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Warning: Trying to understand retired Ravens running back Ricky Williams' train of thought can lead to headaches; or at the very least, a great deal of confusion.

Just listen to Williams' reasoning on why he believes there is a link between concussions and brain damage.

"I don't buy it," Williams told ESPN's Dan Le Batard on Tuesday. “I'm only speaking from my personal experience, because I've never allowed myself to buy it, and I haven't been affected by it. Yes, I'm aware that football is a rough sport, but instead of saying, 'Oh, I'm doomed to like brain trauma,' I said, 'What can I do about it?' And I just started taking care of my body. I found people, places and things that really helped me. Again, I don't know what's going to happen to me in 10 years, but for me I look at the other things I've learned about and the way I see the world.”

This makes you wonder if Williams is thinking clearly after 2,431 carries in the NFL. If I'm following him correctly, and I'm not totally certain that I am, the key for football players to avoid head trauma later in life is to keep in good physical shape and refuse to believe science.

"So is science like the new deity of our culture? It is, but should it be?," Williams said. "If you look at science 100 years ago, the things that they thought based on their science, we now show they had no idea of what they're talking about. I think as time goes on, the things that I've been saying are just going to be proven to be correct. The way that football is looking at it now, if you follow the trajectory, it creates the end of football. So, do we want football to die? I don't."

Williams is the one who is sounding behind the times. It's amazing that Williams can have this way of thinking, especially after spending a season in the same locker room with center Matt Birk. Three years ago, Birk pledged to donate his brain and spinal cord tissues after death to a Boston University medical school program that is looking to better understand the long-term effects of repeated concussions.

Williams certainly has the right to speak his mind and he's dealt with more blows to the head than I ever will. He said he doesn't know how many concussions he's had but he doesn't feel any effects right now. You have to wonder whether his stance on concussions and head trauma will change 10 years from now.

Former NFL running back Ricky Williams shares his views on concussions.

The New York Jets are expected to have an extensive Wildcat package this season. New York acquired former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, who has experience with the read-option offense in college and the pros.

New Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano unleashed the Wildcat on the NFL several years ago with the Miami Dolphins. Sparano used two running backs – Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams -- in Miami, and he talked about the differences this week with using Tebow, a quarterback, in New York.

"With Ricky (Williams) and Ronnie (Brown), the reason that we had to do it in Miami at that time was those were really our two best players at that point, and part of the philosophy was to get the two best players on the field at the same time. And in doing so, we created some matchup problems that way. I think the difference (with Williams and Brown) is there was very little element of pass involved in that, where obviously with Tim, that's a different element. So if we decide to go down that road, the element of being able to throw the football out of that brings a complete different dynamic into the picture here."

If effective, Tebow is expected to take some pressure off starting quarterback Mark Sanchez and add a unique element to the running game. Tebow averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2011, and has the athleticism and toughness to move the chains.

Many feel there is a brewing quarterback controversy in New York. But Sparano thinks Sanchez will respond fine with fewer snaps. Tebow could get anywhere between 1-20 plays per game, depending on the game plan and opponent.

"I'm not concerned about that, no, I don't think so," Sparano said. "I think with all the work that we'll be doing between now and the time the season starts and all the steps, I think we have to remember that Mark, he's been under center here for a lot of games, for the three years that he's been here, and I think that between now and training camp and through training camp (with) all the snaps that Mark will get, I think we'll be in good shape."

INDIANAPOLIS -- NFL teams have not traded the second overall draft choice since 2000.

The St. Louis Rams could break the streak this year.

The NFL scouting combine is giving them a chance to gauge trade interest, a process that is under way, ESPN's Adam Schefter notes. The Rams already have Sam Bradford at quarterback, and they could use additional picks for rebuilding, making them a prime candidate to move backward in the draft.

The Washington Redskins were the most recent team to acquire the second overall choice, securing the 2000 version from New Orleans as part of the blockbuster trade allowing the Saints to select Ricky Williams. Washington used the pick for LaVar Arrington.

