Miami Dolphins

Yeremiah Bell, Chris Clemons, Tyrone Culver and Reshad Jones figure to be the four safeties, with Jonathon Amaya potentially bound for the practice squad.

? Defensive back: The Dolphins jersey kept nine to start last season, but if Allen is on the 53-man roster, they likely would need to keep 10, including six cornerbacks: Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Benny Sapp, Jason Allen, Nolan Carroll and Will Allen.

Wake, Misi, Anderson and Alama-Francis are positioned to be four of the outside linebackers, and Erik Walden has had some good moments, too. Quentin Moses remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Rookie Chris McCoy also is competing.

Starting inside linebacker Karlos Dansby said he expects Crowder to play in the opener.

A fourth inside linebacker is probably needed because starter Channing Crowder remained sidelined Sunday with an undisclosed injury. Asked if Crowder will be ready for the opener against Buffalo, Sparano said, ``I don't know right now.''

The Dolphins also gave outside linebacker Charlie Anderson some work at inside linebacker during Friday's game, which Sparano said makes him more valuable.

? Linebacker: The Dolphins kept nine to start last season, including three inside linebackers. Micah Johnson has made a push to be the fourth inside linebacker -- ``he's done a pretty good job,'' Sparano said -- with Austin Spitler and J.D. Folsom also competing for that opening.

? Defensive line: Miami kept seven to open last season. Besides starters Randy Starks, Jared Odrick and Kendall Langford, backups Tony McDaniel and Paul Soliai are in good position. Marques Douglas and Charles Grant are favorites to be the final two, with Lionel Dotson, Ryan Baker and Montavious Stanley competing.

? Offensive line: The Dolphins opened last season with eight but might keep nine, especially if they keep Garner on the 53-man roster. Seven appear set. That leaves Cory Procter, Lydon Murtha, Andrew Gardner (who has struggled in the preseason), Andrew Hartline and Ray Feinga (out the past week with a finger injury) competing for perhaps one job.

? Running back: The Dolphins opened last season with five, including fullback Lousaka Polite, and the same group is back. The Dolphins could survive with four running backs, but that seems unlikely -- remember, Patrick Cobbs and Lex Hilliard have strong value on special teams.

? Quarterback: cheap Chad Henne jersey , Chad Pennington and Tyler Thigpen are the likely three, with probably no room for Pat White.

? Receiver: Miami is likely to keep five, with Marlon Moore making a strong case for a job. The final two slots likely will go to Moore, Patrick Turner, Roberto Wallace or someone not on the roster.

The Dolphins opened last season with four tight ends, but Miami probably will keep no more than three and might keep two -- Anthony Fasano and David Martin. Even with Haynos' injury, John Nalbone is far from a sure bet. Asked about Nalbone's play, Sparano didn't give an opinion but said he has played the most snaps of the tight ends going back to May practices.

? Tight end: Sparano said he has no final diagnosis on the foot injury that Joey Haynos sustained Friday, but he will be out ``a little while.'' Haynos was on crutches, and it's difficult to see him on the 53-man roster if he misses extended time.

How the roster shakes out by position:

Sparano said he has chosen a starting center but wouldn't disclose it. Jake Grove opened Friday's game with the first team ahead of Joe Berger.

``We're looking at him there right now,'' Sparano said of Alama-Francis' first-team work. ``Not necessarily a change. I would say it's about trying to align in some situations.''

Nearly all of the starting lineup appears set, but the wholesale Dolphins jersey are still experimenting a bit. During Sunday's practice, Ikaika Alama-Francis replaced Koa Misi with the first team at outside linebacker opposite Cameron Wake, though Misi also received some first-team snaps.

That means they must either be on the 53-man roster or placed on injured reserve, which means missing the season. Sparano said Allen ``is doing a nice job in his rehab'' but had no timetable. Garner likely would not be able to play for at least several more weeks.

Because Nate Garner (foot) and Will Allen (knee) began training camp on the active roster, they are not eligible to be placed on the physically unable to perform list, the team confirmed.

One difficult decision, Sparano said, is deciding whether to keep injured players on the 53-man roster during the regular season.

Coach Tony Sparano said Sunday that ``a large percentage'' of his roster is set but there are ``a couple guys I really need to play'' in the final preseason game Thursday at Dallas. ``It's important for some players -- make no mistake about that.''

The Dolphins must make only one roster move by Tuesday's cheap NFL hats deadline to trim to 75 players. But many more moves await late this week, when teams must get down to 53 players by Saturday.

