ESPN NFL Training Camp 2008

BIG BEN, WOODLEY BOTHERED BY SORE GROIN (1:31 a.m. ET)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have finished an injury-filled opening week of training camp. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley are both sidelined with sore groins.

Woodley sat out the second of the team's two practices, while Roethlisberger took part in some 7-on-7 passing drills but skipped the rest of the two-hour workout.

Coach Mike Tomlin's word of the day: Precautionary.

Asked if he was worried Roethlisberger's injury might last past a couple of days, much like those of several other key starters, Tomlin replied, "No."

Still, the sideline was lined with starters at various times all week. They include safety Troy Polamalu, punter Daniel Sepulveda, guard Chris Kemoeatu, linebacker James Farrior, Roethlisberger and Woodley.

-- The Associated Press

SEAHAWKS STARS SIT OUT SCRIMMAGE (9:48 p.m. ET)

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was in for three plays Saturday and then watched the only full-scale scrimmage before preseason games begin Friday at Minnesota.

Fellow Pro Bowl stars Walter Jones and Patrick Kerney sat out the scrimmage. So did starting center Chris Spencer. All had shoulder operations in the offseason.

Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu mainly took part in position drills only Saturday because he's already banged up. Wide receiver Deion Branch was also on the sidelines as a spectator. The former Super Bowl MVP is coming off reconstructive knee surgery and may not be back for the opener Sept. 7 at Buffalo.

Starting defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs is still out following major knee surgery, though he may be back on the practice field next week. Defensive line neighbor Rocky Bernard is coming off surgery for a double hernia and watched most of Saturday's drills. Veteran defensive tackle Larry Tripplett, signed for depth, was out with a leg injury. Rookie fourth-round pick Red Bryant, expected to back up Bernard, had knee surgery Friday and confirmed he will miss a month.

Even punter Ryan Plackemeier, remained out with a torn pectoral muscle he injured lifting weights.

-- The Associated Press

HENNE IMPRESSES AS DOLPHINS QBS STRUGGLE (7:10 p.m. ET)

The Miami Dolphins are more than a week into training camp and their search for a starting quarterback is still a mess.

The Dolphins held their first scrimmage Saturday, though the best quarterback in the team's practice bubble might have been retired Hall of Famer Dan Marino. Neither of Miami's three quarterbacks -- Josh McCown, John Beck and rookie Chad Henne -- separated themselves from the pack.

If there's been any surprise in training camp at quarterback, it's been the play of Henne, the second-round pick out of Michigan. He's grasped the offense faster than expected, and has emerged as a serious contender to steal the starting job in training camp.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Henne is still making young mistakes, but he's been impressed with the rookie's poise.

"He doesn't say a whole lot that way but I like his presence in the huddle," Sparano said. "He seems kind of relaxed out there. It'll be interesting to see him when the game is on. I know this guy has played in bigger crowds than we'll play in front of."

-- The Associated Press

PATRIOTS SIGN OL STOKES (6:10 p.m. ET)

The New England Patriots have signed offensive lineman Barry Stokes and placed Anthony Clement on the injured reserve list with a knee injury.

Terms of the agreement with Stokes were not disclosed Saturday.

Stokes, 34, has played in 83 career games with 44 starts for the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions.

-- The Associated Press

RAVENS' HEAP LIMPS OFF FIELD (3:42 p.m. ET)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap limped off the field Saturday morning with a right calf injury.

His calf was wrapped as he left the field during the final minutes of practice. The injury did not initially appear to be serious.

Also, receiver Mark Clayton didn't practice because of a sprained right shoulder. He is no longer wearing a protective sling and took part in some exercises on the side.

Clayton said he would not rule out playing in the Ravens' preseason opener Thursday night against the New England Patriots.

-- The Associated Press

BILLS SIGN FREE AGENT LB SPRAGAN (2:15 p.m. ET)

With rookie linebacker Alvin Bowen lost for the foreseeable future, the Bills quickly signed free agent linebacker Donnie Spragan on Saturday.

"We met with him during the free agency period and we were all impressed with him," coach Dick Jauron said. "We know a good deal about him. We're probably a little bit fortunate and lucky that he's available."

Spragan, a seven-year veteran who spent the last three seasons with the Dolphins, will give the Bills some needed depth after Bowen sustained a serious right knee injury Friday during 7-on-7 drills. Jauron didn't have any update on Bowen's condition, but repeated the bleak assessment of an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament given a day earlier.

Spragan had 38 tackles last season, including 11 stops in Week 3 against the New York Jets. In 96 career games and 45 starts, the 6-foot-3, 242-pound Spragan has 277 tackles and 3½ sacks.

-- The Associated Press

EAGLES CANCEL PRACTICE AFTER WATER-MAIN BREAK (11:23 a.m. ET)

The Eagles' training-camp practice for Saturday was canceled after a water main ruptured near their practice fields in Lehigh, Pa.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the water-main break happened overnight at the A. Haigh Cundey Varsity House at Lehigh University next to the Whitehead Football Practice Fields on Lehigh's Goodman Campus.

An Eagles spokesman told the newspaper the break, discovered about 5 a.m. by an equipment manager, washed out adjacent practice fields, causing significant flooding in some areas. The break also cut off water to the Eagles' showers and training room.

KEY REDSKINS TO SIT FOR HALL OF FAME GAME (11:14 a.m. ET)

Newly acquired defensive end Jason Taylor is among several players for the Washington Redskins who won't play in Sunday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts in Canton, Ohio.

Redskins tailback Clinton Portis, Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels, starting middle linebacker London Fletcher will also not play, the Washington Post reported.

Coach Jim Zorn said the Redskins are also being cautious with cornerback Carlos Rogers and linebacker Rocky McIntosh, both of whom are coming back from season-ending knee surgery, according to the Post.

CHIEFS ROOKIE OT ALBERT OUT WITH SPRAINED FOOT (11:07 a.m. ET)

Chiefs rookie offensive tackle Branden Albert has sprained his foot and could miss the rest of training camp, the Kansas City Star reported.

Albert, who coach Herm Edwards said is day to day, was unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears in Chicago.

"I'd say he's more out than in," Edwards said, according to the Star. "He'll have to rest it and see where he's at right now."

The Chiefs first said the injury to the first-round pick was a sprained ankle.

Albert was injured in a Thursday practice with the Minnesota Vikings.

AGENT SAYS EAGLES' SHEPPARD WANTS NEW DEAL (10:51 a.m. ET)

Lito Sheppard's new agent didn't waste any time making a case for the Eagles' cornerback to land a reworked contract.

Less than a week after Eagles cornerback All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel strained a hamstring, agent Drew Rosenhaus surfaced in an online video saying he and Sheppard, who had previously been rendered a possible backup with Samuel's signing, "have talked to the Eagles and would like to work out a contract with them."

"Oh yeah?" Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowler, said Friday as he walked off the field from the morning practice, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. "That's good work by Drew, then."

Sheppard, who has played alongside cornerback Sheldon Brown in camp since Samuel went down with the injury, is signed with the Eagles through 2011 with a base salary of $2 millon this season.

"I'm not going to categorize the Eagles and their position, but there's a sense of urgency on our end," Rosenhaus, whom Sheppard hired before training camp started, told The Inquirer.