The Commanders have worked long and hard on making QB Jason Campbell’s delivery more compact, and the results appear obvious early in camp. Campbell is making determined throws and is doing so with a far shorter throwing motion. Also saving time is Campbell’s improved knowledge of the offense, which has been clear throughout the summer.
Word is, the Jets are likely to keep disgruntled OLG Pete Ken­dall, who’s under contract for two more seasons, around until later in the preseason to make it more difficult for him to catch on with another team, particularly given that the team most likely to try to sign Kendall once he’s released is the division-rival Dolphins.
The fact that DT Darwin Walker signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Bears, which included a little more than $8 million in bonuses if the incentives are met, justified the Bills’ decision not to give in to Walker’s demands to redo his contract after being acquired from Philadelphia earlier in the offseason. We hear the Bills were in no position financially to sign Walker to the deal that the Bears gave him and are pleased that they managed to get a higher draft pick (a 2008 fifth-round pick) than they would’ve received had they returned Walker to the Eagles (an ’08 sixth-rounder).
We hear that the Dolphins’ signing of free-agent TE Courtney Anderson, giving Miami six tight ends in camp this summer, could indicate the team isn’t sold on projected starter David Martin.
We hear that fourth-round DL Kareem Brown won’t be a Patriot for long if he doesn’t take to heart the team-imposed suspension and stern lecture from veteran DE Richard Seymour that he got after violating an unspecified team rule and being forced to the sideline for the first three days of practice.
We hear that the Jets’ treatment of OG Pete Kendall, who says he was promised a $1 million raise (a claim the team denies), and their strong-arm tactics in demanding that first-round draft pick Darrelle Revis sign a six-year deal, could cause future free agents to pause before signing with an organization that has acted in a decidedly unfriendly manner toward two of its own players this offseason.
Word from New England is that DE Richard Seymour is not seriously hurt and was put on the preseason PUP list to give him more time to heal from offseason knee surgery. The Pats also hope the extra rest will help Seymour be a little fresher when the season starts.
We hear that Jets second-year S Eric Smith is having a tremendous camp and has forged ahead of Erik Coleman for the starting job alongside Kerry Rhodes.
The Jets’ DE situation seems to be sorting itself out in camp with Shaun Ellis holding down one starting spot, Kenyon Coleman taking hold of the other starting spot and veterans Bobby Hamilton and Eric Hicks looking good as backups. We hear that leaves Kimo von Oelhoffen squarely on the bubble.
Word from Long Island is that QB Marques Tuiasosopo’s time with the Jets may be brief. After getting a fair share of snaps early in camp, his reps have been curtailed dramatically in practice, with Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens splitting nearly all of the available reps.
Lions DE Kalimba Edwards, who likely is fighting for a job, has had a very strong start to camp. He often would get stonewalled in the past and lose all momentum toward the quarterback, but he appears more decisive and sharp, sources say, and is playing freely without overthinking.
Ray Edwards has made an early claim on the Vikings’ DRE job. With Erasmus James still slowed by a knee injury, Edwards has shown quickness rushing the passer and improvement against the run. New coordinator Leslie Frazier and head coach Brad Childress have noted Edwards’ strong work to date.
Cowboys CB Anthony Henry, one of the most targeted DBs in the NFL last season, has slimmed down from 209 pounds to around 203 and has looked fluid in team drills.
The Giants clearly like James Butler, who has risen to the top of the depth chart at safety. Although demoted SS Will Demps thinks it’s just a matter of time before he’s starting again, team sources tell us that the physical Butler has a great shot to start on Sept. 9 when the Giants open at Dallas.
We hear part of the rationale behind the trade of Bears S Chris Harris to the Panthers was the faith the team continues to have in relatively untested third-year S Brandon McGowan, who has been promoted to the backup SS spot behind Adam Archuleta with Harris no longer on board. Word is, the Bears really think McGowan is a player with some legitimate skills, although persistent foot and leg injuries have kept him from putting those skills on display up to now.
While there’s no denying the overwhelmingly positive attitude in the Bears’ camp these days, the early efforts of a pair of first-day rookies — second-round DE Dan Bazuin and third-round RB Garrett Wolfe — have been disappointing, to say the least. Bazuin, who looked painfully slow in the two practices in which he participated before he was shut down with a knee injury, looks like he could be a strong candidate for the injured-reserve list. Wolfe, meanwhile, had been limited to only two practices at this writing because of a hamstring injury, thus lengthening his learning curve in an offense that has been tweaked more than a little.
Unlike last year at this time, when his inability to practice due to finger and thumb surgeries landed him in the Cardinals’ doghouse, we hear Karlos Dansby has looked very impressive moving from outside to inside linebacker in Arizona’s revamped defense. Dansby added 10 pounds of muscle and was an enthusiastic participant in the team’s offseason conditioning program. Our sources believe he could be a real force this coming season, clogging lanes with his long arms and considerable range, as well as blitzing up the middle.
