Donovan Mcnabb

WR Antonio Bryant was released by the Cincinnati Bengals jersey . The team also put former Giants FS Gibril Wilson (knee) on the IR list. … Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (ankle) will be cleared to practice this week, but is not expected to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins. … Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will meet with commissioner Roger Goodell after the preseason to see if his personal-conduct suspension will be reduced from six games to four.

Briefs

"I felt great," Harvin said. "Just glad to get back out there with my teammates and work some of the rust off. I've got a lot of work to do, conditioning-wise, but it felt good to get out there."

After another battery of tests last week, and a promising preseason debut Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings jersey ' receiver hopes he is getting closer to figuring out a debilitating medical condition that has plagued him for most of his life. He had two catches against the Seahawks.

Percy Harvin's migraine headaches have been a riddle that no one has been able to solve.

Harvin optimistic

"I don't think it's too serious. It's not a big setback," Shanahan said. "I would anticipate him being able to practice in a couple of days."

The news from Shanahan was more positive concerning running back Clinton Portis, who sprained his right ankle against the Jets.

Shanahan said the leg is too sore for McNabb to play Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals jersey .

McNabb hasn't practiced since spraining his left ankle in the second preseason game against Baltimore.

"I really don't know for sure," Shanahan said Sunday. "That's why it's day by day. We'll see how it goes."

It could be a smoke screen or just a cautious assessment of his quarterback's health, but Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he's not certain Donovan McNabb jersey will be available for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Kansas City Chiefs has not sold out and will be blacked out

The hometown NFL team that struggled last year on the field faces a rebuilding year on the sports bar circuit, too.

"We have a couple dozen regulars who will be disappointed, but they'll just watch another game," said Vicki Doble, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Co. in Tampa. "Last year I noticed more talking than watching during Bucs games. Some stopped paying attention after so many losses."

Kirk Dreyfus, bar manager at Chammps Americana sports bar in Tampa, said he's seen more people coming in to watch other teams because of the Bucs' crummy record in recent years.

"In my four years here, the Bucs have had only one winning season," he said.

Last year, the Bucs avoided local broadcast blackouts, which occur when NFL teams don't sell out their home games. It seems as though that won't be the case this fall. For instance, Saturday's preseason home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs has not sold out and will be blacked out within 75 miles of Raymond James Stadium. The 10-county blackout includes pay-per-view service including Bucs games broadcast on NFL Sunday Ticket, which is aired in dozens of local sports bars.

"It's ridiculous they're blacking out games, but I don't think it will hurt us much," said Jeff Barrett, manager at Gator's in Treasure Island, which last fall drew 500 to big Florida college games but about 100 for Sunday Bucs games. "People here are especially fair-weather fans who revert to an old favorite NFL team when the Bucs are losing."

Barrett and several sports bar managers would prefer more Bucs wins because local fans who whooped it up during the Bucs glory days tend to spend more.

In playoff years, sports bars were often packed. But since the team's recent extended swoon, more transplanted locals hit the bars to follow their previous home teams with winning records like the Steelers, Saints, Patriots, Colts and Cowboys.

Dave Mangione, a partner in Hattricks, a downtown Tampa sports bar often jammed with 100 Bucs fans on Sundays, agreed that fans will find other teams to follow on TV.

"People are still going to watch their football," he said.

With the Bucs in the NFL's second-worst market for joblessness behind Detroit, the team said its ticket sales plight is as much about local economics as wins and losses. Two of last year's playoff teams, San Diego and Cincinnati, imposed blackouts last week.

Restaurants equipped with NFL Sunday Ticket say their Sunday business is better during the NFL season than the offseason. But the service provides them 14 other NFL games to show when the local team is blacked out.

They have been impressed by Huggins' speed and big-play ability. He made an impact Saturday against Miami by gaining 55 yards on eight carries, including a 35-yarder during the third quarter.

Cadillac Williams is expected to start, but the plan is for Huggins, in his second season after going undrafted out of Hofstra, to enter by at least the second quarter.

"You want to see how good is Kareem Huggins," coach Raheem Morris said. "How good would he be behind the (starting offensive) line? What would he look like if he has an opportunity? You just want to get a look at some people under the fire. And he's one of those guys you want to try to get out there a little bit earlier to see if he can do it."

