Somehow, it seemed so easy for so many people to write off Roger Federer.

He was past his 30th birthday, they would point out.

About 2 1/2 years went by without any additions to his Grand Slam trophy case, the thinking went.

First Rafael Nadal, then Novak Djokovic, overtook Federer in the rankings and as the man to beat at major tournament after major tournament.

Well, look at the guy now. Wimbledon champion, once again, stretching his record total to 17 Grand Slam championships. Ranked No. 1, once again. And - heading into Monday's start of the U.S. Open - the favorite to reach the final, once again.

"I'm out of the business of predicting Federer anymore," said Andre Agassi, a two-time U.S. Open champion and runner-up to Federer in 2005. "He's continually surprised me with his achievements; he no longer surprises me. I think he has a lot more tennis in him. He looked as comfortable as I've ever seen him on the tennis court in England. He maybe needs one or two things to fall for him to knock down a few more (Grand Slam titles) at this stage of his career, but he's certainly as capable of it as anybody I've ever seen."

Federer's pursuit of a sixth U.S. Open title at age 31 will certainly be among the main angles to keep track of on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

Other stories to watch include:

- Djokovic's bid for a second consecutive championship in New York and fifth major title in two years;

- Andy Murray's attempt to follow up his Olympic gold medal with Britain's first Grand Slam men's singles title since 1936;

- Andy Roddick's hope for one more deep run in front of the home fans;

- Four-time major champion Kim Clijsters' farewell to tennis in what she says is the last tournament of her career;

- Venus Williams' return to the U.S. Open a year after withdrawing from the tournament and revealing she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease;

- Serena Williams' try for her 15th major trophy - and, of course, what sort of interaction she might have with on-court officials after a foot-fault tirade in the 2009 semifinals, then a "you're just unattractive inside" monologue in the 2011 final.

"My mind frame this year is that something is going to happen, for sure, because something always happens to me at the Open, whether it's a horrendous line call that's 2 feet in or whether it's a grunt and I get a point penalized or a foot-fault when I actually don't foot-fault. I'm prepared for something to happen," said the younger Williams sister, a three-time champion in New York whose serve was dominant recently en route to her fifth title at Wimbledon and two gold medals at the Olympics.

Another key question is what sort of effect there will be from the short turnaround and shift to hard courts after the grass-court London Games.

"There's no doubt about it: This is not an ideal preparation," said Federer, routed 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 by Murray in the Olympic final on Aug. 5, less than a month after beating him in four sets on the same court in the Wimbledon final.

"It's not impossible," Federer added, "but it's just very hard on the body and mind to travel halfway around the world, go on a different surface. ... In the past, you would take maybe a few weeks off for a top player, then prepare for three brutal weeks on hard courts, then come over here wanting to fire (on) all cylinders. This year, it's different."

He once won 40 matches in a row at the U.S. Open, a streak that ended with a five-set loss to Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 final. That was followed by semifinal setbacks against Djokovic each of the past two years, including what Federer calls "that brutal match with Novak" - in 2011, when Federer took the first two sets, then held two match points, but couldn't close the deal.

On the first match point, Djokovic smacked a gutsy forehand return winner that barely landed on a line and drew something of a rebuke from Federer afterward.

"I never played that way," Federer said at the time. "I believe in the hard-work's-going-to-pay-off kind of thing, because early on, maybe I didn't always work at my hardest. So for me, this is very hard to understand how (he could) play a shot like that on match point."

Harumph.
Djokovic went on to victory in the final against Nadal, the 2010 U.S. Open champion and 11-time major winner who is currently out with knee problems and won't be in New York. That was part of a stretch in which the Serb and the Spaniard split up nine Grand Slam trophies in a row, shutting out Federer and leaving him stuck on No. 16 for more than two full seasons.

Given how rare it is for a man past 30 to remain in the upper echelon of tennis - a not-quite-31 Federer was the oldest Wimbledon champion since Arthur Ashe in 1975 - and the ascension of a couple of rivals in their mid-20s, there were plenty of whispers that the Swiss superstar might be done.

A man who reached a record 10 consecutive major finals from 2005-07, then another eight in a row from 2008-10, suddenly was losing the occasional Grand Slam - gasp! - quarterfinal.

What, after all, was left to motivate him?

What could drive him to keep up?

Djokovic and Nadal, to name two, never doubted Federer would reassert himself.

"He was always there," Djokovic said. "Last couple years, he didn't win a major, but he was in a couple of finals and always semifinals. He's always playing close matches against whoever."

Federer beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon semifinals, then topped Murray for triumph No. 7 at the All England Club, tying Pete Sampras and William Renshaw (who played in the 1880s) for the most in history. That also allowed Federer to return to No. 1 and, a week later, break Sampras' career record for most time atop the ATP rankings.

Continuing what he termed "a magical summer for me," Federer earned his first individual Olympic medal. Then he showed he can still turn up big on hard courts, winning a record-equaling 21st career Masters title last weekend, holding serve throughout the tournament and beating Djokovic in the final.

Federer, Djokovic and Nadal have combined to win 29 of the past 30 Grand Slam titles (del Potro is the only interloper in that span, which began in 2005).

Murray has been on the outside looking in, but there are suspicions that his success at the Olympics could be a harbinger of what's to come.

"Come the U.S. Open, I hope this will have given me the confidence to go there and believe in myself a bit more than I have in the past," Murray said at the Olympics, "and give myself a shot at winning there."

It also means he already owns one of this season's top five prizes; Djokovic won the Australian Open in January, and Nadal won the French Open in June, before Federer re-emerged at Wimbledon.

"It is interesting, obviously, that three different guys have won three different majors this year, plus Andy the gold," Federer said. "It definitely sets a great tone for the U.S. Open, there's no doubt about that."

With Nadal sidelined, and Murray still waiting to win a major final, Federer and Djokovic appear set to take center stage at the U.S. Open.

At the very least, Federer is firmly back at the forefront.

"Putting my pure fan hat on: He's one of the greatest of all time. It's not only the quality of his play; it's how he represents our sport on the court and off the court," WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said. "He's just one of those athletes that we'll all look back and say how blessed we were to have been able to see him perform at the highest level of our sport that we've ever seen, and for such a long period of time."

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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AP Sports Writers Rachel Cohen, Rick Gano and Steven Wine contributed to this report.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Alpha and long-shot Golden Ticket finished in a historic dead heat in the $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

It appeared as if Golden Ticket would pull off a huge upset in the field of 11 3-year-olds. But 2-1 favorite Alpha closed strongly in the final yards and the two hit the finish line in tandem.

The photo finish sign flashed on the toteboard, and a few minutes later, the crowd roared when the dead heat sign made it official. It was the first dead heat in the 143 runnings of the Travers, and a rare finish for any Grade 1 race.

Alpha paid $4.10 and 33-1 shot Golden Ticket returned $26.80 to win.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Bethpage Black lived up its reputation because of the greens, which in some cases looked brown.

Sergio Garcia called them the fastest putting surfaces he could recall. Nick Watney referred to them as extreme. More than one player suggested the course was unplayable Saturday in The Barclays, certainly late in the afternoon as the sun baked out the public course on Long Island. And yes, there were references to Shinnecock Hills, the private club on Long Island where the greens were out of control on the final day of the 2004 U.S. Open.

Garcia managed them just fine.
With no bogeys over his final eight holes, he turned a three-shot deficit into a two-shot lead over Nick Watney with a 2-under 69. Such were the conditions that Garcia was the only player among the final 18 to finish who broke 70.

"The course is extremely firm," he said. "The greens, just probably some of the fastest greens I've ever played. Just one of those days where you knew it was going to be tough and you have to hold on very tight, and just kind of hope for the best."

Garcia went four years without winning on the PGA Tour and now has a chance to make it two in a row and return to the top 10 in the world. He was at 10-under 203, and only four players were within four shots of the lead.

Watney, who made five putts over 15 feet, went after another one on the 18th hole and this one cost him. The ball raced 10 feet by the hole, and he missed it coming back for his only official three-putt of the round. That gave him an even-par 71, though still in good shape to make a run at his first win of the year.

"The course just kind of beat you up," Watney said.

He got one small measure of revenge by making a 35-foot putt on the par-3 17th for the only birdie of the round. By late afternoon, the green was so firm that shots landing near the front pin settled in the rough or fringe behind the green.

Tiger Woods, who started the third round three shots out of the lead, three-putted for bogey three times on the front nine alone. He had another three-putt on the 14th hole, this one from 15 feet, and had a 72 that put him six shots behind.

