Jets TE Chris Baker has backed off his comments during mincamp, and has essentially pledged not to be this year’s Pete Kendall. He said the reason was that his agent, Jonathan Feinsod, and GM Mike Tannenbaum began “talking” in the last week. The two parties talking was enough to convince him to play the role of a team player. “At least the two sides are talking,” Baker said. “At least they’re talking and that’s a good thing, as opposed to a month and a half ago when there wasn’t much of anything.”

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Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards has aggravated a lingering back injury and will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.Coach Brad Childress revealed the problem Thursday afternoon, but said the move was precautionary and referred to the condition as “a little twinge.”

Edwards is slated to start at left end this season after switching spots to accommodate Jared Allen. He has been bothered by the injury since minicamp in early June, but he had been on track to be ready for the beginning of camp.

Childress said he believes the setback was caused by overworking.

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Every syllable, word and sentence of the poignant theme Tom Coughlin presented yesterday as he arrived at Giants training camp made crystal clear that in order for this team to learn the lessons of its Super Bowl triumph, Jeremy Shockey had to go. The former Giants tight end was shipped this week to New Orleans, not because he’s no longer a viable player but because the franchise - from the front office to some in the coaching staff to many of his teammates - grew tired by his diva act. Coughlin’s message yesterday was simple and resounding - “Team over self is why we win” - and, asked if Shockey’s inability to adhere to that mantra was a factor in the trade, he admitted, “I am sure at some point in time that was part of the consideration.”

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Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn is not on the team plane headed here to training camp.

Glenn, who played in one regular-season game last year, is in a dispute with the team over a split salary agreement. The team wants Glenn to sign a $500,000 wavier in case he reinjures his right knee. Glenn is refusing to do so.

Glenn, who declined comment, could still report to training camp today or Friday in time for the first practice.

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The Lions have agreed to a contract with their first-round pick, offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus.

The sides reached a deal after 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to Cherilus’ agents, Ralph Cindrich and Greg Diulus. The agents declined to reveal the terms of the deal.

Cherilus missed the Lions’ first team meeting of training camp Wednesday. But Diulus said he should sign his contract this morning and be on the field for the first practice at about 8:30.

Team spokesman Bill Keenist declined to comment.

There was no word on the status of the Lions’ second-round pick, linebacker Jordon Dizon. But earlier Wednesday, president Matt Millen and chief operating officer Tom Lewand said they were optimistic they would have Cherilus and Dizon signed soon.

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The Saints report rusher Deuce McAllister has reported to camp at 227 pounds, significantly lighter than he has come into the fold in recent seasons. McAllister, coming off two offseason knee surgeries, has not taken part in the team’s conditioning activities but was recently examied by famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews and has been cleared to participate in football activities.

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In a formality, Broncos all-time leading wide receiver Rod Smith is set to announce his retirement on Thursday, according to a source close to him. Smith did not play in the 2007 season after having hip surgery. After a second procedure this winter, the team put him on the reserve list, but Smith had said that he wasn’t yet ready to officially retire.

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Bears WR-KR Devin Hester has threatened to sit out the entire season if he doesn’t get a new contract. “It’s time for me to take a stand,” Hester told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’re going to stand by our decision to do this, and we feel like this can go down to whenever in the season or the end of the season. No matter what.” While Hester is ridiculously underpaid, the consequences of holding out for this long are also ridiculous, just as one NFL announcer once said of Hester. Here’s one: At more than $15,000 per day in fines, Hester’s bill to the Bears will in 30 days or so exceed his total base salary for the entire 2008 season of $450,000.

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The Bears signed all their draft picks and gave Brian Urlacher the contract he wanted, but they still weren’t able to open a holdout-free training camp.Kick returner and wide receiver Devin Hester refused to show up for the opening practice and is staging a holdout because he’s unhappy with his contract, Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

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Brandon Jacobs has been thought of as the Giants lead back heading into the season, and while that might still be the case, it also appears that he is in danger of losing touches, according to the Giants Official Website. When asked about how the team’s runners will be treated this season, here is what offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “…depending on how certain defenses are playing us, which guy’s playing better that day, in other words, kind of who has the hot hand, who is playing the best, that is the guy that we would certainly feature that day.”

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