To that end, during Wednesday's practice at One Buc Place, Huggins got snaps with the first-team offense while it was paired against the scout-team defense.

LEWIS to DEBUT: CB Myron Lewis, a third-round pick in April, was not on the field for the preseason opener because of a strained hamstring but is expected to suit up Saturday.

Lewis has missed valuable time in training camp. That has helped E.J. Biggers take the lead in the battle at nickel back, which also includes Elbert Mack. Lewis has been doing his best off the field to keep pace.

"It's always frustrating when you're standing back watching," Lewis said. "I've been out here getting a lot of mental reps, and I'm in the film room getting more. And I've been able to take it from the classroom to the field."

Of his first game, Lewis said he is beginning to feel the anticipation.

"I'm real anxious," he said.

Lewis looked like a guy who was serious about making an impact during Wednesday's practice. Among his highlights was an interception of a pass Mack tipped. Lewis corralled the ball and went the other way for what would have been a touchdown.

"I came off my break clean," he said. "Then it was off to the races."

Said Morris: "Myron's hungry. He watched (Saturday's) game. It's his turn this week."

Houston DE Mario Williams

Kubiak did not offer a specific diagnosis of Williams' injury. The 2006 No. 1 overall pick has dealt with the same injury before, the team's website reports, but he has not missed a game in his four-year career. He is expected to continue the treatment prescribed by the Texans' doctors and trainers.

The Houston Texans revealed on Monday that tests done on Mario Williams showed that the defensive end has no additional injuries beyond the sore hip that has kept him out of action since the first day of training camp.

Williams traveled to Philadelphia to seek a second opinion from sports hernia specialist Dr. Mario Williams Meyers when his hip didn't respond to an injection of pain medication, according to the team's official website. Williams' pain moved into his pelvic region and groin area and did not respond to treatment The Houston Chronicle reports.

"Great news on Mario," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said after practice on Monday morning. "He went up there for a second opinion, and basically, all the reports were good."

Kuharsky also notes that the Seahawks had expressed interest as well as the Patriots, but Houston in light of Schobel's family situation appears to be the only serious consideration.

Aaron Schobel said he'd take a couple of more weeks to decide if he's playing in 2010 or not for another NFL club. For now that timetable seems to be accurate.

Though Houston DE Mario Williams is still dealing with inflammation in his hip, which is keeping him out of action in the camp setting with the Texans, Schobel remains undecided about his playing future. As ESPN blogger Paul Kuharsky astutely points out, the longer he waits and the more time Williams misses, the higher Schobel's price tag could climb.

LeSean McCoy is a smaller back

Brian Westbrook is gone and McCoy will take over in 2010 as the team's starting running back. The question is whether he has the ability to produce the way Westbrook did. McCoy looked a bit pedestrian as a runner during his rookie season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry on 155 carries.

He was more effective as a receiver, with 40 receptions for 308 yards. At 5'10" and 198 pounds, LeSean McCoy is a smaller back, but he isn't a blazer and didn't produce many big plays as a rookie.

While he will receive the majority of the team's touches at the position, he will likely relinquish the short-yardage work to Mike Bell or Leonard Weaver, which limits his upside.

In addition, look for Bell and Weaver to be used late in games when the Eagles are looking to close out the contest. McCoy figures to have a solid season, but there is a good chance he will be drafted higher than he should be. Keep him on your radar, but don't overpay for a player who will likely be an upper-tier fantasy backup at season's end.

 
After struggling a bit in this morning's practice, Kevin Kolb put together a few nice plays in a row, getting rid of the ball quickly to Brent Celek over the middle and LeSean McCoy in the left flat.  The Eagles running back showed off his pass catching skills in this morning's practice, hauling one in over the middle of the field as well.

Riley Cooper continued to make big plays down the field, catching a bomb from Kolb.  That said, the defense didn't seem to be pushing too aggressively in what really seemed to be more of a walkthrough than a practice.  Still, that didn't stop the fans from saluting their newest training camp hero with a round of cheers.

