ALAMEDA, Calif. — Apparently, one former Broncos wide receiver wasn’t enough for the Raiders.
The Raiders agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Ashley Lelie on Monday in hopes the former first-round pick of Denver can regain his form and help bolster an inexperienced position group.
Before adding Lelie, the Raiders were extremely thin at receiver behind starters Ronald Curry and Javon Walker, who played for the Broncos last season. With Drew Carter sidelined by a season-ending knee injury, Johnnie Lee Higgins was the only one of Oakland’s three backup receivers who had played in an NFL game, catching six passes as a rookie.
Lelie, who has 206 receptions in six NFL seasons, could give JaMarcus Russell a deep-play option if he proves he is healthy. He had been cut by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday after being slowed all preseason by a calf injury. The Raiders host the Broncos in their season opener Monday night.
Brady ready for opener
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady, who had a right foot injury and missed all four exhibition games, ran through agility drills and said he’s ready to play Sunday against the Chiefs.
“If it’s up to me, there’s no question,” Brady said. “I’ve been getting progressively better over the past couple of weeks. I’m excited. I’m excited to start the year.”
Bill Belichick deflected a question about whether last season’s NFL MVP would start Sunday.
“We will give you the injury report on Friday,” the Patriots coach said. “We will give you the practice report after we practice.”
Brady didn’t want to anger a coach who tells his players not to reveal too much injury information. So he wouldn’t estimate how close to 100 percent he was health-wise.
“I don’t know,” Brady said. “Coach hates percentages, so I usually don’t give them. I have been yelled at more times with comments I make, so I am laying off that one. Write that, so he reads that, too.”
• The Patriots signed former Broncos cornerback Deltha O’Neal, who was released by the Bengals on Saturday.
Footnotes.
Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, sidelined since Aug. 18 with a concussion, and wide receiver Braylon Edwards, missing more than three weeks with a severely cut foot, returned to practice and are expected to start Sunday against the Cowboys.
• Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco will start Sunday against the Bengals mainly because he’s the healthiest player at the position as Troy Smith (infected tonsils) and Kyle Boller (shoulder) are ailing.
In an effort to add depth, the Ravens worked out Chris Simms, Joey Harrington and Todd Bouman.
• Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (back) returned to practice and expects to start Sunday’s regular-season opener at Buffalo.
• Cowboys receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) practiced and could play Sunday at Cleveland.
• Jaguars receiver Jerry Porter, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring in July, practiced for the first time in nearly three months, but is unlikely to play Sunday at Tennessee.
• The Rams signed cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. to a one-year deal and released defensive back Eric Bassey.
• The Louisiana Superdome, scheduled to host Sunday’s game between the Saints and Buccaneers, appeared to be in good condition after the worst of Hurricane Gustav had passed, the stadium’s operator said. The Associated Press
