Nnamdi Asomugha

• Cowboys QB Tony Romo vowed Monday to take better care of the ball after committing 21 turnovers last season, finishing 2009 with 14 interceptions and a career-high seven lost fumbles in 13 games. Asked how he would accomplish his goal, Romo said, “You just don’t turn the ball over. There’s no change other than the fact you hold it with two hands when people are around you. You don’t throw it to the other colored jersey. If it’s questionable, you probably hold on to it, or you run, or you get rid of it out of bounds.” Romo said he doesn’t care if his safety-first campaign results in fewer of his trademark improvised plays.
• Chargers LB Shawne Merriman has had perfect attendance at OTAs since missing the first week while traveling abroad. While he hasn’t been cleared to practice, Merriman has spent his time running and cutting on the side as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired knee. “I’m pushing myself as much as I can,” Merriman said. “Doing that right now will make it easier when it’s time to go.” Merriman guaranteed he will be healthy enough to practice by training camp. But he knows the team may continue to be cautious with him. “It all depends on how much they hold me back or allow me to do,” he said.
• Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha said during an interview with 790 the Zone in Atlanta that QB Jeff Garcia is eager to be the team’s starting quarterback and that his presence has helped push QB JaMarcus Russell. “You know what, Jamarcus is the starter. He’s the first pick of the draft a few years ago so of course he’s going to be the starter but I don’t see Jeff Garcia backing down,” Asomugha said. “He wants to play, he wants to be on the field. It’s great that JaMarcus has this person behind him that’s as hungry as he is to get on the field and make plays. Now JaMarcus will be holding himself more accountable for a lot of things and develop the mental part, and hopefully develop more of the mental part to his game and be able to lead us that way on the field.”
• Broncos WR Brandon Marshall’s agent Kennard McGuire, did confirm Tuesday, June 16, to ESPN’s Michael Smith that Marshall asked team owner Pat Bowlen for a trade during a meeting Friday, June 12. “There was a meeting with Mr. Bowlen and Brandon did ask to be traded. He was told by ownership that the team would do everything in its power to accommodate those wishes. We do feel that a change of scenery is not only important but necessary.” According to a source, Smith reported, Marshall has met with Bowlen more than once in the past week and on both occasions expressed his desire to be dealt.
• Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said the team will continue to talk with WR Brandon Marshall, and he expects Marshall to report for the start of training camp. “We met after [owner Pat Bowlen's] meeting with Brandon and are going to continue our dialogue with Brandon and his representative. We look forward to having Brandon at training camp,” McDaniels said. Marshall has demonstrated his dissatisfaction with his contract by skipping the three-week, voluntary passing camp, then a three-day mandatory minicamp last weekend. If he doesn’t show up by August 12, Marshall could risk forfeiting his fourth year of service time, which would put him another year away from unrestricted free agency.
• 49ers head coach Mike Singletary has a legitimate quarterback competition. Alex Smith is throwing the ball well and his confidence is as ironclad as it’s been since college. “Well, I think the playing field is level now,” he said of the QB competition. “I think before the offseason began, I wasn’t really sure where Alex was. You know, he’s been through a lot in four years. I think in order for he and Shaun to compete on level ground, he had to get healthy, he had to get his mind focused, I think he had to let go of some of the bitterness that happened to him, some of the bad things, and get the bad taste out of his mouth and be ready to go. I think that has happened.” Singletary did reiterate that if the season were to begin tomorrow, Hill would be the starter but Smith now has a legitimate shot of knocking him out of his perch.

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