NFL | Training camp updates

Packers: First came his wedding. Then all the "lawyer stuff." Now first-round pick A.J. Hawk can concentrate on football. Hawk signed a six-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Saturday morning and participated in his first training camp practice later in the day. Hawk's agent, Mike McCartney, and the Packers agreed in principle to a six-year deal on Friday, but it wasn't finalized in time for Hawk to practice that night. A person familiar with the deal said on Friday that it was worth $37.5 million. "I'm really excited to get it done, just because it seemed like they said they were 'close' forever and it just took a little longer than expected to get the language worked out and to get all the lawyer stuff that they need to after they agreed on the terms," Hawk said. The completed contract capped a whirlwind week for the former Ohio State star. Hawk and his fiancee, Laura -- the sister of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn -- were married in a civil ceremony earlier this week, something the couple tried unsuccessfully to keep quiet.
Bengals: Cornerback Johnathan Joseph has agreed to a five-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, putting their top pick under contract before their first training camp workout. The agreement with Joseph put the Bengals well ahead of last season, when top pick David Pollack held out for 19 days, setting him back in his transition from college lineman to NFL linebacker. Only two other first-round picks held out longer last season. Joseph is the first Bengals top draft pick under contract at the start of camp since 2003, when quarterback Carson Palmer agreed to terms as the No. 1 overall pick before the draft.
Jaguars: Running back Fred Taylor began training camp the same way he did last year -- nursing an injury. Taylor strained his right hamstring during a conditioning drill Thursday and was less than full speed when Jacksonville opened camp. It was hardly the start Taylor wanted, especially after spending all of last season recovering from a serious knee injury. "I really wanted to come out the first day and give the fans something to ooh and ah about," said Taylor, who has been plagued by injuries the last four preseasons. "It's kind of sad that the timing is so screwed up. That's why it's so hard to understand. Somethings in life you can't figure out why they happen. They just do. I don't know why it happened. I was rested and I felt great."
Eagles: Reggie Brown, expected to battle for the Eagles' No. 1 receiver position this year, injured his hamstring in practice. Brown limped off the field after running one pass route during training camp at Lehigh University. He spent several minutes stretching and working with a trainer before walking slowly under his own power toward the locker room. Drafted 35th overall in 2005, Brown set a franchise record last season for most receptions by a rookie wide receiver with 43. Despite starting only the final nine games of the season, he led all NFL rookies with 571 receiving yards and ranked third with four touchdown receptions. He was expected to have a major role this season following the offseason departure of Terrell Owens.
Giants: Pitchers making comebacks from Tommy John-style elbow surgery is fairly common these days. Having a quarterback do it in the NFL isn't, which is what makes Rob Johnson's presence in the New York Giants training camp interesting. The 33-year-old is attempting a comeback after missing the last two seasons with an elbow injury that required the surgery 18 months ago. "I can make all the throws," Johnson said Saturday on the second day of training camp at the University at Albany. "It's more in warmups, you kind of get a weird thought every once in a while, a fear that it might hurt. It doesn't hurt anymore, but it hurt for two years. You have to get rid of that. When you are in a 7-on-7, it's easier."
Panthers: All-Pro receiver Steve Smith was carted off the field with a hamstring injury on the opening day of training camp. Midway through the afternoon session, Smith pulled up while running a long route down the left sideline. He immediately clutched his left hamstring, took a couple of steps and fell to the ground. Two trainers came to his side, and new teammate Keyshawn Johnson also came over to check on Smith, who slowly got to his feet after about a minute. He threw his gloves in anger, got onto the back of the cart and was brought inside. Smith, who led the NFL with 103 receptions for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, missed the final week of June's coaching sessions with hamstring pain.
Associated Press
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