"I don't remember blowing putts by 8 to 10 feet," Woods said. "So that was a bit of a shocker."

He knew what to expect on the first hole, when he watched Gary Christian lean on his putter and nearly fall over because the club had no traction on the slippery surface.

Kevin Stadler played early, when the greens still had some moisture, and had a remarkable round of 65 without any bogeys. He moved up from a tie for 42nd to alone in third place, three shots behind. Brandt Snedeker started strong and closed with nine pars, which was equally impressive, for a 68 that put him four back.

Phil Mickelson might still be in the game. Twice a runner-up at Bethpage Black - both times in the U.S. Open - Mickelson played early Saturday and had a 67. That eventually put him in the large group at 4-under 209 that included Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel, an impressive collection of players who have either won a major or been No. 1 in the world.

"If you play well, you can shoot a decent score, but as the day goes on, the course just gets harder and harder," Garcia said. "No doubt playing in the morning makes it a little bit easier. Even though the greens were still firm, they were probably not as firm and probably not quite as fast. It's just we know what Bethpage Black is all about. We know it's a tough golf course, and you've just got to realize that's the way it's going to be."

And so it was.
Slugger White, the tour's vice president of rules and competition, disputed the idea that course was on the verge of being unplayable.

"The golf course is not unplayable," he said.

White conceded a few greens became "crusty," particularly at Nos. 2 and 8, and that the staff was thinking there would be more cloud cover. He went out to the greens after the last group came through and said, "I saw no issues."

"Players always want firm and fast," he said. "It seems like when we give them firm and fast, they don't want firm and fast. I hear Tiger say it was too soft on Thursday. And then some guy walks off the tee and says, `Have you guys run out of water?' Where do you go? We're doing the best we can."

Watney didn't entirely agree.
"There's firm and fast, and then there's this," Watney said. "I mean, this is pretty extreme."

Snedeker not only boosted his chances for a second win this year, it might be enough for him to be a Ryder Cup pick. He had four birdies in seven holes, and equally impressive was finishing with nine straight pars.

"Just got on a run with the putter," Snedeker said. "Was on the edge all day. Got some lucky breaks out there. You just can't hit greens out there, I don't care what anybody says. The greens are pretty much unplayable for the most part. You can't hit them. Just really, really a tough test."

And this from a guy with a 68.
The compliments were far less flattering down the leaderboard.

"The worst course setup I have ever played in 13 years on tour. They have ruined what is a great course, greens like concrete stupid pins," Ian Poulter said on Twitter after his 76. He followed that with another tweet: "played poorly today & no excuse for my play I was rubbish. but I do know my job & trade & the golf course today was borderline unplayable."

Most extreme was the turnaround at the top.

Watney had a three-shot lead walking off the 10th hole. Three holes later, it was gone.

With his first poor swing of the day, Watney went from the middle of the 11th fairway to the right bunker and made bogey, while Garcia holed a 20-foot birdie putt. Watney followed with a tee shot well to the left to set up another bogey, and the lead was gone. And on the par-5 13th, Garcia made birdie to take the lead.

But it wasn't easy.
"This will tell you how fast it was," Garcia said. "Usually when you are putting on fast greens, you have an idea where the ball is going to stop. And today, you didn't. You thought the ball was going to stop 2 feet behind the hole, and it went 6. It was pretty much as simple as that.

"Was it unfair? I wouldn't say it was unfair," he said. "It was borderline. It was very close. It felt like the greens were very close to Shinnecock Hills at the U.S. Open."

Ernie Els might have summed up the day better than anyone. He finished his 72, sat down for lunch and said, "The boys out there are going to have some fun."

PHILADELPHIA - Right around the time Brian Rolle got ready to line up for the Eagles Sunday morning, he learned he'd been replaced at weak side linebacker by Akeem Jordan.

Rolle was unavailable for comment. Just guessing he was every bit as surprised as Jordan, who had been getting snaps backing up rookie strong side linebacker Mychal Kendricks.

"They didn't give me any heads-up," Jordan said. "You come in and they tell you where to go."

Also on the breaking news front, Eagles head Andy Reid raised the possibility defensive tackle Mike Patterson might not play this season. The issue with Patterson is whether he's healed from a craniotomy in which piece of his skull was removed during brain surgery.

"I think that is going to be an extended time," Reid said. "We just have to see how that goes - if he is able to go at all this year. We'll have to see how that works out. We'll take checkups in increments here but right now it is going to be a while."

Patterson wasn't immediately available for comment. He recently held out hope he could open the season on the 53-man roster. His agent, JR Rickert emailed that Patterson's "Recovery is going very well."

Reid expects quarterback Michael Vick (ribs) and defensive end Jason Babin (calf) to be back for the Sept. 9 regular season opener at Cleveland. The coach isn't as optimistic about middle linebacker Casey Matthews (ankle) and wide receiver Riley Cooper (collarbone). Safety Colt Anderson (knee) is unlikely to start the season on the 53-man roster.

Quarterback Mike Kafka (broken left hand) could be cleared as soon as Monday for contact practices per Reid. If Kafka passes that test he will get a chance to show what he can do in the preseason finale Thursday against the New York Jets.

"Listen, if he can go and the doctors are comfortable with it and Mike is comfortable with it then yeah, we'll give him some snaps in there," Reid said. "We'll just see how it goes. I haven't made any decisions on who is going to start. Mike Vick won't play. I can tell you that."

Other than that it was another day in paradise for the Eagles, who ran through a morning dress rehearsal. At 7:30 p.m. they were to treat the public to a practice on Eagles Flight Night at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jordan, a veteran of five NFL seasons with the Eagles, put the ever-changing linebacker position in perspective when asked if the weak side position was his best.

"I wouldn't say my best," Jordan replied. "I'm just glad to have an opportunity to play."

***
NOTES: The Eagles cut rookie cornerback Cliff Harris, who intercepted their only pass thus far in the preseason.

Though the timing was weird, Reid said it was not an off-the-field problem that cost Harris his job.

"That wasn't the issue here," Reid said. "It was a numbers thing and he was one of the tough ones that we had to let go. There are going to be more down the road."

Reid blamed the timing on the club being unable to reach Harris Saturday. Makes you want to go, hmmmm, eh?

***
NOTES: The Eagles have received inquiries from several teams about defensive end Darryl Tapp, among other players. Posturing, perhaps, Reid said the Birds could end up keeping six defensive ends. "But we've got to work the numbers and we'll just see how all that pans out," Reid said. "Some tough decisions all the way around there." Tapp would be the sixth defensive end on the list basically because rookie Vinny Curry is a second-round pick, Brandon Graham a first-rounder ... Left offensive tackle King Dunlap won't play Thursday. Reid said Dunlap "right now is the starting left tackle." ... Big Red praised the effort of rookie right offensive tackle Dennis Kelly (6-8, 321), who played with the first team versus the Browns. "Dennis did OK," Reid said. "He did a pretty nice job so that gives you a little flexibility there. He can play both tackles and he can go inside and play both guards. I was happy to see him get a chance to go against their ones but I thought he held his own there."

A rabid sports fan all his life, my father was not one to sit at home in the lounge chair.

He needed to be where the action was, and he had the courage to take me along as we would attend as many as four live events in a weekend.

Phillies, Flyers, Eagles, Sixers, Temple football, Big 5 double-headers, Penn Relays, Baker League - didn't matter.

We were there.
On the other side of the family, there was my maternal grandfather.

Loved sports, but he never went to a game.

Ever.
It was all about the lounge chair.

"Why pay all that money, just to go push and shove in a crowd?" he would say. "I can sit right here, have a snack when I want, and watch in my living room without some tall person in front of me or a drunk hooligan shouting in my ear."

In the summer, down the shore, he had some new-fangled thing called "cable" that allowed some New York channels - 9 and 11, I believe - into the mix with those from our native land of Philly.

He would sit in his green chair - complete with plastic slip cover - prop his ever-twitching feet up on a stool and watch game after game after game.

So, no matter where I was, it was all sports all the time.

And I couldn't have been happier.

I used to feel empathy for kids who did grow up in households where sports were not such a priority.

If they were inclined to be sports fans, they had to learn from home-schooled peers such as myself.

Better than nothing, but not the same.

The difference is the lack of history from elders.

There was eventual knowledge, but not what they call institutional knowledge.

But not me,
I knew all about the Whiz Kids and their trip to the 1950 World Series.

I knew about the Philadelphia A's, who were always the best baseball team in town - and my grandfather's favorite - before bolting for Kansas City after the 1954 season.

I knew about the Philadelphia Warriors, who were followed by the 76ers and the eventual homecoming of Wilt Chamberlain.

