Offensive Coordinator of Panthers

The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Barton was a seventh-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 2008 but has played in only one NFL game. Barton has also had stints with San Francisco, Miami and Cincinnati. He did not see any action in 2009.

 NOTE: The wholesale Panthers jersey have waived offensive tackle Jason Capizzi and claimed offensive tackle Kirk Barton off waivers from Denver.

 "We still work on it every day. We are trying to get to the point where we can consistently make plays in the run game. I would love to say that we can run against any front on any defense, (but) that's not entirely true."
 As for the team's running game, which has been without right tackle Jeff Otah and running back Jonathan Stewart in the preseason, Davidson said, "I don't think anybody would sit here and say that we're happy with where we are in the run game.
 "Mac(kenzy) has a leg up on the competition, but he's not a shoe-in," Davidson said.
 The same, he said, goes for the right guard spot, which remains up for grabs between Macenzy Bernadeau, Geoff Schwartz and Duke Robinson.
 "Dwayne Jarrett has actually done a nice job in this camp, and Brandon LaFell has come in here and taken the bull by the horns, if you will, in trying to earn that job," Davidson said. "I would love to stand here and tell you that one of those guys has done it, but it's hard for me to say that it's even one of those two guys right now, because Wallace Wright has shown he's capable of being that guy and Kenny Moore has shown he's capable of being that guy. So right now it's still very much a competition."
 The cheap Panthers jersey aren't expected to bring in a wide receiver from outside the organization to help.
 LaFell and Jarrett are viewed as the frontrunners to win the starting spot opposite Smith, but Davidson said nobody can say they've won the job.
 The Panthers overhauled their receiving corps during the offseason, adding Brandon LaFell and Armanti Edwards in the third round of the NFL draft while signing Wallace Wright in free agency. They also continue to rave about Dwayne Jarrett's progress and believe the perennially disappointing former second-round draft pick could be a step closer to winning the No. 2 spot.
 Outside of Steve Smith, who has yet to play in the preseason, the Panthers had little else in the passing game in 2009, and quarterback Jake Delhomme struggled all year with turnovers, often trying to force the ball into Smith's hands.
 That's something the Panthers struggled with last season.
 "I would say this: we're always going to be about finding balance on offense," Davidson said. "The major push for is us when a defense is making us throw it, we have to be efficient when they are doing that to us."
 He still views the running game as the strength of this team — and with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart jerseyrunning behind a veteran line, why not? — but said making plays in the passing game when needed will be key to the team's overall success on offense.
 When asked if he thinks the Panthers will throw more often in 2010, he simply said, "No."
 Davidson said there's also a misconception that the Panthers will be throwing the ball more this season after spending three days of OTAs working on the passing game.
 "As far as the week-to-week game planning, that is the tweaking we haven't done. It's the same plays we'll end up using in the regular season. I'm not going to say that the excuse is going out and designing the right plays. We have enough plays in there to make them, but we got to get to the point where we make them."
 "We have plays in. There's no excuse for it, quite honestly," Davidson said. "There are plays that we have in — and we have to be able to make plays. That's something where part of it is coaching and part of it is playing. We have to make sure we get out there and get better.
 Now, he said it's a matter of going out and doing it.
 Davidson said the team has installed about 70 percent of its offensive playbook, which he said is more than enough to give the players a chance to make plays in the preseason.
 "But I want to make sure that we all understand that there is a sense of urgency in getting better at it. And I do think we need to do that."
 "No," said Davidson. "I'm not concerned with it. I think we have a good focus on it. We have time before I start getting concerned about it here.

The Carolina Panthers jersey have only completed 42 percent of their passes so far this preseason, and their quarterbacks have been sacked a combined 11 times, but offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson isn't fretting over the team's passing game.

About New York Jets 2010

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"I wanted him to know how I felt," Ryan said Thursday from training camp in Cortland, N.Y. "We talked man-to-man. He told me his position and I definitely told him my position. So, it was good."

Ryan was disappointed Wednesday, saying Dungy, a devout Christian, unfairly judged him for his foul language on the television show. Dungy told "The Dan Patrick Show" on Monday that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should talk to Ryan about his excessive cursing.

