Training Camp Update, Volume 1, Issue 5

QB: Kurt Warner had another solid outing against Oakland Friday night. In three quarters of work, Warner completed 11-of-18 for 118 yards with a TD and an interception. True to form, Warner also fumbled once, but recovered it himself. John Navarre saw brief action completing 2-of-3 for 25 yards. "We're continuing to work on our pass protection," said Warner, who was sacked three times. "We took some shots, but got some things done down the field. It was more miscommunication than anything. We've got to all be on the same page." This might be a harbinger of things to come for Warner. The Raiders applied constant pressure and hurried Warner throughout the game. If the Cardinals line doesn’t get on the same page then Warner will be in big trouble as he was last year in New York. Warner needs good protection to be effective. Keep Josh McCown’s name on your short list of backup QBs who are likely to see the field a lot this year.

RB: J.J. Arrington is the team’s starting tailback with Marcel Shipp firmly entrenched as the primary backup entering the season. J.R. Redmond, who won the team’s No. 3 job with a solid camp, dislocated his left shoulder against the Raiders on Friday night. He was thought to be out for four weeks, but on Monday, Dennis Green placed him placed on IR. His injury opens the door for James Jackson or Damien Anderson to fill that role. Shipp is looking great considering that he’s coming off a season-ending injury a year ago. He’s shined in each of the last two-preseason games, but Arrington’s starting job is secure as Denny Green reaffirmed that fact last Monday. Against the Raiders on Friday, Shipp ran three times for 26 yards. Arrington carried the ball ten times for 31 yards. James Jackson didn’t do much, carrying five times for 7 yards. Damien Anderson ran once for 5 yards but did produce a 14-yard reception. The Cardinals cut Troy Hambrick and Josh Scobey during the past week along with fullback Casey Moore.

WR: Larry Fitzgerald strained his knee against Oakland in the first half. He left the game and did not return. Anquan Boldin caught four passes for 41 yards and Bryant Johnson had two catches for 29 yards. Charles Lee caught one pass for 14 yards. Lawrence Hamilton and Fabian Davis received a visit from the turk this week as the Cardinals began trimming their roster on Wednesday.

TE: Aaron Golliday made the biggest splash on Friday night and finally gave the Cardinals tight ends something noteworthy this preseason. Golliday caught a 21-yard TD from Warner. Adam Bergen also caught a 4-yard pass. Bobby Blizzard was sidelined throughout last week with a back injury.

Defense: The Cardinals defense played reasonably well against the Raiders Friday night. They were beaten once deep by Randy Moss and Kerry Collins, but otherwise did a good job of containing the Raiders talented group of skilled players. They sacked Collins four times and linebacker Eric Johnson intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to put the Cardinals ahead with nine minutes to play. The Cardinals also scored a safety when DE Chike Okeafor batted the ball away from Collins causing a fumble. The ball went off Raiders tackle Robert Gallery’s leg out of bounds for two points. Second year strong-side linebacker Karlos Dansby turned in a big game with 6 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Cardinals corners David Macklin and Antrel Rolle led the team in tackles with seven and eight, respectively. Macklin also forced a fumble. The other three sacks came from Robert Tate, Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry. There were a couple injuries from Friday’s game against Oakland. DT Darnell Dockett left the game with an injury to his ribs. Safety Robert Griffith injured his groin. LB Gerald Hayes remains sidelined with a knee injury. DE Kenny King is out with a wrist injury. The Cardinals signed veteran free agent Lester Towns to bolster the team’s depth at linebacker and released DT Devone Claybrooks with an injury settlement. Towns did not play in the NFL last year.

The Cardinals are pleased with what they’ve seen from former 1st round pick DE Calvin Pace in the preseason. Pace has heard the critics for the past couple seasons as he’s been dangerously close to being dubbed a “bust”. "There's only so long that you can hear so much negative," Pace said. "Why'd you take this guy? He's not getting it done." As the 18th choice overall in 2003, Pace is out to change that perception. Pace’s four sacks through the first two preseason games puts him in a tie for the most in the NFL. If some of this carries over to the regular season the Cardinals will have a solid group of defensive linemen who can get after the quarterback.

Special Teams: PK Neil Rackers had a minor ankle sprain last week but not enough to sideline him. He wasn’t needed very much in the game at Oakland, kicking a 21 yard FG. RB J.R. Redmond was on the verge of securing both the punt and kickoff return jobs; however that is now on hold. He dislocated his left shoulder and is expected to miss four weeks. The person most likely to benefit short term is rookie WR Dan Sheldon, although he gained only 8 yards on his one kickoff return in the game. Two RBs were more productive on kickoffs: Damien Anderson had two returns with a 27.0 yard average and James Jackson had two averaging 23.5 yards.

QB: The Falcons first team offense looked sharp in Thursday night’s game against the Jaguars. Michael Vick played well completing 5-of-10 passing for 44 yards with a TD. He also had several nice runs avoiding the pass rush and gaining positive yards. He ran 4 times for 30 yards. After a long run by Warrick Dunn in the first quarter, Vick threw a laser to Michael Jenkins on a slant pattern for an 18-yard touchdown. After Vick left, Matt Schaub completed 8-of-14 passes for just 34 yards with a TD (also to Jenkins) and an interception.

RB: Dunn ran eight times for 65 yards on Thursday. He broke loose on one run when he set up the block up perfectly and broke into the open field for a 42-yard gain. Dunn gave way to T.J. Duckett after his long run (which also happened to be inside the 20) and had a good day, too, gaining 18 yards on four attempts. If there are any concerns about what role Duckett will play this year or if Dunn will continue to be the primary ball carrier, Michael Vick tried to dissuade them. "There is talk about that every year, the situation with him and T.J. Warrick is going to be the guy. T.J. is going to be his backup and when both of them get the opportunity to play, they will make it happen. Both of those guys are game breakers and both of those guys know what it takes to win. This is Warrick's seventh or eighth year. He knows what it takes to get the extra yard and to get 20 carries a game and make the offensive line go. We're looking to Warrick for his leadership and the same with T.J." That kind of quote speaks volumes about Dunn’s role. He’s the starter and barring injury, he’s going nowhere. Dunn’s a lot like Tiki Barber. Every year they are undervalued, but almost every year they produce – especially in leagues that reward point for receptions.

WR: Peerless Price, Roddy White and Dez White were all sidelined on Thursday night giving Michael Jenkins the center stage. Jenkins took advantage catching a pair of touchdowns in the Falcons win. Jenkins finished with four catches for 35 yards. "Nothing special for me tonight," said Jenkins, the team’s first-round draft pick a year ago. "It just happened that I got open and was able to catch the ball when it came to me. I just wanted to make plays when the opportunities came to me." Roddy White has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain since the preseason opener. Dez White suffered what coach Mora called “a little knee sprain” and didn’t return to the game. Price sat out of the game because of a concussion suffered a week ago against Tennessee.

