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Around the AFC

BROWNS: Wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, benched late last season for ineffectiveness, is one of several players who spent the offseason working with an eye specialist. "I wasn't able to focus on the ball when it got up close," said Northcutt, who missed the first three games last season with a broken collarbone and was benched for the final two. "I was losing sight of it when it got within 5 yards." Northcutt has been doing drills to improve his short-range vision.

CHARGERS: General manager John Butler called his lung cancer "just a little setback" and said he'll continue to run the team while fighting the disease. Butler, in his second season with the team, was diagnosed with cancer July 4 and has had his first chemotherapy treatment. "We all go through different things in life," Butler said. "There are so many people who are fighting cancer and I hope I'm just as tough and brave as some of the people who fight it, and I guarantee I'm going to fight it."

CHIEFS: Kicker Morten Andersen says he wants to play in the NFL until he's age 50. He wants to shatter kicker George Blanda's standard of 48. "It's attainable if I stay healthy," said Andersen, soon to be 42 and second on the NFL's all-time scoring list behind Gary Anderson. "I still love this game, I still love the camaraderie and the competition. The NFL is a lot of fun." ... Tony Gonzalez had a lengthy phone conversation with president Carl Peterson, but the All-Pro tight end still was a no-show at training camp.

DOLPHINS: Defensive tackle Larry Chester predicted new running back Ricky Williams will have plenty of room to run this season. "He might run so much he'll hit his head on the goal posts," Chester said. "There's great talent in that offensive line, and you've got knowledge of the game galore." Praise is rare for a group widely regarded as the chief culprit for the Dolphins' offensive woes last season, when they finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing. Coach Dave Wannstedt said improvement in the line is essential. "Like they say, it all starts up front," he said. "For us to be a real good team, we're going to have to block people."

JAGUARS: After early bragging that he might challenge Mark Brunell for playing time, rookie quarterback David Garrard has adjusted his goals. "I would love to play well enough that they would not bring in a veteran," the fourth-round pick from East Carolina said. "Because I think I have the potential to be the backup at this point." ... The team waived kicker Jaret Holmes and signed defensive end Mike Cecere.

JETS: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde banged his right thumb on a player's helmet in camp. The 15-year veteran said there is no major damage, but he will miss at least a few days of practice and maybe more. "I've jammed my thumb before," said Testaverde, who walked off the field with a large ice wrap on his thumb. "It's usually a couple of weeks, if that. I don't expect to miss too much time. I certainly expect to be back before the opening game of the regular season." Coach Herman Edwards said the Jets will "play it day by day," adding, "We're going to be very, very cautious with it and make sure it doesn't happen again."

STEELERS: Kicker Todd Peterson left camp, but for good reason: to kick at Heinz Field. Former kicker Kris Brown had trouble kicking at the new stadium last season, so Peterson plans to practice there regularly all season. "I don't believe in ghosts and I wouldn't see them even if they were there," he said. "I'm trying not to make a mountain out of a molehill. I've kicked in a lot of tough places."

TITANS: The team signed defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the first-round draft pick who had agreed to terms a day earlier. The Tennessean reported the contract is for $8.3-million across five years, or $9.35-million across six if Tennessee picks up an option year. He'll receive $5.5-million in a signing bonus in the first two years, and his first three years are guaranteed, the paper said.

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