Fox to use sideline veterans in college football coverage

By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY

Posted

Fox Sports president Eric Shanks, talking college football coverage plans that will be formally announced today, says one new wrinkle seems obvious: Use people on sidelines who've been there a lot.

• 

  By Morry Gash, AP

  Former Minnesota Golden Gophers football coach Tim Brewster will be working the sidelines for Fox this season.

By Morry Gash, AP

Former Minnesota Golden Gophers football coach Tim Brewster will be working the sidelines for Fox this season.

Fox will use ex-Minnesota coach Tim Brewster as a sideline analyst. "It makes more sense to have people who've spent the most time watching from that angle," says Shanks. Brewster will be more of an analyst than reporter. "He'll be like a third man in the booth," says Shanks, but won't have an open mike so announcers Gus Johnson and Charles Davis "don't have to wait for him to chime in."

Says Brewster, debuting on FX's Tulsa-Oklahoma game Sept. 3: "I'm less into talking to coaches and more into describing situational football."

Johnson and Davis are lead voices on Fox's ramped-up college football this season as the network carries the debut Big Ten and Pac-12 title games. Its FX cable channel begins game-of-the-week coverage, mostly Pac-12 and Big 12 games, as a precursor to weekly coverage of Pac-12 games on Fox next year, Johnson, who left CBS NFL and college basketball games to join Fox, said Tuesday the transition isn't taxing: "The biggest change was moving from New York to Los Angeles. Here, it's 82, no humidity and the wind is blowing."

Also new: NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira will be used in what Fox bills as the first rules analyst on TV college football. And on weekends with FX doubleheaders, game announcers will be Fox Sports Net's Craig Bolerjack and Joel Klatt, who Shanks calls "the best analyst nobody has heard of."

Not surprisingly, Fox's dive into college football will include the animated Cleatus robot character that it parades on its NFL coverage and hawks to consumers as an action character. Says Shanks: "We'll have team-specific robots. Cleatus will be going to school, visiting campuses. On the NFL, Cleatus will have a son." Sounds like hijinks will ensue.

Fox P.S.: Shanks says Fox's recent pitch for future Olympics, in bidding ultimately won by NBC, included casting Joe Buck as Olympic host and supplemental narrow-casting such as the Fox-backed Big Ten Network carrying Olympic coverage focused on that conference's athletes. And on the MLB playoffs, Fox won't resurrect last year's idea for a cable-cam rolling over the playing field ? which never got beyond off-air tests. Says Shanks: "We took our best shot. You can't fly something over the field and not interfere with the game."

NFL Net going live: This week last year, NFL Network had one hour of live shows each day. This wild week, it will go live for at least 12 hours starting at 9 a.m. ET ? and could go live through the night Friday to cover free-agent signings starting at 6 p.m. ET. Says NFLN executive producer Eric Weinberger: "That night, we can go live, basically, endlessly."

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Brian Deegan wins X17 RallyCross gold

Brian Deegan won a scintillating RallyCross final Sunday afternoon to capture his first X Games gold medal on four wheels and lead a Ford Fiesta podium sweep, while Travis Pastrana's up-and-down Pastranathon ended with him T-boning a wall on the last lap and losing what seemed to be a sure-thing bronze medal.

Defending champ Tanner Foust took silver and pre-race favorite Marcus Gr�nholm claimed bronze, shooting by Pastrana -- who was driving with hand controls he likened to a video game joystick -- as the X Games superstar winced in pain from the impact's effect on his broken shin. He then hobbled out of his car and hopped on one leg over to a stack of tires before sitting down on the gravel track and waiting for medical staff to collect him.

"That was the highlight of my life," said Deegan, who settled for two silver medals last year and promised to win gold at X Games 17. "I've done a lot of things on a dirtbike and I've done a lot of things in a car, but nothing tops that moment."

Deegan took charge early in the eight-man race and led throughout, as car after car either crashed or dropped far behind him. Saturday's gold medalist in Rally Car Racing, Liam Doran, was out of contention 20 seconds after the start, turned sideways into a wall by Foust.

"Liam and Tanner were trying to be the first guy through the first turn," Deegan said, "and they both braked too late and they slid, and I used it to my advantage, cut under them and just said to myself, 'It's all up to you to win this race.' And I just drove smooth and started pulling away, and it was game over."

Deegan's gold was his first since winning the Moto X Best Trick competition eight years ago. He wasn't optimistic after the Rally race the prior afternoon, in which his car broke down moments into his first heat. But his team fixed the problem and he appeared to be in the fastest machine all day. He was particularly happy to have defeated Foust. "I've been thinking about beating Tanner all year," he said.

Foust held on for silver despite suffering a flat tire with three laps to go in the eight-lap final. "Deegan just walked away with it," Foust said. "He was smart on the first corner and that's all it took."

Check out full results.

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Red Sox add Erik Bedard in three-team deal

The Boston Red Sox added a starting pitcher prior to the nonwaiver trading deadline after all, acquiring lefthander Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal, according to The Boston Globe.

The newspaper reports the Red Sox also will receive minor league P Josh Fields from the Mariners. The Red Sox sent minor league C Tim Federowicz and minor league Ps Stephen Fife and Juan Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and minor league OF Chih-Hsien Chiang to the Mariners. Finally, the Dodgers sent minor league OF Trayvon Robinson to the Mariners.

The Red Sox reportedly had a deal in place to acquire Oakland A's righthander Rich Harden late Saturday night, but that never was finalized.

Bedard is 4-7 with a 3.45 ERA in 16 starts this season.

Boston had expressed interest in Bedard recently, but there was speculation that its interest cooled after the lefthander's start Friday. In his first outing since coming off the disabled list because of a knee injury, Bedard was roughed up for five earned runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding righthander Clay Buchholz's availability the rest of this season, the Red Sox wanted to add rotation depth prior to the deadline. Buchholz, sidelined since mid-June because of back discomfort, is set to meet with a back specialist Monday.

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Cibulkova pulls out of Stanford with abdominal strain

STANFORD, California | Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:38pm EDT

STANFORD, California (Reuters) - Slovakian Dominica Cibulkova was forced to withdraw from her semi-final against France's Marion Bartoli at the Stanford Classic on Saturday due to a left abdominal strain.

World number 20 Cibulkova said she had felt the injury sporadically during the week and it had become especially painful in her straight sets win over New Zealander Marina Erakovic in the quarter-finals.

Ninth-ranked Bartoli will face the winner of the match between 13-times grand slam champion Serena Williams and Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki.

(Editing by John Mehaffey)

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PFT: Ex-inmate Burress to sign with Jets

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Football returned on Tuesday, featuring an unprecedented string of deals done in an ultra-compressed time frame.� An accidental disclosure by the NFLPA has contributed to the madness, by expediting the process of getting draft picks under contract.

But that came after the blunder nearly blew up the brand-new labor deal.

According to multiple sources, the NFL and the players agreed when crafting the rookie wage scale that the slot-by-slot formula would be kept confidential, and that agents and teams would know only the total rookie dollars allocated by team.� This approach would make the process similar to past years,� when the CBA utilized a rookie salary cap, which provided teams with limited money for all rookies but no restrictions on how it would be divvied up.

Despite a new name and far fewer dollars to go around, the same concept applies. Teams get a total amount that can be paid to all rookies, and the teams can decide which draft pick will get how much of the money.

