Dolphins News

"Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne has ended a short holdout from training camp, and he is expected to practice this evening for the team's 5 p.m. session. Henne signed a four-year deal, becoming the ninth and final draft pick to agree to terms with Miami. Although financial terms were not immediately available, the NFL Network reported that the deal is worth $3.5 million. It seemed strange initially that Henne and his agent, Justin Schulman, would allow the holdout to keep him from attending the first practice, given his potential chance to compete for the starting job. But apparently, because Packers quarterback Brian Brohm, who was selected one spot before Henne, had not signed, it was ..."

"First Jason Taylor gets traded away and now the Dolphins have opened up training camp without the team's best remaining pass rusher. Joey Porter, who is projected to start at outside linebacker, sat out the team's morning session with an ankle injury that prevented him from running full speed while working with team trainers. After practice head coach Tony Sparano confirmed the three-time Pro Bowl selection was played on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but was optimistic the injury, which happened while Porter was training on his own the week before training camp, isn't extremely serious. "He needs rehab. He's not quite ready yet," Sparano said of Porter, who contributed 65 ..."

"As the Miami Dolphins open their training camp, Vice President Bill Parcells (right) is depending on a crew of veterans, such as 11-year vet Jason Ferguson, to renovate and rebuild the team. And many of the new faces at camp are coming from teams that made the playoffs in 2007, players that General Manager Jeff Ireland calls "good character guys who are winners." Here's a rundown: Key position battles Quarterback: Josh McCown, John Beck and Chad Henne will split repetitions with the first team evenly at the start of training camp. Whoever scores touchdowns, drives the offense and limits turnovers will get first crack at the starting job. Jason Ferguson: He's the linchpin of the 3-4 defense ..."

"The conversation lasted most of practice, spilling over from their drills on the field to their water break off the field. Dolphins running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, being their typically inquisitive selves, began chatting that day in June about the prospect of what they could accomplish during the upcoming season. ''We were trying to think of the last two guys on the same team that had 1,000 yards each -- or whether anybody has done it at all,'' Brown said during a conversation with The Miami Herald two weeks ago. ``We think we can do it.'' When training camp opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, the duo will attempt to prepare itself to reach a goal that has not been met by any NFL ..."

"The Dolphins signed the eighth of their nine picks Friday, one day before the start of training camp. Defensive end Phillip Merling, who was chosen with the 32nd overall pick of the NFL Draft, will be in attendance at Saturday's 9 a.m. practice, according to a source close to Merling. Merling, who was selected out of Clemson, is expected to make an immediate impact and is likely to see significant playing time in 2008."

"Find a starting guard to complete the offensive line Four of the starting offensive line spots are pretty much set in stone, but the Dolphins need to identify a guard to start opposite Justin Smiley. Three veterans ( Steve McKinney, Trey Darilek and Ikechuku Ndukwe) and two rookies (Shawn Murphy and Donald Thomas) have a shot. Coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line coach, is looking for a lineman who learns quickly, has the core strength needed to open up running lanes and the toughness to play through pain. Make the 3-4 defense work without Jason Taylor Every team associated with Bill Parcells has run a 3-4 defensive scheme, which features three down linemen and four oversized ..."

"Jason Ferguson has been a part of two renovation projects Bill Parcells has engineered in the NFL, so the 11-year veteran knows how quickly those dilapidated teams get stripped down to their bare essence and how swiftly the foundation laying begins. Ferguson also knows that Parcells, the Dolphins' vice president of football operations, needs a few good masons and a foreman or two to lead the crew of workers in the rebuilding efforts that continues today with the start of training camp. That's where Ferguson and many of the new veterans come in. According to General Manager Jeff Ireland, the front office approached free agency and trades this offseason with the intention of acquiring not ..."

"Eight down, one to go, as the Dolphins signed rookie defensive end Phillip Merling on Friday, leaving quarterback Chad Henne as the only unsigned draft pick heading into today's first practice session of training camp. "He called me earlier and told me he signed. Its awesome. I'm proud of him," said Chris Rumph, Merling's uncle as well as his former defensive line coach at Clemson. "He worked hard for this day, and I'm glad to see him signed and ready to be a Dolphin." The Dolphins wouldn't confirm the signing. Merling's agent, Jimmy Sexton, didn't return phone calls, so terms weren't announced. Merling, who is 6 feet 4 and 280 pounds, was the No. 32 pick this past April. Colts receiver ..."