The Saints did not know they were trading the No. 2 overall pick at the time, however; they gave up a slew of 1999 picks, plus first-and third-rounders in the next draft. That 2000 first-round choice wound up being second overall.

The Redskins hold the sixth pick this year and could be a candidate to trade up with St. Louis. Cleveland, which picks fourth, is also among quarterback-needy teams within striking distance of the second pick, which could provide teams a shot at Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

The Seattle Seahawks pick 11th or 12th, and could also use a quarterback. I doubt the Rams would trade the pick within the division, and I doubt the Seahawks would give up what it would take to move up nine or 10 spots.

However, teams face less financial strain trading up into the top few choices. Changes in the rookie wage scale have made those top picks far less expensive than in past years. That could give teams additional reasons to move up; it could also make teams feel better about holding onto those earlier choices.

The chart shows trades involving the second overall choice, plus the players teams wound up drafting with that pick.

Wendi and Mort discuss the legacy Ricky Williams leaves behind, Darren wonders if the Eagles can follow the Giants' path, and in Did You Hear That?, Gronk puts on his dancing shoes.

MIAMI — How will Ricky Williams be remembered in South Florida?

Will the former Miami Dolphins tailback be remembered for his three 1,000-yard seasons, including an amazing 1,853 rushing yards in 2002? Or will Williams be remembered for his failed drug tests, abrupt retirement/return, and his always-wavering will to play football?

The Dolphins saw the best and worst of Williams during his eight-year tenure in Miami. It was a roller-coaster ride and the most years he spent with his three NFL teams.

Williams in his prime was a fantastic runner. Williams finished with 10,009 rushing yards in a career where he essentially missed three full seasons in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Those numbers could have been even higher had Williams always maintained his focus on football.

But focus and football never added up for Williams, and that is the part that rubs a lot of Dolphins fans the wrong way. Miami was invested in Williams — the Dolphins traded for him in 2002 — but football was never something he truly loved. It was too easy for Williams to walk away. He was much more interested in other things.

Following retirement and drug-related suspensions, Williams was never the same, consistent player when he returned in 2008. He had a one-year resurgence in 2009, rushing for 1,121 yards, because teams couldn't figure out Miami's innovative Wildcat offense. But Williams never rushed for more than 673 yards the rest of his career before retiring this season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Williams is a thoughtful and intelligent person and should do very well in the next phase of his life. But his football phase in the NFL will be viewed through a murky lens, especially in Miami.

Tuesday’s news that Baltimore Ravens running back Ricky Williams is retiring comes with a bit of an NFC South angle.

Williams once was the biggest thing to ever hit the New Orleans Saints. Remember the 1999 draft, when the Saints traded away all their picks from that year, plus a couple more for the following year, for the right to draft Williams?

Yeah, it made headlines all over the place because it was one of the most daring trades ever -- we’re talking way more daring and dangerous than what the Falcons gave up to get Julio Jones or what the Saints gave up to get Mark Ingram in the 2011 draft.

It was the biggest deal coach Mike Ditka made and (along with a 3-13 record that season) it led to the end of his coaching career.

When coach Jim Haslett arrived the next season, Williams had some success. He had two 1,000-yard seasons, but there were issues. Williams was a unique personality. He didn’t interact a lot with teammates and often conducted interviews behind the shield of his helmet.

"Ricky's just a different guy," former New Orleans receiver Joe Horn once said. "People he wanted to deal with, he did. And people he wanted to have nothing to do with, he didn't. No one could understand that. I don't think guys in the locker room could grasp that he wanted to be to himself -- you know, quiet. If you didn't understand him and didn't know what he was about, it always kept people in suspense."

Haslett was in suspense or, at the very least, never quite could figure out Williams. That’s part of the reason Deuce McAllister was drafted. By the end of the 2001 season, in which Williams rushed for 1,245 yards and caught 60 passes, Haslett was pretty clear that Williams didn’t fit his long-term plans.

