Sports Betting Professor

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — On Friday the AFC North blog got its first look at the Cincinnati Bengals during their 2009 training camp.

The team practiced in shorts and will not do any heavy hitting until the weekend. But here are some observations from Friday's practice:

	(AP Photo/Al Behrman)
	Quarterback Carson Palmer will be watched closely in training camp.

• Let's start with a little contract news. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said there was no update on the progress of contract talks with first-round pick Andre Smith, who was a no-show for the opening of training camp. Second-year player Anthony Collins worked with the starters at right tackle in place of Smith.

• Starting quarterback Carson Palmer remains on a pitch count, but it will be divided and monitored closely over both practices when there's two-a-days. During minicamp, Palmer threw in the morning session and shut it down for the evening practice. But the coaching staff wants the quarterback and the first-team offense to maintain a rhythm throughout the summer.

• As advertised, Bengals veteran safety Roy Williams worked with the first-team defense Friday ahead of Chinedum Nduwke. The two are locked in one of the better position battles on the team.

• Speaking of Williams, he made the play of the day in team drills with a pick six off Palmer. Receiver Jerome Simpson dropped a slant across the middle and had the football bounce off his chest and into the hands of a sliding Williams. The safety then popped up quickly to take the football the other way for a score.

• Receiver Chad Ochocinco was a crowd favorite Friday. One woman in the stands screamed "I love you, Chad!" Ochocinco turned to the fan, signaled his hand next to his ear and said "Call me."

• It's easy to tell that rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga is getting antsy for full contact. On several occasions Friday, Maualuga put forth extra effort in wrapping up ball carriers in what was expected to be a low-contact day. In particular, Maualuga laid a pretty good shot on an unsuspecting Chris Henry when the receiver caught the ball in his area. The coaching staff may have to work on toning down Maualuga's aggressiveness against his own team in practice this summer. But for the Bengals, it beats the alternative.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

MANKATO, Minn. — Some notes and observations after Minnesota's first set of two-a-day practices:

• Owner Zygi Wilf joined coach Brad Childress in saying the team won't revisit the possibility of signing Hewhoshallnotbenamed if the legendary waffler changes his mind about playing this season. "No, no," Wilf said. He added: "We realize, like he did, that when training camp came around that it was in or out and we're very happy with what we have here."
• After much offseason hoopla about his weight, tailback Adrian Peterson said he reported at 220 pounds. That's three pounds over his listed weight from last year, but trust me when I tell you he doesn't look fat. Peterson said in February that he wanted to weigh 230 pounds when the season began. "One thing I learned is not to talk about my weight. It's something that you'll hear about all summer. … I feel like [220] is a pretty good weight if I can stay 220, in that range. I'm feeling good. I'm not feeling too heavy. I put on some good weight in the offseason."
• Rookie Phil Loadholt worked exclusively as the first-team right tackle throughout the day, while Ryan Cook split time between right tackle and center on the second team. Coach Brad Childress termed right tackle a "competition," but it seems pretty obvious who the prohibitive favorite is.
• The Vikings spent 25 minutes at the start of each practice working on special teams. That scheduling was notable coming after a season in which the Vikings gave up seven special teams touchdowns. It's not an unusual amount of time to spend on special teams, but its placement at the beginning of practice was symbolic — at least to me.

Check back in a bit for a look at the day's happenings in the NFC North.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

TAMPA, Fla. — The situation the Bucs spent much of the offseason bracing for appears to be playing out as expected. Guard Arron Sears was placed on the reserve/did not report list.

Sears had missed most of the offseason with what the Bucs continue to call a "private matter''. He didn't report to camp Friday. The move keeps Sears from counting against Tampa Bay's 80-man roster as long as he does not report to camp.

This move does not automatically put Sears down for the season. If he were to report, the Bucs could instantly add him to their roster at any time during camp. The Bucs aren't ruling out that possibility.

But, as they've done all along, they continue to prepare to go with Jeremy Zuttah starting in Sears' left guard spot.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Cardinals practice is beginning as I type, so I'll make this quick before heading out. A few notes from around the division:

• The 49ers placed defensive end Ray McDonald on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He still counts on the 80-man roster, but he cannot practice because he hasn't passed a physical examination. The 49ers also released guard Matt Huners.
• The Seahawks are expected to make an announcement on Mike Wahle's future. Seattle is beginning its first training camp practice of the summer now. First-round choice Aaron Curry has not yet signed and I haven't heard any indications that a deal is imminent.
• The Rams are holding their first camp practice of the Steve Spagnuolo era Friday. I'll be interested to hear what kind of tone is being set.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — When asked the last time he stepped foot on the practice field, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Robert Geathers had to think long and hard.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
A healthy Robert Geathers should boost a Bengals pass rush that registered only 17 sacks in 2008.

"Maybe October, or maybe November," Geathers said, unsure of the exact date. "So it's been a while."

