jeopardy if Martin and McPherson come on strong.

• The abrupt retirement of WLB Anthony Simmons caught the Saints' brass by surprise. We hear Simmons retired because of personal matters and because the wrist injury that has kept him off the field for the past few years has resurfaced. Our sources tell us that before training camp, Simmons was penciled in as a starter because he looked good in offseason workouts, but now we hear former Ravens LB Tommy Polley is working with the first unit in place of Simmons.

• Our sources close to the Panthers are excited about what they've seen from free-agent acquisition DT Maake Kemoeatu. We're told Kemoeatu has been blasting offensive linemen backward in drills, and he has looked better than DT Kris Jenkins, whom he's expected to start next to.

• WR Steve Smith gave the Panthers a scare when he suffered a left hamstring strain on the first day of training camp. We hear Smith's injury isn't considered serious, but the Panthers will still be very cautious with his recovery, meaning he likely will miss one or two preseason games and a couple of weeks of practice.

• It appears there's some substance to recent rumors that the Cardinals are disappointed with starting SLB Karlos Dansby, who has been a nonfactor so far this season due to assorted injuries. Our sources believe head coach Dennis Green's continued praise of Calvin Pace's transition from defensive end to Dansby's position is in great part a message to Dansby, although there's also a school of thought that Green could be thinking about making Pace the strongside starter while moving Dansby to the weak side, which would give the Cardinals a pair of rangy 6-foot-4 linebackers on the edges.

• The Cardinals' D-line depth suffered a hit when reserve DL Kenny King broke his right hand, the third injury to that hand in three years. The good news is that, unlike his previous two season-ending injuries, the popular King is expected to be out only 4-6 weeks. Had the injury been more serious, we hear it would have been a big-time emotional blow to a D-line that is expected to use its backups more this season.

• In the battle for the Niners' pure FB job -- as opposed to the F-back job, which incorporates several different positions including fullback, tight end, running back and wide receiver -- we hear Moran Norris probably has a slight edge over incumbent Chris Hetherington because of Norris' superior blocking ability. As for the F-back role, the front-runner appears to be fourth-round rookie Michael Robinson, who continues to look extremely impressive.

• We hear as big a reason as any behind the Niners' release of CB Bruce Thornton and S Ben Emanuel, both of whom saw time as starters last year, is the improvement that has been made by CB B.J. Tucker, a midseason pickup last year, and the strong impression made by sixth-round rookie Marcus Hudson, who is currently playing safety and nickel back but is versatile enough to move to one of the corner spots in a pinch.

• Weighty issues have been a hot topic at the Rams' training camp. While starters Steven Jackson (RB), Adam Timmerman (ORG) and Alex Barron (ORT) all came to camp slimmed down -- Jackson dropped about five pounds while Timmerman and Barron each shed roughly 10 pounds -- we hear second-round rookie TE Joe Klopfenstein has beefed up significantly, adding 15 pounds (to 265) with the aim of being more of a blocking force.

• Our Seahawks sources continue to suspect that free-agent addition Mike Green could push starting SS Michael Boulware for more than a little playing time this season. Boulware has taken limited snaps in early camp action after having knee surgery in the offseason.

• Sources in Oakland say that the new-look LB trio of Kirk Morrison in the middle and Sam Williams and rookie Thomas Howard on the outside is the fastest the Raiders have had in probably two decades. The strides made by Howard and fellow rookie Darnell Bing, a converted safety, have allowed Morrison to move inside and have pushed veteran Danny Clark to become more of a role player.

• Chiefs DT Ryan Sims has long been labeled an underachiever as a former first-round pick, but he showed up to camp in good shape and is getting in the good graces of new head coach Herman Edwards. "He's down to about 315 [pounds] and he's moving well," Edwards said. "He's got a lot of energy in his body and is playing with a lot of confidence."

• Sources in Denver say it's a pretty good bet that first-round pick Jay Cutler will beat out Bradlee Van Pelt for the backup QB job by Week 1, if not before.

• The Broncos are hoping that former Colts OT Adam Meadows, who has been out of football since the 2004 training camp with the Panthers, can push George Foster for the starting ORT job. Meadows is rusty after leaving the game for two years with shoulder problems, but his mobility at 286 pounds has been impressive thus far in camp. At the very least, Meadows' arrival provides some much-needed depth, as well as some consistent motivation for Foster, who we hear could use it.

• Although some people want to create a rivalry out of the CB battle between second-year players Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth in Denver, we're told it's much ado about nothing, as they are close friends with different strengths who will play a lot regardless of who is in the starting lineup.

• With an offensive line already forced to find replacements at both OT spots with the retirements of John Welbourn and Willie Roaf, we're hearing Pro Bowl OG Brian Waters' lingering foot problems have been a cause for concern in Chiefs camp.

• Although it won't be their base defense, expect the Chiefs to use more 3-4 looks this season, especially in passing situations. The Chiefs have been experimenting with moving first-round pick Tamba Hali inside to defensive tackle and getting Keyaron Fox more looks at an OLB spot as part of a 3-4 approach that offers more agility.

• Word out of Kansas City is that both of the team's rookie safeties, second-rounder Bernard Pollard and seventh-rounder Jarrad Page, have looked impressive in the early stages of camp and are gaining attention with some big hits. It shouldn't come as a surprise to see Pollard challenging veteran Sammy Knight for the starting SS job.

• New Raiders QB Aaron Brooks has developed a nice rapport early on with Randy Moss and the team's tight ends, Courtney Anderson and Randal Williams.

• Warren Sapp is taking on more of a leadership role on the Raiders' defense this season, in large part because he felt as though the defense previously belonged to NT Ted Washington and CB Charles Woodson, both of whom departed in the offseason.

• Nothing is imminent on the contract front, but look for the Packers to spend a portion of their $7.751 million of unused cap space to appease CB Al Harris.

• The Bears are encouraged by TE Desmond Clark's showing in training camp. Clark, who missed virutally the entire preseason with an ankle injury in 2005, was a standout in organized team activities and has himself in good condition at 247 pounds. Clark, who caught 51 passes with the Broncos when Brian Griese was the starter, was rarely an option for Kyle Orton in '05. The Bears would like to get Clark more involved this season.

• Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson said the Lions' top performer on that side of the ball after one week of training camp was DE Cory Redding. Redding, a bit of a tweener because of his size, had little competition for the top spot on Henderson's big-play chart, which was posted near the locker room.

• The Jaguars are counting on WR Matt Jones to fill the void created by Jimmy Smith's retirement in May. Jones came to camp ready to go but was slowed by an ankle injury that required he wear a protective boot. There is some concern that Jones, if he misses too much time, won't be ready for a full-time role because the team sees him as a "practice learner" despite his incredible natural athleticism.

• Depth could become an issue for the Jaguars this season. Other than offensive tackle, quarterback and running back, the team doesn't boast the type of quality reserves that scouts believe "you could win with."

• Players have been impressed with the pace and intensity of practices at Lions camp. Head coach Rod Marinelli is definitely old-school -- the Lions practiced outdoors twice on back-to-back days despite heat indexes near 110 degrees -- but observers say he has the attention and respect of his team.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Last year's starter, DT Chad Lavalais, has fallen so far out of the picture, because he has been out of shape and shown little fight on the field, that he could have trouble even making the roster.

Serves that spearing motherfarger right.