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Fantasy Index Newsblast

Jets LB Calvin Pace has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2009 season after violating the NFL's policy regarding performance-enhancing substances, the league announced Thursday. Pace is eligible to return Oct. 5, the day after the Jets' game against the Saints in New Orleans. He will be eligible to face the Dolphins in a Monday night game Oct. 12. The suspension begins Sept. 5; Pace will be allowed to participate in the Jets' preseason practices and games. In a statement released through the team, Pace said he took a dietary supplement that had a banned substance he wasn't aware of. He didn't specify the supplement. Source: Newsday.

The Champaign (Ill.) Police Department officially agrees that the person arrested June 9 as Vontae Davis of Washington, wasn't the Dolphins' 2009 first-round pick. Earlier this week, Davis said he thought any damage to his image was minimized when the Dolphins quickly informed the police and media outlets of Davis' whereabouts June 9. A police report summary from June 9 showed a traffic stop arrest of Vontae Davis with a home address in Washington, for unnecessary vehicular noise and driving with an invalid driver's license. The Dolphins maintained Davis was at an organized team activity in Davie June 9. Davis said someone had to be using an identification from a wallet stolen while he was still at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Source: Miami Herald.

The Titans agreed to terms with TE Jared Cook on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the situation. Cook, the team's third round draft pick, agreed to a four-year deal with the team that includes a signing bonus of roughly $700,000. Cook's deal also includes rookie minimums of $310,000 in 2009, $395,000 (in 2010), $480,000 (in '11), and $565,000 (in '12). Cook, who played at South Carolina, becomes the 7th player from the Titans' 11-man draft class to reach a deal with the team. The 6-5, 246-pounder has arguably been the most impressive of the team's draft picks this offseason. He's lined up at tight end and receiver and made a number of impressive catches. Source: Nashville Tennessean.

Cleveland Browns WR Donte Stallworth tested positive for marijuana use after the car he was driving struck and killed a pedestrian, law enforcement sources have told the Miami Herald. Stallworth, 28, is serving a 30-day jail sentence as part of his penalty after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter on June 16. He was driving his Bentley when it struck and killed Mario Reyes, 59, on March 14 in Miami. Prosecutors said Stallworth's blood alcohol level of .126 was well above the legal limit when he was tested after the accident. The Herald reported Wednesday that, according to the unidentified sources, the test results also showed traces of marijuana. The results have not yet been released. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer.

A statement Brandon Marshall made during his 2007 DUI arrest indicates the Denver Broncos wide receiver may have been interested in a trade long before the Broncos coaching change. According to an Oct. 22, 2007, Denver Police report, Marshall went on a rant about the city. "Why aren't you guys out looking for (Darrent) Williams' killer?" Marshall told a police officer after he was pulled over when he was caught weaving and driving the wrong way down 14th Street near Auraria Parkway. According to the police report, Marshall went on to say, "I hate Denver. I hope I get traded." Marshall was cited for a DUI in the incident. More recently, he is having a contract squabble with the team. Source: Denver Post.

Two days after the Jets claimed G Mike Fladell off waivers from the Giants, they waived the 6-7, 334-pound guard after he failed his physical Wednesday. Fladell, a two-year starter for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2006-07), was signed to the Giants practice squad last December as an undrafted rookie free agent. The Jets claimed him after the Giants waived him June 24. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Suspended NFL QB Michael Vick is leaving a job with a Virginia construction company to work with youngsters at Boys & Girls Clubs. Steven Kast, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula, says Vick will be working with children on health and fitness activities at several clubs in the Hampton Roads area. Vick was a regular at the Boys & Girls Club in Newport News as a youngster. The former Atlanta Falcon needed a job to meet the conditions of his probation and had been working as a $10-an-hour laborer. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Free agent LB Willie McGinest continues to eye the Pats as a possible landing spot, the 15-year veteran linebacker told Albert Breer of sportingnews.com. McGinest, who was part of three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots [team stats] before leaving as a free agent for Cleveland in 2006, expressed his desire to play one more season. "Yeah, I've talked to (QB) Tom (Brady), (DE Richard) Seymour and some other guys there," McGinest said. "Those guys are lifelong friends, and I've heard some people say that it'd be a good fit." Source: Boston Herald.

The Titans agreed to terms with two more members of their 2009 draft class on Tuesday -- CB Ryan Mouton and LB Gerald McRath. Mouton, a third round pick from Hawaii, agreed to a four-year deal worth just over $2.4 million, along with a signing bonus somewhere between $660,000 and $670,000. McRath, a fourth round pick from Southern Mississippi, also agreed to a four-year deal. Both deals included rookie minimums of $310,000 in 2009, $395,000 (in 2010), $480,000 (in '11), and $565,000 (in '12). Source: Nashville Tennessean.

The Vikings reached a contract agreement with the second of their five draft picks Tuesday, signing fifth-round LB Jasper Brinkley. The announcement came on the Vikings website and terms were not disclosed. Brinkley, taken 150th overall in the April draft, had 193 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and three interceptions in 30 games (29 starts) at South Carolina. Brinkley earned all-SEC second-team honors last season after missing much of the 2007 season after tearing his lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. The Vikings thought enough of Brinkley that they traded a fifth- and seventh-round pick to Washington in order to move up in the fifth round and grab him. Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Tedy Bruschi isn't looking beyond the upcoming season. The New England Patriots LB said Tuesday he hasn't considered whether he'll keep playing after 2009, which will be his 14th season with the team. Bruschi commented at a one-day football camp he ran for 67 youngsters at Gillette Stadium. He said that once he retires, he'd like to remain in football. And he said he knows he can coach. But he's not sure when he will stop playing. He said that once a player reaches 10 years in the NFL, it's best not to think beyond the upcoming season. Source: Boston Herald.

The Jaguars made their trade with the Lions official on Tuesday, sending WR Dennis Northcutt to Detroit in exchange for S Gerald Alexander, the Jaguars announced. The rare player-for-player swap appears to fill pressing needs for both teams. Alexander, who suffered a fractured vertebra last season, passed a physical for the Jaguars on Monday, but it wasn't until Tuesday that satisfactory results came back from Northcutt's physical in Detroit. Source: Florida Times-Union.

