NFL News

[Raji]

-Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot while waiting for some women outside an apartment early Tuesday and sustained life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Collier, 26, and former Jaguars player Kenneth Pettway were waiting in a car when a gunman shot into the vehicle, said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson. Collier was shot several times but it's not clear where he was hit.

Collier was in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, a hospital official said. The motive behind the attack was unclear, and the sheriff's office was investigating.

During training camp, the third-year lineman competed for the starting job at left tackle but was beat out by Khalif Barnes.

Earlier this year, Collier pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge stemming from an incident last fall, avoiding trial and accepting six months of probation.

The 6-foot-7, 350-pound linemen was arrested Nov. 3 after officers found him asleep behind the wheel of his sports utility vehicle at a McDonald's drive-thru window, according to a police report. Collier failed field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level of .096. In Florida, it is illegal to drive when a person's blood-alcohol level reaches .08.

Collier's attorney, Hank Coxe, disputed the police report and recommended that his client go to trial, but Collier didn't want the team to have to deal with the negative attention that it would generate.

Pettway, a backup defensive end who played in 17 games over the past two seasons, was among the players cut by the Jaguars last weekend.

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[Raji]

) -New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said the team remains hopeful it will be able to host the season opener against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

The Saints moved their practice site to Indianapolis over the weekend to get out of the path of Hurricane Gustav. Loomis said the team's practice facility sustained only minor damage, such as damaged awnings. But the Saints still plan to practice in Indianapolis this week.

The Louisiana Superdome, which was severely damaged three years ago during Hurricane Katrina, appeared to be in good condition, too.

Still, Loomis said he has not yet spoken with league officials about the possibility of moving the game, possibly switching the two home dates between the division rivals.

Loomis said players, coaches and staff members reported no injuries to their families in the storm.

He also said the Saints want to return to New Orleans quickly to help lift the city's spirits after a tough week.

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[Bobby O'Shea]

The Saints game should be one of the best this week to watch! I don't think the travel will be a problem.

Bobby O

[Raji]

LLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -The Detroit Lions signed former Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson to a one-year deal and released running back Tatum Bell.

The Lions signed Johnson on Tuesday, a day after he worked out with the team. The 28-year-old missed most of training camp with the Bengals because of a hamstring injury and was cut Saturday.

The 5-foot-10, 225-pound Johnson ran for a team-record 1,458 yards in 2005 and 1,300-plus yards in 2006. But hamstring problems limited him to nine starts and a 2.9-yard average last year, and the injury has lingered.

Cincinnati drafted him in the fourth round in 2001.

Bell came to Detroit before last season in a trade with the Denver Broncos. He had 44 carries for 182 yards in five games for the Lions.

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[Raji]

RENTON, Wash. (AP) -Matt Hasselbeck tightened a wrap around his waist and balky back.

He then walked out of the locker room and said he's ready to start the Seahawks' season opener.

''Got to get my 'Gut-be-Gone' on,'' the quarterback joked Monday.

Seattle's just hoping the rust is gone from Hasselbeck by Sunday in Buffalo.

The Pro Bowl quarterback participated in just his second full practice since injuring his back nearly a month ago Monday in a short workout. He said he is ready to face the Bills despite having played just two series of a preseason game since January's playoff loss at Green Bay.

''I mean, ideally, yeah, you'd like to play a little bit more. But the situation is what it is,'' Hasselbeck said after his first practice since he left one early and in pain on Aug. 19. ''I've gone into seasons when I wasn't 100 percent healthy. And if I had to take one or the other, I would take healthy and not as many reps.

''That's the situation we're in right now. It's not too different than last year, coming off my shoulder surgery.''

When asked to clarify if he was 100 percent healthy, Hasselbeck said: ''I think I'm 100 percent healthy. I'm probably not 100 percent in shape.

''That's what this week's for. ... I'm ready to go.''

Hasselbeck had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his non-throwing shoulder immediately following the 2006 season, then played six series in two games of the preseason in 2007. Then he set team records for completions (352), attempts (562) and yards passing (3,966). That earned him his third Pro Bowl - and a belief rust from an inactive summer won't be much of an issue early this season, either.

''So it's not something I'm too concerned about,'' said Hasselbeck, who turns 33 this month.

He did his throwing in a light, 50-minute practice Monday, while Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones, former Super Bowl MVP receiver Deion Branch and starting right tackle Sean Locklear were rested. The team doesn't need to issue an injury report until Wednesday.

Bobby Engram, who set a team record with 94 catches last season, is out until perhaps October with a broken shoulder. Branch had reconstructive surgery on his knee seven months ago. And versatile receiver Ben Obomanu went on injured reserve last weekend with a broken clavicle.

Nate Burleson was the only proven veteran Hasselbeck was throwing to on Monday.

Hasselbeck revealed his lower back was in pain and that he had spasms for weeks following an incident in practice just before the preseason opener Aug. 8 at Minnesota. He felt back pain on the flight to Minneapolis yet played anyway and was sharp - 7-for-8 for 70 yards and a touchdown in the first two series against the Vikings.

He hasn't played since. He's been seeing a chiropractor and doing intense, seemingly unending exercises each day to strengthen the core muscles in his lower back.

Asked if he has any pain in his back now, Hasselbeck said with a smile: ''No. The rehab is bothering me! It's a lot of work.''

''I feel great,'' he said. ''It's been a little bit frustrating watching, especially because I've felt pretty good the last few days.

''I was probably a little rusty. ... I feel like it would be that much better on Wednesday.''

As for that first hit in almost nine months that will come Sunday, Hasselbeck isn't anxious. He's been getting pounded on since arriving in Seattle to start in 2001. And he has been particularly battered for much of the past two seasons behind an offensive line that has been changing and often ineffective.

''No, you remember what that's like real quick,'' he said of the hits. ''I don't need to know. I remember.''


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