And I knew about Steve Van Buren, who passed away Thursday at 91.

Of all the stories I was told, those of Van Buren were the most captivating.

All I had to do was close my eyes, and picture an Eagle dragging the tacklers he couldn't elude into the end zone.

There were a lot of stars on the post-World War II Eagles, a group that lost the title game in 1947 before rebounding for the back-to-back crowns in 1948 and 1949 under Earl "Greasy" Neale.

There was Pete Pihos, the receiver. There was one-eyed Tommy Thompson, the quarterback. Future Hall of Fame inductee Alex Wojciechowicz, the veteran leader who came over from Detroit.

But no star shined brighter, no one made the engine go,like Van Buren.

He revolutionized the position of running back, combining speed with power and determination.

He was a man among men at a time when men weren't made any better.

They lived through the Depression and World War II.

Van Buren had it especially hard, coming to this country in 1930 as a 10-year-old orphan from Honduras.

People like him took nothing for granted, especially getting paid to play a game for a living.

Aptly nicknamed Wham-bam, he led the NFL in rushing four times, and still ranks high on many all-time franchise lists.

And he did it when it mattered most.

In the 1948 championship game, a snowstorm greeted the Eagles and Chicago Cardinals at Shibe Park.

The final score was 7-0, Eagles.

Their first championship.
The only touchdown? Van Buren, who caught three trolleys and walked 12 blocks to make it before kickoff.

A year later, in Los Angeles against the Rams, a driving rain replaced the snow.

He ran for 196 yards. Eagles won, 14-0.

He may or many not have realized it, but he didn't just do that for the people who were alive to appreciate it.

He did it to create the stories since passed through the generations of Eagles fans who have only seen one more title, in 1960, in their history.

That means he did it for me, too.

Yesterday marked four years since my father passed away. My grandfather has been gone since 1994.

We shared a lot of sports memories together.

And I thank Steve Van Buren, jersey No. 15 and No. 1 in my mind's eye, for helping to create his share.

May he rest in peace.
Gordon Glantz is the managing editor/sports editor of The Times Herald. Contact him at gglantz@timesherald.com or at 610-272-2500, ext. 212. Follow him on Twitter @Managing2Edit.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) - Even after a year that didn't come close to his expectations, Nick Watney wasn't about to give up on his season.

Amazing how one week changed his outlook in so many ways.

He beat one of the strongest fields of the year at The Barclays, on the tough track of Bethpage Black. Winning the opening playoff event for the FedEx Cup guarantees him a good shot at the $10 million prize. And suddenly, playing in the Ryder Cup becomes a lot more realistic.

That all came into play Sunday when Watney didn't miss a green until the 16th hole, turned a two-shot deficit against Sergio Garcia into a three-shot lead, overcame a trio of three-putt bogeys with clutch birdies, and closed with a 2-under 69 for a three-shot victory.

"It's been not quite the year I wanted," Watney said. "But this really makes it all forgotten. Winning a tournament is hard, but winning out here and against this field was very, very difficult. I'm kind of still on a high right now."

U.S. captain Davis Love III has a lot more choices for his four wild-card selections next week.

Watney won by three shots over Brandt Snedeker, who already was part of the discussion as a potential pick. Snedeker, a winner in San Diego and a contender in the British Open, battled to the end and made big putts on the last two holes for a 1-under 70 to finish alone in second.

Dustin Johnson, also under consideration as a pick, shot 68 and tied for third with Garcia, whose bogey on the final hole gave him a 75.

Not even Watney thought he was worthy of being picked for the Ryder Cup going into the week.

"I'm thinking much more now than I was coming in," he said. "Coming in here, I didn't deserve to be in the conversation because I had not played my way in. Someone told me that Davis said he wanted a hot player, and we still have a week to go. But like I said, I'd love to be on the team. But I'm not really concerned with it just because it's out of my control."

Love will announce his picks after the second playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, which ends on Labor Day. Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk are likely to be two of those picks, and the other two suddenly are wide open.

"Ryder Cup is definitely on my mind," Snedeker said. "But I'm not letting it affect the way I play. Try to win every golf tournament. It gives me more motivation to do it, and if I do that, I know I will make the decision easy for them.

"Davis has an extremely difficult choice with a bunch of guys who did not play well enough over the last two years to be on the team. You can't go wrong with any of them. I think that it's certainly helped everybody who played well this week."

Watney, who won for the fifth time in his career, finished on 10-under 278.

In what amounted to a duel with Garcia for so much of the day, Watney fell two shots behind after he three-putted for bogey on the fifth hole and Garcia made a 40-footer for birdie on the next hole. Garcia, going for his second straight PGA Tour win, never had much of a chance after that.

"I hit a couple bad shots at the wrong moments," Garcia said. "And unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling comfortable."

Watney two-putted for birdie on the seventh. On the par-3 eighth, Garcia scrambled for bogey from the bunker, while Watney holed a bending, 30-foot birdie putt to take his first lead of the day. Another two-shot swing followed on the 10th, when Garcia three-putted and Watney hit a beautiful approach to 4 feet for birdie.

Both were sloppy on the back nine, but Watney hit all the right shots and seized control for good with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 14th.

"I made more putts than I made all year," Watney said.

He credits that to some tips from Darrell Kestner, the respected club pro at nearby Deepdale, a lesson set up by a friend. Kestner worked on his setup, mainly keeping Watney from leaning to far back on his heels.

"It paid off," Watney said.
Tiger Woods, six shots behind at the start of the day, never made a move. He alternated between bogeys and birdies until the sixth hole, and his round imploded on the back nine with a three-putt double bogey on the 12th, a poor wedge that led to bogey on the par-5 13th, and a tee shot on the par-3 14th that sailed over the green and one-hopped against the gallery. He closed with a 76 and tied for 38th.

Woods left without speaking to CBS Sports or any other media. It was this third 72-hole tournament over par this year, the other two coming at majors.

Bethpage Black didn't feel like one on Sunday.

After a third round in which several players felt the greens were close to dead and nearly impossible to putt, there was plenty of water on them overnight. High scores were more a product of bad play, and it was difficult for anyone to make up too much ground because conditions were comparable throughout the day.

And while it was effectively a two-man race for much of the day, there was plenty at stake in the FedEx Cup.

Only the top 100 players advance to the Deutsche Bank for the second of four playoff events. The biggest move belonged to Graham DeLaet of Canada, who started the week at No. 106 and was right on the bubble going into the final round.

It turned out way better than DeLaet could have imagined. Despite back-to-back bogeys on the front nine, he answered with four birdies on his next seven holes, and then holed out with on the 15th for eagle with a 9-iron from 161 yards. He closed with two birdies for a Sunday-best 65.

Not only did he advance, DeLaet moved up 62 spots to No. 44 and should be safe for the next two tournaments.

"I guess a lot of people think there's too much volatility in it, but it was in my favor," DeLaet said. "If you can have one really good event, you can catapult yourself up. And now I feel I have a chance to get into the Tour Championship, where this morning I was just hoping to play next week."

It was a good day for another Canadian - David Hearn. Playing with Woods, he closed with a 71 and moved from No. 108 to No. 67. The other four from outside the top 100 who moved in were Jonas Blixt, Tommy Gainey and Jason Day, who closed with a 66.

The odd man out was John Mallinger, who started the week at No. 88 and missed the cut. He became the highest-seeded player to fail to advance since this FedEx Cup playoff system began in 2007.

RENTON, Wash. - Terrell Owens' NFL return lasted less than three weeks.

Owens was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, part of the league-mandated roster reductions from 90 to 75 players.

The 38-year-old posted a message on his Twitter account shortly before 11 a.m. PDT that he had been released and the Seahawks made the move official later in the afternoon.

"I'm no longer a Seahawk. I THANK the organization 4 the opportunity, I'm truly blessed beyond belief. My FAITH is intact & will NOT waiver."

Owens wasn't the only veteran to get cut by the Seahawks. Offensive linemen Deuce Lutui and Alex Barron both had their veteran contracts terminated, while Seattle waived/injured defensive back Roy Lewis (knee), tight end Cameron Morrah (toe), defensive tackle Pep Levingston (knee) and linebacker Jamison Konz (shoulder).

Owens signed a one-year deal with Seattle (No. 22 in APPro32) on Aug. 7, following a sterling workout that had coaches and Seahawks staff raving about how good he looked for having not played an NFL game in more than 18 months.

He signed just before Seattle's first preseason game and made his debut in the second week against Denver.

But his preseason performance was more notable for the passes he dropped than anything he caught.