In the spring of 2002, the Saints traded Williams to the Miami Dolphins. They were able to get back some of what they initially gave up for Williams by getting four draft picks, including two first-round choices, in return.

Williams’ career would go on to have all sorts of twists and turns. He had success at times in Miami. He also retired from football in 2004, only to return in 2005. Williams was suspended by the NFL in 2006 and wound up playing for Toronto in the Canadian Football League.

Williams returned to the Dolphins in 2007. He finished his career with Baltimore and ended up with 10,009 rushing yards and 74 total touchdowns (66 of them on the ground).

Not a bad career, especially when you consider all the interruptions.

Would it have somehow worked out better if things had been handled differently and Williams spent his entire career in New Orleans? It’s impossible to say for sure.

Williams’ track record suggests he might have encountered some of the same, or different, problems if he had been with the Saints the entire time. Things worked out all right for him. They also worked out for the Saints, aside from the initial price tag to get Williams. McAllister ended up having a very nice career.

Reggie Bush came in and did some nice things at certain times. Along the way, the Saints also added Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles, who have done some pretty nice things at running back.

This is the official retirement announcement from Ravens running back Ricky Williams:

"The NFL has been an amazing page in this chapter of my life. I pray that all successive adventures offer me the same potential for growth, success and most importantly, fun. I want to thank all my fans, teammates, coaches and supporters for the strength they've given me to overcome so much. I want to especially thank my family, coach Mack Brown, Coach [Mike] Ditka, Coach [Bill] Parcells, Ronnie Brown, Wilbert Montgomery and the Jamail family for believing in me. As for what's next, I am excited about all the opportunities ahead -- continuing my education, running The Ricky Williams Foundation and whatever other opportunities present themselves.

"My football career has been filled with many great memories going back to pee wee football with coach Tom Miller, [San Diego's] Patrick Henry High School and coach Jerry Varner and on to the University of Texas. It has been a big part of my life and blessed me with so many wonderful opportunities and the chance to connect with many people who have helped me grow and mature. I will miss the game, the camaraderie, my teammates and especially the emotions of a big victory. I love the game and leave it feeling fulfilled, proud, in great health and excited about the future.

"I have to thank Coach [John] Harbaugh and the Ravens organization for the opportunity they gave me this year. I had so much fun and really appreciated the chance to finish on such a great note."

My take on the announcement is whether Williams will stay retired. Here are other reactions from the Ravens:

Ravens running back Ray Rice: "I was a big fan of Ricky before we were teammates, but being around him this year is the best thing that happened to me in my NFL career. As a young player, you need to be around a guy who knows what he is doing, and Ricky was tremendous to learn from. The way he took care of his body and the way he prepared, he always showed that he is a true professional. This past season with him is a year I will never forget. I had the best year with him beside me, and that was no accident. I believe that Ricky Williams is a Hall of Famer. All that he has done in his career, he deserves that. I was honored to share the field with him when he went over 10,000 yards. What an amazing accomplishment, as he is one of the best. I will miss him, but I wish him and his family well."

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome: "Ricky is one of the most productive rushers in league history, and he was a tremendous asset to our team this past season. We enjoyed having him as a member of the Ravens, as his leadership, work ethic and commitment contributed to our success. We are grateful for his contributions, and we wish him nothing but the best going forward."

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh: "Ricky, in his time here, made a valuable and lasting contribution. I especially enjoyed getting to know him as a person, and I have the utmost respect for him. He was great to be around and to work with every single day. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Baltimore running back Ricky Williams plans to retire, according to ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

When I first heard this, my initial reaction was: Will he stay retired?

Williams stunned the NFL with an early retirement in 2004. But he was back in July 2005.

He talked retirement before the 2009 season, saying he wanted to play two more seasons before calling it quits. But he played with Baltimore in 2011.

