Minnesota Vikings: Injured tailback Michael Bennett, who could miss the entire season with a left foot injury suffered in March, underwent a Thursday procedure that he and Minnesota Vikings team officials hope will salvage at least a portion of the 2003 campaign.

In the procedure, which Bennett chose over more invasive surgery, noted Charlotte, N.C., specialist Dr. Bob Anderson extracted a small amount of bone marrow from the player's hip. The bone marrow was then mixed with a protein-based product known as Ignite, and injected into the foot, in an effort to promote healing. The foot, which had conventional surgery more than three months ago, was then re-casted.

"Bascially, he'll be in the cast for a month or so, then they'll re-examine how the healing is going and further evaluate from there," agent Pat Dye Jr. said. "At this point, it's the best chance for him to play this season. He's got nothing to lose by trying this approach."

If the fracture to the fifth metatarsal bone doesn't demonstrate significant progress over the next month, Bennett will likely opt for season-ending surgery, Dye said. But he also added that decision is still a long way off.

Over the next month, Bennett will have regular electrical stimulation therapy along with a variety of other treatments.

The club's first-round choice in the 2001 draft, Bennett initially injured his left foot early in the offseason, although he isn't sure of precisely when the fracture occurred. Bennett experienced pain in the foot while working out on a treadmill, and apprised team trainers of it, and a subsequent examination indicated what is known as a "Jones fracture."

Early indications were that there were no complications and that the foot would heal in the normal rehabilitation time, about six weeks, with Bennett scheduled to be recovered in time for camp. At recent mini-camps, though, Bennett experienced soreness and pain in the foot. That prompted his request for a second opinion.

Bennett, 24, was a principle catalyst for a Vikings running game that averaged a league-best 156.7 yards per game in 2002, as the former Wisconsin standout rushed for 1,296 yards, in what most observers felt was a breakout season.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Kansas City Chiefs: Just two days before the Chiefs are scheduled to report to training camp, the team released linebacker Lew Bush, a 10-year veteran who last year lost his starting job and no longer fit into the team's plans.

Since the Chiefs really don't need to create salary cap space, the move was made more from a personnel and competitive standpoint, it appears.

Bush, 33, appeared in just nine games and started in only five in 2002, and both of those represented career lows. He had started 19 contests in two seasons with the Chiefs, and that included 11 in 2001. His 28 tackles were his fewest since 1998.

A starter at the outset of the season, Bush was suspended for four games by the league in November, after he tested positive for a banned substance. Bush contended he ingested the ephedra derivative inadvertently, because it was not included on the label of a dietary supplement he was using, but he was unsuccessful in his appeal of the suspension.

As part of their offseason effort to improve a defense that statistically ranked last in the NFL in 2002, the Chiefs have revamped their linebacker corps, and Bush would not have competed for a starting job in training camp. The new starters are second-year veteran Scott Fujita and Shawn Barber, one of the Chiefs' high-profile free agent acquisitions, and Mike Maslowski will move from the weakside spot to middle linebacker.

With camps opening around the league next week, Bush will have to scramble to locate a new job, and possibly accept a more modest salary.

Bush began his career with San Diego as a fourth-round pick in the '93 draft. He played seven seasons for the Chargers before signing with Kansas City as a free agent in 2000. The former Washington State star has played in 141 games and started in 92 of them. He has 345 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and 13 passes defensed.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Washington Redskins: The Washington Redskins have filled out their personnel department with the addition of four scouts. The moves, along with the hiring of a new salary cap expert, completes the offseason overhaul of the Washington front offices.

Hired as area scouts were Cary Conklin, who played quarterback for the Redskins for five seasons, and former NFL tailback Marcus Dupree. As first reported by ESPN.com last week in a "Tip Sheet" column, longtime league defensive coordinator Foge Fazio was added as a special assistant to vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato. And the Redskins also brought aboard former Philadelphia Eagles talent scout Mike Kelly as a pro scout.

Eric Shaffer, a certified agent who had worked most recently at IMG Football, was hired as the cap expert. He will negotiate some contracts and also provide research for owner Dan Snyder on other deals. Shaffer, who has already begun work in Washington, will commence negotiations with the team's three draft choices next week.

Once a highly-regarded back, Dupree is an intriguing addition, and he proved during interviews to be a solid film evaluator. The onetime University of Oklahoma standout recently served as general manager of an Arena League 2 franchise. He will scout the Southwest and Conklin, who resides in Seattle, will handle the West Coast.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Tennessee Titans: Outland Trophy winner Rien Long, the former Washington State defensive tackle whose draft stock dropped to the fourth round because of poor workouts, has reached a contract agreement with the Tennessee Titans. The team also reached agreement with strong safety Donnie Nickey of Ohio State, a fifth-round choice.

Long, who currently is projected as the top backup to starters Albert Hainesworth and Robaire Smith, signed a four-year, $1.675 million contract. It includes a signing bonus of $305,000 and minimum base salaries of $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004), $380,000 (2005) and $460,000 (2006). There is an escalator that can raise the base salary in 2006 if Long reaches certain predetermined playing time levels.

In three college seasons, Long recorded 100 tackles, 17 sacks, and five pass deflections. He had 13 sacks in 2002.

Nickey signed a three-year contract that included minimum base salaries. The signing bonus for the deal was not immediately available. Given the Titans' lack of depth at the safety position, Nickey is expected to contribute quickly.

He posted 258 tackles in four seasons for the Buckeyes, along with five interceptions and 11 passes defensed. The Titans have now signed three of their six draft choices.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Green Bay Packers: Just a month after signing him, the Green Bay Packers have released place kicker Owen Pochman, who had been expected to take some of the camp strain off Ryan Longwell. The former BYU star handled kickoffs for the New York Giants in 2001, and then was injured in the 2002 training camp, and missed the season.

Pochman missed his only two field goal attempts in 2001, both of longer than 50 yards. It is not known if Green Bay will sign another kicker before camp begins.

The Packers also released a pair of free agents, safety Quentis Cumby and fullback Jerry Westbrooks, as they fine-tuned their roster before camp.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Detroit Lions: The Lions signed rookie wide receiver David Kircus to a three-year contract Thursday.

Kircus, an Associated Press Little All-American from Grand Valley State, was chosen in the sixth round of the draft.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver set a Division II record with 76 career touchdown catches. Last year, he set an NCAA all-divisions record with 35 TD catches in helping his team win the D-II national title.

San Diego Chargers: Tackle Courtney Van Buren, the Chargers' third-round draft pick, signed a three-year contract Thursday.

Van Buren is the second draft pick to sign with the Chargers. Fullback Andrew Pinnock, a seventh-round pick from South Carolina, signed a three-year contract June 19.

Van Buren was a three-year starter at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Chargers' open training camp Wednesday at Carson.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.