"Imagine speeding on I-95 earlier this decade, sneaking a peek at a new Dolphins billboard and seeing these three faces representing the fabled franchise: Eddie Jones. Rick Spielman. Dave Wannstedt. You would have been forgiven for rubber-necking. Why not use a popular star, like Jason Taylor or Zach Thomas, to publicize the product? Why choose the team president, general manager and coach instead? Had the marketing department created the campaign in a rubber room? Yet, as 2008 training camp opens today, it is widely understood why the serious faces of Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano are shadowing South Florida from high above every highway. By design? Moreso by default. ..."

"When will somebody call out Bill Parcells for being selfish? Really. This guy gets a free pass from reality and I don%u2019t get it. Just as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is trying to get ready for the 2008 season, here comes Parcells throwing him under the bus. Parcells, the Miami Dolphins%u2019 vice president of football operations, was self-serving, as usual, when he told HBO%u2019s Real Sports why he retired from coaching for what seems like the 14th time. "We%u2019d just lost to Seattle and I%u2019m flying back," he said. "I%u2019m sitting up with the pilots, you know; I have a little fear of flying, so I ride up in the cockpit. And I said, 'This is probably going to be my ..."

"One down, one to go. The Dolphins signed defensive end Phillip Merling out of Clemson to a four-year contract Friday, a source said. Merling, the No. 32 pick in the April draft, reported to the team's training facility Friday as the Dolphins prepare to open training camp Saturday. The Dolphins have signed eight of their nine draft choices. Quarterback Chad Henne out of Michigan remains unsigned, but his agent, Justin Schulman, said this week that he expects his client in camp. Henne, the 57th overall pick in April, was at the team's facility as the two sides try to iron out a contract. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Merling is expected to compete for playing time this season. Projected as a ..."

"Despite the optimism expressed by Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland earlier this week, rookie QB Chad Henne and rookie DE Phillip Merling remained unsigned on the eve of reporting day. Other than a polite no-comment, Henne's agent, Justin Schulman of Athletes First, said discussions are continuing and like Ireland was hopeful his client would be signed in time for the first practice Saturday morning. Recent history indicates that the sticking point on Henne's deal has more to do with his position than his overall No. 57 draft selection. Quarterbacks are almost always paid more than any other position. Henne was the fourth quarterback taken in the draft, just one spot later than the ..."

"You might think nothing could come close to preparing Dolphins quarterback John Beck for the team and individual disaster that was his rookie season. You would be wrong. No sane NFL player likes training camp. But at least four Dolphins can think of two years with longer days, less food, almost as much continual activity and more physical deterioration that threatened their football careers. After high school or early in college, Beck, long-snapper/defensive lineman John Denney, fourth-round draft pick Shawn Murphy and undrafted free agent linebacker Kelly Poppinga went on an unpaid two-year Mormon mission, which Mormon men can do anytime between ages 19 and 27. And they couldn't be ..."

"WHO REPLACES NO. 99? Ever heard of Quentin Moses? How about Charlie Anderson? We didn't think so. But before long, the Dolphins hope one of those names will help you forget about one of the greatest defensive players in their history. Moses and Anderson have been charged with replacing Jason Taylor, who was traded to the Washington Redskins last weekend. Good luck, fellas. Just remember: The mambo isn't as easy as it looks. QUARTERBACK QUANDARY A decade ago, No. 13 actually seemed lucky around these parts. But Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino's jersey has been retired, and now that number is taking on a different meaning. If veteran Josh McCown or rookie Chad Henne wins the quarterback ..."

"Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning is not related to Doug Henning, but he does seem to share the mastery of illusion with the late magician. Dan Henning always has had the uncanny ability to camouflage his play-calling with lots of motion to throw off opposing defenses. But far more significantly to a franchise stocked with inexperienced receivers and unproven quarterbacks, the 66-year-old Henning has a long history of transforming untapped potential into Pro Bowl starters. He'll need more than a magic wand and mirrors to transform Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan, Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess into a Redskins-like Posse, but he's done it before. Together, the Dolphins' receivers quartet ..."

