Green Seeks Second Chance

Unemployed tight end Eric Green, trying to recover from knee surgery and a tarnished reputation, wants a second chance with Coach Jimmy Johnson and the Miami Dolphins.

Green and Johnson met for an hour Saturday in an attempt to patch up their relationship. Johnson released the former Pro Bowl tight end July 9.

“The guy is an up-front guy,” Green said. “I respect him and he respects me. I think this thing is going to come together.”

Among the issues likely discussed were Johnson’s annoyance at Green’s work habits and weight problems. Bothered by knee trouble, Green missed 39 practices last season under former coach Don Shula.

Green, 29 and recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in May, resumed jogging two weeks ago and looked trim as he emerged from Johnson’s office. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Green will be available by the third or fourth game of the season.

Rosenhaus expressed confidence that he’ll work out a deal with Johnson. “The bottom line is that Eric wants to win and Coach Johnson wants to win,” Rosenhaus said. “Jimmy Johnson can bring out the best in Eric Green, and Eric Green can help Jimmy Johnson win the Super Bowl.”

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Deland McCullough, the Cincinnati Bengals’ leading rusher in the exhibition season, will need reconstructive knee surgery and is sidelined for the season.

McCullough tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee during a 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Friday night. An MRI on Saturday also found torn cartilage. The former Miami of Ohio running back will have surgery in a few weeks, when the swelling has subsided.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers placed receiver Ernie Mills on the physically unable to perform list and cut six players to reach the regular-season roster limit of 53.

Mills, who tore a knee ligament in Pittsburgh’s loss to Dallas in the Super Bowl, must stay on the list a minimum of six weeks. Once he comes off, the Steelers will have up to 21 days decide if he can play. During that time, Mills won’t count against the 53-man roster.

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After holding San Francisco to a field goal in their exhibition finale, the Seattle Seahawks face the prospect of opening the season without linebackers Terry Wooden and Michael Barber.

Wooden, the starting strongside linebacker and leading tackler last season, pulled his right hamstring in Seattle’s 20-3 victory Friday night. Barber, a backup middle linebacker, has a hyperextended right knee.

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Minnesota Viking linebacker Darryl Talley is questionable for next Sunday’s opener against Detroit, putting his string of 221 consecutive games in jeopardy. Talley, signed in camp when Ed McDaniel was sidelined by a knee injury, sprained his left knee in Friday night’s exhibition game at New Orleans.

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The New Orleans Saints got a jump on today’s mandatory roster reduction, releasing tight end Kirk Botkin, linebacker Ron Childs, defensive tackle Buster Stanley and receiver John Jackson. The Saints must cut three more players by today’s deadline to reach the 53-man limit.