Top pick Taylor injures knee on first day of practice

[ALinChainz]

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
July 28, 2004



ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- A day after signing a seven-year, $18 million contract, rookie safety Sean Taylor sprained his right knee during practice on Wednesday..

The team's first-round draft pick was hurt as he rolled out of bounds while defending a play near the end of the practice, which came on the final day of a three-day passing camp.

Coach Joe Gibbs said he didn't think the injury was serious, but that it had not been fully evaluated.

``I imagine they'll check it out every way you can check it out,'' Gibbs said.

Dennard Wilson, a free agent rookie safety from Maryland, injured his left leg during the practice. Gibbs said Wilson's injury was more serious, leaving his status for training camp in doubt.

Taylor, the No. 5 overall draft pick from Miami, was taking part in his first practice since signing his contract. He is projected as the opening day starter at free safety.

The injury is the latest in a series of misadventures for Taylor, who fired his agent shortly after the draft and didn't hire a new one until last week. He also was fined $25,000 by the NFL for leaving a mandatory rookie symposium in June and suffered an eye injury during a minicamp prank when a pile of shaving gel was squirted into his face by linebacker LaVar Arrington.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-redskins-taylor&prov=ap&type=lgns

[ALinChainz]

July 28, 2004


Three more first-round draft choices signed with their NFL teams on Wednesday.

But Charles Woodson, Oakland's Pro Bowl cornerback, will stay out of camp in protest over being designated the team's ``franchise player.''

And the dangers inherent to the NFL became quickly apparent when Sean Taylor, who signed a multimillion dollar deal with the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, injured his right knee in his first practice.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, 14th overall pick in the draft, signed with Chicago; linebacker D.J. Williams, No. 17, with Denver and running back Kevin Jones, No. 30, with Detroit, which is still trying to sign its top pick, wide receiver Roy Williams, No. 7 overall. The Lions also signed linebacker Teddy Lehman, their second-round pick and the Bears signed wide receiver Bernard Berrian, their third-rounder.

The signings brought to 11 the number of first-round choices signed as the week of camp openings continued. The second overall pick, offensive tackle Robert Gallery, was reportedly close to a deal, but the Raiders denied that negotiations had been completed.

Taylor, who on Tuesday signed a 7-year, $18 million deal with Washington, sprained his right knee making a play near the end of the morning practice of what the Redskins term a ``voluntary'' passing camp. An MRI on Taylor was negative and team trainers said he could be on the field for the opening of training camp Saturday.

``It's the No. 1 fear you always have -- the injuries,'' coach Joe Gibbs said. ``So far, we've been kind of fortunate. Today it kind of bit us.''

Woodson is one of six veterans controlled by the ``franchise tag,'' which keeps free agents with their own teams. Unable to work out a long-term deal with the Raiders, he is under contract to play on a 1-year deal that pays him $8.8 million, the average of the salary of the league's top five cornerbacks.

He is represented by Carl Poston, who also represents offensive tackle Orlando Pace of the Rams, another franchise player who is holding out. Linebacker Julian Peterson of San Francisco, who is represented by Poston's brother Kevin, also is expected to hold out as a franchise player.

None of the first-round picks represented by Poston and his brother have signed -- tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. of Cleveland, wide receiver Reggie Williams of Jacksonville and cornerback Chris Gamble of Carolina. The Browns have begun talking with Kevin Poston and the Panthers have been talking to Carl Poston about Gamble, but Carolina general manager Marty Hurney indicated on Wednesday that a deal wasn't close.

In another development Wednesday, veteran quarterback Steve Beuerlein was signed by Carolina, then retired as a Panther, for whom he holds every team passing record. Beuerlein, 39, last played for Denver and spent 17 seasons in the league.