While Goodell won't be talking to Ryan about his foul language, Dungy will take up the Jets coach's invitation to spend a day with the team later this season.

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Owens, Bratkowski reflect on Denver game

Progress was made as Terrell Owens continues to get familiar with the Bengals offense, but there is still more that has to be made.

"We accomplished some things. We got in there and played a little more. It's going to come," said Owens, who finished with four receptions for 23 yards. "That's why I've been try to work hard in practice so that it comes second nature to me. We still have a long way to go."

Owens was happy with the reception he got from the crowd. He was the third-to-last player introduced on the offense followed by Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer.

While Owens looked more comfortable, there were still a couple miscues. On a third-down play on the first series, a Palmer pass went high as he tried to make a play near the sideline marker.

The timing was a little off as Palmer stuck on Ochocinco too long and then looked to Owens too late.

On the next series on fourth down, if Owens would have fell forward he would have had the first down. Instead he caught it off balance and went backward.

"We're working throughout the playbook and tinkering with a lot of formations," Owens said.

Owens still does not have a nameplate on his locker, which is next to Ochocinco's. He's also trying to find a place in the area and adjust to a new city, but Owens said he has his assistant here trying to help him through some of the off-the-field moving matters.

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski also took the approach of a couple steps gained but still a lot of work ahead. The 409 total yards were more than double what they had last week against Dallas (179).

"It was good. We were able to get the tight end involved and TO too," he said. "We were trying to get Chad some more looks but the coverage didn't work right a couple times. When you get everyone involved their into it and it's a good thing.  It's improvement.  That's what we're looking for.  It wasn't great but it was better. I'm pleased we made a stride but we have a long way to go.

"I think they'll see a lot of positives tomorrow. I'm sure as coaches we'll see a lot of things that have to get better."

The Bengals lead by Carson Palmer looked much improved this past Sunday night. The first team offense proved that practice has payed off.

The Bengals started out well, with Palmer leading them on a 9 play drive followed by an embarrassing start for David Rayner with a 44-yard field goal miss.

Frustratingly for the Bengals they were unable to produce on their second possession and instead of taking on a 50 yard field goal attempt (unsurprisingly after the first shambolic attempt) they turned the ball over after a failed 4th & 2 try.

Carson Palmer began to hit his stride in the third possession, leading the Bengals all the way up to the goal line, allowing Cedric Benson to run it home from 1 yard, following a 13 play, 78 yard drive. Palmer looked strong and capable on this drive.

Palmer's stats for the night ended, 12 of 15 for 105 yards with no picks and no TD's.

Special teams take center stage at Packers' practice

In that context, it would be accurate to say that the Packers left a great Charles Woodson deal to be desired one-third of the time last season due to special teams that performed very inconsistently and made way too many fundamental mistakes.

"We are devoting considerably more time to special teams, although I can't give you an exact number," Slocum told a small cluster of reporters after practice. "We also are spending a lot more time on special teams in meetings. It is an area we really need to improve."

It is also an area featuring continued spirited competition at punter — with former Australian Rules player Chris Bryan battling Tim Masthay, who had a cup of coffee with the Colts last offseason — as well as at both kick-return spots. 

"I would definitely say it's neck-and-neck," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy of the battle between Bryan and Masthay. "The Family Night scrimmage (last Saturday) showed that we have two really talented punters. They both held their own, kicking under the lights in a game-type environment. We put them under pressure with a punt rush throughout the scrimmage, and they both performed very well.

"It should be interesting to see them in the first real game (later this week) against Cleveland. It's kind of a Catch-22 because hopefully they won't have too many opportunities, but both guys have worked very hard and we want to max out their opportunities.

"I'm very excited where they are, and I'm not in any hurry to make a final decision."

As for the kick-return situation, McCarthy said, "We have a Aaron Rodgers lot of flexibility, and I'm very happy with the numbers."

Slocum later hinted that incumbent Will Blackmon, who is coming back from a season-ending injury, lining up as the punt returner and RB Brandon Jackson as the kickoff returner was "a pretty good scenario."

• The LB position continued to be a hot topic, with both McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers offering opinions on the subject after practice.

Capers said that Clay Matthews, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, is "obviously one of the guys" at one of the OLB spots, with three players (Brad Jones, Brandon Chillar and Brady Poppinga) staging a real battle for the starting job opposite Matthews.

After today's light practice, coach Mike McCarthy had a few interesting things to say.

He really gave some high praise to LB A.J. Hawk.

"I would think A.J. is probably having his best camp in his time here," McCarthy said. "I've liked his approach. His conditioning is at the highest level. He's always been a highly conditioned athlete, and I think he's taken it to another level this year, and I think he's been very productive out here. He's put together some big days, and I thought he definitely stood out in the scrimmage Saturday night."

Later, Hawk said he appreciated the comments.

"I think at least physically I feel as good as I've felt since B.J. Raji  I've been in the league, which is rare because coming in, as a rookie, you'd figure you'd feel your best," Hawk said. "I always feel every year I feel really good coming but for some reason I think I just feel healthy and lucky to get some good reps in.

"I feel healthy and I feel comfortable in this defense and the scheme. I think what's helped me is I've played pretty much at some point every inside linebacker position, nickel, dime and the regular package. I have a feeling of everything around me."

There's no question Hawk has been a little bit more aggressive shooting gaps in this training camp.

"It's definitely being confident in the scheme and being confident, not only in what I'm doing but what I know what everyone else around me is doing," Hawk said. "I think we have a better feel for where your help is at, where your safety's coming down, where your other backer is, what your d-line is going to do. I've always had an idea of knowing what they're doing but now I've had a year under my belt of feeling it, being on the game field, getting some real reps at it. And it's also kind of just letting it go and playing."

McCarthy wasn't as high on DE Jarius Wynn, a sixth-round choice in 2009.

"He's kind of just been OK," McCarthy said. "Jarius needs to take a big step. The other part of that is Jarius has a lot of competition. The two rookies have come in here, (Mike) Neal and (C.J.) Wilson, and have done a very good job. Jarius has excellent competition. He's a talented guy and has natural pass rush ability, but he's definitely going to have to keep coming, because that's going to be a competition I think we'll all be watching."

Wynn reacted with a, 'Mike said that?' to hearing the comments. He also revealed he was slowed in the early going by a right hip injury.

Baltimore's all-decade linebacker Ray Lewis

 Smith aspired to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher at an early age and drove himself to that height – and took the Cowboys along for a very thrilling ride.

"Talent is one thing," Baltimore's all-decade linebacker, Ray Lewis, said. "Effort and will are another. When I watch plays of Emmitt, it isn't as much athleticism as it is his will. He was one of the best pure warriors you'll ever meet in your lifetime."

Lewis played against Smith just one time in the nine years their careers overlapped. But Lewis had his eyes on Smith from an early age. When Smith was winning a rushing title and Super Bowl with the Cowboys in 1992, Lewis was playing both ways in high school as a linebacker on defense and a running back on offense.

"I'm from Florida," Lewis grinned, "so every time I ran the ball, I wanted to be Emmitt Smith. Watching him and the way he approached the game – he wasn't the biggest, fastest or strongest, but he came to work every day."

Lewis wasn't alone in his admiration. Smith became the flag bearer for Ray Lewis  the common man – or, more accurately, the common running back.

"I didn't try to be Barry Sanders ," said Terrell Davis, an aspiring college runner at Georgia in the early 1990s who watched from afar as Smith won rushing titles and Super Bowls. "I couldn't be Barry. But I could try to be Emmitt.

"He wasn't the fastest guy. He wasn't the biggest guy. But he had the intangibles. I actually tried to model a little bit of my game after Emmitt Smith."

Davis would go on to become an NFL rushing champion himself and one of only six backs to gain 2,000 yards in a season. Like Smith, he was longer on substance than flash.

"The guy was there every week," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin admiringly of Smith. "He was so different from all these backs you see today who are miss, miss, miss, miss, miss ...

"He was so steady – such an outstanding performer for a guy who wasn't a great speed back. There was a consistency to his game. You knew he was going to line up every week and you knew you had to stop him."

