The Atlanta Falcons haven't even started contact drills and already two starters have been lost to injuries.
Doctors on Tuesday disclosed that defensive end Mike Gann has torn cartilage in his left knee. He joins right cornerback Melvin Jenkins, who suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot on Monday.Both players are scheduled to have surgery today and could miss at least six weeks.
"It just makes us sick," said team president Taylor Smith.
Jenkins, a sixth-year player, was the projected starter while Deion Sanders completes the baseball season with the Atlanta Braves.
Coach Jerry Glanville said it was unlikely Jenkins, scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, would return before October, although the player said he hoped to be back for the team's opener on Sept. 5.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers signed a quarterback, but it wasn't Steve Young.
Elvis Grbac, the team's eighth-round draft pick out of Michigan, signed a two-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.
Young, last season's leading passer and MVP, has never missed a day of training camp because of contract problems and has said he doesn't want to start now.
League rules prohibit unsigned players from participating in camp, and Young's agent, Leigh Steinberg, has said that the two sides still must resolve significant differences. Young earned $2.5 million last season and Steinberg is seeking a package that would more than double Young's salary.
He is scheduled to report to training camp in Rocklin by tonight, along with rookies and some veterans and free agents. The team will hold its first workout on Thursday.
Green Bay Packers
Many football publications have projected the rejuvenated Green Bay Packers as contenders, and coach Mike Holmgren has no problem with such lofty expectations.
"I like it. I like the fact people look at us with more respect now," Holmgren said Tuesday.
The Packers spent big in the offseason, signing seven free agents for roughly $30 million. More than half of that will go to prize addition Reggie White, whose $17 million four-year deal will pay him about $9 million this season. In addition, the Packers will have all their draft choices in camp today when free agents, rookies and selected veterans report.
Los Angeles Raiders
The Los Angeles Raiders have officially said farewell to 14-year defensive tackle Bob Golic, who announced his retirement.
Golic, who played the last four seasons with the Raiders, came to training camp to announce his retirement at the age of 35. Golic was originally drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots in 1979. He later played for the Cleveland Browns before moving to the Raiders as a Plan B free agent in 1989.
"It was obviously a situation where they were trying to get the younger guys more playing time," said Golic, who played in only one game in the second half of last season. "But I'd been fooling myself trying to convince myself it wasn't time to move on."
The Raiders signed defensive back James Trapp, a third-round pick; linebacker Greg Biekert, a seventh-round pick; and running back Greg Robinson, an eighth-round pick. All but two of the Raiders' six draft choices have signed.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks signed fourth-round pick linebacker Dean Wells, fifth-round selection wide receiver Terrence Warren and seventh-round defensive end Micheal McCrary. Still unsigned is top draft choice Rick Mirer, a quarterback from Notre Dame and the second player chosen in this year's NFL draft.
New York Jets
Veteran safety Lonnie Young was released by the New York Jets after failing a physical on his injured right knee. Young started at free safety the last two years after coming to the Jets in a trade with Phoenix, for whom he played six seasons. He injured his knee against Buffalo last November and underwent surgery.
The Jets also signed four draft picks - defensive lineman Coleman Rudolph (No. 2); tight end Fred Baxter and wide receiver Kenny Shedd, both taken in the fifth round, and tackle Alec Millen, a seventh-round pick.
Rookie free agent defensive lineman Darren Drozdov was waived.