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San Francisco 49ers: Niners linebacker Derek Smith said he'd like to take a physical shot at former teammate Terrell Owens and then took a verbal shot at the Eagles receiver, the Contra Costa Times reported Tuesday.

Smith told the paper the 49ers "were absolutely better off without" Owens and tabbed the receiver as a selfish player who promoted himself at the expense of the team.

"You put a bad apple in with a bunch of good apples, it's just a matter of time before the other apples spoil. That's my opinion," Smith told the paper, adding that he'd like to get a shot at Owens when the Niners visit the Eagles on Sunday.

"I'll prepare the same way that I do for any game, but I'd love to get a shot at him and I'm sure every defensive player would love to get a shot on him," Smith said. "I mean, he's a premier player. You get a shot on a premier player, it looks good."

Smith said his dislike for Owens peaked during the receiver's last season in San Francisco, in 2003, when T.O. was bothered by a groin injury much of the season and practiced minimally during the week so he would be able to play in games.

"I don't like the fact that someone is in there playing dominoes with their friends while we were out there practicing," Smith told the paper. "I didn't like the fact that they were in there sleeping on the rehab table while we were out there practicing. And then they just come out on Fridays because they think they're that good and they can come out and play. I didn't agree with any of that. I don't care who you are. No one is above the team.

"I don't think he'd fit in with this scheme [under new coach Mike Nolan]. I don't think he would fit in with this staff, personally. He'd do his own thing. I don't think he buys into anything but his own thing. I think we're better off without him. We're absolutely better off without him."

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts activated safety Mike Doss from the reserve-suspended list.

The NFL last week reduced Doss' suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy from two games to one. He will be available Sunday against Jacksonville, but coach Tony Dungy said he was not sure he'd play because of a groin injury.

To make room on roster, the Colts waived rookie offensive lineman Matt Ulrich. The Colts also waived offensive linemen Trevor Hutton and Clint Stickdom off the practice squad.

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals released center Shawn Lynch on Tuesday and placed fullback James Hodgins on injured reserve with a knee injury.

To fill their roster spots, the Cardinals signed tight end Teyo Johnson and re-signed middle linebacker Lester Towns.

They also re-signed tight end Andy Stokes to the practice squad and released safety Jermaine Hardy from the practice squad.

Lynch, obtained off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings last month, was the starting center in last Sunday's 42-19 season-opening loss to the New York Giants after injuries to three players above him on the depth chart.

Hodgins tore a ligament in his right knee in the Giants game and is out for the season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers cornerback Torrie Cox was jailed early Tuesday after being charged with driving under the influence, his second drunken driving arrest in nine months.

Cox was arrested by Tampa police at 3:19 a.m. after he refused a blood alcohol test. The third-year player also was arrested on a DUI charge last Dec. 4, and he was held out of a game against Atlanta the following day. It could not immediately be determined if that case is still pending.

"We have met with Torrie Cox regarding the seriousness of these charges," Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said. "We will continue to closely monitor this situation and cooperate with the investigation completely."

Cox is a reserve cornerback and one of the team's primary kick returners. He returned four kickoffs for 83 yards in Sunday's 24-13 season-opening victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He also made one tackle.

Chicago Bears: The Bears agreed to terms with offensive tackle John St. Clair and waived offensive tackle Marc Colombo to make room on the roster.

St. Clair, the St. Louis Rams' third-round draft pick in 2000, has started 30 of 46 career games during five seasons in the NFL. He started 14 games as right tackle in his first season with the Miami Dolphins in 2004, but went to a backup role at guard during the preseason before being waived on Sept. 7.

With the Rams, St. Clair started a career-high 16 games, including three at left tackle, in 2003. The 6-foot-6, 318-pounder from Virginia did not play during his first two NFL seasons.

Colombo was drafted in the first round by the Bears in 2002 and started seven of 18 games he played over four seasons with Chicago.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks signed veteran defensive end Rodney Bailey. To make room, the Seahawks released wide receiver Jerheme Urban.

Bailey spent last season on injured reserve with New England, after spending his first three years with Pittsburgh. Bailey has played in 48 games with one start, and has 39 tackles, 9½ sacks and one fumble recovery.

Urban spent his first two years with the Seahawks, and won a roster spot during a heated training camp competition this year. Last year, Urban played in six games, starting one, and caught six passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. He was on Seattle's practice squad during the 2003 season.

Urban was inactive for Seattle's opening loss at Jacksonville.

Washington Redskins: Former Maryland kicker Nick Novak signed Tuesday with the Redskins, who also cut kick returner Antonio Brown.

The Redskins needed a kicker after John Hall strained his quad in Sunday's 9-7 victory over the Chicago Bears. Hall hasn't been ruled out for Monday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys, but coach Joe Gibbs indicated it was unlikely Hall would be able to play.

Novak spent the preseason with the Chicago Bears. He is leading scorer in ACC history, having scored 393 points in four years with the Terrapins.

Novak becomes the 11th kicker on the Redskins regular season roster in just over five seasons. Three kickers were used last year because Hall had four separate leg injuries.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals signed fullback Nick Luchey on Tuesday, filling the spot of injured running back Kenny Watson.

The Bengals also signed guard Jonathan Clinkscale to their practice squad and released linebacker Derek Curry. Clinkscale played in four preseason games with Tampa Bay and was waived.

