Sports Online:Cedric Benson, Green Bay Packers could join forces

Sports Online :Cedric Benson is in Green Bay and "probably" will sign with the Packers, a source with knowledge of the veteran running back's plans said Friday.

No deal has been officially struck.Benson's agent, Eugene Parker, confirmed to The Associated Press later Friday that his client had indeed visited the Packers, who elected not to re-sign former starter Ryan Grant after last season and have third-year pro James Starks as their most-experienced running back.

The former Cincinnati Bengals starter,  who rushed for 1,067 yards last season, is heading into his eighth NFL campaign. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and played his first three seasons with them.

Benson gained at least 1,000 yards in his previous three seasons, all with the Bengals.

Sports Online:Browns' Mohamed Massaquoi has another concussion

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi saw parts of his previous two seasons wiped out by concussion-related symptoms.

Massaquoi exited Friday night's preseason-opening 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions with a head injury after he caught Brandon's Weeden's first NFL pass in the first quarter, Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reported.This season has picked up where those campaigns left off.

It's a disappointing start for Massaquoi, whom the Browns touted as an offseason standout primed for a breakout season.

This year is much closer to Massaquoi's final chance in Cleveland. The 2009 second-round draft pick has failed to develop into a No. 1 wideout, and he pulled in a career-low 31 passes for 384 yards in 13 starts in 2011. He suffered a string of concussion-related symptoms last season and was the subject of a brutal 2010 hit from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

Friday's game wasn't a promising opening act for Massaquoi, but it was one that should concern theBrowns.

UPDATE: Browns coach Pat Shurmur said after the game that Massaquoi suffered a concussion,according to Cabot.

Sports Online:David Garrard, Miami Dolphins QB, will have knee surgery

Miami Dolphins quarterback David Garrard will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, he said in a text message Friday, hours before he was scheduled to start in the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Garrard, 34, was leading the Dolphins' three-way quarterback race. Now it appears either veteran Matt Moore, who started in Friday's 20-7 loss, or rookie Ryan Tannehill will be the Dolphins' quarterback during the regular season.

"Nothing happened, just Father Time, wear and tear," Garrard told Glazer. "They have to take out loose things floating around."Garrard later told FOX Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer that he'll have the operation Saturday and doctors believe he'll be out two to four weeks.

Garrard's agent, Al Irby, told The Associated Press that the quarterback's knee had been an issue for a few days, and he decided to have surgery.

"He had been feeling some soreness, and he got it looked at," Irby said, according to The AP. "He could have played on it, but they'd rather do the surgery now to make him more comfortable, rather than fool around with it."

Garrard didn't play in 2011 after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars before the season started. Garrard had back surgery in October.

Sports Online:Tim Tebow's Jets debut ended by Vontaze Burfict pick

Tim Tebow dropped back from center, stared down his receiver and threw a low pass that was snared by diving Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Tebow never saw him coming.

That was the last pass of Tebow's New York Jets debut, which can be classified as a mixed bag at best. The entire game looked very familiar to anyone that watched Tebow and Mark Sanchez play last season.

The Jets' offense barely moved the ball in two drives by Sanchez. He was sacked twice, completed 4 of 6 passes for 21 yards and didn't move the ball past midfield. The most notable play Sanchez made was a scramble for a first down.

Sanchez also mentioned that he didn't get great protection. He was right. The same was true for Tebow, but the former Denver Bronco knows how to escape. He finished with 34 yards on four carries, three going for first downs."I had a little scramble there, channeled my inner Tebow, got the first down, that was good," Sanchez told WCBS-TV.

All the classic Tebow elements were in place. He occasionally held the ball too long. He escaped danger with some terrific running. He threw the ball out of bounds by 10 yards on one sideline route and hit a cheerleader with another toss. He also made a nice timing throw on a slant over the middle.

"I did some things pretty good," Tebow said, via The Associated Press. "Obviously I want that last throw back. I tried to put it low and outside. Just a stupid play by me."

The Jets moved the ball a little better with Tebow, but they only scored three points in four possessions and eventually lost 17-6.

Let's not get too carried away analyzing this one. The Jets' offense played vanilla, and they didn't execute very well. Jets fans have seen this one before.

Sports Online:Kevin Kolb needs big Cardinals season to keep contract

Around the League is taking a look at each team's salary-cap situation heading into training camp. We continue with the Arizona Cardinals.

