INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning still thinks he can be ready for the Indianapolis Colts' regular-season opener. The rest of the preseason appears to be out.
Manning said Saturday he will use the next two weeks to get healthy from offseason neck surgery, a timeline that could put his streak of 227 consecutive starts in jeopardy.
"I certainly want to be out there, and it's hard to keep track of the hours I've spent in rehab," he said. "I was short-changed a little bit by the lockout and I'm going to need every bit of the next two weeks, and then I can give you more of an update with where I am."
The only four-time MVP in NFL history spoke at halftime of Saturday's second high school football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The annual tripleheader is hosted by the PeyBack Foundation, Manning's charity.
He underwent neck surgery in May to repair a nerve and has been on the Colts' physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp.
While Colts coach Jim Caldwell hasn't said when Manning might return to the practice field, it's clear there are concerns within the organization.
About 6 hours before Manning spoke, team owner Jim Irsay used his Twitter account to acknowledge there is a possibility the Colts will start the season without their No. 1 quarterback.
"We r evaluating the QB sitch,(hash)18 healing but we must 2 b prepared 4 early season possibility without him,defense has 2 pick it up,big time!," Irsay wrote.
Manning said he was unaware of Irsay's comments because he had been busy rehabbing. He signed a five-year, $90 million contract in July after the 4½-month lockout ended.
The notion of not having Manning line up behind center will undoubtedly make Colts fans cringe and, until now, seemed inconceivable.
Since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 draft, Manning has started all 208 regular-season games and 19 more in the playoffs, the second-longest streak for a quarterback in league history behind only Brett Favre.
But the recovery from the second operation on his neck in 15 months, has been slower than expected.
"I have made progress, but I still have some work to do," he said. "When I'm healthy enough, I'll be able to play."
The only other time one of his starts appeared to be in jeopardy was in 2008 when Manning needed two operations to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. He missed all of training camp and the entire preseason, then struggled early in the regular season before winning his third MVP award.
With Manning, the Colts have been a perennial Super Bowl contender.
Without him, well, the dream of becoming the first team to play an NFL title game in its home stadium would certainly take a hit. Indianapolis will host the upcoming Super Bowl.
Backup quarterback Curtis Painter has started both preseason games and has completed 8 of 16 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. In Friday night's 16-3 loss to Washington, Painter managed only one first down and couldn't get the offense past its 29-yard line despite playing the entire first half.
Painter hasn't played in a regular-season game since relieving Manning in the final two games of the 2009 season — after the Colts had already locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. His career numbers are 8 of 28 for 83 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a quarterback rating of 9.8.
The only other quarterbacks on the roster are Dan Orlovsky, who has played in 13 games in six NFL seasons — though none with the Colts — and undrafted rookie Mike Hartline.
Irsay quickly dispelled one possible move. The Colts won't select former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in Monday's supplemental draft.
"Not taking Pryor...what VET QB would u vote 4 to sign that's out there? If sum1 has 2 hold the fort early season,who u going with?" Irsay wrote.
But with only three weeks left until the opener, almost anybody the Colts bring in would have to learn on the fly. The Colts rely on lots of calls at the line with Manning, which is why they have traditionally relied on their own experienced quarterbacks, such as Painter and former Colts player Jim Sorgi, to fill in when Manning is not on the field.
When could Manning return? The Colts aren't saying.
During a conference call with reporters Saturday, Caldwell reiterated the point he's made since the Colts held their first training camp practice on Aug. 1 — it's up to the doctors.
"He's still caught in the same rehab mode, working extremely hard, as hard as he possibly can," Caldwell said. "The doctors, as of today, have not released anything."
Indianapolis had a practice scheduled for Friday afternoon but it was closed to reporters.
Afterward, Manning sped over to the Colts' home field for the prep games. He wore an orange and white striped shirt, jeans, and a baseball hat. He shook hands with students and school administrators, and even heard his name chanted.
The quarterback for Bishop Chatard wore a blue and white jersey with the No. 18, prompting some to wonder when they'd see the famous No. 18 back on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"It reminds me of how fortunate we are to play this game," Manning said. "They (the high school players) play this game because they love it, and I play because I love it."
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald have agreed to an eight-year deal that could pay the star receiver as much as $120 million, making it one of the richest deals in the NFL. The agreement, with guarantees near $50 million, is by far the biggest in the franchise's history.