The Bengals drafted Luchey in the fifth round in 1999. He left Cincinnati as a free agent after the 2002 season, signing with Green Bay as an unrestricted free agent. He played in every game for the Packers last season, starting six. Primarily a blocker, Luchey carried 10 times and caught two passes.

Watson, a backup halfback and kick returner, had surgery for a torn muscle in his arm Monday and will miss the rest of the season.

New Orleans Saints: The Saints announced ticket prices and policies for the three games the team will play at the Alamodome in San Antonio and the four games in LSU's Tiger Stadium.

Tickets will run from $30 for end zone tickets in the terrace to $360 for prime sideline seats.

Saints Superdome ticket-holders have the right to apply their funds to tickets in the Alamodome or Tiger Stadium, or to apply credits toward the 2006 season, the team said.

A portion of all ticket sales will be applied to the team's Hurricane Katrina relief fund.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers cornerback Torrie Cox was jailed early Tuesday after being charged with driving under the influence, his second drunken driving arrest in nine months.

Cox was arrested by Tampa police at 3:19 a.m. after he refused a blood alcohol test. The third-year player also was arrested on a DUI charge Dec. 4, and he was held out of a game against Atlanta the following day. It could not immediately be determined if that case is still pending.

The Buccaneers had no immediate comment on the arrest.

Cox is a reserve cornerback and one of the team's primary kick returners. He returned four kickoffs for 83 yards in Sunday's 24-13 season-opening victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He also made one tackle.

Green Bay Packers: With Javon Walker likely out for the season with a torn ACL, the Packers are looking to find a receiver to fill the opening on the depth chart and contribute quickly.

Along those lines, the Packers are to audition free agent receiver Jerome Pathon, cut by the Seahawks in the preseason, and could sign him to a contract as early as Tuesday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

Pathon, 29, averaged 17.1 yards on 34 receptions for the Saints last season, but was released by New Orleans in March for salary cap reasons and didn't stick with the Seahawks this preseason. In seven seasons in the league, with the Colts and Saints, he has 259 career receptions for 3,332 yards and 15 touchdowns.

We're going to see," Packers general manager Ted Thompson told the paper. "I don't know how serious we are."

• Carroll loses starting CB job? Cornerback Ahmad Carroll told the Journal-Sentinel he was told in a meeting with coach Mike Sherman on Monday his penalties have become too much for the Packers to afford.

Carroll told the paper he likely won't be in the starting lineup at practice Wednesday or on Sunday against Cleveland.

"[Sherman] made it clear you can't be out there committing penalties," Carroll said. "So if I'm not starting this weekend that's the whole emphasis. He wants somebody out there who's not going to get penalties."

Carroll committed four penalties in the Packers' 17-3 loss to the Lions on Sunday; he'd been benched in the final preseason game against the Titans for committing two penalties in a three-play span.

Sherman said Carroll initiated the meeting and expressed regret for the penalties he committed.

"He said, 'I'm trying to do it the way you want it done,' " Sherman told the paper. " 'I don't want you to think I'm not listening to you and I'm sorry that it happened.' I said, 'That's fine, but we can't live this way.' "

Tennessee Titans: The Titans waived tackle Todd Williams to make room for veteran tackle Brad Hopkins, who served a one-game suspension during Sunday's opener at Pittsburgh.

Hopkins missed the final two exhibition games after having cartilage repaired in his right knee. Trainers working with Hopkins told coach Jeff Fisher last week that Hopkins should be ready to play Sunday against Baltimore.

The 12-year veteran served a one-game suspension by the NFL after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife, Ellen, when he grabbed her neck March 14 because she wouldn't stop talking on a cell phone.

Hopkins' absence forced the Titans to move rookie Michael Roos to left tackle and use Jacob Bell at right tackle. His return will allow the 6-foot-7 Roos to move back to right tackle.

Williams was a seventh-round pick in the 2003 draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback Charlie Batch returned to the Steelers on Tuesday after being released just before Sunday's game against Tennessee.

To make room for Batch on their 53-man roster, the Steelers released rookie free agent wide receiver Noah Washington from Tiffin University. The Steelers plan to put Washington on their practice squad unless he is claimed by another team.

Batch, the No. 3 quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Tommy Maddox, was released so the Steelers could activate rookie free agent linebacker Andre Frazier. Frazier was added after linebackers Clark Haggans and James Harrison were hurt in practice late last week. Neither player missed the game.

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals signed tight end Teyo Johnson and placed fullback James Hodgins on injured reserve.

Johnson, 23, played his first two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, compiling 23 catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns in 24 games, including six starts.

The 6-6 Johnson was a two-sport star while at Stanford, starring as a wide receiver for the football team and as a forward on the basketball team. He was selected in the second round of the 2003 draft by the Raiders.

Hodgins suffered a torn right ACL in the first quarter of Sunday's season-opening 42-19 loss to the New York Giants. He spent all of last season on IR with a shoulder injury.

The Cardinals also re-signed middle linebacker Lester Towns to the 53-man roster and released center Shawn Lynch.

Towns, 27, was released in the team's final roster cut on September 3. He spent four seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2000-03 and started 30 of 55 games, recording 227 tackles, five forced fumbles and one interception. Towns was out of football for the 2004 season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.