But few did. Smith won four NFL rushing crowns and strung together an NFL-record 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He set league records with his 4,409 career carries, 18,355 rushing yards, 164 rushing touchdowns and 78 100-yard games. Those don't include his two 100-yard days in NFC title games and two more in Super Bowls. Smith has been both a league and Super Bowl MVP.

Smith also played an NFL-record 226 games by a running back. Add his 515 career receptions to his 4,409 career carries and it's logical that Smith was tackled more than any player in NFL history.

Yet Smith missed only four games because of injury during his 13 seasons with the Cowboys. He was a Houdini in cleats, and that may have been his greatest skill.

"His inability to get tackled," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, a Hall of Famer himself at tight end. "You could never get a clean shot on Emmitt. He wasn't the biggest or the fastest, but you could never get a clean shot on him. I don't know what it is. I can't explain it. But that was Emmitt."

The man runs sideline to sideline just like he did years ago," said Ravens defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, in his 11th season. "Me and [defensive end Trevor Pryce] were just talking about how veterans dread camp, but we'll keep coming out as long as we have fun. Ray Lewis is still having fun. It must be something they have in that Florida water."

It's hard to imagine a Ravens training camp without Lewis. The Ravens have changed owners, head coaches and assistants, but the two major constants have been general manager Ozzie Newsome and Lewis.

Like everything else, Lewis has changed. He has less hair and has added a few pounds since he was the 26th overall pick in the 1996 draft. The strength in his arms, shoulders and hands isn't what it used to be, but that's OK. He will never be the player he once was, but neither will anyone else. He set the standard too high.

But that's not what has made Lewis special. What still sets him apart is his passion for the game and his leadership ability. His instincts and experience fuel the bottom line, which is production.

"His No. 1 secret to lasting 15 years is his tremendous passion for the game," Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. "He respects the game more than anybody, and if you respect the game, you don't want to let it down."

It's all about respect. On the field, Lewis has been the NFL's best middle linebacker during his 15-year run. There have been other challengers such as the Chicago Bears' Brian Urlacher and the Miami Dolphins' Zach Thomas, but both faded sooner than Lewis.

Even the heir apparent to Lewis's title, the San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis, said in a recent interview that he can't accept the torch until Lewis passes it along.

A lot of us in the media used to laugh when Lewis said he advised so many players throughout the NFL, but listen to new Ravens quarterback Marc Bulger talk about former Ravens center Jason Brown, now in his second year with Bulger's old team, the St. Louis Rams:

"Jason Brown brought just a lot of different programs within the team because they've developed such a reputation here" in Baltimore, Bulger said. "It starts with Ray and then the rest of the guys. There's accountability for everything you do, and he's trying to bring that to the Rams, which is a good thing, which we didn't have before where players police each other. I could see it from the first day here that it's something that has been in place. It's not something [they're] trying to instill here, and it's been quite impressive."

That's why Lewis can never be replaced.

"When I see guys that came way before me or guys that are still doing it, it's just a respect level from the way you respected the game, the integrity of the way that you played the game, and that's why I think people respect me and the way I play," he said. "They know that I'm going to give them every time I step onto the field, not just for me, but the team."

The Chiefs have invested more money in that part of the team than any other

They picked up a 1,000-yard rusher to go with the 1,000-yard rusher they already had and drafted a speedy wide receiver, a tight end and a guard.

Except for Eric Berry, a badly needed safety drafted in the first round, they didn't do much for a defence that finished a laughable 31st against the run. Everybody is back on the front seven — everybody who had a hand in enabling journeymen running back Jerome Harrison to rush for 286 yards and erase the great Jim Brown's Cleveland team record.

If fans were surprised that Berry was the only significant pickup on that side of the ball, they were not alone.

So were the players.

"It's a boost to know they have confidence in us and they believe we're going to get it right," said lineman Glenn Dorsey. "We've got a lot of chemistry and we believe we can get it done. And it's good to know they think so, also."

Harrison was one of only six rushers who went over 100 yards against the Chiefs' newly installed 3-4 defence. So rather than a bunch of new faces or an overhaul, management's mandate to the mostly young, underachieving front seven is clear: Get better.