TE: Alge Crumpler caught two passes on Thursday night for 13 yards. With the Falcons receivers and Vick passing the ball better in the early going this year Crumpler should see less defensive attention, but also potentially fewer targets.

Defense: Rookies DT Jonathan Babineaux and OLB Michael Boley each had a sack in Thursday night’s game. Boley also forced a fumble and had 4 tackles. Jordan Beck intercepted David Garrard, but suffered a high ankle sprain on the return, and could be sidelined for a lengthy period of time. CBs Jason Webster (hamstring) and Kevin Mathis (hamstring) did not play, so Allen Rossum made a start at right corner in their absence. Safety Bryan Scott left the game with a hip injury. LB Keith Brooking, DE Erik Flowers, DL Brandon Mitchell and DE Brady Smith didn’t player either.

Special Teams: PK Todd Peterson had a very productive game at Jacksonville. He kicked FGs of 38, 40, and 40 yards and added two extra points. He also kicked off once, but it appears that during the regular season the punter - undrafted Michael Koenen from Western Washington University, will handle that job. Rookie WR Cole Magner didn’t help his chances of making the team when he fumbled away a punt return. CB Allen Rossum returned one for no gain but remains the starting PR. The question is whether he will also remain the top KR. He returned a kickoff for 28 yards in the game. The team would prefer to let him focus on punt returns and defense; however, the competition is questionable. Rookie WR Roddy White missed the game with an ankle injury, and rookie RB DeAndra Cobb was intentionally not used for an unspecified reason (despite his 101 yard return for a TD last week).

QB: Kyle Boller continues to look dreadful. Against the Saints, Boller completed five out of ten passes for 53 yards. He threw a 31-yard TD strike to Clarence Moore but was also intercepted by Saints DE Will Smith. Anthony Wright completed 12-of-17 for 87 yards with no TDs or turnovers. Boller has been rushing his mechanics, resulting in bad throws, but to be fair he was under consistent pressure against the Saints and took several hits during the game.

RB: Jamal Lewis did not play against New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean the Ravens running game faltered any. Chester Taylor took his first carry off right tackle for 43 yards and a touchdown on Friday night. One his second carry, Chester went left guard for 50 yards. On his fourth carry, he went right tackle for 23 yards. Chester was in the zone. He finished with 151 yards rushing on 13 carries. Tellis Redmon carried nine times for 20 yards and caught a few passes. If Lewis misses any significant time this year the team’s running game appears to be in good hands. Taylor will play on third downs and spell Lewis anyway, but if he is featured for any length of time he’ll be a solid fantasy starter those weeks.

WR: Mark Clayton had one catch for 9 yards. Clayton appears to have the team’s No. 3 receiver job secured. He also got some action with the first team starters opposite Derrick Mason. He split time there with Clarence Moore, who caught a 31-yard TD in the second quarter despite being interfered by the Saints Mike McKenzie, who was flagged on the play. Patrick Johnson caught two passes for 27 yards. Devard Darling caught one pass for two yards.

TE: Todd Heap's shoulder remains his biggest obstacle, but Heap’s not worried about it holding up against full contact. "I feel like the strength is back. It's the mobility. It takes some time because there's a lot of scar tissue built up in here, and it's something that needs to be worked out," Heap said. He did not play in Friday’s game against New Orleans. The other tight ends tried to take advantage of the extra playing time as Trent Smith caught four passes for 24 yards. Daniel Wilcox had a reception for eight yards and Rob Abiamiri caught one pass for 15 yards.

Defense: It wouldn’t be a Ravens game if the defense didn’t score a touchdown. This week, it was rookie DB Jarvis Johnson, who picked off a pass and returned it 78 yards the other way for a score. DT Dwan Edwards and rookie LB Mike Smith both sacked the QB. The Ravens did a solid job against the run limiting the Saints backs to 21 carries for 63 yards while keeping the Saints out of the end zone throughout the game. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed each had four tackles to help set the tone early. OLB/DE Peter Boulware and DB Deion Sanders did not play. CB Dale Carter started in place of Samari Rolle, who also didn’t play, but played sparingly because of tightness in his back. The Ravens are happy with newcomer LB Tommy Polley, who was signed as a free agent to help fill the void created by Marques Douglas and Ed Hartwell’s departures. "He's fantastic," defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. "I don't think Tommy has had a mental mistake. In games, I don't believe he's had one physically. He's done an outstanding job for us, so we're really happy with the way Tommy is playing." Polley joined the Ravens after playing for the Rams, where he developed a reputation for being soft and so far he’s working hard to show Baltimore that he plays with intensity and is capable of making big plays.

Special Teams: The Ravens did not attempt any FGs in the game at New Orleans. PK Matt Stover hit two extra points, and rookie Rhys Lloyd added one. Owen Pochman got all the kickoff opportunities - hitting them 57, 64, 65, and 66 yards. That’s not great, but it is marginally adequate on three of the four and could be enough to give him a slight edge over Lloyd (who has struggled). RB and PR/KR specialist B.J. Sams tuned up in this week’s game. He returned four punts for an 8.0 average and three kickoffs for a 28.7 average. RB Tellis Redmon once again served as the primary backup, returning three punts for a 6.7 yard average.

QB: J.P. Losman played the first half and the first series of the third quarter Friday night. He completed 9-of-18 passes for 82 yards before giving way to Shane Matthews. "It wasn't a good performance. I felt like everything was there," Losman said. "They called the right plays, the blocking was there. ... I was hesitating a little to pull the trigger." Matthews was sharp in his brief stint going 4-for-4 for 23 yards. Kelly Holcomb then finished the game going 8-of-12 for 96 yards.

RB: Willis McGahee used Friday’s game as a tune up for the regular season getting a preseason high 21 carries for just 61 yards including a fumble as the Bears run defense proved to be a worthy opponent. Lionel Gates didn’t get much going either with 10 yards on eight carries though he did catch four passes for 24 yards. Shaud Williams didn’t get any carries, but did catch a pair of balls for 21 yards. Joe Burns remains in the mix for the primary backup job, but it could be a two-man race between Gates and Williams, especially now that ReShard Lee was waived. Given McGahee’s injury history the Bills backup running back warrants some attention for fantasy purposes.

WR: Eric Moulds and Lee Evans each had an uneventful game Friday night. The spotlight was more on the backups who are competing for roster spots. Josh Reed, Sam Aikens, Drew Haddad, Jonathan Smith and George Wilson are all competing for roles and roster spots. Reed and Haddad are dueling for the No. 3 receiver job with Roscoe Parrish out for the next month or two. Haddad says he’s confident he can contribute if given the opportunity. "If they put me in a position to be successful, I can go out there and I can prove myself," Haddad said. "The more opportunities I get the more confident I am of what I can do." Haddad only caught one pass Friday night. Reed caught two balls for 13 yards while Sam Aikens reeled in four balls for 37 yards.

