Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he was closely monitoring the Lions’ kicking competition throughout the preseason, and they quickly snapped up Dave Rayner when Rayner lost the Lions job to Jason Hanson.
Said Cowboys QB Tony Romo of the youth movement on the offensive line, “We need these young guys to step up and play. . . . Obviously when you have new people there are going to be mistakes here and there.”
Dolphins RB Larry Johnson said, “I’m not really comfortable. And I never can be comfortable. Because like I said – you never know. I didn’t know I was going to get released in week two of last season.”
Said Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco, “I think it’s my third week. Let’s be realistic. It’s the highest levels of football. It’s not easy.”
Everyone else may be worried about the way Giants QB Eli Manning has played this preseason, but Manning says everyone should relax: “No one ever remembers what your preseason numbers are.”
Now that Eagles QB Michael Vick has his new contract, when does WR DeSean Jackson get his?
Eagles G Evan Mathis has rarely been a starter in his NFL career, but he always figured he’d start in Philadelphia.
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron wants everyone to have patience with WR Torrey Smith.
Asked if his defense is preparing to face the Colts with Peyton Manning in Week 1, Texans coach Gary Kubiak said, “We expect the Colts to be at their best, so you bet.”
Saints coach Sean Payton said Will Smith was excused from practice Tuesday because of a death in the family.
Asked about his offense struggling during the preseason, Jets coach Rex Ryan said, “We don’t prepare for preseason games. We’re not game-planning anyway.”
Those last three one-liners came from the transcripts of coaches’ press conferences distributed by the teams’ PR staffs.
After DE Alex Brown was cut by the Saints, he might be a good fit to return to the Bears.
The Browns have some tough decisions to make on their offensive line with G Eric Steinbach out for the season.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz said RB Jahvid Best will play in Thursday’s preseason finale at Buffalo.
It has taken Steelers G Doug Legursky a few years to overcome questions about whether he was too short to be an NFL offensive lineman.
New Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is happy with the results so far in the preseason.
Said Packers coach Mike McCarthy of the close of training camp, “As far as our last two weeks, I thought that was the way practice was supposed to look like. You couldn’t say that the first couple of weeks. I feel good about that.”
Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez realizes that if you can’t stay healthy, you can’t play in the NFL.
The Vikings like what they see in rookie LB Larry Dean.
When asked about struggling in pass coverage, Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny said, “You’re obviously referring to one play. . . . I got beat by Fred Jackson . . . there’s not too many linebackers that are going to win every time. I’m going to get beat again in coverage at some point in the year.”
Broncos LB Joe Mays serves as a reminder that not every decision Josh McDaniels made as the coach in Denver was a bad one.
The Chiefs are down to three experienced offensive tackles after Ryan O’Callaghan went on injured reserve.
Some folks in the Bay Area are wondering: Should the NFL consider alcohol-free stadiums?
Chargers LT Marcus McNeill returned to practice three weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery.
Rams WR Mike Sims-Walker says he and QB Sam Bradford have a lot of work to do: “It’s critical right now, man. We’re a little bit over a week away from the real deal. We’ve got to buckle down. . . . I don’t think me and Sam are where we want to be, especially with the timing thing. We’ve still got some work to do.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh says the 49ers have seven players who can start on the offensive line.