Adjusted Cap Number: $123.797 million

Cap Room Remaining: $4.552 million

Best Bargain: Despite missing a game early in the season, inside linebacker Daryl Washington led the Arizona Cardinals with 106 tackles, finishing the season strong with 23 tackles over the final two games. Washington added five sacks, third-highest total on the team, and had a team-high 16 tackles for a loss. Still on his rookie contract, the 2010 second-round pick will earn $540,000 in base salary and a $25,000 workout bonus and counts $983,750 against the team's cap this season. Washington will earn the league minimum in 2013 with no possibility of base salary escalation, as is the case with most contracts for second-round picks in the previous collective bargaining agreement.

Like Washington, 2010 draft pick John Skelton will make $540,000 in base salary this season (no workout), making him the third-highest paid quarterback on the roster behind Kevin Kolb ($8.5 million total compensation) and Richard Bartel ($615,000 base salary). If Skelton earns the starting job this summer, his salary would make him a bargain regardless of how he performs.

Potential Camp Casualty: Following last year's lockout, the Cardinals signed inside linebackerStewart Bradley to a five-year, $30 million contract. In a 4-3 system throughout his career, Bradley was unable to unseat Paris Lenon for a starting job and finished his first season in the desert with 21 tackles in very limited action on defense. Bradley took a 50 percent pay cut this offseason, reducing his base salary from $5 million to $2.5 million, which is partially guaranteed (for injury). If Bradley still struggles to pick up the 3-4, and some of the younger prospects close the gap, the Cardinals could part ways with him before the start of the season.

Contract Issue Looming In 2013: Restricted free agents LaRod Stephens-Howling, Rashad Johnson and Gregory Toler will be unrestricted in 2013, but are not the biggest contract issue on the Cardinals for 2013. That distinction belongs to Kolb, who is in year two of a five-year, $62.1 million extension. Kolb will earn $20.5 million over the first two seasons of that deal, but will need to solidify himself as the starter this season to keep that deal intact. Kolb's base salaries swell to $9 million in 2013 (and $10 million each year after that) and has a $2 million roster bonus next offseason that pushes his cap number to $13.5 million. That's not backup quarterback money.

Sports Online:Miami Dolphins receivers want the call at quarterback

The three-way battle at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins figures to be the best storyline during the upcoming season of "Hard Knocks." The receivers on the team just hope it doesn't take all five episodes to reach a resolution.

"At some point we got to start working with one guy as opposed to the rest,” receiver Brian Hartlinetold the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"You want to know sooner than later,” receiver Legedu Naanee said.

It's the conundrum involved in every quarterback competition. Coaches want to give every man a fair chance, but they risk hurting the ultimate winner. This is especially true when there are three quarterbacks involved, like in Miami and Seattle this year.

“You need situations where he throws a bad ball, but you bail him out. You need to gain confidence in that, and vice versa. You run a bad route, but he's got your back. You want to start feeling that," Hartline said. "You want to [have a chemistry] where he just throws the ball up and you begin to make plays for each other."

Rookie Ryan Tannehill is the only one that knew the Dolphins system before camp, and he's the biggest underdog for the starting job. David Garrard is learning a new system and new teammates.Matt Moore is trying to establish himself with a new coaching staff.

We agree with the Dolphins wideouts: The longer the quarterback battle lasts, the worse off the Dolphins will be.

Sports Online:NFL Divisional Power Rankings: Who's No. 1?

What's the best division in the NFL?

The Around the League gang -- Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Brian McIntyre -- each took a swipe at ranking the NFL's eight divisions from best (1 point) to worst (8 points). Our votes were cast, the numbers were tallied and here's what we came up with:

Divisional Power Rankings
Division	Votes	Notes
1. NFC South	8	Cam's emergence creates three contenders.
2. NFC North	10	Best quarterback division.
3. AFC North	11	Best defensive division.
4. NFC East	14	Division with the most drama.
5. AFC East	17	Top-heavy division in 2011.
6. AFC West	26	Competitive, but mediocre.
7. NFC West	28	Lot of young talent despite ranking.
8. AFC South	30	Colts and Jaguars are bottom feeders.

A few notes:

• The NFC South grabbed our top-overall ranking because of voting consistency. McIntyre pegged them at No. 1, and nobody had the division ranked lower than No. 3.

• Hanzus, who clearly watches a lot of Sunday Night Football, named the NFC East No. 1. Rosenthal and Sessler had the NFC North on top.

