NFL and Rookie News

NFL News:

Tampa Bay Tribune columnist Roy Cummings speculates that Buccaneer RB Carnell Williams will miss the entire season. Williams suffered a severe leg injury last year and his status for the upcoming season has been in doubt ever since.

On July 15th, just seven days before the Bears are to report for training camp, the club decided they needed help at running back and signed veteran RB Kevin Jones.

Colts President Bill Polian called QB Peyton Manning's surgery "routine" and expects him to recover in time for the regular season. Manning underwent surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee Monday afternoon, which has a recovery time of four-to-six weeks.

Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports the Green Bay Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings for allegedly communicating with retired QB Brett Favre. According to a source, the NFL is looking into the matter and has spoken with both the Packers and Vikings. The Vikings were notified that Favre had inappropriate communication with Vikings coordinator Darrell Bevell, who is a close friend and former assistant coach with the Packers. The Vikings have denied any contact with Favre but could lose draft picks and face fines.

ESPN.com reports retired QB Trent Dilfer has joined ESPN's lineup of NFL analysts. Dilfer will appear on several ESPN programs, including NFL Live, NFL PrimeTime, SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown.

NFL Rookie News:

The New England Patriots signed fourth-round draft pick, CB Jonathan Wilhite. Terms of the deal were not announced. They also signed sixth-round pick Bo Ruud, it is a four-year pact.

Wonder how many rookie signings are in the same kind of stand still as the Eagles? A team source confirmed that the dispute between the NFL and the NFLPA over how bonus money can be structured in 4-year rookie contracts is keeping the Birds from inking second-round picks WR DeSean Jackson and Trevor Laws, with rookies scheduled to report to Lehigh on Monday. The dispute has to do with ownership's decision to scrap the current collective-bargaining agreement, meaning there is no salary cap in 2011 right now.

DE Chris Long, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, reached agreement with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday night. The financial terms of the five-year deal, with the option for a sixth, were not available.

Adam Caplan, of Scout.com, reports Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco has agreed to a five-year deal with a maximum of close to $30 million with $8.75 million guaranteed.