Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CINCINNATI ó The Carolina Panthers claimed Kentwan Balmer off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks, addressing a need at defensive tackle Thursday.
Balmer, a first-round draft pick (28th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 2008, started 11 games last season.
The Panthers are hoping the 6-foot-5, 318-pound Balmer can be a suitable replacement for Ron Edwards, who was placed on injured reserve after tearing his triceps on Aug. 4.
The former University of North Carolina player has largely underachieved during his three-year NFL career. He played two disappointing seasons (19 tackles in 27 games) for the 49ers before being traded to Seattle in 2010, where he saw his most significant action, recording 43 tackles. However, the Seahawks cut him this week and the Panthers, who own the first pick when it comes to waiver wire pickups, jumped on him.
REDSKINS
WASHINGTON ó It’s a D.C. race that’s too close to call.
With just over two weeks to go before the start of the NFL season, there’s not much separating John Beck and Rex Grossman as they vie to be the starting quarterback of the Washington Redskins.
And, at least so far, it’s not a choice between the lesser of two evils. Both quarterbacks have overcome legitimate doubts about their suitability for the job to prove themselves worthy of serious consideration.
PRYOR PRACTICES
NAPA, Calif. ó On his second play of his first NFL practice with the Oakland Raiders, Terrelle Pryor fumbled the snap and had to fall on the ball.
He had one more fumbled snap and a few errant passes in his 16 plays during team sessions, looking more like someone who hadn’t played football since January than a future franchise quarterback. That’s all to be expected considering he just jumped right in on his first day with the Raiders, while most everyone else has had more than four weeks of training camp.
“The problem is that now I’m 17, 18 days, practices behind right now,” Pryor said Friday. “I’m just playing catch-up right now.î
IRENE UPDATE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó The Giants and Jets have postponed their preseason game from Saturday to Monday due to the threat of Hurricane Irene.