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Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Antwan Peek underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday to remove a piece of cartilage and is expected to miss the preseason. Coach Romeo Crennel said the surgery was a success and hopes Peek will be back for the regular-season opener Sept. 7 against Dallas. An MRI revealed loose cartilage in the right knee.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Pro Bowl kick returner Eddie Drummond on Thursday to help bolster what has been a weak special teams unit. Drummond, who grew up in Pittsburgh and attended Penn State, was a Pro Bowl selection as a Detroit Lions after the 2004 season, when he returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Holdout running back Steven Jackson missed his seventh day and 10th practice of St. Louis Rams training camp Thursday, with no apparent movement in the impasse. Jackson, entering the final season of a four-year contract he signed after the Rams drafted him in the first round in 2004, is seeking a multiyear deal.

The Baltimore Ravens addressed a dire need for depth at offensive tackle by signing former Oakland Raiders lineman Chad Slaughter to a one-year contract for the veteran minimum salary. Because starting tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry are sidelined with sprained ankles and rookie backup Oniel Cousins limped off the field with a right knee injury, Slaughter found himself lining up with the…

JaMarcus Russell returned to Oakland Raiders practice on Thursday after being sidelined for two sessions because of a sore elbow. Russell took part in all team drills, but held back a bit in his throwing to make sure not to damage his elbow even more after banging it off the helmet of teammate Darren McFadden on Tuesday.

Wide receiver Chris Henry was suspended by the NFL on Thursday for four games but may play the final 12 games of the regular season for any team that signs him. Henry was released by Cincinnati in April after his fifth arrest. Commissioner Roger Goodell had suspended Henry indefinitely following his latest arrest.

He’ll talk about the Iraq war, gas prices and terrorism. But don’t look to John McCain to weigh in on the Brett Favre saga. The first question at the town hall meeting of the Republican presidential candidate Thursday concerned Favre. The three-time MVP wants to come out of retirement but might not play for the Green Bay Packers.

Brian Westbrook could leave any day. Lito Sheppard would welcome a trade. Shawn Andrews remains a no-show. Training camp for the Philadelphia has become more like a soap opera, and T.O. isn’t even here anymore. At least Donovan McNabb isn’t involved in any of the controversy for once. “It feels pretty good,” McNabb said about not being the center of attention.

The Miami Dolphins drew another name from the past of Bill Parcells on Thursday, working out former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter. But Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said the workout is merely an evaluation of Carter, an arena league quarterback who started for the Cowboys and New York Jets before poor play and drug-related arrests ended his NFL career.

David Carr, the top pick in the 2002 N.F.L. draft, is a major question mark as the Giants prepare to defend their N.F.L. title, since missing some practice due to injury.

For the third consecutive day, questions about Brett Favre dogged Coach Mike McCarthy and his players, who are clearly tired of the controversy and want it resolved.

The Tennessee Titans are bringing in former Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich for a physical and to throw to some receivers. The workout is designed to see if team officials want to add him to a “ready list” of players for emergencies. Coach Jeff Fisher said the Titans have a number of receivers they are working out Thursday, and he’s not going to ask quarterbacks Vince Young, Kerry Collins…

Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams will have arthroscopic surgery after re-injuring his right knee during training camp, the third setback in two weeks for Jacksonville. Williams initially hurt his knee while working out last week and opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. He was activated Tuesday and returned to practice, but tweaked his knee during the evening session.

Casey Hampton labored unsuccessfully through the mandatory eight 100-yard dashes every Pittsburgh Steelers player must run to begin training camp. When the four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman realized he wouldn’t make it, who ran up to lend not only a helping hand but offer words of consolation? Not another defensive player, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Quinn Pitcock spent a lifetime preparing to play pro football. It took one year in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts for Pitcock to decide he wanted to do something else. The defensive tackle has decided to retire at age 24. “After much deliberation and careful thought, Quinn resolved to retire from the NFL,” agent Brad Leshnock said in an e-mail confirming Pitcock’s decision.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was held out of all team drills during the evening practice Tuesday after banging his elbow off the helmet of teammate Darren McFadden earlier in the day.