• Very little love was shown to the AFC South, which received three last-place votes and McIntyre's sixth-place ballot (netting a 30 ranking, just two away from a worst-possible 32). There was a lot of agreement at the bottom of the list. Three divisions -- the AFC South, NFC West and AFC West -- didn't receive higher than a sixth-place ranking from any of the ATL writers.

• Despite its consistently low ranking, the NFC West has made strides. The gap between, say, the NFC East and NFC West has closed dramatically. The NFC West would have been dead last, often by a wide margin, for much of the past decade. It's a division on the rise with the 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals all possessing good defenses.

• Back to the NFC East for a minute. It drew a varied response. Hanzus, of course, believes it's football's best. Sessler and McIntyre said No. 4, and Rosenthal placed it at No. 5. If an NFC East team fails to represent the conference in the Super Bowl, Hanzus has agreed to mow Jerry Jones' epic Dallas lawn until 2016.

Feel free to tell us where you disagree below.

Terrell Owens replaces attorney in child support case

After Terrell Owens missed a court appearance last Thursday in Atlanta for overdue child support, the former wide receiver said he had not been informed of the date and had replaced his former attorney, according to his publicist.

Owens owes $20,000 in child support to Melanie Smith, the mother of his 7-year-old daughter, WSBTV.com reported last Thursday. Judge John Groger was angered by Owens' absence, but David Hartin said he was responsible for the miscommunication with his client.

Owens then replaced Hartin with Todd Orston as his attorney.

"Unfortunately, Terrell Owens was never informed by his attorney that he was due in court last week in Georgia regarding his current child support case," Owens' publicist, Diana Bianchini, said in a statement sent Monday to NFL.com's Steve Wyche. " ... Mr. Owens' previous Georgia attorney has taken responsibility for this failure to have communicated this date to him and has also been removed as counsel for Mr. Owens."

Owens' case has been reset for Thursday. Though Owens reportedly could face jail time if he misses the date, Bianchini assured that he is handling the issue.

"Mr. Owens is making the necessary arrangements to pay child support due to Ms. Smith in the Georgia case," Bianchini said. "He regrets that he is no longer able to pay child support based upon his previous NFL income. He hopes to be signed to an NFL team in the future. Mr. Owens has always made his child support payments his top priority."

Elvis Dumervil allegedly showed gun in traffic dispute

Miami Beach Police detective Vivian Hernandez confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network Monday that Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil was in fact charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Saturday night in Miami Beach, Fla. Previously it had been reported that Dumervil had just been arrested and not charged.

Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil was arrested
Saturday on felony aggravated assault
 with a firearm. (Dade County Sherrifs Office/)

The charge -- and the details released to NFL.com and NFL Network on Monday in a police incident report increase the chances of Dumervil facing NFL discipline at some point.

The report indicates that Kristine Ramirez and her husband Juan Cardoza got involved in a traffic dispute with Dumervil and Andy Augste after Cardoza merged in front of a vehicle that Dumervil was driving. The traffic was at a standstill and the report -- verified by another witness -- indicates that a verbal confrontation occurred between Dumervil's car, Ramirez's car, and Augste, who was a passenger in the car in front of Ramirez.

Dumervil allegedly approached Ramirez's car and lifted up his shirt to show a gun in his waistband. Augste allegedly did the same -- displaying a gun -- while also verbally threatening Ramirez.

ATL: Broncos hold their breath

Elvis Dumervil's Miami arrest for aggravated assault could spell trouble for what was a very positive Bronco offseason. Dan Hanzus writes. 

The report then indicates Ramirez backed up her car in an effort to retreat and get away from the situation. Police arrived shortly thereafter and led Dumervil and Augste out of Dumervil's car at gunpoint.

A witness told the police that Ramirez at one point exited her car and threw an object at Dumervil's Land Rover, striking the vehicle.

Dumervil was cited for assault and disturbing the peace during the 2010 season, although those charges were eventually dropped. He could be viewed as a repeat offender by the NFL, which makes eventual discipline more likely.

Sean Payton coaches sixth-graders after Saints fallout

Sean Payton won't be seen on an NFL sideline this year, but he's already landed his next job.

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While serving a season-long, league-imposed suspension for his role in the New Orleans Saints' "bounty" scandal, Payton has taken the reins of his son Connor's sixth-grade football team, the Liberty Christian Warriors.

"I don't want to do anything that interrupts what I do as a coach," Payton told The Times-Picayune on Friday. "I'm an assistant coach working with the offense."

In Friday's practice, Payton helped install a spread attack that generated 473 passing yards in the first half of a controlled scrimmage against the St. Izzy Bugbears (OK, that's not true). But we do imagine it will be a challenge for the coach to keep his hands off the playbook.