Previously, the pick-by-pick formula used to determine each team?s rookie salary cap never had been disclosed to agents or teams.� This year, in the first season of the new rookie wage scale, it was.

As best we can tell, a low-level employee at the NFLPA inadvertently sent the formula out to agents.� The agents initially were confused by what they had received.� When some started to rely on the formula when negotiating deals, the league became aware of what had occurred.

The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, told PFT that the league responded by accusing the NFLPA of breaching the settlement agreement, and threatening to scrap the deal.� Cooler heads quickly prevailed, and the league decided to remedy the situation by sending the pick-by-pick formula to all teams.

Thus, every agent and every team have a comprehensive list of the year-one rookie allocation, the total rookie allocation, and the year-one minimum allotment for every single pick in the draft.� As a result, the deals are being done for nearly the exact numbers specified in the pick-by-pick formula, making a simplified process even more simple.

?The deals are taking five minutes to do,? one agent told PFT on Saturday afternoon.

For example, the formula that has been disclosed to the agents and the teams indicates that the total four-year value of Cam Newton?s contract as the first overall pick should be $22,025,500.� The actual number?� $22,025,498.

Though the information has made the process easier for everyone, it has limited the ability of some agents to negotiate a larger chunk of the per-team allocation.� Since the new wage scale isn?t technically a firm slotting process, some agents could finagle extra money for their clients, even if it may come at the expense of one of the team?s other draft picks.

Thus, the speed of the process in 2011 has been fueled both by the sense of urgency and by the ease with which the teams and the agents can get the deals done, given the inadvertent disclosure of the pick-by-pick formula to everyone involved.

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Study purports to equate NASCAR viewing with aggressive driving

If you believe a recent study published in ?The Journal of Applied Social Psychology,? you?re most likely to drive aggressively and wreck five days after watching a televised Sprint Cup broadcast than you are at any other time.

Guy D. Vitaglione?s study, titled ?Driving Under the Influence (of Mass Media): A Four-Year Examination of NASCAR and West Virginia Aggressive-Driving Accidents and Injuries? attempts to extend the well-documented influence of mass media on behavior by associating the viewing of race broadcasts with a subsequent spike in wrecks caused by aggressive driving.

Vitaglione chose West Virginia for his research under the assumption that 1) West Virginia has more NASCAR fans per capita than any other state, and that 2) because West Virginia has no Sprint Cup track, fans are more likely to watch races on television. The study tracks aggressive-driving accidents from 2003-2006.

The research found that the number of aggressive-driving accidents declined on race days and hypothesized that might be attributable to race fans staying home to watch on TV. Five days after a NASCAR race, however, the number of aggressive-driving accidents and injuries spiked significantly.

The premise is that aggressive driving in NASCAR is portrayed as something that is rewarded with trophies and money and hence is perceived as acceptable, consciously or subconsciously, by viewers of the telecasts.

?Dangerous and competitive driving behaviors are not only accepted parts of the NASCAR event, but are actively reinforced,? the study says. ?As already noted, risky driving is socially reinforced with fan support and cheering. It is also associated with monetary rewards, trophies, acclaim, social status, fame, and other material and nonmaterial reinforcers.

?The cash prize for the 2006 first-place finisher of the premier event of the racing season, the Daytona 500, was $1,505,124. Even the last-place finisher of that race was awarded more than $250,000.?

What the study doesn?t provide is an adequate explanation of the five-day time lag between the viewing of a race and the increase in aggressive-driving accidents. The suggestion is that there is an ?incubation period,? though the study admits that ?the precise mechanism underlying it is unclear.?

Nor did the researchers interview a sampling of those involved in aggressive-driving accidents to determine whether they had actually watched a Sprint Cup race five days earlier.

It might also be worth noting that, since most NASCAR races during the time period covered took place on Sundays, the spike in accidents occurred primarily on Fridays, when motorists are most likely to be driving longer distances en masse to weekend destinations -- perhaps to a racetrack in another state.

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Phelps takes 3rd gold at swim worlds in 100 fly

Michael Phelps won the 100 fly for a third straight time at the world championships.

Barbara Walters/EPA/Landov

SHANGHAI (AP) -- Michael Phelps easily won the 100-meter butterfly, then ceded the spotlight to Missy Franklin, swimming's newest breakout star who made a splash on her final night at the world championships.

Without Milorad Cavic pushing him, Phelps scowled upon seeing his time of 50.71 seconds Saturday night. Too slow for his liking, it was still good enough to earn him a second individual gold medal and his sixth overall with one day remaining in the meet.

Franklin won two more golds to leave the worlds with five medals overall -- three gold, a silver and a bronze. As he watched her, Phelps recalled his first world meet in 2001 as a 15-year-old who set a world record.

"I kind of remember myself being like that, full of energy all the time," he said. "She's just happy, just enjoying everything, she's never tired, she's always swimming fast. She's really been able to come on the scene strong. I've said this all along, she's a stud."

With a nickname to match -- "Missile Missy," bestowed by her father four years ago.

The 16-year-old phenom has energized the entire U.S. team and coaching staff with her bubbly personality, wide smile revealing a mouth full of braces, and impressive maturity.

"She's genuinely happy and excited to race, more so than any swimmer on this team," U.S. women's co-captain Natalie Coughlin said. "It's unbelievably refreshing to have her energy on the team."

Franklin led all the way to win the 200 backstroke, then anchored the U.S. women to victory in the 400 medley relay. She accomplished so much at these worlds that her coach Todd Schmitz had to shave off his goatee as payback.

"I've never been this happy in my entire life. It has been such an incredible meet," Franklin said. "I couldn't ask for anything better."

Listening to her, Coughlin laughed and said, "See what I mean? So excited to be here."

Franklin set two American records, winning the 200 back in 2 minutes, 5.10 seconds - third fastest ever - and the medley relay in 3:52.36, along with Coughlin, Rebecca Soni and Dana Vollmer. It was the Americans' first relay at the worlds since 1998.

The teenager from Centennial, Colo., anchored the Americans' victory in the 4x200 freestyle relay on Thursday, when she swam faster than Italy's Federica Pellegrini did in winning the individual 200 free.

Franklin finished nearly a second in front of 200 back silver medalist Belinda Hocking of Australia, while Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands took bronze, another 2.68 seconds behind.

Franklin was asked if she was the female Phelps, a comparison that made Schmitz chafe, but one she handled with aplomb.

"It's hard to compare yourself to someone who is just that unbelievable at what he does," Franklin said. "So right now I'm just going to stick to swimming my races and just being me and having fun with it."

Phelps won the 100 fly in 50.71 seconds after rallying from third at the turn. Konrad Czerniak of Poland took the silver at 51.15 while another American, Tyler McGill, earned bronze in 51.26.

"It's definitely more comfortable having this than having a hundredth win," Phelps said, referring to his victory by a hundredth of a second over Cavic at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cavic, who is still regaining his form following back surgery, didn't advance out of the preliminaries.

Phelps has three golds, two silvers and a bronze with one more event to go - the 4x100 medley relay Sunday.

"It's really more about doing the times you want to do," he said. "I hit pretty much all of them except this one."