Fitzgerald and team president Michael Bidwill appeared at a hastily called news conference Saturday night to announce the agreement.
Fitzgerald insisted he "hates this part of sports ," but he certainly has made a boatload of money. This is the third major contract he has signed, and he doesn't turn 28 until Aug. 31.
"Growing up, since I was 7 years old, this has been the game I love and something I have been so passionate about," Fitzgerald said, "and to have to talk about it on the business side is a little bit uncomfortable. But I am really happy to put it behind us and it wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the Bidwill family's hard work in making this thing happen."
The Cardinals had said they wanted Fitzgerald's new contract wrapped up by the start of the regular season, and they made it with two weeks to spare.
Bidwill, son of the team's owner Bill Bidwill, said the Cardinals' intent is to have Fitzgerald retire as a Cardinal "but not anytime soon."
Fitzgerald, the third overall park in the 2004 draft at the age of 19, spoke of the opportunity to spend his entire career with one team.
"It is an honor," he said. "I am so fortunate. Not many players have that opportunity but Michael has allowed me that opportunity and I just want to repay him with great effort and winning. That is what is important."
The 6-foot-3, 218 pound receiver has become the franchise's career leader in receptions with 613 and needs just 294 yards to surpass Roy Green for career yards receiving. In Arizona's surprise run to the Super Bowl in the 2008 season, Fitzgerald shattered most of the NFL playoff receiving records.
Fitzgerald has topped 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven NFL seasons, including the last four. He caught 90 passes for 1,137 yards last season even though Arizona had one of the worst offenses in the league while struggling to a 5-11 record, in large part because of poor quarterback play in the wake of the retirement of Kurt Warner.
While Fitzgerald said he never insisted the team make a big move for a quarterback — "I am not anyone to hold a hammer over anyone's head" — the Cardinals traded for Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles, then signed him to a five-year, $63 million contract, with $21 million guaranteed. Fitzgerald, who organized team workouts during the lockout, had a practice session with Kolb long before the trade.
Fitzgerald will be under contract to the Cardinals through the 2018 season. It is not known whether the deal contains the kind of terms that gave him huge leverage over the team under its current deal — specifically a ban on making him a franchise player and a no-trade clause.
The contract could have widespread ramifications around the NFL, particularly in the case of running back Chris Johnson, who is holding out for a new deal with the Tennessee Titans.
Johnson tweeted "congratulations to (at)LarryFitzgerald god is good" and Fitzgerald responded with "thanks CJ you up next my guy."
TEMPE, Ariz.. (AP) — Arizona rookie running back Ryan Williams will undergo surgery early next week to repair a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee.
The season-ending injury for the second-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech came in the Cardinals' 28-20 loss at Green Bay Friday night. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Saturday that the team will be looking to sign a running back soon, if only because one is needed to round out the reps in practice, then keep looking as other teams make roster cuts.
"I think that there's a couple of guys out there," Whisenhunt said, "but you've got to do some research as to their role and how are they going to accept that role, because that's important to your team."
Cardinals coaches had been impressed with Williams in training camp, with his hard-running style and ability to make cuts. His addition was a major reason the team was willing to trade Tim Hightower to the Washington Redskins.
"We were very excited about Ryan," Whisenhunt said. "We think he's a fabulous young player and we're looking forward to having him with our team as we go forward. It's unfortunate but whenever an opportunity ends for a player like that, an opportunity opens for another one."
Whisenhunt said there was no damage in the knee beyond the ruptured tendon.
"Hopefully we're looking at having them back before training camp next year," the coach said.
Williams was hurt in the third quarter when he landed awkwardly after being tackled from behind. It was the kind of occurrence that NFL coaches know all too well.
"You're so excited about a young man like Ryan and you build a relationship with him over a short time and you want to see him have success and that's put on hold a little bit. But just for the little time I've been around him, I know how hard he'll work to get back and rehab. He'll be back and doing a great job for us in the future, so you have that to hold on to. But that's part of the game."
Williams had been the No. 3 back behind starter Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling. The diminutive, exceedingly quick Stephens-Howling, though, is not the kind of power back that Wells and Williams are. The only other running back on the roster is second-year pro Alfonso Smith, who was on the practice squad last year.
Whisenhunt said he had been "very impressed" with Smith, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent a year ago out of Kentucky.