Despite Seahawks DB Jordan Babineaux’s well-earned reputation for making big plays — remember his game-saving tackle of Tony Romo in Seattle’s playoff victory over Dallas last season? — we hear his roster status could be jeopardized because of a knee bruise that is expected to sideline him 3-4 weeks. With free-agent additions Deon Grant, Brian Russell and Mike Green, who missed all of last season with a foot injury, at safety, and rookie Josh Wilson showing nice potential in the nickel corner role, team insiders wouldn’t be shocked if Babineaux ends up getting victimized by a numbers game.
We hear two notable Niners (veteran OLG Larry Allen and second-year OLB Manny Lawson) passed the eyeball test with flying colors at the start of camp — for different reasons. After showing up at camp grossly overweight last season, word is Allen pleasantly surprised onlookers when he checked in this summer weighing a svelte (for him) 340 pounds, his customary playing weight. Lawson, on the other hand, looked much more bulked up at about 250 and seemed a lot more sure of himself than he was at the same time a year ago.
Keep a close eye on Cardinals undrafted rookie LB David Holloway, who seemed to be making plays every time he got the opportunity early in camp, according to eyewitnesses.
Two potential sleepers on the Rams worth noting: undrafted rookie LB Quinton Culberson, who has gotten more of an opportunity early in camp because of injuries to the team’s LB corps, and second-year WR Dominique Thompson, who was catching everything in sight despite having dislocated a finger early in camp. We hear Thompson ap­peared to be well ahead of first-year pro Marques Hagans and rookie Derek Stanley for the final roster spot among the team’s wideouts.
Word is, the Packers still have plenty of confidence in first-round pick Justin Harrell despite the defensive tackle’s sluggish start in the team’s training camp. The Packers appear resigned to waiting for Harrell to get into football shape at the pro level, which they believe will still take some time. Harrell had actually shown some impressive flashes with a few decent bull rushes in camp, but he had been unable to sustain anything at this writing.
Browns CB Leigh Bodden told PFW he’s inspired by the return of CB Gary Baxter to Browns camp but he’s not shocked. “Me, I wasn’t surprised,” Bodden said of Baxter, who ruptured the patellar tendons in both knees last October. “Me and G.B. got real close. I knew he would fight hard to come back. He told me he wanted to come back.” A Browns observer says that if you didn’t know that Baxter had suffered such serious injuries, you would never know his career had been in jeopardy. Baxter’s participation in Browns practices has been limited to date, but he’s said to be walking without a limp.
The way we hear it, Browns TE Kellen Winslow isn’t limping after undergoing offseason microfracture knee surgery. Winslow and RB Jamal Lewis have been the team’s best offensive players in camp by a long shot, we’re told.
Steelers rookie OLB LaMarrWoodley has turned some heads in training camp and figures to contribute as a pass rusher as a rookie. However, first-rounder Lawrence Timmons has battled a groin injury, and when he has played, he hasn’t shown he’s ready to contribute as a 3-4 outside linebacker just yet.
Steelers second-year WR Willie Reid is having a nice camp thus far. His primary role will be in the return game, but he’s also been a solid receiver.
Though veteran Mike Anderson seems likely to win the Ravens’ top backup RB job — the Ravens are employing more zone-blocking schemes, a la the Broncos — second-year pro P.J. Daniels is said to have his share of fans in the organization and seems to have secured a place on the depth chart.
With veteran OLT Levi Jones (knee) missing the beginning of camp, the Bengals have worked Andrew Whitworth at Jones’ spot and put Stacy Andrews at left guard. The way we hear it, Andrews is likely to stay at guard, with Whitworth serving as the top reserve tackle on both sides. Jones missed much of last season with knee problems, and the Bengals see Whitworth as an insurance policy.
Veteran CB Deltha O’Neal’s improved attitude has been one of the positive stories coming out of Bengals camp.
In a recent interview with PFW, Titans safeties and nickel backs coach Chuck Cecil said the Titans have four viable candidates at nickel back. Cortland Finnegan, who held the role last season, hasn’t concentrated on the position in the offseason, but the Titans are aware of his abilities there. Others in the mix include S Vincent Fuller and CBs Kelly Herndon and Eric King.
Even as Texans QB Matt Schaub works to get his timing down with his new teammates, he has impressed with his leadership ability, and the Texans’ players are responding well to him, a source close to the team reports.
Word out of Panthers camp is that MLB Dan Morgan, who missed the final 15 games last season after suffering two concussions in less than a month, is wearing a new helmet and mouthpiece aimed at preventing another concussion. In addition, the Panthers are holding Morgan out of all contact drills at training camp, and we hear he won’t play much, if at all, in the preseason games.
