Plenty of running backs cast aside as teams shrink rosters

Any NFL teams looking for help in the backfield might be encouraged by the availability of a few running backs who were cut Saturday.

That includes Ron Dayne, Lee Suggs and Najeh Davenport.

Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner who entered the Broncos' training camp as the starter, was released as Denver got down to the 53-man limit. Suggs, traded by Cleveland to the New York Jets, then returned to the Browns when he failed a physical, also was cut. Green Bay cut Davenport, a veteran who missed much of last year with a broken ankle.

Also cut were Detroit's Charles Rogers, the second overall draft pick by Detroit three years ago, and Denver's Darius Watts, both wide receivers.

Dayne could find a taker in Houston, which placed top runne, Domanick Davis on injured reserve Saturday.

* St. Louis acquired veteran offensive lineman Adam Goldberg from Minnesota in a trade. Goldberg, entering his fourth season, started 12 games at right guard last season.

* The New York Giants cut kick returner Willie Ponder, a Southeast Missouri State product. Ponder has two career returns for touchdowns and a career average of 26.4 yards per return on 71 returns the last two years but he played rarely after fumbling in a loss to Minnesota last year.

* Another Southeast product, offensive lineman Dan Connelly, was placed on injured reserve by Jacksonville.