Chiefs sticking to the plan: play it safe

NFL NOTEBOOK
Chiefs back to work after preseason stinker: Kansas City coach Todd Haley is sticking with his plan after a 25-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs on Saturday.


"I feel really good about our plan," Haley maintained, when asked Sunday whether he regretted the almost overly cautious approach the Chiefs have taken through the first two weeks of training camp.

The number of legit tackles during practice, so far, could be counted on two hands.

"I said it after the game, it's the first one, not the last one, and I'm going all the way to the last one of the season," Haley said. "I feel good about what we're doing."

Former Oklahoma Sooner and 10-year NFL vet Kelly Gregg said the team is just worried about the Chiefs.

"We didn't game-plan for Tampa Bay," he said. "We're just approaching everything as training camp. Coach Haley has a plan and that's what we're doing." Part of that plan was to limit the touches for the Chiefs' top offensive players.

Quarterback Matt Cassel played three series, one of which went three-and-out, and the other two resulting in fumbles. Running back Jamaal Charles didn't carry the ball, top wide receiver Dwayne Bowe didn't make a catch, and the offense managed a measly 137 yards.

Giants DE Umenyiora ends stalemate, will practice: A somewhat miffed Osi Umenyiora is returning to the New York Giants without a new contract.

In an email to The Associated Press on Sunday evening, the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end said he plans to practice on Monday at training camp, and that he will play this season under the terms of his current contract.

Umenyiora said the Giants offered to put incentives in his contract, which will pay him $7.1 million over the next two seasons, but he rejected them.

"No deal has been reworked," Umenyiora told the AP. "What has been offered has been unacceptable and shows they don't really respect the fact I sacrifice my health for the franchise. I will play under my current deal because I love and respect my coaches, my teammates, the fans, and myself. Not for those incentives."

Umenyiora didn't say how much money the team offered in incentives.The nine-year NFL veteran hasn't practiced since reporting to training camp on July 30, a day late.

Colts backup QBs struggle in loss to Rams: Colts coach Jim Caldwell isn't worried about his backup quarterbacks, despite their struggles in the preseason opener against the St. Louis Rams.

With Peyton Manning out because of a neck injury, reserves Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky got the early action. They combined to complete 7 of 16 passes with three interceptions in the 33-10 loss on Saturday.

Painter threw an interception on his first possession before leading the Colts to a field goal on the next one. Orlovsky threw two interceptions, but he also completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith in the third quarter.

"We're going to be patient," Caldwell said. "We're going to develop and keep working with them. I think in both cases, it's too early to make an assessment."