KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two Pro Bowl players were missing at the start of the Chiefs mandatory minicamp, one of them hoping to land a new contract and the other let go so that the team might be able to afford it. Justin Houston, their talented young pass rusher, is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Hes due to make only $1.4 million, a bargain for a linebacker who has piled up 26 1/2 sacks in three seasons. And in whats believed to be a negotiating ploy, Houston not only skipped three weeks of voluntary workouts, but hes also skipping this weeks three-day minicamp. The Chiefs practiced Tuesday for the first time since releasing cornerback Brandon Flowers. The move last Friday saves the Chiefs about $7.25 million against the salary cap this season and $7.5 million next season, money that could be used in a deal for Houston. Of course, the Chiefs have two other pending free agents in quarterback Alex Smith and centre Rodney Hudson. That means they might have to get creative if they want to keep all of them. In the meantime, first-round pick Dee Ford got first-team reps in place of Houston during Tuesdays practice. Marcus Cooper and Ron Parker split time at cornerback in place of Flowers and fellow starter Sean Smith, who was excused from the workout with an illness. "Every day I go out there as if Im the starter, so I cant say its any different if (Flowers) is here or isnt here," Cooper said. "Just keep grinding, getting better every day." Cooper was a revelation early last season, a seventh-round pick claimed off waivers from San Francisco who wound up starting six games and picking off three passes. He went through a rookie lull midseason, but came on toward the end, giving the Chiefs front office a sense of confidence that they would be able to withstand Flowers release. Still, the change brings even more instability to the defensive backfield. The Chiefs already had allowed starting free safety Kendrick Lewis and backup defensive back Quintin Demps to sign elsewhere, opening a couple of holes they are hoping to fill internally. Husain Abdullah and Sanders Commings appear to be the first in line. "We have guys who can step up," Commings said. Tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Kyle Williams and cornerback David Van Dyke did individual workouts and the install period, but were otherwise limited. Kelce is coming off knee surgery, Williams a torn ACL and Van Dyke a hamstring injury. Rookie running back DeAnthony Thomas appeared to be overcome by the heat and humidity on a warm afternoon. He chugged water on a knee after one series of plays, then took a swing pass to the end zone, where he collapsed. He wound up walking to the shade and spent several minutes with a trainer before heading to the locker room. He did not return to the field. Thomas, a fourth-round pick out of Oregon, has been unable to join the Chiefs for workouts since rookie minicamp because of an NFL rule that prohibited him from working out until his school graduates. Oregon is on the quarter system, so that didnt happen until this past weekend. The Chiefs also had four players in for tryouts on Tuesday: former Rutgers wide receiver Mark Harrison, Cal Poly wide receiver Cole Stanford, Utah State cornerback Quinton Byrd and Missouri cornerback Kip Edwards. Sebastian Joseph Jersey . The four-time Grand Slam champion has beaten Hantuchova nine straight times, with the Slovaks only win coming when they first played 10 years ago. "I had a tough first opponent who can play extremely good tennis," Sharapova said. Trevon Young Jersey . Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. 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The surprising Boys entered Week 8 with the leagues best record at 6-1 and long-time rival Washington looming on Monday Night Football. And the Redskins are expected to start their third different quarterback in just eight games. Watch tonights action unfold live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5, beginning with NFL Monday Night Countdown at 6pm et/3pm pt. Washington first-year head coach Jay Gruden sort of named Colt McCoy as the teams new starter while Robert Griffin III continues to rehabilitate a dislocated ankle suffered in Week 2 against Jacksonville. Gruden, however, is also paying lip service to a potential RG3 return but thats likely an attempt to game a competitive advantage. Were preparing for Colt to be the starter, Gruden said. But were trying to get Robert some reps, get him ready, but right now it looks like odds are Colt will be the starter, but were trying to work Robert into the lineup and trying to get him reps to get him ready to go. If it is McCoy under center, it will be the University of Texas products first start since Dec. 8, 2011 when he piloted the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I just want to go out there and be who I am -- that is who I am every day in here -- be confident and play the best football I can play, McCoy said. McCoy replaced an ineffective Kirk Cousins at halftime during last Sundays 19-17 win against Tennessee and led the Redskins on a 10-play, 76-yard game- winning drive, culminated by a 22-yard Kai Forbath field goal as time expired. We needed a win bad, said Forbath. Colt stepped in, put me in a great position. I couldnt ask for better field position to kick the game-winner, so hats off to our offense for getting us there. McCoy, who was 6-15 in his career as a starter in Cleveland, finished 11-of-12 for 128 yards and a touchdown to Pierre Garcon in the second half against the Titans as Washington halted a four-game skid. Hes had to learn like all back-up quarterbacks have had to do. But hes very, very smart, Gruden said when discussing McCoy. Hes been in this system before -- a West Coast-type system -- so hes familiar with a lot of the pass concepts.ddddddddddddWe figured if his number was called, hed be ready to go. Cousins was 10-of-16 for 139 yards with an interception over the first 30 minutes. He has thrown 10 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in six games -- five starts -- as RG3s original replacement. The Cowboys earned their sixth straight victory with a 31-21 home win over the New York Giants in Week 7. DeMarco Murray went over the century mark in rushing yards for the seventh straight week and Tony Romo threw three touchdown passes in the NFC East clash. Murray gained 128 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, becoming the first running back in NFL history to open the season with seven straight weeks of 100-plus yards in the process. Last week, Murray matched Jim Browns NFL record of six straight weeks with a 115-yard performance in Dallas win in Seattle. I think we did this as a group, so its hard for me to accept this individually, Murray said when addressing his record-breaking streak. The offensive line is a huge part of this -- the tight ends, the receivers, the entire coaching staff. But I definitely give a lot of credit to those guys. But theres a lot of hard work that (still) needs to be done. Its a long season. The surging Cowboys havent lost since a Week 1 setback to San Francisco in which Romo threw three interceptions. The veteran QB has tossed 13 touchdown passes against just three picks since that game, including a 17-for-23 effort with 279 yards and his fifth straight multi-touchdown game against the Giants. Two of his three touchdowns went to tight end Gavin Escobar, who made three catches for 65 yards in the first multi-score game of his career. Dez Bryant led all receivers with nine catches and 151 yards. This game marks the 16th meeting between the Cowboys and