Robbers shoot McDougle

The 2005 NFL season isn’t starting well for the teams that played for the championship last February.

The latest misfortune came when Jerome McDougle, the former first-round pick who is supposed to start at defensive end for NFC champion Philadelphia, was shot in the stomach by robbers in Miami. He originally was listed as critical but later talked to police and walked in his room after surgery.

“We’re told it (the bullet) didn’t hit any major organs, and that’s a plus,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

McDougle, who played at the University of Miami and is a South Florida native, had been scheduled to be in the team’s camp Monday, the reporting date for Eagles’ veterans. Rookies reported Friday.

Police said the confrontation started when three armed robbers approached the 27-year-old McDougle in his silver Mercedes coupe late Thursday in southwest Miami.

With their faces covered, the suspects demanded that he hand over his property, then one of them shot McDougle in the stomach, police said. Police said the robbers didn’t say what property they wanted.

McDougle opened the door and tried to get out of the car, but another robber fired two shots, which police said missed him and hit the inside of the door.

The robbers, who police said were likely teens, fled on foot and remain at large. It wasn’t clear whether McDougle was in his car or near it when he was approached, police said.

McDougle was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he underwent surgery.

New England, meanwhile, officially opened camp with All-Pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour as a holdout and without inside linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson. Bruschi is sitting out the season after suffering a stroke soon after the Patriots’ Super Bowl win. Johnson announced his retirement this week.

Seymour, who has been a team leader almost from the day of his arrival in 2001, is seeking an extension of the six-year, $14.3 million contract he signed as a rookie.

•Meanwhile, the signing of draft picks continued at a slower pace than normal. Many teams, in fact, were still signing second- and third-round draft choices. Arizona signed third- and fourth-round picks, former Virginia teammates Darryl Blackstock and Elton Brown, but its top three picks were unsigned with two days to go before camp opens.

•Tampa Bay reached agreement with running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, the fifth overall pick in the draft, and New Orleans signed offensive tackle Jammal Brown, chosen 13th overall.

•Also, Jacksonville finally worked out a three-year contract with veteran safety Donovin Darius, who has been protected with the franchise tag the past three years. Darius had complained publicly about the designation, which kept him from becoming a free agent.

•The Carolina Panthers agreed to deals with first-round draft pick Thomas Davis and second-round selection Eric Shelton.

Davis is a linebacker/safety from Georgia. Shelton is a running back from Louisville.

•First-round draft picks Troy Williamson and Erasmus James did not report to Minnesota’s camp because they have yet to sign contracts.

Williamson, a receiver from South Carolina, was the No. 7 pick. James, a defensive end from Wisconsin, was selected 18th.

Two Chargers hold out

All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates, who became a star in just his second NFL season, and top draft pick Shawne Merriman, who’s supposed to add another element of nastiness to the defense, were no-shows for the San Diego Chargers’ first full-squad practice of training camp.

Gates didn’t sign the $380,000 contract the Chargers tendered him as an exclusive rights free agent during the off-season, opting to hold out for a long-term deal.

Merriman, an outside linebacker drafted with the 12th pick overall, stayed away from all off-season workouts because of concerns he’d get hurt before he signed a contract.

Clarett opts for high-risk contract

Given that many folks thought he wouldn’t get drafted at all, Maurice Clarett might have felt like he won the lottery when the Denver Broncos chose him in the third round.

Then, what did Clarett do?

He passed on the guaranteed $400,000 signing bonus he could have taken, instead choosing an incentive-filled deal that could earn him first-round money … or leave him broke.

It could net Clarett up to $7 million over the life of the four-year deal if he reaches all the goals and triggers a number of escalator clauses written into the contract.

As it stands now, though, he has nothing. He is scheduled to earn the rookie minimum $230,000, but that’s only if he makes the regular-season roster.

Around the league

It looks as if the Houston Texans will start camp without their top draft pick. The team still hadn’t signed defensive tackle Travis Johnson – less than 24 hours before the start of camp. … Rookie wide receiver Braylon Edwards missed Cleveland’s first full-squad practice as the Browns opened training camp without their unsigned first-round draft pick. … Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish, the Buffalo Bills’ second-round draft pick, agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.7 million contract. … LSU center Ben Wilkerson failed his NFL physical (injured knee) and was placed on the Cincinnati Bengals’ active/non-football injury list. … San Diego quarterback Drew Brees disclosed that he separated his left shoulder in the fourth game last season and played the rest of the year with the injury. He said he had arthroscopic surgery in the off-season to repair the problem. … The Detroit Lions have signed second-round draft pick defensive tackle Shaun Cody to a four-year contract.