Williams, 34, even spoke about his intentions about playing next season for the Ravens after the AFC championship game loss at New England.

“My body feels good and I know I’m going to train hard and so I’m excited about next year,” Williams said last month, via the team's website. “I’ve grown a lot, kind of falling into a new role and a new city and a new organization, and I’ve gotten better. And like everyone else, I feel like I have something to build on for next year.”

So, what changed?

After the news broke about his retirement today, Williams addressed it in a cryptic Twitter message: "Thank you all, but this ain't it. I'm gonna do something really special. 'Be you and change the world.'"

If Williams does follow through with his retirement, it will be a big loss for the Ravens even though Williams isn't the same powerful running back from a few years ago.

What the Ravens lose isn't the stats that Williams produced last year. He rushed for a career-low 444 yards and scored two touchdowns.

What the Ravens lose is a reliable insurance policy for running back Ray Rice. If Rice went down for any significant amount of time, Baltimore didn't have to worry about handing the ball to Williams, one of 26 players in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards.

To be honest, Williams was underused in his first season with the Ravens. He averaged less than seven carries per game and caught 13 passes, but it was hard to get him onto the field because it meant taking Rice off of it.

The Ravens signed Williams last year to a two-year contract to replace Willis McGahee, so it appears that their preference is to have an experienced backup. Baltimore's third-string running back Anthony Allen, a seventh-round pick last year, looked like he would need another year before becoming the team's primary backup.

This means the Ravens will be searching for a second-tier running back in free agency.

Reputations last, and I don’t think many people think of the defensive-minded Baltimore Ravens as a big-play offense.

The Texans did their part to change that in the regular-season loss in Baltimore on Oct. 16 — Joe Flacco threw a 51-yard pass to Torrey Smith and a 56-yard pass to Anquan Boldin and Ray Rice had a 27-yard run.

“You got to give them credit,” Gary Kubiak said. “Flacco put up a lot of deep balls that they went up and got and made the play that we did not make. They have been a big-play offense. They’re running the ball so well with Rice, and Vonta (Leach) is doing just a hell of a job, so it sets up for them to get the ball down the field when they do play action, those type of things. We got to stop the run first. You better stop the run against these guys first, or you’re not going to get on the field. Stopping the big play with their receivers was an issue for us the first time, and hopefully we can correct it this time.”

Have they really been a big-play offense? I thought it was Kubiak paying the typical over-the-top tribute to an opponent, but I asked Matthew Willis of ESPN Stats & Information for a run down.

The Ravens have had 13 20-yard rushes this season: Nine from Rice, three from Ricky Williams and one from Flacco. Here are the five longest.

Rice – 70, Week 17 at Bengals
Rice – 67, Week 13 at Browns
Rice – 59, Week 11 vs. Bengals
Rice – 53, Week 3 at Rams
Rice – 51, Week 17 at Bengals
Flacco’s longest was 31 yards, Williams’ was 28.

The Ravens had 17 30-yard completions, and 45 of 20-plus yards. Here are the five longest:

Flacco to Torrey Smith, 74, Week 3 at Rams
Flacco to Anquan Boldin, 56, Week 6 vs. Texans
Flacco to Ray Rice, 52, Week 4 vs. Jets
Flacco to Smith, 51, Week 6 vs. Texans
Flacco to Smith, 49, Week 11 vs. Bengals

Simple and obvious formula for the Texans: If they give up the sort of big plays that they put on that list, they can’t win Sunday. If they don’t, they’ll have at least a chance.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 13:

Rattling rookie quarterbacks: No defense has a better record against rookie quarterbacks the past eight years than the Steelers. Under defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh is 13-1 against starting first-year quarterbacks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That record includes a 24-17 victory against Bengals rookie Andy Dalton three weeks ago when Pittsburgh intercepted him twice in the fourth quarter. Since 2003, the Steelers have limited starting rookie quarterbacks to 167.9 yards passing, allowing 10 touchdowns while notching 15 interceptions. The only rookie to beat Pittsburgh during this stretch was the Ravens' Troy Smith in the 2007 regular-season finale, when the Steelers rested many of their starters.