Geathers suffered a severe knee injury on November 20 in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury resulted in microfracture surgery, which kept him out of all offseason workouts with the Bengals this spring.

But Geathers said he would make it back for the first day of training camp, and on Friday the sixth-year veteran was on the field getting reps with the first-team defense. Geathers seemed to move well and had decent explosion off the football in his first action in more than eight months.

"I feel good," Geathers said. "I'm free for the first day. I still got a ways to go to get my legs under me. But so far I don't think I'm that far off. We're still on schedule."

A healthy Geathers could be the missing link to the Bengals' defense.

Cincinnati, despite being ranked No. 12 defensively last season, recorded just 17 sacks in 16 games, which was tied for the second fewest in the NFL. Geathers had his best year in 2006 when he recorded 10.5 sacks, and it's an important year to see if he can return to form.

"Up front on the defensive line with me and Antwan Odom, we get paid to get to the quarterback," Geathers said. "So it's kind of embarrassing for us to only finish with 17 sacks [as a team]. For us to have a top-notch defense, getting to the quarterback is going to be a big key to that."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

	Courtesy of Jay Feely
	Kellen Clemens and Mark Sanchez chill.

CORTLAND, N.Y. — You gotta love Jay Feely.

The New York Jets kicker and raconteur snapped a funny photo after Friday morning's training camp practice at SUNY Cortland and posted it on his Twitter page.

The photo shows quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Mark Sanchez in the cold tub. Doesn't look like the rookie feels all that comfortable in there.

I'd love to see your best suggestions for a caption in the comments section below.

Be funny.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Fitzgerald

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Larry Fitzgerald appears to be applying the sky-high standards he sets for himself to the Cardinals as a whole. The Pro Bowl receiver used the term "mediocre" to describe Arizona's record last season.

The comment followed a reporter's question asking Fitzgerald what coach Ken Whisenhunt said to the team Thursday night as players gathered for training camp. Quarterback Kurt Warner answered a similar question a bit later. I'll pass along their answers.

Fitzgerald: "Don't forget what happened last year, but use it as an example of how close we were able to get and the hard work that it took for us to get there. We need to start that early because last year we were not a good football team. Nine and seven, that's very mediocre. I mean, we feel as though we are a 10-win team and we need to go out there and accomplish that and show people that we can do it."

Warner: "I think his biggest message was really about the fact that the thing we have to overcome now is everybody saying we're a one-year wonder or the team that loses the Super Bowl, they're going to fail the next year, and the mindset that last year we weren't supposed to accomplish the things that we did because everybody said this about us and said that.

"And look what we did. We proved everybody wrong. That was his message going into this year. 'This is what everybody is saying, this is what everybody expects, but we know we can prove people wrong and accomplish it and exceed expectations and that is what we have to do this year.'"

Speaking to reporters after practice, Whisenhunt said there's a different feel at practice this summer. He senses players are more confident following the Super Bowl run. But he also agrees with Fitzgerald, to a degree, in that the Cardinals have much to improve.

Whisenhunt: "We haven't had sustained success. We were a 9-7 football team that won the divisoin and played our best football at the end of the year. We've got a lot to prove and I'm excited about our team doing that."

A question for NFC West fans: Would you take a 9-7 record for your team this season, or would you rather take your chances? I suspect a Rams fan might take 9-7. What about the others? The manner in which the Cardinals finished 9-7 — after starting 7-3 — didn't allow them to enjoy it as much, at least until the playoffs.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

NAPA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders continued their slow-motion beginning to training camp in Friday's morning session.

The practices are glorified walk-throughs. The coaching staff is emphasizing teaching. Thus, the practices are more of an extension of the offseason than training camp. The Raiders, who started to practice Thursday, will continue this teaching session twice a day through Sunday. The hitting portion of camp begins Monday.

After the morning session, Oakland coach Tom Cable said he wouldn't be surprised if his team is raring to go when it's time to hit Monday. Cable said several players are asking questions on the field and he sees great benefits coming from the sessions. Cable said he used the same approach as the head coach at the University of Idaho.

Some of the players were skeptical when they were told of the plan in a team meeting Wednesday.

"I was wondering about it, but I really like it," said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. "It's about learning. We're really figuring things out."

Meanwhile, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly continued to have trouble with jumping offside Friday morning. He jumped offside three times Thursday and once Friday morning.

Cable said there is competition at right cornerback between starter Chris Johnson and Stanford Routt.

Receiver Javon Walker intrigued reporters Friday by saying he had an innovative medical procedure on his knee. Yet, he offered few details. Walker said he will reveal the details after he reaches the practice field, which he expects in a couple of weeks. Walker had offseason knee surgery.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

MANKATO, Minn. — One thing is clear about Tarvaris Jackson: He isn't pouting after an offseason in which his team nearly signed a new starting quarterback. Jackson was his usual even-keeled self as Minnesota took the practice field for the first time Friday morning. Afterwards, he insisted he had been through too many ups and downs in his short career to allow the Vikings' pursuit of Brett Favre to upset him.

