Dolphins Open Saban Era With a Loss to Bears

Nick Saban’s debut as Miami Dolphin coach and Ricky Williams’ return to the lineup were spoiled by Chicago Bear rookie quarterback Kyle Orton’s strong performance.

Orton riddled Miami’s third-string defense on two late touchdown drives, lifting the Bears over the Dolphins, 27-24, in the Hall of Fame game Monday night at Canton, Ohio.

Orton, a fourth-round draft pick from Purdue, completed seven of 11 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. And the Bears got another stellar showing from a rookie, second-round pick Mark Bradley. The former Oklahoma receiver had five receptions and a Hall of Fame game record 131 yards.

Saban, who left Louisiana State after a highly successful career in college to rebuild the Dolphins, didn’t get much from Williams.

Williams entered on Miami’s second series and had a two-yard run. He had another two-yard run and gained two yards on a swing pass on which he stumbled during the next possession.

In the second period, Williams had runs of three, two and minus-one. He finished with eight yards in five carries.

That was it for the former rushing champion, who will sit out the first four games of the regular season under an NFL suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy.

“I didn’t feel rusty,” he said. “I didn’t expect anything, to be honest. I was like always when I play, it takes me a while to get warmed up. But I was seeing everything good and I felt good.”

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Ty Law agreed to a multiyear contract with the New York Jets, giving the team a Pro Bowl cornerback who helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls.

The deal could be worth as much as $28.5 million for the first three years and as much as $50 million over seven years, agent Carl Poston said. The contract is laden with incentives and has options for both sides.

“I think this team is on the verge of doing something very special, and that’s why I wanted to join them,” said Law, 31, adding that he is completely healed from a broken foot suffered in October.

Law was in the final season of a seven-year, $51-million contact with the Patriots, and was due $12.5 million this season, but the team would have taken a big hit on its salary cap. Law reportedly wasn’t willing to restructure his contract, so New England released him in February.

To make room for Law, the Jets released Ray Mickens, who had been listed as a starting cornerback during the first week of camp.

Law has four Pro Bowl appearances and holds Patriot records with 36 interceptions and six regular-season touchdowns on interceptions. He also scored on an interception when New England beat St. Louis in 2002 for its first NFL title.

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Philadelphia Eagle running back Brian Westbrook ended his weeklong holdout and reported to training camp, and Terrell Owens sat out practice after re-injuring his left groin.

Owens has sat out three of the last four days after leaving Thursday morning’s practice because of inflammation in his left groin. He sat out the workouts on Friday and Saturday but returned Sunday. His status for today was not known.

Westbrook has been holding out for a long-term contract after signing a one-year restricted free-agent offer for $1.43 million this off-season. He had little choice but to report for camp, however, because he risked forfeiting a year of service if he stayed out any longer, meaning he would have been unable to become an unrestricted free agent next season -- possibly missing out on a big payday.

The fourth-year pro emerged last season as a potent weapon for the Eagles, leading all NFL running backs with 73 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns while adding 812 yards and three scores on the ground.

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Pittsburgh Steeler running back Duce Staley underwent surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.

Steeler Coach Bill Cowher expects him to miss a month but isn’t worried about Staley’s health in the long run, saying, “We’re hopeful to have him by the opening of the season.”

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Offensive lineman Marcus Spears, an 11-year veteran who signed as a free agent during the off-season, was released by the Cleveland Browns.

A second-round pick by Chicago in 1994, he played in all 16 games and made three starts last season with the Houston Texans.

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San Diego Charger linebacker Donnie Edwards sprained his right ankle, and his status for the exhibition opener at Green Bay on Thursday night was uncertain. ... The Minnesota Vikings agreed on a contract with holdout rookie defensive end Erasmus James, a first-round draft pick from Wisconsin. Terms were not disclosed. ... The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line lost some depth when Coach Mike Mularkey announced that reserves Lawrence Smith (knee) and Ben Sobieski (back) probably will sit out the season. ... The Seattle Seahawks released outside linebacker Solomon Bates.