The Charlotte Observer reports that Panthers WR Steve Smith is OK after leaping for a pass and getting tangled up with a defensive back. He landed awkwardly and stayed on the ground while trainers checked out his left knee. He got up and walked off the field under his own power. "Any time a player goes down, it's scary, especially when it's that guy, 2004 was flashing in front of my eyes," coach John Fox said....
NFL veteran RB Derrick Blaylock agreed to a two-year deal with the Redskins, according to the Washington Post. Blaylock got a tryout with the Redskins' rookies and apparently did enough to earn a spot on the training camp roster. He previously worked with Redskins assistant Al Saunders in Kansas City....
Kicker Billy Cundiff signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons after playing six games with New Orleans last season. Cundiff will compete with Aaron Elling for the kicking job. The Falcons tried punter Michael Koenen and veteran Morten Andersen at kicker last season. Cundiff missed his only attempt last season with New Orleans and was used primarily on kickoffs. He made 60 of 82 field-goal attempts with Dallas from 2002-05. Cundiff made a record-tying seven field goals in coach Bill Parcells' first victory with Dallas -- a 35-32 win over the Giants on Sept. 15, 2003. Cundiff set a Dallas record with a 56-yard field goal in 2005. He was 23 of 29 for Dallas in 2003 but was released by the Cowboys late in the 2005 season.....
JaMarcus Russell dropped back and fired a pass through tight coverage that hit fellow rookie Johnathan Holland between the 1 and the 8 on his jersey. The top pick with the rocket arm made an immediate impression on the Oakland Raiders in his first practice Friday. Russell's first day of practice showed off the inconsistencies that almost all rookies have when they make the transition to the NFL. He was able to drill spirals through tight coverage, but also fumbled two snaps from center, overthrew Jerry Porter on a deep pass down the sideline and missed the target on some shorter throws. Even though he didn't get a chance to heave the ball 80 yards like he supposedly is able, Russell's strong arm was the talk of the day among his new teammates. "It looks like someone hired a JUGS machine and put a jersey on it," Porter said. "Man, he can throw the ball. I see why he's the first overall."....
Titans rookie RB Chris Henry repeatedly showed off the 4.4-second speed he achieved in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in passing drills. He also displayed soft hands in a catch where he never broke stride, turning his head back over his left shoulder and pulling the ball in for a smooth reception. Henry will compete with LenDale White, the Titans' second-round pick of 2006, as the team looks for a new starter after releasing Travis Henry in March.....
Although Friday's first minicamp wasn't much more than glorified touch football, Chargers QB Philip Rivers ran around without any hint of the foot injury that put him in a cast following San Diego's stunning 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in their playoff opener. Rivers sprained his right foot in the regular-season finale against Arizona on Dec. 31 and aggravated it in the playoff loss. The injury kept him out of the Pro Bowl. Rivers said he was in a cast for six weeks and in a walking boot after that. "It feels good," Rivers said. "I wouldn't call it 100 percent, but there's no pain. It's a matter of retraining everything."....
Wearing his familiar No. 10, and a shiny orange helmet he had dreamed of buckling on since he was a kid, Quinn practiced for the first time as a pro quarterback as the Browns began a three-day camp for their draft picks and free agents. The 6-foot-3, 232-pounder made some crisp, short throws. He also had a few wobblers, one bad one that caught in the wind and flattened. "It's been awhile," he said. "There's always room for improvement."
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