Aug. 17, 2008

Updated at 12:55 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 17

 There won’t be much of a competition to become the Bucs’ starting left tackle after all. Heading into camp, it was expected to be one of the most contested positions on the team as Donald Penn and Luke Petitgout battled each other. However, in an unexpected move, Petitgout was released Aug. 16 after he had been unable to take the field while he continued rehab from a torn ACL he suffered in Week Four last season. Penn took over as the starter from that point on and was serviceable, but he dropped off late in the year. Petitgout’s release leaves Tampa very thin at tackle and it will likely be on the lookout to add a veteran off the scrap heap once teams start trimming their rosters. The primary backup at left tackle is the disappointing Anthony Davis, so the Bucs are in need of some security behind Penn, who is still inexperienced.

 The Falcons were counting on veteran PK Jason Elam to bring some much-needed consistency to their kicking game when they signed him to a four-year, $9 million contract this offseason, but he got off to a shaky start. Considering he's a notoriously slow starter, Atlanta downplayed Elam's performance in the preseason opener, when he missed 2-of-3 field goals. Sure enough, he bounced back Saturday night with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, connecting from 25, 35 and 40 yards. Word is, Elam has been spending more time working on the mechanics of his kicking motion.

 At this late stage of his career, many expected WR Muhsin Muhammad to be, at best, a No. 3 receiver for Carolina this season, but he could end up being the No. 1 target in the team’s first two games while Steve Smith serves his suspension. He seems to have a strong relationship with QB Jake Delhomme, and his main competition, WR D.J. Hackett, has been out battling toe and knee injuries.

 The Saints are hoping to avoid the same early-season slump that sank their postseason chances last year, and having a healthy OLT Jammal Brown could go a long way to helping that cause. Brown sat out all but one preseason game with a knee injury in ’07, and it appeared to have an effect on his performance during the early stages of the regular season. Head coach Sean Payton has raved about Brown throughout camp this year, and it looks like he’s getting back to playing at a Pro Bowl level.