The New England Patriots yesterday released long snapper Nathan Hodel, leaving the job to rookie Jake Ingram, formerly of the University of Hawai'i.

Ingram, 6 feet 3 and 232 pounds, was a sixth-round draft pick in April. The Mililani High alum was a three-year starter for the Warriors.

Hodel, 6-2 and 240 pounds, joined the Patriots as a free agent in March after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Also, quarterback Kevin O'Connell, projected to be Tom Brady's backup, was cut by New England.

O'Connell's release came three days after Brady sustained what the Patriots described as a sore shoulder in a 27-24 exhibition win over the Washington Redskins.

O'Connell was a third-round pick from San Diego State last year.

CHIEFS

ROOKIE COACH FIRES OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Rookie head coach Todd Haley fired offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and assumed that role himself yesterday, 13 days before he opens the season with a very unsettled quarterback situation.

Matt Cassel was injured in Saturday night's preseason loss to Seattle, limping away with a knee injury. But Haley refused to discuss the injury to Cassel, who signed a six-year contract for a guaranteed $28 million.

Yahoo! Sports, citing a source in the organization, reported Cassel sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss two to four weeks.

The top candidates to replace Cassel are Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle, who are 1-18 as starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Thigpen took about 80 percent of the snaps with the first team in practice yesterday, but a decision could be based on who plays well in the final preseason game at St. Louis on Thursday night.

Haley, the offensive coordinator at Arizona the past two years, declined to say whether the offense will make any significant changes before beginning the Sept. 13 season opener at Baltimore. He also will serve as quarterbacks coach.

Gailey, a 16-year NFL coaching veteran, joined Kansas City in 2008 as offensive coordinator under Herm Edwards. Haley said he would be offered another job within the organization.

"I think the world of Chan as a coach, have the greatest amount of respect for him as a coach, as a person," Haley said. "But ultimately, the fate of this team, the accountability, falls to me."

GIANTS

UMENYIORA LEAVES PRACTICE, APOLOGIZES

He didn't yell. He didn't argue. He didn't create a confrontation.

Rather, New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora simply left.

The Pro Bowl player, who reported to work yesterday morning at East Rutherford, N.Y., with the rest of the team, had taken off by the time lunch was served after a disagreement with defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, according to sources. Though there was no conflagration of emotions between the two men, Umenyiora clearly needed time to cool off after Sheridan was apparently critical of him while reviewing plays from Saturday's loss to the Jets.

After his AWOL afternoon, Umenyiora returned to the team's complex later in the evening.

"I made a mistake by leaving the facility," he said in a statement issued by the team. "I was wrong."

Umenyiora said he spoke with Sheridan, Tom Coughlin and defensive line coach Mike Waufle. He denied any rift between him and anyone on the staff.

"I came in here ... and apologized and explained why I left the building," Umenyiora said. "That will remain between us. I have no problem with our defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan or any of our coaches. That's the end of it, as far as I am concerned."

Sheridan is a first-year defensive coordinator for the Giants, taking over the job from well-liked Steve Spagnuolo, who became head coach of the Rams this offseason. Sheridan coached the linebackers under Spagnuolo, so he does not have a deep history of dealing with the defensive linemen such as Umenyiora.

RAVENS

ROLLE WILL MISS 6 WEEKS WITH NECK INJURY

Baltimore cornerback Samari Rolle will spend at least the opening six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list with a neck injury that could end his career.

The 33-year-old Rolle missed six games in 2008 because of the injury. He underwent surgery last year and intends to have another operation.

"Samari is going to have some more work done on the neck, try to shore it up in there," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said yesterday. "He was really excited about it. I think he was feeling it was going to go the other way. ... It's good news."

Harbaugh remains hopeful Rolle will be back, but stressed the 11-year veteran would not be activated if there's any risk involved.

"Samari has a chance to come back and play this year," Harbaugh said. "When the time comes, we'll be safer than we are risk-oriented. If there's any risk at all, he won't play. But if there's no reasonable risk, then he'll have a chance to help us down the stretch this year."

EAGLES

QB KOLB WILL START; VICK WILL REPLACE HIM

Kevin Kolb is getting a start at quarterback in Philadelphia's final preseason game.

On his weekly radio show yesterday evening, Eagles coach Andy Reid said Kolb will start Thursday's game against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands, and Michael Vick will play in the first half and start the second half at quarterback.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook and many of Philadelphia's starters will not play.

In last week's victory over Jacksonville, Vick played six snaps. He went 4 for 4 for 19 yards and rushed once for a yard.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: After missing three weeks with a sprained toe, Terrell Owens returned to practice yesterday and declared he'll be ready to play in two weeks in the regular-season opener against New England. Just don't expect him back for Buffalo's exhibition finale against Detroit on Thursday. "We're going to be smart about it," Owens said. "We've got the big opener to the season against the Patriots, so that's where my focus is right now."

Social networking: The NFL said yesterday it will allow players to use social media networks this season, but not during games. Players, coaches and football operations personnel can use Twitter, Facebook and other social media up to 90 minutes before kickoff, and after the game following traditional media interviews.

Bengals: Carson Palmer threw some passes to Cincinnati teammates during practice, an indication he could play in the final preseason game. Palmer threw to receivers during the first 30 minutes of practice yesterday, the first time he's done that in nearly three weeks. The quarterback dropped back after taking snaps and moved around without problem on his sprained left ankle.

Rams: St. Louis plans to sit quarterback Marc Bulger in the preseason finale to lessen the chance of him aggravating a broken right pinkie. Bulger got his arm warmed up for the second straight day yesterday, throwing 25 to 30 passes with the pinkie and right ring finger taped together for stability.

Steelers: Defensive end Brett Keisel signed a five-year contract yesterday, becoming the eighth player to reach a new deal with Pittsburgh since it won the Super Bowl in February. Terms of a deal that runs through the 2013 season, when Keisel turns 35, were not immediately available. Keisel had one sack last season and has 11 1/2 in his six-season career.

Trade: The Houston Texans have traded defensive tackle Travis Johnson to the San Diego Chargers for an undisclosed draft pick in 2010. Johnson was a first-round pick in 2005, but never lived up to expectations. His career has been marked by numerous injuries and inconsistent play.

Steelers: Pittsburgh right guard Darnell Stapleton has been placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury and will miss the season. Stapleton injured his left knee during the first week of training camp and had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage.

Browns: Defensive back Rod Hood, a starter for Arizona in last season's Super Bowl, has been released by Cleveland. Hood made 14 starts last season for the Cardinals, who released him in April.