Phelps lost both head-to-head matchups with teammate Ryan Lochte in the 200 free and 200 individual medley. Lochte had the night off and will return in the 400 IM Sunday.

"It hasn't really been the best year for me," he said, "but to be able to finish with some of the swims that are faster than last year is taking steps in the right direction and going to allow me to hopefully set up something good for next year."

Olympic champion Cesar Cielo of Brazil kept his title in the 50 free to earn his second gold medal. Cielo had a one-lap time of 21.52, well off the world record he set two years ago in Rome wearing a now-banned high-tech bodysuit.

"I wanted to win so bad," said Cielo, who was cleared of doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. "Coming out of this world championship with two golds and a fourth place, I think is a better situation than what I imagined two weeks ago."

Luca Dotto of Italy took silver (21.90) and Alain Bernard of France (21.92) outtouched American Nathan Adrian by a hundredth of a second for bronze.

Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington won the 800 free at 8:17.51, putting her in good position to defend her title in her home country at next year's London Olympics. Defending champion Lotte Friis of Denmark was second at 8:18.20, and American Kate Ziegler earned the bronze at 8:23.36.

"We've always raced against each other and it's always been, 'One does it one year, one does it the next year,' but I hope to God it's me next year," Adlington said.

Dutch sprinter Inge Dekker won the women's 50 fly, a non-Olympic event, in 25.71.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Report: New York Jets won't re-sign Braylon Edwards

The Jets are in the market for a veteran wide receiver?they might even get into the Plaxico Burress sweepstakes?after deciding to not re-sign free agent Braylon Edwards.

According to a New York Daily News report, bringing back Edwards is no longer a consideration for the Jets. "It won't happen," a source told the newspaper.

Jets wide receivers Santonio Holmes, Brad Smith and Edwards all were free agents coming out of the lockout. The Jets re-signed Holmes to a multi-year deal, and Smith moved on to Buffalo.

Edwards has said he didn't think the Jets would welcome him back, but apparently this is more of a business decision. The money the team can save by not re-signing Edwards to a big contract can be used on other players, such as safety Eric Smith, who was recently re-signed, and backup quarterback Mark Brunell, who was cut earlier this week but could be brought back.

Traded to the Jets from Cleveland in the early part of the 2009 season, Edwards started 26 games for New York, catching a combined 88 passes for 1,445 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Despite his size (6-3, 215) and ability to get downfield, Edwards has really had only one big season in the NFL. In '07, he had 80 receptions for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The Jets haven?t ruled out pursuing Randy Moss, but the newspaper report said he isn?t at the top of the team?s list. After losing Sidney Rice to Seattle, the Vikings may have interest in Edwards.

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HBT: Tigers get Fister and Pauley from Mariners

The Tigers tried this�on deadline day�two years ago when they sent two youngsters to Seattle for Jarrod Washburn.� At the time, Washburn had a 2.64 ERA and a 79/33 K/BB ratio in 133 innings for the Mariners.

As it turned out, Washburn was a major bust in Detroit, going 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA in eight starts.� Knee problems had something to do with his struggles, but exiting Safeco Field also played a big role.

Now the Tigers are hoping a pitcher with a 3.33 ERA and a 89/32 K/BB ratio in 146 innings for Seattle can�make a difference for them.� They sent left-hander Charlie Furbush, outfielder Casper Wells, third baseman Francisco Martinez and a player to be named to the Mariners for right-handers Doug Fister and David Pauley on Saturday.

It wasn?t necessarily a huge price to pay.� And, for what it?s worth, neither of the prospects the Tigers gave up two years ago,�left-handers Luke French and Mauricio Robles, have helped Seattle a bit.

Furbush, 25,�will be looked at as the key piece for Seattle.� The 2007 fourth-round pick made his major league debut earlier this season and did an excellent job out of the pen before flopping in a pair of starts.� He throws in the low-90s and has a nice curve.� He?s probably a long-term fourth or fifth starter, but Seattle could make him look better than that.

Wells, 26, wasn?t getting a chance to be more than a bit player in Detroit, but he had a fine .286/.341/.490 line in 206 at-bats since arriving last year.� He probably won?t be good enough against right-handers to cut it as a full-timer, but he makes for an excellent fourth outfielder and the Mariners should give him quite a bit of time in left field right away.

Martinez is a wild card.� The 20-year-old just played for the World�squad in the Futures Game a couple of weeks ago, but he?s a career .277/.329/.361 hitter with 13 homers in 1,108 minor league at-bats.� His stock is definitely up this year, as he?s more than held his own by hitting .282/.319/.405 as one of the youngest position players in Double-A.� However, his plate disclipline leaves much to be desired.

The Tigers are banking on Fister and Pauley upgrading a Tigers pitching staff that ranks 11th in the AL in ERA.� And they probably will.� The Tigers had gotten a terrible run of outings from their fifth starters since Phil Coke got hurt in late May.� Fister owes a lot to Safeco Field and Franklin Gutierrez, but he did have a 3.71 ERA in 10 road starts this season.� For his career, he had a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts away outside of Seattle.

I doubt Fister will post a sub-4.00 ERA as a Tiger, but if he can just go out there and give up three runs over six innings, then he?ll be doing his job.

Pauley isn?t likely to be much of an asset.� The journeyman right-hander had an awesome run at the beginning of the season, allowing three runs in 32 1/3 innings through the end of May.�� However, he has a 4.09 ERA and a 14/11 K/BB ratio in 22 innings since.� He also had a 0.67 ERA at Safeco for the season, compared to a 3.62 ERA elsewhere.� He may work as an innings-eating middle reliever for the Tigers, but he shouldn?t be entrusted with late leads.

It is worth noting here that the trade wasn?t made with only 2011 in mind.� Fister isn?t even eligible for arbitration until after next year, and he won?t be a free agent until after the 2015 season.� Pauley, likewise, will make barely more than the minimum next season.

And that drove up the price for the Tigers.� Still, the team was able to keep Andy Oliver out of the deal and give up Furbush instead.� I think Oliver is the better of the two young lefties, and I?m surprised the Mariners didn?t insist on him.

So, it looks to me to be a decent trade for both sides.� The Tigers didn?t get a real difference maker, but they also probably didn?t part with one.� Detroit added some stability, and the Mariners won out on talent.� Furbush could approximate Fister?s results next year, Wells will be a fine role player and Martinez has some chance of becoming a long-term major league third baseman.

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Tomlin, Steelers' owner, GM meet with Burress

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have met with free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert, owner Art Rooney and coach Mike Tomlin all met with the 34-year-old wide out on Saturday morning, and Burress was expected to spend the day with the team. Burress spent five years with the Steelers, who drafted him in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft.

Burress was released from prison on June 6 after serving 20 months for a gun charge. He sat down with New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin on Friday.

Colbert said Burress looked "great" and is interested in returning to the Steelers. However, Colbert isn't sure how much it would cost to sign Burress, who hasn't played since the 2008 season.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Barnes hopes for health, fresh start in 2011-12

The Los Angeles Lakers' Matt Barnes is hoping for a fresh start in the 2011-12 season, with a healthy knee, new coach and new system to look forward to.

Last season, the forward struggled to pick up the triangle offense and missed 26 games because of right knee surgery. According Yahoo! Sports, Barnes tested his surgically repaired knee Thursday in the San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am League for the first time since the season ended.