No word if a mega-bored Gregg Williams will travel south by Greyhound bus to live at the local YMCA and teach pass-rush techniques to beguiled Christian Warriors defenders. Our call: unlikely.

Jasper Brinkley 'ready to go' for Vikings after hip surgery

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley is out to dispel concerns about his durability, deeming himself "ready to go" following a hip injury that cost him the entire 2011 season.

Brinkley said he is fully recovered from the hip surgery and has been working out and running full speed since February. He said he's all set for the opening of training camp on July 26.

"I'm ready to go," Brinkley told the Augusta Chronicle. "My first year, I was thrown in the fire and had to learn on the go. I've just built off that year after year."

Brinkley, entering his fourth NFL season, recently battled a groin injury that kept him from participating in Vikings minicamp.

"I just had a little strain," he said. "You know how the media is."

Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman noted last month that there is some concern about Brinkley's ability to stay healthy. But the 27-year-old has an opportunity to rid doubts about his durability.

Brinkley, a backup for his first two seasons, is in line to start at middle linebacker for the Vikings following the departure of E.J. Henderson.

"Being in the National Football League, I feel like you have to prove yourself every day," Brinkley said. "I want to show my coaches I am capable of being a leader, I am able to lead that defense."

Peyton Manning to honor Fulmer during Broncos' bye week

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will take part in a tribute to his college coach Phillip Fulmer when his alma mater Tennessee plays Alabama on Oct. 20 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Jeremiah: Pressure points

Daniel Jeremiah studies the NFL landscape to determine which team, coach and QB are under the most pressure. More ... 

The Broncos' schedule will allow Manning to be in attendance for the tribute to Fulmer, who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. The Broncos' bye week falls on the same weekend of the celebration.

"I want to be there for him," Manning said at his Manning Passing Academy, according to the Denver Post. "It's a special honor, special day for him. I keep up with the Vols. I try to get back to see a game every season."

Manning was Tennessee's starting quarterback for three seasons under Fulmer, posting records of 11-1, 10-2 and 11-2. Fulmer led the Volunteers to a 13-0 mark and national title the year after Manning graduated in 1998.

Fulmer owns a 152-52 record over 17 seasons with Tennessee. He hasn't coached since 2008.

King Hill, top pick of 1958 NFL Draft, Rice University legend, dies

King Hill, the first-overall pick in the 1958 NFL Draft by the Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals), died Saturday, Rice University said. Hill was suffering from cancer, the Houston Chronicle reported. He was 75.

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Hill, primarily a quarterback, was a two-way player in his 12 NFL seasons, also handling punting duties for much of his career. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.

The Texas-native was the offensive coordinator under Bum Phillips for the Houston Oilers and also coached under Phillips for the New Orleans Saints.

"This is a really sad day," Phillips told the Chronicle. "King was different from almost anybody I've ever worked with. He was the most polite, gentle man. And, (on the) football field, he was polite but direct. When he said something, he meant it."

Hill is best known as three-way star for Rice, leading the 1957 Owls team to a 7-6 upset of No. 1 Texas A&M. Hill scored the Owls' only touchdown, successfully kicked the extra point and intercepted two passes on defense. His punting helped back up the Aggies in their own end for much of the game.

Terrell Thomas cleared for New York Giants training camp

New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas on Saturday said he was medically cleared for training camp some 11 months after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during a preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

Jeremiah: Return trips unlikely

How hard is it to make it to the AFC or NFC Championship Game two straight years?Daniel Jeremiah says recent history doesn't bode well for Ravens, Patriots, 49ers, Giants. 

"I have no limitations entering camp; obviously (medical staff) will be monitoring me throughout camp," Thomas said on his website. Giants camp begins on July 28.

"The road just started; I have a lot of work to do," Thomas added. "I just want to let you know that I have been working real hard. I am determined to get to the same form as last year and to be a great addition to our secondary."

Thomas told NFL Network last month at his youth football camp in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., that he fully expects to be the Giants' starting cornerback.

"I've said I'm the starter, and they brought me back to be the starter, and that is the mindset I have," he said. "I'm not going to go in saying, 'Oh, I want to compete for a job.' No, I'm the starter."

Thomas, a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, has appeared in 44 games over three seasons (2008 to 2010) with the New York Giants, picking off 11 passing and returning one INT for a touchdown.