TE: Tim Euhus and rookie Kevin Everett, who is sidelined for most of the season with a torn ACL, sat out Friday night’s game. Euhus missed practice all week with a strained pectoral muscle. The Bills tight ends didn’t get much action in Friday’s game. Rod Trafford, a backup looking to keep his roster spot, caught a pass for 11 yards. No other Bills tight end made a reception.

Defense: CB Nate Clements produced the play of the night for the Bills stepping in front of an ill-advised Chad Hutchinson pass taking it 31 yards for a Bills touchdown. Clements also forced a fumble while Angelo Crowell and Ryan Denney each recovered a fumble. LB Takeo Spikes intercepted a pass and the Bills recorded four sacks by Chris Kelsay, Josh Stamer, London Fletcher and Lawyer Milloy. CB Kevin Thomas remained out for Friday’s game against Chicago as Jabari Greer continues to distance himself from Thomas for the team’s nickel corner job. Earlier last week the Bills waived DT LaWaylon Brown, DB Daniel Leger and DB Marvin Ward.

Special Teams: Just after critics finally started noticing that PK Rian Lindell looks much improved this preseason, he missed an extra point in the game at Chicago. However, it wasn’t his fault but rather due to a bad snap by rookie Duke Preston. Lindell made FGs of 38 and 44 yards but was wide left from 46 yards. Rookie WR Roscoe Parrish is now expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks after his wrist surgery, so CB Nate Clements will get to keep his PR job. He returned four punts for a 4.0-yard average in the game. WR Drew Haddad had a long punt return for 44 yards. CB Terrence McGee (the starting KR) had two returns with a 24.0-yard average. Rookie RB Lionel Gates, who should serve as a backup KR, had two returns for a 20.0-yard average.

QB: Jake Delhomme had a good outing on Friday night completing 9-of-13 for 122 yards with a 30-yard touchdown to Steve Smith that came just seconds before the first half ended. Delhomme led the Panthers to 16 points in the first half on four different scoring drives. "We did some good things," Delhomme said. "I'm disappointed that we got three field goals, but it was great to end the half the way we did." Chris Weinke took over midway through the third quarter and finished 9-of-19 for 94 yards with a game-winning TD throw to Efrem Hill for 21 yards with 45 seconds left on the clock. Stefan Lefors didn’t play.

RB: The Panthers running back picture just got a little bit more crowded. Former Pro Bowl RB Stephen Davis returned to practice last Tuesday for the first time in 10 months. Davis went through a full-padded practice as the team’s first string running back. He’s trying to make it back from microfracture surgery on his right knee at 31 years of age. DeShaun Foster had been working with the starters all through camp – until Tuesday. With Davis back and practicing, Eric Shelton will now see fewer touches, but he’s not worried about it. Shelton is remaining patient and knows his time will come. “It doesn't really worry me," Shelton said. "All I have to do is worry about myself. We had a lot of backs at Louisville. I wasn't first when I got there, either. I just worked my way up. When you get in there, you just have to make a statement. We have a lot of guys who can contribute in different ways. We have power backs, scat backs, everybody is good in one particular way. I feel that (head coach John) Fox and (running backs coach Jim) Skipper brought me here for a reason." To that end, Fox and the Panthers coaching staff have been impressed thus far by Shelton in camp. "He's a guy that obviously we think well of," said Fox. "We're just continuing to try to get him accustomed to what we're doing." Jamal Robertson carried the ball eight times for 47 yards against the Browns. Robertson adds a nice combination of speed and shiftiness to the stable. He was the third running back to enter the game for the Panthers and is in a battle to earn a roster spot, but helped his cause with a strong game. DeShaun Foster ran nine times for 56 yards including one run that went for 23 yards (and true to form he also lost a fumble). Nick Goings carried three times for 11 yards while Shelton didn’t get much going with 7 yards on four carries. Fullback Brad Hoover was busy catching passes as he finished with five receptions for 60 yards. Stephen Davis didn’t play Friday night.

WR: Steve Smith has showed he’s back at 100% during the preseason displaying his trademark quickness and burst. Keary Colbert and Rod Gardner give Smith a solid 2-3 combo to keep defenses from paying too much attention to him. Colbert was praised during the last week by head coach John Fox for his route running. "He accomplished a whole lot there (University of Southern California), and a big reason was the type of route runner he is," Fox said. Colbert figures to be the team’s starter opposite Smith while Gardner will likely be the team’s slot receiver. Drew Carter is in the hunt for the No. 4 job. He’s competing with Ricky Proehl. Carter caught one pass on Friday night for 17 yards. Efrem Hill and Aaron Boone are among those in competition for the team’s last roster spot(s). Hill caught the game-winning TD from Chris Weinke on Friday night.

TE: Kris Mangum will probably be the team’s starting tight end on opening day, but don’t be surprised if Mike Seidman and Michael Gaines make strides during the season and press him for playing time at some point. Gaines had a solid outing Friday night catching four passes for 31 yards.

Defense: The Panthers appear to be back to the drawing board with Thomas Davis, their first round pick in this year’s draft. A season-ending injury to safety Colin Branch forced the team to move him back to safety where he began camp. Davis was moved to linebacker to help fill the void when Brandon Short was hurt. Branch then tore his ACL and MCL last week and will miss the entire season. This prompted the team to move Davis back to safety, and in turn, Mike Minter back to free safety. Minter played the last five seasons as strong safety. In Friday’s game DT Kris Jenkins flexed his muscles showing he’s fully back after missing much of last season with a shoulder injury. Jenkins had a sack and four tackles on the night. The Panthers also got sacks from DT Jordan Castens, Dante Wesley and Kemp Rasmussen. DE Julius Peppers didn’t make the trip for Friday’s game against Cleveland. He was held out with a foot injury. LB Dan Morgan, fresh off a contract extension, had an interception.

Special Teams: PK John Kasay was busy in the game at Cleveland. He kicked FGs of 22, 34, and 45 yards and added 2 extra points. He was wide right from 53 yards, and had a 47 yarder blocked. WR Efrem Hill had the only punt return, going for 7 yards. He still sits near the bottom of the depth chart and will probably be cut. The incumbent kickoff returner RB Rod Smart had two returns for a 26.5-yard average. Challenger RB Jamal Robertson had two returns for a 33.0-yard average. Only one will probably make the final roster and should serve as the KR and the final RB. WRs Ricky Proehl and Keary Colbert saw some game action with the second string KR unit.

