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The small army of correspondents marshalled by our friends at Pro Football Weekly has had its collective ear to the ground throughout the preseason:

• WR Laveranues Coles has been everything the Jets hoped he would be and more in his second tour of duty with the club. We hear the injured toe that was such a concern to the Redskins has not been an issue at all. More importantly, Coles seems to have quickly regained the chemistry he shared with QB Chad Pennington before leaving for Washington.

• Word from New England is that while Tedy Bruschi has been a regular presence at the Pats' training facility, working out daily, there are no plans for the team to utilize him in a coaching capacity this season.

• League higher-ups in attendance at the Niners' camp in the aftermath of OG Thomas Herrion's tragic death told PFW sources they couldn't have been more impressed with the classy, dignified and heartfelt manner in which rookie head coach Mike Nolan conducted himself throughout an emotional ordeal, one which could linger well into the season.

• The CB competition between Drayton Florence and Sammy Davis for the job opposite Quentin Jammer in San Diego never materialized, as Florence clearly outplayed the former first-round pick in camp. As of this writing, Davis was in a battle with the surprising Jamar Fletcher for the team's nickel CB job.

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