Updated Player News

As soon as the Texans released WR Eric Moulds prior to free agency, coach Gary Kubiak named Moulds' replacement. He didn't hesitate, and he didn't dismiss the question until training camp. Kubiak made it clear he wanted WR Kevin Walter as the No. 2 target for quarterback Matt Schaub. Walter should be considered a sleeper in your upcoming drafts.



New England Patriots' DE Marquise Hill spent much of his free time and his NFL paycheck helping loved ones rebuild in the hurricane-damaged city where he grew up. Aiding others came naturally to him, and distraught relatives on Monday said Hill died a hero after the former LSU star helped save the life of a former high school classmate who could not swim.



Indianapolis Colts' coaches and team officials, keenly aware of the importance of S Bob Sanders to their defensive efforts, will err on the side of caution in the offseason recovery of their standout free safety -- even if that means lightening his load in training camp. Sanders, when healthy, can be a IDP force as he is always around the ball.

Michael Bush - RB - Raiders Sidelined

Michael Bush is expected to be ready for full contact drills in two months.

Bush was originally hoping to be ready for June, but training camp is a more realistic goal. It's uncertain how close to "100%" he can be before the season, but the Oakland Tribune isn't sure if he'll be a big contributor until 2008.

Rookie RB Booker Impressing

Projected to have immediate impact on offense as runner-receiver

DAVIE, Fla. -- Shortly after Lorenzo Booker learned he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins, the Florida State running back became excited about learning nuances of the NFL game from Ricky Williams. Instead, he'll essentially be replacing Williams. Not only does Booker have the same locker that Williams occupied in the Dolphins' training complex, he's also likely be Ronnie Brown's backup in Miami's backfield and fill the role many expected Williams to have before his suspension for violating the league's drug policy was extended until at least September. And Williams' loss -- all indications are that the Dolphins will not welcome back the former NFL rushing champion when, or if, he is reinstated by the league -- appears to be Booker's gain. "I'd be lying if I said that I didn't anticipate getting more carries because of that," Booker said Friday. "But at the same time, I was looking forward to learning from him also. Regardless of what the guy does on his own time, he's a great football player and no one can take that from him. ... But, obviously, I'm excited about the opportunity to get more touches early." Brown is excited by that possibility, too. He wasted no time in beginning to forge a relationship with Booker, teaching him some of the lessons he's learned since he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Dolphins in 2005 -- and predicted Friday that the rookie will make an impact for Miami right away this season. "He's doing a great job," Brown said. "He came in and has been catching the ball real well, is learning a lot on the move. It'd be a lot for a lot of people, but he's taking everything in, isn't making a lot of mental mistakes and is getting better on a daily basis." (ESPN.com)

Williamson dropping the past

Vision exercises give receiver renewed confidence

Troy Williamson didn't need a vision specialist to read the handwriting on the wall. When the Vikings used three of their eight selections in last month's NFL draft on wide receivers, after signing Bobby Wade and Cortez Hankton in free agency, it was a clear sign that the competition had been ratcheted up at that position. "It's going to be good," Williamson said Thursday. "You've got a lot of young guys, a lot of people that love to work and love to compete. That's going to make it better for us. It's a situation where everybody ups their game to see how good they can be." Coming off a season in which his 11 drops tied for third-most in the NFL and two years removed from his arrival as a No. 1 draft choice, this could be a make-or-break season for Williamson, but new wide receivers coach George Stewart isn't buying it. "Not at all," Stewart said. "This is coach (Brad) Childress' second year. I'm here for the first year. Troy is talented. Make or break? By no stretch of the imagination. I'm not in position to make that call - that's up to the head coach and ownership - but Troy is doing a great job for us right now. He's working extremely hard, and hopefully he'll have a great season." (Pioneer Press)

Vick Linked As Dog Fighting Heavy

Allegedly bet 30-40K on dog fightingHe arrived at the hotel room, where our cameras were set up, in a T-shirt and jeans. "I'm nervous," he said, surveying our lights and camera equipment. "I've never done anything like this before." Our confidential source said he's been involved in dog fighting for more than 30 years. He has trained and fought -- by his estimation -- about 2,000 pit bulls and was poised to tell "Outside the Lines" about the time in 2000 when his dog squared off against a dog owned by someone he referred to as one of the "heavyweights" of the dog fighting world: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. "He's a pit bull fighter," the source said of Vick. "He's one of the ones that they call 'the big boys': that's who bets a large dollar. And they have the money to bet large money. As I'm talking about large money -- $30,000 to $40,000 -- even higher. He's one of the heavyweights." On April 25, authorities raided a house in Surry County, Va., owned by Vick and reportedly found -- among other things -- 66 dogs (most of which were pit bulls), a dog-fighting pit, bloodstained carpets and equipment commonly associated with dog fighting. Vick was not at the scene and denied knowledge of dog fighting at the property. To this point, no charges have been filed against him. But questions about Vick and his possible connection to dog fighting linger. This source -- who required anonymity as a condition of our interview -- has helped law enforcement by supplying information on dog fights that has led to dozens of felony arrests. "I've fought dogs, I pitted them, I bred them and I've done everything with them," said the source of his three decades in dog fighting. He then went on to describe the scene from that night seven years ago, as he took his 42-pound dog into the pit (the area dogs fight in) to face off against Vick's dog. He says Vick did not get into the pit but had a member of his entourage handle his dog while Vick placed bets with the 20 or so people in attendance. (ESPN.com)