Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain in Cutting Trotter

The word "surprise" was splashed all over headlines following the Eagles' release of popular veteran MLB Jeremiah Trotter. But anyone who follows the team closely, or watched Trotter get abused in coverage last season, saw this move coming for months.

First there was the trade for Takeo Spikes. Not only is he a proven veteran playmaker, but Spikes brings the lockerroom leadership the Eagles knew they'd eventually have to replace when cutting the cord with Trotter. And it didn't hurt that he has experience at all three linebacker spots -- including the middle.

For now, the man in the middle will be second-year pro Omar Gaither, a fifth-round pick who was impressive after supplanting disappointing Matt McCoy on the weak side for the final five games last season. In case Gaither stumbles, the Eagles have third-round rookie Stewart Bradley taking snaps in the middle after spending most of his time at Nebraska patrolling the strong side. Gaither will be flanked by Spikes on the weak side and mostly likely second-year player Chris Gocong on the strong side.

So while the exact timing of Trotter's release might have caught some by surprise, the Eagles are well-stocked to move on. He claimed to have lost nine pounds since last season, but Trotter still isn't the smaller, quicker, more agile middle linebacker needed in today's NFL.

The team was wise to make the move now, giving Trotter's teammates time to digest, complain a bit to the media and move on from losing a friend and team leader. Much better now than having that distracting during final cuts leading into Week 1, when the games count.

Honeymoon Period Ends for Levi

Injuries have already hit the Cardinals hard, as outside linebacker Chike Okeafor and right tackle Oliver Ross could be facing season-ending injuries.

Okeafor has a torn left biceps suffered in the preseason opener. He's seeking a second opinion, but could well be done for the year. That leaves Darryl Blackstock and Calvin Pace to compete for Okeafor's starting job.

The Cardinals are a bit more prepared for Ross' injury. He was trying to fight over first-round pick Levi Brown when he tore his left triceps in practice last week. Ross tried to play in the preseason opener, but felt weakness in the area. He, too, is seeking a second opinion before being shut down for season-ending surgery.

Meanwhile, Brown is now vaulted in the starting job on the right side after playing the left side at Penn State. The Cardinals are giving him the best crash course they can -- pitting the No. 5 overall pick against the team's top pass rusher, Bertrand Berry, in pass-rushing drills.

While Brown certainly has work to do on his pass blocking, his strength coming out of college was his ability to block downfield. That has already been apparent, and the change from Ross to Brown might actually be an upgrade in front of RB Edgerrin James.

Injuries Already Threaten Eagles

The Eagles are a popular pick to be a serious contender in the parity-clustered NFC. But with the teams stacked so closely, injuries are already threatening to put Philadelphia in tenuous situation to kick off the season.

Three key starters -- right guard Shawn Andrews, tight end L.J. Smith and free safety Brian Dawkins -- are all dealing with injuries that could keep them out of the season opener in Green Bay. The Eagles should be able to get past the Packers minus all or part of the trio, but ensuing games against Washington, Detroit and at the Giants leading into the team's bye week will be more difficult short-handed.

Andrews is emerging as one of the best guards in the league, but is likely to miss at least the preseason schedule with a right ankle injury. And his backup, Scott Young, is out indefinitely with a sprained right knee.

Smith's injury might be even more concerning. He had offseason surgery for a sports hernia -- yes, the same injury that landed quarterback Donovan McNabb on injured reserve in 2005. Smith went down in practice last week with what the team is calling a groin injury, but it's eerily close to where the sports hernia stemmed from.

Dawkins is bothered by Achilles tendinitis, which has kept him out of practice since the first day of camp. He figures to be bothered by the injury all season, which is certainly a concern for a 34-year-old and leaves him more susceptible to rupturing the tendon. Dawkins is the leader of the secondary and arguably the team's most indispensable defender.

Minter's Retirement Will Hit Panthers Hard

Sitting with the 25th overall pick in last April's draft, there was widespread belief the Panthers were crossing their fingers Florida FS Reggie Nelson would somehow fall into their laps. Even Miami's Brandon Meriweather would be a strong fall-back option with the front office knowing veteran Mike Minter was on his last legs.

Nelson went No. 21 to Jacksonville and New England scooped up Meriweather with the pick directly in front of Carolina. The Panthers wound up not selecting a safety with any of their first seven picks -- waiting until the seventh round to pick up Baylor DB C.J. Wilson with the 226th overall selection.

Wilson got some reps with the first team last week, and is suddenly in the mix for significant playing time after Minter reportedly decided to retire due to his chronic knee pain. Clearly, the Panthers are in a very precarious situation with their last line of defense. They picked up SS Chris Harris from Chicago last week, but free safety is a major concern.

Nate Salley, a fourth-round pick who was originally cut in training camp last year, is the leading candidate to replace Minter. He also missed practice time last week, and the only other real candidate on the roster is Deke Cooper, a journeyman safety in his second stint with the Panthers.

So now Carolina is left with a strong safety getting a crash course in the defense and a gigantic question mark at free safety. The Panthers better hope they get one heck of a season out of DE Julius Peppers making sure quarterbacks don't have time to attack the secondary deep.

