NFL NEWS AND NOTES

NFL NEWS AND NOTES

Redskins: Albert Haynesworth was absent again Friday when Washington opened its second minicamp under new coach Mike Shanahan. The two-time All-Pro defensive tackle remains unhappy with the Redskins’ switch to a 3-4 defense and would prefer to be traded. He has also irked Shanahan by working with his own trainer and staying away from all of the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning sessions.

Bills: Buffalo’s quarterback competition has begun with coach Chan Gailey spending a prominent amount of the team’s first minicamp keeping a close eye on Brian Brohm. That, Gailey says, is to be expected because he intends to focus much of his attention on quarterbacks to determine which of the three contenders will earn the starting job. Brohm finished last season as Buffalo’s third-stringer after the team signed the 2008 second-round draft pick off of Green Bay’s practice squad. He’s in a competition with Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Ravens: In his first practice with Baltimore, Anquan Boldin performed very much as he did during his first seven years in the NFL. The talented wide receiver repeatedly sliced through the middle of the defense, worked his way open and latched onto a pass before turning downfield.

Colts: Rookie cornerback Kevin Thomas injured his knee during practice last weekend and the third-round draft pick could miss the entire 2010 season. The Colts issued a release saying Thomas was hurt during Sunday’s final practice, which was closed to the media. The team did not provide details of the injury but did say Thomas has been scheduled for surgery.

Texans: Linebacker Brian Cushing was suspended for four games on Friday for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year will miss the first four games of the upcoming season and be eligible to return during the week of Oct. 4. The Texans play Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas and Oakland during his suspension. Cushing can participate in preseason practices and games. “We were disappointed to learn that Brian has been suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season,” Houston general manager Rick Smith said in a statement. “Brian is a productive member of our team and this is a significant loss, but we have to be prepared to win without him.”

Chargers: Running back Ryan Mathews, selected 12th overall in the NFL draft, is the focal point of the team’s rookie orientation, which started Friday and includes four sessions. Mathews was already the workhorse the Chargers expect him to be during the regular season, their first without LaDainian Tomlinson since 2000. He took a lot of reps during his first official practice as a Charger, and admits that everything didn’t come easy. The former Fresno State star was the center of attention for the coaching staff.

Associated Press