"Despite the optimism expressed by Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland earlier this week, rookie quarterback Chad Henne and rookie defensive end Phillip Merling remained unsigned on the eve of reporting day. Other than a polite refusal to comment, Henne's agent, Justin Schulman of Athletes First, said discussions are continuing and, like Ireland, he was hopeful his client would be signed in time for the first practice Saturday morning. Recent history indicates that the sticking point on Henne's deal has more to do with his position than his overall No. 57 draft selection. Quarterbacks are almost always paid more than any other position. Henne was the fourth quarterback taken in the draft, ..."

"There should be no doubt the newest Dolphins regime wants John Beck to win the starting quarterback job in the coming weeks. Why? One reason. And maybe it can be viewed better by asking this: Do you see the Dolphins winning a title with Josh McCown at quarterback? In his seventh year, McCown is on his fourth team. He's being passed around like table salt. So the stars would have to align for him suddenly to turn into a championship quarterback. And can the Dolphins contend someday with Beck? We don't know. That passes for a positive as the Dolphins prepare to open the kind of training camp Saturday that they've never had. Any glint of hope will be labeled as a full nugget. There are two ..."

"Even though Ronnie Brown says his surgically repaired right knee feels strong, the Dolphins plan to ease the tailback into his return from his season-ending ACL injury. Coach Tony Sparano said on WQAM (560-AM) that the team will "sprinkle" Brown into contact work during training camp, which opens Saturday. Meanwhile, the Dolphins worked out former Rutgers offensive tackle Pedro Sosa on Tuesday. Sosa, who is 6 feet 4, 300 pounds, started 38 games for the Scarlet Knights. He was a two-time second-team All-Big East selection. He entered his senior season projected as an early second-day draft pick, but tore the patella tendon in his left knee during the season. He finished out the season ..."

"The single greatest defensive player in 42 years of Dolphins football is the description I would choose. And it isn't even close. Broadening the frame to include all players, I would depose that only Dan Marino was better or more accomplished at what he did."

"Even though training camp opens on Saturday the Dolphins front office hasn't stopped working to improve the roster. On Tuesday the Dolphins worked out former Rutgers tackle Pedro Sosa, who started 38 games for the Scarlet Knights, and was a two-time second-team All-Big East selection. The Dolphins, which were the first of six teams to show interest in Sosa, will likely wait for the results of a physical before determining whether or not to sign the versatile lineman."

"Jason Taylor wore a different uniform today with a different number and worked alongside different teammates in his first practice as a member of the Washington Redskins. But Taylor felt right at home when the morning practice ended early because of a thunderstorm. "That's nothing new to me," Taylor said afterwards, without mentioning to the D.C. media that the Dolphins built a practice bubble three years ago for this very reason. "It was nice to see that nothing has changed up here." Taylor, traded to Washington on Sunday for two draft picks, stepped on a football field at 8:30 a.m. today for the first time since the Dolphins' Dec. 30 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. ..."

"Bill Parcells isn't sure where he's going to sit and watch the Miami Dolphins play this season. He's not even sure if he's going to travel with the team because he doesn't like to fly. What he does know is he will not be calling first-year head coach Tony Sparano with suggestions during a game. "No, absolutely not. You'll never have to worry about that," Parcells told Andrea Kremer of HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" in an interview that will air tonight at 10 p.m. "That will be one thing anybody who knows me knows, you don't have to worry about that.""

"Jason Taylor characterized his split from the Dolphins as amicable as he was officially introduced as the newest member of the Washington Redskins. The defensive end, who was acquired from Miami for two draft picks the day before, arrived in town Monday and underwent a physical. The Redskins gave the Dolphins a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round choice in 2010 for Taylor, who had been with Miami for all of his 11 NFL seasons. "As an athlete, you want to win," Taylor said. "The reason I play the game is to win, and I think the organization here and the Washington Redskins give me a great chance to win this year.""

"Former Dolphin Jason Taylor started a team-record 130 games. Cornerback Will Allen now leads Dolphins' defenders with 21 consecutive starts. Taylor had 117 sacks, or 114 more than his possible replacement, fourth-year outside linebacker Charlie Anderson. No member of Miami's defense has been selected to the Pro Bowl as a Dolphin, much less to six of them like Taylor. But add it up and Taylor's trade Sunday to Washington for two draft picks (a 2009 second-rounder and 2010 sixth-rounder) makes the Dolphins - the NFL's worst team last season - worse."