Teravainen shows his time might not be far off

CHICAGO -- Those who attended the Chicago Blackhawks prospects camp this summer might wonder what dynamic 17-year old Finnish forward Teuvo Teravainen would do against older, more experienced players in training camp.

However, any answers about how he'll stack up will have to wait. Teravainen, who doesn't turn 18 until Sept. 11, is headed back to Finland to get stronger while playing another season with Jokerit Helsinki of SM-Liiga.

PROSPECTS

Another Brodeur drafted in Jersey?

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
Anthony Brodeur, son of Devils goalie Martin, is ranked as a mid-round pick for the 2013 NHL Draft at Prudential Center in New Jersey. 

Teravainen, however, certainly left a good impression at the Hawks' week-long prospects camp, which featured all four of the center prospects Chicago has selected in the past three NHL Drafts, including Teravainen, the No. 18 pick in 2012.

"I think Teuvo has shown in a short amount of time here that he's got incredible talent, but he's not even 18 years old yet," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said Friday, the last day of camp. "It's great to see a young kid like Teuvo be as good as he is. He's the youngest kid at the camp here, and I think he's probably been one of the best kids all week."

Teravainen tied for the scoring lead during three scrimmages at the prospects camp by scoring two goals and adding two assists while playing a lot of center. He definitely looked like he belonged with some of the older prospects, many of whom had gone through at least one prospects camp before.

"That bodes well for the future," said Bowman, who happily snagged Teravainen in the first round after a long run of defense prospects caused the Finn to drop from where he was projected to go among the top picks. "He's going to be a special player, for sure, so it's exciting."

The question now becomes: How far into the future are we talking about?

Based on what was said this week, the wait might not be that long for Teravainen or the other top center prospects the Hawks have collected through recent drafts -- Mark McNeill (No. 18 in 2011),Phillip Danault (No. 26 in 2011) and Kevin Hayes (No. 24 in 2010).

"The timeframe on that you don't really know, but it's exciting to see them here," Bowman said. "They've got great talents. Some of them are offensive players, like (Teravainen) is, and then you've got players like McNeill, Danault and Kevin Hayes that are maybe bigger guys who

play a different game. We've got a lot of options there, depending on how you want to play it. I think we've seen in the last couple drafts we've gotten some guys who are going to be high-end players. Some of them aren't too far away, which is a good thing for us."

Teravainen has already put himself solidly among that group, if not right at the top.

Teravainen (5-foot-10, 169 pounds) has said that similarly sized Hawks star forward Patrick Kane is his favorite player, and it showed in his offensive game. Capable of playing all three forward positions, Teravainen played mostly center in three camp scrimmages and excelled.

He's offensively focused, also like Kane, but the skill set is so intriguing, it makes any defensive issues seem less critical in the grand scheme. And for what it's worth, it sounds like Teravainen is intent on improving all areas of his game -- especially his strength.

"It's my dream to play here (in the NHL)," Teravainen said. "It's so much work. I need so much work before (the) NHL is going to happen for me. I think I need to play in Finland (at least) one more year in a big role and with men there. It's a very hard season coming for me and a big season."

It just won't include the Blackhawks, in all likelihood.

"Teuvo's going to go back to Finland, so he's not going to be here (at training camp)," Bowman said. "But he's not that far away from being an NHL player. He's just got to get a little bit of strength, which will come in time. He's a great kid and he's got that special flair for making special plays. He's a lot of fun to watch."

Hornets match Suns' offer, retain Gordon

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Hornets have matched the Phoenix Suns' four-year, $58 million offer to Eric Gordon, keeping the restricted free agent guard in New Orleans.

The move to retain Gordon on Saturday was expected, as Hornets general manager Dell Demps and coach Monty Williams had indicated they hoped the 23-year-old former Indiana standout could be the center piece of a rebuilding effort that will also include first overall draft choice Anthony Davis and No. 10 pick Austin Rivers.

Whether the decision will be palatable to fans remains to be seen. Last week, in the days before signing the Suns' offer sheet, Gordon said he hoped to play for Phoenix, but that did not deter New Orleans from retaining his rights.

"Eric is a phenomenal player that we are thrilled to have in our organization," Demps said.

Gordon, meanwhile, sounded more conciliatory in a statement released by the Hornets.

"There is always a business element to the NBA when dealing with contracts, but I never lost my appreciation for New Orleans," Gordon said. "I look forward to giving my very best on the court this season to make our team successful."

Gordon was limited to nine games last season because of a bruised right knee that required minor surgery. However, he averaged a team-high 20.6 points, and New Orleans was 6-3 when he played.