"As I've said before, you can't get everything that you want or you may think you need," said coach Todd Haley. "In the NFL, the way I know you can have continued success is to develop the young; the first, second and third-year players you have on your team. That is mandatory. If you're not developing young players on your team, you probably have very little chance of success."

And the Chiefs will have little chance of success without a big improvement on the defensive front. One reason for hope is that everybody is more familiar with the defence. A year ago, a new coaching staff took players who were acquired and trained in the 4-3 and switched them to the 3-4. Growing pains were obvious.

"A lot of it was technique," said defensive end Tyson Jackson, the third overall selection in the 2009 draft.

While the players remained the same, that cannot be said of the coaches. Former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel was brought in as defensive co-ordinator and Tim Krumrie was replaced as defensive line coach by Anthony Pleasant, a 15-year veteran. Crennel's specialty is the defensive line and he's been giving that element extra attention.

Another new wrinkle is the presence of grandmaster Joseph Kim. The taekwando expert is working with the pass rushers, teaching them how to use their hands and hips as he's done with several other NFL teams, including the Cowboys, Dolphins, Browns and Bills.

"It's going to help a lot," said lineman Glenn Dorsey. "At first you think some of the things he tells you to do don't seem natural. But they are."

Getting better hardly seems like much to ask of the Chiefs' front seven. Dorsey, Jackson, and linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson were all first-round picks. The Chiefs have invested more money in that part of the team than any other.

But they have yet to get full value in return.

"I cannot stress it enough — those are the guys that have to take that next step, whether they're backups that become starters, starters that become stars or third-teamers that become backups," Haley said. "Those guys have to take steps and have to make that next step, and that will help us."

Dorsey, drafted No. 5 overall in 2008, believes it will happen.

The strained relationship that existed a year ago between Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and coach Todd Haley seems to have morphed into a solid working relationship.

Johnson tells Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star that he still disagrees with Haley's decision to bench him for much of last season but he's been reassured in talks with the coach that he'll get his chance in training camp to win his starting job back.

"He stood by it last year," Johnson said of Haley's decision to demote him. "This year, it's open, and I'm going to win it."
The most important development, though, is that the two are on seemingly good speaking terms, and that's the starting point when it comes to building a relationship based on trust and openness.

"We've had private talks, just up and down the field, whenever Dwayne Bowe we get the chance," Johnson told the Star.

Johnson's outlook has taken a 180-degree turn in the course of a few months. At times last season, he was so disappointed with his fall in the depth chart that he openly questioned his future with the Chiefs.

But a sensational finish to an otherwise bitter season may have influenced Johnson's decision over the winter to hold off on the exploration of other opportunities in favor of signing the one-year tender offered by the Chiefs.

Johnson and running back Jamaal Charles were the best players on the field Dwayne Bowe in last season's finale at Denver, a 44-24 win against the Broncos. Chiefs fans will remember that Charles ran for 259 yards and two TDs and Johnson came out of nowhere to return two interceptions for touchdowns of 45 and 60 yards.

Ravens’ six-foot-four, 350-pound nose tackle Haloti Ngata

The Redskins hit hard at their camp, but the Ravens literally pound on each other. It's no wonder there have been so many Ravens players getting hurt in camp considering how hard they go at it in their 11-on-11 drills. Sure enough, receiver Derrick Mason  was just rocked as he was heading to the end zone. Next thing you know he has two trainers helping him off the field and into the locker room.

The early diagnosis is a sprained right ankle. Head coach John Harbaugh said they have no idea when Mason will be back on the field. Considering what happened to cornerback Domonique Foxworth last week, it could have been a lot worse.

Now I have seen some big football players in my travels, but few can compare to the Ravens' six-foot-four, 350-pound nose tackle Haloti Ngata. With the massive Ngata clogging up the middle, it allows Ravens linebackers like Ray Lewis the time and space to seek and destroy.

Other than the intensity of the hitting, the other thing that jumps out at you at Ravens camp is their newfound vertical passing game. Even with Mason's ankle injury, Joe Flacco still had a field day going downfield to his newest weapons, Donte' Stallworth and Anquan Boldin. Stallworth displayed great hands and vertical and he went up pulled down a few nice catches. Boldin has made an immediate impact on the Ravens passing game. There's little doubt that Flacco will be looking to Boldin early and often when he needs to make a throw. Having another downfield threat like Stallworth in the mix gives offensive coordinator Cam Cameron so many more options with which to work.