Albert Haynesworth at Washington Redskins training camp

Baltimore starting cornerback Fabian Washington will make his 2010 debut in Saturday's preseason game against the Washington Redskins. According to Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Washington will play at least a quarter.

Washington last played on Nov. 22, 2009 when he tore his ACL against the Indianapolis Colts. He spent the entire offseason rehabbing the injury and is expected to be key to Baltimore's secondary now that top cornerback Domonique Foxworth (knee) is out for the season.

Washington has practiced in training camp but was inactive in last week's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. Teammate Lardarius Webb (knee), another projected starter, is still not ready for contact.

Ma'ake Kemoeatu (ma-AH'-kay kay-moy-AH'-too) started at nose tackle in the Redskins' first preseason game and is expected to do so again Saturday when Washington hosts Baltimore.

Kemoeatu missed all of last season with Carolina due to a torn Achilles' tendon. He says he weighed about 400 pounds before the injury and is now working hard to get himself down to 340 or so.

Redskins rookie offensive tackle Trent Williams is scheduled to appear in a Virginia traffic court next week, two months after he was ticketed for reckless driving, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

According to the newspaper, a Fairfax County police officer pulled over Williams at 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, June 6, for allegedly driving 90 mph in a 55-mph zone. If convicted, Williams could have his driver's license suspended for up to six months.

Mark R. Dycio, Williams' lawyer, told The Post that his client "looks forward to his day in court." Redskins senior vice president Tony Wyllie declined to comment.

Texans owner Bob McNair believes Cushing

Peter King, in his Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback column, has the first interview with Brian Cushing  since the news first broke about the linebacker's four-game suspension for testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). HCG is a banned hormone that is typically associated with steroid use when found in men. Cushing claims to King that the medical evidence points to him having "overtrained athlete syndrome."

Texans owner Bob McNair believes Cushing, and reports suggest McNair is in New York to persuade Goodell to lift or reduce the suspension. A Houston Chronicle report by John McClain says that McNair has paid for some of the testing.

Typically, the Texans' approach to bad news is like Obi-wan Kenobi dealing with Imperial Stormtroopers: "These aren't the droids your looking for ... move along." So, it is extremely unusual for McNair to be dealing with such a explosive issue during camp. But then again, it is unusual for any owner to do such a thing: Can you think of a single sports owner who has ever gone to a commissioner to appeal a performance-enhancing drug suspension?

On the first day of training camp, Texans staffers told the media that Brian Cushing wasn't going to answer any questions about his suspension. Cushing's original press conference after the suspension was announced was less than 10 minutes long, and there were no medical personnel or attorneys available to answer follow-up questions.

Texans owner Bob McNair answered plenty of questions about Cushing on the first day at camp, taking the position that he believed Brian Cushing was telling the truth but understood the NFL policy. McNair kept referring to the issue as "complex."

Cushing has maintained his innocence since the suspension was announced, stating that he believed he had "medical and scientific data" that supported his view. None of that evidence, however, has been shared publicly in a clear manner. If Cushing wants people to believe that he has "overtrained athlete syndrome," then perhaps his representatives should provide that information to people other than just NFL officials.

The Raiders top four receivers, Louis Murphy, Chaz Schilens, Johnnie Lee Higgins, and Darrius Heyward-Bey

Work release rules state that an inmate can work Monday through Friday and return to prison on the weekends. The inmate is also not allowed to travel outside the state. Burress would need to get a waiver to be able to play in the NFL and although waivers are rare, they are not impossible.

Burress is a 6'5" receiver who has the experience—and the play making ability—the Raiders need. Burress caught 12 touchdown passes in 2008, including the Super Bowl winning touchdown, and has averaged six touchdowns a year throughout his nine-year career.

The Raiders offense has struggled the past few years, partly because of JaMarcus Russell, but also because there is a lack of experience and big-play ability within the receiving corps. Experience and big-play ability are both things Burress would offer the Raiders.

Louis Murphy led the Raiders' receivers with 34 receptions last year. Plaxico Burress has had 35 receptions or more every year of his career except for his rookie year.

The Raiders top four receivers, Louis Murphy, Chaz Schilens, Johnnie Lee Higgins, and Darrius Heyward-Bey, combined for seven touchdown receptions last year. Burress has had seven or more touchdowns in three of his past four seasons, with the exception being the 2008 season which was shortened by injuries.

When people think of Plaxico Burress, they think he would bring baggage because of his time in jail, but the shooting was one isolated incident, and was more of an example of Burress being stupid than him having a bad image.

