Panthers beginning two weeks of players-only workouts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Perhaps no team is in need of offseason practices more than the Carolina Panthers. After falling behind their division rivals, the Panthers finally gathered Tuesday for their first player-organized workout since the lockout began.

The team that finished an NFL-worst 2-14 in 2010 also did its best to make sure no one saw them.

Players hired a police officer to shoo away reporters from the high school where they were working out on the hot, humid morning. Cones blocked another entrance to the field at Charlotte Christian.

Guard Geoff Schwartz indicated on Twitter that more than 50 players attended.

"Great morning of team activities," he wrote.

Left tackle Jordan Gross, who organized the two weeks of practices with left guard Travelle Wharton, said reporters wouldn't be allowed in until the last day, June 9, to prevent distractions.

"We're just trying to prepare to win some football games," said Gross, who wouldn't reveal the number of players on hand.

A few dozen high-priced vehicles were seen in the parking lot, but the field was out of view from the road. So there was no way of seeing No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton or fellow quarterback Jimmy Clausen or to get updates on players coming back from injury.

The Panthers were the last team in the NFC South to gather in this odd offseason. The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have held player-led workouts.

"It's been so long," running back Jonathan Stewart wrote on his Twitter page. "Time to get better!"

That's for sure. After finishing this past season with the league's worst offense, the Panthers replaced coach John Fox with San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. But the labor dispute has prevented Rivera from gathering his team to learn a new system on both sides of the ball.

Then the Panthers drafted Newton. The Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn could replace Clausen, who went 1-9 as a starter with the NFL's worst passer rating in 2010. Throw in the uncertain status of receiver Steve Smith, who has hedged on whether he wants to return, and the Panthers are stuck in neutral.

Carolina was helped by the one day the lockout was lifted in April, allowing Newton and several players to receive new playbooks from the coaching staff. Linebacker Jon Beason said a couple weeks ago they wanted the workouts to closely resemble normal coach-led offseason practices.

"We're going to try to make it as close as (organized team activities) as possible," Beason said. "Meetings, light practice, light workout, conditioning, the same thing that we would usually do."

But Beason acknowledged the Panthers -- with a new coaching staff, 28 potential free agents and possibly a rookie quarterback -- are affected perhaps more than any other team by the lockout. Beason is expected to attend the next court hearing tied to the labor dispute Friday in St. Louis.

"If you look at a team like Pittsburgh or the Colts, teams that are good consistently, they have that camaraderie, they have that chemistry," Beason said. "That's what I think winning is about. Anytime there's a new system, new coaches, not only do you have to learn scheme and terminology, but also personalities. I think that's important."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Television ratings for NFL games up through first four weeks

NEW YORK -- More than 150 million people have watched at least part of an NFL game this season, the highest number for the first four weeks of any season.

According to Nielsen, viewership is up for all four of the networks that televise NFL games. CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN are each averaging their most viewers ever to this point for their current packages.

Games are averaging 18.9 million viewers, up 9 percent from this time last year. That's more than double the average prime-time viewership of 9.2 million for the big four broadcast networks in the new TV season. The gap has grown from last year, when the NFL averaged 17.4 million to 9.3 million for prime-time programming.

A record nine game telecasts have topped the 20-million viewer mark.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Saints' Porter expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks after knee surgery

METAIRIE, La. -- Another player who contributed to the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl run has to be replaced for a few games.

Tracy Porter will be out three to four weeks after arthroscopic surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his left knee, leaving a team that has already looked vulnerable without one of its starting cornerbacks.

Four regulars were unable to practice Wednesday: Porter, defensive end Will Smith (groin), and running backs Reggie Bush (right fibula) and Pierre Thomas (left ankle). Then there were players -- including strong safeties Roman Harper (hamstring) and Pierson Prioleau (chest) -- who were banged up but practiced on a limited basis with the hope of being able to play at Arizona on Sunday.

"Part of the success that you have in this league has a lot to do with how you respond to injuries and how a team can persevere through some of the unfortunate things that happen," said Prioleau, a special teams captain who started at safety last Sunday in place of Harper but was knocked out of the game on kick coverage.

"It's obvious that we've had to endure some injuries to some key players in key spots on this team, but it's going to show the mark of the team that we are to have the ability to come out and still produce on the field with the guy that's next in line."

In all, 19 players were listed on New Orleans' injury report, although 12 practiced fully.

The Saints (3-1) have found a way to win and are tied for first place in the NFC South. But their performances haven't approached the level of dominance they displayed last season, when they won each of their first six games by double digits.

After opening the season with a five-point win over Minnesota, the Saints edged winless San Francisco with a last second field goal, lost to the Falcons in overtime after missing a field goal that could have won it, and then needed a field goal late in the fourth quarter for a two-point, comeback victory over winless Carolina.

The Saints contend their best football is still ahead, given how many players are out or playing hurt.

Quarterback Drew Brees is playing with a brace on his left knee, which was injured on a hit by Atlanta defensive end John Abraham in Week 3.

There's no need to fret about missing any games. You can watch every contest again with Game Rewind. Get more information here.

Rookie running back Chris Ivory, who had 12 carries against Carolina, favored his left knee with a pronounced limp as he made his way from the trainer's room to his locker.