Even running back Ray Rice is heavily involved in the Ravens passing game. That's what makes Rice such a dynamic offensive player and such a valuable weapon for Harbaugh. He's strong enough and tough enough to pick up the tough yards between the tackles running the football. But he's also quick enough and has good enough hands to make plays out of the backfield.

After their second practice of the day, I had a chance to have an extended one-on-one interview with Rice. For such a young and talented up-and-coming NFL star, Rice could not have been more well grounded or more pleasant to speak with. If you are looking for an athlete Haloti Ngata to be a role model, you could do a lot worse than Rice.

I know Lewis has a bad reputation and there are a lot of people who have a certain image of the man. All I know is what I saw and how the man treated me. After a punishing two-and-a-half hour practice, Lewis stood there in 90 degree weather and signed autographs for over 900 kids. A middle-aged woman said it best when she screamed, "We love you Ray!" at the top of her lungs. To Ravens fans, Lewis is a rock star, an absolute god. John Harbaugh might be the coach, but the Ravens belong to Ray.

After signing all those autographs in the hot sun I asked him if he wouldn't mind answering a few questions for the Ray Rice feature I was working on. Lewis was extremely gracious and gave me two amazing answers for my story. That is what I call a class act.

Boldin should give Baltimore what it's been lacking for seemingly forever, a quality Haloti Ngata complement to the remarkably steady Derrick Mason at the wideout spot. With the addition of the physical three-time Pro Bowl honoree and veteran speedster Donte' Stallworth, along with the emergence of third-year pro Ray Rice into an elite all-around running back and Flacco's continued progress as a passer, the Ravens now field what could be one of the more balanced and dangerous offenses the league has to offer.

Baltimore's calling card has always come on the defensive end, however, and the 2009 squad continued the Ravens' longstanding tradition of excellence by ranking among the NFL's best in virtually every major category. The unit is getting a bit long in the tooth at several positions, but Newsome addressed those concerns by overseeing another potentially fruitful draft that garnered University of Texas outside linebacker Sergio Kindle and mammoth Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody with the team's top two picks.

New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady

Statistically, the 2009 season was the second best of Tom Brady's career, and better than any of his three Super Bowl title years.

The numbers say that only the incomparable 16-0 season of 2007 was better. But to the eyes that watch him, that's a hard case to make.

Huge passing numbers can mean various things, among them too much reliance on one man's arm.

The Patriots' 2009 inconsistency was less a statement on Brady than on the team, which probably enters this preseason with more question marks than a year ago.

Still, we live in an era of star worship. LeBron James has been vilified for deciding he can't win the NBA title all by himself.

Similarly, it's easy to expect Brady to cover all of his Fred Taylor team's flaws. The Patriots fell into that trap in 2006, when he was left without quality receivers, and again in last year's disjointed season.

But he can't. Apparently fully healthy again, Brady should still be expected to deliver great play, but not weekly miracles.

Judging Brady is tricky because of our sky's-the-limit expectations. Quarterback ratings, a popular yardstick today, frankly bore me.

They weren't used in the days of Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr. We didn't need a tally sheet to identify greatness, nor do we with Brady today.

Still, for those who care, Brady's 2009 rating was 96.2.

In his Super Bowl title years, the numbers Jerod Mayo ranged from 85.9 to 92.6.

That is why I would not mind seeing Brady's 2009 numbers (4,398 yards, 28 touchdowns, 275 passing yards per game) go down a bit.

That would suggest balance, with passing as the primary weapon but not the cure-all.

It would suggest the Patriots would need only 70 yards, not 90, on touchdown drives.

There is no reason to think Brady is not ready for this season. Questions of whether fatherhood has chipped away at his commitment are ridiculous.

Debate over whether the absence of a contract extension will distract him is understandable, but in my opinion, premature.

When New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked Monday to describe where things stand with rush defensive end/outside linebacker Derrick Burgess, he said simply: "I don't know."

The same answer might apply to the following question: Can the team really win with its remaining personnel at the position?