The Carolina Panthers have waived undrafted rookie LBs Mike Juergens and Brit Miller. The moves on Tuesday create half the roster space needed for Carolina's four remaining unsigned draft picks. Juergens played at Wyoming and Miller at Illinois. They were signed days after the draft and participated in the offseason minicamp and optional workouts. Source: Charlotte Observer.

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms on a four-year deal with second-round draft choice LeSean McCoy on Monday. The running back from Pittsburgh, taken by Philadelphia with the 53rd overall selection, is the first second-round pick to sign, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus. Philadelphia has come to terms with seven of the eight members of its 2009 draft class. Only first-rounder Jeremy Maclin, a wide receiver from Missouri, has not agreed to a deal. McCoy, who provides insurance behind the dynamic but injury prone Brian Westbrook, rushed for 2,816 yards and 35 TDs, and caught 65 passes for 549 yards and one score in two seasons at Pitt. He ran for 1,488 yards and 21 TDs last year. Source: Associated Press.

Free-agent long-snapper Jason Kyle, who figured to be a casualty of the Panthers' tight salary cap situation this offseason, has signed with the New Orleans Saints. "I talked a lot to (general manager) Marty (Hurney) and the coaches and they said they wanted to keep me," said Kyle. "But they said they couldn't do anything." The Panthers have little room under the salary cap after taking care of two other prominent free agents -- offensive tackle Jordan Gross and defensive end Julius Peppers. The New Orleans Saints cut veteran long snapper Kevin Houser. Source: Charlotte Observer.

The Jaguars have signed sixth-round draft pick Zach Miller to a contract. Miller, a tight end who played quarterback at Nebraska-Omaha, was the 180th overall pick in the draft. He is the first of the team’s nine draft picks to sign a contract this year. Miller, 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, is only the third tight end drafted by the Jaguars in the last seven years. He's expected to vie for the backup job behind Marcedes Lewis. Source: Florida Times-Union.

The Steelers agreed Monday to a three-year contact with G Kraig Urbik, the first of their three third-round draft picks. No financial terms were released. Urbik, the 79th selection overall, is the eighth of nine draft picks to sign. Only No. 1 pick Ziggy Hood remains without a deal. Urbik, 6 foot 5, 328 pounds, made 50 starts at Wisconsin, including 34 at right guard and 16 at right tackle. He figures to join the mix at right guard, along with veterans Darnell Stapleton and Trai Essex, when the Steelers open camp July 31 at Saint Vincent College. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The New York Giants announced Monday they signed TE Travis Beckum, one of their two third-round picks. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The team waived defensive end Alex Field to make space on the roster. Beckum, who ranks third in Wisconsin history with 159 career catches, is the fifth draft pick to sign, joining WR Ramses Barden, QB Rhett Bomar and CBs DeAndre Wright and Stoney Woodson. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson is in no hurry to have his team play more than one annual regular-season game in Toronto. Wilson told The Associated Press on Sunday he'd prefer waiting "two or three years" to determine whether the northern experiment is a success before he'd consider reworking the contract reached last year with Toronto-based Rogers Communications. The Bills are locked into playing five regular-season - one a year - and three preseason games in Toronto under the agreement which runs through 2012. Rogers officials have expressed interest in adding at least one additional regular-season game a year, particularly if the NFL goes forward with a proposal to expand its regular-season schedule to 17 or 18 games. Source: Buffalo News.

The Jaguars agreed to a trade Friday that will send WR Dennis Northcutt to Detroit for Lions S Gerald Alexander, according to Jerome Stanley, the agent for both players. The deal, which is contingent on both players passing physicals, won't be official until Monday. Jaguars general manager Gene Smith didn't immediately respond to an e-mail, and coach Jack Del Rio is out of the country and unavailable for comment. A second-round pick in 2007, Alexander is expected to bolster a relatively thin group of safeties, led by starters Reggie Nelson and Sean Considine. Source: Florida Times-Union.

Pro Bowl LB Terrell Suggs said Friday that he is nearing a long-term deal with the Ravens, a contract that surprisingly wouldn't make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. The league deadline to reach a new contract with players who have received the franchise tag is July 15. If no deal can be struck, Suggs would play under the franchise tag for a second straight season, earning $10.2 million this year. "We are close to an agreement. We just have a few little things to work out," Suggs said. "I don't want to go into great detail, but it's things like the years of the agreement and incentives, but the basic framework has been done." Source: Baltimore Sun.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has started his review of the Plaxico Burress shooting incident under the league's personal conduct policy. The league confirmed Friday that Goodell was examining the incident in which Burress shot himself in the thigh in November in a New York City nightclub. The commissioner could suspend him if he finds that the receiver violated the NFL policy on personal conduct. Burress, who caught the winning pass in the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in February 2008, was released by New York in April. He has not been signed by another team. Burress still faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon. He would face up to 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

The Giants' players might be on vacation, but the front office is hard at work wrapping up contracts for their draft picks. The latest is RB Andre Brown, the team's fourth-round pick. Brown's agent said via e-mail he and his client have agreed to terms on a four-year contract. The deal will likely be made official soon. No word yet on terms or which player has been cut to make room for Brown on the roster. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

The Panthers announced the signing Friday of fourth-round draft pick Mike Goodson, a running back/kick returner from Texas A&M. He is the third of the team's draft picks to sign. The Panthers are high on Goodson's game-breaking potential as a situational running, receiver and possible kickoff returner. Source: Charlotte Observer.

Baltimore agreed to a three-year deal with third-round selection Lardarius Webb. The cornerback from Nicholls State received a signing bonus of about $530,000. "Lardarius was slowed some in the [organized team activities] with a hamstring problem, but toward the end, when he was feeling better, he showed he belonged," coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "He'll help us on special teams, including as a gunner, and he'll contribute to our defense." The Ravens' only unsigned draft picks are OT Michael Oher (first round) and DE-LB Paul Kruger (second round). Source: Baltimore Sun.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is beginning to focus on evaluating Michael Vick's future in the NFL. But Goodell said Thursday his decision on the former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback will come "in due time" and not necessarily before the season begins. "I haven't given a timeline," on a decision about reinstatement, Goodell told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. Goodell says he has yet to speak to Vick, and won't sit down with him until after Vick is released July 20 from home confinement and federal custody. Source: Associated Press.