QB: The Bears overcame a rough outing by Chad Hutchinson Friday night to beat the Bills 16-12. Hutchinson threw two interceptions and fumbled while being sacked three times a week ago against the Colts. This time he was even worse, if that’s possible. Hutchinson was intercepted twice, sacked three times and completed only 3-of-14 passes for 33 yards. One of his interceptions was returned for a TD by Bills corner Nate Clements on a play that Hutchinson advertised from the second he dropped back. Hutchinson threw three incompletions in his first three attempts under heavy pressure, then tried to complete a sideline pass to Bernard Berrian. That’s when Clements read the ball seemingly before Hutchinson even let go of it. Clements cut in front of the pass and easily ran it in for a 31-yard score late in the first quarter. Hutchinson returned to the huddle for the next series, but was booed loudly. Thomas Jones put the Bears in scoring position with a 40-yard jaunt only to have Hutchinson throw an incompletion in the end zone on third down – and the Bears settled for a field goal. By contrast, rookie Kyle Orton gave the team a much needed spark when he took the field to start the second half. Playing with the Bears first team offense, Orton directed a scoring drive. He completed seven passes and got the team into the end zone scrambling to his left and throwing a touchdown in the back of the end zone to TE Desmond Clark. "We're pleased with how Kyle Orton stepped in and gave the offense a boost," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. Orton finished his brief night 7-for-11 for 74 yards. Now the Bears could have another QB controversy on their hands. As a result, the Bears have officially named Orton their opening day starter, and Hutchinson now sits 4^th on the depth chart (behind Jeff Blake and Kurt Kittner), which likely precedes his release. Orton had this to say after the announcement. "I'm not scared at all about being a rookie quarterback. I think I'm where I need to be. ... I have a lot of improvement I can make. Now I've got to quicken that process.”

RB: Cedric Benson has finally signed ending a prolonged 36-day holdout, but has he already lost too many reps to be considered an option in the early part of the season? With the way Thomas Jones has played in OC Ron Turner’s system, they aren’t going to turn away from him quickly. Jones does all the little things well that Benson doesn’t have any experience doing – like blocking, catching the football, picking up an NFL blitz. Jones is firmly entrenched as the team’s starting RB at this point, but that’s not to say Benson won’t make his impact this season. Benson is the player the coaching staff targeted – like Jones last year with the previous regime – to spearhead the team’s power running game that fuels Ron Turner’s offensive scheme. When Jones was asked this week whether Benson’s holdout would end after he made a surprise visit to Bears camp, Jones responded, “It has nothing to do with me, honestly. That’s just the situation. I come here every day and do my job. I get paid good money to run the football and do some other things on offense, (like) being a leader, and I just try to take pride in those things. So Cedric’s situation, that’s on him.” In the meantime, Jones remains one of the best draft day values potentially. Jones put together some big plays on Friday night against the tough Bill run defense. He rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries setting up the Bears first scoring drive with a 40-yard run. Jones handled the running duties into the third quarter before giving way to Adrian Peterson. Peterson also produced a good day at the office with 10 carries for 49 yards. He scored on a 3-yard run with 1:32 left lifting the Bears to a win. Peterson setup the game-winning score with a previous run that went for 21 yards.

WR: The competition for the starting job opposite Muhsin Muhammad remains an ongoing battle. Mark Bradley is turning it into a three horse race with Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage. The Bears gave Bradley some first team reps on Friday against Buffalo after he tore it up in practice during the week. Bradley was reportedly beating the Bears’ second and third string defenses regularly. In the game, Bradley caught two passes for 27 yards. Berrian caught one pass for 9 yards and Gage caught two passes 23 yards. Bobby Wade looks like he’ll be the team’s slot receiver and primary punt returner. He caught two passes for 33 yards. If the team keeps a sixth receiver it will come down to Eddie Berlin and Carl Ford.

TE: Desmond Clark caught the 2-yard TD from Kyle Orton to kick start the Bears offense in the second half Friday. He had two catches on the day for 13 yards. Gabe Reid and Darnell Sanders also got some game action. Each caught one ball – Sanders for 11 yards, Reid for 16 yards. Ron Johnson had a reception for 12 yards. The team has some decisions to make at this position. They will probably cut as many as three tight ends in the next week when they cut down the roster. On Monday, the Bears dealt John Owens to the Miami Dolphins for special teams ace Brendon Ayanbedejo.

Defense: Last week the Bears waived safety Bobby Gray on Tuesday and claimed DB Marvin Ward. Gray injured his knee against the Colts the week before and was going to miss the season anyway. Todd Johnson got the start on Friday at strong safety. Mike Brown was excused from the game for personal reasons. DT Tommie Harris (strained chest) was injured in the game. Lance Briggs led all Bears tacklers with 6 solos and he also forced a fumble. Hunter Hillenmeyer and Charles Tillman each recovered fumbles. Hillenmeyer also had a sack, as did Adewale Ogunleye, who continued his excellent preseason with another sack. The Bears made another roster move last week, waiving CB Talib Wise.

Special Teams: PK Doug Brien hit a 28 yard field goal and an extra point against Buffalo. Rookie Nick Novak did not play and has since been waived. He had a decent preseason, so he could resurface with another team at some point. A week after stepping up a punt return for TD, WR Bobby Wade had two returns for no gain and a fair catch. WR Bernard Berrian had three punt returns for a 5.3 yard average, and CB Rashied Davis had two with a 14.5 yard average. Wade is probably still the lead candidate. Rookie WR Mark Bradley returned two kickoffs for a 9.5 yard average. He will probably be the primary KR for another week until CB Jerry Azumah returns from his hip surgery. Former Texans returned specialist J.J. Moses (signed just last week) was released this week.

QB: In one offseason, the Browns quarterback situation appears dramatically improved. Trent Dilfer is having a strong preseason and rookie Charlie Frye has shown poise and leadership despite being a rookie. The Browns fans are already on the Frye bandwagon. They gave Frye a standing ovation when he entered Friday night’s game against Carolina in the fourth quarter. The fans were treated to an 11-play, 57-yard scoring drive led by Frye as the rookie QB scrambled on two occasions for 19 and 6 yards, respectively. For now, Frye and the Browns fans will need to be patient. Dilfer is a good leader and a capable, veteran QB. While Frye has looked great in the preseason, he’s still a work in progress. Dilfer was 15-of-23 for 168 yards on Friday night, but he was intercepted by Panthers LB Dan Morgan. Frye was 3-of-8 for 26 yards with 22 yards rushing. Doug Johnson also got into the game, but didn’t do much. He completed two passes in five attempts for 17 yards. Johnson will be hard pressed to hold off Frye for the team’s No. 2 job judging by their performances so far in camp.

RB: With Lee Suggs still sidelined with a high ankle sprain, William Green took another step towards winning back the starting job for Cleveland on Friday night. Green ran seven times for 30 yards including a 4-yard TD run while catching two passes for 5 yards. Reuben Droughns ran ten times for 28 yards and produced a 34-yard catch and run. Give Green credit because he’s put in the work during the offseason to elevate himself up to the point where he’s essentially on equal footing with Suggs and Droughns. Head coach Romeo Crennel said, "I like what I see. Plus, he's a willing blocker. He'll step up and he'll block. I think running backs in the NFL have to run, block and catch, and he can do all of those." Sultan McCullough also got some carries on Friday night including 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter that gave the Browns the lead. McCullough had only 6 yards on five carries and lost a fumble.

