NFLLeGarrette Blount won't hide from the punch felt throughout the college football world. He's taking on the tough questions at this weekend's NFL's annual scouting combine. Blount and other college players will face increased scrutiny as they are poked and prodded for answers about past indiscretions.
NFL
Rams keeping open mind about top pick (AP)
Dan Whalen doesn't look much like an NFL hopeful. The slender 6-foot-1 quarterback from Case Western Reserve has been hanging around at the NFL Scouting Combine, accompanying agent Ronald Todd while trying to meet team representatives. He wasn't invited to participate, despite being a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy last season, which honors the nation's top Division III player.
Meadowlands works on 2014 Super Bowl bid (AP)
The head of the new Meadowlands Stadium thinks Arizona's decision not to bid on the 2014 Super Bowl doesn't necessarily make the future home of the Giants and Jets the favorite to land the NFL title game. Mark Lamping said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Friday night that The New Meadowlands Stadium Companies is concentrating solely on presenting a solid bid to the...
Chargers won't tender deal to RB Sproles (AP)
First LaDainian Tomlinson, and now Darren Sproles. The San Diego Chargers have decided not to tender a contract to Sproles, allowing the speedy running back to test the free agent market, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't made an official announcement.
WR Marshall testifies at Williams trial (AP)
Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall testified in the trial of a man accused of killing teammate Darrent Williams and identified the suspect as the same man he saw outside a club in a confrontation before the shooting. Marshall was at times emotional when he testified Friday about the shooting on New Year's Day 2007, recalling how he later saw former teammate Javon Walker in a bloodstained...
Tebow hopes new motion creates believers (AP)
Tim Tebow was the first big-name quarterback to take the NFL's stage Friday. He's hoping the draft goes down the same way. The man with one Heisman Trophy, two national titles and may be the most intriguing pro prospect since Michael Vick, came to the league's annual scouting combine with a new look he hopes will improve his draft stock.
Head injuries highlight Safety Summit (AP)
Information came at the players like an all-out blitz as manufacturers explained why their product was the best and safest. Though the topics were wide ranging, preventing head injuries topped the list Friday at the NFL Players Association's second Player Safety and Welfare Summit. Some 25 players heard presentations from helmet manufacturers and medical personnel that included plenty of charts...
Giants won't hand Umenyiora starting job (AP)
Tom Coughlin isn't going to hand Osi Umenyiora a starting job to keep the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end happy. Speaking at the NFL combine on Friday, Coughlin said he has talked with Umenyiora since the season ended, but he was also a little disappointed the disgruntled veteran said he wanted to either be traded or retire if he does not start next season.
Shanahan: Redskins to tender QB Campbell (AP)
Mike Shanahan said that the Washington Redskins plan to tender Jason Campbell, their starting quarterback the past 3 1/2 seasons, before free agency begins on March 5. But Shanahan wouldn't commit to Campbell as his starter. Shanahan said he's still evaluating Campbell, whom Redskins owner Dan Snyder tried to replace in failed attempts to acquire Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez last offseason.
Vikings willing to wait on Favre (AP)
Minnesota coach Brad Childress knows one way to get a definitive answer from Brett Favre. Wait. "I'm not going to put him in any box," Childress said Friday at the NFL's annual scouting combine. "Four weeks and change, he's still healing up from that game (the NFC championship).
NFL, union complete negotiating session (AP)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith spent about 1 hour, 40 minutes working on a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, then left without saying a word. Goodell eventually returned to the hotel lobby hours later, after participating in the league's competition committee meeting and reiterated the league's position of finishing...
Reports: Rams to be sold but staying put (AP)
The majority owners of the St. Louis Rams have reached an agreement to sell the team to an Illinois businessman who doesn't want to move the team, according to published reports Thursday. Both STLtoday.com, the Web site for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the online newspaper Globe-Democrat.com cited unidentified sources in disclosing the pending sale to Shahid Khan of Urbana, Ill.
Jets' Ellis recovering from hand surgery (AP)
New York Jets Pro Bowl defensive end Shaun Ellis is recovering from surgery on his broken left hand and should be ready in time to participate in most offseason workouts. Ellis told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the procedure, during which screws were inserted into the hand, was performed last Tuesday, two days after he played in the Pro Bowl.
Rams hire Cromwell to coach receivers (AP)
The St. Louis Rams hired Nolan Cromwell, a former four-time Pro Bowl defensive back with the franchise, to coach wide receivers. Cromwell was offensive coordinator at Texas A&M the last two seasons and prior to that coached wide receivers with the Seattle Seahawks from 1999-2007. He replaces Charlie Baggett, who left after one season to be assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at Tennessee.
Fans use billboard persuasion for Favre (AP)
Last summer, coaches and players lobbied Brett Favre to join the Minnesota Vikings through text messages, phone calls and in-person visits. This year, the public has started the persuasion process for them. Driven to show their appreciation for Favre's storied first season with Minnesota, a group of Vikings fans has taken out advertising space on a digital billboard near the 40-year-old...
Browns name Haskell senior adviser (AP)
Former assistant coach Gil Haskell has been hired to be Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren's senior adviser. Haskell and Holmgren previously worked together with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. The Browns on Wednesday did not specify the 66-year-old Haskell's role. Holmgren took over as Cleveland's president last month.
Bills hire Whaley to be assistant GM (AP)
The Buffalo Bills hired Doug Whaley on Wednesday to be the team's assistant general manager and director of pro personnel. Whaley will oversee the pro personnel department and assist general manager Buddy Nix in all football-related administrative duties, along with college talent evaluation. He joins the Bills after spending 11 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the last 10 as the team's...
Texans extend coach Kubiak through 2012 (AP)
Houston Texans owner Bob McNair watched with admiration as the New Orleans Saints celebrated their first Super Bowl victory. McNair is confident that Gary Kubiak will lead the Texans to one very soon. The Texans announced Wednesday that Kubiak has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2012 season, a vote of confidence after the team finished 9-7 -- the first winning record in the...
Saints get Mardi Gras-style parade (AP)
Only a Super Bowl victory parade could upstage Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnival floats carrying Saints players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of jubilant fans in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday, two days after the 43-year-old franchise won its first NFL championship.
Rams RB Jackson won't be charged (AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson won't face criminal charges over allegations that he beat a girlfriend who was nine months pregnant with the couple's child at his Las Vegas home last year, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday. Investigators found insufficient evidence that Jackson, 26, attacked Supriya Harris of Mableton, Ga., in March 2009, Las Vegas police Officer Barbara Morgan...
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