Bad Things Happening to Eagles, Patriots

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.

Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko said his condition is good.

New England, meanwhile, officially opened camp with All-Pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour a holdout and without inside linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson. Bruschi, the soul of the defense and a huge playmaker, 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.

“We love Seymour,” safety Rodney Harrison said. “We miss him. We support him.”

But coach Bill Belichick, whose trademark phrase is “it is what it is” responded in his characteristic stoic fashion.

“Things are different, so that’s part of football,” Belichick said. “I’ve been in the NFL over 30 years and it’s been that way, one way or another.” ’

McDougle, Philadelphia’s 2003 first-round draft choice, was scheduled to report to training camp in Bethlehem, Pa., on Monday.

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. They are the first players to sign between No. 1, San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith, and No. 23, Oakland cornerback Fabien Washington.

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.

Another franchise player, Seattle running back Shaun Alexander, didn’t show up as the Seahawks opened camp. But that was only because he was present for the birth of his second daughter, Trinity. Alexander, who earlier this week signed his franchise player tender, missed the first quarter of a regular-season game two years ago when his first daughter, Heaven, was born.

“I can control some things. That isn’t something I can’t control,” said coach Mike Holmgren, the target of Alexander’s ire last season after the running back fell a yard short of the NFL rushing title.

And finally, Randy Moss arrived with a splash for his first training camp with Oakland, which obtained him in a trade with Minnesota in the offseason.

His large, bright purple SUV -- Vikings’ colors -- took the prime parking spot for the team’s first practice in Napa, Calif., nearly blocking the field entrance.