NFL notes
Published 9:38 pm Sunday, August 31, 2008
PATRIOTS: John Lynch, the nine-time Pro Bowl safety signed by New England two weeks ago, was released.
“It goes without saying but John is an all-time great safety, one of the league’s classiest professionals and his elite play speaks for itself,” coach Bill Belichick said of Lynch, who turns 37 on Sept. 25. “As has been the case in other situations, I would not rule anything out down the road.”
During their decade-long run of success, the Patriots have regularly signed veterans and often released them, only to sign them again if needed. Belichick’s comments indicate Lynch may be in that category. He has played 15 seasons, 11 in Tampa Bay and four in Denver.
“I have no regrets about my time thus far with the Patriots,” Lynch said in a statement released by the club. “The immense respect that I’ve long held for the organization has been only heightened over the past couple of weeks. I am going to keep all options open and look forward with excitement to see what the future brings.”
New England signed Lynch after he was released by Denver early in training camp.
The Patriots also cut Chad Jackson, their second-round draft pick in 2006 from Florida. The wide receiver from Florida has been plagued by injuries, had 13 catches as a rookie and none last season when he played in only two games.
GIANTS: New York shored up its defensive end position by signing former Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Jerome McDougle. The Super Bowl champions lost seven-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan to retirement in June and then had two-time Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora sidelined with a season-ending knee injury a little more than a week ago in a game against the Jets. A first round pick in 2003, McDougle was cut by Philadelphia on Saturday. He played in 33 games in five seasons and had three sacks. He missed all of last season with a triceps injury and was out for all of 2005 after being shot in the abdomen during a robbery during the offseason.
REDSKINS: There was a truly unusual sight Sunday at the first Washington practice in preparation for Thursday’s season opener against the New York Giants. Jon Jansen lined up at left guard. As a backup. That’s right. The player nicknamed Rock, the team’s longest continuous serving veteran who has unquestionably owned the right tackle spot when healthy since 1999, was adjusting to an unexpected demotion. Days before his first regular season game as a head coach, Jim Zorn announced that second-year player Stephon Heyer now has Jansen’s starting job.
LIONS: Detroit have signed veteran linebacker Ryan Nece and claimed rookie running back Marcus Thomas. Nece signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002 and played six seasons with the Buccaneers, appearing in 85 games and starting 35. Nece, the son of Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, was released Saturday by Tampa Bay. San Diego drafted Thomas out of Texas-El Paso in the fifth round and released him Saturday.
49ERS: San Francisco claimed linebacker Ahmad Brooks off waivers from Cincinnati, waiving linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to make room on their 53-man roster. Brooks spent his first two NFL seasons with the Bengals, starting five games as a rookie. He appeared in just two games last year before a groin injury ended his season, and he was among Cincinnati’s final cuts Saturday.
BENGALS: Cincinnati released 11th-year defensive tackle Michael Myers, picked up guard Frank Davis and defensive tackle Orien Harris on waivers and placed center Dan Santucci on injured reserve.
COWBOYS: Dallas reached an agreement in principle to re-sign safety and special teams standout Keith Davis, who had signed a two-year free agent deal with Miami in March. But Davis was cut by the Dolphins before their final preseason game. When the deal is completed with Davis, the Cowboys will have to clear a spot on their 53-man roster for him.
Associated Press
