Tebow misses first day of camp

● BRONCOS: Tim Tebow is missing Denver's first day of workouts for rookies and injured players because he has yet to sign a contract.

Tebow was selected 25th in the draft after winning two national titles at Florida.

He said last month that he didn't want to miss a single practice as he makes his transition from college star to NFL quarterback. But he can't show up without his signature on a contract that's expected to be worth $12 million over five years.

Also missing yesterday's workout was unsigned receiver Demaryius Thomas, selected 22nd overall.

He and Tebow won't be considered holdouts, however, unless they remain unsigned when the full squad reports for practice Sunday.

● JETS: New York has signed veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, who backed up Drew Brees last season for the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, to a two-year contract.

The move yesterday had been expected for several months as New York sought an experienced quarterback to back up Mark Sanchez. The Jets couldn't sign Brunell until free-agency restrictions were lifted last week.

The Jets had Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge and Kevin O'Connell as backups last year, and at least one will likely be cut before training camp.

● REDSKINS: Washington will open training camp today without offensive lineman Mike Williams, who is out for the year after a blood clot was discovered in his lungs.

Williams was a remarkable comeback story a year ago, dropping about 70 pounds as he returned to the NFL after a three-year absence to make the Redskins roster and start eight games.

This year he was expected to compete for the starting right-guard spot, but a blood clot developed in his calf, leading to X-rays that located the other one in his chest.

With Williams out, Artis Hicks is expected to start at right guard after working much of the offseason at right tackle. Jammal Brown, acquired last month in a trade with New Orleans, is the projected starting right tackle.

● RAMS: St. Louis has signed second-round draft pick Rodger Saffold, a tackle expected to be a cornerstone of the offensive line for years to come.

The Rams also signed sixth-round selection Fendi Onobun, a tight end from Houston who played just one season in college. Terms of the deals announced yesterday weren't disclosed.

Saffold, the 33rd selection in the April draft, is expected to make a strong push to start at right tackle.

The lone 2010 draft selection still unsigned is No. 1 pick Sam Bradford. The Rams and representatives for Bradford, the former Oklahoma quarterback, have been meeting for weeks.

●BILLS: Buffalo has agreed to a contract with rookie second-round draft pick, defensive tackle Torell Troup, a day before the team opens training camp.

General Manager Buddy Nix announced the deal yesterday as players reported to camp in suburban Rochester.

● CHIEFS: Cornerback Aaron Glenn signed a one-day contract with Houston yesterday with the intent of retiring with his hometown team.

Glenn played for five NFL teams between 1994 and 2008, including three with the Texans (2002-04). Glenn is a native of nearby Humble and was taken by the Texans in the 2002 expansion draft.

Glenn, 38, got trips to the Pro Bowl in 1997 and 1998, when he played for the New York Jets, and in 2002, his first season in Houston.

Glenn spent his first eight pro seasons with the Jets, who selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 1994 draft. Glenn played for Dallas in 2005 and '06, Jacksonville in 2007 and New Orleans in 2008. He finished his NFL career with 41 career interceptions.

● CHIEFS: Running back Thomas Jones is helping children avoid the danger of venturing onto mine property.

Jones will be a spokesman for the U.S. Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration in a program is called "stay out-stay alive." His message is aimed at everyone, but primarily at children.

The agency says that dozens of people are injured or killed every year in recreational accidents at active and abandoned mine sites.

It's a subject that Jones knows well. Both his parents were coal miners and he grew up in the coalfields of southwestern Virginia.

He has recorded a series of audio and video public-service announcements describing the hidden dangers of abandoned mines and quarries.

● STEELERS: Kevin Colbert, the director of football operations, has signed a five-year contract extension, one week after the team re-signed Coach Mike Tomlin through the 2012 season.

Colbert, who serves as the Steelers' general manager but without the title, oversaw the teams that won the Super Bowl during the 2005 and 2008 seasons. His contract was due to expire next spring.

Colbert, who grew up in Pittsburgh, was the Detroit Lions' pro scouting director from 1990-99.

● TITANS: Tennessee promoted Craig Johnson to assistant head coach and running-backs coach.

Johnson takes over for Kennedy Pola, who left the Titans for Southern California on Saturday, just five months after being hired. Pola's departure prompted the Titans to sue Southern California and its coach, Lane Kiffin, for interfering with Pola's contract a week before training camp.

Johnson is in his 11th season with the Titans and has worked as quarterbacks coach for the past eight seasons, tutoring several standouts, including Steve McNair, Kerry Collins and Vince Young.

Dowell Loggains, who has spent the last two seasons as quality control for offense, will coach quarterbacks, and offensive assistant Richie Wessman will handle quality control.

● RETIREES: Several retired football players are suing the attorneys who won a $26-million settlement from the NFL Players Association on their behalf.

The former players, including Paul Hornug, John Brodie and Marvin Cobb, say the lawyers should have extracted even more money from the union.

The Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and McKool, Smith law firms represented hundreds of retired football players who accused the union of failing to properly market their commercial images. A jury agreed and awarded the retired players $28 million after a November 2008 trial.

The case later settled in exchange for the union dropping its appeal.

The new lawsuit filed July 21 in San Francisco alleges that the attorneys failed to show the jury crucial evidence that would have led to a bigger jury award.