PACKERS: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is monitoring the ongoing rift between the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre.
A person with direct knowledge of Goodell’s interest said the commissioner has spoken with Packers management several times recently as tensions mounted between the three-time MVP and his team. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
… Also, draft picks Breno Giacomini (RT, Louisville), Matt Flynn (QB, LSU) and Brett Swain (WR, San Diego State) signed with the Packers.
SAINTS: Wide receiver Marques Colston, whose 168 catches are more than any NFL receiver through his first two seasons, agreed to a three-year extension that could keep him in New Orleans through the 2011 season, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.
BEARS: Devin Hester, who has electrified the NFL with 11 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, skipped Chicago’s first training camp practice in a holdout for a new contract. Hester, a two-time Pro Bowler, was placed on the Bears’ Reserve/Did Not Report list.
Hester wasn’t the only player missing the first day of drills. Center Olin Kreutz (Achilles’ tendon) and newly acquired running back Kevin Jones (knee) were placed on the physically unable to perform list, while defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek (calf) and guard Chester Adams (stomach) were put on the non-football injury list.
49ERS: San Francisco signed center Cody Wallace to a four-year contract on the day before players report to training camp. Wallace, a fourth-round pick and 107th overall, was an all-conference lineman at Texas A&M last season.
BILLS: Buffalo signed linebacker Alvin Bowen, the Bills’ fifth-round draft pick, a day before Bills players were to report for the start of training camp. Selected 147th overall out of Iowa State, Bowen led the nation with 155 tackles in 2006 and finished with nine sacks in 46 career games.
BRONCOS: Denver receiver Rod Smith is planning to hold a news conference today amid published reports he will retire. Smith’s agent, Jack Mills, confirmed the event but declined to give details.
BROWNS: Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker were placed on the active physically unable to perform list as Cleveland opened training camp. Jurevicius has had two operations on his right knee since the end of last season. His recovery took a major setback when he contracted a staph infection. The 33-year-old Tucker broke his hip during mini-camp in May and had surgery in June.
CHARGERS: San Diego released wide receiver Eric Parker two days before their first full-squad practice. The Chargers had been trying to trade Parker before veterans reported to camp today. Parker missed all of last season with a toe injury and became expendable after Chris Chambers was acquired in a midseason trade with Miami.
COLTS: Mike Pollak, Indianapolis’ top pick, and five other draft picks agreed to four-year deals, with Pollak expected to earn roughly $3 million. Besides signing Pollak, a college center taken 59th overall, the Colts also agreed to terms with fourth-round pick Jacob Tamme (TE, Kentucky); fifth-round pick Marcus Howard (DE, Georgia); two sixth-rounders — Steve Justice (OL, Wake Forrest) and Mike Hart (RB, Michigan); and seventh-rounder Jamey Richard (OL, Buffalo).
COWBOYS: Cornerback Orlando Scandrick signed a four-year contract with Dallas on Wednesday, becoming the first of the Cowboys’ draft picks to sign a contract. Scandrick, a fifth-round pick from Boise State, got a four-year deal worth about $1.85 million with a signing bonus of about $185,000.
LIONS: Tackle Gosder Cherilus agreed to terms on a five-year contract with Detroit. Cherilus was the 17th pick in April’s draft out of Boston College. He is expected to play right tackle for the Lions after being a left tackle in 2007.
PANTHERS: Carolina claimed tackle Charles Spencer off waivers from Houston and released offensive lineman Rueben Riley. Spencer hasn’t played in the NFL since breaking his leg during his rookie season in 2006. Riley spent last season on Carolina’s practice squad.
RAMS: St. Louis agreed to terms on a three-year contract with cornerback Justin King, the team’s fourth-round draft pick. King played at Penn State, where he was an all-Big Ten first-team selection in 2007.
… also, defensive end Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Wroten, entering his third season with the Rams, was suspended for four games last season.
TITANS: Tennessee agreed to terms with second-round pick defensive lineman Jason Jones. Jones had 14 sacks at Eastern Michigan where he started 36 of 45 games.
The Titans also announced they had waived five players, including former Seattle defensive end Bryce Fisher. They also waived linebacker Jerrell Freeman, receiver Jason Rivers, defensive tackle Eric Taylor and quarterback Paul Thompson.
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