AROUND THE NFL Training camp roundup

Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald is ready to catch some passes. Fitzgerald, the third overall pick in the NFL draft and first receiver chosen, signed one of the most lucrative rookie contracts in NFL history Monday. He planned to practice today with the Arizona Cardinals. Fitzgerald received $20 million in guaranteed money from the Cardinals, the same as quarterback Eli Manning, the top overall pick, got from the New York Giants, and $1.5 million more than Oakland gave offensive tackle Robert Gallery, chosen second. A source who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Fitzgerald's entire package could be worth up to $60 million, $6 million more than Manning could get with incentives and the same as Gallery's deal. "This is something I've been dreaming of for 20 years," Fitzgerald said. "To finally be able to come into training camp and line up and snap helmets on with the likes of Emmitt Smith and Anquan Boldin and Freddie Jones, that's very exciting for me." The star receiver at Pitt once was a ballboy for the Vikings when current Arizona coach Dennis Green was Minnesota's coach. Green and Fitzgerald's family have a longtime friendship. "He's a fabulous player," Green said. "Him and Anquan, together they're very impressive -- big, physical, catch everything in sight, run down the field. So I think everybody was pleased, and I think he was pleased, because he's seen our offense over the years."
Falcons: DeAngelo Hall, selected eighth overall by Atlanta, was set to report to training camp today after reaching terms on a contract that could include the largest signing bonus in franchise history. Hall, from Virginia Tech, will get a larger bonus than former college teammate Michael Vick received from Atlanta, according to a source familiar with the contact who requested anonymity. Hall will collect between $12 million and $13 million in guaranteed money up front. Vick's six-year, $62 million contract included $11 million in guaranteed bonuses. New Falcons coach Jim Mora is eager to get Hall into action. "He's missing repetitions on the field," Mora said. "He's missing the chance to watch himself do it on film and evaluate himself that way."
Bengals: Marvin Lewis led the Bengals to an 8-8 record after going 2-14 the previous season. That earned him a new contract shortly after the end of last season, team spokesman Jack Brennan confirmed Monday. "We were so pleased with how it had gone on and thought he had done an extraordinarily effective job and we wanted to show him that we appreciated what he had done and offered to extend the contract," Bengals president Mike Brown said. Lewis received a new four-year contract that will pay him more than $2 million a season, replacing the four-year deal he signed when he was hired in January 2003.
Buccaneers: Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius will undergo back surgery that will keep him out indefinitely. Jurevicius missed most of last season with a knee injury. "It's frustrating, but it's been frustrating for some time," coach Jon Gruden said of the injuries to the wide receiver, who starred in the Bucs' win over Philadelphia in the NFC title game two seasons ago. "Let's get him right. The knee is better. He's rehabbed the knee, which is very good. He'll have the back surgically fixed and hopefully he can return sometime soon." Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice was cleared to practice after sitting out the first three days of training camp with an undisclosed illness. General manager Bruce Allen said in a statement: "As of this evening, Simeon has been cleared to play and we expect him to join his teammates on the practice field very soon." The team sent the ninth-year pro to see a specialist in Los Angeles.
Chargers: Quarterbacks are in short supply for the Chargers, and it got so bad Monday that long snapper David Binn took some snaps. Although San Diego has four quarterbacks on the roster, only Drew Brees and untested Cleo Lemon were available Monday. Rivers is unsigned, and Doug Flutie, Brees' backup the past two seasons, was out with a left knee problem. "The knee's gotten a little sore," Flutie said. "I don't know if I tweaked it or what; I didn't notice doing anything to it, but it's been a little stiff."
49ers: Eric Johnson won't let an injured right thumb hinder his comeback. The fourth-year tight end returned to practice after missing the three previous sessions when he dislocated the thumb and tore a ligament during Saturday's late practice. He will practice with a soft cast on his hand for the next month that leaves his four fingers free. "It wasn't as serious as it could have been," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said. "He'll have to have the padding there to protect his thumb, but he'll play in the preseason and be able to go cast-free before our first [regular-season] game."
Associated Press