Sports: Around the AFC

Around the AFC

By Compiled from Times wires

BENGALS: Cincinnati claimed safety Chris Carter and receiver Danny Farmer off waivers, and waived receiver James Hundon and safety Lawrence Wright. Farmer, a fourth-round draft pick by the Steelers, was cut Sunday. Wright is a former Gator. ... The club extended the contracts of offensive linemen Brock Gutierrez through 2002, and Jamain Stephens through 2001.

BRONCOS: Running back Terrell Davis has a new uniform -- a green one that has his name on the front. Davis received it Sunday, when he was made an honorary U.S. Army artillery lieutenant during an appreciation ceremony in Denver. The 1998 Super Bowl MVP and others were celebrating last month's Camp Davis 2000, a one-day carnival Davis co-sponsored to attract 2,000 youths with special needs. Organizers said 5,000 children showed up. "He's a big gun on the Broncos and for youth in Denver," said Army Lt. Col. Scott Kellar, commander of the Denver recruiting battalion. Davis said he might have ended up in a military uniform if he hadn't become a football player. ... Now that receiver Andre Reed has made the team, he is looking to upgrade his number. Reed arrived the day that training camp began and was handed No. 15 because nothing in the 80s was available. After cuts on Sunday, No. 81 was given to Reed. But Reed wants No. 83. That's the number he wore for 15 years in Buffalo. He even has a tattoo that reads "83" on his shoulder. "That's why you don't get a tattoo of a girl's name or a football number," receiver Travis McGriff said. McGriff, a former Gator, is the holder of the No. 83 jersey. He's not budging. Tight end Desmond Clark has given Reed his No. 88 jersey -- Reed wore 88 in college at Kutztown. He said Reed has agreed to pay him for the number switch, but Clark isn't expecting a big bounty. Reed said he's not going to give up thousands of dollars for No. 83. But you can tell it irks him that a player with three career catches won't give up a number for a player with 941. "It means a lot to me, it's extra special to me, that I've been known by that number for so many years," Reed said. "Some people would just give it to you for merit and respect and everything, but hey, I'm not going to sit here and say, "Oh, I don't got my number.' I can't do that."

BROWNS: Derrick Alexander, a starter at defensive end last season, was placed on injured reserve and won't be playing for Cleveland any more. "He is not going to play again," coach Chris Palmer said. "He has a sprained right ankle and you cannot waive an injured player, but we presented Derrick with several options. I feel good that he will be with us in some capacity." That could be as an assistant coach. The 26-year-old Alexander, selected in the first round by Minnesota in 1995, signed with Cleveland as a free agent last year. He played collegiately at Florida State.

JETS: This is the week on the NFL calendar to trot out the cliches about too long training camps and finally kicking off the season. But Vinny Testaverde's words Monday sounded anything but trite. "The journey begins Sunday," he said. "I'm looking forward to that." Testaverde is energized by the season ahead, which opens at Green Bay. The quarterback is about to put behind the grueling, yearlong trip back from rehabilitating his torn left Achilles' tendon -- and the relatively minor detour of a jammed big toe on the same foot two weeks ago. "This is everything I've worked toward," he said. "The questions I had were about myself, related to my injury. I think a lot of those have been answered."

STEELERS: Pittsburgh waited 11 games last season to bench quarterback Kordell Stewart. This time, it took them until the end of the preseason. Coach Bill Cowher issued a terse, three-paragraph statement saying Kent Graham, who previously lost starting jobs with the Cardinals and Giants, will start Sunday's opener against Baltimore. Only three days after saying he planned to use both quarterbacks, perhaps in the same game, Cowher seemed to back off that statement by assuring Graham that, according to the quarterback, "He won't have a quick hook." Stewart, who was 1-of-13 for 8 yards in a two-game preseason stretch, looked uncomfortable in an offense that demands adjustments even after a play has started.

TITANS: Genarro DiNapoli, acquired from the Raiders on Sunday, is NO. 3 on the depth chart at left guard behind Pro Bowl lineman Bruce Matthews and second-year player Zach Piller.

SEAHAWKS: Quarterback Glenn Foley was released in a cost-cutting move. Foley, the backup last season, started one game in 1999 when Jon Kitna was injured. He lost his job to second-year player Brock Huard. Matt Lytle will be the No. 3 quarterback.