"He's grown and legitimately done a good job for us," the coach said, "so I'm excited to see how he handles this role. We'll obviously look and see what other opportunities may be available to us, but it's got to be the right fit because I think we have a pretty good chemistry going with our team and with that group."
Whisenhunt said Smith "did a nice job in protection last night."
"He's physical, he runs hard, he's got good speed," the coach said. 'As far as needing a back that has some zie that can pound it up in there, it appears that Alfonso has gotten comfortable with that, and and he's still got some good outside speed, too, and he does a good job on special teams."
The injury could mean an even bigger work load for Wells, who has reveled in being named the Cardinals' unquestioned No. 1 back.
"I think Beanie felt that there's more on his shoulders this year regardless of what the situation was," Whisenhunt said. "I think we saw it a little bit last night when he was running the football. I've heard some people say he ran angry which is good to see. "
Backup quarterback John Skelton sprained an ankle in the game.
"I don't know where he'll be," Whisenhunt said. "We'll have a better sense of that Monday or Tuesday.
The Cardinals head north to Flagstaff for the final four games of their training camp there, with the first practice on Monday. Arizona plays its first home preseason game Saturday night against Denver.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have perhaps the deepest and most talented group of receivers in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers already has Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson back from last year's Super Bowl-winning squad. Playmaking tight end Jermichael Finley is returning from a knee injury and is ready to make a big push for a new contract. Then the Packers took promising Kentucky wide receiver Randall Cobb in the second round of the draft.
There just doesn't seem to be any room on the roster for Chastin West — but that isn't stopping the unheralded wideout from stating his case.
West caught a 97-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Matt Flynn in the Packers' 28-20 preseason victory over Arizona at Lambeau Field on Friday, adding to what already has been a head-turning performance in training camp.
"I'm proud of Chastin," Rodgers said of West, who spent last season on the Packers' practice squad. "I think everybody saw toward the end of last year what kind of player he was becoming. He makes a strong case to be on this team. He's been making it since last year."
West is trying to win a roster spot, but knows nothing is guaranteed.
"I've just got to keep grinding," West said. "That's been my motto since the first week of camp."
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said West looks like an NFL player, and his big play Friday only solidified that.
"I think Chastin's having a good camp," McCarthy said. "He was in the league last year, so I wouldn't have any reason to think he wouldn't be in this year. That'll definitely help. It was just a three-step drop and Chastin did a good job of running an adjustment, and (Flynn) gave him a good ball and he finished it."
West, an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, signed with the Packers last April. He was waived in the final round of roster cuts and then added to the practice squad.
Rodgers began his Packers career working with practice squad players on the scout team in practice, and still enjoys watching those unheralded players prove themselves.
"I'm very happy for him," Rodgers said. "It's nice when you've got a guy like him making those big-time plays. He ran away from that guy."
Packers coaches already knew West could run routes and catch the ball, but he showed something new Friday — an unexpected burst of breakaway speed that got the best of a former college teammate.
"I don't feel bad, but it was on a former teammate," West said, referring to former Fresno State cornerback Desia Dunn. "I told him after the game, 'Sorry I had to run away from you.' I've never had a chance to run out in the open field like that before. So I told him my speed kicks in after the 40-yard dash."
West said he hasn't made a play quite like that since his Pop Warner days.
"In Pop Warner I had a 99-yarder but that wasn't as exciting," West said. "That might have been in front of six people. They had a gated fence there so I might have gotten some lacerations if I would've done the 'Lambeau Leap' there."
All three Packers quarterbacks walked away from Friday night's game impressed with West, including the one who threw him the ball.
"Chastin's had a great camp, and it showed," Flynn said. "He did a good job and showed some speed that we didn't know he had."
Graham Harrell said West has made a significant jump since last season.
"Chastin's had a great camp, and today was no different," Harrell said. "He's a really good player who's gotten a whole lot better from last year. He's played well for us."
And while West's solid camp performance could earn him a shot with another team if he doesn't make the Packers' final roster, he wants to stay in Green Bay.
"It's a great organization here," West said. "It's only my first organization but there's no question it's one of the best organizations in the league."
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Robby Felix was in a hospital bed nearly three years ago when he heard the four words that still seem unbelievable to him.
"You had a stroke," the New York Jets offensive lineman recalled being told by doctors.