	AP Photo/Jim Mone
	Tarvaris Jackson's familiarity with the Vikings' offense has given him an edge over Sage Rosenfels.

"I went through it last year," Jackson said. "It wasn't any different."

Indeed, the Vikings benched him after two games last season and named Gus Frerotte their permanent starter. Jackson eventually reclaimed the job after Frerotte injured his back, but the episode left Jackson and many other observers wondering whether he would ever develop into the Vikings' long-term starter.

I can't tell you that he is any closer to claiming that status after watching a typical Jackson performance Friday morning: A few ropes mixed in with some one-hoppers. But I can tell you Jackson has a sophisticated and, I think, accurate sense of where he stands with the organization: He knew he didn't have the team's full confidence before the Favre pursuit began, not because of it.

"It wasn't a celebration [when Favre declined the Vikings' overtures] as everyone was trying to make it," Jackson said. "I just want to come out here and work hard regardless of who is here."

The Vikings have been grooming Jackson since 2006, but injuries and poor performance have left him unable to complete a full NFL season. You'll be hard-pressed to find many people in the NFL who believe he can be a long-term starter, especially after coach Brad Childress — his primary backer — spent three months recruiting an alternative. Suddenly, Jackson is in the final year of his rookie contract and probably down to his last chance.

"He has some pretty good calluses built up," Childress said. "You get that way as a quarterback. It's high highs and low lows. And usually the highs aren't as high as the lows are low. But you've got to be able to take that as a quarterback. You know what? He does pretty well with that."

For what it's worth, I'd say Jackson has entered camp a bit ahead of competitor Sage Rosenfels, who still seems to be playing catch-up after arriving in a March trade. Receiver Bobby Wade said Rosenfels is "a slight step behind" because of Jackson's familiarity with the offense, and I think Rosenfels now understands that Minnesota's West Coast offense isn't as similar as he might have thought to the version he ran in Houston.

"A lot of the language is similar," Rosenfels said. "It would be like two people reading books. If it's in English, it's much easier to read and make sense out of it all. But there are a lot of differences, in my opinion, between this offense and the Houston offense."

Even Childress noted there is a bit of separation between the two from "the familiarity standpoint."

Said Childress: "Tarvaris has been through training camp and he has been through the installations more than Sage has. He probably has a little better understanding when we start, but Sage … will get up to speed very quickly."

I'm heading out to the Vikings' second practice in a bit and then will bring you some non-quarterback thoughts — and a division-wide roundup by early this evening.

NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert previews the upcoming season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Training camp at Northern Arizona University has a decidedly different feel now that the Cardinals are defending NFC champions.

What appeared to be 2,000 or more fans lined the fences and covered the hills along the two inhabitable sides of the lower practice fields. Perhaps 100 or 200 showed up for the first day of camp when Ken Whisenhunt took over as head coach before the 2007 season.

Winning changes everything.

A few quick observations from the morning practice before I run over to the lunch area for Whisenhunt's and Kurt Warner's media sessions:

• Larry Fitzgerald extending one hand to snatch a pass from Brian St. Pierre along the sideline. He does it regularly, but it's still fun to watch, particularly when lesser-known receivers such as Edward Gant dropped similar passes when using two hands.
• Cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and sometimes Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie trying to play the ball physically, only to have Fitzgerald catch it anyway.
• Stephen Spach participating without obvious limitations after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL. The tight end situation is so wide open that Dominique Byrd could seriously challenge for a roster spot. I watched Spach engage a big defensive lineman during in-line blocking, without buckling. That would seem to count as a positive for him.
• Steve Breaston was the most sure-handed punt returner out there. Michael Ray Garvin muffed two. Gant muffed one. Breaston turned and ran about 10 yards before snatching one punt over his shoulder, Willie Mays-style.
• The Cardinals aren't trying to beat up one another out there. They practice in a controlled manner. They will hold relatively few grueling two-a-day sessions. This is a veteran team. No need to get anyone hurt.
• Byrd made a nice grab while back-pedaling along the right sideline, but he was unable to keep his balance to gain additional yardage.
• Breaston ran right through the offensive line drills while running a deep pass pattern. Someone could have gotten hurt. No one did.
• Nose tackle Alan Branch does appear to be in better shape. Let's see how he holds up through a full camp.
• As noted, the receivers played the ball aggressively. Jerheme Urban beat Ralph Brown to a contested ball. The receivers are the Cardinals' strength and you see it repeatedly during practice.
• Fulback Dan Kreider left the field briefly after appearing shaken up. I'll ask Whisenhunt about what happened. Didn't appear serious.

That's all for now. Need to get over there for Whisenhunt and Warner.