From the Denver Post’s Bill Williamson.
In a stunning development, Broncos undrafted rookie free agent Mike Bell has catapulted into the starting lineup in Monday morning’s practice.
Bell has leapfrogged Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell. Bell remains the No. 2 back. Dayne has fallen from No. 1 to No. 3.
While it’s worth remembering that Terrell Davis was a lowly 6th round pick once upon a time, there’s also ample opportunity for Bell to stink up the joint and/or get hurt during the preseason.
Patriots S Rodney Harrison returned to action (well, practice) for the first time in nearly 11 months yesterday. The Globe’s Mike Reiss handled the interrogation with his usual aplomb.
The NFL Network announced that Bryant Gumbel will be joined by Dick Vermeil for game broadcasts this Autumn. That’s the coveted Adam Morrison/Joey Cora demographic all wrapped up, then.
I didn’t listen to Joe Benigno-Gazingo today, but I strongly suspect the below item featured prominently in his show. Unless Captain Red Ass’ marital woes took up 3 hours. From the Newark Star-Ledger’s Dave Hutchinson.
Before the NFL Draft last April, Jets running back Curtis Martin, his surgically-repaired right knee still bothering him, met with the Jets and told them they should strongly consider selecting a running back high in the draft because of his concern about his ability to play this season, a team official told The Star-Ledger yesterday.
“You know it has to be serious for Curtis to do something like that,” said the official, who requested anonymity because of coach Eric Mangini’s policy against discussing injuries. “That tells you a lot about Curtis. He’s always concerned about the team.”
Martin, a future Hall of Famer, underwent what was thought to be a routine arthroscopic surgery last December to clean out his knee but the knee hadn’t responded and still hasn’t. As the Jets enter their second full week of training camp today at Hofstra University, there is growing concern that Martin’s career is in jeopardy.
The Jets decided to draft Virginia left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson with the fourth pick overall and Ohio State center Nick Mangold at 29th overall. They didn’t draft a running back until the fourth round, selecting Florida State’s Leon Washington.
Martin, 33, has had surgery on his right knee the past two seasons. It is believed that a great deal of the cartilage in the knee is gone and that’s what is giving Martin trouble despite his well-documented threshold for pain.