It was a stunning diagnosis for a guy who was 22, had just played his last home game for the University of Texas-El Paso and was hoping to be among the top centers taken in the 2009 NFL draft.
"I knew strokes were for, like, old people and that they're pretty bad," Felix said. "But I never knew how bad."
Until that day in November 2008, when Felix stepped into the shower at his home two hours after the Miners beat SMU.
"The right side of my body went completely numb," he said. "I kind of blacked out, but caught myself somehow. I couldn't speak and I was just like, 'What the heck is going on?'"
Scared, he balanced himself on one leg, hopped out of the shower and managed to get to his wife, Kelly, who called 911. Felix stayed in the hospital for six days and underwent a battery of tests, unable to walk or talk.
"I didn't think I'd ever play football again," Felix said. "That's what the doctors said. Just to be at this point of where I am right now is pretty incredible. That was a pretty tough time in my life. It just kind of happened out of nowhere."
Today, Felix is hoping for a chance to stick with the Jets as a backup lineman and possibly fill the role vacated by Rob Turner, who broke his right leg in New York's preseason opener at Houston. He spent last season on the Jets' practice squad and will get an opportunity to further prove himself Sunday against Cincinnati as Nick Mangold's backup at center.
"When Rob went down, Robby just jumped right in there, like it was no big deal," coach Rex Ryan said. "You look at what he's been through in his life, it really is no big deal."
For about a year after the stroke, Felix thought about it all the time — especially when he took a shower.
"I'd have phantom symptoms," he said. "You know, like when you close your eyes and wash your hair, you kind of get unbalanced and I'd think 'stroke' every time."
Felix said doctors were never able to pinpoint what caused the blood clot in his brain. He felt fine during the SMU game. Felix wonders if all the ibuprofen he was taking for chronic shin splints was a factor.
Today, he has no residual effects from the stroke. He must take one aspirin tablet each day and stay well-hydrated as part of his daily regimen. Felix was told there's no guarantee he won't have another stroke, but that possibility is far from his mind now.
"This is my third camp and every day that goes by just pushes it further and further away," he said. "I just thank God for giving me this opportunity to be able to walk and talk and play football again."
At first, Felix could understand when people spoke to him, but he was unable to respond.
"I'd sit on the bed and just keep falling over to the right and I couldn't do anything about it," he said. "When I felt my arm, it was like I was touching someone else's arm."
The agents who once called him all the time stopped completely — except for former NFL lineman Billy Conaty, who Felix later hired.
"When he would call me, I would have to go sit in my room and turn everything off, stare at the floor and focus on what I wanted to say," Felix said. "It was broken English."
Car rides were a bit more interesting, too.
"My wife would be driving and I would read random signs out loud," he said. "I'd just blurt out things like 'Speed Limit: 25 mph' and 'No Left Turn.' My brain, I don't know what it was doing."
Felix went to a speech therapist, and he would read to his wife every night before he went to bed. He also drew inspiration from Tedy Bruschi, the former New England Patriots linebacker who suffered a stroke but returned to play again. Felix spoke to Bruschi several times and even read his book, getting through each sentence written by someone who had been where he was.
Felix also needed to regain control of his body. Despite everything he went through, Felix was determined to go to the NFL combine in Indianapolis, a mere three months after his stroke. He went to the TEST Football Academy in Martinsville, N.J., where trainer Brian Martin worked closely with him.
"We had to start him with obvious baby steps," Martin said. "When he came in, he could barely bench the bar. We were working a lot on his balance. The first four weeks or so, we were going to keep him in a separate group from our elite guys getting ready for the combine. But by the second week, Robby was sneaking into that group and we had to keep kicking him out."
The progress Felix made in eight weeks was remarkable, as he started to resemble the guy who anchored UTEP's offensive line. Martin said Felix was "probably a 1 or 2" on a scale of 1 to 10 when he first arrived, but left "as an 8 or a 9."
Felix, whose daughter Brooke was born while he was recovering, made it to the combine and drew terrific scores. But he went undrafted and heard from no teams for weeks. He was planning to work a construction job in California when Baltimore signed him.
He was among the Ravens' final cuts, but won a championship with Las Vegas of the United Football League. Felix got another chance at the NFL last September when the Jets signed him to their practice squad a few days after cutting him. He's back again this summer, looking to make the active roster.
