If the old saying about defense winning championship holds true, the Cardinals might be in trouble in Super Bowl XLIII. But Pete Prisco isn't so sure the Steelers' suffocating D can hold Arizona's big-time offense.

OK, let's review. Kurt Warner beats out an ineffective young quarterback, leads the Cardinals to a division title and the Super Bowl. Um, Arizona should start talking about a new contract for Kurt, Clark Judge says.

The New York Jets reached an agreement with Rex Ryan on Monday to make the Baltimore defensive coordinator their head coach, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press.

The Arizona Cardinals called receiver Anquan Boldin's sideline shouting match with the offensive coordinator a 'normal thing,' and coach Ken Whisenhunt insisted the outburst would in no way disrupt the team.

Willis McGahee joined his teammates Monday at Baltimore's training complex after doctors told him he would make a full recovery from a fierce helmet-to-helmet hit in the AFC championship game that had him carted off the field.

The Atlanta Falcons can run away with a wild card victory over Arizona on Saturday, if regular-season history means anything. The Falcons, led by Michael Turner, have one of the best rushing games in the NFL. The Cardinals have the worst. "It's no secret. We know what they're going to come in and try to do," Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby said. Turner went from San Diego backup to a Pro Bowl powerhouse in Atlanta, helping the Falcons turn a tumultuous 4-12 finish last season into a playoff run in 2008. "That's at the core of our belief as a coaching staff, that you have to be able to run the football and control the line of scrimmage," Atlanta coach Mike Smith said, "because when you do that, it opens up the rest of the offense."

D.J. Hackett returned to practice for the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday after sitting out with a sore knee. The Panthers signed Hackett and fellow veteran Muhsin Muhammad in the offseason to give them more options to pair with star Steve Smith. Muhammad and Hackett were expected to contend for the starting job. Hackett was the third receiver before sitting out two optional practices with a sore knee.

At no point last season did Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez feel lost or alone as he experienced the NFL for the first time. But neither was the team's 2007 first-round pick totally comfortable. The transition took time, and remains ongoing as Gonzalez participates in the Colts' voluntary summer school, reports the Indianapolis Star. Gonzalez appeared in 13 regular-season games, nine as a starter. While learning on the run and dealing with a dislocated thumb suffered Nov. 4 against New England, he had 37 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns. "I don't want to say I feel great about everything, but I'm coming along," he said. "Every part of my game just needs to be a little bit better, a little bit sharper, a little bit crisper and a little bit faster."

Giants RB Derrick Ward, coming off a broken leg, took the first handoff in the team period Tuesday, reports the New York Post.

After making the miraculous catch that helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII, David Tyree has enjoyed an offseason full of accolades. He has made numerous television appearances and been asked hundreds of times to pose with a football perched against his head, imitating the 32-yard reception he made on the Giants' game-winning drive against New England. He even has a book coming out, "More Than Just a Catch," that will chronicle his off-field personal struggles. What the Super Bowl hero doesn't have right now is a guaranteed roster spot, reports the New York Post. The sixth-year pro out of Syracuse had arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason, which prevented him from participating in Tuesday's workout. With starters Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer entrenched in their roles and youngsters Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss and rookie Mario Manningham available, there could be a battle at wide receiver that could leave Tyree on the outside looking in.

On Tuesday, the New York Post reports Giants LB Mathias Kiwanuka spent his morning on the field along with his teammates, admittedly more excited than most of them to merely be out there running around. He missed the last six games of the regular season with a broken left leg and ankle damage that required surgery, meaning he was a very interested bystander for the entire playoff run and Super Bowl glory. Kiwanuka started the first 10 games last season on the strong side and was just beginning to look like a bona fide linebacker when on Nov. 18 his left fibula snapped in Detroit. Kiwanuka said he came through Tuesday's first real test with no residual problems. For now, he remains at linebacker, although that could change if Michael Strahan retires, meaning Kiwanuka could return to defensive end.

Second-year safety LaRon Landry said he missed Monday's practice because of a family issue but plans to attend the remainder of Washington's organized team activities, reports the Washington Post. Landry returned to his starting spot in Tuesday's practice, with Zorn playing down the incident. "[Monday] I was at home taking care of a lot of family issues, but I came back and I am ready to work," Landry said after practice, adding that he and Zorn "got everything squared away" during a morning meeting. Landry, who alternated between free safety and strong safety last season, said he is open to playing either position under new defensive coordinator Greg Blache. "It doesn't matter," Landry said. "Whatever coach wants me to do, that's what I'm here for."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rams WR Drew Bennett, who signed a six-year, $30 million free-agent deal last year, joins Torry Holt in the starting lineup after the February release of 35-year-old Isaac Bruce. "Drew's got an opportunity now to really step up his game, and he knows that," coach Scott Linehan said. "So, the expectation is that he takes advantage of it and has a great year for us." Last year, Bennett's first with the Rams, he had 33 catches for 375 yards with three scores. He wound up missing the season opener with a quad injury, which lingered through the season, but he feels better now.