?My legs feel it the most,? Barnes told Yahoo!. ?Some shots at the end of the game I felt flat. Overall, after taking [nearly three months] off, and it?s my first time playing, it?s not too bad.?

After returning from his injury, Barnes had a tough time on the court and only averaged 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 13.1 minutes per game in the playoffs. He said last season was tough, especially the Lakers? 4-0 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs.

?It was the hardest thing I?ve been through in my life ? to finally be a Laker, not being able to contribute,? Barnes said in the report. ?That?s not to say we would have won. But I know I could?ve helped out as far as physicality, defense, rebounding, toughness and knocking down shots. That?s all the things I could do and not being able to be out there killed me.?

Barnes admitted to Yahoo! that new coach Mike Brown will have ?a lot of things stacked against? him. But he also believes the coach will benefit from having a team with something to prove. He told Yahoo! the team has a ?huge chip? coming into next season.

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PFT: Newton gets $56M less than Bradford

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As the saying goes, ?Snitches get stitches.?� In the case of Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall, the more operative phrase could be, ?The guy who got stitches didn?t snitch.?

Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that charges have been dropped against Michi Nogami-Marshall arising from an April stabbing of Brandon, even though she admitting to doing it.� The problem?� She claimed that she acted in self-defense, and she and her husband thereafter clammed up sufficiently to prevent a prosecution.

A spokesman for the state attorney?s office released a statement that claimed Nogami-Marshall ?declined all additional opportunities to elaborate about the incident to prosecutors,? which obviously was her right under the U.S. Constitution.

For his part, Marshall gave two sworn statements to police claiming that he wasn?t stabbed, but that he slipped and fell on broken glass, even though as Kelly points out no blood was found on the broken glass on which he supposed fell.

Citing ?conflicting evidence,? the authorities opted not to pursue the matter.

Right or wrong, it?s a reality of the justice system.� That high standard of proof that keeps people from being wrongfully convicted often gets in the way when it?s fairly obvious that a law was broken.

In the end, if the victim has no problem with what happened, maybe that?s the right result.

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Reports: Burress reinstated, to meet with Giants, Steelers

Amid reports he has meetings schedule with the Giants and Steelers, wide receiver Plaxico Burress reportedly has been reinstated by the NFL.

ESPN reports that commissioner Roger Goodell has given the onetime Giants and Steelers wideout, recently released from jail after serving nearly two years on gun charges, the OK to resume his career.

The Giants, Steelers and Eagles have been mentioned in reports as possible suitors for Burress, who would be allowed to visit teams starting at 6 p.m. ET Friday, per the ESPN report.

The Giants have scheduled a meeting with Burress on Friday, but the two sides are "a long way" from reaching an agreement, according to a New York Daily News report.

The Steelers have a meeting schedule with Burress on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

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Eagles trump Cowboys, Jets with stealth move

Nnamdi Asomugha will join Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the Eagles' loaded secondary. (U.S. Presswire)

6:56 p.m., Flowery Branch, Ga.

I was just sitting on some bleachers with Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson and he was shaking his head in awe about Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha playing together at corner in New York. ?Unbelievable,? he said. ?Do you have any idea how hard it?ll be to throw on them??

No, and we never will. I just texted Robinson to tell him the stunning news ? Asomugha, through his crafty agent Ben Dogra, just agreed to a five-year, $60 million deal with Philadelphia. Not the Jets. Not the Cowboys. The Eagles, who add Asomugha to a stable of corners that already includes Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Wouldn?t be surprised to see Samuel dealt, but I was just told by a good source that it?s no gimme the Eagles will deal Samuel.

And one league source just told me something that surprised me. ?Nnamdi wanted to play in Philadelphia,? the source said. More than New York, where Rex Ryan was planning to make Asomugha and Revis his defensive centerpieces? Yes, the source said.

The contract is stunning ? just $12 million a year for a player who made $28 million over the last two years and was the hottest player on the free agent market. So the source appears to be spot on: Clearly Asomugha would have been offered more by at least one other team. The $12 million annual figure is what the Panthers paid defensive end Charles Johnson this week. Clearly there was something enticing about this Eagles bid, possibly the ability to go to a team with the chance to win the Super Bowl from the NFC.

This deal reminds me of what the Eagles did 23 months ago, sneakily signing Michael Vick when no one expected it. Peeling the onion on this story will be fascinating.

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Manning expected to miss start of Colts camp

INDIANAPOLIS -- The pain in Peyton Manning's neck will keep him off the practice field early next week.

Indianapolis still isn't sure how long it will take to get the four-time MVP back.

Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Friday that the Colts will be cautious with their franchise quarterback, who had neck surgery in May, and will not push him too hard. Camp opens Monday at Anderson University.

"Obviously, he's not ready right now, but nobody works harder and is more dedicated than him," Caldwell said. "When he's ready, we'll turn him loose."

Caldwell did not provide a timetable for Manning's return.

It's the second time in four years the Colts will open camp without Manning.

In 2008, Manning missed all of training with an infected bursa sac in his left knee, which required two surgeries. He struggled during the first half of the season, but led the Colts to nine straight wins to make it back into the playoffs.

He also had neck surgery in March 2010 but recovered and did not miss any practices at camp.

The only other time Manning has missed even a portion of training camp was in 1998, when he was one week before signing his first contract.

Teammates said they aren't concerned that Manning won't be throwing right away.

"I've told him to be as cautious as he needs to be because the last time I checked, we don't count preseason games," Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said. "I can tell you this, there's not a player that works harder than he does."

The questions about Manning's health have been increasing ever since he had the surgery.

In June, Archie Manning, Peyton's father, said his son's rehab wasn't going as quickly as expected. A month later, at the family's annual passing academy, Peyton Manning barely threw and said he was being cautious with his rehab because lockout rules prevented him from working out with Colts team trainers.

Last week, team owner Jim Irsay acknowledged Manning might not be ready when practices begin Monday, a position he reiterated just hours after the lockout ended.

"You don't want him doing too much too soon and you don't know on recoveries," Irsay said. "A lot of times eight weeks is enough. But to get a full recovery, it's going to be a little longer in this case."

Caldwell said the coaches have not had a chance to see where Manning yet, and he's not sure when they will.

Manning is still locked into negotiations for a long-term contract that could keep him in Indy for the rest of his career. In February, the Colts tagged Manning as their exclusive franchise player, meaning he would make about $23 million this season if he signed the one-year offer.

Until he signs one or the other, Manning couldn't practice anyway.

Irsay has promised to make Manning the highest-paid player in league history, but even he acknowledges that's a very high price with a salary cap slated at $120.3 million. Indy hopes that by lowering Manning's salary cap number, they will be able to sign more of their free agents.

The team also confirmed Friday that it had agreed to new deals with kicker Adam Vinatieri and safety Melvin Bullitt. On Thursday, the Colts also lost linebacker Clint Session to Jacksonville, which signed him to a five-year deal worth more than $29 million.

Two key players were still out there: Running back Joseph Addai and left tackle Charlie Johnson, two players who would help protect Indy's biggest investment.

"We've been in a lockout, and when you think about that, it's very difficult to get that [Manning's deal] done in two, three days," Caldwell said. "It's going to take a couple days, and it will be done at some point in time. When it is, we'll be ready to go."