"Oh my God, if you can't root for Robby Felix, you can't root for anything good in life," Martin said. "I wouldn't ever count him out and I'll tell you what, if I'm going to war, I want that guy in my foxhole."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Shaun Ellis spent 11 seasons chasing down the New England Patriots. On their side now, he's still trying to catch up.
Signed by the Patriots to a one-year deal earlier this month after 11 seasons with the New York Jets, Ellis participated in practice for the first time this preseason Saturday, a significant sign for a defensive line that has already appeared impressive.
By donning a helmet and joining his new teammates for sprints and stretches at the conclusion of the light workout that lasted just more than an hour, Ellis was officially removed from the preseason physically unable to perform list, meaning he cannot be placed on the list when the regular season begins. Ellis wouldn't delve into the specifics of his absence, only saying he needed to get into shape.
"I'm lifting weights, just running, extra conditioning, just trying to get caught up to speed with these guys," he said. "They've been running a lot, so I'm just trying to get caught up with them and get ready for the season."
Whether he plays in the Patriots' third preseason game at Detroit is still to be determined. New England coach Bill Belichick said that decision has yet to be made.
"Whatever Belichick's wanting me to do," Ellis said, "that's what I'm going to do."
Belichick was partially responsible for Ellis landing with the Jets in the first place. New York drafted the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder with the 12th overall selection of the 2000 draft, a pick the Jets received from the Patriots as compensation for plucking Belichick from New York.
Playing in all but six regular-season games throughout his career in New York, Ellis totaled 72½ sacks, his best season coming in 2003 when he had 12½ sacks with 69 tackles, 47 of them solo.
Despite recording just 4½ sacks and 36 tackles in 15 games last season, Ellis was still instrumental in the Jets' stunning 28-21 win over the Patriots in the AFC divisional playoffs, sacking quarterback Tom Brady twice in helping lead New York to its second straight AFC championship game.
Now on the other end of this fierce rivalry, Ellis isn't surprised by what he sees so far. After all, he was drafted by former Patriots coach Bill Parcells and played three seasons under former New England defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, also a former disciple of Belichick.
"I was born into this family with Parcells, being drafted by him and going through that period my rookie year, and going through it with Mangini, you had to get back into the swing of things," Ellis explained. "It's a lot different, definitely a lot different, but it's a good thing."
It didn't take too much convincing for the Patriots to land him, either.
"Just their winning attitude and how they go about things," he said of why he chose New England. "I've been on the other side for so long, you kind of respect what they do. I respect the New England Patriots. I did respect them. Once (Belichick) told me he wanted me here, I was like, 'Yeah, I'll come.' "
The Patriots, though, haven't appeared to miss Ellis too much in their first two preseason games. New England limited Jacksonville to 193 yards of total offense in a 47-12 rout in the opener and delivered an even more impressive encore Thursdaynight against Tampa Bay. Wreaking havoc all night, the Patriots held the Buccaneers to just 64 yards rushing and sacked Josh Freeman twice in the first quarter in a 31-14 win.
And to think, it all occurred without Ellis, in addition to mercurial defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, an offseason acquisition from the Washington Redskins who returned to the practice field Saturday to watch his teammates after being absent for most of training camp.
Belichick said Haynesworth is still day-to-day.
Andre Carter, another veteran defensive end in his first season with the Patriots who made an impact in Thursday's victory, also sees the early makings of a feared unit in Ellis, Haynesworth and three-time Pro Bowl player Vince Wilfork.
"I think the one thing that we have is a high level of character, just as far as on and off the field," Carter said. "I think when you have a great number of guys, it's not about ego, but it's guys coming together and willing to work and have a big sense of camaraderie. You can definitely go a long way . but like I told you, you got to earn it every play and every game."
Watching his teammates succeed, Ellis said, has only furthered his drive to become a part of it.
"Everybody knows when you start a defense, it starts up front. It's where it starts at. Then you go up to the linebackers, secondary," he said. "I think we got the potential to do great things with this defense."
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor has been pleased with the backups' performance while he's been out after left thumb surgery.
William Gay and Keenan Lewis started against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. First-year player Donovan Warren has had a good preseason. Taylor said he was still on schedule to return for the season opener at Baltimore.
"I've been working hard to stay in shape," he said.
