Waiting Game Is Too Long for Moore

Tired of watching, linebacker Corey Moore argued his way back into the Buffalo Bills’ active roster on Wednesday.

At his relentless urging, Moore was activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list after missing the first six days of training camp at St. John Fisher College outside Rochester, N.Y.

Moore argued with trainers who held him out of morning practice because they believed he was out of condition after missing time while recovering from a gunshot to the left leg in June.

With the blessing of Coach Gregg Williams, trainers allowed Moore to participate in the light afternoon practice.

“It felt good,” Moore said. “You can stand on the sidelines and get all the mental reps you want, but that only helps a little. Mentally, I’m about as high as I can be right now, considering all the circumstances that I’ve been through. But that’s all behind me.”

Moore said he was in his car waiting at an intersection in Brownsville, Tenn., early on June 1 when someone walked up and shot him through the open driver’s window.

Rookie defensive lineman Gerard Warren ended his contract holdout and arrived at the Cleveland Browns’ training camp after signing a six-year, $33.6-million deal.

The 6-foot-4 Warren reported to camp at 315 pounds, seven pounds under his listed playing weight.

Warren, who bypassed his senior season at Florida to enter the draft, was selected by the Browns with the No. 3 overall pick.

Chicago Bear Coach Dick Jauron canceled Wednesday afternoon’s practice at the University of Wisconsin Platteville because of oppressive heat and high humidity, but said it was not a direct response to the heat-related death of Minnesota Viking tackle Korey Stringer.

Jauron said the team had a shortage of healthy defensive and offensive tackles and he did not want to take a chance of depleting the team’s depth with three days before Saturday’s preseason opener.

Jauron has been a proponent of lighter training camp practices.

In his first season two years ago, Jauron moved afternoon practices to the evening during a stretch of 100-degree days.

The Bears are taking precautions by keeping track of the temperature and humidity every 15 minutes. When the heat index reaches 88 degrees, there are on-field breaks for water and cold, wet towels.

Joe Banner, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been named the team’s president.

Jeffrey Lurie, the team’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the position was created to reward Banner for his work on key projects.

Banner helped negotiate a deal with the city for the team’s $510-million stadium, scheduled to open in 2003.

Kevin Mathis, starting left cornerback of the New Orleans Saints, is expected to be out two to four weeks after spraining his left knee during practice.

Mathis collided with free-agent receiver Anthony Collins on a crossing pattern and had to be carted off the field.

Ready to take on the Deion Sanders legacy, Washington Redskin trash-talking rookie cornerback Fred Smoot reported to training camp at Carlisle, Pa., wearing Sanders’ jersey.

“I talked to Deion after he retired,” Smoot said. “He said he’ll pass the torch to me.”

Smoot, the Redskins second-round draft pick out of Mississippi State, ended a two-day holdout by signing a four-year contract worth about $2.6 million, including a $1.3-million signing bonus.

Smoot, who wore No. 23 at the Redskins’ spring minicamp, is wearing the No. 21 worn by Sanders, who retired Friday.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Smoot might have to tone down his act.

“Get the job done and then you have the opportunity to speak,” Schottenheimer said. “Otherwise, I think you’re better served going about your business.”