NFL Roundup: RGIII aims for first camp practice
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III said Thursday he's planning to be back in practice when training camp opens July 25.
That would be two weeks sooner than the most optimistic projection of seven months from when had surgery Jan. 9 to fix the ACL and LCL he injured during the playoff loss to Seattle three days earlier.
"One, it's a mindset and then two, it's how it's progressed," Griffin said Thursday. "I feel confident in my body and the way it's been responding. Training camp's a month and a half away. That's why I say without a doubt. I think it's the right target if I'm healthy."
---New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick strongly disputed a published report that claimed he "hated" Tim Tebow as a player.
Belichick, who is close friends with Tebow's college coach Urban Meyer, hadn't responded to the Yahoo! Sports report that there was "no chance" for the Patriots to sign the out-of-work quarterback. Citing a source, that report said Belichick "hated" Tebow as a player.
"I wouldn't get into the probability of us pursuing any free agent," Belichick said, breaking form in entertaining any conversation about a player not under contract with the Patriots. "Every single player has strengths and weaknesses but regardless of that, for anyone to have represented that is the way I feel about Tim Tebow is completely untrue, baseless and irresponsible. It is unfortunate that something so inaccurate was reported."
---Safety Ed Reed missed seven games before making his season debut the last time he was recovering from an offseason hip surgery. Reed, who left the Baltimore Ravens for Houston in free agency in April, said he has a different plan this time.
"My whole plan, my focus, like I told (general manager) Rick Smith -- I told him my plan, my goal is to be there that first game," Reed, 35, told NFL Network on Thursday. H
---Former New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw will visit the Indianapolis Colts, and Arizona Cardinals ousted first-round pick Beanie Wells could join him in the division if a visit to Jacksonville pans out.
Bradshaw, 27, visited the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers but a history of foot injuries has become a road block. He had another right foot surgery -- his third -- in January. He has also had operations on both ankles and another on his left foot.
Wells is just 24 but has drawn little interest in free agency. The Florida Times-Union was first to report he scheduled a workout with the team next week. He also visited the Steelers, but reports of a "bad wheel" appeared to turn off GM Kevin Colbert.
---The Pittsburgh Steelers placed cornerback Justin King on the reserve/injured list and signed undrafted rookie free agent cornerback Nigel Malone.
King is a sixth-year veteran who was originally a fourth-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2008. He joined the Steelers in December. Malone spent time with the Indianapolis Colts earlier this offseason after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent from Kansas State.
---The Atlanta Falcons signed tight end Anthony Miller and waived-injured tight end Adam Nissley.
Miller was signed as an undrafted college free agent by the Denver Broncos after the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed with the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 26, 2012. Nissley, 6-6, 267 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent after the 2012 draft.
---Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent tested positive for marijuana while free on bail before his trial for intoxication manslaughter in the death of a teammate in December.
Dallas County prosecutors filed a motion on Thursday to revoke Brent's $100,000 bond and issue a warrant for his arrest. A urine sample showed that Brent apparently used marijuana within 30 days of the test, according to the prosecutors.
Brent was driving an SUV that crashed on Dec. 8 in Irving, Texas, and killed teammate Jerry Brown, a practice squad player. Brent's blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.
