Redskins announce slate of preseason opponents

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Washington Redskins will face four AFC foes plus the Carolina Panthers in their second five-game preseason in four years.

As previously announced, new coach Jim Zorn’s Redskins will open the NFL preseason Aug. 3 in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, against the Indianapolis Colts as part of the celebration of the induction of Washington greats Darrell Green and Art Monk. The Redskins last played in the Hall of Fame Game in 2004 in the first game of coach Joe Gibbs’ return.

The Redskins will play their preseason opener some night from Aug. 7 to 11 against the Buffalo Bills before visiting the New York Jets some night from Aug. 14 to 17 and the Panthers some night from Aug. 21 to 24. Washington concludes preseason Aug. 28 at home against Jacksonville before kicking off the NFL regular season a week later at the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

The Jaguars will have a familiar face guiding their defense: former Redskins assistant Gregg Williams.

Washington hasn’t faced the Colts in preseason since 1981, when the franchise called Baltimore home.

BENGALS: Cincinnati decided it had had enough of Chris Henry’s legal problems, cutting the wide receiver after his fifth arrest since 2005.

An attorney for Henry, 24, entered not guilty pleas for him after Henry was accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard set bond at $51,000 on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging. Noting Henry’s previous arrests involving drugs, guns and alcohol, the judge called Henry “a one-man crime wave.” He ordered electronic monitoring if Henry makes bail.

JAGUARS: Coach Jack Del Rio signed a five-year contract extension, a reward for winning his first playoff game.

Del Rio’s salary was not disclosed, but it was believed to be a significant jump from the original five-year, $6.5 million contract he signed in 2003.

The Jaguars were 11-5 last season, beat Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs and then ended the season with a 31-20 loss at New England.

RAVENS: Players can expect some changes when they report this summer to training camp.

New coach John Harbaugh is planning a camp that will be stricter and more physical than those of his predecessor, Brian Billick.

Instead of contact practices every other day, Harbaugh plans to have players in full pads every day.

BILLS: Buffalo will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a preseason game Aug. 14 in Toronto to kick off the Bills’ five-year bid to expand their market north of the border.

The game against the Steelers, unveiled as part of the Bills’ preseason schedule, will be one of Buffalo’s three preseason games played at Toronto’s Rogers Center — one every other year through 2012.