Law signs with Jets; Westbrook, Eagles agree

Ty Law found a new home while Brian Westbrook returned to his NFL team Monday.

Law landed with the New York Jets, agreeing to a multiyear deal that could be worth as much as $28.5 million for the first three years. The cornerback who was released by the Patriots – he has three Super Bowl rings – took a physical and worked out for the team Monday.

The 31-year-old Law is intent on showing the Jets and the league he is completely healed from a serious foot injury that kept him out of the Super Bowl in February.

“I think I have something to prove all the time anyway, that’s just my mind-set. It’s how I approach the game,” Law said. “I can hold my head up high and say I’ve had a pretty good career thus far, and I’m going to continue that. I have a lot left to give.

“I’m going to prove to all the doubters, if there are any out there, that I’m still the best cornerback in football.”

Westbrook is one of the best all-around running backs in the game, but he had little bargaining leverage with the Eagles. The fourth-year pro last season led all NFL running backs with 73 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 812 yards and three scores on the ground. He had been holding out for a long-term contract after signing a one-year restricted free-agent offer for $1.43 million.

“I did have a visit with him and it went well,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said after practice. “We mainly talked about football. He was anxious to get back out here and get himself going and playing and catching up on the things that he missed. But he did a good job today.”

New York Jets cornerback Ty Law runs on the field during training camp. Law signed with the Jets and practiced with his new team Monday in Hempstead, N.Y.

Westbrook had little choice but to report for camp by Monday. He risked forfeiting a year of service if he stayed out any longer. Then he would have been unable to become an unrestricted free agent next season – possibly missing out on a big payday.

Eagles teammate Terrell Owens was sidelined after reinjuring his groin Sunday, an injury initially sustained Thursday. The All-Pro receiver also is unhappy with his contract, a seven-year, $49 million deal, but has been at training camp since the team reported late in July.

“It felt good yesterday,” Reid said of Owens’ injury. “Toward the end it started to get a little tight on him in the second practice. It’s the same as it was the day before. We got to go back to the drawing board here, see how he does today, and then within the next couple days we will see how he’s feeling.”

Philadelphia also placed receiver Todd Pinkston on injured reserve because of a torn Achilles’ tendon. Pinkston was hurt Friday while running a route. He caught 36 passes for 676 yards and one touchdown last season as the team’s third option behind Terrell Owens and Westbrook.

The Eagles will retire Reggie White’s No. 92 during a ceremony Dec. 5, team owner Jeffrey Lurie said. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and an ordained minister known as the “Minister of Defense” died of a heart attack Dec. 26, 2004, exactly one week after his 43rd birthday.

Steelers

Steelers running back Duce Staley underwent surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.

Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher expects him to miss a month, but isn’t worried about Staley’s health in the long run.

Jets

New York released Ray Mickens to make room for Law. Mickens was listed as the starter during the first week of camp.

Ravens

First-round draft pick Mark Clayton practiced for the first time after ending his five-day holdout. Clayton had been criticized by coach Brian Billick last week, but the wide receiver from Oklahoma said he “didn’t hear much of it.”

“I was out in the back yard catching balls,” Clayton said.

An irate Billick said Friday that Clayton’s holdout was hurting the team. Clayton missed the first week of training camp before signing a five-year, $8.2 million contract Saturday.

Star running back Jamal Lewis reported to the team hotel Monday, took a physical and was scheduled for sideline work. Billick expects him to fully participate in a padded practice Wednesday. Last week, Lewis completed a legal odyssey that consisted of a four-month stay in a Georgia prison and two months in a halfway house after a federal drug conspiracy conviction.

Vikings

Minnesota reached a contract agreement with holdout rookie defensive end Erasmus James, a first-round draft pick from Wisconsin.

James was on his way Monday to Minnesota. The 18th overall selection, James was expected to be on the field for practice today after missing the first 10 days of training camp.

Patriots

New England signed tight end Matt Brandt and waived tight end Andy Stokes.

The 6-foot-4, 257-pound Stokes was the final player taken in the 2005 draft after a four-year career at William Penn where he caught 104 passes for 1,578 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Brandt was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in April 2004. The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Miami of Ohio player was released by Detroit in August 2004. He had 76 receptions for 916 yards and nine touchdowns during his college career.

Browns

Offensive lineman Marcus Spears, an 11-year veteran who signed as a free agent during the offseason, was released.

Spears had the longest NFL tenure of any Cleveland offensive lineman. A second-round pick of the Bears in 1994, he played in all 16 games and made three starts last season with the Texans.

He also played for Kansas City, starting 16 games in 2001.

Also, cornerback Daylon McCutcheon, who has yet to practice during training camp because of headaches, also had been bothered by dizziness, Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel said.

McCutcheon has been seeing a specialist to determine the cause of his migraine headaches. The six-year veteran has been receiving massage therapy and Crennel said McCutcheon will soon undergo new treatments.

Saints

Wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim’s hamstring injury is not considered serious, but the eight-year veteran missed practice Monday. He was hurt in a scrimmage Saturday night.

Coach Jim Haslett said could be sidelined for a week or so. Hakim is expected to miss the preseason opener against Seattle on Friday.

Seahawks

Seattle released outside linebacker Solomon Bates. Bates was a fourth-round pick out of Arizona State in 2003, and played in 10 games with three starts last season.

Titans

Defensive end Travis LaBoy returned to practice after missing minicamps and the first eight days of training camp recovering from surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Bills

The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line lost some depth when coach Mike Mularkey announced reserves Lawrence Smith and Ben Sobieski likely would miss the season because of injuries.

Chargers

Linebacker Donnie Edwards sprained his right ankle and may miss San Diego’s preseason opener Thursday night at Green Bay.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer thinks Edwards will be OK.

“He’s plastic, man. He bends but doesn’t break,” Schottenheimer said. “Donnie will play Thursday. It’s on national TV.”

Giants

New York waived cornerback Ahmad Treaudo, a rookie free agent from Southern University, and re-signed rookie cornerback Michael Bragg from Texas A&M-Kingsville, who had been waived July 29.