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Training Camp Notes 8/6

·         Giants QB Eli Manning has reportedly agreed to a 7-year contract extension that's worth $106.9 million. Manning was entering the final year of his rookie deal. The new contract makes him the highest paid player (per year) in NFL history. Manning appeared in his 1st Pro Bowl last season after posting 21 TDs and only 10 INTs, but it's hard to justify paying anyone this much.

·         According to the Indianapolis Star, Colts RB Joseph Addai is in danger of losing his starting job to rookie Donald Brown. Brown will likely get ;every opportunity to earn significant playing time" in this offense. We kind of predicted this. Though it may still be a committee, we expect Brown to be taking the majority of the carries by mid-season.

·         After missing 6 practices with an undisclosed injury, WR Braylon Edwards practiced for the first time this morning. Observers at Browns camp reported that Edwards looked perfectly healthy all week while on the sidelines. It's still believed that it was an ankle injury, but now that he's returned and healthy we may never know.

·         Despite being limited with an Achilles injury, Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart has reportedly ;shown quickness and speed" thus far in camp. HC John Fox spoke of how he plans to handle his 2nd year stud throughout training camp: ;We'll do whatever is necessary medically with him. We don't want to wear him out and yet we still want to get him his reps and get him football ready. At this point right now, we're going one-a-day with him and we'll see how it goes." An Achilles injury is one that can linger, so we'll be keeping a close eye on Stewart.

·         The Chiefs have signed veteran WR Amani Toomer to bolster their WR corps. The longtime Giant worked out with the team Monday and is expected to join camp later this week. Toomer will likely fall in line as the team's #4 WR behind Dwayne Bowe, Mark Bradley, and Bobby Engram.

·         Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson said he thinks his knee should be 100% by the team's preseason opener on August 14th. Even still, HC Brad Childress noted that Jackson will be wearing a brace that ;will secure his knee a little more," which might limit his mobility. Jackson's injury makes it all but certain that Sage Rosenfels will get the first crack at the starting job.

·         According to Cowboys WRs Coach Ray Sherman, Patrick Crayton is in the lead for the team's #2 WR role. "Patrick is the guy right now," Sherman said. "Patrick is having a very good camp, and I think the guys are really in tune." Crayton is the veteran, so it's not a huge surprise he's getting the 1st crack at the job. We expected Austin to line up opposite Roy Williams week 1, and we're not budging. He's got plenty of time to make it happen.

·         Rookie RB Knowshon Moreno remains one of the nine 1st round holdouts this offseason. The Broncos were working ;feverishly" yesterday to get the RB a deal according to the Denver Post. If this lasts into next week we may have to trim the rookie's numbers a bit.

·         ** Steelers WR Hines Ward appears to be fully recovered from the shoulder surgery he underwent this offseason. The Steelers still plan to limit him in practice throughout training camp. He's not the same player that he once was, but he is a capable #3 WR in most formats.

·         49ers QB Alex Smith is reportedly showing a ;halting insecurity" on short and intermediate passes in training camp. Team beat writer Kevin Lynch thinks Shaun Hill has the inside track to start, but admits that could change very quickly. Don't expect this one to be decided until a couple games into the preseason.

·         Dolphins HC Tony Sparano says that RB Ricky Williams is ;physically ahead" of where he was a year ago. Reports out of Dolphins OTAs this spring were that Williams had looked slow, so this is a bit of a surprise. It could just be coach speak.

·         Falcons WR Harry Douglas is getting extra reps while his Pro Bowl teammate Roddy White holds out over a contract dispute. Douglas would be next in line to start if White's holdout lasts into the regular season. While that scenario is highly unlikely, contract talks with White have gone nowhere, so this is a situation worth monitoring.