WR: A week after catching the game-winning touchdown, rookie Braylon Edwards played a little big longer against the Panthers, but came away with a sore shoulder. Edwards underwent X-rays and he expects to be fine. "It was just for precautionary measures," said Edwards. "I'll be all right. It's just the nicks and bruises you get in a game." Edwards looked relieved after he examined the X-rays. He was rocked in the end zone near the end of the game on a play that resulted in a personal foul call, but Edwards said he hurt the shoulder before then. "It happened before that," he said. Edwards stressed that he won't miss any practice time this week saying, "I'm ready to roll.” Dennis Northcutt turned in a solid performance catching four passes for 58 yards. Frisman Jackson hopes to make the roster as the team’s fourth receiver now that Andre Davis was dealt last week. Jackson caught four passes for 39 yards. Edwards did have four catches but only 10 yards. The trade of Davis opens the door for Edwards and Antonio Bryant in the starting lineup with Northcutt likely playing in the slot.

TE: Perhaps a name to remember for later this year is Paul Irons, an undrafted, undersized rookie tight end from Florida State, who is having a solid camp for the Browns. Irons caught a 23-yard pass on Friday night and he has been productive throughout the preseason. Aaron Shea caught three passes for 32 yards and figures to be the team’s most productive tight end.

Defense: Newly acquired Ray Mickens stepped right into the mix on Friday night with a productive game. Mickens had four tackles and a sack. LBs Justin Kurpeikis and Ben Taylor each recovered a fumble and converted OLB Kenard Lang recorded a sack. CB Michael Lehan did not play Friday as Leigh Bodden made a start due to the injuries the Browns have at corner. Mickens and Lehan started in place of Daylon McCutcheon and Gary Baxter. Rookie safety Brodney Pool was also on the sidelines Friday night recovering from a concussion. McCutcheon returned to practice early last week, but the team is being overly cautious with him. McCutcheon put a gag order on the team regarding his condition. On Monday, the Browns cut several players to get down to the 65 player roster limit including veteran LB Brant Boyer.

Special Teams: In the game against Carolina, PK Phil Dawson hit 26 and 47 yard FGs but was wide right from 35 yards. He looked strong on kickoffs of 67, 69, 70 (touchback), and 72 yards. At one point Tyler Jones was considered a possibility to serve as a kickoff specialist; however he was released on Sunday. None of the punt returners had much success - starter WR Dennis Northcutt returned one for 4 yards, while backups WR Josh Cribbs returned one 3 yards and CB Antonio Perkins went for no gain. Top KR Cribbs returned three kickoffs for a 22.0 yard average. WR Richard Alston, second on the KR depth chart, returned one 26 yards.

Browns Depth Chart
QB Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Doug Johnson, Josh Harris
RB Lee Suggs (inj), Reuben Droughns, William Green, Sultan McCullough
FB Terrelle Smith, Ben Miller, Corey McIntyre
WR Antonio Bryant, Braylon Edwards, Dennis Northcutt (PR), Frisman Jackson, Richard Alston (KR), C.J. Jones, Josh Cribbs (WR/RB), Brandon Rideau
TE Aaron Shea (TE/HB), Steve Heiden, Paul Irons, Keith Heinrich (IR), Kellen Winslow (IR)
K Phil Dawson, Nick Setta
DE Orpheus Roye, Alvin McKinley, Amon Gordon, Andrew Hoffman, Simon Fraser
NT Jason Fisk, Nick Eason, Ethan Kelley, Larry Burt, J'Vonne Parker
ILB Andra Davis, Ben Taylor, Mason Unck, Jamal Brooks (S), Orlando Ruff, Renauld Williams
OLB Chaun Thompson (W), Matt Stewart (S), Kenard Lang (S), David McMillan (W), Nick Speegle (S)
CB Daylon McCutcheon, Gary Baxter, Mike Lehan, Leigh Bodden, Antonio Perkins, Dyshod Carter
S Sean Jones (SS), Brian Russell (FS), Brodney Pool (FS), Chris Crocker (FS), Michael Jameson (SS), Antwaan Harris, Michael Grant (SS)

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QB: Nearly everyone expects Carson Palmer to take a big step forward in his development this year. Some even expect Palmer to ascend into the starting echelon of fantasy quarterbacks given the tremendously talented skill players that surround him. Yet in the preseason, Palmer’s performance has been somewhat lackluster. Both head coach Marvin Lewis and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski agree. Palmer must play better. For his part, Palmer says he’s not sore and feels great physically. “I’ve missed a lot of balls I shouldn’t have,” he said. “I just need to keep getting better.” Palmer entered Friday night 16-of-35 in the preseason. Against the Eagles, he completed 13-of-25 for 136 yards with no TDs or interceptions playing into the third quarter. "We weren't sharp," Palmer said. "There's no way around that. We got outplayed. It's tough and frustrating." The Bengals were kept out of the end zone until the backups took the field in the 4th quarter. Casey Bramlet threw a 36-yard TD pass to Chris Henry to make it 27-10 midway through the fourth quarter and Craig Krenzel tossed a 41-yard TD pass to Kevin Walter in the final minute. "We didn't play very well on offense, defense and special teams," Marvin Lewis said. "We didn't tackle, we didn't block, we didn't cover, we didn't punt. The fortunate thing is it doesn't count.”

RB: Pro Bowl RB Rudi Johnson carried the ball 17 times against the Eagles gaining 72 yards. Backup Chris Perry saw extensive action but only carried the rock four times for -5 yards. Perry made his impact as a receiver catching five passes for 29 yards. Quincy Wilson saw brief action at the end of the game carrying once for 4 yards and catching one ball for 9 yards. Johnson and Perry give the team a talented and versatile pair of backs that compliment each other’s style well. Johnson is the team’s bell cow. He will once again get the lion’s share of carries, but look for Perry to spell him more frequently this year. The team will utilize Perry predominantly on third downs where he’s a dangerous weapon as a receiver out of the backfield.

WR: Most of the Bengals receivers got into the action Friday night. Chad Johnson took it relatively easy catching three balls for 25 yards and T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught three balls for 57 yards. The reserves, however, were the ones who made the biggest plays – even if they came against the Eagles reserves in mop up duty. Kevin Walter caught a 41-yard TD pass and had three catches for 71 yards on the night. Chris Henry, competing for the No. 3 job with Kelley Washington and Peter Warrick, caught three balls for 64 yards including a 36-yd TD in the 4th quarter. Rookie Tab Perry did not play on Friday night and neither did Peter Warrick. Both players are nursing hamstring injuries and the team didn’t want either to risk further injury. On Tuesday morning, the Bengals released Warrick making the team’s battle for the No. 3 WR a two-horse race between Henry and Washington. If the preseason games are any indication, then look for Henry to emerge ahead of Washington.

