Giants' Andre Brown breaks his leg again

GIANTS RUNNING back Andre Brown broke his left leg for the second straight year, the team announced.

Brown limped off to the locker room just before the end of the first half of last night's night's preseason game against the host New England Patriots, and X-rays revealed a fractured leg. Brown fractured his left fibula last year in a win over the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 25. He came back from the injury this year and was ready to play a key role in the running game behind starter David Wilson.

The Giants also lost backup safety Tyler Sash to a concussion in the first half. Tight end Adrien Robinson was injured as well, and had his left foot examined and retaped.

It's been an extremely painful preseason for the Giants, who have had starters Victor Cruz (heel), David Baas (left MCL), David Diehl (thumb) and Stevie Brown (knee) suffer injuries in preseason games.

Andre Brown's injury is a blow to the Giants, who have seventh-round pick Michael Cox, Ryan Torain and Da'Rel Scott on the roster behind Wilson. The Giants were hoping to use Wilson and Brown as a 1-2 punch in the running game.

Brown's 6-year career has been marred by injuries. He suffered a season-ending Achilles' injury during training camp in his rookie season in 2009 before his two broken left legs.

* Former Eagle Nnamdi Asomugha, who began training camp competing for a roster spot, has won the No. 3 cornerback job with the San Francisco 49ers.

Asomugha signed with the 49ers during the offseason after being released by the Eagles, just two seasons after signing a 5-year, $60 million contract.

Asomugha will play behind starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown, filling the role of Chris Culliver, who will miss the season with a torn ACL.

* Patriots president Jonathan Kraft disputed several elements of a Rolling Stone story about former New England tight end Aaron Hernandez, who has been charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd.

According to the story, Hernandez had told Patriots coach Bill Belichick that he feared for his life in the months before his arrest and Belichick suggested he find a safe house in a town near his residence in North Attleborough, Mass.

In an interview with Boston's 98.5 The Sports Hub, Kraft told said Belichick had denied such a conversation had taken place.

* Buffalo guard Doug Legursky was carted off the field after hurting his left knee, and the team lost two receivers to injury in the preseason finale against Detroit.

Rookie third-round pick Marquise Goodwin did not return after being poked in the left eye in the first quarter. Veteran Brad Smith did not return after hurting his ribs late in the second quarter.

Legursky, who was competing for a starting job at left guard, hurt his knee while blocking on a 1-yard run by Kendall Gaskins late in the third quarter.

* Minnesota offensive lineman Seth Olsen was taken off the field on a stretcher in the second quarter after injuring his neck in a collision with Titans linebacker Scott Solomon.

Concerned teammates lined up about 15 yards away, and players on both sides kneeled in prayer. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and gave a thumbs-up with his left hand as he was wheeled off the field.