Owens dropped a potential 46-yard touchdown against Denver on a perfect throw from Matt Flynn. He failed to make a catch in any of his five targets against the Broncos and then had another glaring drop against Kansas City on Friday night.

He finished the preseason with just two receptions - a 40-yard catch from Russell Wilson where Owens had to slow down and lean back to haul in the pass and a 1-yard reception on a screen.

For as impressive as his long catch was in Seattle's 44-14 win over the Chiefs, it served as Owens' only highlight in a Seahawks uniform.

Owens was trying to make a comeback after not playing since Week 15 of the 2010 season while with Cincinnati. He sat out the entire 2011 season following surgery on his left knee and failed to receive any offers.

Owens got the rust off this spring playing for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League. He had 35 catches for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns while playing eight of 11 games, but was released and lost an ownership stake in the team in May.

Owens, a third-round draft choice by San Francisco in 1996, has started 201 of the 219 regular-season NFL games he has played in his career. He has 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns - the second most in league history.

His nine seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving and 13 years with at least 50 catches rank third. His total receptions are sixth on the NFL career list. Owens spent eight seasons with San Francisco, two with Philadelphia, and three with Dallas before a pair of one-year stints with Buffalo and Cincinnati.

"I've been rehabbing and working out for the past year since the injury and that's all I've ever wanted since I've been out is another opportunity," Owens said following his first practice on Aug. 8. "That has been given to me by the Seattle Seahawks and again I am very grateful for that."

Among Seattle's other cuts to reach the 75-man limit were wide receiver Phil Bates, running back Tyrell Sutton, cornerbacks Ron Parker and Donny Lisowski and offensive lineman Edawn Coughman.

PHILADELPHIA - Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow? How about Greg McElroy.

McElroy became the first quarterback to lead the New York Jets into the end zone this preseason in a 28-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

Sanchez, Tebow and most of the Jets starters didn't play in this battle between backups and guys fighting for roster spots.

Michael Vick and all of Philadelphia's starters watched from the sideline.

Trent Edwards threw for 197 yards and two TDs to help the Eagles (4-0) finish unbeaten in the preseason for the first time since 1995.

None of that will matter when the games count.

Hours before kickoff, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie basically issued a win-or-else ultimatum to coach Andy Reid.

Lurie said the team must make a "substantial improvement" for Reid to return for his 15th season next year. He added another 8-8 record would be "unacceptable."

"I don't have a level or anything like that," Lurie said. "I want to be clear about that. You try to make the best judgment you can after the season."

The Jets (0-4) became the first team in 35 years to go three preseason games without a touchdown, matching the 1977 Atlanta Falcons for offensive futility.

That drought finally ended in the second quarter when McElroy tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Terrance Ganaway. Sanchez and Tebow failed to do that in 35 possessions.

McElroy finished 12 of 17 for 90 yards and one TD. He also rushed for 33 yards.

A seventh-round draft pick out of Alabama last year, McElroy spent his rookie season on injured reserve after dislocating his right thumb while playing against Philadelphia last preseason.

McElroy was best known for his critical comment in the offseason, saying there was a "corrupt mindset" in the Jets' locker room last year. Now he can say he was the only Jets QB to produce a TD this summer.

Sanchez was 24 of 35 (68.6 percent) for 203 yards with two interceptions and six sacks. Tebow completed 36.1 percent (13 for 36) of his passes for 151 yards with two interceptions and seven sacks.

Despite Tebowmania, there's no controversy in New York. Sanchez is the clear-cut starter, but the way the Jets use Tebow will be intensely scrutinized.

McElroy guided the offense on a 14-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 8:04 to put the Jets up 7-0. He scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive going.

Eagles rookie QB Nick Foles, who all but officially won the backup job with three impressive performances, was 4 of 6 for 46 yards before giving way to Edwards.

On Edwards' first drive, Bryce Brown ran in from the 2 to tie it at 7.

Edwards threw a 31-yard TD pass to Mardy Gilyard late in the second quarter to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead.

Nick Folk kicked a 58-yard field goal as the first half expired to cut it to 14-10.

Edwards connected with Brett Brackett on a 7-yard TD pass in the fourth. Chris Polk's 3-yard TD run made it 28-10.

Edwards, a veteran and former starter in Buffalo, is competing for a roster spot with Mike Kafka, who began training camp as the backup to Vick.

The Eagles failed to live up to enormous expectations last year and needed a four-game winning streak to close out the season at .500.

"You just got to make the best decisions you can after the season," Lurie said. "As I said, 8-8 was unacceptable. Yeah, I guess, if two-thirds of the team is not playing, there's always exceptions."

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobMaaddi

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Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

PHILADELPHIA - Flexing his executive muscles, Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie basically said Thursday head coach Andy Reid has to win this season or else.

Another 8-8 year or worse would have Lurie searching for a much stronger adjective than `unacceptable' to describe the frustration. Lurie later hedged that a ton of injuries might soften his assessment.

"I've said it before and I did say it after last season, I expect a substantially improved team," Lurie said during his state of the Eagles address at Lincoln Financial Field. "We all thought we were a lot better than 8-8, and we weren't. Your record tells you what you were. Yeah, we were playing great football at the end. I think what I've noticed, and I hope it continues, as we all expect it will into the regular season."

The Eagles came up empty in Reid's 13th season despite handing out $225 million in contracts. After a 4-8 start the Eagles finished with a four-game winning streak. Lurie called it his most disappointing season.

Lurie fielded several questions about Reid prior to the preseason finale against the New York Jets. Some were contractual as Reid has this year and next on his contract.

Reid and agent Bob LaMonte, who at training camp tested the owner's resolve in the post-Joe Banner era, shouldn't think about a contract extension until after the season when the results are in.

"I expect a substantially improved team this year," Lurie "This is a business. The expectation is to win and win big.

"I'll reflect and analyze afterward."

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick also is under scrutiny according to Lurie. Lurie offered a poignant analysis of Vick and his injury woes, a comment the chairman was unlikely to make in the past.

"With Michael, it's very important that he do everything he possibly can to try to stay healthy," Lurie said, adding that such skills are "not a precise science. You're going to have things happen but you just try to up the odds I think of making sure it doesn't happen. I think there's things that Michael can do to lower the chances of injury. But it's a volatile game and that's a rough and tough position."

Like Reid, Vick also will be evaluated based on his ability to stay healthy and direct the offense. Vick almost certainly cannot afford to get shelved with rookie Nick Foles lurking in the wings. Right now there is not even the hint of a quarterback controversy. Vick is the guy.

"We expect him to have a terrific year," Lurie said. "That's why he is the starting quarterback. That's why he's been signed for a number of years. I have to say that Michael has been everything we could have asked and more in terms of the intangibles. Now we just need him to maximize that incredible God-given talent, stay healthy, and deliver the kind of offensive performance that great quarterbacks can. This is a quarterback driven league and we will go as far as our quarterback play can take us assuming the rest of our team plays well."

For obvious reasons Lurie didn't dwell on the myriad of off-the-field issues and challenges the Eagles have battled. Reid's oldest son, Garrett passed away at training camp. Lurie and Christina Weiss-Lurie are divorcing. Jeff Lurie indicated the divorce settlement won't affect Eagles operations.

"I've structured this franchise around having complete control, 100 percent voting and total, final decision-making," Lurie said. "That continues. I've always had a couple limited partners that were non-voting and not involved in decisions, football decisions particularly. That continues. Christina will also be a limited partner as she has been just like the other limited partners."

Additionally Lurie said Banner, formerly Eagles team president, is an advisor to him on non-football matters. Lurie assumes that Jimmy Haslam's bid to purchase the Cleveland Browns will be approved by current league owners.

"I can't comment on what moves Jimmy's going to make at all," Lurie said. "I do know that if Joe ends up there as president, they're going to get a terrific executive. I think in a turnaround situation like Cleveland in particular, I think it would be a great decision by Jimmy if Joe was there."

PHILADELPHIA - Eagles head coach Andy Reid slept on it. Then it hit him; he had to keep Trent Edwards, not Mike Kafka, as his third quarterback. The Eagles released Kafka, their backup quarterback entering training camp, along with a chunk of players Friday as they fought to get down to the 53-man roster limit. Kafka was shopped around the league, per reports.

"There was a great competition at the quarterback position," Reid said in a statement. "That's what football and training camp is all about. In the end we had to make the difficult decision to let Mike Kafka go. Mike is a class act, a student of the game and a great person and I think he'll have no problem finding a job in the NFL very soon."

