Some news around the league....
ARIZONA Cardinals
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp, the team's leading rusher last season, will miss at least eight weeks with a broken left leg.
Cardinals coach Dennis Green said Shipp appeared to have dislocated his left ankle in the team's intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, but more X-rays revealed a broken fibula.
"We were hoping that would not be the case, but it looks like it probably will be," Green said Saturday. "We'll just take our time and make sure he's on the heal and on the mend and look at the rest of it later."
A team official said Saturday that Shipp will have a plate and screws inserted into the injured leg in a few days to stabilize the fracture, and additional surgery to add pins is expected.
BUFFALO Bills
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Four touchdowns, one big stiff-arm and a standing ovation: Not bad for Willis McGahee's first time competing in an NFL setting.
"Today was a good day," the Bills running back said Saturday after a scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns. "I was a little nervous on the first series, but after the second series, when I kind of got into a rhythm, everything went good for me."
Selected 23rd overall in the 2003 draft, the former University of Miami star missed all of last season recovering from reconstructive surgery on his left knee, which he hurt in the national championship game against Ohio State earlier that year.
GREEN BAY Packers
HOUSTON -- Despite a verbal olive branch of sorts from coach Mike Sherman earlier this week, the agent for holdout cornerback Mike McKenzie said here Friday that his client remains steadfast in his desire to be traded, even though Packers officials concede that they are not close to a deal.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus, in Houston to observe the combined practices of the Texans and Miami Dolphins this weekend, said he spoke to Sherman on Wednesday about McKenzie and that Sherman told him the team would welcome back the five-year veteran. But asked if he sensed any scenario under which McKenzie might return to the Packers for this or future seasons, Rosenhaus shook his head.
"No, none at all," Rosenhaus said. "He's pretty well dug in."
The Packers are receptive to trade offers but, for now at least, no one had made an offer that comes close to meeting Green Bay's demands. This spring the Packers were seeking a first-round pick and a middle-rounder for the 28-year-old McKenzie, a starter since his rookie season. It is not known if Green Bay has reduced its asking price.
SAINT LOUIS Rams
Jimmy Kennedy, the St. Louis Rams' No. 1 draft pick in 2003, broke his right foot during training camp and could miss the entire season.
The 330-pound defensive tackle was hurt Aug. 5 during a non-contact one-on-one pass-rush drill against the Chicago Bears. The Rams and Bears are holding joint practices through Aug. 7. Kennedy was planting his foot to make a cut when he went down.
The injury was not initially believed to be serious, but an exam after practice revealed the break. Kennedy will have surgery next week for a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot, the Rams said. He will be out three to four months.
CAROLINA Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Jake Delhomme connected with Brad Hoover on a 47-yard touchdown pass during a Carolina Panthers scrimmage Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
In the first part of the scrimmage, the first-team defense held the second-team offense to four consecutive three-and-outs. In those four series, the Panthers got to backup quarterback Rodney Peete twice and allowed him to complete only one pass. Defenders weren't allowed to touch the quarterback.
"I was kind of like the sacrificial lamb out there," Peete said. "I took one for the team."
Carolina's first-team offense led by Delhomme and Steve Smith then went against the second-team defense.
On the first possession, Delhomme led a four-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 47-yard strike down the middle to Hoover.
have a good read