Injuries Threaten To Derail AFC Contenders

Denver and San Diego have two of the better loaded rosters in the AFC, and they are expected to duke it out for AFC West supremacy -- maybe even for the conference championship.

For all they have in common, they also share a significant and growing concern.

The Broncos and Chargers entered training camp very thin at the receiver spot, which certainly isn't ideal with a second-year quarterback at the helm -- as both teams have.

The Chargers' situation got even worse when Eric Parker, the team's only established veteran receiver, was lost for 10 weeks to a broken toe. That cranks up the pressure on rookie first-round pick Craig Davis to push for the starting spot opposite Vincent Jackson sooner than later. And regardless, depth will be very thin until Parker returns.

Meanwhile, the Broncos were counting on Brandon Marshall to fill Rod Smith's shoes opposite Javon Walker. After being bothered by a quadriceps injury during minicamp practices, Marshall has continued to be sidelined by the injury during training camp.

Like the Chargers, the Broncos' options are fairly limited. They signed veteran Brandon Stokley to serve as the third receiver, and there isn't a legitimate NFL starter among Domenik Hixon, Brian Clark, David Kircus and Quincy Morgan.

Rookie QBs Losing Traction

With each day that their respective holdouts drag on, Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell and Browns QB Brady Quinn are quickly dashing any hopes that they can make an impact for their teams in 2007.

While Quinn is widely believed to have an advantage in picking up and NFL offense because of his time with Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, Russell is considered a ridiculously talented, but very raw, product who was going to struggle to make an impact as a rookie to begin with. Now whenever his holdout ends, Russell is going to have a bigger uphill battle to climb after Daunte Culpepper was added to the mix along with Josh McCown and Andrew Walter.

"(Russell is) obviously the quarterback of this team in the future," Culpepper said. "I feel I'm here for a reason, No. 1, to help this team, and also help him any way I can."

Quinn has a pair of his own veterans to leap-frog once he gets back on the field for the Browns. Derek Anderson appears to have a slight edge over Charlie Frye to start the season opener, but Quinn is losing valuable practice reps to both.

Chargers' Gates Hurt Most By Parker's Injury

WR Eric Parker's surgery to repair a broken bone near his big toe didn't make major headlines, but it could put a major crimp in the Chargers' Super Bowl aspirations. Already lacking proven veteran receivers, Parker was expected to start opposite Vincent Jackson at least until rookie Craig Davis was able to learn the offense enough to push for a starting role.

Now with Parker out for up to 10 weeks, the Chargers have to hope Davis and fellow youngster Malcom Floyd can speed up their development. If not, the Chargers will again struggle to instill enough fear in defenses to prevent them from constantly double-teaming TE Antonio Gates. It's also a bad sign for QB Philip Rivers, who loses his steadiest outside receiver.

Rice, Titans Need Each Other

DE Simeon Rice continued his free-agent tour Friday by visiting the Titans, a team that makes far more sense as a landing spot than the Giants. Rice was in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, but Rice is a right end pass-rushing specialist -- the spot occupied by the talented Osi Umenyiora for the Giants.

Meanwhile, the Titans are in desperate need of a pass-rushing threat on the right side. Kyle Vanden Bosch faced constant double-teams in passing situations last season, and the Titans are currently leaning on unproven Travis LaBoy and journeyman DeQuincy Scott.

Rice left town Friday as Titans coach Jeff Fisher awaited the results of his physical. Rice is expected to visit with other teams -- the Redskins among those rumored to be interested -- but Tennessee certainly makes a lot of sense at this point.

Johnson In Camp, Ready To Roll

WR Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 overall pick by the Lions, ended his eight-day holdout and reported to training camp Friday with a six-year contract in hand. Don't expect it to take much time for Johnson to get up to speed and make a major impact on the offense.

Granted, coordinator Mike Martz's scheme is probably the most difficult for receivers to master because of all the options they are presented with in routes. But Johnson was the most NFL-ready player in the draft, and Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey gushed about his work ethic and extremely high football IQ.

Johnson won't experience nearly the setback likely to be felt by OT Levi Brown, who signed with Arizona on Thursday night, or unsigned No. 1 overall pick QB JaMarcus Russell. It has been a damaging week for Russell, who watched the Raiders sign Daunte Culpepper. However, with Johnson under contract, expect negotiations to pick up now that both sides have a barometer.

Moss' Sore Hammy Worth Watching Closely

WR Randy Moss was having an outstanding start to training camp by all accounts, until he pulled up lame with a left hamstring injury while sprinting downfield Wednesday. He sat out Thursday's practice and was called day-to-day by always tight-lipped coach Bill Belichick.

The good news for the Patriots is Moss walked off the field under his own power with the leg wrapped. But the concerning aspect is a continuing trend of nagging injuries for the 30-year-old receiver. While he missed just four games in two years with Oakland, he was slowed late last season by an ankle injury and played through groin, knee and rib injuries in 2005.

While the hamstring doesn't appear to be a serious setback at this point, any hint of a trend of leg problems for a receiver entering his 30s who relies heavily on his game-breaking speed has to be a major concern for Belichick & Co.