NFL | Teams break out scissors to reach roster limit of 53

CINCINNATI — Offensive tackle Willie Anderson and running back Rudi Johnson lost their starting jobs with the Cincinnati Bengals during training camp. Now they've lost their roster spots, too.

The Bengals released Anderson and Johnson on Saturday as part of their moves to get to the 53-man roster limit.

The 33-year-old Anderson was the most tenured Bengal at 12 seasons. Injuries limited him to seven games last season, ending his streak of four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. He became a backup to Stacy Andrews in training camp, and declined to take a pay cut to stay with the team.

"Very tough," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said of letting Anderson go. "He has been significant to me. He has been significant to this organization, beyond me. We'll see what happens. It may not be over."

Johnson ran for a club-record 1,458 yards in 2005. Hamstring problems limited him to nine starts and a 2.9-yard average last season.

Atlanta released quarterback Joey Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Lions and a starter in 10 games for the Falcons last season. Harrington had been third on the depth chart behind rookie Matt Ryan, the third overall choice this year, and Chris Redman.

Tennessee cut Roydell Williams, the Titans' co-leader in receptions last year, after he struggled to recover from breaking an ankle days before a playoff game in January.

Tampa Bay released former starting quarterback Chris Simms, who has not played in a regular-season game in nearly two years and entered training camp fourth on the depth chart behind Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese and Luke McCown.

Philadelphia released defensive end Jerome McDougle, a one-time first-rounder plagued by injuries on and off the field.

Drew Henson, the former Michigan quarterback and New York Yankees prospect, was cut by Detroit. He signed last week when quarterback Drew Stanton injured a hand.

San Francisco released underachieving receiver Ashley Lelie, who was going into the second year of a two-year, $4.3 million deal that included a $2 million signing bonus. He had just 10 receptions for 115 yards last season while struggling with injuries.

Among 20 players released by Minnesota was quarterback Brooks Bollinger, which means rookie John David Booty from USC is the third quarterback behind Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte.

New England released quarterback Matt Gutierrez and kept Matt Cassel as Tom Brady's backup for a fourth season. Cassel's roster spot appeared to be in jeopardy after he failed to lead the Patriots to a touchdown in 17 series during their winless exhibition season.

San Diego released linebacker Carlos Polk and placed tight end Scott Chandler on injured reserve. The Chargers also removed center Nick Hardwick from the physically unable to perform list, making him part of the final 53-man roster even though he probably won't play right away as he recovers from offseason foot surgery.

Notes

• Jesse Chatman, a Franklin High and Eastern Washington graduate, was suspended without pay for the Jets' first four regular-season games for violating the league's steroids and related-substances policy.

His agent, Brett Tessler, said in a statement that the running back "never tested positive for a steroid or any other performance-enhancing drug." Tessler said at the end of last season, the league claimed Chatman had a diuretic in his system that could be used as a masking agent.

• Patriots RB Kevin Faulk was suspended for one game and will forfeit two paychecks, the result of a no contest plea in July to misdemeanor marijuana charges in Lafayette, La.

• Ravens CB Derrick Martin was suspended for one game and fined two paychecks for violating the league's substance abuse policy. According to a police report, Martin was cited and charged in July with possession of three small bags of marijuana at the Cleveland airport.

• The Steelers placed backup QB Charlie Batch (broken collarbone) on injured reserve, and signed veteran Byron Leftwich to take his place.

• The Vikings placed S Michael Boulware on injured reserve. The former Seahawk was apparently hurt Thursday in Minnesota's final exhibition game.

• Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Kurt Warner would be the starter at quarterback over Matt Leinart when Arizona opens its season.

The coach said he still considered Leinart, the No. 10 pick overall in the draft three years ago, the Cardinals' quarterback of the future. But Warner is coming off a strong season and impressed the coaching staff with his consistency and willingness to adjust his game to suit Whisenhunt's style.

• With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the Saints left Saturday for Indianapolis, where they will spend the week preparing for their opener against Tampa Bay, back at the Louisiana Superdome on Sept. 7.

• CB Ricardo Colclough was released by Carolina, hours after he was arrested and charged with driving while impaired.

In other Panthers news, WR Steve Smith was placed on the reserve-suspended list. He will be suspended for the first two regular-season games for breaking CB Ken Lucas' nose in a training-camp fight.

• The Jaguars' career rushing and receiving leaders were arrested in a span of about five hours this weekend. RB Fred Taylor was arrested outside a Miami Beach nightclub early Saturday and charged with disorderly conduct, while former WR Jimmy Smith was arrested Friday night on a drunken driving charge in Jacksonville.