Training Camp Notebook: Olsen, Clayton and Moss updates
So when is the myth that we need four preseason games going to go away? Coaches will tell you they need that much time in order to get their players in sync for the season and to make those tough roster decisions. But how could this be true? The starters play very little, if at all. Did Norv Turner really need four weeks to learn that LaDainian Tomlinson looked very stylish in a baseball cap?
Clearly veterans don't need the time, even if they are working in a new system. Michael Strahan sat out all of training camp. That's not stopping him from jumping right into the swing of things. Giants.com reports that he is expected to take the practice field today and very well might play against Dallas this weekend. Similarly, The Denver Post says that newly signed Simeon Rice will be in action for the Broncos in time for Week 2. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Jeremiah Trotter just signed with Tampa Bay and may pay almost immediate dividends at the very least in a backup linebacker role.
So if the veterans aren't going to play, and really don't need more than a week to get going, then why have so many preseason games? Play a couple of scrimmages, two exhibition games, and then get going with a larger roster for a few weeks, allowing coaches to get down to size by Week 3. At the very least, you could extend the season to 17 games and let each team play one game at a neutral site. That would allow the NFL to have its trips to London and Mexico City and even Japan, yet not take away a home game from the fans. Just a thought.
• Greg Olsen's knee injury may not be as serious as once thought. Although he did not practice on Monday, coach Lovie Smith told the Chicago Tribune that the rookie tight end would be a game-time decision. So while you might not want to take the chance of putting him in your fantasy lineup this week, the good news is you don't have to feel like you wasted a draft pick on him, since he most likely will be putting up stats come Week 2.
• Mark Clayton was able to practice on Monday after missing the Ravens' last preseason game with a bad ankle. The Baltimore Sun reports that he seemed to be operating at full speed, which should be good news for Steve McNair, who might be looking over his shoulder. No, not at Kyle Boller, but at Byron Leftwich. The paper also reports that Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has had "a couple of small conversations" with Leftwich's agent. Baltimore's probably not the only team to be considering Leftwich, but as a quarterback, you'd probably feel a lot better about your position with the team if it wasn't.
• Randy Moss practiced in pads on Monday, according to the Hartford Courant, but coach Bill Belichick is still calling him "day-to-day." You never know which way the injury report will blow with the Patriots, but the fact that Moss is practicing probably means he is starting. Still, I'd lower my expectations until Moss gets a few live reps with Tom Brady under his belt.
A.J. Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