"Jason Taylor is one of the good guys. He has done much for the South Florida community in terms of charitable work, and was a star athlete of the highest rank for more than a decade from his defensive end/outside linebacker position with the Miami Dolphins. He is personable and engaging in conversation off the field, and a fierce competitor well-respected by teammates and opponents alike on it. But let's also remember how Taylor - both by word and deed - pushed for the trade the Dolphins made Sunday night in sending him to the Washington Redskins. He wanted out."

"In an HBO profile that will be broadcast Tuesday, Bill Parcells makes clear that he will not offer input to Dolphins coach Tony Sparano during games and reiterated he won't coach again. Asked by Andrea Kremer if he will call down during games, Parcells said ''no.'' How about checking in at halftime? ''No, absolutely not,'' he said during a recent interview that airs on Real Sports at 10 p.m. Tuesday. ``You'll never have to worry about that. That will be one thing anybody who knows me knows you don't have to worry about.'' But in the piece, Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning indicated Parcells, the Dolphins' executive vice president/football operations, offers occasional ..."

"The cameras stopped clicking. The glitzy introduction had ended. And now, in a much quieter moment, Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor was standing outside the doors of his new team's training facility Monday, about to hop into a gold Chevy Tahoe that would whisk him to a place where he would attend his first team meeting. ''I feel like we're sending you off to your first day of school,'' said Seth Levit, the person largely responsible for the success of Taylor's charitable foundation in South Florida. Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, joked: ``It's like you're back at Akron!''"

"Standing so close to three Super Bowl trophies he's longed to caress, former Dolphins defensive star Jason Taylor on Monday bade farewell to Miami and hello to the Washington Redskins, his new employer since Sunday's stunning trade. Taylor, acquired by the Redskins for a second-round draft pick next season and a sixth-rounder in 2010, continued to deny any rift existed between him and Bill Parcells, the Dolphins' vice president of football operations, over Taylor's participation in the Dancing with the Stars television show. "There was no animosity, no hard feelings, no negativity," said Taylor during a news conference Monday at Redskins training facilities in Ashburn, Va. "The ..."

"Joey Porter has Jason Taylor's Pro Bowl pedigree. Quentin Moses' height resembles Taylor's lanky build. Charlie Anderson and Reggie Torbor have most of Taylor's athleticism. And Akin Ayodele has his good looks and charisma. Combine those attributes and collectively these linebackers might help ease the departure of the Dolphins' top defender and face of the franchise for more than a decade. At least that's the hope the Dolphins take into training camp, where one of the team's top priorities is finding a suitable substitute for the double-digit sacks the defensive end/ linebacker produced for six of the past eight seasons before his trade to Washington on Sunday for two future draft ..."

"Jason Taylor is a Washington Redskin. That didn't take long once NFL training camps began to open, now, did it? The Dolphins traded Taylor in a hurry Sunday night for a second-round pick in the NFL Draft next year and a sixth-round pick in the NFL Draft the year after that. Right. They didn't get much. The Dolphins, of course, will counter with the fact that Taylor, a Pro Bowl defensive end, was a third-round pick by Miami once upon a time. They'll further counter that star linebacker Zach Thomas - now gone to the Dallas Cowboys for a bowl of TexMex cooking goodies - was a fifth-round Miami pick once upon a time, too. Let 'em talk."

"It would be very easy to rip Jason Taylor right now. It would be easy to presume one of the first thoughts the now former Miami Dolphins defensive end had when he found out he was being traded to the Washington Redskins was to wonder how soon he could set up lunch with one of owner Daniel Snyder's good friends -- Tom Cruise. Because it's no secret Taylor has his eye on Hollywood. Just like it was no secret the last thing he wanted to do in 2008 was put on a Dolphins uniform again. I understand what Jason was doing. He didn't want to look like the bad guy who didn't want to go through another rebuilding project in Miami and wanted to go play for a winner. Blame him for that, or ..."