Belichick wasn't asked that question about his untested group, but he did detail what he's seen from the five players lining up at rush defensive end/outside linebacker through the first five days of training camp.

It starts with eight-year veteran Tully Banta-Cain, who led the Randy Moss  team with 10 sacks in 2009.

"Tully has really picked up where he left off last year. He gained a lot of experience and he's done a good job," Belichick said. "I think he's having a good camp. He's taken over a little bit of a leadership role as well, in terms of his experience, and I think he has a lot of confidence and that carries over to the other guys."

In his return to New England after two uninspiring seasons in San Francisco, Banta-Cain experienced a revival in playing 67 percent of the defensive snaps last season. This year, could he be as effective if that number spikes to the Mike Vrabel-like 80-90 percent range?

That is a fair question to ask when it comes to the 6-foot-2, 250-pound Banta-Cain. He's already proved to be effective as a sub rusher and occasional early-down option, and now the coaching staff must consider how having him play more might alter his impact as a pass-rusher.

If Banta-Cain doesn't see his playtime increase, perhaps that means second-round draft choice Jermaine Cunningham (53rd overall), whose speed and athleticism have been easy to spot on the practice field, is thrust immediately into the fire.

It would be unusual for the Patriots to be counting on a rookie at outside linebacker, and surely there would be some early growing pains. At the least, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Cunningham should find his way on the field as a sub pass-rusher.

"Jermaine has picked up things very well," Belichick said. "I think each day you can definitely see him getting better, more confident, understanding things that happened the day before and being able to process that."

Banta-Cain likes what he has seen from Cunningham, saying his youth is an asset.

"He has a lot of potential," Banta-Cain said. "He's coming along [well]. I think he still has a lot to learn, he has a long way to go. He's obviously a rookie and he's trying to get better every day. I'm sure when he puts all the pieces together, he's going to be a great player for us."

Meanwhile, five-year veteran Rob Ninkovich is looking to make a jump similar to Banta-Cain's in 2006. From 2003 to 2005, Banta-Cain had been used primarily as a special-teams player and sub rusher, only to break through with five starts in '06. Banta-Cain sees some similarities between him and the 26-year-old Ninkovich, who has never started an NFL game.

"Rob is a fiery player, he has a great motor," Banta-Cain said. "Last year, he was able to help us out in the kicking game and in situations on defense. I went through a similar thing, where I had to pay my dues, so to speak, and play special teams and do all the little things right. I think Rob, once he gets more opportunities and more experience he's going to get that much more better. That's kind of what happened with me."

Belichick made the point that both Ninkovich (6-2, 260) and five-year veteran Pierre Woods (6-5, 255), another option at outside linebacker, are "definitely ahead of where they were last year." What that means for their production in 2010, however, remains an unknown.

Woods played 20 percent of the defensive snaps last year and seems to be best cast as an emergency option whose primary value comes on special teams. Ninkovich played 12 percent of the defensive snaps, but came on late, with 75 of his 123 snaps coming in the final four games of the season.

Panthers quarterback Josh McCown

Kenneth Moore said Friday he didn't need to hear it from the boss to learn the lesson.

Moore, who's working with the starters in Smith's absence in training camp, acknowledged what was reported at the time of the incident - that he was also playing in the recreational league at the Siskey YMCA with Steve Smith  and former Panthers quarterback Josh McCown.

He described playing in the league "just having fun," and said he has no plans to return to the league.

"Nobody expected anything to happen," Moore said. "Crazy things happen. You can go outside and get hit by a car, you never know. I'm glad he's OK and he's going to be all right by the start of the season."

When asked if Fox had talked to him as well, Moore grinned a sheepish grin and said: "It's one of those unspoken things - you know what time it is."

Moore knows he's the lucky one in this equation, since Steve Smith gets more leeway for the off-field error of judgment than he might have. And there's the simple matter that if he's the one hurt, he loses his best chance at winning a regular NFL job.

"Oh yeah, it's definitely something I have to be thankful for, that nothing happened," Moore said. "You know, it's something now, hey, you don't think about it any more, you don't do it any more, and you move on."

