News briefs: Fins place CB Allen on injured reserve

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen was placed on injured reserve Sunday, ending any hope the 10th-year player had of returning from mid-August knee surgery.

Coach Tony Sparano refused to disclose specifics on why Allen, who had started all 43 games he spent with the Dolphins over the past four years, was placed on IR. The move was among a flurry of activity for the Dolphins over the weekend.

Among the Dolphins' other moves Sunday they terminated the contracts of defensive ends Charles Grant and Marques Douglas and guard Cory Procter. Miami also was awarded four players off waivers - rookie defensive ends Clifton Geathers and Robert Rose, and offensive linemen Jermey Parnell and Joe Reitz.

The Dolphins, who were 7-9 last season, now have 20 players who are either rookies, first- or second-year players. They have 23 players who are five-year veterans or older.

Miami expects to start three rookies (defensive tackle Jared Odrick, right guard John Jerry and strongside linebacker Koa Misi) and four second-year players (cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, free safety Chris Clemons, and wide receiver Brian Hartline).

Allen's veteran wisdom could have helped the young secondary and during training camp rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll, a leading candidate to start at nickel defensive backs, mentioned more than once how it was comforting to be able to pick Allen's brain. Full Story

Giants add QB Bomar, six more to practice squad

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Quarterback Rhett Bomar is back with the New York Giants.

Bomar, who threw more passes than any other Giant this preseason, was among seven players signed to the team's practice squad.

The Giants say they also signed tight ends Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe, center Jim Cordle, defensive tackle Nate Collins, cornerback Seth Williams and safety Sha'reff Rashad.

All seven were with the team in training camp. All were released in the final cuts on Saturday, except Ballard, who was let go about two weeks ago, when Dominic Randolph was signed because of injuries at the quarterback position.

Raiders to start rookie at center

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders already have a new quarterback this season. Now they have a new starting center, too.

Rookie Jared Veldheer spent nearly all of training camp practicing at left tackle but beat out incumbent Samson Satele after moving to center and will be in the starting lineup when the Raiders open the season at Tennessee on Sept. 12.

Veldheer, a third-round draft pick who played at Division II Hillsdale College in Michigan, is Oakland's fourth different opening day starting center in four years.

He was expected to push Mario Henderson for the left tackle job in training camp before the Raiders moved him. The 6-foot-8, 315-pound Veldheer started only one game at center in the preseason and was held out of Oakland's 27-24 win over Seattle on Thursday when the team rested most of its starters.

Bills sign TE Martin, claim G Urbik

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills signed tight end David Martin and claimed guard Kraig Urbik off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Martin is an eight-year NFL veteran who was signed, a day after having his contract terminated by the Dolphins. The Bills, who open the season against Miami on Sept. 12, were in need to add an experienced tight end to an injury- and suspension-depleted position.

Martin joins Jonathan Stupar as the only other tight end on the active roster. The Bills will be without projected starter Shawn Nelson, who opens the season serving an NFL-imposed four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Buffalo lost three tight ends to injuries this summer, including former starter Derek Schouman who was waived/injured Saturday after hurting his knee two weeks ago.

Jags claim DT Cohen off waivers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have been awarded defensive tackle Landon Cohen off waivers from Detroit and signed four players to the practice squad.

The Jaguars released offensive lineman Paul McQuistan to make room for Cohen, a seventh-round draft pick in 2008 who started four games last season and had 23 tackles and one forced fumble.

Jacksonville signed offensive tackle Daniel Baldridge, tight end Mike Caussin, receiver John Matthews and defensive tackle Kommonyan Quaye to the practice squad. All four spent training camp and the preseason with the Jaguars and were waived in final cuts Saturday.

Also, the team finalized a trade with Cincinnati. Jacksonville sent safety Reggie Nelson to the Bengals for cornerback David Jones and a draft pick.

Texans waive veteran linebacker Clark

HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have released linebacker Danny Clark and claimed linebacker David Nixon and cornerback Jamar Wall off waivers.

Clark, a 10-year veteran, signed with Houston as a free agent in May, a few days after linebacker Brian Cushing was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's drug policy.