TE: Matt Schobel caught a pair of passes for 10 yards. Reggie Kelly did not play in Friday’s game. Lyonel Anderson caught one pass for five yards. Nothing dramatic here, as usual. The Bengals simply don’t feature their tight ends enough in the passing game to warrant much, if any, fantasy consideration.

Defense: David Pollack had a solid debut Friday night against the Eagles finishing with 4 tackles and a sack. He narrowly missed sacking Donovan McNabb in the second quarter, but McNabb pulled away from Pollack avoiding the tackle. Justin Smith collected a sack among two tackles. Craig Powell and Bryan Robinson also split a sack. The coaches are pleased with their new defensive tackle pairing of John Thornton and newcomer Bryan Robinson so far. “Those are two pros who are working like pros," defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said, "You build a relationship between the two of them that's like a marriage.” Safety Kim Herring left the game in the second quarter after injuring his right shoulder. LBs Caleb Miller and Nate Webster did not play Friday night, and neither did corners Greg Brooks, Reggie Myles or Terrell Roberts. Kevin Kaesviharn started as free safety in place of Madieu Williams (back) for the third consecutive game.

Special Teams: PK Shayne Graham missed the game at Philadelphia, so he could again rest his sore groin. The early word is that he is “probable” for the final preseason game. PK Carter Warley handled all the kicking duties, including a 46 yard FG and two extra points. Starting PR CB Keiwan Ratliff (2 returns, 3.5 yard average) was outgained by WR Jamall Broussard (2,11.5) for the second consecutive week. WR Peter Warrick’s return to practices didn’t last very long. At this rate, he won’t be a factor on punt returns. Starting kickoff returner WR Cliff Russell had three returns averaging 20.3 yards. Dual threat Broussard had two for an average of 19.5 yards. WR Freddie Milons also returned both punts and kickoffs during preseason, but he was waived this week.

QB: Drew Bledsoe went longer in Saturday’s game against Houston then he originally anticipated. He went 11-of-18 for 113 yards, but did not get the Cowboys into the end zone as the team had just two first downs in its first four possessions. "We couldn't get out of our way the first quarter," Bledsoe said. "It was very frustrating, but it was good to see the way our offense responded." On the next drive, Bledsoe went 5-for-5 as the team went 80 yards and scored on a Julius Jones 21-yard touchdown run. Backup Tony Romo took over after Bledsoe and led the team on two TD drives – one was a 2-yard TD toss to Quincy Morgan. Drew Henson didn’t get into the game; which could be telling in terms of the battle between he and Romo for backup duties. Romo finished 5-of-8 for 63 yards with the one touchdown.

RB: Julius Jones had a nice outing rushing 10 times for 50 yards while scoring from 21 yards in the first quarter. The Cowboys got a longer look at backup Tyson Thompson Saturday night. Anthony Thomas carried eight times for 46 yards, but Thompson toted the pill 13 times in the second half for 52 yards including a 1-yard TD. Thompson’s speed makes him an intriguing option as a reserve and he might possibly have earned the team’s last roster spot among the backs along with Jones, Thomas and rookie Marion Barber III, who sat out the game due to injury. Keylon Kincade had three carries for five yards. Earlier in the week, the Cowboys released fullback Darian Barnes with an injury settlement. The competition at fullback appears to be won by Lousaka Polite though Erik Bickerstaff is also in the mix.

WR: Terry Glenn had a busy evening catching five passes for 51 yards in his most extensive action of the preseason. Keyshawn Johnson didn’t catch a pass, but was targeted once by Bledsoe. The competition for the team’s No. 3 receiver job appears to be won by Patrick Crayton. Crayton has been the team’s standout performer in each of the last two games. A week ago on Monday night, Crayton caught five balls for 82 yards. On Saturday night, Crayton followed up with three catches for 63 yards – including a nice 36-yard reception. Crayton's rise has coincided with WR Quincy Morgan's fall from No. 3 to No. 4 on the depth chart, and potentially off the team. Morgan did manage to catch a 2-yard TD with 3:10 remaining in the game, but the biggest reason the two players are heading in opposite directions has been their hands. Cowboys receivers coach Todd Haley said that Morgan drops too many passes, while Crayton catches everything. Terrance Copper caught one pass for 8 yards. Ahmad Merritt was waived on Wednesday.

TE: Jason Witten had two catches for 13 yards against Houston and Dan Campbell had two catches for 15 yards. Both Sean Ryan and Tony Curtis sat out of the game Saturday night with injuries.

Defense: It didn’t take much to get Cowboys star safety Roy Williams fired up on Saturday night against the cross-state Houston Texans. Early in the game, Williams locked horns with tight end Mark Bruener on a running play with each player throwing the other to the ground and each drawing a personal foul. Bruener apparently said some things that Williams took exception with… "I told them they messed up," Williams said. "I told them I was going to knock them out." Williams went on to deliver several big blows to the Texans as the Cowboys beat Houston 21-9. Williams finished with a combined six tackles on the night, but the tone he set spoke louder than his stat line in the box score. "That's what Roy does," corner Anthony Henry said admiringly after playing alongside Williams for the third time. "I think those guys were hearing footsteps." Rookie Kevin Burnett had a strong outing with a sack, forced fumble and four combined tackles. DeMarcus Ware had another sack and three tackles, but also showed a certain amount of restraint pulling up before laying a pop on Texans QB Tony Banks. Ware couldn’t make the play and Banks ultimately threw an incomplete pass, but he likely would’ve been flagged for a late hit had he not pulled up. DE Greg Ellis and LB Al Singleton split a sack. CB Terrence Newman and LB Dat Nguyen each intercepted David Carr once. The Cowboys signed safety Rich Coady during the week to a one year, $540,000 contract to provide more competition and insurance at free safety. Keith Davis is currently running with the first team, but Coady could push him for a starting job. Izell Reese was waived to make room on the roster.

Special Teams: A recap of the Cowboys kicker soap opera… incumbent Billy Cundiff was back, but didn’t really have Bill Parcell’s confidence. Rookie challenger Brett Visintainer hurt his back and was released. Jose Cortez was signed to press Cundiff. Cundiff tore his quad, was released, and received an injury settlement. Cortez inherited the job. The Cowboys traded for Jacksonville’s Seth Marler to press Cortez. Marler failed a physical, and the deal was voided. Cortez look good in last week’s game at Seattle, hitting FGs of 37, 44, and 46 yards. He didn’t look quite as good this against Houston, missing wide right from 31 yards… to be continued. Potential return guys WR Ahmad Merritt and CB Lance Frazier were waived this week. CB Terence Newman returned punts this week, and rookie RB Tyson Thompson and CB Aaron Glenn returned kickoffs.

QB: Jake Plummer continued tuning up for the regular season with his second straight solid performance on Saturday night against the Colts. Plummer completed 10-of-16 for 150 yards and one score in a little over two quarters of work. Bradlee Van Pelt, the team’s backup QB after three preseason games, finished the game going 3-of-6 for 43 yards and a TD. He also ran twice for 9 yards. Van Pelt is good scrambler who seems to have the innate knack for making plays. With Danny Kanell’s release, Van Pelt seems secure in the #2 role while Matt Mauck will be the team’s emergency quarterback.