The Titans have agreed to terms with WR Dominique Edison on a rookie contract. Edison, a sixth round pick in April's NFL Draft, becomes the fourth member of the team's 2009 draft class to reach a deal. Earlier this week the Titans agreed to terms with G Ryan Durand (7th round) and CB Jason McCourty (6th). S Nick Schommer (7th round) reached a deal with the team last week. Edison agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the team with rookie minimums of $310,000 (in 2009), $395,000 (in 2010), $480,000 ('11) and $565,000 (in '12). Source: Nashville Tennessean.

The Jets were awarded CB Rashad Barksdale on waivers, the team announced, after he was released by the Giants last week. For Barksdale, a 6-0, 208-pound corner, the Jets will be his fourth NFL team. He was drafted in 2007 by the Philadelphia Eagles but was cut later that year and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played six games. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

The Jets have put a waiver claim in on former Bengals receiver Mario Urrutia, a seventh-round pick (246th overall) in 2008. Urrutia, 6-6, 232, was released by Cincy last Aug. 30 and signed to the team's practice squad the next day. He spent the entire season on the practice squad and was subsequently released. During his college career at Louisville, Urrutia had 130 catches for 2,271 yards and 16 touchdowns. Source: Newsday.

The Carolina Panthers announced Wednesday their Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers had finally signed his offer sheet and would play for them this season. Then, late in the evening, agent Carl Carey said Peppers was satisfied with his contract situation, and also open to considering a possible long-term deal. For about two years, Peppers has resisted the Panthers' attempts to sign him to a contract extension, turning down offers that would have made him the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. The Panthers have a three-week window to discuss a contract extension with Peppers because of the NFL's July 15 deadline for all teams to sign players who were given the franchise player designation to a long-term deal. The Panthers likely would have to make Peppers the highest paid defensive player and top the deals signed this offseason by Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (three years, $45.3 million) and Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (a seven-year deal that is widely viewed as a four-year, $48 million contract). The offer sheet Peppers signed could be worth up to $19.183 million next season. It includes a $16.683 million guaranteed base salary -- the amount he's currently counting against the team's salary cap -- plus incentives that carry over from his previous contract of $1.5 million for making the Pro Bowl and $250,000 for every playoff win up to and including the Super Bowl. Source: Charlotte Observer.

The Seattle Seahawks announced Thursday that FB Owen Schmitt was arrested Saturday on suspicion of drunken driving. Schmitt, 24, was pulled over by Black Diamond, Washington police around midnight for speeding. He was subsequently arrested for drunken driving after his blood-alcohol content was measured at .151 and .161, according to State Patrol records. The legal limit in Washington is .08. Schmitt was drafted in 2008 out of West Virginia and played mainly special teams as a rookie. He is expected to be the starting fullback in 2009 after the departure of Leonard Weaver, who signed with Philadelphia as a free agent in March. Source: Seattle Times.

The Lions announced Thursday that they had signed their starting center Dominic Raiola to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2013 season. Financial terms of the contract were not announced. Raiola, 30, has been with the Lions for eight seasons. He was drafted in the second round, 50th overall, in 2001 out of Nebraska. Source: Detroit News.

The Giants announced Wednesday that LB Michael Boley, a free-agent acquisition who is slated as the starter on the weak side, has undergone arthroscopic hip surgery to repair a torn labrum and will be out for 8-10 weeks. With training camp set to begin on Aug. 1, it appears Boley will be sidelined for most, if not all, of the time in Albany. The regular season is slightly less than 12 weeks away, so the Giants are hopeful Boley will be back by then. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Multiple league sources confirmed Wednesday that Jacksonville seeks to trade Dennis Northcutt, one of the longest-tenured receivers remaining on the roster. Northcutt's age (31) and salary (scheduled to make $2.75 million), combined with the addition of veteran Torry Holt and rookies Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood, appear to have made the 10-year veteran expendable. Source: Florida Times-Union.

The Broncos on Wednesday were awarded WR C.J. Jones off waivers from Kansas City. Jones is a third-year player who has spent time on the active roster with Cleveland in 2003 and New England in 2008, as well as parts of two seasons on the practice squad with the Browns (2003-04) and Patriots ('07). Kansas City signed Jones, who went to Iowa, on March 5 as an unrestricted free agent, but waived him on June 19. Source: Denver Post.

It took most of the offseason, but Greg Jennings and his agent got what they wanted from the Green Bay Packers. The three-year contract extension the rising receiver signed on Wednesday financially sets up him and his family for life — and also gives Jennings the chance for another big-time payday before he turns 30. “That’s the beauty of it,” Jennings said shortly after the Packers announced the deal, which contains roughly $16 million in guarantees. Added onto the remaining year of his rookie deal, the extension -- which could pay Jennings in the neighborhood of $30 million if he earns all incentives -- runs through the 2012 season. Jennings, 25, will be 29 when his new deal expires. So, he’ll be young enough at a position with a relatively short shelf life that a team probably wouldn’t hesitate to invest top dollar if his career continues its upward trajectory. Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette.

The Ravens continue to make quick work of signing their draft picks, agreeing to a three-year deal with third-rouder Lardarius Webb. The cornerback from Nicholls State received a signing bonus around $530,000. The Ravens' only unsigned draft picks are: offensive tackle Michael Oher (first round) and defensive end-linebacker Paul Kruger (second round). Source: Baltimore Sun.

Now that No.1 draft pick Matthew Stafford is up to speed with the two veterans on the roster, Duante Culpepper and third-year backup Drew Stanton, coach Jim Schwartz has made it clear the No. 1 job is up for grabs -- "an arms race" he's calling it -- heading into training camp. "I think that's healthy," Stafford said. Schwartz said, "It's going to be competitive. We have some talent at that position. Daunte's put himself in a really good spot with his commitment in the offseason -- losing weight (and in) the offseason program. He was a marquee player in the league a few years ago, and then he had the knee injury and had a setback. And he looks like he's well on his way to getting back there. He's put the rest of the league on notice that he's back. So we've got a lot of talent at that position: We've got a first-round draft pick, a second-round draft pick (Drew Stanton) and a former MVP candidate. I like the way that's stacking up." Source: Detroit News.

Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said during rookie camp he has a clear idea of what he wants from S Tyrone Culver in 2009: dime-package safety and special-teams ace as he grows into perhaps an every-down player. And if Culver continues to evolve as a player past 2009, the former street free agent could earn $2.35 million in base salary, as the Dolphins have signed him to a two-year extension as confirmed by the NFL Players Association website listing of Culver's contract status. Culver, who is set to earn $875,000 this upcoming season in base salary, would've been a free agent after this season. Source: Miami Herald.

The Steelers signed OT Max Starks to a four-year, $26.3 million contract yesterday with a signing bonus of about $10 million. Starks, a six-year veteran, now is signed through 2012. It has long been a goal of the Steelers to sign Starks to a long-term contract. He was the Steelers' second-highest paid player last season, even though he began the year as a reserve. But, for the past two years, the Steelers have prevented him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. He earned $6.9 million last season as the team's transition player and was labeled the franchise player in February, setting him up to earn $8,451,000 this season, the average salary of the NFL's top five offensive linemen. With the announcement of his new contract, Starks no longer carries the team's franchise tag and the team created about $2 million in salary-cap room for this year. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Five days after agreeing to contract terms with their third and final seventh-round pick, the Chiefs announced Tuesday that Ryan Succop is officially under contract. The deal reportedly is worth $1.2 million for the life of the contract. Succop is the first Chiefs draft pick to sign, which is ironic because he was the last player to be drafted, at No. 256 overall. Kansas City hopes he'll be the long-term answer -- or at least be in the mix to be -- at kicker, a trouble spot the last several years. The Chiefs used two kickers, Nick Novak and Connor Barth, in 2008. Barth remains with the Chiefs as they enter training camp, and he'll compete with Succop for the place-kicking job. Source: Kansas City Star.

The Buccaneers have signed two draft picks -- DE Kyle Moore and CB E.J. Biggers -- to four-year contracts, according to their agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Moore was drafted in the fourth round by the Bucs, and Biggers was selected in the seventh round. Their signings leave the Bucs with just two unsigned draft picks: first-rounder Josh Freeman, the quarterback from Kansas State and third-round pick Roy Miller, a defensive tackle from Texas. Source: St. Petersburg Times.

The Titans agreed to terms on rookie contracts on Tuesday with CB Jason McCourty and OL Ryan Durand. They became the second and third players from the team’s 11-man draft class of 2009 to join the fold. McCourty was a sixth-round pick from Rutgers and Durand was a seventh-round pick from Syracuse. Both agreed to four-year deals. Source: Nashville Tennessean.

Dallas offensive linemen Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo and Cory Procter have signed a recording contract as part of a heavy metal band called Free Reign. Their debut album for Australia's Riot Entertainment will be released this fall. "Free Reign is a band with massive potential," Riot owner John Howarth said in a news release Tuesday. "There has been an enormous buzz surrounding them since they appeared on the scene a few months ago. Free Reign has already been flooded with endorsements. Their marketing potential is limitless. These guys are already huge sports stars, but they have shown they have the talent to diversify." Guitarist Justin Chapman is the fourth member of the group. Source: Dallas Morning News.

The Green Bay Packers are in contract negotiations with Greg Jennings and are close to agreeing to a new deal, the veteran wide receiver said Monday after minicamp practice. Jennings warned that a breakdown was still possible. Nevertheless, this was the first time he had publicly been so optimistic about a potential new contract with the team since he began seeking a new deal at the conclusion of the 2008 season. "We've been working on some things. We're coming pretty close, as far as my understanding is, to some type of a deal," Jennings said. Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

La'Roi Glover, a six-time Pro Bowl selection at defensive tackle who once led the NFL in sacks, announced his retirement Monday after 13 seasons. Glover, who turns 35 on July 4, spent the past three seasons with the Rams. He was not re-signed after last season, in which he had 30 tackles and one-half sack. Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

S Nick Collins showed up for the Green Bay Packers' mandatory minicamp Monday but he didn't seem all that happy about it. He also wouldn't rule out holding out of training camp if the Packers don't at least indicate a willingness to give him the long-term contract extension he is seeking. "We'll see," said Collins, who will be paid $3.045 million next season, the final year of his contract. "We'll see." Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The Vikings signed the first of their five draft picks Monday, agreeing to terms on a four-year deal with seventh-round S Jamarca Sanford. Sanford, the 231st overall pick in April, started all 44 games he played at Mississippi, and his 287 career tackles were more than any other player in the Southeastern Conference during his four seasons. Sanford will try to win a roster spot based on his special teams play. He also could wind up as a backup to starting safeties Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams. Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Miami entertainment figures Gloria and Emilio Estefan will be announced as Miami Dolphins minority owners Thursday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations between the Estefans and the Dolphins. The source said Monday night the National Football League and the Dolphins are looking to expand their reach to South Florida's growing Hispanic community and are turning to the Estefans as their ambassadors. Source: Miami Herald.

The Falcons signed LB Spencer Adkins, a sixth-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the team announced on Monday. The Falcons have now signed five of their eight draft picks. The terms of Adkins deal were undisclosed. DT Peria Jerry (first round), S William Moore (second round) and DE Lawrence Sidbury (fourth round) remain unsigned. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Bengals have signed DT Clinton McDonald of Memphis, the team announced Monday. McDonald was a seventh-round draft pick who played four seasons at Memphis and played in 48 games with 33 starts. Source: Cincinnati Enquirer.

Refuting a report on profootballtalk.com, Brett Favre's agent denied his client is already under contract to the Vikings. Vikings officials did not respond to the report, which also alleged the team has authorized Reebok to produce Vikings jerseys with Favre's name on them. The biggest hurdle to a union between Favre and the Vikings, it would appear, is the health of Favre's surgically repaired arm. On Friday, Vikings coach Brad Childress told KFAN-AM 1130 that Favre is "pain-free right now." Childress sounded as though he's ready for Favre to join the team, saying he believes Favre will be a "great locker-room guy" and "tremendous teammate." Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Kansas City announced four players were waived last week. Long snapper Thomas Gafford, DT T.J. Jackson, WR C.J. Jones and LB Darrell Robertson were let go by the team. Gafford and Jackson were the only ones to have played with the Chiefs last season. Source: Kansas City Star.