Manning isn't the only player the Colts have been getting medical checks on.

Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark has been cleared for full participation and will wear a splint on the wrist he injured last fall, the team said. Other key players cleared to practice are receiver Anthony Gonzalez (knee), tight end Brody Eldridge (knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (neck) and cornerbacks Jerraud Powers (foot, arm) and Kevin Thomas (knee).

The team also said that receiver Austin Collie has not shown any lingering symptoms of the two concussions that forced him to finish last season on injured reserve. He is expected to be a full participant in practice next week.

"I feel good, I'm excited to get back into it," Collie said. "At this point, everything is great."

Except, of course, the status of Manning.

"Whenever he's ready, he'll come back," Caldwell said. "He gets himself ready faster than most people."

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Klinsmann to coach US men's soccer team

By CHRIS JENKINS

updated 12:25 p.m. ET July 29, 2011

This time, it's not just talk: Juergen Klinsmann is the new coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team.

U.S. Soccer moved quickly to name a replacement for fired coach Bob Bradley, announcing Klinsmann's hiring Friday. The former standout player and coach for the German national team will be a familiar name to American fans, given that U.S. Soccer almost hired him twice - first after the 2006 World Cup and again last year before giving Bradley what turned out to be a short-lived contract extension.

Now, with the U.S. team's progress seemingly stalled, it's time to see what Klinsmann can do.

"We are excited to have Juergen as the head coach of our Men's National Team," U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in a statement. "He is a highly accomplished player and coach with the experience and knowledge to advance the program. Juergen has had success in many different areas of the game, and we look forward to the leadership he will provide on and off the field."

Klinsmann will be formally introduced Monday at a press conference in New York. His debut as coach will come Aug. 10, when the U.S. team faces archrival Mexico in an exhibition match in Philadelphia. Qualifying for the next 2014 World Cup in Brazil begins next year.

"I am proud and honored to be named the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team," Klinsmann said. "I would like to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for the opportunity, and I'm excited about the challenge ahead. I am looking forward to bringing the team together for our upcoming match against Mexico and starting on the road toward qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup."

Although the U.S. federation has discussed the job with Klinsmann in the past, the coach's desire for extensive authority over the entire U.S. program has been considered a point of contention preventing a previous deal.

Klinsmann, who turns 47 on Saturday, has a considerable World Cup pedigree.

As a player, Klinsmann scored 11 goals in three World Cups, 1990, 1994 and 1998. That ties him for sixth on the all-time scoring list, just behind Pele.

Klinsmann was a key cog for West Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning team and the German team's captain from 1994 to 1998. He retired in 1998 and moved to the United States shortly afterward.

U.S. Soccer fired Bradley in a surprise move Thursday.

Bradley led the U.S. team to considerable success and several big moments. But the U.S. team seemed to take a step backward this summer, and a stinging 4-2 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final last month - the U.S. blew a 2-0 lead - appears to have convinced U.S. Soccer officials it was time to make a change.

Last year, U.S. Soccer gave Bradley a contract extension through 2014.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Phelps denied Cavic showdown for 100 butterfly

By Greg Stutchbury

SHANGHAI | Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:40am EDT

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Swimming fans' hopes of another classic showdown between Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic were dashed on Friday when the Serbian failed to qualify for the 100 meters butterfly semi-finals at the world championships in Shanghai.

While world and Olympic champion Phelps qualified fifth fastest with a time of 51.95 seconds, Cavic struggled to 52.67, leaving him 18th overall and out of contention.

"Nothing to say. Nothing to comment on," American Phelps said when asked about Cavic's failure. "I think I will be the first one to say we all have our ups and downs with competitions.

"He is the kind of guy who is gonna be there. We had good races in the past and I am sure we will have another one again."

Cavic was pipped for Olympic gold by Phelps in Beijing when the American, realizing he was too far away from the finish to glide into the wall, took an extra stroke and slammed into the touch pads to beat the Serb by 0.01 seconds.

The victory was Phelps's seventh gold in Beijing, equaling Mark Spitz's record, before he won his unmatched eighth in the 4x100 medley relay.

A year later at the Rome world championships, Phelps saw off another fierce challenge from Cavic, breaking the Serbian's world record of 50.01 seconds to win the world title and become the first man to swim the 100 butterfly under 50 seconds.

Cavic also improved on his record in that race, clocking 49.95, but has since struggled to scale those heights and failed to qualify for the 50 butterfly final earlier in the week in Shanghai.

"HIDING"

In the men's 50 freestyle, world and Olympic champion Cesar Cielo of Brazil, Nathan Adrian of the United States and George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago, all clocked 22.03 seconds to be the fastest qualifiers for the semi-finals.

"I was good. To be honest, I think everybody is hiding their games. I will make sure to put myself into the final, that will be the main objective for tonight," said Cielo.

World record holder Therese Alshammer qualified fastest for the women's 50 butterfly semi-finals, while Melissa Franklin of the United States was comfortably the quickest in the women's 200 backstroke.

Olympic and 2009 world champion Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe also qualified as seventh fastest, but Russian Anastasia Zueva, who earlier won gold in the 50 backstroke and silver in the 100 here in Shanghai, failed to advance.

Britain's Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington qualified fastest for the women's 800 freestyle final on Saturday, ahead of Denmark's Lotte Friis, the 1500 champion in Shanghai.

The United States were the fastest qualifiers for the final of the men's 4x200 freestyle relay later on Friday and will go into the race as hot favourites with Ryan Lochte and Phelps -- the gold and silver medalists in the 200 freestyle in Shanghai -- expected to come into their final quartet.

(Additional reporting by Soo Ai Peng; Editing by Ian Ransom)

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Tiger plans to play at Bridgestone Invitational

Tiger Woods will return to competitive golf next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods announced the news via Twitter and on his website Thursday night.

Harig: Bridging The Gap

Tiger Woods will tee it up next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in a move that brings more questions than answers, writes ESPN.com's Bob Harig. Column

"Feeling fit and ready to tee it up at Firestone next week. Excited to get back out there!" Woods tweeted.

Firestone is the venue where Woods has won seven times but also where last year he had his worst 72-hole performance as a pro, finishing 18 over par.

Woods has not played since May 12, when he withdrew after nine holes of the Players Championship because of knee and Achilles injuries he had suffered at the Masters.

The injuries, which he said occurred during the third round at Augusta National in April, were said to be "minor" but have kept Woods from completing a tournament since finishing tied for fourth at the Masters.

He has said on several occasions that he would not return to competitive golf this time until he was "100 percent" healthy.

Woods, who has won 71 PGA Tour titles, including 14 majors championships, has missed the U.S. Open and British Open this year and played just six worldwide events. He last victory on the PGA Tour came at the 2009 BMW Championship, his last win later that year at the Australian Masters.

How much he has been able to work on his game is unclear. His instructor, Sean Foley, has said on several occasions that the two have not worked together -- although that could simply be because Foley has been on the road at the British Open and Canadian Open working with other clients.

Bryon Bell, Woods' childhood friend and president of Tiger Woods Design, will caddie for him, The Golf Channel reported Thursday night. Bell has caddied for Woods three times -- a win at the 1999 Buick Invitational, a tie for second at the Buick Invitational, and a tie for second in 2003 at the Disney Classic.