Moore has moved on nicely, enjoying a good camp. He's been a good player but never solidified himself in the lineup, showing flashes of ability as a slot receiver but never enough to warrant a full-time gig. He knows he wouldn't have this chance if Smith was practicing, and feels for the teammate he called: "My idol."

"It's an unfortunate thing," Moore said. "Nobody wants anybody to get hurt. It's one of those things you never thought would happen and it did.

"It opened the door for me and I hate to look at it like that, and I hope he gets back soon."

INJURY UPDATE

The minor dings continue to collect, as two more players were added to the list.

Receiver Charly Martin left practice with a team doctor and Fox said he had a finger injury; running back Tyrell Sutton was held out with a calf strain. They joined defensive end Charles Johnson and linebacker Jamar Williams, both of whom are out with hamstring strains. None of the injuries are believed to be serious, as Fox stuck with his "day-to-day" diagnosis instead of using his more drastic "week-to-week."

Fox also said he hopes that most of the six players placed on the physically unable to perform list should return to the practice field before the team leaves camp.

While linebacker Thomas Davis (knee) and Smith (arm) aren't expected to do much in camp, the hope is that right tackle Jeff Otah (knee), running back Jonathan Stewart (ankle), defensive tackle Louis Leonard (knee) and guard Duke Robinson (conditioning) could return soon.

Fox said that with Robinson, the issue is weight, and the second-year lineman still needs to lose some before he allows him to practice.

"We're just being precautionary there, with some weight and conditioning," Fox said. "When we feel he meets those (goals), he'll be out here. ...

"We've had guys that didn't make weight to get into camp many times. I don't know that it necessarily defines what kind of player they'll be or what kind of season they'll have. But right now he's got a little work to do.

QUOTABLE

Running back DeAngelo Williams rejects the notion that more pressure's on him and Stewart, since the Panthers are breaking in a new starting quarterback and a fleet of new receivers.

"No, I don't think we are," Williams said. "When our number's called we want to answer that call. But you've got to understand something about Matt Moore, he won six games for us, went 6-2."

Asked what impressed him thus far about his quarterback, Williams gave a laundry list, adding "he hands the ball off well," before breaking up laughing.

OBSERVATIONS

Practices are going a bit longer this year, but it's not completely so Fox and his staff can instruct the younger players. Fox said he built an extra 10 minutes into each practice for players to duck under a tent and cool off, to make sure everyone stays hydrated.

Rookie WR Brandon LaFell continues to have an impressive camp, and could easily push for a starting job soon. He looks smooth running routes, and made several nice grabs across the middle. Fellow rookie Armanti Edwards continues to learn his new position on the fly. He made some nice grabs, but is understandably behind LaFell since his teammate has a four-year head start playing the position.

The early part of practice was a bit of a mess, particularly for the passing game. Quarterbacks took turns getting passes picked off, with Hunter Cantwell having one tipped into the hands of the defense. Jimmy Clausen looks good at times, but has seems to miss high when he misses (including hanging Edwards out to dry on one sideline route).

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.
Elsie Mae was born Aug. 11, 1916, near Warren in Marion County to James William and Elizabeth Anderson Cochran Chitwood.
She was married to George Lynn Taylor on Dec. 23, 1937, and he preceded her in death. To this union was born one daughter, Leona May (Mrs. William Kenneth White) of Bowling Green. Both survive.
Other survivors include her twin sister, Ethel Bell Sandifer and husband, Charles, of Monroe City; and one brother, Harold Dean Chitwood of Monroe City; nieces, Mrs. Glenn (Rebecca) Murphy of rural Monroe City, Mrs. John (Teresa) Dearing of Fort Madison, Iowa, Alice Marie Moyers of Maywood, and Mrs. Jim (Hazel) Dotson of New London; and nephew, Samuel Joseph Sandifer of Monroe City.
Elsie Mae attended Warren School in Marion County. In her early years, she worked at Henderson Produce Company in Monroe City. After moving to Bowling Green, she worked at Stark Brothers Nurseries in Louisiana. She liked working in the out of doors. She made a profession of faith at age 20 and became a member of the Bethany Baptist Church, rural Philadelphia, Mo., later moving her membership to Peno Baptist Church, rural Bowling Green.