Holdout WR Brandon Marshall reported to camp -- his own. The Denver Broncos Pro Bowl receiver who skipped the team's mandatory minicamp last weekend in a contract dispute is holding a two-day youth football camp for 500 kids ages 7-18 at a local high school. Marshall declined to answer questions about his status with the Broncos on Thursday, other than to say he and his agent are communicating with the team. Asked if he thought this youth football camp was his grand goodbye to the community that's embraced him, Marshall said basically that nothing good lasts forever. "I think we saw this past year as far as change, as for changes in our front office. Coach Shanahan being here 13 years. Gone! I think that's part of life. You know it's just change," Marshall said. Source: Associated Press.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came down hard on Cleveland Browns WR Donte Stallworth on Thursday, suspending him indefinitely without pay and warning him that his discipline from the league for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk will be severe. "The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Goodell said in a letter to Stallworth. Goodell told Stallworth, who began his 30-day jail sentence Tuesday, that he would meet with his representatives "in due course," before determining the length of the suspension. But judging from the strong language in the letter, Stallworth can expect to be suspended for a year or more. Goodell made it clear that Stallworth's conduct, which led to a DUI manslaughter conviction, violated both the NFL's Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies -- and that he could harshly reprimand him for just one of those. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Steelers signed three more draft choices yesterday, including their third overall pick, WR Mike Wallace. Wallace along with DL Sonny Harris and C A.Q. Shipley all came to terms on three-year contracts. Each will receive annual minimum salaries of $310,000 in 2009, $395,000 in 2010 and $480,000 in 2011. In addition, Wallace received a signing bonus of $555,000, Harris one of $64,000 and Shipley, a Moon native, one for $42,000. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Titans are experimenting with DT Tony Brown on the right side of the line, where he’d fill the spot vacated by Albert Haynesworth. Brown has played most his career on the left but said he’d welcome the switch, which would put him next to defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. The Titans plan on trying several players at different spots, and Brown said DTs Jason Jones and Jovan Haye are more comfortable on the left. Source: Nashville Tennessean.

The Denver Broncos Thursday released LB Louis Green, S Herana-Daze Jones, RB Kestahn Moore and CB Rashod Moulton. Green played 64 games with Denver since signing with the team in January 2003. He had 36 special-teams tackles and seven defensive stops with the Broncos. Jones is a fourth-year safety who spent the final month of the 2008 season on the Broncos' roster after joining the club in December. He played in the Broncos' final two games last season, notching two tackles on special teams. The Broncos signed Moore, a rookie from Florida, as an undrafted free agent in April. Moulton is a first-year cornerback who spent most of the 2008 season on Denver's practice squad. Source: Associated Press.

Minicamp is over and training camp is still six weeks away, but the Giants have begun the process of getting their nine draft picks under contract. CB DeAndre Wright, their sixth-round pick from New Mexico, is the first player to agree to terms, according to his agent, Kenny Zuckerman, of Priority Sports. The 5-11, 198-pound Wright, whose draft stock plummeted when he suffered a pair of shoulder injuries during his senior season, got off to a good start to rookie camp last month and has been up and down since then. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Working quickly on signing their draft picks, as they did last year, the Dolphins have signed sixth-round pick Andrew Gardner to a four-year deal. Gardner is an offensive tackle who started four years at Georgia Tech. Last year, the Dolphins didn't tarry in signing their draft picks. They had the NFL's No. 1 overall pick, Jake Long, signed four days before the NFL Draft and hit training camp with only quarterback Chad Henne unsigned. This year, they've signed fifth-round pick John Nalbone and Gardner. Source: Miami Herald.

The Louisiana Senate has approved an essential part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's deal to keep the New Orleans Saints in the state. There was little discussion about the bill Thursday before it was unanimously approved. It heads back to the House for approval of changes before it heads to Jindal. The measure, which allows the state to lease office space from Saints owner Tom Benson, was already approved by the House. Benson plans to buy and redevelop a vacant office complex and mall next to the Louisiana Superdome. The state agreed to rent office space from the Saints owner in a deal to funnel money to the NFL team while limiting direct cash subsidies. In exchange, Benson agreed to keep the Saints in New Orleans through 2025. Source: Associated Press.

Minnesota owner Zygi Wilf made it clear Wednesday night at an event for Vikings season-ticket holders that whether Brett Favre plays in Minnesota this season will be up to the retired quarterback. But Favre essentially divulged there is a timetable for both sides earlier in the day after testing his surgically repaired arm while working out with a high school football team. "There is time, but there isn't time, if that makes sense," Favre told WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Miss., after throwing to players from Oak Grove High School. "I don't need to wait for camp to say it's 100 percent. I need to know before then, and so do the Vikings." While, the Vikings don't report to training camp until July 29, Favre did not seem very encouraged Wednesday. He had arthroscopic surgery on a partially torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder in late May, performed by Dr. James Andrews, and said he felt some pain. "Dr. Andrews said more or less four weeks you should know if [surgery] was completely successful," said Favre, who retired in February after one season with the New York Jets. "I threw a couple of balls today where I really felt it ... different places in my shoulder where it's sore. I threw the ball OK, but OK isn't good enough in the National Football League. At least not for me, so it's got to get better." Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Rookie WR Darrius Heyward-Bey aggravated the hamstring injury that sidelined him for half of the mandatory minicamp in May and most of the earlier OTA days. Heyward-Bey favored his right leg as soon as he landed after jumping in an attempt to reach a high pass from Russell. He retreated to the locker room soon thereafter. Team officials didn't release information on the extent of Heyward-Bey's injury. Source: Oakland Tribune.

Jacksonville terminated Cleo Lemon's contract Wednesday and awarded the No.2 QB job to Todd Bouman, with one organized team activity session remaining today. Lemon's departure -- as a vested veteran he doesn't have to go through waivers and is free to sign with any team immediately -- was one of several roster moves and left the Jaguars with 81 players, one more than they're allowed to bring to training camp. Source: Florida TImes-Union.

Kansas City and seventh-round pick PK Ryan Succop agreed to contract terms Wednesday and are expected to finalize the three-year deal today, the player’s agent said. Joel Turner would not reveal details of the contract beyond its duration. Media organizations in South Carolina, where Succop played college football, reported that the agreed-upon deal was worth up to $1.2 million over the life of the contract. Succop becomes the first of eight drafted Kansas City players to agree to terms. Succop played four years at the University of South Carolina and made 49 of 69 field goals. He worked out with Kansas City during offseason practices, which concluded Tuesday, and is expected to compete with second-year kicker Connor Barth for the kicking job. Source: Kansas City Star.