The Steelers usually keep 10 defensive backs with six cornerbacks and four safeties. The four safeties are Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ryan Mundy and Will Allen. The regular starting corners, Taylor and Bryant McFadden, along with top reserve Gay should be locks since they are the only ones with experience. But the Steelers also like Warren and third-round pick Curtis Brown.
Warren did not finish practice Saturday because of a tight hip flexor, coach Mike Tomlin said.
"I feel like I've tried to make the most of my opportunities, maximizing my reps and doing what the coaches have asked me to do," Warren said. "I want to go out there and make plays to show the guys that I know this defense, that I'm not just a fast learner, but I also can play the game.
"So, I feel real comfortable in this defense now, the terminology, the chemistry with the guys. I've picked all that up already. So, that has allowed me to play a lot faster. All I have to do now is go out there and make some plays and get better each and every day."
Brown had a sore hamstring nearly all of training camp, but he practiced the previous week and played considerably against the Eagles.
"There's an opportunity for me at corner, but I still have a lot of work to get in," Brown said. "I missed a lot of time, obviously, but I just had to stay in the study room to learn my plays during that down time. Now, I'm back on the field and just trying to get my conditioning better so I can finish my practices.
"And it's starting to look good for me. So, I've just got to go out there and do what I can, contribute in any way that I can, like special teams or even reserve cornerback. But I don't care how, just as long as I can get on the field and contribute. Hopefully, I get even more time in this next game."
Notes: Tomlin said that left tackles Jonathan Scott (right knee) and Marcus Gilbert (right knee) were not seriously hurt and should be back soon, while OLB Jason Worilds (quad) could not finish practice. ... OL Doug Legursky did not practice due to a lower-body injury. ... K Shaun Suisham recently had a laparoscopic procedure to remove his appendix and hoped it would allow a quick return. ... Tomlin had the Steelers on the field for about 2 hours, 45 minutes, and then he hustled to Hempfield High School in Westmoreland County to watch Terrelle Pryor's workout for Monday's supplemental draft.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to terms with former first-round draft pick John McCargo on Saturday.
The 6-foot-2, 307-pound defensive tackle will sign after E.J. Wilson clears waivers and is placed on injured reserve. Wilson ruptured his Achilles' tendon in the first half Thursday night in a 31-14 preseason loss to the New England Patriots.
Having spent most of their premium picks in the last two drafts on defensive linemen, the Bucs still finished last in the NFC in sacks (26) and defensive yards per rush (4.7) in 2010.
Tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price were the top two picks in 2010, but Price played in only five games and is recovering from hamstring surgery. McCoy recovered from a training-camp shoulder injury to start Thursday night.
McCoy actually was the bright spot for us," coach Raheem Morris said. "He got off the ball great, he was very active with his hands. He missed one big play that could have prevented a big run, but he wasn't the reason.
"(Price) had a pretty good workout week this week. He's getting healthier. I mentioned he's about a month away (from being fully recovered) so we'll see where he is this week."
Frank Okam, the 350-pounder who started the final three games of the 2010 season, also started Thursday night because of a knee injury to Roy Miller, who might be able to play next Saturday night against the Miami Dolphins.
McCargo, the 26th overall pick in 2006, will become the second player drafted by the Buffalo Bills that year to sign with the Bucs within a week. Cornerback Ashton Youboty, Buffalo's third-round pick that year, signed with Tampa Bay on Monday and played against the Patriots.
McCargo played in all 16 games for the Bills in 2007, recording 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He has played in 12 games since then, only one last season.
After planning on a three-day weekend break, the Bucs scheduled an afternoon practice for Saturday, but it was rained out. They will try again Sunday morning.
DENVER (AP) — Brady Quinn has leapfrogged Tim Tebow, at least for one night. Denver Broncos football chief John Elway tweeted before Denver's game against the Buffalo Bills that Quinn will follow starter Kyle Orton on Saturday night.
More than an hour before kickoff, Elway tweeted: "Looking forward to seeing our QBs tonight. Tim went in after Kyle last week, and Brady will go second tonight. All competing."
The order is not a surprise. Quinn got most of the second-team work during practice this week, and this gives them comparable data when making a final decision.
Quinn didn't play a single snap during the regular season in 2010, when Tebow was usually the No. 2 quarterback so he could spell Orton occasionally and run special plays designed to capitalize on his running abilities.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles have re-signed veteran offensive lineman Reggie Wells.
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