ASHBURN, Va. --- Jason Taylor entered the locker room Tuesday morning ready to suit up for his first practice of training camp, just like he'd done before each of his past 11 NFL seasons.

This time, however, instead of finding a Miami Dolphins uniform waiting for him, there was a Washington Redskins outfit with an unfamiliar number.

"Some of the guys in the locker room noticed I was uneasy with it at first," Taylor joked. "I was looking at the helmet and trying to figure out what it was and all that."

It was his first practice since being acquired from the Dolphins, for a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round choice in 2010. Taylor took the field in a No. 55 jersey, a change from the No. 99 he'd worn his entire career.

Andre Carter , Taylor's new defensive end partner, already wears No. 99 for the Redskins.

Taylor's last season in Miami was a dramatic one. He appeared on the TV show Dancing With the Stars this off-season and did not participate in Dolphins workouts. There appeared to be a rift between Taylor and management.

Taylor played down those difficulties in his first news conference as the newest member of the Redskins on Monday.

"From my point of view there was no animosity, no hard feelings," he said.

RAMS: Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace is close to returning from a shoulder injury, but will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

BEARS: A quarterback competition promises to heat up training camp, and coach Lovie Smith wanted to make it clear there was no perceived favorite between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.

"It's dead even," Smith said.

l Linebacker Brian Urlacher agreed to a contract extension through the 2012 season, worth $18 million, including a $6 million signing bonus.

CHARGERS: Defensive end Luis Castillo agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2014 valued at more than $43 million.

PATRIOTS: Offensive lineman Nick Kaczur pleaded guilty to speeding in a deal with prosecutors that will put a misdemeanor drug possession charge on hold.

According to police reports, Kaczur was pulled over in Whitestown, N.Y., with 202 OxyContin pills. According to published reports, Kaczur has helped federal authorities arrest the man accused of supplying the drug.