Woods announced last week that he had parted ways with long-time caddie Steve Williams after 12 years.

Bob Harig is the golf writer for ESPN.com.

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PFT: Vince Young agrees to back up Eagles' Vick

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A year ago, one of the biggest stories in the NFL was Albert Haynesworth?s status as a malcontent and distraction who couldn?t pass the Washington Redskins? conditioning test. Today one of the biggest stories in the NFL is that Haynesworth finally got his wish, got out of Washington and is heading to New England.

So will he be a malcontent and distraction again?

Not according to some of his new teammates, who said today that Haynesworth?s problems were specific to Washington, and that in New England, there?s really no option of being anything other than a team player.

?You can see that Albert wasn?t really happy in his situation,? Patriots defensive end Ty Warren said. ?I don?t think it?s going to be a problem, with the structure of this locker room, the guys that?s in this locker room.?

Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who may be the player most affected by the arrival of Haynesworth, says the two of them will both be willing to play either end or tackle ? whatever the coaches want.

?It?s always team first. That?s ?The Patriot Way.? If you can?t put the team first you won?t be here,? Wilfork said.

So Haynesworth?s fellow New England defensive linemen are sure that he?ll fit in, or else he won?t last. What we still don?t know is what kind of shape Haynesworth is in.

But we do know that Bill Belichick, like Mike Shanahan, expects his players to pass their conditioning tests. Fortunately, the test Belichick requires is one that even one of the slowest players in league history can pass.

?Bernie Kosar took that conditioning test five years, and he passed it every time,? Belichick told Peter King in 2002.

Kosar, for those who don?t recall, was one of the slowest players the NFL has ever seen. If Haynesworth can?t pass a running test that Kosar aced, he may not be a Patriot for long.

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The Bonus: Quadriplegic Chic Kelly just wants enough money to pay for his care

By Peter Richmond, Special to SI.com

A Day in the Life of Chic Kelly

Source:SI

A day in the life of Chic Kelly, who was paralyzed playing college hockey in 1988.

When he turns from his computer to introduce himself, after pausing the replay of the previous night's Phillies game, my immediate thought is: This sandy-haired, little-kid-smiling guy looks way too young to have just turned 40.

"I'm lucky, I guess," he says.

Right. He's lucky.

It's a kid's face. It really is. And then, obliviously thinking that he might need some cheering up, I say, "You know the old saying: A man's best decade is his 40s."

"Well, I thoroughly enjoyed my 20s and 30s," he answers immediately, with no trace of irony.

Then he offers a knuckle-bump with his left hand, which is his natural greeting to anyone, because while he can move his upper arms, his hands' fingers have been curled, lifeless, for 22 years.

Into the perfect knuckle-bump configuration.

He can't feel the bump, because there is no feeling his hands.

Chic Kelly, quadriplegic, has spent the last two thoroughly enjoyable decades in this wheelchair, except for the times when someone was lifting him into his bed in his parents' house, 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Or into a friend's or sibling's car for a ride to teach his theology classes at Malvern Prep. Or down to Brittingham's Irish Pub on Germantown Pike.

Chic Kelly may be confined to a wheelchair, but that doesn't prevent him from enjoying life.

Courtesy of Chic Kelly

In October 1988, he was paralyzed while playing hockey as a walk-on freshman for Merrimack College. Today, to say that Chic Kelly is a man who thoroughly enjoys his life would be something of an understatement. A beloved teacher, an avid sports fan, a man of the mind who's as comfortable discussing arcane British novels as he is the Phillies' pitching staff, all Chic needs now is enough money to pay for a private nurse.

He used to have it. But the $30,000 he's received annually from the catastrophic injury insurance policy that was in place at the time of his accident now covers a small fraction of the modern home-care costs. Repeated pleas to the NCAA have proved futile.

But he refuses to give in to the slightest suggestion of self-pity. If an attitude of eternal sunshine could animate dead nerves, Kelly wouldn't just be walking by now, he'd be sprinting through each day. Hell, maybe he'd be flying.

"You just gotta keep moving forward," he says. "I knew there wouldn't be a miracle, or cure. So you're better off dealing with what you have to deal with. I figure, 'Let me try and live my life to as close to what it would have been.' "

But even a man whose optimism has known no bounds can now see the shadow of an immovable boundary lurking down the line, which is why I am here, to talk about his plight, even though he didn't request it.

In an era when the media lives for the sensational, some of us, finding ourselves in Chic's shoes -- well, face it ... all of us -- would have rattled some cages. Called a press conference, called a network. Maybe even rolled the wheelchair from Philly to Indianapolis, giving press conferences every step of the way, until we arrived at NCAA headquarters with a bullhorn and a film crew.

All Kelly wants is enough money to be the man he is.

The $30,000 insurance policy pays for only a third of his home nursing care. His parents, now both 67, are out of work. His siblings have families of their own. He is asking for the $100,000 annually that the NCAA has given its catastrophic-injury victims since 1995.

And the organization that governs the sport that took the life from his limbs claims no responsibility, and despite his measured and rational and humble pleas, offers no more money.

Lawyers have told him that he'd have a tough case against the NCAA, and Kelly can't afford to spend money on a suit he can't win.

So he sits in this room, at the computer, surrounded by the things that make him smile: the photos of Mario Lemieux and Jameer Nelson and Springsteen. The games of his beloved Phillies and Flyers and Eagles and Sixers.

He grades papers and reads on his Kindle and is endlessly thankful for the voice-recognition software that allows him to communicate with the world and allows him to feel as if he's part of the human web.

He tries not to despair of never being able to convince the powers in Indianapolis. And occasionally he allows himself to laugh at the irony, because laughing is the best weapon he has.

The NCAA is all about developing athletes so that they'll live independent, productive lives, right? But in his case, they're insisting on denying him independence -- basically preventing him from becoming a man.

His most recent e-mail from the NCAA, a few months ago, said the same thing as the letter three years ago, sent when he first saw the shadow closing in:

We received your information, and there's nothing we can do about it.

"But obviously there is something they can do about it," Kelly says. "They're just choosing not to do it."

*****

"It was a drill I'd done a million times," he says.

And a moment he's relived a million more.

Kelly had already sent in his deposit to the University of Fairfield in the spring of 1988. Not much of a hockey school, but it was offering a full ride. Then, with two weeks left in his senior year at Malvern Prep, an Augustinian Catholic school 20 miles west of Philadelphia, his guidance counselor told Kelly that Merrimack, an Augustinian college, wanted to establish a full academic scholarship for a student from an Augustinian school. And its hockey program was also transitioning to Division I.

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Ohio State: Pryor would've been ineligible for all of 2011

(AP) Terrelle Pryor's lawyer wanted Ohio State to make it clear to the NFL that his client could not return to the Buckeyes. So Ohio State not only declared its former star quarterback would not have played at any time during the 2011 season but also banned him from contact with the school's athletic program for the next five years.

• 

  Dave Martin, AP

  This moment celebrating a 31-26 win against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl proved to be one of the last on a college field for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Dave Martin, AP

This moment celebrating a 31-26 win against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl proved to be one of the last on a college field for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

In a letter from athletics director Gene Smith dated Tuesday, Smith said Pryor was ineligible because he failed to cooperate with NCAA and Ohio State investigators. He then added, "The university must also dissociate you from its athletic program for a period of five years."