During positional drills, the defensive line worked on dropping back into coverage, with Brandon Graham getting a good amount of one-on-one coaching.  Moise Fokou was in the group as well, and should he see playing time as a defensive end, his ability to drop back into coverage will allow the Birds to cover up their defensive schemes even more by confusing quarterbacks at the line of scrimmage.

Head coach Andy Reid seems to like the concept of lining Fokou up with a hand in the dirt, "He's a real good pass rusher, so we knew that coming in. He was that in college, and I think he had six sacks or something his senior year. So, he knows how to rush the passer and we want to give him an opportunity to do that."  Reid said that Fokou would most likely be used as a pass rusher only in Nickel situations.

Jeremy Maclin starts opposite Jackson, and while he isn't as dynamic, he has the talent to become one of the league's top No. 2 receivers in short order. Jason Avant is the team's third wide receiver but could start for many other teams in the league. Although he isn't a burner, Avant has a knack for getting open, and he doesn't drop many balls.

Brent Celek had an outstanding season in 2009, emerging as one of the league's top pass-catching tight ends. He was a favorite of McNabb's in the red zone and was Kolb's favorite target during his two starts last season. The Eagles are expecting another big season from Celek in 2010.

The running load will be handled mostly by second-year player LeSean McCoy. McCoy had a decent rookie season, and the team hopes he can take another step forward and match former Eagle Brian Westbrook's production.

While McCoy is a decent prospect, that expectation may be a bit of stretch, particularly in 2010. Mike Bell and Leonard Weaver will back up McCoy. Both players are big backs who like to run between the tackles.

While the Eagles are loaded on offense, the defense has more question marks. Other than defensive end Trent Cole and cornerback Asante Samuel, the team lacks playmakers on defense. Some would even dispute Samuel's reputation as a top defender, given his propensity for getting burned due to his frequent gambles for big plays and his poor tackling ability.

The Eagles shouldn't be considered a rebuilding team, nor are they truly in a reloading phase in 2010. While expectations in Philadelphia are high, it is worth noting that first-year starters at quarterback often struggle to close out games. In a division as competitive as the NFC East, blowing even a single game can translate into the loss of a playoff spot.

Calvin Johnson isn't dragging three defenders all over the field

 Suh continues to miss critical time with his new team and is, according to Schwartz, only hurting himself on the opening days of camp when he could be making a solid impression.

Meanwhile, the Lions' other top running back - running back Jahvid Best - is ready to carry the load for Detroit this season although he's starting his career by carrying his teammates' shoulder pads.

Nate Burleson is here to help, any way he can. If that means getting open so Calvin Johnson isn't dragging three defenders all over the field, that's what he plans to do.

If it means providing veteran leadership, no problem. If it means organizing weekly bowling outings to bond the receivers, sure. If it means being the voice of the famously low-key Johnson, hey, Burleson will stretch those vocal cords.

"I'll speak for him!" said Burleson, whose personality bounces off walls. "I'll be his buddy, his sidekick and his promoter. He has just about every tool you can have -- height, speed, strength, the ability to jump. He's the closest thing to Randy Moss, and in my eyes, Randy Moss is one of the biggest threats in NFL history."

In Calvin Johnson's three seasons with the Lions, that's primarily what he has been -- a threat. Dangerous and occasionally dominant, Johnson has been the quietest star in the NFL.

Every week began with the Lions trying to figure out how to get him the ball. Every season ended with the belief Johnson could do much more. As the team has switched quarterbacks and offensive coordinators and directions, Johnson has gotten lost at times. Frustrated, too.

For the Lions to truly change, that has to change, and Calvin Johnson's talent must be maximized. Now, Matthew Stafford and Johnson are going through their first camp together as starters, and the growing chemistry is apparent. The Lions have more experienced players on offense, which should lead to more continuity, more noise.

Burleson was an expensive addition, signed from the Seahawks for $25 million. GM Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz also traded for tight end Tony Scheffler, desperately placing a premium on getting a premium out of their chief investments, Johnson and Stafford.

Johnson likes what he sees and doesn't mind saying it. He just doesn't say it as vociferously as Burleson.