To reach the 53-man limit the Eagles cut defensive tackle Antonio Dixon and punter Mat McBriar. later they dealt a conditional 2013 draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for safety David Sims (5-9, 204). Guard, center and National Anthem singer Julian Vandervelde was waived to make room for Sims.

Edwards performed so well in the preseason he was impossible to ignore. Though Kafka was limited by a hand injury, releasing Edwards would have made it tough for the Eagles to say they were keeping the players that gave them the best chance of winning.

"I'm proud of the way Trent Edwards conducted himself since the early days of the offseason workouts," Reid said. "He had to fight for everything he earned this summer. He improved each and every day and made the most of every opportunity."

The most notable cut is veteran cornerback Joselio Hanson, who had another solid camp and preseason. Hanson was axed last year but brought back on a reduced salary. As a vested veteran he would be guaranteed his $825,000 base salary if on the opening-day roster.

Punter Mat McBriar also was jettisoned, confirming what his agent said two days ago.

Quarterback Nick Foles was among nine rookies making the 53-man roster, although with rosters fluid on what could be a volatile weekend, there are no guarantees. The other rookies are running backs Bryce Brown and Chris Polk, receiver Damaris Johnson and offensive tackle Dennis Kelly, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, defensive linemen Fletcher Cox and Vinny Curry and cornerback Brandon Boykin.

Defensively, the Eagles are carrying just three safeties, six cornerbacks, five ends, five tackles and six linebackers.

On the offensive side, the Eagles have five running backs, including fullback Stanley Havili, five wide receivers counting the injured Riley Cooper, nine offensive linemen and two tight ends.

The Eagles released safeties Oshiomogho Atogwe and Phillip Thomas, tight ends Brett Brackett and Chase Ford, linebackers Adrian Moten, Ryan Rau and Keenan Clayton, and defensive tackles Frank Trotter, Landon Cohen and Ollie Ogbu.

Also waived were wide receivers Mardy Gilyard, Chad Hall and Marvin McNutt, fullback Emil Igwenagu, offensive tackle D.J. Jones, defensive end Monte Taylor, center Steve Vallos and guard Brandon Washington.

Gilyard and Hall had solid preseasons but played at the position where the Eagles are loaded. It would surprise no one if either wound up back with the team.

Johnson excelled catching the ball and returning kicks.

McNutt, the rookie sixth-round pick out of Iowa, did a better job of blocking than getting open or catching the ball.

Brackett, Ford, Hall, Igwenagu, Jones, McNutt, Ogbu, Rau, Taylor, Thomas, Trotter and Washington have practice-squad eligibility. The practice squad can form at noon today providing the players clear waivers.

The Eagles and guard Mike Gibson reached an injury settlement and he has been released from their injured reserve list. Gibson can rejoin the team.

Here's what the Eagles roster looks like:

Quarterbacks: (3) Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Trent Edwards.

Running backs: (5) LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis, Bryce Brown, Chris Polk, Stanley Havili.

Wide receivers: (5) DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Damaris Johnson.

Offensive linemen: (8) Todd Herremans, Danny Watkins, Jason Kelce, Evan Mathis, King Dunlap, Demetress Bell, Dennis Kelly, Dallas Reynolds.

Tight ends: (2) Brent Celek, Clay Harbor.

Defensive linemen: (10): Trent Cole, Cullen Jenkins, Derek Landri, Fletcher Cox, Jason Babin, Brandon Graham, Phillip Hunt, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Darryl Tapp,

Linebackers (6): Mychal Kendricks, DeMeco Ryans, Akeem Jordan, Casey Matthews, Jamar Chaney, Brian Rolle.

Defensive backs (11): Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Curtis Marsh, Brandon Boykin, Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman, Jai Jarrett, Brandon Hughes, Trevard Lindley, Colt Anderson, David Sims.

Specialists (3): Kicker Alex Henery, punters Chas Henry, longsnapper Jon Dorenbos.

It's perplexing how three days can alter a team's mentality.

Earlier in the week, the Union talked like a group poised for a playoff run. This weekend, they head to New England sounding defeated.

Sure, the Union's bid for consecutive seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs took a shot with a midweek loss to Columbus on a stoppage-time goal. But Union manager John Hackworth said his club's preparation from game to game has not changed - even if his team's mathematical odds are stiff, at best.

"Our situation is going to change a little because we're not in the playoff situation, and that'll change the dynamic in that I'll play some guys who haven't been playing," Hackworth said Thursday, after the Union removed the interim tag from his job title.

"I'm not going to change my mentality on how to prepare a team, or tactics or anything like that. We have a good group of players and I've been doing everything possible to bring a lot of that fundamental stuff that we've been trying to do since Day 1."

So here is where the Union (7-13-4, 25 points) rest, with 10 matches to play: They need a win tonight against the Revolution (6-14-6, 24) to start a run. A run to where - Respectability? Sixth place?

Regardless of the direction in which a few wins may point them, the Union are interested in finishing the 2012 campaign with positive results. Their last three times out, they've mustered zero wins and two goals. Not exactly what you'd call inspired play as they near the finish line.

Complicated matters is the health of Carlos Valdes, the Union's All-Star centerback who exited Wednesday's match in the 54th minute with a high left hamstring strain. After the match, Valdes said he thought he could be ready for today. Hackworth said he didn't want to jeopardize the health of his captain.

Fair enough. However, even though Valdes accounted for the Union's only goal against Columbus, he isn't the answer to their ongoing scoring crisis. The Union have produced five goals in their last seven matches.

If Valdes can't go, count on Hackworth sliding Sheanon Williams from right back into the central defense. Williams is a player to watch against the Revolution, well, because he always plays them well. The Boston-born defender relishes any opportunity to play near home.

Visit Christopher A. Vito's blog, Union Tally, at delcotimes.com for more coverage.

Hypothetically the Eagles addressed their safety position.

Unless the Cleveland Browns can afford to get rid of productive players, David Sims is more of a band-aide than long-term fix.

Sims (5-9, 204), acquired for a conditional draft pick in 2013 Friday, makes a young, smallish back end younger and smaller.

The Eagles also added inexperienced depth on the offensive line, claiming guard-tackle Nathan Menkin on waivers. Menkin (6-4, 296) was an undrafted rookie cut by the Houston Texans. To make room on the roster the Eagles released cornerback Trevard Lindley.

After starters Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, underachiever Jai Jarrett is the top backup.

The Eagles have their fingers crossed Sims can ease their pain. Sims intercepted two passes in the preseason. It would have been three but a teammate was called for roughing Eagles quarterback Trent Edwards. Sims returned that pick 30 yards for what would have been a score. One thing is certain - the price was right.

"He's athletic, a solid tackler, and can play on special teams," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said of Sims. "He's a guy that we've been following throughout the course of this preseason. We played the Browns in the preseason, and we have scouted him a lot as we get ready to play their game. We were happy to acquire him today."

Roseman says Sims will back up the safeties and play special teams. Colt Anderson, coming back from ACL surgery, also is part of the depth at safety although he hasn't practiced or played since his major knee injury last season.

Where Jarrett fits in is puzzling. The second-round pick out of Temple slipped down the depth chart at training camp due to performance. Only recently has he ascended - and for reasons only the coaches understand.

"Jaiquawn had some adversity during this training camp and he responded to it," Roseman said. "We look for him to continue to grow as a player.

"I think in any profession, especially the NFL, you look how people respond to adversity. He could've gone in the tank and instead how he responded - he continued to work hard and continued to get into his playbook and study it and he responded."

Roseman said it's tough to find good safety help these days. That's why you've got to grab them when they're there.

Remember Earl Thomas? The Seattle Seahawks star would have been the answer to the Eagles' prayers. Instead of taking playmaker Thomas off the board in 2010, the Eagles selected defensive end Brandon Graham.

Typically you get what you pay for. Unless, of course, it's a quarterback the Eagles are trying to unload.

The last time the Eagles collected a Browns safety was in 2009. The guy was Sean Jones. He had 14 interceptions in three seasons before signing with the Birds as a free agent.

The Eagles gave him the money they should have used to re-sign Brian Dawkins. Jones couldn't keep the starting job. Most recently Jones was cut by the Lions.

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The Eagles sunk a lot of their resources, as Roseman likes to call draft picks, into their defense.

But when you look at their 53-man roster they did a better job bringing in talent on the offense side.

Rookie running backs Chris Polk and Bryce Brown, along with wide receiver Damaris Johnson, had outstanding preseasons and almost certainly will contribute this season.

No Eagle worked harder to make the team than Polk, the undrafted free agent out of Washington.

Polk played his heart out in the final preseason game although he suspected he had a good shot at making the roster.

"You talk about production and potential with Chris Polk and every time he touched the ball something positive happened," Roseman said. "He really has the skill set that fits this offense. He can catch, he can pass protect, he can run inside and outside. And so for us, once you get past really 40 players, we're trying to get the best guys that can come on our team and maybe last for a long period of time as we try to build it. Chris just did everything that was asked for to make this football team."

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The Eagles' annual Love Park Pep Rally is Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1500 Arch Street.

Eagles Players, mascot Swoop and cheerleaders will be making appearances throughout the day, signing autographs, taking pictures, and giving away Eagles items.

With the owner breathing down his neck, the last thing Eagles head coach Andy Reid needs this year is a quarterback controversy.

The amazing ascent of third-round pick Nick Foles from rookie quarterback with two left feet to Michael Vick's backup has added to what already was immense pressure facing Reid to win now.

What happens if Vick struggles?

Pundits would say it's more likely Foles plays because of Vick's proclivity toward injury.

Whatever the case, Vick can make it easy on the bosses by remembering where he left off last season. He was more quarterback than gunslinger, a guy content to move on to the next play than waste a play.

Instead of forcing the ball down the field or holding onto it too long and refusing to give up on bad plays, Vick toned down his sometimes reckless style and let his teammates and the defense do the work.

Not coincidentally the Eagles were at their best, winning their last four games and narrowly missing the playoffs.

You can argue that the season-ending winning streak was too little and too late against a bunch of opponents who had little to play for.

You can say the defense finally began playing defense.

You can also say it was easier to get Vick's attention at that stage of the season because he was nursing ribs damaged by one of those big hits he seems to take every other game.

You cannot debate how imperative it is for the Eagles to get off to at least a reasonably good start. To do it they need Vick playing like he did down the 2011 homestretch, not the guy who got hurt both times he got on the field in the preseason.

Vick strained the thumb on his throwing hand six snaps into the preseason opener, when he banged it off the helmet of center Jason Kelce, who was pushed back in the pocket. Stuff happens, you know?

Six snaps into Vick's second appearance he took a shot to the left side of his rib cage while trying to make a deep play that wasn't there. Or at least it wasn't there for a 32-year-old quarterback with very little work in game situations.

That throw was troubling in that the protection broke down, Vick was the first one to know it and he ignored all the red flags in a preseason game. It was as if he'd forgotten everything he'd heard about avoiding unnecessary hits. You wonder if he forgot it was a preseason game.

"There is a fine line here because he has to continue to play the game," Reid said. "It's a violent sport where you're going to get injuries. If you're out there worried about that part of it you're not going to perform to the best of your ability. Then you have to catch a break here or there. You have to catch a break in a positive way where you're not absorbing the big hits."

Vick has Kevlar body armor to minimize the impact of hits. He says the new pads are designed to cover more of his torso. Does anyone believe it's going to make Vick a better quarterback? No.

The irony of Michael Vick is the fearlessness that makes him great, that makes him a rallying point for teammates and coaches is his worst enemy. Vick often is too stubborn to step outside the tackle box, throw the ball away and live for the next play. Reid, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach Doug Pederson have urged him to do that forever.

If Vick starts the season carelessly - and considering the minimal play he got in the preseason, that figures to be when he's most vulnerable - the rookie is going to get the call. And if Foles answers the bell as he has each time he's been challenged, the quarterback controversy will be on. Eagles players already are impressed by Foles' prowess in the red zone, where at 6-foot-6 he sees things the 6-foot Vick cannot.

For now, Eagles veterans are fairly certain Reid won't have to decide between Vick and Foles based on performance.

"You're talking about a guy who has been a superstar in this league, that is a true game changer," cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "But you do want to have depth?

"You have your starter. That guy has led you. It's not a question. But the thing you do look at is who gives you the best chance as far as the depth. As far as behind the No. 1, who gives you the best chance? And I think that's what the battle has been for the other quarterbacks."

To contact Bob Grotz, email bgrotz@delcotimes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BobGrotz.

PHILADELPHIA - Eagles players sported T-shirts Monday emblazoned with "It's Time."

The timing was apropos for last week owner Jeffrey Lurie gave head coach Andy Reid a public directive to win or else this year.

Lurie pointedly said another 8-8 season wouldn't cut it and he expects "a substantially improved team."

"I didn't need to hear that because I know exactly what we're facing, what we want to accomplish this season," Eagles quarterback Michael Vick said. "Man, if that's not the goal then what is it? Our owner, he wants success from this football team. He put the pieces in place for us and it's up to us to go out and deliver. We've just got to do it, man. Week in and week out keep the faith and stay focused.

"That's what it's going to be."

Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin, who practiced for the first time since straining a calf at training camp, considered Lurie's word a caution.

"That's the boss. You have to do what the boss says," Babin said. "I think when he says that he's talking to everybody from the head coach all the way down to the janitors, the players. That's how I looked at it. I guess I'm kind of old fashioned. When your boss says pick it up, you better pick it up."

Center Jason Kelce explained that all along the goal has been to win the Super Bowl. Beyond it, there's room for subjectivity.

"Substantial improvement, is that indicative, does that necessarily mean we have to win the Super Bowl or people are getting fired?" Kelce said. "I don't know. I think he just made it known to the public. And I think this is something that people within the organization pretty much know, that 8-8 is not acceptable. Obviously that's not indicative of what we try to do every single year. We just know that this year we have to meet the expectations that we're putting on our shoulders."

Lurie made it clear he feels that he's given Reid everything necessary to for a substantial improvement, if you will.

The Eagles extended the contracts of stars LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, among others, and upgraded the defense. The Eagles traded for middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and drafted defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, linebacker Mychal Kendricks and defensive end Vinny Curry with their first three picks.

The Eagles might have to win substantially each and every week.

"I guess it could be perceived, depending on your position in this organization, many different ways," Babin said. "But I think we have an amazing plan on defense. I think we're doing a great job, the players and the coaches of executing. So we're just going to go out and do what we do. We know what our potential is."

PHILADELPHIA - Garbage time really hits home with David Sims.

The Eagles' safety worked on a garbage truck for a few months after high school when a torn ACL rerouted his professional career.

"I was sitting at home really not doing much and my mom was like you need to get a job," Sims said Monday. "I didn't like it all.

"I had to go house to house and dump the trash. And I went on to do the yard trash like sticks and leaves. Yeah, it's pretty humbling. And it makes you think I'm not going to do this for the rest of my life. I have to make a change."

Sims liked working at Sam's Club better. And playing football better yet. A running back, Sims got healthy and returned to football, attending Butte Junior College (Calif.) That's where he met Danny Watkins, now the Eagles' right guard, who eventually transferred to Baylor.

"When I first came that's when I was playing tailback," Sims said. "So he was actually blocking for me for a while. He's a pretty good guy. One of the first guys to say hello was (cornerback) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The next was Danny."

Sims (5-9, 204) opened eyes at Iowa State, was signed last season by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wound up with the Cleveland Browns.

Having lived life on those terms and in all of those places Sims doesn't think it's at all strange opening the season this week against the Browns, who traded him to the Eagles for a conditional draft pick.

Sims isn't certain how he will fit in with the Eagles, but doesn't expect the break-in process to be long. He anticipates helping on special teams.

Sims also tries not to think too much. But he remembers. The next time you're out on the streets picking up other people's trash, you'll know how he feels about dedicating yourself to another profession.

"I think about it every day," Sims said, "because I'm very thankful to be in the position that I'm in now."

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Eagles defensive end Darryl Tapp wasn't ready to answer when asked if there was anything else he felt he could have done to make the 53-man roster of the Eagles.

There was. He accepted a pay cut to stick around.

Even on a team loaded with six defensive ends, Tapp felt he had a better shot of surviving the season than signing elsewhere and, as a vested veteran, possibly playing on a week-to-week contract.

"It's a great place," Tapp said of Philadelphia, adding while looking at reporters "besides you guys. I'm very happy to be here in the system I'm in. and I'm looking forward to big things this year.

"However it had to happen that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to be here. And I'm happy to be here."

NOTES: Defensive end Jason Babin (calf) and safety Colt Anderson (knee) said they practiced Monday and feel healthy enough to play this weekend when the Eagles open in Cleveland. Linebacker Casey Matthews (ankle) also practiced. Wide receiver Riley Cooper (collarbone) was unable to practice but participated in conditioning work ... Former Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. Linebacker Keenan Clayton, cut by the Birds, also joined the Raiders ... The Eagles held a 10-10-10 practice Monday in preparation for their season opener. The Eagles are 6 1-2 point favorites versus the Browns.

RESULTS
Michael Brown and Scott McNeil teamed up to shoot an 8-under-par 63 Wednesday at North Hills CC to win the Golf Association of Philadelphia's Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship by two shots. Brown was the 2010 Player of the Year for the GAP while McNeil was the 2011 Player of the Year for Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association.

The local team of Talamore CC's Jalen Griffin and Dan Farragut of Philadelphia Cricket Club shot a 68 to finish sixth.

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Lane Udis of Fort Washington shot a 6-over 77 to finish in third place in the boys 16-18 division of the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour event at LuLu CC.

Marcus Janinek of Lansdale and Lower Gwynedd's Stephen Lorenzo tied for eighth in the nine-hole division after each shot a 50.

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Ambler's Jalen Griffin shot a 2-under 70 on Saucon Valley CC's Weyhill Course to finish in second place at the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour event. Kyle Martin, also of Ambler, tied for third after a 72.

Norristown's Caleb Ryan shot a 5-over 41 to finish fourth in the nine-hole division.

Caleigh Rich from Lansdale was seventh in the girls 13-15 division.

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Dave McNabb from Applebrook CC shot a two-day total of 10-under 132 to win the Philadelphia Section PGA's Pro-am for Wishes tournament at Penn Oaks GC.

Tony Perla, the Skippack resident and assistant pro at Radnor Valley CC, finished at 6-under to take third place. John Cooper from Green Valley CC tied for sixth at 3-under 139.

EVENTS
The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Notre Dame Division will be holding its 16th annual golf outing at Skippack Golf Club on Friday, Sept. 7. For $90 per player, golfers will receive golf and cart for the 1 p.m. shotgun start, balls, tees, towel and a golf shirt along with the post-round dinner and awards presentation at the AOH Club, 342 Jefferson St. in Upper Merion. Proceeds go to the AOH Charity Fund. For more information, log on to the AOH website at www.aohnd1.com.

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The East - West Norriton Fire companies will be holding the 10th annual golf outing on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Jeffersonville Golf Club. An entry fee of $85 per golfer includes golf with cart, pre-round and post-round meals, on-course beverages and prizes. The better-ball format will begin with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. For more information, contact 610-539-3990.

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The Plymouth Fire Company golf outing will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13 at The Club at Shannondell. For $100 per player, golf, cart, on-course refreshments and the post-round dinner are included. The event is a 1 p.m. shotgun start, playing a better-ball format. For more information, log on to www.plymouthfireco.com or call 610-233-0602, selecting option 1.

To have your upcoming charitable event listed, please send the information to golf@timesherald.com. Include the date, time, place, format, entry fee and charity, along with contact information and any deadlines or special instructions.

There is something about Labor Day weekend that just creates a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Maybe it dates back to childhood, when Labor Day was the last day of the summer as kids throughout the area knew they would be back in school two days later.

Maybe, it just has to do with this weekend signaling the end of the summer, cold weather and shrinking daylight hours on the horizon.

I know it is not because of the start of the football season, and it certainly is not because this is a bad time to be playing golf.

To me, September might be the best month of the golfing season in this region. The weather is still warm, the courses have healed up nicely from the heat of the summer and there is still enough daylight to play in the evenings. Plus, those crazy lines at the first tee on weekend mornings are a lot smaller.

The only problem with the month of September is it will come to an end in just 30 days and the falling of the leaves puts an even higher premium on keeping the tee shot straight. Sure, October can have some great weather days, but it can have some not-so-great weather days, as well. Last October, the area actually had a snowstorm.

I proudly proclaim I have been able to play golf in the area in shorts in every month on the calendar. A warm spell can hit at any time around here. But, so can a snowstorm and the first frost of the winter.

By now, many courses have received that late-summer tune-up and are ready for some prime weeks of hacking. Even the courses that were torn up by the dry summer months have begun to rebound.

September just seems to be the best bet for the near future. Anything after that is really a bonus day.

I have always viewed this next month as my last chance to rule the current golfing season a success. Usually, I have to rely on a September surprise if I want to consider it a success. The deciding factor is always if I got better this year, and the fall clearly is the time when that becomes apparent - yes or no.

Each winter, I analyze my game. This might explain why I have nightmares in January and February. What do I want to work on during the season? Clearly, the most obvious thing is to get the handicap number down, which so far this year has been achieved. The question always is how to do this.

More often than not, the answer to this question for me each winter is to gain more distance off the tee, giving me increased opportunities of hitting greens in regulation. I feel pretty comfortable around the greens, it's just getting there that can provide some frustration.

The difference between having to lay-up on the second shot or going for the green, the choice between having to hit a hybrid for your approach or an iron, those can shave major strokes off a round.

The golf swing is a perpetual work in progress. What worked so well Saturday morning is for naught by Sunday morning.

But this time of year, it is like cramming for finals. If a problem with the swing is not corrected by now, it will fester in you all winter long.

I have not played as much golf this summer as I would have liked - actually, I could say that about every summer since I have never played golf every single day during a summer. Knowing how it always seems to work, my best golf of the season will most likely come right now and last up until the time the weather turns bad. It just does this to tease me into thinking I know what I am doing, but then makes me wait until the spring to find out I do not. It is golf's version of the TV cliffhanger.

Will the added distance off the tee remain? Has he corrected that little fade on the end of his tee shots? Will he still be able to hit the flop shot around the greens? Tune in next April for the answers to these and other questions...

Enjoy your September on the golf course.

A rainy Labor Day, the perfect slice of symbolism for the end of summer and the dark days ahead for local sports fans...

...How easy can it be when the night before, you saw your oldest and greatest personal hero, Bruce Springsteen, gaze out into a Citizens Bank Park crowd, raise his eyebrows instead of his hands, sneak a grin and romantically lyricize about the New York Giants?

Yes, he's just breakin' our Wrecking Ball, but for a more serious encore...

...How could the end of summer be celebrated when the Union has - OK, have - about a year left in its/their 2012 season?

...What's to look forward to when it's not yet autumn, the NFL season opener is still at the on-deck stage, Merle Reese hasn't shattered any vocal chords over a chip shot field goal, Terry Bradshaw hasn't caused even one case of nausea and yet ... we already know the Eagles aren't that good?

Yeah, they went 4-0 in the preseason. But take a look at the starting chapters and it could fairly be concluded that they would have been 1-3 had they been playing for real, with the lone conquest being a non-starter game against the Jets, who other than the geniuses at ESPN Programming Central, every NFL fan knows is the most overrated team out there?

...So what's the point of feeling in a holiday mood when the Phillies are winning just enough to justify one more year of Chase, Howie, Roy Boy, J-Roll and Co. pretending they're not too old, while Charlie stays at the helm until he's 70, or until Ryan Sandberg takes another big-league managing job, whichever comes first.

... And what could be as laborious as listening to screechy ramblings of Gary Bettman?

Well, there's always the chore of listening to both The Commissioner AND newly commissioned NHLPA boss Donald Fehr as they co-choreograph a labor standoff that will be called a lockout, is effectively the same thing as a strike, and will result in nothing more than two months of annoyance for that niche sports audience called hockey fans who don't understand or care about a thing these tongue-wagging dolts are blathering about in the first place?

It's a numbers game, mostly being played among owners of a sports league that has several teams making millions every week, just as many others barely treading financial water and many more in-between wondering which side with which to side.

Meanwhile, you have the players skating their wings while pretending to know what the hell's going on. If they did, they would have never signed off on the idea of signing on Fehr, the sports world's most expensive explosives expert.

These guys, who only know when their next non-paid, pre-camp work skate at the team's home practice arena begins, see payroll percentages as be-alls and end-of-it-alls, for isn't it all about 57 percent vs. 43 percent or something in-between?

Bettman cares about those numbers about as much as he cares for NHL fans - a little more than nada but not as much as not so much. These fans and all sports media across founding nation Canada despise Bettman with irrational ferocity, and have been tripping over themselves to embrace Fehr.

You know, the guy that cared so much about baseball that he employed every roadblock he learned in military negotiating school to wage a labor war that trashed a World Series, then attempted to subvert Congress when it went to work on exposing steroid freaks satisfied with skewing the game's history in the name of obscene salary demands.

Where have you gone, Barry Bonds? Our nation still turns its angry eyes on you.

Of course, MLB's top boss Bud Selig spent years turning his eyes away from you and so many others, a crime which continues to go unpunished and should at least have earned him a 50-day suspension without pay.

