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Jets bring back QB Blackwell

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Former USF quarterback Marquel Blackwell was re-signed Wednesday by the Jets after being cut last week.

To make room for him, the Jets released veteran Jamie Martin, who was signed a week ago.

That leaves New York with 39-year-old Vinny Testaverde to start tonight's season opener in Washington in place of Chad Pennington, out with a broken left wrist. But the backups - Blackwell and rookie Brooks Bollinger - have almost no experience.

Blackwell, a free agent from South Florida, was waived on Saturday. He was 11-of-18 for 154 yards and two touchdowns in three preseason games.

Martin, an eight-year veteran, was signed for his experience though he was often a third-stringer. He has appeared in 25 games with just three starts.

Herman Edwards has no doubt about what we'll see in tonight's season opener in the nation's capital. "Oh, there'll be fireworks," the Jets coach guaranteed.

And one crowd-pleasing feature of the game between the Jets and the Washington "Raiders" could well be a downfield passing duel. Testaverde is ready to match Patrick Ramsey and the Redskins long ball for long ball if necessary.

"The deep route is a big part of this whole system, not just what the route is but how to run it," Testaverde said. "We're doing a better job than ever of running the deep route, and yeah, we're going to try to throw them during the season."

The season is now, and Santana Moss, for one, can't wait.

"The deep ball's going to be a really exciting part of our offense," said Moss. "I'm looking forward to it."

It's unlikely the visitors will put it up as often as coach Steve Spurrier's Redskins, who lean hard on the vertical passing game. Ramsey loads up and aims for such fleet wideouts as Laveranues Coles - who led four free-agent Jets south to Washington - Rod Gardner and Patrick Johnson.

"I think we're a lot more strategic with it than the Redskins," said free safety Jon McGraw, making his first opening-day start for the Jets. "We nickel-and-dime people a little more. But we have a lot of guys to throw it to."

Lawyer Milloy picked the right team to join if he wanted to get back at the Patriots for cutting him. The four-time Pro Bowl safety agreed in principle to a deal with the Bills a day after New England released him for salary-cap reasons.

Not only does Milloy join an AFC East rival, he could face his former team in the Bills opener Sunday.

Milloy reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $15-million, including a $5-million signing bonus. He was scheduled to join the team for his first practice today.

"The way the Patriots tried to back me into a corner. It didn't show a lot on their part," Milloy told KRIV-TV in Houston.

CHIEFS: Running back Priest Holmes, who has led the NFL in yards from scrimmage the past two seasons, agreed to a four-year contract extension. He had indicated he might not play in the season opener without a deal. Terms were not disclosed.

JAGUARS: Sixth-year running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who was cut by the Steelers and has a hamstring injury, signed. ... Owners Wayne and Delores Weaver gave $3-million to the Jacksonville Zoo, helping launch a $30-million campaign to build the country's largest attraction for jaguars.

LIONS: Veteran cornerback Otis Smith, who turns 38 in October, signed. The Patriots released him last month after he struggled to recover from a shoulder injury.

STEELERS: Erik Flowers, a former first-round draft pick of Buffalo, was claimed on waivers from Houston to help fill the void left when linebacker Joey Porter was shot in the right buttock and thigh. Porter, who might be out for eight weeks, made a surprise visit to practice only three days after the shooting outside a Denver nightclub.

TITANS: Safety Lamont Thompson was signed as a 10th defensive back and defensive end Anthony Dunn was cut.