News briefs: 'Skins guard Williams out for year with blood clot
CBSSports.com wire reports
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins will open training camp Thursday without offensive lineman Mike Williams, who is out for the year after a blood clot was discovered in his lungs.
Williams was a remarkable comeback story a year ago, dropping some 70 pounds as he returned to the NFL after a three-year absence to make the Redskins roster and start eight games.
This year he was expected to compete for the starting right guard spot, but a blood clot developed in his calf, leading to X-rays that located the other one in his chest.
He's taking blood thinners, which keeps him out for this season.
With Williams out, Artis Hicks is expected to start at right guard after working much of the offseason at right tackle. Two-time Pro Bowl lineman Jammal Brown, acquired last month in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, is the projected starting right tackle.
The Redskins also have yet to sign No. 4 overall pick Trent Williams, the projected starting left tackle. High-round picks have been especially slow to sign with their teams this year.
Cornerback Carlos Rogers was waiting until the last minute to sign his $1.54 million restricted free agent tender. Rogers is unhappy that he isn't getting a long-term contract, but he has no choice but to accept the tender and report for camp Thursday. Full story
NEW YORK -- The Jets signed veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, who backed up Drew Brees last season for the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, to a two-year contract.
The move had been expected for several months as New York sought an experienced quarterback to serve as a backup to Mark Sanchez. The Jets couldn't sign Brunell until free agency restrictions were lifted last week on the final eight playoff teams.
He worked out for the Jets a few months ago and then a second time Wednesday, before they signed him later in the day.
Brunell, 39, played the last two years in New Orleans and the previous four with Washington after nine years with Jacksonville. The three-time Pro Bowl selection spent his first two years as Brett Favre's backup in Green Bay.
Steelers extend director of football operations Colbert
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert signed a five-year contract extension, less than a week after the team re-signed coach Mike Tomlin through the 2012 season.
Colbert, who has served as the Steelers' general manager but without the title since 2000, oversaw the teams that won the Super Bowl during the 2005 and 2008 seasons. His contract was due to expire next spring.
The Steelers' first-round draft picks during Colbert's tenure include safety Troy Polamalu, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, nose tackle Casey Hampton, running back Rashard Mendenhall and tight end Heath Miller.
The extension ends speculation that Colbert might leave the Steelers after the 2010 season to rejoin Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh's coach from 1992-2006. Colbert and Cowher are close friends, and Cowher is believed to have wanted Colbert to be the general manager if Cowher returned to coaching in the NFL.
Titans promote quarterbacks coach Johnson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have promoted Craig Johnson to assistant head coach and running backs coach.
Johnson takes over for Kennedy Pola, who left the Titans for Southern California on Saturday, just five months after being hired. Pola's departure prompted the Titans to sue Southern California and Trojans coach Lane Kiffin for interfering with Pola's contract a week before training camp.
Johnson is in his 11th season with the Titans and has worked as quarterbacks coach for the past eight seasons, tutoring several standouts, including Steve McNair, Kerry Collins and Vince Young.
Dowell Loggains, who has spent the last two seasons as quality control for offense, will coach quarterbacks, and offensive assistant Richie Wessman will handle quality control.
Saints sign third-round TE Graham
NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints have signed third-round draft pick Jimmy Graham.
The team announced the four-year deal, but did not release any terms.
Graham, a tight end who played one season of football at the University of Miami, is the fifth of the Saints 2010 draft picks to sign with the team.
New Orleans also agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Patrick Ramsey on a one-year contract.
Bills' Schobel now 'open' to one more season
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel is now considering playing one more year after spending the offseason contemplating retirement.
That doesn't mean Schobel's made up his mind yet. Speaking by phone from his home in Texas, Schobel confirmed to the Associated Press that he intends to reach a decision by the middle of August.
He says he began having a change of heart over the past month as the NFL season drew closer. Schobel is a nine-year veteran, whose 78 career sacks rank second on the team behind Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
Schobel says he's not spoken with the Bills, who have left the door open for his return even as they prepare to open training camp in suburban Rochester on Thursday.
Seahawks, Tate agree on multiyear deal
SEATTLE -- Second-round draft choice Golden Tate says he and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a multiyear contract.
The wide receiver from Notre Dame posted on his Twitter page that he had agreed to terms and conditions on his first NFL deal.
He says "let's play ball!"
Training camp begins on Saturday.
Rams sign second-rounder Saffold
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have signed second-round draft pick Rodger Saffold, a tackle expected to be a cornerstone of the offensive line for years to come.
The Rams also signed sixth-round selection Fendi Onobun, a tight end from Houston who played just one season in college. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Saffold, the 33rd overall selection in the April draft, is expected to make a strong push to start at right tackle.
The lone 2010 draft selection still unsigned is No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford. The Rams and representatives for the former Oklahoma quarterback have been meeting for weeks.
Glenn signs one-day deal with Texans
HOUSTON -- Cornerback Aaron Glenn signed a one-day contract with the Houston Texans with the intent of retiring with his hometown team.
Glenn played for five NFL teams between 1994-2008, including three with the Texans (2002-04). Glenn is a native of nearby Humble and was taken by the Texans in the 2002 expansion draft.
The 38-year-old Glenn earned trips to the Pro Bowl in 1997 and 1998, when he played for the New York Jets, and in 2002, his first season in Houston.
Glenn spent his first eight pro seasons with the Jets, who selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 1994 draft. Glenn played for Dallas in 2005 and '06, Jacksonville in 2007 and New Orleans in 2008. He finished his NFL career with 41 career interceptions.
Bills agree to deal with DT Troup
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Rookie defensive tackle Torell Troup agreed to a contract with the Buffalo Bills, a day before the team was set to open training camp.
Bills general manager Buddy Nix expected the nose tackle to arrive at camp in suburban Rochester in time for the team's first practice Thursday afternoon.
At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Troup was selected in the second round -- 41st overall -- out of Central Florida. He is a run-stuffer who helped the Golden Knights finish first in Conference USA and fourth in the nation by allowing just under 83 yards rushing last season.
Terms of the deal weren't immediately available, but it's expected to be for four years and worth about $4.5 million, with about $2.6 million guaranteed.
Chiefs sign both second-round picks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs have signed both of their second-round draft picks, wide receiver Dexter McCluster and defensive back Javier Arenas.
However, the Chiefs still hadn't signed first-round selection Eric Berry, a safety who is expected to become an instant starter.
Terms of the contracts for McCluster and Arenas weren't released.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound McCluster caught 130 passes for 1,703 yards and seven touchdowns for Mississippi.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots have released injury-plagued linebacker Shawn Crable.
Crable was cut after never playing in a regular-season game for the Patriots, who drafted him in the third round from Michigan in 2008. He was inactive for the first eight games as a rookie before going on injured reserve because of an injured shin. He also spent last season on injured reserve after hurting his groin.
Crable's release came one day after he was placed on the active physically-unable-to-perform list and one day before the opening of training camp.