"Obviously, people are gonna talk about the one-two punch, but I want to be the best receiving corps in the NFL," Burleson said Monday. "My goal is to come in and make enough plays to where Calvin will get more single coverage and Bryant (Johnson) will make plays. You hear about T.O. (Terrell Owens) and Chad Johnson (Chad Ochocinco) in Cincinnati. I'm gonna say firsthand, we will be the most-respected receiving corps after it's all said and done."

At least that's the plan. Burleson loves the plan, just as he did in Minnesota, as Moss' sidekick. Burleson welcomes it, cheerfully saying, "I've played Robin to someone else's Batman before."

With the Lions, there have been too many Jokers for too long. (Sorry.) Of all their issues, receiver has been particularly vexing, going to Matt Millen's infamous drafting strategy. A little stability would be nice, and Burleson is eager to provide it.

The receivers' bowling get-together Tuesday nights was one way to fit in. Another was the unusual step Burleson took shortly after arriving, when he stood up in a meeting room and addressed his fellow receivers.

"There's a lot of things that can get between players when new guys come along, especially when money's involved," Burleson said. "So I made an announcement that I've been in the league long enough to know, as a guy who just got paid, I'm gonna play a lot. So my goal is to prove I'm worth more than what they paid me. I'm here for the team, not to pat myself on the back."

No, he'd much rather pat Johnson on the back, partly because Johnson has no intention of patting himself.

Ask him about the rest of the offense and Johnson doesn't mind expanding.

49ers coach Mike Singletary says David Baas out with 'mild concussion'

Left guard David Baas, in a fight to hold off first-round pick Mike Iupati for his starting spot, sustained what coach Mike Singletary called a "mild concussion" during the first contact practice of training camp Monday.

Baas and the rest of his 49ers teammates made it through the controversial "nutcracker drill" unscathed during the morning practice, but a one-on-one blocking drill ended Baas' day just minutes later. He went to a knee after taking a hit to the head and was tended to by athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson.

Baas was not on the field for the afternoon practice.

"From the early reports, I think he has a light concussion. A mild concussion," Singletary said. "But I'll find more out about that."

Iupati took over as the starting left guard.

Baas got off to a rough start in last year's camp, too, when he sustained torn plantar fascia during the nutcracker drill on the first day of camp. The injury cost him three weeks.

A year earlier, Baas tore a pectoral muscle during an off-season weightlifting session and missed most of training camp.

Baas fares better when the regular-season kicks in gear. He has appeared in 63 of the 49ers' past 64 games.

Quarterback Alex Smith reiterated how comfortable he is in Patrick Willis the offense now that he has the same coordinator for back-to-back seasons, a career first.

"Take a still picture of where we were at this time last year and it's not even close," said. "It's # not even the same game. It's night and day for everybody.

"And it's not just me. "... It's all 11 guys on offense and how much better we feel with the system now and where we're at."

Singletary snapped at the first-team offense for its slow tempo early in practice. He made it clear that he wanted to hear a "pop" coming out of the huddle.

"I want our guys to understand is that this is a work in progress," Singletary said. "We have to build each day."

Tight end Vernon Davis made two terrific catches. In the morning session, he found a seam over the middle and quarterback Nate Davis hit him in stride with a 30-yard pass. In the afternoon session, Davis caught a similar pass from Smith after getting a half-step on free safety Dashon Goldson.

Defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell looked impressive during the nutcracker drill, including a solid performance against first-round pick Anthony Davis. Singletary said Mitchell is one of the players who can learn most from the drill because he's a raw talent who needs better technique.

"(Mitchell) has shown me that he is a very gifted young man that has to get under control," Singletary said. "He is one of the guys that will put his head down. And guys that put their head down tend to have a concussion from time to time. So that's why we're taking our time to go through it, so (players) understand."

New York Giants have signed every one of their draft picks

Though the third-year safety declined to offer a timetable, Phillips - who was officially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Sunday - remained optimistic as ever that his recovery from microfracture knee surgery is going just fine. He said he feels good and his knee has been tested. Now he's just waiting for the trainers and doctors to allow him to practice for the first time since last September.

"I feel really good. I'm just waiting for the trainers to give me the go-ahead," Phillips said. "They know what's right. They know what's best for me. I'm pretty sure they'll get me out there sooner than later. I don't think I'm going to miss too much time."