"The drama of whether Jason Taylor would be a Miami Dolphin in 2008 played itself out for seven months. But in the end, it only took a couple of hours -- and a couple of Washington Redskins defensive ends getting carted off the practice field Sunday -- for Taylor's time in Miami to come to an official end. Miami traded the six-time Pro Bowler to the Redskins Sunday for a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-rounder in 2010. He is expected to report for training camp today."

"Jason Taylor is leaving the only NFL team he has known, his wish to be traded to a contender granted Sunday. The Washington Redskins gave the Dolphins a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round selection in 2010 to acquire the six-time Pro Bowler, who had spent 11 seasons anchoring the Dolphins' defense."

"The Dolphins rid themselves of their biggest offseason headache and what promised to be training camp's most uncomfortable drama. Jason Taylor is gone to the Washington Redskins in a trade. And yes, that means the 2008 Dolphins suddenly got a whole lot less talented Sunday in the hour or so Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said it took his team to work a trade. Gone is the team's most productive defensive player the past 11 seasons. Gone is the consistent pressure he generates against opposing quarterbacks. Gone is Miami's biggest-name player."

"It was smart and it was sad, all at once, the Sunday evening trade that all of a sudden turned Jason Taylor into a former Miami Dolphin. Just like that. Eleven NFL seasons of No. 99, instantly put to past tense. The pragmatic side of the mind argues with irrefutable logic that the deal is good for Miami. The Washington Redskins are giving in return a second-round draft pick in 2009 and throwing in a sixth-rounder the year after. And that seems more than fair for a soon-34-year-old defensive end who wanted out of here and who -- smitten by Dancing With the Stars and dreams of Hollywood -- seemed about done with football, anyway. And surely a Miami team bent on rebuilding, after six ..."

"Jason Taylor is leaving the only NFL team he has known, his wish to be traded to a contender granted Sunday. The Washington Redskins gave the Dolphins a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round selection in 2010 to acquire the six-time Pro Bowler, who had spent 11 seasons anchoring the Dolphins' defense. "We're fortunate there was a guy that caliber on the market when somebody got hurt," Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said. "Normally, in most years, there's not a guy of that caliber on the market.""

"His grandfather sat at a Smith-Corona typewriter each New Year's Day and pecked out annual goals that he'd then read to the family. Jason Taylor inherited that idea. He arrived as a no-name Dolphins rookie in 1997 and wrote three goals on an index card that he leaned against his nightstand lamp. That way, he saw them first thing in the morning and last thing at night: 1. Make the team. 2. Improve each day. 3. Start on opening day. Let's remember that today. Let's remember how his Dolphin time began as we get swamped by its ending. Let's note how Taylor achieved those early goals, then added bigger ones each year. Become the team's Most Valuable Player? Lead the franchise in ..."

"At sunrise, it was still an unresolved mess that had lasted months and appeared destined to last even longer. At sunset, it was done. And one of the greatest defensive players in Dolphins history was gone. The long, twisted soap opera involving Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor rapidly cleaned itself up Sunday when a perfect suitor, the Redskins, suddenly were desperate for the Pro Bowler's skills after a severe injury to one of their own. As a result, Miami got its price, receiving a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round pick in 2010 for Taylor. And Taylor got his wish, landing with a playoff contender in a major market."

"Talk about a dramatic first day of training camp. Less than seven hours after losing starting defensive end Phillip Daniels for the season with a torn ACL during the first practice, the Washington Redskins filled that void - and then some - by acquiring six-time Pro Bowl end Jason Taylor from the Miami Dolphins. "We had to act after losing Phillip," said Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato, adding that he hadn't talked to the Dolphins less than two hours before engineering the trade in which he gave them a second-round pick in the 2009 draft and a sixth-rounder in 2010. "We're fortunate that a guy of his caliber was on the market. The timing was right.""

"Bill Parcells made the boldest move yet in his remaking of the Miami Dolphins, shipping the team’s best player, defensive end Jason Taylor, to the Washington Redskins on Sunday for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a sixth-rounder in 2010."

"The end of the Jason Taylor has arrived. The Dolphins have agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins for a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick, two sources told The Miami Herald. Taylor, perhaps the greatest defensive player in team history, is expected to arrive in Washington at some point Monday for the team's training camp. The rapidly moving negotiations were the result of a severe knee injury suffered by Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels."

"Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels suffered an injury Sunday to his anterior cruciate knee ligament, according to a source, a potentially season-ending injury that could lead to Jason Taylor coming to Washington. Daniels hurt the knee during the team's first practice. He tried to jump over a teammate and came down on his knee. Daniels had to be carted off the field. Preliminary reports from the initial MRI indicated damage to the ACL and possibly more, according to a source. Following the morning practice, the Redskins started working on trade discussions to replace him. According to another source, talks are underway with the Miami Dolphins for Taylor, who started the offseason by ..."

"Everybody has questions. How soon can quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco start in Atlanta and Baltimore? Where does Brett Favre play in 2008, if he plays at all? Is there another team such as the New York Giants that will come out of the shadows at playoff time to seize the Super Bowl? There are no ready answers in July and August. Training camp is a time to grind, but it's also a time for optimism. Let's set the stage for the NFL's 89th season."

"Though Josh McCown is considered by many to be the front-runner because of experience, the Dolphins have told NFL people the battle remains competitive with John Beck, and preseason performance will determine the winner. Several players thought McCown was better in May/June drills, but another starter favored Beck. Chad Henne remains an underdog, though nobody would be shocked if he was starting at some point this season. According to sentiment inside the Dolphins, McCown -- who is OK after his wood-chopping accident -- has impressed with athleticism and mobility."

"Yes, the Bears have some issues as they head into training camp this week. But they are not alone. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL will be trying to answer deep questions, tie together loose ends and bury ghosts of the past. Here is a look at the other 31:"

"As he reached the sidelines in the season opener, Yeremiah Bell sensed something wasn't right with his left leg. Little was right again for the Dolphins in 2007. "It didn't really hurt, so I was hoping it wasn't that bad," Bell said of Sept. 9 in Washington. "They say when you tear your Achilles' [tendon], it rolls up. But I tore mine higher. So it didn't roll up, it just snapped." If that hadn't happened, maybe the Dolphins defense still would have snapped. Maybe opposing offenses still would have rolled up points. Maybe the 1-15 embarrassment was inevitable: suspect talent, amateurish coaching, horrible luck. Maybe. Or maybe Bell's injury was a catalyst for the collapse."

"Please, Jason Taylor, don't get too cute with this Bill Parcells growl-off and wind up not playing at all. Dolphins training camp starts in eight days, and you're all over the map. Conciliatory one minute. Then bristling and leaving us wondering if you're ready to light out for Hollywood the next. Please don't get into a Brett Favre-like standoff. Just remember two names: Tiki Barber and Carl Edwards. Barber, the former Giants running back, grumbled about his coach, said he was tired of the pounding, and retired to go for the entertainment gold. Giants: Won the Super Bowl the next year. Barber: Picked among one of the worst eight studio hosts by an aol.com blog. You can decide for ..."

"Quarterback Josh McCown said he wasn't worried for long about a cut on the index finger of his throwing hand that required six stitches. Moments after leaving the hospital a couple of weeks ago, McCown said he grabbed a football and played catch with his brother Luke in the hospital parking lot to make sure the finger was OK. "Everything's fine. It's a non-issue," McCown said Wednesday. "I could have played the day it happened. Now, it's like it never happened." McCown said he'd be ready to compete for the starting quarterback job when training camp opens July 26."

"Dolphins quarterback Josh McCown has decided to quit using chain saws, which should please his team. A brush with a chain saw two weeks ago left McCown with a cut on the index finger of his throwing hand that required six stitches. But he expects to be ready for the start of training camp next week, said his agent, Mike McCartney."He has been throwing the football, and he's even playing golf," McCartney said. "He's fine."The accident occurred at McCown's home in Jacksonville, Texas, while he and his brother, Tampa Bay quarterback Luke McCown, were cutting a tree stump."

"Entering his 11th NFL season, Jason Ferguson has come to be known for many things. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, he's a prototypical space-eating 3-4 defensive nose tackle. He's also a locker room leader, and an excellent mentor for younger players. But when Ferguson's name comes up in association with the three stops he has made in his career, there is usually another kind of moniker attached to him. Jason Ferguson . . . is a Bill Parcells guy. "That's my dude," Ferguson grinned."