That means Pryor can have no contact with recruits or enrolled Buckeyes, cannot accept complimentary tickets to home games and cannot use the school's athletic facilities.

Smith didn't rule out the use of all campus facilities, however.

"Please note that this dissociation does NOT prohibit you from enrolling in classes at the university to complete your degree," Smith wrote. "As you know, I would encourage you to complete your degree."

There had been whispers that the NFL might not offer Pryor a spot in a potential supplemental draft in the waning days of this lockout-shortened summer because he had only been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner. Pryor was at the center of an ongoing series of controversies that led to coach Jim Tressel's forced resignation May 30.

The NFL's rules state a supplemental draft is open to "any player who is ineligible." Since Pryor still could have played the second half of the 2011 season, there was a question whether he could have regained his eligibility and played.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has not decided anything about a prospective supplemental draft, nor has it considered the status of Pryor.

"We have not set a date for the supplemental draft nor made any determinations on the eligibility of individual players," Aiello said in an email to the Associated Press.

Pryor's Columbus lawyer, Larry James, said he sought the letter to rule out any chance of Pryor playing again in college, although that seemed extremely unlikely since he has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus and has been working out in Florida for several weeks.

"When you don't cooperate (with the NCAA) it's the death knell," James said Tuesday. "Once you sign with an agent, once you fail to work with the NCAA, you're ineligible."

In other words, there's no turning back for Pryor, the nation's top quarterback recruit from Jeanette, Pa., who had success on the field but helped bring a lengthy NCAA investigation upon one of the nation's football powerhouses. After the NCAA began looking into players who traded signed memorabilia, trophies and championship rings to the tattoo-parlor owner, it led to five players ? including Pryor ? being suspended for the first five games this fall. (A sixth player was subsequently suspended.)

The university later learned Tressel had known his players had accepted cash and tattoos for more than nine months but contrary to his contract and NCAA rules did not tell Smith, the NCAA or Ohio State's compliance department. That led to Tressel being forced to resign.

Ohio State goes before the NCAA's committee on infractions Aug. 12 in Indianapolis. The school has vacated the 2010 season, including its victory against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl and has self-imposed a two-year NCAA probation. The infractions committee could accept those penalties or it could hand out stiffer sanctions, including bowl bans and recruiting limitations.

James said the letter from Smith was necessary to make it clear to the NFL that Pryor is out of options ? other than a supplemental draft.

"I don't think anybody on this planet who's paying attention to this thought Terrelle was attempting to game the system" by leaving school early for the NFL, James said.

Smith's letter was also emailed to the NCAA, Ohio State athletics administration officials, lawyers, the university's ticket manager, interim head coach Luke Fickell and other Buckeyes coaches in all sports.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: Vikings, Redskins finalize McNabb trade

Updated: July 28, 2011, 1:34 PM ET

The Washington Redskins, Vikings and Donovan McNabb have finalized a deal for the veteran quarterback to be traded to Minnesota, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The source said the trade will become official Thursday.

More From ESPN.com

The Vikings believe Christian Ponder is NFL-ready, but just in case he's not, ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert says Donovan McNabb can be an important -- but expensive -- insurance policy. Blog

According to sources, the trade will involve a 2012 sixth-round draft pick and a conditional sixth-round pick for 2013 going to Washington. The Redskins had wanted fifth- and seventh-round picks from Minnesota.

McNabb had to agree to restructure the five-year, $78 million deal he signed with the Redskins because the Vikings don't have enough cap room for him. The terms of his new deal were not available.

McNabb's arrival in Minnesota has been a rumored scenario for at least five years, ever since Brad Childress left the Philadelphia Eagles to take over the Vikings in 2006.

Childress is long gone now, but another former Eagles assistant -- new Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier -- helped make those rumors a reality on Wednesday, just in time for McNabb to help bridge the gap from Brett Favre to rookie Christian Ponder.

McNabb gives the Vikings a veteran quarterback while they groom Ponder, who was drafted 12th overall out of Florida State in April, to be the team's long-term answer at the position. The original preference for Frazier and the Vikings was to have Ponder start Week 1 in San Diego, with a capable veteran backup there just in case.

Year of the Quarterback

ESPN has dedicated 2011 to examining one of the most crucial positions in all of sports -- the quarterback.
Year of the QB �

That was before the NFL lockout prevented players from working out with coaches all summer and put Ponder behind schedule in his development. That made it more important for the Vikings to add an accomplished, experienced quarterback they think can win games with a roster full of veterans while Ponder gets up to speed.

From the sounds of it, Ponder isn't conceding anything just yet.

"Excited to have McNabb join," Ponder wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning, perhaps jumping the gun just a little bit. "Will learn a lot from a Pro Bowler. But that doesn't mean I'm not still fighting to start week 1!"

The trade ends a tumultuous one-year run in Washington for McNabb. The 12-year veteran was benched twice last season and threw 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 13 games. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 3,377 yards, and his agent Fletcher Smith sparred publicly with head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Even before the deal was completed, some Redskins players were already treating McNabb's departure as a foregone conclusion. The writing has been on the wall for some time in Washington, and news of the discussions with the Vikings only served to validate that feeling.

"You see a guy that's been a Pro Bowler six times," linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. "He was going to come in and really help us win more games, but it didn't work out. Relationships broke down, and now he's not here, but you can't really focus on that. You've got to continue to move forward."

Childress coached McNabb in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2005 before leaving to become the head coach in Minnesota. From the minute he arrived in the Twin Cities, it was assumed that McNabb would one day join him in purple.

But McNabb stayed put in Philly and the Vikings coaxed Favre out of retirement, twice. Favre led the Vikings to the NFC title game after the 2009 season, but had a disastrous, injury and scandal-plagued year in 2010 as Minnesota sunk to the bottom of the division.

When Frazier took over as the full-time head coach in January, he said it was time for the team to end its penchant for bringing in retreads and past-their-prime veterans and develop a young quarterback from the start.

They surprised many when they drafted Ponder so early in the first round and immediately said he would compete for the starting job right away.

Ponder was billed as the most NFL-ready quarterback in the 2011 class, but not being able to work with new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and most of his teammates at various minicamps and organized team activities throughout the summer makes it a bigger challenge for him to be ready to start in San Diego on Sept. 11.

Ponder said last week during a workout at the University of Minnesota that he still was aiming to be the starter from Day 1.

"That's what I'm pushing for," he said. "That's what I'm hoping for. So we'll see what happens."

Bringing in McNabb does show veterans such as Adrian Peterson, Antoine Winfield, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams that the team is still in a "win now" mode, and it was unclear on Wednesday night just how the pecking order at quarterback will play out.

"I would have loved to have him back here," Alexander said. "But things just didn't turn out the right way, and he'll go on and eventually be a Hall of Famer."

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL teams, players brace for shopping frenzy with lockout over

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK | Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:39pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - National Football League (NFL) teams, players and their agents braced for a flurry of fast-paced negotiations and a frenzy of deal-making as clubs returned to business on Tuesday.

Teams can now sign rookies and begin talks with free agents in an abbreviated run-up to the season after a lockout in March had halted all offseason league activities.

"Chaos. The best word for it is chaos," 16-year NFL veteran fullback Tony Richardson, a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee, told the New York Times.