The Texans signed two players Wednesday -- veteran PK Kris Brown and rookie TE Anthony Hill. Brown, one of two remaining original Texans along with guard Chester Pitts, has a new four-year contract extension. Brown, 32, signed a $10 million extension that includes $2.5 million in guaranteed money. Last season, Brown converted 29-of-33 field goals. Hill, a Houston native who played at North Carolina State, signed a four-year deal worth $2,206,500. He was the team's second fourth-round draft choice in April and the third draft pick to sign. Hill follows cornerback Brice McCain and safety Troy Nolan. Hill (6-6, 269) and James Casey, a fifth-round pick, are competing for playing time behind veterans Joel Dreessen and Owen Daniels. Source: Houston Chronicle.

The Broncos Wednesday released LB Boss Bailey, the younger brother of cornerback Champ Bailey. Bailey, who signed with the team as a free agent in 2008, started six games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 20. He underwent microfracture surgery and spent the entire offseason rehabbing the knee in Denver with team doctors and trainers, but he was not recovered enough to be able to practice with the team in any of its offseason practices. Source: Denver Post.

The Broncos and veteran C Casey Wiegmann agreed on Wednesday to a new two-year contract. Wiegmann, 35, had been scheduled to make only the veteran minimum salary of $845,000 this season, and was considering retirement if he and the team could not work out a new contract more befitting a player who has started 127 consecutive games and made the Pro Bowl last season. Source: Denver Post.

After a futile attempt to accelerate progress toward a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, LB Barrett Ruud is back on the practice field with his teammates. The fifth-year pro skipped all 14 of the club's voluntary offseason workouts, but he's participating in this week's mandatory minicamp that wraps up the squad's preparation for the start of training camp on July 31. "I was hoping to sort of speed things along a little bit," Rudd said of his decision to work out on his own at the University of Nebraska instead of joining the Bucs for organized team activities (OTAs) over the past month. Rudd is scheduled to earn about $1.6 million this fall in the final season of a contract he signed as a rookie in 2005. He's led the Bucs in tackles the past two years and is the club's lone returning starter at linebacker. Source: NFL.com.

Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart says he'll be ready for the start of training camp after being sidelined all offseason with pain in his left Achilles' tendon. Stewart revealed details of the injury for the first time Tuesday. Stewart said the Achilles' first flared up in offseason conditioning in February and likely stems from favoring his left foot after toe surgery last offseason. Stewart rushed for a Panthers rookie record 836 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Teamed with DeAngelo Williams, Carolina ranked third in the NFL in rushing. Source: Associated Press.

The Ravens have not contacted the Denver Broncos about disgruntled WR Brandon Marshall, but they are doing their homework on the Pro Bowl playmaker, a team source said Tuesday. It might take first- and third-round draft picks to acquire Marshall, one of the top young wide receivers in the game, but he would immediately shore up an area that is considered a weakness for the Ravens. The Chicago Bears, who traded for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler this offseason, also might be interested in Marshall. It's not known whether the Broncos are considering trading Marshall, but they dealt Cutler when he asked them to. Nicknamed "the Beast," Marshall has caught more than 100 passes each of the past two seasons. The major concern with Marshall is his lengthy list of off-the-field issues, which includes 13 police incidents since 2004 and a pending misdemeanor battery charge. Source: Baltimore Sun.

Brandon Marshall is saying his good-byes to the Denver Broncos and their fans even as coach Josh McDaniels talks about seeing his holdout Pro Bowl receiver at training camp next month. Marshall posted a farewell on his blog Tuesday, four days after requesting a trade during a private meeting with team owner Pat Bowlen. Bowlen hasn't said whether he'll honor Marshall's trade request, and McDaniels says he expects Marshall to report to camp at the end of next month rather than follow Jay Cutler out of town. Source: Associated Press.

Cleveland Browns WR Donte' Stallworth today received a 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter in a Miami courtroom. Stallworth was charged in the death of Mario Reyes, a pedestrian who was struck and killed by Stallworth's Bentley on March 14 in Miami Beach. Stallworth was immediately taken into custody and that after he gets out he will serve two years of house arrest followed by eight years of probation, according to his plea deal. He will also lose his driving privleges for life and have to perform 1,000 hours of community service. Stallworth had faced four to 15 years in prison before the plea agreement. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Falcons signed two more draft picks to four-year contracts Tuesday. CB Chris Owens, a third-round draft pick, and OL Garrett Reynolds, a fifth-round pick, became the third and four picks signed by the team. The Falcons earlier signed CB William Middleton, a fifth-round pick from Furman who graduated from Marist, and DT Vance Walker, a seventh-round pick from Georgia Tech. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Cardinals and sixth-round draft pick Will Davis have signed a three-year contract. Davis received a $66,000 signing bonus and is due to make minimum salaries of $310,000, $395,000 and $480,000. Davis, an outside linebacker taken with the 204th overall pick out of Illinois, played in all 12 games as a senior in 2008. He recorded 36 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and blocked a kick as a defensive end. Davis (6-2, 261) began his college career as a wide receiver and tight end before converting to defense in 2006. Source: Arizona Republic.

The Green Bay Packers signed LB Brad Jones, CB Brandon Underwood and DE Jarius Wynn to contracts on Tuesday. They are the first of the Packers' eight draft picks to be signed. Jones was a seventh-round pick. Underwood and Wynn were sixth-round picks. Terms were not disclosed. The Packers also signed TE Devin Frischknecht, an undrafted rookie out of Washington State. Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The Bengals have signed the first of their 11 draft picks, agreeing to terms with Morgan Trent. The deal was confirmed by his agent, Doug Hendrickson. The team has signed the cornerback, who was selected in the sixth round, to a four-year deal worth $1.85 million with a $112,000 signing bonus. Trent, who played at the University of Michigan, suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the rookie minicamp on May 2, and needed a small screw inserted into the foot. Trent said last week that the foot should be healed and he should be ready to go when training camp begins on July 30. Source: Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Patriots signed fourth-round draft choice Rich Ohrnberger Tuesday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Ohrnberger, an offensive lineman from Penn State, was drafted by the Pats in the fourth round with the 123rd overall selection. The 6-foot-2, 291-pound Ohrnberger earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in his senior season at Penn State, helping the team win the Big Ten Title and reach the Rose Bowl. The Patriots also have released rookie free agent linebacker Antonio Appleby. Source: Boston Herald.

