NFL NOTEBOOK
Published 11:33 pm Friday, July 25, 2008
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Vernon Gholston was ready to hit the books after taking the field for the first time as the New York Jets’ latest millionaire.
“I’m definitely a step behind,” the No. 6 overall pick said Friday. “I missed practice (Thursday) and I haven’t been up here, but, you know, it’s just something to deal with and I’ll do some extra studying tonight and keep pushing.”
Gholston’s one-day, two-practice holdout ended when the deal was approved in time for the pass rusher to be on the field with his teammates for the start of practice on the second day of training camp. Gholston’s agent, Ben Dogra of CAA Football, told The Associated Press that the contract is worth $50 million, with $21 million guaranteed over five years.
General manager Mike Tannenbaum said the contract took a while to complete because it was “north of 50 pages,” and because of new language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The 6-foot-3, 264-pound Gholston set an Ohio State record with 14 sacks last season and is expected to immediately improve the Jets’ pass rush. In New York’s 3-4 defense, Gholston will be asked to stand up as a linebacker more after playing mostly defensive end in college.
Danny Woodhead, the NCAA’s career rushing leader, was carted off the practice field with an apparent knee injury. The nature and severity of the injury wasn’t immediately known. The 5-foot-7 running back was undrafted despite rushing for 7,962 yards in four seasons at Chadron State. Woodhead also compiled 9,479 career all-purpose yards, second-best in college football history, and was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner as the nation’s top Division II player.
Notes
TITANS: Tennessee promised Albert Haynesworth the team won’t slap him with the franchise tag in 2009 — if he meets several incentives. Haynesworth agreed to terms, drove three hours from his home in East Tennessee and signed his $7.25 million tender. While his teammates took part in the first practice of training camp, he passed his physical. With Haynesworth’s deal, only first-round draft pick Chris Johnson, the 24th pick overall, remained unsigned.
PATRIOTS: Jerod Mayo, a linebacker who was the 10th overall pick in the draft, signed a five-year contract with New England Thursday after flying to Foxborough early in the morning. The Patriots are hoping that Mayo can begin the rejuvenation of an aging linebacking corps. Tedy Bruschi is 35, Mike Vrabel will be 33 when the season starts and Adaelius Thomas will be 31. Junior Seau, who would be 40 at the next Super Bowl, may retire, and Rosevelt Colvin went to Houston as a free agent.
BEARS: Devin Hester showed up at Chicago’s training camp without a new contract. Whether the kick return star will practice without one remains to be seen. After missing the first two days, Hester reported because he saw some progress in negotiations. The two-time Pro Bowler has two years left on his deal and wants to re-negotiate. Hester, who also played wide receiver last season, watched as several teammates got new contracts in the offseason.
RAMS: St. Louis running back Steven Jackson, entering the final year of his contract, was a no-show for the opening day of training camp and will be fined as an unexcused absence. Jackson’s agent, Eugene Parker, turned down an offer that the team said would have put Jackson in the top tier at his position in terms of pay.
JAGUARS: Receiver Matt Jones, speaking publicly for the first time since his arrest on a felony drug charge in Arkansas, expressed remorse for putting himself and Jacksonville in a negative light. He also apologized to team owner Wayne Weaver, coach Jack Del Rio and some teammates, and said he was committed to making the roster. Jones was arrested July 10 in Fayetteville, his former college town, after police said he was inside a car cutting up cocaine with a credit card.
SAINTS: New Orleans signed second-round pick Tracy Porter to a four-year contract, then released veteran tight end Eric Johnson. Porter, a cornerback who was taken 40th overall in April’s draft, took the field for the Saints’ fourth practice of training camp. Johnson played in 14 games for New Orleans last season, starting 12, and caught 48 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns.
TEXANS: Houston signed first-round draft pick Duane Brown, an offensive lineman from Virginia Tech who is expected to start this season. The left tackle was selected 26th overall in the April draft.
RAIDERS: Oakland released running back LaMont Jordan on Friday after being unable to trade him to another team. The Raiders have had little use for Jordan since midway through last season, when he carried the ball just 19 times in the final nine games. He fell further down the depth chart after Oakland used the fourth overall pick to draft Darren McFadden and Oakland had been looking to trade him for months.
COWBOYS: Dallas will waive veteran receiver Terry Glenn, who resisted signing an injury clause after missing most of last season with a right knee injury. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the decision on the first day of training camp wasn’t about an offseason dispute with Glenn over an injury waiver that kept him off the practice field. Jones said he wanted to clear the way for younger receivers to compete for the job opposite leading receiver Terrell Owens.
