NFL ROUNDUP | Training camp news and notes

Cowboys: Darren Woodson says he didn't need a clarification from Emmitt Smith on his negative remarks about the Dallas Cowboys. Still, the Cowboys' safety got a phone call this week from the man with whom he shared three Super Bowl championships. Smith, now with Arizona after being released by Dallas last spring, said last season was the worst in his career. He was quoted by Sports Illustrated as saying he "felt like a diamond surrounded by trash" last season. Woodson knew Smith didn't mean it the way it sounded. "He called me up and we talked for a while. He didn't have to put the record straight," Woodson said Tuesday. "I just knew it wasn't a big deal at the beginning. I didn't take it that way." Woodson is going into his 12th NFL season, all with the Cowboys and the first without Smith as a teammate. They are good friends. In explaining his comment publicly, Smith said he was referring to the behavior of some players. "That statement meaning, like, the Cowboys are a diamond organization; the trash is the way that we played," Smith said. "The way we played did not represent that organization all that well last year, and the way some of the players acted did not represent what that organization deserved."
Lions: Charles Rogers says he's likely to miss Detroit's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The No. 2 overall draft pick dislocated his left ring finger during practice a week ago, requiring two stitches. Rogers expects the stitches to be removed by Friday. "I don't think I'll go this week, but I look forward to next week and look to get in that game," Rogers said. "I've never had a serious injury before so I think it's going well." Rogers ran routes but didn't work in the team's seven-on-nine passing drills and the full-team scrimmage Tuesday. "We haven't determined what he's going to do yet," Lions coach Steve Mariucci said. "I'm hoping he gets some practice time this week."
Bills: Pat Williams feels rejuvenated now that he has Sam Adams as a teammate. Adams is happy, too, finally getting a chance to play under highly respected defensive line coach Tim Krumrie. "Sam and Pat working together in the middle, man, they're as sturdy as can be," quarterback Drew Bledsoe says. Williams, a seven-year veteran, hasn't been this excited since he spent two years playing alongside Ted Washington. Together, they were part of a defense that ranked first in the NFL in 1999 and third the following season. Williams and Buffalo's defense weren't the same after the Bills failed to re-sign Washington after the 2000 season. Williams became an easy target for opposing linemen and Buffalo's defense finished 26th and 29th against the rush the last two seasons. But that's likely to change with Adams, who signed with the Bills in March. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds, Adams doesn't have the size or girth of Washington, who was slightly taller and, approaching 370 pounds. Released by the Raiders in February, Adams was eager to join the Bills. He had always wanted to work with Krumrie, who joined the Bills coaching staff last January after eight years with Cincinnati. "He has an extensive knowledge for the defensive line position, his attitude, his demeanor, it's just everything about him," Adams said. "People want to play for people like that."
Ravens: A myriad of injuries, some serious, has kept head trainer Bill Tessendorf sprinting from one table to another in Baltimore's training camp. "It's been a long time since I've seen something like this," said Tessendorf, as he looked at an injury report that lists more than a dozen players. Most significant is the season-ending injury sustained by wide receiver Javin Hunter, who ruptured his right Achilles' tendon Monday. The session also claimed linebacker Bernardo Harris, who broke his left leg and will miss 4-to-6 weeks, and safety Ray Perryman, who will be sidelined indefinitely with a dislocated left shoulder. "Stuff happens. They're accidents," Tessendorf said Tuesday. "It runs in streaks. Yesterday was my Friday the 13th." The injuries began mounting on the first day of camp, when defensive end Joe Salave'a hurt his knee. Tight end Todd Heap (back injury), right tackle Orlando Brown (thigh); linebacker Ed Hartwell (back); kick returner Lamont Brightful (knee), and center Mike Flynn (knee) were all held out of Tuesday's morning session. Those who did practice were thankful to hit the showers in one piece. "Coach stepped it up the last couple days," guard Edwin Mulitalo said. "It was real physical. I've got a lot of nicks all over my body."
Eagles: Now that he's joined the Eagles, Jon Ritchie has no reason to complain. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound fullback is coming off his worst season in five years in the NFL, catching just 10 passes for the AFC champion Oakland Raiders. His numbers should be much better in Philadelphia, since the Eagles use fullbacks more in their variation of the West Coast offense. "It can't get any worse than it was last year when we were going one-back and no-back," Ritchie said Tuesday. "It was frustrating. Being a part of the team, it was no one's duty to complain. I do what the coaches ask me. Last year, they asked me to do significantly less than what I was accustomed to." A powerful blocker, Ritchie evolved into a solid receiver with a career-high 45 catches for 408 yards and one TD in 1999. But he had 26 catches in 2001 and 19 in 2002. His production slipped the last two seasons in Oakland while wide receiver Jerry Porter emerged as the third threat on a passing offense that also included potential Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. After going to the Super Bowl with the Raiders, Ritchie signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract with the Eagles. He replaces Cecil Martin, who later signed with Oakland.
-- Associated Press