Mark Curnutte

B.J. Sander, a Roger Bacon graduate who played at Ohio State, is battling former Bengal punter Travis Dorsch.

Sander, on the final day of the Packers' recent minicamp, landed six punts between the goal-line and the 20-yard line with the ball snapped from the opponent's 40.

Dorsch, onlookers said, doesn't have nearly as deft a touch.

"That's one of the areas I thought (Sander) was really good in," Packers special teams coach John Bonamego said. "It's still so early but I like him. A lot."

Bonamego said the ideal punt travels between 38 and 42 yards and has at least 4.5 seconds of hang time. That was the type of punt Sander often got off.

Dorsch, who was badly handled as a fourth-round draft choice by the Bengals in 2002, has a much stronger leg. His best punt is longer and higher than Sander's best.

"If and when Travis ever truly figures it out he's going to be a very good punter in this league," Bonamego said.

LINEUP CHANGES: With new coaches Joe Gibbs and Norv Turner, Washington and Oakland may have 13 or 14 new starters this season.

An early estimate of the Bengals' starting lineup shows up to seven potential new starters: Quarterback Carson Palmer (Jon Kitna), tailback Rudi Johnson (Corey Dillon), right guard Bobbie Williams (Mike Goff), right defensive tackle Daryl Gardener (Tony Williams), linebacker Nate Webster (Adrian Ross), cornerback Deltha O'Neal (Jeff Burris, Artrell Hawkins) and safety Kim Herring (Mark Roman).

Of course, the closing of Gardener's deal with the Bengals had slowed considerably late in the week, presumably because of concerns of Gardener's potentially degenerative back ailment.

If Gardener does sign and does beat out the steady Williams at tackle, the Bengals will have just seven starters left from 2002. They would be left tackle Levi Jones, right tackle Willie Anderson, center Rich Braham, wide receivers Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick, defensive end Justin Smith and linebacker Brian Simmons.

THIRD OF THREE: Gibbs is holding his third minicamp this weekend and enjoying the return of several Redskins who weren't able to participate fully in the last one because of injuries: Wide receivers Laveranues Coles (toe), Darnerien McCants (shoulder) and Cliff Russell (knee); offensive tackle Chris Samuels (shoulder); guard Randy Thomas (knee); and cornerback Walt Harris (knee).

WHAT'S IN A NAME: The Seahawks signed a naming-rights deal with a telecommunications company and will change the name of Seahawks Stadium. It is now Qwest Field. The deal is expected to bring in some $4 million to $5 million annually.

AFC NORTH: The Browns did not release quarterback Tim Couch, who is due $7.6 million and $8 million base salaries in the next two seasons, because they have the cap room to accommodate him. They don't have to worry about paying him unless he would make the final cut on Sept. 4.

Couch could now be released because Baltimore signed Kordell Stewart as its backup quarterback. When they ultimately release Couch, the Browns will have approximately $10 million of cap room this year. They will use about $3.6 million on their rookies. They will use some of the surplus to tie up potential free agents, such as cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Daylon McCutcheon and wide receiver Quincy Morgan - all members of coach Butch Davis' first draft class in 2001. They already have done a three-year deal with rookie Kellen Winslow's backup - Steve Heiden.

Speaking of Cleveland cornerbacks, former Browns corner Corey Fuller continues to receive the support of his current employer, the Baltimore Ravens, even in the face of some serious criminal charges. Charges of felony firearms possession and misdemeanor gambling were added to an initial charge of operating a gambling house out of his Tallahassee, Fla., home. Fuller was arrested in May for playing host to high-stakes card games from which he allegedly collected 10 percent of the pots.

In Pittsburgh, the absence of wide receiver Plaxico Burress has created an opportunity for third-year pro Lee Mays and rookie free agent Zamir Cobb from Temple, coach Bill Cowher said.

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Written from notes submitted by other NFL beat writers.

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