The labor deal reached this week between NFL owners and players ended the lockout and will now see teams scrambling to get their rosters set in time for the start of the regular season on September 8.

Players were allowed to report to teams starting Tuesday and one prominent rookie, 2011 first overall draft pick Cam Newton, arrived early to the Carolina Panthers facility eager to make up for lost time.

"I've got to get to business," the quarterback told reporters outside the Panthers' facility.

Newton is not yet signed, but players will not be putting on pads for contact drills just yet and his agents said they plan to begin contract negotiations soon, according to a report on the NFL's website.

Under the new rookie wage system agreed to in a settlement unanimously approved by player representatives Monday that put an end to the lockout, Heisman Trophy winner Newton can sign a four-year deal for about $22.3 million with a $14.3 million option for the fifth year, the website said.

Open season had also started for trades, and many prominent names, including quarterbacks, are believed to be available.

The Philadelphia Eagles are believed to be testing the market for Kevin Kolb, who backs up signal caller Michael Vick, and the Arizona Cardinals are considered a potential suitor.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton is on the trading block, according to the Denver Post, which cited two league sources for its report on the seven-year veteran.

The Post said Denver head coach John Fox decided to start last year's first-round draft pick Tim Tebow behind center. The newspaper said the Titans might welcome Orton aboard, while the NFL Network said Minnesota, Arizona and Miami were among teams that could also be interested.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will likely be a much-coveted free agent by teams with openings at the critical position, while Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer could be available.

Disgruntled Palmer, 31, has decided to retire instead of returning to the under-performing Bengals, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis told reporters Tuesday.

The Heisman Trophy winner as top U.S. college player in 2003 and the number one overall draft pick, Palmer was scheduled to make $11.5 million in salary for the next two seasons, $13 million in 2013, and $14 million in 2014.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

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PFT: Holmes to sign with Jets for 5 years

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The good news for Jets fans (assuming that the celebration by the player will include no waking and/or baking) is that receiver Santonio Holmes has agreed to remain with the team for five years.� The better news is that his contract makes it easy to keep chasing cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Holmes contract has a cap number of only $2.45 million in 2011.

Mehta also reports that the Jets are serious about their pursuit of Asomugha.� And the man with whom Asomugha would be paired definitely is serious about it.

?We want to see it,? Darrelle Revis told Mehta.� ?Hopefully it will happen.?

Revis expressed a little humility to aid in the recruitment effort.� ?He?s the best CB in the league,? Revis said of Asomugha.� ?Me and him as a tandem would be unbelievable.� It would be awesome.?

So what will happen?� Our guess (and it?s just a guess, but if we end up being right history could become a little foggy) is that Asomugha will take less than he could get elsewhere to play for the Jets.� But that first requires Asomugha to find out how much he can get elsewhere.� So he needs to solicit the best offer from all other interested teams, including (reportedly) the Texans, 49ers, and whoever else gets into it.

Then, the question would be how close New York could come to the ceiling, and whether Nnamdi would be willing to take from the Jets 85 percent, 88 percent, 90 percent, or more of what he could get elsewhere.

And then it will be decision time.� But we still can?t forgot the prediction of David White, formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle and now of the cloth.� White predicted in January that Asomugha will land with the Jets or the Packers.

?I know him well. . . .� Mark it down,? White said.

We have.� And we have a feeling that practices in New York this year will feature some combination of Revis and Asomugha covering Holmes and Randy Moss.

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Teenage phenom Juan Agudelo puts Hans Backe in a bind

NEW YORK?It?s easy to imagine the sigh that must have come from New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe when his 18-year-old forward, Juan Agudelo, was named to the MLS All-Star Game.

Backe will have to take it up with MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Agudelo, who rarely starts for New York when English newcomer Luke Rodgers is healthy, wasn?t among the dozen All-Stars chosen in a fan vote. And it?s safe to say Backe, also the All-Star coach, wasn?t going to heap even more pressure and attention on his prized teenager by selecting him to the squad.

But given the option to include the Ocean County, N.J., product as one of his two additions to the MLS team that will face Manchester United on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena, Garber couldn?t resist.

Now, the player who has whetted the appetites of so many American soccer fans desperate for a pure goal scorer to call their own has yet another accolade to add to his CONCACAF Gold Cup silver medal, 10 U.S. national team appearances and two goals.

?He?s home-grown. He?s a talented player. He gets a lot of (articles) about him becoming the future player for the U.S.? Backe said. ?I?m not surprised at all (about Garber's selection).?

If Agudelo?s stardom is inevitable, then Backe and Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry?who knows a thing or two about life as a phenom?are determined to ensure it?s a gradual rise. Backe has done just about everything possible this season to bring along Agudelo slowly and has said he hopes to limit the hype and commercial attention devoted to the player. Agudelo has started just nine of New York?s 23 regular-season games. As a rookie last year, he didn?t start until the MLS Cup playoffs.

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?You want to play every game and that?s the attitude of Juan,? Henry, now 33, recalled Tuesday when asked about his days as a teenage professional at AS Monaco. "And I remember sometimes I would play well, score goals and the game after the boss used to keep me on the bench and I was like, ?what?? I couldn?t understand because I was young, crazy and I wanted to play every game.

?Then I understood that (coach Jean Tigana) wanted to protect me, and when I saw him three years after I thanked him for that.?

Agudelo has precocious talent and a genuine scorer?s touch, and he?s tied for third on the Red Bulls with five regular season goals despite limited playing time. But Backe, who has been coaching nearly 30 years, wants to temper the excitement.

?Already at the end of last season, I felt that it was too much around him and it still has been," Backe told the New York Post. "How to protect the player that?s suddenly getting involved in a lot of commercials and still has to fight for his spot?

?Surrounding him, the expectation is too much. It?s too early, and he?s too young. ... As a young guy, you lose focus. You say, ?Oh, I can handle this.? But they can?t handle it. I know it.?

After the All-Stars practiced Tuesday, Henry delivered a message of warning to Sporting News and other assembled media.

?I will keep on saying it, especially to you guys: Leave him alone,? the French World Cup winner said. "He?s still young. It?s not an easy one, and I went through the same thing.

?Right now, I can tell you I see stuff in training from him that tells me he can be a great player. But let him grow and let him work it out and be the player he can be. The expectation is really big in this country to have a Landon Donovan, who soon is going to retire, so you guys are looking for who?s going to be the next one. Hopefully, it?s going to be (Agudelo), but it can only be him if you let him grow.?

Agudelo, meanwhile, seems unfazed.

There?s nothing about Agudelo's demeanor to suggest his head has swelled. He?s soft-spoken, self critical and shows no inclination toward self-promotion or self-congratulation during multiple interviews with Sporting News. He looks away when talking about himself. When asked a question this week about his Gold Cup experience, he quickly focused on what he could have done better.

?It just showed me I have a lot to learn?a lot of things,? he said. "I didn?t like the way I ended the Gold Cup. I didn?t like the way I played the last game. But overall, it was a good experience and I was just happy to be there."

He?s happy to be at the All-Star Game as well, and told Sporting News he ?want(s) to put on a good show.?

Agudelo has the talent to do just that, and if he does so against Manchester United, he undoubtedly will elicit both a cheer and a cringe from his supportive but protective coach.

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