Eagles Suffer Another Setback

Philadelphia running back Correll Buckhalter underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a torn patella tendon in his right knee.

Buckhalter had season-ending surgery last year on the same tendon after he injured it in an exhibition game.

“He’s a great kid,” Eagle Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “He worked so hard in the off-season. He came back in phenomenal shape. We were looking forward to getting him back out there. He did some good things. For that to happen, your heart goes out to the guy.”

Buckhalter was injured in practice Aug. 5, but initial MRI tests were inconclusive.

Rick Burkholder, the team’s head athletic trainer, was asked whether Buckhalter’s injury was career-threatening.

“That’s not fair to say, and it’s not my decision to make,” Burkholder said. “My job is to rehab him as if it’s his first time. He has an advantage because he’s been through two long rehabs.”

Buckhalter has been an asset when healthy, but sat out all of the 2002 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in minicamp.

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Dallas cut six players, including offensive lineman Jacob Rogers, a second-round pick last year from USC.

Rogers, who was battling to be the starter at right tackle, hurt his right knee in the exhibition opener at Arizona and rather than put him on injured reserve, the team gave up on him. He played only two games in his rookie season, both on special teams.

“[Drafting] is an inexact science,” Coach Bill Parcells said. “You’re going to have some of these.”

Also cut were Billy Cundiff, the kicker the last three seasons. He hurt a hip Saturday and sat out Monday’s exhibition game at Seattle. Jose Cortez is the Cowboys’ kicker.

Fullback Darian Barnes, who played every game last season, free safety Izell Reese, receiver Ahmad Merritt and linebacker Mike Goolsby also were released.

The team signed free-agent safety Rich Coady, who played last season with St. Louis.

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Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington says the upcoming season will determine whether he’s “washed up.”

The three-time Pro Bowl selection returned to practice last week after a lengthy rehabilitation from two knee operations.

“People think I might be washed up, so maybe they’ll see something like that,” he said. “Maybe they won’t. We’ll wait and see. It just makes it all the better if it’s proven wrong. If it’s not, then I’m washed up. I’m just waiting to get the opportunity.”

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Tight end Bubba Franks signed a seven-year, $28-million contract with Green Bay.

Franks has appeared in all 80 games and six playoff games in the first five years of his career. His 28 touchdown catches rank second in franchise history behind Paul Coffman’s 39, and his 188 receptions are tied with Mark Chmura for third among tight ends.

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Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis will sit out Friday’s exhibition game against New Orleans because of a bone spur in his left foot.... Cleveland running back Lee Suggs is wearing a walking boot after sustaining a high ankle sprain last week during practice. He is unsure when he will return.

New York Giant defensive end Michael Strahan sat out his second practice because of strained rib cartilage.... Indianapolis quarterback Travis Brown, who hurt his right shoulder Saturday against Chicago, will sit out the season.

Denver rookie safety Brandon Browner will sit out the season because of a broken arm. Browner, from Oregon State, fractured his left forearm Saturday against San Francisco.... Will Shields, Kansas City’s 10-time Pro Bowl guard who has been slowed all summer because of a back problem, went through a full practice and says he’s ready to start the season.

Minnesota center Matt Birk will try to play through the pain of a torn labrum in his hip this season if the team guarantees his contract for 2006, the player’s agent, Joe Linta, said.... John Madden, a former coach and one of the NFL’s best-known television personalities, was named a finalist for the Hall of Fame.