NFL ROUNDUP | Training camp news and notes

Bengals: The starting defense dominated a mock intrasquad game Saturday after a humbling performance in an intrasquad scrimmage the previous night. The black-shirted starters had four sacks and an interception in a 66-17 victory at Georgetown College. Quarterbacks Jon Kitna and Shane Matthews each threw touchdown passes, and points were awarded normally on offense. The defense earned points for forcing turnovers, punts or stopping the offense on downs. With players wearing shoulder pads and shorts, there was no tackling, but the game did have NFL officials. Rookie quarterback Carson Palmer, the Heisman Trophy winner and top draft pick, was sacked four times by defensive ends Justin Smith and Duane Clemons while guiding the white-shirted reserves. Cornerback Jeff Burris intercepted one pass and knocked down two others. The offense did not score in Palmer's eight possessions. He finished 8-of-20 for 56 yards and the interception. Peter Warrick caught six passes for 154 yards and both TDs -- a 35-yarder from Matthews and a 49-yarder from Kitna. Kicker Neil Rackers made field goals of 18, 40 and 34 yards and missed from 39 yards.
Jaguars: Running back Fred Taylor probably will be sidelined next week because of a leg injury and most likely will miss the team's opening preseason game. Taylor was hurt Wednesday during practice and has been sidelined since. Coach Jack Del Rio said the club would hold Taylor out "and let him settle down rather than let it become a problem." But following Saturday's mock game in Alltel Stadium before several thousand fans, Del Rio indicated he wasn't in a hurry to bring back Taylor too quickly. "I would say that it's unlikely that we'll work him next week," Del Rio said. "Probably stay in the condition, stay out of contact mode and let his knee really just get quiet." Taylor holds the Jaguars' career, single-season and single-game rushing records, and is the only player in club history to have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season (1998, 2000 and 2002). But because of injuries, he has missed 24 full games and parts of nine others in his first four NFL seasons until starting all 16 games a year ago. The Jaguars open exhibition play at Minnesota on Aug. 9. "I would think that in all likelihood, we'll rest Fred up there (Minnesota) on the turf," Del Rio said. "We'll have to see how he responds when he comes back out and starts working. If he doesn't have another setback, then we hope to get a look at him in live action."
Texans: Safety Travares Tillman broke his arm Saturday during a morning practice against the Dallas Cowboys. Tillman signed with the Texans as a free agent in January after being released by the Bills in September 2002. Dallas rookie center Al Johnson left the early workout after injuring his knee. Coach Bill Parcells said tests were being done.
Bears: Marty Booker's birthday falls during training camp on July 31, setting up a pattern the last two seasons: a year older, a year better. When the Chicago Bears have needed a first down or a big play, they've looked for "Book." And they'll do it again this season. Booker's 197 catches the last two seasons are more than any receiver in the NFC and fifth most in the NFL. When he caught 100 passes two years ago in a remarkable breakout season that led the Bears to a division title, he was rewarded with a seven-year, $28 million contract. Booker followed up his 100-catch season with 97 receptions a year ago, made his first Pro Bowl and increased his per-catch average to 12.2 yards from 10.7.
Redskins: Andre Lott dropped an interception, heard the catcalls from his teammates and knew what he had to do. He immediately hit the turf and did 10 quick push-ups, then later contributed $10 to the players' mistake fund. "We're having fun, but it also keeps guys alert," linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. Discipline and harmony went hand in hand in the opening week of coach Steve Spurrier's second Washington Redskins training camp. "I haven't sensed this type of camaraderie since I've was in college," linebacker LaVar Arrington said. Why has it gone so well? For starters, the Redskins didn't change coaches in the offseason. Last year, the players entered camp uncertain about Spurrier. This year, the roster was essentially set coming into camp, thanks to a major wave of free agency signings. In other words, nearly everyone here knows what they're doing. And everyone seems to be buying into the system. Spurrier, fed up with turnovers and penalties last season, has been emphasizing on-field discipline more than last year. He's invited NFL game officials to work more practices. The message is reinforced by the $10 fines for dropped passes, jumping offsides, false starts and other gaffes, with the money going to a pot that the players will use for a social event down the road.
Colts: Quarterback Peyton Manning appeared to be in midseason form as the Colts wrapped up their first week of training camp. Manning completed 19 of 21 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns in scrimmage. He threw TD passes of 10 yards to starting tight end Marcus Pollard and 30 yards to reserve tight end Joe Dean Davenport. Placekicker Mike Vanderjagt connected on 23-yard field goal to complete the scoring for the White team, which led 17-0 before rookie free-agent quarterback James MacPherson found reserve tight end Mike Roberg in the back of the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown pass late in the scrimmage. "I thought (the scrimmage) went well," Manning said. "I thought offensively that we moved the ball, able to get a lot of plays, put some long drives together. I think the one thing that you want to avoid in these kinds of things is the three-and-out situations." Dominic Rhodes, expected to be the Colts' No. 2 running back, was held out of the scrimmage with a shoulder injury.
Giants: Kerry Collins completed all 10 of his passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in an intrasquad scrimmage. Collins threw a 1-yard TD pass to Jeremy Shockey, capping the opening drive by the first-team offense against the second-team defense. Much-maligned halfback Ron Dayne also looked good, gaining 48 yards on eight carries and scoring on an 11-yard run. The former first-round draft pick had a nice stiff-arm on free agent safety Calvin Spears on the TD run. Amani Toomer, who has had a great training camp, caught four passes for 78 yards.
-- Associated Press