Brett Favre, speaking publicly for the first time since retiring from the New York Jets in February, said on HBO's "Joe Buck Live" Monday night that he had surgery on his right arm or shoulder 2 1/2 weeks ago, and answered "maybe," when asked if he would play this year. "It feels better. I'm rehabbing, doing what I need to do to get it back in shape," said Favre, who said he should know in 4 or 5 weeks if he can make the throws he needs to make. "I have talked with the (Minnesota) Vikings. Nothing other than 'are you interested?' and vice versa. We'll see how my arm feels and we'll go from there." Favre said he talked to a Vikings trainer Sunday about exercises to help his rehab, and said the Vikings are the only team he's talked to. "It makes perfect sense as far as coming back," the quarterback said. "It's an offense I ran for 16 years.  I could teach the offense." Source: USA Today.

Browns WR Donte' Stallworth will plead guilty Tuesday to DUI manslaughter as part of a plea agreement in Miami, Fla., a league source said Monday night. The guilty plea likely means Stallworth, 28, will spend some time in jail. It is not known yet what disciplinary action the NFL will take, but the league will start to take action after the plea agreement is announced. Miami-Dade police say Stallworth was driving drunk on March 14 when he struck 59-year-old pedestrian Mario Reyes. The toxicology report showed Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126, which is above Florida's legal limit of .08. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The New York Jets have signed third-round pick RB Shonn Greene the club announced Monday. Greene, a Sicklerville native, signed a four-year deal that includes a $905,000 signing bonus, according to an NFL source. He's expected to split time in a three-headed backfield, including Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, and is the heir apparent to the veteran Jones. The Jets thought so highly of Greene that they traded up to the top of the third-round and made the former Iowa star the first selection on the second-day of the draft. Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Cardinals TE Ben Patrick has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Patrick tested positive for the drug Adderall, an amphetamine, his agent Kevin Omell said on Monday. "He literally took one pill one time driving back from Flagstaff to keep him awake," Omell said. The agent says Patrick took the drug during the team's bye week in mid-October. According to Omell, Patrick got the pill from a friend who had used the drug to stay up late studying. Source: Arizona Republic.

The Raiders and free agent DE Greg Ellis agreed to terms on a contract Monday. A person close to the negotiations said the Raiders targeted Ellis soon after he was released by Dallas earlier this month. Ellis, 33, has spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Cowboys. He started 156 games with Dallas, including all 16 last season. In Ellis, the Raiders would get a player versatile enough to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment or defensive end in a 4-3 system. The Raiders likely would use Ellis at right defensive end, with Derrick Burgess on the left, in hopes of creating more pressure on the quarterback. Source: Oakland Tribune.

The Broncos Monday signed free-agent WR Brandon Lloyd, who played for the Chicago Bears last season after stints with Washington (2006-07) and San Francisco (2003-05). Lloyd, 6-feet, 194 pounds, has 156 receptions and 15 touchdowns in 79 career games, including 47 as a starter. He was selected by the 49ers in the fourth round (124th overall) in the 2003 draft out of the University of Illinois. Last season as teammates with new Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, Lloyd played in 11 games with the Bears, catching 26 passes for 364 yards (14.0 average) and two touchdowns. He will turn 28 next month. Source: Denver Post.

The Buccaneers Tuesday will work out former Rams WR Drew Bennett. Bennett was the Rams' No. 2 receiver last season after they released Isaac Bruce, but he broke his foot on the fourth play of the Rams' regular-season opener. The Bucs also are expected to work out former Panthers and Seahawks receiver D.J. Hackett Tuesday. Hackett, 27, played in nine games last season with Carolina, including two starts. He had 13 catches for 181 yards and no touchdowns. Source: St. Petersburg Times.

The Falcons signed veteran OL Jeremy Newberry Monday, the team announced. Newberry, a 12-year veteran, has started for eight seasons and made the Pro Bowl twice and will add some depth to the offensive line unit. Newberry, 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, spent his first nine seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers after being selected in the second round of the 1998 draft. He’s also played for Oakland and San Diego. He’s played mostly center, but has also spent some time at right tackle and right guard. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Cincinnati WR Chad Ochocinco says he plans to stay with QB Carson Palmer's family in July to make up for the lost time of the pair not working together much during the offseason. Ochocinco spoke about his relationship with Palmer before appearing on "Joe Buck Live" on HBO on Monday night. "We do argue all the time like a married couple," he said. "I think that's why we've been so successful together, because we have that type of relationship we can get on one another." Palmer had publicly criticized Ochocinco for not participating in offseason workouts. Ochocinco returned for organized team activities last week. Source: Associated Press.

Broncos WR Brandon Marshall skipped all three days of a mandatory mini-camp this weekend out of protest over his contract. Marshall, in the final year of a four-year deal that would pay him $2.198 million this season, could be forced to pay more than $35,000 in fines for his absence. Though Marshall had a 100-catch season, he is also rehabbing from a hip procedure he had April 1, and his case on misdemeanor battery charges in Atlanta has been continued until August. Source: Denver Post.

Kyle Orton was selected to be the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels decided to end the suspense early heading into next month's training camp. Orton had been competing this offseason with Chris Simms for the starting spot left open by the blockbuster deal that sent Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears on April 3. Source: Denver Post.

QB Brett Favre, the focus of ongoing speculation of whether he is retired or will play for the Minnesota VIkings, is set to appear live Monday night to be interviewed by sportscaster Joe Buck on HBO's new "Joe Buck Live" show. To this point, Favre has yet to comment directly on the ongoing "will he or won't he" saga. Source: Minneaspolis Star-Tribune.

The weapons possession case against former New York Giants player Plaxico Burress has been adjourned until September, and his attorney said he didn't see any reason the wide receiver couldn't play this fall. Burress made a brief appearance in court Monday, accompanied by his wife and attorney Benjamin Brafman. Judge Felicia Mennin adjourned the case until Sept. 23. Burress shot himself in the thigh Nov. 29 in a Manhattan nightclub. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison. Burress has pleaded not guilty and is free on $100,000 bail. Source: Associated Press.

