Green Seeks Second Chance

Unemployed tight end Eric Green, trying to recover from knee surgery and a tarnished reputation, wants a second chance with Coach Jimmy Johnson and the Miami Dolphins.

Green and Johnson met for an hour Saturday in an attempt to patch up their relationship. Johnson released the former Pro Bowl tight end July 9.

“The guy is an up-front guy,” Green said. “I respect him and he respects me. I think this thing is going to come together.”

Among the issues likely discussed were Johnson’s annoyance at Green’s work habits and weight problems. Bothered by knee trouble, Green missed 39 practices last season under former coach Don Shula.

Green, recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in May, resumed jogging two weeks ago and looked trim as he emerged from Johnson’s office. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Green will be available by the third or fourth game of the season.

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Deland McCullough, the Cincinnati Bengals’ leading rusher in the exhibition season, will need reconstructive knee surgery and is sidelined for the season. McCullough tore ligaments in his right knee during a 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Friday night. An MRI on Saturday also found torn cartilage. The former Miami of Ohio running back will have surgery in a few weeks, when the swelling has subsided.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers put receiver Ernie Mills on the physically unable to perform list and cut six players to reach the regular-season roster limit of 53. . . . The Seattle Seahawks face the prospect of opening the season without linebackers Terry Wooden and Michael Barber. Wooden, the team’s leading tackler last season, pulled his right hamstring in Seattle’s 20-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Friday night. Barber, a backup middle linebacker, has a hyper-extended knee. . . . Minnesota Viking linebacker Darryl Talley is questionable for next Sunday’s opener against Detroit, putting his string of 221 consecutive games in jeopardy. Talley suffered a sprained knee Friday night against New Orleans. . . . The Saints got a jump on today’s mandatory roster reduction, releasing tight end Kirk Botkin, linebacker Ron Childs, defensive tackle Buster Stanley and receiver John Jackson to reduce their roster to 56. NFL teams must cut down to 53 today.