Ivory's path to the regular season roster was cleared in training camp by season-ending injuries to Lynell Hamilton and P.J. Hill. Then when Bush went out after Week 2, Ivory began to see significant action the past two games and the Saints signed Ladell Betts, who is now the only running back not listed on the injury report.

Brees said the club's running back situation exemplifies how the Saints have been forced to overcome factors beyond their control as they try to defend their title.

"Did I think at this point that Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory would be our two starting running backs going back to training camp? I don't think they were on the radar at that point," Brees said. "Anytime some of your key components are not on the field, it's going to affect you a little bit and you just kind of wait for the time to put all the pieces to the puzzle back on the field. I feel that the guys that have stepped in have done a very good job."

Saints coach Sean Payton said the Saints worked out two safeties this week -- Macho Harris and Pat Watkins -- but decided against signing either because the club hopes either Harper or Prioleau can play Sunday. When both were out on Sunday, Chris Reis went in at strong safety, only to leave the game with a season-ending shoulder injury. Then Usama Young, already a regular on special teams, had to fill in at strong safety.

Young was drafted as a cornerback and is now a reserve free safety, so moving to strong safety on Sunday required him to contribute on run support more than he is accustomed.

"You've got to be able to have that linebacker's mentality," Young said. "You've got to be able to close some gaps and it happens fast."

After Young tackled DeAngelo Williams for a loss late in the fourth quarter -- a crowd-pleasing play which took Carolina out of range for a winning field goal try -- Young said he briefly thought to himself that he could get used to playing strong safety.

"But when I went home that night I started feeling my neck getting a little tight, the shoulders were hurting and I said, 'Man, being in (on run support) takes it out of you,"' Young said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Redskins turn to Torain with injured RB Portis out 4 to 6 weeks

Clinton Portis will be out at least one month with a groin injury, putting the two-time Pro Bowl running back's future in doubt once again.

His injury leaves the Washington Redskins with a very inexperienced backfield, too.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday that Portis has a third degree separation of the left groin, with the muscle separated off the bone. Portis will not require surgery, and Shanahan estimated a recovery time of four to six weeks.

"That's disappointing," Shanahan said, "that working so hard, playing so well, that he's got that setback."

Portis said Sunday that he felt a "pop" in his groin before leaving a 17-12 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, when he already was starting to share more of the rushing load with Ryan Torain. Now the only two healthy tailbacks on the Redskins' roster are Torain and Chad Simpson, who have combined for 70 carries in their NFL careers entering this weekend's game against the Green Bay Packers.

"When you lose some players during the season, other guys have to step up," Shanahan said. "Ryan has got a little playing time, and we'll see what he can do."

Portis has run for just 195 yards on 49 carries this season.

Portis is 109 yards shy of 10,000 for his career and 680 away from breaking John Riggins' franchise rushing record. Both milestones seemed inevitable a year ago, but Portis missed the last eight games of last season after a suffering a severe concussion during a helmet-to-helmet hit.

The Redskins signed two rookie running backs Wednesday to provide depth: Keiland Williams, whom the team released Saturday to make room for wide receiver Brandon Banks, and Javarris James, released Tuesday from the New England Patriots' practice squad. James is the cousin of former NFL running back Edgerrin James.

Simpson, a third-year pro, signed with the Redskins on Sept. 22.

The Redskins brought in veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to challenge Portis this season, but both were cut after he held them off for the starting job. Portis said he renewed his focus and dedication, something necessary for a well-worn 29-year-old back who would be expected to be in his declining years. But he's also in the final year of his contract and wouldn't appear to fit into the future of a team being remolded by Shanahan.

Shanahan now will do what he so often did when he was coach of the Denver Broncos: turn to a new face in the backfield to replace an established name. Backs were almost interchangeable for Shanahan's teams in Denver, from Terrell Davis to Reuben Droughns to Tatum Bell to Mike Anderson to Portis, because of a perennially solid offensive line.

Torain was drafted by Shanahan's Broncos in the fifth round in 2008, but the running back broke his left elbow in training camp, and he played in just two games before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Torain had another knee injury in training camp in 2009 and was released, saddled with the injury-prone label.

"Definitely got labeled that," Torain said. "I definitely felt like I had to get that bug off my shoulder and stay healthy. ... Luck wasn't on my side my rookie year."

Torain didn't make the Redskins' roster at the start of this season and was placed on the practice squad. He was promoted two weeks ago and has rushed for 116 yards on 25 carries in two games, including a 12-yard touchdown against the Eagles in which he bowled over safety Quintin Mikell on the way to the end zone. The play has become a league highlight this week.

"I watch it anytime I get an opportunity," Torain said.

Torain will start against the Packers, and Shanahan said the Redskins almost certainly will add a third running back to their roster before Sunday.

"Ryan has the ability to be a top back," Shanahan said, "and we'll find out in time if he can do that and stay healthy."

Notes: The Redskins are changing punters. Josh Bidwell is still bothered by a hip injury, so Hunter Smith will be signed Thursday. Smith punted in 13 games for Washington last season. ... Rookie LT Trent Williams is confident he can return after missing two games with knee and toe injuries. He was limited in practice Wednesday. ... The Redskins signed released LB Mike Balogun from the practice squad.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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