RB: A year ago Saturday, Mike Anderson was taken to the Broncos locker room on a cart with two torn groin muscles that prematurely ended his season and – as a 31-year old running back – potentially his career. This past Saturday night, Anderson celebrated last year by taking the ball straight up the gut of the Colts defense 93 yards to the house. "My biggest concern was being caught from behind," Anderson said. "When you have a run like that, you don't want to be caught." Anderson grazed the Colts non-existent run defense for 159 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns when it was all over. Anderson was asked after the game if he had thought about last year’s injury in retrospect. “I've thought about it," Anderson said. "It puts it all in perspective. I knew I was going to come back, even when I was carried off the field. But for this to happen tonight, it's a nice feeling. It really is. It all could have been over, but it's not." Any notion that Tatum Bell would begin the season as the Broncos starting running back is definitely out of the window now. As if fantasy owners need an endorsement from Mike Shanahan. "It was real nice to see Mike make a big play like that," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "It's very seldom you see a back in the National Football League break for 93 yards, and to see Mike do that was pretty impressive." Anderson also caught a pair of passes for another 22 yards. Bell carried the ball just once for two yards, but Quentin Griffin got some action. He carried nine times for 33 yards. The Broncos RB competition is boiling down to what appears to be just four roster spots. Anderson, Bell, Ron Dayne and Griffin all appear to be safe. Maurice Clarett, on the other hand, was released ending a bizarre few months that saw him drafted in the third round (surprisingly) but then opt for no signing bonus in an incentive-laden deal, which made the Broncos decision to cut him a financial no-brainer. Fullback Kris Briggs was also among the roster cuts.

One thing the Broncos are doing differently this year that is paying dividends in the preseason is their approach to the red zone. Last year the Broncos struggled to punch the ball in at the goal line. This year they are using DT Gerard Warren as the lead blocking back. He checked into the game Saturday night and led the way with a block at the goal line on Anderson’s 2-yard TD early in the third quarter. Look for that to continue into the regular season.

WR: The player who really stood out Saturday night was Ashley Lelie. The former Rainbow Warrior caught five passes for 104 yards including a nice 40-yard haul from Jake Plummer for a touchdown. Rod Smith caught one pass for 15 yards. Charlie Adams, Darius Watts and Jerry Rice are battling for the team’s No. 3 and No. 4 receiver spots. Rice has been working at No. 3 during the last week displacing Watts, and Adams even moved ahead of Watts temporarily. Watts has six drops in two preseason games on passes that hit his hands directly. "I just have to work at what I've been doing wrong," said Watts. He caught one pass Saturday night for 3 yards. Charlie Adams had one reception for 12 yards. Jerry Rice didn’t catch a ball. In other words, after Saturday night, the questions about the team’s No. 3 receiver remain unanswered. Just going by Shanahan’s depth chart Rice appears to have the inside track with Watts and Adams dueling for the No. 4 job now.

TE: Jeb Putzier caught a 28-yard TD pass from backup QB Bradlee Van Pelt Saturday night to seal the victory against Indianapolis. It was Putzier’s only catch of the game. Stephen Alexander also caught one ball for just one yard. Alexander remains listed as the team’s starter, but given the frequency that the team utilizes two tight ends and Alexander’s propensity for injury – Putzier promises to see a lot of playing time regardless of where he’s officially listed on paper. Patrick Hape was released this week.

Defense: Former 49ers DE John Engelberger made his impact felt Saturday night blowing the Colts offensive line off the ball for three sacks. Engelberger finished with six tackles on the night. CB Darrent Williams had a nice game, too, for a rookie. Williams looks like a quick study. He filled in for Champ Bailey who continues to nurse a hamstring injury. Williams got his taste of Peyton Manning when he was burned by Pro Bowler Marvin Harrison for an 18-yard score, but he also sacked Manning on a corner blitz showcasing his speed and surprising Manning. Lenny Walls made an excellent play despite being burned deep by Reggie Wayne on Friday night. Walls was beaten deep when Wayne hesitated then took off down the right sideline in what appeared to be an impending touchdown. But Walls never gave up on the play; instead he took off after Wayne and caught him from behind poking the ball free around the 5-yard line. The ball went into the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback and an official “save” for Walls - as in what a way to save face. DLs Ebenezer Ekuban and Anton Palepoi also registered sacks. DBs Roc Alexander and Jeremy LaSeuer recovered a fumble each. Sam Brandon intercepted a Jim Sorgi pass. Overall, it was a decent effort defensively considering it was against the high-powered Colts. The Broncos signed safety Marques Anderson and extended his contract by one year after he was cut by division rival Oakland. Anderson practiced with the team on Wednesday

Special Teams: PK Jason Elam racked up double digit points against Indianapolis, with FGs of 28, 31, and 38 yards, plus four extra points. Punter Todd Sauerbrun got an opportunity (actually nine of them) to handle the kickoffs. His distances ranged from 69 to 75 yards (which included two touchbacks). The only downside was they tended to be line drives with limited hang times. That’s probably good enough however to make K Paul Ernster expendable as a kickoff specialist. Rookie CB Darrent Williams is still the top PR/KR heading towards the regular season. WR Charlie Adams has emerged in the latter part of preseason as a capable backup.

QB: On Monday night, the Lions were simply dreadful. No wonder it’s been so long since Monday Night Football featured the Motor City Kitties. Lions head coach Steve Mariucci summed up the team’s Monday night performance in one word, "Alarming." Lions center Dominic Raiola, consistently beaten off the ball by the Rams defensive like offered some encouragement, "I guarantee that won't happen against Green Bay.” For once, the Lions fans can’t blame this loss on Joey Harrington, who was running for his life nearly every time the ball was snapped. Harrington went 9-of-18 for 106 yards. After three games the Lions first team offense still hasn’t crossed the goal line. "It was just one of those nights where things kind of piled on top of each other," Harrington said. "We missed blitz pickups, we missed throws and we missed routes. When you get into a funk like that, it's tough to break out." The so-called competition between Joey Harrington and Jeff Garcia has turned into much ado about nothing. The job is clearly Harrington’s after outplaying Garcia clearly in the team’s first two preseason games. Harrington has played efficiently and made better decisions with the football, despite not throwing a TD yet. Garcia, meanwhile, has been more erratic and he seems to be playing with more aggressiveness. With nothing to lose, perhaps Garcia is simply letting it all hang out. Unfortunately, his play has been underscored by interceptions and an inability to get receivers the ball at times. Garcia was 2-of-9 for just 34 yards under the lights.

