THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Fullback Matt Quillen became the third player to quit the Miami Dolphins' training camp in Davie, Fla., and coach Tony Sparano conceded that he could be the reason for the defections.
"It might be me," Sparano said with a chuckle yesterday. "I'm not for everybody."
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All of the players who have left were long shots to make the team. Quillen signed Thursday and lasted only one practice.
The Dolphins replaced Quillen on the roster by signing receiver James Robinson, who played last year for Toronto of the Canadian Football League.
Tackle SirVincent Rogers and safety Ethan Kilmer, a former Penn State player, left camp earlier.
Giants. David Tyree's helmet helped him make "The Catch" during the New York Giants' Super Bowl upset of the New England Patriots in 2008.
But it is not always his friend. He threw his headgear to the ground yesterday, frustrated after dropping two straight passes during training camp in Albany, N.Y.
"A lot of frustration, man. Not happy with my performance, flat out. Not ashamed to say it," he said.
Tyree, who has not played since the game that made him famous, is trying to come back from injuries that cost him the 2008 season. He had knee surgery after the Super Bowl and was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list when training camp opened last year. A hamstring injury kept him on the sideline, and the Giants placed him on injured reserve in early November.
Lions. Defensive end Jared DeVries was lost for the season after he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at practice in Allen Park, Mich. He will need surgery.
DeVries started 29 games in the last three seasons for the Lions.
Rams. St. Louis will be without No. 1 wide receiver Donnie Avery for four to six weeks after the second-year player injured his foot, suffering a stress fracture on Friday. He could miss the first two regular-season games.
The Rams signed safety Mark Rubin, an undrafted free agent who played for Penn State last season.
Buccaneers. Tampa Bay receiver Antonio Bryant has torn cartilage in his left knee that will sideline him for the remainder of training camp.
Cardinals. Arizona running back Beanie Wells missed another workout in Flagstaff with a sprained right ankle.
The Cardinals' first pick out of Ohio State sprained it in his first practice Aug. 1, shortly after agreeing to a five-year, $11.8 million contract.
Steelers. Pittsburgh, thin at center because of injuries, signed former Atlanta Falcons center Alex Stepanovich. The 6-foot-4, 296-pounder also formerly played for the Cardinals and Bengals.
Saints. Quarterback Drew Brees returned to New Orleans' training camp in Metairie, La., for a pair of practices. Brees had left the team over the weekend following the death of his mother, Mina Brees, an attorney from Austin, Texas, in Grand County, Colo.
The Saints placed tight end Dan Campbell on injured reserve with a knee injury, ending the 11-year veteran's season.
Panthers. Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith was carted to the locker room with a right shoulder injury, the latest blow to a key player in an injury-filled Panthers training camp in Spartanburg, S.C.
X-rays were negative. General manager Marty Hurney was not sure how long the four-time Pro Bowl receiver would be sidelined.
Bengals. Cincinnati cut veteran running back Kenny Watson, a Penn State product.
The eight-year veteran played in 10 games last season for the Bengals, sitting out the final four with a hamstring injury.
Noteworthy. The New York Jets and the state of New Jersey are teaming up on an instant lottery game, beginning in early September, that will include Jets-themed prizes.
