Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CINCINNATI ó The Cincinnati Bengals waived quarterback Jordan Palmer on Saturday, giving his older brother another reason to stay away.
Palmer was the No. 2 quarterback behind older brother Carson Palmer, who asked for a trade after the season. The franchise quarterback has told the team he’d rather retire than play another season with Cincinnati, which is one of the NFL’s least-successful teams.
REDSKINS
ASHBURN, Va. ó While the Washington Redskins quarterback race has kept everyone on tenterhooks, the running back competition has become a one-man show.
Tim Hightower has separated himself from the pack and is all but certain to be the starter for the regular season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 11.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Saturday he isn’t ready to announce Hightower has the job yet, but says “if you were betting in Vegas, you’d probably bet in that direction.”
Hightower was acquired in a trade with Arizona after the lockout. He is averaging 6.8 yards per carry in preseason.
RAVENS
OWINGS MILLS, Md. ó Still massive at roughly 370 pounds, new Baltimore Ravens left offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie says he’s working hard to get down to his usual playing weight of 350 pounds.
“I play at like 355, not 335,” McKinnie said..”
Cut my the Minnesota Vikings after reporting to training camp at 387 pounds, McKinnie signed a two-year contract with the Ravens last week and is eager to start the next phase of his career in the NFL.
GIANTS ADJUST
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Being forced to adjust their schedule because of the weather isn’t anything new for the New York Giants.
They got used to it last season when a blizzard first delayed their trip to Minnesota, then forced the game to be moved to Detroit when the Metrodome’s roof collapsed.
The Giants are adjusting again with the East Coast being hit by Hurricane Irene. The category 1 storm forced the Giants, Jets and the NFL to move Saturday’s game at MetLife Stadium from Saturday to Monday night.
EAGLES
PHILADELPHIA ó Eagles wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith practiced on Saturday for the first time this year.
Maclin was cleared by doctors earlier this month after being stricken by an unknown illness during the offseason. Smith, signed away from the New York Giants, underwent microfracture surgery in December. Both were placed on the Eagles’ active roster.
ILLEGAL HITS
NEW YORK ó Players ranted about the NFL’s crackdown on illegal hits last season. Some even questioned if the league was heading toward touch football.
One thing they should remember about 2010 is that nobody was suspended for a flagrant foul. They can’t count on such leniency this year.
“Player safety is a priority and we will not relent on it,” says NFL executive vice president for football operations Ray Anderson, the league’s chief disciplinarian. “Let me make it very clear, particularly in regard to repeat offenders, that egregious acts will be subject to suspension. We will not feel the need to hesitate in this regard.”