Giants’ Strahan says he expects to play

Michael Strahan increased his workload in practice Thursday and said if he continues to feel good that he expects to play in the New York Giants opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Practicing for only the third time since ending a holdout Monday, the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end said he ran every play during the defensive period and nothing was held back.

“I feel good,” Strahan said. “See how I feel tomorrow. Today, I ran a lot more plays than I ran before, the last two days. If I am going to feel good, I’ll be out there.”

But the decision on whether Strahan will play Sunday rests with Tom Coughlin, and the coach has said repeatedly that he will wait until Saturday to make a decision.

“I think he is in very good running shape,” Coughlin said. “But the rest of it is subject to each day to review in terms of the physical part of it. And like I said, he has day-to-day learning. It is a game plan, it is new terminology. So we’ll see.”

Despite having his first season in New England cut short by a broken arm, Junior Seau has been chosen by teammates to be one of the Patriots’ seven captains this year.

The players selected Seau, 38, in a vote this week.

Quarterback Tom Brady sat out a portion of practice Thursday because of his chronic right shoulder injury.

Brady was on the field during the time reporters were allowed to view practice, but the team later reported that had he “limited participation.”

Receiver Randy Moss, who sat out all four preseason games because of a leg injury, also was limited in practice Thursday, although the Patriots listed the reason as “team decision.”

Cleveland Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden, possibly facing discipline from the NFL after his arrest at a Cleveland airport, expects to play in Sunday’s opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bodden pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges of aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was arrested a day earlier after police accused him of driving in reverse down a one-way street and becoming verbally abusive outside Hopkins International Airport.

While Coach Lane Kiffin tries to keep the identity of the Oakland Raiders’ starting quarterback secret, owner Al Davis piped in with his opinion of who should take the first snap Sunday.

“Should be? He may be in Mobile,” Davis said, referring to the Alabama hometown of No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell, before attending practice.

It’s clear the starter won’t be Russell, who remains out in a dispute over how much of his contract should be guaranteed. Although USA Today quoted Russell’s uncle Thursday as saying a contract was “almost done,” the Raiders say nothing is close at this point.

The Baltimore Ravens agreed in principle to a one-year extension with quarterback Kyle Boller, who started 34 games during his first three seasons before settling into a backup role last year.

Boller’s contract was to expire after this season.