Running game heats up: During the John Harbaugh era (since 2008), Baltimore has rushed for 152.6 yards per game in December and January, third-best in the NFL. Only the Panthers and Jets have averaged more in that time. Run defense has been a major weakness for the Browns, who have allowed a league-worst seven running backs to gain more than 100 yards against them. Cleveland ranks 29th in the NFL in run defense and has given up 11 runs of 20 yards or more, which is tied for sixth-most in the league. This could be a game where Ravens running backs Ray Rice and Ricky Williams combine for more than 30 carries.

Fourth-quarter finishes: Cincinnati has recorded five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, which has been uncharacteristic for this franchise. Before this season, in their first 130 games under coach Marvin Lewis, the Bengals rallied back in the fourth quarter only 14 times. The Bengals, though, can't wait until the fourth quarter against the Steelers. While Pittsburgh has struggled in the past to close out games defensively, the Steelers have been shutting down teams in the end since allowing that 92-yard winning drive to the Ravens. Pittsburgh has won its past two games by making three interceptions in the fourth quarter.

Stopping short passes: Whether this is an indication of Colt McCoy's arm strength or the lack of deep threats on the Browns, McCoy has thrown a league-high 76.1 percent of his passes 10 yards or fewer downfield this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He averaged a career-low 4.4 yards gained on his 34 pass attempts at the Bengals last Sunday. McCoy’s average yards per attempt is 5.9, the lowest of any qualifying quarterback. The Browns' short passing attack plays right into the strength of the Ravens. Only the Texans have allowed a lower percentage of those short passes to be completed in 2011 and no team has allowed fewer touchdown passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.

Needing to win more than respect: The Bengals proved they could compete against the AFC North first-place teams, but they need more than moral victories against teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the final five weeks of the season. Cincinnati is 6-0 against teams that currently have losing records and is 1-4 against those with winning records, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The only team the Bengals have beaten that has an above-.500 record now is the Titans (6-5). One reason why Cincinnati has failed to defeat the better teams is its ability to take care of the ball. The Bengals' turnover ratio against losing teams is plus-6 but it's minus-2 against winning teams.

BALTIMORE -- Thoughts on the Houston Texans' 29-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

What it means: The Texans lost their second game in a row, and the enthusiasm over their 3-1 record seems so, so long ago now that they’re 3-3. They’re out of first place in the AFC South because the 3-2 Titans had the week off.

What I didn’t like: Joe Flacco is hardly the best quarterback the Texans will see, but twice in the second half, the Texans allowed deep completions. Torrey Smith caught a 51-yard ball over Kareem Jackson and Anquan Boldin grabbed a 56-yard throw. On the first a defender was bearing down on Flacco, on the second he got hit by Antonio Smith. The Texans can ill afford to give up such plays, and they cause some flashbacks to last year.

What I liked: Both of those big gainers didn’t result in touchdowns. The Texans stopped Baltimore from getting in the end zone, forcing field goals that allowed them to stay within a score.

What else I didn’t like: After those big pass plays and field goals, the Ravens managed to get Ray Rice going. His 27-yard run set up a Ricky Williams touchdown that made it 26-14 with 4:01 left. A 12-point deficit with one timeout remaining against the Ravens on the road is a tall order. The offense failed to find the sort of big plays it needed to keep up when it needed them. Andre Johnson sure could have helped.

What’s next: The Texans head for Nashville and a big AFC South matchup with the division lead on the line. Tennessee is coming off a bye. Will Johnson return from the hamstring injury that has cost him two games?

If the report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is correct, the NFL's $15,000 fine of Steelers safety Troy Polamalu for a horse-collar tackle seems excessive.

Yes, a horse-collar tackle can potentially end a player's career. But many times, it's the result of a defender desperately trying to grab onto anything to bring down the ball-carrier.

