Training Camp Roundup: Aug. 29
BUCS RELEASE FOUR PLAYERS (7:02 p.m. ET)
The Buccaneers have released defensive end Jarriett Buie, defensive back DeAngelo Willingham and guard Julius Wilson. Receiver Kelly Campbell was waived as the club's roster was trimmed to 76 players.
Buie and Willingham were undrafted rookies signed by the Buccaneers this spring and Wilson has spent most of his two pro seasons on the practice squads in Miami and Tampa Bay.
Campbell has struggled with a quad injury since training camp began.
-- The Associated Press
RAIDERS SIGN O'NEILL, CUT HARRIS (5:13 p.m. ET)
The Raiders have brought back linebacker Chris O'Neill and released linebacker Napoleon Harris.
The team announced the moves before Saturday's exhibition game against New Orleans. O'Neill signed with the team as an undrafted tight end out of Boise State in the offseason. The Raiders moved him to linebacker before releasing him early in training camp.
Harris was brought back on Monday for a second stint with the Raiders that did not last long. Harris was a first-round pick by the Raiders in 2002 before being dealt to Minnesota in the deal that brought Randy Moss to Oakland in 2005.
-- The Associated Press
ALLEN, WILLIAMS TO PLAY FOR VIKINGS (4:13 p.m. ET)
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is expected to play Monday night at Houston after sitting out of Minnesota's last preseason game with a sprained ankle.
Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Saturday that he'll use all 11 starters for at least the first half against the Texans. That includes veteran defensive tackle Pat Williams, who was held out of the first two games for extra rest.
The league fined Allen $50,000 for his actions last November against Houston. The league ruled two of his hits against quarterback Matt Schaub were too low.
Schaub tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on one of the plays and missed 4½ games.
-- The Associated Press
TEXANS' MOLDEN TO RETURN FROM INJURY (4:09 p.m. ET)
Texans cornerback Antwaun Molden is ready to get back into a game after sitting out since December recovering from a broken ankle. With Jacques Reeves out with a broken leg and Dunta Robinson still holding out, the Texans need all the help they can get at the position.
Molden, who missed the first part of training camp finishing his recovery, is expected to play his first game since Dec. 14 when Houston hosts the Vikings on Monday night.
The Texans have been impressed with the play of rookies Brice McCain and Glover Quin, but coach Gary Kubiak likes the year of experience Molden adds to the group. A third-round draft pick in 2008, Molden appeared in 14 games last season and was second on the team with 19 special-teams tackles. Kubiak stressed what a contribution from Molden could mean to his team.
"It could be huge," Kubiak said. "It's not just that he's healthy, but he's a really fine player. He was playing well for us before he got hurt. So [it's a] great opportunity for him to crack a lineup, in a lot of ways. We've got young guys out there so it will be interesting to see how far he comes."
The Texans are looking forward to seeing Molden in a game, but Kubiak said that he won't play as much as the three quarters most of his starters will play. He wants to bring him along a bit slower because it's his first game back.
-- The Associated Press
SMITH RETIRES FROM 49ERS (2:37 p.m. ET)
Former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Marvel Smith has retired from the San Francisco 49ers after being plagued by back problems during training camp.
Smith missed practice Friday and the team announced his retirement Saturday. Coach Mike Singletary says Smith did not make the decision lightly and that the team appreciated he told them before the season started.
Smith won two Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh and made the Pro Bowl in 2004. Smith started 108 regular-season games with Pittsburgh but played only five games last season. He had surgery on his back in November and missed the Super Bowl.
Smith signed a two-year deal with San Francisco in the offseason. He was losing his battle for the starting right tackle job to Adam Snyder.
-- The Associated Press
BENGALS RELEASE FLETCHER (2:22 p.m. ET)
The Bengals released cornerback Jamar Fletcher, a ninth-year player who appeared in 11 games for them last season.
The Bengals also waived receiver Greg Orton of Purdue and defensive tackle Pernell Phillips of Central State (Ohio). Both signed as college free agents last spring.
Fletcher was a free agent after last season and re-signed with Cincinnati on Aug. 2.
In other Bengals news, progress has been made with holdout first-round pick Andre Smith's contract impasse. The Bengals and Smith are slated to talk again Sunday morning, and a deal is likely to be done in the next 24-48 hours.
-- ESPN's Adam Schefter and The Associated Press
DOLPHINS CUT FOUR (2:20 p.m. ET)
The Dolphins are getting closer to their final roster.
Receiver Anthony Armstrong and kicker Connor Barth were among four players waived by the Dolphins.
Armstrong spent last season on the practice squad and was considered a long shot at the beginning of training camp to make the final 53-man roster. Barth, a former North Carolina standout, was competing with Dan Carpenter for the starting kicker's job.
Defensive tackle Louis Ellis also was waived, and fullback Joe Kowalewski was waived injured.
-- The Associated Press