We hear Falcons DE John Abraham has looked fabulous in training camp. Abraham, who recorded four sacks in eight games in his first season with the Falcons, saw a core specialist in the offseason to help him build up strength in his midsection to avoid the chronic groin and lower abdominal injuries that have plagued him throughout his career.
Injuries continue to haunt the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks. Starter Jeff Garcia is battling a slight hamstring pull, and backup Chris Simms is battling any number of injuries, depending on whom you talk to. But we hear the biggest injury concern to the Buccaneers’ offense is OLT Luke Petitgout’s back injury. We’re told Petitgout missed several practices last week with a “tweaked back” that may be more serious than the Buccaneers are saying. Back injuries have been a frequent ailment for Petitgout throughout his career.
A source close to the Panthers told us the screen pass will become a bigger part of the offense under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson, which should create even more opportunities to get the ball to All-Pro WR Steve Smith.
We’re told Panthers C Justin Hartwig, who had an injury-riddled first season in Charlotte after signing a five-year, $17 million free-agent deal, has had a strong training camp and should be starting in Week One. Where Hartwig starts remains the question. If rookie C Ryan Kalil, a second-round pick, continues to impress, then Hartwig will likely slide over to right guard.
Sources tell us Panthers RB DeShaun Foster is getting most of the first-team reps in training camp — and will enter the season as the starter for the second straight year — because the coaching staff is more comfortable with his pass-blocking abilities than those of diminutive second-year RB DeAngelo Williams.
Our sources in Jacksonville confirm that the Jaguars offered QB Daunte Culpepper a multiyear contract. But Culpepper, who acts as his own agent, wanted a one-year deal and signed with the Raiders instead. A few days before Culpepper signed with Oakland, the Jaguars inked former No. 1 overall pick Tim Couch to a two-year deal to compete with Quinn Gray for the No. 3 job.
Michael Vick pleaded not guilty on two felony dogfighting charges at his arraignment hearing July 25, which coincided with the first day of Falcons training camp. We hear it still appears likely that Vick, who was told not to report to training camp by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, will not play for the Falcons this season. Vick’s trial is set to begin Nov. 26.
We hear Saints WR Marques Colston arrived at training camp more confident and with 10 extra pounds of muscle on his well-sculpted 6-foot-4 frame. Despite the added weight, which leaves Colston considerably north of 230 pounds, our sources tell us he hasn’t lost a step and still appears just as fluid and explosive running.
Chiefs new OLT Damion McIntosh is holding his own in one-on-one matchups with DE Jared Allen in Chiefs camp, and to this point, Kansas City’s rebuilt and much-maligned offensive line is creating some nice holes in the running game.
Despite Paul McQuistan and Robert Gallery getting most of the work at the ORT spot in Oakland during the offseason, it’s been nine-year veteran Cornell Green who has been working there early on in training camp. Gallery has settled in at left guard, meanwhile, and former Bronco Cooper Carlisle is manning the ORG spot. Also worth noting is that more than one source indicated it wouldn’t be a surprise to see 31-year-old Jeremy Newberry push C Jake Grove for his starting spot if Newberry’s knees hold up.
Early indications are that it will be Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard in the starting lineup at safety for Kansas City. Both are in their second year and are holding an advantage over incumbent Greg Wesley and former Jet Jon McGraw. Though Pollard is laying some big hits against the run in practice, there are lingering concerns about him getting tested in coverage.
Raiders owner Al Davis on how rookie head coach Lane Kiffin compares to Jon Gruden: “Lane has … an entire feel for the whole picture, whereas Jon Gruden didn’t. Jon Gruden was totally immersed in offense, and in his first year or two turned the defense over in its entirety to Willie Shaw, whereas Lane is much more into all of the things. Much more involved in trying to learn the defense.”
After it was looking like Warrick Holdman was going to be handed the strong-side LB job in Denver, which had been vacated when D.J. Williams moved over to the middle to replace Al Wilson, it now looks to be a wide-open competition that “changes day-to-day,” according to sources. Holdman gave the team quite a scare when he was hospitalized on Aug. 2 with a spinal cord concussion after hitting RB Mike Bell with his helmet, but it wasn’t expected to keep him out long, as of this writing.
Skeptics around the NFL question whether new Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell will utilize the same aggressive tendencies that Wade Phillips worked to perfection with the Chargers’ personnel, but sources in San Diego believe the bigger question will be whether Cottrell can match Phillips’ stellar in-game coaching adjustments.
Chargers first-round pick Craig Davis has made the most of the added repetitions stemming from WR Eric Parker’s lingering toe problems. Davis has looked extremely smooth in drills, and his speed separates him from the rest of the pack of receivers.
I haven't heard that Henry has slimmed down or that he is looking "fluid" in camp. I hope this is so... I just don't know where they're getting that info.
I haven't heard that Henry has slimmed down or that he is looking "fluid" in camp. I hope this is so... I just don't know where they're getting that info.