"It definitely wasn't on purpose," Polamalu said of his third-quarter takedown of Ravens running back Ricky Williams. "I've never intentionally tried to horse collar anybody."

Polamalu isn't Roy Williams and doesn't have a history of making horse-collar tackles. The fine appears more excessive when you consider Packers cornerback Charles Woodson was just fined $10,000 for throwing a punch. That's $5,000 less than Polamalu, and Woodson's action was far from accidental.

In the past, the NFL has given out $7,500 fines for horse-collar tackles. Last year, quarterback Kevin Kolb received a $5,000 fine for a horse-collar tackle.

Perhaps Polamalu's fine is for a combination of actions and not solely for the horse-collar tackle. Polamalu got into a scuffle during the game with Ravens running back Ray Rice, and both players ended up on the ground.

The NFL announces its fines on Friday, so this matter should be cleared up in the afternoon.

The one major question about the Miami Dolphins the entire offseason was never sufficiently answered.

So what is the deal at quarterback, anyway?

Chad Henne was the unequivocal choice of general manager Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano at this time last year. There was boundless confidence that the team’s second-round pick in 2008 was ready to take the reins of an offense that was expected to be made more proficient by the addition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The results were not pretty. On five occasions, all at home, Henne had the opportunity to win or tie a close game with a fourth-quarter scoring drive, and on all five he failed. Three of the subsequent losses were to also-rans Buffalo, Detroit and Cleveland, leaving Miami with a second straight 7-9 finish.

The failures almost cost Sparano his job, as owner Stephen Ross took a run at Jim Harbaugh, and for a time it seemed Henne might be replaced when Ireland engaged in negotiations for Denver’s Kyle Orton that ultimately came up empty. When the dust settled, former Carolina Panther Matt Moore had been brought in as a backup, but nothing had really changed. Henne was still the one.

The team around him does appear to have gotten better. Coordinator Mike Nolan’s defense, sixth in the league a year ago, has remarkable depth on the defensive line and is better at linebacker with the additions of Kevin Burnett and Jason Taylor. Ireland addressed a deficiency in speed at the skill positions with the acquisitions of Reggie Bush and fourth-round wideout Clyde Gates. First-round pick Mike Pouncey, a center, has brought stability to the offensive line.

But in the 12 years since Dan Marino retired, it has always come back to the quarterback. This year is no different.

Even Marshall, who at one point late last season said he was “not sure” he and Henne could coexist, had good things to say about his beleaguered quarterback who was actually booed at one preseason practice at Sun Life Stadium.

“Chad has been amazing this summer, getting the guys together,” he said. “He’s been the face of leadership.”

Sparano was even more forthcoming.

“I’ve seen more people going to Chad for answers,” he said. “You would have to envision when you’re at Indianapolis or a place like that people are going to Peyton (Manning) for the answers. Well, more people are going to Chad for the answers now, and that’s a direct reflection of what this young man has done.”

Chad Henne and Peyton Manning in the same sentence … now that’s a stretch for even the most loyal Dolphin fan.

Five days after Sparano made those comments, Henne started the first preseason game at Atlanta and was intercepted twice in five throws while Moore, playing both with and against second-teamers, was solid.

It may or may not happen, but certainly all the pieces for a year of quarterback controversy are in place.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas make people forget Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams? From 2005-10 either Brown or Williams led the Dolphins in rushing, and four of those six years they finished 1-2. Both were getting older -- Williams is 34, Brown 29 -- and the running game ranked 30^th in yards per carry (3.7) and 21^st in yards per game (102.7) last season. Ireland decided it was time to move on. Thomas, a second-round pick, led the Big 12 in rushing at Kansas State the past two seasons and at 6-foot and 230 pounds, he can pound the middle. Bush, who has missed 20 games to injury the past two seasons, expressed a desire to be the feature back upon his arrival but seems more likely to line up all over the field. “The lack of experience is definitely a concern,” admitted Sparano, whose stable of backs also includes unproven Kory Sheets and Lex Hilliard.

