Pittsburgh Steelers 09/06/2007 4:25 PMThe Post-Gazette reports before he coached in the NFL, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin spent a summer as a coaching intern with the Cleveland Browns under then-defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, now Cleveland's head coach. At the time, Tomlin was secondary coach at the University of Cincinnati. "He really provided the first window to me into this league," Tomlin said. "He was very good to me. He's a very bright, intelligent coach, specifically defensively. I'm in awe of the way he went about his job. It made me want to be part of this league."Read more
New York Jets 09/06/2007 4:23 PMThe Star-Ledger reports RB Thomas Jones looks and sounds ready to play in the New York Jets' season opener against the New England Patriots. The running back, acquired from Chicago in the offseason, has been practicing this week for the first time since straining his right calf on Aug. 12. "I feel a lot better than I felt the past couple of weeks," Jones said Wednesday in his first public comments since Aug. 10, when the Jets opened the preseason with a victory over Atlanta. "The trainers have done a really good job of trying to get me back on the field," he said. "I'm going to practice today, practice tomorrow and go into the game and see how it goes."Read more
Green Bay Packers 09/06/2007 4:18 PMThe Milwaukee Journal reports both RB Vernand Morency (knee) and RB Brandon Jackson (concussion) were somewhat limited in the amount of work they got Wednesday, but both were able to practice in full pads and take part in contact drills. Not so for newcomer RB Ryan Grant, who pulled a hamstring in practice Monday, and was limited in practice. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Grant was acquired Saturday in a trade with the New York Giants and practiced with the team Sunday and Monday. It's unlikely the Packers will suit him up against the Eagles, given how little he knows about the offense and his limited practice time. Jackson, who split carries evenly with Morency and rookie RB DeShawn Wynn in practice, declared himself ready to go, and HC Mike McCarthy said he would be surprised if the rookie wasn't ready. The news on Morency wasn't as definitive. Wednesday was his most complete practice since getting injured on the first day of training camp and McCarthy was unsure how his knee would react.Read more
Oakland Raiders 09/06/2007 4:13 PMNFL.com reports despite being evasive on the subject publicly, Raiders HC Lane Kiffin has decided on his starting quarterback for Oakland's season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, and the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that QB Josh McCown is expected to get the nod.Read more