Three-year veteran TE Owen Daniels became the final restricted free agent in the NFL to sign his tender offer, agreeing to return to the Houston Texans with a one-year contract for $2.79 million. The Texans retained a right of first refusal on Daniels by offering him the highest-level tender. If Daniels had signed with another franchise this spring and Houston declined to match the offer sheet, the Texans would have received first- and third-round draft picks as compensation. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign an offer sheet with a new team was nearly two months ago. Once that deadline passed, the Texans had exclusive negotiating rights to the young tight end. Source: espn.com.

Bears RB Matt Forte observed Thursday's organized team activities but did not participate, according to an NFL source. Forte was scheduled to undergo an MRI Thursday morning, but the Bears would not confirm that the procedure was performed.vForte limped off the field following Wednesday's practice, apparently after hearing a pop in his left leg. It was believed to be either a hamstring or calf injury considering that Forte pointed to pain behind his knee. With Forte sidelined, RB Kevin Jones ran with the first-team offense. Source: Chicago Tribune.

Browns coach Eric Mangini says he will not decide on Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson as Cleveland's starting quarterback until late in the preseason. Mangini said before Thursday's voluntary practice that he will take his time evaluating the two quarterbacks and wants to see how they play in preseason games before making his choice. Anderson was a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, but lost his job midway through last season to Quinn, the former Notre Dame star and first-round draft pick. Both Quinn (finger) and Anderson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries last season. Source: Associated Press.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice today, wearing a wrap on his left knee, the only sign of the "injury" from Wednesday's practice. And teammate Willie Parker revealed that it was a collision between the running back and quarterback that caused the temporary problem that led to Roethlisberger limping off the practice field Wednesday. "Actually, me and him bumped knees on a certain play," Parker said. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The 49ers on Thursday extended the contract of LT Joe Staley for six years, carrying him through the 2017 season and placing him in the top 10 of the league's best-paid players at the position, according to his agent. Whether Staley's average salary remains in the top 10 throughout the life of the contract is another matter. For now, the extension is worth $42 million, according to ESPN.com, with the player receiving $18 million in guarantees. Source: San Francisco Chronicle.

CB Antoine Winfield continued to stay away from the Vikings' offseason workouts Thursday, and there now appears to be little doubt the overriding reason is that negotiations on a contract extension broke down early last month. The veteran is entering the final season of six-year, $34.8 million deal. Winfield did not specifically address his contract situation but in a statement issued late Thursday said: "I want all to know that I'm not at OTA's because I don't want to be there. I do want to be there! As I have stated before, I want to finish my career a Viking." Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

The Cardinals took a step toward maintaining the core of their Super Bowl team, agreeing to terms with two-time Pro Bowl strong safety Adrian Wilson on a five-year contract Thursday. With Wilson's deal -- worth more than $37 million with $15.5 million guaranteed and an additional $3 million as a roster bonus in 2011 -- now in place, the Cardinals expect to turn their attention to signing LB Karlos Dansby. Source: Arizona Republic.

Cleveland Browns WR Donte' Stallworth is pleading not guilty to DUI manslaughter charges from a fatal Miami car crash in which a pedestrian died. The plea was entered at a brief court hearing Thursday by defense attorney Christopher Lyons. The 28-year-old Stallworth did not appear in court. A trial date has not been set. Stallworth faces up to 15 years if convicted. Police say Stallworth was driving drunk after a night on the town when he struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes on a Miami Beach causeway. Stallworth is free on $200,000 bail and is required to abstain from alcohol, not drive and observe a curfew. Source: espn.com.

Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook will have surgery on his right ankle Friday. Dr. Mark Meyerson will perform the operation in Baltimore. The Eagles called the procedure "a debridement" of the ankle. Westbrook missed one game last season with a high ankle sprain. He had minor knee surgery after the Eagles lost to Arizona in the NFC championship game. Source: SI.com.

QB Ben Roethlisberg limped off the field during practice Wednesday with an injury to his left knee. Steelers trainer John Norwig took a long look at the quarterback. Roethlisberger's knee was then stretched out, and he watched the rest of practice. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The agent for Titans QB Vince Young said Wednesday his client is just extremely anxious to compete for a starting job and isn't trying to force a trade despite Young's recent remarks. During an interview with a Baltimore television station, Young made it clear it's time for him to play football or go elsewhere. "He was just voicing his opinion about competing for a starting job," his agent Major Adams said Wednesday, adding that Young was surprised by the magnitude of the controversy. "He's not asking for trade, we haven't had any talks about being traded. He looks forward to competing and being ready for this season." Source: Nashville Tennessean.

Washington WR James Thrash is considering whether to undergo surgery on his injured neck and attempt to play again this season or decline the surgery and retire from football. Multiple sources said that Thrash, who has missed all the club's offseason workouts because of the injury, might choose to quit football rather than have the operation to play a 13th season, in which he would be used largely as a backup. Source: Washington Times.

Santa Clara's City Council, after a marathon meeting, gave the green light just before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to a proposal to build a $937 million stadium for the San Francisco 49ers in the South Bay city. The council voted 5 to 2 to advance the deal, paving the way for it to go before voters in the spring. The complex proposal, made public Friday, calls for the use of $79 million in public money, most of it from redevelopment funds that can only be used for specific types of projects. Another $35 million would come from a new tax on guests at eight nearby hotels. The rest of the money would come from the team, hoped-for NFL funding and the sale of naming rights, concession licenses and the like. Source: San Francisco Chronicle.

The NFL and its players' union opened talks Wednesday in a bid to avoid a work stoppage in 2011, when the current labor contract expires. These meetings were mainly about procedural issues rather than substantive ones. One early subject of contention: the union's demand the NFL teams open their books and the league's position that the union already has all the relevant financial information. If there is no agreement by March, the 2010 season will be the first without a salary cap since 1993, when the first deal containing free agency and the cap was signed. Source: Associated Press.

Former head coach Tony Dungy and newly retired LB Rodney Harrison will be joining the on-air team of NBC's "Football Night in America" as analysts, the network revealed Wednesday. Both men appeared on NBC's Super Bowl pregame coverage earlier this year. Source: Associated Press.