Warrick’s first day is a ‘10’

While it remains to be seen whether wide receiver Peter Warrick will be a perfect fit, his first day with the Seattle Seahawks included a perfect 10.

With No. 80 unavailable, Warrick opted to pick a jersey from his past.

“This was my number when I first went to high school, and I had a great year with No. 10,” he said while slapping the front of his jersey after a Seahawks walk-through practice in Kirkland, Wash., Thursday morning. “I might keep this number. Nobody has 10, as a receiver, so I’m going to make it work.”

Warrick, who wore No. 80 in Cincinnati but arrived in Seattle to find that jersey number retired (Steve Largent), seemed to be adjusting well to his new team. He’s already close friends with Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson, who grew up in Warrick’s home state of Florida, and Warrick believes it won’t take him too long to learn a new offense.

But he was in a little bit of unfamiliar territory after spending the first five years of his NFL career with the Bengals.

“It’s kind of strange, but God put me in position to close one door and open up another,” Warrick said.

Warrick still has to learn the system and find his role on the offense, so his immediate contribution will probably come as a punt return man.

Warrick was released by the Bengals on Monday and officially signed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Seahawks three days later. The gamble is that Warrick had his knee scoped in January and played in only one of Cincinnati’s three preseason games.

Saints may not return to Big Easy

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue says it’s unlikely the Saints will play in New Orleans this season after the devastation Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath inflicted on the city.

“At this point you have to proceed on the assumption … that they may be unable to play in New Orleans at all for the entire season,” Tagliabue said in an interview with CNBC.

The Saints will move into a hotel in San Antonio, Texas, this weekend and practice in San Antonio in preparation for their regular-season opener at Carolina Sept. 11.

Falcons 20, Dolphins 17

Etric Pruitt scored on a 51-yard interception return and Atlanta allowed no Dolphins first downs in the opening 25 minutes of the victory in Miami.

Buccaneers 38, Texans 14

Tampa Bay intercepted Houston quarterback David Carr twice in the first quarter, converting the turnovers into a field goal and touchdown in a win in Tampa, Fla.

Jets 37, Eagles 14

Donovan McNabb watched from the press box and Terrell Owens looked on from the bench as the New York Jets’ backups dominated the Philadelphia Eagles’ junior varsity in Philadelphia.

Browns 16, Bears 6

Rookie Charlie Frye did all he could to claim the backup quarterback job, completing 12 of 14 passes for 186 yards for Cleveland in a victory over host Chicago.

Packers 21, Titans 17

Craig Nall tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Walt Williams early in the fourth quarter, and Mike Hawkins intercepted a pass in the end zone with 2:26 left to lead Green Bay to a victory over the Titans in Nashville, Tenn.

Cowboys 27, Jaguars 20

Julius Jones gained 75 yards on 11 carries, softening things up for Drew Bledsoe to hit his first seven passes – including a 40-yarder to Terry Glenn for a touchdown on Dallas’ opening drive as they defeated Jacksonville in Irving, Texas.

Giants 27, Patriots 3

Jared Lorenzen and Jesse Palmer led New York to touchdowns in their battle for the No. 3 quarterback spot as the Giants defeated New England in Foxborough, Mass. The No. 2 quarterbacks – former Boston College players Doug Flutie of the Patriots and Tim Hasselbeck of the Giants – played four series apiece.

Steelers 21, Panthers 17

Pittsburgh backup Charlie Batch threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Sean Morey with 1:35 to play to spoil Carolina running back Stephen Davis’ return from knee surgery in Charlotte, N.C. Davis carried the ball five times for 17 yards in a very brief appearance designed only to test his surgically repaired right knee.

Ravens 26, Redskins 20 (OT)

Jamal Lewis ran for 15 yards on six carries in his preseason debut for host Baltimore, and third-string quarterback Derek Anderson threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Randy Hymes with 12:39 left in overtime to defeat Washington.

Raiders 13, Saints 6

Randy Moss caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Kerry Collins in the first quarter for the game’s only touchdown, leading host Oakland over the Saints, who somehow played a competitive football game despite the Hurricane Katrina situation in New Orleans. A moment of silence was observed before the game.

Chargers 28, 49ers 24

San Diego third-string quarterback Cleo Lemon threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ruvell Martin with 19 seconds left to lead the host Chargers over San Francisco.

Around the league

Doctors have placed a stent in an artery in Trent Green‘s lower left leg and put the Kansas City quarterback on blood-thinners in an effort to restore full circulation. … The Indianapolis Colts reached a multi-year agreement with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon.