NFL notebook

Kolb, Vick impress

Eagles stop Jaguars; McNabb leads ’Skins

Associated Press / August 14, 2010

Text size – +

Playing their first game without Donovan McNabb, the Eagles showed they have capable quarterbacks.

Starter Kevin Kolb was impressive and backup Michael Vick displayed flashes of his old self before rookie Mike Kafka rallied the Eagles to a 28-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their exhibition opener last night in Philadelphia.

Pro Bowl kicker David Akers made all five of his field goals, including a 36-yarder that gave the Eagles a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Jaguars backup Luke McCown picked apart Philadelphia’s junior-varsity secondary, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

But the focus was on Kolb, anointed the starter and given a contract extension after McNabb was traded to Washington in April.

Kolb was 6 of 11 for 95 yards. Vick was 11 of 17 for 119 yards and ran for 50 yards. He made a couple of spectacular plays, but also lost a fumble and threw an interception.

Redskins top Bills

McNabb threw a touchdown pass in his Washington Redskins debut in a 42-17 preseason win over visiting Buffalo.

McNabb went 5 for 8 for 58 yards in two series and hit Anthony Armstrong for a 4-yard touchdown as the Redskins got off to a strong August start under new coach Mike Shanahan.

Albert Haynesworth played two series as a backup nose tackle for the Redskins. Haynesworth is having to work his way back to the starting lineup after skipping offseason workouts and wasn’t allowed to practice until passing a conditioning test.

The Bills put on a mistake-filled performance under new coach Chan Gailey. Trent Edwards, in a three-way competition for the starting quarterback job, finished 6 for 12 for 58 yards with an interception.

Bills running backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch were both injured. Gailey said Jackson will miss at least the rest of the preseason after hurting his left hand on Buffalo’s opening drive. Gailey said Lynch hurt his ankle later in that drive.

In Atlanta, the Falcons beat Kansas City, 20-10. Dimitri Nance, an undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona State, ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 10-3. Cornerback Shann Schillinger, a sixth-round pick, set up the score by returning a Brodie Croyle interception 29 yards.

49ers’ Coffee retires

Running back Glen Coffee left the San Francisco 49ers yesterday morning, telling the team he no longer wants to play football.

It was another sudden blow in a tumultuous week for the 49ers, who had defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer leave the team Monday. Balmer, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2008, missed practice for the fifth straight day. His absences have been unexcused since Wednesday.

“We just respond to this and move forward,’’ coach Mike Singletary said.

In a statement released by the team, Coffee said, “I feel it is best for me that I move on from football.’’ Coffee, San Francisco’s third-round draft pick in 2009, was the team’s second-leading rusher last season with 226 yards.

Merriman signs tender

Shawne Merriman signed his $3,269,000, one-year tender with the San Diego Chargers, admitting his two-week holdout didn’t accomplish anything. The star outside linebacker won’t play in tonight’s exhibition opener against Chicago, but coach Norv Turner expects him to be ready by the following weekend’s game against Dallas . . . Pro Bowlers Chris Snee and Steve Smith probably will miss the New York Giants’ preseason opener against the Jets Monday. Snee (left leg) and Smith (groin) have been sidelined most of this week. Both are improving, but their chances of playing are slim. Guy Whimper replaced Snee at right guard and Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden worked with the first-team receivers in the Giants’ last two-a-day workout at camp. Starting cornerbacks Terrell Thomas (leg) and Corey Webster (buttocks) and starting tight end Kevin Boss (hamstring) also did not practice . . . The NFL and the players association met for a negotiating session toward a new collective bargaining agreement, with a league spokesman saying there “was nothing to report.’’