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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 21, 2002
COWBOYS: Jeff Robinson, the deep snapper signed to solve one of the team's biggest problems, left practice with a right knee injury. "It looks like an ACL," owner Jerry Jones said. "That's terrible, it really gets us. It would be us in a situation where we'd be looking for a deep snapper."
FALCONS: Veteran safety Perry Phenix signed. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder is entering his fifth season. He was drafted by Tennessee out of Southern Miss in 1998. He had a team-leading 27 special teams tackles during the Titans' 1999 Super Bowl season. To make room on the roster, the team waived rookie kicker Brian Holmes.
LIONS: Detroit has signed Pro Bowl left guard Ray Brown to a one-year deal to provide depth on the line. The 39-year-old was released in June by San Francisco in a salary-cap related move. "It's just a blessing to be playing again," he said. "I think the 49ers felt my term came to an end. This is where I was wanted."
PACKERS: The attorney for backup fullback Najeh Davenport said he is working on a plea deal to charges the player broke into a university dormitory and defecated in a woman's closet. At a hearing, defense attorney Richard Sharpstein told the judge he's making progress in negotiations with prosecutors. Circuit Judge Scott Silverman set another hearing for Sept. 5.
VIKINGS: Former starting cornerback Robert Tate was released. Tate was bothered by a shoulder injury last year and lost his job to rookie Eric Kelly. With Kelly and free agent signee Corey Chavous set to start, Tyrone Carter having made a switch from safety and the coaching staff high on rookie Brian Williams, Tate was buried on the depth chart. "I think it's more fair to him to let him go now," coach Mike Tice said, "before there are all kinds of guys on the street next Tuesday. He'll get picked up right away probably." Teams must pare their rosters down to 65 by Tuesday.