Now a Raven, Anderson Wants To Play Ex-Team

After signing his three-year, $11 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens yesterday, tackle Willie Anderson hopes to play in tomorrow's season opener against the team that cut him.

The 6-foot-5, 340-pound former Cincinnati Bengals team captain isn't expected to start immediately at right tackle, where Adam Terry is atop the depth chart.

"It would be crazy to think that I'm more prepared than those guys right now," Anderson said. "I'm just trying to recover from being out of work for a week. The good thing about it is we'll play those guys twice per year."

Anderson, 33, was cut by the Bengals after refusing to take a pay cut and chose the Ravens over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams.

He received a $1.67 million signing bonus from Baltimore, which cut tight end Edgar Jones to create a roster spot for Anderson.

"The guys in Cincinnati are in shock right now, but I told them to just go ahead and get over it, move on," Anderson said. "Those guys took it kind of hard. They have been texting me and wishing me good and hating that I'm gone. There's no animosity between me and the organization. It was just an issue of people given bad info."

· BILLS: Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters will end his holdout and report to the team this morning.

Russ Brandon, the Bills' chief operating officer, said in a statement yesterday that Peters has filed a reinstatement letter with the NFL. But he is not expected to play in the regular season opener against Seattle tomorrow.

· EAGLES: Philadelphia could play the season opener without its two top wide receivers after Reggie Brown missed his second straight practice.

Brown has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring in the second preseason game against Carolina. Kevin Curtis is out indefinitely after having surgery for a sports hernia.

· PACKERS: Running back Ryan Grant and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila missed practice as a precaution heading into Monday night's opener against Minnesota.

Grant has been dealing with an ailing hamstring, while Gbaja-Biamila has been recovering from right knee surgery. Both players fully participated in practice Thursday.

· COWBOYS: Cornerback Terence Newman is listed as questionable for the season opener at Cleveland.

Newman's uncertain status on yesterday's injury report was another sign Adam Jones may make his Dallas debut as a starter. It will be Jones's first NFL game since the 2006 season.

· SEAHAWKS: Coach Mike Holmgren said Deion Branch will not play tomorrow when the Seahawks open their season at Buffalo. Branch was trying to get back in time for the season opener just seven months after having major reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

Holmgren also said it's unlikely starting right tackle Sean Locklear will play. Locklear has been bothered by a left knee injury. Ray Willis would start in Locklear's place.

· JAGUARS: Wide receiver Jerry Porter was ruled out of tomorrow's season opener at Tennessee because of a hamstring injury.