2. How will the season unfold for Marshall? The simple fact Marshall was perceived to have a down year when he had 86 catches last season -- tied for second in franchise history behind O.J. McDuffie’s 90 in 1998 -- demonstrates how high the expectations are for the man known as “The Beast.” Marshall’s off-field problems, which included the arrest of his wife after Marshall was found stabbed at his home in April, culminated with him being diagnosed and treated for borderline personality disorder this offseason. In camp this summer, it seemed every time Marshall went out for a pass, Henne was the one throwing it. If Gates can be the home-run threat Miami lacked after trading Ted Ginn Jr. last season, Marshall could benefit greatly.

3. Will new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll bring spice to a boring offense? Miami’s top two receivers last season, Marshall and Davone Bess, averaged 11.8 and 10.4 yards per catch. No wonder Henne came to be known as “Checkdown Chad.” But in the Dolphins’ first scrimmage this year, Daboll unveiled four-receiver sets and had Bush lined up everywhere from the backfield to wideout. Despite having Josh Cribbs, Daboll’s offense didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard in Cleveland, finishing 29^th in total offense and 25^th in yards per play. Sparano prefers the ground-and-pound, but Henne and Daboll must demonstrate they can keep up with prolific offensive units such as New England, San Diego and Houston -- which happen to be Miami’s first three opponents.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

If a former first-round pick can qualify as a surprise, then second-year defensive end Jared Odrick has earned that distinction. Odrick was lost early in the opener against Buffalo last season with a broken leg. His comeback was then stopped six weeks later by a broken ankle, ending his season. Worse, it turned out his first injury was eerily similar to one he suffered as a sophomore at Penn State, raising questions as to whether he could remain healthy enough to be counted upon. But in the early weeks of camp, Odrick was a force, as he and partner Tony McDaniel moved ahead of last season’s starters, Randy Starks and Kendall Langford, in team drills. That quartet as well as Phillip Merling and Ryan Baker give Miami inordinate depth at defensive end.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

After losing Justin Smiley to chronic shoulder injuries, the Dolphins had a vacancy at right guard in 2010 and drafted John Jerry out of Mississippi in the third round. Jerry, the younger brother of Atlanta defensive tackle Peria Jerry, got 10 starts but struggled to beat out journeyman Pat McQuistan. When Miami selected Pouncey in the first round of the draft, Richie Incognito, who played both guard spots at times last season, was put on the left side and Jerry was given the opportunity to win the right guard spot. After seeing unsatisfactory results in the first two weeks of camp, Sparano moved Vernon Carey over from right tackle and brought in free agent Marc Colombo, who had been let go by Dallas.

OBSERVATION DECK

• [+] Enlarge
  Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesThe Dolphins hope that pick Clyde Gates will be able to stretch the field like Ted Ginn Jr. did.
  Two relatively obscure rookies provided two of the more intriguing storylines of training camp. Gates, of Abilene Christian, whose father was released from prison last fall after serving a lengthy sentence for first-degree murder, was one. Seventh-rounder Jimmy Wilson of Montana, who spent 26 months in jail before being acquitted of a first-degree murder charge, was the other. Gates, who ran the 40 in 4.37 at the combine despite nursing a sore groin, provides needed speed at wide receiver and Wilson is a big hitter and ball hawk in the secondary.
• While first-round pick Pouncey was drawing favorable comparisons to his Steeler All-Pro twin brother Maurkice for his blocking and intelligence, his struggles snapping the ball were an ongoing concern as camp progressed. Pouncey, who moved to center as a senior at Florida after his brother left early, had some nightmarish games on shotgun snaps with the Gators and clearly doesn’t have the technique down yet.
• Marshall isn’t known for being shy around a microphone, but he wasn’t in a talkative mood the first three weeks of camp. He spoke only once, to reveal his diagnosis for borderline personality disorder, and took only a handful of questions. Of course, Marshall was in the middle of the Henne soap opera last season, so there was speculation he didn’t want to stir up the water this year as he continues to undergo treatment for his disorder.
• The only real battle for a starting job in camp has been at free safety. Third-year man Chris Clemons, last season's starter, was trying to hold off Reshad Jones, who made a favorable impression in limited opportunities as a rookie in 2010. Jones had a sack and an interception against Tennessee in one of his two starts and seems to be more of a playmaker.
• The biggest mystery in camp surrounded the status of Pro Bowl tackle Jake Long, who was put on the physically unable to perform list early and did not work at all the first three weeks. Sparano said Long’s injury did not involve his knee, which along with his shoulder, required surgery after last season.ÿ

