NFL briefs: Fed-up Jaguars enlist ex-Bills QB Edwards
Showing just how frustrated they are with quarterback David Garrard, the Jacksonville Jaguars claimed former Buffalo Bills starter Trent Edwards off waivers Tuesday.
Edwards is expected to sign a contract today and join his new teammates at practice.
The Jaguars waived linebacker Alvin Bowen to make room for Edwards on the roster.
The move gives Edwards a fresh start after things went south in Buffalo and provides Jacksonville with a viable option behind Garrard.
Edwards started the first two games for Buffalo this season, completing 29 of 52 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. He also threw two interceptions and lost both games, prompting coach Chan Gailey to turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick to spark an inept offense.
With Fitzpatrick under center, the Bills managed 374 yards – more than Edwards mustered in his two starts. Gailey released Edwards on Monday.
Edwards could get a second chance in Jacksonville, especially if Garrard continued to perform like he has the last two weeks.
Carney back with Saints
Veteran kicker John Carney is returning to the New Orleans Saints.
Carney’s agent, Jack Mills, confirmed in an e-mail to the AP that his client would be signing a contract with his former team. Terms of the deal were not released.
Carney, 46, worked out for the Saints after starting kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime Sunday that would have given the Saints a 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons. For the season, Hartley is 4 for 7 on field goal attempts.
A person familiar with the Saints’ plans says Hartley also will remain with the club.
League investigates
The NFL is investigating a confrontation between Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins and a fan after Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Spokesman Greg Aiello told the AP the league is “in the process of reviewing all the facts” and Bears spokesman Scott Hagel said the team is doing the same thing.
“Right now, we’re monitoring it,” Hagel said.
Milwaukee’s WITI-TV aired video in which Collins is seen yelling at a fan as he left the field. Collins then appears to throw his mouthpiece into the stands. According to the station’s report, Collins said the fan spit on him and used a racial slur.
Around the league
Monday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears was the highest-rated cable telecast of the year. ESPN says “Monday Night Football” had an estimated 17.5 million viewers, making it the fifth-most watched cable program in history – behind a Monday night game from last season featuring the Packers against former quarterback Brett Favre. … The NFL and its players’ union discussed a proposal to change to an 18-game regular season during a bargaining session Tuesday. The league and the NFL Players Association issued a joint statement about the meeting, saying that negotiations “focused on several matters.” … Charlie Batch, buried so deep on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ depth chart that he barely practiced during training camp, will start Sunday’s game against Baltimore.