Apparently, Raiders coach Tom Cable just isn't ready yet to see his top three receivers in action at the same time. With Chaz Schilens (foot) and Louis Murphy (concussion) back on the field Wednesday in Napa, absorbing contact and moving well, Cable gave Darrius Heyward-Bey the day off to rest.

Heyward-Bey has looked great at training camp so far, so consider it a reward. As for Murphy, he can see clearly now that the sunlight isn't bothering him. "I'm feeling good, man," he said. "I'm glad to be back out today. No headaches."

Black sheep: In blocking drills, there was a dark jersey amongst the white jerseys of the running backs. Alex Daniels, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound rookie defensive end out of Cincinnati, got in line with the fullbacks, started delivering blocks and even caught a pass later.

Broncos WR Eddie Royal

Kickoff Return and blocking drills start the practice off. The Scout team dons the red socks over their helmets. Coach Priefer calls out the return plays and blocking assignments from the end zone area and they run through a variation of returns. Coach Keith Burns is up on the front lines giving detailed instructions and encouragement to his players. Perrish Cox is back at the Returner position. They run four or five plays and switch to the 2nd Team. Eddie Royal takes over as the KR. HORN.

The Defense travels to the far field and the Offense goes against the Scouts at half speed. They start out of the huddle a little shaky so Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy makes them huddle up again. They drill on running plays with an emphasis on the blocking scheme. I see some new formations and wrinkles that I didn't see last year. They walk through a few plays and Coach McCoy thoroughly explains what he wants to see and also covers the what-if scenarios. I am liking this attention to detail. HORN.

"Sweet Home Alabama" plays over the air as the players assemble at the goal line on the far field to loosen up their legs with some light 20 yard jogs. This morphs into a back pedal and then the Hop, Skip and Jump routine. "Ball and Chain" by Social Distortion is blaring loud and clear over the PA system as the players spread out to stretch. The Ball boys are setting up a set of hand-held blocking pads for the Offensive Linemen and the "Running Lane" mat for the Running Backs. "Fishin in the Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is playing now and Coach Tuten is putting the players through their paces. They break off and the Running Backs run through the hurdle pylons. HORN.

Players assemble for their individual position drills following an established routine. The QB's warm up passing to a ball boy, the Receivers are catching intermediate length passes from a coach and the RB's are running through a gauntlet of blocking pads. The Tight Ends are hitting the stationary blocking sled. This goes on for about 5 minutes. HORN.

The Quarterbacks start passing drills with the Wide Receivers. I see a 3 on 3 line blocking drill with 3 O-Line players and 2 D-Linemen and a Linebacker. I see Decker slip while planting on a break in his route and he doesn't show any ill effects from his injury (sigh of relief). The QB's passes look better than yesterday. Spirals are tightening and the passes are a little more crisp. There are still some that are improperly read, a few that are thrown in the ground at the Receivers feet, and some that sail, but I still see some improvement. HORN.

Royal looks to be slated for the slot position for the Eddie Royal Broncos heading in to the season, which should enable him to use his speed on some mismatches against DBs. However, don't expect to see a return of those great numbers Eddie put up in '08. While he should be back in the end zone at least a couple times, you've got to wonder what the future holds for Royal after the Broncos took two WRs in the first three rounds of this year's draft. He is not worth a fantasy roster spot heading in to the regular season

Under Mike Shanahan, Royal had a spectacular rookie season, finishing with 91 receptions and five TDs. The speedy, third-year pro showed signs of that first year success in Week 5 last season versus the Patriots, in which he had 10 grabs for 90 yards. Even though he started 12 games in '09, Eddie's biggest impact of the season came on special teams, where he returned two kicks at San Diego in Week 6.

Was it the coaching change or the sophomore slump that Eddie Royal caused Eddie to have such a quiet campaign? With Josh McDaniels in charge, the 5' 10" Royal totaled just 37 catches and no scores last season. And, he had more than three receptions in a game only three times last season.

Camp Carroll: Day 3 summary

Deon Butler caught 15 passes last season, not quite the return Seattle was hoping for when it traded up in the draft order to acquire him -- giving up a 2010 third-round pick.

And with the regime change in Seattle, there was some question where he fit in the future. After all, he's a 5-foot-10 receiver with straightaway speed. It didn't help that when coach Pete Carroll was asked about Butler over the course of the three-day draft, his answer indicated he thought the question was about Deion Branch.

Well, Carroll cleared that up. Toward the end of the offseason workouts, Carroll said Butler made more progress than any receiver, and on Monday he showed that. Butler beat the defense over the top twice during the 11-on-11 team portion of the evening practice, catching what would have been touchdown passes from Matt Hasselbeck on both occasions.

Butler got behind safety Jamar Adams for the first catch and beat cornerback Kelly Jennings on the second one.

• The Seahawks concluded practice by working on the 2-minute drill. Well, actually not quite. It was the 1:08 drill as the offense got the ball in the same situation the Colts faced in the Super Bowl. The second-unit offense, under Whitehurst, drove to position itself for a field goal. The biggest play was by Quinton Ganther, the running back who has also played some fullback during training camp.

• Defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson had the single most explosive play by the defense, getting penetration into the backfield and colliding with Julius Jones for what would have been a tackle-for-loss. Vickerson is listed at 321 pounds, and he's an absolutely enormous tackle. One of the biggest differences in Seattle's defensive line this season is that it can get big in a hurry with Colin Cole, Vickerson, Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant all weighing more than 320 pounds.

As Patriots Training Camp Opens

 The camp is the 10th under Bill Belichick for Light, the two-time Pro Bowler (2006, 2007) who turned 32 in June.

"This is a great opportunity to go out and lose some weight," the 305-pounder said in jest. "It's camp. It's football. It's what we all work our tails off doing.

"It goes with the territory, unfortunately, and I'm sure that there's other places that might take it a little bit easier, but this is how we do it and this is how business is done, right? You can't really argue that end of it. It doesn't really work, either, if you do try. I've tried it. I haven't won one of those yet."

The Patriots' coaching staff is concerned with winning the battles in Tom Brady the trenches; this is where that groundwork is laid.

"Each and every practice is so important," said Light. "For the guys up front, look, we don't have a ton of guys out there (11 with Nick Kaczur and Stephen Neal sidelined and Logan Mankins in the midst of a contract squabble) ... So each guy's going to get a lot of reps. Each guy's going to be out there. They're going to be in these situations where they're doing one-on-ones and nine-on-seven (drills) and everything else. So you develop (a physicality) in everything you do from your position group work to individual periods to what we do in every team period because it's very competitive.

"This is as competitive as it gets in the National Football League. Now, Fred Taylor the games naturally take it up a notch, but on a day-to-day (basis), you don't play two games in a day. I wouldn't say that each practice is a game, but after a while when you're in camp this is a pretty competitive environment so you develop that toughness the same way everybody else does. Just by doing it."

Burgess, Pats chat: According to Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio, talks have been ongoing with outside linebacker-defensive end Derrick Burgess, who stunned the team when he didn't show up for camp and is reported to be leaning toward retirement.

"We've had some conversations with Derrick," Caserio said on Sunday. "I think there's still some moving parts on that. We haven't quite reached a resolution. I'm sure when we get to that point, then we'll let everybody know."

Burgess, who will turn 32 on Aug. 12, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Pats in May.

The inside linebacker position took a hit in the afternoon when Gary Guyton slipped during 11-on-11 drills and retreated to the sideline where the team's trainers appeared to be examining his left knee. A short while later, Guyton left the practice fields under his own power and, while the injury did not appear serious, he did not return.

Room on roster: For those of you keeping score out there, the Patriots' roster is currently at 78 players, two below the league limit of 80.

The full New England Patriots squad reported for its first day of training camp on Thursday in the midst of a suffocating heat wave. The team hopes that it will play into wind, rain, and snow in the playoffs that run into February.

As training camp opens, many questions remain for a team with a recent history Randy Moss of dominance but that many fans fear has slipped into the NFL's second tier. Here are five questions currently lodged in the minds of Patriots fans that will certainly be answered by the time football season has played through the heat of August, the chill of October, the freeze of January and into the air-conditioning at Dallas' Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV.

Will Tom Brady's contract situation become a distraction to the team?

The quarterback's current contract is set to run out at the end of this season and he has been working with ownership on a new deal. Both sides have said they're looking forward to Brady signing a new deal that would keep him in Foxboro for years. However, the league's collective bargaining agreement is also set to expire at the end of this season and the uncertain financial situation has many NFL owners scared to offer contracts. The bottom line is that the team needs Brady at top form to even think about playoffs, so getting on the same page as the star quarterback has to be a priority.

Who will scare opposing quarterbacks?

Many NFL teams rely on the passing game for most of their offense, which means that defenses have to rush the quarterback well to be successful. At this point, it's unclear if the Patriots have the tools to put together even a capable, let alone dominant, pass rush.

Of the seven positions crucial to mounting an effective pass rush, only three are certainly filled — by defensive linemen Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork; and inside linebacker Jerod Mayo. That means the Patriots still need to lock down a defensive lineman and three linebackers. The team will look to rookie linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes to step up and potentially steal starring jobs from veterans.