Projo Pats Blog

Kevin O'Connell, the Patriots' 2008 third-round draft choice who was released this week, is now officially considered a draft bust in New England, but he drew lots of interest after being cut free from Foxboro. O'Connell has signed with the Detroit Lions, but there are reports that the Broncos, the Browns and the Jets all put in claims.

-Andrew Walter, who figures to receive extended playing time in Thursday's preseason finale, says he has long craved the stability that exists with the Patriots franchise, after laboring in the Oakland zoo for the last four years.

-In his latest look at who may be on the Patriots' final 53-man roster, the Globe's Mike Reiss has Paris Lenon on the outside looking in, Terrence Wheatley in a fight for a position in the defensive backfield, and the Eagles keeping an eye on the Patriots' tight end competition.

-The Jets might be adding a big weapon for rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. According to Newsday, the team is strongly considering a deal that would bring disgruntled Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall to New York. Broncos sources have said, however, that there has been no contact with the Jets up to this point, according to ESPN.

-Denver head coach Josh McDaniels says he hopes that either Kyle Orton (dislocated right finger) or Chris Simms (high ankle sprain) will be ready to play in the season opener, but there is a chance that both may not be ready. That leaves sixth-round draft pick Tom Brandstater and fourth-stringer Ingle Martin on the team's depth chart.

-Redskins running back Clinton Portis, who has a chance to overtake John Riggins' franchise rushing record this season, said that Riggins' achievements were largely due to the great offensive players who surrounded him in Washington: "That was really not hard to be a great running back when you've got that talent all around you. I think they just had great teams, you know." Portis has had something of a running feud with Riggins, a radio commentator who has accused Portis of being a "headache" for the franchise.

-The Redskins have admitted that their ticket office sold thousands of general-admission tickets to brokers in violation of team rules, which is somewhat scandalous since the team claims that its waiting list for general-admission tickets contains 160,000 names.

-Just two days after ending a month-long holdout, Bengals first-round draft pick Andre Smith fractured his foot in a noncontact drill and is out for an indefinite period of time. Smith reportedly came in over the 350-pound weight limit that the team put into his contract (according to ESPN's James Walker), which if true means Smith may have to forfeit a portion of his hefty salary.

-The Charlotte Observer reports that long-running disputes between brothers Mark and Jon Richardson led both me to resign from upper management of the Carolina Panthers, the team owned by their father, Jerry Richardson, who decided that the best thing for the organization was for both of his sons to leave.

-Quarterback Brian Brohm, taken by the Packers in the second round of last year's draft, could be in danger of a cut if he does not perform well in Green Bay's final preseason game tomorrow at Tennessee.

-Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha plans to play in the regular-season opener despite a chip fracture with cartilage damage that he has suffered in one wrist.

-Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo reportedly has a new celebrity girlfriend: former Miss Missouri Candace Crawford. Well, at least she's related to a celebrity: "Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford.

-Dolphins running back Ricky Williams says he has signed a contract extension that will keep him with Miami through next season, at which point he plans to retire.

-The Chiefs have cut veteran wide receiver Amani Toomer.

-ESPN the Magazine is predicting a Chargers-Giants Super Bowl.

 Tags  Football Today Kevin O'Connell

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