The Hornets acquired Gordon shortly before last season in a multiplayer trade that sent All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In four seasons in the NBA, Gordon has never averaged fewer than the 16.1 points per game he scored as a rookie.

In this third season, injuries limited him to 56 games with the Clippers, but he averaged 22.3 points.

He was invited to try out for the 2012 US Olympic team and narrowly missed the cut, with Oklahoma City's James Harden edging him out for one of the final spots.

Demps and Williams never wavered in saying Gordon was New Orleans' best player and a key part of the club's long-term future.

Still, Gordon's first season in New Orleans left many fans wondering if he really wanted to be in the Big Easy. After scoring the winning basket in the Hornets' season opener in - of all places - Phoenix, he sat out for about two weeks while trying to recover from his bruised knee. He attempted to come back in a loss to Philadelphia on Jan. 4, but the knee was still bothering him.

He then went through a prolonged and seemingly fruitless six-week rehabilitation period that sparked debate among fans over whether the high-scoring guard was refusing to play. Those debates heated up further when Gordon rejected the Hornets' four-year contract extension offer at a late-January deadline for teams to complete extensions with players who were due to become restricted free agents after the season.

In mid-February, Gordon and the Hornets finally opted for surgery, and Gordon returned triumphantly on April 4, scoring 15 points in an upset victory over playoff-bound Denver.

New Orleans, which won only 21 games all season, won eight of its last 13 thanks in large part to Gordon's return.

Gordon was a regular at the Hornets' training center leading up to the draft, indicating he had confidence in the club's direction under new owner Tom Benson, who also owns the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

But when free agency began this month, Gordon went on a tour of teams interested in his services and got an offer from Pheonix that represented the maximum a team could pay for another team's restricted free agent.

Gordon then said he hoped to play for the Suns because they made more of an effort to sign him than the Hornets had. Gordon said the Hornets' decision to draft Rivers, who had played Gordon's position of shooting guard in college, indicated that New Orleans was moving in a different direction. Gordon added that the Hornets also had failed to address the need for more front-court players.

Since Gordon's comments, however, the Hornets have acquired 6-foot-10 forward Ryan Anderson, and have traded away former starting point guard Jarrett Jack in a deal that cleared about $5 million under the salary cap to help New Orleans seek another big man in free agency.

The Hornets also have begun training Rivers to play point guard, starting in the Las Vegas summer league that opened this weekend.

Those moves appeared to be aimed at helping Gordon thrive in New Orleans. Time will tell if he truly is interested in doing so.

Authorities: Devin Hester's cousin suspected in murder

 Antoinne Hester, cousin of the Bears' Devin Hester, is
wanted in connection with a fatal July 4 shooting.
 (Broward Sheriff’s Office/Special to NFL.com)

The Broward County Sheriff's Office in Florida was searching for the cousin of Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester on Tuesday in connection with a fatal shooting that took place on the Fourth of July.

Antoinne Robert Hester was wanted in connection with the shooting of Bevins Bennett. Hester, 22, is suspected of shooting Bennett while both of them were in an automobile together. Bennett died on Saturday.

There were conflicting reports initially as to whether Antoinne was Devin Hester's brother, but NFL.com and NFL Network confirmed Tuesday that they are cousins. The Broward County Sheriff's Office confirmed separately to ESPNChicago that officials have been in contact with the family of Antoinne Hester, including Devin. The family has cooperated fully with the investigation.

Robert Griffin III reportedly wants Josh Gordon

We're one day away from the NFL Supplemental Draft and the buzz surrounding former Baylor and Utah wideout Josh Gordon -- who didn't play a snap last season -- continues to build.

In a piece coming out today, our very own Daniel Jeremiah lists five potential fits for Gordon. The Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns make sense for the receiver, according to Jeremiah. He expects the Browns to pull the trigger in the third round.

That falls in line with what Mary Kay Cabot of the The Plain Dealer reported Tuesday, while CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora tweeted Wednesday about Gordon's former quarterback, Robert Griffin III, devising a last-minute campaign to bring the receiver to Washington:

RG3 is pushing the Redskins brass hard to land Gordon in tomorrow's draft. Many teams interested, about 20 at Gordon's pro day Tues...

- Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 11, 2012

Jeremiah, as a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles, observed Gordon at a Utah practice last season and praised his size and build. "He has an ideal NFL body for the wide receiver position," Jeremiah noted.

More than a few of the teams listed above could use one of those.