Two weeks after announcing that Jason Taylor wouldn't be attending any upcoming team-related activities, including training camp, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said that he told the Pro Bowl DE in a meeting last week that he and the organization want him back. "I really wanted to make a point to Jason that we as an organization and certainly me as a head coach want to see Jason Taylor back here with the Miami Dolphins in uniform out on the field doing what he does best ... and that's running after quarterbacks and sacking quarterbacks," Sparano said during an interview on WQAM (560-AM) on Tuesday night as reported in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I think at the end of our visit, I know that Jason knows that's how I feel and we feel as an organization right now."

The Browns are in no hurry to sign TE Kellen Winslow to the big new contract he's seeking, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. GM Phil Savage said he expects Winslow to show up for minicamp next Tuesday through Thursday. "Of course, it's a mandatory camp, so the expectation is he'll be here." Winslow has been absent from the four weeks of organized team activities, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus said last week his client only stayed away because he was rehabbing his scoped right knee at home in San Diego. He added Winslow will attend minicamp. But Rosenhaus and Winslow have made it clear that they want to redo the deal. The deal has three years remaining at $4 million, $4.5 million and $4.75 million. The reference point for Winslow's camp is believed to be the 6-year, $42 million deal signed recently by tight end Dallas Clark.

On the same day Bengals WR Chad Johnson said he would report to mandatory minicamp next week, he later said in an interview on SIRIUS Satellite Radio that he may sit out after all since his trade demand fell through. "My options are open," Johnson said, according to the Dayton Daily News. "I have so much going on off the field right now. Man, it's beautiful. It's a beautiful thing. God has really blessed me to be able to do other things. Football doesn't have to be my backbone. Football is my bread and butter, but with my success and with me being able to venture into other things, the possibility of not playing this year is really open. It really is." That doesn't mean Johnson has lost his passion for the game. "I just love what I do," he said. "I have a passion for it, and sometimes that passion hurts me, and sometimes that passion hurts my team. I've always been a winner, and it's been mistaken. Because of my style of play, it's been taken out of context as me not wanting to win."

By taking care of Terrell Owens with a three-year contract extension now, the Cowboys helped their salary cap for the upcoming season. They also helped keep their locker room free from what Owens said "absolutely" would have been the distraction of him going through the season as a free-agent-to-be. To clarify, he said the problem would've come from repeated questions, not for anything he would've done or said. Team owner Jerry Jones downplayed Owens' age (35 in December), noting his dedication to fitness and his production. He's already among the career top 10 in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns; he's the active leader and No. 3 all-time in TDs. Owens also focused on the one glaring omission from his resume: A Super Bowl victory. "I've been thinking, 'What can I do for my game to get to another level?'" Owens said. "Honestly, I'm going to find ways to work out harder, do things differently, to really escalate my game."

Running back LaMont Jordan was told to stay away from the Raiders' practice field by coach Lane Kiffin as the team tries to trade him or decides to cut him loose. Jordan rushed for 1,025 yards, caught 70 passes and scored 11 touchdowns his first season in Oakland in 2005, but has had much less impact since with only 983 yards rushing the last two seasons. He fell behind Justin Fargas on the depth chart in 2007 and is not in the team's future plans following the addition of first-round draft pick Darren McFadden. "We're exploring a couple of different options," Kiffin said. "We're in communication with him. He was here this morning. We're just keeping him off the field. ... The last thing we want to do for him or ourselves is for LaMont to come out here and get hurt today."

The Washington Post reports Redskins QB Jason Campbell said he is adjusting to getting lower under center and that the hamstring problem from the last round of OTAs in early May no longer bothers him. "It's something that's behind me," he said.

The New Orleans Saints signed veteran cornerback Jerametrius Butler on Tuesday. The Saints needed an additional defensive back during minicamp because Mike McKenzie and Jason David, the starting cornerbacks in 2007, were limited by injuries during practice. McKenzie is recovering form reconstructive knee surgery at the end of last season while David had a strained groin. Butler, who is 5-foot-10, 181 pounds, has spent seven seasons in the NFL, his first six with St. Louis before moving to Buffalo last season. The former fifth-round draft choice out of Kansas State has played in 71 regular season games, starting 32. He has 218 tackles, nine interceptions, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries. He led the Rams in interceptions in both 2003 and 2004, but missed all of 2005 with a knee injury.

The Denver Post reports now that Travis Henry is released, the Broncos' tailback position now has Selvin Young as the starter with Michael Pittman backing him up. Andre Hall and rookies Ryan Torain and Anthony Alridge complete the depth chart.

The East Valley Tribune reports Cardinals QB Matt Leinart suggested Monday that personal matters hurt his play last year. In an apparent reference to a custody battle with the mother of his child that was settled early in training camp, Leinart said, "I had some personal stuff going in my life that was difficult. I wasn't used to being able to balance all of that. That's something I've learned over the past year. It's become a lot easier." Leinart also suggested that he was limited during the 2007 offseason because he hadn't fully recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the next-to-last game of his rookie season in 2006. "Last summer and the offseason was difficult because I was still hurt from the year before." Leinart started the first five games of 2007 before he was sidelined with a season-ending collarbone injury.

The Cardinals and QB Kurt Warner said Monday in the East Valley Tribune they will try to work out a contract extension by the time training camp starts in late July. Warner, who would like a two-year contract, said, "I want to be in a situation where I'm comfortable. I kind of want to know my future. A lot of it will be dictated by what kind of plans they have for me here. I think the contract is going to allow me to see what they're thinking for me moving forward." Warner is entering the final year of his contract. Any new contract almost certainly would work on two possible pay scales, depending on whether Warner ends up as the starter or No. 2 quarterback. Matt Leinart is the starter heading into the season, though coach Ken Whisenhunt reiterated Monday that Warner will be a serious competitor for the job.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported former Bengals LB Odell Thurman faces an indefinite NFL suspension after violating the league substance abuse policy. The story is attributed in SI.com. The Bengals waived Thurman on May 19. He had been reinstated April 21 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell following what had amounted to a two-year suspension for breaking the substance abuse policy. Thurman is tested 10 times a month for alcohol and drugs, Lawson said. Under the league policy, a missed test is the same as a failed test. Thurman, the Bengals' second-round pick in 2005, led the team with 148 tackles as a rookie. In July 2006, though, he was suspended for four games for violating the substance abuse policy. The suspension was extended to a full season following his DUI arrest Sept. 25.

Matt Hasselbeck's most reliable receiver, Bobby Engram, is threatening to prolong a no-show aimed at getting a contract extension, and his highest-paid receiver, Deion Branch, is continuing to rehab from knee surgery. But according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Hasselbeck is still having a good offseason. Last year, it was Hasselbeck who was unable to participate in the team's first minicamp after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and the hand-wringing was over how he and his rehabbed non-throwing arm would withstand the pounding of a 16-game season -- and then some. This year, Hasselbeck's accuracy and command of an offense that remains in flux was one of the bright spots in the Seahawks' post-draft minicamp last month.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released backup QB Bruce Gradkowski on Friday. Gradkowski was a sixth-round draft choice in 2006 out of Toledo. He started 11 games as a rookie after Chris Simms was lost to a season-ending spleen injury, throwing for 1,661 yards, nine TDs and nine interceptions. As the No. 3 quarterback in 2007, he appeared in four games and was 13-of-24 for 130 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The move leaves five quarterbacks on the roster - Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Simms and rookie Josh Johnson. A sixth, Jake Plummer, is under contract but has said he is retired.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed TE Jerramy Stevens. Stevens, who signed with the Bucs in April 2007 after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, had 18 receptions for 189 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games last season.

The Biloxi Sun-Herald reports that Saints veteran RB Deuce McAllister took part in one of the club's recent offseason workouts, testing his surgically repaired knees. Saints coach Sean Payton estimated that he "probably went 30 percent, 20 percent. ... The one common denominator is that you are still in helmets and jerseys, really. You've just got to be mindful of that. I would probably liken his reps to where he was two years ago at this time coming off the other ACL. It's getting his weight down and getting in shape and bringing him along so where there's no setback."

Chad Johnson is a magnet for attention, on and off the field. But while the focus is on Ocho Cinco, the Johnson most vital to the Bengals' success is running back Rudi. If he can regain his 1,400-yard form, Cincy can be a playoff team, Clark Judge says.

DeAngelo Hall quickly shows his talent for talking, proclaiming the Raiders' CB tandem the league's best. But league insiders tell Clark Judge at least five other tandems are good bets to play to a higher standard.

Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a traffic stop near the Vanderbilt University campus.

Ex-New York Giants lineman George Martin went through 24 pairs of shoes and lost 40 pounds before finishing his cross-country walk Saturday, raising $2 million along the way for sick 9/11 rescue workers.

The New York Times (Richard Sandomir) reports: When there is news in his Cablevision empire, shouldn’t Jim Dolan be there? He is America’s newest newspaper mogul — Cablevision agreed to buy Newsday on Monday — but he was absent Tuesday when his Knicks introduced Mike D’Antoni as their coach.  Now that he is buying Newsday’s [...]