The 33-year-old Clark hurt his knee during training camp. He played the last two seasons with the New York Giants.

Nixon was cut by Oakland on Saturday. Wall, a rookie out of Texas Tech, was cut by Dallas.

Seahawks release three players

RENTON, Wash. -- The roster shuffle of the Seattle Seahawks continued with three more players released, including offensive lineman Mansfield Wrotto.

Along with Wrotto, Seattle let go of center Steve Vallos and safety Kevin Ellison. ESPN.com first reported the Seahawks also released veteran safety Jordan Babineaux and running back Julius Jones. A team spokesman would not confirm those moves. Jones was Seattle's leading rusher each of the last two seasons.

Wrotto was filling in for injured left tackle Russell Okung during the preseason and his versatility to play guard and tackle appeared to have value. But Seattle completed a trade for Philadelphia tackle Stacy Andrews on Sunday.

The Seahawks also claimed guard Evan Dietrich-Smith and cornerback Nate Ness off waivers.

Rams cut QB Null

ST. LOUIS -- Quarterback Keith Null and running back Chris Ogbonnaya were among the St. Louis Rams' final cuts to reach the 53-man roster limit.

Null, who started the last four games last season, lost a battle for the third quarterback job to Thaddeus Lewis. Ogbonnaya lost to Kenneth Darby and Keith Toston as backups to Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson.

The Rams also waived wide receivers Danario Alexander and Brandon McRae; guards Roger Allen III and Drew Miller; linebackers Devin Bishop and Cardia Jackson; cornerback Marquis Johnson; offensive tackle Ryan McKee; fullback Dennis Morris: defensive tackle Ernest Reid; and defensive back Antoine Thompson.

Contracts of defensive end Victor Adeyanju, cornerback Quincy Butler and linebacker Bobby Carpenter were terminated. Safety Kevin Payne (knee) and T Eric Young (knee) were placed on the reserve/injured list.

Colts sign five players to practice squad

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have signed five players to the practice squad.

On Sunday, the Colts brought back five players who had been cut one day earlier including quarterback Tom Brandstater. Indianapolis kept only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster -- four-time MVP Peyton Manning and Curtis Painter.

The Colts also brought back defensive lineman John Chick and undrafted rookies Brandon James, Mike Newton and Blair White. James and White are receivers. Newton is a defensive back.

The Colts still have three spots open on the practice squad.

Lions release WR Northcutt, LB Boiman

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions made two more cuts a day after setting their 53-man roster.

Detroit released wide receiver Dennis Northcutt and linebacker Rocky Boiman.

The Lions acquired Northcutt last year in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Northcutt had 35 receptions for 357 yards and a touchdown and returned 22 punts and three kickoffs last season for Detroit.

Boiman was with the Lions for less than a week. He had played for Detroit coach Jim Schwartz in Tennessee and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham in Kansas City during his eight-year career.

Bucs claim OL Larsen, RB Lumpkin

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed offensive lineman Ted Larsen and running back Kregg Lumpkin off waivers and also signed three players to the club's practice squad.

To make room for Larsen and Lumpkin, tackle Derek Hardman and running back Clifton Smith were released. Smith was a Pro Bowl kick returner two years ago, but was slowed by injuries last season and during training camp.

Safety Vince Anderson, defensive end George Johnson and tight end Ryan Purvis were signed to the practice squad. All were in training camp with the Bucs this summer.

Larsen is a center and guard who was a sixth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots this year. Lumpkin spent last season on Green Bay's practice squad.

Chargers sign OT Terry

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers have signed veteran offensive tackle Adam Terry to a one-year contract and released tackle Ryan Otterson.

Terry was cut Saturday by Indianapolis. He played with Baltimore from 2005-09.

This is the second attempt by the Chargers to add veteran depth at tackle to help fill the void left by Marcus McNeill's holdout. They signed Tra Thomas in June, but he retired on Aug. 21.

Unhappy that he hasn't gotten a long-term deal, McNeill might sit out the entire season.

The Chargers also signed eight players to the practice squad Sunday. Among them were two draft picks who were cut Saturday, quarterback Jonathan Crompton and tight end Dedrick Epps.