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are once again navigating the loss of a significant player, and the dark irony is that their greatest asset in such pursuits is experience.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford was lost before halftime in Week 1 last season to a shoulder injury. The same thing happened to cornerback Aaron Berry, a surprise starter as a nickelback. In the wake of tailback Mikel LeShoure's torn Achilles tendon, receiver Nate Burleson reminded teammates that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 1 of the 2008 season while playing for the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch missed 13 games of his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals and all of his third season because of injuries.

So coach Jim Schwartz had an easy answer on Tuesday when I asked how he would combat the kind of "woe is us" response that could naturally result from LeShoure's injury.

"We've been though that with a lot of different players," Schwartz said, "and we have a lot of players on our team who have been through stuff like that."

If there was a silver lining to the timing of LeShoure's injury, it's that it came during the experimentation of the Lions' offensive scheme. We have all assumed the Lions planned some sort of one-two combination between LeShoure and starter Jahvid Best, but Schwartz said: "I don't know that we had mapped it out that much, anyway."

No doubt repeating the message he gave his team, Schwartz emphasized what we discussed Monday: While the loss will impact the offense, it's not as if the team has been left barren.

"That's one of the reasons you go through the preseason," Schwartz said. "It's to find things that guys can do and how you're going to use them and the best way to utilize that talent. It's not like we don't have other good players on offense and it's not like our plans have been dashed because of this.

"[LeShoure] was going to be an important part. He was doing very, very well, not just physically but mentally for a rookie. But we still have a lot of time and we still have a lot of good players."

At the same time, I think the Lions really missed out by not convincing free agent tailback Ricky Williams to sign Tuesday. Schwartz acknowledged the Lions had interest and said "there were other names, too," but in the end the Lions had veterans Mike Bell and Jerome Harrison on the field for practice.

Williams' hard-charging style would have complemented Best much in the way LeShoure was going to, but he chose to sign with the Baltimore Ravens instead. I wouldn't be surprised if the Lions continue to scan the market for other possibilities as the preseason rolls on.

A couple of notes from the Lions' indoor practice in helmets and shorts:

• Offensive lineman Jason Fox returned with relatively good news from a visit with a North Carolina foot specialist. He does not have a fracture and won't need surgery. Instead, he will be immobilized in a cast for a period of time and then begin rehabilitation.
• Receiver Titus Young (leg) was again held out of practice and was walking on the sideline with an obvious limp. There is no sense on speculating how long it will take him to recover, but it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon. For now, the Lions can't expect a contribution from any of their top three draft choices.
• I spent some time watching Berry, especially after hearing so much about him despite very limited practice and game time last season. In one instance, at least, Berry covered receiver Calvin Johnson as well as could possibly be expected. He was physical, remained stride-for-stride and forced Johnson to make an extraordinarily difficult catch on the sideline.
• In nickel packages that I saw, the Lions were inserting Brandon McDonald and removing linebacker Stephen Tulloch. While Tulloch was in the middle during first-team drills, Schwartz said it is likely he will rotate between the middle and the outside during the preseason. Tulloch made a nice play during positional drills to knock a pass away from Best.