Rookie Dan Orlovsky played as well as one might expect. He completed 6-of-9 for 51 yards and found rookie tight end Jason Randall for a 6 yard TD. On Thursday, the Lions announced they signed former Hawaii QB Timmy Chang, who was recently cut by the Cardinals. "We want to take a good look at him and see how he learns our offense, or if he is a guy that is a candidate to bring back at another time, that sort of thing," said head coach Steve Mariucci. "We have seen him play on film in a very exciting offense, but since he is available — he was in the Arizona camp — we may want to take a little bit closer look."

RB: Kevin Jones somehow managed 38 yards on 9 carries against the Rams, despite not having any running lanes nor much push from the Lions offensive line. As previously said, there were very few positives to take from the Lions’ performance on MNF. Jones scored a touchdown on a run to the right side, but it was quickly called back due to holding. Jones also caught one pass for 9 yards. Backup Artose Pinner saw brief action running twice for 8 yards. Late in the game, Jamel “Erkel” White got a few carries and gained 13 yards.

WR: On the first play of the game, Charles Rogers slipped and fell on what likely would’ve been a touchdown pass from Joey Harrington. Rogers only had one catch for 8 yards. Roy Williams made a nice grab down the left sidelines on a 21-yard reception from Harrington. Williams finished with three catches for 44 yards. Mike Williams, operating out of the slot primarily, caught 2 passes for 42 yards, but was open on a number of plays where the ball either wasn’t thrown to him or the Lions QB couldn’t get the ball to him due to the pressure being applied by the Rams front four. Steve Savoy and Glenn Martinez are among the backups competing for the last roster spot – along with Scottie Vines, David Kircus and Paris Hamilton. Savoy caught two passes for 18 yards. Martinez had one catch for 7 yards. Kircus had one catch for 12 yards.

TE: Marcus Pollard came up with two big catches in the first half and finished with 16 yards on the game. Casey Fitzsimmons caught one ball for 10 yards and rookie Jason Randall had two receptions for 14 yards – including the team’s only TD coming with just under a minute remaining.

Defense: Pro Bowl DT Shaun Rogers did not practice throughout the week after being kicked in the shin against the Browns last weekend. DE James Hall was also not able to practice for much of the week because of a shoulder injury. Neither played suited up for MNF. Cory Redding was one of the lone bright spots for the Lions. He had one and a half sacks and 3 tackles on the night. Kenoy Kennedy had an interception and Dre Bly forced a fumble. Otherwise, the Lions defense was run over, around and completely dismantled by the Rams first team offense. They scored seemingly at will as if the Lions were merely going through a walk through – and not an actual game. After the game the Rams QB Marc Bulger said, "We treated this like a regular-season game. Whether they did or not, who knows?” "There are no excuses for a game like this," Detroit coach Steve Mariucci said. "I thought we were very fired up and ready to go, but it just didn't happen on the field.”

Special Teams: This update was written prior to the Lions Monday night game against St. Louis, so there isn’t any significant news on PK Jason Hanson. He did however win the team’s one-hole golf “course” challenge in camp. The team plans to give WR Eddie Drummond his first game action on returns this week but probably only on punts. The most capable backup returner is probably R.W. McQuarters, who is competing for a CB roster spot. Another potential backup is Scottie Vines, who is battling for the final WR roster spot.

QB: Until Friday night, Brett Favre was having a strong training camp – even by Favre’s standards. However, Friday night was not a strong night at all for him or the Packers offense as a group. Favre completed only 9-of-21 for 69 yards with two interceptions (and had a third wiped out by a penalty) and no TDs. The Packers were held to a field goal on the night. Favre had a nice run for 13 yards showing a little “burst” that hasn’t been seen in recent years. Favre gave way to rookie Aaron Rodgers in the third quarter. Rodgers remained unimpressive going 5-of-9 for 52 yards with an interception. It was a combination of penalties and turnovers all night for the Packers offense. "It was like a circus because we kept shooting ourselves in the foot," Packers offensive lineman Mark Tauscher said. "But at least our wounds were self-inflicted and we can clean those things up." Favre wasn’t thrilled either. "Penalties killed us there," Favre said. "Throwing the ball to the other team isn't going to get it done either." First round pick Aaron Rodgers is in serious danger of falling to No. 3 behind Craig Nall. "Obviously, there's a question," Rodgers said on Thursday. "I haven't done anything to separate myself from Craig in the games, obviously."

RB: Ahman Green didn’t have a good game either on Friday. Green added to the team’s misery by fumbling the ball on the Packers first play of the second half. It’s Green third fumble of the preseason. This, of course, is no surprise to anyone. Green ran 11 times for 23 yards with a long run of seven yards on the evening. Tony Fisher and Najeh Davenport had about the same level of success against the Patriots. Davenport ran five times for 15 yards. Fisher carried the rock six times for 22 yards. Walter Williams ran for 12 yards on three carries. Curiously, his long run was 13 yards, which also happens to be the longest of the night by any Packer. Davenport acknowledged rumors that the Eagles were interested in obtaining him, but the Packers weren’t interested in trading him to another team in the NFC.

WR: Javon Walker dislocated a finger on his right hand while trying to catch a bullet from Favre. X-Rays were taken and confirmed a dislocation of the finger, and not a break. Walker said he has some swelling, but that overall the finger is “fine”. Antonio Chatman sprained his neck in the first half and was taken from the field on a stretcher after being speared by Rodney Harrison. Chatman had some movement and experienced tingling in his arms while being wheeled away, the team reported. X-rays were negative and he showed no signs of a concussion. Chatman said he expects to return to practice this week, despite some lingering stiffness. Robert Ferguson caught three passes for 22 yards. Donald Driver caught two for 16 yards. Walker had one catch for eight yards before leaving.

TE: Bubba Franks ended his training camp holdout signing a seven-year, $28 million deal. It’s the largest contract signed by a Packers TE in team history. Franks is eager to play and has a lot to prove. "Before it's all said and done I want to be known as the best tight end in Packer history, hands down," Franks said Wednesday night after signing the contract. "Actually, I want to be known as the best tight end in the NFL." Franks ran full speed at practice Thursday, but did not play Friday night. "I kind of took this as a mini-practice," Franks said after Thursday’s practice. "Everyone else is kind of walking through, and I'm out there running routes.”

Defense: DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila injured his neck in Friday’s game. DB Nick Collins injured his thigh and LB Paris Lenon sprained his wrist, but was able to return to the game. LBs Brady Poppinga and Raynoch Thompson each recovered a fumble. “KGB” sacked Tom Brady and forced him to fumble. LB Nick Barnett led the team with five tackles. Otherwise, the Packers secondary made a lot of tackles and the defense overall looks very beatable this year. It may take some time for all their young players to develop, and this looks to be one of DC Jim Bates’ greatest challenges. In other news, Hannibal Navies was released, somewhat surprising given his experience and the team’s injury situation at linebacker. Navies’ release means Paris Lenon could start at strong-side linebacker on opening day because Na’il Diggs (knee) may not be ready.