Pro Football Fan Site

Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty is out for the season after tearing a left knee ligament during his NFL debut.

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed in principle to send veteran wide receiver Patrick Crayton to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for a late-round draft choice, according to Crayton’s agent, Fred Lyles. The trade is somewhat surprising since the Cowboys were likely to release Crayton and his $2 million 2010 salary Saturday afternoon.



It probably speaks to how much respect that Chargers coach Norv Turner has for Crayton. The Chargers are definitely the winners in this trade. The Cowboys will save some money, but they’ll lose a proven wide receiver. Crayton has been more productive than No. 2 receiver Roy Williams, and Dez Bryant didn’t get a snap in the preseason.



“Patrick is thrilled with this,” Lyles told the NFC East blog. “I don’t think there was a better situation out there.”



Lyles was given permission by the Cowboys to help facilitate the trade, and he immediately focused on the Chargers. With Vincent Jackson in a contract holdout and suspended for the first three games, Crayton should immediately be among the Chargers’ top three receivers. Turner still has a lot of friends in the Cowboys organization (see Jason Garrett), so I’m sure he got a good read on Crayton’s ability.

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets are supposed to be among the ranks of Super Bowl favorites. They sure didn’t look like it during the preseason.

As previously noted, Friday marks the start of a five-day whirlwind of player movement through the NFC North and the entire league. Teams have already started trimming their rosters in anticipation of Saturday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline, and they will continue making adjustments via trades, waiver-wire claims and free-agent signings up until they resume practicing in earnest next week. (For most teams, that day is Wednesday.)



I’ll do my best to collect the names that trickle out before Saturday’s official announcement and update them in this post. From an NFC North perspective, it appears the Bears are the only team that has gotten a head start.



The Bears will release safety Al Afalava, cornerback Cornelius Brown and linebacker Kelvin Smith, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Afalava started 13 games as a rookie last season, but was buried after a renovation of the position.



Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune reports the Bears will also release linebackers Tim Shaw and Kevin Malast. Receiver Freddie Barnes, cornerback Woodney Turenne, safety Quentin Scott and center Tim Walter will be released as well, according to the Tribune.

Bradley Handwerger writes that WWL Television has reported that Bobby McCray has said he’s been released by the New Orleans Saints.



Although McCray was a starter for much of last season and in the Super Bowl, this move isn’t a huge surprise. He already was released once earlier in the offseason, but came back at a much lower rate of pay this summer.



Although his reputation was as a pass-rusher, McCray had only 1.5 sacks last season. New Orleans has Will Smith set as one starter and Alex Brown appears ticketed for the other spot. Brown and Jimmy Wilkerson were signed as free agents and both are able to play the run as well as rush the passer.



The Saints haven’t announced any other roster moves yet. But McCray’s release could be a sign that Jeff Charleston and undrafted rookie Junior Gaulette may stay on the roster.



Also, there are reports that the Saints have released veteran running back Ladell Betts. He was battling Chris Ivory to be the third back behind Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. The release of Betts could be a sign that the knee injury Ivory suffered Thursday night might not be serious.

Reggie Wells was the odd man out on the Arizona Cardinals‘ offensive line after the team signed Alan Faneca to start and Rex Hadnot for depth.



Deuce Lutui‘s return as a restricted free agent created a stockpile.



Wells’ trade to the Philadelphia Eagles for a sixth-round draft choice hurts the Cardinals’ depth at guard, but they’ve still got plenty in reserve. Lutui is rounding into shape and looks like the best option to start at right guard, the position he manned in 2009, when Wells was at left guard.



Wells was to earn $2.4 million, a relatively high figure for a backup, and his play seemed to slip recently (a thumb injury might have been responsible for some of his struggles).



The Cardinals can now go into the season with Levi Brown at left tackle, Faneca at left guard, Lyle Sendlein at center, Lutui at right guard and Brandon Keith at right tackle. Wells projected as an emergency backup tackle as well, but Jeremy Bridges showed last season he can start there if needed.

Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made statements through the team following Roethlisberger’s reduced suspension to four games.



Here is what both had to say:



Ben Roethlisberger



“I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person. I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be, and exceeding what is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”



Art Rooney II



“Commissioner Goodell informed us today that Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension has been reduced to four games. Ben has done a good job this summer of growing as the person that he needs to be, both on and off the field. I am confident that Ben is committed to continuing in this positive direction. As a team, our focus is now on preparing for the regular season and getting off to a good start on opening weekend.”