JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mark Brunell watched the pieces of the Jacksonville Jaguars disappear, one by one, until it felt like he was the only piece left.

        Suddenly, a quarterback in his prime found himself in the center of a rebuilding project. Naturally, he didn't like the feeling.

        But after a summer of soul searching - and anger, frustration and remorse over the release of tackle Tony Boselli, wide receiver Keenan McCardell and others - the 10th-year quarterback insists there's nowhere he'd rather be.

        “Do I want to be here? I do,” Brunell said. “Is that realistic? I hope so. I want to finish my career here. Hopefully, that's four, five, six years down the road.”

        A second straight losing season in 2001 had dampened his hopes, and the team's decision to expose Boselli in the expansion draft (he was taken by Houston) jarred him.

        But in the six months that have passed, Brunell has found reason to believe the Jaguars can compete for a championship again. He has seen the young talent they've brought in, and he knows rebuilding projects can take just months in the NFL.

        “I've chosen to look at it as if the glass were half full,” Brunell said. “Yeah, we've got some issues on our team. We're young. We're inexperienced. But are those negative? It depends on how you look at it. But I feel good about our football team. I'm looking forward to the season.”

        BILLS: Offensive guard Ruben Brown, nursing a sprained left knee, is expected to miss Buffalo's game with the Bengals on Friday. The six-time Pro Bowler has been out since last Friday.

        COLTS: Running back Dominic Rhodes injured his left shoulder and is likely to miss Indianapolis' preseason opener Saturday at Seattle. Rhodes rushed for 1,104 yards last season mostly while filling in for the injured Edgerrin James.

        Rhodes has a chronic shoulder problem that dates to his high school playing days, and said past surgery didn't fix the problem.

        COWBOYS: Defensive end Peppi Zellner strained his left groin and and offensive tackle Flozell Adams sprained his knee. Both players could miss the rest of training camp and Dallas' Sept.8 season opener at Houston.

        DOLPHINS: Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler was back at training camp for afternoon practice after his Pittsburgh doctor cleared him for contact drills. Fiedler underwent surgery to repair a tear in his left hip joint July 13.

        GIANTS: Halfback Tiki Barber probably will miss New York's preseason game against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Saturday after straining rib cartilage during practice.

        REDSKINS: Washington defensive lineman Santana Dotson was placed on the injured reserve list after undergoing surgery for a ruptured left Achilles' tendon that could end his NFL career. The 11-year veteran was injured Tuesday in a pass rush drill during his first practice.

        In other Redskins news, first-round draft pick Patrick Ramsey agreed to a five-year, $5.7 million deal, according to a football source. The former Tulane quarterback will receive a $3.1 million signing bonus, the source said on condition of anonymity.

        SAINTS: New Orleans extended coach Jim Haslett's contract for four years, through the 2006 season. The deal could run through 2010 based on performance.

        Haslett is in his third season with the Saints, who won the NFC West in 2000. Last season, New Orleans finished 7-9.

        TEXANS: Safety Leomont Evans was back in Houston, walking and hoping a collision that bruised his spine in the Hall of Fame Game earlier this week won't end his career.

        “I'm definitely trying to play again,” Evans told Houston television station KRIV shortly after returning to Texas. “We've got some more tests to run. We're going to try to be smart about this thing.”

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