CINCINNATI — Offensive tackle Willie Anderson and running back Rudi Johnson lost their starting jobs with the Cincinnati Bengals during training camp. Now, they’ve lost their roster spots, too.
The Bengals released Anderson and Johnson on Saturday as part of their moves to get to the 53-man roster limit.
The 33-year-old Anderson was the most tenured Bengal, having played 12 seasons in Cincinnati. Injuries limited him to seven games last season, ending his streak of four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. He became a backup to Stacy Andrews in training camp, and declined to take a pay cut Saturday to stay with the team.
The 28-year-old Johnson missed most of camp because of a hamstring injury, making him expendable. Chris Perry, a first-round pick in 2004, moves into the starting job after having a healthy preseason.
Johnson ran for a club-record 1,458 yards in 2005. Hamstring problems limited him to nine starts and a 2.9-yard average last season.
Many of the players cut were undrafted rookies, many free agents. But Atlanta released quarterback Joey Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Lions and a starter in 10 games for the Falcons last season. Harrington had been third on the depth chart behind rookie Matt Ryan, the third overall choice this year and Chris Redman.
And there were actions in addition to the cuts.
Kevin Faulk, the veteran third-down back for the Patriots, was suspended for one game and will forfeit two paychecks, the result of a no contest plea in July to misdemeanor marijuana charges in Lafayette, La. Faulk had been issued a summons for possession of marijuana at a Li’l Wayne concert at the Cajundome in February,
The same penalty was leveled on Baltimore cornerback Derrick Martin. According to a police report, Martin was cited and charged in July with possession of three small bags of marijuana at the Cleveland airport during a random TSA screening while attempting to board a flight.
And veteran running back Jesse Chatman, now with the New York Jets, was suspended for four games for violating the league’s steroid policy.
The New York Giants signed 44-year-old John Carney while Lawrence Tynes recovers from a knee injury, meaning they will have two kickers on the roster. They also kept just two quarterbacks, Eli Manning and David Carr, placing Anthony Wright on injured reserve with a back injury and cutting rookie Andre Woodson.
Pittsburgh placed backup quarterback Charlie Batch on injured reserve. He broke his collarbone in the Steelers’ exhibition opener and Pittsburgh signed veteran Byron Leftwich to take his place.
Philadelphia released defensive end Jerome McDougle, a one-time first-rounder plagued both by injuries both on and off the field. The Eagles also released veteran defensive tackle Montae Reagor and tight end Kris Wilson.
The Redskins cut punter Derrick Frost, choosing to keep rookie Durant Brooks, who they chose in the sixth round of the draft. Among the other veterans let go by Washington were wide receiver Billy McMullen and offensive tackle Todd Wade, who spent four years with Miami and two each with Houston and the Redskins.
Among Jacksonville’s 19 cuts were six veterans: QB Todd Bouman, RB Ciatrick Fason, LB Tony Gilbert, DT Jesse Mahelona, DE Kenny Pettway and DE Bo Schobel.
Baltimore cut quarterback Casey Bramlet, signed last week as insurance when Troy Smith was ill and Kyle Boller injured. The Ravens also released special teams ace Gary Stills.
Houston, which made most of its cuts on Friday, placed running back Chris Brown on injured reserve with back problems. That leaves the Texans with only Ahman Green, Chris Taylor and rookie Steve Slaton.
New Orleans cut Tyler Palko, its third-string QB, along with kick returner and wide receiver Skyler Green.
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