NFL training camp notes: Rogers takes over as Packers’ QB

Published 11:26 pm Monday, July 28, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. — With the Brett Favre standoff still simmering, Aaron Rodgers took his place Monday as the Packers’ new starting quarterback.

Rodgers is trying to ignore what has become a daily soap opera involving the three-time MVP. Favre is considering filing for reinstatement with the NFL and reporting to camp this week, a move likely intended to pressure Green Bay to grant him his release — something the Packers refuse to do — or trade him.

The NFL had not received reinstatement paperwork from Favre as of Monday evening.

“I feel like this is really between Brett and the organization, and I’m just trying to stay focused on the things I can control,” Rodgers said after the team’s first practice at camp.

General manager Ted Thompson spoke twice with Favre on Saturday, for about 45 minutes each time. They decided it would be best for Favre to stay away from Green Bay for now.

The Packers aren’t going to allow Favre to play for an NFC North rival — Green Bay filed tampering charges against Minnesota, suspecting the Vikings spurred Favre’s latest flip-flop on his future — and aren’t going to trade him without getting value in return.

And Favre might not want to play for any of the teams showing interest, a group that includes Tampa Bay and the New York Jets. Thompson acknowledged talking to other teams.

Favre wants to be released, something Thompson opposes. The Packers hold Favre’s rights until his contract expires after the 2010 season.

MORE PACKERS: If it wasn’t for the daily twists and turns of the Brett Favre unretirement saga, this would be considered a really big deal: Ryan Grant does not have a contract in place and skipped the Packers’ first practice.

Grant, an exclusive rights free agent, is seeking a long-term deal with the Packers, but talks appear to have broken down. Grant’s agent, Alan Herman, told the Wisconsin State Journal on Sunday that the team’s offer of a six-year deal that included $1.75 million in guaranteed money was “insulting.”

Grant, obtained in a trade with the New York Giants just before the start of the 2007 season, took over as the starter in midseason. He rushed for 956 yards and eight touchdowns. Grant then rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the Packers’ divisional playoff victory over Seattle.

BENGALS: Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson didn’t participate in the Cincinnati Bengals’ first practice of training camp because his right ankle hasn’t fully recovered from surgery. Johnson spent time Monday rehabilitating the ankle, which was surgically cleaned out last month. The ankle is still sore and he runs with a pronounced limp. He warmed up with the team on the field, then went into the trainer’s room.

The Bengals held their opening practice in Georgetown, Ky., without top draft pick Keith Rivers, a linebacker from Southern California who was projected as a starter. Rivers, the ninth overall pick, is the Bengals’ last unsigned rookie.

The defense suffered a setback when Antwan Odom hurt his left foot and rode off the field on a cart. The defensive end was taken for tests that indicated he had a sprained foot. Coach Marvin Lewis said there was no timetable for his return.

COWBOYS: Dallas cornerback Terence Newman missed practice Monday afternoon in Oxnard, Calif., because of a strained groin sustained in the morning workout. Coach Wade Phillips said Newman got tangled up with a receiver during a play and twisted his leg awkwardly. Phillips doesn’t consider the injury serious.

GIANTS: Plaxico Burress says it’s his ankle, not his contract, that is keeping him from practicing with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants in Albany, N.Y.

There have been suspicions about Burress’ injury because he refused to practice during a June minicamp over the team’s decision not to give him a new contract. He has three years remaining on a deal that will pay him $3.25 million this season, well below what the league’s top receivers earn.

Burress said in his first interview since the start of training camp that he rolled his right ankle a couple of weeks ago while running to get in shape. He went to see a doctor in North Carolina and informed the team of his injury.

Team doctors examined Burress over the weekend and told coach Tom Coughlin the receiver might be ready to go by midweek.

JAGUARS: Jacksonville center Brad Meester could miss the start of the season because of a strained right biceps. Meester sustained the injury during training camp Sunday, but it wasn’t clear he was hurt until he missed practice the next day.

It’s the third injury in the last four seasons for the 31-year-old offensive lineman and the second in as many training camps. He missed the first four games last season after breaking a bone in his ankle during camp.

RAMS: St. Louis defensive end Victor Adeyanju might have to get used to playing with a cast again. The third-year player will be sidelined two to four weeks after breaking his right middle finger in practice Sunday in Mequon, Wis. He broke his right forearm during his rookie season in 2006.

Adeyanju, a fourth-round pick who started seven games last year, was sent back to St. Louis on Monday to have pins inserted. Coach Scott Linehan said it could be as short as two weeks and as long as a month before Adeyanju returns.

Safety O.J. Atogwe and tight end Anthony Becht were both held out of the afternoon workout due to hamstring issues, and the team was unclear when either would return. Linebacker Chris Draft missed most of the day due to lower back tightness.

… Also, Steven Jackson missed his fourth day of training camp Monday. The holdout running back is keeping in touch with coach Scott Linehan by text-messaging.

SAINTS: Sedrick Ellis’ holdout reached its sixth day Monday and New Orleans coach Sean Payton appeared to be growing tired of it.

“He’s missing opportunities to get better, and that can affect his play,” Payton said of Ellis, who has missed 10 practices in all.

Ellis, a 6-foot-1, 307-pound defensive tackle out of Southern California, was an All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. In 13 games last season, Ellis had 58 tackles, 12½ tackles for losses and 8½ sacks.

TITANS: Tennessee All-Pro placekicker Rob Bironas strained a groin muscle Monday during a special teams drill. Defensive end Ulrich Winkler of Germany hurt his left knee and had to be helped off the field, as well.

Bironas said he felt a little pull as he was kicking off, and trainers chose to be cautious and check out the injury. Backup punter Josh Miller also pulled a groin muscle, forcing the Titans to use third-string quarterback Ingle Martin to kick a few punts.

Winkler, who was on the Titans’ practice squad last year as an NFL Europa exemption, was pass rushing against Leroy Harris when his left leg buckled, and he yelled out. There was no immediate information on the severity of the injury.