The Associated Press

Dan 'Big Daddy' Wilkinson stands on the sidelines Tuesday during the second day of training camp at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va. The Redskins announced Tuesday that Wilkinson had been cut from the team. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

ASHBURN, Va. - Former Cincinnati Bengal Dan Wilkinson was cut by the Washington Redskins on Tuesday in a moneysaving move that leaves a large hole in the defensive line.

Wilkinson wouldn't accept a cut in his team-high $3.5 million salary. Owner Dan Snyder's negotiations with agent Brig Owens continued into Tuesday - while Wilkinson watched practice - but a deal could not be reached.

Wilkinson, 30, had a career-low 17 tackles and no sacks last season. He played part of the season with a bad wrist and missed the final month with a calf injury.

The Redskins felt Wilkinson's subpar season warranted renegotiation of his contract, but they also had been counting on Wilkinson to return as the starting left tackle, especially after Daryl Gardener signed as a free agent with Denver.

With Wilkinson gone, Jermaine Haley joins Brandon Noble as the first-string tackles. Haley had nine NFL starts with Miami in 2000 and 2001, but he was a backup all last season.

The Redskins will be hard-pressed to find another starting-quality tackle this late in the summer unless another team releases a veteran.

Wilkinson, meanwhile, will look for work elsewhere, but he's unlikely to get an offer anywhere close to $3.5 million.

When training camp opened Monday, Wilkinson stood in shorts and watched both practices. The Redskins didn't want him to take part because if he got injured, the team could be liable for his entire salary under league rules. Complicating matters was Wilkinson's decision to fire his agent Friday.

Wilkinson was drafted No. 1 overall by Cincinnati in 1994, and traded to the Redskins in 1999.

JAGUARS: Tackle John Henderson had shortness of breath and was taken to a hospital Tuesday, the second player on the team to have problems with the heat at training camp.

The 6-foot-7, 310-pound Henderson was released from the hospital a few hours later, but it wasn't immediately known when he would be back at practice. Trainer Mike Ryan said his outlook seemed good.

At the end of practice Tuesday morning, Henderson went to the sideline and dropped to his knees. He was quickly surrounded by trainers, who laid him on the ground, stripped off his uniform and sponged him down with ice and cold water.

BRONCOS: Rookie defensive tackle Nick Eason didn't show up for practice Tuesday, and the team wasn't sure where he was.

Gene Krcelic, one of Eason's agents, said Eason was still in the Denver area and will probably return in a day or two.

The 6-foot-3, 301-pound Eason, one of Denver's three fourth-round draft picks, reported to training camp last week and participated in the first four days of workouts.

PACKERS: Gilbert Brown reported to Green Bay's training camp Tuesday, putting the starting defensive line back at full strength.

BILLS: Safety Ainsley Battles signed with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, bolstering their young secondary.

RAMS: St. Louis signed first-round draft pick Jimmy Kennedy, a defensive tackle from Penn State, to a five-year deal Tuesday.

COLTS: Running back Dominic Rhodes hurt his left shoulder Tuesday and missed the rest of a morning practice session, but he wasn't expected to be sidelined long.

BROWNS: Cleveland signed free agent defensive back Jermaine Jones on Tuesday.

TEXANS: Houston rookie running back Domanick Davis broke his hand in practice Tuesday and will be out 3-to-5 weeks.

CARDINALS: Defensive end Calvin Pace, the No. 18 pick overall, signed a four-year, $8 million contract, with a team option for a fifth.

RAVENS: First-round draft pick Terrell Suggs ended a two-day holdout Tuesday night, signing a five-year contract with Baltimore that includes a $7.3 million signing bonus.

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