Tom Coughlin has said he expects Phillips to work on the sidelines for the first week of camp. Then he may be cleared to return.

COOKING UP A WINNER
The highlight of the first day's light practice was a "hot potato" drill/tournament run by new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Players stood in circles, batting the ball around like a hot potato. If a player let it hit the ground, he was eliminated. The competition kept going until there was one player left standing: safety Sha'reff Rashad.

Players seemed to love it, which is no surprise considering they seem energized by everything Fewell does. It was also different, which always helps break up the monotony. Asked if he ever had a team that ran a "hot potato" drill, Coughlin said, "I had a Little League baseball team that did that."

TESTING, TESTING
LB Keith Bulluck (knee) and RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle/feet) both skipped the morning conditioning test, but participated in the Giants' light afternoon practice. Bulluck will likely practice only once per day. ... TE Kevin Boss (ankle) had the option to skip the test, but declined. He also participated in practice. ... OL Kevin Boothe (pectoral) was placed on the PUP list. ... All 76 players who took part passed the conditioning test, which consisted of 10 sprints from sideline to sideline and back.

NASHVILLE FINALE
Bulluck took out a full-page ad in The Tennessean Sunday to thank fans of the Titans for supporting him the previous 10 years. "It was my last little farewell," he said. "Now I'm a New York Giant."

As of the night before camp opened, the New York Giants have signed every one of their draft picks.

Jason Pierre-Paul signed a five-year, $20.05 million deal with 11.6 million guaranteed to go along with Linval Joseph who signed earlier in the evening to a four-year, $4.2 million deal with $2.7 million guaranteed.

This is great news for the Giants as they will have all of their draft Brandon Jacobs picks in uniform ready to go as camp gets underway today.

Pierre-Paul (or JPP as I will now refer to him as) is a pass rushing specialist with enormous potential, but few believe he will see the field that often with three proven defensive ends in front of him.

Make no mistake, JPP should see at least some action, especially on third downs, but it makes sense for the Giants to ease him into the lineup considering he only played one year of Division I college ball, so he is still very raw

So if he has to fight off a training camp challenge from young William Beatty ... well, what else is new? Diehl has started in all 112 games of his NFL career, went to the Pro Bowl last year, still doesn't have job security - and that's fine with him.

Just don't expect Diehl to give up that job without one heck of a fight.

"I don't plan on losing this battle," Diehl said.

He undoubtedly found himself in a battle, though, as training camp opened Sunday at the University at Albany - maybe the only battle for a job on the Giants' offense. The coaching staff has spent the offseason pondering a shakeup to an offensive line that has been together for three years.

The plan would be to move Beatty, last year's second-round pick, to left tackle if he can beat out Diehl, who would then switch to left guard, sending veteran Rich Seubert to the bench. So it's not a straight Diehl versus Beatty competition, but it still is a little bit personal to Diehl, who wants no part of going back to guard after three years on the marquee spot on the line.

But Diehl, 29, honestly doesn't sound fazed, even though his contract Eli Manning calls for him to make about $1 million more per season if he plays tackle. He also understands the business and why he may be pushed out.

"They drafted a tackle in the second round, so what do you think?" he said. "This is the NFL. This is what it's all about. It's about creating competition. (But) that's fine. Let people say what they want to say. I know what I'm capable of. I know I'm going to be a better left tackle than I was last year."

Diehl's play at left tackle wasn't necessarily the issue that got the coaches thinking about the change. The play of the line sagged in 2009, particularly in the run game that averaged only 114.8 yards per game. Age is starting to creep in - three current starters are 31 or over - and injuries took their toll last year as well. Beatty impressed the coaches when he filled in for injured right tackle Kareem McKenzie for three games at the end of the season.

A change isn't guaranteed, though. The odds still seem in favor of the old starting Justin Tuck  five returning. In fact, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride keeps warning everyone not to count his old gang out.

"I've said many times, the five of them are very proud, tenacious, competitive," Gilbride said. "And I don't see any of that group relinquishing their starting job easily. Someone's going to have to really come up and do a phenomenal job to wrestle a starting job away from them."