Or at least a nice nose job.
Ah, but that's OK. All in the past, just like Phillies playoff games.

It's September. The sports year starts anew.

Labor Day Weekend high school football games at the beach.

Pointless baseball games at The Bank.

The transition from meaningless preseason games to those that the gamblers actually care about at the Linc.

Oh, and unpaid hockey practices over in Voorhees.

Get out your wreckin' balls, Philly fans. We're just getting started.

Follow sports editor Rob Parent on Twitter @ReluctantSE

NEW YORK (AP) - Didn't take long for Serena Williams to show her fourth-round opponent at the U.S. Open where things were headed.

"The first point of the whole match," 82nd-ranked Andrea Hlavackova explained, "when I served, and she returned, like, a 100 mph forehand return, I was like, `OK, I know who I'm playing. You don't have to prove it to me. I know."'

Monday's match was less than 15 seconds old. It might as well have been over.

Dominant from the moment she ripped that return of an 88 mph second serve, forcing Hlavackova into an out-of-control backhand that sailed well long, to the moment she powered a 116 mph service winner on the last point, Williams extended her 2 1/2-month stretch of excellence with a 6-0, 6-0 victory to get to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.

Those two big zeros pretty much tell the story; it's the fifth time in her career Williams won with what's commonly called a "double bagel." Some other impressive numbers: Williams won 60 of 89 points, built a 31-9 edge in winners and improved to 23-1 since losing in the first round of the French Open. That run includes singles and doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the London Olympics.

Hlavackova knows this act all too well: She and Lucie Hradecka were the doubles runners-up at both of those events. Not that those 2-on-2 encounters helped prepare for the 1-on-1 match in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.

"Singles is completely different," said Hlavackova, who chose the phrase "What can you do"? more than once when analyzing what it's like to face 14-time major champion Williams.

"My coach warned me to not go on the court and play for a score," Hlavackova said, by which she meant just trying to keep it as close as possible. "I was in the match. I was trying to figure out how to win. And when it was, like, 6-love, 4-love, 30-love, I was thinking, `Well, I'm not playing for a score, but one game wouldn't hurt."'

Oh, well.
Next for the fourth-seeded Williams, who won the U.S. Open in 1999, 2002 and 2008, is a match against former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, who reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time since winning the 2008 French Open by defeating 55th-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-0, 6-4.

Williams - who lost in doubles with older sister Venus on Monday night - is 3-0 against Ivanovic, including a straight-set victory in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year.

Must not have left much of an impression on the American, because when asked what she remembers most about their most recent match, Williams replied: "Was it here?"

Assured that it was, in 2011, Williams said with a smile: "OK. Yeah, I remember, clearly, not a lot, but I will be looking at the film."

In the semifinals, the Williams-Ivanovic winner will meet either No. 10 Sara Errani or No. 20 Roberta Vinci, doubles partners who both eliminated higher-seeded women Monday and now face the uncomfortable prospect of trying to beat a best buddy.

"Our friendship won't change, no matter what, no matter who wins," said Vinci, noting that she expects they'll have dinner together, as usual, Monday and Tuesday. "It definitely won't be an easy match from a mental perspective. We know each other well. We practice together often. We play doubles together. We know everything about each other."

Errani and Vinci teamed up to win the French Open doubles championship in June, and now one of them is going to be the first woman from Italy to play in the U.S. Open semifinals since the professional era began in 1968.

Errani, the runner-up to Maria Sharapova at the French Open, got past No. 6 Angelique Kerber of Germany 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Reaching her first singles quarterfinal in 32 career Grand Slam tournaments, Vinci stunned No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-4.

"I really had the worst day," said Radwanska, who could have moved up to No. 1 in the WTA rankings by reaching next weekend's final. "She really mixes it up - a lot of slice, then suddenly hitting very well from the forehand side, then kick serve, drop shots, volleys as well, coming to the net. It's really tough because she really had an answer for everything."

Radwanska could sympathize with Hlavackova's plight, having lost to Williams in the Wimbledon final.

"When she's on fire, you can't do anything about it. It doesn't matter what you try to do, it's going to be a winner," Radwanska said. "It's just Serena. She's a great champion."

So is No. 1-seeded Roger Federer, of course, owner of a record 17 Grand Slam titles, including five at the U.S. Open. As he attempts to add to those numbers, Federer got some extra rest Monday, because his fourth-round opponent, 23rd-seeded Mardy Fish of the United States, withdrew hours before their scheduled match for precautionary reasons, citing medical advice.

No. 12 Marin Cilic of Croatia put together a 7-5, 6-4, 6-0 victory over 50th-ranked Martin Klizan of Slovakia, the last left-hander and unseeded man remaining, and will take on the winner of Monday night's match between London Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray and No. 15 Milos Raonic of Canada.

The 30-year-old Fish missed about 2 1/2 months this season because of an accelerated heartbeat and had a medical procedure in May.

"We are not 100 percent sure what the issue is and if it is related to his previous issues," Fish's agent, John Tobias, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. "Mardy is fine and will return home to L.A. tomorrow. This was strictly precautionary and I anticipate that Mardy will play in Asia this fall."

After losing a match at Key Biscayne, Fla., on March 29, Fish went to be checked by doctors because his heart started racing uncontrollably that night. He pulled out of the U.S. Davis Cup team's quarterfinal against France the following week.

The walkover left soon-to-retire 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick - who plays 2009 champ Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round Tuesday night - as the last American man in the field, and it allowed the top-seeded Federer to reach his 34th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, extending another record he owns.

Federer now faces No. 6 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who eliminated No. 11 Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-1. Berdych stunned Federer in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals on the way to reaching the final there.

"I am really sorry for Mardy. I just want to wish him a speedy recovery," Federer said in a statement issued by the tournament. "We all want to see him back on tour soon."

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Kevin Kolb was back at practice on Monday, no longer competing for the starting job for the Arizona Cardinals but as a backup NFL quarterback once again.

The team's workout was its first since coach Ken Whisenhunt announced Friday that John Skelton would be the starter for Sunday's regular-season opener against Seattle.

"It's disappointing, that's obvious," Kolb said after practice. "But if there's one thing I learned in this league is it's full of surprises, so you just keep pressing forward. If you take time to sulk or feel sorry for yourself, you're going to get left behind and then your opportunity's going to pass you by."

Just before last season, the Cardinals traded cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia to get Kolb, then signed the quarterback to a five-year $63 million contract extension, $21 million guaranteed. On March 16, Kolb got a $7 million payment for still being on the Cardinals roster.

Kolb arrived with fans and those within the organization believing they had the franchise quarterback Arizona had lacked since Kurt Warner's retirement following the 2009 season.

But Arizona got off to a 1-6 start, and Kolb was sidelined with a turf toe injury. While not spectacular, Kolb's replacement Skelton did enough for his team to pull off some close victories. Kolb returned and engineered a win over Dallas, but on the first series of the next game against San Francisco, he took a knee to the head for a season-ending concussion.

After the Cardinals won seven of their last nine to finish 8-8, Whisenhunt declared an open competition between Skelton and Kolb. Through offseason workouts, training camp and preseason games, neither player distinguished himself. When Whisenhunt finally announced his decision, Arizona was the last team in the league to have a starting quarterback in place.

What went wrong for Kolb?
"I don't know that there's one thing," he said. "My thinking of the deal is you just work as hard as you can possibly work, put in the time. I know there's still things to come here. I tell you all that every time something bad happens, and that's the perspective that I'll keep."

The situation is familiar to Kolb. In 2010, he emerged as the starter for Philadelphia when the season began, but was injured and replaced by Michael Vick, who held on to the job when Kolb returned to good health.

That experience, Kolb said, taught him to be ready no matter what.

"When I was in this position before with Vick, I think it was three weeks later he went down," he said. "Again, there's no time to sulk, no time to feel sorry for myself. I've just got to go back to work today and be ready for the Seahawks. It will be a big game for us."

Skelton, who had called the competition between the two a friendly one, said he and Kolb had not talked about the outcome.

"We kind of just left it at that," Skelton said. "We both are professionals about it. We both knew going into it the ramifications of it and everything, and I think it was best left unsaid."

Arizona's star wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, seemed elated when the Cardinals traded for Kolb. The deal was considered a big reason Fitzgerald signed an eight-year, $120 million contract.

But when asked Monday about what had happened to Kolb in his brief, unhappy time in the desert, Fitzgerald said, "That's the NFL. It's a tough business."

"He works hard every day. He's here. He's committed to the cause," Fitzgerald said. "He's done everything you can ask for for us, as a teammate. It's just unfortunate."

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Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL