The following are excerpts from recent articles that didn’t really deserve a link on their own:

Top draft pick Joseph Addai appears to be making a rapid adjustment to the NFL. The first-year running back from LSU displayed a bit more quickness in Saturday’s two practices, which Dungy credited to an improving comfort level in learning the Colts’ complicated offense.

“It’s just being a little more comfortable with the snap count and what we do. But he was very encouraging [Saturday],” the Indianapolis coach said. “I thought he was a little more sure of himself and a little more sudden in what he did. He was going maybe with a little more, just knowing what he was doing.”

Addai has been impressive through the first three practices at catching the football, a trait that should earn him high marks from offensive coordinator Tom Moore and quarterback Peyton Manning.

“He catches very well,” Dungy said. “He understands the passing game. He’s going to be a good route runner for us. So, yeah, he’s doing well.”

When the Green Bay Packers held their first minicamp in early May, defensive tackle Kenderick Allen weighed 341 pounds and huffed and puffed his way through practice. "It was like putting an overweight fighter in the ring," admitted Allen. "He ain't going to last too long." The New York Giants had cut Allen in late April for not participating in their off-season workouts and the Packers signed him as a free agent.

But Allen said after the Packers' practice Monday - as their off-season team activities continue - that his weight was down to 325, just about his natural playing weight. And it has shown on the practice field. Allen is moving better in individual drills and being downright overpowering on occasion in one-one pass rushing sessions. "He's a beast," said guard Junius Coston.

At 6-foot-5 and 325, Allen has a similar build to recently cut defensive tackle Donnell Washington, who was listed at 6-6 and 328. In truth, Washington probably had a better physique. Washington had pipes bigger than Popeye. But unlike Washington, Allen plays with leverage. His strong suit is playing the inside running game. But Allen also has been bull-rushing linemen into the lap of an imaginary quarterback in one-on-one pass rushing drills. He also has been getting some work with the No. 1 defense. Allen was paired with Cullen Jenkins Monday, and they split time with the tandem of Corey Williams and Colin Cole. Allen played 14 games with the Giants last season and has played in 29 over the course of his three-year career. He spent his first season with New Orleans. Allen, who played at Louisiana State, signed with the Saints in 2003 as a non-drafted free agent.

When you look at Bennie Brazell's background as a hurdler in the 2004 Olympics, your first thought is that all he brings as a rookie wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals is speed. Other track guys have tried to make the transition to football, only to discover it takes much more than speed to succeed. However, during offseason workouts, Brazell has impressed coaches by showing he has the ability to do more than run fast. The second of the Bengals' two seventh-round draft picks has used double moves and other sophisticated route-running tactics to create separation from defensive backs. Despite his accomplishments in track, the LSU product actually has fairly deep football-playing roots, going all the way back to youth league.

Cincinnati Enquirer (06/15):

Rookie wide receiver Bennie Brazell, a former Olympic hurdler, has wowed teammates and coaches with his speed in spring work. He consistently gets behind the defense and catches the ball, and Brazell, despite limited college experience at LSU, is expected to win a roster spot come fall.

Running back Domanick Davis, who continues to rehab from his knee surgery, was absent from practice for the birth of his child. Kubiak expects the team’s leading rusher to get some work in during mini-camp.

Delanie Walker, Melvin Oliver and Vickiel Vaughn became the first members of the 49ers' nine-player draft class to sign with the team Wednesday.

The 49ers did not release terms of the contracts, but league sources said the players agreed to four-year deals. The contracts ranged in value from about $1.7 million for Walker and Oliver, who were taken in the sixth round, to about $1.65 million for Vaughn, a seventh-round selection.

Oliver, a 6-foot-3, 279-pound defensive end out of Louisiana State, gives the 49ers added depth behind Bryant Young and Marques Douglas.

Sacramento Bee (06/06):

[Coach Mike] Nolan also said he likes what he's seen so far from rookie Melvin Oliver, a sixth-round selection from LSU.

"I'm pleased with him, very pleased," Nolan said. "He's a little more athletic than I thought. And he comes from a very good football program."

Former Colts wide receiver Tracy Porter has a fairly unique history with the Colts franchise. His two-year career with the team fell over the historic span where the Colts spent their final year in Baltimore (1983) and their inaugural season in Indianapolis (1984). Originally drafted by the Lions out of LSU, Porter's NFL career was cut short by injuries. During his two seasons as a Colt, Porter appeared in all 32 regular season games, catching 67 passes for 974 yards (14.5 yards/catch) and two touchdowns. Today, Porter is the owner of a successful brokerage firm in California.

The Columbus Destroyers have re-signed offensive/defensive lineman Mike Sutton, team President David Paitson announced today. Sutton becomes the fifth re-signing for the 2007 campaign.

Sutton (6-4, 285, Louisiana State) started in all 16 games for the Destroyers in 2006. He recorded 16.5 tackles (11UT-11AT), two tackles for a loss, four pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

Sutton, who will enter his fifth season in 2007, has recorded 51.5 tackles (35UT-33AT), a fumble recovery, an interception, four pass breakups, four forced fumbles and 4.5 sacks in his career.

Second-rounder Andrew Whitworth, the 6-7, 330-pound left tackle from LSU, is giving the Bengals an eyeful in size and progress. Whitworth, who virtually has never played guard, is taking snaps there as well as at tackle on the left side. On Wednesday, Paul Alexander, in his 12th season coaching the Bengals offensive line, told Whitworth he’s the first rookie for him to play guard and tackle at the same time.